Croesus says that an army of Amazons has never existed, but that the Greeks, (always ready and able to turn anything into a beautiful myth), having seen these priestesses, at once transformed the armed virgins dedicated to the goddess into a nation of fighting women." "Then they are liars!" exclaimed the disappointed girl.
"It is true, that the Greeks have not the same reverence for truth as you have," answered Nitetis, "but they do not call the men who invent these beautiful stories liars; they are called poets." "Just as it is with ourselves," said Kassandane.

"The poets, who sing the praises of my husband, have altered and adorned his early life in a marvellous manner; yet no one calls them liars.

But tell me, my daughter, is it true that these Greeks are more beautiful than other men, and understand art better even than the Egyptians ?" "On that subject I should not venture to pronounce a judgment.

There is such a great difference between the Greek and Egyptian works of art.

When I went into our own gigantic temples to pray, I always felt as if I must prostrate myself in the dust before the greatness of the gods, and entreat them not to crush so insignificant a worm; but in the temple of Hera at Samos, I could only raise my hands to heaven in joyful thanksgiving, that the gods had made the earth so beautiful.