356* THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIII. 



ralist, " is an excellent interpretation of futurity. 

 He does not employ virgins or old women sitting 

 on a tripod, like some other Gods, nor require that 

 they should be intoxicated with the sacred potion ; 

 but inspires boys, who play around his stable, with 

 a divine impulse, enabling them to pour out pre- 

 dictions in perfect rhythm." 



It was in consequence of these festivities that the 

 anger of Cambyses was so much excited against 

 tlie people of Memphis. Srq^posing that they in- 

 tended to signify their satisfaction at tlie defeat of 

 liis army in the Ethiopian war*, he sent for the 

 priests, and asked them the reason of tlieir re- 

 joicings. They replied, tliat it was the celebration 

 of the manifestation of tlie God Apis, who had 

 been a long time without appearing amongst them. 

 Cambyses, little pleased with this reply, ordered 

 the pretended Deity to be brought before him ; 

 when, drawing his sword, he })lnnged it into the 

 animal's body; and having killed it, he ordered 

 the priests to be beaten, and all those who were 

 found celebrating the festival to be put to death. 



The Egyptians not only paid divine honours to 

 the bull Apis, but, considering him the living imaget 

 and representative of Osiris, they consulted him as 

 an oracle, and drew from his actions good or bad 

 omens. They were in the habit of offering him 

 any kind of food, with the hand : if he took it, the 

 answer was considered favourable t; if he refused, 



* Herodot. iii. 27. 



f Pint, de Is. s. 39. Amm. Marcellin. lib. 22. 



j Plin.lib. viii. c. 48. 



