CHAP. XV. FESTIVAL OF OSIRIS. 301 



dinner ; he then gave it back to the person of 

 whom it had been bought." *' The Egyptians," 

 adds the historian, *' celebrate the rest of this fete 

 nearly in the same manner as the Greeks, with the 

 exception of the sacrifice of pigs." 



The procession on this occasion was headed, as 

 usual, by music*, a flute-player, according to He- 

 rodotus, leading the van ; and the first sacred 

 emblem they carried was a liijdria, or water- 

 pitcher, t A festival was also held on the lyth of 

 Athyr, and three succeeding days, in honoiu* of 

 Osiris, during which they exposed to view a gilded 

 ox, the emblem of that Deity ; and commemorated 

 what they called the " loss of Osiji's.*' Another 

 followed in honour of the same Deity t, after an 

 interval of six months, or 179 days, " upon the 

 19th of Pachon§; when they marched in proces- 

 sion towards the sea-side, whither, likewise, tlie 

 priests and other proper ofHcers carried the sacred 

 chest, inclosing a small boat or vessel of gold, into 

 which they first poured some fresh water, and then 

 all present cried out with a loud voice ' Osiris is 

 found.' This ceremony being ended, they threw 

 a little fresh mould, together with rich odours and 

 spices, into the water, mixing the whole mass to- 

 gether, and working it up into a little image in the 

 shape of a crescent. The image was afterwards 

 dressed and adorned with a proper habit ; and 



* Conf. Clem. Strom, vi. p. 196., and the sculptures, 

 t Plut. s. 36. 



j Of the festivals in honour of Osiris 1 have spoken in Vol. I. (2d 

 Series) p. .328. 342. 354. 

 § Plut. s. 39. 



