CHAP. XV. DRESSES OF THE STATUES. 333 



" 9. The ninth and last day of the festival was 

 called * the earthen vessels,* because it was usual to 

 fill two such vessels with wine ; one of which was 

 placed towards the east, and the other towards the 

 west. These, after the repetition of certain mystical 

 words, were both thrown down ; and the wine being 

 spilt upon the ground, was offered as a libation." 



DRESSES OF THE STATUES. 



During " the feasts and festivals," the statues of 

 the Gods were dressed in " the sacred vestments * ;" 

 and the priests ministered to them " three times" 

 in the course of the day, according to certain regu- 

 lations " ordained by law. " t The ceremony of 

 clothing them was the peculiar office of a class of 

 priests called Hierostoli by Greek writers, who had 

 the privilege of entering the sanctuary for this 

 purpose, like the chief priests and prophets. Each 

 Deity had its particular emblems, and a proper dress, 

 of a form and character prescribed in the sacred 

 books. Thus the vestures of Osiris were of an 

 uniform shadowless white, as we learn from Plu- 

 tarch and the sculptures of the temples ; those of 

 Iris were dyed with a variety of colours, and fre- 

 quently imitated the complicated hue and arrange- 

 ment of feather work, as if she were enveloped 

 in the wings of the sacred vulture. t " For," 



* Conf. Jercm. x. 9. ; and Baruch, vi. 12. 58. 72. Where also the 

 custom of gilding the wooden idols of Babylon is mentioned (v. 8. 39. 

 &c.) ; and of making " crowns for the heads of .their Gods" (v. 9.) ; 

 and "lighting them candles" (v. 19.). 



f Rosetta Stone, lines 7. and 40. 



X Like the figure of Maut, in Plate 20. 



