CHAP. XV. 



A SINGULAR CEREMONY. 



375 



the greater part of the Deities were invoked with 

 similar offerings ; and in large sacrifices the same 

 things were hiid on all the Egyptian altars, with the 

 exception of those expressly forbidden in particular 

 temples. 



Sistra were often held forth, generally by the 

 queens and princesses, in the pre- 

 sence of the Gods, as well as 

 the emblematic instruments, sur- 

 mounted by the head of Athor ; 

 and the privilege of bearing them 

 in the temples was principally con- 

 fined to those who held the office* 

 of pallacides. They frequently pre- 

 N0.483. Embiemsw~he SGutcd flowcrs at thc samc time 

 t'othe°Gods'°'^ 'riZT that they performed the peculiar 

 rites required on this occasion. 



A singular ceremony is frequently represented 

 of the king retiring from the presence of the God, 

 to whom he has been performing a libation, and 

 holding in his hand an emblem which, from its ap- 



-_r pearance, is sup- 

 '^' posed to be a tail. 

 He always looks 

 back as he with- 

 draws ; and the 

 same is done by 

 the priests when 

 officiating on a 

 similar occasion. 

 It is evidently not 



No. 484. 1 2 3 4 Thebes. 



1. A priest kneeling at the altar, on which another 

 pours a libation. 



3. Appears to hold the cubit (vide p. 279. and 298.), 



or a tablet, from which he is reading. 



4. Another priest, who hold.s whaf is supposed to be 



a tail. 



* Vide Vol. I. p. 259, 260. 

 B B 



