Histories

from all of these; their number, at its greatest, attained to two hundred and fifty thousand men. These too may practise no trade but war, which is their hereditary calling.

Now whether this, too, the Greeks have learned from the Egyptians, I cannot confidently judge. I know that in Thrace (region (general)), EuropeThrace and Scythia (region (general)), AsiaScythia and Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia and Lydia [27.516,38.683] (region (general)), Turkey, Asia Lydia and nearly all foreign countries, those who learn trades are held in less esteem than the rest of the people, and those who have least to do with artisans' work, especially men who are free to practise the art of war, are highly honored.

This much is certain: that this opinion, which is held by all Greeks and particularly by the Lacedaemonians, is of foreign origin. It is in Corinth [22.9083,37.9083] (Perseus) Corinth that artisans are held in least contempt.

The warriors were the only Egyptians, except the priests, who had special privileges: for each of them an untaxed plot of twelve acres was set apart. This acre is a square of a hundred Egyptian cubits each way, the Egyptian cubit being equal to the Samian.

These lands were set apart for all; it was never the same men who cultivated them, but each in turn.[*](That is, each twelve-acre plot was cultivated by a new occupier every year.) A thousand Kalasiries and as many Hermotubies were the king's annual bodyguard. These men, besides their lands, each received a daily provision of five minae's weight of roast grain, two minae of beef, and four cups of wine. These were the gifts received by each bodyguard.