Greek: Psammetichus Flashcards
The Egyptians, before Psammetichus became their king, thought that they themselves were the oldest of all men. But since Psammetichus, on becoming king, wished to know for sure who were the oldest, from this time they have considered that the Phrygians are older than themselves and themselves older than the rest.
And Psammetichus, when he could not by enquiring find any solution to this question, who were the oldest of all men, he devised the following. He gave 2 newborn children of people taken at random to a shepherd to rear, instructing that no-one should utter any speech in their presence, but that they should be put in a lonely hut by themselves, and that at the appropriate time the shepherd should bring in goats to them, and having filled them with milk should do all the other necessary things.
Psammetichus did these things and gave these instructions, wishing to hear what speech the children would first break into when meaningless babytalk was set aside. And so these things actually happened: for after a period of 2 years had passed, when the shepherd opened the door and came in, both the children ran up to him and shouted “bekos,” stretching out their hands.
At first when the shepherd heard it he kept quiet. But since, as he often visited and paid careful heed, this word was frequently repeated, in this way indeed giving the information to his master he took the children into his sight.
When Psammetichus heard for himself as well, he enquired what people call something “bekos”: and by enquiring he found out that the Phrygians called bread by this name. And so the Egyptians agreed, having weighed it up by such evidence that the Phrygians were older than themselves.
