Thompson, Joseph P.: Photographic views of Egypt, past and present (Boston, 1854)

CHAPTER XXXII.

osioot, or "wolf-town-the old and the new-

a modern cemetery-soldier making-john the

hermit.

" Like gods, like people." Never was this adage more
fully verified than in the old Lycopolis, "whose site we visit
to-day. At Thebes we saw everywhere the ram-headed
divinity promoted to special honor. Ill that city, and at
other points on the Nile, the sheep was a sacred animal; it
must not be killed for food, and when it died a natural death
it must receive mummy honors. But here the wolf was
sacred ; and as his wolfship saw no sanctity in a sheep, his
worshippers imitated their god in devouring the innocent
animal that was worshipped in a neighboring nome, where
the wolf, its natural enemy, was hunted and slain. Our
crew, catching the old spirit of the place, are clamorous for
bucksJdsh, in the form of a fat old ram; and while they are
enjoying the savory mess, we will go up and survey the town.

Osioot is the present capital of Upper Egypt, and the
residence of its governor, — the largest and best built town
above Cairo on the Nile. Its situation is even more beauti-
ful than that of Cairo; and, except in extent, the view of
the grand capital from the citadel does not surpass the view
of Osioot from the mountains in the rear. The town is
situated about two miles back from the present channel of
the river, and is protected from inundation by massive
dykes, which are ornamented with sycamores and acacias,
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