CHAP. XIII. NAMES OF STARS. 293 



the initiated, are not within our reach, sufficient 

 is shown to convince us that the nature of tlie 

 great Gods was not derived from mere physical 

 objects ; and that those, which, in consequence of 

 certain notions respecting analogies and emanations, 

 were admitted to a participation of divine honours, 

 held a subordinate post to the deified attributes of 

 the Divinity. 



As with the Greeks, the planets were dedicated 

 to, and called after, certain Deities, though the 

 Egyptians differed in tlie names they assigned to 

 them. The Egyptians, according to Achilles Ta- 

 tius, agree with the Greeks, in giving to the planet 

 Saturn, though the least brilliant, the title of the 

 *', splendid;" but the latter consider it of good omen, 

 while the former denominate it the star of Nemesis. 

 The second, of Jupiter, the Phaeton of the Greeks, 

 is by the Egyptians assigned to Osiris. The third, 

 of Mars, by the Greeks denominated the fiery, they 

 refer to Hercules.* The fourth, of Mercury, called 

 by the Greeks o-riX/Stov, is the star of the Egyptian 

 Apollo ; and Pliny and Macrobius t also state that 

 " the star of Mercury is given by many nations to 

 Apollo." According to Pliny, the planet Venus 

 was by some called of Isis t, (of Juno, or of the 

 mother of the Gods); but the learned and labo- 

 rious Jablonski § is not authorised in supposing this 

 planet to have been ascribed by the Egyptians to 



* Pliny (ii. 8.) says, " the t/iird, of Mars, is by some culled of Her- 

 cules." Vide Jablonski, Pantli. i. c. 5. s. 4. 



f Macrob. Saturn, i. •22. 



j Isis and the Venus of Egypt are often and easily confounded to- 

 gether. Vide bifid, Isis and Atbor. 



^ Jablonski, iii. c. 6. s. 2. and 3. 



u 3 



