80 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIII. 



her hand, as though it were entrusted to her 

 charge. Her hieroglyphic consists of a shield 

 crossed by two arrows, which she also bears on 

 her head ; but I am ignorant of her name and 

 office. She is, perhaps, the abstract idea of " pro- 

 tection" or ** defence." 



A Character of Isis, the Defender? 

 (PI. 66. Part 1.) 

 The Goddess here represented is probably one 

 of the characters of Isis, as the protecting Deity 

 who averts misfortunes from mankind. Her hiero- 

 glyphic legend signifies "defender," or "avenger," 

 and in the first line is the phonetic name of 

 " Isis." She holds the ostrich feather, the em- 

 blem of truth and justice, and her position with 

 outspread wings is similar to that of Isis when 

 protecting her husband Osiris. 



(PI. 66. Parts.) 



Of this Deity I have been unable to ascertain 

 the name and office ; but from his having an em- 

 blem of strength as his hieroglyphic, which he also 

 bears upon his head, he may be one of the forms 

 of Gom, the Egy})tian Hercules. 



Nehimeou ? NoHEMAO ? (PI. 66. Part 3.) 



The name of this Goddess appears to read Nehi- 

 meou, Neliimaoee, or Nohcmao. She is styled " Mis- 

 tress of the Eight Regions of the Land, Domina- 



