ges. In 2, one (ua) fish holds the
ankh instead of the lotus. Both signs obviously express precisely the same
meaning with the difference that, in one case duality is expressed by two
fishes, and in the other by the ankh symbol which emblematizes the union
of nature's dualities.

Fig. 69, 3, shows the bull, carrying the circle of Ra between its horns
and wearing the ankh symbol hanging from its neck. The lotus replaces this
in 4, where the circle is missing and one bull (ua en ka) expresses the
mystic sacred words ua=One and ka=double or "the divine Twain." It is
evident that it is only when it is assumed that pole-star worship
constituted the basis of the natural religion of the ancient Egyptians
that their sacred symbols become intelligible.

Though a novice in Egyptology and with extremely limited works of
reference at hand, which facts will, I trust, excuse faults and omissions,
I perceive so much that is clear and simple in the following series of
Egyptian sacred symbols, culled from Mr. Goodyear's work, that I am
tempted to submit my interpretation of their meaning, thereby putting my
view and method to a crucial test.

In pl. VII, 2, we have an interesting group uniting the boat, the meaning
of which has been discussed, a seated figure on a square pedestal, a
column, the upper portion of which is separate and simulates the bowl or
cup=au, the dot and circle, the sign of Amen-Ra, and a single flower. As a
rebus, some of the words expressed are am, uaa or makhen=boat, tet=column,
Ra=dot and circle, also seated figure, determinative of god=Ra, and ua en
ankh=one flower. While the rebus supplies the words ua=one,
uahi=permanent, ra=god, an=the circuiteer, ankh=life, tet=eternal, it is
only when identified as pole-star symbolism that the group becomes
comprehensible.

Pointing out that, in the above, we have a clear case of the flower in
association with the Ra sign and other symbols which have been discussed
as pole-star signs, let us next examine 1, 3, 4, 6 and 8, in each of which
one blossom=ua en ankh, constitutes the emblem for the sacred Middle, and
openly conveys the idea of the verb an, to perform a circuit and
ankh=life.

The fact that, in 6, the flower consists of five petals, on four of which
the genii of the four quarters stand, sufficiently proves that the flower,
like the five-dot group, constituted a symbol of the four quarters and
centre, the latter being figured as a pyramid-shaped petal. Interes