The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-04-21
SACRED ANIMALS IN OLD EGYPT.
Many EmbaImed and Put in Catacombs
by the Ancients.

Not only did the ancient Egyptians
embalm the bodies of the human dead
they performed like operation upon
the remains of the sacred ANIMALS,
though in general less expense and
trouble were taken over them, animals
being chiefly prepared by soaking in
natron. The list of sacred animals is
a long one, though the very ones that
were most highly esteemed in some
places were most abhorred III others.
The list includes dogs. cats, monkeys
lions, wolves, jackals, foxes, hyenas,
bears, ichneumon, shrew mice, bulls, deer,
goats, sheep, hippopotami, vultures.
eagles, falcons, hawks, owls, ibis, geese,
swallows, crocodiles. toads, lizards
serpents, fish of various kinds, rats,
mice, beetles, and even insects and flies
AS rule, with the large animals, the
head only was mummied. the body being
represented by pieces of wood. The birds
are squeezed together and lost their
shape, except the ibis, which, according
to Belzoni, is formed like a fowl ready
10 be cooked. The ibis and the hawk
appear to have had the most care be-
slowed upon them, for rosin and asphalt
are frequently found within their enve-
lopes. Birds in general, having been
wrapped in their bandages, were then
placed in an earthern urn and deposited
in the tomb. No mummies of animals
are to be met with in the tombs of the
higher class persons. Most of them had
their own sepulchres consecrated 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 m each earthern
pot, and an indefinite number OF pots
were found in good order, whole and
sailed. The hotsnature of the materials
with which they have been embalmed
had however, dried up the greater mum.
Der to powder. Upon the possession OF
mummies of the ibis alone were discov-
cred in the catacombs of birds. Certain
animals were maintained at the public
expense In sacred parks, and people were
appointed to .nourish them with the
greatest care. Bread, milk. honey,
meat, birds, fish, &C., 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 re-
spect to them as they passed along. The
greatest sorrow was manifested at the
death of any of them. They were en-
balmed and inferred with great pomp
and splendor. So great was-the venera-
tion.in which these animals were held
that, though when a famine afflicted
Egypt, the people were driven to eat
human flesh, yet the sacred beasts,
birds, reptiles or fishes were always re-
spected. 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, en-
haImed after DEATH. entombed with
pomp and received all kinds of honors.
Those who, either by accident or de-
sign, occasioned the death of any of
these animals paid the forfeit of their
lives as the penalty of the offense. Do
dorous Siculus says: He who has vol
UNFAIRLY killed a consecrated animal is
punishable with death. but if anyone
has involuntarily killed a 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 Judgment
to be passed. "-London Society.