EGYPTIAN MYTHOLOGY. 45 
embroidered with the signs of the zodiac, and the cloak with figures 
that were symbolic of the starry heavens as the abode of the gods and 
happy spirits. A crown of palm-leaves was placed upon his head, and a 
burning torch in his hand. Thus prepared, he was again led to the altar, 
where he renewed his oath, and called upon the gods to visit him with their 
direst wrath if he should ever be so unfortunate as to violate his solemn 
oath and obligation. 
This terminated his initiation, and entitled him to be instructed in what 
was called the lesser mysterves, and in the writings of Zhot,which were in 
some degree connected with these mysteries. 
Now came the time when he had a right to appear as victor before the 
people, and to this end they prepared for him a solemn procession, called 
The Triumphal March of the Initiated (pl. 9, jig. oe which was pro- 
claimed by heralds in every quarter of the city. 
On the mor ning of the day appointed for this ceremony, the priests 
assembled in the temple, where the most precious treasures belonging to 
the sanctuary were displayed, and repaired to the chapel of Isis to bring a 
sacrifice to the goddess, covered with a veil of white silk, and embroidered 
with golden hieroglyphics, and this again concealed beneath a black gauze. 
After the sacrifice, the procession left the temple and moved westwards. 
First in the train came an image of Isis seated upon a triumphal car 
drawn by white horses, next to which walked the priests in the order of 
their rank, dressed in their most gorgeous attire, and carrying the sacred 
symbols, the utensils of the temple, the books of Thot, and the sacred 
tablet of Isis, which was a silver plate with the hieroglyphics that referred 
to the mysteries of this goddess engraved on it. The priests were followed 
by all the native and foreign adepts, dressed in white linen garments. The 
newly initiated walked in their midst, distinguished by a white veil which 
extended from his head down to his shoulders. All the houses of the | 
streets through which the procession passed were decorated as on festal 
occasions. Flowers and perfumes were everywhere thrown over the person 
of the novice, and his arrival greeted with shouts of rejoicing. 
After his return to the temple he was placed upon an elevated throne, 
before which immediately afterwards a curtain descended. While the 
priests chanted during the interval hymns in honor of the goddess, he 
divested himself of his holiday suit, and assumed the white linen garb 
which he was henceforth to wear. The curtain was now again raised, and 
the renewed shouts of the spectators greeted him as an adept. The cere- 
monies concluded with a festival, which lasted three days, during which 
the newly-made brother occupied the seat of honor. 
4, Astronomy. Thescience of astronomy was probably better understood 
by the Egyptians, or rather by their priests, than by any other nation 
of antiquity. We have already stated that one class of priests devoted 
all their time to it. As a proof of the great advances they made in 
it we refer to the picture of the Egyptian zodiac (pl. 8, jig. 30), found 
on the ceiling of one of the oldest temples of the country, situated 
in the wretched village of Denderah, which occupies the site of the 
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