CHAP. XIII. FETES AT SALS. S29 



places, claiming the honour of being the supposed 

 burial place* of this mysterious Deity. 



Having noticed the metaphysical character of 

 Osiris, I proceed to examine some ^of the allegories 

 founded upon his fabulous history ; though, as al- 

 ready stated t, I believe them to be for the most 

 part mere fanciful speculations, forming no part of 

 tlieir religious belief, but rather designed to amuse 

 the ignorant and satisfy the people with a plausible 

 story; while the real purport of all connected with 

 the Deity was reserved for those alone who were 

 admitted to a participation of the mysteries. 



Of these, the principal one is that in which he is 

 compared to the Nile, and Isisto the land of Egypt. 

 "By Osiris," says Plutarch t, " they mean the Nile ; 

 by Isis, that part of the country which Osiris or 

 the Nile overflows ; and by Typho, the sea, which, 

 by receiving the Nile as it runs into it, does as it 

 were tear it into many pieces, and entirely destroy 

 it, excepting only so much of it as is admitted 

 into the bosom of the earth in its passage over it, 

 which is thereby rendered fertile." x'Vnd the notion 

 of Osiris being born on the right side of the world, 

 and perishing on the left, is explained *' by the 

 rising of the Nile in the South country, which is 

 the left, and running northwards till it is swallowed 

 up by the sea." 



The story of the supposed life of Osiris is 

 briefly as follows. § "Osiris, having become King 

 of Egypt, applied himself towards civilising his 



* Plut. de Is. s. 21. 



+ Vide supra, p. 290. ; ami iiifni, on Isis; and ("hap. xv., on tlie Fetes. 



i Pint, de Is. s. 32. ^ Plut. de Is. s. 13. 



