Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-14
SACRED ANIMALS IN OLD EGYPT.
Many EmbaImed and Put I'm Cata-
combs by the Ancienta.

From London Society.
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 gen.
eral less expense and trouble were taken
over them, animals being chiefly prepared
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 abhorre1 in others. The
list includes dogs cats, monkeys lions,
wolves. ia ekals. foxes. hyenas. bears, icheu-
mon, shrew mice bulls deer, goats, sheep,
hippopotami. vultures, eagles. falcons, hawks,
owls, ibis. geese, swallows. crocodies, toads,
lizards, serpents. fish of various kinds rats
mice, beetles. and even insects and flies. AS
a rule, with the large animals the head only
was mummed, the body being represented
by pieces of wood. The birds are squeezed
together and lose their shape, except
formed Ike a fowl ready to be cooked
The ibis and the hawk appear to have had
the most care bestowed upon them, for
rosin and asphalt are frequently found with
been wrapped in their banda ges. were then
placed in an earthen 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 prop
er sepulchers consecrated and appropriated
to their species only, but they were oc-
caSiOnaHy 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
indefinite number of pots were found in
good order, whole and sailed. The hot
nature of the materials with which they had
been embalmed had however, dried up the
greater number to powder. Upon the pos
session of Egypt by the French. upward OF
500 mummies of the ibis alone were dis
covered in the catacomb of birds. Certain
animals were maintained at the public ex-
penSe in sacred parks, and people were ap-
pointed TO nourish them with the greatest
care. Bread, milk, honey meat birds, fish,
&c, were all supplied according to the ma
ture of the animals. No expense was spared
The keepers bore upon their persons the
resemblance of the species to which their
care was devoted, and people paid remarks
OF respect to them as they passed along.
The greatest sorrow was manifested at the
death OF any of them. They were embaimed
and inferred with great pomp and splendor
So great was the veneration 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
respected. They would rather eat their own
species than lay sacrilegous hands upon
what might be gods in disguise. Animals
of the lowest character even noxious in
sects. were fostered in their temples nour-
ished 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 ami
mails, paid the forfeit of their lives as the
penalty of the offense. Diodorous Siculas
says: HE who has voluntarily killed a
animal is punishable with death
but if any one 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 judg-
ment to be passed"