There he was made to knee] before an altar, and required to pronounce the following solemn obligation: "I swear never to reveal to any uninitiated person the things that I have seen in this sanctuary, nor any of the mysteries which have been or shall be communicated to me. I call on all the deities of earth, of heaven, and of the infernal regions, to be witnesses of this oath; and I trust that their vengeance will fall on my head should I ever become a villain so base and perjured." He was then retained for several months in the temple, where moral trials of different kinds awaited him. The object of this was to bring out all the traits of his character, and to test his fitness for his vocation. After he had passed through this trial, then came what was called his Manifestation. This consisted of a number of ceremonies, of which the novice was the subject during the space of twelve days. He was dedicated to Osiris, Isis and Horns, and decorated with the twelve conse crated scarfs (stoke) and the Olympic cloak. These scarfs were embroidered with the signs of the Zodiac, and the cloak with figures that were symbolic of the starry heavens as the abode of the gods and happy spirits. A crown of palm leaves was placed upon his head, and a burning torch in his hand. Thus prepared, he was again led to the altar, where he renewed his oath. Now came the time when he had a right to appear as victor before the people, and to this end they prepared for him a solemn procession, called the Triumphal March of the Initiated, which was proclaimed by heralds in every quarter of the city. On the morning of the day appointed for the ceremony, the priests assembled in the temple, when the most precious treasures belonging to the sanctuary were displayed, and repaired to the chapel of Isis to bring a sacrifice to the goddess, covered with a vail of white silk, and embroidered with golden hiero glyphics, and this again concealed beneath a black gauze. After the sacrifice, the procession left the temple and moved westward. First in the train came an image of Isis seated upon a triumphal car drawn by six white horses, next to which walked the priests in the order of their rank, dressed in their most gorgeous attire, and carrying the sacred uvmbols, the utensils of the temple, the books of Thot, and the sacred tablet of Isis, which was a silver plate with the hieroglyphics that referred to the mysteries of this goddess engraved on it. The priests were followed by all the native
and foreign adepts, dressed in white linen garments. The newly-initiated walked in their midst, distinguished by a white vail which extended from his head down to his shoulders. All the houses of the streets through which the processlin passed were decorated as on festal occasions. Flowers and perfumes were everywhere thrown over the person of the novice, and his arrival greeted with shouts of rejoicing. After his return to the temple, he was placed upon an elevated throne, before which immediately afterward a curtain descended. While the priests chanted during the interval hymns in favor of the goddess, he divested himself of his holiday suit, and assumed the white linen garb which he was henceforth to wear. The curtain was now again raised, and the renewed shouts of the spectators greeted him as an adept. The ceremonies concluded with a festival, which lasted three days, during which the newly-made brother occupied the seat of honor. At a subsequent period the Mysteries were augmented by the introduction of the tragedy of Osiris. The ceremony consisted of funereal rites, expressive of the wildest grief on account of his death; a search for his body, which is at last found, the return of Osiris to life, and the destruction of Typhon, his assassin. Osiris was the symbol of truth or goodness; Typhon of error or evil—the murder of Osiris signified the temporary subjugation of virtue, and his resurrection the ultimate triumph of the good. This was the parent of all those dreciam rites which represent a death and a resurrection, and whose principal features are perpetuated in the legend of the Sidonian builders. These Mysteries exercised a powerful influence over the Egyptian mind. They gave unity to the Egyptian character, consistency to their religious establishments, stability to their political institutions, and vigor and directness in the pursuits of philosophy, science and art.