Brugsch, Heinrich: Egypt under the pharaohs: a history derived entirely from the monuments (London, 1891)

J>m xxvi. CORRUPTION OF EELIGIOUS THOUGHT 423

The stone door-posts of the date of Psamthek-nefer-
sem found in the debris at Mitraheny reveal the ancient
Memphite style revived after a lapse of 4,000 years.

To the old Egyptian theology and the esoteric tra-
ditions of the priestly schools a new contribution ap-
pears to have been made, modelled closely after the
Grasco-Asiatic pattern, which was far from harmonising
with the time-honoured wisdom taught in the temples.
Besides the established pantheon there now appear
upon the monuments monstrous forms, demons and
genii, of whom the earlier age with its pure doctrine
had scarcely an idea. Exorcisms of the demons formed
henceforth a special science, which was destined to
supersede the old and half-lost traditional lore of past
ages. The demon-song of 'The aged man who re-
gained his youth, the hoary one who became young,'
the exorcisms of Tehuti and the powers of witchcraft
in league with him, are the favourite themes which
cover the monuments of this remarkable time of tran-
sition. A priest Ankh-Psamthek, a son of the lady
Thent-nub, finds an ancient writing in the temple of
the Mnevis-bull of Heliopolis, in the time of King
Nekht-Hor-heb, and forthwith a whole stone is adorned
with indescribably fine inscriptions and figures—a
unique work of art, which now forms the most remark-
able ornament of Prince Metternich's collections at
Konigswerth in Bohemia.

All the walls of the sanctuary in the temple of Amen,
founded by Darius I. in the Great Oasis of El-Khargeh
(the ancient Hibis), are covered with demoniacal repre-
sentations, the explanation of which is little aided by
the annexed inscriptions. Their origin goes back to the
same king, Nekht-Hor-heb. The last Egyptian king,
Nekht-neb-ef, earned the cheap reputation of an exor-
cist. He was a famous magician, who left Egypt and