The histories of Herodotus;

I48 HERODOTUS—BOOK II, EUTERPE [169-172
and afterward buried him in his ancestral sepulchre; this is
in the sacred precinct of Minerva, very near the temple, on
the left hand as you enter. The Saitae used to bring all the
kings sprung from this district within the sacred precinct;
however, the tomb of Amasis is further from the temple than
that of Apries and his progenitors, but even this is in the
court of the sacred precinct, consisting of a large stone chamber,
adorned with columns, made in imitation of palm trees,
and with other ornaments ; inside this chamber are placed
folding doors, and within the doors is the sepulchre. At Sais
also, in the sacred precinct of Minerva, behind the chapel and
joining the whole of the wall, is the tomb of one whose name
I consider it impious to divulge on such an occasion. And
in the inclosure stand large stone obelisks, and there is a lake
near, ornamented with a stone margin, formed in a circle,
and in size, as appeared to me, much the same as that in Delos,
which is called the Circular. In this lake they perform by
night the representation of that person's adventures, which
they call mysteries. On these matters, however, though accurately
acquainted with the particulars of them, I must observe
a discreet silence. And respecting the sacred rites of
Ceres, which the Greeks call Thesmophoria, although I am
acquainted with them, I must observe silence except so far
as it is lawful for me to speak of them. The daughters of
Danaus were they who introduced these ceremonies from
Egypt, and taught them to the Pelasgian women: but afterward,
when almost the whole Peloponnese was depopulated
by the Dorians, these rites were lost ; but the Arcadians, who
were the only Peloponnesians left, and not expelled, alone preserved
them.
Apries being thus dethroned, Amasis, who was of the
Saitic district, reigned in his stead ; the name of the city from
which he came was Siuph. At first the Egyptians despised,
and held him in no great estimation, as having been formerly
a private person, and of no illustrious family; but afterward
he conciliated them by his address, without any arrogance.
He had an infinite number of other treasures, and besides a
golden foot-pan, in which Amasis himself, and all his guests,
were accustomed to wash their feet. Having then broken this
in pieces, he had made from it the statue of a god, and placed
it in the most suitable part of the city; and the Egyptians,
flocking to the image, paid it the greatest reverence. But
Amasis, informed of their behaviour, called the Egyptians together,
and explained the matter to them, saying that the statue
was made out of the foot-pan in which the Egyptians formerly