304> THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP, XIII. 



to the Sun ; that it lives 660 years, and when it 

 grows old it builds a nest with twigs of cassia and 

 frankincense, and having filled it with aromatics, dies 

 upon it. A worm is afterwards produced from its 

 bones and marrow, which, having become a young 

 bird, carries the entire nest to the city of the Sun, 

 near Panchaea, and there deposits it on the altar. 

 Manilius also says that the revolution of the great 

 year agrees with the life of this bird, in which the 

 seasons and stars return to their first places ; be- 

 ginning at noon on the day when the Sun enters 

 Aries." 



This imaginary bird, of which so many tales 

 have been handed down to a late period, is fre- 

 quently represented in the paintings and sculptures 

 of the temples of Egypt, though without appearing 

 peculiarly emblematic of, or sacred to, the Sun. 

 It occurs in the ornamental details of cornices, 

 friezes, and other parts of buildings, at the bases of 

 columns, and on the sails of ships ; and sometimes a 

 Monarch is seen presenting it as an offering to the 

 Gods. According to Horapollo *, it was the emblem 

 of one who had returned home after travelling over 

 distant countries ; and it was, therefore, very pro- 

 perly chosen to ornament monuments erected by 

 the victorious Monarchs of Egypt, after achieving 

 conquests, that shed a lustre over their names, and 

 claimed the congratulations of a grateful country 

 for their safe return. 



The Egyptian Phoenix is represented under the 

 form of a bird with wings partly raised, and seated 



* Horapollo, i. 35. 



