CHAP. Xir. NAMES OF THE GODS. 117 



expiating sin. Indeed, it always continued to be 

 regarded as the most suitable species of offering ; 

 and the descriptive formula on Egyptian tablets 

 dedicated to Osiris, and to some other deities, is 

 so worded as to leave no doubt respecting the 

 nature of the most important Egyptian sacrifices ; 

 in which we find oxen and geese, with cakes and 

 wine, incense and libation, invariably mentioned ; 

 flowers and herbs being presented as a separate 

 oblation. 



Of that primitive notion which led man to con- 

 sider sacrifice the type of a more complete ex- 

 piation, or of the vestiges of early revelation on this 

 point, it is not necessary here to treat ; but I shall 

 have occasion to mention some curious ideas re- 

 pecting the manifestation of the Deity upon earth, 

 which occur in examining the mysteries of ancient 

 Egypt. 



Oracles were of very remote date among the 

 Egyptians; and the Greeks, as well as some other 

 people, were indebted to them for their institu- 

 tion. " The origin of the different deities," says 

 Herodotus *, " their form, their nature, and their 

 immortality, are with the Greeks only notions of 

 yesterday ; and the first who have described them 

 in their theogony, are Hcsiod and Homer, who are 

 only my predecessors by 400 years. They men- 

 tioned their names, their worship, their offices in 

 heaven, and their general appearance ; and tiic 

 poets who are said to have preceded those two, came, 

 in my opinion, some time after them." " Nearly all 



* lleroilot. ii. 53. 



L 2 



