THE INFLUENCE OF EGYPT
How far Egypt in its earlier days had influenced the faiths of other
countries we cannot trace, owing to our ignorance of the early
civilisations of the world. But in the later times the extension of
the popular religion of Egypt can only be paralleled by the spread of
Christianity or Islam. Isis was worshipped in Greece in the fourth
century B.C., and in Italy in the second century. Soon after she won
her way into official recognition by Sulla, and immediately after the
death of Julius a temple to Isis was actually erected by the
government. Once firmly established in Rome, the spread of Imperial
power carried her worship over the world; emperors became her priests,
and the humble centurion in remote camps honoured her in the wilds of
France, Germany, Yorkshire, or the Sahara.
Not only Isis but also Osiris claimed the world's {91} worship. In the
new form of the Osir-hapi of Memphis, or Serapis, the Ptolemies
identified him with Zeus, both in appearance and by attributes. And,
by the time of Nero, Isis and Osiris were said to be the deities of all
the world. An interesting outline of this subject will be found in
Professor Dill's _Roman Society from Nero to Aurelius_.
Besides these parent gods their son Horus also conquered the world with
them. Isis and Horus, the Queen of Heaven and the Holy Child, became
the popular deities of the later age of Egypt, and their figures far
outnumber those of all other gods. Horus in every form of infancy was
the loved _bambino_ of the Egyptian women. Again Horus appears carried
on the arm of his mother in a form which is indistinguishable from that
adopted by Christianity soon after.
We see, then, throughout the Roman world the popular worship of the
Queen of Heaven, _Mater Dolorosa_, Mother of God, patroness of sailors,
and her infant son Horus the child, the benefactor of men, who took
captive all the powers of evil. And this worship spread and increased
in Egypt and elsewhere until the growing power of Christianity
compelled a change. The old worship continued; for the Syrian maid
became {92} transformed into an entirely different figure, Queen of
Heaven, Mother of God, patroness of sailors, occupying the position and
attributes already belonging to the world-wide goddess; and the Divine
Teacher, the Man of Sorrows, became transformed into the entirely
different figure of the Potent Child. Isis and Horus still ruled the
affections and worship of Europe with a change of names.
Egypt also exercised an immense influence upon the Church in the
Trinitarian controversy. That was a purely Egyptian dispute, between
two presbyters brought up in the atmosphere of intricacies about the
_ka_, the _khu_, the _khat_, the _ba_, the _sahu_, the _khaybat_, and
the various other entities which constituted man. To carry forward
similar refinements concerning the Divine Nature was as congenial to
such minds as it was incomprehensible to the Western. And the dispute
finally rested on the question of whether 'before time' was the same as
'from eternity.' Such was the struggle which Arius and Athanasius
thrust upon the Church; a dispute which would never have been heard of
in such a shape but for their Egyptian origin.
In another direction Egypt was also dominant. From some
source--perhaps the Buddhist mission {93} of Asoka--the ascetic life of
recluses was established in the Ptolemaic times, and monks of the
Serapeum illustrated an ideal to man which had been as yet unknown in
the West. This system of monasticism continued, until Pachomios, a
monk of Serapis in Upper Egypt, became the first Christian monk in the
reign of Constantine. Quickly imitated in Syria, Asia Minor, Gaul, and
other provinces, as well as in Italy itself, the system passed into a
fundamental position in mediaeval Christianity, and the reverence of
mankind has been for fifteen hundred years bestowed on an Egyptian
institution.
We thus see how the religious ideas of six thousand years or more have
still survived and continued their power over civilised man, renamed
but scarcely changed; and it is shown how new religious ideas can but
transform, but not eradicate, the ancestral beliefs of past ages.
{94}
INDEX
Bolded page numbers refer to bolded entries on their target page(s).
AAHMES, 42.
_Ab_, represented by heart, 9.
---- the will, 9.
Abusir, temple to Ra, 51.
Akhenaten, 54.
Amen, 51, 68.
Amenhotep III, serpent at Benha, 21.
Amon, +47+.
---- goose, 25.
---- ram, 23, 30, 53.
Amulets developed in XXVI, 17.
Anaitis. _See_ Anta.
Anher, 55, 65.
Animal-headed gods, 28.
Animal worship, 20.
_Ankh_ held by Maat, 60.
Anpu. _See_ Anubis.
Anqet, 63.
Ansar, 65.
Anta, 64.
Anubis, jackal, 24, +35+.
Apap, serpent, 26.
Apis, 23, 72.
Asar. _See_ Osiris.
Asari, 65.
Aset. _See_ Isis.
Ashtaroth, 23, +64+, 65.
Asir. _See_ Osiris.
Astarte. _See_ Ashtaroth.
Astharth. _See_ Ashtaroth.
Aten, 54.
Athtar, 65.
Atmu, 51, 53, 68, 80.
_Ba_, associated with _Sahu_, 9.
---- human-headed bird, 9.
---- in Book of the Dead, 78.
---- requires food, 9, 13.
Baal, 64.
Baboon (Tahuti), 22.
Bant-anta, 64.
Bast, lioness, 22, 33, 62.
Bastet, 33.
Benha, agathodemon serpent, 21.
B[=e]s, 62.
---- children wear figures of, 83.
Body not preserved in early times, 16.
Bones preserved in prehistoric times, 18.
Book of Am Duat, 78.
Book of the Dead, 37, 38, +76-78+.
Book of Gates, 79.
Bubastis, 22.
Buddhist mission, 92.
Bull, eaten by worshippers, 20.
---- worship, 22, 23.
Burial, offerings, 7.
---- position of body, 7.
Buto, 42.
Byblos, Osiris's coffin at, 39.
COMPOUND NAMES OF GODS, 28.
Cobra, 25.
Crocodile, 25.
_Dad_, 68.
Dedun, 63.
Demons, 5.
Dendereh, 63.
EARTH, creation of, 67.
Edfu, hawk-worship, 24, 45.
Ekhmim, 59.
Eldest son offers to ancestors, 82.
Entities, two vitalise the body, 8.
Eye of Horus, 46.
FATES, seven Hat-hors, 60.
Fayum, crocodile worship, 25, 72.
Fish worship, 26.
Frog, Heqt, 34.
Future life, 12.
GOD, Christian view of, 5.
---- Hebrew view of, 6.
---- jealous, 5, 54.
---- view of, held by Islam, 5.
Gods, Chinese views of, 3.
---- communications from, 3.
---- divine, merged in human, 3.
---- great gods, 3, 5.
---- grouped owing to political unions, 5.
---- misunderstanding of, 1.
---- mortality of, 2.
---- non-existence of other, 5.
---- offerings to, 2.
---- one to a city, 4.
---- profusion of, 3.
---- Siberian views of, 3.
---- suffering of, 2.
---- Sumerian views of, 3, 65.
---- Turanian views of, 3, 4.
---- wife of, 2.
HARMAKHIS, 46.
Hat-hor, +60+.
---- cow, 23.
---- Sinai temple, 22.
---- tree goddess, 13, 83.
_Hati_, the physical heart, 9.
Hapi, +56+.
---- bull, 23.
Hawk, 24.
Heart, weighed against feather, 14.
_Heh_, 61.
Heqt, 34.
Heliopolis, associated with Ra, 18, 51, 52.
Hermopolis, 32, 61.
Hershefi, ram, 23, 34.
Heru. _See_ Horus.
Hierakonpolis, boats, 18.
---- hawk-worship, 24, 45.
Hippopotamus, 24.
Hittite god Sutekh akin to Set, 64.
---- goddess Anta, 64.
Horus, +35+, +44+, 91.
---- hawk, 24.
---- overcomes noxious creatures, 27, 46.
---- Ra's eyes obtained for, 10.
---- a self-existent god, 4.
---- stands on _nub_, 46.
---- supersedes Set, 34.
Hyksos, 42.
IBIS, Tahuti, 25.
Ichneumon, 24.
Immortality, Egyptian belief in, 7.
Isis, +43+, 90-92.
---- ennead of Heliopolis, 80.
---- obtains name of Ra, 10.
---- virgin goddess, 4.
Isit. _See_ Isis.
Istar, 65.
Italy and Isis worship, 44, 90.
JACKAL, 24.
_Ka_, the activities of sense and perception, 7.
---- funeral offerings made for, 8, 13, 73, 82.
---- persistence after death, 8.
---- represented by arms, 8.
Karnak, Amon, god of, 47.
Kak, 61.
_Khat_, the material body, 9.
_Khaybat_, the shadow, 9.
---- and witchcraft, 11.
Khent-amenti, god of the dead, 16.
Khonsu, 48.
Khepera, 54.
Khu, represented as a crested bird, 8.
---- the spirit, 7.
Khnumu, +32+.
---- the creator, 32, 67, 68.
---- ram, 23, 32.
Kings' souls as hawks, 24.
Kings pledged to Ra, 50.
Koptos, 59.
LATOS, 26.
Lepidotos, 26.
Letopolis, Horus, god of, 45.
Lioness, 22.
Libyan people's goddess was Neit, 48.
MAAT, +60+.
---- figure of, presented to the god, 71.
---- her worship retained by Akhenaten, 60.
Mahes, lioness, 22.
Marriage, aspect of, 87.
Memphis, Ptah worship, 58.
Mena, ibis on tablet, 33.
Mentu, +33+.
---- bull, 23.
Merastrot, 64.
Merneit, 48.
Mert-Seger, +31+.
---- ---- serpent, 26.
Milky Way the heavenly Nile, 14.
Min, 59.
Monastic system, 93.
Monotheism, combinations of, 4.
Mosaism, 5.
Mummifying customary in III and IV dyn., 17.
Mut, +48+.
---- vulture, 25.
NAME=_ran_, 10.
---- power of, 10.
Neb-hat, 43. _See_ Nephthys.
Neit, +48+, 62.
Nefertum, 61.
Nekhebt, +32+.
_Nenu_, 61.
Nephthys, +44+, 80.
Nilopolis, worship of Hapi, 57.
_Nu_, 61.
Nut, 55, 67, 79, 80.
OBELISK, emblem of Ra, 51.
On. _See_ Heliopolis.
Onuphis, crocodile worship, 25.
Osiris, +37+.
---- creator, 68.
Osiris in sacred Books, 78-80.
---- kings called, so, 18.
---- ram-worship, 23.
Osirian Kingdom, 13, 78.
---- ---- employment in, 14.
---- ---- predominant in XXVI dyn., 18.
---- ---- situation of, 14.
---- ---- slave figures do the work, 15.
Oxyrhynkhos, 26.
PAN identified with Min, 69.
Phagros, 26.
Plutarch, 38.
Polytheism, 5.
Prayer, positive rather than negative, 11.
Priests, titles of, 74, 75.
Ptah, +58+.
---- bull, 23.
---- creator, 67.
Pyramid inscriptions, Osiris, 18.
---- ---- Ra, 18.
QEDESH, 64.
RA, 50.
---- bull, 23.
---- combined with Amon, 46.
---- eyes obtained by Isis, 10.
---- hawk, 24.
---- predominant in XIX, 18.
---- progress of, 15.
Ram-worship, 23.
_Ran_, the name, 10.
Rannut, serpent, 26, 84.
Red Sea, Min from, 59.
Religion, purpose of, 11.
Reseph, 64.
Reshpu, 64.
Ritual, 70.
_Sa_, 73.
Safekh, 61.
Sahit, associated with the _ba_, 9.
Sais, Neit worshipped at, 49.
Sati, 63.
Scorpion, 26.
Seb, 55, 67, 79, 80.
Sebek, 25, 34.
Seker, +31+.
---- god of silent land, 79.
---- mummified hawk, 24.
---- united with Ptah, 59.
_Sekhem_, the force or ruling power, 9.
Sekhet, lioness, 22.
Sekhmet, +33+.
Self-satisfaction of Egyptian religion, 11, 89.
Selk, scorpion, 26.
Senusert I., 51.
Serapis, 23, 91.
Serpent, amulet, prehistoric, 21.
---- ---- of Amenhotep III, 21.
---- at Epidaurus, 72.
---- cobra, 25-26.
Set, +34+.
---- crocodile, 25.
---- ennead of Heliopolis, 80.
---- god of Asiatic invaders, 41.
---- hippopotamus, 24.
Shamanism, 3.
Sheykh Heridy, serpent, 26.
Shrewmouse, 24.
Shrines, 70, 80.
Shu, 56, 67, 80.
Sistrum in form of Hathor head, 60.
Sopdu, +55+.
---- a mummy hawk, 25.
Soul, continues near cemetery, 12.
---- goes to Osirian Kingdom, 13.
---- journeys in sun-boat, 15.
Speos Artemidos, 22.
Sphinx represents a king, 30.
Strabo, 25.
Sumerian gods, 65.
Sutekh, 63.
Swallow, sacred, 25.
Syria, Osiris' Kingdom in, 14.
TAHUTI (_see_ Th[=o]th), baboon, +32+.
---- god of wisdom, 22.
---- Ibis, 25, 32.
Ta-urt, children wear figures of, 83.
---- a foreign goddess, 62.
---- hippopotamus, +24+.
Tefnut, lioness, 22.
Theology of Aryans, 4.
---- of Chinese, 4.
---- compound, 5.
---- definition of, 3.
Theology, Monotheism first stage of, 4.
---- of Semitic races, 4.
Thinis, 55.
Th[=o]th (_see_ Tahuti), god of writing, 32.
---- creator, 67.
---- in Osirian Kingdom, 14.
Totemism and animal-worship, 20.
Triads, 79, 80.
Tum. _See_ Atmu.
UAZET, 26, +32+.
---- serpent, 26.
VULTURE, 25.
WITCHCRAFT, 3.
Worship of Egypt spread over the world, 90-93.
Printed by T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to His Majesty
at the Edinburgh University Press
RELIGIONS: ANCIENT AND MODERN.
ANIMISM.
By EDWARD CLODD, Author of _The Story of Creation_.
PANTHEISM.
By JAMES ALLANSON PICTON, Author of _The Religion of the Universe_.
THE RELIGIONS OF ANCIENT CHINA.
By Professor GILES, LL.D., Professor of Chinese in the University of
Cambridge.
THE RELIGION OF ANCIENT GREECE.
By JANE HARRISON, Lecturer at Newnham College, Cambridge, Author
_Prolegomena to Study of Greek Religion_.
ISLAM IN INDIA.
By T. W. ARNOLD, Assistant Librarian at the India Office, Author of
_The Preaching of Islam_.
ISLAM.
By SYED AMEER ALI. M.A., C.I.E., late of H.M.'s High Court of
Judicature in Bengal, Author of _The Spirit of Islam_ and _The Ethics
of Islam_.
MAGIC AND FETISHISM.
By Dr. A. C. HADDON, F.R.S., Lecturer on Ethnology at Cambridge
University.
THE RELIGION OF ANCIENT EGYPT.
By Professor W. M. FLINDERS PETRIE, F.R.S.
THE RELIGION OF BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA.
By THEOPHILUS G. PINCHES, late of the British Museum.
BUDDHISM. 2 vols.
By Professor RHYS DAVIDS, LL.D., late Secretary of The Royal Asiatic
Society.
HINDUISM.
By Dr. L. D. BARNETT, of the Department of Oriental Printed Books and
MSS., British Museum.
SCANDINAVIAN RELIGION.
By WILLIAM A. CRAIGIE, Joint Editor of the _Oxford English Dictionary_.
CELTIC RELIGION.
By Professor ANWYL, Professor of Welsh at University College,
Aberystwyth.
THE MYTHOLOGY OF ANCIENT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.
By CHARLES SQUIRE, Author of _The Mythology of the British Islands_.
JUDAISM.
By ISRAEL ABRAHAMS, Lecturer in Talmudic Literature in Cambridge
University, Author of _Jewish Life in the Middle Ages_.
PRIMITIVE OR NICENE CHRISTIANITY.
By JOHN SUTHERLAND BLACK, LL.D., Joint Editor of the _Encyclopaedia
Biblica_.
SHINTOISM.
ZOROASTRIANISM.
MEDIAEVAL CHRISTIANITY.
THE RELIGION OF ANCIENT ITALY.
Other Volumes to follow.
Transcriber's notes:
The ae-ligature character was not used consistently in the source book.
In some cases, the god's name "Bes" has an e-macron, and in others a
standard e. No attempt was made to regularize this.
Page numbers in this book are indicated by numbers enclosed in curly
braces, e.g. {99}. For its Index, a page number has been placed only
at the start of that section. In the HTML version of this book, page
numbers are placed in the left margin.
Footnotes have been renumbered sequentially and moved to the end of
their respective chapters.
The plus (+) sign indicates bolded text, e.g. this is +bolded+.
Vowels with macron accenting are preceded by an equals sign (=), and
the pair are surrounded by square brackets, e.g. "Th[=o]th". In the
Unicode version of this etext, the actual Unicode characters have been
used. In the HTML version, entities have been used.
There are two instances in this text of the actual equals sign,
however, neither follows a square bracket or precedes a vowel.