344 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIII. 



is a curious fact that similar puppets are made by 

 the Egyptians on the occasions of public rejoicing 

 at the present day. 



The name of Osiris is frequently enclosed in an 

 oval like those of the Kings ; but the hieroglyphics 

 forming the name itself generally precede it, and 

 within is the title, " manifester of goodness and 

 truth." His usual appellation is *' Osiris, president 

 of Amenti," or "Lord of Abydus;" and I have 

 found an instance of his being styled " King of 

 the Gods." He was the first member of the triad 

 composed of Osiris, Isis, and Horus; his worship 

 was universal throughout Egypt ; and every city 

 assigned to him a conspicuous post among the con- 

 templar Gods it worshipped. 



Each town had its protecting Deity, who pre- 

 sided over it ; and the post of honour in the 

 Adytum, as in the most conspicuous parts of the 

 temple erected in his honour, was assigned to him. 

 The peculiar triad of the place also held a pro- 

 minent station in the sculptures ; and to the con- 

 templar Gods was assigned a post according to the 

 consideration they there enjoyed. But the Deities 

 worshipped in the towns of one nome, or province 

 of Egypt, did not always receive the same honours 

 in another; and it frequently happened that, though 

 acknowledged to be Deities of their country, and 

 treated with every mark of respect, many of them 

 were omitted in the list of contemplar Gods. This 

 must necessarily have happened in small temples, 

 which could only admit a portion of the Egyptian 

 Pantheon, especially as the tutelary Deity of the 



