DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5538#0250
230 PHARAOHS, FELLAHS, AKD EXPLORERS.
are largely derived, are yet unknown, the tribal name is of
extreme importance. For this tribal name, the savage natu-
rally adopts that of some creature whose strength, subtlety,
swiftness, or fearlessness may symbolize such qualities in
himself. These facts are true of barbarian and semi-civilized
races in all parts of the world. The Bechuanas of South
Africa, the Kols of Khota Nagpar in Asia, the Yakats of
Siberia in Northern Europe, the aborigines of Australia, are
all divided into clans, each clan being affiliated to some beast,
bird, fish, or reptile. They all regard the " totem" animal
as sacred. They forbear to eat it; and if compelled in self-
defence to kill it, they ask its pardon for the act.
Here, then, we have the origin of animal worship—animal
worship being the direct outcome of totemism.
Now, what is true of these American, South African, Asi-
atic, European, and Australian tribes, must surely be true
also of the prehistoric Egyptians. They began with totem-
ism— the Bull-clan at Memphis, the Crocodile-clan in the
Fayum, the Ibis-clan at llermopolis, and so forth.(C1) As time
went on and civilization progressed, they explained away the
grosser features of this creed by representing the totem ani-
mal as the symbol, or incarnation, of an unseen deity; and
there is no clearer proof of the extreme antiquity of their
civilization than the fact that they had already reached this
point in their spiritual career when Mena, the first king of
the First Dynasty, laid the foundation-stone of the Temple
of Ptah, at Memphis.
But, having started from totemism, animal worship, and
polytheism, did they not rise at last to higher things — to
monotheism, pure and simple ?
Yes; they did rise to monotheism; but not, I think, to
monotheism pure and simple. Their monotheism Avas not
exactly our monotheism : it was a monotheism based upon,
and evolved from, the polytheism of earlier ages. Could we
question a high-priest of Thebes of the time of the Nineteenth
or Twentieth Dynasty on the subject of his faith, we should
be startled by the breadth and grandeur of his views touch-
are largely derived, are yet unknown, the tribal name is of
extreme importance. For this tribal name, the savage natu-
rally adopts that of some creature whose strength, subtlety,
swiftness, or fearlessness may symbolize such qualities in
himself. These facts are true of barbarian and semi-civilized
races in all parts of the world. The Bechuanas of South
Africa, the Kols of Khota Nagpar in Asia, the Yakats of
Siberia in Northern Europe, the aborigines of Australia, are
all divided into clans, each clan being affiliated to some beast,
bird, fish, or reptile. They all regard the " totem" animal
as sacred. They forbear to eat it; and if compelled in self-
defence to kill it, they ask its pardon for the act.
Here, then, we have the origin of animal worship—animal
worship being the direct outcome of totemism.
Now, what is true of these American, South African, Asi-
atic, European, and Australian tribes, must surely be true
also of the prehistoric Egyptians. They began with totem-
ism— the Bull-clan at Memphis, the Crocodile-clan in the
Fayum, the Ibis-clan at llermopolis, and so forth.(C1) As time
went on and civilization progressed, they explained away the
grosser features of this creed by representing the totem ani-
mal as the symbol, or incarnation, of an unseen deity; and
there is no clearer proof of the extreme antiquity of their
civilization than the fact that they had already reached this
point in their spiritual career when Mena, the first king of
the First Dynasty, laid the foundation-stone of the Temple
of Ptah, at Memphis.
But, having started from totemism, animal worship, and
polytheism, did they not rise at last to higher things — to
monotheism, pure and simple ?
Yes; they did rise to monotheism; but not, I think, to
monotheism pure and simple. Their monotheism Avas not
exactly our monotheism : it was a monotheism based upon,
and evolved from, the polytheism of earlier ages. Could we
question a high-priest of Thebes of the time of the Nineteenth
or Twentieth Dynasty on the subject of his faith, we should
be startled by the breadth and grandeur of his views touch-