Herodotus, The Histories (ed. A. D. Godley)

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XXXVII. They are religious beyond measure, more than any other people; and the following are among their customs. They drink from cups of bronze, which they clean out daily; this is done not by some but by all. [2] They are especially careful always to wear newly-washed linen. They practise circumcision for cleanliness' sake; for they would rather be clean than more becoming. Their priests shave the whole body every other day, so that no lice or anything else foul may infest them as they attend upon the gods. [3] The priests wear a single linen garment and sandals of papyrus:¹ they may have no other kind of clothing or footwear. Twice a day and twice every night they wash in cold water. Their religious observances are, one may say, innumerable. [4] But also they receive many benefits: they do not consume or spend anything of their own; sacred food is cooked for them, beef and goose are brought in great abundance to each man every day, and wine of grapes is given to them, too. They may not eat fish. [5] The Egyptians sow no beans in their country; if any grow, they will not eat them either raw or cooked; the priests cannot endure even to see them, considering beans an unclean kind of legume. Many (not only one) are dedicated to the service of each god. One of these is the high priest; and when a high priest dies, his son succeeds to his office.

¹ On this plant, see Hdt. 2.92.

Further comments from W. W. How, J. Wells, A Commentary on Herodotus:
book 2 (general note)
book 2, chapter 37 (general note)
book 2, chapter 37, section 1: theosebees
book 2, chapter 37, section 1: chalkeôn
book 2, chapter 37, section 2: perltamnontai
book 2, chapter 37, section 3: lineên
book 2, chapter 37, section 3: lountai
book 2, chapter 37, section 4: agatha
book 2, chapter 37, section 4: kreôn
book 2, chapter 37, section 4: oinos
book 2, chapter 37, section 4: ichthuôn
book 2, chapter 37, section 5: kuamous
book 2, chapter 37, section 5: trôgousi
book 2, chapter 37, section 5: archiereus
book 2, chapter 37, section 5: toutou ho pais

Cross references from Sir Richard Jebb, Commentary on Sophocles: Oedipus at Colonus:
* [1670-1750: Commos]

Cross references from Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache (ed. Ildar Ibraguimov):
434 [b. Dia, durch.]

Cross references from Raphael Kühner, Bernhard Gerth, Ausführliche Grammatik der griechischen Sprache (ed. Ildar Ibraguimov):
541 [Bemerkungen über den Gebrauch des ê und des Genetivs bei dem Komparative.]
601 [VI. Pleonasmus).]

Cross references from Walter Leaf, Commentary on the Iliad (1900):
8, 548 [Book 8 (Th)]

Cross references from William Watson Goodwin, Syntax of the Moods and Tenses of the Greek Verb:
685 [Infinitive in Indirect Discourse.]
807 [Simple Infinitive and Infinitive with tou, after Verbs of Hindrance, etc.]

Cross references from Basil Lanneau Gildersleeve, Syntax of Classical Greek:
38 [Ellipsis of neuter substantives.]: lountai de dis tês hêmerês hekastês psuchrôi
661 [Predicative positions.]
662 [Predicative positions.]

This text is based on the following book(s):
Herodotus, with an English translation by A. D. Godley. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1920.
OCLC: 1610641
ISBN: 0674991303, 0674991311, 0674991338, 0674991346

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