248 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIII. 



(which seems to be applied in hieroglyphics to a 

 man enveloped in a cloak,) confirms the statement 

 of Manetho; as Amoini, "come," accords with that 

 of Hecataeus ; and the change in the hieroglyphic 

 legends of the God, and the introduction of the 

 word Amun throughout the sculptures, may be 

 explained by supposing it a title, rather than the 

 actual name of the Deity.* 



We are told by Herodotus t, that the horned 

 snake was sacred to this Deity, and buried in his 

 temple at Thebes ; but the father of history was 

 wrong in supposing the vipera cerastes to be harm- 

 less t; and it was fortunate he did not prove by ex- 

 perience the fatal effects of its deadly bite. It is not 

 unusual to find these snakes embalmed in the tombs 

 of Koorna, the modern name of the Necropolis of 

 Thebes, and its vicinity. 



Of Amun, Maut, and Khonso, consisted the 

 great Triad of Thebes ; and though it is difficult to 

 ascertain the exact character and relative offices of 

 these three Deities, we may suppose them to be 

 " demiurge intellect," mother, and created things. 

 The oracle of Jupiter at Thebes was celebrated, 

 and according to Herodotus §, the divine gift was 

 imparted to a priestess as she slept in the temple, 

 where the Deity was also believed to pass the 

 night. He supposes it to have been the origin of 

 the oracle of Dodona || ; though his story of " the 

 women consecrated to the service of that Deity 



* Vide infra, p. 264-. f Herodot. ii. 7+. 



if Diodorus is correct in placing it among poisonous reptiles, lib. i. 

 8 87. 

 * § Herodot. ii. 54. 38. || Herodot. i. 182. 



