ake of Moiris, along the side
of which this labyrinth is built. The measure of its circuit is three
thousand six hundred furlongs (being sixty _schoines_), and this is the
same number of furlongs as the extent of Egypt itself along the sea. The
lake lies extended lengthwise from North to South, and in depth where it
is deepest it is fifty fathoms. That this lake is artificial and formed
by digging is self-evident, for about in the middle of the lake stand
two pyramids, each rising above the water to a height of fifty fathoms,
the part which is built below the water being of just the same height;
and upon each is placed a colossal statue of stone sitting upon a chair.
Thus the pyramids are a hundred fathoms high; and these hundred fathoms
are equal to a furlong of six hundred feet, the fathom being measured as
six feet or four cubits, the feet being four palms each, and the cubits
six. The water in the lake does not come from the place where it is, for
the country there is very deficient in water, but it has been brought
thither from the Nile by a canal; and for six months the water flows
into the lake, and for six months out into the Nile again; and whenever
it flows out, then for the six months it brings into the royal treasury
a talent of silver a day from the fish which are caught, and twenty
pounds when the water comes in. The natives of the place moreover said
that this lake had an outlet under ground to the Syrtis which is in
Libya, turning towards the interior of the continent upon the Western
side and running along by the mountain which is above Memphis. Now since
I did not see anywhere existing the earth dug out of this excavation
(for that was a matter which drew my attention), I asked those who dwelt
nearest to the lake where the earth was which had been dug out. These
told me to what place it had been carried away; and I readily believed
them, for I knew by report that a similar thing had been done at
Nineveh, the city of the Assyrians. There certain thieves formed a
design once to carry away the wealth of Sardanapallos son of Ninos, the
king, which wealth was very great and was kept in treasure-houses under
the earth. Accordingly they began from their own dwelling, and making
estimate of their direction they dug under ground towards the king's
palace; and the earth which was brought out of the excavation they used
to carry away, when night came on, to the river Tigris which flows by
the city of Nineveh, until