The record-union., 1894-02-24
SACRED ANIMALS IN OLD EGYPT.
Creatures EmbaImed and Put in Cata-
combs by the Ancients.

Creatures EmbaImed and Put in Cata-
combs by the Ancfents.
Not only did the ancient Egyptians en-
balm the bodies of the human dead, they
performed a like operation upon the re-
mains Of the sacred animals, though IN
general less expense and trouble were
taken over them, animals being chiefly
prepared by soaking III natron. Inc llst
of sacred animals, as given by Lond0n
SocietU, is a long one, though the very
ones that were most highly esteemed in
some places were most abhorred In
others. The list includes dogs, cats,
monkeys, lions, wolves, jackals, foxes
hyenas, bears, icheumon, shrew-mlce,
bulls, deer, goats, sheep, hlppopotaml,
ibis, geese, swallows, crocodiles, lizards,
toads. serpents, fish Of various kinds,
rats. mice, beetles. and even insects and
flies.
AS q rule. with the animals the head
only was mummied, the body being rep
resented by pieces of wood. The birds
are squeezed and lose their shape, except
the IBIS, which, according 10 belzonl, Is
formed like fowl ready to be cooked.
The ibis and hawk appear to have had
the most care bestowed upon them, Tor
resin and asphalt are frequently found
within their envelopes. Birds In general
having been wrapped in their bandages,
were then placed in an earthen urn and
deposited In the tomb. No nummies of
animals are to be met with in the tombS
of the higher-class persons; most OF them
had their own proper sepulchers conSe-
Grated and appropriated to their species
only, but they were occasionally found
mixed.
The catacomb of birds is distinct from
the catacomb of human mummies. one
bird only is inclosed in each earthen pot.
and an infinite number of pots were
found in good order, whole and sealed;
the hot nature of the materials with
which they had been embalmed had,
however, dried up the greater number to
powder Upon the possession of Egypt
INV the French upward OF 500 mummies of
the ibis alone were discovered in the cat
acomb of birds. Certain animals were
maintained at the public expense in
sacred parks, aud people were appointed
to nourish them with the greatest care.
Bread. milk, honey, meat, birds, fish,
etc. were all supplied according to the
nature of the animals; no expense was
shared: the keepers bore upon their per-
sons the resemblance Of the species to
which their care was devoted, and people
paid marks of respect TO them as they
nassed along. The greatest sorrow was
manifested at the death of any of them:
they were embalmed and inferred with
great pomp and splendor.
So great was the veneration in which
these animals were held that, though
when 3 famine afflicted Egypt and the
people were driven to eat human flesh,
vet the sacred beasts, birds, reptiles, or
fishes were always respected. They
would rather eat their own species than
lay sacrilegious hands upon what might
be gods in disguise. Animals of the
lowest character, even noxious insects,
were fostered in their temples, nourished
by their priests, efnbalmed after death,
entombed with pomp and received all
kinds of honors. Those who, either by
accident or design, occasioned the death
of any of these animals paid the forfeit OF
their lives as the penalty of the offense.
Diodorus Siculus says: He who has
voluntarily killed consecrated animal
is punishable by death, but if any one
has even involuntarily killed cat or an
ibis it is impossible for him to escape
capital punishment; the mob drags him
to it, treating him with every cruelty and
sometimes without waiting for judg-
ment to be passed"