[Page 59].—“The singular appearance of a Cross so frequently recurring among the hieroglyphics of Egypt, had excited the curiosity of the Christians at a very early period of ecclesiastical history; and as some of the Priests, who were acquainted with the meaning of the hieroglyphics, became converted to Christianity the secret transpired. ‘The converted heathens,’ says Socrates Scholasticus, ‘explained the symbol, and declared that it signified Life to Come.’ ” Clarke.
Lipsius, therefore, erroneously supposes the Cross to have been an emblem peculiar to the Christians. See, on this subject, L’Histoire des Juifs, liv. 9. c. 16.
It is singular enough that while the Cross was held sacred among the Egyptians, not only the custom of marking the forehead with the sign of the Cross, but Baptism and the consecration of the bread in the Eucharist were imitated in the mysterious ceremonies of Mithra. Tertull. de Proscriptione Hereticorum.
Zoega is of opinion that the Cross found (for the first time, it is said) on the destruction of the temple of Serapis, by the Christians, could have not been the crux ansata; as nothing is more common than this emblem on all the Egyptian monuments.
[Page 62].—“Stood shadowless.”—It was an idea entertained among the ancients that the Pyramids were so constructed (“mecanicâ constructione,” says Ammianus Marcellinus) as never to cast any shadow.
[Page 64].—“Rhodope.”—From the story of Rhodope, Zoega thinks, “videntur Arabes ansam arripuisse ut in una ex pyramidibus, genii loco, habitare dicerent mulierem nudam insignis pulchritudinis quæ aspectu suo homines insanire faciat.” De Usu Obeliscorum. See also L’Egypte de Murtadi par Vattier.
[Page 66].—“The Gates of Oblivion.”—“Apud Memphim æneas quasdam portas, quæ Lethes et Cocyti (hoc est oblivionis et lamentationis) appellenter aperiri, gravem asperumque edentes sonum.” Zoega.
[Page 69].—“A pile of lifeless bodies.”—See, for the custom of burying the dead upright (“post funus stantia busto corpora,” as Statius describes it), Dr. Clarke’s preface to the 2d section of his fifth volume. They used to insert precious stones in the place of the eyes. “Les yeux étoient formés d’émeraudes, de turquoises,” &c.—v. Masoudy, quoted by Quatremere.
[Page 72].—“It seemed as if every echo.”—See, for the echoes in the pyramids, Plutarch, de Placitis Philosoph.
[Page 74].—“Pale phantom-like shapes.”—“Ce moment heureux (de l’Autopsie) étoit preparé par des scènes effrayantes, par des alternatives de crainte et de joie, de lumière et des ténèbres, par la lueur des éclairs, par le bruit terrible de la foudre, qu’on imitoit, et par des apparitions de spectres, des illusions magiques, qui frappoient les yeux et les oreilles tout ensemble.” Dupuis.