CHAP. XV. THE ANOINTING OF THE KING. ^79 



Stolistes, bearing the cubit of justice* and the cup 

 of Ubation. He knows all subjects relating to edu- 

 cation, and the choice of calves for victims, which 

 are comprehended in ten books. These treat of 

 the honours paid to the Gods, and of the Egyptian 

 religion, including sacrifice, first fruits, hymns, 

 prayers, processions, holydays, and the like. Last 

 of all comes the Prophet, who carries in his bosom 

 a water-jar, followed by persons bearing loaves of 

 bread. He presides over all sacred things, and 

 is obliged to know the contents of the ten books 

 called sacerdotal, relating to the Gods, the laws, 

 and all the discipline of the priests." t 



One of the principal solemnities connected with 

 the coronation was the anointing of the king, and 

 his receiving the emblems of majesty from the 

 Gods, t The sculptures represent the Deities them- 

 selves officiating on this as on other similar occa- 

 sions, in order to convey to the Egyptian people, 

 who beheld these records, a more exalted notion 

 of the special favours bestowed on their monarch. 



We, however, who at this distant period are less 

 interested in the direct intercourse between the 

 Pharaohs and the Gods, may be satisfied with a 

 more simple interpretation of such subjects, and 

 conclude that it was the priests who performed 

 the ceremony, and bestowed upon the prince the 

 title of " the anointed of the Gods." 



With the Egyptians, as with the Jews§, the in- 



* Vide infra, on the Procession of the Ark of Sokari. 

 -j- Clem. Alexandr. Strom, vi. p. 196. 

 X Fj(/e Plate 78., and Woodcut, No. 468., si^^jra, p. '^G8. 

 § Exod. xxviii. -tl. 



T 4 



