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not traced my descent）。 They led me into the sanctuary of the temple；
which is of great size； and they counted up the number； showing colossal
wooden statues in number the same as they said； for each chief…priest there
sets up in his lifetime an image of himself： accordingly the priests；
counting and showing me these； declared to me that each one of them was
a son succeeding his own father； and they went up through the series of
images from the image of the one who had died last； until they had
declared this of the whole number。 And when Hecataios had traced his
descent and connected his family with a god in the sixteenth generation；
they traced a descent in opposition to his； besides their numbering； not
accepting it from him that a man had been born from a god； and they
traced their counter…descent thus； saying that each one of the statues had
been /piromis/ son of /piromis/； until they had declared this of the whole
three hundred and forty…five statues； each one being surnamed /piromis/；
and neither with a god nor a hero did they connect their descent。 Now
/piromis/ means in the tongue of Hellas 〃honourable and good man。〃 From
their declaration then it followed； that they of whom the images were had
been of form like this； and far removed from being gods： but in the time
before these men they said that gods were the rulers in Egypt； not
mingling with men； and that of these always one had power at a time； and
the last of them who was king over Egypt was Oros the son of Osiris；
whom the Hellenes call Apollo： he was king over Egypt last； having
deposed Typhon。 Now Osiris in the tongue of Hellas is Dionysos。
Among the Hellenes Heracles and Dionysos and Pan are accounted the
lastest…born of the gods； but with the Egyptians Pan is a very ancient god；
and he is one of those which are called eight gods； while Heracles is of the
second rank； who are called the twelve gods； and Dionysos is of the third
rank； namely of those who were born of the twelve gods。 Now as to
Heracles I have shown already how many years old he is according to the
Egyptians themselves； reckoning down to the reign of Amasis； and Pan is
said to have existed for yet more years than these； and Dionysos for the
smallest number of years as compared with the others； and even for this
last they reckon down to the reign of Amasis fifteen thousand years。 This
the Egyptians say that they know for a certainty； since they always kept a
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reckoning and wrote down the years as they came。 Now the Dionysos who
is said to have been born of Semele the daughter of Cadmos； was born
about sixteen hundred years before my time； and Heracles who was the
son of Alcmene； about nine hundred years； and that Pan who was born of
Penelope； for of her and of Hermes Pan is said by the Hellenes to have
been born； came into being later than the wars of Troy； about eight
hundred years before my time。 Of these two accounts every man may
adopt that one which he shall find the more credible when he hears it。 I
however； for my part； have already declared my opinion about them。 For if
these also； like Heracles the son of Amphitryon； had appeared before all
men's eyes and had lived their lives to old age in Hellas； I mean Dionysos
the son of Semele and Pan the son of Penelope； then one would have said
that these also had been born mere men； having the names of those gods
who had come into being long before： but as it is； with regard to Dionysos
the Hellenes say that as soon as he was born Zeus sewed him up in his
thigh and carried him to Nysa； which is above Egypt in the land of
Ethiopia； and as to Pan； they cannot say whither he went after he was born。
Hence it has become clear to me that the Hellenes learnt the names of
these gods later than those of the other gods； and trace their descent as if
their birth occurred at the time when they first learnt their names。
Thus far then the history is told by the Egyptians themselves； but I will
now recount that which other nations also tell； and the Egyptians in
agreement with the others； of that which happened in this land： and there
will be added to this also something of that which I have myself seen。
Being set free after the reign of the priest of Hephaistos； the Egyptians；
since they could not live any time without a king； set up over them twelve
kings； having divided all Egypt into twelve parts。 These made
intermarriages with one another and reigned； making agreement that they
would not put down one another by force； nor seek to get an advantage
over one another； but would live in perfect friendship： and the reason why
they made these agreements； guarding them very strongly from violation；
was this； namely that an oracle had been given to them at first when they
began to exercise their rule； that he of them who should pour a libation
with a bronze cup in the temple of Hephaistos； should be king of all Egypt
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（for they used to assemble together in all the temples）。 Moreover they
resolved to join all together and leave a memorial of themselves； and
having so resolved they caused to be made a labyrinth； situated a little
above the lake of Moiris and nearly opposite to that which is called the
City of Crocodiles。 This I saw myself； and I found it greater than words
can say。 For if one should put together and reckon up all the buildings and
all the great works produced by Hellenes； they would prove to be inferior
in labour and expense to this labyrinth； though it is true that both the
temple at Ephesos and that at Samos are works worthy of note。 The
pyramids also were greater than words can say； and each one of them is
equal to many works of the Hellenes； great as they may be； but the
labyrinth surpasses even the pyramids。 It has twelve courts covered in；
with gates facing one another； six upon the North side and six upon the
South； joining on one to another； and the same wall surrounds them all
outside； and there are in it two kinds of chambers； the one kind below the
ground and the other above upon these； three thousand in number； of each
kind fifteen hundred。 The upper set of chambers we ourselves saw； going
through them； and we tell of them having looked upon them with our own
eyes； but the chambers under ground we heard about only； for the
Egyptians who had charge of them were not willing on any account to
show them； saying that here were the sepulchres of the kings who had first
built this labyrinth and of the sacred crocodiles。 Accordingly we speak of
the chambers below by what we received from hearsay； while those above
we saw ourselves and found them to be works of more than human
greatness。 For the passages through the chambers； and the goings this way
and that way through the courts； which were admirably adorned； afforded
endless matter for marvel； as we went through from a court to the
chambers beyond it； and from the chambers to colonnades； and from the
colonnades to other rooms； and then from the chambers again to other
courts。 Over the whole of these is a roof made of stone like the walls； and
the walls are covered with figures carved upon them； each court being
surrounded with pillars of white stone fitted together most perfectly； and
at the end of the labyrinth； by the corner of it； there is a pyramid of forty
fathoms； upon which large figures are carved； and to this there is a way
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made under ground。
Such is this labyrinth： but a cause for marvel even greater than this is
afforded by the lake； which is cal