Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-03-02
egyptian SUPERSTTTIONS.

The extreme idolatry of the ancient
Egyptians, in paying alteration 10 vari-
Gus animals, has afforded great subject
for speculation to those who have writ
ten on the history of that people. DR..
Laughton, in his History of Ancient E.
gypt, enumerates the several opinions
which have been entertained respecting
the origin of this practice. The most
probable is, that it proceeded from
superstitious veneration for the symbols
by which they expressed religious SEN
timents.
Singularity and superstition (he says
were visible in every shade Of the E.
egyptian character. They delighted to
act in peculiar manner, and were in
many particulars so exceedingly indeh-
cate, that cannot prevail on myself to
mention their singularities. With re-
spect to their superstitions, it is amaz-
ing to see the lengths they carried it,
IN opposition to nature and reason.
They selected particular animals to hon
OF with worship and alteration, and en-
tertained for them the most intoxicat-
ed veneration.-The father of hiStori-
ans says, man would neglect his prop
erty, however valuable, when his house
was in flames, through his anxiety for a
cat; and another, those who returned
from distant countries brought home
with them dead cats and kites, mourninor
and lamenting their loss, and suffering,
at the same time in silence, misery, ia
tigue and want-Elian, a writer ofrep-
utation, says, (Which almost transcends
the powers Of creduIity) that mother
would receive the greatest JOY from see,
ing a crocodile devour her child, think
ing herself happy in having produced a
being worthy the appetite of her god,
Many sacred animals, lodged in apart
ments appropriated to their use, were
carefully attended and fed with the most
delicious food whenever any of them
died, so general scene of mourning.
overspread the country, that it seemed
to have suffered some great calamity.
To kill an ichneumon, cat, or hawk.
even by accident, was objectionable !,
the blood of the unfortunate offendef I,
only could atone for the crime. Dio-.
dorus relates remarkable instance Of
their superstitious rage against Roman,
who had killed cat.
Superstition (says hey so totally pre-,
vailed over every faculty of their minds
that at the time when Ptolemy was not
admitted to the friendship of the Ro-
mans, and the Egyptians universally paid
the utmost Difference and attention ia
every Roman whe came amongst them.
to avoid giving them the least pretence
for war yet Roman having acci,
dentally killed a cat, an enraged multi
tude ran to his house, and notwithstand.
ing the king sent officers to entreat them
10 offer no violence, and the general
fear Of offending the Romans, they put
him to death. This do not relate from
report, but was present at the trans.
action so powerfully did superstition
prevail over every rational faculty and
human sensation, The principle from
which it sprung had nothing of the nox-
ous quality of the production.
The peculiar utility sheep aud goats
we're Of TO society, when animal food
was not abundant, and the great service
the dog, hawk, iChneumoB, ibis, and cat
did the country, by destroying danger
Gus animals, particularly asps and othef
lkinds Of serpents, whose bites were nos1