330 
PLINT's natural history. [Book VIII. 
altar. It was a not uncommoa prodigy among the ancients, 
for an ox to speak ;^ upon such a fact being announced to 
the senate, they were in the habit of holding a meeting in 
the open air. 
CHAP. 71. (46.) THE EGYPTIAN APIS.^^ 
In Egypt an ox is even worshipped as a deity ; they call it 
Apis. It is distinguished by a conspicuous white spot on the 
right side, in the form of a crescent. There is a knot also under 
the tongue, which is called " cantharus.^'^' This ox is not 
allowed to live beyond a certain number of years ; it is then de- 
stroyed by being drowned in the fountain of the priests. They 
then go, amid general mourning, and seek another ox to replace 
it ; and the mourning is continued, with their heads shaved, 
until such time as they have found one ; it is not long, however, 
at any time, before they meet with a successor. When one has 
been found, it is brought by the priests to Memphis. There 
are two temples appropriated to it, which are called thalami,^^ 
and to these the people resort to learn the auguries. Accord- 
ing as the ox enters the one or the other of these places, the 
augury is deemed favourable or unfavourable. It gives 
answers to individuals, by taking food from the hand of those 
who consult it. It turned away from the hand of Germanicus 
Caesar, and not long after he died.^^ In general it lives in 
secret ; but, when it comes forth in public, the multitudes 
make way for it, and it is attended by a crowd of boys, singing 
hymns in honour of it ; it appears to be sensible of the adoration 
thus paid to it, and to court it. These crowds, too, suddenly 
become inspired, and predict future events. Once in the year 
a female is presented to the ox, which likewise has her appro - 
95 Instances are mentioned by Livy, B. xxxv. c. 21, and by Yal. Maxi- 
mus, B. i. c. 65. — B. 
96 'We have an account of Apis in Herodotus, B. iii. c. 28 ; also in Pom- 
ponius Mela, B. i. c. 9 ; and in iElian, Anim. Nat. B. xi. c. 10.— B. 
9^ ^' Quern cantharum appellant.'* According to Dalechamps, So 
called from the blackness of the colour, and its resemblance to a beetle." 
Lemaire, vol. iii. p. 516. He refers the reader to a further account in B. 
XXX. c. 30.— B. 
98 From the Greek OaXafidt, " bed-chambers." 
99 Tacitus, Ann. B. ii. c. 69, gives an account of the sickness of Ger- 
manicus after his return from Egypt, but does not refer to the circumstance 
here mentioned. — B. 
