Page:Books on Egypt and Chaldaea, Vol. 32--Legends of the Gods.pdf/55

 text. This most important mythological text was first published and translated by Professor E, Naville in 1874. It was republished by Bergmann and Brugsch, who gave a transcription of the text, with a German translation. Other German versions by Lauth, Brugsch, and Wiedemann have appeared, and a part of the text was translated into French by Lefébure. The latest edition of the text was published by Lefébure, and text of a second copy, very much mutilated, was published by Professor Naville, with a French translation in 1885. The text printed in this volume is that of M. Lefébure.

The legend takes us back to the time when the gods of Egypt went about in the country, and mingled with men, and were thoroughly acquainted with their desires and needs. The king who reigned over Egypt was Rā, the Sun-god, who was not, however, the first of the Dynasty of Gods who ruled the land. His pre­decessor on the throne was Hephaistos, who, according to Manetho, reigned 9000 years, whilst Rā reigned only 992 years; Panodorus makes his reign to have lasted 