II. Herodotus asserts that the doctrine of metemp-

sychosis originated in Egypt. uThe Egyptians are the first who propounded the theory that the human soul is imperishable, and that where the body of any one dies it enters into some other creature that may be ready to receive it, and that when it has gone the round of all created forms on land, in water and in air, then it once more enters a human body born for it ; and that this cycle of existence for the soul takes place in three thousand years." 1 He continues, " Some of the Greeks adopted this opinion, some earlier, oth- ers later, as if it were their own."
The Egyptians held that the human race began after the pure gods and spirits had left earth, when the de- mons who were sinfully inclined had revolted and in- troduced guilt. The gods then created human bodies
1 It will be noticed later that Plato reduced this term to one thousand years.
198 REINCARNATION AMONG THE ANCIENTS.
for these demons to inhabit, as a means of expiating their sin, and these fallen spirits are the present men and women, whose earthly life is a course of purifica- tion. All the Egyptian precepts and religious codes are to this end. The judgment after death decides whether the soul has attained purity or not. If not, the soul must return to earth in renewal of its expia- tion either in the body of a man, or animal or plant. As the spirit was believed to maintain its connection with the material form as long as this remained, the practice of embalming was designed to arrest the pas- sage of the soul into other forms. The custom of em- balming is also connected with their opinion that after three thousand years away from the body the soul would return to its former body provided it be pre- served from destruction.1 If it is not preserved, the soul would enter the most convenient habitation, which might be a wretched creature. They maintained, too, that the gods frequently inhabited the bodies of animals, and therefore they worshiped animals as in- carnations of special divinities. The sacred bodies of these godly visitants were also embalmed as a mark of respect to their particular class of deities. For they placed certain gods in certain animals, the Egyptian Apollo choosing the hawk, Mercury the ibis, Mars the fish, Diana the cat, Bacchus the goat, Hercules the colt, Vulcan the ox, etc. This conceit was but a spe- cialization of their general tenet of pantheism, insisting that all life is divine, that every living thing must be venerated, and that the highest creatures should be most devoutly worshiped.
1 Egyptologists disagree as to the real intent of embalming. We select the explanations best adapted to the theological doc- trines of the Egyptians.
REINCARNATION AMONG THE ANCIENTS. 199
The Egyptian conception of reincarnation as shaped by the priesthood is displayed in their classic, " Ritual of the Dead," which is one of their chief sacred books and describes the course of the soul after death. A copy of it was deposited in each mummy case. It opens with a sublime dialogue between the soul and the God of Hades, Osiris, to whose realm he asks ad- mission. Finally Osiris says, " Fear nothing, but cross the threshold." As the soul enters he is dazzled with the glory of light. He sings a hymn to the sun and goes on taking the food of knowledge. After fright- ful dangers are passed, rest and refreshment come. Continuing his journey he reaches at last heaven's gate, where he is instructed in profound mysteries. Within the gate he is transformed into different ani- mals and plants. After this the soul is reunited to the body for which careful embalming was so impor- tant. A critical examination tests his right to cross the subterranean river to Elysium. He is conducted by Anubis through a labyrinth to the judgment hall of Osiris, where forty-two judges question him upon his whole past life. If the decisive judgment approves him he enters heaven. If not, he is sentenced to pass through lower forms of existence according to his sins, or, if a reprobate, is given over to the powers of dark- ness for purgation. After three thousand years of this he is again consigned to a human probation.