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Ancient Pagan Symbols
Elisabeth Goldsmith

Texts>Ancient Pagan Symbols

Osiris. His symbols are the Eye and the Sceptre typifying providence and power. He has the head of a hawk or a man, and holds the crux ansata in his hand. As god of the dead he wears the Atef crown with plumes, and in his hands are the Crook, Sceptre and Flail, symbols of rule, sovereignty and dominion. Osiris is usually depicted in mummy form wearing the White Crown and a menat hanging from the back of his neck and holding the crook, sceptre and flail. Sometimes he wears the Atef, the white crown with plumes. sometimes he appears in the form of the tet (tat) pillar.

Osiris, his Amulets. The amlulets used in producing the reconstitution of the body of Osiris. torn asunder by Set, were: the four figures of the children of Horus, two bulls, a figureof Horus, four lapis-lazuli tat pillars. two carnelian tat pillars, a figure of Thoth, and two lapis-lazuli uzats.

Pan. The great god of shepherds, flocks. pastures and forests. He was called a son of Hermes and gra,ndson or great grand,sonof Kronos (Saturn). He lived in grottoes, wandering about the mountains and valleys and slumbering during the mid-day heat of summer. He was also a hunter and led the dances of the nymphs. As god of the pastoral life he was fond of music and invented the syrinx or shepherd's flute.

He exulted in noise and riot and was looked upon as a companion of Cybele and Dionysos. He is represented in art as a short bearded man with the horns. ears and legs of a goat. His attributes are a pipe, crook and the fir tree. Rams, lambs. milk and honey were sacrificed to him. His principal place of worship was Arcadia, thence it spread to other parts of Greece. In Rome he was identified with Faunus and Lupercus. In Egypt the god Pan and a goat were worshipped at Hermopolis. Lycopolis and Mendes.

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