Histories

We leave the Ionians' opinion aside, and our own judgment about the matter is this: Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt is all that country which is inhabited by Egyptians, just as Cilicia [34.333,36.666] (region (general)), Turkey, AsiaCilicia and Assyria are the countries inhabited by Cilicians and Assyrians, and we know of no boundary line (rightly so called) below Asia (continent)Asia and Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya except the borders of the Egyptians.

But if we follow the belief of the Greeks, we shall consider all Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt commencing from the Cataracts and the city of Elephantine [*](On the island opposite Aswan [32.933,24.83] (inhabited place), Aswan, Upper Egypt, Egypt, AfricaSyene (Aswan [32.666,23.83] (governorate), Upper Egypt, Egypt, Africa Assuan).) to be divided into two parts, and to claim both the names, the one a part of Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya and the other of Asia (continent)Asia.

For the Nahr an- Nil [31.1,30.166] (river), AfricaNile, beginning from the Cataracts, divides Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt into two parts as it flows to the sea. Now, as far as the city Cercasorus the Nahr an- Nil [31.1,30.166] (river), AfricaNile flows in one channel, but after that it parts into three.

One of these, which is called the Pelusian mouth, flows east; the second flows west, and is called the Canobic mouth. But the direct channel of the Nahr an- Nil [31.1,30.166] (river), AfricaNile, when the river in its downward course reaches the apex of the Delta, flows thereafter clean through the middle of the Delta into the sea; in this is seen the greatest and most famous part of its waters, and it is called the Sebennytic mouth.

There are also two channels which separate themselves from the Sebennytic and so flow into the sea: by name, the Saïtic and the Mendesian.

The Bolbitine and Bucolic mouths are not natural but excavated channels.