Res Gestae

Among Egyptian birds, the variety of which is countless, the ibis is sacred, harmless, and beloved for the reason that by carrying the eggs of serpents to its nestlings for food it destroys and makes fewer those destructive pests.[*](Cf. Cic., Nat. Deo. i. 36, 101.)

These same birds meet the winged armies of snakes which issue from the marshes of Arabia, producing deadly poisons, and before they leave their own lands vanquish

Egypt also breeds innumerable serpents, surpassing all their destructive kind in fierceness: basilisks, amphisbaenae, scytalae, acontiae, dipsades, vipers, and many others,[*](The basilisk was found principally in the Cyrenaica and got its name from a white spot on its head, resembling a diadem; Pliny, N.H. viii. 78. The amphisbaenae were so-called from moving forwards and backward. The scytalae were long and slender like a staff (σκυτάλη). The acontiae are called by Pliny (viii. 85) by the Latin name iaculus, javelin. The dipsades caused excessive thirst (δίψος). These snakes are not found in Egypt in modern times, and the ibis has gone to its native Aethiopia.) all of which are easily surpassed in size and beauty by the asp, which never of its own accord leaves the bed of the Nile.[*](Apparently a misunderstanding of Lucan, xi. 704 f., ipsa caloris egens gelidum non transit in orbem sponte sua Niloque tenus metitur harenas, needing heat, the asp never of its own accord passes into cold regions, but traverses the desert as far as the Nile and no farther (Lucan, L.C.L., p. 557).)

Many and great things there are in that land which it is worth while to see; of these it will be in place to describe a few. Everywhere temples of vast size have been erected. The Pyramids have been enrolled among the seven wonders of the world,[*](The lists of these vary; see Gellius, I, p. 10, note 2, L.C.L.) and of their slow and difficult construction the historian Herodotus tells us.[*](ii. 124.) These are towers higher than any others which can be erected by human hands, extremely broad at the base and tapering to very pointed summits.