H O R A P O L L O.

Hieroglyphics of Horapollo, tr. Alexander Turner Cory, [1840], at sacred-texts.com

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ΒΙΒΛΙΟΝ ΠΡΟΩΤΟΝ·

BOOK I.

I. HOW THEY DENOTE ETERNITY.

 ¹

To denote Eternity ² they depict the SUN and MOON, because their elements are eternal. But when they would represent Eternity ² differently,

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they delineate a SERPENT with its tail covered by the rest of its body: the Egyptians call this Ouraius, ¹ which in the Greek language signifies Basilisk: ² And they place golden figures of it round the Gods. The Egyptians say that Eternity is represented by this animal; because of the three existing species of serpents, the others are mortal, but this alone is immortal; and ³ because it destroys any other animal by merely breathing upon ⁴ it even without biting. And hence, inasmuch as it thus appears to have power over life and death, they place it upon the head of the Gods.

Footnotes

5:1

I. Denotes Eternal.

II. Head of a God with the Basilisk upon it. The basilisk often passes over the head, and is occasionally found passing round it.

III. Denotes Immortality.—Sharpe, 186, 191.

5:2 Eternal power?—a definite period?—an age?

6:1 ΟΥΡΟ, in Coptic, signifies a king. Jab. Champ. Tat.—Morell suggests Οὐβαῖος, as a derivative from ‏אוב‎, Ob, a serpent.

6:2 The Cobra Capella.—Hasselquist is in error when he says that the Arabs call this serpent Haje. They call it Nasher: and Haiyeh or Hayyeh is a general name for a serpent.

6:4 Kircher suggests, "By the hiss."—See also Sanchoniatho Eus. Pr. Ev. lib. i. c. 10.

6:3 Qy. insert" Power?"