162 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIV. 



shown to the Cat throughout the couutry ; we can 

 therefore with difficulty credit the assertion of a 

 late author*, who states, "that in Alexandria, one 

 of these animals was sacrificed to Horus," even 

 though the city was inhabited by a mixed popu- 

 lation, in great part composed of Greeks. Those 

 which died in the vicinity of Bubastist, were sent 

 to that city, to repose within the precincts of the 

 place particularly devoted to their worship. Others 

 were deposited in certain consecrated spots set 

 apart for the purpose, near the town where they 

 had lived. In all cases, the expense of the funeral 

 rites depended on the donations of pious indi- 

 viduals, or on the peculiar honours paid to the 

 Goddess of whom they were the emblem. Many 

 were, no doubt, sent by their devout masters to 

 Bubastis itself, from an impression that they would 

 repose in greater security near the abode of their 

 patron ; and to the same feeling which induced 

 their removal to a choice place of burial, may be 

 attributed the abundance of Cat mummies in the 

 vicinity of Shekh Hassan, where a small rock 

 temple marks the site of the Speos Artemidos.t 



Those cats, which during their lifetime had been 

 worshipped in the temple of Pasht§, as the living 

 types of that Goddess, were doubtless treated after 

 death with additional honours, and buried in a far 

 more sumptuous manner. This distinguished post 



* Scxtus Empiriciis, Pyrrhon. FIy])otyp. iii. 24-., quoted by T.archcr. 

 Ilerodot. ii.301. 



f Ilerodot. ii. G7. J Vide my Et^ypt and Thebes, p. 379. 



§ Of tliis Goddess, and her temple at Bubastis, vide supra, Vol. I. 

 (2d Scries) p. 277. 



