"All through Egypt every man burns a lamp"

Illustration by Arthur Rackham

This illustration from Rackham appears to be a coloured variant on a published illustration accompanying the tale ''Harry and Herodotus; or,

Tales of an Old Traveller'' by B Sidney Woolf. Through the image, Rackham is depicting a scene described as associated with the Feast of

Lamps - a celebration in honour of Isis.

The broader context for the illustration is set within the tale that recounts a fictional discussion between Herodotus and an English boy, Harry.

A portion of the text associated with the image follows:

"It is difficult to know where to comment, for there is so much to tell. Thou knowest the

two chief gods of the Egyptians?"

"No," answered Harry.

"Thou has not heard of Isis, the goddess with horns of a cow, wife of Osiris, who shared

with Ra, the sun-god, chief place among the gods of Egypt; nor of Seth, with whom

Osiris perpetually strives? Osiris thou mayest consider the good, Set the evil in the world.

Nor of Horus, son of Osiris and Isis, also a sun-god? Nor of Apis, the sacred bull, the

emblem of Osiris? Nor of Serapis, the dead bull? Thou wilt hear and see much of them

when thou visiteth the country. The Egyptians paid much heed to the ceremonies of

religion, and sacrificed to their gods - animal and vegetable sacrifices - and they burned

much incense. I cannot tell thee of all their festivals and customs, but of some I will

speak. One did I witness which pleased me much - the Feast of Lamps, in honour of Isis.

There is one night when all the dwellers of Säro burn lights around their houses - floating

wicks in saucers of salt and oil - while all through Egypt every man burns a lamp."

"How pretty it must have looked," said Harry. "Something like the Earl's Court Exhibition

at night."