have no reason to think was appropriated to Canuph, or
Cneph. And though upon gems and marbles his name may be sometimes found
annexed to this character, yet it must be looked upon as a Grecian work,
and so denominated in consequence of their mistaken notion. For we must
make a material distinction between the hieroglyphics of old, when Egypt
was under her own kings; and those of later date, when that country was
under the government of the Greeks: at which time their learning was
greatly impaired, and their antient theology ruined. Horus Apollo assures
us, if any credit may be given to what he says, that this canine figure was
an emblem of the earth: [44][Greek: Oikoumenen graphontes kunokephalon
zographousi.] _When they would describe the earth, they paint a
Cunocephalus._ It could not, therefore, I should think, in any degree
relate to Canuphis. The same[45] writer informs us, that under the figure
of a dog they represented a priest, or sacred scribe, and a prophet; and
all such as had the chief management of funerals: also the spleen, the
smell, sneezing; rule and government, and a magistrate, or judge: which is
a circumstance hardly to be believed. For, as hieroglyphics were designed
to distinguish, it is scarce credible that the Egyptians should crowd
together so many different and opposite ideas under one character, whence
nothing could well ensue but doubt and confusion. Besides, I do not
remember, that in any group of antient hieroglyphics the figure of a dog
occurs. The meaning of this history, I think, may be with a little
attention made out. The Egyptians were refined in their superstitions,
above all the nations in the world; and conferred the names and titles of
their Deities upon vegetables and animals of every species; and not only
upon these, but also upon the parts of the human body, and the very
passions of the mind. Whatever they deemed salutary, or of great value,
they distinguished by the title of Sacred, and consecrated it to some
[46]God. This will appear from words borrowed from Egypt. The Laurel,
Laurus, was denominated from Al-Orus: the berry was termed bacca, from
Bacchus; Myrrh, [Greek: Murrha] was from Ham-Ourah; Casia, from Chus. The
Crocodile was called Caimin and Campsa; the Lion, El-Eon; the Wolf, El-Uc;
the Cat, Al-Ourah: whence the Greeks formed [Greek: leon, lukos, ailouros].
The Egyptians styled Myrrh, Baal; balsam, baal-samen; Camphire, Cham-phour,
[Greek: kamphoura] of Greece; Opium