Histories

Herodotus

Herodotus. Godley, Alfred Denis, translator. Cambridge, MA; London: Harvard University Press; William Heinemann, Ltd., 1920-1925 (printing).

Nor again will I say that the Egyptians took either this or any other custom from the Greeks. But I believe that Melampus learned the worship of Dionysus chiefly from Cadmus of +Tyre [35.183,33.266] (inhabited place), Al-Janub, Lebanon, Asia Tyre and those who came with Cadmus from +Phoenicia (region (general)), Asia Phoenicia to the land now called Boeotia (department), Central Greece and Euboea, Greece, Europe Boeotia.

In fact, the names of nearly all the gods came to Greece [22,39] (nation), EuropeHellas from Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt. For I am convinced by inquiry that they have come from foreign parts, and I believe that they came chiefly from Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt.

Except the names of Poseidon and the Dioscuri, as I have already said, and Hera, and Hestia, and Themis, and the Graces, and the Nereids, the names of all the gods have always existed in Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt. I only say what the Egyptians themselves say. The gods whose names they say they do not know were, as I think, named by the Pelasgians, except Poseidon, the knowledge of whom they learned from the Libyans.

Alone of all nations the Libyans have had among them the name of Poseidon from the beginning, and they have always honored this god. The Egyptians, however, are not accustomed to pay any honors to heroes.