BOOK THE FIRST.
CHAPTER I.
OF THE NATURE OF THE EGYPTIAN GODS IN GENERAL.
SECTION I.
Different Ideas respecting the Nature of the Egyptian Gods.
The nature of the Egyptian gods, and the origin of those strange and absurd fictions that were connected with them, is a subject which has engaged the attention of many learned and ingenious men, both in ancient and modern times. Yet it must be allowed, that this inquiry has not led to any very satisfactory conclusion; at least this would appear to be the case, from the variety of notions which have prevailed respecting the superstitious rites and ideas of the Egyptians. Some writers have been persuaded, that the religion of that ancient people consisted chiefly of the divine honours paid by them to renowned chieftains or philosophers, to the inventors of useful arts, or the founders of cities and civilized communities; others describe it as an idolatrous veneration of birds, beasts, fishes, and even plants; while a third class of authors would convince us that the Egyptians solely directed their
