ployed in the service of the temple agreed with these in every particular.

LVI. My opinion of the matter is this: If the Phoenicians did in reality carry away these two priestesses, and sell one to Libya, the other to Greece, this latter must have been carried to the Thesproti, which country, though part of what is now termed Greece, was formerly called Pelasgia ". That, although in a state of servitude, she erected, under the shade of a beech-tree, a sacred edifice to Jupiter, which she might very naturally be prompted to do, from the remembrance of the temple of Jupiter at Thebes, whence she was taken. Thus she instituted the oracle, and having learned the Greek language, might probably relate that by the same Phoenicians her sister was sold for a slave to Libya.

LVII. The name of doves was probably given them because, being strangers, the sound of their voices might to the people of Dodona, seem to resemble the tone of those birds. When the woman, having learned the language, delivered her thoughts in words which were generally understood, the dove might be said to have spoken with a human voice. Before she had thus ac

99 Pelasgia.]-The people who then composed the body of the Hellenistic nation in those ancient times, gave their names to the countries which they occupied. The Pelasgians were widely dispersed.-Larcher.

complished

complished herself, her voice might appear like that of a dove. It certainly cannot be supposed that a dove should speak with a human voice; and the circumstance of her being black, explains to us her Ægyptian origin.

LVIII. The two oracles of Egyptian Thebes and of Dodona, have an entire resemblance to each other. The art of divination, as now practised in our temples, is thus derived from Ægypt; at least the Ægyptians were the first who introduced the sacred festivals, processions, and supplications, and from them the Greeks were instructed. It is to me a sufficient testimony of this, that these religious ceremonies are in Greece but of modern date, whereas in Ægypt they have been in use from the remotest antiquity.

LIX. In the course of the year, the Egyptians celebrate various public festivals 100; but the festival in honour of Diana, at the city Bubastis*, is the first in dignity and importance. The second is held in honour of Isis, at the city Busiris,

100 Festivals.]-Savary, with other modern travellers, gives us an account of the annual fairs of Egypt. These are to be considered as the remains of the ancient pilgrimages of the Egyptians to Canopus, Sais, and Bubastis.

*The Pibeseth of Scripture, (see Ezekiel, c. 30, v. 17,) is by many taken for the Bubastis of the Greeks. The Septuagint call it Boubastos, and St. Jerome Pubastos. Here was a temple of Diana, who is also named Bubastis; and at this place also cats were esteemed sacred, embalmed, and honourably interred.

which

which is situated in the middle of the Delta, and contains the largest temple of that goddess. Isis is called in the Greek tongue, Demeter or Ceres. The solemnities of Minerva, observed at Sais, are the third in consequence; the fourth are at Heliopolis, and sacred to the sun; the fifth are those of Latona, at Butos; the next those of Mars, solemnized at Papremis.

302

LX. They who meet to celebrate the festival at Bubastis 10 embark in vessels, a great number of men and women promiscuously mixed. During the passage some of the women strike their

101

103

Sais.]-This place is by some supposed to be the Sin of the Scriptures; but it is obviously recognised in Sall, See Major Rennel, pp. 529 and 531. There are still considerable remains on this spot.

102 Bubastas.]-Savary has translated this passage in his Letters on Ægypt. From a comparison of his version with mine, it is easy to observe he has given to Herodotus what the historian never imagined.—Larcher.

From the great number of festivals observed in ancient Egypt, it seems that the inhabitants must have been a gay and cheerful people. Yet Winkleman observes, that they were of a grave and dull character. Modern narratives, says Larcher, justify the picture drawn by Herodotus.

103 The women.]-These, no doubt, are the Almai, which were not then more decent than now.

The Egyptians, since Herodotus, have been governed by various nations, and at length are sunk deep in ignorance and slavery, but their true character has undergone no change. The frantic ceremonies the pagan religion authorized are now renewed around the sepulchres of Santons, before the churches of the Copts, and in the fairs I mentioned.-Savary.

tabors,

tabors, accompanied by the men playing on flutes. The rest of both sexes clap their hands, and join in chorus. Whatever city they approach, the vessels are brought to shore of the women some continue their instrumental music, others call aloud to the females of the place, provoke them by injurious language, dance about, and indecently throw aside their garments. This they do at every place near which they pass. On their arrival at Bubastis, the feast commences, by the sacrifice of many victims, and upon this occasion a greater quantity of wine 104 is consumed than in all the rest of the year. The natives report, that at this solemnity seven hundred thousand 105 men and women assemble, not to mention children.

LXI. I have before related in what manner the rites of Isis are celebrated at Busiris. After the ceremonies of sacrifice the whole assembly, to the amount of many thousands, flagellate 106 themselves,

104 Quantity of wine.]—In the Greek it is wine of the vine, to distinguish it from beer, which he calls barley-wine.— Larcher.

Whoever has not seen a witty and humourous dissertation on oivos ngiðivos, or barley-wine, published at Oxford in 1750, may promise himself much entertainment from its perusal. -T.

105 Seven hundred thousand.]—For seven hundred thousand, some read only seventy thousand.-T.

106 Flagellate themselves.]-The manner in which Voltaire has translated this passage is, too whimsical to be omitted→ "On frappe, dans la ville de Busiris, dit Herodote, les

hommes

selves, but in whose honour they do this I am not at liberty to disclose. The Carians of Ægypt treat themselves at this solemnity with still more severity 17 for they cut themselves in the face with swords, and thus distinguish themselves from the Egyptian natives.

LXII. At the sacrifice solemnized at Sais, the assembly is held by night; they suspend before their houses in the open air, lamps which are filled with oil mixed with salt 108; a wick floats at the top, which will burn all night: the feast itself is called the feast of lamps 109. Such of the Ægyptians

as

hommes et les femmes après le sacrifice, mais de dire où on les frappe, c'est ce qui ne m'est pas permis."-Questions sur l'Encyclopédie.

One would charitably suppose that Voltaire translated from the received reading τον δε τυπτονται. Littlebury translates it with what instrument.

107 Xenophanes, the physician, seeing the Egyptians lament and beat themselves at their festivals, says to them, sensibly enough, "If your gods be gods in reality, cease to lament them; but if they are mortals, forbear to sacrifice to them."-Plutarch.

108 Salt.]-Salt was constantly used at all entertainments, both of the gods and men, whence a particular sanctity was believed to be lodged in it: it is hence called Oos aλs, divine salt, by Homer.-Potter.

109 Feast of lamps.]-This feast, which much resembles the feast of lamps observed from time immemorial in China, seems to confirm the opinion of M. de Guignes, who was the first to intimate that China was a colony from Ægypt. Larcher. VOL. I.

C c

In