Page:History of Greece Vol III.djvu/341

 PSAMMKTICttl'S ADMITS GI.T.KKS INTO KCVPT 325 vch, either torn by intestine dissension, or shaken by llus attacks of the Medes, appear no longer active ; but about the year G30 B. C., the Assyrians or Chalda?ans of Babylon manifest a formida- ble and increasing power. It is, moreover, during this century that the old routine of the Egyptian kings was broken through, and a new policy displayed towards foreigners by Psammetichus, which, while it rendered Egypt more formidable to Judaea and Phenicia, opened to Grecian ships and settlers the hitherto inac- cessible Nile. Herodotus draws a marked distinction between the history of Egypt before Psamrnetichus and the following period : the former he gives as the narration of the priests, without professing to guarantee it. the latter he evidently believes to be well ascer- tained. 1 And we find that, from Psammetichus downward, Hero- dotus and Manetho are in tolerable harmony, whereas even for the sovereigns occupying the last fifty years before Psammeti- chus, there are many and irreconcilable discrepancies between them ;- but they both agree in stating that Psammetichus reigned fifty-four years. So important an event as the first admission of the Greeks into Egypt, was made, by the informants of Herodo- tus, to turn upon two prophecies. After the death of Sethos, king and priest of Heph;vstos, who left no son, Egypt became divided among twelve kings, of whom Psammetichus was one: it was under this dodekarchy, according to Herodotus, that the marvellous labyrinth near the lake of Mocris was constructed. The twelve lived and reigned for some time in perfect harmony, but a prophecy had been made known to them, that (he one who should make libations in the temple of Hepha;stos out of a brazen goblet would reign over all Egypt. Now it happened that one day, when they all appeared armed in that temple to offer sacri- fice, the high priest brought out by mistake only eleven golden goblets instead of twelve, and Psammetichus, left without a goblet, made use of his brass helmet as a substitute. Being thus con- 1 Herodot. ii, 147-154. urn") 'irappriTixov, TTUVTU ical ra varepov . Ilumlstcrn Periode, pp. 326-336, of ivhich some account is given IP tl> Appendix to this chapter.
 * Sec these differences stated and considered in B>cckh, Manetho unu dio