1S8 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIV. 



loiis on this point, that few can be induced to eat 

 the meat of the camel, unless certain of its having 

 been killed when in a healthy state. 



The giraffe frequently occurs, both in the paint- 

 ings, as a rare animal brought from Ethiopia to 

 Egypt, and as a hieroglyphic in monumental sculp- 

 tures. But there is no appearance of its having 

 been sacred, though an instance is mentioned of 

 its having been found embalmed. It is introduced 

 as an emblem connected with the religion, in the 

 sculptures of Hermonthis, where it accompanies 

 the figure of death, some apes, and a jackal in ador- 

 ation of the winged Scarabasus, the emblem of the 

 Sun. Pliny says it was called by the Ethiopians 

 Nabin, or Nabis. 



Of the antelopes, the Oryx was the only one 

 chosen as an emblem ; but it was not sacred ; and 

 the same city, on whose monuments it was repre- 

 sented in sacred subjects, was in the habit of killing 

 it for the table. 



The head of this animal formed the prow of the 

 mysterious boat of Pthah-Sokari-Osiris, who was 

 worshipped with peculiar honours at Memphis, 

 and who held a conspicuous place among the con- 

 templar Gods of all the temples of Upper and 

 Lower Egypt. This did not, however, prevent 

 their sacrificing the Oryx to the Gods, or slaughter- 

 ing it for their own use ; large herds of them being- 

 kept by the wealthy Egyptians for this purpose* : 

 and the sculptures of Memphis and its vicinity 



* Fide siqml, Vol. I. (2d Scries) p. 138. 254. ; ami Vol. III. p. 7. 24. 



