The herald., 1895-10-13
willing to pay for them an e1or bitant

willing to pay for them an e1orbitan'
The red heifer is simply an offset to
ths idolatrous practices of the, Apis and
from the ''Golden Calf episode, the
children of Israel retained. The hermetic
teaching of the Egyptians in which the
signs qualify the calf for Apis is some
what analogous to the injunctions OF the
red heifer. So far as the recognition and
pIocuration is concerned, the facts
are aim ost the same.
But in placing all the facts in juxtapo-
sistion we discover that the heifer was
a sacrifice. When tile beast was alive 1t
rendered everybody connected with the
imm olation unclean. while the Egyptian
Apis sanctifed the priests. On the
other hand, the blood of the red heifer
was shed and sprinkled. Its carcass, in
.cluding the skin and all its belongings,
was consumed by ire. But it was not so
with the Apis.
As soon as an Apis bull was reported
to have been porn, the hierophants in
spected him. and when the necessary
marks, which consisted in being black in
color (symbolizing the srn) having a
square white mark on his forehead (rep-
resenting the moon), the figure of an
eagle with outstretched wings on his
back, an elevation rssemb bling a scarabee
under his tongue and cleft tail, were
1ounQ, II was declared real Apis, the
true incarnation of Osiris.
The bull was then officially proclai m ed, J.,
and the whole country went into rejoic-
ing. Bacchanalian feasts and PROFESSIONS
were held, lasting for several days. The
bull was then conducted into a tenn pie
specially erected for him. The mother
was also installed in an apartment of
the Same temple.
Numerous priests were assigned for at
tendants. whose duty it was to groom THE
beast, make his bed and keep it clean.
Companions. consisting of cholce COWS,
were also provided for him. None were
permitted to enter within the sacred in
closure except the attendants and women
the latter on certain occasions only. On
holidays and solemn festivities the bull
was led through the principal streets and
thoroughfares, when all prostrated them
selves before him. The women who in .
halec mis- breath considered themselves
most privileged and happy.
Just as his birth was accomp panied
with great rejoicing, so his demise was
the signal for universal and deep mourn
ing. The men shaved their heads and
bodies. and nohing but lamentation was
heard on all sides.
The burial was accom- piished with great
pomp and ceremony. This, with the
MALTA, involved the expenditure of much
money, sometimes executing the sum OF
$100, 600. The bull was then carried to
the sacred serapeum, where he was de-
posted in a solid polished stone s:~co
phagus and placed In a separate arched
chamber specially prepared for his recep-
sion.
The precise date OF the death of the
three bulls in the New York collection is
not known. There was neither tablet nor
description found with them. They prob
ably are Of the Ptolemaic period. The
lbs in searching for relics and jewelry
have disarranged the cerements and the
bandages. Notwithstanding the rough
handling and the vicissitudes .hey had
20 undergo in crossing the Atlantic the
relics are in a comparatively good con-
dition. The three Apis bulls in the
museum of the New York Historical so.
ciety were procured by the late DR..
henry Abbott in 1876. 1t is to be re-
gret.ed that, for want of space in the So
oiety's present m useum, proper accom- 10 o.
dations for those huge mummifed beasts
have not yet been secured. Their pres
ent 'serapeum," the glass case which
shelters the remains of these great Egyp-
tan gods, is far too small.
Even that limited space has been in
vaded. The Gu stouian. who is apparently
no respecter of Egyptian bull gods, has
for the safe keeping placed an Egyptian
wheel (probably a fragment from Phar.
aoh's chariot) on the bacK of the most
ets tely Apis.-Samuel A. Binion,i in New
York World.