Histories

The people of this +Akhmim [31.733,26.566] (inhabited place), Sawhaj, Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa Khemmis say that Perseus is seen often up and down this land, and often within the temple, and that the sandal he wears, which is four feet long, keeps turning up, and that when it does turn up, all Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt prospers.

This is what they say; and their doings in honor of Perseus are Greek, inasmuch as they celebrate games that include every form of contest, and offer animals and cloaks and skins as prizes.

When I asked why Perseus appeared only to them, and why, unlike all other Egyptians, they celebrate games, they told me that Perseus was by lineage of their city; for Danaus and Lynceus, who travelled to Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeGreece, were of +Akhmim [31.733,26.566] (inhabited place), Sawhaj, Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa Khemmis; and they traced descent from these down to Perseus.

They told how he came to +Akhmim [31.733,26.566] (inhabited place), Sawhaj, Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa Khemmis, too, when he came to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt for the reason alleged by the Greeks as well—namely, to bring the Gorgon's head from Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya—and recognized all his relatives; and how he had heard the name of +Akhmim [31.733,26.566] (inhabited place), Sawhaj, Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa Khemmis from his mother before he came to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt. It was at his bidding, they said, that they celebrated the games.

All these are the customs of Egyptians who live above the marsh country. Those who inhabit the marshes have the same customs as the rest of Egyptians, even that each man has one wife just like Greeks. They have, besides, devised means to make their food less costly.