Wilkinson, John Gardner: Topographie of Thebes, and general view of Egypt: being a short account of the principal objects worthy of notice in the valley of the Nile, to the second cataracte and Wadi Samneh, with the Fyoom, Oases and eastern desert, from Sooez to Bertenice (London, 1835)

44G THE DEITIES OF SILSILIS. [Chap. VII.

other contemplar deities being Savak, Mandoo,
Osiris, Io, Justice, Tafne, Seb or Saturn, Thothmoo,
Khem, Athor, Thoth, Anouke or Vesta, and a few
others whose name and character are less certain.
In the principal picture Remeses presents an offer-
ing of incense to the Theban triad, and two vases of
wine to Ra, Pthah, and the god Nile, who is here
treated as the other divinities of Egypt. Indeed it
is remarkable that he is only represented in this
manner at Silsilis, and that he usually bears lotus
plants and hydrice, or the various productions of
Egypt, rather as an ornamental device at the base of
the walls in certain parts of the temples, or on the
thrones of statues; alluding perhaps to his being the
origin and support of all, and the cause by which all
things are produced into existence,* and nourished
when created.

Isinofri, the queen of this Pharaoh, also pre-
sents two sistra to three of the contemplar deities;
and at the base of the side walls the god Nilus is
again introduced, carrying water-plants and vari-
ous offerings, the produce of the irrigated land of
Egypt. Some small tablets occur at the side of
these chapels; one of them of the time of Amu-

follow the latter in order to render the analogy between it and
Pharaoh, Phrah, of the Hebrew, more striking.

* This idea is expressed in the hieroglyphics over his name at
Silsilis. He was also considered the father of the gods of Egypt,
as may be seen in my Materia Hieroglyphica, PI. 42, No. 2; a
fact which, as M. Champollion observes, is noticed by Cicero.