The Greek historian Herodotus wrote much about Egypt and devoted all of Book II of his History to Egyptian history and anthropology. As part of his account of Egyptian religion, Herodotus left a vivid description of pilgrims on their way to the Delta city of Bubastis to take part in ceremonies honoring the goddess Bastet.

When they travel to Bubastis, this is what they do. They sail thither, men and women together, and a great number of each, in each boat. Some of the women have rattles and rattle them, others play, the flute through the entire trip, and the remainder of the women and men sing and clap their hands. As they travel on toward Bubastis and come, near some other city, they edge the boat near the bank, and some of the women do as I have...