before 400 CE
Preserved in George Syncellus, Chronicle
c. 800 CE
translated by W. G. Waddell
1940
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NOTE |
The so-called Book of Sothis is a Late Antique forgery passing under the name of the Egyptian priest Manetho, who wrote a history of Egypt in the third century or so BCE. Various estimates of its date have placed it anywhere from the beginning of the Roman era down to around 400 CE. The text's manifest Christian influence marks it as a product of Late Antiquity. Its principle importance lies in the fact that this book was mistaken for a genuine work of Manetho and used by the chronographers Panodorus and Annianus, whose highly influential histories shaped Byzantine and Arab-Islamic understandings of Egyptian history for a thousand years. The text of the surviving fragments of the Book of Sothis is preserved by George Syncellus in his Chronicle, and the translation below was made by W. G. Waddell and published in the Loeb edition of Manetho in 1940. The text fell into the public domain when the copyright expired without being renewed in 1967 or 1968.
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The Book of Sothis
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Introduction by W. C. Waddell
The Book of Sôthis or The Sôthic Cycle is transmitted through Syncellus alone. In the opinion of Syncellus, this Sôthis-Book was dedicated by Manetho to Ptolemy Philadelphus. The king wished to learn the future of the universe, and Manetho accordingly sent to him "sacred books" based upon inscriptions which had been written down by Thôth, the first Hermês, in hieratic script, had been interpreted after the Flood by Agathodaemôn, son of the second Hermês and father of Tat, and had been deposited in the sanctuaries of the temples of Egypt. The letter which purports to have accompanied the "sacred books" is undoubtedly a forgery; but the Sôthis-Book is significant for the textual transmission of Manetho. According to the LXX the Flood took place in Anno Mundi 2242. This date must close the prehistoric period in Egypt and in Chaldea: the 11,985 years of the Egyptian gods are therefore regarded as months and reduced to 969 years. Similarly, the 858 years of the demigods are treated as quarter-years or periods of three months, thus becoming 214½ years: total, 969 + 214½ = 1183½ years. In Chaldean prehistory, by fixing the saros at 3600 days, 120 saroi become 1183 years 6⅚ months. Accordingly, the beginning of Egyptian and Babylonian history is placed at 2242‑1184, or 1058 Anno Mundi: in that year (or in 1000) falls the coming of the Egregori, who finally by their sins brought on the Flood. The Book of Sôthis begins with the reign of Mestraïm, Anno Mundi 2776, i.e. 534 years after the Flood, and continues to the year 4986, which gives 2210 years of Egyptian rule — almost the same number as Manetho has in either Book I or Book II of his History of Egypt. |
It remains now to make brief extracts concerning the dynasties of Egypt from the works of Manetho Sebennytus. In the time of Ptolemy Philadelphus he was styled high-priest of the pagan temples of Egypt, and wrote from inscriptions in the Sêriadic land, traced, he says, in sacred language and holy characters by Thôth, the first Hermês, and translated after the Flood . . . in hieroglyphic characters. When the work had been arranged in books by Agathodaemôn, son of the second Hermês and father of Tat, in the temple-shrines of Egypt, Manetho dedicated it to the above King Ptolemy II Philadelphus in his Book of Sôthis, using the following words:
Letter of Manetho of Sebennytus to Ptolemy Philadelphus.
To the great King Ptolemy Philadelphus Augustus. Greeting to my lord Ptolemy from Manetho, high-priest and scribe of the sacred shrines of Egypt, born at Sebennytus and dwelling at Hêliopolis. It is my duty, almighty king, to reflect upon all such matters as you may desire me to investigate. So, as you are making researches concerning the future of the universe, in obedience to your command I shall place before you the Sacred Books which I have studied, written you your forefather, Hermês Trismegistus. Farewell, I pray, my lord King.
Such is his account of the translation of the books written by the second Hermês. Thereafter Manetho tells also of five Egyptian tribes which formed thirty dynasties . . .
The years of the kings of Egypt, called Mestraea of old.
1. Mestraïm, also called Mênês, 35 years.
2. Kourôdês, 63 years.
3. Aristarchus, 34 years.
4. Spanius, 36 years.
5 and 6. Two kings, unrecorded, 72 years.
7. Ôsiropis, 23 years.
8. Sesonchôsis, 49 years.
9. Amenemês, 29 years.
10. Amasis, 2 years.
11. Acesephthrês, 13 years.
12. Anchoreus, 9 years.
13. Armiÿses, 4 years.
14. Chamoïs,12 years.
15. Miamûs, 14 years.
16. Amesêsis, 65 years.
17. Usês, 50 years.
18. Ramesês, 29 years.
19. Rames(s)omenês, 15 years.
20. Usimarê(s), 31 years.
21. Ramessêseôs, 23 years.
22. Ramessamenô, 19 years.
He is the first Pharaoh mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. In his reign the patriarch Abraham went down into Egypt.
23. Ramessê Iubassê, 39 years.
24. Ramessê, son of Uaphrês, 29 years.
25. Concharis, 5 years.
In this 5th year of Concharis, the 25th king of Egypt, during the Sixteenth Dynasty of the Sôthic Cycle as it is called in Manetho, the total of years from the first king and founder of Egypt, Mestraïm, is 700 belonging to 25 kings, i.e. from the general cosmic year 2776, in which the Dispersion took place in the 34th year of the rule of Arphaxad and the 5th year of Phalec. Next in the succession were 4 kings of Tanis, who ruled Egypt in the Seventeenth Dynasty for 254 [259] years, according to the following computation.
26. Silitês (the first of the 6 kings of the Seventeenth Dynasty in Manetho), 19 years.
27. Baiôn, 44 years.
28. Apachnas, 36 years.
29. Aphôphis, 61 years.
Some say that this king was at first called Pharaoh, and that in the 4th year of his kingship Joseph came as a slave into Egypt. He appointed Joseph lord of Egypt and all his kingdom in the 17th year of his rule, having learned from him the interpretation of the dreams and having thus proved his divine wisdom. The Holy Scriptures, however, give the name of Pharaoh also to the king of Egypt in the time of Abraham.
30. Sethôs, 50 years.
31. Cêrtôs, according to Josephus, 29 years; according to Manetho, 44 years.
32. Asêth, 20 years.
This king added the 5 intercalary days to the year: in his reign, they say, the Egyptian year became a year of 365 days, being previously reckoned as 360 days only. In his time the bull-calf was deified and called Apis.
33. Amôsis, also called Tethmôsis, 26 years.
34. Chebrôn, 13 years.
35. Amemphis, 15 years.
36. Amensês, 11 years.
37. Misphragmuthôsis, 16 years.
38. Misphrês, 23 years.
39. Tuthmôsis, 39 years.
40. Amenôphthis, 34 years.
This is the king who was reputed to be Memnôn and a speaking statue. Many years later Cambysês, the Persian king, cut this statue in two, deeming that there was sorcery in it, as Polyaenus of Athens relates.
The Ethiopians, removing from the River Indus, settled near Egypt.
41. Ôrus, 48 years.
42. Achencherês, 25 years.
43. Athôris, 29 years.
44. Chencherês, 26 years.
45. Achêrrês, 8 or 30 years.
46. Armaeus, also called Danaus, 9 years.
This king, fleeing from his brother Ramessês, also called Aegyptus, was driven from his kingdom of Egypt and came to Greece. Ramessês, his brother, whose other name was Aegyptus, ruled Egypt for 68 years, changing the name of his country to Egypt after his own name. Its previous name was Mestraea, and among the Greeks Aeria. Now Danaus or Armaeus took possession of Argos and, driving out Sthenelus the son of Crotôpus, ruled over the Argives. His descendants thereafter were called Danaïdae down to Eurystheus son of Sthenelus, the son of Perseus. Next to these, after Pelops the Pelopidae succeeded to the kingdom: the first of these was Atreus.
47. Ramessês, also called Aegyptus, 68 years.
48. Amenôphis, 8 years.
49. Thuôris, 17 years.
50. Nechepsôs,12 19 years.
51. Psammuthis, 13 years.
52. –––––, 4 years.
53. Cêrtôs,13 20 years.
54. Rampsis, 45 years.
55. Amensês, also called Ammenemês, 26 years.
56. Ochyras, 14 years.
57. Amendês, 27 years.
58. Thuôris, 50 years.
This is the Polybus of Homer, who appears in the Odyssey as husband of Alcandra: the poet tells how Menelaus and Helen dwelt with him in their wanderings after the capture of Troy.
59. Athôthis, also called Phusanus, 28 years.
In his reign earthquakes occurred in Egypt, although previously unknown there.
60. Cencenês, 39 years.
61. Uennephis, 42 years.
62. Susakeim, 34 years.
This king brought up Libyans, Ethiopians, and Trôglodytes before Jerusalem.
63. Psuenus, 25 years.
64. Ammenôphis, 9 years.
65. Nephecherês, 6 years.
66. Saïtês, 15 years.
67. Psinachês, 9 years.
68. Petubastês, 44 years.
69. Osôrthôn, 9 years.
70. Psammus, 10 years.
71. Concharis, 21 years.
72. Osŏrthôn, 15 years.
73. Tacalôphis, 13 years.
74. Bocchôris, 44 years.
This king made laws for the Egyptians: in his time report has it that a lamb spoke.
75. Sabacôn, an Ethiopian, 12 years.
This king, taking Bocchôris captive, burned him alive.
76. Sebêchôn, 12 years.
77. Taracês, 20 years.
78. Amaês, 38 years.
79. Stephinathês, 27 years.
80. Nechepsus, 13 years.
81. Nechaô, 8 years.
82. Psammêtichus, 14 years.
83. Nechaô II (Pharaoh), 9 years.
84. Psamuthês the Second, also called Psammêtichus, 17 years.
85. Uaphris, 34 years.
86. Amôsis, 50 years.
2. Kourôdês, 63 years.
3. Aristarchus, 34 years.
4. Spanius, 36 years.
5 and 6. Two kings, unrecorded, 72 years.
7. Ôsiropis, 23 years.
8. Sesonchôsis, 49 years.
9. Amenemês, 29 years.
10. Amasis, 2 years.
11. Acesephthrês, 13 years.
12. Anchoreus, 9 years.
13. Armiÿses, 4 years.
14. Chamoïs,12 years.
15. Miamûs, 14 years.
16. Amesêsis, 65 years.
17. Usês, 50 years.
18. Ramesês, 29 years.
19. Rames(s)omenês, 15 years.
20. Usimarê(s), 31 years.
21. Ramessêseôs, 23 years.
22. Ramessamenô, 19 years.
He is the first Pharaoh mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. In his reign the patriarch Abraham went down into Egypt.
23. Ramessê Iubassê, 39 years.
24. Ramessê, son of Uaphrês, 29 years.
25. Concharis, 5 years.
In this 5th year of Concharis, the 25th king of Egypt, during the Sixteenth Dynasty of the Sôthic Cycle as it is called in Manetho, the total of years from the first king and founder of Egypt, Mestraïm, is 700 belonging to 25 kings, i.e. from the general cosmic year 2776, in which the Dispersion took place in the 34th year of the rule of Arphaxad and the 5th year of Phalec. Next in the succession were 4 kings of Tanis, who ruled Egypt in the Seventeenth Dynasty for 254 [259] years, according to the following computation.
26. Silitês (the first of the 6 kings of the Seventeenth Dynasty in Manetho), 19 years.
27. Baiôn, 44 years.
28. Apachnas, 36 years.
29. Aphôphis, 61 years.
Some say that this king was at first called Pharaoh, and that in the 4th year of his kingship Joseph came as a slave into Egypt. He appointed Joseph lord of Egypt and all his kingdom in the 17th year of his rule, having learned from him the interpretation of the dreams and having thus proved his divine wisdom. The Holy Scriptures, however, give the name of Pharaoh also to the king of Egypt in the time of Abraham.
30. Sethôs, 50 years.
31. Cêrtôs, according to Josephus, 29 years; according to Manetho, 44 years.
32. Asêth, 20 years.
This king added the 5 intercalary days to the year: in his reign, they say, the Egyptian year became a year of 365 days, being previously reckoned as 360 days only. In his time the bull-calf was deified and called Apis.
33. Amôsis, also called Tethmôsis, 26 years.
34. Chebrôn, 13 years.
35. Amemphis, 15 years.
36. Amensês, 11 years.
37. Misphragmuthôsis, 16 years.
38. Misphrês, 23 years.
39. Tuthmôsis, 39 years.
40. Amenôphthis, 34 years.
This is the king who was reputed to be Memnôn and a speaking statue. Many years later Cambysês, the Persian king, cut this statue in two, deeming that there was sorcery in it, as Polyaenus of Athens relates.
The Ethiopians, removing from the River Indus, settled near Egypt.
41. Ôrus, 48 years.
42. Achencherês, 25 years.
43. Athôris, 29 years.
44. Chencherês, 26 years.
45. Achêrrês, 8 or 30 years.
46. Armaeus, also called Danaus, 9 years.
This king, fleeing from his brother Ramessês, also called Aegyptus, was driven from his kingdom of Egypt and came to Greece. Ramessês, his brother, whose other name was Aegyptus, ruled Egypt for 68 years, changing the name of his country to Egypt after his own name. Its previous name was Mestraea, and among the Greeks Aeria. Now Danaus or Armaeus took possession of Argos and, driving out Sthenelus the son of Crotôpus, ruled over the Argives. His descendants thereafter were called Danaïdae down to Eurystheus son of Sthenelus, the son of Perseus. Next to these, after Pelops the Pelopidae succeeded to the kingdom: the first of these was Atreus.
47. Ramessês, also called Aegyptus, 68 years.
48. Amenôphis, 8 years.
49. Thuôris, 17 years.
50. Nechepsôs,12 19 years.
51. Psammuthis, 13 years.
52. –––––, 4 years.
53. Cêrtôs,13 20 years.
54. Rampsis, 45 years.
55. Amensês, also called Ammenemês, 26 years.
56. Ochyras, 14 years.
57. Amendês, 27 years.
58. Thuôris, 50 years.
This is the Polybus of Homer, who appears in the Odyssey as husband of Alcandra: the poet tells how Menelaus and Helen dwelt with him in their wanderings after the capture of Troy.
59. Athôthis, also called Phusanus, 28 years.
In his reign earthquakes occurred in Egypt, although previously unknown there.
60. Cencenês, 39 years.
61. Uennephis, 42 years.
62. Susakeim, 34 years.
This king brought up Libyans, Ethiopians, and Trôglodytes before Jerusalem.
63. Psuenus, 25 years.
64. Ammenôphis, 9 years.
65. Nephecherês, 6 years.
66. Saïtês, 15 years.
67. Psinachês, 9 years.
68. Petubastês, 44 years.
69. Osôrthôn, 9 years.
70. Psammus, 10 years.
71. Concharis, 21 years.
72. Osŏrthôn, 15 years.
73. Tacalôphis, 13 years.
74. Bocchôris, 44 years.
This king made laws for the Egyptians: in his time report has it that a lamb spoke.
75. Sabacôn, an Ethiopian, 12 years.
This king, taking Bocchôris captive, burned him alive.
76. Sebêchôn, 12 years.
77. Taracês, 20 years.
78. Amaês, 38 years.
79. Stephinathês, 27 years.
80. Nechepsus, 13 years.
81. Nechaô, 8 years.
82. Psammêtichus, 14 years.
83. Nechaô II (Pharaoh), 9 years.
84. Psamuthês the Second, also called Psammêtichus, 17 years.
85. Uaphris, 34 years.
86. Amôsis, 50 years.
