ABSTRACT
We have already mentioned that, according to Herodotus, after the reign of Sethon, the high priest of Ptah, who is said by some to have brought about the destruction of Sennacherib's army, the country of Egypt was for a time ruled by the Twelve Kings. Iierodotus says (ii. 147):—“The last king (beeing as before was mentioned “the priest of Vulcane) leauing the seat imperiall “uoid by his death, ye Aegyptians being now at liberty, “and yet unable to liue without the aid of gouernment, “chose unto themselues 12. princes, deuiding ye whole “land into so many partes. These 12. ioyning betweene “themselues mutual kindred and affinity, exercised the “authority and office of kings, establishing mutuall “league and couenauntes, that none should incroch or “gather upon another, but holding himselfe satisfied “with an equall portion, should liue in friendship and “amity with the rest, which their league and agreement “by so much the more diligence and warines to “confirme and strengthen, for that in ye first entrance “to their kingdomes a prophecie was giuen out, that “who so dranke of a brasen mazer in the temple of “Vulcane, should be king alone over the whole land. “When the sacred rites and ceremonies obserued in “striking of league and making couenant were duly “accomplished, it liked them all to leaue some common “monument or worke behinde them to the continuance “of their memories, which they did, making a labyrinth “or maze somewhat aboue the poole called Maeris, “toward the city, much more greater and famous than “ye brute goeth.” [Here follows a description of the Labyrinth].
