The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient EgyptHenty, G. A. (George Alfred)
History
The Cat of Bubastes: A Tale of Ancient Egypt
Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
Adventure and adventurers -- Fiction; Egypt -- History -- To 332 B.C. -- Fiction
Three days later the procession assembled and started from the house.
First came servants bearing tables laden with fruit, cakes, flowers,
vases of ointment, wine, some young geese in a crate for sacrifice,
chairs, wooden tables, napkins, and other things. Then came others
carrying small closets containing the images of the gods; they also
carried daggers, bows, sandals, and fans, and each bore a napkin upon
his shoulder. Then came a table with offerings and a chariot drawn by
a pair of horses, the charioteer driving them as he walked behind the
chariot. Then came the bearers of a sacred boat and the mysterious eye
of Horus, the god of stability. Others carried small images of blue
pottery representing the deceased under the form of Osiris, and the
bird emblematic of the soul. Then eight women of the class of paid
mourners came along beating their breasts, throwing dust upon their
heads, and uttering loud lamentations. Ameres, clad in a leopard skin,
and having in his hands the censer and vase of libation, accompanied
by his attendants bearing the various implements used in the services,
and followed by a number of priests also clad in leopard skins, now
came along. Immediately behind them followed the consecrated boat
placed upon a sledge, and containing the mummy-case in a large
exterior case covered with paintings. It was drawn by four oxen and
seven men. In the boat Amense and Mysa were seated. The sledge was
decked with flowers, and was followed by Chebron and other relatives
and friends of the deceased, beating their breasts and lamenting
loudly.
When they arrived at the sacred lake, which was a large piece of
artificial water, the coffin was taken from the small boat in which it
had been conveyed and placed in the baris, or consecrated boat of the
dead. This was a gorgeously painted boat with a lofty cabin. Amense,
Mysa, and Chebron took their places here. It was towed by a large boat
with sails and oars. The members of the procession then took their
places in other richly decorated sailing boats, and all crossed the
lake together. The procession was then reformed and went in the same
order to the tomb. Here the mummy-case was placed on the slab prepared
for it, and a sacrifice with libation and incense offered. The door of
the tomb was then closed, but not fastened, as sacrificial services
would be held there periodically for many years. The procession then
returned on foot to the house.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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