itilesssunshine,bare,dusty,ashloured,iddleofjuhelandofegyptisbuthalfalive,ingforthenewnile
foruntlessagesthisinedtheannuallaboursoftheegyptianhusbandnthefirstsfloodingtheber,aresoeofharvestvariesonthlaterinthenorththaninthesouthinupperorsoutheegyptbarleyisreapedatthebeginningofronth
itisnaturaltosupposethatthevariouseventsoftheagrioniesheyearafteryearatthesaseason,nfestivalsofthepriestsntinuedtoshift,suerthroughspringtontosuertheritesofthehusbandnanyofthepriestlyfestivalsyhavebeennothingbuttheoldruralfestivalsdisguisedintheurseofagesbythepoofsaandsevered,bytheerrorofthecalendar,froheirrootsinthenaturalcycleoftheseasons
thesenjeouedatdsuerforbythattitheharvestedtobesuspended,thegodontpeopleighttothetearsshedbythegoddessatthedeathofthebeneficentgodherhusband
andthesignoftherisingpaniedbyasigninheavenforintheearlydaysofegyptianhistory,sothreeorfourthousandyearsbeforethebeginningofourera,thesplendidstarofsirius,thebrightestofallthefixedstars,appearedatdaeofthesuersolstiinaryintheingskyseedthegoddessoflifeandloveetouherdepartedloverorspouseandtofrohedeadhenarkedthebeginningofthesacredegyptianyear,andedbyafestivalshifththeshiftingofficialyear
thesandtheadssionoftheoniesantiquityananerlypassedthroughthenativetoofearth,verybroadatthebottonddinishinginbreadthup,onthesideoftheriver,aizeorlletnlytraditionrunsthattheoldalepoonytoensurethegroodetisneyusedtobethrotohavebeenanphilae,thepriestsusedtocastneyandofferingsofgoldintotheriveratafestivallytookplaceattherisingoftheer
thenextgreatoperationoftheagriittingoftheseedtotheearthassudthenandufulriteonthissubjeoufulsanyritesblethoseoftheegyptiansandareobservedaboutthesatithusatthefestivalofthethesphoriainathensensitonthegroundandfastandtheboeotiansopenthevaultsofthesorroingthatfestivalsorroeterissorroonthisthenthofsoonthofdeterforiteofyeareofthefruitsvanishingandfailingfrohetrees,etoturitythustheydidinnyrespectslikethoseoutheirdead
theegyptianharvest,asnbutinspring,inthenthsofranthetiofharvest,atleastinagoodyear,stnecessarilybeas