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For the Nile branches (στόματα) cf. 10. 2 n.

The number of ‘branches’ (στόματα) is usually given as seven. Of these the ‘Tanitic’, i. e. the second from the east, between the Pelusiac and the Mendesian, is not named by H., who calls it ‘Saitic’. Cf. Strabo (802) τὸ Τανιτικὸν τινες Σαϊτικὸν λέγουσι.

Three explanations are given: (1) the simplest is that of Stein, that beside the well-known ‘Sais’, there was a second town of that name in the eastern Delta. But there is no monumental evidence for a second ‘Sais’.

(2) Wiedemann seems to suppose that the Saites claimed the Canopic arm, on which their town stood, as their own, and that H., misled by them, counts it twice over, under its real name ‘Canopic’, and under its supposed name ‘Saitic’.

(3) Sourdille (H. E. 53) thinks that the Tanitic arm was called ‘Sanitic’, and that H., not recognizing its connexion with the Τανίτης νομός of c. 166, confused the unfamiliar name with the familiar Σαιτικόν. We may compare the probable confusion in ‘Nitocris’ (cf. i. 185. 1 n.).

The order from east to west is: (1) Pelusiac (or Bubastic), (2) Tanitic (or ? Saitic), (3) Mendesian, (4) Bucolic, (5) Sebennytic, (6) Bolbitinic (or Rosetta), (7) Canopic (or Naucratic).

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