CHAP. XIV. VULTURE. 203 



sculptures show it to have been connected with 

 more than one Deity of the Egyptian Pantheon.* 

 It enters into the name of Maut, though it docs 

 not appear to be an emblem of that Goddess, sig- 

 nifying only, as the word maut (or tmaii) implies, 

 *' mother." iEliant supposes that *' vultures were 

 all females," as if to account for their character as 

 emblems of maternity. He even believes that a 

 black vulture of Egypt was produced from the 

 union of an eagle and a vulture ; and he reports 

 other tales with equal gravity. 



Another Deity, to whom it was particularly sa- 

 cred, was the Egyptian Lucinat ; and as her em- 

 blem, it seems to protect the Kings, whom it is 

 represented over-shadowing with its wings, whilst 

 they offer to the Gods in the temple-", or wage 

 war with an enemy in the field of battle. Under 

 this form the Goddess is portrayed with outspread 

 wings on the ceilings of the to.iples, particularly 

 in those parts where the monarch, and the offi- 

 ciating priests, were destined to pass, on their way 

 to celebrate the accustomed rites in lionour of the 

 Gods. For this reason the vulture is introduced 

 on the ceiling of the central avenues of the portico, 

 and the under side of the lintels of the doors, which 

 lead to the sanctuary. Sometimes in lieu of its 

 body is placed a human eye, with the same out- 

 spread wings. 



The Goddesses and Queens frequently wear the 

 vulture with outspread wings in lieu of a cap, 



* Vide Plate 27. part i. Plates 52. and 53. part i. 

 •\ j551ian, ii. 46. f Supra, p. 41. 



