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suppose and as my judgment compels me to think； so that the Egyptians
would have learnt the names of these gods even more than that of Heracles。
In fact however Heracles is a very ancient Egyptian god； and （as they say
themselves） it is seventeen thousand years to the beginning of the reign of
Amasis from the time when the twelve gods； of whom they count that
Heracles is one； were begotten of the eight gods。 I moreover； desiring to
know something certain of these matters so far as might be； made a
voyage also to Tyre of Phenicia； hearing that in that place there was a holy
temple of Heracles； and I saw that it was richly furnished with many
votive offerings besides； and especially there were in it two pillars； the one
of pure gold and the other of an emerald stone of such size as to shine by
night： and having come to speech with the priests of the god； I asked them
how long a time it was since their temple had been set up： and these also I
found to be at variance with the Hellenes； for they said that at the same
time when Tyre was founded； the temple of the god also had been set up；
and that it was a period of two thousand three hundred years since their
people began to dwell at Tyre。 I saw also at Tyre another temple of
Heracles； with the surname Thasian； and I came to Thasos also and there I
found a temple of Heracles set up by the Phenicians； who had sailed out to
seek for Europa and had colonised Thasos； and these things happened full
five generations of men before Heracles the son of Amphitryon was born
in Hellas。 So then my inquiries show clearly that Heracles is an ancient
god； and those of the Hellenes seem to me to act most rightly who have
two temples of Heracles set up； and who sacrifice to the one as an
immortal god and with the title Olympian； and make offerings of the dead
to the other as a hero。 Moreover； besides many other stories which the
Hellenes tell without due consideration； this tale is especially foolish
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which they tell about Heracles； namely that when he came to Egypt； the
Egyptians put on him wreaths and led him forth in procession to sacrifice
him to Zeus； and he for some time kept quiet； but when they were
beginning the sacrifice of him at the altar； he betook himself to prowess
and slew them all。 I for my part am of opinion that the Hellenes when they
tell this tale are altogether without knowledge of the nature and customs of
the Egyptians； for how should they for whom it is not lawful to sacrifice
even beasts； except swine and the males of oxen and calves （such of them
as are clean） and geese； how should these sacrifice human beings？ Besides
this； how is it in nature possible that Heracles； being one person only and
moreover a man （as they assert）； should slay many myriads？ Having said
so much of these matters； we pray that we may have grace from both the
gods and the heroes for our speech。
Now the reason why those of the Egyptians whom I have mentioned
do not sacrifice goats； female or male； is this：the Mendesians count Pan
to be one of the eight gods （now these eight gods they say came into being
before the twelve gods）； and the painters and image…makers represent in
painting and in sculpture the figure of Pan； just as the Hellenes do； with
goat's face and legs； not supposing him to be really like this but to
resemble the other gods； the cause however why they represent him in this
form I prefer not to say。 The Mendesians then reverence all goats and the
males more than the females （and the goatherds too have greater honour
than other herdsmen）； but of the goats one especially is reverenced； and
when he dies there is great mourning in all the Mendesian district： and
both the goat and Pan are called in the Egyptian tongue /Mendes/。
Moreover in my lifetime there happened in that district this marvel； that is
to say a he…goat had intercourse with a woman publicly； and this was so
done that all men might have evidence of it。
The pig is accounted by the Egyptians an abominable animal； and first；
if any of them in passing by touch a pig； he goes into the river and dips
himself forthwith in the water together with his garments； and then too
swineherds； though they may be native Egyptians； unlike all others； do not
enter any of the temples in Egypt； nor is anyone willing to give his
daughter in marriage to one of them or to take a wife from among them；
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but the swineherds both give in marriage to one another and take from one
another。 Now to the other gods the Egyptians do not think it right to
sacrifice swine； but to the Moon and to Dionysos alone at the same time
and on the same full…moon they sacrifice swine； and then eat their flesh：
and as to the reason why； when they abominate swine at all their other
feasts； they sacrifice them at this； there is a story told by the Egyptians；
and this story I know； but it is not a seemly one for me to tell。 Now the
sacrifice of the swine to the Moon is performed as follows：when the
priest has slain the victim； he puts together the end of the tail and the
spleen and the caul； and covers them up with the whole of the fat of the
animal which is about the paunch； and then he offers them with fire； and
the rest of the flesh they eat on that day of full moon upon which they
have held sacrifice； but on any day after this they will not taste of it： the
poor however among them by reason of the scantiness of their means
shape pigs of dough and having baked them they offer these as a sacrifice。
Then for Dionysos on the eve of the festival each one kills a pig by cutting
its throat before his own doors； and after that he gives the pig to the
swineherd who sold it to him； to carry away again； and the rest of the feast
of Dionysos is celebrated by the Egyptians in the same way as by the
Hellenes in almost all things except choral dances； but instead of the
/phallos/ they have invented another contrivance； namely figures of about
a cubit in height worked by strings； which women carry about the villages；
with the privy member made to move and not much less in size than the
rest of the body： and a flute goes before and they follow singing the
praises of Dionysos。 As to the reason why the figure has this member
larger than is natural and moves it； though it moves no other part of the
body； about this there is a sacred story told。 Now I think that Melampus
the son of Amytheon was not without knowledge of these rites of sacrifice；
but was acquainted with them： for Melampus is he who first set forth to
the Hellenes the name of Dionysos and the manner of sacrifice and the
procession of the /phallos/。 Strictly speaking indeed； he when he made it
known did not take in the whole； but those wise men who came after him
made it known more at large。 Melampus then is he who taught of the
/phallos/ which is carried in procession for Dionysos； and from him the
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Hellenes learnt to do that which they do。 I say then that Melampus being a
man of ability contrived for himself an art of divination； and having learnt
from Egypt he taught the Hellenes many things； and among them those
that concern Dionysos； making changes in some few points of them： for I
shall not say that that which is done in worship of the god in Egypt came
accidentally to be the same with that which is done among the Hellenes；
for then these rites would have been in character with the Hellenic worship
and not lately brought in； nor certainly shall I say that the Egyptians took
from the Hellenes either this or any other customary observance： matters
concerning Dionysos from Cadmos the Tyrian and from those who came
with him from Phenicia to the land which we now call Boeotia。
Moreover the naming of almost all the gods has come to Hellas from
Egypt： for that it has come from the Barbarians I find by inquiry is true