CHAP. XIV. SACRED LIONS. 173 



The figure of a lion, or the head and feet of 

 that animal, were frequently used in chairs, tables, 

 and various kinds of furniture, and as ornamental 

 devices. The same idea has been common in all 

 countries, and in the earliest specimens of Greek 

 sculpture. The lions over the gate of Mycenae 

 are similar to many of those which occur on the 

 monuments of Egypt. 



No mummies of lions have been found in Egypt. 

 They were not indigenous in the country, and 

 were only kept as curiosities, or as objects of 

 worship. In places where they were sacred, they 

 were treated with great care, being *' fed with 

 joints of meat, and provided with comfortable and 

 spacious dwellings, — particularly in Leontopolis, 

 the City of Lions ; and songs were sung to them 

 during the hours of their repast." * The animal 

 was even permitted to exercise its natural propen- 

 sity of seizing its prey ; in order that the exercise 

 might preserve its health ; for which purpose a 

 calf was put into the enclosure. And having 

 killed the victim thus offered it, the lion retired 

 to its den, — probably without exciting in the 

 spectators any thought of the cruelty of granting 

 this indulgence to their favourite animal. We 

 naturally censure them for sacrificing their human- 

 ity to a religious prejudice ; but while we do so, let 

 us not forget to anticipate the reply of an Egyp- 

 tian, by calling to mind the fact, that many keepers 

 of animals in modern Europe, without the plea 



* JEVian, xii. 7. 



