Histories

Psammetichus ruled Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt for fifty-three years, twenty-nine of which he spent before +Ashdod (deserted settlement), Mehoz HaDarom, Israel, Asia Azotus, a great city in +Syria [38,35] (nation), Asia Syria, besieging it until he took it. +Ashdod (deserted settlement), Mehoz HaDarom, Israel, Asia Azotus held out against a siege longer than any city of which we know.

Psammetichus had a son, Necos, who became king of Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt. It was he who began building the canal into the +Red Sea [42,15] (sea) Red Sea,[*](This canal ran from near Tel Basta ( +Tall Bastah [31.516,30.566] (deserted settlement), Ash Sharqiyah, Lower Egypt, Egypt, Africa Bubastis) apparently to +Suez [32.55,29.966] (inhabited place), Suez, Urban, Egypt, Africa Suez. Inscriptions recording Darius' construction of it have been found in the neighborhood.) which was finished by Darius the Persian. This is four days' voyage in length, and it was dug wide enough for two triremes to move in it rowed abreast.

It is fed by the Nahr an- Nil [31.1,30.166] (river), AfricaNile, and is carried from a little above +Tall Bastah [31.516,30.566] (deserted settlement), Ash Sharqiyah, Lower Egypt, Egypt, Africa Bubastis by the Arabian town of Patumus; it issues into the Red Sea. Digging began in the part of the Egyptian plain nearest to Arabian Peninsula [45,25] (region (general)), AsiaArabia; the mountains that extend to Mit Rahina [31.25,29.85] (inhabited place), Giza, Upper Egypt, Egypt, AfricaMemphis (the mountains where the stone quarries are) come close to this plain;