Egyptian belief and modern thought / by James Bonwick.

  • James Bonwick
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Egyptian belief and modern thought / by James Bonwick. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    47/474 page 33
    periods. In Egypt, then, seven thousand years ago, if the people had been accustomed to get rid of the corpse as early as possible in that hot climate, either by burial or burning, any interference with that fashion would raise a sentiment of revulsion. It is not probable that burning was practised, as the land and desert border could not have borne much timber. Assuming, then, that the body was interred a few hours after life departed, how could the people be induced to adopt so contrary a mode, involving so much trouble, labour and expense } So revolutionary a change could not have been made by the stroke of a pen, even if the government were then ever so despotic. When conquerors are never found to succeed in altering the habits of new subjects, how could a native ruler accomplish so decided an effect} Granting the existence of a religious sentiment,—the strongest of all upon human will—how did it arise, and wherefore ? Feelings come from ideas, and ideas are slow in making their way among any race. The creation of a public opinion is a work of time. That public opinion was in favour of mummy-making so many thousands of years since is a fact, but that it took time and influence to form must be confessed. Our curiosity, therefore, is strangely excited as to the grounds of that public opinion. Until we were able to read Egyptian writing, especially the very ancient Holy Books, we were driven to accept the declarations of Greek travellers, upon Egyptian matters. Herodotus, who dearly loves a joke, and often plays with his readers, was trustworthy, for a Greek, in telling what he saw and heard. But we do not always see correctly, nor understand what we hear. We are equally Kable to be misled by false news. Did Herodotus, 2300 years ago, learn anything about mummy mystery ? He says he did, and tells what he was told. Pythagoras, long before his
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