CHAP. XIV. PIG, UNLAWFUL FOOD. 181 



Mummies of the hippopotamus are said to liave 

 been found at Thebes, and one is preserved in the 

 British Museum. 



Pig, and Wild Boar. 



The horror in which the pig was held in Egypt, 

 I have had occasion to mention. * According to 

 Herodotus t, the same aversion extended to the 

 people of Cyrene, who abstained from the meat of 

 swine, as well as "of the Cow out of respect to 

 Isis." Herodotus t says it was unlawful for the 

 Egyptians to sacrifice the pig to any Gods but to 

 the Moon and Bacchus, which was only done at 

 the full Moon, — a sacred reason forbidding them to 

 offer it on any other festival. § 



It was on the former occasion alone that the 

 people were permitted to eat its flesh, — a wise sana- 

 tory regulation having made it unclean in the hot 

 climate of Egypt. A similar prohibition was de- 

 nounced against it by the Jewish legislator, and 

 the Abyssinian Christians continue to think it a 

 religious duty to abstain from this unwholesome 

 food. 



From the aversion felt by the Egyptians to the 

 pig, we can readily account for their choosing it as 

 an emblem of uncleannessll, and a fit abode for 

 the souls of wicked men. The prejudices of other 

 people have to the present day followed its name, 



* Sitprd, Vol. IL p. 17. ; Vol. IIL p. .33. &c. 



Herodot. iv. 186. J Herodot. ii. 47. 



The celebration of this rite 1 shall mention in treating of the Ce- 

 remonies. 



II HorapoUo, ii. 37. ^lian,x. IG. 



N 3 



t 



