HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY 7 



(pi. 6, fig. 2). The sphinx symbolized power and wisdom as the attributes 

 of Deity ; therefore the temples contain a great number of these emblems. 



The sculpture and painting of the catacombs already referred to, intro- 

 duce us to the life and pursuits of the Egyptians, and acquaint us especially 

 with their employments, science of warfare, musical instruments, and 

 the furniture and implements of their houses and farms. Thus pi. 2, 

 fig. 1, represents an Egyptian king in a short cloak, or in his war dress 

 with a striped tunic over it ; another is drawn in a carriage by two 

 splendidly caparisoned horses led by warriors, while other attendants shade 

 him with parasols. Other pictures represent kings ia battle, or the customs 

 observed at their birth or during their education, the offerings and presents 

 made to them {fig. 10), and the solemnities connected with their death. 

 Those pictures also embrace vivid representations of the priests and people, 

 and their common pursuits. Agriculture, commerce, and trade, were the 

 occupation of the people, ?.e, of all but the caste of the priests. The priests' 

 dress consisted of a short linen tunic, with short sleeves, and fastened above 

 the hips by a girdle {pi. 2, fig. 2). They wore shoes of papyrus or leather. 

 The head was seldom covered, and the hair was curled or braided. Some- 

 times a linen cloak was thrown over the shoulders, but always laid off before 

 entering a temple. The women {pi. 2, fig. 3) wore a full dress over the 

 tunic. It was either of linen or cotton, with wide sleeves, and of various 

 figures and colors, though white was preferred. They wore their hair care- 

 fully arranged, and adorned their heads, ears, and hands, with ribbons, 

 buckles, and rings, in rich profusion. Their feet were neatly, though lightly 

 covered. 



The furniture of the various rooms was costly and magnificent. Precious 

 metals and the choicest wood from foreign countries were wrought up into 

 articles exhibiting much taste. These, together with silks and cloths of 

 oriental texture, increased the comforts and charms of the dwellings. The 

 beds, richly hung with tapestry, were in the form of lions, jackalls, bulls, 

 and sphinxes ; and the ottomans, divans, couches, chests, coffers, drinking 

 vessels, 6z:c., were of the most finished workmanship. The folding chairs 

 had commonly feet representing necks of swans, the heads downwards ; 

 candelabra and lamps, vessels of every size, vases of gold, gilded metal, 

 silver, and other expensive materials ; all these in luxuriant abundance, of 

 costly form, and studded with enamel and precious stones, were the usual 

 appendages in every well regulated Egyptian dwelling. In the palaces of 

 the nobles and kings, of course, these ornaments reached an astonishing 

 degree of mag-nificence. 



For a representation of these articles, we refer to pi. 3, figs. 15 and 16, 

 urns ; figs. 17-19, large stone vases ; fig. 20 " and *, pitchers ; figs. 21 and 

 22, altars ; figs. 23 and 24, common chairs ; fig. 25, folding chair ; figs. 26 

 and 27, arm chairs ; figs. 28 and 29, divan and foot stool ; fig. 30, a knife ; 

 and fig. 31, a royal sceptre. PI. 6, figs. 3-6, altars ; fig. 7, a table ; figs. 

 8-14 ^^ various pitchers, goblets, and vases ; figs. 15-19, bowls and drinking 

 vessels ; ^^. 20, a bowl; fig. 21, a ladle; fig. 22 ^ a necklace; and ^^^ 

 22 ^ a war sceptre. 



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