CHAP. XII. THE GREAT GODS OF EGYPT. 185 



aKyQrjTQi, or sensibles, were also distinctly separated 

 from the emblematic types of their divinities. 



The great Gods of the Egyptians * were, Ncph, 

 Amnn, Pthah, Khem, Sate, Maut, (or perhaps 

 Biito,) Bubastis, and Neith, one of whom generally 

 formed, in conjunction with other two, a triad, which 

 was worshipped by a particular city, or district, 

 with peculiar veneration. In these triads, the third 

 member proceeded from the other two ; that is, 

 from the first by the second, thus : the intellect of 

 the Deity, having operated on matter, produced 

 the result of these two, under the form and name 

 of the world, or created things, called by the Greeks 

 xoo-^o^t; and on a similar principle appear to have 

 been formed most of these speculative combinations. 

 The third member of a triad, as might be supposed, 

 was not of equal rank with the two from whom it 

 proceeded; and we therefore find that Khonso, the 

 third person in the Theban triad, was not one of the 

 greatGods, as were the other two, Amun and Maut: 

 Horus, in the triad of Philge, was inferior to Osiris 

 and Isis ; and Anouke to Neph and Sate, in tlie 

 triad of Elephantine and the Cataracts. 



I do not })retend to decide respecting the origin 

 of the notions entertained by the Egyptians of the 

 triad into which the Deity, as an agent, was divided ; 

 nor can I attempt to account for their belief in his 



* Diodorus (lib. i. s. 13.) mentions eight names, but fails lo inform 

 us if they were the eight great Deities of Egypt. They are, " Sol, 

 Saturn, Khea, Jupiter, Juno, Vulcan, Vesta, Mercury." Evander says 

 the eight (ioJs of Egypt were Saturn, Hhea, Osiris, spirilns, heaven, 

 earth, night, and day. 



f Vide Plutarch k\q Iside, s. oG. 



