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kings had rule over Ethiopia； and he left as memorials of himself in front
of the temple of Hephaistos two stone statues of thirty cubits each；
representing himself and his wife； and others of twenty cubits each
representing his four sons： and long afterwards the priest of Hephaistos
refused to permit Dareios the Persian to set up a statue of himself in front
of them； saying that deeds had not been done by him equal to those which
were done by Sesostris the Egyptian； for Sesostris had subdued other
nations besides； not fewer than he； and also the Scythians； but Dareios had
not been able to conquer the Scythians： wherefore it was not just that he
should set up a statue in front of those which Sesostris had dedicated； if he
did not surpass him in his deeds。 Which speech； they say； Dareios took in
good part。
Now after Sesostris had brought his life to an end； his son Pheros； they
told me； received in succession the kingdom； and he made no warlike
expedition； and moreover it chanced to him to become blind by reason of
the following accident：when the river had come down in flood rising to a
height of eighteen cubits； higher than ever before that time； and had gone
over the fields； a wind fell upon it and the river became agitated by waves：
and this king （they say） moved by presumptuous folly took a spear and
cast it into the midst of the eddies of the stream； and immediately upon
this he had a disease of the eyes and was by it made blind。 For ten years
then he was blind； and in the eleventh year there came to him an oracle
from the city of Buto saying that the time of his punishment had expired；
and that he should see again if he washed his eyes with the water of a
woman who had accompanied with her own husband only and had not had
knowledge of other men： and first he made trial of his own wife； and then；
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as he continued blind； he went on to try all the women in turn； and when
he had at least regained his sight he gathered together all the women of
whom he had made trial； excepting her by whose means he had regained
his sight； to one city which now is named Erythrabolos； and having
gathered them to this he consumed them all by fire； as well as the city
itself； but as for her by whose means he had regained his sight； he had her
himself to wife。 Then after he had escaped the malady of his eyes he
dedicated offerings at each one of the temples which were of renown； and
especially （to mention only that which is most worthy of mention） he
dedicated at the temple of the Sun works which are worth seeing； namely
two obelisks of stone； each of a single block； measuring in length a
hundred cubits each one and in breadth eight cubits。
After him； they said； there succeeded to the throne a man of Memphis；
whose name in the tongue of the Hellenes was Proteus； for whom there is
now a sacred enclosure at Memphis； very fair and well ordered； lying on
that side of the temple of Hephaistos which faces the North Wind。 Round
about this enclosure dwell Phenicians of Tyre； and this whole region is
called the Camp of the Tyrians。 Within the enclosure of Proteus there is a
temple called the temple of the 〃foreign Aphrodite；〃 which temple I
conjecture to be one of Helen the daughter of Tyndareus； not only because
I have heard the tale how Helen dwelt with Proteus； but also especially
because it is called by the name of the 〃foreign Aphrodite；〃 for the other
temples of Aphrodite which there are have none of them the addition of
the word 〃foreign〃 to the name。
And the priests told me； when I inquired； that the things concerning
Helen happened thus：Alexander having carried off Helen was sailing
away from Sparta to his own land； and when he had come to the Egean
Sea contrary winds drove him from his course to the Sea of Egypt； and
after that； since the blasts did not cease to blow； he came to Egypt itself；
and in Egypt to that which is now named the Canobic mouth of the Nile
and to Taricheiai。 Now there was upon the shore； as still there is now； a
temple of Heracles； in which if any man's slave take refuge and have the
sacred marks set upon him； giving himself over to the god； it is not lawful
to lay hands upon him； but this custom has continued still unchanged from
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the beginning down to my own time。 Accordingly the attendants of
Alexander； having heard of the custom which existed about the temple； ran
away from him； and sitting down as suppliants of the god； accused
Alexander； because they desired to do him hurt； telling the whole tale how
things were about Helen and about the wrong done to Menalaos； and this
accusation they made not only to the priests but also to the warden of this
river…mouth； whose name was Thonis。 Thonis then having heard their tale
sent forthwith a message to Proteus at Memphis； which said as follows：
〃There hath come a stranger； a Teucrian by race； who hath done in Hellas
an unholy deed； for he hath deceived the wife of his own host； and is come
hither bringing with him this woman herself and very much wealth； having
been carried out of his way by winds to thy land。 Shall we then allow him
to sail out unharmed； or shall we first take away from him that which he
brought with him？〃 In reply to this Proteus sent back a messenger who
said thus： 〃Seize this man； whosoever he may be； who has done impiety to
his own host； and bring him away into my presence that I may know what
he will find to say。〃 Hearing this； Thonis seized Alexander and detained
his ships； and after that he brought the man himself up to Memphis and
with him Helen and the wealth he had； and also in addition to them the
suppliants。 So when all had been conveyed up thither； Proteus began to
ask Alexander who he was and from whence he was voyaging； and he
both recounted to him his descent and told him the name of his native land；
and moreover related of his voyage； from whence he was sailing。 After
this Proteus asked him whence he had taken Helen； and when Alexander
went astray n his account and did not speak the truth； those who had
become suppliants convicted him of falsehood； relating in full the whole
tale of the wrong done。 At length Proteus declared to them this sentence；
saying； 〃Were it not that I count it a matter of great moment not to slay
any of those strangers who being driven from their course by winds have
come to my land hitherto； I should have taken vengeance on thee on behalf
of the man of Hellas； seeing that thou； most base of men； having received
from him hospitality； didst work against him a most impious deed。 For
thou didst go in to the wife of thine own host； and even this was not
enough for thee； but thou didst stir her up with desire and hast gone away
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with her like a thief。 Moreover not even this by itself was enough for thee；
but thou art come hither with plunder taken from the house of thy host。
Now therefore depart； seeing that I have counted it of great moment not to
be a slayer of strangers。 This woman indeed and the wealth which thou
hast I will not allow thee to carry away； but I shall keep them safe for the
Hellene who was thy host； until he come himself and desire to carry them
off to his home； to thyself however and thy fellow…voyagers I proclaim
that ye depart from your anchoring within three days and go from my land
to some other； and if not； that ye will be dealt with as enemies。〃
This the priests said was the manner of Helen's coming to Proteus； and
I suppose that Homer also had heard this story； but since it was not so
suitable to the composition of his poem as the other which he followed； he
dismissed it finally； making it clear at the same time that he was
acquainted with that story also： and according to the manner in which he
described the wanderings of Alexander in the