that pyramids, obelisks, pillars, statues, in
a word, all public monuments, were usually adorned with hieroglyphics;
that is, with symbolical writings; whether these were characters unknown
to the vulgar, or figures of animals, under which was couched a hidden and
parabolical meaning. Thus, by a hare, was signified a lively and piercing
attention, because this creature has a very delicate sense of
hearing.(342) The statue of a judge without hands, and with eyes fixed
upon the ground, symbolized the duties of those who were to exercise the
judiciary functions.(343)

It would require a volume to treat fully of the religion of the Egyptians.
But I shall confine myself to two articles, which form the principal part
of it; and these are the worship of the different deities, and the
ceremonies relating to funerals.

SECT. I. THE WORSHIP OF THE VARIOUS DEITIES.--Never were any people more
superstitious than the Egyptians; they had a great number of gods, of
different orders and degrees, which I shall omit, because they belong more
to fable than to history. Among the rest, two were universally adored in
that country, and these were Osiris and Isis, which are thought to be the
sun and moon; and, indeed, the worship of those planets gave rise to
idolatry.

Besides these gods, the Egyptians worshipped a great number of beasts; as
the ox, the dog, the wolf, the hawk, the crocodile, the ibis,(344) the
cat, &c. Many of these beasts were the objects of the superstition only of
some particular cities; and whilst one people worshipped one species of
animals as gods, their neighbours held the same animals in abomination.
This was the source of the continual wars which were carried on between
one city and another; and this was owing to the false policy of one of
their kings, who, to deprive them of the opportunity and means of
conspiring against the state, endeavoured to draw off their attention, by
engaging them in religious contests. I call this a false and mistaken
policy; because it directly thwarts the true spirit of government, the aim
of which is, to unite all its members in the strictest ties, and to make
all its strength consist in the perfect harmony of its several parts.

Every nation had a great zeal for their gods. "Among us," says
Cicero,(345) "it is very common to see temples robbed, and statues carried
off, but it was never known that any person in Egypt ever abused a
crocodile, an ibis, a cat; for its inhabitants woul