An analysis of the Egyptian mythology: to which is subjoined, a critical examination of the remains of Egyptian chronology / [J.C. Prichard].

  • James Cowles Prichard
Date:
1819
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An analysis of the Egyptian mythology: to which is subjoined, a critical examination of the remains of Egyptian chronology / [J.C. Prichard]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    And it was in the same manner that a brave hunter, the son of Alcmena, might be identified with tlie imaginary hero of twelve mystical adventures, which perhaps typifv the progress of the Sun through the twelve signs of the Zodiac. i SwSsK UTt dvroXiMV ^■'XF^ d^Xx SlEpiTUJV. But although the mythology of Egypt might thus become incorporated in the traditional fables of the Pelasgi, by means of which the members of an imaginary theocracy acquired for themselves in Greece a local habitation and a name, it would appear that the abstract, or allegorical parts of the ancient system were still preserved without any material alteration. The festivals also continued to be solemnized nearly in the same manner, and with similar allusions to the seasons, and. to their old physical explanation ; and Greeks who visited Egypt, in subsequent ages, were struck by the general conformity of its superstitions with their own. Another passage, adduced by Warburton in support of his opinion, has an immediate and conclusive reference to the Egyptian theology. St. Augustin and St. Cyprian mention a letter supposed to have been written by Alexander the Great, from Egypt, to his mother Olympias. In this epistle the king of Macedon communicates a most important discovery, made to him by an Egyptian hierophant, who is absurdly enough called by a Greek name, Leon. The secret was, that not only the demigods, such as Picus, Faunus, ^Bneas, Ro¬ mulus, Hercules, ^Esculapius, Bacchus, Castor, Pollux, but also the gods of the greater families, to whom Cieero is sup¬ posed to allude in his Tuseulan Questions, though without naming them, viz. Jupiter, Juno, Saturn, Vulcan, Vesta, and many others, whom Varro would refer to the elements and departments of the universe, were in reality only mortal men. St. Augustin adds that the priest, fearing lest the secret which he had communicated should be divulged, begged Alexander to request his mother Olympias to burn his letter as soon as she had read it.* * Augustin. Civit. Dei, lib. viii, cap. 5.
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