herodotus

[20] We do not know whether these measurements are in the largerEgyptian cubit of 21 inches or the smaller (equal to the ordinaryHellenic cubit) of 18½ inches, cp. i. 178.[21] {kai to omoion apodido es auxesin}, "and to yield the like returnas regards increased extent." (Mr. Woods); but the clause may beonly a repetition of the preceding one.[22] i.e. Zeus.[23] i.e. of the district of Thebes, the Thebaïs.[24] {te Libue}.[25] The meaning seems to be this: "The Ionians say that Egypt is theDelta, and at the same time they divide the world into threeparts, Europe, Asia, and Libya, the last two being divided fromone another by the Nile. Thus they have left out Egypt altogether;and either they must add the Delta as a fourth part of the world,or they must give up the Nile as a boundary. If the name Egypt beextended, as it is by the other Hellenes, to the upper course ofthe Nile, it is then possible to retain the Nile as a boundary,saying that half of Egypt belongs to Asia and half to Libya, anddisregarding the Delta (ch. 17). This also would be an error ofreckoning, but less serious than to omit Egypt together." Thereasoning is obscure because it alludes to theories (of Hecataiosand other writers) which are presumed to be already known to thereader.[26] {Katadoupon}, i.e. the first cataract.[27] "and it gives us here, etc." ({parekhomenos}).[28] {logo de eipein thoumasiotere}. Or perhaps, "and it is moremarvellous, so to speak."[29] {ton ta polla esti andri ke k.t.l.} I take {ton} to refer to thenature of the country, as mentioned above; but the use of {os} canhardly be paralleled, and the passage probably requirescorrection. Some Editors read {ton tekmeria polla esti k.t.l.}"wherein there are many evidences to prove, etc." Stein omits{ton} and alters the punctuation, so that the clauses run thus,"when it flows from the hottest parts to those which for the mostpart are cooler? For a man who is capable of reasoning about suchmatters the first and greatest evidence to prove that it is notlikely to flow from snow, is afforded by the winds, etc."