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against apion-第4章

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r means the Egyptians became known to the Grecians also; as did all those people whence the Phoenicians in long voyages over the seas carried wares to the Grecians。 The Medes also and the Persians; when they were lords of Asia; became well known to them; and this was especially true of the Persians; who led their armies as far as the other continent 'Europe'。 The Thracians were also known to them by the nearness of their countries; and the Scythians by the means of those that sailed to Pontus; for it was so in general that all maritime nations; and those that inhabited near the eastern or western seas; became most known to those that were desirous to be writers; but such as had their habitations further from the sea were for the most part unknown to them which things appear to have happened as to Europe also; where the city of Rome; that hath this long time been possessed of so much power; and hath performed such great actions in war; is yet never mentioned by Herodotus; nor by Thucydides; nor by any one of their contemporaries; and it was very late; and with great difficulty; that the Romans became known to the Greeks。 Nay; those that were reckoned the most exact historians (and Ephorus for one) were so very ignorant of the Gauls and the Spaniards; that he supposed the Spaniards; who inhabit so great a part of the western regions of the earth; to be no more than one city。 Those historians also have ventured to describe such customs as were made use of by them; which they never had either done or said; and the reason why these writers did not know the truth of their affairs was this; that they had not any commerce together; but the reason why they wrote such falsities was this; that they had a mind to appear to know things which others had not known。 How can it then be any wonder; if our nation was no more known to many of the Greeks; nor had given them any occasion to mention them in their writings; while they were so remote from the sea; and had a conduct of life so peculiar to themselves?

13。 Let us now put the case; therefore; that we made use of this argument concerning the Grecians; in order to prove that their nation was not ancient; because nothing is said of them in our records: would not they laugh at us all; and probably give the same reasons for our silence that I have now alleged; and would produce their neighbor nations as witnesses to their own antiquity? Now the very same thing will I endeavor to do; for I will bring the Egyptians and the Phoenicians as my principal witnesses; because nobody can complain Of their testimony as false; on account that they are known to have borne the greatest ill…will towards us; I mean this as to the Egyptians in general all of them; while of the Phoenicians it is known the Tyrians have been most of all in the same ill disposition towards us: yet do I confess that I cannot say the same of the Chaldeans; since our first leaders and ancestors were derived from them; and they do make mention of us Jews in their records; on account of the kindred there is between us。 Now when I shall have made my assertions good; so far as concerns the others; I will demonstrate that some of the Greek writers have made mention of us Jews also; that those who envy us may not have even this pretense for contradicting what I have said about our nation。

14。 I shall begin with the writings of the Egyptians; not indeed of those that have written in the Egyptian language; which it is impossible for me to do。 But Manetho was a man who was by birth an Egyptian; yet had he made himself master of the Greek learning; as is very evident; for he wrote the history of his own country in the Greek tongue; by translating it; as he saith himself; out of their sacred records; he also finds great fault with Herodotus for his ignorance and false relations of Egyptian affairs。 Now this Manetho; in the second book of his Egyptian History; writes concerning us in the following manner。 I will set down his very words; as if I were to bring the very man himself into a court for a witness: 〃There was a king of ours whose name was Timaus。 Under him it came to pass; I know not how; that God was averse to us; and there came; after a surprising manner; men of ignoble birth out of the eastern parts; and had boldness enough to make an expedition into our country; and with ease subdued it by force; yet without our hazarding a battle with them。 So when they had gotten those that governed us under their power; they afterwards burnt down our cities; and demolished the temples of the gods; and used all the inhabitants after a most barbarous manner; nay; some they slew; and led their children and their wives into slavery。 At length they made one of themselves king; whose name was Salatis; he also lived at Memphis; and made both the upper and lower regions pay tribute; and left garrisons in places that were the most proper for them。 He chiefly aimed to secure the eastern parts; as fore…seeing that the Assyrians; who had then the greatest power; would be desirous of that kingdom; and invade them; and as he found in the Saite Nomos; 'Sethroite;' a city very proper for this purpose; and which lay upon the Bubastic channel; but with regard to a certain theologic notion was called Avaris; this he rebuilt; and made very strong by the walls he built about it; and by a most numerous garrison of two hundred and forty thousand armed men whom he put into it to keep it。 Thither Salatis came in summer time; partly to gather his corn; and pay his soldiers their wages; and partly to exercise his armed men; and thereby to terrify foreigners。 When this man had reigned thirteen years; after him reigned another; whose name was Beon; for forty…four years; after him reigned another; called Apachnas; thirty…six years and seven months; after him Apophis reigned sixty…one years; and then Janins fifty years and one month; after all these reigned Assis forty…nine years and two months。 And these six were the first rulers among them; who were all along making war with the Egyptians; and were very desirous gradually to destroy them to the very roots。 This whole nation was styled Hycsos; that is; Shepherd…kings: for the first syllable Hyc; according to the sacred dialect; denotes a king; as is Sos a shepherd; but this according to the ordinary dialect; and of these is compounded Hycsos: but some say that these people were Arabians。〃 Now in another copy it is said that this word does not denote Kings; but; on the contrary; denotes Captive Shepherds; and this on account of the particle Hyc; for that Hyc; with the aspiration; in the Egyptian tongue again denotes Shepherds; and that expressly also; and this to me seems the more probable opinion; and more agreeable to ancient history。 'But Manetho goes on': 〃These people; whom we have before named kings; and called shepherds also; and their descendants;〃 as he says; 〃kept possession of Egypt five hundred and eleven years。〃 After these; he says; 〃That the kings of Thebais and the other parts of Egypt made an insurrection against the shepherds; and that there a terrible and long war was made between them。〃 He says further; 〃That under a king; whose name was Alisphragmuthosis; the shepherds were subdued by him; and were indeed
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