DIODORUS SICULUS #

...to be composed again from the aforementioned elements. They believe each of these to be a god, and those who first used articulate speech in Egypt gave each a proper name according to its nature. The spirit original: πνεῦμα (pneuma) they called Zeus, the name being translated Diodorus refers to the Egyptian equivalent, such as Amun, which Greeks often identified with Zeus as the one who is the cause of the life-breath in living creatures; they considered him to be, as it were, the father of all things. They say the most famous of the Greek poets Homer agrees with them when he says of this god:

"Father of men and of gods."

They named fire Hephaestus, believing him to be a great god who contributes much to all things toward their growth and perfect maturity. The earth, conceiving of it as a vessel for all growing things, they called "Mother." Similarly, the Greeks call her Demeter, the name having been slightly altered over time; for in ancient times she was called "Earth Mother" original: γῆν μητέρα (Gēn Mētēra), just as Orpheus also testifies, saying:

"Mother Earth, Demeter, giver of wealth."

The ancients, they say, called moisture "Oceanus," which when translated means "mother-nourisher"; among some of the Greeks, however, the idea was taken that it is the Ocean. Regarding this, the poet Homer also says:

"Oceanus, source of the gods, and mother Tethys."

For the Egyptians believe that Oceanus is their river Nile, by which the births of the gods also took place. They claim that in Egypt alone, of all the inhabited world, there are many cities founded by the ancient gods, such as those of Zeus, Helios, Hermes, Apollo, Pan, Eileithyia, and many others.
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They say they called the air Athena, when the word is translated, and they consider her the daughter of Zeus, representing her as a virgin because the air is incorruptible by nature and occupies the highest place in the entire universe. Therefore, the myth arose that she was born from the head original: κορυφῆς (koruphēs), meaning 'peak' or 'crown' of Zeus. She is also named Tritogeneia because her nature changes three times original: τρεῖς (treis) during the year: in spring, summer, and winter. They say she is called "Bright-eyed" original: Γλαυκῶπιν (Glaukōpin), not as some Greeks have supposed because she has blue-gray eyes—for that would be foolish—but because the air has a blue-gray appearance.
Blue-gray eyes

They say the five aforementioned gods travel throughout the whole inhabited world, appearing to men in the forms of sacred animals, and sometimes changing into the likeness of men or other things; and they claim this is not a mere myth, but possible, since these are the creators of all things in truth. The poet Homer, having visited Egypt and participated in these accounts from the priests, somewhere in his poetry presents what was said as actually occurring:
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"And the gods, in the likeness of strangers from afar,
appearing in all manner of forms, wander through the cities,
beholding both the insolence and the law-abiding behavior of men."

Regarding the gods in heaven who have an eternal origin, such are the things the Egyptians say. But they say other gods were born from these on earth, who were originally mortal, but because of their wisdom and common benefit to mankind, attained immortality; some of these were also kings in Egypt. When their names are translated, some are identical to the celestial gods, while others have their own proper names, such as Helios, Cronus, and Rhea, and also Zeus, whom some call Ammon; furthermore, Hera and Hephaestus, and also Hestia, and finally Hermes. And first, they say, Helios was king of the Egyptians, having the same name as the star in heaven. Some of the priests, however, say that Hephaestus was the first king, having been the discoverer of fire,
The discovery of fire.

and because of this usefulness, he obtained the leadership. For when a tree on the mountains was struck by lightning and the nearby woods were burning, Hephaestus approached...