104 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIV. 



2d Dynasty. " It is difficult," says Diodorus*, 

 *' to ascertain their motive for so singular a 

 custom. The priests, indeed, assign a peculiar 

 and hidden reason for it ; but three others are 

 commonly reported amongst the people. The 

 first of these, altogether fabulous, and in character 

 with the simplicity of primitive notions, is, that 

 the Gods, in the early ages of the world, being in 

 fear of the numbers and wickedness of mankind, 

 assumed the form of animals, in order to avoid 

 their cruelty and oppression. And having at length 

 obtained the dominion of the world, they decreed, 

 as a reward to those animals by whom they had 

 been saved, that mankind should ever after respect 

 and nourish them while alive, and perform funeral 

 honours to them at their decease. 



'* The second is, that the ancient inhabitants of 

 Egypt, having suffered several signal defeats from 

 their neighbours, in consequence of the confusion 

 and want of discipline in their army, devised the 

 plan of carrying standards, and for this purpose se- 

 lected the figures of animals. These, being placed 

 upon a spear, and raised to a sufficient height, 

 served as a rallying point for the soldiers, and en- 

 abled them to keep their ranks in the confusion 

 of battle. And by this means having obtained the 

 victory over their enemies, they attributed their 

 success to the animals whose figures they bore, 

 and out of gratitude abstained from killing any of 

 the same species, — treating them afterwards with 

 religious veneration. 



* Diodor. i. SG. 



