Histories

Amasis made a marvellous outer court for the temple of Athena [*](Apparently, Nit; also identified with Demeter (Hdt. 2.132, note).) at Saïs, far surpassing all in its height and size, and in the size and quality of the stone blocks; moreover, he set up huge images and vast man-headed sphinxes,[*](Visitors to +Karnak [32.65,25.716] (inhabited place), Qina, Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa Karnak will remember the double row of sphinxes leading to the temple.) and brought enormous blocks of stone besides for the building.

Some of these he brought from the stone quarries of Mit Rahina [31.25,29.85] (inhabited place), Giza, Upper Egypt, Egypt, AfricaMemphis; the largest came from the city of Elephantine,[*](The island opposite +Aswan [32.666,23.83] (governorate), Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa Assuan; the +Aswan [32.666,23.83] (governorate), Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa Assuan quarries have always been famous.) twenty days' journey distant by river from Saïs.