152 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XII. 



priests to carry a gilded boat, ornamented with nu- 

 merous silver paterce hanging from both its sides, 

 behind which followed a train of matrons and virgins 

 singing a certain uncouth hymn, in the manner of 

 their country, with a view to propitiate the Deity, 

 and induce him to return a satisfactory answer." 



The oracle of Amnion enjoyed for ages the high- 

 est celebrity, and was looked upon by foreigners, as 

 well as Egyptians, with the most profound respect, 

 missions from all countries being sent to consult it, 

 and learn its infallible answers : but in Strabo's * 

 time it began to lose its former renown ; the sibyls 

 of Rome and the soothsayers of Etruria having sub- 

 stituted omens drawn from the flight of birds, the 

 inspection of victims, and warnings from heaven, for 

 the longer process of oracular consultation ; though, 

 according to Juvenal t, the answers of Ammon 

 continued in his time to be esteemed in the solu- 

 tion of diflicult questions, after " the cessation of 

 the oracle of Delphi." 



Oracles were resorted to on all occasions of im- 

 portance ; and sometimes messages were sent from 

 them spontaneously to those, whom they intended 

 to advise, in the form of warnings against an 

 approaching calamity, or as an indication of the 

 divine will. Mycerinus was censured for not 

 having accomplished the intentions of the Gods, 

 and received intimation of his approaching death ; 

 Sabaco retired from the kingdom in consequence 



* Strabo, xvii. p. 559. 

 f Jiiv. Sat. vi. 554: 



" credent a fonte relatiim 

 ITammonis : quoniam Delphis oracula cessaiit." 



