3^6 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XUl. 



earth for the benefit of mankind, and in a future 

 state the Judge of the world. 



There were other personages in the lower regions, 

 according to the Greek mythology, whose names 

 bear the stamp of an Egyptian origin *, though 

 they cannot be themselves exactly traced amongst 

 the Deities of Amenti. These are, Minos, ^acus, 

 and Rhadamanthus, the judges of the dead ; in the 

 first of which the Egyptian Min or Men is easily re- 

 cognised, and in the last the name of Amenti itself. 



Numerous explanations have been given of the* 

 mythological history of Osiris, many of which are 

 the result of fancy, as those of Diodorus and Ma- 

 crobius t, already mentioned. I have stated, that 

 the principal character of Osiris was the goodness 

 of the Deity, who was supposed to have visited the 

 world ; but upon the story of his imaginary life on 

 earth were engrafted numerous allegorical fables, 

 and diflferent interpretations were given to them, 

 according to the circumstances to which his history 

 appeared to be adapted. 



The existence of Osiris on earth was, of course, 

 a speculative theory, — an allegory, not altogether 

 unlike the avatars of the Indian Vishnoo ; and 

 some may be disposed to think that the Egyptians, 

 being aware of the promises of the real Saviour, had 

 anticipated that event, recording it as though it had 



* Plato, in the Gorgias, makes Jiii)iter say, that he " has made his 

 sons judges: two from Asia, — Minos and Rhadamanthus ; and one from 

 Europe:" and that " he will confer this additional dijinity on Minos, — 

 that he shall decide whatever may be inscrutable to the other judges." 

 Taylor, Trans, vol. iv. p. 453. 



•f Macrob. Saturn, i. 21. Vide sup) a, p. 290. 



