CHAP. XV. 



OFFERINGS OF BIRDS. 



353 



offered entire*, or after their heads had been taken 

 off, as was customary in the sacrifices of the Jews, 

 who were commanded, if the offering was of fowls, 

 "to wring off the head," and allow the blood to fall 

 upon the ground at the side of the altar, t But this 

 difference appears to exist between the rites of the 

 Jews and Egyptians, that, in the former, the sacri- 

 fice of birds was confined to certain occasions^ ; and 



in the latter, they were com- 

 monly deposited on the altar 

 with oxen and other offer- 

 ings. When presented alone, 

 they were sometimes placed 

 upon a portable stand, fur- 

 nished with spikes §, over 

 which the bird was laid; and 

 the same mode of arranging 

 the offerings was adopted 



No.476. Stands for bearing ofierings. OU a larger SCalc UpOU thc 



altars themselves, when filled with the profusion 

 usually presented at the shrines of the gods. It 

 is, however, proper to observe, that the Egyptian 

 artists may have intended by this drawing to re- 

 present the burning of the offering, the apparent 

 spikes being flames of fire ; though the former is 

 far more probable. 



Geese, the most favourite offering ||, were gene- 



* Vide Vol II. p. 379. Woodcut 275. f Levit. i. 15. 



t Levit. V. 7, 8. ; xii. 6, 7. ; and xiv. 4. 49. 



^ The Greeks and Etruscans had a sort of patera, furnished in like 

 manner with spikes to hold offerings. 

 II Conf. -Juv. Sat. vi. 540. : — 



" Ansere magno 



Scilicet et tenui popano corruptus Osiris." 

 Tiie round thin cake (pojmnum) occurs on all altars. 

 VOL. TI. — Second Series. A A 



