305.) It seems to have been discovered in the Sibylline books at the time when it was desired to prevent Pompeius from interfering in the affairs of Egypt, in B.C.

57.
(24) That is, by their weeping for Iris departure they treated him as a mortal and not as a god.

Osiris was the soul of Apis (see on line 537), and when that animal grew old and unfit for the residence of Osiris the latter was thought to quit it.

Then began the weeping.

which continued until a new Apis appeared, selected, of course, by Osiris for his dwelling-place.