It also appears, that intermediary agents and Dæmons were supposed to inhabit the bodies of certain animals, in which they visited the earth; and conformably to this notion, the numerous Genii of the Egyptian Pantheon were figured with the heads of different animals, distinct from the Deities to whom those animals were peculiarly sacred. *

The custom of representing the Gods under a human formt, was owing to their considering man the intellectual representative of the Deity, who bore the stamp of the mind of the Creator, and the only created being who was worthy of being considered a likeness of the Divine original. And in adding the heads of particular animals, they probably alluded to certain properties, of which they were deemed suitable emblems.

From what has been stated, it is reasonable to suppose that the sacred animals enjoyed different gradations of rank; and the same respect was not paid to the crocodile, whose worship was confined to particular parts of the country, as to the universally adored Ibis, or the Cow of Athor. Some were in themselves sacred, - being looked upon, as Strabo and Porphyry say, "really to be Gods," -as the bull Apis, and others; some were adored as representatives of the Deities to whom they were sacred; and others were only emblems. It is not, however, always easy to ascertain to what degree the animals were held sacred by the Egyptians, since ancient authors disagree

+ Vide suprà, Vol. I. (2d Series) p. 247.

* Vide suprà, p. 89. VOL. II.

on this point. Thus we find that, though Strabo supposes the Oxyrhinchus to have been worshipped throughout the country, Plutarch says the Cynopolites eat this fish; and the dog, which the geographer considers universally sacred, was in like manner, out of revenge, killed and eaten by the people of Oxyrhinchus. Strabo's words are, "All the Egyptians venerate the Oxyrhinchus fish. For there are some animals which every Egyptian worships: as for instance, of quadrupeds, three,— the ox, the dog, and the cat; of birds, the hawk, and Ibis; of fish, two,-the Lepidotus, and Oxyrhinchus. Some are adored in particular places: as the sheep, by the Saites and Thebans; the Latus, a fish of the Nile, by the people of Latopolis; the wolf, by the Lycopolites; the Cynocephalus, at Hermopolis; the Cepus, by the Babylonians who live near Memphis; .. the eagle, by the Thebans; the lion, at Leontopolis; the goat, by the Mendesians; the Mygale, at Athribis; and others, in different places." The bodies, however, of all animals which were found dead, were removed and buried, as might be reasonably expected, since this regulation arose from a sanatory precaution; and it therefore appears, from the most common kinds, as horses, asses, and others, not being discovered, that the embalming process was confined to certain animals, and rarely extended to those which were not sacred to some Deity.

In order to enable the reader to distinguish the sacred animals of Egypt, I shall introduce a

* Strabo, xvii. p. 559.

list of those known there in former times, and point out such as appear, from the authority of competent writers, or from being found embalmed in the tombs, to have a claim to that title; arranging them under their respective heads of Mammalia, birds, reptiles, fishes, and insects, to which I shall add some of the holy members of the vegetable kingdom.

2

Bronze Apis, in the possession of Miss Rogers.-Fig. 2. The devices on its neck and back.