Anecdota Oxoniensia. Semitic series.

58 CHURCHES AND MONASTERIES OF EGYPT.

revealed to him the worship of the stars; and Nimrod the giant learnt
from Satan the doctrine of Taghutl. Nimrod was the first who wore
Fol. 19 b a crown2 of gold, set with jewels, and put on purple robes, and showed
himself in such guise.
Section referring to the distinguished men of Egypt, and to the
wonders which are to be found there. Among the former were Moses
and Aaron his brother, and Miriam their sister, who were born at
Askar3, in the region of Egypt. On Mount Sinai God spoke with
Moses; and Moses struck with his rod.
magic, which was taught to men there by the two evil angels Hartt and Marfit
(see Surat al-Bakarah, 96), who still hang head downwards among the ruins of
the great city.
An idol of the ancient Arabs of Mecca; see Koran, Szral al-Bakarah,
257, 259, where the religion of Taghit is placed in antithesis to the true religion of
Islam. Cf. Szrat al-.lad'idah, 65.
2 Eutychius reports this legend, in speaking of the time of Abraham:
J-l"Jl WI ->aJ) L A.-(- Jj i JW.. JAU) d&eL II; (\y J
LL J ^ J J l J Ia, r v J LS. ^..J9
'In his time lived Nimrod the giant, king of Babylon. It is said that he was the
first king who reigned in Babylon; and he saw in the sky the likeness of a crown
formed of clouds; so he called a goldsmith, who fashioned a crown for him, and
he put it upon his head. For this reason men said that a diadem descended upon
him from heaven.' Eutychius, Annales (ed. Pococke), i. p. 62. Cf. MS. Bodl. Or.
294, p. 60.
The epithet)., 'giant,' corresponds to ni.. in Genesis x. 8, 9.
Some of these legends of Nimrod may be looked upon as genuine traditions
of the ancient culture of Babylonia.
3 This was a well-known town, two days to the south of Al-Fustat, in the province of Al-Itfibhyah. Many of the Muslims, as well as the Christians, accepted
the tradition that Moses was born there; see Yakit, Geogr. Wort. i. p. ror;
Al-Makrtzl, Khitat, ii. p. o lv; Ibn Dukmak, iv. p. rr. The MSS. of Al-Makrizi
write the name as,\.
Askar still exists in the district of Itfih in the province of Al-Jizah; see Rec.
de I'Egyp/e, ii. p. 51.