DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6359#0122
110
EGYPT AND ITS MONUMENTS.
ther down the river than at present, as the hunting them is
represented on the tombs of Memphis; at the present day they
are not met with lower than about Siout. They are seen in
groups of three or four, basking upon the sunny shoals, and
take to the river when startled at the approach of a boat.
There is an old story connected with them so curious, that we
might well have been justified in doubting its truth, but for
the attestations of numerous travellers. It is, that a small bird,
called from its cry the ' Sic-sac,' hovers about this ungainly
monster, and warns him of the approach of danger by dashing
to and fro against his head, and uttering its shrill peculiar
note, upon which the crocodile seeks safety under water. This
was lately described by the Hon. Mr. Curzon, who himself
witnessed it. It is very rarely that they are known to attack
any one. In some parts of Egypt the crocodile is worshipped
as a god ; in others, killed and eaten as a public enemy. Ju-
venal, who held some military post in the province, found
much amusement in satirizing the superstitions of Egypt-
But, adds Mr. Sharpe, he sometimes takes a poet's liberty, and
when he tells us that man's was the only flesh that they ate
without sinning, we are not to believe him to the letter. He
gives a lively picture of a fight which he saw between the
citizens of the two towns of Ombos and Tentyra, who had a
long standing quarrel about their gods. At Ombos they wor-
shipped the crocodile and the crocodile-headed god Savak,
while at Tentyra they worshipped the goddess Athor, and
were celebrated for their skill in catching and killing croco-
diles. So, taking an advantage of a feast or holiday, as the
people of Modena and Bologna did in the days of Tassoni,
they marched out for a fight. The men of Ombos were beaten
and put to flight, but one of them stumbling as he ran a way,
EGYPT AND ITS MONUMENTS.
ther down the river than at present, as the hunting them is
represented on the tombs of Memphis; at the present day they
are not met with lower than about Siout. They are seen in
groups of three or four, basking upon the sunny shoals, and
take to the river when startled at the approach of a boat.
There is an old story connected with them so curious, that we
might well have been justified in doubting its truth, but for
the attestations of numerous travellers. It is, that a small bird,
called from its cry the ' Sic-sac,' hovers about this ungainly
monster, and warns him of the approach of danger by dashing
to and fro against his head, and uttering its shrill peculiar
note, upon which the crocodile seeks safety under water. This
was lately described by the Hon. Mr. Curzon, who himself
witnessed it. It is very rarely that they are known to attack
any one. In some parts of Egypt the crocodile is worshipped
as a god ; in others, killed and eaten as a public enemy. Ju-
venal, who held some military post in the province, found
much amusement in satirizing the superstitions of Egypt-
But, adds Mr. Sharpe, he sometimes takes a poet's liberty, and
when he tells us that man's was the only flesh that they ate
without sinning, we are not to believe him to the letter. He
gives a lively picture of a fight which he saw between the
citizens of the two towns of Ombos and Tentyra, who had a
long standing quarrel about their gods. At Ombos they wor-
shipped the crocodile and the crocodile-headed god Savak,
while at Tentyra they worshipped the goddess Athor, and
were celebrated for their skill in catching and killing croco-
diles. So, taking an advantage of a feast or holiday, as the
people of Modena and Bologna did in the days of Tassoni,
they marched out for a fight. The men of Ombos were beaten
and put to flight, but one of them stumbling as he ran a way,