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law and had it enacted for the Athenians; and they have continued to
observe it; since it is a law with which none can find fault。
Moreover Amasis became a lover of the Hellenes; and besides other
proofs of friendship which he gave to several among them; he also granted
the city of Naucratis for those of them who came to Egypt to dwell in; and
to those who did not desire to stay; but who made voyages thither; he
granted portions of land to set up altars and make sacred enclosures for
their gods。 Their greatest enclosure and that one which has most name and
is most frequented is called the Hellenion; and this was established by the
following cities in common: of the Ionians Chios; Teos; Phocaia;
Clazomenai; of the Dorians Rhodes; Cnidos; Halicarnassos; Phaselis; and
of the Aiolians Mytilene alone。 To these belongs this enclosure and these
are the cities which appoint superintendents of the port; and all other cities
which claim a share in it; are making a claim without any right。 Besides
this the Eginetans established on their own account a sacred enclosure
dedicated to Zeus; the Samians one to Hera; and the Milesians one to
Apollo。 Now in old times Naucratis alone was an open trading…place; and
no other place in Egypt: and if any one came to any other of the Nile
mouths; he was compelled to swear that he came not thither of his own
free will; and when he had thus sworn his innocence he had to sail with his
ship to the Canobic mouth; or if it were not possible to sail by reason of
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contrary winds; then he had to carry his cargo round the head of the Delta
in boats to Naucratis: thus highly was Naucratis privileged。 Moreover
when the Amphictyons had let out the contract for building the temple
which now exists at Delphi; agreeing to pay a sum of three hundred talents
(for the temple which formerly stood there had been burnt down of itself);
it fell to the share of the people of Delphi to provide the fourth part of the
payment; and accordingly the Delphians went about to various cities and
collected contributions。 And when they did this they got from Egypt as
much as from any place; for Amasis gave them a thousand talents' weight
of alum; while the Hellenes who dwelt in Egypt gave them twenty pounds
of silver。
Also with the people of Kyrene Amasis made an agreement for
friendship and alliance; and he resolved too to marry a wife from thence;
whether because he desired to have a wife of Hellenic race; or; apart from
that; on account of friendship for the people of Kyrene: however that may
be; he married; some say the daughter of Battos; others of Arkesilaos; and
others of Critobulos; a man of repute among the citizens; and her name
was Ladike。 Now whenever Amasis lay with her he found himself unable
to have intercourse; but with his other wives he associated as he was wont;
and as this happened repeatedly; Amasis said to his wife; whose name was
Ladike: 〃Woman; thou hast given me drugs; and thou shall surely perish
more miserably than any other。〃 Then Ladike; when by her denials Amasis
was not at all appeased in his anger against her; made a vow in her soul to
Aphrodite; that if Amasis on that night had intercourse with her (seeing
that this was the remedy for her danger); she would send an image to be
dedicated to her at Kyrene; and after the vow immediately Amasis had
intercourse; and from thenceforth whenever Amasis came in to her he had
intercourse with her; and after this he became very greatly attached to her。
And Ladike paid the vow that she had made to the goddess; for she had an
image made and sent it to Kyrene; and it is still preserved even to my own
time; standing with its face turned away from the city of the Kyrenians。
This Ladike Cambyses; having conquered Egypt and heard from her who
she was; sent back unharmed to Kyrene。
Amasis also dedicated offerings in Hellas; first at Kyrene an image of
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Athene covered over with gold and a figure of himself made like by
painting; then in the temple of Athene at Lindos two images of stone and a
corslet of linen worthy to be seen; and also at Samos two wooden figures
of himself dedicated to Hera; which were standing even to my own time in
the great temple; behind the doors。 Now at Samos he dedicated offerings
because of the guest…friendship between himself and Polycrates the son of
Aiakes; at Lindos for no guest…friendship but because the temple of
Athene at Lindos is said to have been founded by the daughters of Danaos;
who had touched land there at the time when they were fleeing from the
sons of Aigyptos。 These offerings were dedicated by Amasis; and he was
the first of men who conquered Cyprus and subdued it so that it paid him
tribute。
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