238 PYRAMIDS OF SACCARA. 
^^^;^^- lAi and lAi) are so evidently written letters, that 
^ - V — ' if this single tablet alone remain, as a specimen 
oOueroghjpliic writing, there will be little reason 
to doubt the use of these characters. Among 
the four figures in the upper department, yJnubis 
appears with an egg upon his head, and the 
Crux ansata in his left hand. Osiris, by his side, 
bears in his right hand the fiagellum, and in his 
left the crooh. Upon the right and left of these 
ligures, on either side, is seen an altar supporting 
the lotus flower ; and, beyond these, are two 
figures, in the attitude oi Ahnehs^ uttering the 
Eleleu at funerals, but perhaps intended to re- 
present a similar ceremony as practised by the 
priests, who are distinguished by the baldness 
of their heads. Herodotus says that it was the 
peculiar custom of the Egyptian priests to shave 
their heads ' : it was transmitted from the 
Heathen into the Christian Church, and still 
remains amonof the Monastic orders of the Roman 
Catholics. St. Jerom^ and St. ylmbrose\ both of 
(1) Herodol. Eufcrpe, c. 36". Evdn.rus shaved not only his beard, 
but his evebrows, during the time that he resided with the priests of 
Egypt. Diogen. Laert. lib.\\n. segme7it.%T. p.bAh. Ileiodotus further 
relates [Euterpe, c. 37.) that the priests shaved their whole bodies every 
third day. 
(2) Hieron. in Com. in E:ek. c. 44. 
(3) Amlros. Ep. 36. ad Sahin. 
