CHAP. XV. FESTIVALS OF ISIS. 305 



nificence. The votaries of the Goddess prepared 

 themselves beforehand by fasting and prayers, after 

 which they proceeded to sacrifice an ox. When 

 slain, the thighs and upper part of the haunches, 

 the shoulders, and neck were cut off; and the body 

 was filled with unleavened cakes of pure flour, with 

 honey, dried raisins, figs, incense, myrrh, and other 

 odorific substances. It was then burnt, and a 

 quantity of oil was poured on the fire during the 

 process. In the mean time those present scourged 

 themselves in honour of Osiris, uttering lament- 

 ations* around the burnt offering ; and this part of 

 the ceremony being concluded, they partook of the 

 remains of the sacrifice. 



This festival was celebrated at Busiris, to com- 

 memorate the death of Osiris, who was reported 

 to have been buried there in common with other 

 places, and whose tomb gave the name to the city. 

 It was probably on this occasion that the branch 

 of absinthium, mentioned by Pliny t, was carried 

 by the priests of Isis ; and dogs were made to head 

 the procession, to commemorate the recovery of 

 his body.t 



Another festival of Isis was held at harvest time, 

 when the Egyptians throughout the country offered 

 the first-fruits § of the earth, and with doleful lament- 

 ations presented them at her altar. On this occa- 

 sion she seems to answer to the Ceres of the Greeks, 



* Vide Pint, de Is. s. 14, Coptos, the city of mourning. 



-|- Plin. xxvii. 7. He says the best kind grew at Taposiris. 



j Vide stiprd, p. 1-iO. ; and Vol. I. (2d Series) p. 380. 



^ This calls to mind the small figures mentioned in note ^, p. 300, 



VOL. II. — Second Series. X 



