The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-03-15
SACRED ANIMALS IN OLD EGYPT.
Many of the Creatures Embalmed and Put
In Catacombs by the Ancients.

Many of the Creatures Embalmed and Put
In Catacombs by the Ancients.
Not only did the ancient Egyptians en-
balm the bodies of the human dead. They
performed like operation upon the re-
mains of the sacred animals, though IN
general less expense and trouble were tax
en- over them, animals being chiefly pre-
pared by soaking in natron. The list OF
sacred animals is long one, though the
very ones that were most highly esteemed
in some places were most abhorred In 9TH
srs. The list includes dogs, cats. monkeys,
lions, wolves, iackals, foxes, hyenas, bears,
icheumon, shrew mice, bulls, deer, goats,
sheep hippopotami, vultures, eagles, fall
cons, hawks, owls, ibis, geese, swallows,
crocodiles, toads, lizards, serpents, fish
various kinds rats, mice, beetles and eva
insects and flies. As rule, with the la
animals, the head only was mumm1ed,
body being represented by pieces OF woc.!.
The birds are squeezed together and
their shape, except the ibis, which, :
cording to Belzoni, is formed like I,
ready to be cooked. The ibis and haF
appear to have had the most care bestoW-
ed upon them, for rosin and asphalt :
frequently found within their envelopes
Birds in general, having been wrapped 4
their bandages We're then placed in
earthen urn and deposited in the tomb.
No mummies of animals are to be met
with in the tombs of the higher class per
sons Most of them had their own proper
sepulehers conseerated and appropriated
to their species only, but they were ocea"
sionally found mixed.
The catacomb Of birds is distinct from
the catacomb of human munamies. One
- H., aoha nrtI, ,nt
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 by the French up
ward OF 500 mumI1ies of the ibis alone
were discovered in the catacomb of birds.
Certain animals were maintained at the
public expense in sacred parks, and peo-
pie 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 spared The keepers bore
upon their persons the resem blance of the
species to which their care was devoted,
and people paid remarks of respect to them
as they passed along. The greatest sor-
row was manifested at the death OF any OF
them They were einbalmed and inferred
with great pomp and splendor. So great
was the veneration in which these animals
were held that, though when famine at
fiicted Egypt the people were driven to eat
human flesh, yet 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, embalmed 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
with death, but if any one has even invol
unfairly killed cat or an ibis it is impos
sible for him to escape capital punish
ment The mob drags him to it, treating
him with every cruelty and sometimes
without waiting for Judgment to be pass
ed. "--J.ondon Society.