CHAP. XVI. THE HEARSE. 411 



a sacred boat, and the mysterious eye* of Osiris(?) as 

 God of Stability t, so common on funereal monu- 

 ments, — the same which was placed over the in- 

 cision in the side of the body when embalmed, was 

 the emblem of Egypt, and was frequently used as a 

 sort of amulet, and deposited in the tombs. Others 

 carried the well-known small images of blue pottery 

 representing the deceased under the form of Osiris, 

 and the bird emblematic of the soul. Following 

 these were seven or more men bearing upon staves, 

 or wooden yokes, cases filled with flowers and 

 bottles for libation ; and then seven or eight women, 

 having their heads bound with fillets, beating their 

 breasts, throwing dust upon their heads, and ut- 

 tering doleful lamentations for the deceased, inter- 

 mixed with praises of his virtues. 



One is seen in the picture turning round, in the 

 act of adoration, towards a sacred case containing 

 a sitting Cynocephalus, the emblem of the God of 

 Letterst, placed on a sledge drawn by four men ; 

 the officiating high priest or pontiff, clad in a leo- 

 pard skin, following, having in his hand the censer 

 and vase of libation, and accompanied by his attend- 

 ants bearing the various things required for the 

 occasion. 



Next came the hearse, placed in the conse- 

 crated boat upon a sledge §, drawn by four oxen 

 and by seven men, under the direction of a super- 



* Vide Plate 83. and si<prd, p. 269. 

 -j- Given also to Pthah in the same character. 



J This emblem of Thoth seems to correspond to the book carried on 

 the desk of palm-sticks at the Moslem funerals. 

 § Vide Pint, de Is. s. 35. 



