274 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XV. 



mer derived from Egypt his story of the embraces 

 of Jupiter and Juno, and their travelling into Ethio- 

 pia*, because the Egyptians every year carry Ju- 

 piter's shrine over the river into Africa, and a few 

 days after bring it back again, as if the Gods had 

 returned out of Ethiopia. The fiction of their 

 nuptials was taken from the solemnization of these 

 festivals ; at which time both their shrines, adorned 

 with all sorts of flowers, are carried by the priests 

 to the top of a mountain." 



The usual number of priests, who performed the 

 duty of bearers, was generally twelve or sixteen to 

 each shrine. They were accompanied by another 

 of a superior grade, distinguished by a lock of hair 

 pendent on one side of his head, and clad in a 

 leopard-skin, the peculiar badge of his rank, who, 

 walking near them, gave directions respecting the 

 procession, its position in the temple, and what- 

 ever else was required during the ceremony ; which 

 agrees well with the remark of Herodotus t, that 

 " each Deity had many priests, and one high priest." 

 Sometimes two priests of the same peculiar grade 

 attended, both during the procession, and after the 

 shrine had been deposited in the temple. These 

 were the Pontiffs, or highest order of priests t : 

 they had the title of " Sem," and enjoyed the pri- 

 vilege of offering sacrifices on all grand occasions. 



When the shrine reached the temple, it was 

 received with every demonstration of respect by 

 the officiating priest, who was appointed to do duty 



* ITom. II. i. 423. f ITcrodot. ii. 73. 



J Vide supra, Vol.1. (1st Scries) j). 279. 



