144 infcriptlons brought from Egypi 



in their revolt, he generoufly pardoned thofe who returned to 

 their duty; he wivs even delirous that their property (houlci 

 be reftorfed to therh. 



The ox Apis arid the ox Mnevjs, the two chief deities of 

 the rehgiorl of the antient Egyptians, participated alfo ift 

 thefe acls of pioiis hberality. " Carrying his forefight fxir* 

 ther than any of his predeceffdrs," fays ttle infcription, '' he 

 affigned confidtrable funds for defraying the expenfe, of their 

 funerals arid interment, for fupportiiig their worfliip and 

 rhflintaining their temple!?. The gods therefore,** continues 

 the infcription, ^^ to reward thefe noble a6lions, conferred on 

 him health, ftrength, vi(Si:ory, and all thofe advantages which 

 cari ren'der a fovereigii happy." 



The pricfts then proceed to the decree. This fecond part 

 of the infcription is unfortunately that which has fuffered 

 moft from the injui'y of time. It may however be clearly 

 feen, beyoiid all rrianrier of doubt, that it is there faid that 

 all the temples which had been beforfe confiru<Sled in honour 

 of Ptolemy Epiphancs, and the other four Ptolemys his pre- 

 deceffors, were to be greatly enlarged and embelliflied ; that 

 in each of thcffe' temples a ftatue fhould be erc6ied to Ptolemy 

 Epiphanes, to be called the ftatue of Vtolenty the defender of 

 Egypt', that before it diould be placed the principal divinity 

 of the temple prefenting to him the attributes or trophies of 

 Vi6lory I that ttie prieRs fhould perform their fervice near 

 thefe images three times a day ; and that there fhould be de- 

 pofited in the fan6tuary of the temples a fmall ftatue of the 

 new god iriclofed in a fmall temple ov (lirine; that the fmall 

 temple a[nd ftatuc fhould be carried like thofe of the other gods 

 daring thofe grand folenmities, when it was ciiflomary to 

 take them from the temples to bear them in p^ublic procef- 

 fion, on which account ihcfe folcmnities were called Exodiay 

 or ifTuing from the temples; 



Notwithdanding the rum of this part of the infcription/ 

 knd the diforganifation of thctfext, which increafes as we ad- 

 vance, we can difcover that it contains certain details re- 

 fpc<9;ing the worfhip of the new deity. Allufibn is made in 

 {^articular to a grand feftival, which was to commence at the 

 heoinenia of the month Thouth^ and to continue five days, 

 6 duting 



