years prior to the birth of Mary, the Mother of Christ, and
representations of it are still extant, not only in oriental
lands, but in many countries of Europe. Within the oldest
temples of Egypt are still to be observed sacred apartments which
contain the "Holy of Holies," and to which, in past ages, none
might gain access but priests and priestesses of the highest
order. Within these apartments are pictured the mysteries of
birth, together with the symbols of generation emblems of
procreation.
On the banks of the river Nile are observed the ruins of the
temple of Philae, which structure, it is said, represents the
most ancient style of architecture. Within these ruins is to be
seen an inner chamber in which are depicted the birth scenes of
the child god Horus, and, indeed, everywhere among the monuments
and ruins of Egypt, is plainly visible the fact that the creative
power and functions in human beings, in animals, and in vegetable
life, together with Wisdom, once constituted the god-idea.
Between the ruins of the palace of Amunoph III. and the Nile are
two colossal statues, each hewn from a single block of stone.
These figures, although in a sitting posture, are sixty feet
high. It is thought that they once formed the entrance to an
avenue of similar figures leading up to the palace. It has been
supposed that the most northern statue represents Ammon, and that
its companion piece is his Mother. It is now believed by many
writers, however, that these figures do not represent two persons
at all, but that in a remote age of the world's history they were
worshipped as the two great principles, female and male, which
animate Nature. The fact has been observed that Am or Om was
originally a female Deity, within whom was contained the male
principle; when, however, through the changes wrought in the
relative positions of the sexes, the male element in the Divinity
adored came to be represented as a man instead of as a child, he
was Ammon. He was the sun, yet notwithstanding the fact that he
had drawn to himself the powers of the sun, he was still,
himself, only a production of or emanation from the female Deity
Om, Mother of the Gods and Queen of Heaven. She it was who had
created or brought forth the sun.
There is a tradition which asserts that every morning a melodious
