On the walls, as
they cut them out, they have sculptured several kinds of birds and
beasts, and countless other figures of animals, which they call
hieroglyphics.

31. There is also Syene, where at the time of the summer solstice the
rays surrounding upright objects do not allow the shadows to extend
beyond the bodies. And if any one fixes a post upright in the ground, or
sees a man or a tree standing erect, he will perceive that their shadow
is consumed at the extremities of their outlines. This also happens at
Meroe, which is the spot in Ethiopia nearest to the equinoctial circle,
and where for ninety days the shadows fall in a way just opposite to
ours, on account of which the natives of that district are called
Antiscii.[137]

32. But as there are many other wonders which would go beyond the plan
of our little work, we must leave these to men of lofty genius, and
content ourselves with relating a few things about the provinces.

XVI.

Sec. 1. In former times Egypt is said to have been divided into three
provinces: Egypt proper, the Thebais, and Libya, to which in later times
two more have been added, Augustamnica, which has been cut off from
Egypt proper, and Pentapolis, which has been detached from Libya.

2. Thebais, among many other cities, can boast especially of Hermopolis,
Coptos, and Antinous, which Hadrian built in honour of his friend
Antinous. As to Thebes, with, its hundred gates, there is no one
ignorant of its renown.

3. In Augustamnica, among others, there is the noble city of Pelusium,
which is said to have been founded by Peleus, the father of Achilles,
who by command of the gods was ordered to purify himself in the lake
adjacent to the walls of the city, when, after having slain his brother
Phocus, he was driven about by horrid images of the Furies; and Cassium,
where the tomb of the great Pompey is, and Ostracine, and Rhinocolura.

4. In Libya Pentapolis is Cyrene, a city of great antiquity, but now
deserted, founded by Battus the Spartan, and Ptolemais, and Arsinoe,
known also as Teuchira, and Darnis, and Berenice, called also
Hesperides.

5. And in the dry Libya, besides a few other insignificant towns, there
are Paraetonium, Chaerecla, and Neapolis.

6. Egypt proper, which ever since it has been united to the Roman empire
has been under the government of a prefect, besides some other towns of
smaller importance, is distinguished by Athribis, and Oxyrynchus, and
Thmuis, and Memphis