an account of egypt(埃及记)-第16章
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upon another machine； for as many as were the courses of the steps； so
many machines there were also； or perhaps they transferred one and the
same machine； made so as easily to be carried； to each stage successively；
in order that they might take up the stones； for let it be told in both ways；
according as it is reported。 However that may be the highest parts of it
were finished first； and afterwards they proceeded to finish that which
came next to them； and lastly they finished the parts of it near the ground
and the lowest ranges。 On the pyramid it is declared in Egyptian writing
how much was spent on radishes and onions and leeks for the workmen；
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and if I rightly remember that which the interpreter said in reading to me
this inscription； a sum of one thousand six hundred talents of silver was
spent； and if this is so； how much besides is likely to have been expended
upon the iron with which they worked； and upon bread and clothing for
the workmen； seeing that they were building the works for the time which
has been mentioned and were occupied for no small time besides； as I
suppose； in the cutting and bringing of the stones and in working at the
excavation under the ground？ Cheops moreover came； they said； to such a
pitch of wickedness； that being in want of money he caused his own
daughter to sit in the stews； and ordered her to obtain from those who
came a certain amount of money （how much it was they did not tell me）：
and she not only obtained the sum appointed by her father； but also she
formed a design for herself privately to leave behind her a memorial； and
she requested each man who came in to give her one stone upon her
building： and of these stones； they told me； the pyramid was built which
stands in front of the great pyramid in the middle of the three； each side
being one hundred and fifty feet in length。
This Cheops； the Egyptians said； reigned fifty years； and after he was
dead his brother Chephren succeeded to the kingdom。 This king followed
the same manner of dealing as the other； both in all the rest and also in that
he made a pyramid； not indeed attaining to the measurements of that
which was built by the former （this I know； having myself also measured
it）； and moreover there are no underground chambers beneath nor does a
channel come from the Nile flowing to this one as to the other； in which
the water coming through a conduit built for it flows round an island
within； where they say that Cheops himself is laid： but for a basement he
built the first course of Ethiopian stone of divers colours； and this pyramid
he made forty feet lower than the other as regards size； building it close to
the great pyramid。 These stand both upon the same hill； which is about a
hundred feet high。 And Chephren they said reigned fifty and six years。
Here then they reckon one hundred and six years； during which they say
that there was nothing but evil for the Egyptians； and the temples were
kept closed and not opened during all that time。 These kings the Egyptians
by reason of their hatred of them are not very willing to name； nay； they
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even call the pyramids after the name of Philitis the shepherd； who at that
time pastured flocks in those regions。 After him； they said； Mykerinos
became king over Egypt； who was the son of Cheops； and to him his
father's deeds were displeasing； and he both opened the temples and gave
liberty to the people； who were ground down to the last extremity of evil；
to return to their own business and to their sacrifices： also he gave
decisions of their causes juster than those of all the other kings besides。 In
regard to this then they commend this king more than all the other kings
who had arisen in Egypt before him； for he not only gave good decisions；
but also when a man complained of the decision； he gave him recompense
from his own goods and thus satisfied his desire。 But while Mykerinos
was acting mercifully to his subjects and practising this conduct which has
been said； calamities befell him； of which the first was this； namely that
his daughter died； the only child whom he had in his house： and being
above measure grieved by that which had befallen him； and desiring to
bury his daughter in a manner more remarkable than others； he made a
cow of wood； which he covered over with gold； and then within it he
buried this daughter who as I said； had died。 This cow was not covered up
in the ground； but it might be seen even down to my own time in the city
of Sais； placed within the royal palace in a chamber which was greatly
adorned； and they offer incense of all kinds before it every day； and each
night a lamp burns beside it all through the night。 Near this cow in another
chamber stand images of the concubines of Mykerinos； as the priests at
Sais told me； for there are in fact colossal wooden statues； in number
about twenty； made with naked bodies； but who they are I am not able to
say； except only that which is reported。 Some however tell about this cow
and the colossal statues the following tale； namely that Mykerinos was
enamoured of his own daughter and afterwards ravished her； and upon this
they say that the girl strangled herself for grief； and he buried her in this
cow； and her mother cut off the hands of the maids who had betrayed the
daughter to her father； wherefore now the images of them have suffered
that which the maids suffered in their life。 In thus saying they speak idly；
as it seems to me； especially in what they say about the hands of the
statues； for as to this； even we ourselves saw that their hands had dropped
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off from lapse of time； and they were to be seen still lying at their feet
even down to my time。 The cow is covered up with a crimson robe； except
only the head and the neck； which are seen； overlaid with gold very
thickly； and between the horns there is the disc of the sun figured in gold。
The cow is not standing up but kneeling； and in size is equal to a large
living cow。 Every year it is carried forth from the chamber； at those times；
I say； the Egyptians beat themselves for that god whom I will not name
upon occasion of such a matter； at these times； I say； they also carry forth
the cow to the light of day； for they say that she asked of her father
Mykerinos； when she was dying； that she might look upon the sun once in
the year。
After the misfortune of his daughter it happened； they said； secondly to
this king as follows：An oracle came to him from the city of Buto； saying
that he was destined to live but six years more； in the seventh year to end
his life： and he being indignant at it sent to the Oracle a reproach against
the god； making complaint in reply that whereas his father and uncle； who
had shut up the temples and had not only not remembered the gods； but
also had been destroyers of men； had lived for a long time； he himself；
who practised piety； was destined to end his life so soon： and from the
Oracle came a second message； which said that it was for this very cause
that he was bringing his life to a swift close； for he had not done that
which it was appointed for him to do； since it was destined that Egypt
should suffer evils for a hundred and fifty years； and the two kings who
had arisen before him had perceived this； but he had not。 Mykerinos
having heard this； and considering that this sentence had passed upon him
beyond recall； procured many lamps； and whenever night came on he
lighted these and began to drink and take his pleasure； ceasing neither by
day nor by night； and he went about to the fen…country and to the woods
and wherever he heard there were the most suitable places of enjoyment。
This he devised （having a mind to prove that the Oracle spoke falsely） in
order that he might have twelve years of life instead of six； the nights
being turned into days。
This king also left behind him a pyramid； much smaller than that of his
father； of a square shape and measuring on each side three hundred feet
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lacking twenty； built moreover of Ethiopian stone up to half the height。
This pyramid some of the Hellenes say was built by the courtesan
Rhodopis； not therein speaking rightly： and besides this it is evident to me
that they who speak thus do not even know who Rhodopis was； for
otherwise they would not have attributed to her the building of a pyramid
like this； on which have been spent （so to speak） innumerable thousands of
talents： moreover they do not know that Rhodopis flourished in the reign
of Amasis； and not in this king's reign； for Rhodopis lived very many
years later than the kings who left behind them these pyramids。 By descent
she was of Thrace； and she was a slave of Iadmon the son of
Hephaistopolis a Samian； and a fellow…slave of Esop the maker of fables；
for he too was once the slave of Iadmon； as was proved especially by this
fact； namely that when the people of Delphi repeatedly made proclamation
in accordance with an oracle； to find some one who would take up the
blood…money for the death of Esop； no one else appeared； but at length the
grandson of Iadmon； called Iadmon also； took it up； and thus it is showed
that Esop too was the slave of Iadmon。 As for Rhodopis； she came to
Egypt brought by Xanthes the Samian； and having come thither to exercise
