The histories of Herodotus;

,DOTUS—BOOK II, EUTERPE [44-47
~._~^o uuilt by the Phoenicians, who, having set sail in
search of Europa, founded Thasos ; and this occurred five
generations before Hercules, the son of Amphitryon, appeared
in Greece. The researches then that I have made evidently
prove that Hercules is a god of great antiquity, and, therefore,
those Grecians appear to me to have acted most correctly
who have built two kinds of temples sacred to Hercules,
and who sacrificed to one as an immortal, under the name of
Olympian/ and paid honour to the other as a hero. But the
Grecians say many other things on this subject inconsiderately
; for instance, this is a silly story of theirs which they
tell of Hercules : that when he arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians
having crowned him with a garland, led him in procession,
as designing to sacrifice him to Jupiter, and that for some
time he remained quiet, but when they began the preparatory
ceremonies upon him at the altar, he set about defending him-
self, and slew every one of them. Now the Greeks who tell
this story appear to me to be utterly ignorant of the character
and customs of the Egyptians. For how can they who are
forbidden to sacrifice any kind of animal, except swine, and
such bulls and calves as are without blemish, and geese, sacrifice
human beings? Moreover, since Hercules was but one,
and besides a mere man, as they confess, how is it probable
that he should slay many thousands? And in thus speaking
of them may I meet with indulgence both from gods and
heroes.
The reason why the Egyptians above mentioned do not
sacrifice the goat, either male or female, is as follows : The
Mendesians consider Pan one of the eight gods, and they
say that these eight existed prior to the twelve gods. And
indeed their painters and sculptors represent Pan with the
face and legs of a goat, as the Grecians do: not that they
imagine this to be his real form, for they think him like other
gods ; but why they represent him in this way I had rather
not mention. The Mendesians pay reverence to all goats,
and more to the males than to the females (and the goatherds
who tend them receive greater honour), and particularly
one he-goat, on whose death public mourning is observed
throughout the whole Mendesian district. In the language
of Egypt, both a goat and Pan are called Mendes. The Egyptians
consider the pig to be an impure beast, and, therefore,
if a man in passing by a pig should touch him only with
his garments, he forthwith goes to the river and plunges in
and in the next place, swineherds, although native Egyptians
are the only men who are not allowed to enter any of their
: