an account of egypt(埃及记)-第8章
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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
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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：they sail men and women together； and a
great multitude of each sex in every boat； and some of the women have
rattles and rattle with them； while some of the men play the flute during
the whole time of the voyage； and the rest； both women and men； sing and
clap their hands； and when as they sail they come opposite to any city on
the way they bring the boat to land； and some of the women continue to do
as I have said； others cry aloud and jeer at the women in that city； some
dance； and some stand up and pull up their garments。 This they do by
every city along the river…bank； and when they come to Bubastis they hold
festival celebrating great sacrifices； and more wine of grapes is consumed
upon that festival than during the whole of the rest of the year。 To this
place （so say the natives） they come together year by year even to the
number of seventy myriads of men and women； besides children。 Thus it
is done here； and how they celebrate the festival in honour of Isis at the
city of Busiris has been told by me before： for； as I said； they beat
themselves in mourning after the sacrifice； all of them both men and
women； very many myriads of people； but for whom they beat themselves
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it is not permitted to me by religion to say： and so many as there are of the
Carians dwelling in Egypt do this even more than the Egyptians
themselves； inasmuch as they cut their foreheads also with knives； and by
this it is manifested that they are strangers and not Egyptians。 At the times
when they gather together at the city of Sais for their sacrifices； on a
certain night they all kindle lamps many in number in the open air round
about the houses； now the lamps are saucers full of salt and oil mixed； and
the wick floats by itself on the surface； and this burns during the whole
night； and to the festival is given the name /Lychnocaia/ （the lighting of
lamps）。 Moreover those of the Egyptians who have not come to this
solemn assembly observe the night of the festival and themselves also
light lamps all of them； and thus not in Sais alone are they lighted； but
over all Egypt： and as to the reason why light and honour are allotted to
this night； about this there is a sacred story told。 To Heliopolis and Buto
they go year by year and do sacrifice only： but at Papremis they do
sacrifice and worship as elsewhere； and besides that； when the sun begins
to go down while some few of the priests are occupied with the image of
the god； the greater number of them stand in the entrance of the temple
with wooden clubs； and other persons to the number of more than a
thousand men with purpose to perform a vow； these also having all of
them staves of wood； stand in a body opposite to those： and the image；
which is in a small shrine of wood covered over with gold； they take out
on the day before to another sacred building。 The few then who have been
left about the image； draw a wain with four wheels； which bears the shrine
and the image that is within the shrine； and the other priests standing in the
gateway try to prevent it from entering； and the men who are under a vow
come to the assistance of the god and strike them； while the others defend
themselves。 Then there comes to be a hard fight with staves； and they
break one another's heads； and I am of opinion that many even die of the
wounds they receive； the Egyptians however told me that no one died。
This solemn assembly the people of the place say that they established for
the following reason：the mother of Ares； they say； used to dwell in this
temple； and Ares； having been brought up away from her； when he grew
up came thither desiring to visit his mother； and the attendants of his
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mother's temple； not having seen him before； did not permit him to pass in；
but kept him away； and he brought men to help him from another city and
handled roughly the attendants of the temple； and entered to visit his
mother。 Hence； they say； this exchange of blows has become the custom in
honour of Ares upon his festival。
The Egyptians were the first who made it a point of religion not to lie
with women in temples； nor to enter into temples after going away from
women without first bathing： for almost all other men except the
Egyptians and the Hellenes lie with women in temples and enter into a
temple after going away from women without bathing； since they hold that
there is no difference in this respect between men and beasts： for they say
that they see beasts and the various kinds of birds coupling together both
in the temples and in the sacred enclosures of the gods； if then this were
not pleasing to the god； the beasts would not do so。
Thus do these defend that which they do； which by me is disallowed：
but the Egyptians are excessively careful in their observances； both in
other matters which concern the sacred rites and also in those which
follow：Egypt； though it borders upon Libya； does not very much abound
in wild animals； but such as they have are one and all accounted by them
sacred； some of them living with men and others not。 But if I should say
for what reasons the sacred animals have been thus dedicated； I should fall
into discourse of matters pertaining to the gods； of which I most desire not
to speak； and what I have actually said touching slightly upon them； I said
because I was constrained by necessity。 About these animals there is a
custom of this kind： persons have been appointed of the Egyptians； both
men and women； to provide the food for each kind of beast separately； and
their office goes down from father to son； and those who dwell in the
various cities perform vows to them thus； that is； when they make a vow to
the god to whom the animal belongs； they shave the head of their children
either the whole or the half or the third part of it； and then set the hair in
the balance against silver； and whatever it weighs； this the man gives to
the person who provides for the animal
