The Sacred Beetle and Others 



" The Scarabaeus deposits this ball in the 

 earth for the space of twenty-eight days (for 

 in so many days the moon passes through 

 the twelve signs of the Zodiac). By thus 

 remaining under the moon the race of 

 Scarabaei Is endowed with life; and upon the 

 twenty-ninth day, after having opened the 

 ball, it casts it into water, for it is aw^are 

 that upon that day the conjunction of the 

 moon and sun takes place, as well as the 

 generation of the world. From the ball 

 thus opened, the animals, that is, the 

 Scarabaei, issue forth." ^ 



Let us dismiss the revolution of the moon, 

 the conjunction of the sun and moon, the 

 generation of the world and other astrologi- 

 cal absurdities, but remember this, the 

 twenty-eight days of Incubation required 

 by the ball underground, the twenty- 

 eight days during which the Scarab is born 

 to life. Let us also remember the in- 

 dispensable Intervention of water to bring 

 the insect out of Its burst shell. These are 

 definite facts, falling within the domain of 

 true science. Are they imaginary or real? 

 The question deserves Investigation. 



'^ Hierofrlyphics: Book I, x; Cory's translation. — Trans- 

 lator's Note. 



152 



