38 



Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



I^os. 58 and 59. Eucle representations of the ape holding the sign 

 liefer, Luck. 



J^o". 60. Two nondescript animals and a sphiiLx;. This may possibly 

 he a charm invoking the king, as the sphinx bears the royal snake on 

 the forehead. 



Yery curious specimens of the Sacred-animal class are the Vulture, 

 Eeetle, and Snake scarabs, which are found in eveiy variety of com- 

 bination, I^os. 61-69. Undoubtedly some special significance was 

 attached to the union of these three creatures together. The Beetle 

 is the emblem of Creation, the Yulture of Protection, and the Snake 

 of Power or of Death. The winged snake (61) is also symbolical 

 of Protection. Often the sacred animals are combined with sacred 

 signs, as in 64, where the jSTefer and Neb signs appear ; 66, two signs 

 of Life ; 63, two Neb and Ankh (Life) signs ; 69, the sign Hes, 

 Praise. 



No. 68. Apparently a purely conventional design, but it still shows 

 its origin, namely, four snakes and four crowns of Lower Egypt 

 symmetrically arranged. 



1:1 



W 67 



W 68 



W = White. 



Grieen 



IX. The pui'ely decorative designs are very commonly found, and 

 vary in beauty according to the period to which they belong. The 

 spiral and the lotus are the most usual forms of decoration. 



No. 70. Spkal design, combined with the hieroglyphs TJaz and Ka. 



No. 71. Concentric circles. 



Of lotus designs there are only two in this collection, Nos. 1 1 and 

 52, in neither case appearing separately, but in combination. 



