The Old and the Restless - The Egyptians and the Scythians in Herodotus' Histories by Robert J. Hagan

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surrender of the Egyptian kingdom, it seems that Herodotus might have intended a link between
geography and national character. 4
Wilderness
Egypt and Scythia are alike in their vastness. While they contain some continuously
populated areas, much of both countries is erêmos, empty space. Although we know now that
there were other civilizations far beyond these lands, to Herodotus and others, the wildernesses at
their borders were essentially the ends of the populated world. Concerning what lies in the far
north, Herodotus "cannot get information from anyone who claims to have firsthand knowledge"
(4.16).
Regarding the use of their land, each race makes a distinctly different choice: one
cultivates crops, the other lives in the saddle and on their wagons. How do they reach these
divergences? In the case of Egypt, Herodotus relates the story of the legendary king Sesostris,
who upon bringing back prisoners from war, sets them to work digging extensive canals. In
doing so, he makes horses and carts useless in Egypt (2.108). Under these conditions nomadism
would become impossible, even if it were desired. Sesostris also divides up the land into square
plots for each man, effectively creating a permanently sedentary people (2.109). By binding
themselves to the land, the Egyptians reject the wandering that the desert fosters in favor of
economic development and stability. 5 The great monuments of Egypt, requiring much money
and a permanent labor source, are a testament to their sedentary, even fixed nature (2.35).
4 Lateiner, D., The Historical Method of Herodotus, 159.
5 Lloyd A.B., Herodotus: Book II, vol 3, 31.