DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0404
APPENDIX.
3G5
and of the generative principle of nature in the form of obelisks.'
Statues of this kind sacred to Hermes were erected by the Greeks in
honour of distinguished heroes; and the same allegorical allusion
might have been kept in view when the Pyramids were constructed
as tombs. The Egyptian account, however, of Hermes, is very
obscure; that person is mentioned in the " Burham i Kati" as the
son of Rahman, son of Isfendiar, and to have arrived from the East.
One of the sons of Aunshirwan has also that title. Hormig is
the name of the first day of the month, which is considered propi-
tious for the commencement of any undertaking; and it is a name
of the planet Mercury; and Wednesday (dies Mercurii) was
sacred to him : for to most of the planets days were attributed,
in which their influence was supposed to govern human affairs ;
and even Mahommedan superstition assigned to children born on
these days various qualities, characteristic of the heathen personi-
fications of the different planets.8 Hermes is mentioned in many
astrological treatises as presiding over the sixth climate. An idea,
a period of time, or any remarkable occurrence, were frequently
connected with ideal persons in mythology, and when any simil-
arity existed, received the same appellation. In this manner
there were five Hermes; and the fifth was the Oriental Hermes
who was worshipped by the Phineatse; and is said to have fled
after the death of Argus into Egypt, and to have civilised that
country under the name of Thoth. This coincides with the
account of Tifashi, which is evidently taken from an Egyptian
tradition; reference may also be made to Plato, Philel. 21, 24,
Phajdro, p. 340. Hermes was likewise distinguished by his
wisdom ; and was reported to have been buried in a great building
called Abou Hermes, which, together with another, the tomb of
his wife, or of his son, was afterwards named Haraman. These
were the two large Pyramids, and the form of their construction
was called Makhrut.—Dr. Sprenr/er.
7 See Winkelman, book i. cap. 1, 1011.
8 See an old copy of Abou Ma'sher's astrology in the Bodleian Library, and a
MS. of Lazioni at the India House. Abou Ma'sher.and many eminent astrologers,
resided at Balk, about the first or second centuries of the Hcgra.—Dr. Sprcngcr.
3G5
and of the generative principle of nature in the form of obelisks.'
Statues of this kind sacred to Hermes were erected by the Greeks in
honour of distinguished heroes; and the same allegorical allusion
might have been kept in view when the Pyramids were constructed
as tombs. The Egyptian account, however, of Hermes, is very
obscure; that person is mentioned in the " Burham i Kati" as the
son of Rahman, son of Isfendiar, and to have arrived from the East.
One of the sons of Aunshirwan has also that title. Hormig is
the name of the first day of the month, which is considered propi-
tious for the commencement of any undertaking; and it is a name
of the planet Mercury; and Wednesday (dies Mercurii) was
sacred to him : for to most of the planets days were attributed,
in which their influence was supposed to govern human affairs ;
and even Mahommedan superstition assigned to children born on
these days various qualities, characteristic of the heathen personi-
fications of the different planets.8 Hermes is mentioned in many
astrological treatises as presiding over the sixth climate. An idea,
a period of time, or any remarkable occurrence, were frequently
connected with ideal persons in mythology, and when any simil-
arity existed, received the same appellation. In this manner
there were five Hermes; and the fifth was the Oriental Hermes
who was worshipped by the Phineatse; and is said to have fled
after the death of Argus into Egypt, and to have civilised that
country under the name of Thoth. This coincides with the
account of Tifashi, which is evidently taken from an Egyptian
tradition; reference may also be made to Plato, Philel. 21, 24,
Phajdro, p. 340. Hermes was likewise distinguished by his
wisdom ; and was reported to have been buried in a great building
called Abou Hermes, which, together with another, the tomb of
his wife, or of his son, was afterwards named Haraman. These
were the two large Pyramids, and the form of their construction
was called Makhrut.—Dr. Sprenr/er.
7 See Winkelman, book i. cap. 1, 1011.
8 See an old copy of Abou Ma'sher's astrology in the Bodleian Library, and a
MS. of Lazioni at the India House. Abou Ma'sher.and many eminent astrologers,
resided at Balk, about the first or second centuries of the Hcgra.—Dr. Sprcngcr.