Page View
Athenaeus of Naucratis / Volume I: Books I-VII
Book II: epitome, pp. 57-121
Book III, pp. 121-210
Page 121
-own knowledge, acquired in a voyage which he had made, that the sea outside the Pillars of Hercules flows towards Libya and turns up and proceeds towards the north; and that then, being driven back by the Etesian gales, it is raised to a height by the winds, and flows high at that time; but, when the Etesian gales cease, it recedes.: He says moreover, that that sea is sweet to the taste, and that it contains monsters like the crocodiles and the hippopotami in the Nile. But CEnopides the Chian says, that in winter the sources of the river are dried up, but in the summer they are thawed and flow; and so that for the sake of filling up the previous dryness, the rains frorn heaven cooperate with * * * * - * * @ * And on this account the river is smaller in winter and is full in summer. But Herodotus gives an explanation quite contrary to that of the rest of those who have discussed this subject, but agreeing with the explanation of CEnopides; for he says that the stream of the Nile is of such magnitude as always to fill the river; but that the sun, as it makes its journey through Libya in the winter, dries up the river at that time; but that as it has gone off towards the north at the time of the sum- mier solstice, then the river becomes full again, and overflows the plains. Now these are the mouths of the Nile:-towards Arabia, the Pelusiac mouth; towards Libya, the Canopic: and the rest are,-the Bolbitic, the Sebennytic, the Mendesian, the Saitic, and the Opuntic. BOO3K III.-EPITOME. 1. CALLIMACHUS the grammarian said that a great book was equivalent to a great evil. With respect to Ciboria, or Egyptian beans, Nicander says in his Georgics- You may sow the Egyptian bean, in order in summer To make its flowers into garlands; and when the ciboria Have fallen, then give the ripe fruit to the youths Who are feasting with you, into their hands, as they have been a long time Wishing for them; but roots I boil, and then place on the table at feasts. 121; THE NILE,
This material may be protected by copyright law (e.g., Title 17, US Code). For information on re-use see: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Copyright