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al close with this people； but when a man grows very old； all his kinsfolk collect together and offer him up in sacrifice； offering at the same time some cattle also。 After the sacrifice they boil the flesh and feast on it； and those who thus end their days are reckoned the happiest。 If a man dies of disease they do not eat him； but bury him in the ground； bewailing his ill…fortune that he did not come to be sacrificed。 They sow no grain； but live on their herds； and on fish； of which there is great plenty in the Araxes。 Milk is what they chiefly drink。 The only god they worship is the sun； and to him they offer the horse in sacrifice； under the notion of giving to the swiftest of the gods the swiftest of all mortal creatures。 The Second Book； Entitled EUTERPE
On the death of Cyrus； Cambyses his son by Cassandane daughter of Pharnaspes took the kingdom。 Cassandane had died in the lifetime of Cyrus； who had made a great mourning for her at her death； and had commanded all the subjects of his empire to observe the like。 Cambyses； the son of this lady and of Cyrus； regarding the Ionian and Aeolian Greeks as vassals of his father； took them with him in his expedition against Egypt among the other nations which owned his sway。 Now the Egyptians； before the reign of their king Psammetichus； believed themselves to be the most ancient of mankind。 Since Psammetichus； however； made an attempt to discover who were actually the primitive race； they have been of opinion that while they surpass all other nations； the Phrygians surpass them in antiquity。 This king； finding it impossible to make out by dint of inquiry what men were the most ancient； contrived the following method of discovery：… He took two children of the common sort； and gave them over to a herdsman to bring up at his folds； strictly charging him to let no one utter a word in their presence； but to keep them in a sequestered cottage； and from time to time introduce goats to their apartment； see that they got their fill of milk； and in all other respects look after them。 His object herein was to know； after the indistinct babblings of infancy were over； what word they would first articulate。 It happened as he had anticipated。 The herdsman obeyed his orders for two years； and at the end of that time； on his one day opening the door of their room and going in； the children both ran up to him with outstretched arms； and distinctly said 〃Becos。〃 When this first happened the herdsman took no notice； but afterwards when he observed； on coming often to see after them； that the word was constantly in their mouths； he informed his lord； and by his command brought the children into his presence。 Psammetichus then himself heard them say the word； upon which he proceeded to make inquiry what people there was who called anything 〃becos；〃 and hereupon he learnt that 〃becos〃 was the Phrygian name for bread。 In consideration of this circumstance the Egyptians yielded their claims； and admitted the greater antiquity of the Phrygians。 That these were the real facts I learnt at Memphis from the priests of Vulcan。 The Greeks； among other foolish tales； relate that Psammetichus had the children brought up by women whose tongues he had previously cut out； but the priests said their bringing up was such as I have stated above。 I got much other information also from conversation with these priests while I was at Memphis； and I even went to Heliopolis and to Thebes； expressly to try whether the priests of those places would agree in their accounts with the priests at Memphis。 The Heliopolitans have the reputation of being the best skilled in history of all the Egyptians。 What they told me concerning their religion it is not my intention to repeat； except the names of their deities； which I believe all men know equally。 If I relate anything else concerning these matters； it will only be when compelled to do so by the course of my narrative。 Now with regard to mere human matters； the accounts which they gave； and in which all agreed； were the following。 The Egyptians； they said； were the first to discover the solar year； and to portion out its course into twelve parts。 They obtained this knowledge from the stars。 （To my mind they contrive their year much more cleverly than the Greeks； for these last every other year intercalate a whole month； but the Egyptians； dividing the year into twelve months of thirty days each； add every year a space of five days besides； whereby the circuit of the seasons is made to return with uniformity。） The Egyptians； they went on to affirm； first brought into use the names of the twelve gods； which the Greeks adopted from them； and first erected altars； images； and temples to the gods； and also first engraved upon stone the figures of animals。 In most of these cases they proved to me that what they said was true。 And they told me that the first man who ruled over Egypt was Min； and that in his time all Egypt； except the Thebaic canton； was a marsh； none of the land below Lake Moeris then showing itself above the surface of the water。 This is a distance of seven days' sail from the sea up the river。 What they said of their country seemed to me very reasonable。 For any one who sees Egypt； without having heard a word about it before； must perceive； if he has only common powers of observation； that the Egypt to which the Greeks go in their ships is an acquired country； the gift of the river。 The same is true of the land above the lake； to the distance of three days' voyage； concerning which the Egyptians say nothing； but which exactly the same kind of country。 The following is the general character of the region。 In the first place； on approaching it by sea； when you are still a day's sail from the land； if you let down a sounding…line you will bring up mud； and find yourself in eleven fathoms' water； which shows that the soil washed down by the stream extends to that distance。 The length of the country along shore； according to the bounds that we assign to Egypt； namely from the Plinthinetic gulf to Lake Serbonis； which extends along the base of Mount Casius； is sixty schoenes。 The nations whose territories are scanty measure them by the fathom； those whose bounds are less confined； by the furlong； those who have an ample territory； by the parasang； but if men have a country which is very vast； they measure it by the schoene。 Now the length of the parasang is thirty furlongs； but the schoene； which is an Egyptian measure； is sixty furlongs。 Thus the coastline of Egypt would extend a length of three thousand six hundred furlongs。 From the coast inland as far as Heliopolis the breadth of Egypt is considerable； the country is flat； without springs； and full of swamps。 The length of the route from the sea up to Heliopolis is almost exactly the same as that of the road which runs from the altar of the twelve gods at Athens to the temple of Olympian Jove at Pisa。 If a person made a calculation he would find but a very little difference between the two routes； not more than about fifteen furlongs； for the road from Athens to Pisa falls short of fifteen hundred furlongs by exactly fifteen； whereas the distance of Heliopolis from the sea is just the round number。 As one proceeds beyond Heliopolis up the country； Egypt becomes narrow； the Arabian range of hills； which has a direction from north to south； shutting it in upon the one side； and the Libyan range upon the other。 The former ridge runs on without a break； and stretches away to the sea called the Erythraean； it contains the quarries whence the stone was cut for the pyramids of Memphis： and this is the point where it ceases its first direction； and bends away in the manner above indicated。 In its greatest length from east to west it is； as I have been informed； a distance of two months' journey towards the extreme east its skirts produce frankincense。 Such are the chief features of this range。 On the Libyan side； the other ridge whereon the pyramids stand is rocky and covered with sand； its direction is the same as that of the Arabian ridge in the first part of its course。 Above Heliopolis； then； there is no great breadth of territory for such a country as Egypt； but during four days' sail Egypt is narrow； the valley between the two ranges is a level plain； and seemed to me to be； at the narrowest point； not more than two hundred furlongs across from the Arabian to the Libyan hills。 Above this point Egypt again widens。 From Heliopolis to Thebes is nine days' sail up the river； the distance is eighty…one schoenes； or 4860 furlongs。 If we now put together the several measurements of the country we shall find that the distance along shore is； as I stated above； 3600 furlongs； and the distance from the sea inland to Thebes 6120 furlongs。 Further； it is a distance of eighteen hundred furlongs from Thebes to the place called Elephantine。 The greater portion of the country above described seemed to me to be； as the priests declared； a tract gained by the inhabitants。 For the whole region above Memphis； lying between the two ranges of hills that have been spoken of； appeared evidently to have formed at one time a gulf of the sea。 It resembles （to co