*30 MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS RITES. 
the kings of the nation. Each of the two figures is represented as seizing 
with one hand the strong horn so prominent on the forehead of the animal, 
while with the other he buries his sword in the body. The attitude of both 
during this act is quiet and self-possessed. A little difference will be per- 
ceived between the two animals. The one (jig. 7) is a monster with the 
body of a lion, the head and neck of an eagle, the feathers extending down 
over the back and resembling the scales of a coat of mail. The other 
(jig. 8) has a head resembling that of a wolf and legs like those of an 
eagle; the neck is covered with feathers resembling scales and with a 
mane; and the long wings extend down to the tail, which is long and has 
the bony appearance of a prolonged spine. The tradition among the 
natives is that these figures are a symbolic representation of the fights 
in which Dshemshid and Lustan overcame the evil spirits who had 
assumed the forms of monsters. It is said that the former, an old king, 
ruled over his people with so much wisdom and goodness that he made 
his kingdom flourish more than any other; but an enemy came and drove 
him from his land. Then arose Rustan (like the Hercules of the Greeks) 
and slew the usurper and freed the land from the oppressors. He was 
therefore looked upon as the benefactor and hero of his nation. 
Similar figures of mythic animals, only more simple in form, are given 
in figs. 10 and 11, which are very probably intended as symbols for some 
duties, for it was customary to represent them symbolically under the 
forms of different animals, as the unicorn, the ox, the ass, &c. In addi- 
tion to the above there are also two coins (jigs. 12 a, 6), dating from the 
period of the Sassanides, with figures that have reference to this religious 
system. The former of these we suppose to be the bust of a Magian or 
a high priest, and the latter a representation of fire worship. 
Il. EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY. 
1. Inrropvucrion. 
The mythology and religion of the ancient. Egyptians is composed of 
various and often heterogeneous elements, in a greater or less degree con- 
nected with one another. Their growth and development were materially 
influenced by the physical conformation of the country, by which the 
inhabitants were early led to devote attention to mathematics and astronomy. 
But they owed many of their peculiar features more particularly to the 
mixed character of the inhabitants. People with widely different ideas 
and customs emigrated thither from time to time. While at one time the 
Arab and Pheenician sought the fertile plains of the Delta, there came, at 
a later period, the persecuted Brahmaists, driven out of India by the 
followers of Siva, who gained the ascendency. All these brought with 
them their creeds and rites, part of which were gradually grafted upon the 
religion of the country. Other sources of many modifications were the 
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