Manual of Egyptian archæology and guide to the study of antiquities in EgyptFor the use of students and travellers . ially of lions, on thecontrary, maintained their individuality. The Egyp-tians had a special predilection for the feline tribe ;they represented the lion in all possible attitudes,chasing the antelope, attacking the huntsman,wounded and biting the w^ound, or in calm, dis-dainful repose. No nation has represented him withso intimate a knowledge of his habits, nor with suchintensity of life. Several of the divinities, Shu,Anhuri, Bast, Sekhet, Tefnut, were of cat or lionform, and
Manual of Egyptian archæology and guide to the study of antiquities in EgyptFor the use of students and travellers . ially of lions, on thecontrary, maintained their individuality. The Egyp-tians had a special predilection for the feline tribe ;they represented the lion in all possible attitudes,chasing the antelope, attacking the huntsman,wounded and biting the w^ound, or in calm, dis-dainful repose. No nation has represented him withso intimate a knowledge of his habits, nor with suchintensity of life. Several of the divinities, Shu,Anhuri, Bast, Sekhet, Tefnut, were of cat or lionform, and as their cult was specially popular in theDelta, scarcely a year passes without discoveries 346 THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS. being made at Bubastis, Tanis, Mendes, or someother less well-known town of large deposits ofthousands of figures of these animals, or of humanfigures with lions or cats heads. Our museums arecrowded with the cats of Bubastis or the lions ofTell es Saba. The Horbeit lions may be reckoned among themasterpieces of Egyptian statuary. The naine ofApries is inscribed on the largest of them (fig. 311).. Fig. 311.—Bronze lion from Horbeit, Saite period. It formed part of the fastening of a temple door, andthe back of the object was fixed with a wooden animal is caught in a trap, or is l\ing in a cagefrom which its head and forepaws protrude. Thelines of the body are simple and full of power, andthe expression of the face shows calm strength. Inbreadth of treatment and majestic demeanour italmost rivals the fine limestone lions of Amen-hotep III. The idea of overlaying stone or wood with gold USE OF THE PRECIOUS METALS. 34/ was familiar in Kgypt before the time of of the earHest stone vases have handles andrim covered with gold-leaf, and limestone beads arealso overlaid with it. The gold is often mixed withsilver. When amalgamated to the extent of 20 percent, it changes its name, and is called lias a fine pale yellow colour, which
Size: 2230px × 1120px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublishernew, booksubjectart
