19^ THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIV. 



that of other animals, and it is the largest of all 

 oxen." 



Macrobius relates the same of the sacred bull of 

 Hermonthis, but gives it the name of Bacchis. *' In 

 the city of Hermonthis," he says, " they adore the 

 bull Bacchis*, which is consecrated to the Sun, in 

 the magnificent temple of Apollo. It is remarkable 

 for certain extraordinary appearances, according 

 with the nature of the Sun. For every hour it is 

 reported to change its colour, and to have long hairs 

 growing backwards, contrary to the nature of all 

 other animals; whence it is thought to be an image 

 of the Sun shining on the opposite side of the 

 world." t 



The real name of this bull appears, from the 

 hieroglyphic legends, to be BashJ, easily converted 

 by the Greeks into Bach §, and thence into Bac- 

 chis, Basis, and Pasis. 



Strabo ll mentions the sacred bull of Hermonthis, 

 but without stating its name ; and the Onuphis, 

 mentioned by ^lian, appears rather to have been 

 a title, signifying "the opener of good," or Ouon- 

 nofri, which properly belonged to Osiris.^ If, 

 indeed, this name was really given to the bull Basis, 

 we may conclude that, like Apis, it was sacred to, 

 or an emblem of, Osiris ; as was Mnevis, accord- 

 ing to Plutarch and Diodorus**; and thus the 



* Some MSS. read Bacis, and Pacis. f Macroh. Saturn, i. 2G. 



'^ The similarity of tiie name of the lilack bull Basis and the black 

 bulls of Basan is, no doubt, merely accidental. 



§ The Greeks, having no .s/i, generally sid)stitute(l x- 



II Strabo, xvii. p. '.i('>\. 



t The Omphis of Plutarch (dc Is. s. 42.) is evidcntl\ this name. 

 Vide also s. 20, 21. ** Diodor. i. 88. 



