CHAP. XIII. BOAT OF SOKARI. 255 



sanctity with wliicli it was regarded by the whole 

 country is sufficiently indicated by the conspicnous 

 place it held in the temples of Thebes. Indeed, 

 I believe that it was nothing less than the hearse 

 of Osiris, and that this procession recorded the 

 funeral of that mysterious Deity ; a conjecture 

 strongly confirmed by the frequent occurrence of 

 the hawk-headed figure and name (Sokari-Osiris) 

 in those sculptures at Phil^r, which represent his 

 apotheosis, or rather his return from this world 

 to that state, whence he had come to manifest 

 himself for the benefit of mankind. It is, perhaps, 

 to this funeral ceremony that Athenagoras alludes, 

 when he says, " They not only show the sepulchre 

 of Osiris, but even his embalmed body." The 

 Deity under the form of Sokari is also carried 

 forth by the four Genii of Ainenti, in the same 

 chamber at Philae ; where he appears to have passed 

 through this intermediate state, previous to his 

 assuming his final office of judge of the dead ; and 

 his body being placed on a bier, within the same 

 boat or ark, seems to leave no doubt respecting 

 the truth of my conjecture.* 



The deformed figure of this God probably gave 

 rise to the fable of the lameness of Vulcan in the 

 Greek mythology, who is represented to have been 

 thrown from heaven by Jupiter, and to have broken 

 his leg in falhng upon the Isle of Lemnos. 



Pthah-Sokari-Osiris is sometimes seated, at- 

 tended by Isis, " the potent mother Goddess," 

 who protects him with her wings ; he is then more 



* Vide Plates of R. S. of Literature, PI. 68. and G9. 



