184 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIV. 



The Hyrax. 



As the Hyrax did not hold a rank among the 

 sacred animals, I need only refer to what has already 

 been stated respecting it*, in enumerating the ani- 

 mals of Egypt. 



The Horse and Ass. 



Notwithstanding the great utility of the horse, 

 it did not enjoy sacred honours, nor was it the 

 emblem of any Deity. This is the more remark- 

 able, as the breed of horses was considered of the 

 highest importance in Egypt ; and even among 

 the Greeks, less scrupulous regarding the sanctity 

 of animals, it was dedicated to one of the principal 

 Gods of their Pantheon. For though Neptune 

 was unknown in Egypt, and the sea was odious to 

 the Egyptians, the warlike horse might well have 

 found some Deity of eminence to adopt it as a 

 type ; and surely few would stand less in need of so 

 peculiarly a terrestrial animal than the God of the 

 Ocean, and few be less consistently chosen as the 

 patron of the horse. 



But an evident distinction was conferred on the 

 less dignified ass ; and if, as some have thought, it 

 is a greater disgrace to pass unobserved, than to 

 be noticed even in an unfavourable or equivocal 

 manner, the ass enjoyed the marked but uncom- 



* Vol. III. p. 28. 



