For a long time, the Egyptians believed that they were the oldest people in the world. Before the reign of King Psammetichus, they were fully convinced that no other nation existed before them. They thought their land, customs, and people were more ancient than all others. This belief was strong and widely accepted among them.
However, King Psammetichus began to doubt this idea. He wanted to know the truth about which people were truly the most ancient. Since asking questions and listening to stories did not give him a clear answer, he decided to carry out an unusual experiment to discover the truth for himself The Width of Egypt from the Coast to Heliopolis.
The King’s Strange Experiment
King Psammetichus ordered that two newborn children from ordinary families be taken away from their parents. He gave them to a herdsman and told him to raise the children in complete silence. The herdsman was strictly commanded not to speak a single word in their presence. No other person was allowed to talk near them either.
The children were kept in a small, quiet cottage, far away from other people. Goats were brought to them regularly so they could drink milk, and the herdsman took care of all their needs. Apart from feeding and protecting them, he was not allowed to communicate with them in any way.
The king’s purpose was simple but bold. He believed that once the children grew past the age of babbling, the first word they spoke would come naturally and reveal the original language of mankind.
The First Word Spoken
For two years, the herdsman followed the king’s instructions carefully. One day, when he opened the door to the children’s room, both children ran toward him with their arms stretched out and clearly said the word “Becos.”
At first, the herdsman paid little attention to this. But as time passed, he noticed that the children repeated this word again and again. Realizing its importance, he reported the matter to King Psammetichus and brought the children before him Sofia Daily City Tours.
When the king heard the children speak the word himself, he ordered an inquiry. He wanted to know if any people used the word “becos.” After careful investigation, it was discovered that “becos” was the Phrygian word for bread.
The Egyptians Accept a New Conclusion
Because of this discovery, King Psammetichus concluded that the Phrygians must be older than the Egyptians. The Egyptians, although proud of their history, accepted this result and admitted that the Phrygians were more ancient than they were.
Accounts from the Egyptian Priests
The writer learned these facts from the priests of Vulcan while staying in Memphis. The priests confirmed that this story was true. They also rejected a Greek version of the tale, which claimed that the children were raised by women whose tongues had been cut out. According to the priests, this story was false, and the children were raised exactly as described above.
Further Inquiries in Egypt
The writer also traveled to Heliopolis and Thebes to compare stories. The priests in Heliopolis were especially known for their deep knowledge of history. Their accounts agreed with those given at Memphis. Although much was said about Egyptian religion, only the names of the gods were recorded, since these were already well known.
