DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.572#0152
124 ARCHITECTURE OF EGYPT. PART II.
ovals, and the total destruction of their temples,
prove the hatred the Egyptians bore them, and
their desire to efface every record of their having
possessed the throne of the Pharaohs.
A change however did take place in the religion
of the Egyptians, some time after this, which, even
if forced upon them by foreigners, is remarkable,
from its having been allowed to continue in after
times; when they might have been expected to
return to an old, and favourite, tenet of their phi-
losophy. The children of Seb and Netpe (Saturn
and Rhea), were Osiris, Seth, Aroeris, Isis, and
Nepthys. Osiris, and Seth (or Typhon), were bro-
thers ; the former represented " good", the latter
" evil". In early times, they were both adored as
gods, in Upper and Lower Egypt; and were consi-
dered part of the same divine system; evil not having
been yet confounded with sin, or wickedness; and
this last being figured as Apop (Aphophis), " the
giant"; who, in the form of a "great serpent",
the enemy of mankind, was pierced by the spear
of Horus, Atmoo, and other gods.* Osiris and
Sethf were even placed, synonymously, in the
names of some kings; the latter was figured in-
structing the monarch in the use of the bow; and
the introduction of these two gods on various
occasions,—like Seth's pouring from a vase, in con-
junction with Horus, the emblems of life and power
* Analogous to the story of the wars of the gods and giants; the an-
tagonism of goodness and sin. Aphophis was sometimes pierced by the
king, as the enemy of sin ; but generally by a god.
+ I had supposed his name to be Obtaut, or Ombte; but find that he
was called " Seth", in the earliest times.
ovals, and the total destruction of their temples,
prove the hatred the Egyptians bore them, and
their desire to efface every record of their having
possessed the throne of the Pharaohs.
A change however did take place in the religion
of the Egyptians, some time after this, which, even
if forced upon them by foreigners, is remarkable,
from its having been allowed to continue in after
times; when they might have been expected to
return to an old, and favourite, tenet of their phi-
losophy. The children of Seb and Netpe (Saturn
and Rhea), were Osiris, Seth, Aroeris, Isis, and
Nepthys. Osiris, and Seth (or Typhon), were bro-
thers ; the former represented " good", the latter
" evil". In early times, they were both adored as
gods, in Upper and Lower Egypt; and were consi-
dered part of the same divine system; evil not having
been yet confounded with sin, or wickedness; and
this last being figured as Apop (Aphophis), " the
giant"; who, in the form of a "great serpent",
the enemy of mankind, was pierced by the spear
of Horus, Atmoo, and other gods.* Osiris and
Sethf were even placed, synonymously, in the
names of some kings; the latter was figured in-
structing the monarch in the use of the bow; and
the introduction of these two gods on various
occasions,—like Seth's pouring from a vase, in con-
junction with Horus, the emblems of life and power
* Analogous to the story of the wars of the gods and giants; the an-
tagonism of goodness and sin. Aphophis was sometimes pierced by the
king, as the enemy of sin ; but generally by a god.
+ I had supposed his name to be Obtaut, or Ombte; but find that he
was called " Seth", in the earliest times.