_Ορνις γαρ ὡς τις εκ χερων αφαντος ει_
_Πηδημ’ ες ἁδου πικρον ὁρμησασα μοι._
Page 59.—“The singular appearance of a Cross so frequently recurring among
the hieroglyphics of Egypt, had excited the curiosity of the Christians at
a very early period of ecclesiastical history; and as some of the Priests,
who were acquainted with the meaning of the hieroglyphics, became
converted to Christianity the secret transpired. ‘The converted heathens,’
says Socrates Scholasticus, ‘explained the symbol, and declared that it
signified Life to Come.’” _Clarke._
Lipsius, therefore, erroneously supposes the Cross to have been an emblem
peculiar to the Christians. See, on this subject, _L’Histoire des Juifs_,
liv. 9. c. 16.
It is singular enough that while the Cross was held sacred among the
Egyptians, not only the custom of marking the forehead with the sign of
the Cross, but Baptism and the consecration of the bread in the Eucharist
were imitated in the mysterious ceremonies of Mithra. _Tertull. de
Proscriptione Hereticorum._
Zoega is of opinion that the Cross found (for the first time, it is said)
on the destruction of the temple of Serapis, by the Christians, could have
not been the crux ansata; as nothing is more common than this emblem on
all the Egyptian monuments.
Page 62.—“_Stood shadowless._”—It was an idea entertained among the
ancients that the Pyramids were so constructed (“mecanicâ constructione,”
says _Ammianus Marcellinus_) as never to cast any shadow.
Page 64.—“_Rhodope._”—From the story of Rhodope, Zoega thinks, “videntur
Arabes ansam arripuisse ut in una ex pyramidibus, genii loco, habitare
dicerent mulierem nudam insignis pulchritudinis quæ aspectu suo homines
insanire faciat.” _De Usu Obeliscorum._ See also _L’Egypte de Murtadi par
Vattier_.
Page 66.—“_The Gates of Oblivion._”—“Apud Memphim æneas quasdam portas,
quæ Lethes et Cocyti (hoc est oblivionis et lamentationis) appellenter
aperiri, gravem asperumque edentes sonum.” _Zoega._
Page 69.—“_A pile of lifeless bodies._”—See, for the custom of burying the
dead upright (“post funus stantia busto corpora,” as Statius describes
it), Dr. Clarke’s preface to the 2d section of his fifth volume. They used
to insert precious stones in the place of the eyes. “Les yeux étoient
formés d’émeraudes, de turquoises,” &c.—v. _Masoudy_, quoted by
_Quatremere_.
Page 72.—“_It seemed as if every echo._”—See, for the echoes in the
pyramids, _Plutarch, de Placitis Philosoph._
Page 74.—“_Pale phantom‐like shapes._”—“Ce moment heureux (de l’Autopsie)
étoit preparé par des scènes effrayantes, par des alternatives de crainte
et de joie, de lumière et des ténèbres, par la lueur des éclairs, par le
bruit terrible de la foudre, qu’on imitoit, et par des apparitions de
spectres, des illusions magiques, qui frappoient les yeux et les oreilles
tout ensemble.” _Dupuis._
Page 77.—“_Serpents of fire._”—“Ces considérations me portent à penser
que, dans les mystères, ces phénomènes étoient beaucoup mieux exécutées et
sans comparison plus terribles à l’aide de quelque composition pyrique,
qui est restée cachée, comme celle du feu Grégeois.” _De Pauw._
Page 78.—“_The burning of the reed‐beds of Ethiopia._”—“Il n’y a point
d’autre moyen que de porter le feu dans ces forêts de roseaux, qui
répandent alors dans tout le païs une lumière aussi considérable que celle
du jour même.” _Maillet_, tom. 1. p. 63.
Page 79.—“_The sound of torrents._”—The Nile, _Pliny_ tells us, was
admitted into the Pyramid.
Page 81.—“_I had almost given myself up._”—“On exerçoit,” says _Dupuis_,
“les recipiendaires, pendant plusieurs jours, à traverser, à la nage, une
grande étendue d’eau. On les y jettoit et ce n’étoit que avec peine qu’
ils s’en retiroient. On appliquoit le fer et le feu sur leurs membres. On
les faisoit passer à travers les flammes.”
The aspirants were often in considerable danger, and Pythagoras, we are
told, nearly lost his life in the trials. v. _Recherches sur les
Initiations, par Robin_.
Page 90.—For the two cups used in the mysteries, see _L’Histoire des
Juifs_, liv. 9. c. 16.
Ib.—“_Osiris._”—Osiris, under the name of Serapis, was supposed to rule
over the subterranean world; and performed the office of Pluto, in the
mythology of the Egyptians. “They believed,” says Dr. Pritchard, “that
Serapis presided over the region of departed souls, during the period of
their absence, when languishing without bodies, and that the dead were
deposited in his palace.” _Analysis of the Egyptian Mythology._
Ib.—“_To cool the lips of the dead._”—“Frigidam illam aquam post mortem,
tanquam Hebes poculum, expetitam.” _Zoega._—The Lethe of the Egyptians was
called Ameles. See _Dupuis_, tom. 8. p. 651.