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31 bThe Egyptians, because of their belief that Typhon was of a red complexion,159 also dedicate to sacrifice such of their neat cattle as are of a red colour,160 but they conduct the examination of these so scrupulously that, if an animal has but one hair black or white, they think it wrong to sacrifice it;161 for they regard as suitable for sacrifice not what is dear to the gods but the reverse, namely, such animals as have incarnate in them souls of unholy and unrighteous men who have been transformed into other bodies. For this reason they invoke curses on the head of the victim and cut it off, and in early times they used to p77throw it into the river, but now they sell it to aliens.162

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and the name of Typhon{set} they give to all that is dry, fiery, and arid,(182) in general, and antagonistic to moisture. (b)Therefore, because they believe that he was personally of a reddish sallow colour,(183) they are not eager to meet men of such complexion, nor do they like to associate with them.
Osiris, on the other hand, according to their legendary tradition, was dark,184 because water darkens everything, earth and clothes and clouds, when it comes into contact with them.185 In young people the presence of moisture renders their hair black, while greyness, like a paleness as it were, is induced by p83dryness in those who are passing their prime.186 Also the spring-time is vigorous, prolific, and agreeable; but the autumn, since it lacks moisture, is inimical to plants and cunhealthful for living creatures.(c)

The bull kept at Heliopolis which they call Mneuis,187 and which is sacred to Osiris (some hold it to be the sire of Apis), is black and has honours second only to Apis. Egypt, moreover, which has the blackest of soils,188 they call by the same name as the black portion of the eye, "Chemia," and compare it to a heart;189 for it is warm and moist and is enclosed by the southern portions of the inhabited world and adjoins them, like the heart in a man's left side.

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The Egyptians, in fact, have a tradition that Hermes had thin arms and big elbows, that Typhon was red in complexion, Horus white, and Osiris dark,108 as if they had been in their nature but mortal men

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But the Egyptians, by combining with these physical explanations some of the scientific results derived from astronomy, think that dby Typhon is meant the solar world, and by Osiris the lunar world; they reason that the moon, because it has a light that is generative and productive of moisture,242 is kindly towards the young of animals and the burgeoning plants, whereas the sun, by its untempered and pitiless heat, makes all growing and flourishing vegetation hot and parched, and, through its blazing light, renders a large part of the earth uninhabitable, and in many a region overpowers the moon. For this reason the Egyptians regularly call Typhon "Seth,"243 which, being interpreted, means "overmastering and compelling."

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"Some authors write that the Ethiopians paint the devil white, in disdain of our complexions."--Ludolf: History of Ethiopia, p. 72

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Posts: 495 | From: anchorage, alaska | Registered: Feb 2007  |  IP: Logged | 

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in Central Africa, Ndembu warriors rub themselves with red during celebrations. Since their culture sees the color as a symbol of life and health, sick people are also painted with it. Like most Central African cultures, the Ndembu see red as ambivalent, better than black, but not as good as white.[37] In other parts of Africa, however, red is a color of mourning, representing death.[38] Because of the connection red bears with death in many parts of Africa, the Red Cross has changed its colors to green and white in parts of the continent

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Posts: 495 | From: anchorage, alaska | Registered: Feb 2007  |  IP: Logged |