DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18825#0018
8 HlSTORt of AKT, [lECT. I*
speedily brought to some kind of perfection in Egypt
than elsewhere ? Might not the very early custom of
embalming the dead, so generally practised in this
country, afford models for imitation ? The em-
balmers of sacred birds might easily learn to model
an ibis, or an hawk; while such as were employed
upon human bodies might form a human resem-
blance, without possessing the greatest talents or abi-
lity.
In fact, most pieces of Egyptian sculpture extant
are little other than imitations of their mummies,
and may well be considered as representations of their
original heroes or deities: nor is it unlikely, that the
traditionary respect paid by that people to the re-
mains of their progenitors, might gradually be
changed into superstitious adoration ; which shewed
itself, under one of its forms, in die respect shewn to
images, and in the qualities attributed to them.
This supposition is strengthened, by noticing the
very particular rigour with which Moses forbad the
Israelites from forming likenesses of any thing on
earth, in the air, or in the.waters; lest to such a
likeness some imaginary virtue might be attributed,
and that which originally was only intended as a re-
semblance, should, by a process whereof he was well
informed, be converted into an idol.
Indeed, it is but too evident, from a multitude of
circumstances, that the Arts were early subservient
JT** I to
to idolatry, at least, that they contributed to spread
its pernicious effects : and here permit me to re-
mark, for the information of my younger auditors,
that there appears to have been urgent necessity for
the
speedily brought to some kind of perfection in Egypt
than elsewhere ? Might not the very early custom of
embalming the dead, so generally practised in this
country, afford models for imitation ? The em-
balmers of sacred birds might easily learn to model
an ibis, or an hawk; while such as were employed
upon human bodies might form a human resem-
blance, without possessing the greatest talents or abi-
lity.
In fact, most pieces of Egyptian sculpture extant
are little other than imitations of their mummies,
and may well be considered as representations of their
original heroes or deities: nor is it unlikely, that the
traditionary respect paid by that people to the re-
mains of their progenitors, might gradually be
changed into superstitious adoration ; which shewed
itself, under one of its forms, in die respect shewn to
images, and in the qualities attributed to them.
This supposition is strengthened, by noticing the
very particular rigour with which Moses forbad the
Israelites from forming likenesses of any thing on
earth, in the air, or in the.waters; lest to such a
likeness some imaginary virtue might be attributed,
and that which originally was only intended as a re-
semblance, should, by a process whereof he was well
informed, be converted into an idol.
Indeed, it is but too evident, from a multitude of
circumstances, that the Arts were early subservient
JT** I to
to idolatry, at least, that they contributed to spread
its pernicious effects : and here permit me to re-
mark, for the information of my younger auditors,
that there appears to have been urgent necessity for
the