DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0362
APPENDIX.
323
will now declare unto the king a dream, which I also had a year
ago, but which I have not imparted to any human being." The
king said, " Relate it, 0 Philimon."7 The high-priest accordingly
began : — "I was sitting with the king upon the tower of Amasis.
The firmament descended from above till it overshadowed us
like a vault. The king raised his hands in supplication to the
heavenly bodies, whose brightness was obscured in a mysterious
and threatening manner. The people ran to the palace to implore
the king's protection; who in great alarm again raised his hands
towards the heavens, and ordered me to do the same ; and be-
hold, a bright opening appeared over the king, and the sun shone
forth above; these circumstances allayed our apprehensions, and
indicated, that the sky would resume its former altitude; and
fear together with the dream vanished away."8
The king then directed the astrologers to ascertain by taking
the altitude whether the stars foretold any great catastrophe, and
the result announced an approaching deluge.3 The king ordered
them to inquire whether or not this calamity would befal Egypt;
and they answrered, yes, the flood will overwhelm the land, and
destroy a large portion of it for some years.1
' Some histories say that Philimon was with Noah in the ark.— Dr. Sprcngcr.
8 The above-mentioned MS. 7503, on the authority of Usted Ibrahim Ben
Waiyff Shah, relates another vision of the high-priest, as follows: — "I saw the
town of Amasis, together with its inhabitants, overthrown. The images of the gods
(idols) cast down from their places, and personages coming down from Heaven,
and smiting with iron maces the inhabitants of the earth. I asked them why they
did so? They answered, Because these people did not believe in their gods. I
asked if there were means of security? They answered, Yes, whoever seeks will
find it from the Master of the Ark (Noah). I was overcome with alarm." It is
remarkable, that Makrizi in this passage, " They do not believe on their gods,"
writes their gods, and not their idols, which latter words he uses in all other in-
stances, in accordance with the Mahometan custom of mentioning with contempt
heathen deities. Soyuti renders this passage, " they do not believe on Bramah,
who created them." The word Kafar is accompanied with a substantive in an
accusative case, when it signifies " to disbelieve'in." The B, therefore, in the
word Barahm, is not to be considered a preposition, but part of the word, which
is Barahm Brahma, and not Rahm, or Rama.—Dr. Sprcuger.
1 According to Makrizi, fire was to proceed from the sign Leo, and to consume
the world. A further continuation of this story is also given, on the authority
of Ustad Ibrahim, whose detail was derived from a papyrus found in the mo-
nastery of Abou Ilonneis, a document, which will be afterwards alluded to.—
Dr. Sprcngcr.
1 Besides the general deluge mentioned in holy writ, Dr. Sprenger is of opinion,
that a partial inundation took place in Egypt, and on the shores of the Mediter-
323
will now declare unto the king a dream, which I also had a year
ago, but which I have not imparted to any human being." The
king said, " Relate it, 0 Philimon."7 The high-priest accordingly
began : — "I was sitting with the king upon the tower of Amasis.
The firmament descended from above till it overshadowed us
like a vault. The king raised his hands in supplication to the
heavenly bodies, whose brightness was obscured in a mysterious
and threatening manner. The people ran to the palace to implore
the king's protection; who in great alarm again raised his hands
towards the heavens, and ordered me to do the same ; and be-
hold, a bright opening appeared over the king, and the sun shone
forth above; these circumstances allayed our apprehensions, and
indicated, that the sky would resume its former altitude; and
fear together with the dream vanished away."8
The king then directed the astrologers to ascertain by taking
the altitude whether the stars foretold any great catastrophe, and
the result announced an approaching deluge.3 The king ordered
them to inquire whether or not this calamity would befal Egypt;
and they answrered, yes, the flood will overwhelm the land, and
destroy a large portion of it for some years.1
' Some histories say that Philimon was with Noah in the ark.— Dr. Sprcngcr.
8 The above-mentioned MS. 7503, on the authority of Usted Ibrahim Ben
Waiyff Shah, relates another vision of the high-priest, as follows: — "I saw the
town of Amasis, together with its inhabitants, overthrown. The images of the gods
(idols) cast down from their places, and personages coming down from Heaven,
and smiting with iron maces the inhabitants of the earth. I asked them why they
did so? They answered, Because these people did not believe in their gods. I
asked if there were means of security? They answered, Yes, whoever seeks will
find it from the Master of the Ark (Noah). I was overcome with alarm." It is
remarkable, that Makrizi in this passage, " They do not believe on their gods,"
writes their gods, and not their idols, which latter words he uses in all other in-
stances, in accordance with the Mahometan custom of mentioning with contempt
heathen deities. Soyuti renders this passage, " they do not believe on Bramah,
who created them." The word Kafar is accompanied with a substantive in an
accusative case, when it signifies " to disbelieve'in." The B, therefore, in the
word Barahm, is not to be considered a preposition, but part of the word, which
is Barahm Brahma, and not Rahm, or Rama.—Dr. Sprcuger.
1 According to Makrizi, fire was to proceed from the sign Leo, and to consume
the world. A further continuation of this story is also given, on the authority
of Ustad Ibrahim, whose detail was derived from a papyrus found in the mo-
nastery of Abou Ilonneis, a document, which will be afterwards alluded to.—
Dr. Sprcngcr.
1 Besides the general deluge mentioned in holy writ, Dr. Sprenger is of opinion,
that a partial inundation took place in Egypt, and on the shores of the Mediter-