按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Egypt： for that it has come from the Barbarians I find by inquiry is true；
and I am of opinion that most probably it has come from Egypt； because；
except in the case of Poseidon and the Dioscuroi （in accordance with that
which I have said before）； and also of Hera and Hestia and Themis and the
Charites and Nereids； the Egyptians say themselves： but as for the gods
whose names they profess that they do not know； these I think received
their naming from the Pelasgians； except Poiseidon； but about this god the
Hellenes learnt from the Libyans； for no people except the Libyans have
had the name of Poseidon from the first and have paid honour to this god
always。 Nor； it may be added； have the Egyptians any custom of
worshipping heroes。 These observances then； and others besides these
which I shall mention； the Hellenes have adopted from the Egyptians； but
to make； as they do the images of Hermes with the /phallos/ they have
learnt not from the Egyptians but from the Pelasgians； the custom having
been received by the Athenians first of all the Hellenes and from these by
the rest； for just at the time when the Athenians were beginning to rank
among the Hellenes； the Pelasgians became dwellers with them in their
land； and from this very cause it was that they began to be counted as
Hellenes。 Whosoever has been initiated in the mysteries of the Cabeiroi；
which the Samothrakians perform having received them from the
Pelasgians； that man knows the meaning of my speech； for these very
Pelasgians who became dwellers with the Athenians used to dwell before
27
… Page 28…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
that time in Samothrake； and from them the Samothrakians received their
mysteries。 So then the Athenians were the first of the Hellenes who made
the images of Hermes with the /phallos/； having learnt from the Pelasgians；
and the Pelasgians told a sacred story about it； which is set forth in the
mysteries in Samothrake。 Now the Pelasgians formerly were wont to make
all their sacrifices calling upon the gods in prayer； as I know from that
which I heard at Dodona； but they gave no title or name to any of them；
for they had not yet heard any； but they called them gods from some such
notion as this； that they had set in order all things and so had the
distribution of everything。 Afterwards when much time had elapsed； they
learnt from Egypt the names of the gods； all except Dionysos； for his name
they learnt long afterwards； and after a time the Pelasgians consulted the
Oracle at Dodona about the names； for this prophetic seat is accounted to
be the most ancient of the Oracles which are among the Hellenes； and at
that time it was the only one。 So when the Pelasgians asked the Oracle at
Dodona whether they should adopt the names which had come from the
Barbarians； the Oracle in reply bade them make use of the names。 From
this time they sacrificed using the names of the gods； and from the
Pelasgians the Hellenes afterwards received them： but when the several
gods had their birth； or whether they all were from the beginning； and of
what form they are； they did not learn till yesterday； as it were； or the day
before： for Hesiod and Homer I suppose were four hundred years before
my time and not more； and these are they who made a theogony for the
Hellenes and gave the titles to the gods and distributed to them honours
and arts； and set forth their forms： but the poets who are said to have been
before these men were really in my opinion after them。 Of these things the
first are said by the priestesses of Dodona； and the latter things； those
namely which have regard to Hesiod and Homer； by myself。
As regards the Oracles both that among the Hellenes and that in Libya；
the Egyptians tell the following tale。 The priests of the Theban Zeus told
me that two women in the service of the temple had been carried away
from Thebes by Phenicians； and that they had heard that one of them had
been sold to go into Libya and the other to the Hellenes； and these women；
they said； were they who first founded the prophetic seats among the
28
… Page 29…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
nations which have been named： and when I inquired whence they knew
so perfectly of this tale which they told； they said in reply that a great
search had been made by the priests after these women； and that they had
not been able to find them； but they had heard afterwards this tale about
them which they were telling。 This I heard from the priests at Thebes； and
what follows is said by the prophetesses of Dodona。 They say that two
black doves flew from Thebes in Egypt； and came one of them to Libya
and the other to their land。 And this latter settled upon an oak…tree and
spoke with human voice； saying that it was necessary that a prophetic seat
of Zeus should be established in that place； and they supposed that that
was of the gods which was announced to them； and made one accordingly：
and the dove which went away to the Libyans； they say； bade the Libyans
make an Oracle of Ammon； and this also is of Zeus。 The priestesses of
Dodona told me these things； of whom the eldest was named Promeneia；
the next after her Timarete； and the youngest Nicandra； and the other
people of Dodona who were engaged about the temple gave accounts
agreeing with theirs。 I however have an opinion about the matter as
follows：If the Phenicians did in truth carry away the consecrated women
and sold one of them into Libya and the other into Hellas； I suppose that in
the country now called Hellas； which was formerly called Pelasgia； this
woman was sold into the land of the Thesprotians； and then being a slave
there she set up a sanctuary of Zeus under a real oak…tree； as indeed it was
natural that being an attendant of the sanctuary of Zeus at Thebes； she
should there； in the place to which she had come； have a memory of him；
and after this； when she got understanding of the Hellenic tongue； she
established an Oracle； and she reported； I suppose； that her sister had been
sold in Libya by the same Phenicians by whom she herself had been sold。
Moreover； I think that the women were called doves by the people of
Dodona for the reason that they were barbarians and because it seemed to
them that they uttered voice like birds； but after a time （they say） the dove
spoke with human voice； that is when the woman began to speak so that
they could understand； but so long as she spoke a Barbarian tongue she
seemed to them to be uttering voice like a bird： for if it had been really a
dove； how could it speak with human voice？ And in saying that the dove
29
… Page 30…
AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT
was black； they indicate that the woman was Egyptian。 The ways of
delivering oracles too at Thebes in Egypt and at Dodona closely resemble
each other； as it happens； and also the method of divination by victims has
come from Egypt。
Moreover； it is true also that the Egyptians were the first of men who
made solemn assemblies and processions and approaches to the temples；
and from them the Hellenes have learnt them； and my evidence for this is
that the Egyptian celebrations of these have been held from a very ancient
time； whereas the Hellenic were introduced but lately。 The Egyptians hold
their solemn assemblies not once in the year but often； especially and with
the greatest zeal and devotion at the city of Bubastis for Artemis； and next
at Busiris for Isis； for in this last… named city there is a very great temple
of Isis； and this city stands in the middle of the Delta of Egypt； now Isis is
in the tongue of the Hellenes Demeter： thirdly； they have a solemn
assembly at the city of Sais for Athene； fourthly at Heliopolis for the Sun
（Helios）； fifthly at the city of Buto in honour of Leto； and sixthly at the
city of Papremis for Ares。 Now； when they are coming to the city of
Bubastis they do as follows