Histories

Hippopotamuses are sacred in the district of Papremis, but not elsewhere in Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt. They present the following appearance: four-footed, with cloven hooves like cattle; blunt-nosed; with a horse's mane, visible tusks, a horse's tail and voice; big as the biggest bull. Their hide is so thick that, when it is dried, spearshafts are made of it.

Otters are found in the river, too, which the Egyptians consider sacred; and they consider sacred that fish, too, which is called the scale-fish, and the eel. These, and the fox-goose[*](Or “Nile-goose.” The Egyptian goose (Chenalopex Aegyptica).) among birds, are said to be sacred to the god of the Nahr an- Nil [31.1,30.166] (river), AfricaNile.

There is another sacred bird, too, whose name is phoenix. I myself have never seen it, only pictures of it; for the bird seldom comes into Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt: once in five hundred years, as the people of +Heliopolis [31.333,30.1] (deserted settlement), Cairo, Urban, Egypt, Africa Heliopolis say.

It is said that the phoenix comes when his father dies. If the picture truly shows his size and appearance, his plumage is partly golden and partly red. He is most like an eagle in shape and size.

What they say this bird manages to do is incredible to me. Flying from Arabian Peninsula [45,25] (region (general)), AsiaArabia to the temple of the sun, they say, he conveys his father encased in myrrh and buries him at the temple of the Sun.