DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3720#0204
W011KS OF ROYAL AND OTHER AUTHORS. 187
upon anatomy ; and a third of the royal authors, Nechepsus,1
or Necho, who was the grandfather of Psammetichus, wrote on
astrology, physic, and medicine.
There were others of the priests and scribes:: the prophet
Bitys translated from the hieroglyphics in Sais a work ad-
dressed to Ammon on the ascension of the souls to God, pro-
bably part of the ritual.3 Epeis, according to Philo-Byblius,
had translated into Greek a work of a religious nature, in
which he stated that the first divine nature was a serpent
metamorphosed into the shape of a hawk, which created light
by opening its eyes, and darkness by shutting them.4 Petosiris,
a priest of the age of Psammetichi, had also written treatises
on the gods and mysteries,5 and in conjunction with King
iNeehepsus, others on the spherec and meteors," on the cosmo-
gony, astrology,8 and the art of retaining health.9 Another
work, on nosology, was written by Iachen, who lived at the
time of Senyes 10—perhaps King Senefru.
The false Hermetic books11 mention the secret hymns and
the hymns taught by Isis to Horus.12 Plato, better informed,
speaks of the hymns of Isis,13 which were apparently in the
form of colloquies.1'1 Certain books, whicli passed under the
1 Galen, de Simplic. ix. 2, 19. Aetius, Tetrab. i. 2. Fabric, iii. 20;
s. v. 36, 47; iv. 3, 19. Pliny, N. H. ii. 23.
- The one which Zoega attributes to Anrmon. See Justin Martyr, Cohort,
ad Gentes, c. 38, is clearly an error. Cf. however, Fabric. Bib. Gr. I. c. 2,
s. 2, p. 7.
3 Iamblichus de Mysteriis, s. S, c. 5.
4 Philo Byblius apud Euseb. Prasp. Evangel. I. c. 10, p. 41.
5 Suidas, voce nWo-ipir. c Plinius, K". H. ii. 23.
"' Servius, ad Virg. iEneid. x. 272.
8 Jul. Firmicus, Astron. iii. Pnef.
5 Zoega, 1. c. 518. Cf. Juvenal, vi. 579. 10 Suidas, voce 'U\rtv.
H Fabric. Bibl. Grose. I. c. 7, s. 5, torn. i. p. 58.
12 Hermeticse, ex edit. Patric. lib. xiii. f. 32. 13 Leg. R. ii. 557.
14 Fabric. Bibl. Grac. 1. c.
upon anatomy ; and a third of the royal authors, Nechepsus,1
or Necho, who was the grandfather of Psammetichus, wrote on
astrology, physic, and medicine.
There were others of the priests and scribes:: the prophet
Bitys translated from the hieroglyphics in Sais a work ad-
dressed to Ammon on the ascension of the souls to God, pro-
bably part of the ritual.3 Epeis, according to Philo-Byblius,
had translated into Greek a work of a religious nature, in
which he stated that the first divine nature was a serpent
metamorphosed into the shape of a hawk, which created light
by opening its eyes, and darkness by shutting them.4 Petosiris,
a priest of the age of Psammetichi, had also written treatises
on the gods and mysteries,5 and in conjunction with King
iNeehepsus, others on the spherec and meteors," on the cosmo-
gony, astrology,8 and the art of retaining health.9 Another
work, on nosology, was written by Iachen, who lived at the
time of Senyes 10—perhaps King Senefru.
The false Hermetic books11 mention the secret hymns and
the hymns taught by Isis to Horus.12 Plato, better informed,
speaks of the hymns of Isis,13 which were apparently in the
form of colloquies.1'1 Certain books, whicli passed under the
1 Galen, de Simplic. ix. 2, 19. Aetius, Tetrab. i. 2. Fabric, iii. 20;
s. v. 36, 47; iv. 3, 19. Pliny, N. H. ii. 23.
- The one which Zoega attributes to Anrmon. See Justin Martyr, Cohort,
ad Gentes, c. 38, is clearly an error. Cf. however, Fabric. Bib. Gr. I. c. 2,
s. 2, p. 7.
3 Iamblichus de Mysteriis, s. S, c. 5.
4 Philo Byblius apud Euseb. Prasp. Evangel. I. c. 10, p. 41.
5 Suidas, voce nWo-ipir. c Plinius, K". H. ii. 23.
"' Servius, ad Virg. iEneid. x. 272.
8 Jul. Firmicus, Astron. iii. Pnef.
5 Zoega, 1. c. 518. Cf. Juvenal, vi. 579. 10 Suidas, voce 'U\rtv.
H Fabric. Bibl. Grose. I. c. 7, s. 5, torn. i. p. 58.
12 Hermeticse, ex edit. Patric. lib. xiii. f. 32. 13 Leg. R. ii. 557.
14 Fabric. Bibl. Grac. 1. c.