216 



THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIV. 



represented as having assumed the pshent or double 

 crown of Upper and Lower Egypt ; and a priest 

 lets fly four pigeqjis, commanding them to announce 

 to " the South, the North, the West, and the East, 

 that Horus, the son of Isis and Osiris, has put on 

 the splendid crowns of the Upper and Lower 

 country, — (that) the King Remeses IIL has put 

 on the two crowns."* 



The pigeon is also noticed as a favourite food of 

 the Egyptians ; and so pure and wholesome was it 

 considered by them, that when the country was 

 visited by epidemic diseases, and all things were 

 affected by the pestilential state of the atmosphere, 

 they believed t that those alone who contented 

 themselves with it were safe from the infection. 

 Indeed, during that period, no other food was 

 placed upon the tables of the kings and priests, 

 whose duty it was to keep themselves pure for the 

 service of the Gods. 



There is, however, no appearance of pigeons, or 

 even doves, having been sacred ; and neither these 

 nor the quail are found embalmed. 



The quail is represented among the offerings to 

 the Gods in the tombs, and was eaten by the Egyp- 

 tians, but it was not the emblem of any Deity. 

 Nor did tlie ostrich hold a place among the sacred 

 animals of Egypt, tiiough much esteemed for its 

 plumes. This is the more singular, as the ostrich 

 feather was a symbol of the Goddess of Truth or 

 Justice. It belonged also to the head-dress of Ao ; 



* Fide Plate 70. f Horapollo, llierog. i. 37. 



