DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3720#0149
132 DOMESTIC HABITS OF THE EGYPTIANS.
relate to mythology, principally in its connexion -with the dead
and much may some day be learnt from them respecting the
mysterious views of the Egyptians. The astronomical ceilings,
too, particularly in the so-called tomb of Memnon, may also
prove of great importance, and it is to be regretted that they
have been overlooked by the several government commissions
sent to Egypt, for whom the task would be much better suited
than for one individual. In the mysterious subjects on the
walls snakes perform a distinguished part; some are guar-
dians of the doors of certain mansions of Amenti, and
the killing of "the Great Serpent" (the emblem of sin),
the binding of the wicked, and their punishment in fire, are
introduced.
There is a subject, repeated in more than one tomb, which is
remarkable, not because, as erroneously supposed, it relates to
the Jews, but because it represents the whole hwnan race; as
the customs of the people in the private tombs are an epitome
of Egyptian life. Mankind is there figured as four races; and
this division of the world reminds us of several allusions in the
Bible, of which it will suffice here to notice the " four winds,"
and the " four corners " of the earth; according also with the
L" custom of the Egyptians, at the coronation of their kings, of
sending forth four carrier-pigeons to announce that event to
the " four winds," or, as we should say, to the " four quarters
of the globe."
First, are four figures clad in long dresses, with feathers on
their heads, representing the East (placed first from its being
considered "the beginning of the world"). Their costume
resembles that of the Eebo, an Asiatic people, against whom
the Egyptians made several expeditions, and who appear to
have been thought worthy of selection as the type of the
East. Thev were tattooed; and among the marks on their legs,
,.
relate to mythology, principally in its connexion -with the dead
and much may some day be learnt from them respecting the
mysterious views of the Egyptians. The astronomical ceilings,
too, particularly in the so-called tomb of Memnon, may also
prove of great importance, and it is to be regretted that they
have been overlooked by the several government commissions
sent to Egypt, for whom the task would be much better suited
than for one individual. In the mysterious subjects on the
walls snakes perform a distinguished part; some are guar-
dians of the doors of certain mansions of Amenti, and
the killing of "the Great Serpent" (the emblem of sin),
the binding of the wicked, and their punishment in fire, are
introduced.
There is a subject, repeated in more than one tomb, which is
remarkable, not because, as erroneously supposed, it relates to
the Jews, but because it represents the whole hwnan race; as
the customs of the people in the private tombs are an epitome
of Egyptian life. Mankind is there figured as four races; and
this division of the world reminds us of several allusions in the
Bible, of which it will suffice here to notice the " four winds,"
and the " four corners " of the earth; according also with the
L" custom of the Egyptians, at the coronation of their kings, of
sending forth four carrier-pigeons to announce that event to
the " four winds," or, as we should say, to the " four quarters
of the globe."
First, are four figures clad in long dresses, with feathers on
their heads, representing the East (placed first from its being
considered "the beginning of the world"). Their costume
resembles that of the Eebo, an Asiatic people, against whom
the Egyptians made several expeditions, and who appear to
have been thought worthy of selection as the type of the
East. Thev were tattooed; and among the marks on their legs,
,.