396 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XIII. 



evidently the Aphophis alluded to by Plutarch *, 

 which, from the signification it bears in the Egyp- 

 tian language, "the Giant," appears to have been 

 the origin of the fable of the wars of the Gods and 

 Giants. Horus generally stands in a boat accom- 

 panied by other Deities, while piercing the evil 

 Being in the water, who is sometimes represented 

 under the form of a man, though generally as a 

 long serpent; calling to mind "the dragon in the 

 sea," mentioned by Isaiah, t 



The hawk of Horus is sometimes perched on 

 the back of an oryx, whilst various Gods approach 

 it in an attitude of prayer ; but this is apparently of 

 late date, and perhaps connected with astrological^ 

 speculations. Aroeris, or the Elder Horus, may with 

 equal reason be supposed to correspond to Apollo, 

 if w-e may judge from the Greek dedications at 

 Ombos and x\pollinopolis parva, inscribed to " Aro-- 

 eris, the Great Apollo." But the opinion of He- 

 rodotus §, that Horus the younger answered to that 

 Deity, is of greater weight, from the connection 

 subsisting between the Deity of the floating Isle 

 of Buto and Apollo, who is shown by the fabu- 

 lous history attached to him to be the son of Isis. 

 " Latona," says the historian, "who lived at Buto, 

 where her oracle now is, having been charged by 

 Isis with the care of Apollo, concealed him in this 

 Island. She preserved him there in safety, while 



* Plut. de Is. s. 36. and 25. Vide Plate 4:2. 



f Isai. xxvii. I. " Leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay 

 the dragon that is in the sea." 



X See the upper compartment of Plate 43. a., where it also occurs. 

 § Herodot. ii. 156. 144. 



