DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0074
question for the classical antiquary. They resemble a crosier
and a flail. On the head is a high conical mitre : a long narrow
beard is attached to the chin by a bandage or fillet: the neck is
ornamented with necklaces, the arms with bracelets: on tire
shoulder is an inscription in hieroglyphical characters; and from
sonic1 remains of artificial colour upon the chest, it seems pro-
bable that the whole has been painted over. If there were a
variety of colours, the red has proved the most durable.
Here I may he allowed to observe, that so little is positively
known of Egyptian mythology, and all description of its forms
and allusions appears so unconnected and unintelligible, that
some apology is perhaps necessary for dwelling at all on such
apparently ungrateful Bubjects:—all that can be said in its de-
fence, is, that if we never attempt to unfold, or assist others in
explaining these and similar intricacies, no progress will be
made towards an object highly interesting. But as we are not
yet authorised to form systems, we must content ourselves with
stating facts, and multiplying observations, in order to approxi-
mate1 by degrees towards the truth: in which hope, I shall con-
fine myself in the following pages to a brief description of such
figures as appear to afford the easiest illustrations. Perhaps the
aera is approaching when some light is to be thrown upon the
mysteries of Egypt, if so, we shall owe it to the accuracy with
which such statements are made. It is only now that the mo-
numents can be visited with security, and at the leisure of tra-
vellers*; and the monuments are nearly the only books from
which much useful information can be derived. Herodotus of
course never could expect to learn all, while lie only conversed
* Since this was written, the unfortunate changes that have taken place in our con-
nection with Turkey will, I fear, remove the opportunity of realizing these expecta-
tions to a very remote period.
with
and a flail. On the head is a high conical mitre : a long narrow
beard is attached to the chin by a bandage or fillet: the neck is
ornamented with necklaces, the arms with bracelets: on tire
shoulder is an inscription in hieroglyphical characters; and from
sonic1 remains of artificial colour upon the chest, it seems pro-
bable that the whole has been painted over. If there were a
variety of colours, the red has proved the most durable.
Here I may he allowed to observe, that so little is positively
known of Egyptian mythology, and all description of its forms
and allusions appears so unconnected and unintelligible, that
some apology is perhaps necessary for dwelling at all on such
apparently ungrateful Bubjects:—all that can be said in its de-
fence, is, that if we never attempt to unfold, or assist others in
explaining these and similar intricacies, no progress will be
made towards an object highly interesting. But as we are not
yet authorised to form systems, we must content ourselves with
stating facts, and multiplying observations, in order to approxi-
mate1 by degrees towards the truth: in which hope, I shall con-
fine myself in the following pages to a brief description of such
figures as appear to afford the easiest illustrations. Perhaps the
aera is approaching when some light is to be thrown upon the
mysteries of Egypt, if so, we shall owe it to the accuracy with
which such statements are made. It is only now that the mo-
numents can be visited with security, and at the leisure of tra-
vellers*; and the monuments are nearly the only books from
which much useful information can be derived. Herodotus of
course never could expect to learn all, while lie only conversed
* Since this was written, the unfortunate changes that have taken place in our con-
nection with Turkey will, I fear, remove the opportunity of realizing these expecta-
tions to a very remote period.
with