The uncertainty respecting the sacred fish of Egypt necessarily leads to many doubtful conjectures; but the appearance of the bronzes induces me to renounce the opinion I had formed respecting the Kelb el Bahr, and to give to the Binny, or Cyprinus, the name of Lepidotus.

LATUS AND MEOTES.

Another fish, the Latus, was worshipped at Latopolis*, now Esneh. In the sculptures several representations occur of fish, particularly one kind,

No. 464. c. A fish at Esneh.

which may possibly be the peculiar species held sacred in that city, as it is surrounded by an oval usually given to the

names of Kings and Gods.

The Mæotes is said by Clemens† of Alexandria to have been sacred at Elephantine; but I am ignorant of its species and general character. It is possible that it may have been the karmoot, a species of Silurust, which, if not worshipped in the Thebaïd, was connected with one of the Genii of the Egyptian Pantheon, who appears under a human form, with the head of this fish, in the sculptures of the Diospolite tombs. In Lower Egypt the karmoot was caught for the table; but there is no evidence of its having been eaten in the Thebaïd, and this may be an argument in favour of its having held a place among the sacred

Strabo, xvii. p. 559. + Clem. Orat. Adhort. p.17.
Silurus carmuth, or Heterobranchus bi-dorsalis.

animals in that part of the country. Ælian*, however, states that the Phagrus, the sacred fish of Syene, was the same as that called by the people of Elephantine Mæotes. The reason assigned by him for the veneration there paid to it, is the intimation it gave of the rising Nile †; and he gives it the additional credit of being exempt from the cannibal propensity common to other fish, of eating those of its own kind.

Several fish have been found embalmed in the tombs; but their forms are not easily distinguished, and it is difficult to ascertain the species to which they belong.

SCORPION AND SOLPUGA.

The scorpion was an emblem of the Goddess Selk; though we should rather expect it to have been chosen as a type of the Evil Being. Ælian§ mentions scorpions of Coptos, which, though inflicting a deadly sting, and dreaded by the people, so far respected the Goddess Isis, who was particularly worshipped in that city, that women, in going to express their grief before her, walked with bare feet, or lay upon the ground, without receiving any injury from them. Many extravagant fables are reported by the same author of these, as other animals; and he even furnishes scorpions and pigs with wings.

No representation has yet been found of the

* Elian, An. x. 19.

Plutarch applies the same to the Phagrus. Vide suprà, p. 249. Ælian, vi. 23.; he even produces them from a dead crocodile (ii. 33.). Ælian, x. 23.

|| Ælian, xvi. 41. and xii. 38.

Solpuga spider*, which is common in Upper Egypt, and which from its venemous qualities is looked upon as a noxious reptile; though some think it of great use, from its enmity to scorpions, which it is said to destroy. To its power of doing so I can bear ample testimony, having witnessed more than one contest between them, in which the Solpuga was victorious; though, when stung by its adversary, it generally dies on the spot. But this seldom happens, owing to the great quickness of its movements; and whenever the place in which the contest takes place is sufficiently spacious, the rapidity with which it runs round its adversary, and seizes it by the head (when the sting of the scorpion can only reach the hard shelly head of the Solpuga), always ensures its success.

INSECTS.

SCARABEUS.

The frequent occurrence of the Scarabæus in the sculptures, no less than the authority of numerous ancient writers, shows the great consequence attached by the Egyptians to this insect.

"A great portion of Egypt," says Pliny †, "worships the Scarabæus as one of the Gods of the country; a curious reason for which is given by Apion, as an excuse for the religious rites of his nation, that in this insect there is some resemblance to the operations of the Sun."

*The Solpuga araneoïdes, Plin. viii. 29. xxii. 25. and xix. 4.

It was an emblem of the Sun, to which Deity it was particularly sacred; and it often occurs in a boat with extended wings, holding the globe of the Sun in its claws, or elevated in the firmament as a type of that luminary in the meridian. Figures of other Deities are often seen praying to it when in this character.

It was also a symbol of the World, which it was chosen to signify in the hieroglyphics; and it was probably in connection with this idea that Pthah, the Creative Power †, claimed it as his emblem, being the Demiurge, or maker of the world. By PthahSokari-Osiris, the pigmy Deity of Memphis, it was adopted as a distinctive mark, being placed on his head; and Pthah was even represented under the figure of this insect. It belonged likewise to PthahTore, another character of the Creative Power.

Plutarch supposes that, from being emblematic of virility and manly force, it was engraved upon the signets of the Egyptian soldiers, their opinion being "that no females existed of this species, but all males;" and some have supposed that its position upon the female figure of the heavens, which encircles the zodiacs, refers to the same idea of its generative influence mentioned by Plutarch.

It has always been a matter of doubt to what purpose the numerous Scarabæi of all sizes and qualities, found in Egypt, were applied. Some suppose them to have been money; but this

* With the Hindoos the Sun is called Brahma, in the east or morning; Siva from noon to evening; and Vishnoo, in the west and at night. + Vide suprà, Vol. I. (2d Series) p. 251.

Plut. de Is. s. 10. and 73.

conjecture is not supported by fact, nor indeed by probability, in consequence of their great dissimilarity in size, weight, and many particulars required for establishing the value of a coin. They were principally used for rings, necklaces, and other ornamental trinkets, as well as for funereal purposes. Some of a larger size frequently had a prayer, or legend connected with the dead, engraved upon them; and a winged Scarabæus was generally placed on those bodies which were embalmed according to the most expensive process.*

It is probably to their being worn as rings that Plutarch alludes, in speaking of "the beetle engraved upon the signets of the soldiers." The custom is mentioned by Ælian †; and some have been found perfect, set in gold with the ring attached.

The Scarabæus may then be considered, 1. an emblem of the Sun ; 2. of Pthah, the creative power, and of Pthah Tore; 3. of Pthah-SokariOsiris; 4. of the World; 5. connected with astronomical subjects §; and 6. with funereal rites.

The Scarabæus was not only venerated when alive, but embalmed after death; and some have been found in that state at Thebes. But the cities where it received the greatest honours were probably Memphis and Heliopolis, of which Pthah and the Sun were the chief Deities.

Considerable ingenuity has been exercised in order to discover the real sacred beetle of Egypt,

* Vide infrà, chap. 16.

Elian, x. 15.

A winged Scarabæus bearing the disk of Re was also put for the winged globe of Hor-Hat; but this was only in lieu of the Sun. It occurs in some zodiacs in the place of Cancer.