Histories

The Egyptians sow no beans in their country; if any grow, they will not eat them either raw or cooked; the priests cannot endure even to see them, considering beans an unclean kind of legume. Many (not only one) are dedicated to the service of each god. One of these is the high priest; and when a high priest dies, his son succeeds to his office.

They believe that bulls belong to Epaphus,[*](Epaphus is the Greek form of Apis or Hapi, the bull-god of Mit Rahina [31.25,29.85] (inhabited place), Giza, Upper Egypt, Egypt, AfricaMemphis; for bulls cf. Mair's Oppian (L.C.L.) Cyn. II. 86, note.) and for this reason scrutinize them as follows; if they see even one black hair on them, the bull is considered impure.