an account of egypt(埃及记)-第21章
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Egyptians were distinguished from all other men； so was he from the other
Egyptians。
After these things they said this king went down alive to that place
which by the Hellenes is called Hades； and there played at dice with
Demeter； and in some throws he overcame her and in others he was
overcome by her； and he came back again having as a gift from her a
handkerchief of gold： and they told me that because of the going down of
Rhampsinitos the Egyptians after he came back celebrated a feast； which I
know of my own knowledge also that they still observe even to my time；
but whether it is for this cause that they keep the feast or for some other； I
am not able to say。 However； the priests weave a robe completely on the
very day of the feast； and forthwith they bind up the eyes of one of them
with a fillet； and having led him with the robe to the way by which one
goes to the temple of Demeter； they depart back again themselves。 This
priest； they say； with his eyes bound up is led by two wolves to the temple
of Demeter； which is distant from the city twenty furlongs； and then
afterwards the wolves lead him back again from the temple to the same
spot。 Now as to the tales told by the Egyptians； any man may accept them
to whom such things appear credible； as for me； it is to be understood
throughout the whole of the history that I write by hearsay that which is
reported by the people in each place。 The Egyptians say that Demeter and
Dionysos are rulers of the world below； and the Egyptians are also the first
who reported the doctrine that the soul of man is immortal； and that when
the body dies； the soul enters into another creature which chances then to
be coming to the birth； and when it has gone the round of all the creatures
of land and sea and of the air； it enters again into a human body as it
comes to the birth； and that it makes this round in a period of three
thousand years。 This doctrine certain Hellenes adopted； some earlier and
some later； as if it were of their own invention； and of these men I know
the names but I abstain from recording them。
Down to the time when Rhampsinitos was king； they told me there
was in Egypt nothing but orderly rule； and Egypt prospered greatly； but
after him Cheops became king over them and brought them to every kind
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of evil： for he shut up all the temples； and having first kept them from
sacrifices there； he then bade all the Egyptians work for him。 So some
were appointed to draw stones from the stone…quarries in the Arabian
mountains to the Nile； and others he ordered to receive the stones after
they had been carried over the river in boats； and to draw them to those
which are called the Libyan mountains； and they worked by a hundred
thousand men at a time； for each three months continually。 Of this
oppression there passed ten years while the causeway was made by which
they drew the stones； which causeway they built； and it is a work not much
less； as it appears to me； than the pyramid； for the length of it is five
furlongs and the breadth ten fathoms and the height； where it is highest；
eight fathoms； and it is made of stone smoothed and with figures carved
upon it。 For this they said； the ten years were spent； and for the
underground he caused to be made as sepulchral chambers for himself in
an island； having conducted thither a channel from the Nile。 For the
making of the pyramid itself there passed a period of twenty years； and the
pyramid is square； each side measuring eight hundred feet； and the height
of it is the same。 It is built of stone smoothed and fitted together in the
most perfect manner； not one of the stones being less than thirty feet in
length。 This pyramid was made after the manner of steps which some
called 〃rows〃 and others 〃bases〃： and when they had first made it thus；
they raised the remaining stones with machines made of short pieces of
timber； raising them first from the ground to the first stage of the steps；
and when the stone got up to this it was placed upon another machine
standing on the first stage； and so from this it was drawn to the second
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
