The dawn of astronomy : a study of the temple-worship and mythology of the ancient Egyptians / by J. Norman Lockyer.

  • Norman Lockyer
Date:
1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The dawn of astronomy : a study of the temple-worship and mythology of the ancient Egyptians / by J. Norman Lockyer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    the first things to strike iiuinkind. We find very many names for Sini-gods— Mitra, Indra (the day brought Ijy the sun), Surya, A^asislitha, Arusha (bright or red); and for the Dawn-gods— Ushas, Dyaus, Dyotana, Ahana, Urvasl. We have only to consider how tremendously important must have been the coming of the sun in the morning, bringing everything with it; and the dying away of the sun in the evening, followed at once by semi-tropical quick darkness, to cease to wonder at such worship as this. Here is an extract from one hymn to the Dawn (Ushas):— (1) She shines upon us like a young wife, rousing every living l)eing to go to his work; when the fire had to be kindled by men she made the light by striking dosvn darkness. (2) She rose up spreading far and wide, and moving everywhere, she grew in lirightness, wearing her brilliant garment [the mother of the cows (the mornings)], tlie leader of the days, she shone gold-coloured, lovely to behold. (3) She, the fortunate, who brings the eye of the gods^ who leads the white and lovely steed (of the sun), the Daicn, was seen revealed liy her rays, with brilliant treasures, following everyone. (4) Thou art a blessing when thou art near . . . Raise up wealth to the worshipper, thou mighty Daavn. (5) Shine for us with thy best rays, thou l>right Dawn. . . . (fi) Tliou daughter of the sky, thou high-born Dawn. . . . In addition to the Sun and the Dawn, which turn out to be the two great deities in the early Indian Pantheon, other gods are to be met with, such as Prithivi, the Earth on which we dwell; Varuna, the Sk}-; Ap, the Waters; Agni, the Fire; and Maruts, the Storm-gods. Of these, Yaruna is especially interesting to us. We read:— Varuna stemmed asunder the wide firmament : he lifted up on high the bright and glorious heaven ; he stretched out apart the .starry sky and tiie earth.