176 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIV. 



Tlie hare was probably lawful food to the Egyp- 

 tians, though forbidden to the Jews * ; and it is fre- 

 quently shown by the sculptures to have been 

 among the game caught by their chasseurs. It 

 differs in appearance from our own ; and though 

 frequently exaggerated by the Egyptian artists, the 

 length of its ears and general form show it to be 

 distinct from the European species. Some idea may 

 be formed of it from the paintings in the tombs, 

 one of which is preserved in the British Museum. 

 Though not sacred, it was admitted as an emblem 

 of some of the Genii, or lower order of Gods, who 

 were figured in the funereal subjects with the head 

 of this animal. In the hieroglyphics it signified 

 " to open," as Horapollo tells us, — being the be- 

 ginning or principal part of the word ouon. 



Elephant. 



The Elephant is represented in the sculptures, 

 together with the bear, among the presents brought 

 by an Asiatic nation to the Egyptian King. Ivory 

 is also frequently shown to have been sent to Egypt 

 from Ethiopia and the interior of Africa ; and the 

 Ptolemies, at a subsequent period, established a 

 hunting place on the confines of Abyssinia, for the 

 chase of the elephant. 



It does not appear at any time to liave held a 

 post among the sacred animals of the country ; 

 even at the island of Elephantine, wJiich took 

 its name from it, nothing indicates the worship of 



* Levit. xi. G. " And tlie hare, because lie clieweth the cud and divi- 

 (leth not the hoof; lie is unclean unto jou." 



