the history-第34章
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ptians ever sow； or eat； if they come up of their own accord； either raw or boiled… the priests will not even endure to look on； since they consider it an unclean kind of pulse。 Instead of a single priest； each god has the attendance of a college； at the head of which is a chief priest； when one of these dies； his son is appointed in his room。 Male kine are reckoned to belong to Epaphus； and are therefore tested in the following manner：… One of the priests appointed for the purpose searches to see if there is a single black hair on the whole body； since in that case the beast is unclean。 He examines him all over； standing on his legs； and again laid upon his back； after which he takes the tongue out of his mouth； to see if it be clean in respect of the prescribed marks （what they are I will mention elsewhere）； he also inspects the hairs of the tail； to observe if they grow naturally。 If the animal is pronounced clean in all these various points； the priest marks him by twisting a piece of papyrus round his horns； and attaching thereto some sealing…clay； which he then stamps with his own signet…ring。 After this the beast is led away； and it is forbidden； under the penalty of death； to sacrifice an animal which has not been marked in this way。 The following is their manner of sacrifice：… They lead the victim； marked with their signet； to the altar where they are about to offer it； and setting the wood alight； pour a libation of wine upon the altar in front of the victim； and at the same time invoke the god。 Then they slay the animal； and cutting off his head； proceed to flay the body。 Next they take the head； and heaping imprecations on it； if there is a market…place and a body of Greek traders in the city； they carry it there and sell it instantly； if； however； there are no Greeks among them； they throw the head into the river。 The imprecation is to this effect：… They pray that if any evil is impending either over those who sacrifice； or over universal Egypt； it may be made to fall upon that head。 These practices； the imprecations upon the heads； and the libations of wine； prevail all over Egypt； and extend to victims of all sorts； and hence the Egyptians will never eat the head of any animal。 The disembowelling and burning are； however； different in different sacrifices。 I will mention the mode in use with respect to the goddess whom they regard as the greatest； and honour with the chiefest festival。 When they have flayed their steer they pray； and when their prayer is ended they take the paunch of the animal out entire； leaving the intestines and the fat inside the body； they then cut off the legs； the ends of the loins； the shoulders； and the neck； and having so done； they fill the body of the steer with clean bread； honey； raisins； figs； frankincense； myrrh； and other aromatics。 Thus filled； they burn the body； pouring over it great quantities of oil。 Before offering the sacrifice they fast； and while the bodies of the victims are being consumed they beat themselves。 Afterwards； when they have concluded this part of the ceremony； they have the other parts of the victim served up to them for a repast。 The male kine； therefore； if clean； and the male calves； are used for sacrifice by the Egyptians universally； but the females they are not allowed to sacrifice； since they are sacred to Isis。 The statue of this goddess has the form of a woman but with horns like a cow； resembling thus the Greek representations of Io； and the Egyptians； one and all； venerate cows much more highly than any other animal。 This is the reason why no native of Egypt； whether man or woman； will give a Greek a kiss； or use the knife of a Greek； or his spit； or his cauldron； or taste the flesh of an ox； known to be pure； if it has been cut with a Greek knife。 When kine die； the following is the manner of their sepulture：… The females are thrown into the river； the males are buried in the suburbs of the towns； with one or both of their horns appearing above the surface of the ground to mark the place。 When the bodies are decayed； a boat comes； at an appointed time； from the island called Prosopitis；… which is a portion of the Delta； nine schoenes in circumference；… and calls at the several cities in turn to collect the bones of the oxen。 Prosopitis is a district containing several cities； the name of that from which the boats come is Atarbechis。 Venus has a temple there of much sanctity。 Great numbers of men go forth from this city and proceed to the other towns； where they dig up the bones； which they take away with them and bury together in one place。 The same practice prevails with respect to the interment of all other cattle… the law so determining； they do not slaughter any of them。 Such Egyptians as possess a temple of the Theban Jove； or live in the Thebaic canton； offer no sheep in sacrifice； but only goats； for the Egyptians do not all worship the same gods； excepting Isis and Osiris； the latter of whom they say is the Grecian Bacchus。 Those； on the contrary； who possess a temple dedicated to Mendes； or belong to the Mendesian canton； abstain from offering goats； and sacrifice sheep instead。 The Thebans； and such as imitate them in their practice； give the following account of the origin of the custom：… 〃Hercules；〃 they say； 〃wished of all things to see Jove； but Jove did not choose to be seen of him。 At length； when Hercules persisted； Jove hit on a device… to flay a ram； and； cutting off his head； hold the head before him； and cover himself with the fleece。 In this guise he showed himself to Hercules。〃 Therefore the Egyptians give their statues of Jupiter the face of a ram： and from them the practice has passed to the Ammonians； who are a joint colony of Egyptians and Ethiopians； speaking a language between the two； hence also； in my opinion； the latter people took their name of Ammonians； since the Egyptian name for Jupiter is Amun。 Such； then； is the reason why the Thebans do not sacrifice rams； but consider them sacred animals。 Upon one day in the year； however； at the festival of Jupiter； they slay a single ram； and stripping off the fleece； cover with it the statue of that god； as he once covered himself； and then bring up to the statue of Jove an image of Hercules。 When this has been done； the whole assembly beat their breasts in mourning for the ram； and afterwards bury him in a holy sepulchre。 The account which I received of this Hercules makes him one of the twelve gods。 Of the other Hercules； with whom the Greeks are familiar； I could hear nothing in any part of Egypt。 That the Greeks； however （those I mean who gave the son of Amphitryon that name）； took the name from the Egyptians； and not the Egyptians from the Greeks； is I think clearly proved； among other arguments； by the fact that both the parents of Hercules； Amphitryon as well as Alcmena； were of Egyptian origin。 Again； the Egyptians disclaim all knowledge of the names of Neptune and the Dioscuri； and do not include them in the number of their gods； but had they adopted the name of any god from the Greeks； these would have been the likeliest to obtain notice； since the Egyptians； as I am well convinced； practised navigation at that time； and the Greeks also were some of them mariners； so that they would have been more likely to know the names of these gods than that of Hercules。 But the Egyptian Hercules is one of their ancient gods。 Seventeen thousand years before the reign of Amasis； the twelve gods were； they affirm； produced from the eight： and of these twelve； Hercules is one。 In the wish to get the best information that I could on these matters； I made a voyage to Tyre in Phoenicia； hearing there was a temple of Hercules at that place； very highly venerated。 I visited the temple； and found it richly adorned with a number of offerings； among which were two pillars； one of pure gold； the other of emerald； shining with great brilliancy at night。 In a conversation which I held with the priests； I inquired how long their temple had been built； and found by their answer that they； too； differed from the Greeks。 They said that the temple was built at the same time that the city was founded； and that the foundation of the city took place two thousand three hu
