Histories

Cambyses committed many such mad acts against the Persians and his allies; he stayed at Mit Rahina [31.25,29.85] (inhabited place), Giza, Upper Egypt, Egypt, AfricaMemphis, and there opened ancient coffins and examined the dead bodies.

Thus too he entered the temple of Hephaestus and jeered at the image there. This image of Hephaestus is most like the Phoenician Pataici,[*](the Phoenician *pata/ikos (as the Greeks called him) was the Ptah or Patah of Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt whom the Greeks identified with Hephaestus; always in the form of a dwarf.) which the Phoenicians carry on the prows of their triremes. I will describe it for anyone who has not seen these figures: it is the likeness of a dwarf.

Also he entered the temple of the Cabeiri, into which no one may enter save the priest; the images here he even burnt, with bitter mockery. These also are like the images of Hephaestus, and are said to be his sons.