46 MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS RITES. 
ancient Tentyra in Upper Egypt. This picture was afterwards removed 
and carried to France. It is composed of a great number of figures and 
hieroglyphics, arranged in a certain order. We notice first the external 
circle inscribed with a number of hieroglyphics which follow one another 
in regular succession. ‘This circle is divided into eight equal parts by four 
erect female forms and four pair of kneeling female twins with sparrow- 
hawks’ heads. These figures appear also to support the weight of the inner 
circle. 
The picture within the latter circle contains quite a number of hiero- 
glyphics of all kinds. We will endeavor to examine them in their astrono- 
mical order. The first figure in this order is that which is seen a little to 
the left, just beneath the centre of the disk. It is a lion with a serpent under 
his feet, and a woman behind him. This was the true zodiacal representa- 
tion of the sign Zeo. Next to this group, if we turn to the left, comes a 
woman with an ear of wheat in her hand, and a man with something like 
the attributes of Osiris. This is intended for Virgo. Further on we see 
LInbra with the scales, Scorpio, Sagittarius in the shape of a winged centaur, 
Capricornus half goat half fish; then comes a male figure pouring water 
out of two vessels which is Aquarius, followed by Pisces, two fishes united 
by a triangle and the hieroglyphic for water; next to these we see Avves, 
Taurus, and Gemini, and finally the last sign in the ring, which is Cancer, 
over the head of Leo, whereby the latter appears the first in the order of 
the zodiac. A great number of other figures are also there, both within 
and without the spiral line of the zodiacal signs. These represent the most 
important constellations next to those of the zodiac. The erect clumsy 
animal which occupies nearly the whole centre of the disk, is an ancient 
figure for Ursa major, hence the north pole is pretty nearly in front of it. 
The position and order of the 36 figures which are seen on the very edge of 
the inner circle are interesting. They were intended for the 36 Decanes or 
good spirits, to whom the care and protection of the human race were 
intrusted. To each was assigned a particular limb or part of the body as 
the object of his peculiar care, and which he had to guard against the power 
and influence of the evil spirits. 
The hieroglyphic marks around the individual groups are merely the 
respective names of the different Decanes, e. g. Chnumis, Chachnumis 
Uare, &e. 
5. DocrrINEs CONCERNING THE Future State or THE Sovux. The idea 
of a future state was closely connected with astronomy. The Egyptians 
believed in the immortality of the soul, and in its partial transmigration. 
Life upon earth they looked upon as of no great importance, but they valued 
as a very estimable thing a good conscience, which could be carried 
beyond the grave. Hence they bestowed but little care upon the dwellings 
of the living, which they looked upon merely as inns, only intended to 
accommodate the wanderer on his journey home; but the tombs of the 
dead were to them the permanent abodes of mankind, and were therefore 
built with great care, and without regard to expense. Some think that 
they embalmed the body only as a symbol of the purification which the 
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