Sin

is regarded in this work, as by Plato, as being “an entanglement with matter which had mi ed the true aim of existence,” owing (as in the case of the fallen angels) “ to misuse of free will”—a fatally erroneous doctrine, though one at that time widely taught, and naturally founded on Biblical teaching and belief in revelation. The supposed Athénagor as however does not allude to the Atonement or Vicarious Sacrifice of Christ, being silent like the synoptic Gospels, and not following Paul, or the Fourth Gospel. His theory of inspiration was that of the Mon tanists—that sacred writers were like lyres, on which the Holy Spirit played as a plectrum or striker. [The wide differences between the views of various Christian schools in the 2nd century will be evident to those who study the Ante- Nicene Library mentioned above (see Clement of Alexandria).— Ep.] Athor. Hat-hor. The Egyptian dawn gode , the word being explained to mean “seat” (or “abode ”) of Horus. She appears as a cow protecting the babe Horus, and with outspread wings. She was ‘his mother, and a daughter of Ra the sun god, and nursed the infant sun in her lap. In the sacred Ritual the spirits of women are called Hathors, as those of men are called “the Osiris” of each, There were seven Hathors (as in the fairy tale of the “Two Brothers”) who answered to the fates, or the fairy god-mothers of Teutonik folk-lore. They presided over the destinies of women; and Has or was the “special guardian of pregnant women, and female animals, She has also another aspect as Sekhet (the lion-headed gode , otherwise Bast) representing the sunset as well as the dawn, and in this character she is the wife of Set, the god of night. 230