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After this they marched forward with the design of invading Egypt.
When they had reached Palestine, however, Psammetichus the
Egyptian king met them with gifts and prayers, and prevailed on them
to advance no further. On their return, passing through Ascalon, a
city of Syria, the greater part of them went their way without doing
any damage; but some few who lagged behind pillaged the temple of
Celestial Venus. I have inquired and find that the temple at
Ascalon is the most ancient of all the temples to this goddess; for
the one in Cyprus, as the Cyprians themselves admit, was built in
imitation of it; and that in Cythera was erected by the Phoenicians,
who belong to this part of Syria. The Scythians who plundered the
temple were punished by the goddess with the female sickness, which
still attaches to their posterity. They themselves confess that they
are afflicted with the disease for this reason, and travellers who
visit Scythia can see what sort of a disease it is. Those who suffer
from it are called Enarees.
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