Histories

Moreover, Amasis dedicated offerings in Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas. He gave to Shahhat [21.866,32.833] (inhabited place), Al Jabal al Akhdar, Libya, AfricaCyrene a gilt image of Athena and a painted picture of himself; to Athena of Lindos [28.1083,36.0833] (Perseus)Lindus, two stone images and a marvellous linen breast-plate; and to Hera in Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos, two wooden statues of himself that were still standing in my time behind the doors in the great shrine.

The offerings in Nisos Samos [26.8,37.75] (island), Samos, Aegean Islands, Greece, Europe Samos were dedicated because of the friendship between Amasis and Polycrates,[*](Polycrates' rule began probably in 532 B.C. For the friendship between him and Amasis, see Hdt. 3.39.) son of Aeaces; what he gave to Lindos [28.1083,36.0833] (Perseus)Lindus was not out of friendship for anyone, but because the temple of Athena in Lindos [28.1083,36.0833] (Perseus)Lindus is said to have been founded by the daughters of Danaus, when they landed there in their flight from the sons of Egyptus. Such were Amasis' offerings. Moreover, he was the first conqueror of Cyprus [33,35] (island), AsiaCyprus, which he made tributary to himself.

Cyrus' son Cambyses was leading an army of his subjects, Ionian and Aeolian Greeks among them,[*](The received date is 525 B.C.) against this Amasis for the following reason. Cambyses had sent a herald to Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt asking Amasis for his daughter; he asked on the advice of an Egyptian, who advised it out of resentment against Amasis, that out of all the Egyptian physicians Amasis had dragged him away from his wife and children and sent him up to Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia when Cyrus sent to Amasis asking for the best eye-doctor in Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt.

Out of resentment, the Egyptian by his advice induced Cambyses to ask Amasis for his daughter, so that Amasis would either be wretched if he gave her, or hated by Cambyses if he did not. Amasis, intimidated by the power of Iran [53,32] (nation), AsiaPersia and frightened, could neither give his daughter nor refuse her; for he knew well that Cambyses was not going to take her as his wife but as his concubine.

After considering the matter, he did as follows. There was a daughter of the former king Apries, all that was left of that family, quite tall and pretty, and her name was Nitetis; this girl Amasis adorned with clothes and gold and sent to Cambyses as his own daughter.