A 





A 


9 


N 


E 


W 


S 


Y 


S 


T 


E 


M 


J 


O R, A N 


A 


N 


A 


L 


Y/Z S 


I 


O F 


ANCIENT 


MYTHOLOGY 


Wherein an Attempt is made to divert: Tradition of F 

and to reduce the Truth to its Original Purity 


WORK is driven an H 


BABYLONIANS, 

CHALDEANS, 

EGYPTIANS, 


CANAANITES, 

HELLADIANS, 

IONIANS, 


ALSO OF THE 


LELEGES, 
DORIANS, 
PELASGI : 


O 


SCYTHE,. 


INDO-SCYTHiE 


ETHIOPIANS, 
PHENIC IAN S. 


The Whole contains an Account of the principal Events in the firft Ages, from the 
Deluge to the Dispersion : Alfo of the various Migrations, which enfued, and 
the Settlements made afterwards in different Parts : Circumftances of great Confe- 
quence, which were fubfequent to the Gentile History of Moses. 


VOL. 


II. 


THE SECOND EDITION 


By 


JACOB 


BRYANT, 


Formerly of King’s College, Cambridge ; and Secretary to his Grace the late Duke 


Marlbor 


abroad j and Secretary to him as Matter 


Maiefty 



LONDON: 


Printed for T. PAYNE, M 
B. WHITE, in Fleet-st 


p. elm: 

WALTE 


St R AN D; 


M.DCC.LXXV. 



Ill 


PLATES in Volume the Seco nd 


With the Pages, which they are to face. 


• 4 * 



OR-ASTER, five Sol Afterius, with the Deus Azoii 


Mscrotr^?, facing the former 


alfo 


♦ 

After Archima 


gus before an altar and fire 


pied from Chardin, Vol. II. 


p. 164: and Hyde Religio Vet. Perfarum 
At the bottom Deus Azon Perficus. 


VI. p. 307 


To frojtt Page 120 



tion 


Zor-After, and the Deus Azon Me<rccrrig in a different pofi- 
: alfo Zor-After Archimagus before an altar with a par- 


ticular covering like a Cupfelis or hive : taken from Kaempfer’s 

Amoenitates Exoticse. • - ' - 

9 

Beneath is Zor-After, five Taurus Afterius AEgyptiacus: 
from Price’s Apuleius, and Herodotus of Gronovius and 


Weffelinge. 


Page 122 


III. 


A Coin of Philip the Elder, and another of Severus, from 
the City Apamea, the ancient Cibotus: copied from Falcone- 

rius, and Seguinus, 

Navis Biprora, five Baris iEgyptiaca, from Pocock’s Egypt: 
fee two other fpecimens from the fame Author in Volume the 
Firft, Plate IV, of this Work. Page 228 


IV. 

Deus Lunus Ovatus of Heliopolis in Syria from Vaillant’s 
Coins of the Colonies. Vol. II. p. 331. 

Vol. II. a The 



iv 

The Serpent, and Mundane Egg from the fame author, 
p. 136. p. 147. 

Deus Lunus of Carrhae from Vaillant,. 

Page 240 

V. 

S 

Janus Bifrons Erycinus with the Dove and Olive from Span- 
heim de Prseftantia et Ufu Numifm. Antiquorum. Vol. I„ 
p. 168. Ifs, and Doves : aifo a coin of Afcalon, upon which 
is a Reprefentation of the Mother of the Oods with, a Tower 
upon her head, and beneath a Ship ^ by her fide a Dove and 
Altar. From. Paruta, Spanheim, and Gorlasus. P a ge 258 

VI. 

Hieroglyphics of the Scorpion ; and of the facred Serpents 
of Egypt: particularly of a Serpent crowned with the water 
lily, and ornamented with emblems of plenty, and ftyled Neo 
Agaihodcemon. Ifis alfo upon the Lotos ; taken from Kircher, 
Seguinus, and Gorlasus. Alfo a frog upon the Lotos from 
Montfaucon, Vol. II. Part 2d. p. 348. Page 334. 

VII. 

yimo Samia Selenitis , handing in a lunette, and crowned 
with a lunette, and difclofing her myftic veil from Spanheim. 

Pag e 342 . 

VIII. 

Various Specimens of Mater Deorum Turrita, fitting upon 
a rock, and holding in her hand lome ears of corn, and other, 
fymbols : at her feet a man in different attitudes, who feems: 
to be ftruggling in the water : feledted from coins of Antioch, 
Rhefain, Nifibis, Edeffa, Carrhas, Singara, Side, and Damafcus ; 
from Patinus, Vaillant, Goltzius, and others. Page 384. 

f 

IX. 



IX. 


Spes Divina with the facred Cupfelis, and other emblems : 


from Gruter. Infcript. Vol. I. p. 102. 


Page 384. 


X. 


The Chryfalis, Aurelia, Mufca, and other emblems relating 
to the renewal of life, and the immortality of the Soul : 
from Gorlzeus, and the Pamphilian Obelifk of Kircher. 

Page 386 


XL 


The Marriage of Eros and Pfuche y from that curious Ca- 
maio in the valuable Collection of his Grace the Duke of 
Marlborough : defcribed upon an Onyx by Tryphon, a Gre¬ 
cian ArtifL This Plate is finely engraved by Bartolozzi from 


a drawing of Cipriani. 


Page 392 


XII. 


Sarapis Uelius : with fpecimens of the God Or us crowned 
with the water lily : alfo Janus Bifrons Taurinus Hetrufcus : 


from Spanheim and others. 


Page 398 


XIII. 


Juno with a fceptre, and dove, and the emblematical Rhoia, 
or pomegranate. 

Hermes KT £2 1 ST, the fame as Ofiris, upon a crocodile 
with various emblems. 


Dea Hippa ‘Triceps . 

Dea Hippa Phigalenfium from Natalis Comes. 


fanias, L.. 8. p. 686 


XIV 


See I^au- 
Page 40 8 


Tauri Lunati 


-Tgyptiaci from Spanheim, and others. 


5 


Taurus 



VI 


Taurus Sacer iEgyptiacus with, the Dove, from Kircher’s Pam- 


philian Obelifk, p. 262 


Page 420 


XV. 


Mithras Bovinus and. Eros Perficus upon the Iris or Arc : 
from Thevenot’s Travels, Part fecond, p. 287 : of the Eng- 


lifh edition p. 145 


Page 424 


XVI. 


Me7J0-"Taurus Biceps EEgyptiacus from thofe curious fampl 


of Egypt 


Sculpt 


at the Britifh Mufeum, fent 


by 


the Hon. Wortley Montague. 

Alfo fpecimens both of the Tauro-Men, and Meno-Taurus : 
particularly Tauro-Men Siculus Al-Arkaius : from Paruta, 


Spanheim, and Baron Stoch 


Pag 


XVII. 


Labara Sacra Lunata from Vaillant and Goltzius. 

A marine bird, probably the Aithyia, upon a kind of 


boat: from the Pamphilian Obelifk: 


Pag 


XVIII. 


Palaemon in a Bate of childhood preferved upon a Cetus. 
Palsemon and Cetus upon the Corinthian Cupfelis, or Ark. 
Pofeidon and Beroe : A coin of Sidon with Beroe upon her 
knees affifted by Pofeidon. Europa and Bull ; and winged 
Horfe of Corinth. Page 456 

XIX. 

Two hands joined in union with ears of com, and the 
fymboljcal Rhoia, from Gorlasus, Page 535 

ERRATA. 

Page 178. 1 , 18. for wc fhall in the end fhew, read we have fhevvn. 

. Page 22,8. note 8 8 . for A yowoBerxv, read Ayanofortv 

Page 129, ], 7, for below, read above, 



A 

«. » 

N E W S Y S T E M: 

♦ 

O R, A N 

ANA LYSIS 

O F 

ANCIENT MYTHOLOGY. 


O F 

TEMPLE RITES 

% 

IN THE FIRST AGES, 

I Mu ft continually put the reader in mind, how common 

it was among the Greeks, not only out of the titles of 
the Deities, but out of the names of towers, and other 
edifices, to form perfonages, and then to invent hiftories, 
to fupport what they had done. When they had created 
a number of fuch ideal beings, they tried to find out 
Vol. II. B fome 


2 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


fome relation : and thence proceeded to determine the pa 
rentage, and filiation of each, juft as fancy directed. 


Some 

colonies from Egypt, and Canaan, fettled in Thrace; as 
appears from numberlefs memorials. The parts, which 
they occupied, were upon the Hebrus, about Edonia, Si- 
thon, and Mount Hasmus. They alfo held Pieria, and 
Pseonia, and all the fea-coaft region. It was their cuf- 
tom, as I have before mentioned, in all their fettlements 
to form puratheia; and to introduce the rites of fire, 

the coaft, of which I 


and worfhip of the Sun. 


Up 


have been fpeaking, a temple of this fort was founded, 
which is called Torone. The name is a compound oF 
Tor-On, as I have before taken notice. The words pu- 


rathus, and puratheia 


of Egypt Pur 


Ath, and Pur-Ait, formed from two titles of the God of fire. 
Out of one of thefe the Grecians made a perfonage, which 

they exprefled YlgoiTog, Proetus, whofe daughters, or rather 
prieftefies, were the Proetides. And as they followed the 
Egyptian rites, and held a Cow facred ; they were in confe- 
quence of it fuppofed to have been turned into 1 cows ; juft 
as the prieftefies of Hippa were faid to have been changed into 


mares 


the OEnotropas, and Peleiadse into pigeons 


Proteus 

of Egypt, whom Menelaus was fuppofed to have confulted 
about his paflage homeward, was a tower of this fort with 
purait. It was an edifice, where both priefts and pilots 


refided 


information 


; and where a light was conti- 
ually burning to dire& fhips- in the night. The tower of 

Proetides implerunt falfisrnugitihus auras. Virgil. Eclog. 6. v. 48. 


5 


Torone 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 



Torone likewife was a Pharos, and therefore Piled by Lyco- 

phron <pA sygoucc T ogoovr), the flaming Torone. The country 

about it was in like manner called * <J>As ygct, Phlegra, both 
from thefe flaming Towers, and from the worfhip there in¬ 
troduced. There feems to have been a fire tower in this 

region named Proteus; for according to the ancient ac- 

* 

counts, Proteus is mentioned as having refided in thefe parts, 
and is faid to have been married to Torone. He is accord- 
ingly ftiled by the Poet, 


cpXsygcuctg Tttxrig 

Xrvyvog 'Yo^myjg i ca yeXwg otT£^deToti } 

Ka; <5 OLKgV. 

The epithet fvyvog, gloomy, and fad, implies a bad cha¬ 
racter, which arofe from the cruel rites praCtifed in thefe 



aces. In all thefe temples, they made it a rule to facrifice 
ftrangers, whom fortune brought in their way. Torone flood 
near 4 Pallene, which was ftiled 5 Yqysvwv TgoQog, the nurfe 
of the earth~bor?i , or giant brood. Under this character both 


the fons of Chus, and the Anakim of 


included 


Lycophron takes off from Proteus the imputation of being 


a Herod. L. 7. c. 123. 

H Xeppo vr,(7o? 0 v\ ev 'tco la 6 tj.cc kzitccu ri 1 tdiv fxsv TlortS'cciXy vuv Se 

Y.-xaorctv^^eicty 4 >A eypence S'e excc^.siTo. uxiovv ^ ccj-tw 61 ixvftvofjizvoi ViyccvreS} 

tftvos Tccct cLvofj.cv. Strabo. Epitome. L. 7. p. 510. 

3 Lycophron. V. 115. 

4 Stephanus places Torone in Thrace, and fuppofes it to have been named 
from Torone, who was not the wife, but the daughrer of Proteus. Airo Topurvs 
rr??5 Figures. Some made her the daughter of Pofeidon and Phosnice. See 
Steph. <$>teygcux. There were more towers than one of this name, 

5 I 7 aAA??riar eTrtfA 0 £ r uyeyoov rgotpov. Lycoph* V. 127, 

B 2 


accefiary 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 


4 


acceflary to the vile practices, for which the pla 

notorious ; 
ftrangers. 
guft. 


was 


and makes only his fons guilty of murdering 
He fays, that their father left them out of dif- 


T SKVUV c 
this he alludes 




svonrovou; 7roChctg . 

cuftom, of which I fhall take 


hereafter. According to Euftathius the notion was, that 


Proteus fled by a fubterraneous paflag 


Egypt, in com 


pany with his daugl 
usTci rr t s QvyuTgog E ifroQsag 


Eidothea 


A TOKUTs^rj sig Qolpov 


He went it feems from one 


Pharos 


from Pallene to the mouth of the Nile 


The Pharos of Egypt was both a watch-tower, and a temple, 
where people went to enquire about the fuccefs of their 

ft 

voyage 


an 


; and to obtain the afliftance of pilots. Proteu 
yptian title of the Deity, under which he was 


was 


fhiped both in the Pharos, and at 8 Memphis. He was the 
fame as Oflris, and Canobus : and particularly the God of 
mariners, who confined his department to the 9 


fea 


From 


hence, I think 


we may unravel the myftery about the pilot 
of Menelaus, who is faid to have been named Canobus, and 
to have given name to the principal feaport in Egypt. The 


priefis of the country laughed at the idle 


IO 


ftory 


and they 


had good reafon : for the place was far prior to the people 
fpoken of, and the name not of Grecian original. - It is ob- 


0 Lycophron. V. 124. 

7 Euftath. on Dionyfius. V. 259. 

8 Herodot. L. 2. c. 112. 

9 npcorea kixPwctxmi ttgvtv xfavS'cts ep/oirct. Orphic Hymn, 24. 

10 Ariftides. Oratio iEgyptiaca. V. 3. p. 608, 

fervable. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 5 

% 

fervable, that Stephanus of Byzantium gives the pilot another 
name, calling him, inftead of Canobus, Pharus. His 

words are Qagog 0 IlgoogBvg M eveXcus, which are fcarce fenfe. I 
make no doubt, from the hiftory of Proteus above, but that 
in the original, whence Stephanus copied, or at leaft whence 
the ftory was firft taken, the reading was <Poigog 0 UgooTsvg 
M zvbKolu • that is, the Proteus of Menelaus, fo celebrated by 
Homer, who is reprefented, as fo wife, and fo experienced 
in navigation, whom they efteemed a great prophet, and 
a Deity of the fea, was nothing elfe but a Pharos. I11 other 
words, it was a temple of Proteus upon the Canobic branch 
of the Nile, to which the Poet makes Menelaus have re- 
courfe. Such was the original hiftory : but YlgcaTsvg Msv£- 
Aas has been changed to 7 Tgc*)g£vg j and the God Canobus 
turned into a Grecian pilot. As thefe w r ere Ophite tem¬ 
ples, a ftory has been added about this perfon having been 

ftung by a ferpent. 11 II googevg sv tij W]<r« Srfyfeig v 7 ro ocpewg 
srcttpY], ‘This Pilot was bitten by a ferpent , and buried in the 
if and. Conformable to my opinion is the account given by 
Tzetzes, who fays, that Proteus reftded in the 11 Pharos : by 
which is ftgnified, that he was the Deity of the place. He 
is reprefented in the Orphic poetry as the ftrft-born of the 
world, the chief God of the fea, and at the fame time a 
mighty 13 prophet. 

The hiftory then of Menelaus in Egypt, if fuch a perfon 

11 Stephanus Byzant. 

Chilias. 2. Hift. 44, p. 31. Tlpocrevs &oiync>}$ $otv*K0$ 7rocis—~yregi ym Qclogv 

TtCtTGlXWy, 

l 3 Orphic Hymn to Proteus. 24. 

7 


ever 



6 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


ever exifted, amounts to this. In a ffcate of uncertainty he 
applied to a temple near Canobus, which was facred to Pro¬ 
teus. This was one title out of many, by which the chief 
Deity of the country was worfhiped, and was equivalent to 
On, Orus, Ofiris, and Canobus. From this place Menelaus 
obtained proper advice, by which he directed his voyage. 

Hence fome fay, that he had Opmj, Phrontis, for his pilot. 

% 

14 K uSs^wjnjs agifog M bvbXolu o Qgovng, vtog O VYfrogog. Me¬ 
nelaus had an excellent pilots one Phs^ontis, the fo?i of One- 
tor. This, I think, confirms all that I have been faying : 
for what is Phrontis, but advice and experience ? and what 
is Onetor, but the Pharos, from whence it was obtained ? 

Onetor is the fame as Torone, 'Togoevri, only reverfed. They 
were both temples of Proteus, the fame as On, and Orus : 
both $>Xey g ou ou , by which is meant temples of fire, or light- 
houfes. Hence we may be pretty certain, that the three pi¬ 
lots, Canobus, Phrontis, Pharos, together with Onetor, 
were only poetical perfonages : and that the terms pro¬ 
perly related to towers, and fandtuaries, which were of Egyp¬ 
tian original. 

Thefe places were courts of juftice, where the priefcs 
feem to have pradtifed a flridt inquifition ; and where pains, 
and penalties were very fevere. The notion of the Furies 
was taken from thefe temples : for the term Furia is from 
Ph’ur, ignis, and fignifies a priefl of fire. It was on ac¬ 
count of the cruelties here pradtifed, that moft of the an¬ 
cient judges are reprefented as inexorable ; and are there- 


X4 Euftath. in Dionyf. V. 14. 

$go*Ttv Owro^i/V. Homer. Odyff. T. V. 282. 


See alfo Hefych, 




The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 


7 

fore made judges in hell. Of what nature their department 
was efleemed may be learned from Virgil, 

15 Gnoflius haec Rhadamanthus habet duriffima regna: 
Caftigatque, auditque dolos, fubigitque fateri, &c. 

The temple at Phlegya in Bceotia was probably one of thele 
courts ; where juftice was partially adminiftered, and where 
great cruelties were exercifed by the priefis. Hence a per- 
fon, named Phlegyas, is reprefented in the fhades below, 
crying out in continual agony, and exhorting people to juf¬ 
tice. 

16 — Phlegyafque miferrimus omnes 
Admonet, et trifti teftatur voce per umbras, 

Difcite juftitiam moniti, et non temnere Divos. 
Excellent counfel, but introduced rather too late. Phlegyas 
was in reality the Sun ; fo denominated by the iEthiopes, or 
Cuthites, and efteemed the fame as Mithras of Perils. They 
looked up to him as their great benefadfeor, and lawgiver : 
for they held their laws as of divine original. His worlhip 
was introduced among the natives of Greece by the Cuthites, 
ftiled Ethiopians, who came from Egypt. That this was 
the true hiftory of Phlegyas we may be allured from Ste- 
ph anus, and Phavorinus. They mention both Phlegyas, 
and Mithras, as men deified ; and fpecify, that they were 

of Ethiopian original. 17 zou OXsyvoLVj uvfyotg A1Q10- 

'TTotg to yzvog . Minos indeed is Ipoken of, as an upright 

♦ 

judge : and the perfon alluded to under that character was 

# 

,s iEneid. L. 6 . v. 556. 

15 Virg. iEneid. L, 6. v. 618. 

! 7 Stephanus. A;8 iomx. 

eminently 



S The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

-eminently didinguifhed for his piety, and judice. But his 
prieds were edeemed far otherwife, for they were guilty of 
great cruelties. Hence we find, that Minos was looked 
upon as a judge of hell, and diled Qutefitor Minos. He was 
in reality a Deity, the fame as Menes, and Menon of Egypt: 
and as Manes of Lydia, Perils, and other countries. And 
though his hidory be not confidently exhibited, yet, fo much 
light may be gained from the Cretans, as to certify us, that 
there was in their Ifland a temple called Men-Tor, the tower 

of Men, or Menes. The Deity, from a particular 18 hie- 

« 

roglyphic, under which the natives worlhiped him, was 
diled Minotaurus. To this temple the Athenians were 
obliged annually to fend fome of their prime youth to be fa- 
crificed 5 jud as the people of Carthage ufed to fend their 
children to be viffims at 19 Tyre. The Athenians were 
obliged for fome time to pay this tribute, as appears from the 
fedival in commemoration of their deliverance. The places 
mod infamous for thefe cudoms were thofe, which were fi- 
tuated upon the feacoad : and efpecially thofe dangerous 
pafles, where bailors were obliged to go on fhore for affid- 
ance, to be directed in their way. Scylla upon the coad of 
Rhegium was one of thefe : and appears to have been parti¬ 
cularly dreaded by mariners. Ulyfles in Homer fays, that he 
was afraid to mention her name to his companions, led they 
fhould through adonilhment have lod all fenfe of preferva- 
tion. 

13 The hieroglyphic was a man with the head of a bull ; which had the fame 
reference, as the Apis, and Mneuis of Egypt. 

Diodorus Sic. L. 20. p. 756. 





The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


9 


(T OVKST SfJLvdsOfJLYlV Ct7TgY)iCT0V OLVlTiV, 

Mr\7TCfQg fjuoi £si(rccneg cL7ro\'hrfesioLV erougoi 
’Eige<nr l g > _ svrog <5 e ttvkol^oibv (rpsctg cumsg. 

Some fuppofe Scylla to have been a dangerous rock ; and 
that it was abominated on account of the frequent fhip- 
wrecks. There was a rock of that name, but attended 
with no fuch peril. We are informed by Seneca, 21 Scyllam 
faxum effe, et quidem non terribile navigantibus. It was 
the temple, built of old upon that 22 eminence, and the cuf- 
toms which prevailed within, that made it fo detefled. This 
temple was a Petra: hence Scylla is by Homer fliled 
’EkvXKyi II sTgcuY) ; and the dogs, with which file was fup- 
pofed to have been furrounded, were Cahen, or priefls. 

As there was a Men-tor in Crete, fo there was a place of 

the fame name, only reverfed, in Sicily, called Tor-men, 

■» 

and Tauromenium. There is reafon to think, that the fame 
cruel practices prevailed here. It flood in the country of 
the Lamiaa, Leflrygons, and Cyclopes, upon the river On- 

Baal, which the Greeks rendered Onoballus. From hence 

% 

we may conclude, that it was one of the Cyclopian build¬ 
ings. Homer has prefented us with fomething of truth, 
though we receive it fadly mixed with fable. We find from 
him, that when Ulyffes entered the dangerous pafs of 
Rhegium, he had fix of his comrades feized by Scylla : 

20 Homer. OdyfT. M. v. 222. 

21 EpifL 79* 

22 A.X.&atXctos &Ggxvvo$ Ttau 'Excctm tyw '2,kvXXclv heyet. yuriy/opos £e 9 ev rr, 
2?ct;AA >? 5 A ccjaigls t/jf 2?tuAA ccv <pn<ri ftvyc&Teocc eivcu. Apollonius. Schol. L. 4 . 
v. 828. 

V OL. II. 


c 


and 



IO The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

and he lofes the fame number in the cavern of the Cy- 

♦ 

clops, which that monfter devoured. Silenus, in a paf- 
fage before taken notice of, is by Euripides made to fay, 
that the mod: agreeable repaft to the Cyclops was the flefh 
of Grangers : nobody came within his reach, that he did not 
feed upon. 

* 3 rXVKVTCLTCL, <pYi<Tly TO. KgSCL Ti$g %£V8g <pSg£lV‘ 

O vfistg fJLOXoOD $£Vg, Ofig 8 KaT£<T<payY\. 

From thefe accounts fome have been led to think, that the 
priefts in thefe temples really fed upon the flelh of the 
perfons facrificed : and that thefe ftories at bottom allude to 
a fhocking depravity ; fuch, as one would hope, that human 
nature could not be brought to. Nothing can be more 
horrid, than the cruel procefs of the Cyclops, as it is repre- 
fented by Homer. And though it be veiled under the fhades 
of poetry, we may {till learn the deteftation in which thele 
places were held. 

** Xw $£ dvw [AOL^Cig, COS'S (TZVAciKag 7T0TL yCClYj 

Kottt, ek ¥ syKspctXog •fcctfJLotfog pas, Seve Js yaiav. 

'Tag te ^ia.fJLEAsig -1 rafawv oo7rhi<r<raTo $og7rov' 

HfQis <T ojVs hsoov ogsriTgotpog, 8$’ 0L7 ve7\ei7Tev 

E yKocToi rs , cagmg te , aai ossa. ^vsKoEvra. 

'Hfasig Je yJhaiovTEg , avEtfysQopsv A u ys^ag y 
XtCETXia Egy ogooovTsg, ay.vyav iy) <T sys Ov^ov. 

* s Fie anfwered with his deed : his bloody hand 
Snatch’d two unhappy of my martial band, 

Euripides. Cyclops. V. 126, 

114 Odyff. L. I. v. 289. 

* 5 Imitated bv Mr. Pope. 


And 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. t z 

And dafli’d like dogs againft the rocky floor : 

The pavement fwims with brains, and mingled gore. 

Torn limb from limb, he fpreads the horrid feaft. 

And fierce devours it like a mountain beaft. 

He fucks the marrow, and the blood he drains ; 

Nor entrails, flefli, nor folid bone remains. 

We fee the death, from which we cannot move, 

And humbled groan beneath the hand of Jove. 

One would not be very forward to ftrengthen an imputa¬ 
tion, which difgraces human nature : yet there mull cer¬ 
tainly have been fomething highly brutal and depraved in the 
chara<fler of this people, to have given rife to this defcription 
of foul and unnatural feeding. What muft not be concealed, 
Euhemerus, an ancient writer, who was a native of thefe 

n 

parts, did aver, that this beftial practice once prevailed. Sa¬ 
turn’s devouring his own children is fuppofed to allude to 
this cuftom. And we learn from this writer, as the paf- 
fage has been tranfmitted by 26 Ennius, that not only Saturn, 
but Ops, and the reft of mankind in their days, uled to feed 
upon human flefh.— 27 Saturnum, et Opem, czeterofque turn 
homines humanam carnem folitos efitare. He fpeaks of 
Saturn, and Ops, as of perfons, who once lived in the world, 
and were thus guilty. But the priefts of their temples were 
the people to be really accufed ; the Cyclopians, Lamias, 

25 Ennius tranflated into Latin the hiftory of Euhemerus, who feems to have 
been a fenfible man, and faw into the bafe theology of his country. He like- 
wife wrote againft it, and from hence made himfelf many enemies. Strabo treats 
him as a man devoted to fiflion. L. 2. p. 160. 

17 Ex Ennii Hiftoria facra, quoted by Ladtantius. Divin. Infticut. Yol. 1. 
c. 13. p. 59. 

C 2 and 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 



and Leftryg 


who officiated at their altars. He fpeaks 


of the cuftom, as well known : and it had undoubtedly been 
pradifed in thofe parts, where in 


aftertimes 


was 


born 


he was a native 18 of Zancle, and lived in the very country 


of which we have been fpeaking 


the land of the Leftry 


gons, and Cyclop 


The promontory of Scylla was within 


his light. He was therefore well qualified to give an accoun 

of thefe parts; and his evidence mull neceffarily have weight 

* 

Without doubt thefe cruel practices left lafting impreffions ; 
and the memorials were not effaced for ages. 


It is faid of Orpheus by Horace, Caedibus, et vidu fedo 
deterruit : by which one ffiould be led to think, that the 
putting a flop to this unnatural gratification was owing to 
him. Others think, that he only difcountenanced the eating 
of raw flelh, which before had been ufual. But this could 
not be true of Orpheus : for it was a circumftance, which 
made one part of his inftitutes. If there were ever fuch a 
man, as Orpheus, he enjoined the very thing,‘which he is fup- 
pofed to have prohibited. "For both in the a * orgies of Bac¬ 
chus and in the rites of Ceres, as well as of other Deities, 
one part of the myfteries conflfted in a ceremony ftiled 
cqa opotyict ; at which time they eat the flelh quite crude with 
the blood. In Crete at the 30 Dionuliaca they ufed to tear the 
flelh with their teeth from the animal, when alive. This 


A<i 'Mecrtniviov Euw/^g^oi'. Strabo. L. i. p. 81. 

5-9 Clemens. Cohort. P. n. Arnobius. Li. 5. 

30 Z^Lovvcrov "MouvoXov ogytcc&ai oc>fJLG(pa,yia tyw lego/JLctvtctv ayovTet* xca 

n tgls kosov o/juas tuv (povcov uve^efji^evQi t 015 o(pe<riv • Clemens Cohort, 


p. 11. 




The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 13 

they did in commemoration of Dionufus. 31 Feftos funeris 
dies ftatuunt, et annuum facrum trieterica confecratione 
componunt, omnia per ordinem facientes, quas puer mo- 
riens aut fecit, aut pafliis eft. Vi<vum laniant dentibus \'Taurum , 
crudeles epulas annuis commemorationibus excitantes. Apol¬ 
lonius Rhodius fpeaking of perfons like to Bacchanalians, 
reprefents them 3Z ®vot<nv u^o^ogoig iks'Kcu, as favage as the 
Thyades, who delighted in bloody banquets. Upon this 
the Scholiaft obferves, that the Mamades, and Bacchae, 
ufed to devour the raw limbs of animals, which they had 
cut or torn afunder. 33 IloKXctzig Tp [JLixvict zcctolg”yiQsvt a , tcca 
oo[jLO(j' 7 roLgoLXTCit ) scrOigtriv. In the illand of Chios it was a reli¬ 
gious cuftom to tear a man limb from limb by way of facri- 
ftce to Dionufus. The fame obtained in Tenedos. It is Por¬ 
phyry, who gives the account. He was a ftaunch Pagan, and 
his evidence on that account is of confequence. He quotes for 
the rites of Tenedos Euelpis the Caryftian. 34 JiOvovTo os Kca 

sv Xiw rw Q.fjLcab'ict] Aiovvtrw cLv$gc*J 7 rov §'is<r 7 r&VTsg' aca sv Te- 

fsJw, (pritriv "EvsTwrig 0 K zgvg'wg. From all which we may 
learn one fad truth, that there is fcarce any thing fo impious 
and unnatural, as not at times to have prevailed. 

We need not then wonder at the character given of the 
Leftrygones, Lamias, and Cyclopians, who were inhabitants 
of Sicily, and lived nearly in the fame part of the ifland. 
They feem to have been the priefts, and prieftefles, of the 

31 Julius Firmicus. P. 14. 

Apollon. Rhod. L. 1. v. 636. 

* 

33 Scholia Apollon. JL. 1. v. 635. 

34 Porphyry Tregt L. 2. p. 224, 


Leontini, 



14 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 


Leontini, who refided at Pelorus, and in the Cyclopian towers: 
on which account the Lamias are by Lucilius termed 35 Tur- 
ricolas. They are fuppofed to have delighted in human 
blood, like the Cyclopians, but with this difference, that 
their chief repaft was the fleih of young perfons and chil¬ 
dren ; of which they are reprefented as very greedy. They 
were priefts of Ham, called El Ham; from whence was 
formed ’Lamus and ’Lamia. Their chief city, the fame 
probably, which was named Tauromenium, is mentioned by 
Homer, as the city of Lamus. 


36 


f [JLOCTYl <T ix.O[JL£(rQci ActfJLX 0 U 7 TV 7 TT 0 lhlz() gQV. 


And the inhabitants are reprefented as of the giant race.' 

37 <J>omoj/ <T icpOtpLoi Acus'gvyovsg, otKKoOsv a Khog, 

M vgioi, ovk tt.vfys<r(nv soikotss, aXhct Tiycuri. 

Many give an account of the Leftrygons, and Lamiae, upon 
the Liris in Italy ; and alfo upon other parts of that coaft : 
and fome of them did fettle there. But they were more 
particularly to be found in 38 Sicily near Leontium, as the 
Scholiaft upon Lycophron obferves. 39 Acuiygvyovss, 01 vvv As- 

ovtivoi. Lhe ancient Lejlrygons were the people , whofe pojle- 
rity are now called Leontini. The fame writer takes notice 


55 Turricolas Lamias, Fauni quas Pompiliique 

Inftituere Numse. Laftant. de falfa Relig. L. i. c. 22. p. 105, 

Homer OdylF K. v. Si. 

57-— K. v. 120. 

Rv pieoei t ivi T7& Z'woccs (tw$ iocs) Ku/tAco7 res* tcui A au^guyovB$ 9 otTOurcc'* 

Thucyd. L. 6. p. 378. 

19 Scholia. V. 956. Leon, in Leontium is a tranQation of Lais («>'%) L eo: 
Bocnart. 


9 


of 



The Analysis of Ancient-Mythology. 15 

\ 

of their incivility to ftrangers : 40 Ovjc ri<T&v si@HTfJi.svoi %svag 

. That they were Amonians, and came origi- 
Babylonia, is pretty evident from the hiftory of 

the Erythrean 

prieftels. She is faid to have been the daughter of Lamia, 
who was the daughter of Pofeidon. 41 2 ,i£vX\a.v-~Aoi[J.ioig 
&<rou> OvyctTSga. T3 UoTS.i^oovog. Under the character of one 
perfon is to be understood a priefthood : of which commu¬ 
nity each man was called Lamus, and each prieftefs Lamia. 
By the Sibyl being the daughter of Lamia, the daughter of 
Pofeidon, is meant, that fhe was of Lamian original, and 
ultimately defcended from the great Deity of the fea. Who 
is alluded to under that character, will hereafter be fhewn. 
The countries, to which the Sibyl is referred, point out her 
extraction : for fhe is faid to have come from Egypt, and 
Babylonia. 4 * ' Oi < 5 s ctvTi)V Ba&Awwap, sTSgoi S's X&vKXctv 

Koohuviv Aiyv7TTioiV. If the Sibyl came from Babylonia and 
Egypt, her fuppofed parent Lamia mu ft have been of the 
fame original. 

The Lamias were not only to be found in Italy, and 
Sicily, but Greece, Pontus, and 43 Libya. And however 
widely they may have been feparated they are ftill repre- 


Sibyl; who was no other than a Lamian 



40 


Lycoph. above. 


41 Plutarch de Defeat. Orac. Vol. i. P. 39S. 

'Ets^oi Se (pctmv ex. MctAicctuv cc(£ixeo-Qcci Actju.ix$ Quyctregcc 'XlQvAAccv. Clem. 
Alex. Strom. L. 1. p. 35S. Paufanias makes her the daughter of Jupiter and 
JLamia. L. 10. p. 825. 

4i Clemens Alex. L. 1. p. 358. 

See Diodorus. L. 20. p. 778. of the Lamia in Libya, and of her cavern. 

fented 



16 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

fented in the fame unfavourable light. Euripides fays that 
their very name was deteftable. 

' 5+ T IS T QVVQfJLOL rod’ S7TOV£lfo?OV .SgOTOig 

Ova oicfs Aapuag Tt\g AlEvfucris ysvog. 

Philoftratus fpeaks of their beflial appetite, and unnatural 
gluttony. 4S AoLfjLiag c ragxcov, kou poihig-CL clvQ gooftstcav, egw. 
And Ariftotle alludes to practices flill more fhocking : as if 
they tore open the bodies big with child, that they might 
get at the infant to devour it. I fpeak> fays he, of people , 

who have brutal appetites . 46 As yw S's Tctg o^wds#?, oiov ty\V 

uvQgod7rov, ty)V Xsyxvi rag kv%< rctg clvolt^i£ x<r clv to. ?roufoct 
kcltbtQbbiv.- Thefe defcriptions are perhaps carried to a great 
excefs ; yet the hiftory was founded in truth : and fhews 

ainly what fearful im 
men from the barbarity of the firft ages. 

One of the principal places in Italy, where the Lamias 
feated themfelves, was about Formias ; of which Horace 
takes notice in his Ode to ALlius Lamia. 

47 iEli, vetufto nobilis ab Lamo, &c. 

Authore ab illo ducis originem, 

Qui Formiarum mcenia dicitur 
Princeps, et innantem Marie® 

Littoribus tenuiffe Lirim. 

The chief temple of the Formians was upon the fea-coaft at 

Euripides quoted ibid. 

45 Philoftratus. Vita Apollon. L. 4. p. 183. 

46 Ariftot. Ethic. L. 7. c. 6. p. 118. See Plutarch yj-eci TrcKvTr^ocyy.o^vvw* 
And Ariftoph. Vefpae. Schol. v. 1030. 

% 

47 Horace. L. 3. Ode 17. 



preflions were left upon the minds of 


Caiete. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 17 

J 

Caiete. It is faid to have had its name from a woman, who 
died here : and whom fome make the nurfe of JEneas, others 
of Afcanius, others flill of 48 Creufa. The truth is this : it 
flood near a cavern, facred to the God Ait, called Ate, A tis, 
and Attis; and it was hence called Caieta, and Caiatta. 
Strabo fays, that it was denominated from a cave, though 
he did not know the precife 49 etymology. There were 
alfo in the rock fbme wonderful fubterranes, which branched 
out into various apartments. Here the ancient Lamii, 
the priefls of Ham, s ° refided : whence Silius Italicus, when 

fliles it 51 Regnata Lamo Cai¬ 
eta. They undoubtedly facrificed children here; and pr6- 
bably the fame cuftom was common among the Lamii, as 
prevailed among the Lacedaemonians, who ufed to whip 
their children round the altar of Diana Orthia. Thus much 
we are allured by Fulgentius, and others, that the ufual 
term among the ancient Latines for the whipping of chil¬ 
dren was Caiatio. 5Z Apud Antiquos Caiatio dicebatur 
puerilis caedes. 

The coaft of Campania feems to have been equally infa¬ 
mous : and as much dreaded by mariners, as that of Rhe- 
gium, and Sicily. Here the Sirens inhabited, who are 
reprefented, as the bane of all, who navigated thofe feas. 
They like the Lamii were Cuthite, and Canaanitifh priefls, 

48 Virgil. JEn. L. 7. v. 1. See Servius. 

49 Strabo. L. 5. p. 357. KoAwor Ka<aTTar. jcA. 

50 Ibid. P. 356. 

51 Silius. L. 8. 

5i De Virgiliana continentia. P. 762. Caiat fignined a kind of whip, or thong, 
probably fuqh was ufed at Caiate. 

Vol. II. D 



who 



18 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


who had founded temples in thefe parts ; and particularly 
near three fmall iflands, to which they gave name. Thefe 
temples were rendered more than ordinarily famous on ac¬ 
count of the women, who officiated. They were much ad¬ 
dicted to the cruel rites, of which I have been {peaking ; 
fo that the fhores, upon which they refided, are defcribed, 

as covered with the bones of men, deftroyed by their arti¬ 
fice. 


53 


Jamque adeo fcopulos Sirenum adve&ra fubibat 
Difficiles quondam, multorumque offibus albos 


They ufed hy 


in their temples, accompanied with the 


mufick of their country: which muffc have been very en¬ 
chanting, as we may judge from the traditions handed down 
of its efficacy. I have mentioned, that the fongs of the 
Canaanites and s * Cretans were particularly plaintive, and 


pleafing 


othing can fhew more fully the power of 


ancient harmony than the character given of the Sirens. 


T heir 


elty the ancients held in deteftation 


alway 


{peak feelingly of their mufic. They reprefent their fong 

as fo fatally winning, that nobody could withftand their 
fweetnefs. All were foothed with it : 


the purchafe of the gratification 


phron 

chore 


makes them the children of the Mufe 


though their life was 
Scholiaft upon Lyco- 


Terpfi 


Nicander fuppofes their mother to have been Melp 
others make her Calliope. The whole of this 


is 


merely an allegory 


and 


means 


nly that they were the 


13 Virgil. iEneid. L. 5. v. S64. 
5+ SeeNonnus. L. 19. p. 320. 

55 V. 653. See Natalis Comes. 

9 


daughters 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 



daughters of harmony. Their efficacy is mentioned by 
56 Apollonius Rhodius: and by the Author of the Orphic 57 
Argonautica: but the account given by Homer is by far the 
moft affedfcing. 

58 (JLSV 7TgMT0V d^l^BCil, Oil pOL TS TTCiVTCig 

AvQgw7MS QsXyanv, 0 , r ig c rpeecs zuroLcpucYfroLi. 

Og'ig otifysiri nehaLirsi, mi cpQoyyov azac’r) 

XsigwaWy <T an yvvr), mi vy{kicl tbkvol 
Oimh vofYpcLVTi 7rctgis , ctT(x.i ) ah yawnou * 

A XKol tb Xsi§r\vsg Xiyvgri 6s\ya<riv ctoity, 

'Hpisvcti bv Tkbi^vi' 7 ToXvg t ctputp og'socpiv Qig 
AvSguw TrvQofJLBi/wv, 7rsgi <Ts ptvoi puvvQa<nv. 

They are the words of Circe to Ulyfles, giving him an ac¬ 
count of the dangers, which he was to encounter. 

59 Next where the Sirens dwell, you plough the feas. 
Their fong is death, and makes deftrucftion pleafe. 
Unbleft the man, whom muftc makes to ftray 
Near the curft coaft, and liften to their lay. 

No more that wretch ffiall view the joys of life. 

His blooming offspring, or his pleafing wife. 

In verdant meads they fport, and wide around 
Lie human bones, that whiten all the ground : 

The ground polluted floats with human gore, 

And human carnage taints the dreadful ffiore. 

Fly, fly the dangerous coaft. 


56 L. 4. v. 892. 

57 V. 1269. 

18 OdyiT. M. v. 39. 

59 From Mr. Pope’s Tranflation. 


D a 


The 



20 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

T he ftory at bottom relates to the people above mentioned ; 
who with their mulic ufed to entice ftrangers into the pur¬ 
lieus of their temples, and then put them to death. Nor 
was it muiic only, with which perfons were feduced to fol¬ 
low them. The female part of their choirs were main¬ 
tained for a twofold purpofe, both on account of their 
voices and their beauty. They were accordingly very liberal 
of their favours, and by thefe means enticed feafaring per¬ 
fons, who paid dearly for their entertainment. Scylla was 
a perfonage of this fort: and among the fragments of Cal¬ 
limachus we have a fhort, but a moft perfect, defcription of 
her charaher. 

-! 'EzvAKotj yvvrj mroLm<rot y mi ov ■vj/y0o$ zvof z'gisrct. 

Kcarocmcrot is by fome interpreted malefca : upon which the 
learned Hemfterhulius remarks very juftly— mrctmcrct cur 
Latine vertatur malefica non video. Si Grammaticis obtem- 
peres, meretricem interpretabere : erat enim revera Nj r\<nwrig 

mM sTougoL, ut Heraclitus 7 rzgi auKi? : c. 2. Scylla then, un¬ 
der which character we are here to underhand the chief 
prieftefs of the place, was no other than a handfome iiland 
ftrumpet. Her name it feems betokened as much, and fhe 
did not belie it : 3 zvof zyiKTcx.. We may from thefe 

data decipher the hihory of Scylla, as given by Tzetzes. 

Hy Kgurov XkvTO\ol yvvY\ ev7rge7rrjg' Uotrsiftoovi <rvmv& 

a,7TS@r)giuQr]. Scylla was originally a ha?idfome wench ; but being 
too free with feafaring people Jhe ftiade herfelf a beaf. She 
was, like the Sibyl of Campania, faid by Stelichorus to have 


60 


Callimachi Frag. 184. P. 5x0. 


been 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 21 

been the daughter of 61 Lamia. Hence we may learn, that 
all, who refided in the places, which I have been defcribing, 
were of the fame religion, and of the fame family ; being 
the defendants of Ham, and chiefly by the collateral 
branches of Chus, and Canaan. 

The like rites prevailed in Cyprus, which had in great 
meafure been peopled by perfons of thefe families. One 
of their principal cities was Curium, which was denomi- 
nated from 63 Curos, the Sun, the Deity, to whom it was 
facred. In the perilous voyages of the ancients nothing was 
more common than for ftrangers, whether fhipwrecked, or 
otherwife diftrefled, to fly to the altar of the chief Deity, 

©SB cpihiii, KOU %evi8j the God of charity and hofpitality for 
his protection. This was fatal to thofe, who were driven 
upon the weftern coafl of Cyprus. The natives of Curium 
made it a rule to deftroy all fuch under an appearance of a 
religious rite. Whoever laid their hands upon the altar of 
Apollo, were caft down the precipice, upon which it flood. 

d EvQvg sg’iv a^ct, auf rig f>i7rr%<Ti Txg ctpevovg tb tb 

A 7roT\Xwvog. Strabo fpeaks of the practice, as if it fubfifled 
in his time. A like cuftom prevailed at the Tauric Cher- 
fonefus, as we are informed by Herodotus. 65 ©l>b (n pisv tjj 

61 Apollon. L. 4. v. 828. Scholia. She is faid alfo to have been the daughter 
of Hecate and Phorcun. Ibid. The daughter of a Deity means the prieftefs. 
Phor-Cun fignifies Ignis Dominus a the fame as Hephaeftus. 

6z Herodotus. L. 7. c. 90. 

63 Kvgo$ 0 See Radicals. P. 40. 

64 Strabo. L. 14.Jp- 1002. the promontory was called Curias. Kugtcts ctvt^cc 

91 TCL TTq\l$ K&glOV. 

L. 4. c. 103. 

TlagOsvcp 



22 The Analyses op Ancient Mythology. 

UagQsmTovg ts vavriyovg, kdli Tsg uv AaSwcr* 'ETyAijiwv £7ramp£- 
Osvrctg, TgoTTw Toiwde, K cctci^ol^jlbvoi poTralhy 7rctix<n Ttjv ttzqxiNtiv. 
'Oi peev ?\sys<ri, usg to TwpLOt ouxo tb Kgr)p.v& SiuQsbvi kcltoo' 
STTi yctg y.gr^vB idgvTou to \pov. ktK. The people of this place 

worfoip the 'virgin Goddefs Jlrtemis : at whofe ferine they facri- 
fice all perfo 7 is^ who have the misfortune to be foip wrecked hpon 
their coaf : a?id all the Grecians , that they can lay hold of 
when they are at any time thither driven. Sill thefe they with¬ 
out any ceremony drain with a club . Tloough others fay , that 
they fove them off headlong from a high precipice : for their 
temple is foimded upon a cliff. 

The Den of Cacus was properly Ca-Chus, the cavern, or 
temple of Chus : out of which the poets and later hiflori- 
ans have formed a ftrange perfonage, whom they reprefent 
as a fhepherd, and the fon of Vulcan. Many ancient Divi¬ 
nities, whofe rites and hiftory had any relation to Ur in 
Chaldea, are faid to have been the children of Vulcan; and 
oftentimes to have been born in fire. There certainly flood 
a temple of old upon the Aventine mountain in Latium, 
which was the terror of the neighbourhood. The cruelties 
of the priefls, and their continual depredations, may be in¬ 
ferred from the hiflory of Cacus. Virgil makes Evander 
defcribe the place to JEneas 5 though it is fuppofed in his 
time to have been in ruins. 

f 6 Jam primum faxis fufpenfam hanc afpice rupem, 

procul ut moles, defertaque montis 
Stat domus, et fcopuli ingentem traxere ruinam. 



66 


Virgil. iEneid. L. 8. v. 190. 


Hie 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


23 


Hie fpelunca fuit, vafto fubmota receflii, 

Semihominis Caci, facies quam dira tegebat, 

Solis inaccefTam radiis : femperque recenti 
Caede tepebat humus ; foribufque afiixa fuperbis 
Ora virum trifti pendebant pallida tabo. 

Huic monftro Vulcanus erat pater. 

Livy mentions Cacus as a fhepherd, and a perfon of great 
ftrength, and violence. 67 Paftor, accola ejus loci, Cacus, 
ferox viribus. He is mentioned alfo by Plutarch, who ftiles 
him Caccus, Koikkos. 68 Top yep yag 'H epoug-is notifrct 'P uyou01 
K.OLKKOV ig-og&cri 7rvg kou cpXoycts cupievou hot r« g-oy.ct.Tos 

psisoroeg. As there were both priefts, and prieftefles, in tem¬ 
ples of this fort, perfons ftiled both Lami, and Lamias ; fo 
we read both of a Cacus, and a Caca. The latter was fup- 
pofed to have been a Goddefs, who was made a Deity for 
having betrayed her brother to Hercules. 69 Colitur et Caca, 
qua: Herculi fecit indicium bourn ; divinitatem confecuta, 
quia perdidit fratrem. In fhort, under the characters of 
Caca, and Cacus, we have a hiftory of Cacufian priefts, 
who feem to have been a fet of people devoted to rapine 
and murder. 

What we exprefs Cocytus, and fuppofe to have been 
merely a river, was originally a temple in Egypt called Co- 
Cutus : for rivers were generally denominated from fome 
town, or temple, near which they ran. Co-Cutus means the 
Cuthite temple, the houfe of Cuth. It was certainly a place 


67 


Livy. L. 1. c. 7. 

68 Plutarch, in Amatorio. Vol. 2. p. 762. 

69 Laftantius de F. R. L. 1. c. 20. p. 90 



24 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

of inquilition, where great cruelties were exercifed. Hence 
the river, which was denominated from it, was efleemed a 

river of hell ; and was fuppofed to have continual cries, and 

% 

lamentations refounding upon its waters. 

70 Cocytus, named of lamentation loud 
Heard on its banks. 

Milton fuppofes the river to have been named from the 
Greek word KMtcvrog : but the reverfe is the truth. From 
the baleful river and temple Co-cutus came the Greek terms 
jco0xvrog y and jcooxvoj. Acheron, another infernal river, was 
properly a temple of Achor, the Qzog a.7ropLViog of Egypt, 
Palestine, and Gyrene. It was a temple of the Sun, called 
Achor-On : and it gave name to the river, on whofe banks 
it flood. Hence like Cocutus it was looked upon as a 
melancholy fir earn, and by the Poet Theocritus ftiled 
7 J A yysgODTOL the river of lamentations. Arifto- 

phanes fpeaks of an eminence of this name, and calls it 
7Z A yzgovnog (rno 7 tzXog dipLarog'ayng, the rock of Acheron , 

dropping blood . 

70 Milton. L. 2. v. 579. 

71 Theoc. Idyll. 17. V. 47. 

71 Ariftoph. Bccrgct^' V. 474. So Cocytus is by Claudian defcribed as the 
river of tears. 

. — preffo lacrymarum fonte refedit 
Cocytos. De Rapt. Proferp. L. 1. v. 87.. 


O F 


( 25 ) 


O F 

MEED or M H T I 2, 

AND 

The Goddess HIP PA. 

# 

O NE of the moft ancient Deities of the Amonians 

was named Meed, or Meet; by which was signified 
divine wifdom. It was rendered by the Grecians Myitis in 
the mafculine : but feems to have been a feminine Deity; 
and reprefented under the fymbol of a beautiful female 
countenance furrounded with ferpents. The author of 
the Orphic Poetry makes Metis the origin of all 1 things : 
which Proclus expreffes a ty\v SrjfJUXgyiKW oariav : and fuppofes 
this perfonage to be the fame as Phanes, and Dionufus, from 
whom all things proceeded. By Timotheus Chronogra- 
phus, in his account of the creation, this Divinity was de- 
fcribed as that Vivifying light, which firft broke forth upon 

the infant world, and produced life and motion. His notion 

* 

♦ 

Pie makes Metis the fame as Athena. H. 31. L. 10. 

• In another place Metis is filled 7 t^ootos ysvercoo. Frag. 6. v. 19. p. 366. 
z Ibid. Fragm. 8. p. 373. 

VOL. II. E 


IS 



26 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


is 


faid 


have been borrowed from Orpheus : 



QTi TO &&Q 



TW m@£PQL Etpomtt ttcur&A 


(TlV SlftOOV, BKSIVO BlVOLl TO <pu$ TO prfeocv TOV CLlQsgOL TO 7TgOSlgY) 


U.SVOV 


VKSgTCLTOV 


OVOJJLOL 


Og<psvg 


Mccvrsiccg b^bltb MHTL 2 , qtbq s^[ay]vbvbtou BOTAH, <E >£22 

~El7TSV BV Tfl CLVTX B/JsTBi TOLVTOtg TOtg TPSig Q&Ot* 


Zf 20 A 0 THP 


TOCV OVOUCLTWV SwOLfJLBig (JLIOLV BlVOLl JuVCLfJLlV, KOU BV KgOLTOQ TX 

T av © bov, ov ovS'Big ogcL. The account is remarkable. Hipp; 
was another Goddefs of the like antiquity, and equally ob 


folete. Some traces however are to be ftill found 


the 


Orphic verfes above mentioned, by which we may difcover 
her original character and department. 


She 


there 


repre 


fented 


the nurfe of 4 Dionufus* and feems to have been 


the fame as Cybele, who was worfhiped in the mountains 
of 5 Phrygia, and by the Lydians upon Tmolus. She is faid 
to have been the foul of the 6 world : and the perfon, who 
received, and foftered Dionufus, when he came from the 
thigh of his father. This hiftory relates to his fecond birth, 
when he returned to a fecond ffcate of childhood. Dionufus 
was the chief God of the Gentile world, and worfhiped 
under various titles : which at length came to be looked 
upon as different Deities. Mold of thefe fecondary Divini¬ 
ties had the title of Hippius, and Hippia : and as they had 
female attendants in their, temples, thefe too had the name of 

3 Eufebii Chron. Log. p. 4. 1 . 42. 

4 \tt 7 TCCV XLXhVCKCO t go<pov* Hymn, 48. 

5 Hymn. 47, v. 4. 

6 Orphic Frag. 43, *H f*ev yag r \irivoc Ttf Trarros bctgs *tA. Proelus. ibid. 

4 

p. 401. 

Hippai. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


2 


Hipp 

Hipp 


What may have been the 
and Hippus, will be matter 


original of the term 
oi future difquifition. 


Thus much is certain, that the Greeks, who were but little 
acquainted with the purport of their ancient theology, uni¬ 


formly referred it to 7 horfes 


Hence it was often prefixed 


the names of Gods, and of Goddefies, when it had 


lation to their dep 


and feemed inconfiftent with 


their character 


We have not only an account of A p 


Mars the horfeman ; but of Pofeidon Hipp 


a God of the fea 


He is 


this title by the Poet Ariftophs 

! 'I7F7CI AVC& YloTBi^QV 


rdingly complimented upon 


Xa7j£OX£OT6W InWOdV KTV7TC 
K Oil %ge{JLSTl(T(JLO$ OLV&OLVSI. 


Ceres had the title of Hipp 


and the Goddefs of wifdom 


Minerva had the fame. We read alfo of Juno Hippia, who 
at Olympia partook of joint rites, and worfhip with thofe 
equeftrian Deities Neptune, and Mars. Paufanias mentions 
9 Tlureifcdvos 'Iroa, kcu 'Hgotg *Itctcv& : and hard by rr\ {jlbv 

Ageug '1 wiris, tyi h AGyivqlg '\7 T7ns £o[j,og. In Arcadia, and 
Elis, the moft ancient rites were nreferved : and the Gre- 


9 Hotreifoovos 'Prsna, zou 'Hgotg 'Itfttus 

Ageug 'I win, ty) h AQyivqlg 'l7T7rii£ £ou 


pog 


Elis, the moft 


ntes were 


preferved 


cians might have known, that the terms Hippa and Hippia 

7 Among the Egyptians the emblems, of which they made ule, were arbitrary, 
and very different from the things, to which they referred. An eagle, an ox, and 
a horfe, were all ufed as fymbols, but had no real connection with the things 
alluded to, nor any the leaf! likenefs. ‘ The Grecians not considering this, were 

always milled by the type j and never regarded the true hiftory, which was veiled 

% 

under it. 


8 C l7T7r£<?. v. 548. 

’ Paufan. L. 5. p. 414. 


E 2 


were 


* 




28 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


were of foreign purport from, the other titles given to Juno 
at Olympia. For they facrihced here to 10 Amonian Juno, 
and to Juno Paramonian ; which were alfo titles of Hermes. 
Hippa was a facred Egyptian term, and as luch was confer¬ 
red upon Arlinoe, the wife of Ptolemy Philadelphus : for 
the princes of Egypt always affumed to themfelves facred 
appellations. 11 '1 7T7rict Agcrivov), q ra yvvq. As 

the Grecians did not enquire into the hidden purport of an¬ 
cient names, they have continually mifreprefented the hifto- 
ries, of which they treated. As Ceres was (tiled Hippa, they 
have imagined her to have been turned into a mare : and 
Hippius Pofeidon was in like manner changed to a horfe, 
and fuppofed in that fhape to have had an intimate acquaint¬ 
ance with the Goddefs. Of this Ovid takes notice. 

13 Et te, flava comas, frugum mitiftima mater 
Senfit equum : te feniit avem crinita colubris 
Mater equi volucris. 

The like is mentioned of the nymph 14 Ocuroe : alfo of Phil- 
lyra, who was fo changed by Saturn. He is faid to have 
taken upon himfelf the fame fhape, and to have followed her 
neighing over the mountains of Theflaly. 

15 Talis et ipfe jubam cervice effudit equina 
Conjugis adventu pernix Saturnus, et altum 
Pelion hinnitu fugiens implevit acuto. 

^ Paufan. L. 5. p. 416. 

xx Hefych. \1r1r1ct. 

Paufan. 8. p. 649. 

15 Metam. L. 6. v. 117. 

14 Ovid. Metam. L. 2. v. 668* 

15 Virg. Georg. L. 3. v. 92. 

6 




f 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 29 

♦ 

All thefe legendary ftories arofe from this ancient term 
being obfolete, and mifapplied. Homer makes mention of 
the mares of Apollo, which the God was fuppofed to have 
bred in Pieria: 

16 Tag zv HiegiY) Qge\ J/ agyvgoTo^og AkoXXw. 

And he has accordingly put them in harnefs, and given 

them to the hero Eumelus. Callimachus takes notice of the 

■ 

fame mares in his hymn to the Shepherd God Apollo. 

17 &0L&0P KCLl N OfJUOP KUCAqiTitOfJLZV , 2%2Tl XZlV'd, 

E%st Z7T A[JL(pgVCCi) isvyrtltioLQ zTgzpzv bnrag, 

V7T ZgCdTl KSmV[XSVOg A${JLYfrOlO. 

Thefe Hippai, mifconftrued mares, were priefteffes of the 
Goddefs Hippa, who was of old worfhipped in Theflaly, 
and Thrace, and in many different regions. They chanted 
hymns in her temples, and performed the rites of fire : but 
the worfhip growing obfolete, the very terms were at laft 
miftaken. How far this worfhip once prevailed may be 
known from the many places denominated from Hippa. It 
was a title of Apollo, or the Sun, and often compounded 
Hippa On, and contracted Hippon : of which name places 
occur in Africa near Carthage 18 . 'Hrs St 9 K igrct nohig zv- 
T olvOol koli 01 Svo I inrcdvzg. Argos was of old called Hip- 


l6 


Iliad B. v. 766. He alfo mentions the mares of Erifthonius, with which 


Boreas was luppofed to have been enamoured. 

Tcccov xcti Ropevs yiqclggcltq CoGTCojuiSvccooi'^ 

1 7T7rcp cf eiGccptevcs tt 0 kvclvo^clltk* 


*7 


iS 


Ai cf 5 v7rc'XVGc-.ccfjLevGLi erexov dvox.cuS'ex.cc ttoo 
H. to Apollo, v. 47. 

Strabo.L. 17. p. 1188. 


Iliad. T. V. 224. 


peion 



30 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

peion ; not from the animal '1 THrog, but 19 cctto 'I TTYig Ta 

ActvcvSy from Hippa the daughter of IDanaus : that is from a 

♦ 

prieftefs, who founded there a temple, and introduced the 
rites of the Goddefs, whom ihe ferved. As it was a title of 
the Sun, it was fometimes exprefled in the mafculine gender 
Hippos : and Paufanias takes notice of a moft curious, and 
remarkable piece of antiquity, though he almoft ruins the 
purport of it by referring it to an horfe. It {food near 
mount Taygetus in Laconia, and was called the monument 
of Hippos. The author tells us, 10 that at particular inter¬ 
nals from this monume?it food fenen pillars , kcctcl Tgoftov 

aggOLiov, placed , fays he, as I imagine according to fome ancient 
rule and method ; which pillars were fuppofed to i~eprefent the 
fene?t planets. If then thefe exterior Hones related to the 
feven erratic bodies in our fphere, the central monument of 
Hippos mu ft neceffarily have been defigned for the Sun. 
And however rude the whole may po/libly have appeared, it 
is the moft ancient reprefentation upon record, and confe- 
quently the moft curious, of the planetary fyftem. 

It is from hence, I think, manifeft, that the titles Hippa, 
and Hippos, related to the luminary Ofiris ; and betokened 
fome particular department of that Deity, who was the fame 

19 Hefych. 17 rTrtiov. 

2,0 TIcoYgVCTI Se C l7T7T'd XCt?l»fJLSVGV pLVWfJ.CL -K 10VB$ Ss B'ZZTT CC^ 01 T8 f UW,UCtT05 

tbtb S Leaser iv ou ^roAhs xccrcc tqqitqv oi/xccl top ctp^ctiov^ ovs toop IlAavwTwv 

(pcto'iv ctyct.T^fJLcL'rcc. Paufan. L. 3. p. 262. 

2,1 They included the moon among the primary planets 5 not being acquainted 
with any fecondary. 


as 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


3i 


as Dionulus 
appellation 


He was undoubtedly worshiped under this 


var iou s region s 


hence we read of Hipp 


Montes in Colchis : 'ITnra KUfJU/i in Lycia: ' 1 nm* otxpa 


bya: 

Felix 


opog 


Egypt 


and a town Hipp 


Arabia 


Felix. There occur alfo in compolition 
rum, Hippouris, Hippana, Hipponefus, 


Hippon, Hipp 


Hipp 


This 


laid 


was 


facred fountain, denominated from the God of 


light, who was the patron of verfe, and fcience: but by the 
Greeks it was referred to an animal, and fuppofed to have 
been produced by the hoof of an horfe. The rites of Dio- 
nufiis Hippius were carried into Thrace, where the horles of 
Diomedes were faid to have been fed with human flefh. 
Deianira is introduced by Ovid, as alking Hercules, if he did 
not well remember this practice. 


a3 Non tibi fuccurrit crudi Diomedis imago, 

Elferus humana qui dape pavit equos ? 

Abderus, the founder of Abdera, is fuppofed to have been a 
vidtim to thefe animals : of which Scymnus Chius gives the 
following account. 


14. 


TWV <T S7TI OothUTTY) KSlfJLSVOOV IV 7P0Xig 
A&JV)^, 0L7T A&J^g (JLSV OOVO[JLClG'fJl,£VY) y 
Ta KOLl yjn<XCLVTO$ KgOTZgOV CLVTY\V * Q£ C fojCSl 
tr T7tO TCiOV AlQ(JUf)$OVS VfZgOV {•SVQXTOMV 
'I TTTtttV <pQOLgqVCU . 


See Steph.. Byzant. and Cellarius. 
M Ovid. Deianira ad Here. Epift. 




Geog. Vet. Vol. 2. v. 665. 


See alfo Diodorus. L. iv. p. 223. alfo Strabo 


Epitome. L. 7. p. 511. 


7 


Thefe 


* 



32 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


Thefe horfes, g si/ozrom , which fed upon the flefh of ftran 
gers, were the priefts of Hippa, and of Dionufus, ftiled Hip 


pus, or more properly Hipp 


They feem to have refided 


in an ifland, and probably in the Thracian Cherfonefe: 
which they denominated 2,5 Diu-Medes, or the ifland of the 
Egyptian Deity Medes. From hence the Grecian Poets have 
formed a perfbnage Diomedes, whom they have made king 


of the country. There 


the fame 


where ftmilar 


were here Cycneans, and defcribed as a 


ppofite to Apulia iflands of 
ites prevailed. The priefts 

ecies of fwans. 



who were kind 


people of their own 


but cruel to 


2,6 


It is 


ftrangers. A Diomedes is fuppofed to have been a king 
thefe parts, and to have given name to thefe iflands 
faid by Scymnus Chius above, that Abderus, who was de¬ 
voured by the horfes of Diomedes in Thrace, built the city 


which bore his 


The Gr 


icians continually fuppofed 
•the perfonage, in whofe honour a city was built, to haVe 
been the founder. I have mentioned, that Abdera ftgnift.es 

the place of Abdir, which is a contraction of Abadir, the 

% 

ferpent Deity Ad-Ur, or Adorus. And it is plain from many 
paffages in ancient writers, that human facrifices were com¬ 


mon at his fhrine ; and particularly thofe of infants 
Abderus being a victim to the horfes of Diomedes is 


By 


the natives of that pi 


which flood in the vicinity of 


* 9 


5 See Radicals, p. 96. 

0 The birds at the lake Stymphalus are defcribed as feeding upon human fiefli. 
-A oyof OgnGais vrore ctvS stt cc utw tcglQyivou. Paufan. L. 8. p. 640, The 

Teal hiftory of the place was, that the birds called Stymphalides were a fet of 
Canibal priefts. 


the 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


33 


the Cherfonefus, were obliged to fubmit to the cruel rites of 
the Diomedean 27 priefts. The very name muft have come 
from them ; for they worfhiped the Deity under the titles of 
Meed, Hippa, and Abadir; and various other appellations. 

There is an account given by 28 Palasphatus of one Metra, 
who in the more authentic manufcripts is called M ^pol, 
Meeftra. It is faid of her, that fhe could change herfelf into 
various forms, particularly bh xogY)$ ysvstrbou &W, you avOig 

ttvvct , aou ogveov, that Jhe would inftead of a young woman ap¬ 
pear an ox, or a cow ; or elfe be in the Jhape of a dog , or of a 
bird . She is reprefented as the daughter of Erifidthon : and 
thefe uncommon properties are mentioned by Ovid 29 , who 
fets them off with much embellishment. The ftory at bot¬ 
tom is very plain. Egypt, the land of the Mizraim, was by 
the Greeks often ftiled 30 Meftra and 31 Meftraia : and by the 
perfon here called Meftra we are certainly to underhand a 
woman of that country. She was fometimes mentioned 
fimply as a Cahen, or prieftefs, which the Grecians have ren¬ 
dered hvvol, a dog. Women in this facred capacity attended 
at the fhrine of Apis, and Mneuis ; and of the facred heifer 
at Onuphis. Some of them in different countries were ftiled 
Cygneans, and alfo Peleiadas, of whom the principal were the 


'* 7 Glaucus, the fon of Sifyphus, is faid to have been eaten by horfes. Palae- 


phatus. P. 58. 
a8 P. 54- 

* 9 Metamorph. L. S. v. 873. 

90 Jofephus calls Egypt Meftra. 
Notes. 


Antiq. L. 1. c. 6. §. 2. See Radicals. P. 7 


3 * 


O 7rga)Tc$ oncmccs 'Tin' ’Me^-gcttav mot Atyv7rrov * Eufeb. 


Chron. P. 17. 

VOL« II. 


F 


women 



34 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


women at 3a Dodona. Many of them were prieftefles of 
Hippa 

ftiewn. Hence the mythologifts under tlie character of Mee- 
ftra have reprefented an Egyptian prieftefs, who could af- 
fume many departments, which were milconftrued different 
lhapes. She could become, if we may credit Ovid, 

Nunc equa, nunc ales, modo bos; 
or according to Palaephatus, &W, kwcl, K&i ogveov: a cow , a 
dog, and a bird. The whole of this related to the particu¬ 
lar fervice of the prieftefs j and to the emblem, under which 
the Deity was worlhiped. 

Herodotus. L. 2. c. 55. 


, and upon that account ftiled Hippai, as I have 


HITES 



( 35 ) 


RITES 

O F 


D A M A T E R, or CERES. 


1 ' Shall now proceed to the rites of Ceres : and the ge- 
_ neral character of this Goddefs is fo innocent and 
rural, that one would imagine nothing cruel could proceed 
from her fhrine. But there was a time, when fome of her 
temples were as much dreaded, as thofe of Scylla, and the 
Cyclops. They were courts of juftice ; whence fhe is often 
fpoken of as a lawgiver. 

Prima Ceres unco terram dimovit aratro, 

Prima dedit leges. 

She is joined by Cicero with Libera 5 and they are ftiled the 

Ovid. Metam. L. 5. V. .341. Moft temples of old were courts of juftice*, 
and the priefts were the judges, who there prefided. 

JElian. V. H. L. 14. c. 34, &ixccs~cct to v ccp^cciov Trap Aiyv^Tiois 01 leozis 
ycrctv. 

F 2 Deities, 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


36 

Deities, * a quibus initia vitse, atque vidtus, legum , morum , 
manfuetudinis, humanitatis, exempla hominibus, et civita- 
tibus data, ac difpertita effe dicantur. The Deity, to whom 
flie was a fubftitute, wa.s El, the Sun. He was primarily 
worshiped in thefe temples : and I have fhewn, that they 
were from Achor denominated Acherontian ; alfo temples 
of Ops, and Oupis, the great ferpent God. Hence it is 
faid by Hefychius, that Acheron, and Ops, and Helle, and 
3 Gerys, and Terra, and Demeter, were the fame. C H *Ap£££&>, 

mi Sims, mi ‘EKhri, mi Tirigog, koli F^, mi 5 to 

aiiTO. Ceres was the Deity of fire : hence at Cnidus fhe was 
called K vgcL, 1 * * * * 6 Cura, a title of the Sun. Her Roman name 
Ceres, expreffed by Hefychius Gerys, was by the Dorians 
more properly rendered 7 * Garys. It was originally a name 
of a city, called ~KcLgis : for many of the Deities were erro- 
neoufly called by the names of the places where they wor- 
fhiped. Charis is Char-Is, the s city of fire j the place where 
Orus and Hephaftus were worfhiped. Hence as a perfonage 
fhe is made the wife of 9 Vulcan, on account of her relation 

1 Oratio in Verrem. 5. Se£t. ultima. Vol. 3. p.. 291. 

3 Ceres is mentioned by Yarro quafi Geres. L. 4, p. 18.. 

4 Hefychius. A%stgu. 

s Reperitur in poematiis antiquis, a Pithaso editis, carmen in laudem Solis •» 
quod cum efie Liberum, et Cererem, et Jovem ftatuit.. Huetius. Deraonft. Evang. 

Prop.-4. p. 142. 

6 Coelius Rhodig. L. 17. c. 27. 

7 Varro fpeaks of Ceres, as if her name was originally Geres. L. 4. p. 18. 

s There was a place called Charifia in Arcadia. Paulan. L. 8. p. 603. Cha- 
refus, and Charefene, in Phrygia. Charis in Perils, and Parthia. See Treatife 
upon the Cyclopes. 

9 Paufan. L, 9. p. 781. Nonnus. L. 29. p. 760. 

to 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 37 

to fire. Her title of Damater was equally foreign to Greece ; 
and came from Babylonia, and the eaffc. It may after this 
feem extraordinary, that fhe fhould ever be efteemed the 
Goddefs of corn. This notion arofe in part from the Gre¬ 
cians not underfhanding their own theology : which bad ori¬ 
ginally became continually more depraved, through their ig¬ 
norance. The towers of Ceres were P’urtain, or TlgvTcx.vsia ,; 
fo called from the fires, which were perpetually there pre- 
ferved. The Grecians interpreted this 7 rvgx roifJLetov ; and 
rendered, what was a temple of Oru,s, a granary of corn. In 

uence of this, though they did not abolifh the ancient; 
ufage of the place, they made it a repofitory of grain, from 
whence they gave largefles to the people upon any a£t of 

merit. 10 T onog y\v nag A Qwouoig, sv ca zoivou ariTY)(rsig roig dij- 

/ JLO(rioig svsgysToug gdidWo* oQev zou JJ^vtolvsiov ezcl^eito, oiovel 

7CvgoToL[JLZiov' %vgog yotg o' c nrog. In early times the corn there 
depofited feems to have been for the priefts and 11 diviners. 
But this was only a fecondary ufe, to which thefe places 
were adapted. They were properly facred towers, where a 
perpetual fire was preferved. Paulanias takes notice of fuch 

a one in Arcadia. 12 AripYiTgog, zca K ogqg isgov, 7rvg ds evtolvQcl 

KCUiZVl, 7T Q 18 (JLEV 0 L QgOVTlfroL, fJLYj KOtOt) (TtpiClV 0L7T0(T^EiT^SV. He 

mentions a like circumftance at the Prutaneion in Elis 13 1 

* 

10 Etymolog. Mag. and Suidas. 

tT /u.eT€i%py rys ev VJgvrccveicc (riTwtoos* Ariftoph. E igynj* 

Scholia, v. 1084. 

5i L. 8. p. 6x6. 

’ 3 L. 5. p. 415. .. , _ 

Er* 




38 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

E gi Je r\ Tspgxg mi ocvty) 7rs7roiy)[/,svYi, mt E7v ctvTrig 

OLVCL 7tOL<TCLV TB fjfJLSgOiV, KCU SV TCCLTy VVKTl WTCCVTCdg KOUSTOU. At¬ 
tica at firfl: was divided into feparate and independent ham¬ 
lets : each of which had its own Prutaneion, and Archon. 
Thele Archons were priefts of the Prutaneia; and were 
denominated from their office. Archon is the fame as Orchon, 
and like Chon-Or fignifies the God of light, and fire ; from 
which title the priefts had their name. In Babylonia, and 
Chaldea, they were called Urchani. 

As in thefe temples there was always a 15 light, and a fire 
burning on the hearth, fome of the Grecians have varied in 
their etymology, and have derived the name from 7 TVg, Pur. 
Suidas fuppofes it to have been originally called II vgog t a- 

(JOBIOV. 16 II gVTCiVBlOV, 7TVg0g TOLpLBlOV, BvQct. Y\V CLT^B^OV TUg. The 

Scholiaffc upon Thucydides fpeaks to the fame purpofe. 

17 A KKoi (5s <p&<nv , on to TL^vtccvsiov Tcv^og ry tol^biov, svQct r\v 

OLToSTOV 7 rvg. Others tell us , that the Prutaneion to as of old 
called Puros Pameion , from 7TV^ pur: becaufe it was the repo- 
Jitory of a perpetual fire. It was facred to Heftia, the Vefta 
of the Romans ; which was only another title for Damater : 
and the facred hearth had the fame name. 18 E griotv d av 

y.vgiuTCLToc mMirig ty\v bv UgVTama, £<p iis to 7rvg to olt^bzov 
a,vcatT btoli. I have mentioned, that thefe places were tern- 

14 VJpvT olvhoc r£ Zpf&crcc. xcci Ap^orrcc^. Thucyd. L. 2. p. IC>7» 

To Se ai%wcj' ev npvTxieip. Theocrit. Idyl. 21. 

16 Suidas. 

I„. 2. p. 107. Others gave another reafon. 1 lo-iTuveioy exctXziro^ exzt 

exa&w'T0 01 llnuTccrtii'i ci rcci’ oa&u' 1rocc') [j.cctojv £ioiy.titcci. Ibid. 

13 Julios Pollux. L. 1. c. 1- p. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


39 


pies, and at the fame time courts of juflice : hence we find, 
that in the Prutaneion at Athens the laws of Solon were 
19 engraved. Thefe laws were defcribed upon wooden cylin¬ 


ders : fome of which remained to the time of 20 Plutarch. 

Many of thefe temples were dedicated to the Deity under 
the name of Perfephone, or Proferpine, the fuppofed daugh¬ 
ter of Ceres. They were in reality the fame perfonage. 
Perfephone was fliled K 0 ££, Cora j which the Greeks mif- 
interpreted Uccg&evog, the virgin, or damfel. How could a 
perfon, who according to the received accounts had been ra- 


wlio 


was 


vifhed by Pluto, and been his confort for ages ; 
the reputed queen of hell, be fliled by way of eminence 
Tlagdevog ? Ko^a, Cora, which they underflood was the fame 
as Cura, a feminine title of the Sun : by which Ceres alfo 
was called at Cnidos. However mild and gentle Proferpine 
may have been reprefented in her virgin flate by the Poets ; 
yet her tribunal feems in many places to have been very for¬ 
midable. In confequence of this we find her with Minos, 
and Rhadamanthus, condemned to the fhades below, as an 
infernal inquifitor. Nonnus fays, 

2 * Il£g<rs<povY\ E gimccg. 

The notion of which Furies 


They 


Proferpine armed the Furies . 

arofe from the cruelties pradfifed in thefe Prutaneia. 
were called by the Latines Funse ; and were originally only 
priefls of fire : but were at lafl ranked among the hellifh 
tormentors. Ceres the benefadtrefs, and lawgiver, was fome- 


J 9 


ao 


ax 


TIgvT<zv€iov tv 4 voyioi tb SoAgtos zi&i ytygctfj.y.zvot . Paufan, L» i . p. 4 I# 

Plutarch in Solone. P. 92. 

L. 44. p. 1152. 


< 


times 



40 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 




times enrolled in the lift of thefe daemons. This is manifeft 
from a paftage in Antimachus, quoted by Paufanias, where 
her temple is fpoken of as the ftirine of a Fury. 


22 toQi (pc&mv E givvvog sivou e$s6xov. 

The like is mentioned by the Scholiaft upon Lycophron: 

23 E givvvs jo ArifjLYirrig sv Oytcoug 7roX$i tjo? Agmfoas ripcarcu. 

Her temple ftood upon the river Ladon, and ftie had this 
name given to her by the people of the place. KaTvacn 

'Egivvvv 01 ©sXzaTiOi TY)V &sov. The e ThelpuJia?is call the God- 
defs De???eter a Fury. Herodotus fpeaks of a Prutaneion in 
Achaia Pthiotic, called Leitus ; of which he gives a fearful 
account. No perfo?z , he fays, ever entered the precmEls, who 
retur?ied. fFhat eve?” perfo?? ever Jlrayed that way, was i??i?ne- 
diately feixed upo7i by the Priejls, a?id facrificed. 1he cujlom fo 
far prevailed, that ?na?ty, who thought they were liable to fuffer, 
fled away to foreig?? parts. Find he adds, that after a long ti?ne. 


L. 8. p. 649. Mount Caucafus was denominated, as is fuppofed, from a 
fhepherd Caucafus. The women, who officiated in the temple, were ftiled the 
daughters of Caucafus, and reprefented as Furies : by which were meant prieft- 
effes of fire. 

Caucafi filire Furiae. See Epiphanius Anchorat. p. 90. 

Lycophron. Scholia. V. 1225. Kcci KaAA'jc/.x^os Jiomvv xxXei tw 
t pcc* Ibid. 

Neptune is faid to have lain with Ceres, when in.the form of a Fury. Apol- 
lodorus. L, 3. p. 157- She is faid from thence to have conceived the horfe 
Areion. 

Lycophron alludes to her cruel rites, when he is fpeaking of Tantalus, and 
Pelops, 

Ov TrccTrirov ev yccy.(pcc 1 criv Evvccicc ttotz 
E OKW E gtWUSy kouoict) %l$Y,q,OgQ$^ 

Acragxcc fj.tc^vXK gv$ £t vfxCeuaev Tcc<p&* V. 152. 





The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


4* 


7 

when any of them ventured to return , if they were caught , they 
were irnsnediately led to the Prutaneion. Here they were crowned 
with garlands , and in great parade conduEled to the altar. I 
fhall quote the author’s words. AtyTov ds xaAsacn To flgv- 

rccvYjiov 61 Ayyioi' w ds scrsA^, not ss'i, ozoog s%si<ri } 7tgiv t) 

QvvsrQou pLsXXif cog's n 7tgog tbtoicti troXXoi rjds rcov [asXXovtoov 

tstscov OvcrsrQou, dsicrocvTsg otypvro ct7rodgcx.vTsg sg cOIKyiv yugcy. 

X^oj/a ds 7 rgo'iovTog, otitco Kctnre'hQovTsg, rjV ctAKncoovToti, ss'S’KKovto 
sg to II gvraVYiiov, dog Qvstoli ts stjriysovTo, s'spc^ioLTi nag ttvkut^ 


Osig, kou dog c rvv 7ro{JL7rri s^atgOsig. The people of Leitus are 
faid to have been the fons of Cutiftorus. Herodotus lpeaks 

« 

of the temple, as remaining in his time : and of the cuftom 
{till fubftfting. He further mentions, that when Xerxes was 
informed of the hiftory of this place, as he pafled through 
Theflaly, he withheld himfelf from being guilty of any vio¬ 
lation. And he moreover ordered his army to pay due re¬ 
gard to its fandtity 5 fo very awful, it feems, was myfterious 
cruelty. 

I imagine, that the ftory of the Harpies relates to Priefts 
of the Sun. They were denominated from their feat of re- 
ftdence, which was an oracular temple called Harpi, and 
Hirpi, analogous to Orphi, and Urphi in other places. I 
have fhewn, that the ancient name of a prieft was Cahen, 
rendered miftakenly kvv, and canis. Hence the Harpies, 

who were priefts of Ur, are ftiled by Apollonius the Dogs of 


"Jove. 


Iris accofting Calais, and Zethus, tells them, that 


Herodotus. L. 7. c. 197. 

Vol. II. G 


it 



4a Tbs Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 
it would be a profanation to offer any injury to thofe per- 

Up££<nriV £XaOTKf 

*A£ 7 rwag, jU-syaXoio Aiog KTNA£. 

This term in the common acceptation is not applicable to 
the Harpies* either as birds, for fo they are represented ; or 
as winged animals. But this reprefentation was only the 
infigne of the people, as the vulture, and eagle were of the 
Egyptians i a lion of the Perfians. The Harpies, were cer¬ 
tainly a 26 college of .priefts in Bithynia; and on that ac¬ 
count called Cahen. They feem to have been a let of rapa¬ 
cious perfons, who for their repeated adts of violence, and 
cruelty, were driven out of the country. Their temple was 
ftiled Arpi y and the environs Arpi-ai : hence the Grecians 
formed 27 'Aqkvicli. There was a region in Apulia named 
Arpi \ and in its neighbourhood were the iflands of Dio- 
medes, and the birds, which were fabled to have been like 
fwans. I have before {hewn, that they were Amonian 
priefts : fo likewife were the Hirpi near Soradte in Latium. 
They were priefts of fire : of whofe cuftoms I have taken 
notice.. 

The perfons, who refided in thefe temples, are reprefented, 
as perfqns of great ftrength, and ftature : for many of them. 



L. 2. v. 288. 

5,6 The Sirens and Harpies were perfons of the fame vocation: ; 
Seholtaft upon,Lycophron feems to have been apprifed. See v. 653. 


dof this the 


17 Harpyia, 'Ag7rn/a, was certainly of old a name of a place. The town fo call¬ 
ed is mentioned to have been near Encheliae in Illyria. Here was an Amonian 
Petra of Cadmus, and Harmonia. 


IO 


were 



Tttfi Analysis of AncISNIt Mythology. 43 

* 

were of the race of Anac. There is reafbn to think, that a 
cuftom prevailed in thefe places of making Grangers engage 
in fight with fome of the priefts trained up for that pur pole. 
The manner of contention was either with the caeftuSj or by 
wreftling. And as the prieft appointed for the trial was 
pretty fure of coming off the conqueror, the whole was 
looked upon as a more fpecious kind of facrifice. Amycus, 
who was king of Bithynia, is reprefented as of a * 8 gigantic 
fize, and a great proficient with the cseftus. He was in con- 
fequence of it the terror of all Grangers who came upon the 
coaft. Cercyon of 19 Megara was equally famed for wrefi¬ 
ling ; by which art he flew many, whom he forced to the 
unequal contention. But Cercyon was the name of the 
** place ; and they were the Cercyonians, the prieffs of the 
temple, who were noted for thefe atchievements. Paufanias 
gives an account of them under the character of one perfon. 
31 E ivca <Js 0 Ksgxvoov KsysTou kcci tcc oc7\Aoc afozog eig rsg %£wg, 

Kou 'KoCha.izw 3 % 3 \opL£Voig. Cercyo?2 was in other refpe&s lawlefs 
in his behaviour towards ftrangers ; but efpecially towards thofe 
who would not contend with him in wreftlmg. Thefe Cercyo¬ 
nians were undoubtedly priefts of Ceres, or Damater : who 
feems to have been tired of their fervice, and glad to get rid 
of them, as we are informed by the poet. 

3 * Quaeque Ceres lasto vidit pereuntia vultu 

Corpora Thefea Cercyonea manu. 


Tirvcp ei’ccXiyxiGt wwo. Theocrit. Idyl. 22. V. 94. 

2,9 Paufan. L. 1. p. 94. 

Kb^wcov is compounded of Ker-Cuon, and fignifi.es the temple of the Deity.' 

11 L. 1. p. 94. 

3i Ovid. Ibis. v. 411. 

Before 


G 2 



* 



44 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

m « 

% 

Before moft temples of old were areas, which were defigned 
for Gumnafia, where thefe feats of exercife were performed, 
Lucian fpeaks of one before the temple of 32 Apollo Lucius; 
And Paufanias mentions that particular 33 parade, where 
Cercyon was fuppofed to have exhibited his art. It flood 
before the tomb of A.lope, and was called the Palseflra of 
Cercyon even in the time of this writer, who takes notice of 
many others. He fliles it TOLcpog AAoth]?, as if it were a tomb. 
But it was a Taph, or high altar, facred to Al-Ope, Sol Py- 
tho, who was the Deity of the place called Cer-Cuon. Be¬ 
fore this altar was the palseilra; where the Cercyonian priefts 
obliged people to contend with them. I have taken notice, 
of a Pharos at 34 Torone, which Proteus is faid to have quitr- 
ted, that he might not be witnefs to the cruelties of his fons-. 
He fled, it feems, to Egypt,. TsKVtav oCKv^ag rctg ^svoxTovctg 

TrcCKcug, to fhun their wicked practices ; for they were fo fkiL 
led in the Palaeftric art, that they flew all ftrangers, whom 
they forced to engage with them. Taurus, called Minotau- 
rus, was a temple in Crete ; but by the Grecians is fpoken 
of as a perfon. Under this character Taurus is reprefented 

3X Anacharfis. vol. 2. p. 388. Tuyvccaiov v(p 9 vyoov cvoy ct(^er a.i y kcci e^iv legcv 
A 7 roAAa)l' 3 $ AuKIV* 

33 Yictl 6 T07T0S GVTOS 7TCtXcU^gU VCCtl S$ tfAS gHaAgfTOj 0/\iyQV TO'J TCLfyOV T 7 J 5 AA 07 T>JS 

cc7reyy^i^ Paufan. L. 1. p. 94* 

That very ancient temple of Pan on Mount Lyceum in Arcadia had a Gym- 
nafium in a grove. E <^1 tv tu A vx.clul> Tlcaos re 'leoov, xctt 7 regi uvto clXctos S'evS'gwv^ 
•Kca ' hnro^gofJLos nre y xcu irgo clvtb ^'clS'igv. Paufan. L. 8. p. 678. 

34 I have mentioned, that Torone was a temple of the Sun, and alfo <PAeygcaa, y 
by which was meant a place of fire, and a lighthoufe. This is not merely theory : 
for the very tower may be feen upon coins, where it is reprefented as a Pharos with, 
a blaze of fire at the top. See vol. 1. PLATE VI. page 408. 


as 




The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 45 

as a 35 renowned wreftler; and many perfons are faid to have 
been fent from Athens to be victims to his prowefs. Eu- 
febius ftiles him, 36 wpog ncu ccvYipcsgog, a man of a. cruel and 
four difpofttion. After he had done much mifehief, The- 
feus at length Tpargov na.TSTocKa.Krs, foiled him in his own 
art, and flew hini. EJe is fuppofed to have done the like by 
Cercyon. 37 Asysroci Jg a Ks^kvoov Tovg hoceocvTocg .TocvTocg zg 

7raKY]V 38 - biacpQsigai tKy]V ®q<rsMg. For it is faid of Cercyon , that 
he few every perfon , who ventured to cope with him in wref- 
ling, excepting Fhefeus. In all thefe inftances the place is 
put for the perfons, who reiided in it : of which mfftake 
I have been obliged, often to take notice.- 

Ancient hiftory affords numberlefs inftances of this, unge¬ 
nerous, and cruel practice. The ftranger, who flood moft in 
need of courtefy, was treated as a profeft enemy : and the 
rites of hofpitality were evaded under the undue fantftion of 
a facriflee to the Gods. In the hiftory of Bufiris we have, an 
account of this cuftom prevailing in Egypt. 39 Bucrigiv bs 

Kara rqv AiyvTrov rw A u HocKKiegsiv < repaylocZpvra.. rag. 7ra.g r STi~ 

^/ifJLSVTag SENOT2. Jt is faid of Bufris , that he ufed to offer 
to Jupiter , as the moff acceptable facrifce , all the Jra77gers , 

” Plutarch. Thefeus. p. 6. 

^ Chron. Logos, p. 31. He was alfo named Aftcrus,. Afterion, and Afterius; 
Lycoph. v. 1299. Schol. andEtymolog. Mag. Minoi's. Afterius was reprefented 
as the ion of Anac. Avcckto?. Paui'an. L. 7. p. 524.. A vSge a tcvs 

CC7ToBcCVOyTCCS V7T0 QwCTEtoS UTTZQzQfitXtV 6 A^ZOltoV (o Mll'CO.) Paufail. Lj. 2. p. iS 3 . 

37 Paufan. L,. i, p. 94.. 

38 Diodorus, explains farther the character of this perfonage, ,'iov Trcc^ctiovra. tols 

‘TTCCOfOUCri, •K.a.l rov VTTilQei’TCC,SiaCpQeigOl’TCt. L. 4. p.- Z26. 

39 Diodorus Sic. L. 4. p. 225, and 233. 

whom 



4-6 . The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


* 


•whom chance brought into his country. There was a tradition, 
concerning Antaeus, that he covered the roof of a temple, 
facred to Pofeidon, with the Hail Is of foreigners, whom he 
forced to engage with him. The manner of the engagement 
was by *° wreftling. Eryx in Sicily was a proficient in this 
art, and did much tnifchief to Grangers ; till he was in his 

turn {lain. The Deity was the fame in thefe parts, as was 

* 

alluded to under the name of Taurus, and Minotaurus, in 
Crete ; and the rites were the fame. Hence Lycophron 
fpeaks of Eryx by the name of Taurus; and calls the place 
Of exercile before the temple, 

41 T avgx yvfj.vcx.$cL$ Kouio^evx 


UoiXrjg Kovifgag. 

This the Scholiaft interprets 7 tctXoufgCLV T 8 E %vko$ ts 
KT 0 V&, the Gymnafium of JBrjyx, who ufed to murder Jirangers. 
Androgeos the fon of Minos came to the 41 like end, who 
had been fuperior to every body in this art. Euripides ftilcs 


the hero Cycnus 43 ^svoodiKTOiV, on account of his cruelty to 
ftrangers. He refided it feems near the fea-coaft: 5 and ufed 
to oblige every perfon, who travelled that way, or whom ill 
fortune brought on fhore, to contend with him. And his 
ambition was to be able with the fkulls of the victims, which 
he flew, to build a temple to Apollo. 44 K cuto^svog 6 K vx.vog, 

9 

non bv 9ra£o<Jw TY)g QoLhcc<r<rqg qikuv., STrs^a^aro^asi r ovg 7ra£iomt£, 


40 I S'ioos tov Avtcciov <pnai t cov SEIMDN tcov KT'nwsvosv TO 12 KPANTOT 2 
eoetpeiv tov tb Floo-si^covos vet or. Pindar. Ifth. Ode 4. Scholia, p. 458. See Dio- 
dorus concerning Antseus aovccvccyxoc^ovrct tqvs %cvb$ J'igcttcc^zlsiv. L. 4. p. 233. 

41 V, 866, and Scholia. 

41 Diodorus Sic. L. 4. p, 263. 

4 ' Hercules Furens. v. 391. 

44 Pindar. Olymp. Ode 10. p. 97. Scholia, from the Cycnus of Stcfichorus. 

VCLOV 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


47 


vetov T& AttoAA&)« EhKo [XBVoi; e# r«r xspctKMv otnoboix^Ton. Men¬ 
tion is made of Lycaon, qui advenas et hofpites trucidavit. 
He is laid to have founded the temple of Jupiter 45 Lyeseus, 
and to have firft introduced human facrifices, particularly 
thofe of infants. Aujatuv Ss sti tov {fw/xoj' r ov 46 A vkouou 

A log Egs<po$ YiVsyx.Bv outOgumov, nou sQvrs to Egstpos, kou svirsuTzv 

2771 ts EojfJLX to OLtfJML. Lycaon was the perfon , who brought an 
infant , the offspring of a man , to the altar of Zeus Lucaios : 
and he few the infant , and he fprmkled the altar with the blood 
which iffued from it. Antinous in Homer threatens to fend 
Irus to one Echetus, a king in Epirus, who was the dread 
of that country. The fame threat is uttered againft 47 Ulyf- 
fes, if he fhould prefume to bend the how, which Penelope 
had laid before the fuitors. Under the character of Lycaon, 
Cycnus, &c. we are to underftand Lyeaonian and Cycnean 
priefts ; which latter were from Canaan: and this method 
of interpretation is to be obferved all through thefe hifto- 
ries. Echetus, Ep££Ta$, was a title of Apollo, rendered more 

commonly 48 'E^aro^ by the Greeks, as if it came from the 

word b&ols. It was an Amonian title, by which Orus, and 
Ofiris, were called : and this king Echetus was a pried of 

45 Euripides. Oreftes. v. 1648. SchoL Lycaon was a Deity, and his priefts 
were ftiled Lycaonid^. He was the fame as Jupiter Lyca^us* and JLucetius l the 
fame alfo as Apollo. 

46 Paufan. L. 8. p. 60a. 

47 OdyfT. L. v. 307. 

43 Mvwrofxctij f^ctOvijui Att'oAX&vqs ’Etcct'T'ciQ'* H'om’ff. Hv to ApoHb'. v. 1. 

Ev Siscos otyopevs 05 O 7 r goiriocs C E xcctoiq. Iliad. A. v. 385. 

4 o%ecc.igcci xctaiymTT] *Excltqiq. Iliad. Y\ v. 71. 

that 



48 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 


that family, who was named, from the Deity, whom he 
lerved. The Poet ftiles him SgoTW $r)Xr)fj,ovo y from his cruelty 
to ftrangers. 

49 UsfJL^oo - 0 " 7 Hzrs^ojds EoXoov sv vqi fjisXoivri 
E is Ep^sroi/ EoKriXqoi, figoTuv ^XYifxovo 7 tovtoov. 

'Og K 0.7:0 pivo TOfJLYjtri, Koi zoro VY\hzi yoXnu, 

Mr±ho t efcsgvcros duy zv<nv upa. $o<ro<r 8 ca. 

I’ll fend thee, caitiff", far beyond the feas, 

To the grim tyrant Echetus, who mars 
All he encounters ; bane of human kind. 

4 

Thine ears he’ll lop, and pare the nofe awa’y 
From thy pale ghaftly vifage : dire to tell ! 

The very parts, which modefty conceals, 

He’ll tear relentlefs from the feat of life. 

To feed his hungry hounds. 

When the Spaniards got ac'cefs to the weftern world, there 
were to be obferved many rites, and many terms, ffmilar to 
thofe, which were fo common among the fons of Ham. 
Among others was this particular cuftom of making the per- 
lon, who was deffgned for a vidtim, engage in fight with 
a prieft of the temple. In this manner he was flaughtered : 
and this procedure was efteemed a proper method of 50 fa- 
crifice. 

The hiftories of which I have been fpeaking were founded 
in truth, though the perfonages are not real. Such cuftoms 

45 Odyflf. 2 . v. 83. 

50 Purchas. Pilg. Vol. 5. p. 872. and GarcilafTo della Vega. Rycaut. p. 403. 

did 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 49 

did prevail in the firffc ages : and in confequence of thefe 
cufioms we find thofe beggarly attributes of wreflling and 
boxing conferred upon fome of the chief Divinities. Her¬ 
cules and Pollux were of that number, who were as imagi¬ 
nary beings, as any mentioned above : yet reprefented upon 
earth as fturdy fellows, who righted fome, and 51 wronged 
many. They were in fhort a kind of honourable Banditti, 
who would fuller nobody to do any mifchief, but themfelves. 
From thefe cuftoms were derived the Ifthmian, Nemean, 
Pythic, and Olympic games, together with thofe at Delos. 
Of thefe laft Homer gives a fine defcription in his Hymn to 

f* AAAa crv A^Aw, <&o<6s, pcxX 1 ? S7HTeg7rscti Y\Tog. 

'EvQol toi sXKsyiTCjovsg I a.ovg$ YjysgzQovTou, 

AVToig (tvv 7Fou$8cr<rt 9 jcca aiSbirig ctXoyom. 

'Oife crs nTTMAXIH* re, tcca ogxju&fjw, koli ctoify 

MmjiTi ol^bv 01 regxanv, otolv ^(Tooutoci ctycdvct. 

Thefe contentions had always in them fomething cruel, and 
favage: but in later times they were conducted with an ap¬ 
pearance of equity. Of old the whole ceremony was a moil 
unfair and barbarous procefs. 

51 See Plutarch’s life of Theieus. p. 3, 4. Vol. 1. 

5 * v. 146. 



Vol. II. 


H 


C A M P E 



( 5* ) 


* 



C A M P E 


and 


C A M P I 


A 


N O T H E R name for thefe Amonian temples was 
Campi, of the fame analogy, and nearly of the fame 
purport, as Arpi above mentioned. I.t was in after times 

to fignify the parade before the temples, where they 


made to 

wreftled, and otherwife celebrated their facred games 


and 


prefled Campu 


When chariots came in fafhion 


was e: 
thele t 

this fort introduced. Among the Latines the word Camp 


admitted within the precindts ; and races of 


came to mean any open and level fp 


but among the 


cilians the true meaning was in feme degree preferved 


K oc^TTog 


foopoSy XtKvXoi. Hefychius 


was properly 


the Greeks filled aywv, as$Ao£, d^uT^Kcx, 


a place of exercife in general, and not confined to races. 
Hence a combatant was ftyled 1 Campio, and the chief per- 
fens, who prefided, 5 Campigeni. The exercife itfelf was by 

; all Amonian terms, 
taken from the titles of the Deity, in whofe honour the 
games were inftituted. Thefe temples partly from their 
fymbols, and partly from their hiftory, being mifinterpreted, 
were by the ancient mythologifts reprefented as fo many 


’ Campio, Gladiator. Ifidorus. 
* Vegetius. L. z. c. 7. 


H 2 


dragons, 





52 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

dragons, and monfters. Nonnus mentions both Arpe, and 
Campe in this light; and fays that the latter had fifty heads, 
each of fome different bead:: 

3 'Hj OLWO $£lgY\S 

H vQes 7revTr)jcovTot kol^oltol 7 romKcc Otigw. 

But Campe was an oracular temple and inclofure, facred to 
Ham or Cham: where people ufed to exercife. The fifty 
heads related to the number of the Priefts, who there re- 
fided ; and who were efteemed as fo many wild beafts for 
their cruelty. Nonnus makes Jupiter kill Campe : but Dio¬ 
dorus Siculus gives the honour to Dionufus ; who is fup- 
pofed to have flain this monfter at Zaborna in Libya ; and 
to have raifed over her or it, 7rci[JL[Ji.s r yE@£g 3 a vaft 

mound of earth. This heap of foil was in reality a high 
place or altar ; which in after times was taken for a place of 
burial. Thefe inclofures grew by degrees into difrepute ; 
and the hiftory of them obfolete. In confequence of which 
the TOLtpoi , or mounds, were fuppofed to be the tombs of 
heroes. The Grecians, who took every hiftory to them- 
felves, imagined, that their Jupiter and Dionufus, and their 
Hercules had (lain them. But what they took for tombs of 

A 0 

enemies were in reality altars to thefe very Gods ; who were 
not confined to Greece, nor of Grecian original. The Cam¬ 
panians in Italy were an ancient Amonian colony : and they 
were denominated from Campe or Campus, which was pro¬ 
bably the firft temple they eredled. Stephanus Byzantinus 

% 

fhews, that there was of old fuch a place : Ka^irog — 


3 Nonnus. L. 18. p. 500. 


Kaywrai'g: 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 53 

"Kokova : but would infinuate that it took its name from a 
perfon the head of the colony. Euftathius more truly makes it 
give name to the people : though he is not fufficiently deter¬ 
minate. 4 K O{JL77OV0l 0.770 TWV V 770 KO^yLBV 0 dV SKBl YLofOTTWV OOVOfJLO- 

c&ricrov, r) 0770 Ko/u .773 77 qKsu$. There were many of thefe 

Campi in Greece, which are ftyled by Paufanias mroidga, in 
contradiftindtion to the temples, which were covered. They 
are to be found in many parts of the world, where the Amo- 
nian religion obtained, which was propagated much farther 
than we are aware. In our iftand the exhibition of thofe 
manly fports in vogue among country people is called 
Camping : and the inclofures for that purpofe, where they 
wreftle and contend, are called Camping clofes. There are 
many of them in Cambridgefhire, as well as in other parts of 
the kingdom. In Germany we meet with the name of 
Ksempenfelt; in which word there is no part derived from 
the Latine language : for the terms would then be fynony- 
mous, and one of them redundant. Ksempenfelt was, I 
imagine, an ancient name for a field of fports, and exercife, 
like the gymnafium of the Greeks : and a Camping place in 
Britain is of the like purport. 

4 Euftathius on Dionyfius. v. 357. 


\ 


ANCIENT 



ANCIENT HEROES 


Js qoutiv (oi Aiyvmoi) rovg ‘E 7<Kv\vag e%iJtx£e<rdoit 

TOVg SWUpGLVeZCLTQVQ 'H gC/OCtg TS , mi © 28 $, sn h KOU aromas 

rag rag iavroov. Diodorus Sic. L. i. p. 21. 


I T has been my uniform purpofe, during the whole pro- 

cefs, which I have made in my fyflem, to fhew, that the 
Grecians formed Deities out of titles ; and that they often 
attributed to one perfon, what belonged to a people. And 
when they had compleated the hiftory, they generally took 
the merit of it to themfelves. By means of this clue we may 
obtain an iniight into fome of the moft remote, and the moil 
obfcure parts of antiquity. For many and great achieve¬ 
ments have been attributed to heroes of the firft ages, which 
it was not poftible for them lingly to have performed. And 
thefe actions, though in fome degree diveriiiied, and given 
to different perfonages, yet upon examination will be found 
to relate to one people or family ; and to be at bottom one, 
and the fame hiftory. 


OSIRIS. 


5° The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


o 




R 



S. 



F we confider the hiftory of Oliris, he will appear a 
wonderful conqueror, who travelled over the face of the 


whole 1 earth, winning new territories, wherever he came ; 
yet always to the advantage of thofe, whom he fubdued. 
He is faid to have been the fon of Rhea: and his chief at¬ 
tendants in his peregrinations were Pan, Anubis, Macedo, 


with Maro a great planter of 


alfo Triptolemus much 


as 


their 


their 


{killed in hulbandry. The people of India claimed Oliris, 

own ; and maintained, that he was bom at Nufa in 
country. Others fuppofed his birth-place to have 
been at Nufa in 3 Arabia, where he firft planted the vine. 
Many make him a native of Egypt : and mention the rout 
of his travels as commencing from that country through 
Arabia, and Ethiopia ; and then to India, and the regions 
of the eaft. When he was arrived at the extremities of 
the ocean, he turned back, and paffed through the upper 
provinces of Alia, till he came to the Hellelpont, 


which 


he eroded 


He then entered 4 Thrace, with the King of 
which he had a fevere encounter : yet he is faid to have per- 


fevered 


in 


his 


weftward, till he arrived at the foun 


of the Ifter. He was alfo in Italy, and Greece 


from 


the former of which he expelled the 


ZD 


Phlegra 


* Diodorus Sicul. L. i. p. 13, 14. 

OfAQICriS T3S lvStil TOV (jSQV T&TOV 7TCCO BCCVTD15 Oi7TO(fctVcG^CLt ')•€')■ OVSVCUm Diod 

Sic. L. 4. p. 2 10. 

3 Diodorus. L. 1. p. 14. 

* Diodorus. L. 1. p. 17. 

8 


Campania. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 57 

Campania. He vifited many places -upon the ocean : and 
though he is reprefented as at the head of an army; and his 
travels were attended with military operations ; yet he is at 

the fame time defcribed with the Mufes, and Sciences in his 

* 

retinue. His march likewife was conducted with fongs, and 
dances, and the found of every inftrument of mufic. He 
built cities in various parts; particularly 5 Hecatompulos, 
which he denominated Theba, after the name of his mo¬ 
ther. In every region, whither he came, he is faid to have 
inflruCted the people in 6 planting, and fowing, and other 
ufeful arts. He particularly introduced the vine : and where 
that was not adapted to the foil, he taught the natives the 
ufe of ferment, and fhewed them the way to make 7 wine of 
barley, little inferior to the juice of the grape. He was 
efteemed a great bleffmg to the Egyptians both as a 8 Law¬ 
giver, and a King. He firft built temples to the Gods: 
and was reputed a general benefactor of 9 mankind. After 
many years travel they reprefent him as returning to Egypt 

• m 

in great triumph, where after his death he was enfhrined 
as a Deity. His Taphos, or high altar, was fhewn in many 
places : in all which he in aftertimes was fuppofed to have 
been buried. The people of Memphis fhewed one of them ; 

5 Diodorus. L. i. p. 14. This city is alfo faid to have been built by Hercules. 
Diodorus. L. 4. p. 225. 

6 Primus aratra manu folerci fecit Ofiris, 

Et teneram ferro follicitavit humum. Tibull. L. 1. El. S. v. 29. 

7 ZuQ ex. tcov xfiQojv TzrofAoc. Diodorus. L. 1. p. 37. 

8 BctcriAevovrct Ss Ocripiv AiyvirTiHs euBvs cc7rop& icai S 0 Yipia)S&$ oltt x,<xp- 
7 rou$ t£ SeitccvTcc^ xctt vofjjis £rtfjisvcv ctvTois . Plut. If. et Ofir. p. 356. 

9 Eufebius. Pr. Ev. L. 1. p. 44, 45. 

VOL. II. I 


whereon 



58 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

whereon was a facred pillar, containing a detail of his life, 
and great atdions, to the following purport. 30 My father 
was Cronus y the youtigeft of all the Gods. I am the kmg Qferis y 
who carried my ar?ns over the face of the whole earthy till I 
arrived at the tminhabited pa?~ts of India. From thence I 
pafed through the regions of the north to the foimtain head of 
the Ifer. I vifted alfo other retnote countries ; nor fopped till 
I came to the wefern ocean. I am the eldef fon of Cro7ius ; 
fp rung from the genuine and refpe&able race of fojog) Sousy and 
a 7 7i related to the fountahi of day. 'There is not a 7iatio7i upo7t 
earthy where I have itot been ; and to whofe good I have not 
contributed. 

This is a very curious piece of ancient hiftory : and it will 
be found to be in great meafure true, if taken with this al¬ 
lowance, that what is here faid to have been atchieved by 
one perfon, was the work of many. Ofiris was a title con¬ 
ferred upon more perfons than one; by which means the 
hiftory of the firft ages has been in fome degree confounded. 
In this defcription the Cuthites are alluded to, who carried 
on the expeditions here mentioned. They were one branch 
of the pofterity of Ham y who is here fpoken of as the eldeft 
fon of Cronus. How juftly they conferred upon him this 
rank of primogeniture, I will not determine. By 11 Cronus 
w*e are here to underhand the fame perfon, as is alfo repre- 

10 Diodorus Sic. L. i. p. 24. 

11 Both the Patriarch and his fon Ham, had the name of Cronus, as may be 
learned from Sanchoniathon. Hyevi'vQricrocp S'e tiki ev TJ a oca cl K povcp rpeis 'Groups?* K po~ 
ros cy.oovvf*.Q$ Tzrccrpi^ x,tA. Eufeb. Prtep. L. 1. c. 10. p. 37. 

Paraia is the fame as Pur-aia, the land of Ur j from whence the Gentile writers 
deduce all their mythology. 

fented 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 59 

fented under the name of Soiis. This would be more truly 

exprefled Xc*)op, Soon ; by which is meant the Sun. All the 

* 

Amonian families affected to be ftiled Heliadas, or the off- 
lpring of the Sun : and under this title they alluded to their 
great anceftor, the father of all : as by Ofiris they generally 
meant Ham. Xooov, Soon, is the fame as 12 Zoon, and Zoan, 

the fountain of day. The land of Zoan in Egypt was the 
nome of Heliopolis : and the city Zoan the place of the 
Sun. The perfon then ftiled here Soiis can be no other 
than the great Patriarch under a title of the Sun. He is 
accordingly by Philo Biblius called Oufoiis in an extradt 
from Sanchoniathon. He makes him indeed refide, where 
Tyre was afterwards built: but fuppofes him to have lived 
at a time, when there were great rains and ftorms ; and to 
have been the firft conftrudtor of a fhip, and the firft who 
ventured upon the 13 feas, In refpedt to the travels of Ofiris, 
we fhall find that the pofterity of Ham did traverfe at dif¬ 
ferent times the regions above mentioned : and in many of 
them took up their abode. They built the city Memphis in 
Egypt; alfo Hecatompulos, which they denominated Theba, 
after the name of their reputed mother. They alfo built 
Zoan, the city of the Sun. 

Ofiris is a title often conferred upon the great patriarch 
himfelf: and there is no way to find out the perfon meant 
but by obferving the hiftory, which is fubjoined. When we 
read of Ofiris being 

li See Radicals, p. 35. 

13 P cLy£c£\odv yepo/j.tvcov oju.€pcev yccci nu-veuixctTcoi 9 Sevi' p? Xol^o^vjv nrov Ou - 

crcoovi v.oli ct7rox/\cc<PevcrctVTccy nzrpojT 0 v rr cAft #crou €is &ct/\cco accv eyA:;vct . Euleb. Pr. 
Ev, 1. c. 10. p. 35. 

I 2 


expofed in an ark, and being afterward 


reftored 



60 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

reftored to day; of his planting the vine, and teaching man¬ 
kind agriculture; and inculcating religion, and juftice; the 
perfon alluded to {lands too manifeft to need any further elu¬ 
cidation. And when it is faid of Ofiris, that he went over 
moft parts of the habitable globe, and built cities in various 
regions; this too maybe eaftly underftood. It can allude to 
nothing elfe, but a people called Ofirians, who traverfed the 
regions mentioned. They were principally the Cuthites, 
who went abroad under various denominations: and the hi- 
flories of all the great heroes, and heroines of the firft ages 
will be found of the fame purport, as the foregoing. Oiiris 
is fuppofed to have been fucceeded in Egypt by Orus. After 
Orus came Thoules ; who was fucceeded by I+ Sefoftris. 

Eufeb. Chron. p. 7. 1 . 43. 

PERSEUS. 


P ERSEUS was one of the moft ancient heroes in the 

mythology of Greece: the merit of whofe fuppofed 
atchievements the Helladians took to themfelves ; and gave 
out that he was a native of Argos. He travelled to the 
temple of 1 Ammon ; and from thence traverfed the whole 
extent of Africa. He fubdued the * Gorgons, who lived in 
Mauritania, and at Tarteflus in Bcetica; and defeated the 
Ethiopians upon the weftern ocean, and the nations about 

1 Strabo. L. 17. p. 1168. 

1 Tecs Topyovccs £7r’ uxsccvov Bcras r rav 1voXiv ISwpix? tw Tccpriurcrov. Schol. 

in Lycophr. ad v. 838. 


mount 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


6 i 

mount Atlas : which 3 4 5 mountain he only and Hercules are 
faid to have pafied. Being arrived at the extremity of the 
continent, he found means to pafs over, and to get poflefion 
of all the wefern lilands. He warred in the Eaf ; where 
he freed * Andromeda, the daughter of Cepheus king of the 
eaflern Ethiopia, who was expofed to a fea-monfer. Some 
imagine this to have happened at s Joppa in Palefine, where 
the 6 bones of this monfter of an extraordinary iize are fup- 
pofed to have been for a long time preferved. He is faid to 
have built 7 Tarfus in Cilicia, reputed the moft ancient city 
in the world ; and. to have planted the peach tree at 8 Mem¬ 
phis. The Persians were fuppofed to have been his defend¬ 
ants. He travelled through Alia Minor, to the country of 
the 9 Hyperboreans upon the Ifer, and the lake Mzeotis ; 
and from thence defended to Greece. Here he built My- 
cene, and Tiryns, faid by many to have been the work of the 
Cyclopians. He eftablifhed a feminary at Helicon : and was 
the founder of thofe families, which were filed Dorian, and: 
Herculean. It is a doubt among writers, whether he came 

3 [Atlas] Apex Perfeo et Herculi pervius. Solin. C. 24. 

4 Andromedam Perfeus nigris portarit ab Indis. Ovid. Art. Amand. L. I. v. 53. 

5 Paufan. L. 4. p. 370. 

6 Pliny mentions thefe bones being brought from Joppa to Rome in the tedile-- 
fhip of M. Scaurus; longitudine pedum 40, altitudine coftarum Indicos elephan- 
tos excedente, fpinse craflitudine fefquipedali. L. 9. c. 5. 

7 Deferitur Taurique jugum, Perfeaque Tarfus. Lucan. L. 3. v. 225* See 
Solin. c. 38. 

8 Perfeam quoque plantam-a Perfeo Memphi fatam, Plin. L. 15. c. 13,. 

Of Perfeus in Cilicia, fee Chron. Pafch. p. 39. 

9 Pindar. Pyth. Od. 10. v, 49 & 7o. E 1$ to t gov Mcocccpccv ctvS'poov eQycs.. Schol. 
in v. 70. 


into 



62 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


into Italy. Some of his family were there ; who defeated 
the giant race in 
letum, and Ardea in Latium. Virgil luppofes it to have 
been effe&ed by Danae, the mother of this Hero: 

10 Ardea-—-- quam dicitur olim 

Acrilioneis Danae fundaffe colonis. 

Tut 11 Servius fays, that Perfeus himfelf in his childhood was 
driven to the coaft of Daunia. He is reprefented as the an- 
ceftor of the Grecian Hercules, fuppofed to have been bom 
at Thebes in Boeotia. In reality neither 11 Hercules, nor Per¬ 
feus, was of Grecian original ; notwithftanding the genealo¬ 
gies framed in that country. The hiflory of the latter came 
apparently from Egypt, as we may learn from Diodorus 13 : 

Je kcli tov Usgcrscc. ysyovsvou kolt Aiyv7nrov. Herodotus 
more truly reprefents him as an I+ Affyrian; by which is 
meant a Babylonian : and agreeably to this he is faid to have 
married 15 Afterie, the daughter of Belus, the fame as Afta- 
roth and Aftarte of Canaan ; by whom he had a daughter 
Hecate. This, though taken from an idle fyftem of theo- 


Campania, and who afterwards built Argi- 


10 Virgil. A 2 n. L. 7. v. 409. 

Ardea a Danae Perfei matre condita. Plin. Hid. Nat. L. 3. p. 152. 

11 Servius in Virgil JEn. L. 8. 

Diodorus Sic. L. 1. p. 21. 

n Ibidem. 

14 Herodotus, L. 6. c 54. See Chron. Pafchale. p. 38. 

Some make him a Colchian. HA yccp (pncriv in- 1 $ yeveadcti S'vo ev Tots tottois 

€K€lVOlS y 01$ 0V0JXCLTCC 71V YJepCTBVi KOCl AlWTWS* T8T8S S'e HCLTOUyeiV TVV xcu Amttiv 

peep KoA^as Mctt&jTcts, lleocrect Se T au pints (ZoLo-itewcu. Schol. in Apollon. 
Argonautic. L. 3, v. 199. 

15 H Se Tlepre yw >7 A q-eoia, 7 rca$ nv Ka/a kcu <$>01(377$' 6 Kotos cTe kcli 4 >oi/ 2 >? OT-. 
•PANOT 7 rca$e$. Schol. in Lycophron. v. 1175. 

l°gy. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


63 


logy, yet plainly fhews, that the hiftory of Perfeus had been 
greatly mifapplied and lowered, by being inferted among the 
fables of Greece. Writers fpeak of him as a great I& Aftro- 


nomer, and a perfon of uncommon knowledge. He in- 
ftrudted mariners to diredt their way in the fea by the lights 
of heaven ; and particularly by the polar conflellation. This 

I 

he firft obferved, and gave it the name of Helice. Though 
he was reprefented as a Babylonian ; yet he refided in Egypt, 
and is faid to have reigned at Memphis. To fay the truth, 
he was worfhiped at that place : for Perfeus was a title of the 
Deity ; 17 Usgcrevs 0 HA/o? ; Pejjeus was no other than the Sun , 
the chief God of the Gentile world. On this account he 
had a temple of great repute at Ib Chemnis, as well as at 
Memphis, and in other parts of Egypt. Upon the Hera- 
cleotic branch of the Nile, near the fea, was a celebrated 
watchtower, denominated from him. His true name was 
Perez, or Parez, rendered Perefis, Perfes, and Perfeus : and 
in the account given of this perfonage we have the hiftory 
of the Perefians, Parrhafians, and Perezites, in their feveral 
peregrinations ; who were no other than the Heliadas, and 
Ofirians above mentioned. It is a mixed hiftory, in which 
their forefathers are alluded to ; particularly their great 


Natalis Comes. L. 7. c. 18. 

17 Schol. in Lycophr. v. 18. 

Lycophr. v* 17. 

Tor 2 £pvoro 7 rcLTgov fjLop(pvov —t or rizpcscz* Schol. in Lycophr. v. 83S. 

18 E yyvs tvs News ttoXios. He is laid to have introduced here Gymnic exerciles. 
Herodot. L. 2. c. 91. And to have often appeared perfonally to the Priefts. He- 
rodot. ibid. 

Herodotus of the Dorians. L. 6. c. 54. 


progenitor* 



64 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

progenitor, the father of mankind. He was fuppofed to 
have had a renewal of life : they therefore defcribed Per- 
feus as inclofed in an 19 ark, and expofed in a ftate of child¬ 
hood upon the waters, after having been conceived in a 
fhower of gold. 

Bochart thinks that the name both of Perils and Perfeus 
was from DiS, Paras, an Horfe : becaufe the Perlians were 
celebrated horfemen, and took great delight in that animal. 
But it muft be conlidered that the name is very ancient, and 
prior to this ufe of horfes. P’aras, P’arez, and P’erez, how¬ 
ever diveriiiied, lignify the Sun ; and are of the fame ana¬ 
logy as P’ur, P’urrhos, P’oros, which betoken fire. Every 
animal, which was in any degree appropriated to a D city, 
was called by fome facred 20 title. Hence an horfe was 
called P’arez : and the fame name but without the prefix 
was given to a lion by many nations in the eaft. It was at 
fxrft only a mark of reference, and betokened a folar animal, 
fpecifying the particular Deity, to whom it was facred. 
There were many nations, which were diftinguilhed in the 
fame manner ; fome of whom the Greeks ftyled Parrhalians. 
Hence the ancient Arcadians, thofe Selenitze, who were un¬ 
doubtedly an Amonian colony, had this appellation. A 

19 Ev A otpvcLKi %v\woj. Schol. in Lycophr. v. 838. 

Er •KiZooTCf) Tin. Chron. Pafch. p. 38. from Euripides. 

The father of Danae evetp^cts ccvrr,v eis tvv K&ootqv y.erx ra I 7 AIA 02 K&Snjxev 
ei$ to 7reXccyo$. Schol. in Pind. Pyth. Od. 10. v. 72. • 

All falutary ftreams were confecrated to the Sun. There were fome waters 
of this nature near Carthage, which were named Aquae Perfianse. See Apuleii 
Florida. C. 16. p. 795, and p. 801. They were fo named from Perez, the Sun, to 
whom they were facred. 

10 people 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 





people in Elis had the fame. The Poets defcribed the con- 
ftellation of Helice or the Bear by the title of Parrhafis Arc- 
tos, and Parrhafis Urfa. This afterifm was confefledly firft 
taken notice of by Perez or Perfeus, by which is meant the 
Per dans. 


Verfaque ab axe fuo Parrhafis Artflos erat. 

In the eaft, where the worfhip of Arez greatly prevailed, there 
were to be found many nations called after this manner. 
Part of Media, according to 42 Polybius, had the name of 
Parrhafia. There were alfo Parrhafii and Parrhafini in 23 Sog- 
diana; and 14 the like near Caucafus: alfo a town named 

25 Parafinum in the Tauric Cherfonefus. The people ftyled 

26 Parrhafians in Greece were the fame as the Dorians and 


Heraclidse 


all alike Cuthites, as were the ancient Perfian 


Hence it is truly faid by Plato, that the Heraclidae in Greece, 
and the Achasmenidse among the Perfians were of the fame 

flock : 17 To <Jg 'H goLKXsag rs ysvog kou to A^cti[j.svs3g eig Usgrecc 
rov A log oLVoupspzTcu. On this account 18 Herodotus makes 


Herodotus makes 


Xerxes claim kindred with the Argives of Greece, as being 


41 Ovid. Trift. L. 1. Eleg. 3. v. 48. See Natalis Comes. L. 7. c. 18. 

41 Polyb. L. 5. p. 389. 

43 Plin. Hift. Nat. L. 6. c. 16. See Q^Curtius, and Strabo. 

4+ Parrhafm in Hyrcania. Strabo. L. u. p. 775. 

45 Plin. Hift. Nat. E. 2. c. 98. 

46 Of Parrhafians in Arcadia, Strabo. L. 8. p. 595. See Plin. Hift. Nat. L.' : 
4. c. 6 . 

'Tios &n’UT r TGt Aa./jr.cc.gX'OS tuv S' a.ieGnx.ei' 

Eixov’f cc7r ApxaEas n ocpcuzer/os ytvsav. 

Paufan. L. 6. p. 471. See alfo L. 8. p. 654. 

47 Plato in Alcibiad. Vol. 2. p. 120. 

4S Herodot. L. 7. c. 150. 

Vol. II. K equally 



66 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


equally of the pofterity of Perfes, the fame as Perleus, the 
Sun: under which character the Perfians defcribed the patri¬ 
arch, from whom they were defcended. Perfeus was the fame 
as Mithras, whofe facred cavern was ftiled Perfeiim. 

25 Phcebe parens —- feu te rofeum Titana vocari 
Gentis Achaemenias ritu ; feu prseftat Ofirin 
Frugiferum; feu Perfei fub rupibus antri 
Indignata fequi torquentem cornua Mithram. 


Of 


M 


Y 


R 



N 


A 


* 


And the Amazonians of Lybia 



ROM a 


that the Amazons were 


of women, hiflorians have 


community 


fonage of their 


a 


female 


prefented the chief per¬ 
is mentioned by 


She 


This removes her hiftory far 


fome as having flourifhed long before the asra of 3 * Troy: and 
it is by others faid more precifely, that fhe lived in the time of 
Orus, the fon of Ifis and Ofiris. 
back ; fo as to make it coeval with the firft annals of time. 
Her dominions lay in the mo ft weftern parts of 32 Africa, 
at the extremity of Atlas j where the mountain terminated 

* 9 Statii Theb. L. i. v. 717. 

30 Diodorus Sicul. L. 3. p. 185. 

3t floAAais ysvecus nzrgoregov tcov Tpw/xwv* Ibid. 

T»s A&vm ev tois 'zzrpos ecr7reoccv y.epecnv B7rt t a 'zregccros tvs oix&jJLevvs. Diodorus 
Sic. L.-3. p. 186. 

She likewife was in pofieflion of the vvcroi or Iflands of the blefled 5 

which lay oppofite to her dominions in Africa. 


3 * 


9 


in 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 67 

in the ocean, to which it gave name. This country was cal¬ 
led Mauritania ; and was fuppofed to have been pofTefied by 
the Atlantes and Gorgons. The Grecian writers, who did 
not know that the fame family went under different titles, 
have often made the fame nation at variance with itfelf. And 
as they imagined every migration to have been a warlike ex¬ 
pedition, they have reprefented Myrina as making great con- 
quefts: and what is extraordinary, going over the fame 
ground, only in a retrograde direction, which Ofiris had juft 
palled before. Her firft engagement was with the Atlantes 
of Cercene : againft whom fhe marched with an army of 
30,000 foot, and 2000 horfe ; whom fhe completely armed 
with the Ikins of ferpents. Having defeated the Atlantes, 
Ihe marched againft the Gorgons, whom fhe likewife 33 con¬ 
quered ; and proceeding forward fubdued the greater part 
of Africa, till fhe arrived at the borders of Egypt. Having 
entered into an alliance with Orus, fhe pafied the Nile, and 
invaded the Arabians, whom fhe defeated. She then con¬ 
quered the Syrians, and Cilicians, and all the nations about 
Mount Taurus j till fhe arrived at Phrygia, and the regions 
about the river Caicus. Here fhe built many cities, parti¬ 
cularly Cuma, Pitane, and Priene. She alfo got pofteftion 
of feveral iflands ; and among others, of Lefbos and Samo- 
thracia, in which laft fhe founded an afylum. After thefe 
tranfaftions Myrina, accompanied with Mopfus the diviner, 

3J Writers mention that fhe railed over the {Iain three large mounds of earth, 

O 7 

which were called t et<pot Af 4 ,u£ova>v 7 the tombs of the Amazons. This fhews that 
the Gorgons and Amazons were the fame people, however feparated, and repre¬ 
fented in a ftate of warfare. 

made 


K 2 



68 


The An alysis of Ancient Mythology. 


efs 


pedition into Thrace, which was the ultimate of 
; for fhe was fuppofed to have been here flam. 


the died in Phryg 


for he 


of her tomb in the plains of Troas ; and reprefent 
table performance. 

}4 c 8s rig 7rgo7rctgoiS‘s 7 roXeoog aiftsicL /coAwwj, 

Bf 7Ts8lCf CLTTOLPSvds, 7T£gl8gO[JLOg SV§CL XCLl £V§CL’ 

'Tty rjToi oivSgsg Boltisiolv xizXYi<ncx<riu, 

A@avct.Toi 8s re crquoi 7 roXv<T)ictfo[JLQio M vgiVY\g. 


The tomb of this heroine was 


eality a facred mound 


high 


and Myrina a Gentile divinity 


her fuppofed 


quells we may in great meafure fee the hillory of Oliris, 
and Perfeus, reverfed, and in fome degree abridged ; yet not 
fo far varied, but that the purport may be plainly difcerned. 
Indeed there is no other way to obtain the hidden meaning, 
but by collating the different hillories, and bringing them in 
one view under the eye of the reader. 



S IMILAR to the foregoing are the expeditions of Her¬ 
cules, and the conquells, which he is fuppofed to have 
performed. After many exploits in Greece, the reputed 
place of his nativity, he travelled as far as mount Caucafus 
near Colchis, to free Prometheus, who was there expofed to 
an eagle or vulture. Upon the Thermodon he engaged with 


34 Iliad B. v. 8 ii* M uqivcl cvoycc xugiov Ay•x'Qovos* 


Scholia ibid. 


the 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 69 

the Amazons, whom he utterly defeated; and then pafied 
over into Thrace. Upon his return into Greece he was 
ordered to make an expedition into Iberia, a region in the 

a prince of great 
wealth, refided. Hercules accepts of the commiffion ; but, 
I know not for what reafon, goes firfl to Crete, and from 
thence to 35 Libya ; and what is extraordinary, proceeds to 
Egypt. This makes the plan of his fuppofed rout fome- 
what irregular and unaccountable. After fome time fpent 
in thefe parts, he builds the city Hecatompulos, faid before 
to have been built by Ofiris : and then traverfes the whole 
of Africa weftward, till he arrives at the Fretum Gadita- 
num. Here he erects two pillars ; which being finished, he 
at laft enters Iberia. He defeats the fons of Chrufaor, who 
were in arms to oppofe him ; and bellows their kingdom 
upon others. He likewife feizes upon the oxen of Geryon. 

He then marches into the country of the Celtae, and 36 founds 

\ 

the city Corunna, and likewife 37 Alefia in Gaul. He after¬ 
wards fights with the giants Albion and Bergion near Are- 
late, in the plain ftiled Campus Lapideus; where are the 

fait waters of Salona. Fie then pafles the 38 Alpes ; and upon 

% 

35 Diodorus Sicul* L. 4 - P- 216, 217, 225, 227, &c. See alfo Juftin. L. 44. 
c. 4* and Apollodorus. L. 2. p. 10a. 

Hercules of Tyre was faid to have been the Son of Athamas, the fame as Pa- 
lasmon. 

36 Ludovicus Nonnius in Hifpania. p. 166. 170. 

37 Diodorus Sicul. L. 4. p. 227. 

Corunna the fame as Kir-Ona. 

Many Amonian cities of fimilar analogy to Akfia a 

38 Diodorus, above. 


farthefl part of Spain ; where Chrufaor, 


the 



jo The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

'the banks of the Eridanus encounters a perfon of fhepherd 
race; whom he kills, and feizes his 39 golden flocks. In his 
way homeward he viflts Hetruria, and arrives at the moun¬ 
tain Palatinus upon the Tiber. From thence he goes to the 
maritime part of Campania, about Cuma, Heraclea, and the 
lake Aornon. Not far from hence was an aduft and fiery 
region; fuppofed to have been the celebrated Phlegra, where 
the giants warred againfi: heaven : in which war Hercules is 
faid to have 40 aflifted. Here was an ancient oracular tem¬ 
ple ; and hard by the mountain Vefuvius, which in thole 
days flamed violently, though it did not for many ages after¬ 
wards. During his refidence here he vifited the hot foun¬ 
tains near Mifenus and Dicaearchea; and made a large caufe- 
way, called in aftertimes Via Herculanea, and Agger Puteo- 
lanus. After having vifited the Locrians, and the people of 
Rhegium, he eroded the fea to Sicily ; which fea he fwam 
over, holding by the horn of an ox. At his arrival fome 
warm fprings buril: forth miraculoufly, to give him an op¬ 
portunity of bathing. Here he boxed with Eryx ; defeated 
the Sicani; and performed many other exploits. What is 
remarkable, having in Spain feized upon the cattle of Ge- 
ryon, he is faid to have made them travel over the Pyrenean 

into Italy; and 
from thence crofs the fea into Sicily ; and being now about 

39 XgL/c-a. fj-nXct — t rpoQctTCL. Schol. in Apollon. Argonaut. L. 4. v. 1396. 

01T3 S V r A &V7L6t)V* 

40 Tor Hpax-Afcc., GVfA,/J.CL%&VTOJV CCVTO) T &V X£><XT'f)<Tca T7\ JXCt%Y) y XCU 

ccveXovTct mv ygageev etr,jxegcoaoLin Diodorus Sicul. L. 4. p. 229. Strabo. 
L. 5. p. 376. and JL, 6. p. 430. 



mountains^ and afterwards over the Alpes, 


to 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 71 

to leave that ifland, he fwims with them again to Rhegium: 
and ranging up the coaft of the Adriatic, pafles round to 
Illyria, from thence to Epirus ; and fo defcends to Greece. 
The whole of thele travels is faid to have been completed in 
ten years. 

He was alfo reported, according to 41 Megafthenes and 
others, to have made an expedition into 41 India, and to have 
left many memorials of his tranfadtions in thofe parts. He 
travelled likewile into the region called afterwards Scythia; 
the natives of which country were his 43 defendants* He 
alfo vifited the Hyperboreans. In all thefe peregrinations he 
is generally defcribed as proceeding alone : at leaft we have 
no intimation of any army to afiift in the performance of thele 
great enterprifes. He is indeed fuppofed to have failed with 
fix lhips to 44 Phrygia : but how he came by them is not 
faid ; nor whence he raifed the men, who went with him. 
At other times he is reprefented with a club in his hand^ 
and the Ikin of an animal upon his Ihoulders. When he paf- 
fed over the ocean, he is faid to have been wafted in a golden 

45 bowl. In Phrygia he freed Hefione from a Cetus, or fea 

_ • 

monfter, juft as Perfeus delivered Andromeda. He is men¬ 
tioned as founding many cities in parts very remote : the fea- 

41 Strabo. L. 15. p. 1007. and L. ii.p. 771. Diodorus Sic. L. 2. p. 124. 

4 * Arrian. Hift. Indica. p. 321. 

45 Herod. L. 4. c. 9. Ariftid. Orat. v. 1. p. 85. 

44 Ovid. Metam. L. 11. v. 21S. 

45 Poculo Herculem vedtum ad Eriytheiam. Macrob. Sat. L. 5. c. 12. Apol- 

lodorus. L. 2. p. too. Sc hoi. Apollon. Argonaut. L. 4. v. 1396. from Phere- 

cydes Syrus •, and from the Libyca of Agroit as. Aa£W ZCgVGB}' JSTTCCS TTCCg 'HAl'd—* 
cT icc tb ooxearB TrXeiv* 


coaft 



72 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


coaft of Bcetica, and Cantabria, was, according to fome writ¬ 
ers, peopled by 46 him. By Syncellus he is laid to have re- 
fided in Italy, and to have reigned in 47 Latium. The Gre¬ 
cians fuppofed that he was burnt upon Mount OEta : but 
the people of Gades fhewed his Taphos in their 48 city, juft 
as the Egyptians fhewed the Taphos of Oftris at Memphis, 
and elfewhere. Hence it was imagined by many, that Her¬ 
cules was buried at Gades. The philofopher Megaclides 
could not be brought to give the leaft aflent to the hiftories 
of this 49 hero : and Strabo feems to have thought a great 
part of them to have been a s ° fable. In fhort, the whole 
account of this perfonage is very inconftftent : and though 
writers have tried to compromife matters by fuppoling more 
perfons than one of this name, yet the whole is ftill incredi¬ 
ble, and can never be fo adj lifted as to merit the leaft belief. 
How they multiplied the fame Deity, in order to remedy 
their faulty mythology, may be feen in the following extract 
from Cicero. s ' Quanquam, quern potiflimum Herculem co- 
lamus, feire velim: plures enim nobis tradunt ii, qui inte- 
riores ferutantur et reconditas literas. Antiquiftimum Jove 
natum, fed item Jove antiquiftimo : nam Joves quoque plu- 
jes in prifeis Grascorum literis invenimus. Ex eo igitur et 


46 Strabo. L. 3. p. z 3 7. He was fuppofed to have been the founder of Tar- 


teffus, where he was worfhiped under the name of Archaleus. Etymolo 


o 


>a. 


F CC'Pctg I 

47 Syncellus. p. 171. 

48 Pomponius Mela. L. 3. c. 6 . 

49 Athenseus. L. 12. c. 512. 

50 Strabo. L. 15. p. ioog. TlAccc-y.ee roov 'Hgccx.Ae:ctv 7 roi 3 vTc*n\ 

51 Nat. Deorum. L. 3. c. 16. 

IO 


Mag. 


Lyfito 



73 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


Lyftto eft is Hercules, quern, concertafte cum Apolline de 
tripode accepimus. - Alter traditur Nilo natus, JEgyptius ; 
quem aiunt Phrygias literas confcripftffe. Tertius eft ex Idsis 
Dadtylis, cui inferias afFerunt. Quartus Jovis eft, et Afterise, 

Latonae fororis, quem Tyrii maxime colunt; cujus Crrthagi- 

♦ 

nem filium ferunt. Quintus in 51 India, qui Belus dicitur. 

# 

Sextus hie, ex Alcumena quem Jupiter genuit ; fed tertius 
Jupiter : quoniam, ut docebo, plures Joves accepimus. 

Hercules was a title given to the chief Deity of the Gen¬ 
tiles, who have been multiplied into almoft as many per- 
fonages, as there were countries where he was worfhiped. 
What has been attributed to this god ftngly, was the work 
of Herculeans ; a people, who went under this title among 
the many, which they aflumed; and who were the fame 
as the Oftrians, Perefians, and Cuthites. They built Tar- 

They 


tefliis in Boetica, and occupied great part of Iberia, 
likewife founded 53 Corunna in Cantabria, and 54 Alefia in 

of which there are traditions to this day. Some of 

: alfo 


Gaul: 

them fettled near 55 Arelate : others among the 


56 


Alp 


s 


at Cuma, and Heraclea in Campania. They were alfo to be 
found at Tyre, and in Egypt ; and even in the remoteft parts 


sz Arrian fpeaks of this Indian Hercules together with the others mentioned by 
Cicero. E/ cfe 'zeu^cc tccvtcc^ aAAos cev &ro$ ew, b% o OnCaios^ n o T u- 

£10$ &T0?} 7J 0 J\iyV7TTlO$^ 71 T 1$ 7CCCI XCCTCL CCW ^COpTIV 3 'ZZTOppCO TVS Iv£COV yWS CdXlITfJ^VTIV 

fjLey*$ ficttritevs. Hift. Ind. p. 319. Varro mentions forty of this name, who were 
all reputed Deities. 

53 See Ludovicus Nonnius, in Hifpan. p. 196. 170. 

54 See Audigier Origines des Franfois. Part. 1. p. 225. 230. 

* 55 Mela. L. 2. c. 5. 1 . 30. 

56 Petronius. p. 179. Eft locus Herculeis aris facer. 

Vol. II. L 


of 



74 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

of 57 India. In fhort, wherever they were Heraclidae, or 
Herculeans, an Hercules has been fuppofed. Hence his 
character has been varioufly reprefented. One while he ap¬ 
pears little better than a fturdy vagrant: at other times he is 
mentioned as a great benefactor ; alfo as the patron of fcience, 
the 58 God of eloquence with the Mufes in his train. On 
this account he had the title of S9 Mufagetes ; and the Roman 
general Fulvius dedicated a temple, which he had ereCted to 
his honour, and infcribed it 60 Herculi Mufarum. There are 
gems, upon which he is reprefented as preliding among the 
Deities of 61 Science. He is faid to have been fwallowed by 
a Cetus, or large fifti, from which he was after fome time 
delivered. This hiftory will hereafter be eaftly deciphered. 
He was the chief deity of the 6z Gentile world ; the lame as 
Hermes, Ofiris, and Dionufus; and his rites were introduced 
into various parts by the Cuthites. In the detail of his pere¬ 
grinations is contained, in great meafure, an hiftory of that 
people, and of their fettlements. Each of thefe the Greeks 
have defcribed as a warlike expedition ; and have taken the 
glory of it to themfelves. He is faid to have had many Ions. 

57 He was worlhiped by the Suraceni, a particular Indian nation, who ftyled 
him r nyevK., or the Man of the Earth. Arrian. Hift. Indie, p. 321. 

58 Hercules apud Celtas. See Vofs. de Idololat. L. 1. c. 35. L. 2. e. 15. 

59 Eumenius in Orat. pro Scholis inftaurandis. See Liiius Gyraldus, Synt. 10. 

P' 33 °- 

60 Suetonius in Augufto. C. 29. Livy. L. 40. c. 51. 

61 Johan. Sambuci Emblemata. » 

He was the fame as Ofiris, the Sun. Tcu Bv icon t<ov ^HAfor. 

Macrob. Saturn. L. 1. c. 20. p. 207. See Porphyry apud Eufcb. Praep. Evang. 

L. 3. p* 112. 


IO 


One 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


75 


One of thefe was 63 Archemagoras ; by which is meant the 
father or chief of the Magi. There are many others enume¬ 
rated : the principal of whom are faid to have been ; 6 * Sar- 
dus, or Sardon ; Cyrnus, Gelonus, Olynthus, Scythus, Gala- 
thus, Lydus, Iberus, Celtus, Poimen. As thefe are all ma- 
nifeftly the names of nations, we may perceive by the pur¬ 
port of this hiftory, that the Sardinians, Corficans, Iberians, 
Celtse, Galatae, Scythe, &c. &c. together with thofe ftyled 
Shepherds, were Herculeans; all defcended from that 65 Her¬ 
cules, who was the father of Archemagoras the chief of 
the Magi. 



r jn , 'HE hiftory of Dionufus is clofely connected with that 

of Bacchus, though they were two diftindl perfons. 
It is faid of the former, that he was born at 66 Nufa in 

63 See Lilius Gyraldus Syntag. 10. p. 592. Paufanias exprefies the name Ai^ 

fxccyopcts. L. 8. p. 624. 

64 Lilius Gyrald. p. 595. 

65 In the following extrafts we may fee the chara< 5 ter of this Deity among dif¬ 
ferent nations. TfyaxAecc cfe ovrivct e$ Ij'cTbs ct(pnceo'9cu Xoyos nccre^ei 'z&ctg cwroiaiv 
IvSoiaiv Tnyevect Xeyecr9<xi' tbtov tov‘H/ xtxAga y.cchicp'cc f &po$ 'ZZvgccayivuv yeocupea9cti 3 

h'S'txs e9w$. Arrian. Hift. Ind. p. 321. 

AAA cc t a ocp^caos e^i Sreos AiyvirTioicn 'H^axAewf cfs ccvtoi Keyaai erect e^i hr* 
TUKia^i/\tct ucci fJLvpta, es Aptotviv (Zcto-ihevaavTct. Herod. L. 2. c. 43. 

AAA ? itrjjiev AiyoirTia^ ocrov mrot otyucriv 'HpcocAect} ncct Tvgiv$ y oti nrpooTov c reSsai 

Oecov. Ariftid. Orat. V. 1. p. 59. He had at Tyre a temple, as old as the city. 
E (fctcrctv y&g d/nct'Tvga) oiHi^oysvA Kcti to lepov ts S’Sb iJ'gvvQwcci. Herod. L. 2. 

c. 4~4* 

E cp't yctg ev 'Tvgcp \ef>ov 'Hpctx Aeas nraXctioTctrov^ dv fJLVYifJiri ctv9gccTrivr\ Sicecroo^BTctC 

a to Ap^eia c H^axA£B5. ac.A. Arrian. Expedit. Alex. p. 88. 

Diodorus Sic. L. 3. p. 195. 196. and p. 200. 

L 2 


66 


Arabia: 



76 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

Arabia: but the people upon the Indus infilled, that he was 
a native of their 67 country ; and that the city Nufa, near 
mount Meru, was the true place of his birth. There were, 
however, fome among them, who allowed, that he came into 
their parts from the weft ; and that his arrival was in the 
moft ancient times. He taught the nations, whither he came, 

a 

to build and to plant, and to enter into focieties. To effedi 
this, he collected the various families out of the villages, in 
which they dwelt, and made them incorporate in towns and 
cities, which he built in the moft commodious fituations. 
After they were thus eftablifhed, he gave them laws, and in- 
ftrudied them in the worfhip of the Gods. He alfo taught 
them to, plant the vine, and to extradt the juice of the 
grape; together with much other falutary knowledge. This 
he did throughout all his 68 travels, till he had conquered 
every region in the Eaft. Nor was it in thefe parts only, 
that he (hewed himfelf fo beneficent a conqueror \ but over all 
the habitable 69 world. The account given by the Egyptians 
is confonant to that of the Indians : only they fuppofe him to 

67 Aioroo-a oaroyoms Ofu^axcss.' Strabo. L. 15. p. 1008. The Tyrians laid the 
-dme claim to him. T ov Zstowaov Tvpiot vofAi^xaiv sccvtow etvca. A.chill,. Tatius. L. 2*. 
p. 67. So did like wife the Cretans, and the people of Naxos. Some of the JLh 

\ ) lie was d q in the grotto of the Nymphs upon the rivex 

Iriton, Didor.. S;c. L. 3. p. 20.2. 203. Concerning Dionufus the benefadtor, 
fee Arrian. Hi ft.. Ind.. p. 321. 

Oi his coming to India from the well. Philoftratus L,. 2. p. 64, E7 rv&uTO.v cvjtov 

Aacupi.ov. 

68 Of his travels, fee Strabo. L. 1.5. p, 100S. 

69 Top S' &v /\lQpUO-OV, fJ.BTCC ^ pcc'TOTTSS'B 'GTOLO’CtV T Y,V QlXBft£V 7 )V} S'lS'CZ§~CM 

tpuTSiav tb afJ. 7 TS.\B. Diodor. Sic. L. 3. p. 197. 

K«i 'zzrpo AAs|;a;i 0£>«, Z^ioi'vaB 'zzrepi "sroAAos ?\.oyos xccTf^ySi^ cos kcci tbtb ^pctTSu- 

scctyros is IrJ'e?. Arrian. Hift. Indie, p. 3x8. 

have- 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 77 

* 

* 

have been of their own country ; and to have fet out by the 

« 

way of Arabia and the Red Sea, till he arrived at the extre- 

♦ 

mities of the Eaft. He travelled alfo into 70 Lybia, quite to 
the Atlantic; of which performance Thymostes is fajd to 
have given an account in an ancient Phrygian poem. After 
his Indian expedition, which took him up three years, he 
paffed from Alia by the Hellefpont into Thrace, where Ly- 
curgus withftood him, and at laft put him to flight. He 
came into Greece ; and was there adopted by the people, and 
reprefented as a native of their country. He vifited many 
places upon the Mediterranean ; efpecially Campania, and the 

0 

coaft of Italy, where he was taken prifoner by the Hetrurian 
pirates. Others fay, that he conquered all 71 Hetruria. He 
had many attendants ; among whom were the Tityri, Satyri, 
Thyades, and Amazons. The whole of his hiftory is very 
inconfiftent in refpeff both to time and place. Writers there¬ 
fore have tried to remedy this by introducing different peo¬ 
ple of the fame name. Hence Dionufus is multiplied into 
as many 7Z perfonages as Hercules. His hiftory was looked 
upon as very interefting ; and therefore was the chief theme 
of all the ancient 73 bards. His flight, ftyled <pvyY) Aioi/vtr'd, 
was particularly 74 recorded. He was the fame as Ofiris; 

and 


70 Diodorus. L. 3. p. 2.04. 

71 lyf'us xcci TvftYtt'Zs Xey'datv^.cos xccrsp'pe^pxro (Aicvug-q$). Ariftid. Orat. in DionuC 


P- 54 


7 - 


Cic. de Nat. Deor. L. 3. c. 23.. Of the various places of his birth, fee Dio¬ 
dorus Sic. L. 3. p. 2.00. 

73 Linus,. Orpheus, Panopides, Thymcetes,. and D.ionyfius Milefius. Diodorus 
Sic. L. 3. p. 201. 

74 It was a common fubjedl for Elegy. Plutarch. Ills et Ofir. 







7 8 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


and many of the latter mythologies acknowledged this truth 
Aiyuitrm pep yxg top wag xvtms $ew On gw cvopagopeva 
<pu<fiv sivoa Ttv 'Gr&g 'EAA^i Aiovvaror tbtov <5 s pvQoXoy&irtv 
girsXhiP tsrctffetv Tt\D ouczspsvr)v—iQpotcag h mi th$ Ivfog tov 


§sov TtsTov iff vie ioLvrois a. ftopcLVz&tti yeyovBvcti 


The Egypt, 


fays 75 Diodorus, maintain that their God OJiris is no other than 
the Dionufus of Greece : And they farther mention , that he tra¬ 


the Dionufus of Greece : And they farther mention , that he tra¬ 
velled over the face of the whole earth—In like manne?~ the Indi 
affure us , that it is the fame Deity, who was converfatit in their 


he Indi 


76 


country . 
Dionufus 


cording to the Grecian mythology* 


fented as having been twice born 


and is faid 


is repre- 
have had 


two fathers and two mothers 


He was alfo expofed 


77 


Ark, and wonderfully preferved 


The purport of which 


hiftories is pla 


We muft however for the moft part 


lloiTKTOfJieQcc <Te rw eto^iv cltto Aiqvvct& 9 x<zi 'motXctioit Sivou aipoSpct rorov, xcu 
fjipyicf'cus evzgyecricas xctTctTz9stcr8cti too ysvsi tccv ctv8pco7rc^u% Diodorus Sicul. L. 4* 
p. 210. 

A ivov (petal tois riehocayncois ypacfJLfJuxai auvToL^ac/xevov Ttt $ t&'& rpa)T*s &tovwr& 'wpsc.^ei?* 
Diodorus Sic. L. 3. p. 201. 

75 L. 4. p. 201. 

Tor Qcripiv Z^iowaov eivcci A eywtv m Herod. L. 2. c. 4.2. c. 14 5 # 

76 The Indians gave the fame account of Dionufus, as the Egyptians did of Ofiris. 
rioA/as T6 oixvaca (A towtrov) xcci vofA&s ^eaQcti t riai •gtoT&giVj own ts S'ompct IvS'ois 
yevzaBctt'—'Tccti airetpeiv S'i£<z£,cti rnv ymv y S'iS'ovtcl ccvtov cr7regf*.a.Tct—~ fiocts t£vtt 

ctgoTgu>Qevt;czt Aiovucov nxrgMTov'—*-xcct creGeiv on eS i i<Pcc.£e Aforwros— jctA. Arrian. 

Hift. Indie, p. 321. 

77 Paufan. L. 3. p. 272. As his rites came originally from Chaldea, and the 
land of Ur, he is in confequence of it often flyled Tlvpiyzvns^ and Tlvpunrogoe. Strabo. 

L. 13. p. 932. Ea 0 £, ptetxctp Afoiwe, FITPISnOPE, rctvpofAeT&7r£. Orphic. 

% 

Hymn. 44. v. 1. 


iider 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 79 

fider the account given of Dionufus, as the hiftory of the 
Dionufians. This is twofold. Part relates to their rites and 
religion ; in which the great events of the infant world, and 
the prefervation of mankind in general were recorded. In 
the other part, which contains the expeditions and conquefts 
of this perfonage, are enumerated the various colonies of the 
people, who were denominated from him. They were the 
fame as the Ofirians and Herculeans; all of one family, 
though under different appellations. I have fhewn, that 
there were many places, which claimed his birth; and as 
many, where was fhewn the fpot of his interment. Of thefe 
we may find famples in Egypt, Arabia, and India ; as well 
as in Africa, Greece, and its iflands. For the Grecians, 
wherever they met with a grot or a cavern facred to him, 
took it for granted that he was bom there: and wherever 
he had a taphos, or high altar, fuppofed, that he was there 
78 buried. The fame is alfp obfervable in the hiftory of all 
the Gods. 

From what has been laid we may perceive that the lame 
hiftory has been appropriated to different perfonages : and if 
we look farther into the annals of the fxrft acres, we fhall 

O * 

find more inftances to the fame purpofe. It is faid of 79 Cro¬ 
nus, and Aftarte, that they went over the whole earth; dif- 
pofing of the countries at their pleafure, and doing good 
wherever they came. Cronus in confequence of it is repre- 

78 There was a cavern, where they fupp.ofed him to be buried, at Delphi, Tz-ccpx 
Xpucreu A7roAAwr/. Cyril, contra Jul. p. 342. 

79 Kpovos 'Tsrepizwv 'rm oiT&f&yn*. S.aachoniath. apud Eufeb. Prasp. Evaijg. L. 1. 

C. 20. p. 38. 


fented 



8o 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology 


♦ 

fented as an univerfal So benefactor ; who reclaimed men from 

* 

their favage way of life, and taught them to pafs their days 
in innocence and truth. A like account is given of Oura- 
nus, the great king of the 81 Atlantians, who obferving man¬ 
kind in an unfettled and barbarous flate, fet about building 
cities for their reception ; and rendered them more humane 
and civilized by his inftitutions and laws. His influence was 
very extenfive; as he is fuppofed to have had the greater 
part of the world under his rule. All this, and what was 
above done by Cronus and Aftarte, the Grecians attributed to 
Apollo and Themis. Strabo mentions from the hiflorian 
Ephorus, that the oracle at Delphi was founded by thefe two 
82 deities at the time, when Apollo was going over the world 
doing good to all mankind. He taught the nations, where 
he came, to be more 83 gentle and humane in their manners ; 
and to abflain from their wild fruits, and foul banquets : 
affording them instructions how to improve themfelves by 
cultivation. 

Some of thefe perfons are mentioned as proceeding in a 
pacific manner : hut thefe peregrinations in general are re- 


s ° Toy fJLSV BV K pouov QVTCt 'ZtTpSCrSvTOCTOV (3OiCTi^ZX y€vSO~QcCl* ItCtl TBS xa0 ZCLVTOV CLP- 

Qpk) 7 r&$ £§ otygiB citcaTYis ets (3iov vpiepov fjcerct^ncrcu, kcu cT mz tbto ct7rpJ s o%'M pteyccXvs 
tv^ovtcc Ts-oAAye e7re?J)eiv tts oiKVfjLBvtis tottbs' eicrvywctaBa'i S'e tctccvi tup t£ 

<ruiw xou tup a7rAoT>iTa tvs Diodorus Sicul. L. 5. p. 334. 

81 Ougccvov—TBs ctvQpoo 7 rB$ airooocS'Yiv qikbvtccs avvctyccytiv eis TcroAews Tcrg^CoAor, kcu 

TVS yJcV CLVOUICCS Kctl S’VptQoS'BS (3iB ‘TxTiXVrjCU - KCCTCCytJW&CtGdctl cTg CCVTOP TVS QIVt&lJLZVm TUP 

'ZoA ei^w. Diodorus Sicul. L. 3. p. 189. 

Sz A7toAA<wi/o. y.STct &)feA varai fid^opievop to ysvos vfxcav 9 eirct tw co(peXsi(zv 

ei7rct)ifj ct i eis tiyLepoTVTct 'urpdKcttietTo. Strabo. L. 9. p. 646. 


8j Ko-Q’ ov ^ovov ATroAAcora t vv yyv zinovra, *\fj.zp3v tbs ctpdpotTT&S cctto tb tojp olvv~ 
fiSptov x,ctp7rcop Ttcti fiioov. Ibid. 


7 


prefented 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 8i 

i 

prefented as a procefs of war ; and all that was effected, was 
fuppofed to have been by conqueft. Thus Ofiris, Hercules, 
Perfeus, Dionufus, difplayed their benevolence fword in 
hand : and laid every country under an obligation to the 
limits of the earth. The like is faid of Zeuth, the Zeus of 

~ 0 to » 

Greece, who was an univerfal conqueror and benefactor : 
s+ Toy A ax itvgiov ysvopLsvov tmv qKwv skskOsiv oltoltc/.v ty\v oikx- 

fj.svqv , svsgysT&vTa. to ysvog tuv a.v6g(*)7Cwv m heveyjteiv (5s olvtov 

jccu coopLOLTog poopLy kczi Toug oCKKaig dnoLVoug ccgsToug, kou < 5 \ol 

tbto Tcrgy zvgiov ysvs&ou ra c TvptTOLVTog KO<rp,a. Zeus (or j“- 
piter) having got the intire fupremacy marched over the whole 
earth , benefiting ??iankind wherever he came. And as he was a 
perf on of great bodily Jlrength , and at the fame time had every 
princely quality , he very foon J'ubdued the whole world. 

No mention is made of any conquefts atchieved by Orus 
and the reafon is, becaufe he was the fame as Ofiris. Indeed 
they were all the fame perfonage : but Orus was more parti¬ 
cularly Ofiris in his fecond ftate ; and therefore reprefented 
by the ancient Egyptians as a child. What is omitted by 
him, was made up by his immediate fuccefior Thoules ; who 
like thofe, who preceded, conquered every country, which 
was inhabited. 85 EiTot Ocrigig, post)’ ov £lgog, mi pLSTcc olvtov 

@%hr}g, og mi soog t% uksolv b tstoltolv ty\v yr,v 'sroLgeiKtysv. After 
him (that is, Sous, or Sofis,) came Ofiris ; a?id then Orus : to 


84 Diodorus Sicul. L. 3. p. 195. 

The wanderings of Ills and Iona relate to the fame 
of Cadmus. 


hi (lory : as do like wife thofe 


8s Eufebii Chron. p. 7. 1, 37. 


VOL. II. 



I 


M 


whom 



82 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

f whom fucceeded ‘Thoules , who conquered the whole earth quite to 

the ocean . The like hiftory is given of him by 86 Suidas, and 

♦ 

by the author of the 87 Chronicon Pafchale. 

Thefe accounts I have collated, and brought in fucceflion 
to one another ; that we may at a view fee the abfurdity of 
the hiftory, if taken in the common acceptation. And how¬ 
ever numerous my inftances may have been, I fhall introduce 
other examples before I quit the fubjedh I muft particularly 
fpeak of an Egyptian hero, equally ideal with thofe above- 
mentioned ; whofe hiftory, though the moft romantic and 
improbable of any, has been admitted as credible and true. 
The perfon, to whom I allude, is the celebrated Sefoftris. 
Moft of the ancient hiftorians fpeak of his great atchieve- 
ments ; and the moft learned of the modern chronologifts 
have endeavoured to determine his sera, and point out the 
time of his reign. But their endeavours have been fruitlefs ; 
and they vary about the time when he lived not lefs than a 
thoufand years: nay, fome differ even, more than this in the 
sera, which they aflign to him. 

86 ©bA LS m r O*JTGS eS&criXevcrs 'z&acnis Aiyv^TBy xcli ecus ooxeocvB* xca fjucty t cov ev 
ctvroo vvcroov excc?vecrev ocnro tb ovoficcros ©«A«r. Suidas. 

87 Met cc Oaigiv eScco-iXevaev Opo$' xou jj&tol tgv Qpov eZcttriXevG'e ©bA oq-is 'ttctpe*- 
Aafe fierce S'vvcc^lscos nvos •mocaa.v t yiv yvv zoos tb coxsccvb* Chron.. Pafch. p. 46.. 

He is mentioned by Cedrenus. ©bA>?$, os zcos tb cox.eciv& 'arccactu tw yn& 

r &cc£eiXn<£ev. p. zq 0 


-fESOSTRIS. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


83 


SESOSTRIS. 

0 

» 

A M O N G the writers, who have written concerning this 
^ extraordinary perfonage, Diodorus Siculus is the moft 
uniform and full ; and with his evidence I will begin my 
account. He 1 informs us, that, when this prince was a 
youth, he was intruded by his father with a great army. 
He upon this invaded Arabia: and though he was obliged 
to encounter hunger and third; in the wilds, which he tra- 
verfed ; yet he fubdued the whole of that large traft of coun¬ 
try. He was afterwards fent far into the weft; where he 
conquered all the regions of Lybia, and annexed great part 
of that country to the kingdom of Egypt. After the death 
of his father he formed a refolution to fubdue all the na¬ 
tions upon earths Accordingly having fettled every thing 
at home, and appointed governors to each province, he fet 
out with an army of fix hundred thoufand foot, and twenty 
four thoufand horfe, and twenty feven thoufand armed 
chariots. With tbefe he invaded the Ethiopians to the 
fouth; whom he defeated and made tributaries to Egypt. 
He then built a fleet of fhips upon the Red fea: and he is 
recorded as the firft perfon, who conftrudted veffels fit for 
diflant navigation. With thefe by means of his generals he 
fubdued all the fea-coaft of Arabia, and all the coaft upon 
the ocean as far as India. In the mean time he marched in 

! Diodorus Sicul. L. i.p. 49. 

'S M -2 




8 4 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


perfon with a puiftant army by land, and conquered the 
•whole continent of Alia. He not only overran the coun¬ 
tries, which Alexander afterwards invaded; but eroded both 

the Indus, and the Ganges ; and from thence penetrated to 

# + 

the eaftern ocean. He then turned to the north, and at¬ 
tacked the nations of Scythia ; till he at lad; arrived at the 
Tanais, which divides Europe and Alia. Here he founded 
a colony : leaving behind him fome of his people, as he had 
juft before done at a Colchis. Thefe nations are faid to the 
laft to have retained memorials of their original from Egypt. 
About the fame time Alia Minor, and moft of the iflands 
near it, fell into his hands. He at laft palled into 3 Thrace, 
where he is faid to have been brought into fome difficulties. 
He however perlifted, and fubdued all the regions of Europe. 
In moft of thefe countries he erected pillars with hierogly- 
phical inferiptions ; denoting that thefe parts of the world 
had been fubdued by the great Sefoftris, or, as 4 Diodorus ex- 
preftes his name, Seloolis. He likewife eredted ftatues of 
himfelf, formed of ftone, with a bow and a lance : which 
ftatues were in length four cubits and four palms, according 
to the dimenlions of his own height and ftature. Having 
thus finilhed his career of 5 vidtory, he returned laden with 


Herodot 


yWpoLV Q7TAcT 


KCCt 



/• 


Syncellus. p. 59, 60. 

3 Diodorus Sicul. above. He was near lofing his \yhole army 

4 T>;y cT'e TY)l 

otv5 /leo-7rQT&v 2 scxocejcris . Diodor. Sicul. ibid. 

• * - 

% 

5 He pafied through all Ethiopia to the Cinnamon country. Strabo. L. 17. 
p. 1138. This muft be Indica Ethiopia, and the ifland Seran-Dive. Hence came 
Cinnamon : here were —/jAa* >:cu evrtypcc^cc 1 . 

Venit ad occaium, mundique extrema Sefoftris. Lucan. L. 10. v. 27 6. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 85 

fpoils to Egypt, after an abfence of 6 nine years ; which is 
one year lefs, than was attributed to the expeditions of Her¬ 
cules. 

The detail given by this hiftorian is very plain and pre- 
cife : and we proceed very regularly and minutely in a geo¬ 
graphical feries from one conqueft to another : fo that the 
ftory is rendered in fome degree plaufible. But we may 
learn from Diodorus himfelf, that little credit is to be paid 
to this narration, after all the pains he may have taken to 
win upon our credulity. He ingenuoufly owns, that not 
only the Grecian writers, but even the priefts of Egypt, and 
the bards of the fame country, varied in the accounts, which 
they gave of this hero ; and were guilty of great inconliftence. 
It was therefore his chief labour to collect what he thought 
moft credible, and what appeared molt confonant to the me¬ 
morials in Egypt, which time had fpared : 7 Ta 'W'i&cx.vcctcx.T cc, 

KOU T Oig V7tOL%yX<XlV £Tl XClTOt TY\V 'fcOOgOtV TOC (JLOiXig-Oi > 

tpmsvTct otshOsiv. But, as thefe memorials confifted chiefly 
in hieroglyphics, I do not fee how it was poflible for Dio¬ 
dorus to underhand, what the bards and priefts could not 
decipher. The adjuftment of this hiftory, had it been prac¬ 
ticable, fhould have been the work of a native Egyptian, 
and not of a perfon either from Greece, or Sicily. This 


'Xeucoq-'pis erv fJLYi) os ctTcco’ctu e^sipcfoaccro tw Amcor bv encvjTQis ewecc. Syncellus. 


P- 59 


Some make him advance farther, and conquer all Europe : opioids V7rercc^e 
*rw Aaiav 'zudGQLv^ xcti THN ETPnPIHN, niv Sxu'hxv, kccl t m> M vmxv. Chron. 
Pafch. p. 47. Herodotus thinks that he did not proceed farther than Thrace. E. 2. 


c. 103. 

7 Diodorus Sicul. L. 1. p. 49. 


writer 



86 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

writer afterwards mentions the mighty 8 works of Sefoftris 
Upon his return into Egypt: the temples, which he built* 
and the great entrenchments, which he made to the eaft, to 
guard the country from the Arabians : and having enume¬ 
rated the whole of his actions, he concludes with an inge¬ 
nuous confeftion, that 9 little could be obtained, that was pre- 
cifely true. He has without doubt culled the moft pro¬ 
bable achievements of this hero ; and coloured and arranged, 
them to the bed advantage : yet they dill exceed belief. 
And if after this care and difpodtion they feem incredible, 
how would they appear in the garb, in which he found them? 
Vet the hidory of this perfonage has been admitted as cre¬ 
dible by the mod learned 30 writers and chronologids: though^ 
as I before mentioned, they cannot determine the asra of his 
reign within a thoufand years. Sir John Marfham and Sir 
Ifaac Newton fuppofe him to have been the Sefac of the fcrip- 
tures ; and confequently bring his reign down to the time of 
Rehoboam king of Judah. But the only realbn for this, as 
far as I can perceive, feems to be, that Sefoftris is repre- 
fented as a great conqueror ; and Sefac is prefumed from his 
large 11 army to have been fo likewife. But there is nothing 

s Of all the great actions of Sefoftris, fee Marfham. Can. Chron. Sec. 14. p. 354. 

9 Ulegi cPg tht gov to a ex.QecrQcti /xg t’ axpi&iM & pccf'tov. Diodor. Sicul. 
L. 1. p. 52. 

10 Sir John Marftiam 9 s Can. Chron. Sec, 14. p. 354* 

Sir Ifaac Newton’s Chronolgy. p. 217. 

1 Kings. C. 14. v. 25, 26. And it came to pafs , that in the fifth year of kiitg 
Rehoboam Shi f oak king of Egypt came up againft Jerufalem (becaufe they had tranfgreffed 
cigainfl the Lord) \ with twelve hundred chariots: and threefcore thoufand horfemen ; and 
the people were without number , that came with him out of Egypt , the Lubims , the Suk- 
kiimSy and the Ethiopians . 2. Chron, c. 12. v. 2, 3. 

L 


more 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 



more faid of Sefac, than that he formed a plan of conquering 
the king of Judah ; and accordingly came with the army be- 
forementioned, to put his defign in execution. But the 
Jz capital being delivered into his hands without the lead: re- 
fiftance, and the king intirely fubmitting himfelf to his will; 
he contented himfelf with the rich plunder, which he found, 
and which he carried away at his departure. We may alfo 
infer from the fervitude, to which the people of Judah were 
reduced, that he impofed upon them fome future contribu¬ 
tions. This is the whole of the hiftory of Sefac, or Shifhak : 
by whom no other expedition was undertaken that we know 
of: nor is there mention made upon record of a fingle battle, 
which he fought. Yet from a notion that Sefac was a great 
warrior, he is made the fame as Sefoftris : and the age of the 
latter is brought down very many centuries beneath the sera, 
to which the beft writers have adjudged it. When we differ 
from received tradition, we fhould not pafs over in filence 
what is faid on the contrary part ; but give it at large, and 
then fhew our reafons for our departure from it. I have 
taken notice of the fuppofed conquerors of the earth : and 
among them of the reputed deities of Egypt, who came un¬ 
der the names of Ofiris, Perfeus, Thoules, &c. Thefe are 
fuppofed, if they ever exifted, to have lived in the firft ages 
of the world, when Egypt was in its infant ftate : and Se- 
foftris is made one of their number. He is by forne placed 
after Orus ; by others after Thoules ; but ffcill referred to the 
firfl ages. He is reprefented under the name of Sethos, 53 Se- 


JZ n«paAaSa:v Se S^craxos ctuct^nn rnv 'zvoAiv. Jofeph. Antiq. L. 8.. c. 10. 
u Sechofis of Jofephus contra Apion. L- i. p. 447 - 

thoflSy 



88 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

thofis, Sefoofis, Sefonchofis, Sefoftris ; but the hiftory, with 
which thefe names are accompanied, fhews plainly the iden¬ 
tity of the perfonage. Eufebius in reckoning up the dynafty 
of kings, who reigned after Hephaiftus or Vulcan, mentions 
them in the following order : 14 “Then fucceeded his fon Helius ; 
after him Sofes , then Oferis , then Or us , then Thoules , who con¬ 
quered the whole earth to the ocean % and lajl of all Sefofris. 
The 15 Scholiaft upon Apollonius Rhodius calls him Sefon¬ 
chofis ; and places him immediately after Orus, and the third 
in fucceflion from Ofiris : giving at the fame time an account 
of his conquefts. He adds that he was the perfon, whom 
Theopompus called Sefoftris. The fame Scholiaft quotes a 
curious pafiage from Dicaearchus, in which Sefonchofis main¬ 
tains the fame rank, and was confequently of the higheft 
antiquity. lG Dicaearchus in the firjl booh of his hifory mentions , 
that immediately after the reign of Orus , the fon of Ifs and 
Ofris , in Egypt , the government devolved to Sefonchofs : fo that 
fro 7 n the time of Sefonchofs to IVilus were two thoufand years. 
Cedrenus 17 calls him Sefoftris ; and mentions him after Ofiris, 
and Orus, and Thoules ; which laft was by the above writer 
omitted. Oc rigig. £lgo$. 08 /\^s. (jlbtol Jg tutov Zstrws'gis. The 


* 4 Eufeb. Chron. p. 7. 1 . 43. ©aA«s # fierce S'e tbtqv 

15 ^eo'oy%'wai$} Aiyvirm 'z&ctms @ccai?iev$ fjjcToc ms laiS'os xcci Ocripidos 'zuoui'a^ 

mv pitv Aaiccv ocpoicrccs 'vcraactv xccTe^rpe^ccTo^ opLoi&s <Pe tcc 'urAei^'cc ms Eupooms* 
OsoTTOfA'iros S'e ev rgiTc? cturov xcc^ei. Schol. in Apollon. Argonaut. 

L. 4. v. 272. 

16 /\ixoLictp%' 0 $ sv 'ZtTpcoTte, pLSrcc T ov IcriiPos xca OaipiS^os Clpov^ (ZctcriAecz. yeyovsvai 
'Xsa'OyXjuaiv Aeyei* yerecrQczi cltto ms HHe<7oy%wcri<S'o$ ficccriAeiccs f^s^pi ms Ns/Ab 
em cT L<r%iXicc. Schol. in Apollon. Argonaut, ibid. 

17 Cedrenus. Y. 1. p. 20. Ofiris, Orus, Thoules, Sefoftris. 


au thor 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 89 

author of the Chronicon Pafchale makes Orus to have been 
fucceeded by the fame perfonage, as is mentioned above* 
whom he calls Thoulis ; and next to him introduces Sefoftris. 
He relates all his great conquefts ; and gives us this farther 
information, that this prince was the firft of the line of Ham, 
who reigned in Egypt: in other words, he was the iirft king 
of the country. 18 Ev tbto ig (jlstix, tclvtcl ygovoig £oa<n?\.sug 

roov Aiyv7moov 'STgoorog bk t rig <pvhYis TOT XAM 19 2 sc rug-gt;. 
Ariftotle {peaks of Sefoftris ; but does not determine the time 
of his reign on account of its great antiquity. He only fays 
that it was long before the age of 20 Minos, who was fup- 
pofed to have reigned in Crete. Apollonius Rhodius, who 
is thought to have been a native of Egypt, fpeaks of the 
great actions of this prince ; but mentions no name : not 
knowing, I imagine, by which properly to diftinguilh him, 
as he was reprefented under fo many. He however attri- 

par- 


butes to him every thing, which is faid of ** Sefoftris 


,s Succeeded by 4 >oipxco. Chron. Pafch. p. 48. 

19 Joannes Antiochenus has borrowed the fame hiftory, and calls this king 
Softris. TUCotaitevaev Aiyvimctov •zvpcoTos ex tvs <f>uXvs tb Xa/x p. 28. He 

adds* that Softris, or Sefoftris, lived in the time of Hermes, 'Eppcvso Tpis-fJLzyiq~os 
Aiyv7rnos. He was fucceeded by Pharaoh, the firfl: of the name. Ibid. 

Herodotus calls him Pheron, and Pherona. L. 2. c. 111. 

* 9 rioAu v7repTeivsi to/s ^§ovots tvv Tsitvso /BccaiXetav v 'S,ecrcio$'pios. Politic. L. 7. 
c. 10. 

11 Apollon. Argonaut. L. 4. v. 272. EiOep S'v twcl (pctai — 'Xeo‘oy%p)ais 3 Kiyu7TT3 

TSTCLtrys $cco‘iAev$ m —©eQ7ro/j.7rcs cTs tv Tptraj Hefra^-piv ccvtov Schol. ibid. 

ttepi S e t oov ovoov 7 kc&' bs eytvero 'Xeo-oy%poG‘is, o pnev A7roAAwms tbto pxovov 

<py<rt) rsroXvs yocg ctS'vv ct7revvvoQev cticov. Schol. ibid. 

Lycophron fpeaks of Apollo 'Zca^vgios^ and a promontory TLoo^vpiov, tv 4 legw 
'Zoornpte ATroAAwros. Schol. ad v. 1278. 


VOL. II. 


N 


ticularly 



90 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

* 

ticularly the fettling a colony at Colchis, and building innu¬ 
merable cities in the countries, which he traverfed : 

[JLVglCL (T 0t5"n 

Ntz<rcrccT £7 Toij(P(jlsvo $. 

He reprefents him as conquering all Alia and Europe ; and 
this in times fo remote, that many of the cities, which he 
built, were in ruins before the asra of the Argonauts. 

From what has been faid, we may perceive that, if fuch a 
perfon as Sefoftris had exifted, his reign mult have been of 
the earlieft date. He is by fome reprefented as fucceeding 
Thoules : according to others he comes one degree higher, 
being introduced after 22 Orus, who in the catalogue of Pan- 
odorus is placed firft of the Demigods, that reigned in 
Egypt 5 but by 23 Herodotus is ranked among the deities. 
According to Dicasarchus the reign of Sefoftris was two thou- 
fand five hundred years before Nilus : and the reign of the 
latter was four hundred and thirty-fix years before the firft 
Olympiad. I do not place the leaft confidence in thefe 
computations ; but would only ffiew from them that the per¬ 
fon fpoken of muft be referred to the mythic age, to the aera 
of the Demigods of Egypt. Some of thefe evidences are 
taken notice of by Sir John Marffiam; who cannot extri¬ 
cate himfelf from the difficulties, with which his fyftem is 

Sdiol. Apollon. L. 4. v. 272. Syncellus joins him with Serapis. p. 91.. 

Herodotus. L. 2. c . 144. 

(Jv7ro) reifscc 'wccvtol. k.t.A. Apollon. L. 4. v. 261. See the whole, and SchoL 
ibid. 

5,4 Canon. Chronic. Sec. 10. p. 23S. 239. 


attended. 





The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 91 

attended. He has taken for granted, that Sefoftris arid Se- 
conchofis are the Sefac of the Scriptures ; though every cir- 
cumftance of their hiftory is repugnant to that notion. 
25 I know not) fays he, what to make of this Sefonchofs ; who is 
reprefented as five thoufand years before Me?ies , and who is refer¬ 
red to the time of the Demigods. In another place : Sefofris y 
who is in the twelfth Dynafly of Africanus , and whofe cera ex¬ 
tends higher , than the Canon of Eufebius reaches , reig7ted accord¬ 
ing to Scaliger s computation in the 1392 d year of the fulian 
Period. By this calculation Sefofris is made prior to Sefofris ; 
and this too by no lefs than 235 5 years : for it is manifef y as 
I will foew from Scripture , that Sefofris undertook his expe¬ 
dition into Afa y and got poffefjion of ferufalem in the 4.7 th 
year of the Period abovementioned. What is faid in the facred 
writings, I have taken notice of before. Not a word occurs 
about Sefoftris, nor of any fuch Afiatic expedition. I am 
obliged to fay, that through the whole of this learned writer’s 
procefs, inftead of a proof, we find nothing elfe but the ques¬ 
tion begged, and fome inferences of his own in confequence 
of this affumption. He indeed quotes the authority of Ma¬ 
ne thon from Jofephus, to prove that the great actions of Se¬ 
foftris were the fame as were performed by Sefac. But Ma- 
nethon fays no fuch thing : nor does Jofephus attribute any 

Quis igitur Sefonchofis ille, qui, Menen antcvertens annis amplius 5000, inter 
Semideos locum habere videatur ? Marfham. Canon. Chronic. Sec. 10. p. 238. 

Sefoftris in XII. Africani Dynaftia (quae Eufebiani Canonis epocham antevertit) 
ex Scaligeri calculis regnavit anno Per. Jul. 1392 : quo ratiocinio Sefoftris fadlus 
eft annos 2355 ipfo Sefoftre fenior. Nam ex S. literis (fuo loco) apparebit, Se- 
foftrim expeditionem fufeepifie in Afiam* et Hierofolyma cepifie Anno Per. Jul. 
3747. Ibid. p. 239. 


N 2 


fuch 



92 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

fuch exploits to Sefac : but exprefsly fays more than once, 
that Sefac, and Sefoftris were two different 26 perfons. ft is 
no where faid of Sefac, that he made an expedition into Alia; 
much lefs that he conquered it, as is fuppofed of Sefoftris. 
Sefac went up againft Jerufalem, and took it, ct^OL^Ti , with¬ 
out meeting with any oppofition. Upon this he departed, 
and carried with him the treafures, which he had there 
feized : in other words, he went home again. There is not 
the leafl mention made of his invading 27 Samaria, or the 
country about Libanus, and Sidon ; or of his marching to 
Syria : all which made but a fmall part of the great Conti¬ 
nent, called in after-times Alia.: much lefs did he vifit the 
countries of the Aflyrians, and Babylonians ; or the regions 
of Elam and the Medes. All this, and much more he inuft 
have done, to have come up to the charadter, to which they 
would fain entitle him. 

I will not enter into any further difcuflion of the great 
conquefts attributed to this fuppofed monarch Sefoftris. 
They are as ideal as thofe of Sefac, and fufficiently confute 
themfelves. Firft Ohris is faid to have conquered the whole 
earth : then Zeus, then Perfeus, then 28 Hercules, all nearly 
of the fame degree of antiquity, if we may believe the belt 
Mythologies. Myrina comes in for a fhare of conqueft in 


zC Antiq. L. 8 . c. io. p. 449. and 450. 

17 He came merely as a confederate to Jeroboam* in favour of the kingdom of 
Iirael ; and his intention was to ruin Judah : but his cruel purpofe was averted by 
the voluntary fubmiflion both of the king and people; and by the treafures they 
gave up to him, which were the purchafe of their fecurity. 

xS Hercules is faid to have commanded the armies of Ofiris. Diodorus SicuL 
L. 1. p. 15. 


the 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


93 


the time of Orus 


After her Thoules fubdues the whole 


from the Eaftern Ocean, to the great Atlantic: and as if no¬ 
thing had been performed before, Sefoftris immediately fuc- 
ceeds, and conquers it over again. 19 Herodotus informs us, 
as a token of thefe victories, that Sefoftris eredted pillars and 
obelifks with emblematical infcriptions : and that he faw 
fome of them in Phrygia, and in other countries, which had 
been conquered. He without doubt faw pillars : but how 
did he know for certain, by whom they were eredted ? 
and who taught him to interpret the fymbols ? Paufanias 


takes 30 notice of a coloflal ftatue in the Thebais, and fays 
that the hiftory given of it was not fatisfadtory. He tells 
us, that it ftood near the Syringes, in upper Egypt; and 
he viewed it with great admiration. It was the figure of a 
man in a fitting pofture ; which fome faid was the reprefen- 
tation of Memnon the Ethiopian : others maintained, that it 
was the ftatue of Phamenophis : and others again, that it re¬ 
lated to Sefoftris. There were here emblems, and fymbols ; 
yet a diverfity of opinions. I want therefore, to know, how 
Herodotus could interpret in Phrygia, what a native could 
not decipher in.Egypt. The fame queftion may be afked 
about the people of Syria, among whom were obelifks attri¬ 
buted to the fame perfon. How came they to be fo deter- 


* 9 L. 2. c. 106. Concerning the interpretation of thefe emblems, fee Joan. Pierii 
Hieroglyph. L. 34. c. 20. 

30 Paufan. L. 1. p. 101. The ftatue remains to this day. In like manner it was 
reported that Dionufus raifed pillars. Strabo. L. 3. p. 260. 

Ev 0 a t£ xai ©nG&iyereo:’ A.'oiwb. Dionys. Perieg. v. 623. 

Hercules eredted the like. All which was done by people fly led Dionyfians and 
Herculeans* 


inmate 



94 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

♦ 


minate about an Egyptian work; when people ..of that coun¬ 
try in the fame circumftances were fo utterly at a lofs ? the 
whole undoubtedly was matter of furmife. I fhall not there¬ 
fore fay any thing more of Sefoftris ; as I muft again fpeak of 
him, when I come to the kings of Egypt. 

If we compare the above hiftories, we may perceive that 
they bear a manifeft limilitude to one another; though they 
are attributed to different perfons. They contain accounts 
of great achievements in the firft ages : in effecting which 
thefe ancient heroes are reprelented as traverling immenfe re¬ 
gions, and carrying their arms to the very limits of the known 
world : the great Tartarian ocean to the eaff, and the At¬ 
lantic weftward, being the boundaries of their travel. Some 
of them feem to have been of the fame age; and to have car¬ 
ried on thefe conquefts at nearly the fame time : and thofe, 
whofe aera may pollibly differ, have this in common with the 
others ; that they vilit the fame countries, march for the 
moft part by the fame rout; and are often joined by the lame 
allies, and are followed by the like attendants. They are in 
general efteemed benefactors, wherever they go : and carry 
the fciences with them, as well as their religious rites ; hr 


which they inftrucft the natives in different parts of the world. 
Thefe are to be fure noble occurrences; which however 
could not pollibly have happened, as they are reprefented 
above. It is not to be fuppofed, that any perfon in thofe 
early ages, or in any age, could go over fuch a traCt of coun¬ 


try 


much 


that he fhould fubdue 


mn 


more 


improbable, that fuch extenlive conquefts fhould be fo im¬ 
mediately repeated : and that they fhould in fome inftances 


7 


be 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


95 


be carried on by different people at nearly the fame time. 
They, who fpeak of mighty empires being founded in thofe 
early days, know little of true hiftory ; and have formed a 
very wrong judgment of the politics, which then univerfally 
prevailed. The whole earth, as far as we can learn, was 
divided into little coordinate Hates : every city feems to have 
been fubfervient to its own Judge and Ruler, and independ¬ 
ent of all others. In the land of 31 Canaan thirty-one kings 
were fubdued by Jofhua, between Jordan and the fea : and 
fome were Hill left by him unconquered. In thofe days, 
fays the learned Marfham, quot urbes, tot regna. The like 
was for many ages afterwards obfervable in Greece, as well 
as in Latium, Samnium, and Hetruria. A powerful enemy 
made Egypt unite under one head : and the necefiities of the 
people in a time of dearth ferved to complete that fyftem. 
The lfraelites, too, when fettled in Canaan, formed a large 
kingdom. Excepting thefe two nations we know of none of 


any confiderable extent, that were thus united. 


The 


32. 


Sy¬ 


rians and the PhiliHim were in feparate Hates, and under 
different governors. The kingdoms of Nineve and Baby¬ 
lonia oonfiffed each of one mighty city, with its environs ; in 


villages. 


which were perhaps included fome fubordiriate 

V 

They were properly walled 33 Provinces : and the inhabitants 
were in a- Hate of reff for ages. The Affyrian did not till 


91 Jofhua. c. 12. v. 24. Aclonibezek had threefcore and ten vafiaJ princes at his 
feet if the headsman of every village may be fo called. Judges c. i. v. 7. 

51 Benhadad of Damafcus was attended with thirty-two kings, when he invaded 
Samaria. 1. Kings, c. 20. v. 1. 

35 The people plowed, and lowed, and had fruits, and pailures, within their 
walls. 

ab c u.t 



q6 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


about fev 


hundred 


before Chrift, begin to contend 


for dominion, and make acquifttion of territory : and we 
may form a judgment, from what he then 3+ gained, of what 
he was pofteffed before. The cities Hala, Habor, Haran in 


Mefop 


with Carchemifh upon the Euph 


were 


his firft conquefts 
Iva, and Sepharv? 


> thefe he added the puny ftates Ina, 
upon the fame river. He then 


ceeded to Hamath, Damafcus, and other cities of Sy 


pro- 

and 


laft 


Samaria. The line of conqueft points 


he took 


fhews that there were in Me 


fopotamia numberlefs little ftates, independent of Babylo: 
and Nineve, though in their immediate vicinity. Confe 


the 


notion of the extent, dominion, and antiquity 
of thofe monarchies, as delivered by Ctefias and others, is 
intirely void of truth. The conquefts likewife of thofe He¬ 
roes and Demigods, who are made coeval with the fuppofed 
foundations of thofe monarchies, muft be equally groundless. 


To fay 


truth, the very perfon 


are ideal, and have 


been formed out of the titles of the Deity : and the hiftory, 
with which they are attended, related not to conqueft, but 
to peregrinations of another nature ; to colonies, which went 


abroad, and fettled 


the 


mentioned. The An 


cients, as I have repeatedly faid, have given to a perlon, what 
related to a people : and if we make this fmall allowance, 
the hiftory will be found in great meafure true. 


34 


2 Kings, c. 17. v. 6. and c. 18. v. 11. and v. 34. Ifaiah. c. 10. v. 9. c. 37 


v. 13 


N INUS 



T he Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


97 


N I N U S 


and 


SEMIRAMIS 


H 


AVING given an account of the mythic heroes of 


;ypt, I think 


ceffary to fubj 


an hiftory of 


two others of the like Itamp, who have made no lefs figure 


the annals of Babylon and Afiy 


The perfons, to whom 


allude, are Ninus and Semiramis ; whofe. conquefts, though 


they did not extend fo far as thofe above 


yet alike won 


derful, and equally groundlefs 
was the firft king of 1 Afiyria 
power, he made war on his 
whom he coi 


It is faid of Ninus, that he 
and being a prince of great 
neighbours the Babylonians, 


mans 


conquered. He afterwards invaded the Arme- 
whofe king Barfanes, finding himfelf much inferior 
to his adverlary, diverted his anger by great prefents, and a 
voluntary * fubmifiion. The next objedl of his ambition 
was Media, which he foon fubdued ; and getting Phanius, 
the king of the country, into his hands, together with his 
wife and feven children, he condemned them all to be cruci¬ 
fied. His hopes being greatly raifed by this fuccefs, he pro¬ 
ceeded to reduce all the nations to his obedience between 
the Tanais and the Nile : and in feventeen years he made fo 
great a progrefs, that, excepting Badlria, all Alia fubmitted 
to him as far as the river Indus. In the feries of conquered 
countries Ctefias enumerates Egypt, Phenicia, Coile Syria, 


1 Diodorus Sicul. I_,. 2. p. go 
* Diodorus Sicul. L. 2. p. 91 

VOL. II. 


o 


Cicilia, 



^8 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


Cilicia, Pamphyl 


Ly 


Caria, Phryg 


Myfi 


and the 


Cappadocia, 

Tanais. To thefe are added the Dacians, Hy 


and thofe 


Lydia, 
iar the 
. Der- 


bicians, Carmanians, Parthians, with all Perils and Sufiana, 
and the numerous nations upon the Cafpian fea. After thefe 
notable a<£tions he laid the foundation of the' great city Ni- 
neve ; which by miftake is faid to have been built upon the 
banks of the 3 Euphrates. 


His 


laffc expedition was againfb 


the 


which time he Erft faw Semiramis 


wo 


man of uncommon endowments, and great perfonal charms. 
He had an army which amounted to feven millions of foot, 
and two millions of horfe, with two hundred thouland cha¬ 
riots with fcythes. For the poflibility of which circum- 
ftances Diodorus tries to account in favour of the historian, 
from whom he borrows. By the condudt of Semiramis the 
Badrrians are fubdued ; and Ninus takes the capital of the 
country: upon which in return for her lervices he makes 
Semiramis his queen. Not long after he dies, leaving only 
one fon by this princefs, who was called Ninyas. 

The hiftory of Semiramis is variously related by different 
authors. Some make her a native of Afcalon ; and fay that 
fhe was e.xpofed in the defert, and nourifhed by pigeons. 
She was in this fituation difcovered by a fhepherd named 
Simma. He bred her up, and married her to Menon; whom 

During her foil’s minority fhe af- 


fhe deferted for Ninus. 


un 


fumed the regal date; and the firft work which fhe 
dertook, was the interment of her hufband. She accordingly 
buried him with great fplendor; and raifed over him a 

3 Diodorus Sicul. L. i. p. 92. 


mound 



The Analysis or Ancient Mythology. 99 

mound of earth, no lefs than a mile and a quarter high, 
and proportionally wide at bottom: after which Ihe built 
Babylon. This being finifhed, fhe made an expedition into 
Media ; and wherever fhe came left memorials of her power 
and munificence. This was effected by erecting vaft ffcruc- 
tures, forming lakes, and laying out gardens of great extent; 
particularly in Chaonia and Ecbatana. In fhort, fhe le¬ 
velled hills, and raifed * mounds of an immenfe height, which 
retained her name for ages. After this fire invaded Egypt, 
and conquered Ethiopia, with the greater part of Libya : 
and having accomplifhed her wifh, and there being no ene¬ 
my to cope with her, excepting the people of India, fhe 
refolved to diredfc her forces towards that quarter. She had 
an army of three millions of foot, five hundred thoufand 
horfe, and one hundred thoufand chariots. For the palling 
of rivers, and engaging with the enemy by water, fhe had 
procured two thoufand fhips to be fo conftrudted, as to be 
taken to pieces for the advantage of carriage : which fhips 
were built in Badtria by experienced perfons from Phoenicia, 
Syria, and Cyprus. With thefe fhe entered into a naval en¬ 
gagement with Strabrobates king of India; and at the firfi 
encounter funk a thoufand of his fhips. Upon this fhe built 
a bridge over the river Indus, and penetrated into the heart 
of the country. Here Strabrobates engaged her ; but being 

4 Autjj }JLiv ccttsS et'XTo 2 'm i ucctc(, avoi to tztsS'iov tovTcc Herod. L. I. 

c. 184. 

Such ^ojfAdTcc were raifed by the Amonians in all places where they fettled, 
called Tupoi. 

Four fuch were in Troas. E ici /jlsv bv Xo<poi tstt ceps?, Qh'jjj.7rioi 
Strabo. L. io. p. 720. There were fuch alfo of the Amazons in Mauritania. 

O 2 deceived 



IOO 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


deceived by the numerous appearance of her elephants ait 
firft gave way. For being deficient in thofe animals fhe had 
procured the hides of three thoufand black oxen ; which be- 
ing properly fewed, and fluffed with ftraw, formed an ap¬ 
pearance of fo many elephants. All this was done fo natu¬ 
rally, that the real animals could not Hand the fight. But 
this flratagem being at laft difcovered, Semiramis was obliged 
to retreat, after having loft a great part of her 5 army. Soon 
after this fhe refigned the government to her fon Ninyas, 
and died. According to fome writers, fhe was flain by his 
hand. 

The hiftory of Ninus and Semiramis, as here reprefented. 


is in great meafure founded 


terms, which have been 


mifconftrued 


thefe fidlions have b 


invented 


con 


fequence of the miftakes. Under the character of Semiramis 

Lily to underftand a people ftyled Semarim, a 

rnians. They were called 


we are 


title affumed by the ancient Babylonians. 

Semarim from their infigne, which was a dove, expreffed 
maramas, of which I fhall fpeak hereafter more at large. 


It 


was 


ufed 


objedt of worfhip ; and efteemed the fame 


as Rhea, the mother of the gods 

KcO\H[JLSVY]U WBtg. A<7<TVpi0ig. 


'ZeyLlgCLLLlV 


TY\V 


'P e&v 


If we take 


hiftory of 


as It is given us by 


and others ; nothing can be more inconfiftent. Some 


make her the wife of Ninus 


others fay that fhe was his 


! She carried back but twenty men, according to Strabo. L. 15.. p. 1051. 

Chi on. Pafchale. p. 36. Semiramis was, we find, Rhea: and Rhea was the 

fame as. Cybele, the- mother of" the Gods t tiw Pfestr, KuCsA nai K.u£>iv,. ?ecu A. ivS'u— 
y,:w)v- Strabo.. L. io. p, 721:. 


daughter ; 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


ioi 


7 daughter : and about the time of her birth they vary be¬ 
yond meafure. She is fometimes made coeval with the city 
Nineve : at other times fhe is brought down within a few 
centuries of 8 Herodotus. She invades the Babylonians be¬ 
fore the city was 9 built, from whence they were denomi¬ 
nated : and makes fumptuous gardens at Ecbatana. Hence 
that city is introduced as coeval with Nineve : though, if 
the lead: credit may be given to IO Herodotus, it was built 
many ages after by Deioces the Mede. The city Nineve it- 
felf is by Cteiias placed upon the 11 Euphrates; though every 
other writer agrees, that it lay far to the eaffc, and was 
lituated upon the Tigris. This fhews, how little credit is 


8 


Cononis narrationes apud Phot. p. 427. 

Herodot. L. 1. c. 184. five ages (yeveca) before Nitocris the mother of La- 


bynitus, whom Cyrus conquered. 

It may be worth while to obferve the different opinions of authors about the 


time, when Semiramis is fuppofed to have lived. 


According to Syncellus fhe lived before Chrift 
Petavius makes the term 
Helvicus 
Eufebius 
Mr. Jackfon 
Abp. Ufher 

Philo Biblius from Sanchoniathon (apud Eufeb. Praep. Evang. L. 1. p. 

3.1.) about 
Herodotus about 


Years. 
2x77 
2060 
2 24S 
19S4 
1964 
1215 



1200 


/ 1 3 


What 




the time of whofe life cannot 


be afcertained within 1535 years? for fo great is the difference of the extremes in 
the numbers above given. 

See Dionyf. Perieg. Schok in v. ioc6. 

9 Diodorus Sicul. L. 1. c. 90. 


TO 


XI 


Herodotus. L. 1. p. 93. 
Diodorus SicuL L. i. p. 92. 


to 



102 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

to be paid to Cteflas. The whole account of the fleet of 
fhips built in Badiria, and carried upon camels: to the Indus, 
is a childifh forgery. How can we fuppofe, that there were 
no woods to conftrud fuch vefTels, but in the mold inland 
regions of Alia ? The ftory of the flditious elephants, made 
out of the hides of black oxen, which put to flight the real 
elephants, is another Ally fable. Megafthenes, who wrote of 
India, would not allow that Semiramis was ever in thofe 
12 parts. Arrian lee ms to fpeak of it as a groundlefs 13 fur- 
mife. Her building of Babylon was by 14 Berofus treated as 
a fable. Herennius Philo maintained, that it was built by a 
fon of Belus the wife, two thoufand years before her 15 birth. 
Suidas fays, that fhe called Nineve 16 Babylon : fo uncertain 
is every circumftance about this heroine. She is fuppofed 
to have fent to Cyprus, and Phenicia, for artifts to conftrud, 
and manage the fhips abovementioned ; as if there had been 
people in thofe parts famous for navigation before the founda¬ 
tion of Nineve. They fometimes give to Semiramis herfelf 
the merit of building the 17 Arid fliip ; and likewife the in¬ 
vention of weaving cotton : and another invention more ex¬ 
traordinary, which was that of emafculating lS men, that they 
might be guardians and overfeers in her fervice. Yet it is 

O O 

faid of her, that Are took a man to her bed every night, 

11 Strabo, L. 15. p. 1007. 

13 Arrian. Hift. Ind. p. 318. 

14 Jofephus cont. Ap. L. 1, c. 19. p. 451. 

15 Steph. Byzant. B ocSvAuv. 

> 16 Suidas. 'Xey.ipccfjus. 

T7 Plin. L. 7. p. 417. 

lS Semiramis teneros mares caftravit omnium prims. Marcellinus. L. 14. c. 6. 

7 whom 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 103 

* 

whom flie put to death in the morning. How can it be 
imagined, if fhe was a woman of fuch unbridled 19 luft, that 
fhe would admit fuch fpies upon her actions ? We may as 
well fuppofe, that a felon would forge his own gyves, and 
conftruCt his own prifon. Claudian thinks, that fhe did it 
to conceal her own fex, by having a let of beardlefs people 
about her. 

20 Seu prima Semiramie aftu 
Affyriis mentita virum, ne vocis acutaa 
Mollities, levefque genas fe prodere poffent, 

Hos fibi junxiflet focios : feu Parthica ferro 
Luxuries nafci vetuit lanuginis umbram ; 

Servatofque diu puerili fiore coegit 
Arte retardatam Veneri fervire juventam. 

In refpeCt to Semiramis I do not fee how this expedient could 
avail. She might juft as well have dreffed up her maids in 
mens clothes, and with lefs trouble. In fhort the whole of 
thefe hiftories in their common acceptation is to the laft 
degree abfurd, and improbable : but if we make ufe of an 
expedient, which I have often recommended, and for a 
perfon fubftitute a people, we fhall find, when it is flopped 
of its falfe colouring, that there is much truth in the nar¬ 
ration . 

It was a common mode of expreftion to call a tribe or 
family by the name of its founder : and a nation by the head 
of the line. People] are often fpoken of collectively in the 


*9 

20 


~Xty.ipcifJU5 ?,ocyvos yuvn 3 kxi fxuxtcpava;. 

Claudian. in Eutrop. L. i. v. 3.39. 


Athenag. Legatio. p. 307. 


finenilar 



104 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

lingular under fuch a patronymic. Hence we read in Scrip¬ 
ture, that Ifrael abode in tents ; that Judah was put to the 
v/orft in battle; that Dan abode in fhips; and Afher remained 
on the fea-coaft. The fame manner of fpeaking undoubtedly 
prevailed both in Egypt, and in other countries : and Chus 
muft have been often put for the Cuthites, or Cufeans; 
Amon for the Amonians ; and A flu r, or the Affyrian, for the 
people of Alfyria. Hence, when it was faid, that the Nine- 
vite performed any great adtion, it has been afcribed to a per- 
fon Ninus, the fuppofed founder of Nineve. And as none 
of the Ailyrian conquefls were antecedent to Pul, and Alfur 
Adon, writers have been guilty of an unpardonable anticipa¬ 
tion, in afcribing thofe conquefts to the firft king of the 
country. A like anticipation, amounting to a great many 
centuries, is to be found in the annals of the Babylonians. 
Every thing that was done in later times, has been attributed 
to Belus, Semiramis, and other imaginary princes, who are 
reprefented as the founders of the kingdom. We may, I 
think, be allured, that under the character of Ninus, and 
Ninyas, we are to underftand the Ninevites ; as by Semira¬ 
mis is meant a people called Samarim : and the great adtions 
of thefe two nations are in the hiftories of thefe perfonages 
recorded. But writers have rendered the account incon- 
liftent, by limiting, what was an hiftorical feries of many 
ages, to the life of a fingle perfon. The Ninevites and Sa¬ 
marim did perform all that is attributed to Semiramis, and 
Ninus. They did conquer the Medes, and Badlrians ; and 
extended their dominions weftward as far as Phrygia, and the 
river Tanais, and to the fouthward as far as Arabia, and 



.The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 




Egypt 


But thefe events were many ages after the founda 


of the two kingdoms 


They began under Pul of Ni 


and were carried on by Affur Adon, SalmanafTur 


nacherib, . and other of: his fucceffors 


Nineve was 


laft 


ruined, and the kingdom of Aflyria was united with that of 


\ Babylonia. 


This is probably alluded to in the fuppofed 


marriage of Semiramis and Ninus. 


Then it was, that the 


Samarim performed the great works attributed to them. For 
exclufive of what was performed at Babylon ; ’There are, fays 
“ Strabo,, almoft over the face of the whole earthy vaf 13 mounds 
of earthy and walls , and ramparts, attributed to Semiramis ; 
and in. thefe are fubterraneous paffages of communication , and 


tanks for water , with fair cafes of fone. 


There 


are a 


1 / 0 - 


vaf . canals to divert the courfe of rivers , and lakes to receive 
them ; together with highways and bridges of a wonderful fruc~ - 
ture . They built the famous terraces at ** Babylon ; and 


Babylon ; and 


thofe beautiful gardens at Egbatana, after that city had 


fallen into their hands. 


To them was owing that cruel 


device of emafculating their flaves, that their numerous 
wives and concubines might be more fecurely guarded : 


t3, This is the reafon that we find thefe kingdoms fo often confounded, and the 
Babylonians continually fpoken of as Afiyrians, and fometimes as Perfians. Ba£u- 
A car risparioi 'etoAis. Steph. Byz. 

- ~ Strabo. L. 16. p. 1071. 

Thefe mounds were high altars, upon which they facrificed to the Sun. By 
Ctefias they are fuppofed to have been the tombs of her lovers, whom fhe buried 
alive, Syncellus, p. 64. 


t4 They built Babylon itfelf which by Eupolemus was faid to have been the 
work of Belus, and the Giants. Eufeb. Prasp. L. 9. c. 17. p. 418. Quint. Curt. 
L. 5* c. 1. Abydenus apud Eufeb. Prasp. L. 9. c. 15. Syncellus. p. 44. 


VOL. 11, 


p 


and 


x 



iq6 


The Analysis* or Ancient Mythology. 


an invention, which cannot confidently be attributed- 
to a woman. They found out the art of wearing cot¬ 
ton : which difcovery has by fbme been afBgned ta thafe of 
their family, who went into Egypt: for there were Sama- 
rim here too. In confequence of this, the invention has 
been attributed to a Semiramis, who is here reprefented as a 
man, and a king of the country: or at leaft it is referred to 
his reign. * s ’Em re XefJUgc&fJLsug fianXswg Ajyv7mu)V' roe fiver- 
ertvot ifjioLriot ivgnerOcti I?ogx<riv. The Samarim of Egypt and 
Babylonia, were of the fame family, the Ions of Chus. They 
came and fettled among the Mizraim, under the name of the 
fhepherds, of whofe hiftory I have often fpoken. The: reafon 
of their being called Semarim, and Samarim, I fhall hereafter 
difclofe, together with the purport of the name, and the- hif¬ 
tory, with which it is attended. 




npHE celebrated Zoroafter feems to have been a perfon- 
“*• age as much miftaken, as any, who have preceded. 
The ancients, who treated of him, have deferibed him in 
the fame foreign light as they have reprefented Perfeus, 
Dionufus, and Oliris. They have formed a character, which 
by length of time has been feparated, and eftranged, from the 
perfon, to whom it originally belonged. And as among the 
ancients there was not a proper uniformity obferved in the 

I s Clemens Alexand. Strom. L. i. p. 364. 

appropriation 




Tire Analysis or Ancie-nt Mythology. 107 

appropriation of terms, we {hall find more perfons than one 

Ipoken of under the character of Zoroafter : though there 

* . - ; 

was one principal, to-whom it more truly related. It will be 
•found., that not only the perfon originally recorded and re¬ 
verenced ; but others, by whom the rites were inftituted and 
propagated, and by whom they were in after-times renewed, 
have been mentioned under this title : Priefts'being often de¬ 
nominated from the Deity, whom they ferved. 

Of men, ftyled Zoroafter, the firft was a deified perfon- 
age, reverenced by fome of his pofterity, whofe worfhip was 

Magia, and the profeffor-s of it Magi. His hiftory is 
therefore to be looked for among the accounts tranfmitted 
by the ancient Babylonians, and Chaldeans. They were the 
firft people ftyled Magi; and the inftitutors of thole rites, 
which ^elated to Zoroa ter. From them -this worftiip was 

9 

imparted to the Perfians, who like wife had their Magi. And 
when the Babylonians funk into a more complicated ido¬ 
latry, the Perfians, who fucceeded to the fovereignty of 
Alia, renewed under their Princes, and particularly under 
Darius the fon of Hyftafpes, thefe rites, which had been in 
a great degree effaced, and forgotten. That king was de¬ 
voted to the religion ftyled Magia 26 ; and looked upon it, as 
one of his moft honourable titles, to be called a profeffor of 
thofe dodtrines. The Perfians were originally named Pere- 
fians, from the Deity Perez, or Parez the Sun ; whom they 
alfo worfhiped under the title of 17 Zor-After. They were 

V 

26 He ordered ic to be infcribed upon his tomb, on kcu Mc&yixGoi' yevoiro J'iScco-~ 
xaAos. Porph. de Abftin. L. 4. p, 399. 

* 7 By Zoroafter was denoted both the Deity, and alfo his priefh It was a name 
conferred upon many perfonages. 

P 2 at 



/ 



io8 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

at different eeras greatly diftreffed and perfecuted, efpecially 
upon the death of their laft king Yefdegerd. Upon this 
account they retired into Gedroiia, and India ; where peo¬ 
ple of the fame family had for ages reftded. They car¬ 
ried with them fome Mattered memorials of their religion 
in writing, from whence the Sadder, Shafter, Vedam, and 
Zandavafta were compiled. Thefe memorials feem to have 
been taken from ancient fymbols ill underftood; and all 
that remains of them conlifts of extravagant allegories, and 
fables, of which but little now can. be deciphered. Upon 
thefe traditions the religion of the Brahmins, and Perfees, is 
founded. 

The perfon, who is fuppofed to have firft formed a code 
of inftitutes for this people, is laid to have been one of the 
Magi, named Zerdufht. I mention this, becaufe Hyde, and 
other learned men, have imagined this Zerdufht to have 
been the ancient Zoroafter. They have gone fo far as to 
fuppofe the two names to have been the 18 fame; between 
which I can fcarce defcry any refemblance. There leem 

to have been many 
name had cafually retained any affinity ; or if it had been 
literally the fame, yet it would not follow, that this Perfic 
and Indian Theologift was the perfon, of whom antiquity 
fpeaks fo loudly. We read of perfons of this name in dif¬ 
ferent parts of the world, who were all of. them Magi, or 
Priefts, and denominated from the rites of Zoroafter, which 
they followed. Suidas mentions a Zoroafter, whom he ftyles 

13 Zerdufht, feu, ut fetnel cum vocali damna fcriptum vidi, Zordufh’t, idem eft, 
qui Graecis fonat Zwooa^-pjjs. Hyde Relig. Yet. Perfar. c. 24. p. 312. 

an 




The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 169 

* ~ ' * • 1 

■sl n Afiyrian ; and another, whom he calls Ylsotro-Wlrioiq;, 

* 

Perfo-Medes : and defcribes them both as great in fcience. 
There was a Zoroafter Proconneftus, in the time of Xerxes, 
fpoken of by 19 Pliny. Arnobius mentions Zoroaftres Bac- 
“ trianus : and Zoroaftres Zoftriani nepos 30 Armenius. Cle- 
mens Alexandrinus takes notice of Zoroafter 31 Medus, who 
is probably the fame as the Perfo-Medes of Suidas. Zoro¬ 
aftres Armenius is likewife mentioned by him, but is ftyled 
the fon of 32 Armenius, and a Pamphylian. It is faid of him, 
that he had a renewal of life : and that during the term 

O 

• V 

that he was in a ftate of death, he learned many things of the 
Gods. This was a piece of mythology, which I imagine 

0 

did not relate to the Pamphylian Magus, but to the head of 

• • 

all the Magi, who was reverenced and worshiped by them. 
There was another ftyled a Perfian, whom Pythagoras is faid 
to have 33 vifited. Juftin takes notice of the Badtrian 34 Zo¬ 
roafter, whom he places in the time of Ninus. He is alfo 

• 0 % 

mentioned by 35 Cephalion, who fpeaks of his birth, and the 
birth of Semiramis (yzvscriv %s[JUga.fJLeocg nou Zw^oagr^a Mays) 
as of the fame date. The natives of India have a- notion of 
a Zoroafter, who was of Chinefe original, as we are in- 


ao 


3 


L. 30. c. x. p. 523. 


Arnobius. L. i. p. 31. 
3 * Clemens. L. 1. p. 399. 
3X Clemens. L. 5. p. 711. 


(p-t/AoEr yevof^evos 'nrccga Qsoov* 

33 Clemens. L. 1. p. 357, 
after the reign of Cambyfcs. 

34 Juftin. L. 1 : c. i. 

35 Syncellus. p. 167. 


T ccSe <rvvzy pcc<pev 'Zupoczf-pw J u/b- to ysros Tlu/uc.- 


Zoroafter 




1 


formed 



i-io 


An ALY S IS Of An CUE NT MyXHDLOO'V. 


-formed by 46 Hyde. This learned man fuppofes all thefe 

% 

; per foil ages, the Mede, the Medo-Perfic, -the Proconnefian, 
the Ba&rian, the Pamphylian, &c. to have been one, and the 
fame. This is very wonderful; .as they are by their hiftory 
apparently different. He moreover adds., that however 
people may differ about the origin of this perfon, yet all 
..are unanimous about the time, when he 37 lived. To fe-e 
that thefe could not all be the fame perfon, we need only 
to caft our eye back upon the evidence, which has been col¬ 
lected above : and it will be equally certain, that they could 
not be ah of .the fame sera. There are many fpe-cified in 
hiftory; but we may perceive, that there was one perfon 
more ancient, and celebrated than the reft j whofe hiftory 
has been confounded with that of others, who came after 
him. This is a circumftance, which has been obferved by 
38 ,many : but this ingenious writer unfortunately oppofes all, 
who have written upon the fubjedt; howeyer determinately 
they may have expreffed themfelves. 39 At quicquid dixerint, 
ille (Zor©after) hurt tantum unus, ifque tempore Darii Hy- 
ftafpis : ne.c ejus nomine plures unquam extitere. It is to be 

obferved, that the perfon, whom he ftyles Zoroafter, was one 

* 

36 P. 315. It is alfo taken notice of by Huetius. Sinam recentiores Perfae apud 
Indos degentes faciunt (Zoroaftrem). D. E. Prop. 4. p. 89. 

37 Sed haud mirum eft, ft Europsei hoc modo diffentiant de homine peregrino, 
cum illius populares orientales etiam de ejus profapia dubitent. At de ejus tem¬ 
pore concordant omnes, unum tantum conftituentes Zoroaftrem, eumque in eodem 

§ 

leculo ponentes. p. 315. 

38 Plures autem fuere Zoroaftres ut fatis conftat. Gronovius in Marcellinum. 
L. 23. p. 288. Arnobius and Clemens mention more than one, Stanley reckons 
up fix. See Chaldaic Philofophy. 

39 P. 312. 


9 


Zerdufht. 



The Analysis of Ancient- Mvth^logy. m 

Zerdufht. He lived, it feems, in the reign of Darius,, the 
father of Xerxes; which was about the time of the battle of 
Marathon: eonfequently- not a century before the birth of 
Eudoxus* Xenophon, and Plato. We have therefore no au¬ 
thority to fiippofe 40 this Zerdufht to have been the famous 
Zoroafter. He was apparently the renewer of the Sabian 
rites : and we may be allured, that he could not be the per- 
fon fo celebrated by the ancients, who was referred to the 
fir ft ages. Hyde afterts, that all writers agree about the 
time, when Zoroafter made his appearance : and he places' 
him, as we have feen above, in the reign of Darius. But 
Xanthus Lydius made him above 4T fix hundred years prior.. 
And 42 Suidas from fome anonymous author places him five 
hundred years before the war of Troy. Hermadorus Blato- 
nicus went much farther, and made him five thoufand years 
before that 43 sera. Hermippus, who profefledly wrote of his 
dodtrine3, fuppofed him to have been of the fame 44 antiquity-.. 
Plutarch alfo 4S concurs, and allows himr five thoufand years 
before that war. Eudoxus, wha. was a confummate phi- 
lofopher, and a great traveller-, fuppofed him to have fiou- 


I 

40 Zoroafter may* have teen called Zerdufht, . and Zertooft : but he was not Zer- 
dufht the fon of Guftafp, who is fuppofed- ter have- lived during the Perfian mon¬ 
archy. Said Ebn Batrick ftyles him Zorodafht, but places him in the time of. Na.~ 
hor, the father of Ter ah, before the days of Abraham. Vol. i. p. 6 3, 

41 Diogenes Laert. Prcem. p. 3. 

41 n P o t ocv Tpoowocv erect ZcogocL^gns. 

43 Laertius Procem. p. 3. 


4+ 


Pliny. L. 30. c. 1. 


45 Zcagocccf’pvs 0 M ccyo^ ov 'EjevrcL’>Lia%i\iQi$ erectv nuiy yeyoygycti ^srpecCv^ 


T egGV Kf'Og&ClY 


Ifis 


Ofir. p. 369* 


rifhed 



212 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 
sifhed fix thoufand years before the death of 46 Plato. Mofes 


47 Chorenenfis, and 48 Cephalion, make him only contem¬ 
porary with Ninus, and Semiramis : but even this removes 
him very far from the reign of Darius. . Pliny goes beyond 
them all; and places him many thoufand years before Mofes. 
43 Eft et alia Magices fa<£Ho, a Mofe, et Jamne, et Lotapea 
Judasis pendens : fed multis millibus annorum poft Zoro- 
aftrem. The numbers in all thefe authors are extravagant : 
but fo much we may learn from them, that they relate to a 
perfon of the higheft antiquity. And the purport of the 
original writers, from whence the Grecians borrowed their 
evidence, was undoubtedly to fhew, that the perfon fpoken 
of lived at the extent of time ; at the commencement of all 
hiftorical data. No fa<ft, no memorial upon record, is placed 
fo high, as they have carried this perfonage. Had Zoroafter 
been no earlier than Darius, Eudoxus would never have ad¬ 
vanced him to this degree of antiquity. This writer was at 
the fame diftance from Darius, as Plato, of whom he fpeaks : 
and it is not to be believed, that he could be fo ignorant, as 


not to diftinguifti between a century, and fix thoufand years. 
Agathias indeed mentions, that fome of the perfons had a 
notion, that he flouriftied in the time of one Hyftafpes; but 
he confefles, that who the Hyftafpes was, and at what time 
he lived, was 50 uncertain. Ariftotle wrote not long after 

Eudoxus, 


46 Zoroaftrem hunc fex millibus annorum ante Platonis mortem. Pliny. L. 30. c, j, 

47 P. 16. and p. 47. 

4S Eufeb. Chron. p. 32. Syneellus. p. 167. 

49 Plin. L. 30. c. 1. p. 524. 

that 
he 


O vk aivou yctQeiv 


TZQTSOSV 


/IctpeiB -u7cct/1p 0 sitb kcci aAA os x A. He owns. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 




Eudoxus, when the hiftory of the Persians was more known 
to the Grecians : and he allots the fame number of years be¬ 
tween Zoroafter and Plato, as had been 


5 1 


before 


given 


trianum 


Thefe accounts are for the moft part carried too far; but at 
the fame time, they fully afcertain the high antiquity of this 
perfon, whofe sera is in queftion. It is plain that thefe writers 
in general extend the time of his life to the sera of the world, 
according to their eftimation ; and make it prior to Inachus, 
and Phoroneus, and iEgialeus of Sicyon. 

Huetius takes-notice of the various accounts in refpe£l to 
his country. 51 Zoroaftrem nunc Perfam, nunc Medum ponit 
Clemens Alexandrinus ; Perfomedum Suidas ; plerique Bac- 

; alii iEthiopem : quos inter ait Arnobius ex fEthio- 
pia interiore per igneam Zonam veniffe Zoroaftrem. In fliort 
they have fuppofed a Zoroafter, wherever there was a Zoro- 

V # 

aftrian: that is, wherever the religion of the Magi was 
adopted, or revived. Many were called after him ; but who 
among men was the Prototype can only be found out by dili¬ 
gently collating the hiftories, which have been tranfmitted. I 
mention amo?ig men ; for the title originally belonged to the 
Sun ; but was metaphorically bellowed upon facred and en¬ 
lightened perfonages. Some have thought that the perfon 
alluded to was Ham. He has by others been taken for 
Chus, alfo for Mizraim, and 13 Nimrod : and by Huetius for 


he could not find out, when Zoroafter lived. 'Oirwixct jxbv (o v%jj,cLcrz 

r rw ctgx™'? TB5 vofji&s eBero, cr<xq>cos (Pictyvcovou. L. 2. p. 62. 


Pliny. L. 30. c. 1. 

51 Huetii Demons. Evan. Prop. 4. p, 88. 89 
53 See Huetius ibid. 


VOL. II. 




Mofes. 



114 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


Moles. It may be worth while to conlider the primitive 
character, as given by different writers. He was efteemed 
the jfirft oblerver of the heavens ; and it is faid that the an¬ 
cient Babylonians received their knowledge in Aftronomy 
from him : which was afterwards revived under Oftanes ; and 
from them it was derived to the 5+ Egyptians, and to the 


Greeks. Zoroafter was looked upon as the head of all thofe, 
who are fuppofed to have followed his ss inftitutes : confe- 
quently he muff have been prior to the Magi, and Magia, 
the priefts, and worfhip, which were derived from him. Of 
what antiquity they were may be learned from Ariftotle^ 

56 AgizorzTw; <T tv 'urgooTca nregt cpiXotroctets (rag Mayas) x&i 

'tirgt<J‘£vrtgag sivcu toov AiyvTmtiv. ‘The Magi, according to Ai~if- 
totle, were prior even to the Egyptians : and with the antiquity 

of the Egyptians “we are well acquainted. Plato fiyles him 

the Ion of ® Orornazes, who was the chief Deity of Per- 

iians : and it is faid of him that he laughed upon the day. 

on which he was 55 born. By this I imagine, that fomething 

fortunate was fuppofed to be portended : fome indication, 

that the child would prove a bleffing to the world. In his 

childhood he is faid to have been under the care of 59 Azo*- 


Aq-gorofAiav TzrgtoToi B <x.€vXoovioi €(p£vpQV chat Zoopou^pS^ to* 

Aiyv7rTiQi Tccci &Pe%cc.vTo. Anon, apud Suidam. Aq-pc&.. 

& 

55 Primas dititur magitas attes invfcnifle. Juftiia. L. i. c. i* 

56 Diog. Laertius Proem, p. 6. 

57 Tyv Mtzyenzv Zwpoct<rg& tb ^Ipo/xaZs. Plato in Alcibiade. L. t. p. 122:* 
Agathias calls him the fon of Oromafdes. L. 2. p. 62. 

58 Pliny. L. 7. c. 16. Rifit eodem, quo natus eft, die. See Lord’s account of 
the modern Perfees in India, c. 3. It is by them faid, that he laughed as loon as 
he^came into the world. 

59 Hermippus apud Plinium. L. 30. c* 1, 

9 


graces ; 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 115 

naces : which I fhould imagine was a name of the chief 
Deity Oromazes, his reputed father. He was in procefs of 
time greatly enriched with knowledge, and became in high 
repute for his 60 piety, and juftice, He firft facrificed to the 
Gods, and taught men to do the 6? fame. He likewife in- 
ftrucfted them in fcience, for which he was greatly 6z famed : 
and was the firft, who gave them laws. The Babylonians 
feem to have referred to him every thing, which by the 
Egyptians was attributed to Thoth and Hermes. He had 
the title of 63 Zarades, which fignifies the Lord of light, and 
is equivalent to Orus, Oromanes, and Gfiris. It was fpme- 
times exprefled 6+ Zar-Ati§, and fuppofed to belong to a fe¬ 
minine Deity of the Perfians, Moles Chorenenfis ftyles 
him 6s Zarova.nus, and lpeaks of him as the father of the 
Gods. Plutarch would infinuate, that he was author of 
the doctrine, embraced afterwards by the Manicheans, con¬ 
cerning two prevailing principles, the one good, and the 
other evil 66 : the former of thefe was named Oromazes, the 
latter Areimanius. But thefe notions were of late 67 date, in 


Co 


Dio Chryfoftom. Oratio Boryllhenica. 38. Fol. 448. Eufeb. Praep. L. 1. p. 42. 


See alfo Agathias above. 


6l 


6x 


Qvsiv evycTccict y.qu ^ccoic^rjpict. Plutarch. If. et Ofir. p. 369. 

Primus dicitur art.es magicas invenifle, et mundi principia, fiderumque motus 


diligentiffime fpeftafle. Juftin. L. 1. c. 1. 

63 Zctg.ccJr,*' ya,p tir ccutw €7rijovufAtct* Agath. L. 2. p. 62, 

6+ Tlegactu Hefych, 

Zar-Ades fignifies the Lord of light: Zar-Atis and Atifh, the Lord of fire. 

65 L. 1. c. 5. p. 16. Of the title Zar-Oyanus, I ihall treat hereafter. 

66 Plutarch. If. etOfiris. p. 369. 


67 SeeAgathias. L. 2, p. 62. 



comparifon 



n6 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

* 

comparifon of the antiquity, which is attributed to 68 Zoro- 
after. If we might credit what was delivered in the writ¬ 
ings transmitted under his name, which were probably com- 
pofed by fome of the later Magi, they would afford us a 
much higher notion of his docftrines. Or if the account 

o 

given by Oftanes were genuine, it would prove, that there 
had been a true notion of the Deity tranfmitted from 69 Zo- 
roafter, and kept up by the Magi, when the reft of the gen¬ 
tile world was in darknefs. But this was by no means true. 

» 

It is faid of Zoroafter, that he had a renewal of 70 life : for I 
apply to the original perfon of the name, what was attri¬ 
buted to the Magus of Pamphylia : and it is related of him, 
that while he was in the intermediate ftate of death, he was 

inftrucfted by the 71 Gods. Some fpeak of his retiring to a 

• 

mountain of Armenia, where he had an intercourfe with the 
, 7 * Deity : and when the mountain burned with fire, he was 
preferved unhurt. The place, to which he retired, according 
to the Perfic writers, was in the region called 73 Adarbain ; 
where in aftertimes was the greateft Puratheion in Afia. 
This region was in Armenia: and fome make him to have 


58 Plutarch fays, that Zoroafter lived five thoufand years before the Trojan war. 
Plutarch above. 


c Ovro 3 (0 Qeos) £~iv 6 'z&puToc, cc^ccorof, aiidho?, aysm/Tc?,' 
rtvio^pi 'UTCti'Tcs xct Ay, ccSmogS'gxyito< 1> ctycc§c/w ccycSceTccros^ typGvifxocv 
E<r< Kct- 1 r woLT))p Biivouict^ xcti Oix.cao<7UVV$, ccjToSiS'cot'ro^ (pucrixc f, x 

crotpoSy xcu leps (pucrixe fxoros evpBTVS, Eufeb. P. E. L. I. p. 42. 


eZl-a/AGlOTCCT^y 
(pgOVifACdTCCTOC* 
CU TSA €10?^ XGU 


70 Clemens. L. 5. p. 711. 

71 Kr yBvofjLBvos eS'caiv 'z&ctpct Ibid. 

7i Dion Chry'foftom, Oratio Boryfthenica. p. 448a 
73 Hyde. p. 312. 


been 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 117 

been born in the fame country, upon one of the Gordiaean 
7+ mountains. Here it was, that he firft inftituted facrifiices, 
and gave laws to his followers ; which laws are fuppofed to- 
be contained in the facred book named Zandavafta. To him 
has been attributed the invention of Magic; which notion 
has arifen from a mifapplication of terms. The Magi were- 
priefts, and they called religion in general Magia. They, 
and their rights, grew into difrepute ; in confequence of 
which they were by the Greeks called OL7COLT£cavsg y (pcLguottcsvTcu v 
j u ggler s j an d conjurers. But the Perftans of old efteemed’ 
them very highly. 75 M ccyov, rot SsoctsSy), kcli BeoXoyov, jcctt- 

Isgsot, 61 fls^crai Asyatrn. By a Magus , the Perfatts 

underfattd a facred peifon , a profejjbr of theology , and a' 

Prieft. Hagen ITsgtrccis 76 M ocyoi oi cpi?\0(ro<poi , xcli SscxpiXoi. 
Mmong the Perfans , the Magi are perfons addiEled to philofophy ,' 
and to the ivorjhip of the Deity. 77 Dion Chryfoftom, and 
Porphyry fpeak to the- fame purpofe. By Zoroafter being 
the author of Magia, is meant, that he was the firft promoter 
of religious rites, and the inftrudter of men in their duty to 
God. The war of Ninus with Zoroafter of Badtria relates 

7 * Abulpheda. Vol, 3,. p. 58. See Hyde. p. 312^ 

Hefych. Mctyov • 

76 Suidas. M ay01. 

77 Oratio Boryfthen. p. 449. 

M ccyoi^ cl wept to Srior crotyot. Porph. de Abft. L. 4. p. 39 S. 

Apuleius ftyles Magia—Diis immorialibns acceptam, colendi eos ac venerandi 
pergnaram, piam fcilicet et divinifcientem, jam inde a Zoroaftre Oromazi, nobili 
Cselitum antiftite. Apol. 1. p. 447. fo it fhould .be read. See Apuleii Florida, 
c. 15. p. 793. 1. 3. 

. Tbs cTe Mccyvs wept ts &epct7reta$ Sreow ^lUTpiSeiy Cleitarchus apud Laertium. 
Proaem. p. 5. 


probably 



118 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology 


probably to fome hoflilities carried on between the Ninevites 
of Aflyria, and the Badtrians, who had embraced the Zoro- 
aftrian rites. Their prieft, or prince, for they were of old 
the fame, was named 73 Oxuartesv; but from his office had 
the title of Zoroafter; which was properly the name of the 
Sun, whom he adored. This religion began in Chaldea; 
and it is exprefsly faid of this Badirian king, that he bor¬ 
rowed the knowledge of it from that country, and added 

79 Cujus fcientias faeculis prifcis multa ex Chal- 
dseorum arcanis Badtrianus addidit Zoroaftres. When the 
Perfians gained the empire in 


to it largely. 


Aha, they renewed thefe 


dodtrine 


i. 80 Multa deinde (addidit) Hyftafpes Rex pru- 
dentiffimus, Darii pater. Thefe rites were idolatrous; yet not 
fo totally depraved, and grofs, as thofe of other nations. They 


were 


introduced by Chus ; at ieaft by the Cuthites: one 
branch of whom were the Perefians, or Perfians. The Cuth¬ 
ites of Chaldea were the original Magi; and they gave to Chus 
the title of Zoroafter .Magus, as being the firft of the order. 
Hence the account 


deg 


-given by Gregorius Turonenfis is in a 




Primogeniti Cham ffiii Noe fuit Chus 


Hie ad Perfas tranfiit, quern Perfas vocitavere Zoroaftrem 


Chus, we find, was called by this 


and from him the 


ion ftyled Magia paffed to the Perfians. But titles, as I 
fhewn, were not always determinately appropriated : nor 


4 w 


Diodorus Sic. L. 2. p. 94. 


79 Marcellmus. L. 23. p. 288. 

Ibidem. It fhould be Regis prudentifftmi; for Hyftafpes 
Sl Rerum Franc. L. 1. 


divinitus igne coniumptum, ut Deum colunt. 


He adds, Ab hoc etiam ignem adorare confueti, ipfum 


was 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


i 19 


was Chus the original perfon, who was called Zoroafter. 
There was another beyond him, who was the firft deified 
mortal, and the prototype in this worfhip. To whom I al¬ 
lude, may, I think, be known from the hiftory given above. 
It will not fail of being rendered very clear in the courfe of 
my procedure.. 


The purport of the term Zoroafter is faid by the 


Au 


thor of the Recognitions, and by others, to be the living ft a?'t 
and they fpeak of it, as if it were of Grecian etymology, 
and from the words 



, and. asijgy It is certainly com¬ 
pounded of After, which among many nations fignified a 
ftar. But, in refpedfc to the former term, as the object of 
the Ferric and Ghaldaic worfhip was the Sun, and moft of 
their titles were derived from thence ; we may be pretty 
certain, that by Zoro-After was meant Sol Afterius. Zor* 
Sor,, Sur, Sehor, among the Amonians always related to the 


Sun. 


Eufebius fays, that Oftris was efteemed the fame as 
Dionufus, and the Sun : and that he was called 83 Surius. 


The region 


of Syria was hence denominated Zvgicc ; and is 


at this day called Souria, from Sur, and Sehor, the Sun. The 
Dea Syria at Hierapolis was properly Dea Solaris. In con- 
fequence of the Sun’s being called Sor, and Sur, we find that 
his temple is often mentioned under the 


name 


of 



eth 


32 


Aq-pov <^mo v. Clemens Recogrtit. L. 4. c. 2.S. p. 54 6. Greg. Turonenfis 


fupra. Some have inierpreted the name ctq-goBurvz. 

83 ngocruyopevuat ttoti 'S.vpiov^ Pr. Evan. L. i. p. 27. 
fiov: but they are both of the fame purport; and indeed the fame term 
expreffed. Periae Sup Deum vocant. Eilius Gyrald. Synt. 1. p. 5. 

44 Jofhua. c. 15. v. 58. 


change 


Sur 


9 



I 20 


•The Analysis of Ancient Mythologt. 


Sur, and S5 Beth-Sura, which Jofephus renders 86 It 

was alfo called Beth-Sor, and Beth-Soron, as we learn from 

87 Eufebius, and 88 Jerome. That Suria was not merely a pro¬ 
vincial title is plain from the Suria Dea being worfhiped at 
Eryx in 89 Sicily ; and from an infcription to her at 90 Rome. 
She was worfhiped under the fame title in Britain, as we may 
infer from an Infcription at Sir Robert Cotton’s of Conning- 
ton in Cambridgefhire. 

9 i r>Eds surIjE 

SUB CALPURNIO 

LEG. AUG. 

Syria is called Sour, and Souriftan, at this day. 

The Grecians therefore were wrong in their etymology ; 
and we may trace the origin of their miftake, when they fup- 
pofed the meaning of Zoroafter to have been vivens aftrum. 

I have mentioned, that both Zon and 9 * Zoan fignified the 
Sun : and the term Zor had the fame meaning. In confe- 


Maccab 


2 Chron, c. u. v. 7 


l nere was an 


ancient city Sour, in Syria near Sidon. Judith, c. 2. v. 28. it retains its name at 
this day. 

s5 B vQcrvg. Antiq. L. 8. c. 10. 

The Sun was termed Sehor, by the Tons of Ham, rendered Sour, Surius, 'Xetpi&y 
by other nations. 

'Xeipio;, 0 ‘HAzos. Hefych. 'Xbidios ovo^cc aq-epoc, » 0 "HA zo$. Phavorinus. 

*' 7 B e^ersp — vvv xoipw B sQc-opce)v. In Onomaftico. 


Bethfur eft hodie Bethforon. 

Lilius Gyraldus Syntag. 13. p. 402 


Hebraeis 


r i. O. M. et! 

M. SYRI^E 


Patinus. p. 183. 


91 Apud Brigantas in Northumbria. Ca.mbden’s Britannia, p. 1071. 
91 See Radicals, p. 35. of Zon. 


quence 






(/.'las/rz y 









































































































































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


I 2 I 


quence of this, when the Grecians were told that 


After 


was the fame 


After, they by an uniform mode of 


miftake exprefted the latter 


and interpreted Zoroafter 


H* & 


fignified the 


The city 


Egypt was Heliopolis ; and the land of Zoan the Heliopoli 


tan nome 
Afterius. 
of a bull; 


Both Zoan-After, and Zor-After, ftgnified Sol 
The God Menes was worfhiped under the fymbol 
and oftentimes under the fymboi of a bull, and a 


man. Hence we read of Meno-Taur, and of Taur-Men 


Crete, Sicily, and 
ftyled limply 93 Ta 


pla 


he fame perfon was alfo 


from the emblem, under which 


was 


prefented. This Taurus was alfo called After, and 


Afterius, as we learn from 94 Lycopl 


'O A 57 \fl 


Mivqtolvp 


>n, and his Scholiaft. 
By Afterius is Jignijied 


the fame per foil as the Minotaur. This Taur-After is exactly 
analogous to 9S Zor- 


After above. 


was 


fame emblem 


as the Mneuis, or facred bull of Egypt: which was defcribed 
with a ftar between his horns. Upon fome of the 96 entabla¬ 
tures at Naki Ruftan, fuppofed to have been the ancient Per- 
fepolis, we find the Sun to be defcribed under the appearance 
of a bright 97 ftar : and nothing can better explain the hiftory 


95 Chron. Pafchale. p. 43. Servius upon Virg. -®neid. L. 6. v. 14. 

94 Lycophron. v. 1301. 

95 Zor and Taur among the Amonians had fometimes the fame meaning. 

96 See the engraving of the Mneuis, called by Herodotus the bull of Mycerinus. 
Herod. L. 2. c. 130. Editio Wefieling. et Gronov. 

97 See the Plates annexed, which are copied from Ksempfer’s Amcenitates Exo- 
ticse. p. 312. Le Bruyn. Plate 158. Hyde. Relig. Vet. Perf. Tab. 6. See alio 
Plate 2. and Plate 4. 5. Vol. 1. of this work. They were all originally taken from 
the noble ruins at Iftachar, and Naki Ruftan in Perfia. 


VOL. II. 


R 


there 



122 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 


there reprefented, than the account given of Zoroafter. He 
was the reputed fon of Oromazes, the chief Deity; and his 
principal inftrudlor was Azonaces, the fame perfon under a 
different title. He is fpoken of as one greatly beloved by 
heaven : and it is mentioned of him, that he longed very 
much to fee the Deity, which at his importunity was granted 
to him. This interview however was not effected by his own 
corporeal eyes, but by the mediation of an 98 angel. Through 
this medium the vifion was performed : and he obtained a 
view of the Deity fur'rounded with light. The angel,, 

through whofe intervention this favour was imparted, feems 

* 

to have been one of thofe ftyled Zoni, and 99 AzonL All 
the veftmerits of the priefts, and thofe, in which they ufed to 
apparel their Deities, had facred names, taken from terms in 
their worfhip. Such were Carnife, Gandys, Camia, Cidaris^ 
Mitra, Zona, and the like. The laft was a facred fillet, or 
girdle, which they efteemed an emblem of the orbit defcribed 
by Zon, the Sun. They either reprefented their Gods, as 
girded round with a ferpent, which was an emblem of the 
fame meaning ; or elfe with this bandage, denominated 
100 Zona. They feem to have been fecondary Deities, who 
were called Zoni and 1 Azoni. The term fignifies Heliadae: 

and 

9? Huetii Prop. 4. p. 92. 

Lord in. his account of the Perfees fays, that Zertooft (fo he expreffes the name) 
was conveyed by an Angel, and law the Deity in a vifiony who appeared like a 
bright light or flame. Account of the Perfees. c: 3. 

99 See Stanley’s Chaldaic Philof. p. 7. and p. 11. They were by Damafcius 
ftyled Za)ro/, and A ^covoi: both terms of the fame purport, though diftinguiftied by 
perfons, who did not know their purport. 

100 See Plates annexed. 

* Martianus Capella. L. 1. c. 17. Ex cun£tis igitur Cceli regionibus. advocatis 

Diis, 







oti’? k yj&faru* JK gyptiacu s . 









































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 123 

and they were looked upon as sethereal eflences, a kind of 
emanation from the Sun. They were exhibited under dif¬ 
ferent reprefentations ; and oftentimes like Cneph of Egypt. 
The fillet, with which the Azoni were girded, is deferibed 
as of a fiery nature : and they were fuppofed to have been, 
wafted through the air. Arnobius fpeaks of it in this light. 
a Age, nunc, veniat, quaefo, per igneam zonam Magus ab 
interiore orbe Zoroaftres. I imagine, that by Azonaces, 
A<?u'voutW; before mentioned, the reputed teacher of Zoro- 
after, was meant the chief Deity, the fame as Oromanes, and 

Oromafdes. He feems to have been the fupreme of thofe 
^ethereal fpirits deferibed above ; and to have been named 
Azon-Nakis, which fignifies the great Lord, 3 Azon. Naki, 
Nakis, Nachis, Nachus, Negus, all in different parts of the 
world betoken a king. The temple at Iftachar, near which 
thefe reprefentations were found, is at this day called the 
palace of Naki Ruftan, whoever that perfonage may have 
been. 

Diis, cseteri, quos Azonos vocant, ipfo commoner!te Cyllenio, convocantur. Pfel- 
lus ftyles them /, and ’Zuvauoi. See Scholia upon the Chaldaic Oracles. 

1 Arnobius. L. i. p. 31. 

* The Sun was ftyled both Zon, and Azon ■, Zan and Azan: fb Dercetis was 
called Atargatis j Neith of Egypt Andth. The fame was to be obferved in places. 
Zelis was called Azilis: Saba, Azaba r Stura, Aftura: Puglia, Apugtia: Bufus, 
Ebufus: Damafec, Adamafec. Azon was therefore the fame as Zen ; and Azon 
Nakis may be interpreted Sol Rex, vel Dotninus. 


R 2 


ORPHEUS. 



124 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


ORPHEUS. 

0 

r Tr"' H E character of Orpheus is in fome refpects not un- 

like that of Zoroafter, as will appear in the fequel. 
He went over many regions of the earth ; and in all places, 
whither he came, was efteemed both as a prieft, and a pro¬ 
phet. There feems to be more in his hiftory than at firft 
fight appears : all which will by degrees be unfolded. His 
fkill in harmony is reprefented as very wonderful: infomuch 
that he is faid to have tamed the wild beafts of the foreft, and 
made the very trees follow him. He likewife could calm the 
winds, and appeafe the raging of the fea. Thefe laft cir- 
cumftances are taken notice of by a poet in fome fine verfes, 
wherein he laments his death. 

4 Ovk sn KoifjLOLtreig ctvs^cap (3go/xov, %a.Xcx.£ccv, 

Ov vupsToov <rvg[JU£g, g 'srotTetyeucraj' dXct' 
f2A bo yoig. jcK. 

He is mentioned, as having been twice in a {fate of 4 5 death ; 

which is reprefented as a twofold defcent to the fbades be- 

% 

low. There is alfo an obfcure piece of mythology about his 
wife, and a ferpent; alfo of the Rhoia or Pomegranate: 
which feems to have been taken from fome fymbolical re- 
prefentation at a time, when the purport was no longer un-* 

4 Antholog. L. 3. p. 269. 

5 See Huetius. Demonf, Evang. Prop. 4. p. 129. 

IO 


derflood. 



© 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 125 

% 

derftood. The Orpheans dealt particularly in fymbols, as 
we learn from Proclus. 6 7 * O gpiitoi <Tta c rvfjdooXoov, IIv$ctyogsiai 

tioc eixovcav, rex. Sstcx. (junvueiv s<pisfj(.evoi . His character for fei- 
ence was very great; and Euripides takes particular notice 
of fome ancient tablets, containing much- falutary know¬ 
ledge, which were bequeathed to the Thracians by Orpheus : 
7 dg Ogcpsiri holt eygcxs \>g yvgvg. Plato ftyles his works s (3iSXcoy 

ofJLOL^oVy a c oajl lumber of learnings from the quantity, which 
people pretended had been tranfmitted from him. He one 
while refided in Greece ; and particularly at Thebes in Bce- 
otia. Here he introduced the rites of Dionufus, and cele¬ 
brated his Orgies upon mount 9 Cithaeron. He is faid to 
have ^been the firft who inftituted thofe rites ; and was the 
author of all myfterious worfhip. 10 Ugoorog Ogepevg [jLvrrigicx. 

®buov nr . All thefe were accompanied with fcience 
of another nature : for he is reputed to have been {killed in 
many arts. 

From Thebes he travelled towards the feacoaft of Chaonia 
in order to recover his loft Eurydice ; who had been killed 
by a ferpent. According to ” Agatharcides Cnidius it was 
at Aorthon in Epirus, that he defeended for this purpofe to 

6 In Theolog. Platonis. L. i. c. 4. 

7 OuSe T l (pCCOJJLCtKOV 

G^aacus tv cccvictl, 

Tas Qpcpeiy ycccrty^cc^e yvw. Alceftis. v. 9 6 S’. 

5 Plato de Repub. L, 2. p. 364. 

9 Ladtant. de F. R. L. 1. p. 105. 

10 Scholia in Alceftin. v. 968. 

Concerning Orpheus* fee Diodorus. L. 1. p-. 86. Ariftoph. Ranae. v. 1064. 
Eufeb. P. E. Lib xo. p. 469. 

1 1 L. 22. See Natalis Comes. L. 7. p. 401. 

the 


% 



126 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

the (hades below. The fame account is given by 11 Paufa- 
nias, who calls the place more truly Aornon. In the Or¬ 
phic Argonauts it is faid to have been performed at Tasnarus 
in 13 Laconia. He likewife refided in Egypt, and travelled 
over the regions of Libya; and every where inftru£ted people 
in the rites, and religion, which he profeffed. In the fame 
manner he went over a great part of the world. 

14 '£lg i&OfjLW S7ri yctictv CL7reigeTov> 1 $e f uroKr\a.g > 

Aiyu7TTu\ AlEvy re, figoroig olvol Secr<paroL cpouvoov. 

♦ 

Some make Orpheus by birth a Thracian ; fome an Arca¬ 
dian ; others a Theban. Paufanias mentions it as an opinion 
among the 15 Egyptians, that both Orpheus, and Amphion, 
were from their country. There is great uncertainty about 
his parents. He is generally fuppofed to have been the fon of 
OEagrus, and Calliope: but Afclepiades made him the Ion 
of Apollo, by that ,6 Goddefs. By fome his mother was faid 
to have been Menippe ; by others 17 Polymnia. He is alfo 
mentioned as the fon of 18 Thamyras. Plato differs from 
them all, and ftyles both Orpheus, and Mufasus, 19 mi 

Macros Byyoi/oi, the offspring of the Moon> and the Mufes: in 

,x L. 9. p. 768, 

13 V. 41. 

Ibid. v. 99. 

L. 6 . p. 505* 

16 Apollon. Rhod. L. i. v. 23. 

17 Scholia, ibid. 

,s Natalis Comes. L. 7. p. 400. 

19 De Repub. L. 2. p. 364. Mufasus is likewife by the Scholiafl: upon Arifto- 
phanes ftyled Jxos SeAwjis. Ranse, v. 1065. Schol. 


which 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


127 


* 

which account is contained home curious mythology. The 
principal place of his refidence is thought to have been in 
Pieria near mount Haemus. He is alfo faid to have refided 
among the Edonians ; and in Sithonia at the foot of mount 
Pangaeus: alfo upon the feacoaft at Zona. In all thefe places 
he difplayed his fuperiority in fcience : for he was not only a 
Poet, and {killed in harmony, but a great Theologift, and 
Prophet; alfo very knowing in medicine, and in the hiftory 
of the 10 heavens. According to Antipater Sidonius, he was 
the author of Heroic verfe. And fome go fo far as to afcribe 
to him the invention of letters ; and deduce all knowledge 


from 


a* 


him. 


# 

Many of the things, reported to have been done by Or 


pheus, are attributed to other perfons, fuch as 22 E 
fseus, Melampus, Linus, Cadmus, and Philammon 


Mu 


of 


thefe 


are 


faid 


have had the fame 23 parents. Authors 


their accounts of Orpheus, do not agree about the manner of 
his 24 death. The common notion is, that he was torn to 
pieces by tire Thracian women. But according to Leonides 


in Laertius he was {lain by lightning : and there is an 3S 
taph to that purpofe. The name of Orpheus is to be found 


epi- 


2,0 Lucian. Aflrolcgus. 

zr See Lilius Gyraldus de Poetarum Hift. Dialog. 2. p. 73. 

Opcpeus? (popfjjx. t ccs cLotS'oLv 'mctTvp. Pindar. Pyth. Ode 4. p. 253. 

2-2 dementis Cohort, p. 12. Diog. Laerr. Procem. p. 3. Htrodotus. L. 2. c. 49. 
Diodorus. L. 1. p. 87. 1 . 3. p. 300. Apollodorus. L. 1. p. 7. 

23 Linus was the fon of Apollo, and Calliope. See Suidas, A ivos. 

24 There were in like manner different places, where he was fuppofed to have 
been buried. 

25 Procem. p. 5. Antholog. L. 3. p. 270, In like manner Zoroafter was faid 
to have been flain by lightning, 

in 



128 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


in the lifts of the Argonauts : and he is mentioned in the two 
principal poems upon that fubjecft. Yet there were writers, 

before the war of Troy, 

tion. a6 F By ops 

oi $s ICC q>Y)TlV. 


d placed him eleven generations 
fequently ten generations before that .exped 


vrgo icc ysvswv Tcav T p 


/ 3 loovcci S's ysvsccg •& 


He was born eleven ages before the fege of Hoy , and he is faid 


have lived nme ages ; and according to fo 


Thi 


s ex¬ 


tent of * 7 life has been given him in order to bring him down 
as low as the sera of the Argonauts : though, if we may be¬ 
lieve Pherecydes Syrus, he had no ftiare in that expedition. 

To remedy the inconftftencies, which arife in the hiftory 
of Orpheus, writers have fuppofed many perfons of this name. 


Suidas takes notice of no lefs than four 


*8 


Thrace. But all 


thefe will not make the hiftory conftftent. Voftius therefore 
with good reafon doubts, whether fuch a perfon ever exifted. 
Nay, he aflerts, 29 Triumviros iftos Poefeos, Orphea, Mu- 
fteunij Linum, non fuifle: fed efle nomina ab antiqua Phceni- 
cum lingua, qua uft Cadmus, et aliquamdiu pofteri. There 
is great truth in what Voftius here advances : and in refpecft 
to Orpheus, the teftimony of Ariftotle, quoted by him from 


Cicero, is very deciftve. 


3 ° 


Orpheum poetam docet Arifto- 


teles nunquam fuifte. Dionyftus, as we learn from Suidas, 
affirmed the fame thing. Palsphatus indeed admits the 


3.6 Suidas, Oprpsvs. 

2.7 Tzetzes makes him live one hundred years before the war of Troy. Hift. 399. 

ChiL 12. 

* 8 Opcpeus . 

29 Voflius de Arte Poet. c. 13. p. 78. 

30 Cicero de Nat. Deor. L. 1. c. 38. See alfo iElian. Var. Hift. L. 8. c. 6. 


man ; 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


129 


man; but fets afi.de the hiftory. 31 ¥sv$r t $ kcu 6 'UTsgi T8 Og- 

<psoog [JivOog . The hiftory too of Orpheus is ?tothing elfe but a 

From what has been faid, I think, it is plain, that 
under the character of this perfonage we are to underftand a 
people named 31 Orpheans ; who, as Voftius rightly inti¬ 
mates, were the fame as the Cadmians. I 11 confequence of 
this, there will fometimes be found a great fimilarity between 
the characters of thefe two perfons. 

I have {hewn, that colonies from 33 Egypt fettled in the 
region of Sethon, called afterwards Sethonia, upon the river 
Palseftinus. They were likewife to be found in the coun¬ 
tries of Edonia, Pieria, and Peonia : in one of which they 
founded a city and temple. The Grecians called this city 
Orpheus: 34 Ogpavg sg-i 'WoTs.ig V7TQ Tp Tlisgip. Orpheus is a city 
of 'Thrace belo-co Pieria. But the place was originally ex- 
preffed Orphi, by which is meant the oracular temple of 
Orus. From hence, and from the worlhip here inftituted, 
the people were fly led Orphites, and Orpheans. They were 
noted for the Cabiritic myfteries ; and for the Dionuiiaca, 
and worftnp of Damater. They were likewife very famous 
for the medicinal arts ; and for their {kill in aftronomy and 
mufic. But the Grecians have comprehended under the 

31 C. 24. p. 84. 

31 Through the whole of this I am obliged to difTent from a perfon of great eru¬ 
dition, the late celebrated Profeflbr I. M. Gefner of Gottingen : to whom however 
I am greatly indebted, and particularly for his curious edition of the Orphic poems 
publiftied at Leipfick, 1764. 

All the Orphic rites were confefiedly from Egypt. Diodorus above. See 
Lucian’s Aftrologus. 

3+ Suidas. 

Vol, II. S character 




130 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

character of one perfon the hiftory of a people. When they 
fettled in Thrace, they introduced their arts, and their wor¬ 
ship, among the barbarous 35 natives ; by whom they were 
revered for their fuperior knowledge. They likewife be¬ 
queathed many memorials of themfelves* and of their fore¬ 
fathers, which were probably fome emblematical fculptures 
upon wood, or ftone : hence we read of the tablets of Or¬ 
pheus preferved in Thrace, and particularly upon mount 
36 Hsemus. The temple, which they built upon this moun¬ 
tain, feems to have been a college, and to have confided of 
a fociety of priefts. They were much addidted to celibacy, 
as we may judge from their hiftory ; and were in great mea- 
fure reclufes after the mode of Egypt, and Canaan. Hence 
it is faid of Orpheus, that he fecreted himfelf from the 
world, and led the life of a 37 Swan : and it is moreover men¬ 
tioned of Ariftzeus, when he niade a vifit to Dionufus upon 
mount Haemus, that he difappeared from the fight of men, 
and was never after 38 feen. According to the moft com- 

9 

mon accounts concerning the death of Orpheus, it was owing 
to his principles, and manner of life. He was a folitary, and 
refufed all commerce with woman-kind. Hence the Masna- 
des, and other women of Thrace, rofe upon him, and tore 
him to pieces. It is faid, that his head, and lyre were 
thrown into the Hebrus ; down which they were wafted to 

35 Maximus Tyrius. c. 37. p. 441. 

36 Scholia upon the Hecuba of Euripides, v. 1267. See alfo the Alceftis. 
v. 968. 

37 Plato de Repub. L. 10. p. 620. 

38 Diodorus. L. 4. p. 282. The hiftory of Ariftseus is nearly a parody of the 
hiftories of Orpheus, and Cadmus. 

Lemnos. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 



Lemnos 


What is here mentioned of Orpheus, undoubtedly 


and 


their temple upon mount 


and 


relates to the Orph 

Hasmus. This temple was in procefs of time ruined 
there is great reafon to think, that it was demolifhed upon ac¬ 
count of the cruelties pradtifed by the priefts, and probably 
from a deteflation of their unnatural crimes, to which there 
are frequent allufions. Ovid having given a charadter of Or¬ 
pheus, concludes with an accufation to this purpofe. 


39 Ille etiam Thracum populis fuit audtor amores 
In teneros transferre mares : citraque juventam 
iEtatis breve ver, et primos carpere flores. 


Thofe of the community, who furvived the difafter, fled 
down the Hebrus to Lefbos ; where they either found, ox 
eredted, a temple flmilar to that, which they had quitted. 

ace grew 

into great reputation. They likewife fettled at Lemnos. 
This ifland lay at no great diftance from the former ; and 
was particularly devoted to the Deity of fire. It is faid by 
Hecataeus, that it received the name of Lemnos from the 
Magna Dea, Cybele. She was ftyled by the natives 
and at her fhrine they ufed to facrifice young perfons. 

40 At to fJLzycO\fig Xsyo^Evng ©sa* TctvTp <3s kou 'Gra.gQsv&g eQvov. 
They feem to have named the temple at Lefbos Orphi, and 


Here the fame worfhip was inflituted ; and the pi 


39 Ovid. Metamorph. L. io. v. 83. The like is mentioned of the Cadmians. See 
Aiichylus* 'Ettt stti <3v£cu<;. Prooem. Lilian. Var. Hift. L. 13. c. 5. 

40 Hecatgeus apud Steph. Byzant. Aa/xro?. The firft inhabitants are faid to 
have been Thracians, ftyled 'Xlvtizs xa* 2ct7ra/oi: the chief cities Myrina, and He- 
phaiftia. 

s 2 


Orphe’f 



132 . The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

Orphe'i caput : and it appears to have been very famous on 
account of its oracle. Philoftratus fays, that the Ionians, 
and fEolians, of old univerfally confulted it : and, what is 
extraordinary, that it was held in high eftimation by the 
people of Babylonia. He calls the place the head of Or¬ 
pheus : and mentions, that the 41 oracle proceeded from a ca¬ 
vity in the- earth ; and that it was confulted by Cyrus, the 
Perfian. That the Babylonians had a great veneration for 
a temple named Orphi, I make no doubt: but it certainly 
could not be the temple at Lefbos. During the Babylonifh 
empire, Greece, and its iflands, were fcarcely known to peo¬ 
ple of that country. And when the Perfians fucceeded, it is 
not credible, that they fhould apply to an oracle at Lefbos, 
or to any oracle of Greece. They were too refined in their 
religious notions to make any fuch application. It is noto¬ 
rious, that, when Cambyfes, and Ochus, invaded Egypt, and 
when Xerxes made his inroad into Greece, they burnt and 
ruined the temples in each nation, out of abomination to the 
worfhip. It was another place of this name, an oracle of 
their own, to which the Babylonians, and Perfians, applied. 
For it cannot be fuppofed, in the times fpoken of, that they 
had a correfpondence with the weftem world. It was Ur, in 
Chaldea, the feat of the ancient Magi, which was ftyled Ur- 
phi, and Orphi, on account of its being the feat of an oracle. 
That there was fuch a temple is plain from Stephanus Byzan- 
tinus, who tells us, 41 Mcurrsiov sysiv ctvrzg (Xa7\$cttisg) 'uxagee 

41 Philofbrati I-Jeroica. p. 677. xct Avj 751 y\ 1 vert-wf ei* 

41 Steph. Byz. XaAsfaic?. 





The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


*33 


among; the Grecians. 


Urphi. 


fictg&ccgoig, 6 os AsKpoi 'uru.g 'E Khnu'i. The Chaldeans had an 
oracle as famous among the people of thofe parts , as Delphi was 

This temple was undoubtedly ftyled 
I do not mean that this was neceftarily a proper 
name ; but an appellative, by which oracular places were in 
general diftinguifhed. The city Edefta in Mefopotamia 
feems likewife to have had the name of Urphi, which was 
given on account of the like rites, and worfhip. That it was 
fo named, we may fairly prefume from its being by the na¬ 
tives called 43 Urpha, at this day. It was the former temple, 
to which the Babylonians, and Perlians had recourfe : and it 
was from the Magi of thefe parts, that the Orphic rites and 
myfteries were originally derived. They came from Baby¬ 
lonia to Egypt, and from thence to Greece. We accordingly 


find this particular in the character of Orpheus, 


44 


stvcu 


<Jg 


TQV 


45 


Ogcpsct [JLa.ysv<rcii Szlvqv, that he was great in all the myfteries of 
the Magi. We moreover learn from Stephanus Monachius, 
that Orphon, a term of the fame purport as Orpheus, was 
one of the appellations, by which the Magi were called. 

Orphon, quod Arabibus Magum fonat. In fhort, under 
the character of Orpheus, we have the hiftory both of the 
Deity, and of his votaries. The head of Orpheus was faid 
to have been carried to Lemnos, juft as the head of Ofiri-s 
ufed to be wafted to Byblus. He is defcribed as going to the 
fhades below, and afterwards returning to upper air. This 
is fimilar to the hiftory of Ofiris, who was fuppofed to have 


43 


3 PoGOck’s Travels, Vol. 2. p. 159* 

Paufan. L, 6. p. 505., 

* s See Huetii Demonft. Evang, Pr, 4, p, 129 


been 



134 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

been in a ftate of death, and after a time to have come to 
life. There was moreover fomething myfterious in the death 
of Orpheus ; for it feems to have been celebrated with the 
fame frantic a£ts of grief, as people pra<fti{ed in their lamen¬ 
tations for Thamuz and Oftris, and at the rites of Baal. 
The Biftonian women, who were the fame as the Thyades, 
and Maenades, ufed to gafh their arms with knives, and be- 
fmear themfelves with 46 blood, and cover their heads with 
afhes. By this difplay of forrow we are to underftand a re¬ 
ligious rite ; for Orpheus was a title, under which the Deity 
of the place was worfhiped. He was the fame as Orus of 
Egypt, whom the Greeks efteemed both as Apollo, and He- 
phaiftus. That he was a deity is plain from his temple 
and oracle abovementioned : which, we find, were of great 
repute, and reforted to by various people from the oppofite 
coaft. 

As there was an Orpheus in Thrace, fo there appears to 
have been an Orpha in 47 Laconia, of whofe hiftory we have 
but few remains. They reprefent her as a Nymph, the 
daughter of Dion, and greatly beloved by Dionufus. She 
was faid at the clofe of her life, to have been changed to 
a tree. The fable probably relates to the Dionufiaca, and 
other Orphic rites, which had been in early times intro¬ 
duced into the part of the world abovementioned, where 
they were celebrated at a place called Orpha. But the rites 
grew into difufe, and the hiftory of the place became ob- 

46 SIXTHS fitULCt^OCVTQ (2pCt^lOVOCGy CCfJiCpt fASXoUVYl 

£±euofA.evcci (TTroS'M QgyiKtov 'ZcrAoxaftor. Antholog. L. 3. p. 270. 

47 Servius in Virgil. Eclog. 8. See Salmafius upon Solinus. p. 425. 

IO 


folete : 



The Analysis op Ancient Mythology* 135 

folete : hence Orpha has been converted to a nymph, fa- 

and was afterwards fup- 
pofed to have been changed to one of the trees, which grew 
within its prechnfts. 

Many undertook to write the hiftory of Orpheus; the prin¬ 
cipal of whom were Zopurus of Heraclea, Prodicus Chius, 
Epigenes, and Herodotus. They feem all to have run into 
that general millake of forming a new perfonage from a title, 
and making the Deity a native, where he was infbrined. 
The writings, which were tranfmitted under the name of 
Orpheus, were innumerable : and are juftly ridiculed by Lu¬ 
cian, both for their quantity, and matter. There were how¬ 
ever fome curious hymns, which ufed to be of old fung in 
Pieria, and Samothracia; and which Onomacritus copied. 
They contain indeed little more than a lift of titles, by which 
the Deity in different places was addreffed. But thefe titles 
are of great antiquity : and though the hymns are tranfmitted 
in a modern garb, the perfon, through whom we receive 
them, being as late as 48 Piftftratus, yet they deferve our no¬ 
tice. They mu ft neceftarily be of confequence, as they re¬ 
fer to the worfhip of the firft ages, and afford us a great in¬ 
fight into the theology of the ancients. Thofe fpecimens 
alfo, which have been preferved by Proclus, in his differ- 
tations upon Plato, afford matter of great curioftty. They 
are all imitations, rather than tranflations of the ancient Or¬ 
phic poetry, accompanied with a fhort comment. This 
poetry was in the original Amonian language, which grew 


voured of the God there worihiped ; 


48 Tlegi t yiv izrevTiw.oq'vv OXvfJiTriccS'cx.. Tatianus AfTyr. p. 275. 
Orphic hymns, which were fung by the Lycomedae at Athens. 


Thefe were the 


1 

obfolete 



136 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


obfolete among the Helladians, and was no longer intelli¬ 
gible : but was for a long time preferved in 49 Samothracia, 
and ufed in their facred rites. 

49 Diodorus Sic. p. L. 5. p. 322. 



A LTHOUGH I have laid fo much about Dionufus, 

Sefoftris, and other great travellers, I cannot quit the 
fubjecd, till I have taken notice of Cadmus : for his expedi¬ 
tions, though not fo extenlive as fome, which I have been 
mentioning, are yet efteemed of great confequence in the 
hiftories of ancient nations. The time of his arrival in Greece 
is looked up to as a fixed sera : and many circumftances in 
chronology are thereby determined. He is commonly re¬ 
puted to have been a Phenician by birth ; the fon of Agenor, 
who was the king of that country. He was fent by his fa¬ 
ther’s order in quell of his filler Europa ; and after wander¬ 
ing about a long time to little purpofe, he at laft fettled in 
Greece. In this country were many traditions concerning 
him ; efpecially in Attica, and Boeotia. The particular fpot, 
where he is fuppofed to have taken up his refidence, was in 
the latter province at Tanagra upon the river Ifmenus. He 
afterwards built Thebes : and wherever he came, he intro¬ 
duced the religion of his country. This confilled in the 
worfhip of s ° Dionufus ; and in the rites, which by the later 


5 ° 


AiyvTTTiB A/orucra 


Mug-isTos evvv^yioLs tsA eras a& 


Nonnus. Dionuf. L. 4. p. 128. 


There will be found in fome circumftances a great refemblance between Cadmus 


and Orpheus. 


Greeks 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 137 
Greeks were termed the Dionufiaca. They feem to have 

w 

been much the fame as the Cabiritic myfteries, which he is 
faid to have eftablifhed in Samothracia. He fought with a 
mighty dragon; whofe teeth he afterwards fowed, and pro¬ 
duced an army of men. To him Greece is fuppofed to have 

been indebted for the firft: introduction of 51 letters ; which are 

% 

faid to have been the letters of his country Phenicia, and in 
number flxteen. He married Harmonia, the daughter of 
Mars arid Venus : and his nuptials were graced with the pre¬ 
fence of all the Gods, and Goddefles ; each of whom con¬ 
ferred fome gift upon the bride. He had feveral children ; 
among whom was a daughter Semele, efteemed the mother of 
Bacchus. After having experienced great viciflitudes in life, 
he is faid to have retired with his wife Harmonia to the coaft 
of Illyria, where they were both changed to ferpents. He 
was fucceeded at Thebes by his fon Polydorus, the father of 
Labdacus, the father of Laius. This laft was the hulband 
of Jocafta, by whom he had OEdipus. 

Bochart with wonderful ingenuity, and equal learning, 
tries to folve the aenigmas, under which this hiftory is repre- 
fented. He fuppofes Cadmus to have been a fugitive Ca- 
naanite, who fled from the face of Jofhua : and that he was 
called Cadmus from being a Cadmonite, which is a family 
mentioned by Mofes. In like manner he imagines, that Har¬ 
monia had her name from mount Hermon, which was pro- 


51 Oi cfg 0UT01 01 cruv KaJ/jta) • surnya.'yov S'lS'cccrx-ct^ia, £5 ths 

'EAAwas, itai JSj xai ^aftjKSTa, asc zovtix. 'as-gtv 'EAAj?<7Z»\ Herod. L. 5. c. 58. 

Literas—in Graeciam intuliffe e Phoenice Cadmum, fedecim numero. Pliny 
L. 7. c. 56. 

VOL. II. 


T 


bably 



138 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

bably in the diftriCt of the Cadmonites. The ftory of the 
dragon he deduces from the Hevaei, or Hivites ; the fame 
people as the Cadmonites. He proceeds afterwards with 
great addrefs to explain the reft of the fable,, concerning the 
teeth of the dragon, which were 'fown ; and the armed men, 
which from thence arofe : and what he fays is in many par¬ 
ticulars attended with a great ftiew of probability. Yet after 
all his ingenious conjectures, I am obliged to diffent from 
hirh in fome points ; and particularly in one, which is of the 
greateft moment. I cannot be induced to think,, that Cad¬ 
mus was, as Bochart reprefents him, a Phenician. Indeed 
I am perfuaded, that no fuch perfon exifted. If Cadmus 
brought letters from Phenicia, how came he to bring but 
ftxteen ; when the people, from whom he imported them, 
had undoubtedly more, as we may infer from their neigh¬ 
bours ? And if they were the current letters of Greece, as 
Herodotus intimates ; how came it to pafs, that the tablet 
of Alcmena, the wife of Amphitryon, the third in defcent 
from Cadmus, could not be underftood, as we are affured by 
51 Plutarch ? He fays, that in the reign of Ageftlaus of 
Sparta, a written tablet was found in the tomb of Alcmena, 
to whom it was infcribed : that the characters were obfolete, 
and unintelligible; on which account they fent it to Conu- 
phis of Memphis in Egypt to be deciphered. If thefe cha¬ 
racters were Phenician, why were they fent to a prieft of a 
different country for interpretation ? and why is their date, 
and antiquity defined by the reign of a king in Egypt ? 


Tag 


Plutarch. De Genio Socratis. Vol. 1. p. 578. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


139 


33 


T a 


TV7T8S SIVOU TY]g £7Tl IlgOQTEl ficHTlXsVOVTl r ygCirjL[JLCX.TltCr i g 


The form of the 
teus reigned in that 


the fame , as was in life , when P 
Herodotus indeed, to prove f 


the Cadmians brought letters into Greece, allures us, that he 


Jaw fp 


of their writing 


at Thebes 

Apollo s+ Ifmenius : that there was a tripod 


the 


of 


reign of 


the fon of Labdacus 


with 


an 


infeript 


which imported, that it had been there dedicated by Ampl 
tryon upon his victory over the Telebose. I 


make no doubt 


but that Herodotus faw 


pods with 


nfeript 


but 


and there might be one with the name of Amphitryon 
how could he be fure that it was the writing of that perfon 
and of thofe times ? We know what a pleah 
enhancing the antiquity of things ; 


is m 


and how often inferip- 
tions are forged for that purpofe. Is it credible, that the 
characters of Amphitryon fhould be fo eafy to be appre¬ 
hended, when thole of his wife Alcmena could not be under- 
ftood ? and which of the two are we in this cafe to believe, 
Herodotus or Plutarch ? I do not mean that I give any cre- 

: nor do I be- 


dence to the Itory of Alcmena, and her tablet 


lieve, that there was 


pod with characters as ancient as 


Amphitryon 


I 


nly argue from the principles of the 


Greeks, to prove their inconliltency. The Pheneatae in Ar 
cadia {hewed to Paufanias an infeription upon the balls of 


53 Plutarch above. 

54 O fxev S'n J/5 t av rpiTroPoov emypccfxfxcc 

A [x(pn gvwv jx ccveftmet' ecov arrro TtfAcSoacor. 

Twrcc fiAncwv av ew xccrcc Actio? top Aa£eTa*y* Herod. L. 5. c. 59. 


T 2 


brazen 



140 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


brazen fbitue, which was dedicated to 55 Pofeidon Hippius. 
It was faid to have been written by Ulyffes ; and contained a 
treaty made between him and Tome fhepherds. But Paufa- 
nias acknowledges, that it was an impoiition: for neither 


ftatues of bra’fs 
time alluded to 


ftatues of any fort 


ufe 


the 


It is faid of Cadmus, that he introduced the rites of 
56 Bacchus into Greece. But how is this poflible, if Bacchus 
was his defcendant, the fon of his daughter Semele ? To re¬ 
medy this, the latter mythologifts fuppofe, that there was a 
prior Bacchus, who was worfhiped by Cadmus. This is their 


ufual recourfe, when they 


hard preffed with inconfiften 


cies. 


They then create other perfonages 


help them 


of their difficulties. They form with great facility a new 


Semiramis 


Ninus ; another 


Perfeus. Minos, Her 


mes 


Phoroneu 


Af 


though to little purpofe : for the 


miftake being fundamental, the inconveniencies cannot be 
remedied by fuch fubftitutes. We are told, that Cadmus 
was a Phenician : but Diodorus Siculus fpeaks of him as af- 
furedly of Egypt ; and mentions moreover, that he was a na- 


of the Thebai’s 


: S7 K ClS'fJLOV BK G/joOJV OVTCt TM AiyV 7 TTlC*ni. 

Pherecydes Syrus alfo, from whom mod; of the mythology of 
Greece was borrowed, makes Cadmus an 58 Egyptian, the 

fon 


s " 5 Paufanias. L. 8. p. 628. 

He is faid to have introduced Aiovvatcacnv^ tsA er&pyico'^ (pcch^ycpooiccv. 

57 Diodorus Sicul. L. 1. p. 20. 

5S Cadmum Pherecydes L. 4. Hiftoriarum ex Agenore et Argiope, Nili fluvii : 
filia natum efle tradidit. Natalis Comes. L. 8. c. 23. p. 481. There are various 
genealogies of this perfonage. A £vyjs rns l£.7rcc<ps y,ca riocreiJ'coro^ A yyvcop kcci B>?A 05. 
Aywopos xc&i Ayr io7tyis tvs BaA b Ka^/405.. Scholia Euripid. PhoenifT. v. 5. 


Qepexvf'r,* 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


i 4 i 


fon of Agenor, and Argiope, who was the daughter of Nilus 
By others he is faid to have been the fon of Antiop 
daughter of Belus : c< 


i, the 

nfequently he muffc originally have been 


of Babylonifh extraction. His father Agenor, from whom he 
is fuppofed to have been inftruCted in the fciences, is repre- 
lented by Nonn.us as redding at Thebes. 


59 TLccrgioc §e<T7re<riY\$ bs^oix^Bvog ogyia, TeynJYig, 

Aiyv7TTiY)S (roping fJLSTCivoLg-io.g, rifjLog Ayqvwg 
MsfJL(pi$Og SVVOLSTYig BKCXXOpLTtV'Koy UKBB ®Yi£y}V. 


We learn the fame from the Scholiaft upon Lycophron, who 
ftyles the king Ogugus. 60 K ou 6 Q.yvyog_ ©iq^w!/ AiyvivTitov ry 

@a.<nXevg, o.Qsv 6 Ka.bfj.Qg UTragyyov, b\Quv bv 'EAActch r ag 'E Tv\a- 
7rvXag saTicrs. Moreover Ogugus was king of 'Thebes in Egypt : 
of which country was Cadmus , who came into Greece , and built 
the city fyled Heptapulce. It was from the fame part of the 
world, that the mylleries were imported, in which Cadmus 
is reprefented as fo knowing : and here it was, that he was 
taught hieroglyphics, and the other characters, which are at¬ 
tributed to him. For he is faid to have been expert 61 '"Ksigog 

07n<ro07rogoio •gagayfj.ara Ao£a. .•gagavcuv. Thefe arts he car¬ 
ried firft to the coaft of Sidon, and Syria ; and from thence 
he is fuppofed to have brought them to Greece : for before 


QspeKvS'Yis- ev cT 1 btgo (pxaiv. Ayvv&p S'e o OWefJWos Aaju,raj t r,v B>?Ab' 

toov cTs yivovTou <&oivi% kcli Icra/a, yiv Aiyv7TTos * y.cu MeA< cs, w icr%fi Accvccgs' 

e7rSiToc evicr^fL A yyvoog A^yiovrrw t riv NeiAtf tb txjot a/xa* cTe yivBTai KacT/xos. 

Apollon. Scholia. L. 3. v. 1185. 


59 Dionufiac. L. 4. p. 126. 


60 


V. 1206. The Poet calls the Thebans of Bceotia, Clyvyu cnra^oi Aews. 


61 Nonnus. L. 4. p. 126. 


he 



z 42 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

he came to Hellas, he is laid to have reigned in conjunction 
with Phoenix, both at Sidon and Tyre. 6z Qomt; koli KacT^to?, 

QC7T0 ©t^UOV TOOV A iyV7TTlQ0V S^ZXQqVTSS TW XvglOtV T VgH KOLl 

XCoovog c£oL<nXzv<TOLV. Phcsnix and Cadmus came from 'Thebes 
in Egypt, and reigned at Tyre and Sidon. 

Thus I have taken pains to drew* that Cadmus was not, 
as lias been generally thought, a Phenician. My next en¬ 
deavour will be to prove that no fuch perfon exifted. If we 
confider the whole hiftory of this celebrated hero, we fhall 
find, that it was impoflible for one perfon to have effected 
what he is fuppofed to have performed. His expeditions 
were various and wonderful; and fuch as in thofe early times 
would not have been attempted, nor could ever have been 
compleated. The Helladians fay little more, than that he 
built Thebes, and brought letters into Greece : that he flew 
a dragon, from the teeth of which being fowed in the ground 
there arofe an army of earthborn men. The writers of other 
countries afford us a more extenfive account: among the 
principal of which are to be efteemed Herodotus, Diodorus, 
Strabo, and Paufanias. Some of them had their 63 doubts 
about the reality of this adventurer : and from the hiftory, 
which they have tranfmitted, we may fafely infer, that no 
fuch perfon exifted, as has been defcribed under the character 
of Cadmus. 

He is faid to have failed firft to 64 Phenicia and Cyprus $ 
and afterwards to 65 Rhodes. Here he inftruCted the people 

6i Eufeb. Chron. p. 27. and Syncellus. p. 152. 

63 See Paufan. L. 9. p. 734. 

64 olvi £ xai K ccS'fj.os, cx 7 To ®y€ow t gov Kiyinnitov sfeAQov eis t tiv 'Xvpictv xtA. 

Eufeb. Chron. p. 27. 

&s Diodorus Sic. L. 5 . p, 329. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 143 

fn the religion, which he profeffed; and founded a temple 
at Lindus, where he appointed an order of 
the fame 66 at Thera, and afterwards was at 67 Thafus : and 
proceeding in his travels partook of the Cabiritic myfteries 
in 68 Samothracia. He vilited 69 Ionia, and all the coaft up¬ 
wards to the Hellefpont and Propontis. He was at Lelbos, 
which he named 70 Ifla; where fome of his poflerity were 

to be found long after. He was alfo at Anaphe, one of the 

% 

Sporades ; which illand was denominated Membliaros from 
one of his 71 followers. Mention is made of his being upon 
the 71 Hellefpont, and in Thrace. Here he redded, and found 
out a mine of 73 gold, having before found one of copper 
in 7+ Cyprus. Hence he is faid to have procured great wealth; 
75 'Ods K aSfJLis 'UtT^xtos 'ursgi y\v, kcli to II oifycuov ogog. We 

hear of him afterwards in 76 Euboea ; where there are to be 

found innumerable traces of him, and his followers. He 

» 

66 K ccJfJios—'z^poG-ea^e t r,v ©upar. Herod. L. 4. c. 147. 

67 Conon apud Photium. p. 443. and Scholia Dionyfii.. v> 517. EijfcS cfs i£/>cy 

$ ©ttcrcf, L ; 7ro t m* auw LPguBev, 01 'mtevcrocvT& retiree tt,s 

V.vcco7ni$ T‘i)v Guccv exTicccv. 

68 Diodorus Sic. L. 5. p- 323. 

69 Nonnus. L. 3. p. 86. Priene in Ionia called Cadmia. Strabo. L. 14. p. 943. 

70 Lycophron. v. 219. 

71 Steph. Byzant. 

71 Nonnus. p. 86. 

73 Auri metalla et conflaturam Cadmus Phcenix (invenit) ad Pangaeum montem. 
Plin. L. 7. c. 56. K ccdfxos, xoti Tntecpccacrci ey ©£>ax>? xcct&kvg-cxv. Apollodorus. 
L. 3. p. 130. 

74 Plin. L. 34. c. 10. Hygin. F. 274, 

75 Strabo. L. 14. p. 998. 

76 Strabo. L. 10. p. 685. 



9 


was 



144 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

was likewife at 77 Sparta; as we may infer from the Heroiifn 
erecfted to him by Eurotas, and his brethren, the fons of 
Hurasus. He mu ft have reftded a great while in 78 Attica; 
for there were many edifices about Athens attributed to 
him. He fettled at Tanagra in Bceotia; where he loft all 
his companions, who were flain by a dragon. He after¬ 
wards built Thebes. Here he was king; and is faid to have 
reigned ftxty-two 79 years. But as if his wanderings were 
never to be terminated, he leaves his newly founded city, 
and goes to Illyria. Here we find him again in regal ftate. 
80 BotcriXvsi K <x,$ucg rcav iXXvgioov. He reigns over the coun¬ 
try, which receives its name from his fon. 81 iXXvgia. — a.7uo 

T8 K a^fjiovog 'urcufog. Now whoever is truly acquainted with 
antiquity, muft know, that in the times here fpoken of little 
correfpondence was maintained between nation and nation. 
Depredations were very frequent ; and every little maritime 
power was in a ftate of piracy : fo that navigation was at¬ 
tended with great peril. It is not therefore to be believed, 
that a perfon fhould fo often rove upon the feas amid fuch 
variety of nations, and refide among them at his pleafure : 
much lefs that he fhould build temples, found cities, and 
introduce his religion, wherever he lifted ; and this too in 
fuch tranfient vifits. Befides, according to the Egyptian 
accounts, the chief of his adventures were in Libya. He 

• 77 Paufanias. L. 3. p. 245. 

78 Herodotus. L. 5. c. 61. 

79 Cedrenus. p. 23. 

80 Apollodorus. L,. 3. p. 143. Paufan. L. 9. p. 719. 

81 Stephanus Byzantin. 

8 * Thucydid. L. 1. c. 5, 6. 


IO 


married 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


*45 


married Harmonia at the lake 83 Tritonis ; and is faid to have 
founded in that part of the world no lefs than an hundred 
cities : 


84 


A&vsridi Kol$[jlqs ccgaga 


Aoo(jLri<r<xs "uroXioov ijcoLToi/Tottfct. 

Some of thefe cities feem to have been lituated far weft in. 

the remoter parts of Africa. 

♦ 

85 K ou A t^vsg ggctTouvTo 'ur&g 'ErKsgiov kXi^cl ycLi^g^ 

Ayy^ivscpri vcuovrsg AKYifxovog ol$sol Ka<fy/,a. 

Carthage itfelf was of old called 86 Cadmeia: fo that he may¬ 
be ranked among the founders of that city. 

lAYiTgowoKis AiSvng — skolKsitq Js K.OUVY] / uroKig, koci Koc^eioc. 

He is mentioned by Moles Chorenenlis to have fettled in 
87 Armenia, where there was a regio Cadmeia not far from 
Colchis. He reigned here 5 and is faid to have been of the 


And 


the 


giant race, and to have come from 88 Babylonia, 
city Carthage in Libya was called Cadmeia, fo in this region 
Cadmeia there was a city Carthage : 89 K ccgyy\4oov 'UToXig Ag- 
[jimoiS' 


s* 


rictpct TglTOOVl'Pl XljJ-V'A 


'Apfj-oviri 'zo-upeXtKTO po§a) 7 riS'i K ctfpi'js o.?\.yitk. Nonnus. L. 13. p. 372. 


Diodorus fays that he married her in Samothracia. L. 5. p. 
S4 Nonnus. L. 23. p. 372, 

Ss Nonnus. L. 13. p. 370. 


323 


8 Stephanus Byzant. The Carthaginians are by Silius Italicus ftyled Cadmeans 

Sacri cum perfida pa< 5 ti 

Gens Cadmea fuper regno certamina movit. L. 1. v. 5. 

187 L. 1. c. 9, 10. p. 26. L. 2, c. 4. p. 87. 


88 Mofes Choren. L. 1. c. 9. p. 26. There was a city Cadmea in Cilicia. KaT- 
fj.eicc ex.T/cr8)j kcu SicT'w ev KiAnt/a. Eufebii Chron. p. 30. 1 . 23. 

* 9 Stephanus Byzant. Some think that this is a miftake for Chal- 

cedon. But Chalcedon was not in Armenia, nor in its vicinity. 


Vol. XX. 


U 


Such 



146 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


Such are the expeditions of Cadmus. But is it credible 
that any perfon could have penetrated into the various re¬ 
gions, whither he is fuppofed to have gone? to have founded 
colonies in Phenicia, Cyprus, Rhodes, Thera, Thafus, Ana- 
phe, Samothracia ? to have twice vilited the Hellefpont ? to 
have worked the mines in the Pangean mountains, and in 
other places ? to have made fettlements in Euboea, Attica, 
Bceotia, and Illyria ? and, above all, to have had fuch terri¬ 
tories in Afric ? He is reprefented as heir to the kingdom of 
Egypt: this he quitted, and obtained a kingdom in Phenicia. 
He leaves this too ; and after much wandering arrives in 
Greece ; where he founds feveral cities and reigns lixty-two 
years. After this, hard to conceive I he is made king in 
Illyria. He muft alfo have reigned in Afric : and his domi¬ 
nions feem to have been conftderable, as he founded an hun¬ 
dred cities. He is reprefented as a king in Armenia ; and 
had there too no fmall territory. Sure kingdoms in thofe 
times muft have been very cheap, if they were fo ealily at¬ 
tainable. But the whole is certainly a miftake ; at leaft in 
refpeft to 90 Cadmus. No perfon could poflibly have effected 

90 Cadmus was coeval with Dardanus. He was in Samothrace before the foun¬ 
dation of Troy. Diodorus Sicul. L. 5. p. 323. Yet he is laid to be contemporary 
with the Argonauts: Clemens Alexandrinus Strom. L. 1. p. 382. and'pofterior to 
Tirefias, who was in the time of Epigonoi. Yet Tirefias is laid to have prophefied 
of Cadmus, and his offspring. 

oAAa S'e 

Xf'dcrg;, xca {jityccXois C^eocc A c&SJ'ccxidca?. 

Callimachi Lavacra Palladis. v. 125. 

The fon of Cadmus is fuppofed to have lived at the time of the Trojan war: 
Lycophron. v. 217. and Scholia. His daughter Semele is faid to have been fixteen 
hundred years before Elerodotus, by that writer’s own account. L. 2. c. 145. She 
was at this rate prior to the foundation of Argos : and many centuries before her 
father; near a thoufand years before her brother. 

6 


what 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 147 

* 

what is attributed to him. They were not the atchievements 
of one perfon, nor of one age. And place Cadmus at any 
given asra, and arrange his hiflory, as may appear moft plau- 
fible ; yet there will arife numberlefs inconfiflencies from the 
connexions he muff have in refpedl to time, place, and peo¬ 
ple ; fuch as no art nor difpofition can remedy. 

It may be afked, if there were no fuch man as Cadmus, 
what did the ancients allude to under this character ? and 
what is the true purport of thefe hiftories ? The travels of 
Cadmus, like the expeditions of Perfeus, Sefoftris, and Ofiris, 
relate to colonies, which at different times went abroad, and 
were diftinguifhed by this title. But what was the work of 
many, and performed at various feafons, has been attributed 
to one perfon. Cadmus was one of the names of Ofiris, the 
chief Deity of Egypt. Both Europa, and Harmonia, are of 
the like nature. They were titles of the Deity; but affumed 
by colonies, who went out, and fettled under thefe denomi¬ 
nations. The native Egyptians feldom left their country, 
but by force. This neceflity however did occur : for Egypt 
at times underwent great 91 revolutions. It was likewife in 
fome parts inhabited by people of a different caft ; particu¬ 
larly by the fons of Chus. Thefe were obliged to retire : in 
confequence of which they fpread themfelves over various 
parts of the earth. All, who embarked under the fame 
name, or title, were in after times fuppofed to have been un¬ 
der the fame leader : and to him was attributed the honour 
of every thing performed. And as colonies of the fame de- 


91 See Excerpta ex Diodori L. 40. apud Photium. p. 1x52. concerning the dif¬ 
ferent nations in Egypt, and of their migrations from that country. 

U 2 


nomination 



148 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

nomination went to parts of the world widely diffcant ; their 
ideal chieftain, whether Cadmus, or Bacchus, or Hercules, 
was fuppofed to have traverfed the fame ground : and the 
atchievements of different ages were conferred upon a fancied 
hero of a day. This has been the caufe of great inconfift- 
ency throughout the mythology of the ancients. To this 
they added largely, by being fo lavifh of titles, out of rever¬ 
ence to their Gods. Wherever they came, they built temples 

to them, and cities, under various denominations ; all which 

% 

were taken from fome fuppofed attribute. Thefe titles and 
attributes, though they belonged originally to one God, the 
Sun ; yet being 91 manifold, and mifapplied, gave rife to a 
multitude of Deities, whofe asra never could be fettled, nor 
their hiftory rendered confident. Cadmus was one of thefe. 
He was the fame as Hermes of Egypt, called alfo Thoth, 
Athoth, and Canathoth: and was fuppofed to have been the 
inventer of letters. He was fometimes ftyled Cadmilus, 
another name for Hermes , under which he was worfhiped in 
Samothracia, and Hetruria. Lycophron fpeaking of the pro¬ 
phet Prulis in Lefbos tells us, that he was the fon of Cadmus, 
and of the race of Atlas. And he was the perfon, who was 
fuppofed to give information to the Greeks, when they were 
upon their expedition towards Troy. 

91 Diana fays to her father Jupiter, 

.Aos 01 'sruflenyv aci&mov, An'Trct , <puAa^ca, 

Kca 'moXucawf^inv. Callim. H. in Dianam. v. 6. 

Thxvrcti £7r ar 0 £&) 7 ra 5 eyrem 'moPwctivv/xos e~iv. Homer. H. in Apoll. v. 82. 

I7oAA» fj.iv a.i$fc*) 7 ronTi jc’bjc av&vuu.os 

Gecc Kv-rgis. Eurip. Hippolytus. v. 1. 

The Egyptian Deities had many titles. 

1 SIDI. MYRIONYMJE. Gruter. lxxxiii. n. 11. 


Q.S 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


149 


93 '£2? [jly) crs K ol${jlo 9 w<p£\’ sv 'ursgippvrw 
Icrcrjo (pvTsvtrcu S'vu'fxsvm 'Grofayenp. 

They are the words of Calfandra: upon which the Scholiaft 
obferves; IJgvhis, vio$ T8 K cx.S'fJuXz, koli Kac$]u.a, rfroi 'E^b ; 
Prulis of Lefhos was the fon of Cadmilus , or Cadmus , the fame as 
Hermes . And afterwards he mentions, 9 * 0 K ct^fxog, Y)Toi 'Egfjuqs, 
Cadmus , who is the fa7ne as Hermes. In another place he 
takes notice, that the name of Hermes among; the Hetrurians 

was 95 Cadmilus : and it has been fhewn, that Cadmilus, and 

■ 

Cadmus are the fame. To clofe the whole, we have this 
further evidence from Phavorinus, that Cadmus was cer¬ 
tainly an epithet or title of Hermes. 96 Kad]u.os, 8 nvpiov vlovov, 

CtAAO, KOU 'E^|W.8 S7t iQstov. 

Harmonia, the wife of Cadmus, who has been efteemed a 
mere woman, feems to have been an emblem of nature, and 
the foftering nurfe of all things. She is from hence ftyled 
97 'nrctvTgcxpog 'A gfiovioi. And when Venus is reprefented in the 

allegory as making her a vilit, fhe is faid to go 98 sis Sopov 

*A gpovioiG '&roL(JLfJLYiTogQg i to the houfe of the all-produSHve parent . 
In fome of the Orphic verfes fhe is reprefented not only as a 
Deity, but as the light of the world,. 

95 Lycophron. v. 219. 

94 Scholia, ibid. 

95 Lycophron. Schol. v. 162. 

96 Vetus Au£tor apud Phavorinum.. 

97 JNonnus. L. 41. p. 1070. Harmonia, by the Scholiaft upon -Apollonius is 

ftyled Nvpnpv Nazi. L. 2. v. 992. The marriage of Cadmus and Harmonia is 

* 

faid to be only a parody of the marriage of Peleus and Thetis. Diodorus. L. 5. 
P- 3 ^ 3 - 

98 Nonnus. L. 41. p. 1068. 

'A $[tOVlY) y 



150 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

",'A gpoviri, zot[jloio (paetrpogs , kgli <ro<p£ Actipov. 

Harmonia was fuppofed to have been a perfonage, from whom 
all knowledge was derived. On this account the books of 
fcience were ftyled 100 kv^iols 'A gfJLonoig, the books of Har¬ 
monia, as well as the books of Hermes. Thefe were four in 
number, of which Nonnus gives a curious account, and fays, 
that they contained matter of wonderful antiquity. 

1 ElV hi $'£<T<potTCt 'ETamt, T K7rsg '5T£7TgtipsVCL K0(T(JLCa 

YLgoToyovoio &olviqtos zniygoLfys iJLouiri7Fohos 
The firfl: of them is faid to have been coeval with the world. 

ft 

* n gUTW ftv^iv Q 7 CM 7 CSV OLT £ g ( JLOV 0 $ YihlKCt XQCT { JL &, 

E iv hi 'utolvtol (psgsroiv, o<ra. (TK^irra’^pg Ocpioov 
Hwe rev. 

From hence we find, that Hermon, or Harmonia, was a 
Deity, to whom the firft writing is aferibed. The fame is 
faid of Hermes. 3 *E %fJLY\g XsysTou ©scoi/ sv Aiyv7rTw ygufir 

[mccto. 'WgwTog svgsiv. The invention is alfo attributed to 

♦ 

Taut, or Thoth. 4 Il^&rros ss’i T uotirrog, 6 rm yg cm tw) 
ivgzi nv £ 7 fiv o/jcr <xg ,—-ov A lyvTrrioi (jlsv exaK&rciv ©wy$, AA s^oev- 

dgzig Js ®oo3, ‘Egfju)V Js 'EAA^ss [JLSTScppourcLV. Cadmus is faid 

99 Oraculum Apollinis Sminthei apud Ladlantium. D. I. L. I. c. 8. p. 32. Slie 
is ftyled the mother of the Amazons. Steph. Byzant. 'A py.zvia.^ 

100 Nonnus. E. 12. p. 228. 

* Ibid. 

‘ Ibid. 

3 Plutarch. Sympof. L. g. Qusft. 13. p.738. 

4 Philo apud Eufeb. P. E. L. 1. p. 31. 


not 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 151 

not only to have brought letters into Greece, but to have 
been the inventor of them.: from whence we may fairly con¬ 
clude, that under the characters of Hermon, Hermes, Taut, 
Thoth, and Cadmus, one perfon is alluded to. The Deity 
called by the Greeks Harmonia was introduced among the 
Canaanites very early by people from Egypt: and was wor¬ 
shiped in Sidon, and the adjacent country by the name of 
5 Baal Hermon. 

Europa likewife was a Deity: according to Lucian the 
fame as Aftarte, who was worshiped at Hierapolis in Syria. 
He vifited the temple, and had this information from the 
priefts : 6 dog Js 01 Tig roov Igeow omriyero, Evgw rqg eft (to 

CLyoLhfJLa) TY)g K a.$fjus cnh'hQeYis. He is Speaking of the ftatue 
in the temple, which the priefts told him belonged to a God- 
defs, the fame as Europa, the lifter of Cadmus. She was 
alfo efteemed the fame as Rhea; which Rhea we know was 
the reputed mother of the gods, and particularly the mother 
of Jupiter. 

7 E/ clv Eslol renoi nrcciia. K .govw sv qiXotvti. 

9 

Pindar fpeaks of Europa, as the 8 daughter of Tityus : and 
by Herodotus £he is made the mother of 9 Sarpedon and 
Minos. 

I have mentioned, that Cadmus was the fame as the Egyp- 

s Judges, c. 3. v. 3. Hermon was particularly worfhiped about Libanus, and 
Antilibanus, where was the country of the Cadmonites, and Syrian Hivites. 

6 Lucian de Syria Dea. p. 6. 

7 Apud Proclum in Timaeum. p. 121. See Orpheus. Fragm. p. 403. 

8 Pyth. Ode 4. p. 237. 

9 Herodotus. L. 1. c. 173. 


tian 



152 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


tian Thoth; and it is manifeft from, his being Hermes, and 

^ t 

from the invention of letters being attributed to him. Simi¬ 
lar to the account given of Cadmus is the hiftory of a per- 
fonage called by the Greeks Caanthus : this hiftory contains 
an epitome of the voyage undertaken by Cadmus, though 
with fome fmall variation. Caanthus is faid to have been 
the fon of Oceanus ; which in the language of Egypt is the 
fame as the fon of Ogus, and Oguges ; a different name for 
the fame IO perfon. Ogus, and with the reduplication Ogu- 
gus, was the fame as Ogyges, in whofe time the flood was 

fuppofed to have happened. Ogyges is reprefented both as 

* 

a king of Thebes in Egypt, and of Thebes in Boeotia : and 
in his time Cadmus is faid to have left the former country, 
and to have come to the latter, 'being fent in queft of his 
After Europa by his father. Caanthus was lent by his father 
with a like commiflion. His After Melia had been ftolen 
away : and he was ordered to fearch every country, till he 
found her. He accordingly traverfed many feas, and at laft 
landed in Greece, and pafled into Boeotia. Here he found, 
that his After was detained by Apollo in the grove of Ifme- 

nus. There was -a fountain 11 of the fame name near the 

# 

grove, which was guarded by a dragon. Caanthus is faid to 

have caft Are into this facred recefs ; on which account he 

was flain by Apollo. His Tot<pog, or tomb, was in after times, 
fhewn by the Thebans. We may perceive, that the main 


Og, Ogus, Ogenus, Ogugus, D.yvyv^ Ci.ymS'a.i, all relate to the Ocean. 

" Ai 'coreoco cT e laptevis T/ju Y.pY\vnv iSois ot\\ wnvtx, A (peter lv ispccv Blvqli^ you Spot- 
ycvt ct vtto Ta A pecog t7ri r TZ r Tot<pfiou (pvXctYct t>i zniyy' 'z&'pos TcaiTy tw xpyn'y Tct(po$ ecj-t 

K ctctiSn' MfA ictg cTe ai^gAcpoi/* Ttcti Chcera/v zivcti K ctavQov AcpzAjjrca S'e 


c 


part 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 153 

jpart of this relation agrees with that of Cadmus, Melie, the 
lifter of Caanthus, is by fome fpoken of as the mother of 
11 Europa: which ftiews, that there is a correfpondenee be¬ 
tween the two hiftories. The perfon alfo, who fent thefe 
two adventurers, the lifter, of whom they went in queft, and 
the precife place, to which they both came, exhibit a feries 
of circumftances fo limilar, that we need not doubt, but that 
it is one and the fame hiftory. It is faid, that Caanthus 
threw fire into the facred 13 grove: which legend, however 
mifconftrued, relates to the firft eftablifhment of fire-worfhip 
at Thebes in the grove of Apollo Ifmenius. The term If- 
menius is compounded of Is-Men, ignis Menis. Meen, 
Menes, Manes, was one of the moft ancient titles of the 

ian God Oliris, the fame as Apollo, and Caanthus. 
What has been mentioned about Cadmus and Caanthus, is 
repeated under the character of a perfon named Curnus; 
who is faid to have been fent by his father Inachus in fearch 
of his lifter 14 Io. Inachus, Oceanus, Ogugus, and Agenor, 
are all the fame perfonages under different names ; and the 
hiftories are all the fame. 



12 Dicitur Europa fuifle Agenoris Pheenicum Regis, et Meli^e Nymphae, fill a. 
Natalis Comes. L. 8. p. 481. 

13 So Phlegyas was faid to have fired the temple of Apollo at Delphi. Euleb. 
Chron. p. 27. Apud Delphos templum Apollinis incendit Phlegyas. Eutatius. 
Placidus upon Statius. Thebaid. L. 1. v. 703. But Phlegyas was the Deity of 
fire, prior to Apollo and his temple. Apollo is faid to have married Coronis the 
daughter of Phlegyas. Hyginus. F. 161. and by her he had a fon Delphus, from 
whom Delphi had its name. ibid. See Paufan. L. 10. p. 811. The mytholo- 
gifts have made Apollo flay Caanthus: but Caanthus, Cunthus, Cunsethus, were 
all titles of the fame Deity called Chan-Thoth in Egypt. 

14 Diodorus Siculus. L. 5, p. 331. 

VOL. II. 


X 


That 



154 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

That Cadmus was of old efteemed a Deity may be further 
proved from his being worfhiped at Gortyna in Crete, as we 
learn from 15 Solinus. lidem Gortynii et Cadmum colunt, 
Europse fratrem. He had moreover an Heroum at Sparta, 
which was erected by people ftyled the fons of 16 Huraeus. 
We learn from Palasphatus, that according to fome of the 
ancient mythologies, Cadmus was the perfon, who flew the 
ferpent 17 at Lerna. And according to Nonnus he contended 
with the giant Tiphceus, and reftored to Jupiter his loft 
18 thunder. By this is meant, that he renewed the rites, and 
worfhip of the Deity, which had been abolilhed. Thefe are 
circumftances, which fufficiently fhew, that Cadmus was a 
different perfonage, from what he is generally imagined. 
There was a hill in Phrygia of his name, and probably fa- 
cred to him ; in which were the fountains of the river 19 Ly- 
cus. There was alfo a river Cadmus, which rofe in the fame 
mountain, and was loft underground. It foon afterwards 
burft forth again, and joined the principal ftream. Moun¬ 
tains and rivers were not denominated from ordinary perfon- 
ages. In ftiort, Cadmus was the fame as Hermes, Thoth, 
and Ofiris : under which characters more than one perfon is 
alluded to: for all theology of the ancients is of a mixed 
nature. He may principally be efteemed Ham, who by his 
pofterity was looked up to as the Sun, and worfhiped under 

15 Solinus. L. 17. 

16 Paufanias. L. 3. p. 245. 

17 Paltephatus. p. 22. 

lS Dionyfiaca. L. 1. p. 42. L. 1. p. 38. 

19 Strabo. L. 12. p. 867. 


his 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 155 

his titles : a circumftance however, which was common to 
all, who were ftyled Baalim. That he was the fame as 
Ham will appear from the etymology of his name. I have 
before fhewn that the Sun was ftyled 10 Achad, Achon, and 
Achor : and the name, of which we are treating, is a com¬ 
pound of 2,1 Achad-Ham, rendered by the Greeks Acadamus 
and Academus, and contracted Cadmus. Many learned men 
have thought, that the place at Athens called Academia was 

a 

founded by Cadmus, and denominated from him : and of 
the latter circumftance I make no doubt. 11 Ab hoc Cadmo 
eruditi Academiam, quaft Cadmiam deducunt : quo nomine 
indigitari locum mufis ftudiifque facratum notiftimum eft. 
The true name of Cadmus according to this fuppofttion muft 
have been, as I have reprefented, Acadamus; or as the lo- 
nians exprefted it Academus, to have Academia formed from 
it. Herodotus informs us, that, when the Cadmians came to 
Attica, they introduced a new fyftem of Architecture ; and 
built temples in a ftyle quite different from that, to which 
the natives had been ufed. And he defcribes thefe buildings 
as ereCted at fome diftance from thofe of the country. This 


* See Radicals, p. 76. 

** Places facred to the Sun had the name of Achad, and Achor. Nifibis was 
fo called. In Achor , qua eft Nifibis . Ephrsemus Syrus. Et in Achad , qua nunc 
dicitur Nifibus. Hieron. See Geograph. Hebrseor. Extera. p. 227. of the learned 
Michaelis, 

The Deity, called Achor, and Achad, feerns to be alluded to by Ifaiah. c. 65. 
v. 10. and c. 66. v. 17. Achad well known in Syria: Selden de Diis Syris. c. 6. 
p. 105. 

. xx Hoffman—Academia. Hornius, Hift. Philofoph. L. 7. 

2,3 K ou a<pi igct 2v ABnpy.cri Id^v/xercc^ roov eleu fierce toicti Xonroiai A0 nvouoicri^ 
aAAa Tg yce^cepicrfxevcc. r rcov ccAAcor ipoou* ** tccu In kccl A%cu)'m Hn/wiTpos loop rs xca 


opyiu. Herod. L. 5. p. 6i. 


X 2 


was 



j S 6 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

* 

was the fituation of the place called Academia, which flood 
at the diftance of a few furlongs from 2+ Athens. It was a 
place of exercife, ai}d fcience ; and by all accounts finely dif- 
poled; being planted with variety of trees, but particularly 
Olives, called here (M ogiou) Morias. There were likewife 
fprings, and baths for the convenience of thofe, who here 
took their exercife. The tradition among the Athenians 
was, that one Ecademus, or Academus, founded it in ancient 
times ; from whom it received its name. Laertius ftyles him 

the hero Ecademus : 2S A 7T0 Tivog 1 ]gocog cavofJLOLcr&i) ~RzoL$Y)fJLx. 

% 

And Suidas to the fame purpofe : A?ro E/sad^H Tivog fjfiooog 
ov o ( (jlcut d bv . But Eupolis, the comic writer, who was far prior, 
fpeaks of him as a Deity : 26 Ev evvKioig 

©£8. The trees, which grew within the precindts, were 

looked upon as very facred, 27 ovToog Ib^oli ; and the place itfelf 
in ancienf times was of fo great fan£tity, that it was a pro¬ 
fanation to laugh there; 28 'GTgoTSgov sv A{Jly)$b yshci- 
<rca s%is<ria.v eivca. 

The Ceramicus at Athens had the fame name ; and was 

24 Paufanias. L. i. p. 71. 

25 Diog. Laertius. L. 3. § 6. Hornius fays. Academia a Cadmo nomen accepit, 
non ab Ecademo. L. 7. c. 3. but Ecademus, and Cadmus, were undoubtedly the 
fame perfon. Harpocration thinks that it took its name from the perfon, who firft 
confecrated it. Atto th xccQiepccactvTos AxaJw/4y. 

C H y.er A x,<zePn/xicc clttq vgeoos 'Tiros AxaJ'jj/ta tctigclvtos tov tqttqv . Ulpian upon 
Demofth. contra Timocratem. 

26 Eupolis Comicus : ev A<rpoTeuTot$ apud Laertium in Vita Platonis. L. §. 
c. 7. 

27 H v yccp yufjLvcLcriov cltto AxacTw/xa —wept ccvtov <?e naccr cci ovrcoos iepocs EA octoci tvs 
0 e&, a* xcctevTca Mopicu. Schol. upon Ariftoph. NepeAca. v. 1001. 

i8 iElian. Var. Hift. L. 3. c. 35. 


IO 


undoubtedly 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 157 

undoubtedly given from the lame perfonage. A .zoL$ri[Jua, m net- 
XsiTcti <Ts 8T605 0 K EgaLfJtiKog. Hefych. The common notion 
was, that it was denominated from the hero * 9 Ceramus, the 
fon of Dionufus. This arofe from the common miftake ; by 
which the place was put for the perfon, to whom it was 
facred, and whofe name it bore. Ham was the fuppofed 
hero: and Ceramus was Cer-Ham, the tower or temple of 
Ham, which gave name to the inclofure. This abufe of 
terms is no where more apparent than in an infeription men¬ 
tioned by Gruter ; where there is a mixed title of the Deity 
formed from his place of worfhip. 

30 Malacae Hifpania;. 

MARTI CIRADINO 
TEMPLUM COMMUNI VOTO 

E R E C T U M. 

Cir-Adon was the temple of Adon, or Adonis ; the Amonian 
title of the chief God. In like manner near mount Laphyf- 
tium in Boeotia the God 31 Charops was worfhiped, and ftyled 
Hercules Charops. But Char-Ops, or Ghar-Opis, lignified 
the temple of the ferpent Deity: and was undoubtedly built 
of old by the people named Charopians, andCyclopians; who 
were no other than the ancient Cadmians. Ceramicus was 
an Egyptian name; and one of the gates or towers of the 
gates at 31 Naucratis in that country was fo called. It was alio 


a9 To cfs ooptov o YLegctfjuytos to yjev ovojjloc €%£i cc7to figcoos Kepuyjte' Aioruo-y ts etvoci 
kou Agtcti'vTK. Paufan. L. i. p. 8. 

30 Gruter. Infcrip. p* 57. n. 13. 

31 Paufan. L. g. p* 779. 

Athenseus. L. 11. p. 480. 

the 



158 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


the name of an harbour in Caria, probably denominated from 
fome building at the 33 entrance. 

I may poftibly be thought to proceed too far in abridging 
hiftory of fo many heroic perfonages, upon whofe names an¬ 
tiquity has impreffed a reverence ; 


a reverence ; and whofe mighty adtion 
have never been difputed. For though the drefs and colour 
ing may have been thought the work of fancy, yet the fub 
ftance of their hiftory has been loo! 


true. 


To which I anfwer 


ed upon as undeniably 
as undoubtedly founded 


m 


truth : and the only way to afcertain what is genuine 


muft be by Gripping hiftory of this unnatural veil, with 
which it has been obfcured ; and to reduce the whole to its 
original appearance. This may be effedted upon the prin¬ 
ciples, which I have laid down ; for if inftead of Perfeus, or 
Hercules, we fubflitute bodies of men, who went under fuch 


hiftory will be rendered very probabl 


con- 


and 

fiftent. If inftead of one perfon Cadmus traverfingfo mud 
ground, and introducing the rites of his country at Rhodes 


Samos, Thera, Thafus, Samoth 


and building fo many 


Libya, we fuppofe thefe thing 


have been done 


by colonies, who were ftyled Cadmians j all will be very 


ght, and the credibility of the hiftory not difputed 


Many 


difficulties may by thefe means be folved, which cannot 
otherwife be explained : and great light will be thrown upon 
the mythology of the ancients. 

The ftory then of Cadmus, and Europa, relates to 
from Egypt, and Syria, who went abroad at different times 


peopl 


and fettled in various parts 


They 



faid 


have been 


33 


Pliny. L, 5. c. 29. 


determined 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 159 

determined in their place of refidence by an ox, or cow: by 
which this only is meant, that they were directed by an 
oracle : for without fuch previous inquiry no colonies went 
abroad. An oracld by the Amonians was termed Alphi, and 
Alpha, the voice of God. In Egypt the principal oracular 
temples were thofe of the facred animals Apis and Mneuis. 
Thefe animals were highly reverenced at Heliopolis and Mem¬ 
phis, and in other cities of that country. They were of the 
male kind ; but the honours were not confined to them ; for 
the cow, and heifer were held in the like veneration, and 
they were efteemed equally prophetic. Hence it was, that 
they were in common with the Apis and Mneuis ftyled Al¬ 
phi, and Alpha : which name was likewife current among 
the Tyrians, and Sidonians. In confequence of this, Plu¬ 
tarch fpeaking of the letter Alpha, fays, 3 * Qoiviitug stw ncc- 

7\eiv rov fixv. The Phe?iicicms call an ox Alpha. And Hefy- 

chius fpeaks to the fame purpofe. A Xqxt, fisg. Thus we 
find that Alpha was both an oracle, and an oracular animal. 
The Grecians took it in the latter acceptation; and inftead 
of faying that the Cadmians a<£ted in obedience to an oracle, 
they gave out, that Cadmus followed a cow. What is al¬ 
luded to in the animal, which was fuppofed to have been his 
guide, may be known by the defcription given of it by Pau- 
fanias: 35 E7rt <Ts SKccrs^ag Trig (3 oog 'urAsvgccg crri^ziov sjrstvcu. 

Xevzov, eiKOL<rpi£VQV KVftXcf rr\g %sXr)VY)g. There was a white mark on 

3+ Plutarch Sympof. L. 9. c. 3. p. 738. Alpha likewife fignified a leader : but 
I imagine, that this was a fecondary fenfe of the word. As Alpha was a leading 
letter in the alphabet, it was conferred as a title upon any perfon, who took the 
lead, and ftood foremoft upon any emergency. 

35 Paufan. L. 9. p. 733. 


each 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


160 


each fide of the cow like the figure of the moon. The poet quoted 
by the Scholiaft upon Ariftophanes fpeaks to the fame pur- 

This 


pofe. 


A evxov ixctregOs 'UT£gi7r?\oxov ihvTs Mjjwjj. 


is an exadt defcription of the 37 Apis, and other facred kine 
in Egypt: and the hiftory relates to an oracle given to the 
Cadmians in that country. This the Grecians have repre- 


fented, as if Cadmus had been conducted by a cow : the 
term Alphi, and Alpha, being liable to be taken in either of 
thefe acceptations. Nonnus fpeaks of Cadmus as bringing 
the rites of 38 Dionufus, and Oftris, from Egypt to Greece : 

going 

in queft of a bull, and as being determined in his place of 
reftdence by a 39 


and defcribes him according to the common notion as 


cow. 


Yet he afterwards feems to allude to 
the true purport of the hiftory ; and fays, that the animal 
fpoken of was of a nature very different from that, which 
was imagined : that it was not one of the herd, but of divine 
original. 


40 


Ka<5)(X£ fJLOLTW 'urspitpons, 'uroXv7r?\a.vov iyvo; 


M clfsvsis t iva, T catgov 


f*>OSY) T £X£ y<xzr\g 


Under the character of Europa are to be underftood peo¬ 
ple ftyled Europians from their particular mode of worfhip. 
The firft variation from the purer Zabaifm conftfted in the 


36 


37 


Scholia in Ariftoph. v. 1256 


Herodot 


L. 4. p. 126. 


40 


AiyV7TTlS £uovv<t& 

Ei hol (poiryiryoos Ocrigtf'os Qoyict (pcuvuv. 

Tlccrpi^os 'moAiaaov € 7 rojvvfJLov, 'zreaBcrcc 

E vvrio-ei feccgywov sov r zzro£'cc S'ccifj.ovni ( 3 &$, Nonnus. L. 4. p. 130. 
L. 4. p. 128. 


Ophiolatreia, 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


161 


Ophiolatreia, or 
fpread wonderfu 


worfhip of the ferpent. This innovation 
]y ; fo that the chief Deity of the Gentile 
world was almoft univerfally worshiped under this fymbolical 


prefentat 


The ferpent among the Amonians was fly led 


Oph, Eph, and Ope : by the Greeks expreffed O q>ig y O Trig 


O V 7 TIQ : which terms were 


,lly combined with the 


different titles of the Deity. This worfhip prevailed 


bylonia, Egypt* and Sy 


from which countries it was 


brought by the Gadmiaiis into G 


Serp 


acceperunt Grseci 


Cadmo 


made 


all their 


yfteries ; and was attended with fome wonderful 


mftances : of which I 


before made fome mention 


in the treatife de Ophiolatria. Colonies, which went abroad > 
not only went under the patronage, but under fome title of 
their God : and this Deity was in aftertimes fbppofed ta 
have been the real conductor. As the Cadmians, and Eu- 
ropians, were Ophitse, both their temples, and cities, alfo the 
hills, and rivers, where they fettled, were often denominated 
from this circumftance. We read of Anopus, Afopus, Oro- 
pus. Europus, Charopus, Ellopis, Ellopia ; all nearly of the 
fame purport, and named from the fame object of worfhip. 
Europa was a 43 Deity : and the name is a compound Eur¬ 
ope, analogous to Canope, Canophis, and Cnuphis of 
Egypt y and lignifies Orus Pytho. It is rendered by the 


41 Voflius de Idol. Vol. 3. Comment, in Rabbi M. Maimonidem de Sacrificiis. 
p. 76. 

r. 1. Apolog. p. 60. 

See Radicals, p. 47. 

45 Europa was the fame as Rhea, and Aftarte. Lueiah. Dea Syria. 

Vol. II. Y Greeks 


41 Juftin Marty 



162 .The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

Greeks as a feminine, upon a fuppofition, that it was the 
name of a woman; but it related properly to a-country; and 
we find many places of the like etymology in Media* Syria; 
and Babylonia : which were exprefied in the mafculine Euro- 

pos 

I have fliewn,. that Cadmus was Taut, or. Thoth ; the 
Taautes of Sanchoniathon. It is faid of this perfon, that he 
firfl: introduced the worfhip of the ferpent: and thi-s fo early, 
that not only the Tyrians and Sidonians, but the Egyptians* 
received it from* him. From hence we may infer, that it* 
came from 44 Babylonia : 4S Try '[JLSV ovv ra A gauovTos QVfiPj 

KCLl TOOV opsuv, CLVTOg S^edsM.U'SV 0 T CLOLVTOS, KCCl [JLST CLVTOV cuvOi? 
<$?QIVI)IZ$ TS, K.OLI A lyVTCTlOl. 

0 m 

The learned writers, who have treated of the Gadmians, 

have failed in nothing more, than in not confidering, that 

♦ 

they were a twofold colony, which came both from Egypt, 
and Syria : from Egypt firfl;; and then from Syria, and Ca¬ 
naan. In their progrefs weftward they fettled in Cyprus, 
Crete, Rhodes, Samos, Lefbos, Thrace : alfo in Euboea, At¬ 
tica, and Boeotia. In procefs of time they were enabled to 
make fettlements in other parts, particularly in Epirus and 
Illyria : and to occupy fome confiderable provinces in Italy 
as high up as the Padus. Wherever they pafled, they left 
behind them numberlefs memorials : but they are to be 

Hence Nonnus alluding to the Tauric oracle,, which Cadmus followed, calls 
it A (Tyrian : by this is meant Babylonian for Babylonia was in aftertimes efteemed 
a portion of Affyria. 

Aaavgwv cT’ ct.7rQs.17rz Tern fiyvTopz. L. 4. p. 128. 

45 Eufebius. P. E. L. 1. c, 10. p. 40. 

traced 


, and Oropus. The fame alfo is obfervable in Greece. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythol-ogy. 


163 

traced by none more plainly than by their rites, and wor¬ 


ship. 


As they occupied the greatefl part of Syria, that 


country was particularly addicted to this fpecies of idolatry. 
Many temples were eredted to the Ophite God : 


and 


many 


citfes were denominated from him 


Both 


46 


Appian, and 


Stephanus Byzantinus mention places in Syrophenicia called 
Oropus. Upon the Euphrates alfo in Mefopotamia were the 


cities 47 Amphipolis, and 48 Dura, both called of old Oropus. 
The chief Syrian God had the title of Bel, Baal, and Belial; 
which laft the Greeks rendered BsXiag. Hence Clemens in- 
jftead of faying, what agreement can there be between Chrift 
and Belial, fays 49 Tig <Js <rv{JL<puvYi<rig Xgi?8 'Ufgog BEAIAP. 
This Belial, or Beliar, was the fame as Belorus, and Ollris, 
who were worfhiped under the fymbol of a ferpent. 
Helychius explains the term Beliar by a ferpent. Bshictg 

culw». Beliar is the fame as a dragon or ferpent. The Cad- 
mians are faid to have betaken themfelves to Sidon, and 
Biblus : and the country between thefe cities is called Chous 
at this day. To the north is the city, and province of Ha- 

: and a town, and caftle, called by D’Anville Cadmus; 




ma 


The 


by the natives exprefied Quadamus, or 50 Chadamus. 
Cadmians probably founded the temple of Baal Hermon in 
Mount Libanus, and formed, one of the Hivite nations in 
thole parts. Bochart has very jullly obferved, that an Hivite 


46 Appian de Bello Syrfac. p. 125. 

Stephanus. Oropus. 

47 Pliny. L. 5. c. 25. 

4S Ifidorus Characenus, apud Geogr. Vet, v. 2, 

49 Clemens Alexand. L. 5. p. 680. 

50 See D’Anville’s Map of Syria. 

Y 2 is 

* 



164 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


is the fame as an SI Ophite : and many of this denomination 
refided under Mount Libanus, and Anti-Libanus ; part of 
which was called Baal Hermon, as we learn from the facred 




writings. s * 
prove Ifrael. 



are 


the 


which the Lord left 


Lords of the Philijl. 


a?id all ’ the 


Canaa? 2 ites* and tfceMB%dv7iia?is 


nd the Hivites that dwell in 


Mount Leba?ion froqfgMount Baal Hermoji ujito the entering 
of Hamath. Thercfwere other 


Hivites. who 


r - *v 


by Mofes among thef children of 


ire mentioned 
But the Cad- 


monites, and many, of the people about Mount Libanus were 
of another family. The Hivites of Canaan Proper were 
thofe, who by a ftratagem obtained a treaty with 54 Jofhua. 
Their chief cities were Gibeon, Cephirah, Beeroth, and Kir- 


jath J 


Thefe lay within 


tribe of S5 Tudah, and of 


But 


Benjamin, who poffefted the fouthern parts of Canaan, 
the other Hivites, among whom were the Cadmonites, lay 
far to the north under Libanus at the very extremities of the 


ntry 


The facred writer 


diftinguifh.es them from the 


Canaanites, as well as from the other Hivites, by faying, the 
Hivites of Baal Hermon. And he feems to diftinguifh the 
Sidonians from the genuine Canaanites, and juftly : for if we 

may credit prophane hiftory, the Cadmians had obtained the 

% 

fovereignty in that city: and the people were of a mixed race. 


5 6 


Ka<J]u. 


■Tvs 


s£ou?i?\ev 


The Cadmians 


51 


51 


: y 


54 


Bochart. Geog. Sacra. L. 4. p. 305 
Judges. 

Genefis. 


c. 3. v. i, 3. 

C. iO. V. 17. 


Jofhua. c. 9. v. 3. and 7. 

5 “ Jofhua. c. 15. v. 9. and c. 18. v. 25, 26 
56 Kufebii Chron. p. 27. 


6 


tended 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


165 


tended themfelves in thefe parts quite to the Euphrates, and 
weftward to the coaft of Greece, and Aufonia ; and {fill far¬ 
ther to the great Atlantic. They went under the name of 
Ellopians, Oropians, 57 Cadmonites, Hermonians, Ophitas : 
and wherever they fettled, there will be always found fome 
reference to their ancient hiftory, and religion. As they 
were particularly ftyled Ophitse, or Hivites, many places,whi¬ 
ther they came, were faid to fwarm with 58 ferpents. Rhodes 
was under this predicament, and had the name of Ophiufa: 
which name was given on account of the Hivites who there 
fettled, and of the ferpent-worfhip, which they introduced. 
But the common notion was, that it was fo called from real 
ferpents, with which it was infefted. The natives were faid 
to have been of the giant face, and the S9 Heliadae or ofF- 
fpring of the Sun; under which characters the ancients par¬ 
ticularly referred to the fons of Chus, and Canaan. Their 
coming to the ifland is alluded to under the arrival both of 
Danaus and Cadmus, by whom the rites, and 60 religion of 

In 


the Rhodians are fuppofed to have been introduced 
Greece were feveral cities named Oropus, by which i 
nified Ori Serpentis civitas. 


fl g 


One of thefe was 


T ana 


57 Cadmus is called K aSfjLcov. Steph. Byzant. IAA vpicc. Berkelius has altered it to 

though he confeffes, that it is contrary to the evidence of every edition 

and MS. 

58 Concerning Hivite Colonies fee Vol. t. p. 481. 

59 Diodorus Sic. L. 5. p. 327. p. 329. 

60 Diodorus. Ibid. 

61 Paufanias. L. 1. p. S3. 

There was Oropia as well as Elopia in Euboea Steph. Byzant. Oropus in Ma¬ 
cedonia. Ibid. Alfo in Syria. Orobii Tranfpadani. Europus near Mount Hannus. 
Ptolemy. Europa in Epirus*. Ibid. 



vi66 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

gra upon the border of Attica, and Boeotia. This is the very 
fpot, where the Cadmians firfi: redded: and ..the city was 
undoubtedly built by them. It flood near the warm baths 
of Amphiaraus, whofe temple belonged to the Oropians; 
and who was particularly worihiped by them. We are in¬ 
formed by Strabo, that the temple of Amphiaraus was built 
cither in imitation, or in memory, of one called Cnopia at 
fz Thebes- Cnopia is a contra&ion for Can-Opia ; and the 
temple was certainly founded by people from Egypt. It 
took its name from Can-ope, or Can-opus, the Ophite God 
of that country ; and of the people likewife, by whom the 
building was erected. The natives of Boeotia had many me¬ 
morials of their having been originally Ophites. The hiftory 
of-their country had continual references to ferpents and dra¬ 
gons. They feem to have been the national infigne : at 
leaft, they were efteemed fo by the people of Thebes. Hence 
we find, that upon the tomb of Epaminondas there was 
figured a fliield w'ith a ferpent for a device, to fignify that he 
was an Ophite, or 63 Theban. The Spartans were of the lame 
race : and there is faid to have been the fame device upon 
the fhield of 6 * Menelaus, and of 65 Agamemnon. The ftory 


Lt Strabo. L. 9. p. 619. 
tl Suidas. Epaminondas. 
tJr Paufanias. L. 10. p. 863. 

6j Both Menelaus and Agamemnon were ancient titles of the chief Deity. The 
latter is fuppofed to have been the fame as Zeus, ./Ether, and Ccelus. He feems 
to have been worfhiped under the fymbol of a ferpent with three heads. Hence 
Homer has given to his hero of this name a ferpent for a device both upon his 
breaftplate, and upon his baldrick. 


Tm f ’ OLO'yVQZoS TehsCfJLGOV /?!', CCVTCtp B7T CCUTU 
K VCC1S05 SAe?[.IKTO Spccxcov* OU cTs 01 Y\<JQLV 




Tgeis ccjn(pi<^ps$s€$2 bos ctv^evos 6x.7rB(pvuioci* 


9 



Iliad. A. v. 3&. 



The Analysis of A'ncient Mythology. 167 

of Cadmus, and of the ferpent, with which he engaged upon 
his arrival in Bceotia, relates to the Ophite worfhip, which 
was there inftituted by the Cadmians. So Jafon in Colchis, 
Apollo-in Phocis, Hercules at Lerna, engaged with ferpents* 
all which are hiftories of the fame purport ; but miftaken by 
the later Grecians. 

It will-- not, I think, be amifs to take notice of fome of 
thofe countries weft ward, to which Cadmus is faid to have 
betaken himfelf. From Bceotia- he is fuppofed to have paffed 
to Epirus and Illyria : and it is certain, that the Cadmians 
fettled in many places upon that coaft. In Thefprotia was a 
province of the Athamanes; who were denominated from 
their Deity Ath-Man, or Ath-Manes. Here were the rivers 
Acheron, and Cocytus, the lake Acherufia, and the peftife- 
rous pool 65 Aornon. Here was the city Acanthus, fimilar 
to one of the fame name about forty miles above 67 Mem¬ 
phis : and a nation of people called 62 Oreitss : all which; have 
a reference to Egypt. The oracle at Dodona was founded 
by people from the fame country, as we are affured by 69 He¬ 
rodotus and others. And not only colonies from that coun¬ 
try, but people from Canaan muft have betaken themfelves 
to thefe parts, as is evident from names of places. This 

66 Paufanias. L. i. p. 40. Strabo. L. 7. p. 495. 

Aornon, and an oracular temple in Thefprotia. Paufanias. L. 9. p. 768. 

' 67 Kai ev AiyuTTTu AscavBo?,. Mey.tp.Sos car i-^BQ a. ^-ceSiBS Tgiaxoatvs eixocn'—Se 
ti Abce.fJLct.vioi Steph. Byzant. 

68 Enct y.iTd tbtov ncriv OPEITAI 7 \eyou.zvoi. Dictearchus. Geog. Vet, Vol. 2. 
p. 3. v. 45. 

T op 


will 



168 The Analysis of Ancilnt Mythology. 

will appear from, the city 70 Phcenice : and from another near 
Oricum, called Palaefle; and from the coaft: and region 
fly led Palaeftina. This was the fpot where Caefar landed, 
before he marched to Pharfalia. 71 Poflridie terram attigit 
Cerauniorum laxa inter, et alia loca periculofa, quietam 
na£tus flationem. At portus omnes timens, quod teneri ab 
adverfariis arbitrabatur, ad eundem locum* qui adpellatur 

9 

Palaefte, omnibus navibus incolumibus, milites expofuit. 
Lucan takes notice of the fame circumflance, and calls the 
coaft Palzeftina. 

71 Inde rapi coepere rates, atque aequora claftem 
Curva fequi ; qu$ jam, vento ftudtuque fecundo 
Lapfa, Palseftinas uncis confixit arenas. 

Here was the haven Comar, or 73 Comarus, near the pool 
Aornus^: and a city 74 Oropus, fimilar to the Oropus of Sy¬ 
ria, and Boeotia. And higher up was a region Europa, ftyled 
Europa Scythica by Feflus Rufus. It is obfervable that 
there was a city in Epirus called 75 Tecmon, fimilar to one 
in Canaan, as we may infer from the chief of David’s cap¬ 
tains being ftyled the 76 Tecmonite. 


70 Kara Butipurov Strabo. L. 7. p. 499. It was a place of great note. 

Polybius, L. 1. p. 94^ 95 - 

71 Ctefar de Bello Civili. L. 3. c. 6. 

~ z Lucan. L. 5. v. 458. 

73 KofAxpccc. Strabo. L. 7. p. 500. The fame is obfervable in India. Petra Aor- 
non near Comar. Arrian. Exped. p. 191. and Indie, p. 319. 

74 Steph. Byzant. 

75 Tfx/xwr 'woXis ©s<r7rpa)T6t)v* Steph. Byzant. SeeT. Livius, L. 45 * c * 26. 

76 2 Samuel, c. 23. v. 8. In our verfion rendered the Tachmonite, chief among 


the captains 


4 


Some 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 169 

Some of this family proceeded to the weftern part of the 

Adriatic gulf, and fettled upon the Eridanus, or Po. Here 

* 

were the Orobians, the fame as the Oropians, whofe chief 
city was Comus 1 near which the conful Marcellus overthrew 
the 77 Galli Infubres. The ftory of Phaethon, who was 
fuppofed to have fallen into the Eridanus, is manifeftiy of 
Egyptian original ; as the fable of Cycnus is from Canaan. 
Phaethon is by fome reprefented as the fir ft king, who 
reigned in 78 Chaonia, and Epirus. He was in reality the 
fame as Oliris, the Sun ; whofe worfhip was introduced there 
very early, as well as upon the Padus. The names of the 
Deities in every country are generally prefixed to the lift of 
kings, and miftaken accordingly. Cycnus is fuppofed to 
have refided not only in Liguria, but in JEtolia, and Phocis. 
There was in thefe parts a lake 79 Conope, from Cycnus 
called alfo 80 Cycnea ; which names undoubtedly came from 
Egypt, and Canaan. The colonies upon the Padus left many 
memorials of their original \ efpecially thofe, who were from 
the Caphtorim of Paleftina. Some of them had carried on a 
great work upon the part of the river, where they fettled; 
which from them was called Sr Fofta Philiftina ; and Foffiones 

Philiftinse. Of this ! have made mention before. 

• • * 

77 Victoria ad Comum parta. T. Livius. L. 33 - c - 36. 

7S Gurtler. L. 2. p. 597. 

79 Alfo a city Conope, by Stephanus placed in Acarnania. 

80 Antoninus Liberalis. c. 12. p. 70. A city Conopium was alfo to be found upon 
the Pal us Mseotis. Steph. Byzant. 

81 Plin. L. 3. c. 16. The Cadmians of Liguria came laft from Attica and Bceo- 
tia: hence we find a river Eridanus in thefe parts, as well as in the former country. 
IloTayoi cTg AQyvcuois pe&aiv c E/A«7o-o$ xcci H pifavcp KsAtj/Cw vmtcc olvtcc ovoy.cc 

^x^v. x. A. Paufan. L. 1. p. 45, 

Sz Vol. 1. p. 376. 

VOL. II. 


z 


it 



tjo The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

It is faid of Cadmus, that at the clofe of his life he was, 
together with his wife Harmonia, changed to a ferpent of 
Hone. This wonderful metamorpholis is fuppofed to have 
happened at Enchelice, a town in Illyria; which circum- 
ftance is taken notice of by Lucan. 


83 Tunc qui Dardaniam tenet Oricon., et vagus aids. 
Difperfus fylvis Athamas, et nomine prifco 
Enchelias, verli. teftantes funera Cadmi. 


were 


here. 


The true hiftory is this. Thefe two perlbnages 
enfhrined in a temple, or Petra ; and worlhiped under the 


Scyl 


8+ 


lx Caryandenlis fpeaking of this 

K kou 'A ppoviag 01 K1Q01 simv ev - 

this region are two Jlones facred to Cadmus , 
and Harmonia .- and there is likewife a temple dedicated to the?n. 


fymbol of a lerpen 
part of Illyria fay 

t olvQol, kcli Ispov. L 


Lucan, who calls 
of great antiquity 


the place Encheli®, fpeaks of the name as 
It undoubtedly was of long Handing, and 


term from the Amonian 


Encheliae, E yysKiou 


the place of En-Chel, by which is fignified the fountain of 
heaven ; limilar to Hanes, Anorus, Anopus in other parts. 
The temple was an Ophite Petra: which terms induced peo- 


trified 


believe, that there were in thefe temples ferpents pe¬ 
lt is pofhble, that in later times the Deity may have 
been worlhiped under this form : whence it might truly be 
faid of Cadmus, and Harmonia, that they would one day be 
exhibited in Hone. 


85 Lucan. L. 3. v. 187. The fame is mentioned by the Poet Dionyfius. 

Keivov S' cl'j 'mept ’x.o'Kttov iSois 'GjeoiK.uSect tu/j£qv 9 
Tvy.Cov, ov 'Apuovms, 

K sAs yet p eis Otpi&v otoAtcv yevos v. 390.. 

s+ Geog. Vet. Vol. i. p. 9. Here were Tlirpon n^aLcTcu. 


YLcc.Sfs.oio T£ cpyp/Lts evi<T7r£i, 


Adders 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 171 

8s AothsY\v rj^sXKov s'fcsiv otpiuisa jULOgpriv. 

But the notion in general arofe from a miflake; and was 
owing to a mifinterpretation of the word Petra. On this 
account many perfonages were faid to have undergone this 
change. Pollux, who was of a character fuperior to what 
is generally imagined, was faid to have been turned to a 
ftone. 

86 E ig XiQqv u.vToreXss'QV spogpoodri YloKv$svxi)g. 

Ariadne underwent the like 87 change. Alfo Battus, Atlas, 
88 Alcmena, and others. All thefe hiftories relate to perfon¬ 
ages, enfhrined in temples ftyled Petra, who had a 5 ~vAog 
or rude pillar erected to their honour. This was the ufage 
in all parts, before the introduction of images. There are 
allufions to thefe Ophite temples, and to thefe pillars, upon 
the coins of Syria, and Tyre. Upon thefe the Deity is re- 
prefented between two rough Hones, with two 89 ferpents on 
each tide of him. A temple of this fort, which betrayed 
great antiquity, Hood in the vicinity of Thebes, and was 
called the ferpent’s head. Paufanias fpeaks of it as remain¬ 
ing in his 90 time. The fame author affords another inftance 
in his account of Achaia ; which is attended with fome re- 

* 5 Nonni Dionyf. L. 44. p. 1x44. 

86 Nonnus. L. 25. p. 646. 

87 Activim’ rsrotws jcopvenToy.ii'nv A^ioiSvnv. Nonnus. L. 44. p. 1242. 

88 Paufan. L. 9. p. 743. 

89 See Goltzius, Vaillant, and Suidas, 

9 ° - AiQois %'. ca g lov 'zrepie^ofA.evov A oyouriv Octsccs v.kXugiv ol GnScaoi JcsfctA/?;'. 

Paufan. L. g. p. 747. 

Z 2 


markable 


172 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

markable circumftances. He tells us, 91 that at Pharas, a 
city of that region, was a fountain facred to Hermes ; and 
the name of it was Hama. Near this fountain were thirty 
large ftones, which had been ereCted in ancient times. Each 
of thefe was looked upon as a reprefentative of fome Deity. 
And Paufaipas remarks, that inftead of images the Greeks in 
times of old univerfally paid their adoration to rude un¬ 
wrought 91 Hones. 

That the Cadmians were the people, whom I fuppofe 
them, may I think be proved from many other circum¬ 
ftances. There are fome particulars in the hiftory of thefe 
emigrants, by which they may be as effectually diftinguifhed, 
as by any national mark of feature, or complexion. I have 
taken notice in a former treatife of the Cuthites, who came 
from Babylonia, and fettled in Egypt ; and who were after¬ 
wards expelled the country. They came under different 
titles; and were ftyled Phenicians, Arabians, and Ethiopians: 
but they were more particularly diftinguifhed by the name 
of Oritse, and of fhepherds. Thefe appellations muft be 
carefully kept in remembrance ; for they will be found to 
occur in almoft every part of the world, wherever any of 
this family fettled. In the hiftories above given of Oliris, 
Dionufus, and others, we find, that the foils of Chus are re- 
prefented as great travellers, and at the fame time general be¬ 
nefactors : and it is to be obferved, that the fame characters 
occur in every hiftory : the great outlines are the fame in 

91 Paufan. L. 7. p. 579. 

91 Tif/.as Steoov am a 9 ct^uccrcov ei%ov acyoi A $oi. Ibid, 


all. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


173 


all. They appear to have been zealous worfhipers of the 
Sun ; and addicted to the rites of fire : which mode of wor- 


fhip they propagated, wherever they came. They are de~ 
fcribed as of fuperior ftature, and were reputed the fons of 
Anac, and Urius, from Canaan, and Babylonia. In refpect 
to fcience they feem to have been very eminent, if we con¬ 
sider the times, when they lived. They were particularly 
famed for their knowledge in aftronomy, architecture, and 


mufic. 


They had 


great fagacity in 


findi 


ng 


93 


mines 


and. 


confequently were very rich. Lafdy there continually oc¬ 


curs in their hiftory fome allufion to fhepherds. Every one 
of thefe particulars may be met with in the accounts given 
of the Cadmians : but it was the turn of the times to make 


every thing center in their imaginary leader Cadmus. He is 
fuppofed to have found out mines in Cyprus, and Thrace : 
and to have been the inventor of letters, and the introducer 
of fcience. To him are afcribed the temples at Rhodes; 
and the buildings in Attica, and Bceotia. We find him ce¬ 
lebrated as a great 94- theologift and aftronomer : and it is 
reported of Cadmus, as it was alfo of Orpheus, that he 
left behind him many valuable remains, which 95 Bion Pro- 
connefius is faid to have tranflated. But all thefe gifts, 
fo lavifhly beftowed upon one perfon, fhould be transfer¬ 
red to a people, who went under the name of Cadmians : 

I 

and in whom all thefe requifites are to be found. If we 


93 Ka<?/xos 4>oin£ s^sups, y.ca fxZTccXXcc. ^ovcb tcl irepi tq FI oSycusv sttS- 

vovcrsv cpc?. Ciemens. Strom. L. 1. p. 363. See Natalis Comes of Cadmus. 

94 Nonr.us, Dionyf. L. 4. p. 128. 

95 Clemens Alex. L. 6. p. 753. 


make 



174 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

make this allowance, the hiftory will be found to be true. 
This people in their migrations weftward were accompanied 
by others from Canaan, and Syria. I have fhewn that they 
fettled at Rhodes, where they were called Ophites, or Hi- 
vites. Another of their titles was Heliadae, or children of the 
96 Sun. They were looked upon as adepts in every branch 
of fcience, and particularly famed for their Ikill in aftro- 
nomy. They were the firft navigators of the feas ; and the 
divilion of time with the notification of feafons is afcribed 
to them. 97 O; os 'HAicc^ou S'lctpogoi ysyovorag toop olTkXuv ev 

'UT&icsioL S'lrjvsyx.ctv, Kcu {jlcl?js 4 cl sv a,?go\oy 1 cl’ sicrrjyriorccvTo d s 

KCLl 'UTSOI TriS VOiVTlXlCCS 'ZtroAAot, 'UTO?\\CL Jg K. 0 U 'UTSgl TOCS OJgCL$ 

^iSTa^cu/. All thefe arts, if we may believe Herodotus, took 
their rile in 98 Babylonia : from whence they were carried by 
the Oritas into Egypt : and from Egypt weftward to Rhodes, 
and to various parts befides. The Oritae, or Auritas, were 
the fame as the Heliadae, denominated from the great object 
of their worlhip, the Sun. He was among other titles ftyled 
99 Orites ; as we learn from Lycophron : which is by his 
Scholiaft interpreted the Sun. 100 OgiTYjV &SQV, TOV clvtqu 

'ttkiov. ’The Deity , which is termed Orites , is no other than the 
Sun. Thefe Heliadae were Ophitas ; and introduced at 
Rhodes, and in other places, the worlhip of the ferpent. 
Hence they occur in Greece under various titles, fuch as 

96 Styled urcuS'a 'HA ib by Diodorus. L. 5. p. 327. 

97 Diodorus. L. 5. p. 328. 

93 Herodotus. L. 2. c. 109. 

99 H tov © oocetov , Ylrcoovj Clpirm^ Srzov. Lycophron, v. 352." 

,0 ° Scholiaft. Ibid. 


Ellopians, 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


*75 


Ellopians, Europians, Oropians, Afopians, and the like ; be¬ 
ing fo denominated from places, which they confecrated to 
Ops, and Opis, the ferpent. The Cadmians fettled in Eu¬ 
boea, which was called Ellopia from Ellops, a fuppofed bro¬ 
ther of 1 Cothus. Plutarch gives an account of Cothus him- 
felf coming to Euboea in company with another named Ar- 
clu s. * 

oiXYjaroivrsg. By Cothus and Arclus are meant Cuthites and 
Herculeans, people of the fame family, who fettled in this 
illand. The Oritae of Egypt were alfo fly led Arabians ; and 
the Arabian nome was denominated from them. The Cad¬ 
mians, who fettled in Euboea, may be traced under the fame 


K o@o$, xai AgjtXog, oi Hb$b 'urouS'eg Big EvSoi&v y\kqv 


names 


Strabo calls the people, who were fuppofed 


at 


tend Cadmus, Arabians, 3 AgctSsg, oi <rov One di- 

ftridt in the ifland was denominated from them, iEthiopium : 
A idiomov, ovofJLd yugiz sv E vEoicc. This is more particularly 

defcribed by Stephanus, as the paflage is happily corrected 

by SalmafLus. A ibio7tiQV, yygtov E v^oiocg 'UTol^ol AiqTub, 'Ut7\y\<tiqv 


E VPl7TiS 


'There 


ts 


part of Eubcea hard by Delium , and 

urn. But the moil critical 


near to the Euripus , called Ethiopium. But 
mark, by which any of thefe iflands were diftinguilhed, was 
that of s Oritae. This is the exprefs title of the fhepherds in 
Egypt j which they afliimed both on account of the Deity, 
whom they worfhiped, and in reference to the city Ur in 


Chaldea, from whence they were in part derived 


They 


* Strabo. L. io. p. 68 j. 
a Quasftiones Grascas. p. 296. 

3 Strabo. L. 10. p. 6S5. 

4 Harpocration. 

5 Strab, L. 10. p. 683. Polybius. L. ir. p. 627, 


fou n dr T 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


176 

founded a city of the fame name in Euboea, which the 
Greeks exprefled 6 Oria : whence came tire provincial title 
of Oritae. Here Orion was fuppofed to have been 7 nurfed, 
whofe hiflory we know was from Babylonia. The natives 


had a tradition, that he was the fon of Urieus, and of the 
gigantic race : the purport of which, I think, cannot be mif- 
taken. They pafied, as I have fhewn, from Euboea to At¬ 
tica, and Boeotia. Here alio was a city 9 Ur, like that in 
Chaldea, and a tradition about Orion being born in thefe 
parts. They likewife pretended to fhew his 10 tomb. This 
city Ur, or Uria, was in the diflridt of Tanagra, and flood 
direclly oppofite to the province of Ethiopia in Euboea, be¬ 
ing feparated only by the narrow frith of the 11 Euripus. 
They fettled alfo at Traezen, where Orus is faid to have re¬ 
dded : by which we are to underfland his worfhipers, the 

Oritse. 12 Oacn is Qgov yeve<r()cu trcpicriv ev yrj 'gt^tov’ spot 

[lev ovv Aiyv7TTiov epcuvzTcu , kou ovicipmog 'EAAiQz/i/coF ovo^ool £lgog 
etvca. BcmAgucrca <T ovv cpcuriv avrov , koli Slgouav vuk olvtsz kco- 
7\ei<r0ou t r\v yr\v. The people of T?~cezze?t , fays Paufanias, give 


6 Er t y Clpicp xa.Xvy.evy rys 'iq-'iccicoriS'os. Strabo. L. io. p. 683. 

Oria is literally the land of Ur. 

7 Strabo. L. 10. p. 683. He mentions a domeftic quarrel among fome of this 
family, and adds, tvs CIpitccs — wo?sy.&yev r d$ vvro t cov EAA o 7 rieoov y that the Oritae were 
attacked by the Ellopians . 

8 Antoninus Liberalis. c. 25. p. 130. 

9 H Ypiot Se tjj5 ToLvuyptKtis vvv st' 1 > 'zrgoTSgov tvs On£aLi<PoS 7 oirs b C< Tpios ye- 

yvQevrat^ tccu r\ tb Qqiojvgs yevecris. Strabo. L. 9. p. 60. He is called by 

Euphorion. See Homer. Iliad. X. Scholia, v. 486. 

E <r l kou f Ipivvos yrvy.cc evTccvccypqc. Paufan. L. 9. p. 749. 

11 E9-Z S' t) yev IT pi a, tup 09 Toy Euo<7tov. Steph. Byzant. 

l z Paufanias. L. 2. p. 181. 

7 OUty 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 177 

gut, that one Orus was the firjl in their cowitry. But the name 
Or us to me feems to have bee?i of Egyptian original. ‘They fur¬ 
ther relate , that this Orus was a king , and that the province was 
fr om him called Oraia. Uria above, and Oraia here, however 
differently expreffed, fignify literally the land of Ur. In all 
thefe places the Outhites went under various appellations, 
but particularly of Cyclopians, Ellopians, and 13 Europians 
from their worfhip. Agreeably to the account, Which has 
been above given, we find, that the Heroum of Cadmus at 
Sparta was built by Europus, and his brethren : and they 
likewife are reprefented as the fons of ** Uraeus. As we are 
acquainted with the eaftern manner of fpeaking ; and know 
that by the daughter of Tyre, the daughter of Jerufalem, 
the children of Moab, the children of Kedar, the children of 
Seir, the children of the eaft, are meant the inhabitants of 
thofe places : may we not be affured that by Europus and 
the fons of Urius and Urseus, are pointed out a people ftyled 
Europians of Babylonifh extraction, who were ab origine 
from Ur in Chaldea ? And is it not plain, that the hiftory 
of Cadmus is founded upon terms ill understood, and greatly 
mifapplied ? Yet the truth is not totally defaced, as I hope, 
that I have made appear. By Mofes Chorenenfis Cadmus is 
reprefented as of the giant race ; and he is faid to have come 


Europus is the fame as Oropus, and fignifies Orus Pytho. Ops, Opis, Opus, 
Opas, all fignify a ferpent. Zeus was the fame as Orus and Ofiris ^ hence ftyled 
Europus, and Europas; which Homer has converted to and accordingly 

ftyles Jupiter 'EvgvoTra. Zsu?, 

,+ Paufanias. L. 3. p. 245. uvou ccvTBs'YpctM 'zvctuf'cts.. 


VOL. II. 


A a 


from 



178 

from 


15 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 
Babylonia. Nonnus mentions his planting in Greec®. 


a colony of giants. 


16 


Kcct ocvtoKo%sdto£ ctPW^rjTo Vtyc&vrcav 


18 


Or 


Hence the Cadmians were ftyled Avaxe?, and 17 Avclxtss ; and 
the temples of their Gods,, AvaxTogict, Ana<ftoria. Thefe terms* 
were imported from the Anakim of Egypt and Canaan: 
but as the people, who brought them, were Oritee, and the: 
fons of Urius, they mu ft ultimately have come from Baby¬ 
lonia. Here aftronomy, and the other fciences firft com¬ 
menced ; and the worfhip of the Sun was firft instituted : 
where the priefts, and profeftors were ftyled Oritae, and 
chani. Lucian indeed fays, that aftronomy was not de¬ 
rived to the Greeks either from the Egyptians, or the Ethio¬ 
pians ; but from 19 Orpheus. This however intimates, that 
the Ethiopians, under which name the fons of Chus are men¬ 
tioned by the 20 Greeks, were fuppofed to have introduced 
fcience into this country ; otherwife this caveat had been un- 
neceflary. But we Shall in the end Shew, that Orpheus 
was from the fame quarter. And to put the matter out of 




L. 2. c. 4. p. 87. 


16 Nonnus. L. 4. p. 136. 

17 c O yap S'n ysgovos exeivos yveyxsv av§poovr&s pseipoov pcsv epyoi c, kcu f &ro<Poov Tcc^ec 
y.cot coo/accroov poo peas, cos eontev^ v7reg(puys> x.ai ccx.ccpeerss. Plutarch in Thefeo. p. 3,. 

18 £5-7 cfg xcti (pv?iov t i roov XaAcPa/wr, ytai %oo%cc Ba€u?iooviccs V 7 r exeivoov oixs- 
'zcXr.aicc^vcrct xca rots Apcc^t^ xcti ry xcctcl TlepaccS Xeyopevy S^zAarV E5-7 ePs 

x<xi t cov XaAPaiwr ro:v Afi~ 0 fj.LX.cov yew 'mKeiof xcct y&g Tires 'urpocctyc- 

gevovrai. Strabo. L. 16. p. 1074. 

19 Lucian de Aftrolog. p. 987. 

i0 ef b AiQto?rss. Eufeb. Chron. p. n. 


all 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 179 

all doubt, we find Herodotus maintaining very determinate- 
ly, that the knowledge of the heavens, and every thing re¬ 
lating to the diftribution of time, was imported from 21 Ba¬ 
bylonia. As thefe Babylonians, thefe fons of Urius, mani- 
feftly came to Greece by the way of Egypt; it appears pretty 
evident, that they were the fons of Chus, of the fhepherd 
race, who fo long held the fovereignty in that kingdom. 
Hence it is, that throughout the whole mythology of the Gre¬ 
cians there are continual allufions to fhepherds ; a title, which 
we know was peculiar to the Auritse of Egypt. Nonnus in 
his allegorical poem describes Cadmus in a paftoral habit, 
playing upon an inftrument, and reclining himfelf under the 
lhade of an oak. 

22 K Xivvlq ysirovi vutov vko dgvi <pog%cc$o$ vT^g, 

K ou cpogsoov ccygccvKov ccrfisog iifA.cc N o[A.r t og. 

He gives £0 him the fame powers in harmony, which were 
attributed to Orpheus. Hence Cadmus is made to fay that 
he could charm the woods upon the mountains, and foothe 
the wild beafts of the foreft : that he could even calm the 
ocean, and flop the courfe of its turbulent waters. 

23 fevfyscc 'STccvts, ncci ssgscc, xcti cpgzvcc V 
• .Clttsavov (nrsv^ovrcc 7raAii/<3biyro!/ 

Almoft all the principal perfons, whofe names occur in the 

** rjoStVr ifJi€v yet,pi 3 tea yvnyovat, yuxi T« J'uu/Ss'K.ex. yspect tj?S ryesti; ’zzrctpsc B cc?d- 
A <onwv eyaQov 'EAAnres. L. 2. c. log. 

11 L. i. p. 32. 

13 Nonnus. L. 1. p. 38. 


A a 2 


mythology 



r 8o 


The Analysis of Ancient Mytholog-y. 


mythology of Greece and Italy, are reprefented a& fhep 
herds. Not only the Gods Faunus, Apollo, Pan, Sylvanus, 
Pales, Adonis, but Eumelus, Triptolemus, Eridthonius, Eu- 
molpus, Arifheus, Battus, Daphnis, Teramfius of Egypt, 
and Oliris, are reprefented of that profeffion. Hence it is, 
that we find altars, and infcriptiohs to the fhepherd 24 Gods. 
Apollo was ftyled Nopevg, and ILoipviog ; and was faid to have 
been educated in 25 Arabia. When Rhea produced to the 


world Pofeidon, fhe gave him to the care of a 2 fhepherd to 
bring him up among the fiocks. Atlas, the great aftrono- 
mer, is reprefented as a fhepherd. 27 AtAo£ [AttO-iQfjLctTucog r\v 


Ai^vg 


CLVY)£ 


II oXvsiS'cig Se 0 S , i@vg<x.(jiJoQ7rwo.g top AtTkolvtol tstqv. 


IIOIMENA AiSvv q>Y)<riv. Atlas , the great mathematicia?t, was 
a perfon of Lyba. ’The JDithyrainbic poet Polueidos fays , that 
Atlas was a Libyan fhepherd. There was a tradition that the 
temple of Ammon in Libya was built by a fhepherd, from 
whom it received its name ; CL7T0 th i$gv<rotftev& 'uroifxsvog. 
It is reported of the Mufes, that they were of fhepherd ex.- 


24 Roms Infcriptio Vetus. 

TOI 5 NOMIOIS ©EOI 2 . Gruter.. xcii.. n. 4. 

2,5 Omne benig-num 

O 

Virus odoriferis Arabum quod dodtus in arvis 
Aut Amphryfiaco Paftor de gramine carpfi. 

Statii Sylv. L. 1. Soteria. v. 104. 

26 f p£a 3 7]VlX0i TloirBlScoVCC TCU fJLBV SS 'ZD-Qlfj.vyv XaTCt9erBcCl 3 SlXITYIV SVTOLvQcC e^OlfTGt 

fjLvrct Tcov ctpvojv. Paufan. L. 8. p. 613. 

“ 7 Scholia in Lycophron. v. 879. 

2,3 Paufanias. L. 4. p. 337. So alfo fays Euflathius. r O; cfg (pecat tov eocei A/a 

Aft/xwrct TtXrjdyvctf cltto tlvos cfj.oowfA& 7 roijd.ei f Q5 0 'Z&goxcLTctgZccvTos rys Isp'd t<PgVGrsc*)S. 

Schol. in Dionyf. v. 211. 


9 


tradlion. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. x8r 

tradtion,, and tended flocks, which they entrufted to their fa¬ 
vourite Ariflseus. 

29 K ca [jup km &sg'xv rigavov, o<r<r evspovTo 

A[A7re$iov G>Qictt/ A() cl[a<x.vt i ov y ctfj,<pi- r zgvpvYiv 
OQgVV, KOU 'UTO'TCL^ hgov pool/ A7tl$OLVOlG~ 

This is the perfon by Virgil ftyled Paftor Ariftasus. Zethus 

% 

and Amphion are defcribed as of the fame profefiion, though 

kings of Thebes. 30 Z ftog koli Appim a$eX<poi rpM Tiro issues. 

% 

Even the monfter Polyphemus is taken notice of as a mu- 
fician, and a 31 fhepherd. Macrobius mentions, that among 
the Phrygians the Sun was worshiped under a paftoral 34 cha¬ 
racter with a pipe and a wand. Tireflas the prophet is 
by Hyginus ftyled Tireflas, Eueri filius, or as fome read 
it, Tireflas, Eurii filius, 33 Paftor... This was alfo one of the 
titles out of many conferred upon the Phenician Hercules, 
to whom they attributed the invention of purple. He was 
the chief Deity, , the fame as Cham, and Orus, the God of 
light; to whom there is a remarkable invocation in the Dio- 
nufiaca of Nonnus. 


2,9 Apollonius Rhodius. L. 2. v. 515. 

The lame Poet of the nymph Cyrene. 

Eyfja' A piq~caw <&Ql€op T£X€l’s OV Kcttexcriv 

A ypecc, xca N ofAiov 'uroXvAyiot'A.iy*ovinzi$. L. 2. v. 568, 

30 Syncellus. p. 156. 

3f Homer. OdylTI L. 1. Paftor Polyphemus of Virgil. 

31 Macrobii Saturn. L. 1. c. 21. p. 210. 

33 Hyginus. Fab. 68. Euri, and- Eueris Filius. He is by Theocritus ftyled 
Mott 1$ Euyipei^w. Idyl. 24. v. 70.- 


A FgO'fclTOOV 



i&2 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

' 3+ A s'go’fciTcav 'HgcucKsg, a.va.% ‘WVgog, QgyoifJLe Ko<rfjL% s 
HsAis, (Zgoreoio (3 ib $oKij(p<rKis nOIMHN. 

Some of the pyramids in Egypt were ftyled the-pyramids of 
the fhepherd 35 -Philitis ; and were laid to have been built 
by people, whom-the Egyptians held in abomination .: from 
whence we may form a judgment of the perfons, by whom 
thofe edifices were eredled. Many brills, and places of re¬ 
puted fandlity were denominated from fhepherds. Caucafus, 
in the vicinity of Colchis, had its name conferred by Jupiter 
in memory of Caucafus a fhepherd. 36 To ogog eig Tiwqv Ta 

noipt,svog Kavxcurov fj.srovopLCi<rc(.g. Mount Citfneron in Boeotia 
was called Aflerius ; but received the former name from one 
Cithaeron, a 37 fhepherd, fuppofed to have been there flain. 

I have mentioned from Herodotus, that the Cadmians built 

* 

the temple of 38 Damater, or Ceres, in Attica, where they 
introduced her worfhip. And there is a remarkable circum- 
fiance mentioned in confequence of this by Hefychius ; who 
tells us, that the priefls of this Goddefs were of a particular 
family, called -Hoifjcsvtocu, or the Shepherd race. Ho{jU.gwJai, 
ysvog, ov 6 Ar)fjLr,Tgog isgsvg. The Cadmians therefore, from 
whom this priefthood came, mull have been in a peculiar 
manner fhepherds. The mountain Apsfantus in Argolis is 
faid to have been named from 39 Apasfantus, a fhepherd. 


34 Nonni Dionyf. L. 40. p. 1038. 

35 Herodotus. L. 2. c. 128. 

36 Cleanthes rco-spi ©eopLoc^tccs, quoted by Plutarch de Flum. 

37 Plutarch, de Flum. I cywos. 

38 Herod. 5. c. 61. 

39 Plut. de Fluv. Inachus. 


The 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


183 

4 

The Cuthites fettled in Thrace near Haemus in Sethonia ; of 
whom Stephanus gives this fhort but remarkable hiftory : 
sxolKxvto 'nrgoTsgov N ofJLouoi. The author does not fay, that 
they were fhepherds ; but that they anciently were fo called : 
fo that it was not fo much the profeflion, as the title of the 
people. They fettled in Hetruria, and Latium ; in which 
lafl province flood the city Praenefle, of which I have before 
fpoken. It was faid to have been of high antiquity, and 
was founded by CeeCulus, 

40 Vulcano genitum pecora inter agreflia regem, 
Inventumque focis, omnis quem credidit aetas. 


We find here, that the founder of this city was a fhepherd, 
and a king, and the reputed fon of Vulcan, the fame as 
Urius. It is faid of him, that he was, inventum focis, be- 
caufe he was ab origine from the land of fire ; by which is 
meant Ur of Chaldea. So the perfonage, reprefented under 
the character of Cacus upon Mount Aventine, is by Livy faid 
to have been a fhepherd. 41 Pallor accola ejus loci, nomine 
Cacus, ferox viribus.. He likewife is faid to have been the 
fon of the God of Fire : 4it Huic monftro Vulcanus erat pater. 
The firll city which the Cadmians built in Bceotia was 
named 43 Poimandris ; or, as Eullathius renders it, Poiman- 
dria, 44 TloifiOLvSgia ,; the fame which was afterwards called 

Tanagra. 


40 Virgil. JEneid. L. 7. v. 678. 

41 T. Livius. L. 1. c. 7. 

4a Virgil. iEn. L. 8. v. 198. 

45 'H TloiLLcci'(Ppi$ eq-'iv ri otvrr) t y T ccvccypncy. Strabo. L. 9. p. 619. 

44 tloi^ccv^pioi fi kcci Tccvccygcc jcaAy//.gi'i). Schol. Lycoph. v. 326. 

ttoiptctvdoict 



■j84 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

Tanagra. It is laid to have been fo denominated from one 
Poimander. This name is by interpretation a Ihepherd, or 
rather a Ihepherd of men. It anfwers to the title of I Zoipw 

7 \ 0 L 3 y fo frequently to be met with in Homer. That excel¬ 
lent Poet was wonderfully fond of every thing, which fa¬ 
voured of antiquity : and has continual .references to the an¬ 
cient hiftory of Egypt, and to the rites of that country. He 
fometimes feems to adhere fuperftitioudy to obfolete terms ; 
thinking probably, that they enriched his verfe, and gave a 
venerable air to the narration. Of thefe no one occurs more 
frequently than the title of a fhepherd Prince, which he 
bellows on many of his leaders. It is the tranflation of a 
title, which the fons of Chus, as well as the Egyptians, gave 
to their Deities, and to their kings. Hence the writings 
of Hermes were infcribed the works of the Shepherd Prince, 
as we may infer from the Greek tranfcript : for that was 
written in imitation of the former, and called 45 Poiman- 
■dras. 

Thus have I endeavoured to flate the progrels of the Cu- 
thites under their different appellations to Greece ; and to 
defcribe the rout, which they took in their peregrinations. 
I have fhewn, that under the title of Phenicians and Cad- 
rnians, they firll fettled in Canaan, and in the region about 
Tyre and Sidon : from whence they extended themfelves to¬ 
wards the midland parts of Syria; where they built Antioch. 


rici^uvSpicc is by fome interpreted mu Id rale: but that was not the original purport 
of the word. 

45 Hermes Trifmegiftus, five noijj.a.vSpris. 


K curog, 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 185 



46 Kourog , acii Bi]Aas, I vayys fsrcuiss 9 'srgos rw Ogony 'srorcifjLO) 

% 

ty]V vvv Amoyeiav Trig Zvgiocg 'sro^iv butitolv. Cafus , Belus y 

two fons of Inachus , built the city in Syria y which is now called 
A?itioch upon the river Orontes. By Cafus is meant Chus ; 

and Belus is a Babylonifh title of Ham, as well as of his 

• — 

immediate defcendants, who are here alluded to. From 
Syria they penetrated to the Euphrates, and from thence to 
Armenia: and th&t there were colonies here of Amonians. 


and particularly of the Cuthites, may be known from the 
hiftory of Cadmus : but more efpecially from the hmilitude 
of language, perfon, and manners, which fublifted among 
thefe 47 nations. Zonaras is very explicit upon this head. 
He mentions the incroachments of the fons of Ham in thefe 
parts y and fhews the extent of the trefpafs, of which they 
were guilty. 48 'Q/<5s ys TSTouSeg ra Xa^w. r^v cutto Zvgioig %ou 

A Sava koli A heav'd, roov ogwv yry Kocvecrypv , holi ocra 'urgog S-aAcfcr- 

troLV olvtwv sT&Tgct,7CTo y |«-£%£*£ WKBOLVis, /caret Aijpa<n. In refpeSl 
to the fons of Uam y they feixed upon all the inland country , 
which reaches from Syria , and particularly from the mountains 
Abanus y and Libanus : and all the region, which from thence ex¬ 
tends towards the fea y even as far as the Ocean. Of thefe emi¬ 
grants Tacitus has given a curious account, which has never 


46 Syncellus. p. 126. Eufebius. Chron. p. 2 

47 By which are meant the Syrians, Arabians and Armenians. To /jlbv yccg tcop 

A pfAtVIGOV ebvoSy KCCI TO T CdV 'SjUgtaV, XCtl 'TOOV AfecSooV *570 A A Y}V 0 }JLQ(pvXlCLV efJL(pXlV£l XCtTOC 
Tg TW cTiaAgjcror, xcu tb$ tccu tbs t cav c&fJLoiTcov j£o.p<xxTW£as fc/rA. — v 

cTe S'et ttcti t as tcov sBvcav tbtwv xaTovo^acTas efJi(pepei$ aAAtfAcas man* Strabo. L. i. 


p. 70 


48 Zonaras. L. i. p. 21. 


VOL. II. 



been 



186 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


been fufficiently heeded. He takes notice of thofe, who fet¬ 
tled in Canaan, as well as thofe, who pafifed higher towards 
the north. * 9 Sunt, qui tradant Affyrios convenas, indigum 
agrorum populum, parte JEgypti potitos, ac mox 50 proprias 
urbes, Hebrseafque terras, et propiora Syrias coluiffe. As the 
Cadmians fettled about Biblus and Sidon, there feems in con- 

ous correfpondence kept 


faid according 


fequence of it to have been a relig 
up between this colony and Egypt 
the enigmatical turn of times, that the head of Ofiris was an- 

O ' 

nually wafted by the floods to 51 Biblus. It was reported to 
have been juft feven days in its paflage ^ and the whole was 
performed Ssiy voiVTiXir), by a voyage truly miraculous. 
There are many proofs that the religion of Sy 
great meafure from Egypt, 
lamentations upon his accou 




came in 


The rites of Adonis, and the 
Hint at Sidon,. and Biblus, were 
copies of the mourning for Ofiris, and reprefented in the 
fame S1 manner. Lucian, having defcribed the pompous 


temple at Hierapol 


fay 


th 


there was another in th 


ghbourhood, not of Aflyrian, but Egypt 


the 


rites of which were received by the natives from Heliopoli 
in that 53 country. This he did not fee : but he. fpeaks of i 
as very grand, and of high antiquity.. 


49 Tacitus. Hid. L. 5. c. 2. 

50 It fhould perhaps be proximas urbes. The fame hiftory is alluded to by 

Eufebius. Exi A7 rifos tb <&ogcoy€oo$ y.oipcc tb AiyvirTiuv tb e^STreaey AiywrrB 5 h 

2v nctXcLi<?ivy KctXBfjLZvy Hvoia, b 'Zuoppco Apc&iots toKTurcLv. Eufebi Chron. p. 26* 

51 Lucian de Dea Syria. 

5X They were in each country ftyled the mourning for Thamas, and Thamuz. 

53 E%bcl cPe kcci aAAo tpcu y Bx, Acrovgiov , aAAa Atyv7TTtor 0 to C HA ib- 

7tq?uq$ es t vy $>QivntYiv cc 7 nx£To. xA. Lucian de Dea Syria. 


T hefe 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 187 

Thefe particulars I have thought proper to difcufs tho¬ 
roughly, in order to difclofe the true hiftory of the Cadmi- 
ans : as I am hereby enabled to prove the great antiquity of 
this people ; and to fhew who they were, and from whence 
they came. It has been obferved by many of the learned, that 
fome particular race of men fpread themfelves abroad, and 
got accefs among numberlefs nations. Some have thought, 
that they were Scythians ; others, that they were Egyptians: 
others ftill, that they were from Phenicia, and Canaan. What 
they have faid upon the fubjedt, however they may feem to 
differ from one another, may in fome degree be allowed. But 

I believe, that the true account is that, which I have here 

« 

given. I have endeavoured with great pains to lift the 
hiftory to the bottom : and it is to me manifeft, that they 
were for the moft part the Auritse, thofe fhepherds of Egypt. 
This people had fpread themfelves over that country like a 
deluge : but were in time forced to retreat, and to betake 
themfelves to other parts. In confequence of this they were 
diffipated over regions far remote. They were probably joined 
by others of their family, as well as by the Canaanites, and 
the Caphtorim of Paleftina. They are to be met with in Per¬ 
ils, and Gedrolia, under the name of Grits. They are to be 
found in Boetica upon the Atlantic under the fame 5+ name.- 

54 In Boetica they were called Oritani. Strabo. L. 8. p. 204. 

There were Oritse in Epirus. Dicsearchi Status Grsecise. Mercc tbtov zia-tv Qfsi- 
rcth p. 4. v. 45. 

Oritse in Perils. Arrian. L. 4. c. 26. alfb in Gedrolia. See Audtor Peripli Maris 
Erythr^i. 

Y~\po$ tv\v J'vcriv T3 Irefs 1jrGTaL.'j Oyrctu Schol. Dionyf. v. 1095. Cl^irca eBvos 
I v&ivlov* Steph. Byzant, Tlv : = : v-we Oritre in Perils, hard by the Cutha of Jo- 
fephus. Ant. L, 9, c, 4* and 



i88 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


They fettled in Colchis, Thrace, Phrygia, Sicily, and He- 
truria; and upon the extreme parts of the Mediterranean r 
Diluvio ex illo tot vafta per aequora vedti. 

Thefe are the migrations, of which the ancient hiftorian 
55 Iftrus wrote in a curious treatife, long ftnce loft ; which 
he infcribed 'uregi toov A iyv7rticav airoiKiag. We meet with a 
fummary account of them in Diodorus Siculus, who men^ 
tions, that after the death of Ifts and Oftris the Egyptians: 
fent out many colonies, which were fcattered over the face of 
the earth. 56 'Olds mv Kiytnrrioi peon xai fasra tglvtcl octtqixms: 

'sr’hsis'ag Aiyv^TM kcctol > Gra<rav $1 acnr agqv qu. tqk oucsspLsvriv* 
Of thefe migrations there were two remarkable above the 
feft : the one of the fons of Chus, concerning whom I have 
been treating; the other of the Ifraelites, which was fome- 
what later than the former. The author above takes notice: 

6f both thefe occurrences in a moft valuable extract, pre- 

% 

ferved by Photius ; wherein he does not fuffieiently diftin- 
guifh the particular families of thefe emigrants, nor the dif¬ 
ferent times of the migration : yet the account is very cu¬ 
rious ; and the hiftory of each tranfadlion plainly delineated. 

57 


Evavg av 6 %svrjXaTss(JLEVMV toov aTAosOvoov 61 STTKpavzg-aToi, xca 


^ag-iKooraroi 0 rvg-gapsvrsg s%spf>i<pr}d'av } dog Ttvsg <pounv> eig ty)v 'EA 


Aada, xcti rivag srsgxg Ton.Mg, s^ovTsg a^ioXoyMg vyepoovag' oou 

nysvTQ Aa.va.og> xai K a^puog, toov aAA oov S7ri(pav.sg‘aToi. Ods 'Wq - 

T^vg Asoos e%S7T£<rev sig rrjv vvv m7\M[j.svY}V InSaiav. Upo?i this , as 
fame writers tell us , the mojl etninent a7id enterprijing of thofe 


5r Clemens Alexand. Strom. L. i. p. 382. 


56 Diodorus Siculus. JL. 1. p. 24. 

57 Ex Diodori L. 40. apud Photium. 


P* 11 



IO 


foreigners > 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 189 

foreigners , who were in Egypt y and obliged to leave, the country , 
betook themfelves to the coajl of .Greece , and alfo to other regions , 

v 

having put themf elves under the command of proper leaders for 
that purpofe. Some of them were co7idu8led by Danaus , a?td 

OadmuSy who wet'e the mojl illuflrious of the whole. 'There were 

% 

befde thefe a large , but lefs ?toble y body of people , who retired into 
the province called now 58 fudea. 

When therefore we fpeak of the hiftory of Greece as far 
back as we can carry it, and of the rites and religion intro¬ 
duced into that country, we may accede to the account given 
of them by Zonaras. 59 Ek. XaAtJafwy ya.% Xeysrou <p 0 irry a 1 

t ctVTct 'Srgog AlywKTQVy kcZxbiOsv wgoq 'EAXrp/af.. All thefe things 
came from Chaldea to E gypt ; and from thence were derived to 
the Greeks. The fame is attefted by 60 Jofephus. What pre¬ 
ceded the arrival of the Gadmians, and other Cuthites, in 
thefe parts, is utterly unknown. With them commences the 
hiftory of the country. It is true there are accounts con¬ 
cerning Eredtheus, Eridfhonius, Cecraps, and other ancient 

kings : but they were fuperadded to the hiftory of Attica, 

% 

juft as the names of Inachus, Phoroneus, Apis, were to that 
of Argos. It was therefore matter of great furprife to So¬ 
lon, when he was informed by the Egyptian priefts of the 
ancient occurrences of their country, and of the wars of 
the Atlantians, to find the fame names ftand at the head 
of their hiftories, as were obfervable in thofe of Greece 

sS A fimilar account is given by the fame author. L. i. p. 24. 
i9 Zonaras. v. 1. p. 22. Alfo Syncellus. p. 102. 

60 He is very full upon this head. Contra Apion. L. 1. p. 443. and 444. 


t 


K £Xg07t0$ 



Eg© 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology-, 


6l Ks%go7rog ts 3 mi E ^s^dscag^xcu E giyQovia, mi EgunyQovog, rutv 

ts cO\7\u>v. For inftance , the names - of Cecro'ps , EreEiheus , Eric- 

♦ 

thonins , ErifEthon , a?id others. K cli ra tgof yvvcumv mi TcivTct. 
Fhe na7nes atfo of their 'wome?i -were the fame. In reality they 
were all titles of the 'Deity, as might be eaftly fhewn. Erec- 
th'eus for inftance was the God of the fea, and as fuch wor- 


fhiped by the very people, who inlifted him among 
kings. This may he proved from Athenagoras. 6z 


their 


A drv 


ctiog 


Egsyfsi YlotreiS'ccvi §vsi. Fhe Athe?iian facrifces to EreEthens , 
the fa?ne as Pofeidon. Strabo feems to think, that moft of the 
ancient names were foreign ; 63 fuch as Cecrops, and Co- 
drus, and Arclus, and Cothus : and he is certainly right in 
his opinion. 

What I have here faid, may in fome degree prove a hafts 
for the hiftory of Greece. We may indeed talk of Xuthus, 
Ion, and Hellen : alfo of the Leleges, and Pelalgi, and thus 
amufe ourfelves in the dark: but no real emolument can pof- 
libly arife, till the cloud, with which hiftory has been fo long 
obfcured, be done away. This cannot well be effected, till 
fome of the firft principles, upon which we are to proceed, 
be made out, and thefe great truths determined. 


This inquifttion I have been obliged 


make 


concerning 


fome of the 


princi 


rfonages in the annals of Greece 


For it is impoftible to lay a foundation for a future hiftory 
unlefs what is true, and what is falfe, be previoufly deter- 


61 


Cz. 


Plato. Critias. V T ol. 3. p. no. 


Legatio. p. 279. 

65 K CCL CC7T0 'TOtV OVCfJ.CtTU V cT£ tVltoV TO /2 OLCt £ 01' € fS-ty (X. IV £TOU . K BX XCLl K 

xca Aix.?'.ci (read AgxAcs) xcu KoG 09 x. A. L. 7. p. 495. 


9 


mined. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


191 


mined. All thofe, of whom I have been treating, ftand 
foremoft in the lifts of antiquity, and have been admitted" 
with too little conftderation. Many of the firft Fathers in 
the Chriftian church, feeing the high pretenfions of the Gre¬ 
cians, tried to invalidate their claim by fhewing, that all 
their ancient heroes were fubfequent to Mofes. This was the 
repeated labour of Clemens of Alexandria, Theophilus, Eu- 
lebius, Tatianus, and others. It was a point urged by them 
continually in their recommendation of the Scriptures : as if 
priority of time were neceftarily a mark of truth. The beft 
Chronologers likewife admit thefe perfonages in their com¬ 
putations : and great pains have been ufed to reconcile the 
contradictions in their hiftories, and to afcertain the sera,... 
when they flourifhed. Thefe learned men aCted upon a very 
laudable principle : but failed in the very beginning of their 
procefs. For, as I have before taken notice, the queftion 
fhould not have been about the time, when thefe. perfons 
lived ; but whether they ever exifted. The fathers proceeded 
upon very precarious grounds ; and brought their evidence to 


a wrong 


teft. 


They indeed ftate things very fairly ; and 
have authorities for all that they advance. But the tradi¬ 
tions of the Greeks were not uniform. And if any. Gentile 
writer, inftead of carrying the eera of Inachus, and Phoro- 
neus, or of Dionufus, and Perfeus, towards the time of Mo¬ 
fes, had extended it to the times of the firft kings in Egypt, 
I do not fee what they could have done : for this perfon in 
his turn could have produced authorities.. They might in¬ 
deed have difputed the point,,and have oppofed evidence to 
evidence ; but nothing certain could have enfued. 


O F 



( *93 J 



O F T H E 

* . 
1 

DELUGE, 


AND THE 

Memorials thereof in the Gentile World. 

T HE hiftory of the Deluge, as it is transmitted to us 

by Mofes, may appear Short and concife; yet abounds 
with matter : and affords us a thorough infight into the moffc 
material circumftances, with which that calamity was at¬ 
tended. There feems to have been a great convulfion in 
nature, infomuch that all flefh died, eight perfons only being 
Saved : and the means of their deliverance were fo wonder¬ 
ful, that very lading impreflions muff have been left upon 
their minds, after they had furvived the fearful event. The 
facred writer has moreover given us the reafons, why it 
pleafed God to bring this flood upon the world, to the de- 
flrucflion of the work of his hands. 1 The earth was corrupt 

1 Genef. c. 6 . v. ii. &c. 


VOL. II. 


C c 


before 



194 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology* 


before God’, and the earth was filled with ‘violence. And God 
looked upo?i the earth, atid behold, it was corrupt : for all flefh 
had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God faid unto 


JVoah, 'The end of all jlefi: 


befc 



the earth 


filled with ‘violence through them : a7id behold, I will deflroy them 
with the earth. Make thee a?i ark of Gopher wood.—And this 
is the fafioion, which thou Jloalt make it of: The le?igth of the ark 
fhall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and 


the height of 


A window fhalt thou make to the 


ark, and in a cubit Jhalt thou finifh it above : and the door of the 
ark fhalt thou fet in the fide thereof.—!Thus did Noah : according 
to all, that God co?nman:ded him, fio did he.—''' And Noah went 
in, and his fions, and his wife, and his fons wives with him, into 
the ark, becaufe of the waters of the flood. — 3 In the fix hwidredth 


year of No a Ids lifi 


the fecond month, the feventeetith day of 


the month, the fame day were all the fountains of the great deep 
broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the ram 
was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. In the felf fame 
day entered Noah, &c .—And they went in unto Noah in 
ark two and two of all fie fio, where'm is the breath of life. 


they that went in, w 
had cojmnanded him 


d female of all fleflo 


and the Lord fl: 


him 


m. 


into the 

. A?id 

as God~ 
A?id the 


flood was forty days upon the earth : and the waters increafed\ 
and bare up the ark, a?id it was lift up above the earth. 


* And 


all flefh died, that moved upoji the earth — All, in whofe ?ioflrils 
was the breath of life—And every living fubflance 


was 


de 


1 Genef. c. y. v. y. 

3 Genef. c. y. v. n. &c. 

4 Genef. c. y. v. 21, &c. 




The Analysts of Ancient Mythology. 


*95 

firoyed. yd?id the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred 
and fifty days. 

We find from the above, that the Patriarch and his fa¬ 
mily were inclofed in an ark, or covered float; wherein there 
was only one window of a cubit in dimenfions. This was 
■of fmall proportion in refpe<tt to the bulk of the machine, 
which was above five hundred feet in length. It was more¬ 
over clofed up, and fattened : fo that the perfons within were 
configned to darknefs : having no light, but what mutt have 
been adminiftered to them from lamps and torches. They 
therefore could not have been eye-witnefles to the general 
calamity of mankind. They did not fee the mighty eruption 
of waters, nor the turbulence of the feas : when the foun- 
tains of the great deep were broken up. Yet the crafh of 
mountains and the noife of the cataracts could not but have 
founded in their ears : and poflibly the cries of people may 
have reached them ; when families and nations were over¬ 
whelming in the floods. The motion too of the ark mutt 
have been very violent at this tempeftuous feafon : all which 
added to the gloom, and uncertainty, in which they were in¬ 
volved, could not but give them many fearful fenfations j 
however they may have relied on Providence, and been up¬ 
held by the hand of Heaven. We find that the machine, in 
which they were fecured, is termed Thebah, an ark, or cheft. 
It was of fuch a model and conftruttion as plainly indicated, 
that it was never defigned to be managed, or diredied by the 
hands of men. And it feems to have been the purpofe of 
Providence throughout to fignify to thofe, who were faved, 

C c 2 as 



196 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

as well as to their lateft pofterity, that their prefervation was> 

not in any degree effected by human means. 

% 

After this the facred hiftorian proceeds to inform us, that 

5 God remembered Noah , and every living ' things—that was 
with him in the ark : that the fou?itains of the deep , and the 
windows of heaven were flopped^ and the ram from heaven was 
reframed. — G A?td the ark refed in the feventh months ojz the 
feventeenth day of the months upon the mountains of Ararat. 
And the waters decreafed continually u?ttil the tenth month : in 
the tenth■ months on the firf day of the months were the tops of 
the mountains feen. And it came to pafs at the end of forty 
days , that Noah opeiied the window of the ark , which he had 
made : And he fent forth a raven ; which went forth to and frOy 
until the waters were dried up from off the earth. Alfo he fent 
forth a dove from him , to fee if the waters were abated from off 
the face of the ground : But the dove found ?to ref for the foie 
of her foot 3 a?id foe returned unto him into the ark.—Ajtd he 
fayed yet other feven days ; and again he fent forth the dove out 
of the ark ; And the dove came in to him in the evening ; and 
lo 9 in her mouth was an olive-leaf pluckt off : fo Noah knew that 
the waters were abated from off the earth. And he fayed yet 
other feven days ; and fent forth the dove which returned not 
again unto him any more. —And in the fecond month , on the feven 
arid twentieth day of the month , was the earth dried. Ajid God 
fpake ujito Noah , faying , Go forth of the ark. A?id Noah went 
forth , a?id his fons, a?id his wife , a?td hisfons wives with him. And 

5 Gcnef. c. 8. v. i, &c.. 

6 Genef. c. 8. v. 4 > &c 3 

Noah 



The Analysis op Ancient Mythology. 


197 


Noah builded an altar unto the Lord \ and took of every clean 
beajl and of every clean fowl , and ojfered burnt-offerings o?i 
the altar . 

Thefe are the principal circumftances in this wonderful 
occurrence ; which I have produced in the words of the di¬ 
vine hiftorian, that I might not do injury to his narration r 
and they are of fuch a- nature, as, one might well imagine, 
would be long had in remembrance. We may reafonably 
fuppofe, that the particulars of this extraordinary event would 
be gratefully commemorated by the Patriarch himfelf; and 
tranfmitted to every branch of his family : that they were 
made the fubjedt of domeftic converfe; where the hiftory 
was often renewed, and ever attended with a reverential 
awe and horror: efpecially in thofe who had been wit- 
neffes to the calamity, and had experienced the hand of Pro¬ 
vidence in their favour. In procefs of time, when there 
was a falling off from the truth, we might further expedt 
that a perfon of fo high a character as Noah, fo particu¬ 
larly diftinguifhed by the Deity, could not fail of being re¬ 
verenced by his pofterity : and, w~hen idolatry prevailed, that 
he would be one of the firft among the foils of men, to 
whom divine honours would be paid. Laftly, we might 
conclude that thefe memorials would be interwoven in- the 
mythology of the Gentile world : and that there would be 
continually allufions to thefe ancient occurrences in the rites 
and myfteries ; as they were pradtifed by the nations of the 
earth. In conformity to thefe fuppofitions I fliail endeavour 
to fhew, that thefe things did happen : That the hiftory of 
the deluge was religiouny preferved in the firft ages : That 

every 


* 

* 



198 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


every circumftance of it is to be met with among the hifto- 
rians and mythologifts of different countries : and traces of 
it are to be particularly found in the facred rites of Egypt, 
and of Greece. 

It will appear from many circumftances in the more an¬ 
cient writers, that the great Patriarch was highly reverenced 
by his pofterity. They looked up to him as a perfon pecu¬ 
liarly favoured by heaven; and honoured him with many 
titles ; each of which had a reference to fome particular 
part of his hiftory. They ftyled him Prometheus, Deuca¬ 
lion, Atlas, Theuth, Zuth, Xuthus, Inachus, Ofiris. When 
there began to be a tendency towards idolatry; and the ado¬ 
ration of the Sun was introduced by the pofterity of Ham ; 
the title of Helius among .others was conferred upon him. 
They called him alio and Mm, which is the Moon; the 
fecret meaning of which name I ftiall hereafter fhew. When 
colonies went abroad, many took to themfelves the title of 
Minyadas and Minyas from him'; juft as others were denomi¬ 
nated AchcEmenidse, Auritas, Heliadze, from the Sun. 
pie of the former name are to be found in Arabia, and in 
other parts of the world. The natives at Orchomenos were 
ftyled Minyas ; as were alfo fome of the inhabitants of Thef- 
faly. It was the ancient name of the Arcadians, interpreted 
7 XsXYjViTcu, Lunares : but grew obfolete. Noah was the ori¬ 
ginal Z svg >9 Zeus, and Dios. He was the planter of the vine, 



7 K on Api<r&v 0 Xros ev t ocis Sreaecri y.cu /Siovucrtos 0 XasAjofcTgi'S ev 'zzTQoyrcp KTf crews 


'ZeAvviTcts 


L,, 4. v. 264, 


SchoL in Apollon. Rhod. 


and 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 199 

and the inventer of 8 fermented liquors : whence he was de¬ 
nominated Zeuth, which fignifies ferment rendered Z 
Zeus, by the Greeks, He was alfo 9 Dionufos, interpreted 
by the Latines Bacchus, but very improperly. Bacchus was 
Chus, the grandfon of Noah ; as Ammon may be in general, 
efteemed Ham, fo much reverenced by the Egyptians. 

As many of thefe terms were titles, they were not always 
uniformly adapted: nor were the ancients confident in their 
mythology. But nothing has produced greater confufion in 
thefe ancient hiftories, than that fatal turn in the Greeks of 
reducing every unknown term to fome word, with which 
they were better acquainted. In fhort, they could not reft, 
till they had formed every thing hy their own idiom ; and 
made every nation fpeak the language of Greece. Among 
the people of the eaft the true name of the Patriarch was 
preferved : they called him Noas, Naus, and fometimes con¬ 
tracted, Nous : and many places of fanCtity,. and many rivers 
were denominated from him. Anaxagoras of Clazomenas 
had been in Egypt; and had there obtained fome knowledge 
of this perfonage. He fpoke of him by the name of Noas 
or Nous ; and both he and his difciples were fenfible that it 
was a foreign appellation : yet he has well nigh ruined the 
whole of a very curious hiftory, which he had. been taught, 

* T ov Cat civ &icv'jcrov. Diod. Sic. L. i. p. n. 

AAA cc xcu 'T'dS ccTryi*)■ f:tofJLiVY)v » TvgoS QutBiclv a//.x£AB-a7rtfAAoTpf<tt- 

fj.xbeiv to x.ccTccaxevcc'QouaiLcv toou xoiQsov TFQfJ.cL > . f2pct%v Aenropttvov t>?s To-spL 

top olvov evuS'ict;. Diod. Sic. JL. 3. p. 207. 

NWj 09 xzxAvtcci L 7 ro evioov Z\evxctAioov . TheophiL ad Autolyc. L. 2. p. 370. 

# 

9 H (peaces t is AiywrTios ei f tois ^corcis tb N coe y 

'O* Ncog kcu Z\iovvao9^ xcci Ocripis xa./\eiTcti, Tzetzes Chil. 10. Hilt. 335. 

9 


by 



200 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


by taking the terms in a wrong acceptation, and then mak 


inferences in conlequence of-this abufe 


10 


Oi h Avct& 


yogouoi £g(JLriV£vz<ri Nay {jlbv t op A ict, rqv h AS^y&y rs’gynv 


ngofJUiQsa <5s Nay eteyov' 13 go{M$£icL yog 




0 Piss” 


KOU [JLvQbVOVTOLI T3S OLV $ g 00 778 q fJ.£T 077£77?\0<& O l , $t)XOVOTl 0.170 

ifowTSiog Big yviatriv. 'The difciples of Anaxagoras fay , that Nous 
is by interpretation the Deity Dis , or Dios : and they call Athena , 
Art or Science—They likewife ejleem Nous the fame as 11 Pro¬ 


metheus 



proceeds to inform 


why they looked 


upon Nous to have been Prometheus : becaufe he was the re- 
?iewer of mankind ; and was faid , fj.£T077£77?\obhoi ; to have 
fafioned them again y after that they had been in a manner 
tinCt. All this is to be inferred from the words above. 


the author, while he 


giving 


But 

curious account, ftarts 


affde-; and forgetting that he is confefledly treating of a fo 


eign 


his 


own 


uage 


and from thence 


frames a folution of the ftory. He tells us that Nous, which 
he had been fpeaking of as a proper name, was after all a 
Grecian term, v&g, the mind : that the mind was Prometheia ; 
and Prometheus was faid to renew mankind ., from new forming 
their minds ; and leading them by cultivation from ignorance to 
knowledge. Thus have the Greeks by their affectation con¬ 
tinually 


10 Eufeb. Hi ft. Synagoge. p. 374. What is rendered Nbc, ftiould be expreffed 
N dog or New. 

Enfebius in another place mentions npofxn^ev^ os 'wXccrreiv oov^pooms sfAV^cutTO. 
Chron. Can. p. 103. 

Nav. Macrob. Saturnal. L. 1. c. iS. 

Nw 5 'ztgtuuzc, kou ri forces. Hefych. 

Fulgentius fays the fame from Apollophanes, c. 2. p. 628. Apollophanes in 

facro 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 201 

tinually ruined hiftory: and the reader may judge, how dif¬ 
ficult it is to fee the truth through the mift, with which it is 
environed. One would imagine, that Homer had an eye to 
this fatality in his countrymen, when he made the following 
pathetic exclamation : 

13 A hfaot, n mxov to<5s 'UTol^btb ; vvxti (jlsv v^jux>v 

ElXV&TOU KSCpOLhCLl T£, 'GrgO<rU7CQ. T£. -HsAiO? <Jg 

OvgoLVs a%a.7CoXu\£, mr-i) <T S7rdefy ope v ccyrKvg. 

Near the temple of Eleufinian Damater in Arcadia, were 
two vaft ftones, called Petroma : one of which was ered: ; 
and the other was laid over, and inferted into the former. 
There was a hollow place in the upper ftone, with a lid to 
it. In this among other things was kept a kind of mafk, 
which was thought to reprefent the countenance of Dania- 
ter, to whom thefe ftones were facred. I mention this cir- 
cumftance, becaufe there was a notion among the Pheneatce, 
who were the inhabitants of this diftrid:, that the Goddefs 
came into thefe parts in an age very remote, even before the 
days of Naos, or Noah. ^evsccroev h e$i Aoyog, mi 'UTgiv 13 

Naoy clqikb&cu yoig, mi bvtoivQol A^jur/r^a. 'UtXclv 00 pevr\v . 

Suidas has preferved from fome ancient author a curious 
•memorial of this wonderful perfonage ; whom he a£Fed:s to 
diftinguifti from Deucalion, and ftyles N u.vvolkqs> Nannacus. 

25 Not VVCLKQQ, 'UTCLhVAOQ (X,VY)g 'UTgO A BVKOCkltoVOg. TiSJOV <p<X<Tl ~B<X<Tl- 

idcro carmine fcribit Saturnum quafi facrum Nai's enim Gr2ece fenfus dicitur: 
aut fatorem Nyr. 

13 Horn. Odyff. T. V. 351. 

14 Paufan. "L. 8. p. 630. Naos is certainly a tranfpofition for Noa?, Noah. 

15 There is fome miftake in this name. Namxxos may have been a variation for 
Nceuaxos, Noacus : or it may be for Nau-Na>co?, Noah Rex. 

Vol II. D d Asa, 



202 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

* * 

■7\bol ysvsvQou ,— 0 $ 'urgosiboog rov p.sAAoi'Ta KotroucKvrpLov, cry#- 
tt.ya.ywv TtravTag sis to tsgov [jlstcl Scucgvwv Ikstsvts, K ou 'nrctg- 

OlfJLltt S7TI NaVVttZZ, S7TI TWV CT$0$gCC TtTCihttlWV JCttl ttg’YttlWV. 

Nannacus was a petfoti of great antiquity , prior to the time 
of Deucalion . He is faid to have been a king , who forefeeing 
the approaching deluge, colleSled every body together , and led 
theni to a temple ; where he offered up his prayers for them , 
accompanied with many tears. There is likewife a proverbial 
expreffion about Nannacus ; which is applied to people of great- 
antiquity. Suidas has done great injury to this curious tra¬ 
dition by a mifapplication of the proverb at the clofe. What 
he alludes to was tcc N tt.vva.K8 kXouoo, vel oSvgopLOU ; a proverb,, 
which had no relation to time, nor to ancient perfons ; but 
was made ufe of in a general calamity whenever it could 

with propriety be faid, I fuffer, as Noah fuffered ; or, the ca - 

% 

lamities of Noah are .renewed in me. Stephanus gives great 
light to this hiftory, and fupplies many deficiencies. He 
calls the perfon Annaeus ; and like Suidas, makes him of 
great antiquity, even prior to the reputed sera, of Deu¬ 
calion. He fuppofes him to have lived above three hun¬ 
dred years : at which period, according to an oracle, all 
mankind were to be deftroyed. This event happened by 
a deluge ; which this author calls the deluge of Deucalion, 
inftead of Annaeus. In confequence of this unfortunate 
diftinCtion between two characters, which were one and the 
Tame, he makes the aged perfon to be deftroyed in the gene¬ 
ral calamity, and Deucalion to be faved. He takes notice 
of the proverb, and mentions the renewal of the world. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 203 

,6 < 3 >a<n on w Tig Avvoutog, og efyrsv V 7 rsg to. Tgiajcocriot. sTp 

Tag Ss '&sgi% fjLctvTevcrci&cii ioog r mg fii<ti<rz<rQoLi. ESofa Ss 

‘fcgncrfJLOg, OTl T878 TS\£VTYl<TCLVTOg 'UTOLVTSg SlOkpQOL^TOVTOU . Ol 

Ss Qgvysg OLKatroLVTzg sGgrivxv c rpoS^cag" ct<p a TSTd^oipua., to stti 

AVVCLKS KXoLVCSIV, S 7 TI TOOV AfCt!/ OlKTl£o[JLSVUV. VsVOfJLSVH SiS T8 

mTcucKvcrpm S7ri AsvmKicavog, 'uruvTeg S'istpQctgr)<rctv . Ayo&jgay- 
#£*tnK <3g Ti]? yJi?, 0 Zgy? sks’Ksvts tw II gopurjOsi mi ty) Afavcc 

siSiehot S 1 oL7r\oL<rou s/c T8 'Grgo<rmKs<rct{JLSvog Tag olvs- 

(JLag sfjLQvcrncrca 'utoltiv s/.sKsvts, mi £uvtol ct7roTsh.s<ra.i. The 
tradition is, that there was formerly a king named Annaeus, 
the extent of whofe life was above 17 three hundred years. 'The 
_ -people, who were of his neighbourhood and acquaintance, had 
enquired of an oracle , how long he was to live. Attd there was 
an anfwer given, that when Annaeus died, all mankind would 
be deflroyed. The Phrygians upon this account made great 
lamentations : from whence arofe the proverb, to s?ri Avvouca 
kKolvtsiv, the lamentation for Annaeus j trade ufe of for people 
or circujnfances highly calamitous. fphen the food of Deuca¬ 
lion came, all mankind was defrayed, according as the oracle 
had foretold. Afterwards, when the furface of the earth began 
to be again dry , Zeus ordered Prometheus and Minerva to 
make images of clay in the form of men : and when they were 


16 


Stephan. Byzant. Tkcviw. 


17 Noah lived above three hundred years after the flood; which this writer has 
fuppofed to have been his term of life when the 'flood came. The ancients efti- 
mated the former life of Noah, or Ofiris, to his entrance into the ark : this interval 
in the ark was efteemed a ftate of death: and what enfued was looked upon as a 
fecond life, and the renewal of nature. This will appear all through the Gentile 


hiftory of the deluge. 



ijhed, 


D d 2 



204 .The Analysts of Ancient Mythology. 

W 

jinijhed, he called the winds, and 7nade them breathe into each , 
a?zd render them ■vital. However the ftory may have been 
varied, the principal outlines plainly point out the perfon, 
who is alluded to in thefe hiftories. Many perfonages hav¬ 
ing been formed out of one has been the caufe of great eon- 
fufion both in thefe inftances, and in numberlefs' others. 
Indeed the whole mythology of the ancients has by thefe 
means been fadly clouded. It is, I think, manifeft, that 
Annaeus and Nannacus, and even Inachus, relate to Noa- 
chus, or Noah. And not only thefe, but the hiftories of 
DeuCalion, and Prometheus have a like reference to the Pa¬ 
triarch ; in the ,s fix hundredth year (and not the three hun¬ 
dredth) of whofe life the waters prevailed upon the earth. 
He was the father of mankind, who were renewed in him. 
Hence he is reprefented by another author, under the cha¬ 
racter of Prometheus, as a great artift, by whom men were 
formed anew, and were inftruCted in all that was good. He 
makes 19 Minerva cooperate with him in making images of 
clay, according to the hiftory before given : but he addition¬ 
ally gives to her the province of infpiring them with a living 
foul, inftead of calling the winds together for that purpofe. 

Hence the foul of man according to Lucian is an emanation 
of Divine Wifdom. 

Noah was the original Cronus, and Zeus; though the latter 
is a title conferred fometimes upon his fon, Ham. 

18 Genef. c. 7. v. 11. 

* 9 K cll 'to yjev c/Vor, ccp^itBtctcpv ctVTO* (o nv* vvveioya.^B'ro Se t 01 Kat 

7 ] AI: MIIN EOT 2 A top's;«A or, xax rorderct sivcu roc, rs-^cto-pLccroc.. 

Lucian. Prometh. in Verbis. Vo). 1. p. 16. 


IlgOOTiS'QS 



The Analysis of Ancient MV tho irocnr. 


205 


20 II guTts-ag. fjisv. cLvourtrsv ew oviwv Kgovog a.vfyoov' 

Jix Jg Kgovx yevsf avrog clvol^ fJLsyag svgvaxa Xsvg. 

There is a very particular expreftion recorded by Clemens 
of Alexandria, and attributed to Pythagoras % > who is faid to 
have called the fea 21 KLfom oclx^vov, the tear of Cronus : and 

there was a further tradition concerning this perfon, 22 xoctcl- 

7uveiv tcl texvcl, that he drank, or /wallowed up, all his chil¬ 
dren The tears of Ills are reprefented as very myfterious. 
They are faid to have flowed, whenever the Nile began to 
rife, and to flood the country. The overflowing of that river 
was the great fource of affluence to the people : and they 
looked upon it as their chief blefling : yet it was ever attended 
with myflical tears, and lamentations. This was particu¬ 
larly obfervable at Coptos, where the principal Deity was 
Ifls, 23 Coptos eft civitas Mareotica iEgypti, in qua 16 verfa 
in Ifidem colitur : cujus facris ftftro celebratis Nilus exaeftuat. 
—Proventum fructuum iEgyptii quaerunt ufque ad veros 
plandtus : namque irrigatio Nili fupradidtorum fletibus im- 
ploratur. This writer imagines, that the tears and lamenta¬ 
tions of the people were to implore an inundation : and the 
tears of Ifls according to Paufanias were fuppofed to make 
the river fwell. But all this was certainly faid, and done, in 

2,0 Lactant. de Fall*. Relig. V. i. c. 13. p. 6 1. 

Z1 Tviccutcc kui 01 n vO<x.yoge*oi Hep(r€(ponis fc si> vjjvqls ths ‘E^Aanrra?, 

K pove cTg J^cacpvov tw ^rctXcco-croLV^ aPitwyopwre* v~ca y.vgicL evri pcupiois evpoitxev ccv jito 
T£ (pl?\.OGO(^COl\ U7TO Tg 'ZuOlYiTOOV OCLVlyfJ.CCTcodecs £lP 71 l U£l’CC. Clemens of-the wilful obfcu- 
rity of the ancient Greek writers. Strom. L. 5. p. 676. 

22 Etymolog. Magnum. 

23 Lutatius tlacidus in Stat. Theb. L. 1. v. 265. 


6 


memorial. 



2o6 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

* 

memorial of a former flood, of which they made the over¬ 
flowing of the Nile a type. 

As the Patriarch was by fome reprelented as a king called 
Naachus and Nauachus ; fo by others he was ftyled Inachus, 
and fuppofed to have reigned at Argos. For colonies, where- 
ever they came, in procefs of time fuperadded the tradi¬ 
tions, which they brought, to the hiftories of the countries, 
where they fettled. Hence Inachus was made a king of 
Greece; and Phoroneus, and Apis brought in fucceflion after 
him. But I have more than once taken notice, that Ina¬ 
chus was not a name of Grecian original. It is mentioned 
by Eufebius in his account of the firft ages, that there 
reigned in Egypt c I’elegonus i a prince of foreign extraction ; who 
was the fon of Orus the fhepherd , and the feventh in defcent 
from Inachus. And in the fame author we read, that a co¬ 
lony went forth from that country into Syria, where they 
founded the ancient city Antioch : and that they were con¬ 
ducted by 16 Cafus a?id Belus , who were fons of Inachus. Thefe 
events were far more early than any hiftory of Greece ; let 
it be removed as far back, as tradition can be carried. But 
otherwife, what relation can a prince of Egypt, or Cafus 
and Belus, who came originally from Babylonia, have with 
a fuppofed king of Argos ? By Inachus is certainly meant 
Noah : and the hiftory relates to fome of the more early de- 


Paufan. L. 10. p. 881. 
In gyp to regnavit T 

feb. Chron. Verf. Lat. p. 14. 


Eu 


to 


Karros x.?.i 'srarJV?, 'zzoos toj O^ot €1 'ZcroTapccsJ x. tA. Eufeb. Chron, 


p. 24. See alfo Zonaras. L. 1. p. 21, 


fcendants 



The Analysis' of Ancient Mythology. zoy 

leendants af the Patriarch. His name has been rendered 
very unlike itfelf, by having been lengthened with termina¬ 
tions ; and otherwife fafhioned according to the idiom of 
different nations. But the circumfiances ol the hiftory are fo 
precife and particular, that we cannot mifs of the truth. 

He feems in the Eaft to have been called Noas, Noahs* 
Nufus, and Nus; and by the Greeks his name was com- 
pounded Dionufus. The Amonians, wherever they came, 
founded cities to his honour : hence places called Nufa will 
often occur. Hefychius fays, that there were both cities 
and mountains ftyled Nufean in many parts- of the 27 world : 
and he inftances in Arabia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Babylonia, 
Eruthrea, Thracia, Theffaly, Cilicia, India, Libya, Lydia, 
Macedonia,. the ifland Naxos ; alfo a Nufa near mount Pan- 
gseus ; and a place of this name in Syria, the fame,, which 
was called afterwards Scythopolis. There was alfo a place 
called Nufa upon mount Caucafus ; and upon Helicon : alfo 
in the 2S ifland Euboea ; where was a notion, that grapes 
would bloffom, and come to perfection in one day. Of the 
Nufa in. India Philoftratus takes notice and fays, that from; 
thence Dionufus had the title of Nulios. 29 Nvmog yctg 0 A 10 - 

vvziog CC7T0 T,r)g sv L v&oig Natn^ ovopct^ercii. But. this, if the. 
author fays the truth, muft have been owing to a great mif- 


k<x.i TSivcniiov ooc « x.ctk \:a 'tcttov* *)ccc A^b'TTTtf, 

^ i — 

BaSuAwro-, E^vGoaf, K iAixiut) h’Sr*tr} 0 A<£iw; 9 AuJMaxfJ'c- 


VlCCty N *57 €p 
xS 


<ju c ul 'TO 


riafy 


OUOVy 




vp tea 

b 


1 Iefych. 


Er 6 cc S'lCC JJLICL9 fifJLS'.CLS 7 7JU CLJK.7 Tz 7'^0V (pOdjll CU TiOit 70V- fioTCVl 

Sceph. Byzant. 

Yit. Apollon..Tyan. t. 2. p. 56. 


STTOCtVsG 


fjcci. 


take 



208 


The Analysis ot Ancient Mythology. 


take: for there were, as I have fhewn, many 30 cities fo 
called ; which did not give the name ; but were all univer- 
fally denominated from him. Thefe, though widely diftant, 
being lituated in countries far removed, yet retained the fame 
original hiftories ; and were generally famous for the plan¬ 
tation of the vine. Milled by this limilarity of traditions 
people in aftertimes imagined, that Dionufus muft neceffarily 
have been, where his hiftory occurred : and as it was the 
turn of the Greeks to place every thing to the account of 
conqueft; they made him a great conqueror, who went over 
the face of the whole earth, and taught mankind the plan¬ 
tation of the vine : ' 3I A lovvcrov Z7rzX@ovTct j ustcc rga totts&s 'urcc- 


<rctv r y\v oizzfievw, ch$od;cu re ty\v (pvreioiv rr\v aq.5rev\8, kcu t w 

sv tois Kr\vois a,7ro@Ai-^/iv twv (ZoTgvuu* It is faid, that Dionu- 

the whole earth ; and 



fus went with an army over the face 
taught mankind , as he pajfed alo?tg , the method of plantmo- 
the vine ; and how to prefs out the juice y a?id receive it in pro¬ 


per veffels. 

Though the Patriarch is reprefented under various titles ; 
and even thefe not always uniformly appropriated : yet there 
will continually occur fuch peculiar circumftances of his 
hiftory, as will plainly point out the perfon referred to. The 


30 There was a city Noa, built by the ancient Dorians in Sicily; called by Ste- 
phanus Noctr to sbriKoi' Ncctios. 

The Scriptures ipeak of cities called Amon-No^ and No-Anion in Egypt. Ezek. 
c. 30. v. 14, &c. Jerem. c. 46. v. 25. 

The city Naucratis in the lame country was probably Nau-Carat, fimilar to the 
Xiriath of the Hebrews ; and fignified the city of Nau, or Noah. 


A city Noa was near Syene. 
31 Diodor. Sic. L. 3. p. 197. 


H 


perfon 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 209 

perfon preferved is always mentioned as preferved in an ark. 
He is defcribed as being in a ftate of darknefs ; which is re- 
prefented allegorically as a ftate of death. He then obtains 

a new life, which is called a fecond birth ; and is faid to 

* 

have his youth renewed. He is on this account looked upon 
as the firftborn of mankind : and both his antediluvian and 
poftdiluvian ftates are commemorated, and fometimes the 
intermediate alfo is fpoken of. 

32 K ltikY)<TKU) AlOVVtfOV, Sgl&gOfJLOV,' svct^gct, 

nPftTOfONON, AIOTH, TPirONON. 

33 UgooTog <T sg cpoiog y]XOs, Aiuvvvog <T S 7 T£)cXriCn. 

Diodorus calls him Deucalion; but defcribes the Deluge, 
as in a manner univerfal ; 34 holtol rov em AsvxctXiooi/og yevo- 

{JLSVOV KOCtOLKhVOTpLOV StpQlXgri TCL 'UTX£l?‘Oi TOdV : In the Deluge , 

which happened i?z the time of Deucalion , almojl all flefh died . 

Apollodorus having mentioned Deucalion ev Xocgvouti, con- 
Jigned to an ark , takes notice, upon his quitting it, of his 

offering up an immediate facrifice, 35 Ah to the God, 

who delivered him. As he was the father of all mankind, 
the ancients have made him a perfon of very extenfive rule ; 
and fuppofed him to have been a king. Sometimes he is de¬ 
fcribed as monarch of the whole earth : at other times he is 

32 Orphic Hymn. 29. p. 222. 

33 Orphic. Fragm. apud Macrob. Saturnal. L. 1. c. 18. 

Sometimes Tlpcoroyoroi is changed to a female, and then made the daughter of 
Deucalion, npcoroyeveix kxi riuppxs. Schol. in Find. Olymp. Od. 

9. v. 63. 

34 Diodor. Sicul. L. 1. p. 10. 

35 Apollodor. L. 1, p. 20. 

VOL. 11. 


E e 


reduced 



210 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


reduced to a petty king of ThefTaly. He is mentioned by 
36 Hellanicus in the latter capacity ; who fpeaks of the de¬ 
luge in his time, and of his building altars to the Gods. 
Apollonius Rhodius fuppofes him to have been a native of 

Greece, according to the common notion : but notwithftand- 

# 

ing his prejudices he gives fo particular a charadter of him, 
that the true hiftory cannot be miftaken. He makes him 
indeed the fon of 37 Prometheus, the fon of Japetus : but in 
thefe ancient mythological accounts all genealogy muft be 
entirely difregarded. 


38 IoL 7 F 8 TlQVlStiS CLyoSdV TSKS AsVUCiXlOOVCX., 

Os 'urguTog 'uro^cre 'Groheig, acti zS'bi^aqlto vqag 

t » 

AQclvojqis , 'urgwTos xou av@goo7rc*)v / 3 cmtiXsvvbv. 
'Aifioviw rriv Js 'taregiKTiovee xaXzxcriv. 


Though this charadter be not precifely true; yet we may 
learn that the perfon reprelented was the firft of men, through 
whom religious rites were renewed, cities built, and civil po¬ 
lity eftablifhed in the world : none of which circumftances 
are applicable to any king of Greece. We are allured by 
39 Philo, that Deucalion vva's Noah. '’EKXyvss [jlbv AsvKoi?\tcav(x, } 

’XoASouoi Je NIZE £7rovo[Aa£aa'iv, e<p sJ t ov fAzyuv TCocrtucXvtr fxov 
<TVU£oY] yzvz<rQcu. The Grecians call the perfoit Deucalion , but 


36 Ot i cTg ucu /levitaXtoov eCcccn?\.€uo-e EAA ctvntos ev 'zf^gotu) tw; 

xaA iccucts Qvcriv' xcn on roov £&S ex.cc Sreo)v (zcafs-Ui £A£'jx.clKiwv iScu&ccto EAA ccvvkos ev- 

tw civ'tcc. Schol. in Apollon. Rhocl. L. 3. v. 1085. 

?? 


He was the fame as Prometheus, the perfon here called Jnpetionides. 
38 Apollon. Rhod. L. 3. v. 10S5. 

S9 Philo Jud. de prsemio et pcenu. Vol. 2. p. 412.. 


th% 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


211 


the Chaldeans fiyle him Noe \ in ■whofe tune there happened the 
great eruptio?i of waters. The Chaldeans likewife mentioned 
him by the name of Xifouthros. 

40 r O Nw£ BiirsQgog 'ZtfoLgoL XaA<$'caoig„ 


That Deucalion was unduly adjudged by the people of 
Theffaly to their country folely, may be proved from his 
name occurring in different parts of the world j and always 
accompanied with fome hiftory of the deluge. The natives 
of Syria laid the fame claim to him. He was fuppofed to 
have founded the temple at Hierapolis ; where was a chafm, 
through which the waters after the deluge were faid to have 
41 retreated. He was likewife reported to have built the 
temple of Jupiter at Athens ; where was a cavity of the fame 
nature ; and a like tradition, that the 42 waters of the flood 


paffed off through this aperture. However groundlefs the 
notions may be of the waters having retreated through thefe 
paffages ; yet they ffiew what impreflions of this event were 
retained by the Antonians, who introduced fome hiftory of 
it, wherever they came. As different nations fucceeded 
one another in thefe parts, and time produced a mixture of 
generations ; they varied the hiftory, and modelled it accord¬ 


ing to 


their 43 notions and traditions: yet the groundwork 


40 Cedren. p. n. 

41 Lucian, de Dea Syria, p. 883. 

41 Ocrov es '&r,%yv to e^cttpos ePiemxe* kcli Keynai^ fierce tvv eitojj£ota\t tw etti 
/ levKctAicovos avfxSctaccv^ VTrogvnvcu tccvtv) to u^cop. Paufan. L. 1. p. 43. 

43 How various thefe accounts were, even in the fame place, we may learn from 
Lucian. IloAAo/ A oyoi e^syovTo’ tgov 01 pte v ci £j*(pccveec} 61 Se Tcccprct //.uOtw- 
c kccl aAA 01 fiocpSctpoi) ct fj.zv roiari LAA^en QfJLoAoyeQVTSt* De Dea Syria, p. S82. 

E e 2 was 



2 12 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


was always true ; and the event for a long time univerfally 
commemorated. Jofephus, who feems to have been a perfon 
of extenfive knowledge, and verfed in the hiftories of nations, 
fays, that this great occurrence was to be met with in the 
writings of all perfons, who treated of the firft ages. He 
mentions Berofus of Chaldea, Hieronymus of Egypt, who 
wrote concerning the antiquities of Phenicia ; alfo Mnafeas, 
Abydenus, Melon, and Nicolaus Damafcenus, as writers, by 
whom it was recorded : and adds, that it was taken notice of 
by many others. 

As we proceed towards the eaft, we fhall find the traces of 
this event more vivid and determinate than thofe of Greece; 
and more conformable to the accounts of Mofes. Eufe- 
bius has preferved a moft valuable extract to this purpole 
from ' 4 Abydenus ; which was taken from the archives of the 
Medes and Babylonians. This writer fpeaks of Noah as a 
king, whom he names Seifithrus ; and fays, that the flood be- 
- gan upon the fifteenth day of the month Defus :■ that during 
the prevalence of the waters Seifthrus fent out birds , that he 
might judge if the food had fubfded : but that the birds , not 
finding any refing place , returned to him again. ‘This was re— 


44 —toes K goro$ 'ZxTpoavfj.ct'.yei yosv eo-eo-Qcti *zzrAtffjos oySpoov f\scn& m-eynr'i y 

£7 n Ssxaf xcA .evst Se 727 a r, 071 ypa/xyccrcov m e^oyoerov sv 'HA/a TzroKei 7 'y sv linmcc- 

goicriv D07TOXpv\cLl’ ^SlCTtBpOS S 5 TCOVTCC S7rt7Sf^S<X, 730lYiG‘CC c ^ SISCOS S7T A .OfJLtlK&S CCVzC7T?iSB 9 
TLOU 73CCPCCVTLXC6 fj.lV XCCT<X.Kci u£. GiV£ TCO EX S'S3, TglTV Ss YifJJSpCL S7TSITCC 00 V SKOTTCtCBj. 
fXSTmi T GOT opViBcOV 73BlpY.V 730l€VfJJEV0 ?3 SI X.& yW tSOlSV T 3 V<ScC70S SxSUCTGCV. \A l Ss^ EX- 
Ss%oyEv’S cdtccz 73S/\a.yes ctyctr£c$ 0 oottopwoh oxw xcoTopyricrovTcct^ 73ccpcc t ov 'XeicriQgo.v 


OTTHjCfJ X 


c 


0 it cot 


xaci E 7 T* ccvTrcriv e 



■/ o 


fl* Ss T>7 cri TptTYiO'LV £VS7V t fpfBV^ CX.7TLXPCTQ 


e 


cc<poovt£< 


To Ss 73A01GV 

*0. Abyden. 


apud Eufcb. Prasp. iivang. L. 9. c. 12. Sec alfo Cyril, contra Julian. L. 1. p. 8. 

peated 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 213 

peated three times ; when the birds were found to return with 
their feet famed with foil : by which he knew that the flood was 
abated . Upon this he quitted the ark \ and was newer more 
feen of me?i^ being taken away by the Gods from the earth . 
Abydenus concludes with a particular, in which all the 
eaftern writers are unanimous; that the place of defcent 
from the ark was in Armenia : and fpeaks of its remains be¬ 
ing preferved for a long time. Plutarch mentions the Noa- 
chic 45 dove, and its being fent out of the ark. A curious 
account to the prefent purpofe is by 46 Eufebius given from 
Melon, who wrote a treatife againft the Jews. He takes 
notice among other things of the perfon, who furvived the 
deluge, retreating with his fons after the calamity from Ar¬ 
menia : but he has mixed much extraneous matter in his nar¬ 
ration ; and fuppofes, that they came to the mountainous 
parts of Syria, inftead of the plains of Shinar. 

But the moft particular hiftory of the Deluge, and the 
neareft of any to the account given by Mofes, is to be found 
in Lucian. He was a native of Samofata, a city of Comma- 
gene upon the Euphrates : a part of the world, where me¬ 
morials of the Deluge were particularly preferved ; and where 
a reference to that hiftory is continually to be obferved in the 
rites and worihip of the country. His knowledge therefore 


45 Oi fJLtv yv fJLuQoAoyoi rep AeuxccAicovi (pcccrt *zzregi~epccv ex Actpvccxos adpieu.evm cf jj- 

Acojj.ee yeveafycUj ^eijxcovos jjjev eaco rcccAiv S'vof/.en/v, ev^ias J^e ccro7rrccaxv. Plutarch. 

•■ 

de folert. Animal. V. 2. p. 968. 

46 O Se rnv (rvaxeuw rxv xccrcc I y^oacov ypct-J^ocs xccrcc rov xccrccxAvcrjj.cv 

(pvcnv cciro r >?s A of/.evicc$ ccireAQeiv rov •urepiAei$Qevrcc ccv^pco 7 rov fierce roov oioov^ ex roov 
ificov e^eAccvvcjj.evov uiro rcov ey^pcopioov, S'tccvucrccvrcc Se rnv /jerco^v sA&e,v eis rm* 

cceivnv rys'X'jctccC} ycrccv epvpcov, Eufeb. Prsep. Evang. L. 9. c. ig. p. 420. 


was 



214 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

was obtained from the Aliatic nations, among whom he was 
born ; and not from his kinfmen the Helladians, who were 
far inferior in the knowledge of ancient times. He de- 
fcribes Noah under the name of Deucalion : and 47 fays, that 
the prefent race of mankind are different from thofe , who firfl 
exifled ; for thofe of the antediluvian world were all defrayed. 
The prefent world is peopled from the fons of Deucalion ; hav¬ 
ing encreafed to fo great a number from o?ie peifon. In re- 
fpeSl to the former broody they were men of violence , and law- 
lefs in their dealings. They regarded 7iot oaths , nor obferved 
the rites of hofpitality , nor fewed inercy to thofe , who fued 
for it. Ot7 this accou72t they were doomed to deflruEiion : and 
for this pu7"pofe there was a 77iighty eruptio7i of waters from 
the earthy attended with heavy Jhowers fro7n above ; fo that 
the rivers fwelled , and the fea overflowed , till the whole earth 

was covered with a floods a7id all flefh drowned. Deucalion 

# 

alone was preferved , to repeople the world. This 77iercy was 
floewn to hi77i on accou7it of his juflice and piety. His prefer- 
vatio7t was ejfecied hi this manner : He put all his family , 
both his fo7JS and their wives , into a vafl ark> w>hich he had pro¬ 
vided : and he went into it his fclf. -At the fame thne atii- 
inals of eveiy fpecies , boars , horfes , lions , ferpents , whatever 
lived upon the face of the earthy followed him by pairs : all 
which he received hito the ark ; and experie7iced 710 evil from 
them : for there prevailed a wonderful ha7~7nony throughout , by 
the immediate influence of the Deity. Thus were they wafted 
with him , as long as the flood endured. After this he pro¬ 
ceeds to mention that, upon the difappearing of the waters, 

47 Lucian, de Dea Syria. V. 2. p. 882. 

7 


Deucalion 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


215 


Deucalion went forth from the ark, and raifed an 48 altar to 

* • 

God : but he tranfpofes the fcene to Hierapolis in Syria ; 
where the natives pretended to have very particular memo¬ 
rials of the Deluge. 

Moft of the authors, who have tranfmitted to us thefe 


accounts, at the fame time inform us, that the remains of the 
ark were in their days to be feen upon one of the mountains 
of Armenia. Abydenus particularly fays in confirmation of 
this opinion, that the people of the country ufed to get fome 
fmall pieces of the wood, which they carried about by way 
of amulet. And Berofus mentions, that they fcraped off the 
afphaltus, with which it had been covered, and ufed it in 


like manner for a charm. 


And this is fo far confonant to 


truth, as there was originally about the ark fome ingredient 
of this nature. For when it was compleated by Noah, he 
was ordered finally to fecure it both within and without with 
pitch or 49 bitumen. Some of the fathers, how truly in¬ 
formed I cannot fay, feem to infill upon the certainty of the 
fadt, that the ark in their time was flill in being. Theo- 
philus s ° fays exprefly that the remains were to be feen upon 
the mountains of Aram, or Armenia. And Chryfoflom ap- 
neals to it 


, as to a tiling well known : SI Do not , fays he, 


48 Lucian fpeaks of altars in the plural : Aeuxct/^tcav S'* eiret rxS'e eyerero^ fccafs.&s 
rrs eBerv* What is here alluded to > is plain. See Genefis. c. 6. v. 20. 

49 Genef. c. 8. v. 1 4. The Seventy make ufe of the fame term as Bercfus : Kcct 

ctaQx/iTcacreis crjTW ecrc *Ssr xxi encoder t>i ao-faArw. 

50 Tbs ra Ke^arct pe^pi tb Sevpo Jenurjrxi etvcct ev t:i* ApxQix,qi$ (lege 


o:Zcrii\ Ad Autol. L. 3• p* 39 

?I XCd TCL 0O‘i) fJLCCpTVPZi T/?5 Acugtia?, Zv'ioL Yi KlZcoTOS iS'pV^V \ 

a^T/p lea* yjv €:cei aw^gTai, ureas r./xtigcxi/ UTropWiiGiv. De peri 
V. 6. p. 740. Edit. SaviL 


xxi tx A?:- 
ceta Char it. 




216 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

thofe mountains of Armenia bear witnefs to the truth f thofe 
mountainswhere the A?~k firji refedf and are not the re¬ 
mains of it preferred there even imto this day f 

Such was the Gentile hiftory of the Deluge : varied in¬ 
deed, and in fome meafure adapted to the prejudices of thofe, 
who wrote; yet containing all the grand circumftances, with 
which that cataftrophe was attended. The ftory had been 
fo inculcated, and the impreilions left upon the minds of 
men were fo ftrong, that they feem to have referred to it 
continually ; and to have made it the principal fubjedt of 
their religious inftitutions. I have taken notice of a cuftom 
among the priefts of Amon, who at particular feafons ufed to 
carry in proceflion a boat, in which was an oracular fhrine, 
held in great veneration. They were faid to have been 
eighty in number ; and to have carried the facred veflel 
about, juft as they were directed by the impulfe of the Deity. 
'Ttto vsoog 'ursgi<psgsTca yyvcrr\g i>7T0 iggeoov oytioriKovrct (6 ©so?). 

'O VTOl S's S7TI T(*)V OOfJLOOV QBgOVTBQ TOV ©SOI/ 'nTgOCnySG'lV OCVTOpCCtTOig, 

0 /fa otyoi to T8 ©sa VBvp.cn Tt\V 'urogsiocv. I mentioned at the 
fame time, that this cuftom of carrying the Deity in an ark or 

boat was in ufe among the Egyptians, as well as the people 

of Ammonia. Bifliop Pocock has preferved three fpecimens 

of ancient fculpture, wherein this ceremony is difplayed. 

They are of wonderful antiquity ; and were found by him 

in upper Egypt. Two of them he copied at Luxorein in 

fome apartments of the temple, which Diodorus Siculus fo 

much celebrates. 


?* Diodor. Sicul. L. 17. p, 528. See Yol. 1. p. 252. and Plate. 


Part 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 217 

Part of the ceremony in moft of the ancient myfteries 
confided in carrying about a kind of fhip or boat; which 
cuftom upon due examination will be found to relate to no¬ 
thing elfe but Noah, and the Deluge. 53 The {hip of His 
is well known; and the celebrity among the Egyptians, 
whenever it was carried in public. The name of this, and 
of all the navicular fhrines was Baris : which is very remark¬ 
able ; for it was the very name of the mountain, according 
to Nicolaus Damafcenus, on which the ark of Noah reded ; 
the fame as Ararat in Armenia. 54 Es nv V7T£g Tqv M ivvclScl 

[xsyct ogog xctTa, Tr\v Agpsviav, Roigig Ksyopoevov, Big 6 asroTsAsg 
<n>fjL<pvyovTctg bti t« HCLTL>ucKv(rpL3 Koyog Byyi vTBgicrwOrivou, aca 

TlVVL BTI Kotgv&xog OYiifJOBVOV S7Ti TW OLKgWgSlCLV OKBlXCLl, KCLl TOC 

IvBifjCLVCL tom fcvfcoov B7ri vrohv TOd^vou. ’There is a large moun¬ 
tain in Armenia, which flands above the country of the Minyce^, 
called Baris ; to this it was faid, that majiy people betook them- 
felves in the time of the Deluge, and were faved : and there is 
a tradition of one p erf on in particular floating in an ark, atid 
arriving at the fummit of the \mountain . We may be allured 
then that the fhip of His was a facred emblem: in honour 

53 See Lexicon Pitifci. Iamblichus. Se< 5 t. 6. c. 5. p. 147. and notes, p. 285. 

54 Apud Eufeb. Praep. Evang. L. 9. c. 11. p. 414. 

See alfo Nic. Damafc. apud Jofeph. Jud. Antiq. L. 1. c. 3. §. 6. 

To fJiSV <£ ICCKQ fJLl^OV TOC O’00 fULCtT CL 'GtAqiov TjOCpiV xocPisicrBocu Liodor. Sic. L. I. p. S 7 . 

of the facred boat, in which the dead were tranfported to the Charonian plains. 

Strabo, L. 11..p. 803. mentions a Goddeis Baris in Armenia, who had a temple 
at mount Abus. 

Herodotus fpeaks of Baris, as the Egyptian name of a fhip. L. 2. c. 96. See 
Euripides, Iphig. in Aulis. v. 297. and iEfchyli Perfa^. p. 151. A lyvvrrtxy £ a 
B ctpiv bx v 7 regQopy. 'AvT&gyoTtvx.Tov B ocpiv. Lycophron. v. 747* 

Vol. II. F f 


of 



218 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

of which there was among the Egyptians an annual fefti- 
vah It was in aftertimes admitted among the Romans, 
and fet down in their 55 Calendar for the month of March. 
The former in their defcriptions of the primary deities have 
continually fome reference to a fhip or float. Hence we 
frequently read of 56 ©so* voLVTiKKovTBg. They oftentimes 
fays 57 Porphyry, defcribe the fun in the character of a man 
failing on a float. And Plutarch obferves to the fame pur- 
pofe, that they did not reprefent the fun and the moon in 
chariots; sS aXkcx. 'UTXoioig o’gppicta'i •ggca^tsvag 'srsgnrKeiv, but 
wafted about upon floating machines . In doing which they 

did not refer to the luminaries ; but to a perfonage repre- 
fented under thofe titles. The Sun, or Orus, is likewife de- 
fcribed by Iamblichus as fitting upon the lotus, and 59 failing 
in a veflel. 

It is faid of Sefoftris, that he conftrudted a 60 fhip, which 
was two hundred and eighty cubits in length. It was of 
cedar; plated without with gold, and inlaid with filver : 
and it was, when finifhed, dedicated to Ofiris at Thebes. It 
is not credible, that there fhould have been a fhip of this 

ss Calendarium Rufticum menfe Martio habet IJidis navigium 0 quod eft -£Egyp- 
tiorum feftum, a Romanis admiflum. Marfh. Can. Chron. Sedt. 14. p. 356- 

See Gruter’s Infcript. p. 138. 

57 Jamblich. de Myfter. Seft. 7. c. 2. 

57 'HA/ov <Pe cY^cavsai 'more pnev JV ccv^pcc7rs 'zs-A m&. Porphyry apud 

Eufeb. P. E. L. 3. p. 115. 

58 Ifis ec Ofiris, p. 364. See alfo Eufeb. Prasp. Evang. L. 3. c. 11. p. 115. 
Clemens Alexand. Strom. L. 5. p. 670. C HA iov eiri 2crA 01&. 

59 E 7 ri re Awto tcccl eyri 'arA 01& vccvTi^AofASyos (0£a5.) Iamblichus de 

Myft. Sedt. 7. p. 151. 

60 Diodor, Sicul, L, 1. p. 52J 

7 fize s 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


219 


Eze, efpecially in an inland diftriA, the mofi: remote of any 
in Egypt. It was certainly a temple, and a fhrine. The 
former was framed upon this large fcale: and it was the 
latter, on which the gold and Elver were fo lavifhly ex¬ 
pended. There is a remarkable circumftance relating to 
the Argonautic expedition ; that the dragon Eain by Jafon 
was of the dimenEons of a 61 Trireme : by which muft be 
meant, that it was of the fhape of a fhip in general; for there 
were no Triremes at the time alluded to. And I have more¬ 
over fhewn, that all thefe dragons, as they have been repre- 
fented by the poets, were in reality temples, Dracontia; 
where, among other rites, the worfhip of the ferpent was in- 
ftituted. There is therefore reafon to think, that this tem¬ 
ple, as well as that of Sefoftris, was fafhioned in refpedt to 
its fuperficial contents after the model of a fhip : and as to 
the latter, it was probably intended in its outlines to be the 
exa<St reprefentation of the ark, in commemoration of which 
it was certainly built; It was a temple facred to OEris at 
Theba; or, to fay the truth, it was itfelf called Theba : and 
both the city, faid to be one of the moft ancient in Egypt, as 
well as the Province, was undoubtedly 62 denominated from 


6 x 


K -eiTo yag Agccxovrets 

Et^ero XctSgoTctTctv yevucov y 


Os mrctytt fjicotei t £ 'zvtv- 


Pind. Pyth. Od. 4 . p. 261 . 


Tyxovrogov vccuv xgctTei. 

*Os xoll nrco rsrct^eL xcct tm fjwxei T8 ctoo/jccctos 'zvzvTyxovTogov vccuv xccTSi%ev. cos 
tviot ? Z7rXy(>& vccuv 'z&evnrv'KOVTogov. Schol. ibid. 

-6i To ccp^aiov *1 Atyv7TTo$ ®y)€cu xaAB fxevy ). Ariftot. Meteorol. V. 1 .1. 1 . p- 77 r - 
Theba and Diofpolis the fame: Tas <2>»€ct$ xca AioG7ro?iiv mv cmtw V7rctp%eiv* 
Diodorus Sicul. L. 1 . p. 88 . 


Theba now called Minio, according to Sanfon. 
©>j£ct* < 3 *toA;5 Boiooriccs, kcu K iGqotiov. Hefych. 

F f 2 


it. 



220 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

it. Now Theba was the very name of the ark. When 
Noah was ordered to conftrudl a veflel, in which he and his 
family were to be preferved ; he was directed in exprefs terms 
to build, run, Theba, an ark. It is the very 63 word made: 
life of by the facred writer : fo that we may, I think, be af- 
fured of the prototype, after which this temple was fafhioned. 
It is faid, indeed, to have been only two hundred and eighty 
cubits in length : whereas the 6+ ark of Noah was three hun¬ 
dred. But this is a variation of only one fifteenth in the 
whole : and, as the ancient cubit was not in all countries the 
fame ; we may fuppofe that this difparity arofe rather from 
the manner of meafuring, than from any real difference in 
the extent of the building. It was an idolatrous temple ; 
faid to have been built by Sefoftris in honour of Ofiris, I 
have been repeatedly obliged to take notice of the ignorance 
of the Greeks in refped: to ancient titles ; and have ffiewn 
their mifapplication of terms in many inffances : efpecially in 
their fuppofing temples to have been erected by peribns, to 
whom they were in reality lacred. Sefoftris was Ofiris ; the 
fame as Dionufus, Menes, and Noah. He is called Seifithrus 
by Abydenus, Xixouthros by Berofus and Apollodorus j and 
is reprefented by them as a prince, in whofe time the Deluge 
happened. He was called Zuth, Xuth, and Zeus : and had 
certainly divine honours paid to him. 

The fame memorial is to be obferved in other countries. 


63 According to the Grecian mode of allegorizing, Theba was faid to have been 

the daughter of Prometheus, who gave name to the place : A iro ©w&js tyis n^o- 
fxnfktoS. Steph. Byzant. Tujjuei 'ZwQos /jlbv OnCr l v 9 u(p & n Apol- 

lodor. L. 3. p. 145. 

64 Genef. c. 6. v. 15. 


9 


* 


where 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


221 


where an ark, or fhip was introduced in their myfleries, and 
often carried about upon their feftivals. Paufanias gives a 
remarkable account of a temple of Hercules at Eruthra in 
Ionia ; which he mentions as of the higheft antiquity, and 
very like thofe in Egypt. The Deity was reprefented upon 
a float; and was fuppofed to have come thither in this man¬ 
ner from Phenicia. 65 <5*a ya£ tjvAcM, mi S7T ccvrrig ®eog. 

66 Ariftides mentions, that at Smyrna, upon the feaft called 
Dionufla a fhip ufed to be carried in proceflion. The fame 
cuftom prevailed among the Athenians at the Panathenaea ; 
when what was termed the facred fhip was borne with great 
reverence through the city to the temple of Damater of Elu- 
fis. At Phalerus near Athens there were honours paid to an; 
unknown hero, who was reprefented in the ftern of a fhip : 

67 T ifJUZTou Je rig <DaAi^a* kccvcl nr^VfJLVOLV vguog. At Olympia,, 
the moft facred place in Greece, was a reprefentation of the 
like nature^ It was a building like the fore part of a fhip,. 
which flood facing the end of the Hippodromus: and to¬ 
wards the middle of it was an altar, upon which at the re¬ 
newal of each Olympiad particular rites, were performed 

65 L. 7. p. 534. 

66 Orat. Smyrn. V. i. p. 402. He fpeaks of the euffiom as of late date : but the 
feftival of Dionufus warrants the antiquity * See Dio. L. 39, p. 62. Eu-re yccg 
.AaCcci tcrj C H pees vz&c,. jctA. a fimilar rite. 

67 Clemen. Alexand. Cohort. V. 1. p. 35. 

See Ariftophan. 'lirirzis . v. 563. of the fiiip at the Panathen^a. Ta S's Agsiv 
*z* 7 ccy& ^xr?\.vciov JfiiscKUTW NAT§ ‘urofflQeicrcL eis t w t gov TlavccQ^yccioov 'z&opL 7 ry)v. Paufan* 
L. 1. p. 70. 

Of the fliip fent to Delos fee Callimacl}. Hymn. in Delum. Not. v. 314. 
p. 204. 

E7TL 



222 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 




6S 


Em i/.cc^g Oh.v pm ct$o g 'uroisirou mra rqv 'urgugav pctKifcc vr& 


fJLSVYiV, 


faid of Lamech, that he received great confolation 


the birth of his fon : and that he prophetically 69 called his 
name Noah ; faying-, This fame Jhall comfort us concernmg our 
work , and toil of our hands ; becaufe of the ground , which the 
Lord hath curfed. Agreeably to this the name of Noah was 
by the Grecians interpreted ref .and comfort: 7 °Nwg ctvot7TQiV(rig . 
This feems to have been alluded to at the Eleufinian myfte- 


nes. 


Part of the ceremony was a night fcene 


attended 

with tears and lamentations, on account of fome perfon, who 
was fuppofed to have been loft: but at the clofe a prieft ufed 
to prefent himfelf to the people, who were mourning, and 
bid them be of good courage : for the Deity, whom they la¬ 
mented as loft, was preferved ; and that they would now have 

The 


fome comfort, fome refp 


after all their labour 


words in the original are very particular 


91 ©appgiTs pvzou tb ©sb <rz<TM<rp£vz' 

E srou yag fipiv ex. vtovoov (rooTrigtcx.. 

To which was added, what is equally remarkable } 


71 


Etpvyov MJiov, svgov cupsivov* 


68 Paufan. L. 6 . p. 503. 

69 Genef. c. 5. v. 29. 

70 Hefych. 

N&>g ’E€pai<ri os SisgiJ.m'Z'us.Ta.'i ta 'EA Ka.S'i y/\ucrari ANAFIATSI2. Theoph. 

ad Autolyc. L. 3. p. 391. 

71 Jul. Firmicus. p. 45. Edit. Ouzel. 

V' Demofthen. 'mepi 2 t£i p. p. 568. 


I have 



The. Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


223 


I have efcaped a calamity ; and have met with a better portion. 
This was the fame rite as that in Egypt, called oupOLVicrpLog 

and ivgsa'ig O<ngi$os ; both which were celebrated in the 
month Athyr. It was called in Canaan the death and revival 
of Adonis or Thamuz, who was the Chris and Thamas of 

Egypt. 

Some rites, limilar to thofe, which I have been defcribing 
in the exhibition of the facred fhip Baris, are mentioned in 
the flory of the Argonauts. Their fhip is faid to have been 
ftranded among the Syrtes of Africa ; by which means their 
progrefs was interrupted : and at the fame time there was no 
opening for a retreat. The heroes on board were at laffc told, 
that there was no way to obtain the afliftance of the gods, 
but by performing, what appears to have been a myftical rite. 
They were to take the fhip on their fhoulders, and carry it 
over land for a feafon. This was effected by twelve of them, 
who bore it for feveral days and nights ; till they came to the 
river Triton, where they found an outlet to the fea. Apol¬ 
lonius fpeaks of the whole as a myftery. 

73 M«c ream oJs yuubog’ syojv <T v7rctEzog a eiSca 

Uisglfruv, ECU TYjV^B 'STOiVClTgSESg BE?\V 0 V 0 [E<pY)V. 

'Tfjcsug, 00 'ursgi JV) fjcsyoc (pB^Tccroi vtsg uvccetoov, 

'Hi 1 3^, f) agSTri AiSvrig acvoc &ivug sgYifJLzg, 

N^a (JLSTOLj(jgoviYi», otret <T svS'ofli vrjog ccystrfls, 

AvQefJLSVZg OQfJLQlO'l cpsgsiv SvOECuS'SECX. 'UTCCVTOC 
H (JLOcO’ opez WETCtg T£’ y£ fJCBV, Yl Ear Ol£vP 

V 

71 Apollon, Argonaut. L. 4. v. 1381. See Pind. Pyth. Od. 4. v. 36. 

Tig 



224 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

Tig jl svsnoi , ry\v jismi vcvzrKYjtruv fjLoyzoneg $ 

'EfUcefrov A^OLVi/Jtm strccv oli[j,olto£. 

It is to be remarked in thole copies of the fculptures, 
which bifhop Pocock obferved among the ruins at ancient 
Thebes, that the extremities in each of the boats are*fa- 
ihioned nearly alike ; and that there is no diftindtion of head 
and Item. This kind of veffel was copied by the Greeks, 
and ftyled 74 A pupnrgvpcvoug^ Amphiprumnais. It is recorded, 
when Danaus came from Egypt to Argos, that he eroded 
the feas in a fhip of this form: in which circumftance there 
mult have been fome myflerious allufion ; other wile it was 
of little confequence to mention the particular fhape of the 
fhip, which he was fuppofed to have navigated. There was 
certainly fomething facred in thefe kinds of veffels ; fome- 
thing, which was efteemed lalutary: and in proof of it, 
among other accounts given of them, we have this remark¬ 
able one. 75 A (JL<pi7TgU[JLPCL, TOC B7TI CTWJ^a 'OTS-fJCTOfJLSPCt <GTXOIOC. 

The Almphiprumna are a kmd of Jhips ., fent upon any falutary 

& 

occafoii. In fhort, they were always looked upon as holy 
and of good omen, 

I think it is pretty plain, that all thele emblematical re- 
prefentations, of which I have given fo many iraftances, re¬ 
lated to the hiftory of the Deluge, and the confervation of 
one family in the ark. I have before taken notice, that this 

74 SeeVol. 1. p. 252. 

.Hyginus calls it navim biproram. Fab. 168. and 277. Tunc primum dicitur 
Minerva navim fecifle biproram. 

75 Hefych. 


4 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 225 

hiftory was pretty recent, when thefe works were executed in 
Egypt; and when thefe rites were firft eftablifhed : and there 
is reafon to think, that in early times mod fhrines among 
the Mizraim were formed under the refemblance of a fhip, 
in memory of this great event. Nay, further, both (hips and 
temples received their names from hence ; being ftyled by 
the Greeks, who borrowed largely from Egypt, N &vq and 

Nao?, and Mariners N clutch, Nautag, in reference to the Pa¬ 
triarch, who was varioufly ftyled Noas, Naus, and Noah. 

However the Greeks may in their myfteries have fome- 
times introduced a fhip as a fymbol ; yet in their references 
to the Deluge 

ways fpeak. of an ark, which they call, 76 Aagpct.%, Larnax, 

K*GmT og, and the like. And though they were apt to men¬ 
tion the fame perfon under various titles ; and by thefe means 
different people feem to be made principals in the fame 

hiftory : yet they were fo far uniform in their accounts of 

♦ 

this particular event 
ferved in an ark. Thus it is faid of Deucalion, Perfeus 
and Dionufus, that they were expofed upon the waters in a 
machine of this fabrick. Adonis was hid in an 77 ark by 
Venus ; and was fuppofed to have been in a ftate of death 

for a year. 

% 

76 Plato of Deucalion and his wife •, Tyres sv AAPNAKI S'lctaeacdG-Qoct. See alfo 
Nonnus. L. 6. p. 200. A apvoc.% ccvToiropos* Theophil. ad Autolyc. L. 3. p. 391. ft- 

A crei S'* us teok s£e>tTo tov A*7roAoy evpscc ?ictpmi~ 

*Zuov source. Theocrit. Idyll. 7. v. 78, 

77 Apollodorus. L. 3 «.p* 194- 

G g 'Oiov 


, that they made each of them to be pre- 


itfelf, and to the perfons preferved, they al- 


VOL. II. 


226 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

78 'O tov rot tqv A8miv olk clsvclz Aysgovrog 
M r)vi fvcdfezctTw fJLa.Xcutou7ro$sg ccyocyou 

Theocritus introduces a paftoral perfonage Comates, who 
was expofed in an ark for the fame term ; and wonderfully 

79 <2 fjLODcctgtzs Ko{jlxtol, tv S-riv TotS's t sgrtvct f srs7Tov&ocg y 

K OU TV XCLTS%Xct&YlS £V XCLOVCMl, ZOU TV IJL£Kl(rrOLV 

K rigici (psgtoOfjLsuog srog usgiov s%£Tsh£<rcrctg. 

Of Oflris being expoled in an ark we have a very remark¬ 
able account in 80 Plutarch y who mentions, that it was on 
account of Typhon ; and that it happened on the feven- 
teenth of the month Athyr, when the Sun was in Scorpio. 
This in my judgment was the precile time, when Noah en¬ 
tered the ark, and when the flood came ; which in the 
Egyptian mythology was termed Typhon. 

From what has preceded the reader will perceive, that the 
hiftory of the Deluge was no fecret to the Gentile world. 
They held the memory of it very facred : and many colo¬ 
nies, which went abroad, ftyled. themselves Thebeans in re¬ 
ference to the ark. Hence there occur many cities of v the 
the name of Theba; not in Egypt only and Bceotia, but in 
Cilicia, Ionia, Attica, Pthiotis, Cataonia, Syria, and Italy. 

I 

70 Theocrit. Idyll. 15. v. 102. 

79 Theocrit. Idyll. 7. v. 85. Com-Ait: two titles of Helius. & 

80 Ills and Giir. v. 1. p. 366, 367. 

See Lightfootof the ancient year beginning in Autumn. Vol. 1. p. 707. 

See the Account of the Flood, when Prometheus reigned in Egypt, as it is men¬ 
tioned by Diodor. Sicul. L. 1. p. 16. 

It 




The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 227 

It was fometimes expreffed Thiba : a town of which name 
was in Pontus : 81 T07T0£ Tw IlovTia. It is called 

Thibis by 81 Pliny. He mentions a notion, which prevailed, 

that the people of this place could not Jink in wate ?~; eofdem 
non pofle mergi. We may fee in this a remote allufton to 
the name of the place, and people ; and to the hiftory, which 
they had preferved. 

There was another term, befides Theba, under which the 
Grecians reprefented the ark. It was called KCibo- 
tus ; which however I do not imagine to have been a word 
of Grecian original : as both an 83 haven in Egypt, and a 
84 city of great antiquity in Phrygia, were denominated in 
the fame manner. The fathers of the Greek church, when 
they treat of the ark, interpret it in this manner, K lEcorog. 
It is alfo the term made ufe of by the 8s Seventy ; and even 
by the 86 Apoftles themfelves. The city Cibotus, which I 
mentioned to have been in Phrygia, flood far inland upon 
the fountains of the river Marfyas : and we may judge from 
its name, that it had reference to the fame hiftory. Indeed, 

81 Stcph. Byzantin. 

It was faid to have been built by the Amazons. From the Amazons being The- 
beans, we may judge of their race, and true hiftory. 

81 Plin. L. 7. c. 2. 

KaiTo; tbs ye r srepiTlov r rov qixbvtcls 'zzraAcc* ®y)Qets TzrgoGCLyopevofAevBS iq^opei 
x* t. A. Plut. Sympof. L. 5. c. 7. 

83 One of the havens at Alexandria. Strab. L. 17. p. 114 5 * 

Tlpos A. 7 rafjLeicL K iGcotcaj. Strabo. L. 12. p. 854. 

K lGgotos' A ctgvct^ |;t>A ivn. Helych. 

85 Ylowcrov bv aectvTO) KtCcoTQp ex ^uXoov TeTpccyoovGov" voa’tnM •moinaeis xcctcc t >w 

l/LiQcoTov. Genef. c. 6. v. 14. Edit. Aid. 

Hebr. c. 11. v. 7. 1 Pet. c. 3. v. 20. 

Gg2 


all 



228 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


all over this part of the world memorials of the deluge feem 
to have been particularly preferred. This city was alfo 
called Apamea; 87 A7ra|U.SJa, yj KsyopsvYiz which 


m 


name of Apamea is laid to have been conferred upon 
latter times. It was undoubtedly named Cibotus in memory 
of the ark, and of the hiftory, with which it is connected. 
And in proof of this, we Aiall find that the people had pre- 
lerved more particular and authentic traditions concerning 
the flood, and the prefervation of mankind through Noah, 

than are to be met with elfewhere. The learned 88 Fal- 

# 

conerius has a curious diflertation upon a coin of Philip the 
elder ; which was ftruck at this place, and contained on its 
reverfe an epitome of this hiftory. 


The reverfe of moft 
Afiatic coins relate to the religion and mythology of the 


87 Strab. L. 12. p. 864. It was undoubtedly the fame as Cetence, of which. I 
have treated before ; and which I have. Ihewn to have been named from its fitua- 
tion. Cetenre I fhould imagine was the name of the city; and Cibotus was pro¬ 
perly the temple : which diftin< 5 tion was not attended to. in former times. Mi- 
gratum inde haud procul veteribus Cetenis novseque urbi Apamsea nomen in- 
ditum ab Apamea forore Seleuci Regis. Eiv. L. 38. c.. 13. Tertius.Apameam 
vadit, ante appellatam Catenas, deinde Ciboton. Plin. L. 5. c. 29. 

88 Oftav. Falconerii Dififertatio de nummo Apameenfi, Deucafionei diluvii ty— 
pum- exftibente; ad Petr. Seguinum. S. Germani Antifliodor. Paris. Decanum. 
Ex Libro,. cui titulus, Sele£ta Numifmata Antiqua ex M'ufeo Petr. Seguini. Paris. 
1684. He mentions another coin fnnilar to the above, and ftruck by the fame 
people, who are ftyled Magnetes Apameenfes. On one fide is the head of Severus 
crowned with laurel: on the other, the ark with the fame perfons in it, and the 
like circumftances defcribed : above, Efll AmNOGETHN APTE MAFNH- 
TfiN AHAMEfiN. 

The two laft fyllables of MArNHTON are upon the blank fpace of the ark. 

There is a coin of the emperor Adrian ; the reverfe a river-god, between two 
rocks, like the Petras Ambrofte: infcribed AEIAMEDN MAPSTAX KIBflTOX. 
Alfo a coin with a fhip : infcribed AP rSl MATNHTflN. Patini Numifm. p. 413. 

places* 



V 


Plate UT 
























































































































































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 229 

places, where they were ftruck. The inscription upon the 
forepart is ATT. K. IOTA. OIAHIIIOS. ATT. Upon the 

reverfe is delineated a kind of fquare machine, floating upon 
the water. Through an opening in it are feen two perfons, 
a man, and a woman, as low as to the breaft : and upon the 
head of the woman is a veil. Over this ark is a kind of 
triangular pediment, on which there flts a dove: and below 
it another, which feems to flutter its wings, and holds in its 
mouth a fmall branch of a tree. Before the machine is a 
man following a woman; who by their attitude feem to have 
juft quitted it, and to have gotten upon dry land. Upon the 
ark itfelf, underneath the perfons there inclofed, is to be read 
in diftinCt characters, N12E. The learned Editor of this ac¬ 
count fays, that it had fallen to his lot to meet with three of 
thefe coins. They were of brafs, and of the medaglion iize: 
one of them he mentions to have feen in the collection of the 
duke of Tufcany ; the Second in that of the cardinal Otto- 
boni : and the third was the property of Auguftino Chigi, 
nephew to pope Alexander the Seventh. Nor had this peo¬ 
ple only traditions of the Deluge in general. There Seems 
to have been a notion that the ark itfelf refted upon the hills 
of CelasnEe, where the city Cibotus was founded : for the Si¬ 
bylline oracles, wherever they may be fuppofed to have been 
compofed, include thefe hills under the name of Ararat ; 
and mention this circumftance. 

89 c$s n <§>gvyir,g uttsp r,7rsi^oi^ fj.sXcavr^, 

HKi^cztqVj T<zvv[jLY\x.es o£os, Agagctr os zaAsrrca, 



* 


89 Orac.. Sibyllin. p. 180. 


e Orr 



230 The Analysis oe Ancient Mythology. 

e Orr’ acx 6‘a)fotcr&&(ti sir «W« 'SrctvTsg SfVsXXw. 

EvQ'cl (pXs&sg [AsyccXg 'tzrbTcifj.s M tzgcuoio T nreq>VK.vLV , 

T B$S K l^UTOg B^LSIVBV SV V^Y}X 010 KCLglQOta 
AyfecCVTQM V^CtTOOV. 

We may perceive a wonderful correfpondence between the 
hiftories here given, and of the place from whence they 
came. The heft memorials of the ark were here preferved, 
and the people were fly led Magnetes , and their city Cibotus: 
and upon their coins was the figure of the ark under the name 
of Agyoo Mciyvritcfjv : all which will be Further explained here¬ 
after. Not far from Cibotus was a city called 90 Baris : which 
was a name of the fame purport as the former; and was cer¬ 
tainly founded in memory of the fame event. Cibotus fag- 
fled an ark, and was often ufed for a repofitory: but differed 
from / us"Y), cifta, by being made ufe of either for things fa- 
cred, or for things of great value, like the Camilla of the 

Latines: 91 jj [jlzv sis V7ro$oyY)V s^e(TfJLOLTwv, 13 0 i-puTiM mi 

ygvvz zifiuTog. The rites of Damater related to the ark and 
deluge, like thofe of Ills : and the facred emblems, what¬ 
ever they may have been, were carried in an holy machine, 
called 91 KiEootos. 

The ark according to the traditions of the Gentile world 
was prophetic; and was looked upon as a kind of temple, a 


90 Near Beudos in Pifidia, and not a great way from Cibotus. Ptolem. L. 5. p. 
142. Hieroclis Synecdemus. Pifidia. p. 673. Beudos, Baris, Bceotus, were all 
of the fame purport. 

91 Schol. in Ariftophan. ' l7nreis . v. 1208. 

91 Paufan. L. 10. p. 866. 


7 


place 



The Analysis op Ancient Mythology. 


231 


place of refidence of the Deity. In the compafs of eight 
perlbns it comprehended all mankind : which eight perfons 
were thought to be fo highly favoured by Heaven, that they 
were looked up to by their pofterity with great reverence ; 
and came at laft to be reputed Deities. Hence in the an¬ 
cient mythology of Egypt, there were precifely eight 93 Gods : 
of thefe the Sun was the chief, and was faid firft to have 
reigned. Some made Hephaiftus the firft king of that coun¬ 
try : while others fuppofed it to have been Pan. 9+ II ol£ A/- 

yv7rrioi<ri <5s Ito /usv agyyuoTOLTog, non tuv OKTI2 TI2N 

IIPflTIIN XsyofjLGVOov &soov. There is in reality no incon- 
fiftency in thefe accounts : for they were all three titles of 
the fame Deity, the Sun : and when divine honours began to 
be paid to men, the Amonians conferred thefe titles upon 
the great Patriarch, as well as upon his fon 95 Amon. And, 
as in the hiftories of their kings, the Egyptians were able to 
trace the line of their defcent upwards to thefe ancient 96 per- 
fonages j the names of the latter were by thefe means pre¬ 
fixed to thofe lifts : and they were in aftertimes thought to 
have reigned in that country. This was the celebrated Og- 
doas of Egypt, which their pofterity held in fuch veneration, 
that they exalted them to the heavens, and made their hif- 

95 Djodor. Sic.uL L. i. p. 12. 

94 Plerodot. L,. 2. c. 145. 

9? There is reafon to think, that the Patriarch Noah had the name of Amon 
as v/ell as his fon. The cities ftyled No-Amon, and Amon-No, were certainly 
named from Noah. According to Plutarch Amon fign’.ned occultus . Ifis et Ofiris. 

P- 354 . 

90 MzQtojAWZvcfj.evwv o’ nvxs y. ar oyavjy/ds v7rcc:^r t 015 x. t. A. 

Diodor. Sicul. L. 1. p. 12. 



232 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

tory the chief fubjedt of the fphere. This will appear very 
manifeft in their fymbolical reprefentation of the folar fyftem; 
of which Martianus Capella has tranfmitted to us a very cu¬ 
rious fpecimen 97 . Ibi (in fyftemate folari) quandam navem 

totius naturae curfibus diversa cupiditate moderantem, cundta- 
que fl.amm.arum congeftione plenifiimam, et beatis circum- 
a£tam mercibus confpicimus ; cui nautas feptetn , germani ta~ 
men fuique Jimiles , praefidebant. In eadem verb rate fons 
quidam lucis astherese, arcanifque fiuoribus manans, in totius 
mundi lumina fundebatur. Thus we find that they efteemed 
the ark an emblem of the fyftem of the heavens. And when 
they began to diftinguifh. the ftars in the firmament, and to 
reduce them to particular conflellations ; there is reafon to 
think, that moft of the afterifms were formed with the like 
reference. For although the delineations of the fphere have 
by the Greeks, through whofe hands we receive them, been 
greatly abufed ; yet there ftill remains fufficient evidence to 
fhew that fuch reference fubfifted. The watery fign Aqua¬ 
rius, and the great effufion of that element, as it is depicted 
• in the fphere, undoubtedly related to this hiftory. Some 
faid, that the perfon meant in the character of Aquarius was 
Ganymede. Hegefianax maintained that it was Deucalion, 
and related to the deluge. 98 Hegefianax autem Deucalionem 
dicit efie, quod, eo regnante, tanta vis aquas fe de ccelo pro- 

97 Martian. Capella. Satyric. L. 2. p. 43. 

98 Hygin. Poet. Aftronom. c. 29. p. 482. 

Audi Scholiaften Germanici Aquario—Nigidius Hydrochoon five Aquarium 
exiftimat efle Deucalionem Theffalum, qui in maximo cataclyfmo fit relidtus cum 
uxore Pyrrha in monte iEtna, qui eft altiflimus in Sicilia. Not. in Hygin. Fab. 
153. p. 265. ex Germanici Scholiafte. 

fuderit. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 233 

fuderit, ut cataclyfmus fadtus efle diceretur. Eubulus autem 
Cecropem demonftrat effe ; antiquitatem generis commemo- 
rans, et oftendens, antequam vinum traditum fit hominibus, 
aqua in facrificiis Deorum ufos efle ; et ante Cecropem reg- 
nafTe, quam vinum fit inventum. The reader may here 
judge, whether Cecrops, the celebrated king of Attica, who 
lived before the plantation of the vine, and was figured un¬ 
der the character of Aquarius, like Deucalion, to any other 
than Deucalion himfelf, the Noah of the eaft. 

Noah was reprefented, as we may infer from 99 Berofus, 
under the femblance of a fifh by the Babylonians : and 
thofe reprefentations of fiflies in the fphere probably related 
,to him, and his fons. The reafons given for their being 
placed there were, that Venus, when fhe fled from 100 Ty- 
phon, took the form of a fifh ; and that the fifh, ftyled No- 
tius, faved Ifis in fome great extremity : pro quo beneficio 
fimulacrum Pifcis et ejus Jiliorum , de quibus ante diximus, 
inter aftra conflituit: for which reafon Vonus placed the fijh 
Notius and his fo?ts among the ftars. By this we may per¬ 
ceive, that Hyginus fpeaks of thefe afterifms as reprefenta¬ 
tions of perfbns : and he mentions from Eratoflhenes, that 
the fifh Notius was the father of mankind : ex eo pifee 
natos homines. 

It is faid of Noah, that after the deluge he built the fLrft 

99 Eufebii Chron. p. 6. 

,0 ° Hygin. Poec. Aftron. c. 41. p. 494. 

* Eratoflhenes ex eo pifee natos homines dicit. Hygin. Poet. Aflron. L. 2. 
c. 30. 


VOL. II. 


H h 


altar 



234 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

1 altar to God : which is a circumftance always taken notice 
of in the hiftory given of him by Gentile writers. He is' 
likewife mentioned as the firft planter of the vine ; and the 
inventer of wine itfelf, and of Zuth or ferment, by which 
fimilar liquors were manufactured. We may therefore fup- 
pofe that both the altar, and the crater, or cup, related to. 
thefe circumftances. This hiftory of the raven is well 
known, which he fent out of the ark by way of experiment r 
but it difappointed him, and never returned. The bird is 
figured in the fphere : and a tradition is mentioned, that the 
3 raven was once fent on a mefiage by Apollo ; but deceived 
him, and did not return, when he was expecfted. It may 
feem extraordinary, if thefe figures relate to the hiftory,. 
which I fuppofe, that there fhould be no allufton to the dove, 
and to the particulars of its return. I make no doubt but it 
was to be found in the Chaldaic and Egyptian fpheres : but 
in that of Greece, there is in the fouthem hemifphere a vaft 
interval of unformed ftars ; which were omitted by the aftro- 
nomers of that country, as being either feldom feen, or elfe 
totally * obfcured from their view. The Argo however, that 
facred fhip, which was faid to have been framed by divine 

* 0 = Se (pyicri^ T&TO &UTVplQl' Bll'CCt, SV cp TO TV pWTOV CL ^TBCl CTVVOOfJLOCncZV STTGlv 

naotvTo. Theon. ad Arftum. p. 46. Nonaulli cum Eratofthene dicunt, cum Cra- 
tera efle, quo Icarius fit ufus, cum hominibus oftenderet vinum.. Hygin. Fab. 140.. 
p. 494. 

3 Miflus ad fontem aq.uam puram petitum. Htygin. c. 40. p. 492. 

4 The Pleiades are Peleiades or Doves; and were placed in the heavens to denote- 
by their riling an aufpicious feafon for mariners to fail. They were the daughters, 
of Pleione. See Natal. Comes. L. 4. c. 7. 

wifd'om* 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


235 


wifdom, is to be found there ; and was certainly no other 
than the s ark. The Grecians fuppofed it to have been built 
at Pagafas in ThefTaly, and thence navigated to Colchis. I 
fhall hereafter fhew the improbability of this ftory : and it is 
to be obferved, that this very harbour, where it was fuppofed 
to have been conftrudted, was called the port 5 6 of Deucalion. 

This alone would be a ftrong prefumption, that in the hif- 

% 

tory of the place there was a reference to the Deluge. The 

* % 

Grecians placed every ancient record to their own account : 

0 

their country was the fcene of every 7 adtion. The people 
of ThefTaly maintained that Deucalion was expofed to a flood 
in 8 their diftridt, and faved upon mount Athos: the people 
of Phocis make him to be driven to 9 Parnaflus : the Dorians 


in Sicily fay he landed upon mount 10 .Etna. Laftly, the 
natives of Epirus fuppofe him to have been of their country* 
and to have founded the ancient temple of 11 Dodona. In 
confequence of this they like wife have laid claim to his hif- 
tory. In refpedt to the Argo, it was the fame as the fhip of 


5 Hygin. c. 14. p. 55. 

Ntfa: f^Bv sv oi 'z&poo-Qev kA ei&criv ctoiS'oi 

A pyov A&w'ccnis xcLjxzeit' vtto SryfJLocrvitycri. Apollon. Rhod. L. i. v. 18. 

6 Hence many Deucalions. See Schol. in Apollon. Rhod. L. 3. v\ 1085. 

Deucalion is efteemed an Argonaut. Hygin. c. 14. p. 50. 

7 Here alfo were the iflands of Deucalion and Pyrrha in the bay. Strabo. L. 9. 
p. 665. 

8 Servius in Virg. Eclog. 6. v. 41. 

9 Paufan. L. 10. p. 811. 

10 Qyi (Deucalion et Pyrrha) in montem JEtnam, qui altiflimus in Sicilia efle 
dicitur, fugerunt. Hygin. c. 153. p. 265. 

1X Plutarch, in Pyrrho. The people in Megara fuppofed the perfon faved in the 
deluge to have been Megarus, the fon of Jupiter, who fwam to the fummit of mount 
Gerania. Paufan. L. x. p. 9 6. 

Hh 2 Noah, 



23 6 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


Noah, of which the Baris in Egypt was a reprefentation. 
It was called by Plutarch the fhip of Ofiris : that Oliris, 
who, as I have mentioned, was expofed in an ark to avoid 
the fury of Typhon : Ia K cu to 'BJ'Aqiqv, q KcOwmv 'EAA ))vsg 

Agyu> Trig Oc TigiSog vswg btti ti(jlyi fcciTtjfs^tTftLSvov. The vejfel in 
the celefial fphere y which the Grecians call the Argo y is a re¬ 
prefentation of the Jhip of Ofris y which out of reveretice has 
been placed m the heavens. The original therefore of it muft 

name of the Argo 
fhews, what it alluded to ; for Argus, as it fhould be truly 
expreffed, lignifed precifely an ark, and was fynonymous to- 
Theba. It is made ufe of in that fenfe by the priefts and 
diviners of the Philiftim ; who, when the ark of God was to. 
be reftored to the Ifraelites, put the prefents of atonements, 
which were to accompany it, into an 14 Argus, mtk, or facred 
receptacle. And as they were the Caphtorim, who made 
ufe of this term, to fignify an holy vefiel ; we may prefume 
that it was not unknown in Egypt, the region from whence 
they came. For this people were the children of 15 Mi- 

zraim, 

Plut2rch. Ifis et Ofiris. V. 2. p> 359-.. 

3 A Deluge of this nature was fuppoied to have happened' in Egypt. Ne/Acr 

(pctat pay err cc y ar xx ?,u a ca rm AtyvTrrW yxAi<r* ^tiro ye pot evreAtleiv, b 

n poyn§ev$ eipfe rnv eiriyeAeiav^ ^laCfBacerrojjt a^pe^ov airccvroju rcav xccrcc rctvrvv rw 

2'0fctv. Diodor. Sicul. L. r. p. 16. To attribute this Deluge to the Nile is 

idle: A Deluge of the Nile happened every year. This related to Prometheus* 
or Noah. 

14 1 Samuel, c. 6. v. 8, si, 15. The word occurs only in the hiffcory of this. 
Philiftine tranfadtionand in the Alexand. MSS. is rendered Apyo <^. 

Genefis. c. 10. v. 13. And Mizraim begat Ludim—and Pathrujitn, and Cajluhim: 
(out of whom came Philiflim), a?id Caphtorim. Deuteron. c. 2. v. 23. The Caphtorim^ 
■ which came forth out of Caphtor. Jerecn. c. 47. v. 4. The Philiftine, the remnant 

of 


be looked for m 13 Egypt. 


The 


very 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


2 37 


zraim, as well as the native Egyptians ; and their language 
mud neceffarily have been a dialed: of that country. I have 
mentioned that many colonies went abroad under the title 
of Thebeans, or Arkites ; and in confequence of this built 
cities called Theba. In like manner there were many cities 


built of the name of 


16 


Argos ; particularly in Theflaly, 
Boeotia, Epirus, and * 7 Sicily : whence it is that in all thefe 
places there is fome tradition of Deucalion, and the ark; 
however it may have been mifapplied. The whole Pelopon- 
nefus was once called both Apia, and Argos. As there were 
many temples called both Theba and Argus in memory of 
the ark, they had priefts, which were denominated accord¬ 
ingly. Thofe, who officiated at the ffirines termed Argus, 
were called Argeiphontai, from the Egyptian 18 phont, which 
fignified a priejl. But the Greeks, interpreting this term 
by words in their own language, fuppofed what was a priefts 
to have been a flayer , or murderer. They accordingly turned 
the Argo into a man, whom, from a confufed notion of the 
ftarry fyftem, they fuppofed to abound with eyes, and made 
Hermes cut off his head. People ftyled Argeiphontes, Cref- 
phontes, Hierophantes, Leucophontes, Oitharaphontes, Dei- 
phontes, were all originally priefts. The Scholiaft upon So¬ 
phocles called Argus, 19 Tqv K wol, tov Agyov, t qv 'urotVQKrw . 


of the country, of Caphter. Amos, c. 9. v. 7. Have not I brought the Pbiliftines from-■ 
Caphtor ? 

16 A pyot m YleXcnrovw&os. Apyeioi a 1 Hefych.. 

17 Cluverii Sicilia, p. 394, 

,s See Jablonfky Pantheon iEgypt. Pars prima. p. 139. 

** Schol. in Sophocl, Eledt. y. 5. 


7 


Argus, 



23 S The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

Argus, K.vv, or Canis, is precifely of the fame purport, as 
Argeipliontes : a prieji of the a7~k* 

The conftellation of Argo, as it is delineated, reprefents 
the hinder part only of a fhip ; the forepart being hid in 
clouds. It was fuppofed to have been oracular, and con¬ 
ducted at the will of the Deity. Upon the temo or rudder 
is a very bright ftar, the chief in the afterifm, which was 
called Canopus. It lies too low in the fouthern hemilphere 
to be eafly feen in Greece. It was placed on the rudder of 
the ark, to fhew by whofe influence it was directed. Yet in 
doing this they loft fight of the great Diredor, by whofe 
guidance it had been really conducted ; and gave the honour 
to a man.- For under the character of Canopus, as well as 
Canobus, is veiled the hiftory of the patriarch Noah. There 
w T as a city, or rather a temple, towards the moft weftern out¬ 
let of the Nile, which was denominated in the fame manner, 
and gave name to the ftream. It was expreffed Canopus, 
Canobus, Canoubis; and is mentioned by Dionyfius, who 
fpeaks of it as a place of great fame : 

*° E vQa, (3>ogsioTctTog 'ureherou (uvyyg A lyvttToio, 

K oli TSfJLEVog 'urggi7TV5'ov ApcvtcKcuoio K avcaSis, 

As the Patriarch was efteemed the author of the firft fhip, 

Dionyf. Perieg. v. 12. 

Of the idle pretenfions of the Greeks, and their giving the honour of this place 
to a pilot of Menelaus, I have fpoken before : and of the ftory being confuted by 
a prieft of Egypt. See Ariftid. Orat. ^Egyptiaca. The ftory of Menelaus and 
Proteus was borrowed from that of Hercules and Nereus ; as may be feen in Schol. 
in Apollon. Rhod. L. 4. v. 1397. The account is taken from the third book of 
the Libyca of Argcetas. 


which 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


2 39 


which was navigated, he was 


fequence of it made the 


god of feamen ; and his temple was termed 41 tsgov n o<rsi$avo$ 
Kaii/wSW. He was efteeraed the fame as Serapis : and infcrip- 


tions have been found dedicated 


him under the 


of 


&sog XOOTIT)p 


this temple, or rather college, was a femi 


nary for aftronomy, and other marine fciences. Ptolemy, 
the great Geographer, to whom the world is fo much in¬ 
debted, was a member of this fociety, and ftudied here 


xx 


forty years. The name of the temple was properly Ca 
Noubi : the latter part, Noubi, is the oracle of Noah. 

Niobe was the fame name, and perfon; though by the 

reprefented as one. 


Greeks mentioned as a woman 


She 


is 


who was given up to grief, having been witnefs to the death 
of all her children. Her tears flowed day and night; till fhe 
at laft ftiflened with woe ; and was turned into a ftone, which 
was to be feen on mount Sipylus in Magnefia. 

* 3 IW, 'TfTOLVTAa.fJLOW 

NioSa, c re <T syuirys vzpoo 9soy, 

'A r BV TOLtpW 'UrsTgCUCd 

A i, oci, ticucgveig. 

Paufanias had the curioflty to afcend mount Sipylus, in order 
to take a view of this venerable ** figure. He fays, that he 


z Stephanus Byzantm. 

Olympiodorus. See Jablonflcy. L. 5. c. 4. p. 136. 

** Sophocles. Eledtra. v. 150. 

24 Tccoryv t w Is ho£nv xca ccvTog^eiScv a,ve?j5cav e$ tov Ac? to opo$ 0 , x. t. A.. Pan¬ 
fan. L. 1. p. 49. 

'Qctclvtoos cTe KQti NicSV A eyuatv sv 2 < 7 ru Kcp opei Srepus gjocl >cA cueiv. Paufan. L. 8 , 
p. 601. 

beheld 



240 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

beheld an abrupt rocky clift; which at a near view had no 
appearance of a perfon grieving, or of a human likenefs ; but 
at a diftance had fome refemblance of a woman fhedding 
tears. Niobe is often mentioned as a perfon concerned in 
the deluge: at lead is introduced with perfons, who had an 

immediate relation to it. HXcltuv sv rw S'totXoyca 

T3 Qogtevsoog B7ilfXBfJ.VYfTCU 'ggOVUV, OOg 'UJ’OLVV VS TtiketlOOV, KOU. N 10- 

£y)g, non kolt £lyvyov agycLioTsga KctrctKAvcrfJLit. Plato in his 
‘Timceus fpeaking of the mofl ancient times mentions the age of 
Phoro?ieus , and IViobe , as fuch ; and the cera of the firjl de¬ 
luge under Ogyges. In the paffage alluded to fhe is joined 
with Phoroneus and Deucalion, two perfons principally con¬ 
cerned in that event. It occurs, where Plato is fpeaking 

~ 6 'UTB^l <&OgCi)V5O0g T3 'UTgOOTiS BVT0g , KOU NioSflff, KOU [ASTOt 

tov koltCLKK vtr (jlov CLV AsvKOiAiwvog, of the firjl Phoroneus , and 
IViobe, a?id of the things fubfequent to the deluge of Deucalion.. 
Sophocles in the paflage above fpeaks of her as a Deity : and 
fhe is faid to have been worfhiped in S7 Cilicia. By fome 
fhe was reprefented as the mother of 18 Argus. 

As the ancients defcribed the ark, the votvg ct[/.(pi7rgvp.V(X.\g, 
like a lunette; it was in confequence of it called and 

SsAjjyfl, which fignify a Moon : and a crefcent became a com¬ 
mon fymbol on this occafion. The chief perfon likewife, 
the Patriarch, had the name of Meen, and Menes: and 
was worfhiped all over the eaft as Deus Lunus; “efpecially at 

25 Eufebii Chron. p. 24. 1 . 55. 

26 Plato in Timaeo. Vol. 3. p. 22. 

2,7 Athenagoras. p. 290. K/Ajjcss (aeSscn). 

23 Apyov Paufan. L. 2. p. 191. 145. Homer. Schol. L. 1. v. 123. 

Carrhas, 




{ /$<u/irt’rJe 









































































































































































































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


241 


Carrhae, Edeffa, and other cities of Syria and Mefopotamia. 
His votaries were flyled Minyae ; which name was given to 
them from the object of their worfhip. Wherever the hif- 


tory of the Deluge occurs 


thefe names will be found. 


I 


have fpoken of the cities of Phrygia, and the memorials there 
preferved. At Caroura near mount Sipylus Zeus was wor- 
fhiped under the title of Meen, Menes, and Manes : and his 
temple is taken notice of by Strabo ; 29 iegov M qvog YLvl^q 

(not K agiz) k.oCKx(jlsvov. Clofe under the fame mountain flood 
the city Magnelia; which fignifi.es the city of Manes, but 
expreffed with a guttural Magnes. The people of the coun¬ 
try were called Minyae. Some perfons from this place, 
flyled Magnetes apud Maeandrum, built at no great diftance, 
Antiochea 3 °. Here too were fome particular rites obferved in 
honour of the fame Deity, whom they diftinguifhed by a fig— 
nificant epithet, and called M y\v Agzouog*'. '\£gM<rvvY\ Tig Mrivog 


Her 


e Teas 


Agmiz, 'urXvQog s’gBTct k%Q$xX<jov, x.cu ‘fcwgiojv isgoov. 

a college dedicated to the rites of Meen Arhceus ; where a great 


number of priefis 



a?td where they had large eftates 


endowed for that fervice. This Mr ; y Agxctiog is no other than 
the Deus Lunus, the fame as Noah, the Arkite. Strabo men¬ 
tions feveral temples of this Lunar God in different places : 
and one in particular, fimilar to that abovementioned, at the 
city Antioch in Pifidia. He calls it, as the prefent reading 


2-9 


L. 12. p. 869. Kccgyg* Car-Our, Templum Ori. Orus was the fame as 


Menes. 


30 Strabo. jL. 12. p. 86 4. 

31 Ibid. Wherever there was a city Magnefia, or people Magnetes^ there will be 
found fome hiftory of the ark. 

Vol. II. I i 


flands,. 



242 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology 1 . 

Hands, is gov M^yos A tTKcua, which we may from the title of" 

9 

the former temple venture to alter to M qvog AgKai&. He is- 
fpeaking of Cabira ; and fays : 32 E 'get Ss Kat iegov M»^os* — 

KOU T8T0 TY\Q £g/\)*t7)£ TO UgOV^ KaQontSg TO SV A \£cLVQtS\ 
KOU TO SV ®gvyict., TO T£ T ii M Y\V0£ SV 0 [JLOOVVfJLU T07tt i), KOU T£ 

AgKous to ntrgog rp Amo^e/a. rr) 'urgog Ehc Tifoav, kou to sv tv) 

’XJAgc/. TCfjv Avt toygeioov. In this city is a temple of Mean Arkceus, 
by which is meant a temple of the Lunar Deity. Such alfo is 
the temple amo?ig the Alb an i : and that in Phrygia : and the- 
temple of Meen, which gives na7ne to the place , where it fiajtds.. 
‘The temple alfo of 1/heen Arkceus in Pifdia and that in the regions 
7iear Antiochea have the fame reference . All thefe were dedi¬ 
cated to the fame Arkite Deity called Lunus, Luna, and Se¬ 
lene : ftyled alfo by different nations Meen, Man, Menes, 
and Manes. 

Sometimes inftead of Arkaeus the term Arkite is exhibited 
Archasus \ which may be referred to a different idea. Thef- 
faly was faid to have been originally named Purrha from the 
wife of Deucalion ; whom the' ancient poet Rhianus men¬ 
tions by the title of Ag’goua aXo'gog. 

33 JJvppav &o 'utots rrjv ye 'uxoiKou.oTsgoi. rnXeecr kov 
JJ vppag A evKoChiuvog ant agyyuag aAo ’goto. 

Archeea may fignify ancient : but in this place, as well as irt 
many inftances, which I fhall hereafter produce, I imagine, 
that it has a more particular reference. In fhort, Archaea 

3X L. ia. p. 835. 

33 Strabo. L. 9. p. 677. See Scholia Apollon. Rhod. L. 3. y. 1089. 

feems 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 243 

feems here to be the fame as Archia, and Architis, from the 
ark : from which both people and places were indifferently 
ftyled Agxcttoi, and Agya. 101 ; Arkites, and Archites. Hy- 
ginus puts the matter in 
this term as a proper name. He ftyles this perfonage Ar¬ 
chia, and makes her the wife of Inachus, the fon of the Ocean, 
and the fame as Deucalion. He adds, that they had a fon 
Phoroneus, the firft man who reigned upon earth, whofe 
hiftory is attended with circumftances of great moment. 
34 Inachus, Oceani filius, ex Archia forore fua procreavit Pho- 
roneum, qui primus mortalium dicitur 35 regnaffe. Plomi- 
nes ante fecula multa fine oppidis legibufque vitam egerunt, 
una lingua utentes fub Jovis imperio. Idem nationes diftri- 
buit. Turn difcordia inter mortales effe coepit. 

The Grecians, though 
the word UtK, Arguz or Argus, have yet religioufly re¬ 
tained it: and have introduced it in thefe different fhapes. 
And as the ark has fometimes been made a feminine, and 
the mother of Niobe ; fo at other times it is mentioned as 
her fon, and fhe is fuppofed to have been the miftrefs of Ju¬ 
piter. So inconfifbent is the ancient theology. 3G Hanc 
(Nioben) Jupiter compreflit ; et ex ea natus eft Argus, qui 
fuo nomine Argos oppidum cognominavit. In fhort, where- 
ever there is any hiftory of the Deluge, there will be fome 
mention introduced of Argus: and, converfely, where any 


they did not know the purport of 


great meafure out of doubt by ufing 


34 - 


C. 143. p. 250. In another place he calls this perfonage Argia; and makes 


16 her daughter. 


Ex Inacho et Argia 16 . c. 145. p. 253. Io, five Niobe. ibid. 


35 


Primus Junoni facrificafle dicitur. Lutatius Placidus in Stat. Theb. L. 4. 


v. 589. 

35 Hyginus. c. 145. p. 252 


I i 2 


account 



244 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

account occurs concerning Argus, or Argeans ; there will be 
Tome hiftory of a fhip, and allufion to the Deluge. Thus at 
Argos there was a temple of Pofeidon Ug cxrfchv flog y the God of 
inundations : and it is erected upon account of a deluge,, 
which the natives fuppofed to have been, confined to the 
limits of their own country. In thefe parts, fays 3 * Paufa- 
nias, is a temple denominated froin Pofeidon the God of inunda¬ 
tions : for the people have a tradition that this Deity had 
brought a Deluge over the greater part of the country ; be- 
caufe Inachus and fome other umpires had adjudged the land 
to Juno, rather than to him. Juno however at lajl obtained of 
him, that the waters floould retreat : and the Argeans in memo¬ 
rial of this event raifed a temple to Pofeidon the God of deluges,, 
at the place, whence the water began to retire. As you pro¬ 
ceed a fmall degree farther, there is the mound (Tocipog) of Ar¬ 
gus, who is fuppofed to have been the fon of Niobe, the daughter- 
of Phoroneus. I have fbewn in a prior treatife, that thefe 
mounds ftyled rctpoi, were not places of burial ; but facred 

hills, on which in ancient times they facrificed. T ctcpog, 
Agys is the ??iou?it of the ark , or Argo. All the hiftory above 
given, however limited to a particular fpot, relates to the 
ark, and to the flood, which univerfally prevailed. 

In the fame city was a remarkable altar, dedicated to 


37 Err ccuQol TJcaBiSoovos e~iv ieoov gTr/JcAw/v Ylgoax.Tiuq^id' tvs yap yjupas tov TJoaei- 
Soova emy-KucrcLi tvv ' ZcroAA )?*'} oti eivai^ kui btc ccvtb^ tvv yw Ivctjfps x,at oi avv- 

S'lXccaoLVTts eyvooaav . 'Hpa piev Sv •utol^cc TloaeiScovos evpe to ct 7 rsAQejv omao) tvv S-ct- 
A aaaccv* Agyeioi Se , o9ev to xupia. ave^apvaev^ tepov TloasiScovi e7roiV(rav npQ<rx/\vzjiqj m 
n^oef&ovTi oe a TuoXv t ccpo? epjiv Agyv*, dAios eivca Sox&vtoS} kc&i tvs ^oocvvsqos NioSvs. 
Paufan. L. 2. p. 161. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology^ 245 

Zeus the God of rain, 38 B oopiog 'TsTiB A log. Zeuth was dif- 

tinguifhed by the title of Sama El ; which the Greeks ren¬ 
dered Zeus XyipcoCXsog. He was worfhiped upon Mount Par- 
nes in Attica : and the circum(lances attending his hiftorw 
are remarkable, as they Hand in Paufanias. 39 Ogr) <jS A. 

vouoig £<gi IT svrsKizov — kou UoigVYjg—Ev UccgvriQi Uocgir^iog Zeus' 
XaAtfHS (hoopiog XnpudXsz Aiog. Eg-t $s sv r >1 UoigvvQi 

jcou oiXXog fixpcog' Svbg'i c 5 e £ 7 r aura, Tore pLtv OpEgiov, 7 ore tie- 

ATVifJiLOV KOiX’dVTSg Ala. In sit tic a is the mount Pentelicus — 
alfo another , called the mountain of Parnes—Upon the latter 
Jlands a Jlatue of Zeuth P arnethius in brafs ; and an altar to- 
the fame God , Jlyled Sama El , or Se?naleos. 'There is alfo 
another altar : and when they facrifice upon it , they invoke Y 
fometimes the God of rains ; fometimes the Deity , who efcapedy 
or rather who averted the evil; Jlyling him A 7TY)puog. This 

writer mentions alfo upon the mountain Hymettus 40 O plogis 
A tog (hc£fJLQi> Kou AffoXXocvog Hgoo^is : altars to Zeuth Pluvius , 
and to Apollo frnamed the looker out , or looking forwards. 

If we confider the hiftories of Danae, Danaus, and the 
Danaides, we fhall find them to be fragments of hiftory, 
which relate to the fame event. Danae is faid to have been 
the mother of Perfeus, who was conceived in fiiowers, ex- 
pofed in an ark ; and at laid a king of Argos. She is like- 
wife reprefented as the mother of Argus,, who founded in 

38 Paufan. L. 2. p. 154.. 

39 Paufan. L. 1. p. 78. 

*° Paufan. L. 1. p. 78- 

Italy- 



246 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


Italy 41 Ardea, and Argiletum: the true hiftory of which 
places amounts to this, that they were founded by people, 
ftyle< 


Arkites 


Danaus. who came 


Greece 


faid 


come over in the firft: long fhip, which was conftrutfted; 
be more ancient account is, that he was the firft builder 


ot 


a 


fhip 


hich 


ecftion of Minerva 


defigned and finifhed under the di¬ 
divine wifdom : 41 ' T T7ro6sfJL£vr)s A 

This is the fame ftory 


avTtt, volvv 'urgwTog xctT£<rKsviz<r 2 . 

which is told of Argus, the fuppofed fon of Inachus and 
NTiobe. It is likewife faid of Danaus, when he came to 



that he 


over nave 


bip 


called by Greeks 


CLfJUptTpv/JiVobig ; and that he built the Acropolis at Argos 


But 


biprora was 


pafs the feas : it 

have fhewn the hiftory, to which it alluded 
fore think, that 


veflel commonly made ufe of t< 
copy of the facred fhip of Ifis : and 

fhould there 


this ftory does not relate to the 


of 


any par 


perfon from 


43 


y P t 


but to the firft 


•dudtion 


41 Ardea-quam dicitur urbetn 

Acrifioneis Danae fundiffe colonis. Virg. A 5 n. L. 7. v. .409. 

She was luppoied to have giv T en name to Daunia *, and to have fettled there with 
Jier two fons, Argeos and Argos. Servius in Virg. JEn. L. 8. v. 345. 

Tibur Argeo pofitum colono. Horat. L. 2. Od. 6. v. 5. 

41 Apollodor. L. 2. p. 63. 

4J It is faid that Danaus came from the Thebais of Egypt, where ftood Chem- 
mis near the city I\oa. Perfeus was worfhiped here. Pleiodot. E. 2. c. 91. Ele 
calls the city N?jj. The perfon alluded to under the character of Danaus was far 
prior to the sera allotted to him in the Grecian hiftory. He is faid to be the fon of 
Eelus, the fon of Neptune : alfo the brother of Sefofis, the fame as Seth and Zuth- 
The name of the fhip was Danais. A clvolov ^iooxoy.evov vvro Aiyu 7 rra 'arpeoTov JcxTa- 

.€rx6u&crcti (raviO' xcu A area's Schol. in Apollon. Rhod. L. i. v. 4. 

6 The 



The Analysis o-f Ancient Mythology. 24.7 

du&ion of rites from that country ; and efpecially the me¬ 
morial of the Argo, from whence the place took its name* 

• * 

And that there was fuch an introduction of rites, appears 
from Hypermneftra the fuppofed daughter of Danaus, being 
efteemed the 44 prieftefs of Juno at that place. If, as I have 
imagined, the words vqvg and vc/.vg are derived from Nau, and 
Noah ; the name of Danaus relates not to a man, but is in 
reality 45 da. Naus, and fignifies literally the Jhip . The ara 
therefore of Danaus is the aera of the ihip : being the precife 
time, when fome model of this facred veffel was introduced ; 
and the rites alfo and myfteries, with which it was attended. 
The fifty daughters of Danaus were fifty priefteffes of the 
Argo ; who bore the facred veflel on feftivals. I have men¬ 
tioned that there was a temple in Egypt, called Ca Nobus, 
ereCted to the God of feas ; to whom the element of water 
in general was facred. Throughout the whole hiftory of 
Danaus and. his daughters, there will be found allufions to 
the rites of this God. The Danafdes are faid to have been 
fent in queft of water : to have brought water to 46 Argos : 
to have invented vfyicu, or 47 veffels for water : and laftly, 

The daughters of D'anaus are fuppofed to Have introduced the S-sctu.oCoilcc from 
Egypt: t nv t sPkstvv 'tclv'tyw AiyuTrTX e^ccyot.yea'ctL. Herod. L. 2. c. 171. 

44 Ev Ap yei lepccreuaev °C 7 repfj.uyi^pcc Eufeb.. Chron. p. 29. 1 . 40. 

45 K1, Da, Chaldaice, hasc, ifta, hoc, illud. See Daniel, c. 4. v. 27, and c. 7, 
v. 3. Of this laft I fliall treat hereafter at large. 

40 Danaus is faid'to have founded Argos. 

&0LVCC05 - 

EaQcov es Apyos ojuicrev Ivcl%& 'tcroAiv. Euripid. in Archelao apud Strabon. 
L- 5• P- 339 - 

47 A gyos ocvvopov bov- tSctrccaci SrstrcLV- Apyo; evuSsov. Strab. L. 8. p. 570. All 

Greeks in . the time of Homer feem to have been called Danai. 


were 



248 The Analysis of Ahcient Mythology., 

% 

were fuppofed to have been doomed in the fhades below to 
draw water in buckets, which were full of holes. Every 
circumflance of this hiftory is from Egypt. The natives of 
that country were' very alliduous in conveying water from 
one place to another. They likewife had particular jars, 
which were facred to the God, whom the Greeks called 
Canobus ; and were formed with a reprefentation of him. 
Thefe Canobic vefiels were fometimes made of 48 porous 
ftone : at other times of earth manufactured in fuch a man¬ 
ner, as to have fmall holes in the bottom ; through which 
they ufed to filter the water of the Nile, when it was either 
turbid or faline. 49 'T $giou sv Toig [JL£g£(ri Trig Aiyv7TT8 sioadctri 

yivs&cu oegoLxivou, TgY\<reig s^Qircu Xswrccg trvveyetg, oo^s c hct tuv 

Tgr)<jSCt)V SXSIVCfJV TO TsdoK(jO[JL£VOV V&OOg S'ivhl^OfJLSVOV CL7ro$l$0&Ct.l 

Hadagoorarrov . This practice of filling vefiels, which could 
not hold the water put into them, feemed fuch a paradox to 
the Grecians, that, when they came to confign fome of their 
priefts and deities to the infernal manfions, they made this 
the particular puniihment of the Danaides, on account of 
their cruelty. 

Among the various perfonages, under which the Patriarch 
was reprefented, the principal feems to have been that of 
Dionufus. He was by the mythologifts fuppofed to have had 

4S They were called S/raK/nxa— ccy^ix S'-ivXiC > ovrcc Ng/Asdop vS'oog. Hefych, 

^TCtKTlKZl'. 

49 Suidas. Kca'c,j7ro9. 

Ipfum Canobi fnnulacrum, pedlbus perexiguis, attradto collo, et quafi fugillato, 
ventre tumido, in modum hydrin, cum dorfo requaliter tereti formatur. Ruffin. 
Hift. Ecclef. L. n. c. 26. 


9 


a fecond 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 249 

a fecond birth, and a renewal of life in the Theba or Ark. 
Hence he was termed ®Y$ouyevrig ; which the Greeks inter¬ 
preted a Theban born, and made him a native of Boeotia: 
but he was originally only worfhiped there; and his rites, and 
myfteries came from Egypt. This injuftice of the Greeks in 
taking to themfelves every Deity, and hero* was complained 
of by the Egyptians. 50 Kct$£>/\a §s <pa<ri Tsg 'EAAfli 'ccg stjtJ'icc- 

'HgOO&g TS K0.1 ®SkS$. 

The principal terms, by which the ancients diftinguifhed 
the Ark, were Theba, Baris, Arguz, Argus, Aren, Arene, 
Arne, Laris, Boutus, Bceotus, Cibotus. Out of thefe they 
formed different perfonages : and as there was apparently a 
correfpondence in thefe terms, they in confequence of it in¬ 
vented different degrees of S1 relation. Hence a large family 


£eo"Qcli rsg £7ri<pcLves‘ct rag Aiyv^noov 


50 Diodorus Sic. L. i. p. 21. 

51 Of this turn in the Greeks innumerable inflances will occur, as we proceed: 
fome few I will here fubjoin. 

cLTTo TJ75 FI po/x^Qecos. Steph. Byzant. 

ripo^ojGgfios vi0$ Aevxct^ooy. Apollon. Rhod. L. 3, v. 1085. Scholl 
A pvn Boiootov ex TJoaei^ocuos eyewnae. Diod- Sic. L. 4. p. 269. 

A pvn YlorretS'ccvos rpotpos. Lycoph. v. 644. Schol. 

Arena CEbali, vel Bibali filia. Hygini Fab. 14. p. 46. 

Boicotqv — Itcoi/h rco'cciS'cC} xcci vufjL(pn 9 Ms Aaw7T7T>7S. Paufan. L. 9. p. 711. 

Niobe faid to have been the daughter of Tantalus and Dione. Hyginus, Fab. 9. 


P- 32 


$ogwvevs Amv xa.i "NioStiv eyevintre. Apollodor. L. 2. p. 39-. 

•metis Agyos. Ibid. 


Niobe the filler of Pelops, and wife of Amphion. Strabo. L. 8. p. 552. 

% 

A vxos cTs eu tu megi GuSoou i^opei^ pteTa, to. xjito, AsuvtaAzcyra Zeus puyeis lo^ctptei 
rry TSoov&i tb ApuptTpvcovo?^ yevvcz ©w€W, w £i<Smglv Clyvycp^ ct(p y fl yuym ^ ©«£>?. 
AAAos S'e l^optxos Xeyeiy 005 Zeus puyeis AiymrTov yevvcp xrA. Lycoph. 


SchoL ad v. 1207. 


VOL. II. 


K k 


has 



250 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

# 

lias arifen from a few antiquated words, which related to the 
lame hiftory, and of which many were nearly fynonymous,. 
In the account given above, we may perceive that the Ark,, 
and the chief perfon of the Ark, are often confounded: but; 
by the light, which is here afforded, the truth, I think, may; 
be eafily difcovered. 



O F 

* 



( 25* ) 



O F 

Some particular Titles and Personages , 

Janus, Saturnus, Phoroneus, Pofeidon, ISTereus, 

Proteus, Prometheus. 


/ | 'HE hiftory of the Patriarch was recorded by the an- 

cients through their whole theology : but it has been 
obfcured by their defcribing him under fo many different 


titles, and fuch a variety of characters 


They 


prefented 


him as Thoth, Hermes, Menes, Oftris. Zeuth, Atlas, Phoro 

neus, Prometheus: to 

* ✓ 

* 

extent might be added 


which lift a further number of great 
All the principal Deities of the fea. 


however diverfffied, have a manifeft relation to him 


But 


among all the 


perfonages, under which he may have 


prefented, there are none, wherein his hiftory is de 


been r< 

lineated more plainly, than in thofe of 
The latter of thefe is by fome fuppofed to have been the fame 


and Jan 


Javan, who is by Mofes called 


Between thi 


that of Janus there is thought to be a great ftmilitude 
there is nothing to be obtained from the hiftory of J: 


But 


this notion : whereas all the chief circumftances 


K k 


2 


in 


252 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

in the life of Noah correfpond with the hiftory of Janus- 
Hence, however fpecious the argument may be, which is 
drawn from this limilitude of terms, many perfons of great 
learning have not fcrupled to determine that Noah and Janus 
were the fame. 

By Plutarch he is called 1 lavvog, Jannus, and reprefented as- 
an ancient prince, who reigned in the infancy of the world ^ 
and who brought men from a rude and favage way of life to 
a mild and rational fyflem : who was alfo the firft former of 
civil communities, and introducer of national polity. He 
was reprefented with two faces ; with which he looked both 
forwards and backwards : and from hence he had the name 
of Janus Bifrons. One of thefe faces was that of an aged 
man : but in the other was often to be feen the countenance 
of a young and beautiful perfonage. About him were many 
emblems, to denote his different departments. There wasv 
particularly a ftaff in one hand, with which he pointed to a. 
rock * from whence iffued a profuflon of water. In the 
other hand he held a key. The defcription given of him by 
Albricus feems to have been taken from fome painting* 
which that perfon had feen. s Janus—erat Rex. Homo 
fedens in throno fulgenti radiis circumquaque, qui duas fa— 


O yap lavvos €v t ois Tua^aiois bits Aai/xcov^ sire /Scco-iAevs^ yevojaevos 'wo/\t-*- 

ti'kos xai XGivcovncoSj Bit Td Sr/ipiw^aS itctt ccypid KtycTai \jjbt aCa./\etv tw S'taTWv. Iit 

Numa. Vol. I. p. 72. 

I awes cs Bis iTccAiai^ yat cruy outlier as t 01 $ oturoQt {BapSapoiSj xett 

9'A coTTav y.at cPiui ray. tbs tjbci tdv lTa?iiav cz'jtoS ay plots itat ctvofJLOis %'goofJL£vdS\ 
bQzctiv bis srepov /3 ib a^yj/xa^ Tzsirras itat ye&pyeiv Ttott 'zrroAtTBVSaQai^ fJtejeSaAe Kat. 
y.ersxQcry.vGrs. Plutarch. Qua^ft. Rom. Vol. 2, p. 269. 

21 C. 14. p. 921. 

cies. 


10 



The Analysis 6f Ancient Mythology. 


2 52 


w 

eies habebat : quartim una ante fe, alteta poft fe refpiciebat. 
Juxta ilium quoque erat templum: et in manu ejus dextra 
habebat clavem, qua templum ipfum aperire fe monftrabat. 
In finiftra veto habuit baculum, quo faxum percutere, et ex 
illo aquam perducere videbatut. He had generally near 
him fome refemblance of a fhip ; particularly upon money, 
which in aftertimes was coined to his honour. The Ro¬ 
mans imagined that this was in memorial of the fhip, in 
which Saturn was fuppofed to have come to Italy. 

3 At bona pofteritas puppim fervavit in sere 

Hofpitis adventum teflificata Dei. 


But what colony, or what perfon ever came from the eafl to 
Italy, who did not arrive in a fhip ? It was a circumftance 
common to all ; and too general to be particularly recorded. 
Befides, why fhould the money of Janus refer to the hiftory 
of another perfon ? Plutarch therefore does not accede to the 
common notion : but ftill makes it a queftion, 3 4 5 why the 
coins of this perfonage bore on one fide laws h7rgo<rw7rov 
Siicova, the refemblance of fajius bifrojis \ and had on the other 

'OrXois ‘W'gVfJLVYjV, r\ 'urgagav syKsy^a^ayfaspriv, the. reprefeiitation 
either of the hind part , or the fore part of a fiip. Ovid feems 
to have been much puzzled to find out the hiftory, and pur¬ 
port of this deity. 

5 Quern tamen efle Deum dicam te, Jane biformis ? 

Nam tibi par nullum Grascia numen habet.. 


3 Ovid. Faft. L. i. v. 239... 

4 Quasft. Rom. p. 274. 

5 Faft. L. 1. v. 89.. 


The 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


254 

The Romans indeed had in a manner appropriated him to 

themfelves. There were however many divinities fimilar to 

* 

him both in Greece and Egypt: and the original perfon, to 
whom this character related, may be eafily known. To him 
they attributed the invention of a 6 fhip : and he is faid to 
have firft: compofed a chaplet. Upon the Sicilian coins of 
Eryx his figure often occurs with a twofold countenance ; 
and on the reverfe is a dove encircled with a 7 crown, 
which feems to be olive. He was reprefented as a juft man, 
and a prophet : and had the remarkable charadteriftic of 
being in a -manner the author of time, and the god of the 
year. Under this defcription he is addrefted by Ovid : 

15 Jane bifrons, anni tacite labentis origo. 

From him they denominated the firft month of the year; 

9 Ixvv&oigios oi 7 ro T 8 lawn. He was ftyled Matutinus ; as if to 
him were owing the renewal of light and day. 

There was a tradition that he raifed the firft 10 temple to 
Heaven ; though they looked upon him as a deity, and one 
of the eight original divinities. In the hymns of the Salii 
he was ftyled the 11 god of gods. In this and many other 
refpedts he was fimilar to the Cronus of the Greeks, whom 
Orpheus ftyles 

6 r IpOOTOV Se q-'SZoLroV Ivosi'i’i KCtl Ol(X.$ 9 >ICCL *utA OlCt. Athenseus. L. 15. p. 692. 

7 Parur. Sicilia. 

s Fall'. L. 1. v. 65. 

9 Plutarch, in Nurmi, p. 72*. 

Hence he was ftyled Tcmplorum pofitor. 

Saliorum quoque anciqwiSimis carminibus Dccrum Deus canitur. Macrob. Sat, 
L« p« 1 

A iQothws , 


9 



The Analysis- of Ancient Mythology. 25*5 
f*'A i$ct\iY}g, M OLKCLgw ts Qboop 'uroiTeg , r t h mi CLvSgtav, 

AK2NQ2 KPONE, nArrENETOP— 

VoLiriQ ts ^Aas-j^jua, mi Ovgatu ctfegoevros' 

■ ^ 

• • J * 

TsvpdLj $vyi$ * 3 ^ouwcri, f Psa$ mri, (TB^vb IIPOMH 0 ET. 

We fee here under the character of Cronus a perfon de- 
fcribed, who was the founder of mankind in general ; and of 
thofe in particular, who affumed the title of Mcucctgsg KOclvol- 

TOi, Acti^ovsg ; and who were efteemed a fuperior order of 
beings. This perfon is alfo faid to have been the renewer of 
time, which commenced from him: and is reprefented as; 
one, who fprang from the I+ earth ; and at the fame time was 
the offspring of Heaven- He is. further defcribed as cpvi]g 
ftctiooMs, one, by whom, all things were introduced into life: 

and he is finally, ftyled (TSfJLVog TlgOf/.r}Qsvg, the venerable Pro- 
theus ; the fame, in whom mankind, was faid to . have, been 

15 renewed.. 

I have taken notice that there was fearce any circumftance,- 
however minute, mentioned by Mofes concerning the Ark 
and Noah, but was recorded in the family of Ham.. It is 
faid of the Patriarch, that he was a man of the earth, and 
fkilled in planting and fowing, and every fpecies of agricul¬ 
ture. When he conftrudted the Ark, he made a window 
in it; through which after a feafon he looked forth, and faw 
the ruins of the former world. He made alfo a door, in the . 

JZ Hymn. 13. 

13 Naturae obftetrix : fo'corre£ted by the Author. 

14r Analogous to avOpooTros yvs. Gen. c. 9. v. 20. 

* 5 Os rux^ccTTeiv ccvBgcoTrvs e/wBeutTo. Eufeb. Chron. p. 103. TlfopL$&jc, rss. 
Syncellus. p. 1490 

Ark *. 



256 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

Ark ; which was a circ.umftance continually commemorated 
by the gentile writers. The entrance through it they efteemed 
a paffage to death and darknefs : but the egrefs from it was 
reprefented as a return to life : hence the opening and /hut¬ 
ting of it were religioufly recorded. And as the flay in the 
Ark was an intermediate flate between a loft world, and a 
world renewed 5 this was alfo alluded to in their hierogly- 
phical reprefentations. We accordingly find Janus defcribed 
with two faces ; having a retrofpect to what was pafl, as well 
as a view forward to what was to come : and he was efteemed 
a perfon, 16 cui omnis rei initium et finem tribuebant: to 
nsohom they attributed the end and the begimiing of all things. 
They ftyled him Patulcius and Clufius, in allufion to the 
hiflory above given : and he had the title of Junonius, from 
the Arkite Dove Jonah, which the Latines expreffed 17 Juno. 
There is a fragment from an ancient hymn, preferved by 
Terentianus Maurus ; in which we have an epitome of the 
Patriarch’s hiflory under the charadler of Janus. 

Jane Pater, Jane tuens. Dive biceps, biformis, 

O cate rerum Sator , O principium Deorum ! 

Stridula cui limina, cui cardinei tumultus, 

Cui referata mugiunt aurea clauftra mundi. 

He is ftyled by another poet 

Templorum politor, templorum fandte refedtor. 

By this is meant, that he was a renewer of religious rites, 

16 Albricus Philol. c. 14. p. 921. 

17 In the Roman Calendar publiftied by Gaffendus the firft day of January is fa- 
icred JANO JUNONI. See GalTend* Calendar. Jul. Csefaris. p. 22. 

and 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


257 


and the worfhip of the Deity. Some would confine this to 
Italy. Xenon accordingly fays of Janus, lS in Italia primum 
Diis templa fecifte, et xitus inftituifte facrorum. He was 
reputed the fame as Apollo ; and had the title of Ovgcaoe, 
or the Deity of the door , or paffage : and his altars were 
placed immediately before the door of the houfe, or temple, 
where his rites were celebrated. 19 Ejus aras ante fores fuas 


celebrant, ipfum introitus et exitus demonftrantes potentem. 
In memorial of his hiftory *every door among the Latines 
had the name of Janua: and the firft month of the year 
was named Januarius from Janus, as being an opening to a 


A to lay- 


new asra, and in fome degree a renewal of time. 20 
aav enrovTss tqv 9-y^ay, kou Iolvucl^iqv ^vol tqv SvgcLiav njrgcxr 

S17T0V. 


Ovid has continual allufions to this hiftory. Janus, is by 
him fuppofed to be the chaotic deity ; and at the- fame time 
to prefide over every thing, that could be fhut, or opened ; 
and to be the guardian of the doors of Heaven. 


21 Me Chaos antiqui, nam res fum prifca, vocabant: 

Alpice, quam longi temporis adta canam. 
Quicquid ubique vides,' coelum, mare, nubila, terras. 
Omnia funt noftra claufa, patentque raanu. 

Me penes eft unum vafti cuftodia mundi ; 

Et jus vertendi cardinis omne meum eft. 

Prsefideo foribus cceli. 


* 

18 Macrob. Sat. L. i. p. 157. 

19 Ibidem, p. 158. from Nigidius. 

2,0 Porphyr. de Nympharum Antro. p. 264. 
7,1 Faft. L. 1. v. 103. 

Vol. II. L 1 


What 




The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


What the poet means by Chaos, will be hereafter plainly 
difclofed. Macrobius having in his Saturnalia afforded a 

general account of the mythology of Janus, introduces a cu- 

% 

rious lift of thole titles, under which the Romans ufed to 
invoke him. “ In facris quoque invocamus Janum gemi- 
nu m, Janum patrem, Janum Junonium, Janum Conlivum > 

A 

Janum Quirinum, Janum Patulcium, et Clulivium.—Janum 
Patrem, quail Deorum Deum : Conlivum a conferendo, id 
eft, a propagine generis humani, quae Jano audtore conferi- 
tur. The reafons, which the author afterwards produces for 
thefe titles being originally conferred, are not always fatif- 
faciory. The terms however contain matter of great confe- 
quence; and we may plainly perceive the true hiftory, to: 

9 

which they allude. According to Cornificius the name of 
Janus was properly 13 Eanus ; and, as he would inlimulate, 
from eo, to go. But Eanus was undoubtedly the fame as 
Otvocg of the Greeks, and the lonas of the eaftern nations : by 
which was lignified a Dove. Hence it was that Janus had 
the name of Junonius ; for Iona and Juno were the fame. 
And hence it was, that the coins of Janus in Sicily had upon 
the reverfe a Dove furrounded with a chaplet j which feems 
to be a chaplet of Olive. 

The Romans made a diftindtion between Janus and Sa¬ 
turn ; and fuppofed them to have, been names of different 
men : but they were two titles of the fame perfon. Saturn 
is reprefented as a man of great piety and juftice j under 


aa L. 1. p. 159. 

Cornificius Etymorum libro tertio, Cicero, inquit, non Janum, fed Eanum 
nominac. Macrob. Sat. L. i. c. 9. p. 158. 


whom 




























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 259 

whom there was an age of felicity ; when as yet there were 
no laws, no fervitude, no feparate property. 24 Rex Satur- 
mis tantae juftiti® fuifie traditur, ut neque fervierit fub illo 
quifquam, neque quicquam private rei haberet : fed omnia 
communia. He is by Lucian made to fay of himfelf, 25 aSsig 

V7T SfJtts JaAos Y\v. The Latines in great meafure coniine his 
hiftory to their own country ; where, like Janus, he is re¬ 
prefen ted as refining and modelling mankind, and giving 
them laws. At other times he is introduced as prior to 
law ; which are feeming contrarieties, very eafy to be recon¬ 
ciled. 

Saturn is by Plato fuppofed to have been the fon of 
Oceanus : by others he was looked upon as the offspring of 
Ccelus. The poets fpeak of him as an ancient king, in 
whofe time there was no labour, nor feparate property ; the 
earth producing every thing fpontaneoufly for the good of 
man. He was however at other times defcribed with that 
emblem of hufbandry, the 26 fickle, in his hand : and repre- 
fented as going over the whole earth, teaching to plant, and 
to fow ; 

27 Vitifator, curvam lervans fub imagine falcem. 

The Aufonians in particular thought themfelves upon thefe 
accounts to be greatly indebted to him. Diodorus Siculus 

24 Juftin. L. 43. c. 1. 

Dialog, tv t 01$'&rpos Kgovoi'. See Bochart. Phaleg. L. i. c. i. andVofT. Idol. 
L. 1. c. 18. p. 140. 

7,6 Cum falce, meflis infigni. Macrob. Sat. p. 157. 

Saturnus velato capite, falcem gerens. Fulgent. Mycholog. L. 1. c. 2. 

27 Virgil. iEneid. L. 7. v. 179. 


L 1 2 


gives 



260 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

gives the fame hiftory of Saturn, as is by Plutarch above 
given of Janus. 28 E 0 cLygus Siouttiq Big fipegov fiiov (ABTCLsyrou 
CLvQgWTTBg. He brought mankind from their foul and favttge 

9 

way of feeding to a more mild and rational diet. He was alio 
like Janus defcribed with keys in his hand : and the coins 
{truck in honour of him had on their reverfe the figure of a 

fhip. For this Ovid gives an idle reafon ; to which I have 

♦ 

before fpoken in the account of Janus. 

29 Caufa ratis fuperefl:: Thufcum rate venit ad amnem 

Ante pererrato falcifer orbe Deus. 

He was looked upon as the 30 author of time ; and often held 
in his hand a ferpent, whofe tail was in its mouth, and 
formed a circle : and by this emblem they denoted the reno¬ 
vation of the year. They reprelented him as of an uncom¬ 
mon age, with hair white as fnow : yet they had a notion, 
that he could return to fecond childhood. He was particu¬ 
larly ftyled 31 Sator : and we have a remarkable defcription 
of him in Martianus Capella, who fpeaks of him under that 
title. 32 Saturnus Sator, grefiibus tardus, ac remorator,. in- 
cedit, glaucoque amidtu tedius caput. Protendebat dextera 
fiammivomum quendam draconem caudae fuse ultima devo- 
rantem—Ipfius autem canities pruinofis nivibus candicabat: 
licet etiam ille puer pojfe fieri crederetuf. Martial’s addrefs to 


4-8 Diodor. L. 5. p. 334. 

* 9 Faft. L. 1. v. 233. 

30 Ipfe, qui audtor temporum. Macrob. Sat. L. 1. p. 214. 

31 He was fuppofed by fome to have from hence received his name. A fetu. 
diftus Saturnus. Varro de Ling, Lat. L. 1. p. 18. 

3 * L. 1. c. 2. 

him, 


G* 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 261 

% 

him, though fhort, has in it fomething remarkable: for he 
{peaks of him as a native of the former world. 

33 Antiqui Rex magne poli, mundique prioris. 

Sub quo prima quies, nec labor ullus erat. 

I have ’mentioned that he was fuppofed, kcltclkivsiv, to have 
fwallowed up his children : he was alfo faid to have ruined all 
things ; which however were reflored with a vafl increafe. 

34 'C>£ tionroLVcLg pev ct7rctvTct 3 kcli ccu^eig £.{JL7rotXtv ctvrog. 

To other Gods the Romans facrificed, capite operto, with 
their heads 3S veiled : but in the rites of Saturn the veil was 
taken 36 away. He had the narne of Septimianus : and the 
Saturnalia, which were days fet apart for his rites in Decem¬ 
ber, were in number 37 feven. During thefe, great indul¬ 
gences were allowed to flavesq. and they fat down with their 
mailers at the fame table, and partook without any diftindtion 
of the fame food ; in memorial of that equality, which pre¬ 
vailed in the days of Saturn. They were permitted to laugh, 
and to jell: and it was criminal to fhew any referve. Thefe 
rites are faid to have been of great antiquity ; far prior to the 
foundation of Rome. The Poet Accius looked upon them as 
the fame as thofe, which the Grecians ffyled Kgovici .; and de- 
fcribes them in the following manner : 

33 L. 12. Epig. 63. 

34 Orphic. Hymn. 12. v. 3. 

35 Plutarch. Quteftion. Rom. p. 2 66 u 

36 Grascorum more, aperto capite res divina fit. Macrob; Sat. L-1- p. 156. 

37 Ibid. p. 160. 


Maxima 



262 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


33 Maxima pars Graium Saturno, et maxime Athens, 
Conficiunt facra, quae Cronia efte iterantur ab illis. 
Eumque diem celebrant per agros ; urbefque fere omnes 
Exercent epulis lsti ; famulofque procurant 
Quifque fuos : noftrique itidem : et mos traditus illinc 
Ifte, ut cum dominis famuli epulentur ibidem. 


It is obfervable, that among the Romans Saturn feems to 
have been held in a ftate of confinement for the greater part 
of the year. Towards the expiration of that term in De¬ 
cember, when the Saturnalia began, there was a myfterious 
ceremony of taking off thefe bonds, and fuffering the Deity 
to be in a manner at large. , We, I think, may fee what this 
cuftom alluded to, though it was a fecret to the ancients. 
39 Cur autem Saturnus ipfe in compedibus vifatur, Verrius 
Flaccus fe ignorare dicit. Saturnum Apollodorus alligari ait 
per annum laneo vinculo; et folvi ad diem fibi feftum, id eft, 
menfe Decembri. 

Many thought that Janus was the fame as both Apollo 
and Diana ; the fame alfo as 40 Helius, and with good reafon. 
He was alfo the fame as Dionufus, and Saturn. Of the laft 


I have obferved, that the Romans ftyled him Sator ; making 
ufe of a term in their own language, which was not inappli¬ 


cable to his hiftory. 


Yet I cannot help thinking that this 


■ 3S Macrob. Sat. L. 1. p. 155. Athenasus. L. 14. 

59 Macrob. Sat. L. 1. p. 156. Statius alludes to the fame cuftom: 

Saturnus mihi compede exoluta, 

Et multo madidus mero Decembers 
Et ridens jocus, et fales protervi 
Adfint. Sylv. L. i. cap. 6. v. 4. 

40 Macrob. L. 1. c. 9. p. 157, 158. 


was 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


263 


was not a title of Roman original, but imported from Egypt 
and Syria by the Pelafgi; and adopted by the people of Italy. 


feems to be a compound of 


Our, which among the 

; or Oliva cce- 


eaflern nations fignified Oliva Ori, five Dei ; or 
leftis. All the upper part of Egypt was named Sait, and the 


The Athenians came from thence j and they 
and it is faid of them, that they'"were deno¬ 


people Sai’tse. 
were 41 Saitse : 

minated from the Olive. Minerva was ftyled Saftis j and was 
worfhiped under that title at Pontinus near 43 Epidaurus. 
She was undoubtedly fo named from the Olive, Sait, which 
was peculiarly facred to her. The moft ancient prieflis of 
Dionufus were called Saturi and Tituri, from Sat-Ur, and 
Tit-Ur : the former were fo named from the objedt, and the 
latter from the 43 place of their worfhip. Saturn was not un¬ 
known to the ancient Germans ; among whom he was wor- 
fhiped by the name of Seatur. He is defcribed by Verflegan 
as Handing upon a fifh with a wheel in one hand, and in the 
other a veflel of water filled with fruits and 44 flowers. Sche- 
dius mentions him by the name of Crodo; and fays that he 
was the fame as the Saturn of the Romans. 4S In Arce Hartef- 
burgh ad Sylvam. Hercyniam juxta montem Melibochi, civi- 
tatemque Goflarenfem, Saxones coluere Idolum Crodo : Sa- 


41 At roiK&s SctiTw. Diod. SicuJ. L. i. c. 24. Attj gAoia; EAAj;re> Cliron. 


Pafchak*. p. 49. 

41 Paui’an. L. 2. p. 198. 

43 Tit-Ur, fJicc^os *jAthe name of thofe 


high altars, where the rites of Orus 
were celebrated. The Tituri were properly Tkurians*, the Sawuri* Sxt vcct, Sa- 
turians. 


44 


P. 78. 


45 De Diis Germanic S/ntag^ 4. c. 2. p. 49 


6 


turnum 



264 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

turnum dixere Latini. Erat Senex flans in pifce, nudis pe- 

dibus, et lineo vinculo cindtus :-tenebat rotam, et urnam 

plenam frugibus, rolls, et pomis. : —Una cum Hide cultus 
fuit. The name of the mountain Melibochi, where this 
worlhip was carried on, feems to be a variation of the an¬ 
cient terms Melech Bochus, the Lord Bochus. Bacchus was 
often miftaken for Dionufus, and in many countries called 
Bochus, and 46 Bocchus. 

The Patriarch, under whatever title he may come, is ge¬ 
nerally reprefented as the father of Gods, and men. 

47 Z wo, §swv 'uru.Tsg Y)h mi tx.vS'goov. 

But in the character of Phoroneus (for in this he is plainly 
alluded to) he feems to be defcribed merely as the firft of 
mortals- Hence by an ancient Poet, quoted by 48 Clemens 
of Alexandria, he is ftyled <$>ogwvevg, 'UTclty]^ Smjt m ou/$gU 7 Toov. 
The mythologifts vary greatly about the genealogy of this 
perfonage : but generally fuppofe him to have been the fon 
of 49 Inachus and Niobe. The outlines of his hiftory are 
marked very ftrongly; fo that we cannot miftake the perfon, 
to whom the mythology relates. He is faid to have lived in 
the time of the 50 flood ; and, as I have before fhewn, was 

46 In Mauritania and Numidia Bacchus was expreffed Bocchus. 

47 Hefiod. Theog. v. 47. 

48 Strom. L. 1. p. 380. 

49 yctfJie tv tb Ivcl^b^ fjuirpi Eufeb. Chron. p. 24. 

■$>ogcov£v$ 'metis Ivcl%& xou N" ioQy)i.—<pc(.ai <Pe Tivts N loQnv ^opcorecus £tvou SruyctTepcc. 

Ibid. 

50 Clem. Alexand. L. 1. p. 380. Syncellus. p. 125. He fpeaks of the firft de¬ 
luge, tb ctp^ccto^ioc'i's xccT<xK?iva{JL 3 9 £$J\ey£Tcci jcctTa Qogoovect xcti A.7 tl$ol yevea^GU. 

the 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 265 


the reputed father of all mankind. He was alfo the firft, 
who built an 51 altar ; which is faid to have been ere£ted to 
Juno. He firft: collected men together, and formed them 
into petty 5 * communities. He likewife firft gave 53 laws, 
and diftributed juftice : whereas before, the way of life 
among men was favage ; and every thing determined by vio¬ 
lence. They afcribe to him the diftribution of mankind by 
their families and nations over the face of the earth : 54 Idem 
nationes diftribuit : which is a circumftance very remarkable. 
Nonnus ftyles him 55 Agy^syovog : which may fignify either 

UgooToyovog, the firft -born of the tvorld , or @i]£<xiyevris, a native 
of the ark. Anticlides efteemed him the moft ancient king 
in 56 Greece : but 57 Acufilaus looked upon him more truly 
as the firft man. This agrees with the teftimony, before 
given from the ancient Poet in 58 Clemens, who fpoke of him 


51 Hyginus. Fab. 274. 

5X <$>3guvevs cfe 0 Ivcc^s tbs ctv§gw 7 r'd$ auvnyccye 'z&pcotos es xowor. Paufan. L. 2. 


P- 145- 

53 $>optovevs* utos Ivccyp xcci N t zzrcc*s 'z&gGoros vopt&s kcu xpiryipicc topure* Syncellus. 

T* 6 7> I2 5- 

54 flyginus. Fab. 143 . 

55 He is here made the father of Niobe, whom the Poet calls K ypm Aggeyovoto 

L. 32. p. 804. 

56 Anticlides Phoroneum antiquiffimum Grseciie regem nuncupat. Plin. L. 7. 
c. fid. 

k/ 

57 Avc&cjAao? <&opajvecc 'VD-gcoTov ccvB poo 7 rov yevscBcct. Clem. Alex. Strom. L. 1. 
p. 380. 


Many fuppofe him to have been the firft king upon earth. Phoroneus, primus 
mortalium regnavit. Lutatius Placidus in Statii Thebaid. L. 4. v. 5S9. Compare 
thefe accounts with the hiftory of Deucalion, 

O* 'Tat poor os 'uronure xcti z^ttfAccTo vccss^ 

ABclvcctois' Tzrpco'ros <Pe Hcci ct*Bpco7rcov ( 6 ctci^evev . Apollon. Rhod. L. 3. v. ioSd. 
sS Clemen. Alex, fupra. 


VOL. II. 


M m 


as 



266 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


as the father of mankind. In fhort, he was the ultimate, 
to which Grecian hiftory referred. 59 YLxvot 'BTcug 'E/NA^cn 

$CiVfJLCi£o[JL£Vn 'TjTgCli'ig 0L7T0 TOOV I voc^ov yj>ovw KOLl G?0gUV£Ug Big TX 

[XSTB 7 TBITX (pBgSTOii. a 4 ll the great occurrences of Greece are fub- 
fequent to the times of Inachus and Phoroneus ; and are de¬ 
duced hi a feries from that cera. To fay the truth, Phoro¬ 
neus, Apis, Inachus, Zeuth, Deucalion, Prometheus, were 
all one perfon : and with that perfon commenced the Gen¬ 
tile hiftory, not of Greece only, but of the world. 60 Ovdsv 
<nrgo Ivctycz kou ^o^vzxg —'E Khr\<riv ifogsircu. Some have fup- 
pofed Niobe to have been the mother of Phoroneus : others 
make him the fon of 61 Archia: others again of 6z Melifta. 
But this genealogy is idle : and it will be found that Archia, 
Niobe, and Melifta, like Rhea, Cybele, and Damater, are 
mere titles, by which a female perfonage was denoted, who 
was fuppofed to have been the genius of the ark, and the 
mother of mankind* 

The Patriarch was alfo commemorated by the name of 
Pofeidon. Hence in the Orphic hymns he is addrefied un¬ 
der this character, as the father of Gods and men. 

63 K Xvbi Uoixsi^xov, Xr^vog 'srou 'nrgs<r£vysvB()As, 


59 Syncellus. p. 126. See Plat. Tim^eus. 

60 Syncell. p. 6S. 

01 Inachus—ex Archia forore fua procreavit Phoroneum, qui primus mortalfunr 
dicitur regnaffe. Hyginus. Fab. 143. p. 250. 

Apollodorus. L. 2. p. 5S. She is alfo called Melitta. 

63 Plymn. 16. Zeus is generally made the brother of Pofeidon*, but is here 
fpoken of as his father: which fhews how little we can depend upon the theogony 
of the Greeks, when they treat of genealogies. 


O VgCtl/lQOVy 



T-he Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 267 

O VgCLVUdVy M OLKOLgOOV TS ©SCdV •GTCLTSg , 1 jSs ZCU CivSgUV. 

HigrjvyjV vyie\QLV caym y jo<T oTJoov oLfJLSfJLtpr). 

We find him here to be alfo called the author of peace, and 
reft : which is confonant to his true character. His very 
name betokened 6+ peace. He is likewife faid to have been 
the caufe of affluence 5 becaufe through him the fruits of the 
earth were renewed. Hence we find him in many different 
characters reprefented with fruits, and flowers, and other 

emblems of plenty. 

As Noah was the Pofeidon of the Greeks, we need not 
wonder at the epithets befiowed upon that Deity ; fuch as 
HdTrjPj A<rtpcO\iog , Tesecriog, TsvsQaios, <&vTaA[JUOs y or Sativus. 
The laft was a title given liim by the 
and under the character of Neptune Genefius, he held a 
temple in Argolis near Nauplia. Hard by was a fpot of 
ground, called the place of defcent: 66 78TB cT ayyrca yygiav 

aAAo A 7 To£olQ[jlos j fimilar to the place called Atco^cct^iov upon 
mount Ararat, mentioned by 67 Jofephus ; and undoubtedly 
named from the fame ancient hiftory. The tradition among 
the people of Argolis was, that the place was named A 7ro- 

EctOfJLog, or place of defcent; becaufe in this fjpot Danaus 
made his firfl; defcent from the 68 fhip, in which he came 

64 Noe, requies. Ifidor. Origin. L. 7. c. 6. 

NW* ccvclttccjviz. Theoph. ad Autolyc. L. 3. p. 391. 

65 Paufan. L. 2. p. 18S. 

66 Paufan. L. 2. p. 201. 

67 Antiq. L. 1. c. 3. p. 16. 
c8 Paufan. L. 2. p. 201. 


people of 5 Hermione : 


Mm2 


over. 



268 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


over. In Arcadia was a temple of 69 IIoc rerfccv sttottoos, of 
Neptune looking out. None of thefe titles have the leaf! re¬ 
ference to the Pagan Pofeidon, as God of the fea : but to the 
hidory of the Patriarch they have a wonderful relation, and 
are particularly applicable. 

Noah was alfo figured under the hidory of Nereus, an¬ 
other deity of the fea ; and his character of an unerring pro¬ 
phet, as well as of a juft, righteous, and benevolent man is 
very plainly defcribed : 

70 N rigsct <T af>sv^r\ kou cxhrfiscx ysivcx.ro Tlovrog, 

JlgS<r£vTCXTOV 'BTfluJW* CXVTCXg Z0LXS3(Tl TsfOVTCC, 

'OVVSKCC VYipLSgTY)Q TS , KOU Y)7TL0g' iih dsfJLlS'SOOV 

AyiQstou , aXhOL frlZOClOC KOU YfXSCL $WSCL oilsv. 

Pie is termed by iEfchylus 'UTOtAouysvYig ; and is mentioned 
by Orpheus as a fon of the Ocean, but of all others the mod 

ancient. 

71 Ni 'igeot [jlsv nr^ri^cx kocXoj, 'urger^vzov drcxvrocv. 

Proteus was another title of the fame perfonage. He is re- 
prefented by Homer as an ancient prophet, a perfon of great 

truth, 7S ys^ojv oihiog, vvfjLSgrrig, AQcxvcxrog Ilgoorsvg ; from whom 

all nature was to be deduced, as from a fird caufe. In his 

departments he was the fame as Pofeidon : 


69 ricG-si&cicot UTrcTTT'd veto ?. Paufan. L. 8. p. 662. Similar to this were the al¬ 
tars in Attica upon Mount Hymettus, B O'y^pid AttcAAcopo? Tlpoo-\id. 

Paufan. L. i. p. 78. 

70 Plefioch Theog. v. 233. 

7T Orphic. Argonaut, v. 334. 

71 Odyffl A. v. 383. 




The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 269 
! 3 I1^£0T'sot xixXyictxoo , uyovT'd yJkrjibag syyvTcc, 

TlguToysvY), 'oyct<TY)g (pvcreag agyycg og vtprivzv. 

YlctVTlfJLOS, 'ET0Al(d8A0£, eTTlfOLfJLSVOg TOL T SOVTdy 

'Ocrcro, ts 'urgou'dzv sr\Vy o<tcl t strtreTcu vzegov avdig. 

Tlavrct yctg sv Tig car si 'STguTY} cpwrig syxoiTB^xsv. 

As time with the ancients commenced at the Deluge ; and 
all their traditions, and all their genealogies terminated here; 
even the birth of mankind went with them no higher than 
this epocha : they made the ocean in confequence of this the 
Father of all things. Under this character, which was no 
other than that of Nereus, Proteus, and Pofeidon, they repre- 
fented the Patriarch, the real Father of the poftdiluvian world. 
He was the 0s og Ttvs(nog, Fsi/s$Aios, <pvTcth[JUog ; and was wor- 
fhiped alfo as Oceanus. The poets often allude to him un¬ 
der this title : 

74 Q-xsctvov xaXsw, 'urccrsg cupthrov, ousv eovret , 

A.Q av our uov ts ©sw v ysvstnv, §vr,Tuov r av@goo7rci'jv. 

75 Tlxsavog •&’, o<T7reg ysvs<rig txclvt s<r <r 1 tbtvktcu. 

Juno tells Jupiter, that fhe is going to pay a vilit to Tethys 
and Oceanus, from whom the gods were derived. 

76 E i t Lu ycig G'yofjLSvq 'uro\v<pogQ% 'ursigot.Tci Fca^g, 

Tlxzdvov ts ©s&j' ysvBtriVy xai (M)T£got TrjOitv, 

'Ol [JL BV (TCpQKTl J '0{J.Ql<riV SVTgSCpQVj tjcT ttTIT aAAO V. 

75 Orphic. Hymn. 24. 

Orphic. Hymn. S2. 

75 Homer. Iliad. H* v. 246. 

76 Homer. Iliad. £. v* 200. 


Hence, 



,270 The Analysis of Ancient Myt-holog.y.. 

* # 

Hence, when it was faid in the .early hiftories, which Thales 
and other Grecians copied, that all things were derived from 

V 1 

77 water ; I do not believe, that the ancient Mythologifts re¬ 
ferred to that element, as the uAy), or material principle; but 
to the deluge, as an epocha, when time, and nature, and man- 
kind were renewed. Plutarch mentions it, as an Egyptian ‘ 
notion, that all things proceeded from water : but at the fame 
time tells us, 7S Oc ngiv Q/isoivov, that OJiris was Oceanus. Hence 
the doctrine amounts to no more than this ; that all we-re de¬ 
rived from Ofiris, the fame as Pofeidon, the fame alfo as Dio- 
nufus, the E'ather of mankind. 


NOAH, N O A S, NTS, N O T S, N U S U S. 


T appears, I think, clearly, that the hiftory of Noah 


be found 


the 


ythology of J 


Saturn, Pofeidon 


Zeuth, and Prometheus 
other ancient perfonages 


bundantly 


clear, if 


ls well as in the accounts given of 
And this hiftory would have been 
the Greeks had not abufed the 


terms, traditionally delivered ; and tranfpofed them to word 


in 


th 




own lang 


Of this abufe I have before given a 

o 


remarkable inftance from the 
at the fame time endeavoured 


fchool of 79 Anaxagoras 

O 


and 


to fhew, that the term No^ 
which the difciples of this philofopher interpreted mens 


/ / 


73 


79 


Thales ex aqua dixit conftare omnia. Cic. in Lucullo. 
Aquam initium rerum. Cic. deNat. Deorum. L. i. c. 10 

t cav 'Zjcci'Tcoi' vJcop. Diogen. Laert. Thales. 

If. ct Ofir. p. 364. 




ee p. 202. 


ratio. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


271 


ratio, intelledlus, was in reality the name of a perfon, and re¬ 
lated to the Patriarch. In the mean time I am well aware 

that Anaxagoras fuperadded vag, by which is meant thought 


and deftgn, to matter. Diogenes Laertius has 


very 


juft account of this philofopher’s opin 


So 


JJavTct •ygrifJLCt 


YjV Q’J.% * SlTOL vug eXGiOV CLVTOL 'GTOLg 0 xou Nas (AvaPcc- 

yogag) S 7 rsxXY}@i). Cicero fpeaks to the fame purpofe. 81 Anaxa- 

qui accepit ab Anaximene difciplinam, primus om- 


goras, 

nium rerum defcriptionem 
ratione deftgnari et confici 


Liodum mentis infinitse vi ae 


I 


efore 


not mean 


hiftory void, which is fo 
deferved great honour for embracin 


determinately affirmed 




n 

cl 


nd 


among 


h 


IS 


ntrymen this truth 


pi 


o- 


efoever h 


when he. or his followers, milled 


to make 
Anaxago 
mulging 

may have obtained 
by found, would a 

that Zeuth, or Prometheus, was by interpretation 
mens ; they are guilty of a great miftake. For what they 

ilolonhical fenfe, was the eternal 


this term 


fon 


fuppofe 




vaog 


•> 


call voog and vug in a pi 


Mind : 's 
different 


appropriate to a perfon, was a term of 


purp 


ort 


feb 


It 

tell 


was 


Hr ort 


s us, E pu 


proper 


When 


Aid" n 


[driuecx. Js Nay A\syov' cio xcu [j,v@svovtzi Tag avopdirag yera 


crQcti 


if we take the hiftory with 


will be found for the moft 


rut his comment, it 
Pile orig-inal account 


So 


Vol. I. p. S2. 


81 De Nat. 


eor. L. 1. c. 11. Plutarch, in Pericle. p. 154- 


O l Se ArctcExycpxici spy.r, vsv&gi mv t gv Alice' F lp 3 ,uvk£<z Je rc-?z* 2A53 ov — i 'lo kcci 

fjLifjzvovTcci arkpMTt'd; gTAaafcai, jctA. Euicfb. xdift. Synagoge. p. 374. 

Y]pGfjui$€vi rwf. Syncellus. p. 349. 

T1 {'OyAVJt'js yccp gpar a; bpcoTrji? 6 Eufe-b. Chron. p. 26 . 



272 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

was, that not only Zeus, or Zeuth, but alfo Prometheus, qui 
genus hominum refinxit, who renewed the race of man , was 
Noos, or Noah. Prometheus raifed the firft altar to the 
Gods ; conftru&ed the 83 firft fhip ; and tranfmitted to pofte- 
rity many ufeful inventions : 

* 

84 'urccvrct <rvX\Y)£$Y}v puGs, 

Hlaa'ca rsyycu figoroiariv sk II go(jur)0eas- 

Prometheus was fuppofed to have lived in the time of the 
deluge ; and to have been guardian of Egypt at that 85 fea- 
fon. His influence was limited to that region ; becaufe the 
later Egyptians, like the people of Phocis, Argos, Thefialy, 
and Dodona, confined the deluge to the boundaries of their 
own country. From thefe accounts we may plainly fee the 
perlbn, who is alluded to under the character of Prometheus. 
He was the fame as Gfiris ; the fame alfo as Dionufus, the 
great hufbandman, the planter of the vine, and inventer of 
the plough. But inftead of having the character of Dionufus 
juftly appropriated, we find him reprefented in the fame falfe 
light, as Prometheus. Accordingly Macrobius tells us, 86 Phy- 
fici Aiovvcrov, Aio$ vsv, dixerunt. Dios was the ancient term 
from whence came the word Deus : and the name of Dio¬ 
nufus relates not to voog, mens, but to Nufos, Noah ; being 
a compound of Dios-Nufos, for fo his name was properly 

Gcc^.<xcrao7r? ayxrrcc J* btis ccvt 

AiroTrTzp cvze vccutiAcov c^nyccTcc. .ZEfch. Prometh. p. 31* 

8+ Ibid. 

s * Diodorus Sic. L. 1. p. 16. 

86 Saturn. D. 1. c. 18. p. 201. The reafon, that he gives, is, becaufe Dionufus 
was the Sun ; and the Sun was five mundi mens. 

exprefied. 


9 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 273 

exprelTed. Hence Philoftratus fays, 87 Nutnos 0 A lOWTog oL7ro 

Trig sv I vtioig Nu<n)$ ovofJUX<^£Tou. This, as 88 I have obferved, is 
fo far true, that Dionufus was ftyled Nufius, and Nufus ; and 
explains the compofition of the former term. But it was 
not from the city Nufa in India, nor from any of the cities 

called Nufa, for there were many, that he had this name : 

% 

on the contrary, they were all denominated from him. And 

& 

this name was exprelTed Noa, Noos, Nous, Nus, Nufus ; and 
otherwife varied. This the Grecians might have known : 
but they feem induftrioufly to have adopted it in a wrong 
fenfe : and in confequence of it numberlefs abfurdities have 
arifen to the ruin of much good hiflory. By the help of the 
miftaken term voog or vug, and of its derivative poegog, and 

vorjTog, they pretend to find out much myfterious and recon¬ 
dite knowledge ; all which was utterly unknown to thofe, 
from whom they received their intelligence. There are 
numberlefs instances of this in Porphyry, and Jamblichus ; 
and in Proclus upon the Platonic philofophy. It is to be ob¬ 
ferved, that, when Chriftianity had introduced a more ra¬ 
tional fyftem, as well as a more refined worfhip, among man¬ 
kind ; the Pagans were ftruck with the fublimity of its 
dodtrines., and tried in their turns to refine. But their mif- 
fortune was, that they were obliged to abide by the theo¬ 
logy, which had been tranfmitted to them ; and to make the 
hiftory of the Gentile Gods the bafis of their procedure. 
This brought them into immenfe difficulties, and equal ab¬ 
furdities : while they laboured to folve, what was inexpli- 

87 Vita Apollon. L. 2. c. i. p. 56. 

See p. 209, 210. 

VOL. II. 


N n 


cable ; 



t 


274 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


cable ; and to remedy what was paft cure. Hence we meet 
with many dull and elaborate fophifms even in the great 
Plutarch : but many more in after times, among the writers. 


of whom I am fpeaking 


ally ringing the 


changes upon the terms voos, vosgos, and vorfcog : and explains, 
what is really a proper name, as if it fignifiedy^z/*?, and intel- 
leSi. In confequence of this he tries to fubtilize, and refine 
all the bafe iarsron about Saturn, and Zeus : 


fuade 


Zeus : and would per- 
that the moft idle and obfcene legends related to 
the divine mind, to the eternal wifdom, and fupremacy of 
the Deity. Thus he borrows many exalted notions from 
Chriftianity; and blends them with the bafeft allay, with 
the dregs of Pagan mythology. Whether I am in the right, 
let the reader judge from a part of the Fifth Book of Pro- 
clus, exprefsly upon this fubje£t. After having premifed, 
that Cronus was 'GrgooTigros fiotmXsvs toqv vospuv &eoov 9 and that 


b y 


binding his father 


be underftood a reafonable 


*5 


pprehenfion, or comprehenfion 5 he comes at laft to fpeak 


more fully 


90 


To < 3 g oCht$BS 60 Jg £%£*. N«£ USV 


K go 


'Wclvt ehu)s’ Nas < 5 g 6 [Asyifos "Zeds’ sjcotTsgos ecu, Jj 3^8 

itca vorfros ctvros. Hots yap v&s bis olvtov 


e7rB$£tt.7traLi 9 'ur^os 


<Te 


CCVTOP BTl^BCpsi, njfpoq 


KCLl 'UTPOS 70t 


60 


svsgysi. II gog Je bolvtov svBgywv 
&[u,ct K,ca voegov’ 'H pev vosi voegov 


9 K^orioi Sear fxoi [au^ixcos t vv ccivacrovTcci tb voyitb tbtb : to which 

the author adds this curious obfervation, itcti y&g o S'scrfjLos 'zuEpiPitv^is tcov guv- 
JeofAemv. Proclus in Platonis Theogon. L. 5. c. 5. p. 256. 

90 Ibid. 

♦ 

He fays of Law, N of^os stti Kgovx, Ns y&p £^iv 6 ropios S'lccvopai* A. L. 5. 
c. 9. p. 263. 

Yl$S 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


275 


'urctga, T8 [JLS 


ri$e voetrcu, you VQYfTov* '£2 you 6 Aiog mg exvTtp vug szi, you 

ictvTcp votjTon. *£2crai>Tws <Te you o Kgoviog mg soLvrcf vqy}Tov sgrt, 
you savvy mg' aXX’ 6 (jlsv fXoihAov mg' 6 Ss [lolWov voYfvog. Na 
r oivvv ovrog rs "Kgova, voYfca, Nag you 6 Zsvg Ssvregov, you 
vorftov' oChXa, you vorftov clvtw vosgov eft. 

N 0£i TOV S0LVT3 'UTOLTSgOL YLgOVOV 0 ZsVg' VQY}T0V [JLSV e?lV 0 

Kgovog, vug ih 6 Zsvg, yrX. 

ActfjJoctvav you c hibvou hsysTcu (o K govog) tw (3oc<ri?uyr)V ol^iolv, 
eyrsfAvoov ts ts 'urocrgog yovipov, eyTS[j,vo[JL£vog <Js 
yoiKs A log. 

After all this play upon the words voog, vosgog, and vorfoog, 
the whole is a miftake of a proper^iame, Noas, or Noah, the 
fame as Cronus. Many cities, temples and 91 rivers were 
denominated Noas, and Noa. The term thus applied could 
not relate to the mind ; but was a proper name, bellowed 
in memorial of a perfon. When therefore it is faid, eg^r\- 

vsvxtn Nav Tov A*a, the true hiftory will be found to be, that 
Noah by the ancients was reprefented under the charadter of 
Dis, or Dios, the fame as Zeus. And when writers men¬ 
tion Saturnus quail 9X Sator Na?, and Dionufus, 93 A tog Nag 1 ; 

and finally, when they defcribe Prometheus, YlgopriOsvg Nag, 

and FLgofJLi)$svg TOig ou/@goo7roig 6 Nag, the purport in thefe in- 
ftances is the fame. The original hiftory was undoubtedly 


91 Nb 4 ^^ 'z&otcluos. Hefych. 

91 Apollonius in Epico carmine fcribit Saturnum qnafi facrum vw .— aut Sa- 
torem vbv. Fulgent. Mytholog. c. 2, p. 628. 

93 Why Dionufus was Nous, or Noas, may be plainly feen in the hiftory given 
of him by the Indi in Arrian. Indica. p. 321. 

N n 2 


meant 



276 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

meant to fignify, that Saturnus, Cronus, Dionufus, and Pro¬ 
metheus, were different titles of the Patriarch, who was, 

* 

called Noos, Nous, and Nufus. 

w 

I cannot quit Proclus without taking notice of fome other 
infbinces of his refinement upon ancient tradition. Cronus 
was certainly Noah : and Proclus gives us this covert hiftory 
of him; 94 ’BatriAsvg K gov'og v7ros‘ctfrr i Q sg'i—rqg cty.Ei7\iKT& TgicJbg. 
What fome ufed by miftake to render i7\iyo$, and f.xsiKi’yiog, 
he has expreffed oafASiXucTog. This is a Grecian word formed 
from the ancient terms Melech, and Melechat, to which id 
had no relation. The purport of the mythology,, which he 
copied, may be eafily made out. It fignified that Cronus, 
or Noah, was the founder of the Royal Triad. Who were 
alluded to under this Triad, may, I think, be made out with¬ 
out much difficulty. They could be no other than the three 
fons of Noah, who were the Baalim of the Scriptures,-and the 
A oupoysg, and AQou/oltoi, of Greece. Conformably to this Pro¬ 
clus fays, that Cronus had the title of 95 Kogov.ovag ; which we 
may be affured was originally ULoigcivog 'Nag. By this is fig- 
nified the great Ruler , the head of all ; in other words the 
Patriarch IV 0 ah. As Cronus was no other than Zeus, we 
may find this account of the Triad further explained in the 
hiftory of the latter, and by the fame author. 96 Zzvg 0 'UTgo 

(or perhaps 6 'UTccrrjg) Toov Tgiwv, K goviS&v, arog. zgiv 6. TW oKcay 
ct)fuaeyog. Time, and all things, were by the ancients de— 

94 In Plat. Timsum. L. 5. c. 10. p. 265. See Radicals. Vol. 1. p. 70. Melech,. 

95 Ibid. 

g(> Ibid. L . 2. p. 95, 


duc.ed 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 




duced from Noah : hence they 


laft through their 


blind reverence to think him the real creator , h)fJU&gyog ; and 
that he contrived every thing in his chaotic cavern. 

97 T OLVTOL 'UrOLTt\e 'UT01Y\<TS H. OCT CL or7T£og Y\SgQ£l$£q. 

% 

4 

As all mankind proceeded from the three families, of which 
the Patriarch was the head ; we find this circumftance con¬ 
tinually alluded to by the antient mythologifts. And the 
three perfons, who firft conftituted thofe families, were looked 
upon both as Deities, and kings : fo that we may be pretty 
certain, that the A^siXiKTag "Tgiotg, however fophifticated, 
meant originally the Royal '"Triad. Proclus mentioning thofe, 
who were fuppofed to have the fuperintendency in the 
world, fays, 98 Tgsig yctg ©sa? eivou t ovTag, zou urcLgcc t o.ig ID- 

OcLyogsioig v^VB^zvag 61 ra fxsv hog N-a, ktX. He alfo in the 

fame place inquires, Ha <£s 01 TsTol^cl HA ocrcavi BaoyAsi?, ovg wreg 

79 Hotpot TITkoctojvi rgsig Bacn- 

A si- ycL(> zk TgiccJog tstpo'U- 


rov K.0 CT[jL0U OLVTOg CL^lOl TCCTTSIV 



Asa?, kou 'urct.g Ogcpsi rgeig .— IO! 

VCLl TOV OL£l(){JLQV T OV S 'BIOV. 

1 'Ev $£ h[JLCLg (2>0L<rtXsiOV 3 £1 
I am fenfible, that fome very 


Tads 'UTCLVTOL TSTVZTCLl 


perfons have thought 


that they difcovered an allufion to a my ft 


truth of 


r 


another 


the Triad of Plato, and of his follow 


97 Ibid. L. 2. p. 95 
9 * Ibid. 


99 


*po 


p. 94. 

P. 07. Naj mei* yccci 

v/ b ^ b 


L. 2 S' 


Ibid, 

1 Ibid. 


But 



278 The Analysis o # Ancient Mythology. 


But if we collate, what thefe writers have added by way of 
explanation, we fhall, I believe, find that they had no idea 
of any fuch myflery ; and that the whole of what they have 
faid is a refinement upon an ancient piece of hiftory. In 
fhort, the whole religion of the ancients confifted in Aou(jlq~ 

voX&Tgeict, the worship of Daemons : and to thofe perfonages 
their theology continually refers. They were, like the * Ma¬ 
nes and Lares of the Romans, fuppofed to be the fouls of 
men deceafed : and their department is thus defcribed by 
Plato, as he is quoted by Plutarch ; 3 Plato mentio7is the Dai- 
■moits as a race of Beings , by whom many things are difcovered , 
and many good offices done , to men : and he defcribes them as an 
order between men a?id Gods. They are the perfons , who by 
their mediation carry the vows and prayers of mortals to heaven : 
and in return bring down the droine 
fpecifies more particularly, who they were, and when they 
lived. 4 'Of fj,sv V7T0 K gov# ryctv : They lived in the time of 
Cronus ; in whofe reign was the golden age, when the life of 
anan was at its greateft extent. 

s A VTCtg S7TSI KBV T870 ySVOg KOLTCL yOUOL KCCXwtysV, 

'Of p.sv AcupLovss eun — 

E<r$A 0 f, STTl'gfioVlOtj q>V\ 0 LK£$ §Vr\TUV Otv0gW7TOOV. 

TV hen tbefe died , they became Daemons , a fet of benevolent 


behejls to earth. Hefiod 


d Arnob. L. 3. 

p. 124. 

1 Hpf/J}vsvTix,QV rro tciitov (0 HAaTwr) yevos^ x.cci diccxovixov^ gr /j.ecr& Gbcov 

&ca cti'9pcd7r&p‘ evicts /j.£v txet xou ctvfopooTrcov a.vcLTrtfxTrofA.zv'jov^ exejQev Se puctv - 

*tucl ftvpo. Ifis et Ofir. p. 361. from Plato’s Sympof. 

4 Opera et Dies*, v. m, 

5 Ibid. v. 121. 

6 SeingSy 


* Quofdam Genios, et functorum animas mortuorum. Varro apu 



279 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

beings , who rejided within the verge of the earthy and were 
guardians of mankind. Thefe were the BcvnXsig, or Royal 
perfonages, of Orpheus and Plato ; out of which was confti- 
tuted the ol[jlsiKutqs Tgictg of Proclus, called alfo 6 ^ voYft^ xou 

vosgoc T giag—rcav voYftm xou vosguv ®ec*)v. 

Something fimilar to the foregoing is to be found in a very 
learned Father, to whom in other refpedrs we are infinitely in¬ 
debted. Clemens of Alexandria, fpeaking of the Ark of 
Moles, cannot help mixing fome Egyptian notions in his dif- 
quilition about the purport of its name. Thele notions were 
borrowed from the traditions of the Mizraim concerning the 
Ark of Noah, which he has confounded with the other Ark. 
The Seventy have not diftinguifhed, as they fhould have 
done, between the two Arks ; but have tranllated each of 
them by the term KiSWo?, Cibotus. This has led the learned 
Father into fome unneceffary and ill-grounded refinements, 
in fpeaking of the Ark of God, which was made by Mofes : 
and he has adopted fome notions of his countrymen, which 
relate to another machine, to the Cibotus, in which man¬ 
kind were preferved. As his obfervations are in fome de¬ 
gree analogous to the extract, which I have given from Pro¬ 
clus, I will lay them before the reader. 6 7 A^lsivov ch Y)y 3 [JL 0 U 

TYiV K&oorov ex T8 *E Sgcbixs ovofxoirog ©jjSwta xotAsgoevriv cO\7\o 

Tl (TY)fJLOUVSlV. 'EgfAYl'jeVSTOU [A.EV SV OLv(f SVOg '5TCLVTUV T 07 TWV* E IT 

av Oy$oxg, xou o NOHTOS K oo'fj.og, sirs xcu o 'ursgi nranoov 
'srsgisxTog, cur w gYi[zctrig‘og rs, xou oLogoorog ^Kovrou ®sog y nx vw 

6 Proclus in Plat. Timieum. p. 94. Tag rot ]tccs T piccfct;. 

7 Strom. L. 5. p. 667. 

V7TSPZ£l<rQc0 



280 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

vxs^kzkt&m Kzysiv. What he here alludes to relates not to the 
Ark of the Ifraelites, of which he has been previoufly treat¬ 
ing ; but to the Ark of Noah. The eight perfons in this 
Ark formed the facred Ogdoas of the Egyptians ; which I 
have mentioned before. Clemens fpeaks of this Ogdoas, as 
the voy\7Q<; fco<rfj,og : which is certainly a fport of terms. The 
hiftory related to the whole of mankind inclofed together ; 
to the Noetic world, which confifted of 8 eight perfons fhut 
up in &y}£c*)@ci, the Arh. What is meant by iv tzvfi zvog 'GTolv- 

toov T07rwv, I do not pretend to decipher. The author feems 
to be fenlible, that he has been guilty of much unneceflary 

refinement; and he accordingly foon after makes a proper 

apology : 9 AAA’, oog eoucsv , sXccQov V7ro (piXori^uag cx.7rQ$£iKTi%yis 

'urzgouTsgw ra cizovrog 'smgsx.Soig, 

8 Ojctco Je (fvcri to,; 'Ztrccaccs ccvBpco7rccv eu tyi K i£ootco SiccfreacioaQcLi .--— Oktco e*» 

'z&ctacct ■^v'xcti a.vbpoj7T£ov S'ieo'ooQriaccv^ ?ctA. Theophilus and Autolyc. L. 3, p. 391* 

9 Strom. L. 5. p. 679. 


♦ 


JONAH, 



JONAH, mr, CHALDIORUM: 


* 


A Continuation of the Gentile History 

of the Deluge. 


Non res ipfas gefias finxerunt Poetce ; fed rebus gejlis 
addiderunt quejidam colorem. 

Ladtant. de Falfa Relig. L. i. c. 2 . 

% 

9 

A S the Deluge was fo extenfive, and at the fame time fo 

fatal in its confequences , I took notice that it mu ft 
have left lading impreftions upon the minds of thofe, who 
had been witnefles to the great event : that the prefervation 
of the few perfons, who furvived, muft have been followed 
with continual reftedtions upon the means, by which their 
deliverance was eftedted; and thefe attended with a reve¬ 
rential awe, and many fearful fenfations. The like impref- 
ftons, I fhould imagine, muft have been tranfmitted to their 
pofterity : and upon their defedtion from the worfhip of the 
true God, one might -naturally fuppofe, that one fpecies of 
idolatry would confift in an undue reverence paid to the Pa¬ 
triarch, the father of mankind ; and in rites and myfteries 
Vol. II. O o eftablifhed 


282 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


eftablilhed in allufton to bis wonderful prefervation. If 
there had been no accounts of any fuch regard and affedfcing 
remembrance transmitted to us from the writers of the Gen¬ 
tile world ; yet we might be allured that this muft have 
been the cafe, from the nature and extent of the calamity. 
But I have proceeded farther ; and have endeavoured to fhew, 
not only that many memorials were for a long time reli- 
gioufty preferved 5 but that they ftill are to be found : that, 
by arranging and comparing the mythology of ancient times,, 
we may ftill perceive traces of this hiftory; the principal cir- 
cumftances of which are continually obfervable in the rites 
and ceremonies of the firft ages. I have taken notice of 
many temples and cities, which were built in memory of the 
Ark and Deluge ; and called Aren, Theba, Argus,, Cibotus, 
lolcus, Baris : and of others manifeftly denominated from 
Noah. It has alfo been obferved, that an ark or fhip was 
made ufe of as a facred emblem in the rites of Ilis and Oftris. 
The like cuftom prevailed in the Dionufia, and at the fefti- 
vals of other Deities. It may therefore be fuppofed, that 
the hiftory of the Dove, and of the Iris, could not fail of 
being recorded, where the memory of the other circum- 
fbinces was fo carefully preferved. The latter was an em¬ 
blem of great confequence; having been appointed as a token 
oi a covenant between God and man : and it will be found 
to have been held in uncommon regard for ages. The Dove, 
which returned to Noah with a leaf of olive, and brought 
the firft tidings that the waters of the deep were aftwaged, 
was held in many nations as particularly facred. It was 
looked upon as a peculiar meftenger of the Deity ; and an 

9 emblem 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


283 


emblem of peace, and good fortune. But the raven, which, 
difappointed the hopes repofed in him, and which never re¬ 
turned, was held in a different light ; and was for the moft 
part efteemed a 1 * bird of ill omen. 

The name of the Dove among; the ancient Amonians was 

CD 

Ion, and lonah; fometimes expreffed lonas, from whence 
came the Oivotg, a Oinaa, of the Greeks. It was efteemed 
an interpreter of the will of the Gods to man ; and on that 
account in the firft ages was looked upon as a bird of pre- 
fage. Among mariners it was thought to be particularly 
aufpicious : who in their voyages ufed to let a dove or pigeon 
fly from their fhips, in order to judge from its movements 
of the fuccefs of their voyage. The moft favourable feafon 
for fetting fail was at the Heliacal riling of the feven ftars 
near The head of Taurus : and they are in confequence of it 
called 3 Peleiades, or the Doves. It was at the time of their 
appearance that the Argonauts were fuppofed to have fet 
out upon their expedition. 4 A pog <T cuvreXhovTi UEAeictfeg. 
Tots <T g|U,M]<r^crai/ 01 A^y ov dlvtou isrA £V<rsoog. It was thought 
a fortunate time for navigation in general: as we may learn 

1 The raven however did not intirely lofe its credit. It was efteemed an augural 
bird i and is faid to have preceded, and directed the colony, which Battus led to 
Cyrene. 

Kct; A.i£vy)v zctiovti xopa,^ tiyvc-czTo A ccco^ 

oiKicryg. Callim. Hymn, in Apoll. v. 66. 

* O ivccs' eiS'os 'ztjc.piq-'egccs ctypiczs. Hefych. 

3 The Peleiades, fometimes expreffed Pleiades, are faid to have been the daugh¬ 
ters of Atlas by the Nymph Pleione. 

According to Pherecydes Syrus, they were daughters of Lycurgus, and nurfes 
of Dionufus. 

4 Theocriti Idyll. 13. v. 25. and Scholia ibid. 

O O 2 


from 



284 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


from 5 Ovid. The Argonauts are moreover faid in a time of 
difficulty and danger to have made the fame experiment with 
a 6 dove, as was fuppofed to have been made by Deucalion ; 
and to have formed from it the like fortunate prefage. The 
colony, which fettled at Cumae in Italy, went by the direc¬ 
tion of a 7 Dove. 


From the propl 


bird lonah and Ionas, the Greeks 


formed many terms, which related to augury; fuch as 8 Oivctg 


yzvog xogazog' 01 ds ctygictv •sregts'sgctx. O si$og zctpctKog, 

O lOQVOl, df OOV OlWfJLzdot TOt (JtehhovTct. Qioovog, O<pig. 

As the Dove was efteemed the interpreter of the will 
of the Deity; the priefts and foothfayers were from that 
circumftance ftyled lonah, or Doves. And as Theba iri 


yp t 


was 


ginally the temple of the ark 


to look for priefts of this denomination in a fancftuary of 

truly infer that 


that 


name 


We 


ay upon inquiry very 


there were perfons in this place ftyled lonah ; which by the 
Greeks was rendered UsKsicu kou Tgr)goovsg, Doves and Pi¬ 


geons . 

o 


faid 


fome of this order carried the 


of 


Theba, or the ark, to Libya: and that others brought them 


to Dodona in Ep 


where Deucalion was fuppofed to 


have fettled ; and where was the moji a 7 icient orac\ 
of Greece , 9 CLgyctiorotTov roov sv 'EAAjjct; r YPY\s‘Y)piwv 


temp.lt 


It 


was 


5 Fafti. I,. 5. v. 65. 

6 Apollonius Rhod. L. 2. v. 328. 

Oibjyu £n 'zzrgcabe Yle\ei<x£i uyeigYio’ctebe. and v. 564. 

Plutarch. Lib. Utrum terreftria, &c. 'mepi^epccv ex tvs AAPNAKOS ctcpte/x.ernv 

yevecrQxi, %zif/Mvos fxev sicrcti Air evS'uoj/.ern r, evS'iae S'e oiir ottto.< 7ccv . p. 968. 

1 Velleius Paterc. L. 1. c. 4. 

* Hefychius. 

9 Herodot. L. 2. c. 52. 


founded 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


285 

founded by Cuthites, who were ilyled 10 Ellopians, Pierians, 
Cadmians. They brought with them the memorials of the 
Dove, and Ark ; and the whole hiftory of the Deluge, from 
the Thebais of Egypt. The women, who officiated in theffi 
temples, were, from the nature of their department, called 
TLeXstcu, and UsXsia.S'es ; which the Latines rendered Co- 
lumbae : and they are under that title alluded to by the poet 
Silius Italicus; who mentions particularly, that they came 
originally from Theba. 

” Nam cui dona Jovis non divulgata per orbem. 

In gremio ‘Thebes geminas (edifle Columbas ? 

Quarum Chaonias pennis quae contigit oras, 

Implet fatidico Dodonida murmure quercum. 

At quae Carpathium &c. 

Marmaricis ales populis refponfa canebat. 

Paufanias mentions, that the Peleiades were the moil an¬ 
cient propheteffes at Dodona in Chaonia ; even antecedent to 
the celebrated Phaemonoe. He fays, that they were women: 
and the firft oracle, which they exhibited, feems to relate to 
the re-eftablifhment of Zeuth, and the reftoration of the 
earth to its prifline ftate. 

Zbvq w, Zsvg e?i 7 Zevg scrarsTcu' 00 fjLsycthB Zsv' 

Tot K0Lg7T%g CCVlEly blQ ZXYj^BTS [JLYfT£gOL yOUOLV . 


10 See the MeyccAcci Ho.'a/., quoted by the Scholiaft on Sophocl. Trachin. v. riS^. 

Uq~L TEAA OTTiVl 'ZF.oXu&moSy ZvAeifJ.&Vy 

A<pvew fJLY)?^otcri — 

I ii’bcc t€ Z^ajJ'ooyy). tc. t. A. 

” Silius Italic. L, 3. v. 67S. 


The 



286 


The Analysis of Ancient ’Mytholo&y. 


The former part of this oracle feems to be in fome degree 
analogous to the words made ufe of by the pried; in the 
myderies at Eleufis.: 

r ~ SaffBire [J.VSOU. t a Sha crscrwcrptara. 


There is in both an allufion 


and 


his 


y from a 


da 


dances are 
Dionufus, 


Oil 


r obfervable 
three titles 


le a<pavi(r[JLO.s of the Deity, 
of death : which circum- 
in the hidory of Zeuth, 
out of many, relating to 


fame perfon. For in all the mythology of the ancients 
mud look upon the great Patriarch as the ultimate, ii 

terminates. He, and fome of his princi 


the hidory 


pal 13 defcend 
and named B 


were deified by 


-jud 


poderity 


and 


By the Greeks he was called 


Cronus; and thefe his defendants Cronidas, :K povifou 


: who 

A oufJLoveg, Gods and 
Demons. He was the father of mankind ; and in him the 


were alfo peculiarly dyled, Ada.va.Toi 


world was renewed : but his fons, 


allow him 


this honour, have reprefented him as the God of nature, the 


creator of 


thing 


*4 


urgo Tgiw K povifrav. O VTog 


'£V oXwv ^(Lis^yog. Hence the poet dyles him 

Zi^a ts pj Tiosvra ©saw 'ura.Tsg mi av^cav. 

rvius takes notice of the doves at IS Theba : but 


as it 


** Jul. Firmicus. p. 45. 

** * ^ ave mentioned, that by the Baalim were fignified Noah and his three fons : 

but there is ieaion to think, that fome of the pofterity of Ham were taken into 
.the number. 

14 Procl. in Platon. Timseum. p. 95. 

15 In'Virg. JEneid. L. 3. v. 4G6. 


was 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 287 


was ufual with the ancients to form perfonages out of every 
obfolete term, he makes Theba, a woman ; and fuppofes her 
to have been the daughter of the Deity, who gave her two 
prophetic doves for a prefent. One of thefe, it is faid, flew 
away to Dodona. Jupiter quondam Thebae filise tribuit: 
duas Columbas, humanam vocem edentes: quarum altera 
pervolavit in Dodonam, glandiferam fylvam Epiri. Sopho^- 
eles mentions thefe facred doves, and the vocal grove, where, 
they refided.: 

j6 '£ls tw 'uroiXcuctv (pvyov ou>JVjc rou 'utot s 
AwJ'ww J'itrcrwi' ex UeXeictdwv sq>%. 


But the belt account of this oracle at Dodona is to be found 
in Herodotus. He not only fhews that it came from Thebes 
in Egypt ; but mentions the particular rout, by which the 
rites were brought : and intimates, that they came from 
Egypt to Phenicia, and from; thence to Greece; at leaft 
through the- hands of Phenicians. He firft prefents his 
reader with the Grecian hiflory of the oracle, as he had it 
from the people of the place. 17 The principal of the priefteffes 
at Dodona give out , that two black 'pigeons took their flight from 
‘Thebes in Egypt : and that one of them be?it its courfe to Libya ; 
but that the other betook itfelf to Dodojta. That upon its arrival 
it fettled upon a beech tree , and fpoke with an human voice , Jig- 


1 6 


Sophocles. Trachin. v. 174. See Scholia. 


17 Taj's /HcoSoo roctccv (pcccn ai 'zzr go jjlcl vT ies , Suo YleXeictSccs yU.sAa./1'as tgqv Ax- 


yvTTTHa'v ava.TTTOfj.eva^ T?jy fxtv ccutbuv es AtCvnv^ tm St 'urxc.cc crzeczs cc,?rr,iecrQxT 
ULVAV Ss fJAV £7TI (fwyov auSct^ctcrQoci (p&n 1 aiGpwTTW/^ cos tin y.ccr'TiUzv clvtc c Jl 

/Liz* ycvsa Oa/. Herod. L. 2. c. 55. 





288 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

nifymg, how necejfary it was that there Jhould be an oracular 
temple founded in that place to Zeuth. The other account is 
from the people of Egypt, who explain very fatisfadtorily the 
iiory of thefe black doves. 18 'The priefs of Zeuth at Thebes 
gave this hifiojy of the oracle at JDodona . Two of the facred 
women , who officiated at the temple of Zeuth at Thebes , were 
carried away from Egypt by fome 19 Phenicians. And it was 
reported^ that one of them was fold in Libya ; but the other was 
carjded into Greece. Thefe were the women , who firf founded 
the oracles in the countries here fpecified. 

We learn from the foregoing, that the perfons, who ad¬ 
ministered to the Deity, were ftyled Peleise, ITsAaai, and 

II sKaoiS'sg ; which was a tranilation of the Ionah and Ibnim, 
introduced from Egypt and Chaldea. They were fometimes 
fpoken of as the daughters of the Deity: at other times, from 
the fervices, which they performed, they were reprefented as 
the nurfes. Hence arofe the notion, that Zeuth was fed by 
doves ; and, according to Mcero Byzantina, in Crete. 

5,0 T o'J (JL5V agz Tgrjgcfjvsg vtto £&vzw rgzpov cLVTgp, 

A[jLbgoctriv (poge's<Tou cltc uksclvoiq poctcoy. 

# 

This is more truly reprefented in Homer; who alludes to 


\l(pct.acy,v 01 Jffr* t-J 0 arso‘ Jvo 'cukcls ipr,icce ex ©7iSsccv s^ci^bwcct uto 

<l'CtViV.OCv' X-TZl TaV /Z V ^ 1 )T£o Y <Zn vO • G 0 CU AlC VitV 'ZTTfr.Qz IC7CCV* TYiV e> TV* 


r Tv 


'Tctv'ra* S e Tctt vvcuxcct ercu Tec* idjjo ct}J.€vcG t cl /j.'z.vTiuzc. 'ztr ocor cce ev t 01^1 etgwy.ei'Oicri 
eOn(71. ricrntlot. I... 2. c. 54. 

19 (pentx-f llojr.ee mot Eulebius and Syncellus : thofe oricinal Phenicians, who 

' O ' 

came from lvsypt to Syria, and from thence to Greece. They were the fame as the 
Cuthite Shepherds. 

20 Athenarus. Lib. 11. p. 491. 


the 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


289 


the priefts under the character of Hsheiou T gqgcavsg, or doves : 
and he fays that they adminiftered to Zeuth in that capacity, 
of whom he fpeaks as their father: for priefts and votaries 
were often ftyled the fons and the daughters of the Deity, 
whom they ferved. 


21 


'ursKaou 


T^upsg, tout ol^£% o<riY\v An 'urccrgi cpsgxTiv 


From hence we may folve the queftion put by Alexander to 
Ariftotle upon this fubjedt : though in fome degree it ex¬ 
plains itfelf from the manner, in which it is ftated. 

T 1 0 Tlowns 'GTsXeictfitx.g sttohjcts Trig Tgcxpqg tup ®suv houiov&g ; 

why does the Poet make doves the minifters of food to the Gods 
The Peleiades were priefts under the charadteriftic of doves : 
and they were faid to be S'icucovoi Trig Tgopvg tup ®eup, becaufe 
they really did adminifter to the Gods g and offered up cakes 
and fruits at their fhrines, attended with libations of wine, 
oil, and honey. 

The Egyptian priefts feem td have been alfo denominated 
from their complexion crows, or ravens. Strabo has a par¬ 
ticular paflage about Alexander; that upon his expedition 
to the temple of Ammon, he was condudted by two crows. 
Curtius fays, that, upon his approach, a good number went 
out to meet him. s+ Jam haud procul oraculi fede aberant, 
cum complures Corvi agmini occurrunt, modico volatu, &c. 


Homer. OdyfT. M. v. 62. 

“ Ptolemseus Hephseftion apud Photium. L. 1. p. 474. 

Strabo. L. 17. p. 1168. 
x * Curtius. L. 4. c. 7, 

VOL. 11. 


Pp 


Thefe 



290 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


Thefe crows, like the black doves, were certainly the priefts 
of the place. So Callifthenes in Plutarch : as Kopouesg £%$&- 

vsvrsg vk dKcLp£ctv av TY)V qy s p.ov iclv rr\g 'urogeia.g* 

From thefe circumftances ill underftood people feigned 
that in thefe places, where the name of the Peleiades and 
Trerones occurred, there had been perfons turned into doves 
and pigeons. Hence arofe the fable of Ctefilla in Ovid : 


Tranfit et antiquae Cartheia mcenia Cese, 

Qua pater Alcidamas placidam de corpore natae 
Miraturus erat nafci potuiffe Columbam. 


The like hiffcory is told of the Oenotropae, who were the 
daughters of Anius, Prieft to Apollo at Delos: 


17 pennas fumpfere ; tuaeque 
Conjugis in volucres, niveas abiere Columbas. 

The Meneiadae, who were priefts and prieftefles of Menes, 
were faid to have been changed into * 8 birds ; beeaufe, like 
the abovementioned perfons, they were Ionim. Thofe ftyled 
Peleiai and Peleiades. were certainly female attendants ; pro- 
phetefies, by whom the oracles of the Deity were promulged. 
This is manifefk from Hefychius, who interprets the title in 
this manner; though he feems to confine it to Dodona. 
HzXeiou. 'Wsgig'zga.f aca oil ev Acctimy SsG’Tri^strou potvT&g. The 
Peleiai were a fpecies of doves ; and the priejlejj'es at Do dona ^ 


25 


s.6 


2-7 


*8 


In Alexand. v. 1. p. 680. 

Ovid. Metamorph. L. 7. v. 368. 

Ovid. Metamorph. L. 13. v. 673. 

Antoninus Liberalis. c. 10. p. 48. from Nicander and Comma, 


IO 


who 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 291 

who gave out oracles, were Jo denominated Servius likewife 
fpeaks to the fame purpofe, when he mentions the Chaonian 
doves of that temple. 19 Chaonias autem Epiroticas : nam in 
Epiro dicitur nemus fuiffe, in quo refponfa dabant Colum- 
bas : quod ideo fingitur, quia lingua Theftala Peleiades et 
Columbaj et vaticinatrices vocantur. Herodotus hanc Co- 
lumbam de iEgypto venifte ait. They are mentioned by He¬ 
rodotus in the plural; who fpecifies, that they were women, 
fJLsKoavag, of a dark complexion , who came originally from. 
Egypt. He fuppofes, that their being foreigners was the rea- 
fon of their being ftyled doves. 30 Yleheiodisg 8s fJLOt 8ox,s&<ri 

KXrjOrivcu 'urgog AwdWeuuv S7n rs8s di yvvouKsg, 81071 B 

r\<TOLv. Why he ffiould deduce their names from this circum- 
ftance, I know not: they were certainly fo denominated from 
the nature of their office and worffiip. They gave out the 
oracles, and adminiftered at the altar: whence they were 
faid to feed Zeuth. And as in many temples the Deity was 
reprefented under the fymbol of a dove, he was fuppofed to 
have taken the fhape of that bird. Hence it was faid of 
31 Zeuth himfelf, that he was changed into a pigeon : which 
notion prevailed in Achaia; * and particularly among the peo¬ 
ple of ffigium. 

The ancient and true name of the dove was, as I have 

9 

fhewn, Ionah, and Ionas. It was a very facred emblem, and 
feems to have been at one time almoft univerfally received. 
For not only the Mizraim, and the reft of the line of Ham, 


* 9 In Virgil. Eclog. 9. v. 13. 

30 Herodotus. L. 2. c. 57. 

31 Athenaeus. L. 9. p. 395. 


p p 2 


efteemed 



292 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

efteemed it in this light ; but it was admitted as an hiero¬ 
glyphic among the Hebrews : and the myftic dove was re¬ 
garded as a fymbol from the days of Noah by all thofe, who 
were of the Church of God. The Prophet, who was fent 
upon an embaiTy to the Ninivites, is flyled Ionas : a title 
probably bellowed upon him, as a melfenger of the Deity. 
The great Patriarch, who preached righteoufnefs to the An¬ 
tediluvians, is by Berofus and Abydenus llyled 32 Qan, and 
Cannes, which is the fame name as Jonah. The author of 
the Apocalypfe is denominated in the like manner : whom 
the Greeks ftyle I eaavviis, Joannes. And when the great fore¬ 
runner of our Saviour was to be named ; his Father induftri- 
oufly called him 33 1 oouvvx)S y for the fame reafon. The circum- 
ftances, with which the impolltion of this name was attended, 
are remarkable ; and the whole procefs, as defcribed by the 
Evangelift, well worth our notice. 34 And it ca7ne to pafs y 
that on the eighth day they came to circu?ncife the child: and 
they called him Zacharias after the name of his father.. And 
his mother anfwered and faid , Not fo ; but he fhall be called 
Joh 72. And they faid unto her , There is 72one of thy kindred 
that is called by this 7ia7ne. A?id they 7nade. fg? 2 s to his father , 
how he would have hhn called. And he ajked for a writing 
table ; and wrote , faying , his na7iie. is John. Atid they 7nar— 
veiled all. 

31 He is mentioned as having appeared both before and after the flood. Er cTs 
too 'uTpaoTa) evtccvTu (pccvTjrcci ex. Trje E pvQpas SrccXcco’O’ws —— a(ppsvov. (lege- e/x<ppovGv) m 

orcfxccn Clcow.nw Alexand. Poly hi ft. apud Eufeb.. Chron. p.. 6.. 

5; ’ The name was impofed antecedent to his birth.. 

3+ Luke. c. i. v. 59, &c. This was by the appointment of God 5 * and enjoined 
by the Angel, v. iq. 

The 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 293 

The reafon of this name being fo particularly impofed 
may be inferred from the character given of the perfon : 
3S And thou , child, Jhalt be called the Prophet of the High eft ; 
for thou fhalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his 
ways. And in another place we are told, that John 36 was 
a Prophet, and much more than a Prophet.—For I fay u?ito 
you, (they are the words of our blefled Saviour) A?nong thofe 
that are horn of women y there is not a greater Prophet than 
John the Baptift. This name, which we render John, I have 
fhewn to be no other than Iona. It lignifies a dove : but 
means likewife an oracular perfon \ by whom the voice of 
the mod High is made known, and his will explained. 
And from hence, I think, we may corred a pallage in 
Hefychius, which at prefent is not a little confufed. loovctg 

igfAY)vevsTui 'T 'urovxvTog, 'Gregig'ega, 'srgo<pr)Ti)g r nrocg 'E Egou- 
oig. The word ~'UTgo(pY}Trig feems to have been mifplaced, 
and fhould be reduced to order : and for the word urovznog, 
I think we fhould read qoovzvTog ; and the text will Hand 
thus : I oovocg, *T cpuvisvTog 'UTgo<pY)TY\g, Y] 'uregig'Ega, 'UTolq 
*Eb^a lOLg, Among the Hebrews the word Ionas fgnifies a re- 


35 Luke. c. 1. v. 76. 

36 Luke. c. 7. v. 26 and 28. 


When Chrift: puts the queftion to Ills difciplcs*’ 


Whom fay ye that I am? St. Peter makes anfwer, Thou art the Chrift , the Son of the 
living God . Upon which our Saviour gives him afTurances, that he is right; and 
fays, Bleffed art thou , Simon Bar-Ton a ; Mat. c. 16. v. 17. which I fhould interpret 
the fon of the dove, that is, a meflenger of glad tidings. 

The fymbol of the dove was not borrowed from Egypt, or any of the Gentile 
nations. It was always an emblem of peace; and of the Holy Spirit in the Church 
of God : and was from thence taken, and proftituted by other people ; as were alfo 
other emblems. 


veal or 



294 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

vealer of the will, or the voice , of the mofl High : alfj a pigeon 
or dove . 

The Patriarch Noah feems to have been the firft, who was 
in the Gentile world typified under this emblem. He was a 
great prophet: and it was foretold at his birth, that he fhould 
bring peace and comfort to mankind. The purport of his 
name was reft from labour. 37 Nwg 'E os sgsvsrcu 

Ttj ‘EAAac^ yXuxTcrYi OLVOuraverts. Hence the dove became an 
emblem of 38 peace, as well as of the perfon, through whom 
it was derived to the earth. He was in confequence of it 
called Oan and Oanes, by Abydenus and Alexander Poly- 
hiftor, analagous to the I molvvy\s of the Greeks : both of which 
names were derived from the Ionah and Ionas of the Chal¬ 
dees : and the terms undoubtedly were fo exprefled in the 

language, 
the Greeks. 

We find then, that the dove was a truly facred fymbol ; 
and fo acknowledged in the times of the moft pure worfhip. 
But the fons of Ham perverted that, which was intended to 
be only typical ; and carried their regard for it to a degree 
of idolatrous veneration. They inhabited the regions of 



from whence the hiftory is borrowed by 


37 Theophilus ad Autolyc. L. 3. p. 391. 

38 The Pfalmift does not wifh for the wings of the Falcon or Eagle, but for 
thofe of a dove ; to waft him to a place of peace : 0 h 7 that I had wings like a dove: 
for then would I fly away , and he at reft . Pfalm. 55. v. 6 . Doves were typically of¬ 
fered according to the Levitical Law: two turtles , or two young pigeons. Levi¬ 
ticus, c. 12. v. 8. iEfculapius, the great Phyfician, was expofed, when a child, 
and preferved by his nurfe, who was named T puycov, the dove . Paufan. L. 8. 
p. 651. 


Chaldea, 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


295 


Chaldea, and Babylonia, where they conftituted the firft 
kingdom upon earth: and as they preferved the moft early 
accounts of what had happened in the world, we muft to 
them have recourfe for the Gentile hiftory of the Deluge, 
and for the origin of thofe rites, and myfteries, which in 
confequence of it prevailed. I think, we may fee plainly, 
from the accounts given by Abydenus, and Berofus, that, 
before letters were introduced among the eaftern nations, 
there had been delineated in fome temple, an hieroglyphical 
defcription of the creation, as well as of the deftrucftion of 
mankind by a deluge : and it is probable, that the like re- 
prefentations were to be found in other places. Thefe were 
either painted upon walls, or engraved on 39 obelilks, and 
facred pillars. There is an account given by the prophet 
Ezekiel, in which we may obferve fome allufions to thefo 
hieroglyphics, and to the idolatry, which refulted from 
them. He is fpeaking of Judah under the character of Aho- 
libah y who, not taking warning from the ruin of her lifter 
Iifrael, was purfuing the fome courfe of wickednefs and idola¬ 
try. The particulars of her defection are mentioned; which 
feem to have conlifted in an idolatrous veneration for the 
hieroglyphical paintings of Chaldea. 40 ^4nd when her JJler 

Jlhalibah Jaw this , Jhe was more corrupt in her inordinate love , 
than Jhe ; and in her whoredo?7is y than her JtJler i?i her whore - 

39 An obelifk in Babylon was faidto have been erefted by Semi rami s. It was 
125 feet long, and 25 feet at the bafis. Diodorus Sic. L. 2. p. 100. As - this was 
efteemed a work of the higheft antiquity^ it probably related to die hiftory, of 
which I have been fpeaking. 

40 Ezekiel, c. 23. v. xi. alfo c. 8. v. 10. 

doms* — 

♦ 



296 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


dotns 


p For when foe faw 7nen pourtrayed upon the wall , the 
ages of the Chaldeans pourtrayed with vermilion, girded with 
dies upon their loins, exceedmg in dyed attire upon their heads , 
of them prmces to look to, after the mamier of the Babylo?tians 


of Chaldea 



as oon 


foe faw them with her eyes, foe doted 


upo?i them, and font meffenge? 
the Babylonians came to her in 


them into Chaldea 


alieyiated , £§f c 


-And 

and her mmd 
was a fpiritual whoredom, of which 


the bed of 


Judah was accufed ; an alienation from the true God, and an 
attachment to idolatry. Therefore thefe images delineated 
upon the walls in Chaldea mull have been religious hierogly- 


phical paintings 


prefentations of the Baalim, with which 


Judah was fo bafely inamoured. 

From defcriptions of this fort, which were imperfectly 
underftood, the hiftories of Sanchoniathon, Berofus, Aby- 


denus, and Apollodorus are borrowed 


thefe writings we 


meet with 


affemblage of inconfiftent imagery 


becaule 


the emblematical defcript 


were 


by 


length of time be 


come obfolete ; and their purport difficult to be underftood 

_ t • 

We may however perceive, that the Patriarch was the prin- 


pal perfon in thefe hiftories 


and 


prefented with two 


42 


heads 


with which he doubtlefs looked both forward and 


backward, in reference to the antediluvian, and poftdiluvian 

He is alfo defcribed as an animal of the fea, but en- 


world 


dowed with reafon ; who appeared twice, and preached to 


41 EiS'ev ctrSpots t&ypocqwy.sr&s stti ts toi%u, eixovccs XaAc Pccioov e^uyga.qmy.ev8s ev 
2 ptx.qdS'i. LXX. Interp. ibid. See Nonnus. L. 41. p. 1074. v. 9. 

4i Eufebii Chron. p. 6. 

Dag-On is Ofiris in the fliape of a fifli. Deus Cetus. Dagon frumenti repertor, 
et aratri. Sanchoniathon apud Eufeb. P. E. L. 1. c. 10. p. 36. 

7 depicted 



e 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 297 

the fons of men about righteoufnefs and truth. He was alfo 
depicted as a fifh : and fometinies as half a fifh, and half a 
man, of an amphibious nature. That thefe defcriptions 
were taken from ancient emblems, may be proved from Be- 
rofus : for having reprefented Oan with the head of a fifh, 
and of a man, and, to psv aA^o (rupee I’gftvog, as to the reft of 

his figure a fifh ; he fays at the clofe, tijvJs move*, olvtz st* tcca 
vvv $ioL<pvXct,<r<Tz&ou (zv B ct&v'hwvi) : the reprefentation of this per- 
fon with the parts both of a man and of a fifth was to be feen 
in his time : and, as he intimates, in the city of Babylon. 
The name of this amphibious Being is faid to have been 
SI aouicaVy Odacon : which is a blunder of fome tranferiber for 
6 A outuv or Aceyuv, the God Dagon. They aferibed to this 
Deity the invention of many arts ; particularly, the con- 
ftru&ion of the plough, and the introduction of bread corn. 
Thefe were benefits, attributed alfo to Zeuth, ftyled 'Zzvg 

ctygiog, Zzvg Nopiog, Zzvg ctgorgiog, and likewife to Ofiris. 
+3 Primus aratra manu folerti fecit Ofiris. They were all the 
fame Deity, who was worfhiped in Egypt under many titles, 
but particularly that of On. Dagon is a compound, which 
is made up of Dag-On ; and denotes the God On in the 
femblance of j-v Dag, a fifh: and we find that the chief 
Deity of Gath and Afcalon in Paleftine, and of many cities 
in Syria, was worfhiped under this form ; having tliC upper 
parts of a man, but below the figure of a fifh. He was 
likewife called Said-On, and Sidon ; which is a name pre- 

45 Tibull. L. 1. Eleg. S. v . 29. 

44 31 , Dag, et DJI, Dagah, pifeis interpretatur. Selden de Diis Syris. Syntag. 
2. p. 188. 

Vol. II. ' Q^q cifely 



e> 


1298 


The Awaivsjs ov Ancient Mythology. 


cifely of the fame purport. Philo Biblius acknowledges that 
Dagon and Sid on were the fame : but fup poling the latter 
to relate to corn, he terms it 2*7as if it were of Grecian 
etymology. Herein we may fee the futility of thofe trans¬ 
lators, who would reduce every thing to their own language.. 
What he renders Siton, and derives from <r*7G£, corn, was in 
the original Sidon, or Saidon: and Sanchoniathon, from 
whom he copied, intended to Shew that Said-On*, and 45 Dag- 
On were equivalent terms; and that both referred to one 
perfon worfhiped under the character of a fitfh : both Dag and 
Said fignifying, in the language of Syria and Paleffine, a fifh* 

4 

The true name of the ancient city Sidon was Saidon j and it 


is ftill called Said : which name, as we are informed by 


46 


Juf- 


tin and other writers, related to fifh : though they did not 
know precifely in what the reference confiffced. The fame 
Deity was ftyled Atargatis, fometimes contracted Dercetis. 
and Dercetus : and worfhiped under the fame mixed figure^ 
Atargatis, ftyled Dercetus, is a compound of Atar or Athar, 
the fame as On and Oftris j and of Gatus or Catus, rendered 
’KrjT-og by the lonians, a fiilu Dagon, Sidon,. Dercetus, were 


45 Sidon, vel Saidon* a pifcatione. Bochart. Geog. Sacr. L. 4, p. 302- 
Dagon was worfhiped in many places : his tempte Beth-Dagon. flood in a part of 

Canaan, which afterwards belonged to the tribe of Judah, and gave name to a city, 
Jolhua c. 15. v. 41. There was another in the tribe of Afer,. Jofhua c, 1.9, v. 27-* 
See Reland. 

The fame worfhip was undoubtedly inftituted at Bethfaid'a if* Galilee* which fig- 
nifies the temple of Cetus or Dagom Mattv c. xi. v. 21. 

The author of the EtymoL Magn. confounds Dagon with his temple; and fup- 
pofes him to have been the God Cronus : B nTaycov? c* Kgovo$ vnro QoivtKoov. Bat ccy^v 
is for Bet-Dagon, the temple of the deity,. 

46 Juftia. L. 18, c. 3. 


all 






The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 29^ 

all names of the fame 4-7 hieroglyphic; and related to the 
perfbn, called Oanes by Berofus and others ; and alfo to the 
machine, wherein he was preferred. He lived both before 
and after the flood : and was reprefented at Babylon with two 
heads, oCKhty itzcpoChty vttqiloltciq tb lyjQvog xs<pa?u}$. a. r. ?u 
In other places he was in fome degree differently exhibited; 
efpecially in Paleftine : as we learn from Helladius Befanti- 
nous. 4-8 Aj i&gawQV Js ovtcl ra, 'SrctvTct lyQvv £q%gu, Swrsg VfjLqx- 

£?oo xjjt&xTij The meaning of which is this : that 

though Oanes was in reality a man, yet he was typically 
efteemed an animal of the fea 1 and on that account they re¬ 
prefented him with the fkin and fcales of a Cetus or fifh. 

All thefe characters were taken originally from hierogly¬ 
phics in Babylonia. They relate to the fame hiftory; and 
to one particular perfon, who had efcaped the waters, when 
the earth was overflowed ; and through whom arts and fci- 
ences were fuppofed to have been renewed in the world. As 
he was a tneffenger of the Deity, and an interpreter of his 
will, being highly gifted with prophetic knowledge ; he was- 
in confequenee of thefe properties particularly reprefented 
by the Dove, lonah, as I have before fhewn. This became 
a favourite hieroglyphic among the Babylonians and Chal¬ 
dees. From them it was derived to other nations : and 
traces of it are always to be found, wherever the other em¬ 
blems prevailed. In refpedt to the Babylonians, it feems to 
have been taken by them for their national Infigne ; and to 

47 Sanchoniathon apud Eufeb. P. E. L. i. c. 10. They fame writer fays, cktto 

cTe Tcf 'V)-OVT'd yiVcIGLl ’XlSCt)l\ Ibid, p* 38. ’XlS'QOV HJQV .TB &uyGCTVp. 

4i! A..uu Phoduai. c. 279. p. 1594. 

Q_n 2 have 


» 



300 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


have been depicted on their military ftandard, when they, 
went to war. They leem likewife to have been fly led Idnim, 
or the children of the Dove; and their city lonah. 



the prophet 49 Jeremiah, fpeaking of the land of Ifrael being 
laid wafte by the Babylonians, mentions the latter by the 
name of rm\ lonah : which paffage is rendered in the Vul¬ 
gate, faSla eft terra eorutn in defolationem a facie irce Columbce ► 
In another place he foretells, that the Jews Ihould take ad¬ 
vantage of the invafion of Babylonia, and retire to their own 
land : and he puts thefe words into the mouths of the people 

4 

at that feafon : 50 ylrife and let us go again to our own people 
and to the land of our nativity , from the opprejfmg fword. 
the word is here lonah : and fignifies from the oppreftion of the 
Dove ; the tyranny of the lonim. It is accordingly render¬ 
ed in the Vulgate, a facie gladii Columbce . The like occurs 

in the 50th chapter of the fame 51 prophet: For fear of the 
opprejftng lonah (mi 1 ) they (the nations in captivity) ftoall 
turn every one to his people , and they Jhall flee every one to his 


But 


own 


land. 


In procefs of time, when a colony of Cuthites were fettled 
in Samaria, they brought with them the infignia of their 
country; and {hewed a great veneration for the Dove. Hence 
it was given out by the Jews, that the Samaritans wor- 

fhiped 


49 Jeremiah, c. 25. v. 38. 

50 C. 46. v. 16. 

* 

51 C. 50. v. 16. The Seventy tranflate this paffage in a very particular manner^. 
airo Txjoogooitb fj.ccytccL^oc.s EAA wvikm: as alfo C. 46. v. 16, 

51 Tempore Rabbi Meir in jugo Montis Gerizim Colum^se fimulacrum fuiffe in- 
ventum, &c. See Bochart. Vol. 3. c. 1. p. 6. 


Samaritanus 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


301 


'Ea.XfjLOLVcL^cLgYis 6 to cv A<r<rvgi(av BatnXsvg eh. t r\g 


fhiped a Dove; and that they had a reprefentation of it in 
Mount Gerizim. It was moreover faid that the figure of a 
Dove in ftone had been dug up in thofe parts : and that the 
Samaritans in numberlefs inftances fhewed their attachment 
to the Ionah. That they were in great meafure Cuthites is' 
plain from the hiftory, which they give of themfelves in Jo- 
fephus. 51 

XOT0IA2 Yifjooog fjosTYiyocys, hou M^ctf. 

In conformity to what has been faid before, there was a 
tradition that the ftandard of Semiramis was a Dove. 54 Sig- 
num vexilli Semiramidos fuit figura Columbse ; quod vexilli 
fignum imitati funt omnes AfTyrii Reges. But I have fhewn, 
that there was no fuch perfon as Semiramis ; nor any fuch 
empire formed, as is attributed to her, and Ninus. The 
ftandard of Semiramis was properly the enfign of the Sema- 
rim; a title given to the Babiyonians, here ftyled Aflyrians. 
It w T as a common miftake of the antients to transfer to one 
perfon, what belonged to a people. The Dove with the 
olive branch was efteemed an emblem of peace ; a moft for¬ 
tunate omen. It was a token of the Deity to man ; where¬ 
by the latter was allured of an evil being paft, and of plenty 
and happinefs to come. It is well known that 55 Shama, 

and 


Samaritanus circumcidit in- nomine imaginis Columbam referentis. Drulius 
apud Selden. de Diis Syris. Synt. 2. p. 200. 

Samaritani Jolhuae Duci Columbam adminiflram attribuunt. Ibid.. 

53 Antiq. L. n.. c. 4. p. 556. and L. 9. c. 14. p. 507. 

54 David Ganz Chronolog. L. 2. ad annum 195S. After the conqueft of Baby¬ 
lon by the Aflyrians,. all the tra< 5 l of country between the Tigris.and Euphrates was 
called Afiyria. 

55 Sama, a mark Handing out, raifed. up,. expofed to open view* Taylor’s 

6 Hebrew 



302 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


and Sama, fignified a fign, or token ; like Serna and Sama, 
cr.rifjLOL and crotpLO, of the Greeks. Ramis, and Ramas denoted 
fomething high and greatand was a common title of the 
Deity. He was called Ram, Rama, Ramas, amongft moft 
nations in the eaft. *It occurs in the Vedam at this day ; and 
in moil of the 56 mythological writings^ which have been 
tranfmitted from India. It was a title not unknown among 
the Greeks ; and is accordingly by Hefychius interpreted the 

high ^ . 'Pockets, 0 'Tiptfo? Mention is made by 

Euftathius of the city .Laodicea, being called of old Ramae- 
than ; of which he gives this interpretation : 57 'Papaya?, cup 

v-fyzg 6 ®sos" 'FoLfjioiv yccg eygMgiov to m \/os m A Qolv Js 0 ®sog. 

Ramcethas fignified God from on high : for in the language of 
the natives Rama?i iso as high , and dltha?i was the itame of the 


mo 



Deity. 


Ke is perfe&ly in the right. Raman did denote 


what he mentions : and Athan was the Deity, the great foun¬ 
tain of light; ftyled both Anath, and Athan, the fame as 
Athana, and Athena of Greece, and Anaith of Perils. 


iignifies high, and noble in many languages. 


Ram 
It makes a 


part in Rameifes, and RameiTomenes ; and in the name of the 
Egyptian Deity Remphan, mentioned by the apoftle, which 
iignifies the great Phanes.. Rhamnufia, the Deity of Juftice, 


(Hebrew Concordance. Analogous to this is Seman, fDD, fignare: whence came 
the and aTiycava^ of the Greeks. Seelfaiah. c. 28. v. 25. 

56 See Thevenot. p. 64. Kircher’s China, p. 152. and the accounts from Daniili 
Miffionaries. 

57 In Dionyf. Perieg. v. 915. He fays that the name was given on account of a 
Shepherd, who was ftruck with lightning, and cried out Ramaithan. Stephanus 
renders the name Ramanthan j and gives the fame interpretation. P ocjxccv yccp to 
v'J'OS y Raman relates to height . 


IS 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


303 


is a compound of Rham-Nous j and is a feminine title of 
that juft man Noah, ftyled Nus, Nous, and Noufios. 

It mu ft be confeffed that the generality of hiftorians have 
reprefented Semiramis as a woman ; and have deferibed her 
as a great princefs, who reigned in Babylon. But there are 
writers, who from their fituation had opportunities of bet¬ 
ter intelligence : and by thefe fhe is mentioned as a Deity. 
58 Tj)!' ?&£fJUga.fJLii> crs6Wt Xvgoi. The Syrians , fays Athenago- 
ras, 'worfhip Semiramis : and adds, that fhe was efeemed the 
daughter of 59 Dercetus , and the fame as the Suria Dea. But 
the Suria Dea was the fame both as Rhea, and Dercetus, 
called alfo 60 Atargatus j of whole hiftory I have fpoken. 
Hence many make Rhea, Ifis, Aftarte, Atargatus and 6t Se- 
miTamis, one Deity : and Lucian tells us, that they were fo 
efteemed by the Syrians of Hierapolis j and the fame may 
be collected from other writers. They were all different 
fymhols relating to the fame obje<£l. Semiramis was faid to 
have been born at Afcalon ; becaufe Atargatus was there 


worfhiped under the name of Dagon : and the fame memo- 



other Arkite places. Thefe memorials related to a hiftory, 
cdf which the Dove was a principal type, and was therefore 


58 Athenag. Legatio. p. 307, 

Semiramis'Dercetis fifia. Hygini Fab. 275. 

59 C H Snj y ccrvpTvs Xvpict Frees. Ibid. See alfo Diodorus. 

L. 2. p. 92. who makes her the daughter of Dercetus by Surus : but Surus was 
the Sun •, and the Dea Suria was Dea Solaris, 

60 Strabo fpeaking of Eqleffa fays, Tiptoec-i rw 'Xvgtav twv ATcteyccTW* L. 16. 
p.. 1085. 

61 2 s/* looifxiv^ TcoLi rw'Peav xcitejjLevyv •mcLpct, Aaavfiois. Chron. Pafch. p. 36. 

61 Lucian, de Suria Dea. Y. 2. p. 8U5. 

1 0 found. 


♦ 



30 4 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology 


found, wherever the other emblems occurred. It was upon 
the fame account, that ftie was faid to have been*changed to 
a Dove; becaufe they found her always depicted and wor- 
Jhiped under that form. A notion likewile prevailed, that 
Ihe had an unnatural love for a horfe : which arofe from the 


So 


ancients not underftanding their own hieroglyphics. 
Europa and 63 Pafiphae were in love with bulls ; Saturn with 


a mare ; 


His with a fifh : the bull, Hippa, and Cetus, being 
emblems of the lame purport, and relating to the fame hif- 
tory. Of thefe the Dove was particularly held in venera- 


ilO KOU 


tion, efpecially by the Aftyrians and Babylonians. 4 

rxg Acrtrvgixg rqv 'nrsgigsgctv Tifjictv cog S-say. It was, we find, 
worfhiped as a Deity. 

From the above, I think, it is plain that Semiramis was 
an emblem ; and that the name was a compound of Sama- 


Ramas, or Ramis. And it 



the 1 divine token , the 


type of Providence : and as a military enfign, (for as fuch it 
was ufed) it may with fome latitude be interpreted the ftand- 
ard of the mojl High . It confifted of the figure of a Dove ; 
which was probably incircled with the Iris, as thofe two 
emblems were often reprefented together. All, who went 
under that ftandard, or who payed any deference to that em¬ 
blem, were ftyled Semarim, and Samorim. It was a title 
conferred upon all, who had this device for their national in- 


fig ne. 


One of the gates of Babylon was ftyled the gate of 


£s Semiramis ; undoubtedly from having the facred emblem of 


Si 


Pafiphae was worfhiped in Crete, and in Mefienia. Plutarch, in Agid. p. 799 


64 Diodor. L. 2. p. 107. 

65 Herodotus. L. 3. c. 155. 


'Xey.igafJLiQs 'z&v\tx$ t 


Sama 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


305 


Sama Ramis, or the Dove, engraved by way of diftindbion 

Probably the lofty obelifk of Semiramis, mentioned 


over it. 


by 


66 


Diodorus, was named from the fame hieroglyphic. 


We find then, that the title Samarim, or Semiramis, did 
not relate to one perfon, but to many : and it feems parti¬ 
cularly to have been ufurped by princes. The Cuthites fet¬ 
tled about Cochin, and Madura, in India ; and the great 
kings of Calicut were ftyled the Samarim even in later 
times; when thofe countries were vifited by the 


67 


Portuguefe 

and 68 Englifh. The worfhip of the Dove prevailed in Syria 
about Emefa and Hierapolis, as I have fhewn ; and there 
were Samarim in thefe 69 parts. 

As Semiramis was nothing elfe but a divine emblem un¬ 
der. the figure of a dove, or pigeon ; we need not wonder at 
the etymology of her name, and the circumftances of her 
hiftory, as they are tranfmitted by the Grecian writers. 70 Ss- 

H JLigctfJLig , 'GJ'sgis'sgQL ogetog 'EAAjjw??. Semiramis according to Gre¬ 
cian interpretation is a ’wild pigeon. 70 To tbKqq 

’The fate of Semiramis terminated in her 

Another writer mentions to the 


2g 'Grsgi$regr\v owmsto 

being turned into a pigeon. 


fame purpofe; 1% E vioi Ss pivQoMy&vTss cpwriv avTriv yavscrvcu 

'GTegifSgOLV. I have taken notice of that curious hiftory of the 


66 


67 

68 


Diodorus Sic. L. 2. p, 100. 

See Alvarez Cabral ^ and the voyage of Vafquez de Gama. 
Purchas. Vol. I. paffim. 


69 Bochart. Geog. Sacra, p. 317. 

70 Hefychius. Diodorus fays of the perfon, who was fuppofed to have named 

her, ovo/jLct ■-airo t&jp •zzrepi^e^cav. L. 2. p. 93. 

71 Lucian, de Syria Dea. Vol. 2. p. 885, 


72 Diodorus. L. 2, 107. 

Vol. II. 


R r 


4 


* 


deluge. 



3°6 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


deluge, which is given by Lucian from the memorials pre- 
ferved in the city Hierapolis of Syria. The temple, whence 
he drew his information, was facred to the Sun, and Juno 
and was fo ancient, that the original could not be ascer¬ 


tained. 


There 


was a 


73 flatue of the Goddefs of equal an¬ 
tiquity. Some faid, that it was the work of Bacchus; others 
of Deucalion ; others again of- Semiramis. It was carried 
twice in a year to the fea : at which time people came from 
various parts of the world to ailift .at the ceremony. It 
confided chiefly in bringing water from a fait lake; and 
pouring it down a chafm in the temple, through which there, 
was a tradition that the waters at the deluge had retired^ 
The image of the Goddefs was richly habited ; and upon her 
head was a golden dove. What is very remarkable, the 
image was by the people called Xrj^'iov, Seme’ion: KaAggTCM 

h X^Yiiov iiou V7r uvtoqv A<r<rvgiwi/. Lucian takes pains to i 
inform us, that this was not a Grecian, but a Syriac word : a: 
term made ufe of by the natives. He writes in the Ionic 
dialedt: and what he flyles Xrjfjurj'iov, was by the people ex-* 
prefled Sema-Ion, or Sama-Ion, the token of the Dove ; The 
emblem of sir kite I 6 it ah . The account is very remarkable 
and the whole is ftridtly analogous to what has been faid 
above. 


that, according to Hefychius and 


It is obfervable, 
writers, by Semiramis was particularly fignified 

to think, that this 


geon 


And there 


reafon 


derived from fome ancient tradition 


It is 


a 


wild 
tellige 
hiftory 


pi 


as. 


75 Lucian, de Syria Dea. Yol. 2. p. 903. I'fis is ofcen reprefented with two 


Doves upon her head. 


curious 





The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 307 

curious, as it is probable: and we may infer from it, that 
the dove fent out of the Ark by Noah was of a wild Ipecies. 
A tame pigeon would naturally have returned upon the leaft 
difficulty, and perhaps of choice ; and not have afforded the 
information, which was wanted. A wild pigeon would not 
come back, but through neceflity. Such a return plainly 
indicated that the earth was not yet habitable ; and afforded 
the intelligence required. 

It is faid of this ideal perfonage, that fhe was expofed 
among rocks ; but was at laft difcovered, and preferved by 
a ffiepherd, whofe name was 74 Simma, : and that fhe 

was afterwards married to one Menon. She is likewife laid 

S 

to have conftrucfted the 75 fir ft fhip. In this detail we may 
perceive the rudiments of much true hiftory, but fadly mif- 
applied. Simma the Ihepherd is a perfonage made out of 
Sema, and Sama, the Divine token. Menon is the Deus Lunus; 
under which type the Ark was reverenced in many regions : 
and as it was the firft fhip conftrucfted, with which the hif¬ 
tory of the dove was clofely connected, they have given to 
Semiramis the merit of building it. Meen, Menes, Manes, 
Menon, were all terms, by which the Lunar God was in dif¬ 
ferent countries diftinguifhed. This Deity was reprefented 
by a lunette ; which did not relate to the planet in the hea¬ 
vens, but to the Patriarch, and to the ark : for the lunette 
refembled greatly the facred fhip, vavg cLfJLcpiTrgVfJLVCug, under 
which femblance the ark was defcribed. It was accordingly 

74 Ovop.a. %ifj-ixct. Diodorus. L. 2. p. 93. Ctefias mentions her being expofed, 
and preferved by pigeons. Diodorus, ibid. p. 92. 

75 Plin. L. 7. c. 56. p. 417. 


R r 2 


reverenced 



308 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

reverenced under this type in many places ; efpecially in Me- 
fopotamia, Syria, Armenia, and Cappadocia. One of the 
moft fuperb temples, that ever exifted, was at Cabeira in 
Armenia ; of which 76 Strabo gives a particular delcription. 
He ftyles it the temple of Meen : and adds, e<?i Js kou Taro 

7 ?)$ 'EsAyiVyis TO legov. "This too as well as many others is a temple 
of the Lunar God. He mentions temples of the like nature 
in Phrygia, Albania, and at Antioch in Pilidia ; alfo in An¬ 
tioch of Syria. He ftyles them the temples 77 ra M r\vog Ag- 
KOLia, Dei Luni Arkaei ; by which is certainly meant the Lu¬ 
nar Deity of the Ark. In like manner, when Eufebius, in 
defcribing the people to the eaft of Babylonia, fpecifies 

TvpLVoro- 

; I am perfuaded, that by the A §*)(caot y however ex- 
prelfed, we are to understand an Arkite nation, who were 
worfhipers of the Lunar God. 

As Semiramis was Sema-Ramis, the token of the mof High ; 
fo Semele, the fuppofed mother of Niobe, was Sema-El, and 
of the like purport. Her lifter Ino was no other than Iona ; 
the fame as Venus, and reputed a goddefs of the 79 fea, and 
the nurfe of Dionufus. The poets reprefented Ino as the 
daughter of Hermione and Cadmus.. 

76 G. 12. p. 835. 

77 L. 12. p. 864. See the plate, wherein is a reprefentation of the God Lunus,. 
and the Mundane Egg : taken from a coin of the Antiocheans, preferved by Vail- 
lant. Numifm.. Colon. Pars. 2. p. 36. p. 42. 

See alio page 241 of this volume. 

75 Chron. p. 11. 

79 Irco cTe S-gcor eiycci tkv ^rx.Kct-Gaicoy. Paufan. L. 9. p. 719. 


78 


E Twfjuaoi, Ago&eSy APXAIOI, Kefyanoi, SkvOou, 


Hermione 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 309 

* 

Hermione et Cadmo generata parentibus Ino, 

Cui conjux Athamas, Dea dicitur efle marina. 

but Hermione is a compound of 80 Herm-Ione, and 81 Signi¬ 
fies a dove : and Ino and Hermione are different names for 
the fame emblem. Semele related to the fame, though made 
a third perfonage. Her hiftory, as well as that of Dionufus, 
was brought from Ur in Chaldea; whence it was fabled that 
Dionufus was born in fire; and that Semele was confumed in 

the fame element. It is moreover faid of her, that fhe was 

% 

confined in the Shades below ; but recalled to light by Dio¬ 
nufus. This circumftance is alluded to in the Orphic hymn 
to Semele, where fhe is mentioned, 

82 T i[JL0ig r BV^0L[JL2\nr\ 'utclq ctya.vrig Tiegcecpovsins 
Ey - 9 t vrjTonn figoTouriv ktX. 

All thefe fables have a manifeft reference to Noah, and the 
Deluge : and to the State of death in the ark. 

O J 

I have mentioned that the ark, in which mankind were 
preferved, was figured under the Semblance of a large fifh. 
It was ftyled K. YjTog, Cetus, and Gatus ; and compounded 
Atargatis, and Atargatus : whence came Dercetus, and Der- 
cetis of the Greeks. Macrobius makes Atargatis the mo¬ 
ther of the 83 Gods ; giving her the fame department, as 
is attributed to Gaia, Rhea, and Cybele. That this em- 

80 Similar to Hcrmon, Hermonax, Hermonafla, Hermodorus, Hermotubius, 
Hermeracles, Hermochemia. It was fometimes expreffed with the guttural., Cher- 
mion, Chermione, and Charmione. 

81 Bochart. Hierozoicon. L. i. c. i» 

81 Hymn. 43. 

83 S-iturnal. L. 1. c. 23.. 


blem 



3io 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


blem related to the ark, is manifeft from its being repre- 
fented as a facred receptacle, wherein the Gods were in- 


clofed. This curious hiftory is tranfmitted by 


pH 


upon Ariftotle; who has well nigh ruined it by his refine- 

8+ T W hvPlOLV ArOLpyOLTYiV TQ7TQV Secev %0Ch3<n, XCtl T/)V 


ment 


\<nv ot Aiyvmic 

The people of the 


’W'OTiAwV &SCt)V l^lOTYftO, 

entry call the Syrian Altar 


or 

8S 


iptacle , of the Gods: arid the Egypt 


< WSglZ r p(QV<rQ/.V. 

is the place , 
eem their 



Ifis in the f 


light 


as containing the identity of each 


Deity 


The 


ginal hiftory was plain and literal. 


machine, which was figured by the Atargat 
contain the perfons alluded to ; all 


did 


thofe. who wer 


©soi, xcu Aoupiovsg ; thofe reputed Gods, the 
firft ages 


The 

really 
ftyled 
of the 


The Grecians, not knowing that their mythology arofe 


from hieroglyphics, formed 


of every circumftance per 


fonages. They fuppofed that Semiramis was the daughter of 
Dercetus; and that the latter was changed to a 
former was to a pigeon. 


fifh 


as 


the 


87 


dubia eft, de te, Babyl 


Derceti, quam versa, fquamis velantibus 




Aufcult 


A 

85 T#v I (tlv x>7rotioxy v -> receptaculum. Plut. If. et Ofir. p. 374* 

86 This laft I think may be proved from Plutarch, and from Plato. BeA nev r sv 

01 rcc 'zvepi t ov Tutpava, kcu Ovipw, tccci l&iv iq-ogufj teras, pwre ©eo)V ^cAriy-ccrcx.^ pane 


c 


Ifis et Ofir. 


p. 360. 


c 


suyas fj-tv jc oh a.v§f.M7rMV ccva.7r£fA.7rovTcii, ■£x.£iQevi5'£ [AaiTtict Sivpo. Ibid. p. 361 . 


from Plato’s Sympof. 


Metamorph. L. 4. v. 44. 


Stagna 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 311 

Stagna Palasflini credunt coluifie figura: 

An magisj ut, fumptis illius filia pennis, 

Extremos altis in turribus egerit annos^ 

Thefe notions arofe from the feminine emblems of the ark, 
which were exhibited at 88 Afcalon, Azotus, 89 Joppa ; and 
in the cities of Syria. The reprefentation of Dercetus at 
Afcalon is thus given by Diodorus : 90 ©sa, qv ovo{JLa.£z<nv 61 
Xvgoi A egxeTzv, —to f uzv / urgo<rM?rov zyzt yvmixog, to Js uTiho 

CT(t)[JLCC TxTolv lyfiuog. The Goddefs , which by the Syrians is called 
Dercetus, has the face of a woman , but the rejl of the image is 
the figure of a fifis. He moreover fays, that ihe was efteemed 
by her votaries the fame as Venus, or C'upris. Lucian gives 
a fimilar defcription of her under the name of Atargatis : 
but reprefents her upwards as of a woman’s form intirely. 
91 'HfjursY) fjLsv yvvYj, to $e oxqtqv ex. [jurigoov zg oi/gag 'UTo^a.g iy- 

Qvog ovgYj cL7T0T£iVZTcti . The upper half was a per fed figure of a 
woman : the lower part from the thighs downward terminated 
in the tail of a fifh She was worfhiped by the Phigalians in 
Arcadia by the name of 92 Eurunome. Her ftatue was of 
great antiquity ; and reprefented a woman as far as the mid¬ 
dle, but from thence had the figure of a fifh. She had a 
chain of gold, and was denominated by the natives Euru¬ 
nome Diana : which Eurunome is reprefented as the mofi: 
ancient of the female Divinities, and the wife of Ophiom. 

88 Diodorus. L. 2. p. 92. 

89 Colitur illic fabulofa Ceto.. Plin. L. 5. c. 13. Numcn Joppenfium* Ceti. 
formam praeferens-, qualis Dagon Azotiorum. Hoftman.. 

90 Diodorus above. 

91 Lucian.de Suria Dea. p. 884; 

9i Paufen. L. 8. p.. 684. 'EuguvofM Qxectwf. Apollon. Rhodi L.. i. v. 503. 

10 Front 



3*2 


* 

The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


From the above we may perceive that Dercetus, Eurimome, 
and Semiramis were emblems relating to the fame hiftory. 
As thefe were probably the moffc early, and the moft facred 
hieroglyphics ; they were the caiife of the animals, whence 


they were copied, being held in great veneration. Clemens 
Alexandrinus takes notice of this regard being carried to a 


degree oi the bafeft idolatry. 


93 


OvSs ys toov t Y)V &6ivuir\v 


guv K'XTCQIK&VTM (s K7\Y\(r0(JLOLl) , (hv 01 fJLSV TCCg 'UTSglfBgCtg, 01 ds 

lyQvg, XT® 'uregiTToog, dig H ?\.sioi r op A 10c. . I cannot but 


take notice of the people fly led Syro-Phenicians : flome of. ‘whom 
reverejice Doves , and others of them Fifh-> with the fame %eal as 


the people of Elis Jhew towards Jupiter. 


Xenophon had long 


before taken notice of divine honours being paid in thofe 


parts to filh, and dove 




94 


sg oi Xvgoi &esg svopugov, zou clSl 


kbiv hz Bioov, ads rotg 'srsgig'ega.g 


And the veneration paid to 


the latter is by Diodorus dated from the fuppofed change of 
Semiramis ; and faid to have been univerfal in Syria : 95 dg 


{'uregi^egoLg) owf BZBivm toov ygovw oi koltol Xvgiav 'AEEANTES 

SibtsKbvolv cog Seoig TipLOOVTsg. To this Tibullus alludes. 


97 


96 Quid referam, ut volitet crebras intadta per urbes 

Alba Palaeftino culta columba Syro ? 

Syri pifces et columbas ex Deorum numero habent : non 
edunt. 98 OgviQuv rs avTsoivi 'UTzgifegri ftozssi IgooTCLTOP, 


9 ? 


94 - 


95 


96 

97 

98 


Cohort, p. 35. 

A vctQcccris. L. I. p. 254 . 

Diodorus Sic. L. 2. p. 93. 
Tibullus. L. 1. Eleg. 8. v. 17 
Hygin. Fab. 197. 

Lucian, de Dea Syria, p. 912. 


Kdt 


4 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


3*5 


xou ovS's d/avsiv ocvtsmv Sutcusum. The places, where this re¬ 
gard was {hewn more particularly, Teem to have been Afca- 
lon and Hierapolis. Philo Judasus informs us, that, as he 
once had occaflon to flop in the former, he obferved vaffc 
flocks of pigeons in all the ftreets, and about all the build¬ 
ings of the city : and wondering at the reafon he was told, 

99 i 5 &SfJUT0V SIVOU (TV?ChCLf/JoOLV£lV m OLTFSl^^OU SK 'UrOiAcCiB TOig OIZY)- 

The like is mentioned by Lucian of the 


'Z&'SglS'SgY)V Jg fJLi$Vr\V 8 < TITSOVTOU , CtAAot 


t o§<ri ^Yi<nv. 

people at Hierapolis 
<r<piari f)oe igY}. I“he pigeon is the only bird , which they never tajle r 
for it is held by them as particularly facred. 

The term Ionah is fometimes found compounded ; and 
exprefled 1 Ad, or Ada Ionah, Regina, vel Regia Columba : 
from which title another Deity Adiona was conftituted ; and 
particular rites were fuperadded. This mode of idolatry 
muft have been very ancient; as it is mentioned in Leviti¬ 
cus and Deuteronomy : and is one fpecies of falfe worfhip, 
which the prophet Mofes forbad by name. According to 

our method of rendering the Hebrew term, it is called a Idi- 

one. 


99 Philo apud Eufeb. P. E. L. 8. c. 14. p. 398. 

*°° Lucian, above. 

1 AD. unus, primus, Rex. Ada, prima, Regina. 

* The words in ourVerfion are tranflated. And the foul that turneth after fuch 
.as have familiar fpirits, and after wizards , to go a whoring after them , I will even fet 
my face againfi that foul , and will cut him off from among his people . Levi tic. c. 20. 
v. 6. In another place it is ordered, that there fhould not be found, among the 
children of Ilrael a charmer , or a confulter with familiar fpirits , or a wizard , or a ne¬ 
cromancer. Deuteronom. c. 18. v. 11. What is tranflated a confulter with familiar 
fpirits , and a wizard. , is in the original 3W, and Ob and Id'ione : by which 

are irn ant the prieits of the Serpent, and of the Dove, who affected to give out 

V:.-L< IL S f orades - 



4 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


3*4 

one. This Idione, or Adione, was probably the Dione,, 
A tuvriy of the Greeks ; the Deity, who was fometimes -looked 
upon as the mother of Venus ; at other times as the Goddefs. 
herfelf, ftyled Dione, and Venus Dionsea. She was faid to 
have been the mother of 3 Niobe ; and, under the name of 
Pleione, was efteemed the mother of the 4 Peleiades, who 
form the conftellation in the heavens, fo aufpicious to ma¬ 
riners. She had joint rites with Zeuth or Jupiter at Do- 
dona ; where the Dove was faid to have given out oracles : 
5 c rvvvccos Tip Ail 'urgQ<ra,7T£$£i')(PY) Koci Y] Aiwvr). As Venus was 
no other than the ancient Ionah, we fhall find in her hiftory 
numberlefs circumftances relating to the Noachic Dove, and 
to the Deluge. We are told, when the waters covered the 
earth, that the Dove came back to Noah, having roamed 
over a vaft uninterrupted ocean ; and found no ref for the foie 
of her foot . But upon her being fent forth a fecond time by 
the Patriarch, in order to form a judgment of the fiate of 
the earth, fhe returned to the Ark 6 in the evejiing j a?zd lo ! 
m her mouth was an olive-leaf pluckt off. From hence Noah 

oracles. The latter were the Peleiai, Peleiades, Ionim, Columbae of other coun¬ 
tries ; all the priefls of Theba, or the ark. This Idione is the fame Deity 5 as oc¬ 
curs in St. Auguftine under the name of Adeona. 

3 Hyginus. F. 9, p. 32. 

4 Dione, Hermione, Pleione are all compounded of lone, and relate to doves. 

Duxerat Oceanus quondam Titanida Tethyn, 

Qui terram liquidis, qua patet, ambit aquis. 

Hinc fata Pleione cum c^lifero Atlante 
Jungitur, ut fama eftj Ple*iadafque parit. 

Ovid. Fail. L. 5. v. 81. 

5 Strabo. L. 7. p. 506. 

* Genefis. c. 8. v. 11. 

conceived 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 315 

conceived his fir ft hopes of the waters being aflwaged, and 
the elements being reduced to order. He likewife began to 
forefee the change about to happen in the earth : that feed¬ 
time and harveft would be renewed, and the ground reftored 
to its priftine fecundity : all which God was pleafed to in- 
fure to him by a promife ; and to make the Iris a token in 
confirmation of this affurance. In the hieroglyphical fculp- 
tures and paintings where this hiftory was reprefented, the 
Dove could not well be depicted otherwife than hovering 
over the face of the deep. Hence it is that Dione or Venus 
-is faid to have rifen from the fea. Hence it is alfo, that fhe 
is faid to prefide over waters ; to appeafe the troubled ocean; 
and to caufe by her prefence an univerfal calm : that to her 
were owing the fruits of the earth ; and the flowers of the 
field were renewed by her influence. She was the OEnas, 
7 O ivotg, of the Greeks ; whence came the Venus of the La- 
tines. The addrefs of Lucretius to this Goddefs is founded 
on traditions, which manifeftly allude to the hiftory above- 
tnentioned ; and afford wonderful evidence in its favour. 

s iEneadum Genetrix, hominum Divumque voluptas— 
Quae mare navigerum, quas terras frugiferentes 
Concelebras ; per te quoniam genus omne animantum 
Concipitur, vifitque exortum lumina Solis : 

Te, Dea,*e fugiunt vend; te nubila caeli, 

Adventumque tuum: tibi fuaves dasdala tellus 

7 Ona^-zrepiq-epci. Hefychius. At Dodona in Chaonia, where di n^eiat eyai- 
-raxT-ai-To, fhe was exprefTed Phaennis : and her chief prieftefs was called by the 
lame name. Paufanias. L. io. p. 82-8. 

* Lucretius. L. 1. v. 1. 


s f 2 


Submittit 



316 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology.- 

Submittit flores : tibi 9 rident cequora ponti ; 

Pacatumque nitet diffufo lumine coetu?n. 

Of Thou, from whom the iEneadas arofe. 

Source of delight, the joy of Gods,,, and men. 

Bright Venus ; thy imperial fway extends 
O’er the wide feas, and all the expanded fields 
Of teeming nature. By thy power of old 
The various tribes, that rove the realms below,„ 

IfTued to life, and filled the vacant world. 

O, lovely Queen of Heaven, at thy command 
The whirlwinds die away, the ftorm is ftill,. 

And the big clouds difiolve in limpid air. 

To thee we owe the beauties of the field,. 

And Earth’s rich produce. At thy mild approach: 

The dimpling waves put on a thoufand fmiles ; 

The Iky no longer lowers : but calm, and clear. 

Spreads its pure azure to the world’s extreme. 

In Sicily upon mount Eryx was a. celebrated temple, of 


9 Diva non miti generata ponto. Senec. Hippol. A£t. i. v. 273. 

Venus, orta mari, mare prseftat eunti. Ovid. Epiffc. 15. v. 213. 

Sic te diva potens Cypri, 

Sic fratres Helens, lucida fidera, • 

Ventorumque regat Pater, &c. Horat. L. i*Od. 3. Hence ftyled riuvrtoi^ ' 
'EirnrovTioi^ A FleAa^a, AraSvofj(.svn : alfo Ovpatvict ? Genetrix, Mater Divum, 
Genetillis. 

A yvcticcretS) oTi K V7rpis cc7rocr7ropo$ eq~i S'aAacra'^j 

Ka; xpctreei 'izrovroio j Mufeus. V. 249. 

Gvpccvict , 'uD-oAvvpivs, A (pp^im, 

YlQVToyzri)s 0 yevtTEifcc. Orph. Hymn. 54. 

this 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


3i7 


this Goddefs, which is taken notice of by 10 Cicero and other 
writers. Doves were here held as facred, as they were either 
in Paleftine or Syria. It is remarkable, that there were two 
days of the year fet apart in this place for feftivals, called 
Avctyooytcty and KccTOiycoyicc: at which times Venus was 
fuppofed to depart over fea, and after a feafon to return. 
There were, alfo facred Pigeons, which then took their flight, 
from the ifland : but one of them was obferved upon the 
ninth day to come back from the fea, and to fly to the fhrine 
of the Goddefs : juiccg < 5rgo7T£T0L(r6si cnos- bh Ta 'ureXayxg f GT££i- 

fsgoig, mi Big r ov vsoov 'Grpo<T7t:Tc>L<rir\g. This was upon the feftival 

of the Kar cuyooyioi, Upon this day it is faid that there were 
great rejoicings. On what account can we imagine this ve¬ 
neration for the bird to have been kept up, and this cele¬ 
brity to have been inftituted, but for a memorial of the Dove 
fent out of the ark, and of its return from the deep to Noah ? 
The hiftory is recorded upon the ancient coins of Eryx.; 


which have on one flde the-head of Janus Bifrons, on the 
other the facred 11 Dove. 

% 

It is well known that the Ark refted upon Mount Baris in 
Armenia, which is the Ararat of Mofes. In this country 
are the fountains of the Euphrates. As the Ark was an in- 
clofure, from whence all mankind were to be derived ; it 


fee ms to have been reprefented under the fymbol of an egg 



over which was depidfed a dove. Hyginus has a fable to 


10 


II 


Cicero Verr. 2. Se£t. S. 

Tr,s Se 'XnteA:ccs ev E pvjU yta.if.os ns Bq^tv 9 ov xct?\&aw Avctycoyot^ ->c. t. A. Ache- 


us. L,. 9. p. 395. 
T1 Faruts Sicilia. 


Alio Ahlian. Var.'Hift. L,. 1. c. 15. 



318 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

this purpofe; wherein we may fee many references to the 
Deluge, and to the circumftjnces, with which it was at¬ 
tended. * 3 In Euphraten flumen de caelo Ovum mira mag- 
nitudine cecidifle dicitur, quod pifces ad ripam evolverunt: 
fuper quod Columbae confederunt, et excalefadtam excluliffe 
Venerem, quae poftea Dea Syria eft adpellata : et juftitia et 
probitate cum caeteros exfuperaifet, ab Jove optione data, 
pifces in aftrorum numerum relati funt. Et ob id Syri 
14 pifces et columbas ex Deorum numero habent: non edunt. 
In thefe tranfcripts we may fee many fcattered fragments of 
ancient theology : the whole of which have been borrowed 
from fome hieroglyphical defcription : but taken in later 
times, when the fymbols were not underftood ; and the clue, 
which fhould have led to an explanation, no longer known. 
By the help of the Mofaic hiftory, together with what has 
preceded, we may, I think, perceive plainly, to what thefe 
fables allude. The egg with a Dove over it was doubtlefs 
an emblem of the Ark j whence proceeded that benign per- 
fon, the preacher of righteoufnefs : who brought mankind to 
a more mild kind of life : who reconciled his children to 
humanity, which had been little pradtifed in the antediluvian 
world, where only ferocity and violence had prevailed. A 
like hiftory, which may ferve ftill further to explain the fore¬ 
going, is given by 15 Lucius Ampelius in his treatife to Ma- 

113 Hyginus. Fat). 197. p. 327. The Egyptians reprefented their chief Deity 
Cneph wich an egg proceeding from his mnuth. Porphyr. apud Eufeb. Pnep. 
Evang. L. 3. p. 115. 

M Of facred fiflies fee Athenseus. L. 8. p. 346. 

15 Lucius AmpeL in LLbro ad Macrinum. See BayePs Additamenta to Selden 
de Diis Syris. p. 303. 

.6 


cnnus. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 319 

crinus. Dicitur et Euphratis fluvio Ovum pifcis Columbam 
afledifie dies plurimos, et exclufiffe Deam benignam et mi- 
fericordem hominibus ad vitam bonam. 

w 

The fable of the Mundane Egg, and of Typhon, is, I ima¬ 
gine, of the lame original and purport : for Typhon lignified 
a Deluge. The overflowing of the Nile was called by the 
Egyptians Typhon. When Venus was faid to have taken the 
form of a fifli \ it was in order to fly from Typhon, whom 
fhe is fuppofed to have efcaped, by plunging into the waters 
of Babylonia. 

16 Scilicet in pifcem fefe Cytherea novavit, 

Quum Babyloniacas fubmerfa profugit in undas, 
Anguipedem alatis humeris Typhona furentem. 

Ovid takes notice of the fame. 

# 

17 Terribilem quondam fugiens Typhona Dione, 

Tunc cum pro Coelo Jupiter arma tulit, 

Venit ad Euphraten, comitata Cupidine parvo ; 

Inque Palaeftinae margine fedit aquas. 


Nec mora, proliluit : pifces fubiere gemelli: 

Pro quo nunc dignum lidera munus habent. 

Inde nefas ducunt genus hoc imponere menlis, 

Ne violent timidi pifcibus ora, Syri. 

We find from thefe repeated evidences, that the hiftory of 
this great event came to Greece in great meafure from Syria 

s6 Manilii Aftronom. L. 4. v. 572. 

17 Ovidii Fall. L. 2. v* 461. 


and 



320 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


and the Euphrates. It was derived From that part of the 
world, which was neared: to the place of defcent, and to 
the fcene of thofe occurrences, which were fubfequent to the 

4 

Deluge. It is on this account, that the mundane egg and 
the hiftory of Typhon are referred to the Euphrates, and the 
regions of Arana. Typhon is one of thofe, whofe character 
has been greatly confounded. This has arifen from two dif¬ 
ferent perfonages being included under one name ; who un¬ 
doubtedly were . diftinguifhed in the language of Egypt. 
Typhon was a compound of Tuph, or Tupha-On ; and dig¬ 
nified a high altar of the Deity. There were feveral fuch 
in Egypt; upon vvhich they offered human facrifices : and 
thofe cities, which had thefe altars, were ftyled Typhonian. 
But there was another Typhon, who was very different from 
the former, however by miftake blended with that charadler. 
By this was dignified a mighty whirlwind, and inundation : 
and it oftentimes denoted the ocean ; and particularly the 
ocean in a ferment. For as Plutarch obferves, by Typhon 
-was underftood any thing 18 violent, and unruly. It was a 
derivative from Tuph like the former name: which Tuph 
feems here to have been the fame as the 19 Suph of the He¬ 
brews. By this they denoted a whirlwind : but among the 
Egyptians it was taken in a greater latitude, and dignified 
any thing boifferous, and particularly the fea. Plutarch 

>s Tuzw — ftev to xctTctfuraq-'eucvi xcci y. clt< zQ iolQq ov * Ifis et Oliris. 
p. 371. Qxci 'artpi 1 vtytevor, co 9 tuclvtcc 'urpccyptccTcc Tccpcc^ccs tvsirfwvZ ycLKMV tyiv yy\v 

0/4y tb izrczc-ct'^ ycu S'cc^ccao'cti'. Ibid. p. 361. 

19 Tiie letters S and T are often convertible. Among the fame people we meet 
with and £r<xA<zacrct ; and TS<r<rctgc$ $ (pccTTcc^ and (pcccro-ct ^ [xe- 

sUTTct^ 

9 




The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 321 

/peaks of it as denoting the fea ; and fays likewife, that the 
fait of the fea was called the foam of Typhon. 20 Tixpoova $e 

7f]V &clXclct crout. — 7ov ciXct , Tvtpwvog capgov. It lignified alfo a 
whirlwind; as we learn from Euripides, who expreffes it 
Tuphos. 

51 A.7olXclv7y\s yovog 
Tvcpcag 'UTvXolitiv wg rig sfLissTuv. 

The like is to be found in Hefychius. Tv<ptav y avsfjog fj.sya.gz 
By Typhon is meant a violent wind. The hiftory of Typhon 
was taken from hieroglyphical defcriptions. In thefe the 
dove, Oinas, was reprefented as hovering over the mundane 
egg, which was expofed to the fury of Typhon. For an egg, 
containing in it the elements of life, was thought no im¬ 
proper emblem of the Ark, in which were preferved the rudi¬ 
ments of the future world. Hence in the Dionufiaca, and 
in other myfteries, one part of the nodturnal ceremony con- 
lifted in the “ confecration of an egg. By this, as we are 
informed by Porphyry, was ftgnified the world. 13 'E^io- 
vsveiv <3s To uov Tov HQTfJLOV. This world was Noah, and his 
family 

Ark. The Orphic egg, mentioned by 14 Proclus, was un¬ 
doubtedly of the fame purport. It feems to have been a fa- 

20 Ifis et Oliris. p.363. 

2,1 Phieniffe. v. 11 70. 

* z Plutarch. Sympof. L. 2. Quasft. 3. p. €36. The fame prevailed among the 
Romans at the Rites of Ceres. 

Apud Eufeb. P.E. E. 3. v. 115. 

To Ogcpntov coop, Ttcti to YlhciTOQyQS coovm See Voi£ de Idol, V. i, p. 34. and 
Macrob. Sat. L. 7. c. 16. 

VOL. II. 


; even all mankind, inclofed and preferved in the 


T t 


vourite 



322 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


vourite fymbol, and very 


and we find 


adopted 


among many 
mafdes. that 


ions. It was faid by the Perfians of Oro- 
formed mankind, and inclofed them in an 


-5 



Gods 


And the Syrians ufed to fpeak of their anceftors, the 
s proceeding from fuch an inclofure. a6 


Bocores Maur 


et ovorum progenies, Dii Sy 


Titanes, et 
Helladius 


Befantinous takes notice of one Oan, who was reprefented by 
many writers as a juft man ; 


and who lived 


the renewal 


of time : and he fays, that this primitive perfon was fup 
pofed to have proceeded from this original egg ; z ' 


nraTOrONOT 'Grscppsvcu T^syanv £20T 


O ir is 
This 


CLVTO V 


very 


perfon was by others ftyled mr^ooroyovog, or the firft-born of 
the world ; and fometimes in the feminine 'STgooToyevsiot. 
And as he had enjoyed two different ftates, he was repre¬ 


fented as twofold in his form and character 


He 


accord 


gly addreffed as fuch in the Orphic mythology 


aS 


HgooToyovov zaXsoo ii<pvY], psyocu, cuQsgo7r?\cty}CTov y 
£loysn\ y ygvvscacnv cry ctXKo {asv qv 'urrsgvystpriv. 


This author afterwards explains whom he means under this 
title, by calling him, * 9 ysvscnv Mcucccgwv, S-j/jyrow t ui vQgoo7roov. 
We find that this firftborn of the world, whom they repre¬ 
fented under two fhapes and characters, and who fprung 


25 See VofTius de Idol. Yol. i. p. 33. Alfo Plutarch. Ifxs et Ofxris. p. 370. who 
fpeaks of Arimanius and the mundane egg. 

16 Arnobius. L. 1. p. 20. 

27 Apud Photium. p. 1594. 
lS Orphic Hymn. 5. 

29 Ibid. v. 3. 


IO 


from 



The Analysis op Ancient Mythology. 323 

from the mundane egg, was the perfon, from whom the 
mortals and immortals were derived. He was the fame as 
Dionufus, whom they ftyled 30 'UJovtz, 'urccTzg ctiY}g : alfo 

3t IlgcaToyovov hcpvv, Tgiyovov, A volktoc, 

Aygiov, appflTov, jcgv<piov y $ucegwTOL y fopogcpov. 

All thefe terms relate to emblems very eafy to be explained ; 
and to a perfon, as plainly to be 3Z diftinguifhed. 

In refpedt to Typhon, it muft be confefled that the his¬ 
tory given of him is attended with fome obfcurity. The 
Grecians have comprehended feveral characters under one 
term, which the Egyptians undoubtedly diftinguifhed. The 
term was ufed for a title, as well as a name : and feveral of 
thofe perfonages, who had a relation to the Deluge, were 
ftyled Typhonian, or Diluvian. All thefe the Grecians have 
included under one and the fame name, Typhon. The real 
Deity, by whom the Deluge was brought upon the earth, 
had the appellation of Typhonian; by which was meant 
33 Diluvii Deus. It is well known that the Ark was con- 
ftru&ed by a divine commiflion : in which, when it was 
compleated, God inclofed the Patriarch and his family. 
Hence it is faid, that Typhon made an Ark of curious work- 
manfhip, that he might difpofe of the body of Ofiris. Into 

Orphic Fragment. 7. v. 27. 

11 Orphic. Hymn. 29. upon Dionufus the firflborn. 

See Orphic. Hymn. 49. A ucn& five Liberi Prasliganei. 

55 Plutarch owns that the Egyptians in fome inftances efteemed Typhon to be 
no other than Helius the chief Deity : and they were in the right, though he will 
not allow it. T u* S'* Tv<peorx 'uroiuvrocv t ov ‘HA/oy &$s clksuv cc^iov. Ifis et Ofiris. 

P- 37 2 - 


T t 2 


this 



.324 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


this Oiiris entered, and was fhut up by Typhon. 34 TaJe 
OvifiiPog BKfJLr\T^Y\(roL^svov ActQga. to c roofjLot {tov T vqxdva) nou kolt'ol~ 

cr kbvolt O.VT cl Tsrgog to [jLsyeOog AAPNAKA kolK^v, kou kskot^lys^ 

usvqv —E uJoccvtoc tov Oorigiv k<x.tolkK^y]vou. All this relates to 
the Typhonian Deity, who inclofed Noah together with his 
family within the limits of an Ark. The Patriarch alio, 
who was thus interefted in the event, had the title of Ty¬ 
phonian. I have fhewn, that the Ark by the mythologifts 
was fpoken of as the mother of mankind. The flay in the 
ark was efteemed a ftate of 35 death, and of regeneration. 

t 

The pailage to life was through the door of the Ark, which 
was formed in its fide. Through this the Patriarch made 
his defcent: and at this point was the commencement of 
time. This hiftory is obfcurely alluded to in the account 
of Typhon : of whom it is faid 

time or place, he forced a paffage ; and burft into light ob¬ 
liquely through the 36 fide of his mother. This return to 
light was defcribed as a revival from the grave: and Plutarch 
accordingly mentions, Tov O arigiv s% aJa 'Grocgotysvopsvov, the 

return of Ofiris from Hades, after he had been inclofed for a 
long feafon zv ActgvoiKi, in a?t Hrk, and in a ftate of death. 
This renewal of life was by the Egyptians efteemed a fecond 
ftate of childhood. They accordingly in their hieroglyphics. 

34 Plutarch. Ills et Oiiris. p. 356. It is faid of Hercules, that he was flain by 
Typhon, and came afterwards to life.. Eudoxus ap.ud Athenaeum. L. p. 392. ■ 

3y Ids et Ofiris. p. 358. 

36 Mj? XCClpM? fJLTJcPs XOLTCL J/OOPCtV^ CtX?C CtVOLpfa^OCVTCC '2crAj?^>l t^lCC TY? 'Z&XeupctS g^A- 

?kBctG ai. Ifs et Ofiris. p. 355. Typhon by many was efteemed the fame as Pria- 
pus ; who was Protogonus, and Phanes. Diodorus. L. 4. p. 214. the fame alfo 
as Dionufus. 


, that, without any regard to 


defcribed 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


32S 


defcribed him as a boy ; whom they placed upon the lotos, 
or water-lilly, and called Orus. He was the fuppofed fon 
of Ilis : but it has been fhewn that Ills, Rhea, Atargatis, 
were all emblems of the Ark, 37 that receptacle , which was 
ftyled the mother of mankind. Orus is reprefented as un¬ 
dergoing from the Titans all that Ofiris fuffered from Ty- 
phon : and the hiftory at bottom is the fame. Hence it is 
faid of Ilis, that fhe had the power of making people im¬ 
mortal : and that, when fhe found her fon Orus in the midft 
of the 38 waters dead through the malice of the Titans, fhe 
not only gave him a renewal of life, but alfo conferred upon 
him immortality. 

The fame mythology, and the fame hieroglyphics were 
carried as far as China and Japan ; where they are to be 
found at this day. The Indians have a perfon whom they 
greatly reverence, and efteem a Deity; and whom they call 
Buto, and Budo. This is the fame name as Boutus of Egypt, 
Battus of Cyrene, and Bceotus of Greece. The account 
given of him is fimilar to that of Typhon: for it is faid, 
that he did not come to life the ufual way ; but made him- 
felf a paflage through the fide of his mother : which mother 


is reprefented as a virgin 


39 


Bragmani fedtse fuse audorem 


Buddam per latus virginis narrant exortum. This hiftory. 


?7 Taiv \)7roS'o*xyv* Ifis et Ofiris. p. 374. 

35 'Eupeiv cf’ CLVTYIV xot: TO TVS O&OLrcLtTLGlS ( pCtpfJLCCXOV 5 JV a TOV XnOV £lpOV U7 TO TOOV T/- 

TCLVMV i7riSeXevd£VTCC^ xca NEKPOIM sugeQevTcc KA©’ c TT^AAT02j> y-w yovov clvcc- 
cowered S'sarctv mu ctAAcs xcu ms cSclvcctlcls^ 'Zxromarcc.i /xeraAaff v. Diodor* 

Sic. L. x. p. 22. 

?9 Ratramnus de Nativitate Chrifti. c. 3* 

though 



326 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


though now current among the Indians, is of great anti¬ 
quity ; as we may learn from the account given of this per- 
fonage by Clemens Alexandrinus. 40 Eteri de toov Ivdoop, 01 

roig Buttol 'nrst@ofjt.svoi 'sroL^otfysXfjLota'iv, ov ol vkspSoXyiv crspL- 

voTi)Tog oog ®zov T ST 1 pLYjKCMTi . 'There is a caft of Indians., who 
are difciples of Boutas. This perfoji upon account of his extra¬ 
ordinary fanElity they look up to as a God . The name Bou¬ 
tas, Battus, and Bceotus, though apparently conferred upon 
the Patriarch, yet originally related to the machine, in which 
he was preferved. Of this fome traces may be found among 
the Greeks. One of the Amonian names for the Ark were 


Aren, and Arene : and Bceotus is faid by 41 Diodorus Si¬ 
culus to have been the fon of Neptune and Arne, which is 
a contraction of Arene, the ark. The chief city Boutus in 
Egypt, where was the floating temple, fignified properly 
the city of the float, or Ark. The Boeotians, who in the 
Dionufiaca fo particularly commemorated the Ark, were 
fuppofed to be defeended from an imaginary perfonage Boe- 
otus : and from him likewife their country was thought to 
have received its name. But Boeotus was merely a varia¬ 
tion of Boutus, and Butus, the Ark j which in ancient times 
was indifferently ftyled Theba, Argus, Aren, Butus, and 
Boeotus. The term Cibotus is a compound of the fame pur- 



40 Strom. L. i. p. 359. See alfo Hieronym. contra Jovian. L. 1. c. 26. He is 
at this day by fome nations called Butzan, and efteemed contemporary with Vifh- 
nou. Kircher. China illuftrata. But-Zan is Zeus Bceotius : Deus Arkitis. 

41 Diod. L. 4. p. 269. 


place 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 327 

place for flapping. Strabo fpeaks of a city Cibotus in Egypt; 
which he reprefents as a 42 dock, where were all conveniences 
for fhips to be built and repaired. There was a city Boutus 
upon the Sebennytic mouth of the 43 Nile : but die tem 
of Boutus was high in upper Egypt, near the floating ifland: 
44 Chemmis. This ifland was probably a large Ark, or 
float: and the temple of BoutuS was in it, from whence the 
oppoflte city had its name. It feems to have been a beau¬ 
tiful place, and of an uncommon conftrudrion. There were 
in it feveral altars erected to 45 Ofiris ; together with a ftately 
temple, and groves of 46 palm-trees : and this upon a deep, 
and fpacious lake. From hence we may form a judgment 
of the purport of this facred machine, which was undoubt¬ 
edly a memorial of the flrft fhip : and defigned alfo for a 
repofitory, where the Arkite rites and hiftory were preferved. 
It is remarkable, that Danaus was fuppofed from this ifland 
to have come to 47 Greece ; and to have brought with him 
the Amphiprumnon, or facred model of the Ark, which 
he lodged in the acropolis of Argos, called Larifla. The 
hiftory, which the Egyptians gave of the ifland Boutus, was, 
that when Typhon raged,, and would have killed Ofiris, the 



42 E VV0q~3 fJLSTCL TO 'V.7TTC£C?OL(}lOV' XOU VTTZp TdT'd OfVXTC^y OV KOU Ki- 

Gcotov xsender11'} xcu ccvros veoopict. L. I 7. p. I 145. 

43 Herod. L. 2. c. 155. 

44 Ibid. L. 2. c. 156. 

45 In quodam lacu Chemmis Infula, lucos, fylvafque et Apollinis grande fuflinens 
templum, natat, et, quocunque vend agunt, impellitur. Pompon. Mela. L. 1. 

c. 9. p. 55 - 

46 Herod. L. 2. c. 56. He fpeaks of it as not floating when he faw it. 

47 Herod. L. 2. c. 91. 




328 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


latter was by Ifis her 


concealed; and thus efcaped the 


fury of his enemy 


Plutarch 49 mentions, that 


who was here fecreted, and nurfed by 


t was Orus, 
But Latona 


Ifis : and by Orus we are 


underftand 50 Ofiris in his 


fecond Hate : fo that the hiftory is the fame. Some vary 


this hiftory ftill further, and 


the Deity 


Boutus and 


Chemmis 51 Perfeus, whom the Grecians made the fon of 
Danae. But Perfeus was no other than Ofiris, ftyled alfo 

Heliu 

the 51 


efteemed by the people of Chemmis as 


51 chief Deity of the pi 
the Deluge was efteemed an 


As the confinement during 
val of death, the Ark from 


was 


prefented as a bier, or coffin 


and 


had 



the fame fignification. 
the Egyptians had the name of 


plac 


of fepulture among 
But this was only 


fecondary fenfe, being derived from fome refinements 


hiftory. The 


related originally to the Ark, and fig 


fled a floating machine. From thence the perfon preferved 


had the name of Boutus, Butus, and 


All 


48 Herod. L. 2. c. 156. 

49 flgov zv Bbto) Tpe<pojx€vov* Ifis et Ofiris. p. 357. ov zv to/s lAecr/, to/s 

'Zzrepi B &TOV V 7 T 0 A rpacpm’ai Xzy&aiv. Ibid. p. 366. ' 

50 Orus was Apollo, or the Sun. • They efteemed Ofiris the fame. Ofirin ^Egyp- 
tii Solem efie afierunt. Macrob. Sat. L. 1. c. 2x. "HA/o^ Oaipiv. Diodor. L. 1. 
p. 20. The fame is faid of Perfeus. Tlzpcrzus yap 0 c HA/os. Schol. in Lycoph. 
V. 17. p. 4. Tlegcreus 0 HA 10$ z^iv. Ibid. 

51 Herod. L. 2. c. gi. 

5X Ibid. 

53 Bht 01 TQ 7 TQI meto A.iyv7TT 10zi$ as ci tzXzvtcovtzs t$zvtccu Hefych. The repo- 
fitory of Ofiris ftyled copos. Plut. Ifis et Ofiris. p. 362. 

54 Euftathius upon Dionyfius fuppofes Arne to have been the mother of Bceotus. 
Bicotb fJWTnp Apw. v. 426. 

7 Epiphanius 



'The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 329 

All the myfteries of the Gentile world feem to have been 
memorials of the Deluge : and of the events which immedi¬ 
ately fucceeded. They conlifted for the moft part of a me¬ 
lancholy procefs : and were celebrated by night with 55 torches 
in commemoration of the flate of darknefs, in which the 
Patriarch and his family had been involved. The firft thing 
at thefe awful meetings was to offer an oath of fecrecy to 
all, who were to be initiated : after which they proceeded to 
the ceremonies. Thefe began with a defcription of Chaos : 
by which was fignified fome memorial of the Deluge. Chaos 
was certainly the fame as Bvdog, the great abyfs. W'hoj fays 
56 Epiphanius, is fo ignorant , as not to know , that Chaos, and 
Buthos, the abyfs , are of the fame purport f Of the rites 
abovementioned we have an account in the Orphic Argo- 
nautica. 

57 Msr« ogKia. Mvyoug, 

Agyaua pev 'urgmoL yymg oLpusyct^ro]/ ocvcLy/yv, 

K ca Kgovov, og s^o'gsvu'sv a,7rsige<noi(riv vq> oXtcoig 
Akoli b'icpvY] 'Gregioj7T£oi Kvfyov E^wra. 

sifter the oath had been tendered to the IVLufcz^ we commettio- 
rated the fad necejfty , by which the earth was reduced to its 
chaotic fate. TVe then celebrated Cronus , through who 771 the 


Epiphanius mentions Jadal-Baoth, in which a fucred perfon, named Nun, was 
born in the form of a ferpent. See Lilius Gyraluus. Syntag. i. p. 72. alfo Origen 
contra Celfum. L. 6. p. 294. 

55 < Ojjlo/\c') ei——rv£; t?A six tois A eyoy.evcis OcipiJos S'lottjTrcLcry.oi^ kcci t r<x:$ <zvol€i&-> 
c s a ^ stcci r ^ju ctAifyevecrictts. Plutarch. Ifis et Ofiris. p, 364. 

56 Xao? S'e y.cu RvQqs tipi m. clv <?cc(pS5 ew to iy.&ivfJt or jee%T r,Tcti. VoL i» p. 164. 


* 7 Orphic. Argonaut, v. xi. 

VOL, II. 


’WO? 


■Id 


U u 



330 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. , 

hd or Id after a term of dcirhiefs enjoyed again caQsga, a jure fe- 
r'ene Jky : through whom alfo was produced Eros , that twofold , 
confpicuous , and beautiful -Being. The poet adds afterwards, 
that Eros had the name of Phanes, becaiife he was the 58 firPc 
remarkable object, that appeared to the eye of man, in con- 
fequerice of this great event. 

Noah is fpoken of as a man of juftice : and this part of 
his 'character is continually alluded to by the mythologifts, 
whenever they treat of his hiftory. The author of the-poem 
above, among many facTed rites, to which he had been wit- 
nefs, mentions the orgies of juftice, or the juft perfon; and 

thofe of Arkite Athene, which were celebrated by night: 

% 

59 O gyia. TlgaPfifcris kou A gstvyjs WKTog A^ijwjff. 


6o 


unm 



Some would alter the term agsivris, as being 
but there is no reafon for any amendment. By A gem) A&owj 
was meant Arkite Providence ; in other words Divine wif- 
dom, by which the world was preferved. 

In thefe myfteries, after the people had for a long time 
bewailed the lofs of a particular perfon, he was at laft fup- 
pofed to be reftored to life. Upon this the prieft ufed to 
addrefs the aftembly in thofe memorable terms, which I have 
before mentioned. 61 Comfort yourfelves ^ allye^ who have beeti 


yctp eepcaSn. Ibid. v. i6- 

59 Orphic. Argonaut, v. 31. 

60 Quid fit Ageivi) non capio. Efchenback. A peivn, Areine is from Aren the 
Ark : and I imagine, that the terms qAxgs cc7reigeaio $ 7 mentioned by the poet in the 
plural, related to the fame machine. 

61 Jul. Firmicus. p. 45.. 


partakers 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 331 

j partakers of the myfleries of the Deity thus preferred: for we 
foall now enjoy fome refpite frotn our labours. To thefe were 
added the following remarkable words : 62 I have efcaped a 
fad calamity ; and my lot is greatly mended. At fuch times 
there feems to have been an invocation made by the people 
to the Dove, Jonah, which was probably introduced to their 
view : 63 loo M outougct, ActfJL7rcL$i)<pogog : Hail to the Dove, the re~ 
forer of light ! The principal rites in Egypt were confefledly 
for a perfon loft, and conftgned for a time to darknefs 5, who 
was at laft found. This perfon I have mentioned to have been 
defcribed under the character of Oftris : 64 O <Tipig —a nart erog 

yivovrou tsAstgu, cos a.7ro?ih.VfJLev%, you evguntouevu. Hence thofe 

exclamations at the feaft of Ifts 5 65 'E vgqjcafJLSV Xvy'yougop.sv. 

I have taken notice, that the Ark was reprefented under 
the figure of a flip, ftyled OLpopLTrgvuvulig, whofe extremities 
were alike. It was a kind of crefcent, fuch as is exhibited by 
the new moon ; which in confequence of it was made a type 
of the Ark. Hence, in the mythology of the Ark, and the 
Ionah, there is continually fome reference to the moon ; the 
former from its figure being ftyled Mi^y, Meen. Hence like- 
wife it is, that the moon by the Egyptians was efteemed the 
mother of all beings : pt,tfregOL Xs 7 er\vr t v xa Kocry a yoCh'avt. For 
the Moon and the Ark were fynonymous terms. Analo- 

Demofthen. •zs-eci q^scp. p. 568. 

j 

63 There was an infcription of this purport at Argos : which infcription was en¬ 
graved in the temple of lo, the fame as Ionah. Chron. Pafch. p. 41. Ioj 'jccg 7) 
Anm. Euftath. in Dionyf. v. 95. 

64 Theophilus ad Autol. L. 1. p. 343. 

Cs Athenagor. Legatio. p. 299. 


U 11 2 


eons * 



332 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

gous to the above we are informed by Plutarch, that the 
chief concern of the Egyptians was fhewn at the difappearing 
of Ofiris abovementioned, tcccf cupctvur(JLOV Otrigidoc, which they 
ftyled the interment of the Deity. At this feafon they con- 
ftrndted by way of memorial a remarkable machine, called 
A agvcotoc ptwosttiri, cm Ark m the foape of a crefcent or new 
moo?i . In this the image of Ofiris was for a time concealed : 

66 to < 5 s %v?\ov ev reus Xeyopievcus OFigifrog t cupoug TepcvopTsg %&- 
Tcurzsvot^siTi AAPNAKA MHNOEIAH. 

After Ofiris had been reputed for fome time loft, it was 
a cuftom among the Egyptians to go foon after in queft of 
him : and the procefs as deferibed in 67 Plutarch was very re¬ 
markable. Upoji the nineteenth of the mo?ith (that is, two 
days after the KctOsights Origins) the Egyptians go down at 
night to the fea : at which time the priefls , and fupporiers (the 
Paterae) carry the facred vehicle. In this is a golden veffel in 
the form of a flip-, or boat ; into which they take and pour fome 
of the river water. Upon this being performed , a fhout of joy 
is raifed ; and Opr is is fuppofed to be found. This, I ima¬ 
gine, was the feafon, when thofe particular words were ufed, 
svgriicu.pLSVy crvy’gcugopc.sv ; which the Grecians in their myfte- 
ries copied. The author proceeds to inform us, that upon 
this recovery of Opris , 68 the priefs brought a fample of the 
mof fruitful kind of earthy and put it into the water which was 
in the facred Scyphus. To this they added the richefl gums and 


66 Plutarch. Ifis et Ofiris. Vol. 1. p. 368. 

67 Ifis et Ofiris. p. 366. 

AraTAaTTaci es ctyctTvpcniov. Ibid. 


7 


fpices ; 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


333 


fpices ; and the whole was moulded up into the form of a vejfel , 
ftnilar to a Lunette . What is alluded to in this ceremony, 
I think, wants little explanation. 

It has been obferved that the myfteries of the Egyptians 
were for the mo ft part a melancholy procefs. The like cuf- 
toms prevailed in Syria, and Canaan. Jerome calls the fym- 
bolical Deity Dagon, 69 pifcem moeroris. And Hefychius 
mentions, that the name of Bacchus was among the Pheni- 
cians a fynonymous term for 70 mourning. Venus Architis, 
whofe temple I have mentioned to have flood upon Mount 
Libanus, was reprefented in an attitude the mo ft fad and 
gloomy. Macrobius is very particular in his defcription of 
her ftatue. 71 Simulacrum hujus Dese (Veneris Architis) in 

o, fpecie trifti, faciem 
manu lasva intra amidtum fuftinens. Lacrym® viftone con- 
fpicientium manare creduntur. This is not unlike the ftory 
of Niobe, who was reported after the lofs of her children to 
have retired to Mount Sipylus ; where her image in the rock 
was fuppofed to run down with tears. At Tegea in Arca¬ 
dia there was a ftatue of the 72 Goddefs Ilithyia, the fame as 

^ * 

Ills the fame alfo as Juno Lucina of the Latines ; which 
feems to have had a reference to the hiftory above. She was 


monte Libano figitur, capite obnupt 


69 Selden de Diis Syris. Synt. 2. p. 203. 

70 Baxjfcor, ocZlccvQjxgv &om7c&. 

71 Macrob. Sat. L. i. c. 21. 

7Z Paufan. L. 8. p. 698. Selden would alter Venus Architis to Atargatis •, but 
without authority, or reafon. The ark was by many people ftyled Areas, and 
Area: and cities were denominated from it. There was a city Area in Mount 
Libanus ; undoubtedly the fame, from which Venus Architis had her name. See 
Jofephus de Bello Jud. L. 7. c. 24. and Ant. Jud. L. 5. c. 1. 


ftyled 



334 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

fly led E iXziQvia. btti yovounv, Lucina Ingenicula, being repre- 
fented in a fupplicating poflure upon her knees. She was 

the Goddefs of the birth ; and feemed an emblem of nature, 

♦ 

pleading for her offspring, who were to be deflroyed. The 
hiflory, which the Tegeatas gave, was unfatisfadtory. T&e 
principal circumflances were, that Halius had promifed his 
daughter to Nauplius ; but had given private orders to the 
perfons, who conduced her, that fhe fhould be drowned in. 
the fea v . They had other traditions, but very imperfedt. 
Hard by was an altar of earth. 

I cannot conclude without introducing again that memor 
rable paffage in Plutarch concerning Ofiris going into his 
Ark. He fays, that it was to avoid the fury of Typhon : 
and that it happened on the feventeenth day of the month 
73 Athyr, when the fun was in Scorpio. Now it is to be ob~ 
ferved, that there were two feflivals, at oppofite parts of the 
year, eftablifhed by the Egyptians on account of Ofiris being 
thus inclofed : one in the month Phamenoth, which they 
termed sfjdocarig Omgidog Big t y\v XsKwqv, the entrance of Ofiris 
into the moon : the other, of which I am here fpeaking, was 
on the fame account, but in autumn. This was the cere¬ 
mony, rj A £yofj*£VY} xa&sigPig Big c Togov Oc n-gitiog, the indofing 

and fafiejiing of Ofiris in his tomb or ark , in memory of his 
having been in his life time thus concealed : which ark they 

termed £sAyjw], and other nations 7+ Minoa, the moon. Plu- 

♦ 

tarch aefcribes the feafon very precifely, when Ofiris was 

75 Tc&'JT'CX Sr •ZvpcC%'$nVCLl fitydCTlV IS C OUT) 67 Tl SZKOLfAYiVOS SV J TOV 'Xx.OOTTlOl' 

,i yiAizs Sie^eio-iv. Plutarch. Ifis et Ofiris. p. 356. 

74 .See before the account of wu 


6 


fuppofed 



IlateTL. 



































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


33 5 


been 


confined 


the month 


fuppofed to have 
Athyr, upon the feventeenth day of that month * when the 
Etefian winds were palled ; when the overflowing of the Nile 
had ceafed, and the country became dry 


pariK.vvQU.evr, 




£ 


“9 


'ST tO CTKQTOg, 


the time of year when 


m 





'ow long , and the days are upon the decline , darknefs 


eafin 


Was in fhort upon the feventeenth day of the fecond 


76 month aft&r the autumnal ■equmox , ev w T< 

§is^Bi<Tiv : 'when the fun paffes through Scorpio 
take not, was the precife month, and day 
which Noah entered the Ark, and the flood 


6 'HAi 


'itogmov 

This, ir I mif- 


of the month 


came. 


77 


on 

In 


the fix hundredth year of NoaKs life 

THE SEVENTEENTH DAY OF THE 


THE SECOND MONTH, 

rti, the fame day were 


all the fountains of the great deep broken up—In the felf f 


entered Noah 


the Nrk. Hence, I think, thei 


be no doubt, but in this hiftory of Ofiris we have a memorial 
of the Patriarch and Deluge. As this event happened, ac¬ 
cording to the Egyptian traditions, when the Sun was in 
Scorpio ; that fign is continually commemorated in the Dilu- 
vian hieroglyphics. 


75 C H Se 'nre (pooToc. y.xpcaverca y xou xpccreiTcci Svvccuir. Plut* Ifis-et Ofiris. p. 36 6 . 

76 Zsto pwvos A Bvo cc(pcLVicr$nvcti tqv Ocnpiv A eyuai. Pkit. Ifis et Ofiris. p. 366. 

S7ri Sex.cc t nv OatpiSoc yevecrQcti tsNsutw AtyvirUoi fxu^oAoynaiv. Ibid. p. 357. 
The Egyptians varied in their rites as we learn from feveral paffages in Herodotus. 
They-differed alfo in particular places about the commencement of the year. Hence 
we find the fame hiftory of Ofiris commemorated both in autumn, and in fpring. 

77 Genefis. c. 7. v. 11. 


D A, 



336 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


DA, Particula Chaldaica. 

« 

TN treating of Danaus, and. Danae I furmifed, that they 
were not the names of perfons; but ancient terms, which 
related to the facred fhip ; and to the rites, which were in¬ 
troduced by the lonim, and Dorians from Egypt. I men¬ 
tioned, that they were each of them compounded of Da- 
Naue, and Da-Nauos, by which is meant the Jhip kclt s^o^pv. 
For the term Da is a Chaldafc particle, equivalent to De, 
Die, and The, of the Saxon, Teutonic, and other languages. 
It occurs in the prophet 78 Daniel, and,^s taken notice of by 
Buxtorf. Da, Chaldaice, haec, ifta, hoc, illud. The 

Priefts in Egypt were ftyled Decani, as we learn from 79 Jam- 
blichus. But Decani, Asjictvoi, feems to be merely a com- 
pound of De Cani, by which is meant the Cahen or Priefts . 
Da in Damater, which the Ionians rendered Demeter, Aj^U]TJ}£, 
was certainly of the fame purport. The name related to the 
ark, and was a compound of Da Mater \ the fame as Mather, 
Methuer, Mithyr of Egypt, and other countries. The name 
Da Mater, or the Mother , was given to it, becaufe it was 
efteemed the common parent, the Mother , of all mankind. 
As the Ark had manifeftly a connexion with floods and wa¬ 
ters, hence it was, that 80 Damater and Pofeidon, the Deity 
of the fea, were often found in the fame temple. As a per- 

78 Daniel, c. 4. v. 27. and c. 7. v. 3. v. 8. 

79 Se6t. 9. p. 165. and 302. Abkccvqi kcci Aeirvgyoi. 

?° Plutarch. Sympof. p. 668. 

fonage 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 337 

fonage fh.e was the fame as ©say, the mother of the Gods ; 

to whom Orpheus gives the fovereignty of the main : and 
from whom he deduces the origin of all mankind. 

81 E x <reo cT ccQccvoltcm re yevog, * 9 -v^rusv r e’hoyevQ^ 

'Em 'GrorufJLOi xgctTeovrou as xou ‘Wear cl 3 -aAarcra. 

All the fountains of the deep obeyed her. 

A colony of the Amonians fettled in Thrace ; and in thefe 
parts are to be found many plain traces of their original hif- 
tory. The river Danube was properly the river of Noah, ex- 
prefled Da-Nau, Da-Nauos, Da-Nauvas, Da-Naubus. Hero- 

I 

dotus calls it plainly the river of Noah without the prefix ; 
but appropriates the name only to one branch ; giving the 
name of Ifter to the chief flream, 8 * Adgvg, xou No^f, xcu Ag- 

Tavrjg, exSiian eg Tov lg-gov. It is mentioned by Valerius Flaccus. 
83 Quas Tanai's, flavufque Lycus, Hypanifque, Noafque. 

This fome would alter to Novafque : but the true reading is 
afeertained from other paffages, where it occurs ; and parti¬ 
cularly by this author, who mentions it in another place. 

H Hyberni qui terga Nose, gelidumque fecuri 
Haurit, et in tota non audit Amazona ripa. 

Moffc writers compound it with the particle Da, and exprefs 
it Da-Nau, Da-Nauvis, Da-Naubis. By thofe who live upon 

9 
4 

Sx Orphic. Hymn. 26. v. 7. 

8x Herodot. L. 4. c. 49. 

83 Yaler. Flaccus. L. 4. v. 719. 

14 Ibid. L. 6. v. ioo, 

VOL. II. 


X X 


its 



338 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

its banks, it is now called Danau. Stephanus Byzantinus 
fpeaks of it both by the name of 8s Danoubis and Danoufis. 
Not far from the Danube is the Boryfthenes, called alfo the 

Nieper: which latter name it had in the time of Herodotus. 

* 

s6 Ag&gog r s lieu N ci7ragog. This river, like that abovemen- 
tioned, was expreffed with the particle Da prefixed. This 
being a fecret to later writers, they have joined them infe- 
parably together, and call the river Nieper, or Naper, the Da- 
naper. Hence one of the authors of the Periplus mentions 
87 tov BogvrOeyrjV TSTOTapoov voLvewrogoVy xca Toy AccvcL7rgiv T^Byopoavov. 

He in another place makes mention B ogvcrOsyxg 'nroTccpm, kcu 
A oLV0L7Tgsocg, of the river Boryfthenes and L)a?iaper. In the fame 
part of the world is another river, named the Niefter. This 
too they have expreffed Danefter, and 88 Danafter. Cedrenus, 
enumerating the rivers upon the weftern fide of the Euxine, 
mentions both thefe dreams, the Niefter, and the Nieper, 
but with the particle prefixed, as if it were part of the name. 
Ss M zyp Aoui&Ssws, kou tz K acpv 'uroTtx.fjox, ts Actvoi?gsodg tb, x.ca 

Aolv cutgswg. K t A. This prefix was introduced among the 
nations in thefe parts by people from Egypt and Syria. It 
was originally a Chaldaic article : but may have been iii ufe 
among people of another family. 

I have mentioned, that the name Dione was properly Ad, 

* 5 A n Aaz'Bcr/c, 0 'WQrccfj.os. The etymology given by this author is 

v/orth remarking for its Angularity. 'O A ccvbctis c apfj.nveueTccL^ oocnrzg tb afjLctprw. 

T r)V CClTtCCV* 

* ^ 

Herod. L,. 4. c. 48. 

i-T Auctor Peripli Maris Euxini. p. 8. et 16. apud Geog. Vet. Vol. 1. 
f,s Jornanaes de rebus Gcticis. p. 85. 

Cedrenus. V. 7. p. 464. 

or 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


339 


or Ada, lone. Hence came the term Ideone ; which Ideone 
was an object of idolatry, as early as the days of Mofes. But 
there was a fimilar perfonage named Dei'one, whom the poets 
fuppofed to have been beloved by Apollo. This was a com¬ 
pound of De lone, the Dove : and Venus Dionaea may fbme- 
times have been formed in the fame manner. This article 

feems in fome inftances to have been pronounced like the in 

• ^ 

our language. Semele, the mother of Dionufus, was called 

' 

Thy one ; by which was certainly meant The Tone , or Dove. 
The poets from hence ftyled Dionufus Thyoneus. This is 
analogous to the former, and fignifies the lojieus , The God of 
the lonah , or Dove. He was alfo called Tag 1 , Hyas, as Zeus 
was ftyled O fogiog, Ombrius ; both which terms fignify the 
Deity of 90 rain. The prieftefs of the God had hence the 
name of Hyas, and alfo Thyas. Thy as fignifies The Hyas : 
Thyades, The Hyades. Why Dionufus had this title, and 
why at his myfteries and orgies they echoed the terms 91 Hyas 
Atis ; or as the Grecians expreffed it 'T r\g Arn t\g, the Lord of 
foowersy need not I think be explained. The conftellation 
of the Hyades in the heavens was a watery fign, and fup¬ 
pofed to have been a memorial of fome perfonages, who are 
reprefented as the nurfes of Dionufus. They were the 
daughters of Oceanus and 91 Melitta, and redded once at 
Nufa. It is faid of them, that they had a renewal of life : 


90 Plutarch tries to refine upon this hiftory, but idly. T ov /lioruTov T^', ok 
TcvpiGp tvs uyp's q,vcr€u)$ m Ilis et Ofiris. p. 364* 

91 Demofthenes. Tveoi p. 516. Strabo. L. 10. p. 723. 

9i Hyginus. Fab. 182. 


X X 2 


Ill 



340 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

In juvenes mutatas funt. Their hiftory is defcribed by 95 Hy~ 
ginus : and it is alfo mentioned by Ovid. 

94 Ora micant Tauri feptem radiantia flammis, 

Navita quas Hyadas Graius ab imbre vocat. 

Pars Bacchum nutrifie putant : pars credidit efie 
Tethyos has neptes,.. Oceanique fenis. 

ted the fame Deity both as; 
malculine and feminine. They had both Cacus and Gaea,,. 
Lunus and Luna; alfo lanus and lana.. Diana is a com¬ 
pound of De lana, and fignifies the Goddefs lana.. That her 
name was a feminine from lanus, we may learn from Macro- 
bins, who quotes Nigidius for his authority.. Pronuncia- 
vit Nigidius Apollinem Ianum efie, Dianamque Ianam.. 
From this lana with the prefix was formed Diana, which, I[ 
imagine, was the fame as Dione. 

93 Ibidem. 

O cTe nrr,v TTitv y.<ti *rcts Aiovu&& Tgotpss Etymo~ 

Jog. Mag. 

94 Faftor. L. 5. v. 165. 

95 Sat. L. 1. c. 10. p. 158* 


The ancients often reprefen 


O F 



( 34* ) 



O F 



I T has been mentioned that Juno was the fame as lona s 
and {he was particularly ftyled 
cians called her Hera.; which was not originally a proper' 
name, but a title, the fame as Ada of the Babylonians, and 
fignified the 1 Lady^ or £$ueen.. She was alfo efteemed the 
fame as Luna, and Selene; from her connexion with the 
Ark ; and at Samos {he was defcribed as handing in a Lu¬ 
nette, with the lunar emblem upon her 2 head. Iii confe- 

quence of which we find her in fome ancient infcriptions 

* 

diftinguifiied by the title, of Luna Regina. 

% 

3 Veronas in Domo Trivellorum.- 

JUN. L U N. 

REG. SACR. 

She was called + Inachis and Inachia by the poets ; and re^-- 

* 

1 Heer, Herus, Heren, Haren,.in many languages betokened fomething. noble* . 
Hence 'H pet, ct?^x.r>. /2ctcnAet*. Hefych. 

* See the plate with a coin from Spanheim. 

3 Gruter. Infcript. Vol. i.p. 25. 

a 

4 Ovid. Metamorph/ii.. 9.. v. 



Juno Argiva. The Gre- 


34- 2 The Analysis of : Ancient Mythology. 

prefented as the Queen of heaven, the fame as Aftaroth, and 
Aftarte of Sidon and Syria. It is faid of Juno, that fhe was 
fometimes worfhiped under the 5 fymbol of an egg : fo that 
her hiftory had the fame reference, as that of Oinas, or Ve¬ 
nus. She preftded equally over the feas ; which fhe was 
fuppofed to raife and trouble, as fhe lifted. 

6 His ego nigrantem commixta grandine nimbum 

V 

Defuper infundam, et tonitru ccelum omne ciebo. 

She alfo produced calms, and falutary breezes , as we are 
informed by another Poet: 

t m 

7 'H \gOL 'Ztfa/zSacnAsftt, A io$ qrvXXeKTgct {JLa.tccaga., 

'^V'fcgOTgOtpxS OLV^dLG &VY1T0LS 

Ofz&goov [lsv disgwv, oLvsfJLoov Tgo<ps y 'nmnoysvsOAe. 

A 

. 

• 0 s 

Ifts and Io had the fame department. 8 Io ab iEgyptiis Ift- 
dis nomine culta, et tempeftatibus et navigantibus praefecfta 

eft. Ifts, Io and Ino were the fame as Juno : and Venus alfo 

• # • 

was the fame Deity under a different title. Hence in Laco¬ 
nia there was an ancient ftatue of the Goddefs, ftyled Venus 
Junonia : 9 %oocvov <$s ctg%ouov KoCAzcriv A<pgochrrig ‘H gctg. Juno 
was alfo called Cupris, and Cupra; and under that title was 
worfhiped by the IO Hetrurians. 

As Juno was the fame as Ionah, we need not wonder at 

5 Csel. Rhodigin. L. 18. c. 38. 

6 Virg. iEneid. L. 4. v. 120. 

7 Orphic. Hymn, in Junon. 15. 
s Natalis Comes. L. 8. p. 468. 

9 Paufanias. L. 3. p. 240. 

T yiv C H gccv exeim Kv 7 rpccv xaAycn. Strabo. L. 5. p. 369. 


the 



Plate vll 



































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































343 


* 

The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

* f 

the Iris being her concomitant. This was no other than the 
Rainbow, which God made a fign in the heavens ; a token 
of his covenant with man. This circumftance is apparently 
alluded to by Homer, in a reference to that phenomenon ; 
where he fpeaks of it as an appointed fign. The paffage is 
very remarkable. The poet is fpeaking of fome emblazonry 
upon the cuirafs of Agamemnon, which he compares to the 
colours in the celeftial bow. 


II 


lgKTCTlV SQMOTSS, dgT£ KgOVlteV 



vz(psi meigs, TEPA2 MEPOIION 



007TO0V. 


Like to the bow, which Jove amid the clouds 
Pl^:ed as a token 

In another place he {peaks of this phenomenon in the fame 
manner. 



12 Huts 'srogQvgew Igut vviqrom Tct.vv<r<rr\ 

Z svg cvgavodev T£ga.g 

Juft as when Jove mid the high heavens difplays 
His bow myfterious for a lafting lign. 

In a hymn to Selene, afcribed to Homer, there is again 
mention made of the Iris being placed in the heavens as a 
token : 

13 Ts/CjU-w^ Js figoToig zcci tztvktou. 

It was exhibited to mortals for a?i intimatiojiy a?id fign. As 


,l Iliad. A. v. 27. 

12 Iliad. P. v. 547. 

V. 13. 

IO 


13 


the 



344 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology - . 

the peacock in the full expanficin. of his plumes difplays all 
the beautiful colours of the Iris ; it was probably for that 
reafon made the bird of Juno inftead of the Dove, which 
was appropriated to Venus. The fame hiftqry was varioufly 
depicted in different places ; and confequently as varioufly 
interpreted. 

This beautiful phenomenon in the heavens was by the 
Egyptians ftyled Thamuz, and feems to have fignified the 
•wonder. The Grecians expreffed it Thau mas : and from 
hence were derived the terms B'oc.vfJLOL^co, &a.V[ACt<riog y &ciVfJLa.g'og. 
This Thaumas they did not immediately appropriate to the 
bow; but fuppofed them to be two perfonages, and Thau¬ 
mas the parent. The Rainbow and Dove were certainly 
depicted together in hieroglyphics. Hence, when Juno is 
entering the 

mitant, whom he ftyles ** Thaumantias, or the 15 daughter 
of wonder. 


heavenly abodes, Ovid makes Iris her conco- 


Lasta redit Juno ; quam ccelum intrare parentem 
Roratis luftravit aquis Hhaumantias Iris . 


What the Grecians called Iris feems to have been exprefled 
Eiras by the Egyptians ; and was a favourite name with that 


people. 


The two female attendants upon Cleopatra, who 


14 Ovid. Metamorph. L. 4. v. 478. 

15 In like manner Plefiod defcribes her* 

©ctu^t'T os ^rvyct Trip) &:< ecc I pis. Theogon. v. 780. 

Imbrifera. potitur Thaumantide Juno. Statius. Sylv. L. 3. c. 3. v. 81. 

Both Thaumas and Thamas were the fame as Themis, who by Lycophron is re- 
prefented as the daughter of the Sun. v. 129. Schol. 



fupported 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 345 

* 

fupported her in her laft moments, were named 16 Eiras, and 

% 

Charmion; which I fhould interpret the Rainbow, and 
Dove. The Greeks out of Eiras formed Eros, a God of 
Love; whom they annexed to Venus, aprd made her foil. 
And finding that the bow was his fymbol, inflead of the 
Iris, they gave him a material bow, with the addition of a 
quiver and arrows. Being furnifhed with thefe implements 
of mifchief he was fuppofed to be the bane of the w r orld. 

17 Egceg, fj,syot 'UTyiiacl, peyct zvyog clvQpw, roi<n. 

This was different from his original charadter. He is ftyled 
by Plato Msyag Ssog, a mighty God : and it is faid 18 Egwrct 

fjieyig'm ouyoiQm rifjuv cunov bivou : ’That Eros was the caufe of 
the greatefl blejfnigs to mankind. The bows of Apollo, and 
of Diana, were, I believe, formed from the fame 19 original. 

Mofes informs us, that the bow in the cloud was infti- 
tuted as a token of a covenant, which God was pleafed to 
make with man. 20 u4nd God faid, this is the token of the 
covenant, which I make between 77ie and you , and every crea¬ 
ture that is with you, for perpetual ge?ieratio?is. I do fet my 
bow m the cloud—and I will re?nember my covenant, which is 
between me, a?id you, and every livmg creature of allflefo : and 

16 TLipcts ’/] KAsoxcrrpas x. r epevTpicc^ x.ctt 5 C ocpputov. Plutarch, in Antonio, p, 954. 
Columba, Oivct f, a Syria difta eft Charmion, vel Charmiona. Bochart. Hierozoic. 
Pars ada. L. 1, c. 1. 

* 

17 Apollon. L. 4. v. 446. 
lS Plato. Vol. 3. Sympof. p. 178. 

19 The original word was Cofet, which the Grecians tranflated t qZgu The Se¬ 
venty uniformly ufe to^os for the bow in the heavens. 

20 Genefis. c. 9. v. 12. 15. 

Vol. II. Y y 


the 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

the waters fie all no more become a flood to deflroy all flejh . To 
this covenant Hehod alludes, and calls it the great oath. 
He fays, that this oath was Iris, or the bow in the heavens * 
to which the Deity appealed, when any of the inferior divi¬ 
nities were guilty of an untruth. On fuch an occalion Iris, 
the great oath of the Gods, was appointed to fetch water 
from the extremities of the ocean ; with which thofe were 
tried, who had fallihed their word. 

31 FLoLVgx. <5g, ©ATMANTOS S-vyccTqg, oojcea I ’gig 

Ayyshirig 'gtooXsitou sir zvgect mron •S-aAacr<rfl£, 

e O 7T7T0T £gis KCLL VSIKOg £V A&CLV &.T 01<T IV Q£Y\TCU., 

K ai f og-ig '^svtirfrcu. oXvfJL7ria b'oop.&T s^ovtuv, 

Xsvg be T£ IglV £TTSfJL^/S &SOOV fJLSyC/J ogxov SVBiKObk 

Tl^AO^S^ £V y£gV(TeY\ 'Brgo'xpw 'UTOAVOOVVfJLOV vJ(Ug. 

E£ *g£8 'UTQTOLfJLQlQ f>SBl <J/« VVKTCt, [JLSKOttVYIV 

SlaeoLVoio Kegctg. 

I am induced to think that Iris and Eros were originally 
the fame term ; and related to the Divine Love exhibited in 
the difplay of the bow, which it pleafed God to make a teffc 
of his covenant with man. But a difference arofe in time : 
and the former was appropriated to the phenomenon in the 
heavens j and of the latter was formed a boyiffi Deity : by 
which means it was made to vary from its original purport.. 
The attendant upon Cleopatra was named Iras : and the fer- 
vant, who was employed by Marcus Antonius to do him the 
laft office, when he wanted to be difpa.tched, was Eros.. 

Hefiod. Theog. v. 780. 

Plutarch, in Antonio,. 



Hence 



The Analysis of Anciektt Mythology. 34.7 

Hence I am led to imagine that they were the fame name ; 
only reprefented, after the mode of the country, mafculine 
or feminine, according as they were applied. There was a 
particular kind of chaplet, familiar among the Greeks ; and 
compofed, sz 'TtYOLvrwv u.v§em, of every kind of flower. It 
was called Eros : undoubtedly from having all the variety of 
colours, which are confpicuous in the Iris. When there are 
two terms or titles, which have a reference to the fame ob- 
jed ; the Greeks generally form fome degree of relation be¬ 
tween them. Thus, in the prefent inftance, Plutarch takes 
notice that the Poets are very wild in their notions of the 
God of Love : but there is one circumftance, in which he 
thinks they are right, however they may have been led to 
the difcovery : and this was in making Eros the fon of Iris 
by Zephyr us the weftern wind. And he accordingly quotes 
from fome ancient anonymous author a line or two to that 

purpofe. * 3 O Xiyot $e eigriTou [astcl TTa^g ocvToig ('nroiqTctig) 

sirs ZCLTOL VZV ZOU KoytCTpOV, SITS <TVV ©SO) TT\g Oih^BlOCg OL^a- 

fizvoig’ m sv sg"i zca to T*regi Trig ysvetrswgjrs E gwTog)’ _ A sivo- 

TOiTOV &SOJV ySIVCLTO SVTTStilXog I gig, ^VTOZOfJLO, 'Zspvgu fJU^SKTCC. 

From thefe data I think we may infer that Eros and Iris 
were the fame. After the defcent from the Ark, the firfl: 
wonderful occurrence was the bow in the clouds, and the 
covenant, of which it was made an emblem. To this pur¬ 
pofe there feems to be a verfe of Parmenides, quoted from the 
author above : 

13 Plutarch. Amatorius. Vol. 2. p. 765. 

Y y 2 


n gMTl£QV 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

4 ^ 

Tl^rig'ov [xsv E^wtcc ©scav puryiipro 'uroavrm : 

At this feafon another sera 25 began : the earth was fuppofed 
to be renewed; and time to return to a fecond infancy.. 
They therefore formed an emblem of a child with the rain¬ 
bow, to denote this renovation in the world ; and called him 
Eros, or Divine Love. But however like a child he might, 
be expreffed, the more early mythologies efteemed him the 
molt ancient of the Gods. And 26 Lucian with great hu¬ 
mour makes Jupiter very much puzzled to account for the: 
appearance of this infant Deity. Why , thou urchin , fays the 

father of the Gods, how came you with that little childijh face y 
when I know you to be as old as Tapetus P Hence. He is called , 
in the Orphic Argonautics 

27 n^strSbraroy rs, kui uvroreXYi, 'gtoXv^tiv E^wtoew. 

The Greek and Roman Poets reduced the character of this 
Deity to that of a wanton, mifchievous pigmy : but He was 
otherwife efteemed of old. He is in the quotation above' 
ftyled b'sivoTotTog Ssoov : and by Phasdrus in Plato, 28 [JLsyocg 

Ssog 6 Hgwg, kou 0ATMA2TO2 -—ev 'ur^scr^vrocroig toov ©sooi /2 
Plato here. in. the term SctvpMg'og has an eye to the ancient 

Plutarch. Amatouus. Vol. 2. p. 756. 

A7rAcn-'gf$ xAcoGbct] 'utcTwtcottcl vji/jlcctcc ‘Moipcti. Nonnus; L. 41. p. 1070. v. 23/. 

Eros by Hefiod is the firft, who is made to appear after the chaotic ftate of nature-.. 
Theog\ v. 120. 

ZD 

* 

z6 Lucian. Vol. 3. p. 121. 

Orph. Argonaut, v. 422. 

Platon. Sympof. Vol. 3. p. 178. 



Amonian 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


349 


Amonian name Thaumaz, and Thamuz. Plutarch in his 
account of Eros has the fame allulion : 29 M cucagiov, cog aAtf- 

fapg, sasivo-, kcu SuvfJLunov kolKov. At the beautiful appearance- 
of the bow in the heavens, it pleafed God to make his pro- 
mifes to man ; and to take off the curfe from the earth : 
and to ordain, that there fhould be fome refpite from labour. 
The very name of Noah was 30 reft. This Heliod feems to 
allude to, when he defcribes Eros firft appearing : 

ts 

3-1 H<T E^os 1 , og mKhi<gog sv uQuvuroiri §eoi<?i y 

A vrifJLshrig . 

Love alfo was produced , the moft beautiful of the Gods : Love,, 
the foother , and foftener , who unbends the wearied limbs . By* 
fome he is made the fon of Cronus, who produced him* and' 
at the fame time all the winds which blow. 

32 A vTctg LgooToc Kfovog, aui 'urvsvfJLa.ru nruvr sreMoors.. 

The anonymous Poet in Plutarch made him the fon of Ze- 
phyrUs : others, the fon of Venus, or the Dove. Which va¬ 
riety of notions arofe from the different manner of expreffing^ 
and alfo of interpreting, the ancient hieroglyphics. Heliod 
makes him pofterior to the earth : on- the other hand* Ari- 

* 9 Amatorius. p. 76*5. 

50 I-Iefychius. 

11 Hefiod. Theogon.-v. 120. He calls the Deity Epo?, not E'pcos. c O /Xiovvaos 

AXSEDX Bcp'iV CtlTlOSj SlQ Xctl AT'2.ET'2 C ©rSS* KCtl OzOB’Ji (p'nG'lVy 

ZivaBiS ex tB 'zz'opcov ‘fpaLXBirctyvi xzu ccTreipovo ? oicfge. 

Olympiodor. Comment. inPh^donerrv 
'S.yrepy^ 'uLro\vfx,vnTov< i Auo-;e Orph.-Hymn. 49. v: 2. 

51 Orph..Fragment. 22. According to Ph^edrus in Plato ? .Eros, Love, had nei¬ 
ther father nor mother.. Sympof. p. 17$. 

flophanes 



35 ° The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

♦ • 

m «r 

ftophanes carries his birth as far back as Chaos. But it muft 
be coniidered that the confufion, which prevailed at the De¬ 
luge, is often reprefented as the chaotic ftate of nature. 
For the earth was hid, and the heavens obfcured; and all 
the elements in diforder. sit this, feafon , according to 33 Ari- 
ffophanes, fable-wmged. Night produced, an egg \ from whence 
fprouted, up like a l>loffom Eros> the lovely a?id defereable , with 
his glojjy golden- wings. The egg is called war? thr*) usutQV', which 
is interpreted Ovum abfque concubitu : but it likewife fig- 
nifies 34 vztio$> rainy. This was certainly the eggof Typhon; 
an emblem of the Ark, when the rain defcended : and it may, 
I think, be proved from a like piece of mythology in Orpheus 
concerning Protogonus, the ftrft man upon earth ; who was 
certainly deffgned to reprefent the great Patriarch ; and is 
fet off with the like hieroglyphical ornaments, as are to be 
found above. 

35 TJgunoyovov /caA boo, Jupvri, pezy&v cu@£g 07 rha.yicTriv, 

SloyevY), ygv<rzou<nv CLyaJKhopLsvQV 'ar]£gv,ye<r(riv. 

I invoke Protogonus, the firjl of ?nen : him y who was of a two - 

■' 3 Xews Y.CCI VU&, E pz€c$ TS fJ-tActV WpteTOV, KCtl 'TcCgTCLPOS ZVpVS* 

F/j bS 9 ctYigi Bpccvos W} E peStss S' e 7 r ccyrHpoicri X.0A7 roi?. 

TIsCTSt '-UTCtoTLCpOV V7n)Veu~lOV Nl'S; H yjhcCVOTTTSgOS coov 5 

£§ & wepiT£A?ioy.£vczis copoLts ct~ccvev E p&$ 0 'woQeivcSj 

^TiAfwr i'ootov 'ET'repvyoiv ^pucrectiv. Ariftophan. in Avibus. v. 692. 
rr TTrwByiov cutiyov, verov. Hefychius. The egg is alfo ftyled Clov 'Zstpuptov. 
And God made a wind to pafs over the earthy and the waters ajjwaged . Genef. c. 8. v. 1. 
Damafcius ftyles the egg to yajbjj,svov^ y~cu to kvov goov. MS. quoted by Bentley in 
his celebrated Epiftle to Mills, p. 3. 

35 Orphic. Hymn. 5. In all thefe fymbols the term Aitpuns continually occurs : 
YlgtoToyovos J \(pv>i $ 9 A iovvg-qs cP/pwjs, KeupoScpvw, Epoos (FicpuyCloovvvs cTvpiws in Be- 
rofus. All thefe relate to one perfon, and the fame hiftory. 

7 




The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 351 

fold fate , or nature : who wandered at large under the wide 
heavens ; inclofed in an ovicular machine , (whence he was 
termed ELoysvqs, Ovo genitus) who was alfo , hieroglyphically, 
depiEled with golden wings. 

Tevzcriv Mccmguv, &pyitoov t 0Lv6gw7tu>v. 

"The fame was the father of the Nlacares (ftyled Heroes, A Ga- 
vouvoi , 'HTuaJa;, the Demigods, and Daemons), the paretit alfo 
of all mankind ; 

V 

4 

Ocr<ruv 6s <ncoTO£<r<ra.v cL7tY){JLCLVgu<r£v opu'gfw' 

who difpelled the mif and darknefs , with which every thmg had 
been obfcured . The golden wings, which are given to thefe 
perfonages, were undoubtedly taken from the tints of the Iris: 
and thefe defcriptions are borrowed from ancient heiroglyphi- 
cal pictures ; where the fame emblem was differently appro¬ 
priated ; yet ftill related to the fame hiftorical event. Proto- 
gonus is ftyled $t<pw)s ; and Eros has the fame epithet: 

36 Egct.cr[juQV, EgwToCj 

EVTTOiXctfjLOPj £l<pvr). 

All fymbolieal reprefentations were, I fhould think, in their 
very nature ambiguous ; and could never be uniformly and 
precifely defined. Eros, who was the fir ft wonderful phe¬ 
nomenon, feems fometimes to be fpoken of as Phanes, who 
was alfo called Dionufus. 

? 6 Orphic, Hymn. 57.. 

E I'M 8 ftps 



35 * 


The Analysis of Ancient (Mythology. 


- 37 E %a.V£q>$V£ 9 'soig usgxv xctXkifov t£e&xi, 

■Ov .J >3 wv jcaXsiuri 4>a^ra rs %ou A mvrov, 
•Ey^aAjga-T’-aj/aara, /sa; ANTATEHN a giSyiKov. 

Ylgoorog r sg <pctog »)A0s, .Atoopvcrog cT sttsxA^. 

Tie alfo has golden wings, according to Hermias from Plato: 


.38 


XflVtTSlCLtS 'Urrsgvyscnri pOgSVfJLSVOS 


And he is in the Orphic Argonautics exprefly faid to be the 

: but contrary to the notion of Ariftophanes, 


fame 


Eros 


he .is here made the parent of night: 


39 <5f (pVYj y 'UT£glU7r£CL 3 ZV$gOV E^WTCt, 

Nuxtos a,si,yvY}Tir\s 'ura.Tsgx kXvtov, ov pa Oanrra 
'OtAot^o; /iaAsycn figoTOi. 

He is likewife called Phaethon, and YlgooToyovog ; 


40 Upuroyovog Oas^wi/ 'urspi^^sog H sgog hog* 

And however thefe little hiftories may have been confounded, 
and differently applied ; yet it will appear plainly upon 
comparing, that they have all the fame tendency : and that 
they relate to the bow in the cloud, and to the circumftances 


Macrob 


MS 


10 Orphic. Argonaut, v. 15. Plato fpeaks of Phanes as the fame as Eros from 

Orpheus : you jj.ol S'ox.ei y~gli 0 FIAasT&jy euoojy 'zzrocp 9 Og(psi tou ccvtgv t&tois 

ycca Eowto., you £.ccifs„ovct fjLtyctv olttoyccP^^.svgv. k. r. A. Proclus in Platon. Alcibiad. 


e Bentley’s Letter to Mills, p. 3. 

40 Orpheus apud Laclant. de Falf. Relig. L. 1. c. 5. 


of 


9 



The Analysis oe Ancient Mythology. 353 

of the Deluge. This cloud the mythologies reprefented 
as a cloak, or covering, out of which Phanes difplayed him- 

felf: 41 y^iToovu,, *j T y\v NE<X>EAHN, oti sz rarcav szQgocv'KSl 6 

Oa 2 /fl$. To him the fons of men looked up, as to an un¬ 
expected and much longed for token : 

41 ©ATMAZON xuQogwvTeg sv cuQegi <psyyog as?, 7 r 7 or, 

Toiov anogri^si ffloc; ctQou>ctr010 Qfzvrfcog. 

If we conlider thefe articles, as they are here circum- 
ffcanced ; we ffiall find that they cannot relate to the Chaos, 
though they are fometimes blended with it. They were 
taken from emblems, under which the Deluge was repre- 
fented, as well as the phenomena fubfequent to that event. 
But they are difficult to be precifely appropriated; as not 
only the phenomenon itfelf, but the Deity, by whom it was 
inftituted, and the perfon, to whofe view it was principally 
exhibited, are often referred to under the fame fymbol. Thus 
the author of the Orphic poetry fpeaks of Phanes as Eros, 
.alfo as IlgcdToyovog, Atyvrig, and 43 A lovvcrog rug. He meffif 
tions likewife in the fame defcription 

Eu£8?0J& T AvctZTd 3 mi ANTATrHN ** *§1 foXov' 


4* 


41 Damafcius He pi vjpooroov a^sor, MS. p. 156. See Bentley's Epiftle to Mill. 
And it Jhall come to pafs , when I bring a cloud over the earthy that the bow Jhall be feen 
in the cloud . Gen. c. 9. v. 14. 

Hermias in Platonis Pha^drum, MS. quoted by Gefner in Orph. p. 406. and 
by Bentley in his epiftle to Mill. 

4} Dionufus under the name of Tgieryigr*o$ ftyled Eros. 

Kb££ &lfJLGCTCAg' y 

OugeaupoiTct Ep<y?. Orph. Hymn. 51. His fecond mother was the Ark, ftyled 
j&ccjuiccTWg and MnTYip ©gcor. 

44 Macrobii Saturnal. L. 1. c. 18. 

VoL. II. 


Z z 


which 





354 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

which fignifies the merciful Lord or King y and the refplendent 
oppofed light ; that is, the refledted colours of the Iris, which 
arife from their oppofition to the Sun. Great obfcurity has 
been brought upon this part of ancient mythology, from the 
names of thefe fymbols not being precifely adapted, nor uni¬ 
formly preferred : for they varied in different parts ; and buf¬ 
fered great alterations from time. The name alfo of each 

hieroglyphic was given to the chief perfonage y as the author 

* 

of this poetry acknowledges : 

4S AAA crgtizig cT ovof zv'/s 'GTgoa'oovvpLioLg 'Grgog izctg'ov 
HarrotlWas /cara koli^ov oLpLzi&opLevoio ovoio . 

Hence among other titles he was ftyled Maneros, which fig— 
nified Lunus Cupido. Under this character the Egyptians 
reverenced a perfon, who feems to have been the fame as 
Tliamas or Thamuz : and his rites were attended with the 
like lamentations and dirges. They 46 efteemed him a dif- 
$iple of the Mufes, a great hufbandman, and the inventer of 
the plough. 

45 Macrobii Saturnal. L. x. c. 18. ex Orpheo de Phanete. 

46 See Plutarch. Ifis et Ofiris : and Julius Pollux. M ccvegcos yecogyixs Ivpens, xou 

Mtfcwi' L. 4. c. 7. 



\ 


BARIS 



( 355 ) 





BARIS or BARIT, 

The B A R I T H, m2, of the S S : 

# 

BE ROE of Nonnus, L. xli. 


A CCORDING to the Grecian manner of expreflion, 

the facred fliip of Egypt was ftyled Baris, which was 
another name for the Ark or Thebah. I have taken notice, 
that from the inflexions, which the word is made to undergo 
in the Greek language, we may be afliired that it was origi¬ 
nally rendered Barit. For the nominatives have in number- 
lefs inftances buffered a change in termination : and we muft 
neceflarily apply to the oblique cafes, in order to inveftigate 
the radix. The terms fiagidos, fiotgidt, |3a£ ifret ,- &c. can only 

be deduced from Bwhich the people of the eafl: pro¬ 
nounced Barit, Barith, and Berith. It was the name of the 
Ark, but flgnified properly a co , ve?ta?it. It was alfo a name, 
by which Mount Ararat was fometimes diflzinguifhed ; as 
well as the temple of the Ark, upon'that 1 eminence : and it 
related to the co r oe? 2 a? 2 p made by God to man. 


1 Tw E at pi fes veco ?. Strabo, L. 11. p. 803. 

Z z 2 


We 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


356 

Wc read in very early times of a Deity, Baal 1 Berith in 
Canaan ; who was worfhiped by the men of Shechem, and 
of no fmall repute. This, I fhould think, was no other than 
the Arkite God ; with whofe idolatry the Ifraelites in gene¬ 
ral were infedled, foon after they were fettled in the land- 
The place is ftyled Beth Baal Berith, the 3 temple of the God 
Be?'ith : where there appear to have been large offerings 
made, from the riches depofited within.. Near Srdon was an. 
ancient city, Berith or Barith, of the like purport; and fT* 
cred to the fame Deity. It was by the Greeks called Bery- 
tus ; and fometimes by the poets Beroe ; being, as was fup- 
pofed, fo denominated from a nymph of the ocean, who was 
the nurfe of Semele. Others make her a miftrefs of Dionu- 

fus. I have taken notice of Venus Architis in Mouijt Liba- 

# 

nus ; and the many memorials of the Deluge in thefe parts ^ 
and of the worfhip in conlequence of them at Afcalon, Gaza,. 
Sidon, Hierapolis, See. The fame rites undoubtedly pre¬ 
vailed in this place; which was ftyled Barith, from being the 
city of the Ark. Nonnus fuppofes the ancient and. true 
name of this city to have been Beroe; and that, it was 

And it co 7 ne to pafs as foon .. as Gideon was dead * that the Boildren of Iff a el turned - 
a fairly and went a whoring after Baalim, and. made Baal Berith their-God. Judges 
c. S. v. 33. 

3 And (the men of Shechem) ^w (Abimelech) threefcore and ten pieces of fdver 
cut of Beth Baal Berith. Judges, c. 9. v. 4. 

And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that,, (how the. lower city was., 
taken) they entered into an hold of the honfe (Beth) of the God Berith — and all the people 
like wife cut down e-veiy man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, 
end fet the hold on fire upon them : fo that all the men of the tower of Schechem died alfo, 
about a theufand men and women. Judges, c. 9. v. 46.— 49. 

The tower cf Berith. It was the fame as Beeroth near Hai, mentioned Jofhua*. 
c. 9. v. 17. a city of the Gibeonites. 

changed 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 357 

changed to Berytus by the Romans. But this is a great 
miftake : for the ancient name was Barit or Berit: and it was 
called Berytus by the Greeks, before the Romans were ac¬ 
quainted with that part of the world. Under the character 
however of Beroe, which is by him fuppoled to be the lame 
as Barit, he manifeftly alludes to the Ark and Deluge, and 
to the covenant afterwards made with man. He fpeaks of 
Beroe as coeval with the world : for all hiftory, and time 
itfelf according to the + Grecians commenced from the tera 
of the Ark. 

5 H^ooTo<poLvrig Bs^otj 'uysXs ovywovog nKua Ko(T|U.w-, 

Nyppios o\]/j yovoio (pegoovvfJLog, qv fjLSTcx.vcig-ou 

'T ises Avcroviojv wraTtfioi-Qelyeot, *Pu[Jut}s- 
Jtyvrav xoChs&tn. 

He fpeaks of her as a nymph, who had the whole ocean for 
her pofleffion ; the feat of juftice, from whence all laws were 
derived : 

6 n qvtov zyeig sfiov iSvov arsgfjnom, psi^ovot yxtrig. 

—VKposnag OXv[/, 7 n$ 

*H^ (TKWTgOV KgOLTQS SCT^S SttActCTcnK. 

7 B sgor) Je %agi£ercu rivtx &e<r[jLwv. 

* They ftyled it the sera o£ Inachus. Tlaacc •nrccp C EAA van SrotvfAai^ofJLevvi vcrpct^is 
ctiro tcov IvctysB yspovcdv* E.uieb, Chron. p. 24. 1 . 55. 

Oanes appeared tv nrcp tju^tco sviclvtco . Alexand. Polyhift. apud Eufeb. Chron, 

p. 6. for time commenced from his appearance. 

TwsEAAttt'ixws tx-PX^ Ano 1 NAXOT APFEIOT r the meaning of which. 

is from Noah the Arkite. Ocell. Lucanus. L. i. c. 3. 

5 Nonni Dionyf. L. 41. p. 1074. v. 3. 

* Nonni Dionyf. L. 42. p. 1106. 

7 Nonni Dionyf L. 41. p. 1074. v. 30. 

He 



358 Ti-ie Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

C* 


perfonage in terms, which are 
only applicable to the Ark, and cannot pofiibly be referred 
to any other fubjed:. 


He afterwards fpeaks of this 

JL *-• 


s 'Pi£ct (3 18 , B&gQYj, moAirn Tgo<pog, Bvyyg ctvcucTCtiV, 
ngUTQQXPQSf OClOOJ/Og QfJL0(T7r0g£, GVvOgOVE fCQTfJLlS, 

'E §ga.vov 'Eg^siad, S'ucrjg 'ursfrov, ccg-v S-Sjuif&v — 
OgXPfisifos %oigiTo)v, AiKoiVYiiSog ccg’gcv otg&grig, 

icro£TY)gog, o[j,Q$go[jLog Q.keqlvoiq, 

'Og B ££QY]V £<pVT£V<T£V £tt Tjy oAVlt 1$CUU 

r Tt)@vog lk^lolAboktlv opiAricrag vpsvouoig, 

*Hj weg AfjLVfjLWw £7r£q>Y)fjLicroLV, bvt£ s (jlyitm 
'Y$ gY}Ay)g <piAoTr)Tog V7ro£gv%ip tbzbv evvYj. 



I have before obferved, that one fymbol, under which the 
ancient mythologifts reprefented the Ark, was an egg, called 
Ovum Typhonis. Over this fometimes & Dove was fup- 
pofed to have brooded, and to have produced a new creation. 
It was alfo reprefented by a figure of the new 9 moon, and 

9 

hence called Meen, Menes, Manes, A fflouog and A^- 

Kcaog. In the temple of the Diofcouri in Laconia there 
was fufpended a large hieroglyphical 10 Egg. This egg was 
fometimes attributed to Leda, and fometimes to Nemefis 
the Deity of juftice. 11 'P ctfJLVgg, fapog ATTifcqg, bvQ-x tyj Ns- 

ftstrsi 


8 Nonni Dionyf. L. 41. p. 1060. v. 13. 

9 See the plate with the reprefentation of Deus Lunus Ovatus Carrhenorum. 

J ° Paufanias. L. 3. p. 247. 

** Schol. in Callimach. Hymn, ad Dianam. v. 232. Ram Nous is 6 y.eytx.s Noos 
or Noas, from whom the diftridt was named. The reft of the fable is eafily de- 

cyphered. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


359 


fjLScrsi o Z svg <rvvsx.a.Qev$'Y)<rev, ii rig stsksv £lov* This egg the 

poets fuppofed to have been hatched by Leda; whence the 
A lOtrK&goiy Diofcouri, were produced. At other times a fer- 
pent was defcribed round it ; either as an emblem of that 
Providence, by which mankind was preferved ; or elfe to fig- 
nify a renewal of life from a flate of death ; which circum- 
flance was denoted by a ferpent: for that animal, by annually 
calling its 12 ikin > was fuppofed to renew its life, and to be¬ 
come pofitis novus exuviis, vegete and frefh after a flate of 
inactivity. By the burfting of this egg was denoted the 
opening of the Ark ; and the difcloling to light whatever 
was within contained. Nonnus has fomething limilar to this. 
The ark, fraught with the whole of animal life, and tolled 
about by an unruly flood, is defcribed under the character of 
Beroe in labour : to whofe delivery Hermes the chief Deity 

adminillered. 

13 E is B sgorig wJW [Aoyos'OKog qXvQsv r 'E gfJLYif. 

At the fame time the whole earth is faid to have been wafhed 

♦ _ 

9 • * 

* # 

cyphered. T oTurSapeiov ( coov ) 04 •utomtcu Aey&crw BpocvoTreres avctcpuvau, Plut. Svm- 
pof. L. 2. 3. p. 637. 

npooToyorop xcc/\eco cTi<piw$ f/jeyuv y cti$epo7r/\ccyTyu>- 

Cloyt rs)— 

—yeveo-iv MctJtapr, Srvyn'tov t ap0p&>7rcor- Orphic. Hymn. 5* * 

The Baris was reprefented by an egg: and the oyou£ w £ n fJLis pyy f+cc t<z v . thofe egg-like 
buildings in the Grecian Hippodromes, were called Barides by Vitruvius. 

xa K oajxov jSyA ouevoi (ci AiyvTrnoi) ypcc^cci^ Oapw ^ypoccpdct — ex.ccq-'op <Pe tvi- 
a.v'iov to yv\{>cL 5 cc(pei$ ctTroS'uSTca . Horapollo. L. c. 2. p. 4. The chief Ark-ite per- 
fonage was, from the Ark, denominated Apca/a?, Areas, Argas, Argus : and he 
was for the reafons given defcribed as a ferpent. Hence we read of Apycc^ Otpt^ 
in Hefychius, which is remarkable. 

** Nonnus. L. 41. p. 1060. v. 31. 


IO 


with 



3 6 ° 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


with the falutary waters of the ocean : which was an intro- 
du<ftion to equity and juftice. 

Tp $s XoysvofJLSvri 'UTgMTx.yys7-.og gktbti ^stixmv 
Q xeavog 'uroga ysvfjix Ksyunov i%vi K o<T{xn } 

Asvxm TahcLfJLom yswv (jliT£8[jlsvqv 

He next mentions the approach of an ancient and refpedtable 
perfon, called /Eon. He was a prophet; and had now, like 
the ferpent, renewed his youth, and been wafhed in the 
waters of juftice. On this account he took off the veil of 
equity, the bandage, and covering, under which Beroe had 
been before her delivery confined. 

* 4 Xe^<77 Je yyigxXiynv as ctgTirox .3 p££oa xsgqg 

Xw xgy xv x , 'ursnXx fotCYig, avstcs^iTs <TWTgo<pog A iwv y 
M cLVTtg B7r£<r<rofJLevwv f on yvgxog xyQog a^sifeW, 

*£lg o<pig xfyxvsoov <pohi$oov (T7ireigrifxx nvx^xg, 

EMIIAAIN 'HBH2EIE, A ah^avog oifytoun Sstr^oov. 

Her labour now being paft, 

./Eon came near, the fage of ancient days : 

./Eon, a prophet fam’d 5 who gently reach’d 
His aged hand to Beroe, and withdrew 
The veil of juftice, which obfcur’d her brow; 


Nonnus. L. 41. p. 1062. v. 15. 

Deucalion, the firft of men, was ftyled Protogonus ; and he had alfo from the 
fymbol of the ferpent the name of Opus, Serpens. The city Opus in Locris was 
certainly named in memory of him: and it was en that account further denominated 
in the feminine, Tlpcaroyoveicti ccq^v. Pindar. Olymp. Od. 9. p. 87. and 89. The 
people alfo were faid to have been defcendants of Deucalion. See Scholia ibid. 

Then 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 361 

Then loofen’d all her bands. iEon had feen 
Age after age in long fucceflion roll : 

But like a ferpent, which has call: his (kin, 

Rofe to new life in youthful vigour ftrong. 

Such the reward, which Themis gave the man, 
Wafh’d in her healing waters. 


This is a very remarkable allufion, in which the Patriarch 
is plainly figured under the type of time growing young 
again : and where every circumftance is fignificant. To 
this renovation of the world the Orphic verles allude, when 
it is faid of Rhea, 

15 'Hde nroChiv Touctv rs, mi Ovgcmv svgvv snarev. 



Upon Beroe, whom Nonnus ftyles both Paphie, and Ky- 

sioc , being delivered, there was an immediate joy through 
the creation. Every animal teftified its gladnefs. The lion 
ramped: the pard fported : the neighing of the horfe was 
heard : none of them betrayed any ferity ; but gamboled, and 
played with the greateft innocence, and affection. 


76 K cu Uol<pw cafovct rsKetrcriyovoio fJLudovrsg 
©rigsg stoutysvovro' Asojv is rig digov ccQvgwv 
XeiAsi' r%i w pocy^iYiv v<r7rctgsro Txvgz, 

Axgorsgoig g-ofJLarsm $ 1 X 01 pivKYiOpov iolKKw. 

K cu rgoyaAoug fictgvin7rQV s7Tippn<r<rMv 'ursiov owhoug. 


15 Orphic. Fragment, p. 403. 

16 Nonnus. L. 41. p. 1062. 

Vo L. 11. 


A a a 


'iwrog 



362 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology^ 


'Ittsto^ oLveHgoToikiiS) yei/s&Fiov nyov &%0L<r<rw. 

Kca 'nro&og v-^/i7rogoio &ogoov £7 r&YjTogt / utolK^uc 

Uoi^oChiq auoXov&Tog eTscrxigTYiG's Aay&ow* 

Slpvyrig S’ oKoT^vy^ux %£oov <pi\07rotiyf/.ov 1 Xaipu), 

A^wt oig yevv£cr<ri 7\mog 'urgo<T7CTv%cLTo 'uroifjLvriV-. 

Kai Tig svi ^vXoyyi<n hiTroov X£{jLccSo.<r(rQov ctygw- 

AA Kov eyjjov yXvxvv oifgov dptfAriTYigi. yogsir). 

O m we, sgiSouve XVOOU (2>y)TCtg{A.0Vl xcctt^m. 

Kou 'uroS'ag og@oo(r.ct<ra, / urs^i7r?\£^si<rc(, Sk 

A gxrog a<h)Aiyr6d frctfjiot Kqv yjy. xclv xr cur 0 Ss ay/, w. 

Uvxvct, Ss Kv.gTooGra.<ra. cpiKe^iov oLvrvya, xog<Tt)g: 

II ogng 0 LV£<rKigTri<r£ SsfjLug ?\iyjuLw<TOL 7\souvoLg y 

'HprgAg? (jLVKYjfjLa, vmv 'UT£[Lmz<rcL yevsioov. 

Kaf cpiKeav gAspam ^clkoov e^ccvsv oSoncai/. 

Ka 1 S°vsg spdsy^ccvTo: yccKrimiw S's. 'Grgo<roo7rcf: 

H$aJk 'UTs^ve ysAoorct, (piTKO^^eiS^g AtpgoS'iTY), 

T S£7rOfJLSVY) 6gCLW<TCL AS^OOi# 'GTCliyVIOL ■ §Y)gWV. 

• • 

The Ark was certainly looked upon as the womb of nature;; 
and the defcent from it as the birth of the world.. Noah, 
and all of the animal creation with him, had been for a long 
time inclofed in a {late of obfcurity. On this account the 
Genius of the Ark, under the character of Rhea and Cybele, 
is by Lucretius ftyled 17 Magna Deum mater, materque Fe- 
rarum. The opening the door of their prilon houfe, and 
their enlargement was efteemed a fecond iffuing to life. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


3^3 

Hence, when the ancients formed a genius or dsemon from 
every circumftance in mythology, they fuppofed the genius 
of the Ark to prefide over the birth, under the name of Lu- 
cina, Diana, Juno, and of a Goddefs particularly fly led 
IIPO 0 TPAIA, or the Goddefs of the door. 

lS K XvQl jLtOl, 00 'UToXV(TS(JLVB Sect., 'GroXVUVV[JL£ a OUfJLOV, 

Q.ttvXoysicL 'sra.ga<Tcc vscug Svqruov IlgoQvgoutt., 

SVOLVTYjTSy (piXQTgOpe 'UTCLG'l 'VT £0<Ti]VY\g, 

E iXeiQvia. Xv^croc 'urovsg tisivcaig sv avocyzcag. 

Mawiv yag crs KCLXzri, Xey(oi, tyvyyg clvol%olv{jlx' 

Ey yag <rot tqkstw Xvu’iWifJLOvee stern/ avicti, 

AfrsfJLig EiXsiOvicc, koli >5 <tb^vy\ YlgoQvgouct. 

The delivery of Beroe was manifeftly the opening of the Ark : 
and nothing can reprefent more happily, than the defcription 
does above, the rout of animals firft burfting from their 
place of confinement, and fhewing every fign of gladnefs 
upon their enlargement. Their gamboling and joy is un¬ 
doubtedly a juft reprefentation ; and their forbearance and 
gentlenefs founded in truth. For there muft have been an 
interval, ere they returned to their natural ferity : fome 
fpace for the divine influence ftill to reftrain them ; by which 
they had been hitherto withheld : otherwife, if they had 
been rendered immediately favage, whole fpecies of animals 
would have been deftroyed. Though Nonnus is a rambling 
writer, and unacquainted with method, or fcheme ; yet he 
is fometimes happy in his reprefentations : and this defcrip- 

18 Orphic. Hymn. i. 

A a a 2 


tion 



364 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


tion is undoubtedly good. He mentions that there was a> 
twofold Beroe ; one, 'argoTaxpaunns Bsgat) — trvy^ovog, 

coeval with the -world: this gave name to the other, a nymph 
in aftertimes, o^tiyovoio psgtoWfJLog. tie fpeaks of 

them iometimes as two places : the one the work of Cro- 
nus, YjV YL^ovog a.VTog s$sip,z ; formed before the clouds were ga¬ 
thered in the heavens \ before the thunder rumbled ; or the foundl 
of ram was heard: before the firfl cities upon earth were .- 
founded. 

19 OyJs ( 7UVB^yppu&vm vbqboov pLVZYiTogi pojjdoia 

B govTctir) fioigv$i£7rog e€o[jdossv oydagiog ' 1 

AAA cc uroXig Bsgoti 'ErgoTsgq 'srsAev, r t v dpooi yvut\ 

XlgUOTOQOLVYig BVOrpBV bpLY]hULCL C"VfJL(pVTOg CtlOOV. 

OrriOTE TAP202 EHN TEPtIMBPOTOS, 

OTITOTE ©HBH, 

t 

O vkots Tig 'utohig yev A^xiiag, aJk xou clvty). 

Agmoiri TST^oTsXY\vog. 

In this 20 defcription we may, I think, plainly fee the hif- 
tory of the prototype ; which was not a city, but the ori¬ 
ginal 21 Beroe or Berith, from whence the other Beroe, ftyled 
alfo Berytus, was named. The whole of the forty-firft book 
in Nonnus is taken up with this fubjedl; wherein., under 

* 9 Nonni Dionyf. L. 41. p. 1056. 

*° The hiftory of the Ark, and of the city denominated from it, are by this poet 
continually confounded : yet the original hiftory is plain. 

2,1 Berith, from whence have been formed Beroe and Berytus, fignifies a cove¬ 
nant } and relates to the great covenant, which the Deity was pleafed to. make with, 
man j of which the bow in the cloud was a memorial. 

7 the 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 365 

the reprefentation of Bacchus coming into the country about 
Libanus, and planting the vine, and introducing agricul¬ 
ture, he gives a true hiftory of the Tons of Chus, who really 
came into thefe parts, and performed thefe things. They 
brought with them the traditions, of which I have been 
fpeaking. They founded the temple of Venus Architis 5 
and built the city, which Nonnus ftyles Beroe, and Berytus, 
in memory of “ Berith, the Ark, and the covenant. But 
the poet fometimes mifapplies the hiftory, and gives to the 
city what belonged more truly to the original, whence it 
was named. The ark we know was the ultimate, from 
whence all things were to be deduced. All religion, law, 
and juftice, were from thence derived : particularly the feven 
Noachic precepts, which were fuppofed for fome ages to 
have obtained univerfally. To. this memorable hiftory Non- 
nus more than once alludes : but attributes the whole to the 
city Berytus ; from whence he makes juftice to be difpenfed 
over the face of the earth. 



B qgvTog- fiioToio yaXr i vciioio-' r Tw*iyq 

Voliolv kou 'UTqvtqv, oucoc{j.7rei TBiyzi Sscry.ocu* 

A £BU, 'GTVgy'CjXTOLG'CL fJUOL 'UTTQXig a S’£01 KOCTfJLX. 

This could not be true of Berytus, as a city : for it never 
had that extenljve influence. It was not of more power, or 
eminence, than Byblus ; and far inferior to Sidon, and to 
other cities in its neighbourhood. I cannot help thinking 

xx K ou E epoys f^erecuvev oc^v ^ccpcc^ocu Nonnus. L. 41. p. 106S. 

2,3 Nonnus. L. 41. p. 1076. 


that 



366 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


that Nonnus has confounded two cities, and two emblems, 
in thefe defcriptions. He through the whole fpeaks of Be¬ 
roe and Berytus, as the fame : and thinks, that the names 
are of the fame purport. But I do not believe, that Berytus 
and Beroe were the fame. I take the latter to have been 
the city in Syria called Bercea, at no great diflance from the 
former. Both places were denominated from circumftances 
relating to the Ark ; and indeed from the fame obje<5t under 
different types. Berytus was named from Berith, the cove¬ 
nant ; from whence Baal Berith had this title. But Beroe 
was fo called from the Ark being efteemed a bier, or tomb, 
13ctgi$ Kca <rogo$-0<rigi$og. Moll of the fhrines in Egypt were 
looked upon in the fame light. In another place Nonnus 
feems to attribute thefe things more truly to the original 
Berith, which he reprefents as a nymph : and fays, that at 
her delivery the four winds wafted law and juftice through 
all the habitable parts of the earth. 


5.4. 


syvr?\oQ<ra.yTo Kagw 


Ts<r<rci§ss ctfsoi 'utuvtol $u7nrevonsg ourftcti^ 

E;: B sgoqg .ha. yctioiv 6Xt,v 'UTXr i <T^<n SspuftoV 


He had above flyled Berytus, (2iqtoio Tt0i)vy), the nurfe or pa- 

re?tt of life : and of life, ycLXr,VY)Oio, attended with a cah?i ; 
when peace and comfort took place. And he mentioned 
that from the fame quarter proceeded univerfal law, and 
equity. Thefe things could not relate to the city Berytus ; 
but to the prototype the Ark, ffyled Berith, they are per- 


24 Li. 41 . p. IC 62 . 

fedtly 



The Analysis ot Ancient Mythology. 


367 


fedtly applicable: for from thence thefe happy circumftances 
did proceed. He feems before, when he defcribed the la¬ 
bour of Beroe, to have alluded to the earth beino; in a date 

' ZD 

of impurity, whofe foulnefs nothing lefs than the ocean could 
purge away. 


^5 


Ti] <5s Koyevo[jLSVYi 
SlasoLVog 'Grogs yzKzytmov IHTI KOSMOT. 

There is in the fame poet another remarkable allufion to the 
Mofaic accounts of the Deluge. At the time of this calamity 


the earth was 
the e 


manner reduced 


chaotic Bate 


all 


elements being in confufion. The Ark providentially 
weathered the ftorm ; and got rid of the gloom^vi^th which 
it had been a long time opprefied. At laft the Dove was 
fent out, which returned to the window of the Ark, and was 
through that opening taken in. Ail this we find mentioned 
in the hiftory of Beroe. 




6 n^Tn zvctveris OC7TS<TSiO'OCTO X.0CV0V 

KAI'XAEOS ZOO>OE2SAN AIIE£TT<i>E AIaE 
KAATHTPHN. 

7 'UgCfjTy) JLvt^iv zdzwxo cpi?\o%zivcp nrvXsom- 
E$ ciXog. 

Loft in the gloom of night fad Beroe lay : 


But foon flicok off her dark Chaotic veil. 

She firfft unbarr’d 


And rofe again to lig 


25 


z .5 


- / 


L. 41. p. 1062. 

D. 41. p. 1056. 

15 y K vTT-y.s is meant Venus, Qr/cc the fame as the Dove 

9 


Her 



368 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

Her friendly window to the aufpicious Dove 
Returning from the fea. 

Nonnus was a native of Panopolis in Egypt; and the Dio- 
nufiiaca of this poet are a rhapfody compiled from hierogly- 
phical defcriptions : alfo from tranflations of ancient hymns 
of that country. The fubftance of thefe he has taken and 
dreffed up in the Grecian tafte; but without any fyftem, 
or method. Some of the original Egyptian expreflions are 
to be obferved in the courfe of his reprefentations. The 
purport of thefe he did not precifely know; yet he has faith¬ 
fully retained them ; and they fometimes contain matter of 
aS moment. 

There are fome other verfes of this poet, of which I muft 

% 

here make mention, as they contain an addrefs to Venus 
Cuthereia, who rofe from the fea : and have many allulions 
to the Noachic Dove, to the new birth of the world, and the 
renovation of time and feafons. 

? 9 'P igaL KvOsgeicx., pvTo(T7rogs, (jlcucl yevsQxng, 

EAIIIS OAOT KOSMOIO, tsjqs V7to vsv{jlgcti fishrig 
AtA QLvesg KAa®QT2I nOATTPOnA NHMATA 

MOIPAI * 

HigofjLSVY) §£<j‘7Ti££, mi ocg fiioroio TiQr±vr\, 

'£lg Tgo<pog AQclvoltw, oog c rvyygovog YihiKi ttoarfJLw, 

E 17T£, TlVl 'UTTO?\£M ktX. 

Such are jcAurpv %a,eo$, 'zsreTrAa (3iq 7V rpo 7 ri$*, wtot S'erptW} >cocrfcH ? 

K a / 3 iB 5 A£Ab//.£;'os oi$/j.a<Ti Srsc/Jocy. 

* 9 JL. 41. p. 1070. 


We 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


369 

We find, that the thread of life had been interrupted ; but 
from the appearance of Venus, the Dove, it was renewed by 
the Fates, and carried on as before. They are the words of 
Harmonia to Venus, wherein among other things fhe is in¬ 
quiring, in what place equity refided ; and whether Beroe 

was not the feat of juftice. 

« • 

Root of all life, great vegetative Pow’r, 

The world’s late confolation, by thy hand 

All things were brought to light ; and at thy word 

The Fates renew’d their long negledled toil. 1 

Oh ! tell me, for thou know’ft: thy foftering care 

Saved the great founders of the human race 

Amid the wreck of nature : Power fupreme. 

Say, in what favourite Ipot, what happy clime. 

Has Juftice fix’d her feat ? To thee I fue, 

To thee, coeval with the mundane frame. 

The ancients were in general materialifts, and thought the 
world eternal. But the mundane fyftem, or at leaft the hiftory 
of the world, they fuppofed to commence from the Deluge. 
This, as I have before obferved, was their ultimate : and the 
firft idolatry next to Zabaifm feems to have been founded 
upon traditions of this event. It confifted in the worfbip of 
the Arkite Deity under the fymbol of a Dove, called Cupris, 
lonah, Oinas, Venus. Of this Epicharmus very truly takes 

notice in fpeaking of the worfhip in the firft ages. 

% 

3 ° Oyd's rig ty ksivoktiv Agqg Ssog, ovS's %v$oifji.og } 


30 Athenssus. L. 12. p. 510. 



VOL. II. 


B b b 



370 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

Qvh Xtvg ficc<riKevg, ovh YL^ovog, ov$e IlotrstJW, 

AAAct K vrigig fiotriAeia. ktK. 

People knew not yet 
The God of armies, nor the din of war. 

Jove, and his fire, and he who rules the main* 

Did not exift : no Deity was own’d. 

Save Cupris, Queen of Heaven. 

The perfons however, who were ftyled Baalim* had a great 
regard paid to their memory, which at laft degenerated inta 
a moll idolatrous veneration. 


VARIOUS 



( 


37 1 









Y P E S. 



PHOS, HIPPOS, and the facred Conteft. 


A S all this great occurrences of old were reprefented by 

hieroglyphics ; and as thefe were at times varioufly 
exhibited ; we may in confequence of it perceive many dif¬ 
ferent emblems, which manifeftly relate to the fame hiftory. 
The Ark in particular was defcribed under various fymbols : 
and there is a fragment of the Orphic poetry, quoted by Na¬ 
talis Comes, where it is fpoken of as an hive, and called 
Seira, or the hive of F'enus* 

1 'Tj u,v£OfjLev Xzignv 'uroXvwvvfjiov Atpgoyeveiqg, 

~Koli 'urriyw /iLsyalKw j3atn?vj^oj/, r\g ciko 'srocnsg 
A Qa.voLT.ot, 'arTsgosvTeg, 0LVB&h0L$ry olv E gwrsg. 

Let us celebrate the hive of Venus , who rofe from the fea : that 
hive of many names; the mighty fount am ^ frojji whence all 

9 

, * E. 6. p. 313. 

B b b 2 


lings 



37 2 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

kings are defcended ; from whence all the winged and immortal 
Loves were agam produced . Some interpret Seira,. a 

chain ; becaufe it fo occurs in the common acceptation : and 
many of the ancients allude to this hiftory under a myfte- 
rious notion of a chain. It certainly has this lignification : 
but the context in thefe verfes {hews that it cannot be under- 
flood fo here. We learn from Hefy chius, that Seira among 
other interpretations fignified Melitta, a bee ; alfo an hive y or 
houfe of Melitta: 'Estgct, M eXiTTX, r} peKiTTfig oucog. Such is 
the fenfe of it in this pafTage : and the Ark was thus repre¬ 
fen ted in the ancient mythology, as being the receptacle, 
from whence iffued .that fwarm, by which the world was 
peopled. It was therefore truly fly led 'Srtjyij, the fountain , 

from whence the Loves 

which is meant the Idnim, were again produced ’ ; all the fup» 
pofed fons of Eros and Ionah, who had been in a flate of 
death. The Seira is the fame in purport as Baris, Theba, 

Cibotus, Aren, Larnax, Boeotus ; and hence ftyled Xerga, 

• • 

'ET oXvoovvfJLO q , or Seira with many names. 

It may feem ftrange that the Greeks fhould be fo ignorant 

in refpedt to their own mythology :• yet it is manifeft, that 
they were greatly miftaken. Of this we have a notable in- 
ftance in the term, about which we are treating. Both, 
a Theopompus and Hellanicus thought that by Seira was 
meant a chain : and as the ancient name, A npLcav, Acmon. 
occurred often in their hiftory, they interpreted this an anvil.. 
In confequence of which they defcribed Ionah, or Juno,, as. 

<■ 

1 Fulgentii Mytholog. L. i. c, z. p. 630. 



Y\g oL7to 'GrocvTsg ai/sSXas 7 )<ray HgcdTeg ; 


bound 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 373 

* 

bound with fetters, and fufpended between heaven and earth, 
with an anvil at her feet. This notion is as old as 3 4 5 Homer. 
Yet, however authorized by antiquity, it is founded on a 
miftake : and we may be allured, that by Seira was meant a 
hive : and Acmon was a title given to the Cyclopian Deity, 
the fame as Nilus, Ouranus, and Oiiris ; of whom I have 
Ipoken * before. 

From what has preceded we may perceive that Seira was 
no other than Damater, the fuppofed mother of mankind ; 
who was alfo ftyled Melitta, and Meliffa \ and was looked 
upon as the Venus of the eaff It was properly a facred recep¬ 
tacle : whence it is by Hefychius above ftyled MeAif?*]? oizos y 
the temple or houfe of Melitta. This Deity was the fame as 
Mylitta of the Babylonians and Arabians, who is mentioned 
by s Herodotus as enjoying among thofe nations joint ho¬ 
nours with Dionufus. The priefts of the Seira were called 
Melittae, and Meliffae, from this Deity, whom they worshiped: 
and the votaries in general had that appellation. Many co¬ 
lonies went abroad under this appellation ; and may be 
plainly traced in different parts of the world : but the Gre¬ 
cians have fadly confounded the hiftories, where they are 
mentioned, by interpreting Meliffae, bees. 6 Philoftratus men¬ 
tions, that, when the Athenians fent their firft colony to Io¬ 
nia, the mufes led the way in the form of bees. And Hero- 

3 Iliad. O. v. 20. Iliad. ©. v . 25. 

4 Vol. 1. p. 514. Acmon, like Alnion, related properly to the God Lunus. Ac- 
Mon fignified illujiris Letts Lunus: and from hence came the connexion between 
Acmon and Seira. 

5 L. 1. c. 131. c. 199. 

0 Macro* tiyai'To ra vclxjtixb ev sij'ei pLzAtaau>v. Icon. L. 2. p. 793. 


dotus 



374 - 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


dotus fays, that all the northern fide of the Danube was oc¬ 
cupied by 7 bees. When the fhepherd -Comatas was inclofed 
in an Ark, 8 bees were fuppofed to have fed him. Jove alfo 
upon mount Ida was faid to have been nourifhed by 9 bees. 
When the temple at Delphi was a fecond time ere£ted, it 
was built by bees ■ who compofed it of wax, and feathers. 


brought by Apollo from the 30 Hyperboreans. Such ar-e the 
Grecian accounts : but the Meliffse, thus interpreted, were 
certainly priefts and prieiledes of the Ark, ftyled Seira, 
Theba, Selene, and Damater. When Pindar mentions 11 Ms- 

Ascrcras AsA cpiSog v.sXcdlov, the voice of the Delphic Meliffa ; the 
Scholiaft tells us, that the Meliffae were the priefteffes of Da- 

; and that, according to fome writers, all the female 


mater 


attendants of that Goddefs were fo called. And he further 

♦ 

adds, that thefe were the perfrts, who firf cultivated the fruits 
of the earth ; a?id taught mankind agriculture ; by which they 
weaned them from their foul and imnatural repafis . Con¬ 
formably to this we learn alfo from 13 Porphyry, that The 
ancients called the attendants upon Damater Meliffe ; and 


7 Qpvx.es Xey^Gi^ M e?u<jcrcci xccre^yai to. 'z&egccv tb IcppB. L. 5* c * IO * 
s Theocrit. Idyll. 7. v. 81. 

Callimach. Hymn, in Jov. v. 50. 

10 Paufan. L. 10. p. 810. /levrepov v 7 ro tov volov. 

11 Pyth. Ode 4. p. 239. MeXiaaccs xvpiccs rccs tvs &7i[JLVTpos 'lepetcts xtA. The 
Scholiaft upon Theocritus in like manner fays, t as iraipas (or, as fome read, itgeias) 
avrrs (YlepaecpovYs) xai A;j//_>rr pos MeA iaaas hsyevQcci. Idyll* 15. v. 94. 

,z AAA/jA&Cay/ar. Ibid. 

Hr proves , r,vnict (pares air aAAwA&w /2iov XapxoS'axv, xpeiGvcov <Pe rc,v >it- 

tcvcc (parcc Ex Sexto Empirico Orphica. Vide Fragmenta Orphei apud 


Gefntr. p. 37S. 

n De Antro Nymphar. p. 261. c. 1. K ai Tas A ypuirpos lepzicc: 
?icaoi exctXzv. vvrjv ts — MeAfcnrar exec Aer. 


yieKirr g cts 01 



further 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


375 


further Xshrjvqv Te—MsTucrcraj' szaXovv : ^likewije called Se¬ 
lene Melijffa. From hence, I think, we may be certain, that 

by MelifTa was meant the Deity of the Ark ; which was re- 
prefented under the fymbol of Seira, the hive ; by Hefychius 
rendered MeXm^g oixog. And we may be further allured, 
that all thefe fables about bees related to colonies of the Me- 
liffeans ; who fettled in different parts, and performed all, 
that is mentioned. At the fame time I make no doubt, but 
that the bee was an hieroglyphic, by which Melitta was de- 
fcribed : and it is to be found as a facred, and provincial, 
emblem upon coins, which were ftruck at places, where fhe 
was worfhiped. But the Greeks did not properly diftin- 
guilh between the original and the fubftitute : and from 
thence thefe miftakes arofe. The Melilfae were certainly fe¬ 
male attendants in the Arkite temples, who ufed to ling the^ 
facred hymns. Hence Damater, and Perfephone had the™ 
title of MeTuTTwtfys from thefe fongs made to their honour. 
Homer, fpeaking of a myfterious grotto, facred to the nymphs 
in Ithaca, by which was meant an ancient Arkite Petra, 
among other circumftances mentions. 


14 


bvQol <T £7rsiTct TS$ai£Wcr8<n MsAicrcrcu. 


Thefe words the commentators apply literally to bees. 
But the whole is a. myftery, which probably Homer did not 
underftand. Thebotha, ©/]So<;0a, from whence the ftrange 

word is formed, lignifies the Ark \ as we may 


14 


OdyfT. N. v.. 106. It flood in the harbour facred to the God Phorcun. 

7 


learn 



37 6 T he Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


learn from 1S Clemens Alexandrinus : and the terms Te@cu- 

M.sXkt<tou relate to a temple, where the Meliffse of 
Damater fang hymns in memory of the Ark Theba, called 
alfo Thebotha. 

The Ark was likewife ftyled Cupfelis, KinJ/sA;?, a word of 
the fame purport as Seira. At Corinth was a family named 
Cupfelidas, who were originally priefts of the Ark ; and who 
firft introduced the lymbolical rites of it into that city. 
Cupfelus, the father of Periander, was of this order : upon 
which account Paufanias fuppofes, that thefe rites com¬ 
menced with 16 him. He accordingly attributes to him 
many interefting circumstances of ancient hiftory, to which 
he had no title. But Paufanias lived many centuries after 
the father of Periander ; and might eafily mifapply this hif- 
tory, which was fo much prior in time. The perfon alluded 
to was fuppofed to have been expofed in an ark upon the 
waters, and miraculoufly 17 preferved. This Ark was called 
Cupfelis, KinJ/sAi£, and Ky\J/sA^; which Hefychius terms a 

bee-hive, 'wKeatov asyysiov MgAicnrwi' : K-ir^/s Ai ds?, MsAfcnro- 

<pccTvai. In memory of the perfon preferved it was ufual to 
carry machines of this fort, and dedicate them in different 
temples. Paufanias mentions one, which had been made 
a prefent to the Deity at Olympia by the people of 18 Co¬ 
rinth. It had an infeription in ancient characters, which 


* s Tyv K;£&nror —©nCooQcc xccAa^ertfr. Clemens. Strom. L. 5 - P* 667* It feems 


to have been an ancient Chalda’ic term. 

l6 'TV . f .. __ * ...--- 


Ku-XeAe TO CL7T CCUTB ytVOS 01 OVOf^CiQoy.eVOl K'J^: 


^cu twv A ctpvctftct es 0 \vfj. 7 ri<x.v ctvsBscrccv. Paufan. L. 5. p. 419. 
17 See Chryfoitom. Orat. 11. p. 163. 
rS Paufan. C. 5. p. 420. 


were 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


377 


’were written both from the right, and from the left, after the 
ananner called (3a^o <prj$ov. This was not fafhioned like a 
hive, though ftyled Cupfelis •, but was in the fhape of an 
Ark, or box. 19 Tctg <Je XcLgvoutoLg 61 tots skclKuv KogivOioi 

KtnJ/sA&£: "The Corinthians in thofe times called a?i ydrk, or 
chejl , Cupfelis ; which alfo ftgnified an hive. This machine 

was^made of cedar ; and dedicated on account of the great 
deliverance, which Cupfelus had experienced from the wa¬ 
ters. The Corinthians feem to have preferved many memo- 

* 

rials of this event. Palasmon and the Dolphin, and the ftory 
of Arion, have both the fame reference. Palcemon was the 
fame as Dionufus, the fame alfo as 5,0 Hercules : of which 
Hercules the Poets mention a tradition that he was upon 
a time preferved in the body of a 21 Cetus. All thefe em¬ 
blematical reprefentations related to the fame great event. 
As the Melitta: and Meliftie were priefteffes of Melitta; the- 
Cupfelides of the Cupfelis ; fo I imagine that the Seirenes 
were priefteffes of the Seira, called Seiren: and that all thefe 
terms related to the ark. The Seirenes, Xsigweg, were cele¬ 
brated for their fongs ; becaufe they were of the fame order 
as the Meliffae, who were greatly famed for their harmony. 
We have feen above, that when the Meliffae conducted a 
colony to Ionia, they were efteemed the fame as the zz Mufes. 

19 Paufan. L. 5. p. 420. 

*° YlccXccifxcovj Hefych. 

11 Lycophron. v. 33. and Scholia. 

2,1 The Seirens had certainly fome relation to the Ark and Dove. Hence at Co- 
ronea they were reprefented upon the fame ftatue with Juno. Pauianias fays, that 
the Goddefs held them in her hand. L. 9. p. 778. He ftyles it a>aA^a 
—(pepti <P’ e?u tv 'Xfigi 

VOL. II. 


C c c 


I have 



378 Ths Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

9 


I have mentioned;, that the Ark was looked upon as the 
mother of mankind, and ftyled Da Mater : and it was upon 
this account figured under the femjblanqe of a pomegranate. 
This fruit was named Rhoia, 'Po*#: and. as it abounds with 
feed, it was thought no improper emblem of the Ark, which 
contained the rudiments of the future world. From hence 


the Deity of the Ark was named Rhoia, which dignified, a 
pomegranate, and was the Rhea of the Greeks. 


The 


an 


cient Perfians ufed to have a pomegranate carved upon the 

top of their 






on 


account of its being a facred. emblem. What, is alluded to 
under the character of the G.oddefs Rhoia, or Rhea, is very 



*4* 


'P sir), toi NOEPI2N MAKAP£2N 'nryjyrj.TS, poio ts* 

haw yoLP 'urgwrq £vpci[jlsi KoXwourut. ajpgag-oiq 


TV 


Z 


iS'c;a.^vrj yspsaj/ sm 'gxolv 'urgoy^zzi Tgo%a.&FC(.v 


25 IIoTJ/a Psa,, S-vyccTY)g '5roAv{AOg<p& UgooToysv.OLQ 3 

Mjyr^ fjiriv ts QtzouP, n$s. avQgw.KW, 

E 7\Qz 3 fJLOLKOLlga SsXy <TCt)TY)glO£. 


The Pomegranate was not only called Rhoia, and Rhea, 
but alfo Rimrnon. z6 Rimmon lingua fandta malu.m puni- 

9 

cum fignificat, et Venerem denotari putat N. Serrarius. It 
was reverenced under this name in Syria: and was held fa¬ 
cred in Egypt. Achilles Tatius mentions an ancient temple 


13 Herodotus. L. i. c. 195. 

Orphic. Frag. 34. p. 395. 

** Orphic. Hymn. 13. p.204. 

46 Seldcn de Diis Syris. Synt. 2. p. 254. 




Tft£ Analysis op AfcrctfcNT MyThologV. 


379 


at Pelufium, in which Was a flatue of the Deity, flyled Zeus 


Cafius, 



this 


*7 


tnyflerious fruit iii his hand 


We 


may from hence infers that he was upon. Mount Cafitls wor- 
fhiped in the fame attitude : and the God Rimmon* men¬ 
tioned by the 18 (acred writers, was probably ireprefented in 
the like manner. Peter Texeira in his travels through Me¬ 
sopotamia mentions his coming to two round mounts not far 
from Ana upon the Euphrates. They were called by the 
natives Ruman hen; which, he fays, (ignified the two* 9 pome¬ 
granates* It was probably their ancient name, the fame as 
Rimmon ; and had been given of old upon account of the 
worfhip there obferved. He faw two others of the fame 
figure at no great diftancq. 

Another name for the Pomegranate was 30 Side: of which 
name there was a city in Pamphylia. This place was un¬ 
doubtedly fo denominated from the rites of the Ark, and 
the worfhip of the Dove, Dione ; whofe myfteries were ac*- 
companied with the rites of fire. The citjr was fltuated 
upon a branch of that vaft ridge called Taurus : and its hif- 
tory is taken notice of by the Poet Feftus Avierrus. 


* 7 n§c€e€AvTat cfe tjiv xai «%£< "P oiccv £7 r «ut>7. Tws cfe "Poicts 6 hoyos 

kos. Achilles Tati us. L. 3- p. 167. 

aS 2 Kings, c. 5. v. 18. There were many places in Syria and Canaan, which 
feem to have been denominated from this hieroglyphic. Mention is made in J.o- 
fhua of the city Rimmon in the tribe of Simeon. "VVe alio read of En-Rimmon, 
Gath-Rimmon, and the mourning of Hadad-Rimmon in the valley of Megiddo. 
See Jofh. c. 19. v. 7. Nehemiah. c. ir. v. 29. Jofh. c. 19. v. 45. Zachariah. 

c. 12. v. 11. 

79 Texeira’s Travels, c. g. 

30 oLi^ facet* Hefych. 


G c c 2 


Surgunt 



380 /The Analysis of Ancient Mythology^ 

* 

31 Surgunt ibi culmina Tauri 
Pamphylias in fines 9 hoc idem Cragus habetur 
Nomine Tub gentis : prope celfiam furgit in arcem~ 

Prifca Side : fomes calidis adoletur in aris 
Saepe Dionasas Veneri. 

* 

The Boeotians retained this ancient name, and called a pome¬ 
granate Side, as we learn from Agatharchides. 3 * 2i£ag S's — 

Totg *P oiag tcaX&n B oiootoi. They had alio an 33 aquatic, which 
from its refemblance they called by the fame name. There 
was likewife a city in Boeotia named Side 9 probably founded,, 
and denominated by the ancient Cadmians, from their wor¬ 
ship. It was laid to have been built by Side, the daughter 
of Danaus 9 which hiftory may be in great meafure true : for 
by a daughter of Danaus is meant a prieftefs of Da Naus, 
the Ark, the fame as Da Mater. There is a hiftory men¬ 
tioned by Arnobius of a king’s daughter in Phrygia, named 
Nana 9 who lived near the mountain, where Deucalion was 
fuppofed after the Deluge to have landed. She is faid to 
have found a pomegranate, which fhe put into her bofom, 
and by its influence became with child. Her father fhut her 
up with an intent to deftroy her : but during her confine¬ 
ment fhe produced Atis, or Attis 9 the perfon, who firft in- 
ftituted the facred rites of Rhea, and Cubele, and who was 

Paufanias has a ftory 
fomewhat fimilar, but with many additional circumflances : 


looked upon as the fame as Apollo 


31 V. IOI2. 

31 Athena^us. L. 14 p. 650. 

33 'XiJ'v qurov ofxoiov C P oi<x. Athene us ibid. 


from 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 381 

from all which we may perceive that it was an ancient 
3+ tradition, and related to an hiftory of confequence ; but 
taken from fome allegorical defcription, when the terms were 
imperfectly 35 underftood. In many countries, where the 
people were unacquainted with the Rhoia, they made ufe of 
the 36 Poppy for the fame emblem : and it is accordingly 
found with ears of wheat, and other fymbols, upon coins and 
marbles, where Juno, Venus, Mithras, and other Deities are 
commemorated. To whom it originally related may be 
known from its name. The Poppy was by the ancient Do¬ 
rians ftyled M.dKoov y Macon. Now Ma, and Mas, among the 
Amonians fignified water, and with fome latitude the fea. 
Ma-Con denoted the Deity worfhiped under the name of 
Pofeidon ; and fignified Marinus Deus, five Rex aquarum; 
The fruit was denominated from the God, to whom it was 
facred. It is obfervable that Feftus Avienus, in the pafTage 
above ftyles the city in Pamphylia prifca Side. This is a 
tranflation of the Greek word o^^aioc : which term in this 
place, as well as in many others, did- not, I imagine, relate 
to the antiquity of the city : for it was probably not fo an¬ 
cient as Tarfus, or Sidon, or as many cities in the. eaft. But 
by Archaia Side was meant the Arkite city. Area, Areas, 




Arnobius. L. 5. p. 158. Pan fan. L. 7. p. 566.. 

** Nana feems to be a miftake for Nana: though the Patriarch does appear to 
be fcrnctimes alluded to under die name of Nun, which is not much unlike Nana. 
Epiphanius mentions feme heretics, who worfhipped Idal-Baoth. This was either 
a place or a machine, where the holy man Nun was luppofed to have been born 
under the kmblance of a ferpent. See Liiius Gyrald. Syntag. 1. p. 72, See alio 
Origcn contra Cellum. L. 6. p. 294, 296. 

i6 Sec Giuter. Infcript. p. 33. n. 10. Deo Invicto Mithr 




Are;us, 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


382 

* 

Argus, all fignified the Ark : and Archaia betokened any¬ 
thing, that had a relation to it. But as the Ark and Deluge 
were of the higheft antiquity in the mythology of Greece ; 
and every thing was deduced from that period; Archaia 
from hence came to fignify any thing very ancient; and 
Archa, Athe beginning. As Damater was the fame as 
Rhoia, we find, that the pomegranate was the only fruit, 

which did not 


appear at her altar in 37 Arcadia. This, I 

being the exprefs emblem of the 

as an 38 offering. 


imagine, was owing to its 
Deity ; and too myfterious to be prefented 


Cubela was another name of this Deity, who is mentioned 
the mother of the Gods. She had on her head a tower or 


city 


to fliew that all nations were derived from her 


Cu 


beba was the fame Deity 


rather, they were both 



where thofe Deities were worfhiped : for places were con 


lly fubftituted for Deities 


I have fhewn. K.vEeKol 


is Cu-Bela, the temple of Bela, the feminine of Belus, a title 
of the chief Chaldaic God : and Cu-Baba is the temple of 
Baba, the mother of the infant world, the fame as Rhoia 
and Damater. As the perfons in the Ark were fuppofed to 
return by a renewal of life to a fecond ftate of childhood : 
this machine was on that account ftyled Cubaba, or the 
houfe of infants; for that was the purport of Baba: 


and 


an 


nfeq 


of it. 


39 


to [AT) SirigGgMfASva, Ksysi 


37 ct7ravTd}v to-Aw Pcxas. Paufan. 8. p. 676. 

38 See Philoftratus. Vita Apollon. L. 4. c. 9. 'H r P 01a, J's jxovn tpiirov 'Hga, 
(puiTctu The Roia is a plant particularly reared in honour of Juno. The myfterious 
purport of this emblem Paufanias knew; but thought it too facred to be difclofed. 
Tex. pev ay £5 ttjv Patccy (a7roppcoTepo5 yocg £<~iv 0 A oyoi) ctpewQco y. 01 . L. 2. p. 148. 

39 Helychius. 

babazein 


10 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


383 


babazein among the Greeks fgnified to Jpeak inarticulately like 
children. In Syria, where the Arkite worfhip was particu¬ 
larly maintained, this reputed mother of mankind was wor- 
fhiped under the name of Baba or Babia. 40 Ba(fia < 5 s a 1 'Evpoi, 


kou {jlolKis'ol ot 

UBifiOUClOL, onto 


BV 






vsoyvcc 'Grcufooi, r)£r) 


QL{JUX.(TKCfI ) TOL 

'urotg ccvToig vopugoftsvYig, 41 BoL&ag $sb 


The 


people of Syria , and efpecially thofe of Damafcus , call children it: 
their infancy Babia j and they alfo call them by the fame name. 
•when they are fill older. They are fo denominated from Babia 



it 


'who in that part of the world is efeemed a Goddefs. 
was, that they reverenced the Rhoia and Rimmon ; which 
were emblems of the fame perfonage, the Rhea, Cybele, and 


4 * 


Cybebe of the 


All the coins of the Afiatic citH 


where thele traditions prevailed, haye 


their reverie 


emblematical reprefentations, which allude 



ancient 


rites and relig 


Hence, in the coins of Syria, we find 


this Goddefs with a tower upon her head, fitting upon 


rock in a Hate of fecurity 


her right hand fhe holds fome 


of 


denote the promife of plenty and 


the feafons ; and there is often near her the myfi; 
At fome diftance Hands an 


turn of 
c hive. 

altar; and over her head a bird, 
water, and waves, and a perfon, who 
feems to be in danger, and ready to fink. There is a coin 
to this purpofe of the emprefs Julia Severa, which was ftruck 
at Antioch upon the Orontes. Vaillant and other learned 


Below 


her feet 


40 Dasiafcivts, Vita Ifidori, apud Phorium. c. 242^ p, 1043, 

B a€cu 'Xvpicg-is ‘E Spcc.'icp'i crvy^vcris. Hefych- in voce Afjuxm - 
4X $ 'Pea. Horn. OdyfT. B- Schol. 

KvCwn (Ku£/?£?? 5 Albertus) pwTnp tuv ©top. Hefjrchius.. 


antiquaries 



3 '8'4- The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

antiquaries fuppofe the water to relate to the ftream, which 
ran by the city : and that the perfon in the water was the 
Deity of the river. But river Gods were generally repre- 
fented as aged perfons, with their heads crowned with fedge 
and reeds ; and in a very different attitude. Befides, if this 
figure related to the Qrontes, how comes it to pafs that we 
find it upon coins of other cities at a diftance, which had no 
connexion with that river f We find the ftory with very little 
variation-upon coins of Julia Masfa at Edeffa ; of Severus at 
Gharras ; of Gordian at Singara ; of Barbia Orbiana at Side:; 
of Philip at Nifibis ; of Alexander Severus at Rhefain. The 
hiftory muff have been general, where the reprefentations 
were fo uniform and common. It was undoubtedly taken 
..from the religion of the Syrians and Meiopotamians; and 
from the emblems in their feveral temples ; all which related 
to one great event. In fome of thefe reprefentations there is 
clofe by this towered Goddefs the fymholical hive; which 
could have no relation to the Orontes. 

The Patriarch and his family, when .they came from their 
Bate of confinement, muff have had a moft dreary profpedt 
from the mountain,, upon which the ark had refted : and 
wherever they turned their eyes could difcover nothing but 
a ruined world. If therefore pleafed God to immediately 
afford them fome comfortable promifes. Among other 

• 9 

things he affured them, upon an altar being raifed, and a fa- 
crifice offered, that the earth fhould be no more accurfed : 
that 43 feed time and harveft, cold and heat, and fummer 
-and winter, and- day and night fhould not ceafe : and as a 

45 ' Genefis. c. 8. v. 22. 

teftimony 












































































































































































































































































































































































































































PL 





Y#< 


7 /U 


.X 


Y//r7 /// Yrz ?;/ r Jrf//^7.rf/. 


c ^ 


//'///a. 




* rrr/ f /jr/st? 


rr/rr/Y/nJ 


* 

jy//?y /<->. 


J . 


Yry y/fr/ ■ T '(>/. /- ,/j. " y. 


* 































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 385 

a teftimony of it, he placed his bow in. the cloud. This di¬ 
vine hope, fo gracioufly afforded them, was afterwards many 
ways recorded : and as in the firfl: ages they had not the ufe 
of letters, they commemorated thefe bleflings in their rites : 
and defcribed them by various fymbols, which were too re¬ 
verentially regarded. Hence Da Mater was reprefented 
with an handful of ripe corn : and there is a flatue of her 
ftill preferved, under the character of Divine 44 Hope, fet off 
with many of the emblems, of which I have been fpeaking. 
She is figured as a beautiful female perfonage; and has a 
chaplet, in which are feen ears of corn like rays. Her 
right hand reclines on a pillar of Rone ; to fhew on what 
good balls her faith is founded. In her left are fpikes of 
corn ; and on each fide a pomegranate. Clofe by her Hands 
the Seira or Cupfelis, that myfterious emblem, in the ex- 
prefs form of a hive : out of the top of which there arife 
corn and flowers, to denote the renewal of feafons, and pro- 
mife of plenty. In the centre of thefe fruits, the favourite 
emblem, the Rhoia appears again, and crowns the whole. In 
one corner towards the upper part is a bale of goods, bound 
up in fuch a manner as is praRifed, when people are going 
upon a courfe of travel; or are to make a voyage to fome 
diftant part of the world. 

But the moft pleafing emblem among the Egyptians was 
exhibited under the character of Pfuche, This was 

originally no other than the 45 Aurelia, or butterfly : but in 

44 See Gruter. Spes Divina. Vol. i. p. 102. 

45 r GTl’£VfACti XCtl ^OOVCpiGV 'GT'TWQV, Hefych. 

Vol. II. D d d 


after- 



386 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

aftertimes was reprefented as a lovely female child with the 

beautiful wings of that infedt. The Aurelia,, after its firft 
ftage as an Eruca, or worm, lies for a feafon in a manner 

dead ; and is inclofed in a fort of a coffin. In this ftate of 
darknefs it remains all the winter : but at the return of fpring 
it burfts its bonds, and comes out with new life, and in the 
moft beautiful attire. The Egyptians thought this a very 
proper picture of the foul of man, and of the immortality, to 
which it afpired. But they made it more particularly an em¬ 
blem of Ofiris ; who having been confined in an ark or coffin,, 
and in a ftate of death, at laft quitted his prifon, and en¬ 
joyed a 46 renewal of life. This circumftance of the fecond 
birth is continually defcribed under the character of Pfuche.. 
And as the whole was owing to divine love, of which Eros, 
was an emblem, we find this perfon. often introduced as a 
concomitant of Pfuche, They are . generally defcribed as 
accidentally meeting, and enjoying a pleating interview 
which is attended with embraces and falutes, and every mark 
of reconciliation, and favour. 

From this union of divine love, and the foul, the ancients 
dated the inftitution of marriage. And as the renewal of 
mankind commenced from their ifl'uing to light from the 
Ark, and from the gracious promife of increafe made by the 
Deity upon that occafion ; they thought proper to aflign to 
lonah, or Juno, that emblem of Divine Providence, the of¬ 
fice of prefiding at this 47 ceremony. She was accordingly 

OcriptS' sr cLvcc&iootji?^ x-ca 'waXiTyevecia. Plutarch. Ifis et Ofiris. p. 364. 

47 Junoni ante cmnes, cui vincla jugalia cures. iEneid. L. 4. v. 59. Junonem- 
que, toris quae prasfidet alma mantis. Ovid. Epift. Phyllis ad Demoph. 

ftyled 





































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































387 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

Hyled Fa^A/a, Sofpita, Domiduca, Pronuba, Lucina, II^o- 

Populonia, Mena, Mater Deum, II goQvgcaa. And 
among the Romans the month denominated from her was 
efteemed the moil aufpicious for efpoufals. 

I 

4? Tunc mihi pod: facras monftratur Junius idus, 

tJtilis et nuptis, utilis atque viris. 

'•3 

Their marriages were alfo determined by the moon : and 
in the judgment of Pindar, the bed: feafon was at the 49 full. 
But according to the more ancient opinion the fourth day 
was the moft favourable, when the moon appeared a cref- 
cent: which day of the moon was reputed facred both to 
Hermes and Venus. Hence Heiiod fays, 

50 Ei/ is T£T cngTr} {jly\vos ccyetrdcu eg oikqv ct/.oinv. 

Remetnber , upon the fourth of the mo7ith you are to lead home 
the woman, whom you have efpoufed . The full according to 
this Poet was of all the mod: 51 unfortunate. Through the 
whole ceremony at the celebration of nuptials there were 
plain allulions to the fame ancient hiftory, which they re- 
ligioudy recorded. The fbate of darknefs, the uncovering 
of the Ark, the return of feafons, the promife of plenty, 
were all 52 commemorated. To Ionah upon thefe occalions 
was added a Genius, called Hymen j the purport of whofe 

43 Ovid. Faft. L. 6. v. 223. 

49 Ifthm. Ode 8. p. 485, ev cPe lc*7rggai$. 

50 Opera et Dies. v. 800. 

51 Ibid. v. 782. 

5a Hence the ceremonies ftyled aTroxaAuTnnjp/a, QirTnpu & 9 A^^/jlcctcc^ the balket 
of fruit, the chefl: of flowers, and the like. 

D d d 2 


name. 



388 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

name is a veil or 53 covering. In the hiftory of Hymen they 
probably referred to the fame object, which was ftyled yirw 

(pavriTog, the covering of Phanes; from whence that Deity 
after a ftate of concealment was at laffc difengaged. Saturn 
was often depicted with his head under cover, which had an 
allegorical meaning. Hymen as a perfonage was the God of 
the veil ; and faid to have been an ss Argive, and the fon of 
56 Liber, the fame as Dionufus : though many fuppofe him to 
have been the fon of Magnes. This was the fame as Manes, 
the lunar God, of whom we have fo often treated. At the 
celebration of nuptials the name of Hymen was continually 
echoed : at the fame time there were offerings made of fruit, 
and of meal ; alfo of Sefamum, and S7 poppies ; which cere¬ 
mony was called 58 (TYi^siov , the fign. Among the Romans it 
was ufual to fcatter nuts, and to invoke a Deity, called Tha- 
laffms. Of this Catullus takes notice in his addrefs to Man¬ 
lius, where he tells him, 

59 Satis diu- 

Lufifti nucibus ; lubet 

Jam fervire Thalaflio. 


53 'T/jlxv cc7ro vfxsvos- Velum, membrana, Lexicographi. 'T ' ftevoodes, A£7tto; 


Hefych. 
54 


ss 


ApyvTct v Tnv ve(peXnv^ oti ex, t &t&v exQpooaxei 6 ms, Damafcius. 

Bentleii Epift. ad Millium. p. 3. 

'TfjLevcci09 y Aoyeios. Scholia in Iliad. X. v. 493. 

56 See Lilius Gyraldus, Synt. 3. p. 132. 

57 Ariftoph. Eipmyi* Schol. v. 869. The bride was crowned with a chaplet, in 
which were poppies. 

58 Tlccs vufJLtpccs i&crots eiri t ov yctfJLov (pgvyerpov (pepeiv , avfj.eioy. Lex Solonis. 

59 Epithalamium Julias, v. 132. 


The 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 389 


The Romans did not know the purport of this obfolete 
name ; as may be feen by their various and contradictory 
60 interpretations. Thalaffius was the God of the fea, the 
fame as Pofeidon : the fame alfo as Belus, and Zeus. This 
is evident from his being worfhiped under this name by the 
Sidonians. @ olXckt c 10 g Z svg ev Zdwvi 'tijlcltoli. Thalath ac¬ 
cording to 61 Berofus was among the ancient Chaldeans the 
name of the fea. From hence came Thalatta, and Thalafla. 
of the Greeks ; and the God Thalaffius of the Romans. It 
is remarkable that at the celebration of nuptials among the 
Greeks, after they had facrificed to the Gods, and appealed 
the Daemons, a youth was introduced with a cheft of flow¬ 
ers ; who repeated the very fame words, which were ufed at 
the myfteries, H<pvyov Kamov, si'gov oljlzlvov : I have efcaped an 
evil ; and I have met with a more fortmiate lot . Thefe words 
could not be applicable to the bride. The quitting the ftate 
of virginity could not well be called efcaping an evil. The 
expreffion would befldes be premature. The words fhould 
at this rate have been repeated by the bride herfelf, and at 
her quitting her chamber : not previously to her going into 
it: for as yet the marriage was incompleat, and her con¬ 
dition unaltered. And we may be aflured from the words 


60 Plutarch, in Romulo. Livius. L. i. c. 9. 

Varro deduces it from Talaron, fignum lanificii. See Pompeius Feftus. That 
the Romans were ignorant of the purport is plain from the queftion of Plutarch, in 
another place, Z^iu ti 0 'stoAuQ^uAAtjtos uS'stui TetAacr/os ev tois yu.jj.ois 3 QucEfl:. 
Romance, p. 271. It was more commonly rendered Thalaffius, and Thalaffio. 

61 Eufeb. Chron, p. 6• To XaAcTai^x ©ccAcctG— r £AA»w^ f/.e§e(>/x 7 }veu&r§Ki 3 ’ct- 
Aa aacc. 



39 ® The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

♦ 

being ufed at the myfteries, that they alluded to an ancient 
piece of mythology ; and not to any thing new. 

The two birds, which were introduced fymbolically upon 
thefe occafions, were the Raven and the Dove. The hiftory 
of the latter is well known. In refpedt to the former,* many 
have thought it a bird of ill omen ; and it has been faid, 
that the very croaking of the Raven would put a ftop to the 
procefs of matrimony. Yet we may be allured, that there 
were times, when it was otherwife effceemed. And we are 
told by iElian, 6z sv rotg yctpioig (jlstol tqv 'Y 'uevouov K ogwvriv kol~ 

7\slv : that at nuptials after the Hy?neneal hymn they ufed to 
invoke the Raven. The bird was alfo many times intro¬ 
duced, and fed by the bride ; and there was a cuftomary 
fong upon the occalion, which began 63 E joco§si 3 fcogct, x.Qgavir\V : 
(dome, young woman , feed the Raven. The treat confifted of 

figs, as we learn from fome verfes of the Poet Phoenix Colo- 
phonius in Athenseus, where it is faid of the bride, 6 * Kc« Tfi 

K ogwvY) 'UTCfgOevog cpsgei (rvzot. if he young Lady is now carrying 
figs to the Raven. This ceremony was doubtlefs in confe- 
quence of a tradition, that the Raven upon a time was fent 
by Apollo upon a meflage ; but difappointed him, and did 
not return. Inftead of fulfilling his orders he perched upon 
a ,6s fig-tree, and waited till the fruit was ripe. 


Cz 


*1 


De Animal. L. 3. c. 
Horapollo. L. c. 8. 


9 - 

See 


the learned notes of Johannes CaufTmus upon this 


■pafTage. 


64 L. 8. p. 359. The mythologies out of every circumftance and title formed 
a perfonage. Hence Paufanias fpeaks of the Raven as an ancient hero, and men¬ 
tions his family. K opcovu Ss yivovr&i Kocce^ kmi A cc l ue<f'cjj'. L. 2. p. 123. 

Ovid. Fall. L. 2. v. 255. 


In 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 391 

In fhort, marriage was fuppofed to commence at the re- 
ftoration of the world, when the thread of man’s life was 
renewed. To this event moft of the Gentile ceremonies 
66 related : and as they reprefented the reconciliation of Di¬ 
vine Love, and the Soul, under the femblance of an inter¬ 
view, and union ; they made it the prototype of their nup¬ 
tial rites. It was in confequence of this often defcribed as a 
real 67 marriage : and we accordingly find in ancient fculp- 
ture Eros and Pfuche introduced together under a veil, with 
the myftic dove in their hands ; and thus proceeding to the 
nuptial bed. To this they are conducted by Hymen with 
his torch; and with all the other emblems, which were 
ufual upon thefe occafions. There have probably been 
many reprefentations of this hiftory; but there is one parti¬ 
cularly curious both for workmanfhip, and defign. It is an 
engraving upon a fine onyx by Tryphon of Athens ; who has 
defcribed under the procefs of a marriage this union, of Eros 
and Pfuche. 

It has been mentioned, that Ofiris was the fame as Orus. 
He was upon this account called the elder Orus, 62 6, nzrgsr- 

^vregog £lgog : and Orus might with equal propriety have 
been ftyled the younger Ofiris: for each of the terms ref¬ 
lated to the fame perfon in .a different ftate. Plutarch tells 

% 

66 Hence in the marriage of Peleus and Thetis there is a particular addrefs, that 
the fpindle, upon which this thread of life was enrolled, might, run again, and that 
the Fates would renew their labour. 

Currite, ducentes fubtemina, currite, full. Catullus.- 

67 See Apuleius. L. 6. p. 194. 

68 T ov A p&ngiV} ov A7toAAcow, gv kcu ^pBaQvTepov Clpov evioi xcr.A3<ri. Pint. Ifis 

et Ofiris. p. 355 - 

IO 



392 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


us, that the Egyptians looked upon Ohris, as the head, or 
beginning ; upon IBs, as the receptacle ; and efteemed Orus, 

ion of the whole. Ills was 



as the completion, and. 69 , 
called the treafury of nature, the.nurfe of all things, the houfe 


of Orus,; in.;which Orus was 



Both Orus, and 


Ofiris* were ftyled Heliadseand often represented as the 


Sun itfelf. Hence many, have been milled,;, and have re- 

" - - • *. , 

fcrred, what has been faid of thefe. perfonages, - to the lumi- 

\ ♦ 

nary. But the Egyptians in this title did not allude to the 
Sun, but to a perfon, who . had been wonderfully preferved ; 

• f 

as appears from ; their hieroglyphics. When they Would de- 
fcribe Helius, fays 71 Porphyry, they reprefent a man in a- 
Boat, or Blip, which is fupported by a crocodile. _ Orus is 
often defcribed as {landing upon a crocodile, and: at the 
fame time furrounded with other fymbolical reprefentations. 
For as the Egyptians in their rites referred to a perfon pre¬ 
ferved in the midft of waters ; they accordingly, to defcribe 
that hiftory, made ufe of types, which had fbme analogy, 
and refemblance to fuch'prefervation. Some of thefe could 
fcarcely be called fymbolical, the purport was fo manifeft. 
Such was their carrying about the image of a man in an 
ark {sv tcifc W&o), who appeared to be 7 * dead ; and who after¬ 
wards was fuppofed to return from a Hate of darknefs to 


C9 Tor f*zv Ocripiv , oo$ tyiv S'e Icrtv 3 cos J tov cfg Clpor 9 cos <X7roTgAeo-y.a. 

Ibid. p. 374. 

70 I< Tiv — S'eKTtKov nsrocam yevzaeotis, xa 0 o tiGh/'H* y.ou Ibid. p. 372. 

lciv^ oikov ClpB •x.oafJUQv. p. 374. ‘X.copccvyevecrecos, tccci cTe 0 a/x.erwr. Ibid. 

71 ‘HA 10V (Pe GYlfJLCLlV&fTl *ST0T6 fA€V CLV§pC07T& e7Tl€ijCWKQTOS wPl01H g TTl KpOKoSziKti 

ocetfJLBpa. Eufeb. Prasp. Evang. L. 3. p. 115. 

? % EiJWicr <xv0gw7TB T60rwoTO5 tv K iGooTicp •z&epityepo/j.evov. Ifis et Ofiris. p. 357. 

life. 





































The Analysis of Ancient Mythctlogy. 


393 


73 life. But fuch defcriptions related rather to their cere¬ 
monies. The fimilitude, of which I am now fpeaking, is to 
be chiefly obferved in their hieroglyphics and fculptures. 
Thefe will generally be found to have a plain analogy with 
the hiftory, which they reprefent. Hence the crocodile, 
and Hippopotamus, were emblems of the Ark; becaufe dur¬ 
ing the inundation of the Nile they rofe with the waters, and 

% • 

were fuperior to the flood. The Lotus, that peculiar plant 
of the Nile, was reverenced upon the fame 74 account : and 
we accordingly find a frog upon the Lotus introduced as a 
facred emblem in the 75 Bembine table. We are moreover 
told by Iamblichus, that the figure of a man upon this plant 
in the midft of mud, was an emblem of 76 Helius. This 
Philofopher, as well as Plutarch, and Porphyry, imagined 
that thefe hiftories related to the real Helius, the Sun : and 
that the fymbols of Selene had the like reference to the 
Moon. In confequence of which they have a deal of refine¬ 
ment about a moift nature, and a dry : and of the Sun and 
Moon prefiding over moift fubftances, and watry 77 exhala¬ 
tions. But what they idly fubtilize, and refine, was real. 
Both Helius, and Selene, were names given to objefts, which 


73 Tlgv Qcrtgiv 'ZtruPixyevoy.evov* Ibid. p. 358. 

Tov Oatgiv 'zzrcx.gccyeveoQctt /S qvQqv cl rfa. Diodorus. L. 1. p. 79. 

74 The Egyptian Priefls ufed to crown themfelves with the Lotus. Heliodorus.’ 
L. 10. p. 457. 

75 Figure GG. Edit. Amfterdam. 

76 Seft. 7. p. 151. Geov B 7 Ti Aona). 

77 Thefe notions feem to have been firft propagated by Archemachus Euboxcus* 
They have been clofely copied by Athanafius Kircher in his MyftagogiaiEgyptiaca* 
and other writings. 


VOL. 11. 


E e e 


were 



394 The Analysis op Ancient Mythology. 


were immediately connected with water ; even with the ocean 
itfelf. 


it 


They had been expofed to water, and preferved in 
and to this their real hiftory related. The Lotus was 
made an emblem of their prefervation; becaufe in the 
greatefi: inundations of the Nile its broad leaf rifes with the 


flood, and is never overwhelmed. Hence it was, that the 
Egyptians placed Helius upon the Lotus : and he was faid to- 
have arifen from the waters upon this plant in the form of a 
78 new-born child. This could have no relation to the Sun: 


but was a proper picture of Ofiris, who had been looked 
upon as loft, but returned to life in the character of the boy 
Orus. Plutarch ruins a plain hiftory by refinement; and is 
at the expence of much falfe philofophy. Do not , fays he, 
imagine , that the Egyptians fuppofed the S-un to arife from the 
Lotus i?i the form of a child . No : they only by this hierogly¬ 
phic dejeribed his being rekindled by moijl effences ; and jhewedj. 
how his fire was renewed from 79 water . This mode of inter¬ 
pretation runs through the whole of Plutarch’s treatise ; and 
through the writings of all thole, who have given a rationale 
of the Egyptian rites, and mythology. The image of the 
moon, which in the hieroglyphics of Egypt was only ufed as 
a type, they confidered as a reality : and referred the hiftory, 
with which it was attended, to the luminary in the heavens. 
They did the fame by the term Helius; miftaking a title for 
the objedt, from whence it was borrowed. Hence in their 
explanations they have difplayed the moft profound and my- 


78 Tov HAirr fx. Acotb (2axia^eiv vsaytXov. Ifis et Ofir. p. 355. 

' 9 Tvv vypeov yEvoy.e'.mv a.vcc'^iv an’iTTof/svoi. Ifis et Ofiris. p. 355. et paffim. 
ww yonpiov to cpcog 0 xcu vygoiroiov e%Btrotv. p. 367. 


fterious 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


395 


flerious ahfurdity, that ever human imagination conceived 
Some of the fathers have been milled by thefe authorities 
Clemens takes notice, that the Egyptians defcribed Helius ir 
a £hip, and upon a crocodile : which, he thinks, was to 


re- 


prefent the paflage of the Sun through 80 fweet, and moift 

Eufebius fays, that the paflage of the Sun was through 


air. 


good potable 


Si 


water, which was denoted by the 


am perfuaded, that 


Egyptians were too good 


aftronomers, and naturalifts, to have entertained any fuch 
notions. By Helius they meant a perfon fo denominated : 
and the Moon, to which they alluded, was UsKyiVyi m 


Kocm 


puted mother of the world 


Plutarch 


feffes ; which character cannot be made in any deg 
refpond with the planet. Selene 


was the fame 


Ills, TQ7T0Q 


S-soov 


the fame alfo as Rhea, Vella, Cubele, and Da-Matei 


The crocodile was greatly reverenced by the Sz Egypt 


s 


and, according to Diodorus 


was 


pon account of their 


83 king Menas ; the fame, who at other times is called Menes 
and Manes. This prince had been in great danger of drown 
ing ; but was wafted through the waters to land by a croco 

In memorial of this he founded a city, which was de- 


dile 


nominated from the 


the city of the crocodile 


T h i s 

writer fuppofes Menas to have really reigned over the Egyp- 


80 c Or/ o HA tog S i 5 ccSepis yAviczev v,cli vygy T/jv 'vtqozlxv *zz roi^usros yzi'i'ct t qv jspivw* 
L. 5. p. 670. 

Zl 'X'Wfjxuvei TtpoTLofeihos f zvoTifJLov vS^ojp^ zv J c pepeTcu 0 f HAz5$. Prsep. Kvan. L. 3. 

p. 115. A>?A 01 cT s t 0 fJLtv 'ZctAo/op tvv bv ugyaj xtvwatv. Ibid. 

s * Plutarch. Ifis et Ofiris. p. 381. Strabo. L. 17. p. 1165. 

83 L. 1. p. 80. 




E e e 2 


tians, 



396 The Analysis of Ancient. Mythology. 

tians, becaufe he flood at the head of their genealogical lift : 
and he further imagines, that the flory was local; and that 
the event happened in the lake Masris. But Menas the fu- 
pofed king of Egypt, was the Deus Lunus, and called alfo 
Meen, Mijv, and Man. He was a Deity equally known to 
the Perfians, Lydians, and Cappodocians; and worfhiped un¬ 
der the fame title. This legend about a crocodile was taken 
from fome fymbolical reprefentation in the city of the fame 
name ; and hence it was fuppofed to have happened in Egypt. 
It was a facred hiflory, like that of Orus, and of Helius, 
upon a crocodile : for thefe were all titles, which at different 
times were conferred upon the fame perfonage, and related 
to the fame event. The crocodile had many names, fuch as 
^Caimin, Ss Souchus, 85 Campfa. This laft fignified an ark, or 
receptacle, like Aren, Argus, Aagmf, Cibotus.. Kapv^a, 

Camp fa is an ark , or coffer* fays Hefychius. From hence I 
think the purport of the hieroglyphic may be proved. The 
Tortoife was likewife admitted in their fymbolical defcrip- 
tions ; and was reprefented as the fupport of the world. It 
is a notion at this day among the Brahmins of India that the 
earth refls upon the horns, of an ox, or cow. And when 
they are afked, what it is that fupports the cow, they fay, 
that it Hands upon the back of a tortoife. The Egyptians, 
ufed to place this emblem upon the fhrines of Venus : and 
the fame Goddefs was defcribed by the people of Elis with 

Ifis et Ofiris. p. 374, 

Damafcius in Vit;a Ifidori. apu.d Phot-ium. p. i : 04;8a. 

£o Herodotus. L. 2. c. 69. 

Jher 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


397 


her foot upon the 87 back of this animal, to denote her rela¬ 
tion to the fea. 

Moft of the Aquatics of the Nile were efteemed facred : 
and among thefe the Faba iEgyptiaca. It was a fpecies of 
bean ftyled Colocafla ; and was reverenced on account of its 
fhape. Nothing can more referable a boat, than the pod of 
the common bean : and it is particularly like the Navis bi- 
prora, or facred {hip of Ills. The Faba iEgyptiaca had the 
like appearance; and this perhaps was the reafon why Py¬ 
thagoras abftained from beans ; for his whole fyftem feems 
to have been borrowed from Egypt. It was undoubtedly on 
account of this refemblance, that it was alfo called 88 Cua- 
mon, and ^Cibotium, from Cibotus, KjSwtq?, a boat. Some 
fuppofe it to have been a fpecies of Ciborium ; of whofe 
fruit they made cups to drink. A perfon in Athenaeu>, 
fpeaking of fome particular cups, fays, that they were called 
c rx.v(piCL , or fkiffs. And he adds, that they had probably this 
name from a vegetable in Egypt, called 89 Ciborium, whofe 
fruit was like a boat. Above all others the Nymphaeum 
feems to have been regarded; which is reprefented as the 
flower of the Lotus. It was efteemed a facred ornament by 

♦ 

87 Plutarch. Ifis etOfiris.. p. 381. Paufan. L. 6. p. 515. To? Sc Iregcp ett: 
tavys 

- 88 In iEgypto nobiliffima eft Colocafia, quam Cyamon aliqui ‘ vocant. Plin. 
L. 21. c. 20. p. 248. The term Cyamon orCuamon, from whence the Greeks bor¬ 
rowed their kvcc^os^ is a compound of Cu-Amon, the (brine of Amon : fo Cu-bela 
was the houfe or flirine of Bela ; Cu-baba,, the houfe of Baba. 

89 K at tcl'xjx av ein toc Aeyojjevcc awcpioc S^icc to :ccctcoBbv sit c^evov ctwyi^cu^ ros 

too A.iyoiTTLcc K iS&pioc. Athenaeus. L. xi. p. 477. See Diofcorides. L. 2. p. 97. 
Strabo. L. 17. p. 1178. 

K i£copiov r AiyvTTTiav ovojj.ee Z7ri 'UTQTWOiB. Hefych,. 


the 



i 


598 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

the priefts : and we find it continually ufed far a kind of 
coronet upon the figures of Orus, when he is defcribed on 
the Lotus. It is aifo to be feen upon the heads of 90 Ifis and 
Ofiris : and the ferpents 94 Cnuphis and Thermuthis are ge¬ 
nerally crowned with this flower. Orus is fometimes de¬ 
fcribed eredt, but fwathed in bandages, like a perfon em¬ 
balmed. In his hands he holds fome implements of art : 
over his ihoulder there feems to be the figure of a plough- 
fhare ; and upon his head the Nymphaeum. 

If any means can be found out to obtain the latent pur¬ 
port of the Egyptian hieroglyphics, they muft arife from 

and obferving their par¬ 
ticular fcope, and deftination. When we have afcertained 
the meaning of fome individuals, we may pofllbly dileover 
their drift, when confidered collectively. Thefe, X think, 

a # 

are the principles, upon which we muft proceed: but after 
all it will be a dark refearch, in which many have been be¬ 
wildered. There are authors, who mention an ancient piece 
of hieroglyphical fculpture, which was to be feen in the city 
Sais of lower Egypt. It confifted of a 9 * ehild, and an old 
man : and near them flood an Hawk. After thefe a Cetus, 
or fea-fifh : and laft of all an Hippopotamus. 93 Clemens of 
Alexandria mentions the fame hiftory : but. fays, that it was 
at Diofpolis. Inftead of the river ktorfe he introduces a era- 

ft 

9 ° See Spanheim de Ufu et Prsefta-nt. Num. Antiq. Vol. i. p. 302, 303. 

91 Ibid. 

9t Plutarch. Ifis et Ofiris. p. 363. 

See Pierius Valerianus. L. 31. c, 6. He interprets it nafcimur, fenefeimus: vi- 
vimus, morimur : naturae diflidio. 

9? lu. 5. p. 670. 


confidering thefe emblems fingly. 


codile, 



































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


39 ^ 


codile, which he fays was an emblem of impudence. It is. 

to be obferved, that the Hippopotamus, and Crocodile were 

* 

lymbols of the fame purport ; both related to the 9 * deluge : 
and however the Greeks might fometimes reprefent them, 
they were 95 both in different places reverenced by the an¬ 
cient Egyptians. The interpretation given by Clemens is 
this, ylllye^ who are juji come into the world , and all ye y 
who are going out , remember , that God hates i?npudence. As 
there are fo many crimes of high moment, which demand 
animadverffon, it is ftrange, that fo folemn a caution ffiould 
be given merely againft impudence. The infcription feerciS’, 
to have been put up in two places : one of which was the: 
temple of Iffs at Sais ; the other the temple at Diofpolis,, 
called 5,6 Theba. Tbefe are two remarkable places ; in con- 
iequenoe of which one would imagine, that the infcription. 
Should contain fome memorial of more confequence ; fome- 
thing, which had a reference to the temples, wherein it was 
found. Were I to attempt the deciphering of thefe hiero¬ 
glyphics, which however diverfified feem to amount to the 
fame purport, I fhould begin from right to left, in a feries 
different from thofe, who have gone before me. I find ac¬ 
cording to this order, that the Hippopotamus, and Croco- 


94 The Egyptians oftentimes under the character of Typhon referred to the de¬ 
luge: and the Hippopotamus was an emblem of Typhon. Plutarch. Ills et Ofiris. 
p. 3 ^ 3 , 37 1 * The fame was faid of the Crocodile. It was equally a fymbol of 
Xyphon, and the deluge. Plut. ibid. See Jablonfki. Pars 3. p. 67. 

95 Herodotus. L. 2. c. 69. 71. 148* Strabo. L. 17. p. 1165. Plutarch. Ifis et 
Ofrris. p. 362. 371^ 

96 Tas kcu d^ioairoXiv tvv ctv'rvv virctcyssn'. Diodor. Sic. L. 1. p.. 88. ©>/- 

Z^/o<77roA/r rsTore x.A yQwcti. Euftath* in Dionyf. v. 24S. 

9 diie ? 



400 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

dile, ftand firft: and then the Cetus.. Next comes the figure 
of the facred Hawk, under which femblance Divine Provi¬ 
dence was always 97 depicted : and after this an old man, 
and a child. It may feem prefumptuous to pretend to in¬ 
terpret what was a fecret two thoufand years ago : I fhall 
therefore only mention, what I have to fay, as matter of 
opinion. The reader will remember, that the infcription 
was in the temple of Ifis at Sais ; and in the temple ftyled 
Theba, the hiftory of which I have given. In confequence 
of this my conjectures are, that it fhould be read in the fol¬ 
lowing manner. sis the Hippopotamus^ or Crocodile , furvives 
the inundations of the Nile , juft fo that facred receptacle , the 
Cetus , or Slrk , through the interpoftio?i of Providence , wea¬ 
thered the Deluge : by which means the aged Patriarch efcaped , 
and obtained a renewal of life. How true this interpretation 
may be, I will not prefume to fay : it certainly correfponds 
with the hiftory of each emblem, as they have been fepa- 
rately confidered : and is confonant to the general fcope of 
the rites, and mythology of Egypt. What is ftill more to 
the purpofe, it perfectly agrees with the deftination of the 
two temples, where it is faid to have been found : For by 
Ifis was meant a facred 98 receptacle, as I have fhewn : and 
Theba is literally the Ark. The temples were both of them 
built in memory of that event, which the hieroglyphic Teems 
to defcribe. 

97 ©lov (SeXofj.eroi cnifAyvcti - iepccx.cc (^coypcccpzcri. Horapollo. L. i. c. 6. 

&B 17 UVVTCU -TW 'isgCLXl < PvtOCfAlV , XCCt up^TlV. IIlS et Oflris. p. 371. O ©BOB gqr-7 

xecpaXyv b^cov UfocLKoSj btojs Bq-iv o 'z&gtoTos a,(pBctpTos. Zoroafter. apud Eufeb. Pr«£p. 
Evan. L. i. cap. io. p. 42. L. 3. c. 4. p. 94. 

98 I ais —tokos ©sow — 67roSo%y—oixo$ £lp&. Plutarch, fupra. 

7 


Of 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 




Of the S C Y P H U S. 

Oi XiQivoi fcgotT¥}ge$) aai oi appupogsig—Aiovvtrs wpSoXa. Porph. 

de Nymph. Antro. p. 114. 

T HAVE taken notice of the facred fhip of Egypt, called 
Baris : and of the {hip of Ifis at Rome, which was carried 
in proceilion upon a yearly feftival. There feem likewife to 

have been facred cups in the form of boats, called Cymbia, 
and Scyphi, K vp£ia 9 kou Sxvtpoi ; of which they made a re¬ 
ligious ufe in the profecution of their myfteries. They were 
alfo introduced at fefbivals, and upon other folemn occa¬ 
sions. It is faid of Perfeus, that he introduced in Perfis the 
deteftable rites of the Scyphus : 99 < 3 s xai rsg Tlegtrag 

ny rsKsTYiV th pvcragx kou adepiTX The author fays, 

that they were firft eftablifhed by Zeus, who was called Pecus. 
100 Urjzog, 6 X.OU Xsvg, eh$a%ev avrov 'urgafsiv uai ts7\ziv r^v pa¬ 
ys lclv th pvtrag}} Xkvqb, b'lJ'a^ag avrov 'uravra ra Tjrsgi avrz pv - 

ZUta zai JvtTO's^yj 'UrhaVYipara. Pecus , the fame as Zeus , taught 
(Perfeus) to go through all the idolatrous rites of the detefable 
Scyphus or boat: having initiated him in all the myfery and 
wickednefs necejfary to that pu?~pofe. It is faid of 1 Hercules, 
that he traverfed a vafl: fea in a cup or fkiff, which Nereus, 
or Oceanus, lent him for his prefervation. This Scyphus, 

• 99 Chron. Pafchale. p. 40. 

100 Chron. Pafch. p. 38. 

1 Panyafis and Pherecydes. Macrob. Saturn. L. 5. c. 21. p. 367. 

Vol. II. F f f 


it 



4-02 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

it feems, was made of 2 wood ; and well fecured with pitchy 
to preferve it from decay. There were many cups formed 
in imitation of this ancient vefTel; which were efteemed 
iacred, and ufed only upon particular occafions. That they 
were made after the prototype, in the fhape of a boat or 
fhip, may be known from a fragment of Menander, which 
has been preferred by Athenceus from the play called Nau- 
clerus. One neighbour tells another, that Theophilus, a 
common friend, is returned fafe to his fon ; and with much 

good-nature offers to treat him upon this joyful occafion with 

% 

a cup of wine. 

3 A. IT gooTGs <T syw <roi tovS's ^v<rav- Kctv8a.gov. 

2T. n oiov A. To IIAOION. nJg ft cuordas, olQxis 

A. And fir ft of all I make you an offer to partake of this fine 
cup . ST. hat cup f A. M^hy this boat ; don t you imderftand 
me, you fimpleton $ —In another place this perfon fpeaks of 
the fame 4 fhip. True, fays he, I have faved it : ajid a noble, 
fhip it is : the very fame, which one Callicles a filverfmith built ,. 
and of which Euphranor of Thurium (a boon companion) has 
oftentbnes the fleer age. 

Ti w v.avv trecrootfOou pcoi Keysig. B. JLyuoye [jlyiv, 

T*)j/ vavv zxsivty, r\v- £7roir)<rs Ka hAwTute, 

-E vtpgoivwg <5s KV^SgVCt ®.3glO.Q. 

* Servius in Virg. ./Eneid. L. 8. v.. 27S. Apollodorus. L. 2. p. 100. See Athe- 
nceus. L. 11. p. 469. By fome it was faid to have been the cup of Nereus : by 
others of Oceanus. Ibid. 

5 Athenseus. L. 12. p. 474. Menandri Frag. Amftelod. 1709. p. 130, 

4 Ibid. 


JO 


What 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 403 

What was alluded to by cups of this particular form may, I 
think, be inferred from their invoking upon thefe occafions 
Zeus the faviour and deliverer. In a fragment of Anti- 
phanes there is a defcription of a merry-making, when the 
Deity is fpoken of under that title. 

5 c AgfJ.o$ios zkclXsito, Tlouoiv yi$zto, 

MzyoChw AIOS SQTHPOS AKATON ngs rig. 

The name of Harmodius was retjiembered; they fruck up a 
Pczan : and one jolly fellow took up the large bowl y called the 
fldp of Zeus the Preferver. The like is mentioned with much 
humour from a fragment of the comedian Alexis : 

6 ctXh zyyyw. 

Aigoo A log ys~ rrjvS's Swr qgog' ®soov 
©vryoig. ancurm ^nri[xoorctrog nro\v 
*0 Zsvg, 6. XwTYjg. Eai> syca happctyw,. 

O V&EV [JLB?\Sl [JLOt' 'GTlOpLCU •S’O.ppWJ'. 

Fill up , fll up. I Jhall empty this noble •vejjel to Jupiter So- 
ter. This Jupiter the preferver is in my opinion the mof bene- 
fce?it of all the Gods. If 1 burfi y I do?i t care. I drink with 
a good will, a?id a fafe confcience. The lame author in an¬ 
other place tells us, that the perfon, whom the Grecians in¬ 
voked after fupper by the title of 'Zsvg Swnjf, Zeus the fa¬ 
viour , was no other than Dionufus. And he adds, what 
points out the perfon more particularly, that he was ftyled 

s Athenteus. L. 15. p. 692. 

6 ' Athenseus. L. 15. p. 692. The paffage is faulty: but I have tried to amend it. 

F f f 2 not 



4°4 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


not only the faviour, but 7 rov kcli Tmv ofogwv ag’gyyov, the 
great difpe?tfer of rams. The cups, of which I took notice 
above, were often referred to Hercules ; and made ufe of as 
Grace-cups, where particular honour was intended. It is 
faid of 8 Alexander, that at the feaft of Theffalus the phy- 
fician, before he had finifhed the Scyphus Herculeus, he 
found himfelf on a fudden ftruck, as it were with a dart, 
and was carried off half dead. The Boeotians had a great 
regard for them ; which was fuppofed to arife from their re¬ 
verence to the 9 hero of Thebes : but it was from an event 
far more ancient, to which their name related. The IO Scy- 
phi, and Cyrnbia, at the celebration of the myfteries, were of 
the lame fafhion, as thofe above. 

The rites of the Scyphus undoubtedly conf fled in a com¬ 
memoration of the Ark, accompanied with all the circum- 
flances of the Deluge. It was the cup, we find, in which 
" Hercules palfed the feas : and the fame hillory is given to 

Helius, 

7 Athenasus. L. 1 5. p. 675. 

8 Ibi, nondum Herculis Scypho epoto, repente velut telo confixus ingemuit. 
Quine. Curtius. L. 10. c. 4. 

Macrobius of Hercules palling the ocean in a great Cup. Ego tamen arbitror 
non Poculo Herculem maria tranfvedtum, fed navigio, cui Scyphus fuit nomen. 
Saturnal. E. 5. c. 21. p. 367. 

9 Athenseus. L. 11. p. 500. Some cups made of wood were called Tabnstm. 
Ibid. p, 506. undoubtedly from Tabet, Area. 

,0 It is remarkable, that the names K vjj£iqv^ ^xvcfo^ Ajearo;, TccSocitcl^ 

Kvttcc , r^aAo?, TccvhoSy though made ufe of for drinking veflels, were borrowed 
from veffels of the lea. 

11 Accounts of the Scyphus Herculeus from Athen^us. Ileio-ccvSgoz ev Sevrepqj 

'Hpctx/^sicts t0 Se 7 rccs zv cp SiBirXzvazv o HpocxAvz tov flxecLvov ztvcu fxzv (pyuriy ' HA / a * 

Aa£W Se clvtgv Tsoep Clxzccvs ' HpaxAsa . OzoxAvtos S' tv Szvrepcp '£lgcov £7n A eSnros 
(f YtQiv ccvtov SiccirXzvvcct. ^epzxvSns Se zv Ty rpiry t<ov *I<rogioov i wpozi 7 roov 'urzpi Qxe- 

ctr& 


* 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 405 

Heliusj who is faid to have traverfed the ocean in the fame 
vehicle. There are fome remarkable verfes of Stefichorus 
upon this fubjedt, which have been preferved in Athenaeus. 

Ia 'A 7 \iog <T 'T nsgiovidag 

■ Ae7T0tS Sg KCLTsEoUVS w X£V(T£0V, 

Ocpgoi ooKsccvoio 'ixrsgcx.crcig 
Aptxqd’ isgag < 1 iron fisvQea vvtCTog sgsfJLVocg, 

IIoti {JLctTsgct, xasgihoutr aXoyQv, 

TLouScug r s cpi7\%g 0 'OcT sg oCKvag g6ot 

A oupvcacri KctTourtuov 

n o<r<ri Uoug A log. 

\ 

’Twas in a golden Cup 
That Helius pafs’d, 

Helius, Hyperion’s fon, 

O er floods and oceans wafted far away ; 

To Erebus he went, and the fad realms of night. 

His aged parent there he found. 

And the kind confort of his better days. 

And all his blooming offspring. 

Then to the facred grove he fped. 

The facred grove of laurel. 

\ 

ctvB me pi (peps 1—OSe c Hpccx./\w$ lA tlstcu € 7 r ocvtov t ov tq^ov^ cos / 2 cc\c*yv . 'OS's HA/os 
•zzravcruaGat x.e?^euei. c O <h Sr.iacts r&rocvet* *HA 10$ <Te avn tbtb S'tSwtriv avroj to J^Tra?* 
oc. t. A. Ka< ore vv ev toj > meXayei :) £hceavos 'vreipoofAtvog ccutb xvpcavei to S'tiras (pav- 
t ci^o/j.ei’ 05 . *CSe To^eueiv ccurov ju.eAAgT xczt auTov S but as QkBccvqs ‘zzravaacrQat 
A cues. Athenseus, L. n. p 469. 
i* Athenaeus. L. 11. p. 469. 


e mnos, 



406 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology- 


T II II O or the House of Poseidon. 


T^ROM what has preceded, we may perceive, that the 

Scyphus, called at times the Cup of Hercules, of Ne- 
reus, of Oceanus, of the Sun, was no other than the Ark, 
reprefented under this charadteriftic. It was defcribed like- 
wile, as has been often mentioned, under the emblem of a 
large fifh, which Pliny terms fabulofa Ceto : and from this 
reprefentation, fhips, which were unweildy, and of great 
burden, were often called Cetenze. 13 'ufhoiav ^sya tag 

Kioto?. I cannot help furmifing, that the Horfe of Neptune, 

which in the conteft with Minerva 'UTsgi %oogoc$ he was faid 
to have produced, was a miftaken emblem ; and that the 
ancients in the original hiftory did not refer to that animal. 
What the 'Imro?, Hippus, alluded to in the early mythology 
-was certainly a float or fhip, the fame as the Ceto : for in 


*3 


Hefychius. 


14 The terms c Ittttos and 


mentioned 


m 


fome degree fynonymous. Pamphos introduces, them in this manner together in 
fpeaking of Pofeidon, 

C l7T7rCt)V. 7S cT&)T>?0«, VSCOV T ’ iBvKgflS'cjXV&V . 

It fhould be read 


c l7T7rei6ov JwTwpctj veeoy t iBvytpmSefJivoov: 

By which, I make no doubt, were originally meant two forts of vefiels : the Hip- 
peia, large, unweildy, floats, the fame as K yrwcci', the other, more regularly decked 
fhips. See Paufan. L. 7. p. 577. See alfo Homer's Hymn ei$ riocretScopsc^ who 
expreflfes the line above 

c l7nrcf)v T 0 Sfj.vrvpx. 


the 



« 

The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


the firft place the 


was denominated Hipp 


1 s 


407 

Izrsm. 


fJLeyciv §bLhot<r<riov lyfvi ): by Flippds is meant that huge fijh 

Secondly, it is re- 
inly called Scaphius, 


1. e. 


the Ceto or Whale 


of the ocean ; 

markable that the Hipp 
and Scuphius, Xy.ctcpibg tt’cti X&ixpidg 


was 


we 


liafl upon Lycoph 
duced at the Colonus, when Nep.t 
others tell the 
their r 


find by the Scho 
was fuppofed to have beeri pro 


was afleep 


or, as 



when, the two Deities difputed about 


ght to Attica 


'GTSgl 


Tkwvh 


£xvtpiog e%r\XQ 




Tctq 'GTsTgotgns sv Abrjvctig Ko- 
The fame is mentioned by 


the Scholiaft upon Pindar. I therefore 
ing that this fuppofed Horfe of Neptum 
fell a relation to the Ceto, 


: help think 
has fo mani 


Ceto, and the Scyphus, muffc have been 
an emblem of the like piltport : arid that it had originally a 
reference to the fame hiflory, to which the Scyphus and 
Ceto related. The fable of the Horfe certainly arofe from a 
mifprifion of terms ; though the miflake be as old as Homer. 

Hippa, reprefented as a feminine, is the 


The Goddefs 


She 


fame as Hippos, and relates to the fame hiflory. 
made the nurfe or fofler-mother. of Dionufus ; and ftyled the 


X5 Hefych. This c l 7 T 7 ros was the fame as the feminine. Hippa,. ftyled the nurie_- 
of Bacchus, 

Orphic. Hymn. 48. r l7r7rar t popov'.- 

16 Lycophron. Scholia, v. 766. 

Tuque O. cui prima furentem* 

Rudit Equum magno tellus percufla tridenti.. VIrg. Georg. L. 1. v. 12.. 
Hence Argos r \7r7r10v . Tlca-et^cov 'iTririos. . One of the three Chaldaic. feminaries 
of learning was Hipparene, which is a compound oRHippa-Arene, and relates, as 
I fhould imagine,, to the Ark, Hippa-Aren,. Borfippa in the neighbourhood. 

was probably Baris-Hippa, of the. like purport. They both relate to the fame em¬ 
blem, the Area jcwt ueiSns* 


foull 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 



foul of the world. She is moreover faid to have received 
Dionufus, who from her had a fecond birth : and fhe aflifted 
Jupiter in labour : 17 'H ycng '\tc%cl ns nrcuvrog atra ‘fyvyy), 

mi xTca xs^YjfJLsvY) 'uroigoL rep ©soXoyep—vnoSzyaroLi Aiovvrov . 

'O §S CL7T0 TiS (JLYlgii TS A lOg 'UTgOCTSlClV £lQ 0LVTY)V , mi (TVXXctfA- 

£otve&cti mi 'YwKVL-Xzyzrvu rncrovn rep An. The purport of 
this allegory is not very obfeure; and will be illuftrated 
hereafter. Dionufus was fuppoled to have been twice born ; 
and thence was ftyled Siepvqg. Sometimes the intermediate 
ftate is taken into account; and he is reprefented as having 
experienced three different lives : 

18 Ogyiov, app^roi/, rgicpvsg, zgvepiov A log sgvog. 

19 KtKX^rzca Atovvrov, sg&gopiov, evoig-rigoc, 

■ Yigooroyovov, Jiepvv, rgiyovov. 

His laft birth was from Hippa, at which time nature itfelf 
was renewed. 


30 'Hcfe 'urcthiv Tcliolv T£, mi Ovgccvov zvgvv sriKrsv. 

Hippa, Big y\v 'Wgoerennv Aiovverog, was certainly the Ark, into 
which the Patriarch retired ; and from which he was after¬ 
wards releafed, to enjoy a new life, and another world. 
Hence arofe the many fymbols of an Horfe. Damater near 
the Olive Mount in Arcadia was worfhiped by the Phiga- 
lians in a dark cavern. She was deferibed as a 21 woman. 


*7 


18 


*9 


2,0 




Proclus inTimaso. 2.p. 124, 125. See p. 26. of this volume 
Orphic. Hymn. 51. 

Orphic. Hymn. 29. 

Verfus Orphic, ex Proclo in Timseum. 3. p. 137. 

Paufanias. JL. 8. p. 686. 


but 




/ S*>di**f7Y 9 '• 


* 






































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 409 

• 1 

¥ 

but with the head of an horfe, and hieroglyphical reprefenta- 
tions of ferpents and other animals. She fat upon a rock, 
clothed to her feet \ with a dolphin in one hand, and a dove 
in the other. Marus Balus, an ancient Deity .of Italy was 
reprefented under an hieroglyphic, as a perfon with the face 
of a man before, and of a horfe behind, and Was faid to have 
lived three times. The hiftory of Pegafus, the winged 
horfe, is probably of the fame purport. * 3 Palaephatus, a ju¬ 
dicious writer, interprets it fo ; and fuppofes Pegafus to have 
been nothing elfe but a fhip : Ovo^lcl <T y\v rca 'UyXoicc UrjyoL(rog. 
Arion, who was fuppofed to have been faved by a Cetus, or 
Dolphin, feems to have been the fifti itfelf, and was thence 
named 24 Hippos. This Hippos was in confequence of it 
faid to have been the offspring of Pofeidon and Da-mater. 
Some gave out, that Gaia, the Earth, was its parent. In the 
accounts given by the Corinthians of Arion, and Palaemon, 
we have the fame Arkite hiftory varied, and referred to dif¬ 
ferent seras. Corinth feems to have abounded with Arkite 
35 emblems more than moft places in Greece. 


*3 


jElian. Var. Hift. L. 9, c. 16. Tpis clito§u,vw^ eCtco rgis, 
Palsephat. de Bellerophonte. p. 66. 


^ c l7T7ro5 Apetcov . Paufan. L. 8. p. 650. 'Itttt&s zytvvwz Ylocrui'odv A pi cava* (pccaiy 
xca Tlyyctcrov. Hefychius. 

45 See Paufanias. L. 2. p. 113. FaA?;r)?5 ctyuXptct xca S'ccAoktcu?, xcci Ittitos 

eiXCCCrp^BVOS YLdt€4 9 5cA. 





VoL. II, 


Of 



410 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology* 


Of the SACRED CONTEST. 


1 


H 


account of the Hippos may ferve to deciph 


fome other mytholo 


which 


traditions, the purport of 


yet been made known 


have 


former 


part fhewn, that the hiftory of Deucalion, and of the appulfe 
of the Ark, was adopted by different nations, and referred to 


their own country. And 


nly the true hiftory, but the 


was in like manner retained, and 


ap 


metaphorical account, 
propriated to different places. As the Ark was reprefented 
under the fymbol of Hippos, and was preferved from the 
violence of the fea by the wifdom, and influence, of Provid- 

; the ancients defcribed this hiftory under a notion of a 
conteft, wherein Minerva and Neptune were engaged. Each 


ence 


thefe Deities 


it feems, laid claim to a region : and upon 
compromifing the difpute, Minerva is faid to have given birth 


the 


and Nept 


produced a horfe. Some 


times, inftead of Minerva, Juno is introduced as a principal 
in the conteft. Thefe notions arofe from emblematical de¬ 
scriptions of the Deluge, which the Grecians had received by 
tradition : but what was general, they limited, and appro¬ 
priated to particular places. 

nts retained by the people of Argos, 


There 


were 


Delup-e 


to 


in the days of Inachus ; but they did 
gine it to have extended beyond the limits of their 


own 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


41 i 


own country. It arofe from a 26 difpute between Neptune 
and Juno ; who contended for the pofteftion of the province, 
which was adjudged by Inachus to Juno. There was a 
tradition of a like 27 conteft, and between the fame perfons, 
for the region of Mycene ; which was here too decided in 
favour of the fame Goddefs. The people of Trcezen had a 
limilar 28 hiftory concerning their territory : but the difpute 
here was between Neptune and Minerva; A Oqvxv kou Ilocrs*- 

3 oqvol CLfA<pir£Y)TY}<rcu 'UT&gi TY\g yugag. The natives attributed 
to each a fhare: but particularly venerated the Goddefs, 
whom they ftyled Minerva UoXictg, Polias. At Corinth they 
had the like hiftory ; where Neptune again appears the ag* 

greflor : but his opponent is the Sun. Laftly, we read of a 
contention for the land of Attica between this God of the 


Sea, and the tutelary Deity Minerva: which 29 Paufanias ob- 
ferves to have been an hiftory nearly parallel to that at Co¬ 
rinth. Tods a Ko givQioig [jlovov r&egi T^g y^gccg sziv si^^lsvov^ 

aXhCL, B[JL0l 3QKSL , A Qy)V 0LIQI 'UTgOOTOl 'UTEgl TY)g Amxrig SCrSfJLVOT^oyiO- 

<?olv. Aeyacri 3s aai 01 YLogivQioi Uo<rs.i3oov<x. eXQsiv 'H njrs^i 

rr\g yt\g sg &.fx<pi<rbr)TY}(nv' Bgiugsoov 3s 3iotXhazTriv ysvet&ou crtpitriv. 

In this laft difpute about Attica, Minerva is faid to have had 
the advantage ; and in confequence of it an olive-tree fprang 
up in the Acropolis of Athens, and at the fame time Nep- 


26 Paufanias. L. 2. p. i6r. 




H tcop SrBocv 7 tgieric? TlofreiSoovos xxi AS r,vcL^ 5 ?ri Ive x.p0 ttz $ y.y- 




ivbtcu C EAA jhti ^epi t X'Oopxs. Euieb. Chron. p. 28. L. 52 
Paufanias. L. 2. p. 145. 


2 .X 


2.0 


Paufanias. L. 2. p. 181. 

Paufanias. Corinth. -L. 2. p. 112. 


G g g 


tune 



v 



41 2 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


tune produced the Horfe Scuphius. I think it is manifeft, 
that thefe accounts, however limited, relate to one general 
event: but the hiftory has been adopted, and varied, accord¬ 
ing to the mythology of different places. This olive-tree at 
Athens was greatly reverenced, and reputed of high 30 anti¬ 


quity 


but the Athenians had no other traditions concern¬ 


ing it, than that it was an evidence of the advantage, which 
Minerva gained over Neptune in this difpute for the coun¬ 
try. 31 Tlegi d s EXotiag eyxtnv aAAo sittsiu v rri ©ew fJLCLg- 

This hif- 


Tvgiov ysvs&ca tsto eg tov etymon. tov S7ri Ty ‘Yoogoo. 

tory was reprefented among the ctvctQtifJLOLTCt in the Acropolis 

by more Artifts than one. 3 * Om^ev (t« TlccgOsvmog) y\ Tlotrsi- 

S'oovog 'urgog KQv\vclv sg-iv sgig vweg Trig Trig. Behind the temple 
called P arthe?ion> or temple of the virgin , is the Jlatue of JVep- 

tune contending with Minerva for the land. 33 In another 
place was Minerva, and the olive-tree, and Neptune making 
a fhow of railing the waves of the deep, ctvctqctivm. 

There was likewile a ftatue of the Earth in a fupplicating 


e 


requefting, as Paufanias imagines, that Jupiter 

: 34 ds kou Fr)g ctycthpct IxstsvhT rig 


poftur 
would fend her rain 


VTCU 


,0 Paufanias. L. 8. p. 643. Lycophron. Schol. v. 7 66. 

31 Paufanias. L. 1. p. 64. Many fuppofe the place, where the horfe was pro¬ 
duced to have been in Scythia : others in Arcadia: others again in ThefTaly. See 
Servius in Virg. Georg. L. i. v. i2> 

31 Paufanias. L. i. p. 57. 

33 Ibid. 

34 Paufanias. L. 1. p. 57. He thinks that there was probably fome drought in 
Attica, or perhaps in Greece. But then we fhould have had Minerva, or fome 
other tutelary Deity of the country, intreating ‘ZjWvcl O^giov. The intreaties of the 
Earth fhould, I think, moft naturally be general, and for no lefs than the whole. 

v In 


9 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 413 

v<rcu 61 Toy Aia. The tradition, I make no doubt, was fo far 
true, that the hiftory related to rain: but from the circum- 
fiances of the other flatues, with which this was furrounded, 
I fhould imagine that the purport of this entreaty was rather 
to avert it as an evil, than to implore it for a blefling. As 
the object of the fupplication was confefTedly unknown, we 
may be allowed to form conjectures as well as the author. 
I fhould therefore from the collateral hiftories imagine, that 
this ftatue had the fame reference, as that of Ilythyia S7rt 

yovacriv at 

and to the definition of mankind in the waters. In fhort, 
I take all thefe to have been general hiftories ; but through 
length of time miftaken, and abridged, and limited to par¬ 
ticular places. 

In the Academia, Ka< q>vrov g<j ~iv EAcaa?, S'evregav tbt o Xeyo^vov (potvm'at. Pau- 
fanias. L. 1. p. 76. 

Sophoclis GEdipus Colon, v. 726. E<n v oiov eyco jcA. 



ADDITIONAL 



{ 4*4 ) 


% ♦ 



ADDITIONAL TYPES. 

TAURUS, APIS, MNEUIS, LABAN, LA- 
BAR, LARIS, LARISSA. Alfo of AI- 
THYIA, ILITHYIA, ORATHYIA; and 
of the MANES, and LARES. 

_ 9 

9 

9 

% 

I T may not be eafy at this diftance of time to afford uni¬ 
formly a reafon, why the Egyptians, and other nations, 
made ufe of thofe particular fymbols, by which their hiflo- 
ries have been tranfmitted. At leaf!, if we may in fome in¬ 
fiances aflign a caufe, yet in others there may appear no 
relation between the primitive idea, and the' fubftitute, by 
which it is reprefented. However, when any light can be 
obtained, it will be worth our while to invefligate the truth ; 
and to find out the latent meaning. For if by any means 
we can arrive at the purport of thefe emblems, a great in¬ 
fight will be obtained into the myfteries and mythology of 
Egypt, and into the hiftory of the firfi ages. It has been 
upon this inducement, that I have advanced fo far; and 
fhall venture to proceed a few degrees farther in my inquiries 
upon this fubjecfi. 

It 




The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 415 

It is faid of the Patriarch after the Deluge, that he be¬ 
came 1 naiNn iy’N, a man of the earth, or hufbandman. This 
is rendered by the Seventy, ctv^cawog yr ;g ; or, as it hands in 

moft of the copies, a CLvQgc*)7irog yecagyog yrjg. The middle 
term is redundant, and was originally a marginal interpreta¬ 
tion of the two extremes by which is meant, that Noah 
was a perfon addidted to agriculture. This circumftance 
was religioufly recorded in all the ancient hiftories of Egypt. 
And it was upon this account, I imagine, that the ox, fo 
ufeful in husbandry, was made an emblem of the Patriarch. 
Hence we find many pieces of ancient fculpture, upon which 
is to be feen the Ox’s head with the Egyptian modius be¬ 
tween his horns, relative to the circumftances of this hiftory. 
But, exclufive of thefe engraven fymbols, the living ani¬ 
mal was in many places held facred, and reverenced as a 
Deity. One inftance of this was at Memphis,, where they 
worfhiped the facred Bull Apis : and another was to. be found 
at Heliopolis, where they held the Bull Mnevis, on 3 Mneuis, 
in equal veneration. The like cuftom was obferved at • Mo- 
memphis,. 5 Aphroditopolis, and 6 Chufa, with this differ¬ 
ence, that the objedt of adoration in. thefe places was an 
Heifer or Cow. 

1 Genefis, c. 9. v-. 20. 

z K on 3Nws ccvQpcoTros yetoo^.os ym' xui ecpurzvcrev ajjLTreAccvcz. Ibid. 

5 Diodor. Sic, L. 1. p. 19. Tgeqtdcri Se rov Amv sv M ey.cpn, xcci rovMveuiv ev HA/y- 
7 ro?.ei. Eufeb. P. E. L. 2. c. 1. p. 51. 

4 Strabo. L. 17. p. 1155. SniAeict ( 2 vs ieccc. 

5 Ibid. L. 17. p. 1163. Aevxv ( 6 bs legcc. 

6 Koopoi Aiyv7TTicc Xy/raz to ovo/luz .— E v tclvtyi aeQsa.v - Ay poSnyv ? Ovpccvixv ccutdv 
scaAarTSs. t ijxocai S'e xcti S*>;A eiccv /S&v.—kcli ccurnv S'e tyiv lav Aiyv 7 TTi r Jt> [3 &x,spclV 
xai 'ZcrAo.TTycr/, xca ypcc(p'dG 1 • iElian. de Animal. L.. 10. c. 27, 

6 

* 


That 



4 i 6 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

That the Apis, and Mneuis were both reprefentations of 

% 

an ancient perfonage is 7 certain; and who that perfonage 
was, may be known from the account of him given by Dio¬ 
dorus. He fpeaks of him by the name of Miieues : but con¬ 
fines his hiftory to Egypt, as the hiftory of Saturn was li¬ 
mited to Italy; that of Inachus and Phoroneus to Argos ; 
of Deucalion to ThefTaly. Mneues, or, as the ancient Do¬ 
rians expreffed it, Mneuas, is a compound of Men-Neuas, 
and relates to the fame perfon, who in Crete was ftyled Mi¬ 
nos, Min-oas, and whofe city was Min-Noa: the fame 
alfo who was reprefented under the emblem of the Men- 
Taur, or Mino-taurus. Diodorus fpeaks of Mneues, as the 
firft lawgiver : and fays, that he lived after the sera of the 
Gods and Heros, when a change was made in the manner 
of life, among 8 men. He defcribes him as a man of a molt 
exalted foul, and a great promoter of civil fociety, which he 
benefited by his laws. Thefe laws were unwritten ; and he 
received them from the chief God Hermes, who conferred 
them as a gift of great importance upon the world; which 
through them would be highly benefited. He was the fame 
as Menes, whom the Egyptians reprefented as their firft king ; 
and a great benefactor. This was the perfon, who 9 firft fa- 
crificed to the Gods, and brought about the great change in 


7 Tccvpos, A/owo 5. See Lycophron. v. 209. and Scholia. 

s M ercc twv 'utclXcciuv ts y-olt AiyvTTTov (3i& yccrocc^ucnvy t yiv fJLuQo^oyv/j.Fvyv ye- 

ycvevctl S7TI TB T 60V &BGOV KCtl H pCOWV, 'uTBl'TOLl CpCtCTl 'ZVpCOTOV 0&ypct7TT0l$ V0JJ.015 % j gYio'ctcrQcu 

rrcc 'zsrA nBy (Zibv (lege Bay) t ov M vBUTiv^ ccvSpcc Koct ju.Byccv^ you to) /3/w •kolvo - 

TCCTOV TGOV pLVYIJXOVevOJXBVC^V . Tl^0(77r0lYi^nV0U C^B OUTW T QV 'EppWV S'zS'GOXeyctl T&TBSy GuS 

fjjcyctXwv ccycSodv ccniBs Diod. L, 1, p. 84. 

9 Ibid. p. 42. 


diet; 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


417 


diet; a circumftance, which occurs continually in the hiftory 
of the 10 firft ages. We find it made a chara&eriftic of al- 
moft every ancient perfonage, mg ctvO^umg ctygtz Koit S'jo- 

^lotiTYjg [Jt.sTcts'YjG'cUj that he 'withdrew mankind from their 
favage and bloody repafs. Of this foul and unnatural man¬ 
ner of feeding, which prevailed in the antediluvian world, I 
have fpoken before. The poets, and mythologifts, continu¬ 
ally allude to it; and memorials of it were kept up in all 
their rites and myfteries : where one part of the ceremony 
confifted in eating raw flefh, which was often torn from the 
animal, when alive. Menes, who put a flop to this cruel 
practice, and introduced a more mild diet, is flyled Meen by 
Herodotus, and was the fame as Men-Neuas, of whom I 
have been fpeaking: the fame alfo as the Men-Taur, anc? 
Taur-Men, of other countries. Diodorus calls this famous 
lawgiver 11 B«y M yevw 9 Taurus Men-Neues ; from whence we 
may judge, that he was the fame perfon, whom the Egyp¬ 
tians reverenced under the fymbol of the facred Bull; spe¬ 
cially as it was called by the fame name Mneuas, and 
Mneues. 

The name of Apis I imagine to have been an Egyptian 
term for a father : whence came the term Appa, Appas, and 
Apia among the Greeks : which laft is equivalent to Patria 

among the Romans. Homer induftrioufly adheres to an- 

■ 

cient words : and he tells us, when Neftor was fent from 



10 


11 


Ttff' r mcLXoLi<x.v ( 3 & KctTctq-'oc.aiv. See above. 


In the prefent copies it is @ihv M veum\ which is not fenfe. It undoubtedly 
fliould be altered to Bay, for that was his title: and he was reverenced under that 
fymbol. 


VOL. 11 


Pylos 


H h h 



418 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

Pylos to fight againft the Centaurs of ThefTaly, that he went 

13 rrihoQev £0 CL7riYis yoUYjS. This may fignify either that he 
v/ent far away e patria terra, from his own country : or elfe 
to a great diftance from the region of Apis, which un¬ 
doubtedly was fo called from Apis of Egypt. In this inter- 
pretation I differ from 13 Strabo, Euftathius, and all r the Scho- 
liafts ; who think, that by Apia was meant fomething at a 
diflance. Hence T/jAodsv £0 amris yctirig muff fignify longe a 
longinqua terra ; which is fcarcely fenfe. Paufanias who was 
as good an antiquary, as Strabo was a geographer, affaires us, 
that of old the whole region of the Peloponnefus was ffcyled 

14 Apia : and that it was fo denominated from Apis. We 
may therefore be allured, that the term was fometimes ufed 
for a proper name. But it likewife fignified patria, from 
Apis a father : whence came the Greek term * s Atttt ctg, 6 rgo- 

a parent. 

Appas, juft as Atis was rendered Attis ; Amon, Ammon : 
Adon, Addon. Diana is made to fay to Jove, 

16 A og (jloi 'nrctgOeviYiv ouoomv y Annot, <pvXoL<r<reiv. 

Grant me y my dear Appa y to maintain a perpetual virginity. 
Ulyfles, fpeaking to Alcinous of his own country Ithaca, 



* 

Apas was expreffed 


** Iliad. A. v. 270. r. v. 49. OdyfT. H. v. 25. 

r? They render cltticl by moppeo ccire^Bacc. E tc yvs fuLccx.pctv''ct7re%ucry$. Schol. in 
Horn. Iliad. L. A. v. 2. At nocv Se moppet) /xaAAor. Strabo. L. 8. p. 570. 

14 T??r €vtcs yrngaev Amccv oltt exeivs (Att/J'o^) xccteto-Qcu. Paufan. L. 2. 

p. 123. Apis is fuppofed to have come from beyond Naupadtus ; A 7 ns ex me pets 
Kavmuxrtcct. JEfch. Supplices. But by the coming of Apis is to be ynderftood 
the introduction of particular rites; which 

15 Hefychius. 

16 Callimach. H. Dian. v. 6. 


were originally from Egypt. 


ftyles 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


419 


ftyles it 17 &.7TIY) youct , by which is undoubtedly meant patria 
terra. The name of the earth itfelf among the Scythe was 

18 Apia, the feminine of Apis. This could not lignify re¬ 
mote. No people would give the word diftajtt for a general 
term to the Earth, which they worfhiped, as a Goddefs ; no 

I 

more than they would to the country, where they redded. 
They efteemed the Earth their common parent ; and hence 
they gave her the name of Apia, as they gave the title of 

19 Pappaius to Zeus, whom they looked upon as their father. 

% 

One term explains the other precifely. And that we may 
not be at a lofs to know, who was meant by this reputed 
father Apis; Epiphanius tells us that he was the fame as 
ao Inachus, in whofe days the Deluge happened. 

I have mentioned, that the Mneuis, or, as the Dorians ex- 
prefs it, 21 Mneuas, is a contraction of Men-Neuas, the Lu¬ 
nar God Neuas, the fame as Noas, or Noah. It has alfo 
been fhewn, that Ofiris, the planter of the vine, the inventer 
of the plough, the great hufbandman, was no other than 
Noah ; and to him thefe animals were facred. Plutarch ac¬ 
cordingly informs us, 12 Tag T ctvgag rag ieg&g> top tb ovopcc- 

£q[jlsvov Akiv, kou top M vsviv, Ongifo mQisgooQwou ; that the 

t7 Homer. Odyff. H. v. 25. 
li Herodotus. L. 4. c. 59. 

19 Pappa, and Pappus, fignified in many languages a father. Hence 'ejcctt- 
7ra£yo-n', cct eccc 'wpocrctyo^vaiv* Hefych. When Nauficaa in Homer addrefies 
her father, fhe calls him Pappa. See Herodot. above. 

YloLinra, olv cT>? /jloi B(po 7 rAvereias olityivyiv. Odyff. Z; v. 57. 

Hseref. L. 1. p. 11. A ttiS'os 'z&ptoTGpov 

ax Mneuis, M vevi ? 9 of Diodorus. L. x. p. 19. 

Ifis et Ofiris. p. 366. 

h ulls , 


H h h 2 



420 


The Analysis, of Ancient Mythology. 


hulls , both that which was called <Abis> and the other named 

Mneuis , were alike facred to Ofir is. They were looked upon 

► 

23 living oracles, and real Deities : and to be in a manner 

£3 * - * ' * - * * .l < . ■* r • • f . 


as 


re 


^ A _ _ ▼ 

animated by the very foul of the perlonage, whom they 2 * 

♦ 

prefented. Diodorus fpeaks of the honour, in which they 
were held, as being equal to that paid to the 25 Gods. In 
another place he allures us, that they were reverenced as 
Deities ; and this 26 univerfally, by all the people of Egypt. 
The Mneuis was worfhiped at Heliopolis, as the Apis was at 
Memphis : hence fome have thought, that the former was 


particularly facred to the Sun. 



were both equally 


dedicated to Oliris ; who among other titles had that of He- 

: but they related more to him under the character of 


lius 


the Dpus Lunus ; and from hence the Mnei?is was Henomi- 

0 

nated. Under this charadter the Egyptians did not refer to 
the planet in the heavens, but tp a perfon ; and to the; ma¬ 


chine, in which he had been 

✓ . «r , • ... « v ^ •• - ■ • 

was ftyle.d Rhea and Damater. 



the fame, which 


The Egyptians imagined, that.the Ark had a refemblance 


to the new moan ; which I have fliewn to have been 


fa 


Bar yctg Ocri 

25 Evptopcpor eiKovct voul^iv t ns OaipiS'oa ^v^yis top A7 rip* Ibid. p. 362. Top 
A tip. eixovcc per OcngiS'c^ e/x^v^o.p eivcot. Ihid. 368.- 

24 O Bbs A7r/s, d eq-iv clutgs O <rigis. Ibid. 

TsAeuTwrcn'TOS Qoripi.S'os eis tbtov rt 4^2^ ccvtb ptLSTS^n^ kou S'ict tclvtcl 

t€/\€l f+zysoi noa vuv. *A. Diodor. L. 1. p. 76* 

25 Tb$ S'e T CLVO&S I 6 g 9 $y TOP T£ AtTIY^ XCU TOP M rev IP TtfJLCtaQcU TtTagtXTr^YiaiOJS T OS 

Qeoi$. L. 1. p. 79, At/?5 Sreos Atyu 7 TTtct)U'. Suidas. 

20 Tbs cf e Tav'Ss tbs /spy 5 — aeSeaQcci xctQa.7rep ttotvy KC6Tct$~i%QvvcLi 'z&ok&iv A 

yvTTTtoiS . L. 1. p. 19. Apis, populorum omnium numen. Mela. L. 1. c. 9. 
Sees erepys^ccTQi 0 At ns. ALlian. de Animal. L. ix. c. 10. 


picPos eiycovcc rojuLi^bo-u Ibid. 


vourite 





f 



*Jc 






























































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 421 

vourite emblem. And there is reafon to think,, that they 
made ufe of fome art to imprefs the figure of a crefcent upon 
the fides of thefe. facred animals : as it is certain, that white 
marks of this form were generally feen upon them. The 
Mneuis was uniformly chofen of a 27 black colour, that thefe 
impreffions might more plainly appear. The like is faid of 
the Apis., who is by Pliny described as a Deity. 23 Bos in 
JEgypto etiam numinis vice colitur :' Apim vocant. Infigne 
ei in dextro latere candicans macula, cornibus lunae crefcere 
incipientis. The fame account is given by Marcellinus. 
2? Ed autem Apis bos diverfis genitalium notarum figuris ex— 
preffus, maximeque omnium eorniculantis lunae fpecie lateri 
dextro infigrps. Thefe animals are 30 faid to have had this 
regard paid to them, as being emblems of hujbandry r which 
Qfir is found out 1 and they were defgned as memorials of the 
fruits of the earth being propagated 1 and of the perfons , to 
whom the world was indebted for thofe blejfmgs ; that the re¬ 
membrance of fo- great- benefaElions might lajl to the latefl ge- 
rations . 

But they were not- only Teprefentatives of the perfon, or 
perfons, by whom the world had been lo much benefited; 
but, as I have before mentioned; of the machine likewife, in 
which they had been prelerved. This was defcribed as a 


* 7 Mi-gui— (3owv pjt.eyiq-oS) a(po^px ^gAas. A.mv—fxetixvx xcw avrov inreo tmv 

Awt-. Porphyrius apud Eufeb. Praep.. Evang. L. 3. c. 13. p. 117- 
18 L. 8. c. 46. p. 472. 

** L. 22. p. 257. 

3° —\A pact paev S'tct ytcopysus xpxxt cTe xcti diet to tzov evpovrocv tbs X'cc^ttb^- 

TDv Teas suegyecnetts wctgx^Q&ifxov ysyoyevxi tq/s paSTxyei'^epois e/s x 7 rxv~ict tqv 

caooyx, Diodor* ** . L. l. p. 79. 

IO 


crefcent; 



422 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

r 

crefcent;. and called Theba, Baris, Argus. In confequence 

♦ 

of which we find, that thefe terms, and the name of an 
Ox or Bull, were among the eaftern nations fynonimous. 
The Syrians, like the people at Mo-Memphis, held a Cow in 
great reverence : and to what they alluded may be known 
by the etymologifts, who have commented upon their wor- 
fhip. 31 Xvgifi XsysTou 4 fdg. The facred heifer of the 

Syria?zs is no other than Theba , the Ark. 0 ri^ot yctg r\ (hsg 

holt a Xvgag. The Ark among the Syrians is Jlyled Bous y a 
cow j undoubtedly, becaufe it was fo typified. Hefychius, 
conformably to the above, mentioning the various fignifica- 
tions of the term B xg. Bos, takes notice, 33 B&£,—B ocgig, Agyog : 
By an Ox or Bull is fgnified Baris y and Argus .* two names of 
the facred fhip, the fame as Theba above. The facred cakes, 
which were offered at the Arkite temples, were ftyled Boun y 
and were prefented upon every feventh day. They had 
little horns, and were facred to Selene 5 as we learn from 
Hefychius, who renders the term Bous. 34 Bȣ i^ofjLog ure[JL- 

fjLo. sg-i, you Trig XshY]VYjg Isgov. The fame emblem was held 
facred in Perils, and Chufiftan ; where Mithras the parent 
of mankind was reprefented under the figure of a fleer, or 
heifer. Statius has fome allufions to this image, when he 
mentions 


31 Etymolog. Magnum- * 

** Scholiaft upon Lycopbron. v. 1206. 

33 So it fhould be read. It {lands now Bccoos Agyoe. 

34 Of the facred Bonn fee Vol. 1. p. 298. The Meliffie, thofe prieftefies of Se¬ 
lene, were ftyled fivyeveis. He Aww MeAiacrap excc?i&p‘ — (2Byeveis S'e cci MbAicto-c&l. 
Porph. de Antro Nympharuni. p. 262. 

• 6 


Perfei 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 


423 


35 Perfe’i Tub rupibus antri 

Indignata fequi torquentem cornua Mithran, 

* * 

♦ « 

Upon this the Scholiaft obferves, 36 Perfas in Spelafis coli So- 

lem primi invenifte dicuntur. . Eft etiam in fpelaso quidam 
Perfico habitu cum tiara utrifque manibus bovis cornua com- 
primens, quae interpretatio ad lunam dicitur. He fays, that 
the purport of the fculpture related to the moon. . It did 
fo : however not to the planet ; but to the Arkite. crefcent, 
of which Mithras Tauriformis was the fuppofed Divinity. Of 
the grottos here alluded to by the Scholiaft,. which were fitu- 
ated near the Campus Magorum, I have before taken notice. 
Among thofe ancient entablatures, which are there carved 
in the rock, there is one above the reft curious. In this is 
defcribed Mithras Bovinus, with the head and horns of a 
bull ; fimilar to the figures of Ifis in Egypt. There is alfo 
the celeftial bow; and over all is the child Eros, or Maneros, 
winged, and fitting upon the. bow: alfo a perfon alcending 
fome fteps to adore the facred phenomenon 
able piece of fculpture : 


It is a remark- 
and every part of it illuftrates the 


fubjedt, of which 1 have been hitherto 37 tre 
Thefe fymbolical animals of Egypt, are 
fpoken of as Vituli, or 3 * calves : and Herodotus, treating of 


by many writers 


35 Thebaid. L. r. v. 720. 

36 Schol. ibid. Tctupos jxev SeA/jr*?, xcti u-^coy.ct 2eA mw 0 T ccupo?. Porphyrius 
fup ra. 

37 A copy of it has-been given before, Vol. 1. and is here again rep refen ted upon 
a larger fcale. 

38 A/a. n eqvyzv aira ex o Attis\ c 6 zkXzktos ca bk. sueivev. Jeremiah. 



424 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

# 

Apis, mentions him as 0 fJLQU"}(pg 0 39 A mg JcaXsofjievog: the fleet* 
called Apis. When the Israelites fell into the idolatry of 
Egypt, they worfhiped a calf in Horeb. And when this 
folly was renewed under Jeroboam, ftill the object of wor¬ 
ship was the fame. This king made two 40 calves ; one of 
which he fet up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. They are 

9 

fometimes reprefented as females j and in the book of Tobit 
complaint is made againft the apoftate Tribes in Ifrael, who 
all facrificed to the Goddefs Baal x reprefented by an heifer . 

41 Ilacra; at <puKcu, at cvvaitogtaorai eQvov rp BaccA, rp dapLaihei. 

9 m « 

This was certainly an emblem of that fuppofed Deity, called 
Gaia, Rhea, and Damater. 

41 Tata. Gea, M ouatgtM, ■S^T&w r av()gwTt wv. 

•% 

I 

Hence Apuleius, when he is defcribing the Pompa Ifiaca, 
fays of the facred Cow, 43 Erat ea Bos omniparentis Dear fce- 
cundum limulachrum. From this we may be led to infer 
that the female was the appointed emblem of the Ark; and 

M « • « # 

the male of the perfon. The fhrines, where this itrange 
adoration was paid, were efteemed oracular: whence the ani¬ 
mal had the name of Alphi, Dei vox ; which was rendered 
Alpha by the Greeks. Hefychius accordingly tells us,, 
A Ktpa. fiag ; or Alhipa fioog ;cg<pa?\.*j, < 5 >oivitcsg. The P henicians 
call an Ox , or Cow 3 or the head of thofe animals , Alpha . And 

♦ 

39 L. 3. c. 28. 

40 1 Kings, c. 12. v. 28, 29. 

41 C. 1. v. 5. 

41 Orphic. Hymn. 25. 

43 Metamorph. L. 9. p. 373. Edit. Delph. 

Plutarch, 



£ AT. 





ra*s 


L^c 




et 7 ( / '? A Pd € °^ertu<v/*t . 


i/6- / * c < ^zn ✓. c Jf&eitda. :yi. '4-5 . 


l&tuurc g/ t -\ 


































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


425 


Plutarch, fpeaking of Cadm 


fay 


s 


44 


that he placed Hlpha 


the firfi letter , hecaufe among the Phenicians it was the name 
of the facred Steer or Heifer . I have hefore taken notice, 
that the Grecian writers have fuppofed Cadmus to have b 
conducted by a Cow : but the true hiflory may be known 
from the defcription of the Cow, by which Cadmus, or ra¬ 
ther the Cadmians are faid to have been directed. 


+5 A bvxov tr/yf zkolte^e 'Grepiirtojtov y)VTz uyivy>$. 

% 

It had upon each fde a mark , refembling the fgure of the moon. 
Paufanias mentions the fame circumftance : and fays, 46 that 
it was a white mark , and like the moon , when at full. Among 
all the famples, which are now extant either upon -coins or 
marbles, the mark is uniformly a crefcent: and fuch we may 
imagine the true hidory to have been, from whence Pau¬ 
fanias copied. The peculiar hieroglyphic, with which the 
animal was fuppofed to have been diftinguifhed, fhews, that 
the hiftory related to one of the facred kine of Egypt 5 and 

from them the oracle was derived. 

* • • • 

The Egyptians undoubtedly wprfhiped one of thefe facred 
animals at their city Pharbethus : for Phar in the Amonian 
language, like "ID, of the Chaldeans, and Hebrews, lignified 
an Ox, or Bull; and by Beth was denoted a temple. Hence 
by Phar-Beth is to be underflood Bovis i£des, the temple of 

44 to $oivixccs urea Kctheiv rov Byp. Sympof. Quaeft. ix. 3. p. 738. 

45 Schol. in Ariftoph. Barpa^. v. 1256. 

46 ‘ExaTg^a.5 (2 00 $ TxrXevgczs crvfABiov eireivcti Aei>xov.> ei-x.ucr}JLZvov xuxAw tjjs 

Atjjw, o7roT5 eiy toA ypvis. L,. 9, p. 733. See backward the treatife upon Cadmus, 
p. 159. 

VOL. II. 


I i i 


the 



* 

426 The Analysis op Ancient Mythology. 

the facred Bull. I have before fhewn, that Petah, and Pa— 
tah, lignified an Officer, and Prieft. Hence the perfons 
ftyled in the 47 fcriptures Petah-Phar, and rendered in our 
verfion Potiphar, and Potiphera, were priefts of this order.. 
Potiphar prieft: of On was an attendant upon the Mneuis in 
the city Zoan, or Heliopolis ; which was alfo called On- 
Analogous to this Ifis Pharia was in acceptation Dea Bovina, 
from the hieroglyphic 48 Phar, under which fhe was repre- 
fented. In 49 a former treatife I imagined, that by Phar- 
Beth was meant the ho.ufe of Pharaoh ; but Beth is generally 
to be underftood in a religious fenfe ; and' as Phar fignified 
an Ox or Bull, I ffiould be inclined to the latter interpreta¬ 
tion. Pataneit was a title of the fame purport as Petaphar.. 
Proclus fpeaks of a Sonchin, or prieft, at Heliopolis, who 
was fo called. He expreftes it 50 TI oltsvsit’, which is a varia¬ 
tion of little confequence. Nek had the fame fignification, 
as Phar; and is by Macrobius rendered SI Netos, or Neton r 
who fays, that the faered Bull at Heliopolis was fo calledv 
Hence Pata-Neit was Sacerdos Bovis; Apis, vel Mneuis, 
Minifter. Ifis Pharia was alfo ftyled- Neit, which the Gre— 

47 Genefis. c. 39. v.. i. and c. 4j*. v. 45.. 

48 Nunciat oftavam Pharia fua turba Juvence. Martial. L. 10. Epig. 48. 

Ifi, Phoron^eis quondam flabulata fub antris, 

N.unc Regina Phari. Statius. Sylv. L. 3. Ad Metium Celerem.. 

He fpeaks, as if her ti.de related to the Pharos.. Regina Pharia fignifies Ifis; 
Bovina. 

49 VoL 1. Radicals,. 

5 Proclus in Timasum. L. 1. p. 31. ovo/xcc^o/jcevto TIccTeveiT.. 

51 L. 1. c. 21. p. 212. Taurum Soli facrum, quem Neton. cognominant. Nets 
On. Taurus Solis., 


cians 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


427 


tians expreffed Si : and her pried: at Sais was called 
Petaneit; Sacerdos Ifidis Bovin®. 


In refpedd to the Apis and Mneuis, ther 
been a determined period for their worfhip 


feems to have 
at the expira- 


the 


of which they were carried to the Nile and drowned in 
53 river. This was attended with univerfal lamentations; 

w 

during which the priefts went in queft of another of the fame 
kind with the neceffary marks. When fuch a one was 
found, he was led in triumph to the temple, and the fame 
rites were renewed. But though writers fpeak of thefe n 


effary charadferiflics 


orignally inherent in the 


yet the lunar emblem upon the fide was certainly a work of 


art. 

fedded 


The people 


Egypt told Plutarch, that 


was 


ef- 


5+ 


£ 7 TCX ,( pr ) 


Trig SsAjomk, by a touch of the 7noon ; which he 
underftands of the 55 planet. The perfons, who afforded the 

intelligence, undoubtedly meant, that it was done by the ap¬ 
plication of an inftrument in the form of a crefcent. With 
this they applied fome cauftic, by which they took off the 
black hairs : and in the room of thefe, white ones fucceeded 
in the fhape of a lunette. We are told, that when the Apis 
died, it was put into a c rogog , or coffin, and folemnly interred 
in the temple of 56 Sarapis. I cannot in this place omit tak¬ 
ing notice of the name Sarapis, about which there has often 


51 Plato Tim^us. Vol. 3. p. 21 Aiyv 7 rrt<^i tbvojj.cc NwQ. 

ABni'a, 'zznzo Aiyv7TTio:?. Hefych. 


54 - 


Apis— poft vivendi fpatium prseftitutum, facrofonte immerflis. Marcellinus, 


L. 22. p. 257. 

54 SympoC L. S. p. 71S. 

55 Suidas fuppofes, that the Apis was conceived sk 2 ;sA <xo$ rm 

56 Clemens Alexand. Strom, L. 1. p. 383. 

I i i 2 


eA*;n js. 


been 



428 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


been controverfy even among fome of the ancients. This 
arofe from their blending two different ideas under one 
term ; which the Egyptians certainly diftinguifhed. But as 
the words were nearly the fame in found, the Grecians have 
confounded them; and ufed them indifcriminately. Sar fig- 
nifted any thing noble. Thofe great lords, the Tyrians, are 
by the facred writers ftyled 57 Sarim. Ofiris, the great huf- 
bandman, who had been expofed in an ark, was ftyled Sar- 
Apis ; which fignifies illuftris Genitor, the great father of 
mankind. But there was likewife the term Sor, from whence 
came the <rogo$ of the Greeks ; which fignified a bier or cof- 
; alfo a place of interment. Hence the temple, where 
the dead Apis was deposited, had the name of Sor-Apis, ren¬ 
dered inaccurately Sarapis. Plutarch did not know the dif- 
tincdion; and hence fancied, that fome people in Egypt 
would not allow Sarapis to have been a God. 58 Dvk sivoa 

Ssov t ov XagctTUV, rov Afridog a rug ovofjuxtrfrou. In - 

Jlead of admitting Sarapis as a Deity^ they infJhed that it was 
only the tomb of Apis. The difpute was about the found of 
a word. No Egyptian could deny the divinity of the God 


hn 



: but Sor-Apis had another meaning 1 and this was. 
the term in debate. The Egyptians infilled, and with good 


57 Ifaiah. c. 23. v. 3 . See Radicals, p. 73. 

5S His et Ofiris. p. 362. Sor alfo among the Amonians fignified a Bull; which 
was fometimes expreifed Tor, and Tur. Sar-Apis may therefor-e fometimes fignify 
the Bull-Apis. 

50 Th'Tccv 01 A ice tqctcrcty eivcziy c.i S e rov N ei\ov y Six to pi oSlov e%fiiv sv 

kcci rev rzrrtyyv* Suidas. 

60 Ogov - 01 sfA£V OcriplV^ CL St ^ipCLirlVy Cl Ss AtyVTTTiq-l. 

Plut. Ifis et Ofiris. p. 375. 

reafon, 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 429 

reafon, that Sor-Apis was a name given to the place of fepul- 
ture of the facred bull ; and did not relate to the Deity. 
That I am right in my notion may be proved from the tefti- 
mony of Nymphodorus of Amphipolis. He fays exprefly, 
that when the Apis died, and had been embalmed, the 
priefts laid it in a <ro£0£, or tomb ; and this was in the tem¬ 
ple of the Deity, or Daemon, whom they moil honoured : 
and the place of fepulture was called 60 Soro-Apis. Nym¬ 
phodorus fee ms afterwards in fome degree to confound 
the terms: but it is manifefl, that the Damon, (Aca^twv) 

or deified man, was Sar-Apis, and that Sor-Apis was the 

■ 

tomb. 

It has been mentioned, that the Minotaur, the Taurus 
Lunaris, of Crete, was reprefented as a Man with the head 
of a Bull. This was an hieroglyphic introduced into that 
country from Egypt. That it was an Egyptian emblem 
may be known from a fpeci-men ftill remaining, which is to 
be feen upon thole curious monuments of Egyptian anti¬ 
quity, in the Britifh Mufeum. The Deity is here deferibsd 
fitting in an eredt pofture, in the exprefs form of the Mino¬ 
taur : only with this difference, that like many emblema¬ 
tical figures in Syria, Babylonia, and other parts of the eaft, 
he is reprefented with two heads. Hi-s horns are indufbrioully 
. fo placed as to form two lunettes. In his hand he holds an 
infir ument like a fcythe, as a token of husbandry : and before 
him is a pried; upon his knees, who fee ms to be dedicating 
two fmall pyramids. 

From thefe hieroglyphics mifinterpreted came the {lories 


60 Kavreytysv Xopcct'Tiv cu, CLemens Alex*- Strom, JL. i. p. 3S3. 


at 



43 ° The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

% 

of Europa, and Padphae; alfo the fable about Argus, and 
Id. They all related to the fame event; and to the ma¬ 
chine ftyled Bsg, and Taurus, wherein Odris was inclofed. 
For it is faid of Ids, that during the rage of Typhon, fhe pre- 
ferved Odris in an ark of this denomination : 61 Big (d>%v %v~ 

suJqClKsiv ; She inclofed him in a bull of wood: by which 
in meant the ark, Theba. The Syrians underftood it fo. 
62 yag Y] j 2 >ag Karra. Xvgxg. yd Cow amo?ig the Syria?is fg- 

nified an Ark or Theba : — a.7to K.abju.8 fioog cpatn rr\v 

B7rTa.7TV\ov K\Y\Qt)Vai. ’The city Theba in Greece, fo renowned 

♦ 

for its fenen gates , was denoi?imated from the facred Cow, by 
which Cadmus was direSled. The name of the animal muft 
therefore have been Theba : and we may be allured, that 
the Syrians and Egyptians under this hieroglyphic contin¬ 
ually referred to the 63 Ark. The city Tyre, from whence 
Europa is fuppofed to have come, was named Sor, and Tur, 
iimilar to the tup, and “in, of the Chaldeans. Both thefe 
terms dgnify a Bull: and it was undoubtedly the indgne, by 
which the Deity was there reprefented. 

There were many Arkite ceremonies in different parts of 
the world ; which were generally ftyled Taurica Sacra. In 
dome of thefe there was a memorial of the naiKifysvscria .: 
and thofe, who were initiated, imagined, that they obtained 
by their admiflion to thefe rites an addition to their 64 term 
of years. Thefe myfteries were of old attended with a£ts of 
great cruelty. Of thefe I have given inftances, taken from 

61 Diodorus Sic. L. i. p. 76. 

6i Lycophron, Scholia, v. 1206. 

61 ©??oa, yciSooTtoy. Hefych. 

6+ See Hoffman Taurobolium. 


different 











































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 431 

different parts of the world ; from Egypt, Syria, Cyprus, 
Crete, and Sicily. The Bull of Perillus was probably con-* 
ftrudted upon a religious account; and defigned for a reno¬ 
vation of fome cruel rites ; which were prevented by the 
prince of the country. Practices of this nature prevailed in 
the 65 Tauric Cherfonefus. The Scuthas of thefe parts wor- 
fhiped Diana-under the title of 65 Tauropolus, and 67 Taur- 
ione. . There is reafon to think, that the Deity was here re- 
prefented under the Egyptian hieroglyphic of either a fleer 
or heifer. It is exprefly faid by Euftathius, that the region 
was denominated from the animal Taurus : and that it was 
fo named in memorial of an ancient hiftory, which was cer¬ 
tainly imported from Egypt. 68 '0 1 Totvpot to sQvog cmo t<j 

T cLvgZj (pond, xoiXsvtou, cha to bjcbi tqv Otrigiv £bv%ccvtcc fi&v 

OLPOTOU yY]V. - X.OLI ij AgTBfJLig $S ToLVgOTTOXOg 0L7TQ TZTCjOV d'ozsi TOJV 

Tctvgoov KsyscrQ-cu, dig eyyup&v, dog ^bvoktovutlv btc ccvTr). We 

find, that according to the cuftom of mofb nations, the peo- 
pie of the Cherfonefus fuppofed the Deity to have been of 
their country : in other refpedts the hiftory is conformable to 
the truth. We learn from the above, that the Tauric natioji 
was fo named from the ani?nal ’Taurus , or Bully which was- 
looked upon as a memorial of the great hufbajidman Ofrisy who ■ 
frfi taught agriculture , and to whom was afcribed. the inven¬ 
tion of the plough* The Tauric nation was a colony of 6? .Cu.- 

65 dementis Cohort., p. 36.. 

66 Diodorus Sic. L, 4. p. 248. B-uetu. ApTBfJUt^i 'Tuv^o.ttoXco., 

67 Tccugian’n—'ev Tccvpois tm (Sra). Suidas. 

6S Euftath. in Dionyf. v. 306. 

69 They were ftyled Baci^uot Royal Scuthne ; Herodotus. L, 4. c. 57. 

So.-in Egypt they had been called Royal Shepherds * Bctaiteis riot^eiei. 

thite s, 



43 2 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

* 

thites, as will be hereafter fhewn. They worftiiped Ofiris, 
whom they ftyled 70 Ait-Ofiris : alfo Heftia, the fame as Da- 
mater, whom they called 71 Tabita, from the Chaldaic Tabit, 
Area: and they gave to Artemis, or Diana, the name of 
Tauro, Tauropolus, and 7X Taurione. From laying thefe hif- 
tories together it is apparent, that Artemis Diana, and Venus 
Dione, were in reality the fame Deity ; and had the fame 
departments. This Sylvan Goddefs was diftinguiftied by a 
crefcent, as well as Juno Sarnia; and was an emblem of the 
Arkite hiftory : and in confequence of it was fuppofed to 
prefide over 73 waters. Hence we find an inlcription in 
74 Gruter, wherein Diana is at the fame time called Regina 
undarum, and Nympha, decus nemorum. The name Taur- 
one fhews the hiftory, to which fhe related ; for Taurus was 
an emblem of the Ark : and by Taur-Ione was fignified the 
Arkite Dove. There is reafon to think, that among this 
people the chief memorial of the Patriarch, and the Deluge, 
was preferved under an hieroglyphic of this nature. For as 

70 Herod, ibid. 

71 Ibid. 

■ 1 Suidas, T 'avpaov/i. 

T ccvpco n zv Tempo is A pTZpus. Hefych. 

Called by Euripides Aprzpuv Sscov oovctcrcrcc.v. HippoL v. 1521. She was confe- 
quently the fame as Hera or Juno. Hence probably her name is a compound of 
Hara-Temis, the fame as Themis, the Goddefs of Juftice. I have fcmetimes thought 
that it was from Artemis, the city of Themis. 

75 Ectcth y, cli Atpizvecrcrtv Birio"x.o7ro5. Callimachus. H. to Diana, v. 39. Hence 
Artemis A .ipivcuct, and Ai/xvccris. Paufanias. L. 2. p. 128. L. 3. 271. L. 4. 
p. 287. 

7+ P. xxxix. n. 8. 

Hanc tibi marmoreo csefam de monte, Diana, 

Regina undarum, Nympha, decus nemorum. 

7 


the 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


433 


'tlie Dove was an emblem of that Providence, by which man¬ 
kind were faved : and as the machine, in which they were 
preferved, was fly led Taurus; wc may fuppofe that thefe fy na¬ 
bob were introduced together from fpecimens in Egypt. 
And though in the hiflory of that country the name of Taur- 
lone does not at prefent occur, yet, what is extraordinary, 
and more to the purpofe, the hieroglyphic is frill to be feen; 
and agrees precifely with my hypothefis. In the account 
given by Kircher of the Pamphilian obelifk there is intro¬ 
duced from the Bembine table a reprefentation of the Egyp¬ 
tian Apis. Pie is defcribed with his horns luniformes ; and 
upon his back is the myfterious Dove, Ionah, with its wings 
low expanded, affording, as it were, fecurity and fhelter to 
the animal beneath. It is an hieroglyphic, as curious, as it 
is ancient : and wonderfully iiluffcrates the hiflory, of which 
I have been treating. 

As the Egyptians imagined, that the horns of a young Ox 
or Bull had fome refemblance to a lunette, which was an 
emblem of the Ark ; we find moft of the Arkite divinities 
diflinguifhed either with a crefcent, or with horns. The 
Bull of Europa is defcribed as having its horns full budded, 
and bearing- a refemblance to the new moon. 


75 Icro, <T eff ctKXqKoivi KzgcL aysrgAAs mgwz 

Aj /rvyos, r)fjuTQ[AOV KSgciYis ccrs kvk7^cl Xs7\r t vr,g . 


In the hiflory of Dionufus we have 


al references to 


this hieroglyph 


He was called $iK£Pttg } and fizzsgoog 


d 


7S Mofchi Europa. v. 87. 


K k k 


m 


VOL. II. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 


434 

in the Orphic hymns he is defcribed as having the counte¬ 
nance of a bull. 

76 E X@s, Mowag A tovvrs, 'urvgi<r7rogs, Tau^o^sTwxs. 

There is an invocation of him equally remarkable in ano¬ 
ther hymn. 

77 K.ik\y)<tx,w Aiovvtrov, sgi^gopov, svocs'qga., 

UgooTQipvoV} fo<pw\ 3 rgiyouov, 

AyglOV, CtppYjTOV, Kgvcpiov, Smegtorct) hp.og<pov> 

K<<rcro6 > £Uoy, TavgooKov* 

He was alfo reprefented in the fhape of a bull by fome of his 
votaries. 78 Toivgo[jLog(pov Aiovva'ov 'Worn<n — 'GTqKKqi tmv 'BA- 

Ky\vuov. He was fly led B ovyeVY)$> Bougenes, or the offspring of 
a Bull, by the people of 79 Argos ; who ufed to invoke him as 
a refident of the fea, and intreat him to come out of the wa¬ 
ters. The author of the Orphic hymns calls him T ocvgoyevqg* 
analogous to finysvYis before. 

So T uvgoyeVYig Aiovvtrog evcpgorvvriv 'uroge SvriTQis, 


76 Orphic. Hymn. 44. 

♦ 

Tigres pampinea cufpide territans, 

Et mitra cohibens cornigerum caput. Seneca Hippol. v. 752. 

77 Orph. Hymn. 29. So T avgoxepoos M nw Hymn. 8. See Lycophron. v. 209. 
and Scholia. 

78 Ifis et Ofiris. p. 364. 

79 Plutarch, ibid. 

80 Orphic. Fragment. 28. p. 390. Dionufus was called T ctvpoxepus utj$ according 
to Euphorion. 

c Tv TavgoxepcoTt A/wjwm xoTiactact. Theon. in Aratum. 


T avgoysvYis 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 435 

Tai^oyswjs is precifely of the fame purport, as S^oiiysvrjg : 
and the words in this paftage certainly mean, ‘That the slrk- 
horn Deity Dionufus rejlored 81 peace , and happmefs , to mor¬ 
tals . There is not an epithet among the quotations above, 
but is rendered intelligible by the method of analyfts, upon 
which I have proceeded. By the fame means we may un- 
derftand every title given to Dionufus by Ovid, when he 
defcribes his rites, as they were celebrated by the people 
of Thracia. 

Sz Thuraque dant, Bacchumque vocant, Bromiumque, 

Lyseumque, 

Ignigenamque, fatumque iterum, folumque bimatrem. 

Additur his Nyfeus, indetonfufque Thyoneus; 

Et cum Lenaso genialis confttor uvae : 

Nydteliufque, Eleleufque Parens, et lacchus, et Evan. 

Et quas prasterea per Graias plurima Gentes 

Nomina, Liber, habes: tibi enim inconfumpta Ju- 

ventas : 

Tu puer aeternus : Tu formoiiflimus alto 

Confpiceris coelo : tibi, cum line cornibus adftas, 

Virgineum caput eft. 

The Patriarch was efteemed the God of mariners, and was 
worftiiped under this character in his temple at Canobus. 
The Greeks called him Pofeidon, and beftowed upon him the 
genuine charadteriftics of Hippius, and Taureus. lolaus fays 
to Hercules, 

* 

Sl The purport of his name In Scripture was peace and confolation : and it is ac¬ 
cordingly fo interpreted, as I have before fhewn. ai/scirctucris. Hefych. 

81 Ovid Metamorph. L. 4. v. u. 

K k k 2 


II cvrrtg 



436 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology-, 


83 Ilari a.vdgoov r2, ®sm r s, 

# 

<njv ks<p<x.Xy}V 3 kou Tassos Ewa<nyo»os, 

O^ 0/fts JCgYl$e[JLVOV £%s*. 

By ©j^g- KgYi$S[JLVOV is properly meant In a myfiic fenfe the- 
hymen, or veil, of the Ark : but in the legendary ffcory of 
Hercules it is made to fignify the walls of a city. As the 
Patriarch was effceemed the great Deity of the lea, and at 
the fame time was reprelented under the femblance of a bull, 
or with the head of that animal; we find this circumftance 
continually alluded to by the poets, and mythologies of 
Greece. Euripides in particular fpeaks of the Ocean under 
this character. 

84 YLqvtqv, Qzsavog ov 
Tctvgucgcuvog otyzctXcug 
*EAf<rorwi/ zvzhei y^ovci. 

And as all rivers were looked upon as the 8s children of the 
Ocean, they like wife were reprefented in the fame 86 man¬ 
ner. Hence we read of Tauriformis Aufidus : and the Tiber 
is called 

Corniger Hefperidum fluvius regnator aquarum. 

83 Hefiod. Aa 7 ric. v. 104. Tccvpo? y 'Ta.vpeio^ 0 TlocreiJ'ojp, Hefych. Tctupicc y zoPTi) 

ti$ cc.yofj.svn noceiiFavo;. Ibid, SeeVol. 1. cf this work. 

Oreftes. v. 1384. Oceanus was the fame as Helius, and Ofiris* Tsv yao 
Q.jttwov Oaipiv eivcu. Plat. Ifis et Ofiris. p. 364. 

Eg dTreg ^utccvtss 'UTcrafxoi 5'. A. Homer. Iliad. <J>. v. 197. 

S6 — — — Pater ipfe bicornis 

ft 

Inachus. Statius. Theb. L. 2. 217. 

Claudian of the Tiber. Taurina levantur 

Cornua temporibus. Conf. Prob. et Olyb. v. 220. 


It 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


437 


It was for this reafon that the river Achelous, fo particularly 
facred, was fuppofed to have turned himfelf into a bull. In 
fhort, every perfonage, who had any connexion with the 
hiftory of the Ark, was defcribed with fome reference to 
this hieroglyphic. Hence we read of Tauro, and Taur-Ione 
Artemis, of whom I have fpoken. Ovid, fpeaking of Egyp¬ 
tian His, fays, that fhe had horns like the moon. 

87 Imitataque Lunam 

Cornua fulferunt. 

m 

He had before given a fine defcription of this Goddefs, with 
an aflemblage of other emblematical perfonages, all relative 
to this hi^ory. The account is to be found in the fable 
concerning Iphis, where Ifis appears to Telethufa. 

88 Cum medio nodtis fpatio fub imagine fomni 
Inachis ante torum, pompa comitata fuorum, 

Aut ftetit, aut vifa eft. Inerant lunaria fronti 
Cornua cum fpicis nitido flaventibus auro : 

Et regale decus ; cum qua latrator Anubis, 

Sandtaque Bubaftis, variifque coloribus Apis ; 

Quique premit vocem, digitoque filentia fuadet :■ 
Siftraque erant j nunquamque fatis quarfitus Ofiris , 
Ptenaque fomniferi ferpens peregrina veneni. 

The Bull’s head was edeemed a princely hieroglyphic : 
wherefore it is faid by Sanchoniathon of Aftaxte, 89 E 7re&Y}X£ 
ry iciia. ksqolXy} ficanXeioig 'uroipct'rvfo.ov zs^cO-^v T ctvga . Ihe 

87 Mctamorph. L. 9. v. 782. 

88 Ibid. v. 6S5. 

Ss Eufeb. P. E. L. 1. c. 10. p. 38., 

9 


Goddefs 



438 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


Goddefs placed the head of a Bull upon her own head , as a 
royal emblejn. And it is faid of Ifis, whom I juft now men¬ 
tioned, that fhe was not only defcribed with a lunette ; but 
like Id of the Greeks with the real head of a 90 Bull, or 
Cow. Such was the figure of the Minotaurus, which Pau- 
fanias ftyles 91 Tccvgov tqv Mivoo, the Bull called Mino. By 
this is meant the facred emblem of the Deus 92 Lunaris No: 
which emblem was reverenced in Crete at Minoa, the fame 
as Meen-Noa, the city of Arkite Noah. Of this name were 
many places ; of which examples may be found in Paros, 
Crete, Sicily, 93 Arabia, and likewife in other parts. And 
analogous to this we find many mountains, places, and peo¬ 
ple, named Taurus, Taurica, Taurini, Taurifci, Tauropolis, 
Tauropolium, from the fame emblematical worfhip. 

The Ark feems to have been fometimes called Centaurus ; 
from whence many of the Arkites had the name of Centauri, 
and were reputed of the Nephelim race. Chiron was faid 
to have been the fon of the Centaur Cronus : but the reft 
were the offspring of Ixion, and Nephele. 94 JUsvTQLVgog, 
Yfpovv 6 K govog.—'O ’Keigoov za Kgovs' oi Js \017r01 'UTa.vTzg K zv- 
r OLVPOi 'srcufsg zuriv I %iovog } y.ou NspsA^f. They are defcribed 

by Nonnus as horned 

95 Dionufus. He fuppofes them to have been the fons of 


, and as infeparable companions of 


To IciJo; ctya.Xfj.cc eov yvvctntetcv ( 2 ’dxepwv e$~i, xctTctTrep C E XXnues tuv J go ypot- 
<p^oi. Herod. L. 2. c. 41. E^8a >;v ev ctyccX/xari tw Iy?, vroi XzXnvy SchoL 
in Dionyf. v. 94. 

91 L. 1. p. 56. 


91 Taur-Ivlecn-No : Taurus Lunaris “No- 




$4 


9S 


See Steph. Byzant. The cities named Minua were of the fame purport. 
Schol. in Lycophron. v. 1200. 

L. 5. p. 176. L. 14. p. 396 and 400. L. 32. p. 804. 


Zeuth ; 



The Analysis of Ancient AIythology. 439 

Zeuth ; and places them for the moft part in Cyprus. There 
feem to have been fhips of old denominated from the Ark 
Centauri, and Bssxei'Tavgoi. The Amonians occupied all the 
upper part of the Adriatic Gulf: and the Veneti at this day 
call their principal galley the Bucentaur; which Juftiniani 
fi-yles 96 Navigium maximum et ornatiffimum. This fort o-f 
fhips, and fhips in general, are fuppofed to have been firft 
formed in Cyprus : and here Nonnus fuppofes the Centaurs 
to have firft exifled. This notion arofe from the original 
fhip, the Ark, being built of 97 Gupher wood. This has 
been interpreted the wood of the ifland Cupher, which was 
the ancient name of Cyprus. 

Memorials of this nature feem to have been univerfally 

to have prevailed in 
regions widely diftant. The city Tours in Gaul, which is 
called 'Toi.vgosis by Stephanus, was the capital of the ancient 
Turones. It is faid to have been named from 9S Taurus, a 
bull, which was an emblem of a fhip : though they fuppofe 
it to have been the 'UToi^cct'^ov of that fhip, by which the firft 
colony was brought. There was a curious piece of ancient 
fculpture in the fame country, of which the 99 Abbe Banier 
has given us a fhort account from the Hiftoire de la Limagne 
d’Auvergne of Gabriel Simeoni. It was 
gate of the Hotel Dieu of Clermont, in the above province ; 
and reprefented a Celtic divinity. It was the figure of a wo¬ 
man’s head with wings difplayed above ; and two large fcaies 

95 L. 14. 

97 Genefis. c. 6 . v. 14. Make thee an Ark of Gupher wood. 

93 Steph. Byzant. 

99 Abbe Banier. Mythok Vol. 3. Book 6. c. 11. 

6 


placed upon the 


preferved ; and the fame hieroglyphics 


arifinfr 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


440 

ariSing out of the fide of the head near the ears. This head 
was encompaSIed with two ferpents, whofe tails were hidden 
beneath the two wings. Some took the head, which was fet 
off with a beautiful countenance, to have been that of Me- 
dufa: others thought, that it had a relation to Dagon, or 
Derceto ; in which they are certainly near the truth. The 
name of the perfonage reprefented by this hieroglyphic is Laid 
to have been Onuava. Many instances of the like purport 
might be produced from India, and China; and other the 
moSt remote parts of the earth. In the ifland of Japan they 
have many Symbolical representations, which plainly allude 
to the hiStory, of which I have been treating. Among other 
inStances is that of a particular Deity called TO ° Giwon : who 
is alfo flyled Gofo Tennoo, or the Ox-headed prince of hea¬ 
ven. Examples to the fame purpofe may be found in the 
great Pacific Ocean, among thofe nations, with whom we 
have fo lately opened a communication. We are accordingly 
told by one of thofe, who were fent to make difeoveries in 
the Southern parts of the globe ; 1 that in an ifland, called 
Eafter Ifland by the Dutch, latitude 27°S, longitude from 
London 106°. 30 . W. were found Indians of a religious cart, 
who worfhiped the Sun. They proftrated themfelves before 
two immenfe Stones, one of which was Slat, and very broad : 
the other was eredt, about ten feet high, and feven fathoms 
round. It was carved at the top with a man’s head, and a 
garland ; which w T as of Mofaic, or inlaid work, and not ill 

performed. The name of one Stone was Dago ; of the other 
Taurico. 

ro ° Kaempfer’s Japan, p.418. 

-• Account of Difeoveries made in the Pacific Ocean. Printed London, 1767. 

of 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 441 

% 

Of MAN, MAON, LIBAN, LABAN, 
LABAR, LUBAR: Alfo of LAR, LA¬ 
RIS, LARISSA, AITHYIA. 

* 

TT is, I think, manifeft, that the hiftory of the Ark was 
*“*■ preferved in all countries, as far as we can obtain evi¬ 
dence, with the greateft care, and veneration. As letters 
were not in the firft ages known, it was defcribed under 
many fymbols, fuch as a Cetus, a Pegafus ; a Bull, or a Ram. 
But the moft common emblem was a lunette, called Meen, 
Man, and Maon. It was alfo named Laban, Liban, and 
Libanah; all which are variations of the fame term ; fuch 
however as muft be expected among people of different na¬ 
tions. I make no doubt, but that Mount Libanus received 
its name from this type of the Ark : for the city Area flood 
here towards the bottom 3 and upon the fummit was the 
temple of Venus Architis, where the moft ancient rites were 
preferved of Libanah, or Selene. They were introduced by 
people ftyled Archites 5 who were colonies from Egypt, the 
Belidse, Danaidae, and Cadmians of the Greeks; and the 
Hivites and Arkites of Mofes. Jofephus takes notice of the 
city in Mount Libanus, which he expreffes Arka, and fays 
that it was built by the Arkite. 1 A gsxouog tt,v AgjcriV rrjV ev 

TW A iSctVU) (UKUTs). 

As thefe rites prevailed greatly in Syria, and in the regions 
neareft Ararat, and Armenia 3 the coins of thefe countries 

'■'* Ant. Jud. L. 1. c. 6. p. 23. 

Vol. II. L 1 1 are 



442 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

are filled with emblems which relate to this hiflory. For 
the reverfe of moft Afiatic coins contain allufions to the 
ancient mythology of thofe places, to which they belonged. 
Hence the Ram of Colchis, and of Ammonia in upper 
Egypt, will be found upon the money of Singara, Nifibis,. 
and Edeffa, and of other cities in the eaff. For the Ram 
feems like the facred Bull to have been an emblem of 
the Patriarch, the great hufbandman, and fhepherd, ftyled 

and cLvQgunrQs But above all other fymbols the 

lunette will mod: frequently occur upon coins of this coun¬ 
try , elpecially upon thofe of Carrhae, which was the Cha- 
ran, or Haran of Mofes. Under this femblance they did not 
worfhip the cplanet ; but the Selenite Deity, [/.qTSgce. 

oAa ^ocTjUy, Selene , the mother of the whole world. The em¬ 
peror Julian facrificed to the moon at Carrhas : 3 Lunae, quae 
religiole per eos tra< 5 lus colitur, facra fecit. This Deity was 
the fame as Cybele, * Jonah, and Damater ; the reputed 
parent of all, that breathed. This was a character, which, 
could not in any refpedt belong to the moon. The planet 
was only made ufe of as a refemblance, and type of the Ark 
and thence was called Mon, and Moon,, as we may infer from: 
the Hebrew : for fta, and rmo, Mon and Moonah, fignify in. 
that language an image, or type. The name was at times, 
differently expreffed but related to the genius of the Ark,, 

3 iVIarcellinus. L. 23. c. 3. p. 274. 

4 (2'es 7)v tv ccycc?fxctTi t ns YtTQi SsAw'jtf. Ixo yao XeA mn jcccta:' ty,v- t cov 

Acyeicov cT-/aAexrcr. Euftath. in Dionyf. v t 94. 

'Ot Apy&u MTSTIKHS to ovofAcc t>?? 2 eA ovns to cc 7 rox.pv(pov Ixo Pieysa-iu ecos ccprt . 

Chron. Pafch. p. 41. Johan. Antiochen. p. 31. 

who 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


443 


who was worshiped by the Canaanites under the title of 
5 Baal Maon, and whofe temple was the Beth-Meon of 6 
remiah. This Deity was the fame as Ifis, and Rhea : hence 
we find infcriptions in honour of the latter, wherein file is 



mentioned as the mother of all Being 
C P ElY). 


Mrfrspi rr\ 'sranwv 


As the worfhip of Labana, or Selene, prevailed fo much 

or Haran ; we may form a judgment from the 


at Carrhae 


name of the perfon, by Mofes called Laban, of the nature of 
his idolatry. We may prefume, that he was fo named from 
this worfhip ; and that it confifted in an undue reverence to 
the Arkite emblem Labana. It is moreover highly pro¬ 
bable, that thofe images, which are 


fuppofed to have been 
nvented by Terah, and from him named Teraphim, the 

or types 

the form of a crefcent. Both Terah, and 
8 Serugh, are faid to have been devoted to falfe worfhip : and 
though people had been previoufly addicted to Zabaifm, and 

the introduction of images is 


fame which Laban worfhiped, were lunar amulets 
of the Ark in 


other fp 


of idolatry, yet 


attributed to them. And as the worfhip of the Arkite em¬ 
blem prevailed fo much at Carrhae, the very city of 9 Haran, 

and 


* Ezekiel, c. 25. v. 9. 

6 C. 48. v. 23. 

7 Gruter. Infcript. p. 28. n. 1. 

Tuque, Luna, humanorum corporum Mater. Julius Firmicus in Praefac. L. 5. 
Mathefeos. 

8 OS 'WpOtiTOS Vg^CLTO 'EAAjJJ'iCTjU.yj TCCtl T8 S'oyfJ.CCTQS JLiJ"GO/\ohcLT(>?lOt5* Etlleb. 

Chron. p. 13. See Chron. Pafchale. p. 48. Syncellus. p. 94, 95. andjofhua. 
c. 24. v. 2. 

9 The place was called both Haran and Charan : by the Greeks Carrhae, and the 

L 1 1 2 people 



444 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

* 

and Laban, the defcendents of Terah ; we may infer, that-it 
was the primitive idolatry of the place, and conlifted in the 
worfhip of the 50 Labana, or Arkite Moon. I imagine, that 
thofe places, which were called Albani, had this name from 
Al Laban, the Moon, the object of worfhip in thofe parts. 
This Al Laban was contracted to Alban, and rendered with 
a termination Albanus. I make no doubt, but that the 
Arkite idolatry prevailed in moffc of thefe places. Strabo 
mentions, 11 legov M rjvog AgKoux bv Toig AA Sotvoig, the temple of 
the God Lunus Arkceus among the Albani of Pontus. And 
upon mount Albanus in Latium a facred fhip was reverenced ; 
which Dion Caflius calls the fhip of 12 Juno, or Ionah. 
From hence we may infer, that it was a copy of the fhip 
of Ids, called Baris ; that memorial of the Ark in Egypt. 
Both Ills and Juno were defcribed with the Labana, or Cref- 
cent : and Venus was Ityled n Lubentia, and Lubentina; 


people Carrheni. It frill preferves the name of Haran and Heren: See Pocock’s 
Trav. Vol. 2. p. i6i. It is the Xct^ar of Chrufococcas : the Haren of Ulug Beig. 

ASg&ccju. - xuTtoTOicrev €v X apf ai'. A( 5 t. Apoft. C. 8. V. 4. 

IO See Plate reprefenting the Deus Lunus Carrhenorum. 

51 L. 12. p. 835. 

From Labana, and Lavana, came Luna. It is remarkable that the Portus 
Argons in Hetruria was hard by Portus Lunus. Strabo. L. 5. p. 333. 339- 
342. and the people of thefe parts' are by Silius Italicus called Mseoni'ans. L. 8. 


v. 484. 


i z 


L. 39. p. 62. psgos 'Hpczs. 


13 Auo-uftin. de Civitate Dei. L. 4. 


Yarro de Ling. Lat 


L. 5. p. 53 


Lubentia by the Romans was derived from Lubens, but erroneoufly. Venus was 
the fame as Rhea and Cybele^ and like them ftyled the mother of the Gods. 

£W/ ysv to 'ura.pcLirctv tw Acpoo^rm^ ros pwTegcc G>tocv. Ptolemy Tetrabib. L. 2. 
She was confequently the fame as Luban, Selene. 


which. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


44 : 5 

which, however Etymologifts may differ, related to the fame 
emblem ; and fignified Venus Lunaris, et Architis. 

As Cybele, Dindymena, and Rhea, were no other than fe¬ 
minine titles of the Lunar Deity, called Mon, and Maoa; 
we fhall find a correfpondence in the hiftories of thofe per- 
fonages. Diodorus, according to the cuftom of the Greeks, 


fuppofes Dindyma to have been the mother of Dindymene, 
or Cybele, and the wife of 14 Maon : which, though an idle 
diftribution of perfons, yet fhews, that fome relation fubfifted 
between the terms. Hence we find, that a great part of 
Phrygia, and Lydia, where Cybele had particular reverence 
paid to her, was called IS Maonia. Here was alfo the city 
Acmonia, built, as was faid, by 16 Acmon the fon of Manes : 
alfo the facred Acmonian grove upon the Thermodon, where 
Selene was particularly reverenced under the title of Har¬ 
mon, or Harmonia. Har and 17 Hara were common titles, 
and particularly bellowed upon Juno, as queen of heaven. 

And analogous to this Har-Mon, and Har-monia, fignify 

% 

Domina vel Regina Luna. I have fhewn, that both Boeotia, 
and Theffaly were famous for the fame rites ; and there was 
in each of thefe a city named Almon; by which was 
meant a city of the Deus Lunus. It was 


alfo called Minua 


j8 


Mivvct ‘sroXig Q-sTTctXicig, f) 'GrpQTsgov AKocvict 


Minua, Mania 


14 L. 3. p. 191, 

15 Maiowa, fi AvS'ict. Steph. Byzant. The Ionians call it Maovia, and the people 
M/jores. Kcct 01 AvS'ci^ xcti oi Ma/oj'gf, O/xvpo? kcc?.€i M vr/ci;. Strabo. L. 12. p. 857. 
M voves Dorice Maoves from Maon Lunus. 

x6 Ac-Mon, Nobilis Lunus. Ac and Ach ^ac-A/xo?. 

17 Hara, Domina vel Regina.. It was rendered 'Hssc by the Ionians. 

18 Steph. Byzant. 

6 and 



446 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

* 

* 

and Monia, are all of the fame purport; and relate equally 
to Selene the Moon. There was a river Almon near Rome, 
which was held very facred ; and to what the name alluded, 
may be known from the cuftoms, which prevailed. In the 
waters of this ftream they uied annually with great reve¬ 
rence to lave the image of Cybele, the mother of the Gods. 
This practice is often taken notice of by the Poets ; and 
among others by Ovid. 

7 9 Eft locus in Tiberim, quo lubricus influit j4hnon y 

Et nomen magno perdit in amne minor. 

Illic purpurea canus cum vefte Sacerdos 
Almonis Dominam facraque lavit aqua. 

c? 

The ceremony feems to have been accompanied with lamen¬ 
tations, like the rites of Ifts in Egypt: and to fuch Valerius 
Flaccus alludes, when he fpeaks of this cuftom. 

f° Sic ubi Mygdonios plamftus facer abluit Almo, 
Lsetaque jam Cybele, feftasque per oppida tasdae, 

Quis modo tarn fievos adytis fluxifle cruores 

p 

The like circumftances are mentioned by Statius. 

111 Italo gemitus Almone Cybele 
Ponit, et Idaeos jam non reminifcitur amnes. 

It was ufual for people of confequence to be called by 

s 

’ 9 Faft. L. 4. v. 337. The ceremony ufed to be performed upon the fixth of the 
Calends of April. 
ao L. 8. v. 239. 
aI L. 5. Sylv. 1. v. 222. 

IO 



fome 



The Analysis qt Ancient Mythology. 


447 


fome title of the Deity; and Virgil, to give an air of authen¬ 
ticity to his poem, often confers fome of the ancient provin¬ 
cial names upon his heroes ; which he adapts to each perfon, 
according to the country, from whence he came. Among 
others he introduces the name Almon, which he gives to the 
fan of Tyrrheus, an Hetrurian. 

“ Hie Juvenis primam ante aciem ftridente fagitta,, 
Natorum Tyrrhei fuerat qui maximus, Almon 
Sternitur. 


It was properly a {acred title and the purport of it has been 
fhewn*. 

The terms Laban, and L.uban, by which the Arkite moon: 
was denominated, feem by fome to have been changed to La- 
bar, and Lubar. Hence it is faid of the Ark by Epiphanius, 
that it refted upon Mount Lubar. ^Ev rco A xEctg ogei kolXh— 
(j,svca. This is the fame, which is called Mount Baris by 
^Nicolaus Damafcenus ; and the Ararat of Mofes. Cedre— 
nus fpeaks of it both under the name Lubar, and Luban-.. 
* s Ev ogsi which in another place he renders, sv ogei- 

A nJoav Tt\Q AgfJLSinag. By thefe, I make no doubt, was meant 
the mountain of Lunus Architis. The term was fometimes 
exprejfled Labar ; and from hence the Roman, enligns were 
fly led Labara,. quafi. Infignia Lunaria. This is evident from- 
the Lunette, which is continually to be found upon them. 
They feem to have generally c.onfiifed of a crefcent,. of a difk 


iEneid. L. 7. v. 531. 

23 L. 1. p. 5. and p. 6. 

24 Eufeb. P. E. L. 11. p. 414. 

* 5 P. 119 12. * 

of 




448 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


of metal, 
barum however was 


and a chaplet of 


laurel 


The 


name 


not properly Roman ; but was adopted 
by the later emperors, efpecially by thofe of Conftantinople. 
They borrowed it from fome of the conquered nations, who 
had the fame kind of military ftandard. This will appear 


from 


various coins ; where it is feen among the trophie 
from the Pannonians, Dacians, and other captive peopl 


is 


eaft 


i. It 

A A A 

be found likewife upon many coins of 3,6 Cities in the 
Sometimes two, fometimes three, lunettes are to be 


upon the fame ftandard : whence 

9 

the principal part of the Inligne ; 


it is plain, that they 
and we may prefume. 


that from them it had the name of Labarum 


imagine 


that the title of Liber, given to Dionufus, was the fame as 
Labar ; and conferred upon him, as 


the Deus 


For 


the horns of Dionufus, like the horns of His, were originally 


crefcent. He was the fame 


whofe name, how 


varied by the Grecians, was originally the mafculine of 


Selen 


e. 


The Roman poets defcribe Silenus 


ely 


as a 


befhial drunken vagrant, fupported by a favage crew of 


the ancient mythologies held him in a dif 


faid of him. that he 


the father 


and Satyrs. But 
ferent eftimation. 

of 37 three fons, who are by Catullus ftyled 38 Nufig 
is reprefented as a man of the 39 earth, who came 
avro?\o"ysvr0g , by his own means, without the afliftance of his 



life 


116 See Numifm. Apameas. Vaillant. Pars Sec. p. 38, and p. 155. alfo coins of 
Sidon. p. 129. 

*' Natalis Comes. L. 5. p. 250. SjAj^b toicc Nonnus. Dionuf. L. 29 . 

p. 756. 

xS Peleus and Thetis. Nyfigenae Sileni. v. 253. 


L. 


parent 



















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 4.49 

10 parent. He was efteemed, like Proteus and Nereus, a 

great prophet ; one, who tranfmitted an hiftory of the 

6 

world, and its origin. He is alfo faid to have difcourfed 
with Midas of Phrygia about another 31 world. Theopom- 
pus defcribed him as a 32 Daemon : one who was inferior to 
the Deity; but fuperior to man, and exempted from the 
common condition of mortality. 


L A R E N, LARIS, L A R O S, 

AITHYIA. 



O T H Laren, and Laris, feem to have been ancient 

• • 

terms, by which the Ark was reprefented. To fay the 
truth, they are one and the fame term, though varied in 
fome degree by different people, who have at times changed 
the n final into an s 5 and from Laren formed Lares, and 
33 Laris. From Laren came the word Larnax, Aagwa^, an 
Ark ; alfo Larnafius, Larina, Laranda, Larunda: the laft of 
which was the name of a Goddefs well known to the Ro¬ 


mans. 


Parnafiiis was of old called Larnafius ; undoubtedly 


30 A<r7ropo5, awroXo^svTos avsSpx.y£ yvrpos Ibid. 

31 iElian. Var. Hift. L,. 3. c. 18. 

Tertullian fpeaks of Silenus, apud Midam Regem adfeveranti de alio orbe. Ad- 
verfus Hermog. p. 242. 

31 ©ee yev tzcpccvecf-epos tvv aj’0£<w7rB <fg itpeiTTcav jcai S-arctTB. iElian. ibid. 

L. 3. c. 18. 

35 Apuleius fuppofes Lar to be the radix: and to fignify familiaris. De Deo 
Socratis. p. 689. alfo Florida, c. 14. p. 786. 

Vol. II. ,M m m 


from 



45° 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

the reafon of this name being 

in memorial of 


from Laren, the Ark. For 
given to the mountain is faid to have been 


the Ark of Deucalion 


34 n agvct,<r<rag\ emKstro $s 'WgoTegov 
A.agva<r<rog §ta to t qv AsvxaXtcovog Kctgvouca c&vToQt t;? gov evsyf) ri¬ 


val. 


We read of a 


city 


in Daunia 


and 


we 


may 


judge whence it was named from the circumftances of its 
hiftory. Daunia was peopled by a colony of Argives, who 
came into thefe parts under the fuppofed conduct of Perfeus 


and Danae 


was therefore one of thofe 


quas dicitur olim 


Acrifioneis Danae fundaiie Colonis. 

Thefe Argives were no other than Arkites, as I have (hewn: 
and Larina was a derivative from Laren. The facred Bulls 
of Egypt were the fairefl to the fight that could be pro¬ 
cured ; and, as I have {hewn, were emblems of the Patri¬ 
arch, and Ark. Hence probably it was that the Grecians 
ufed to ftyle fine looking oxen, fioeg Kocgivot : which in a fe- 
condary acceptation 


fignified oxen 


, that were in fiefh and 

well fed. 35 A agtvoi’ fiosg svTgapstg. 

From this term, exprefied Laris, the Greeks denominated 
many cities, which they exprelfed Larifia : and in the hif¬ 
tory of all thefe places there will be found a reference to the 
fame object, whence they are fuppofed to have received their 
name. I have taken notice how much the Arkite rites pre- 


34 Steph. Byzant. Larnaflus feems to be a compound of Laren-Nafos. Nees, 

vxaoS) fignified of old not only an ifland, but any hill or promontory. The 
Acropolis at Thebes in Bceotia was called rw:s. 

35 Hefych, 


vailed 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 451 

* 

vailed in Phrygia, where was a city Theba, fimilar to that in 
Egypt. Hard by was the city 36 Lariffa, which undoubtedly 
is a term of the fame purport, as Theba, and related to the 
fame worfhip. There was another 37 Lariffa near Theba in 
Theffaly, which like Larina, in Daunia, was built by Ar- 
gives, thofe 38 Coloni Acriffonei, as they are termed by the 
poet ; and undoubtedly in memorial of the fame event. The 
Acropolis at Argos was fuppofed to have been founded by- 
Danaus the Arkite ; and this too had the name of 39 Lariffa: 
for Lariffa, Theba, and Argos, were fynonymous terms. 
The Acropolis was certainly an Arkite temple, where the 
Laris, or 40 Navis biprora, was reverenced ; and where the wo¬ 
men ffyled Dana'idas officiated, who were priefteffes of the 
Argus. Acriffus the father of Danae was faid to have been 
here +I buried. But Acriffus is undoubtedly a metatheffs of 
Arciffus, and Arcalius ; by which is meant the great Arkite, 
the perfon here worfhiped. He was called Argus, Areas, 
Arcalius ; and compounded Arcas-Ionas. The latter terms 
were changed to Acriffus, and Acriffonaeus ; whence the 
people in the Argive colonies were ffyled Acriffonei Coloni. 


36 Called by Homer* Accpiao-ctv 


37 


Actgio'c'ct 'wgog toj TlnveiCf*} w A'x.piu'ios e/trure. Steph. Byzant* 

38 A ctpiaaccv t wv Qecr a ccXiytriv — r\v zkt icrev A zcpiGios. Scholia in Apollon. Rhod. 

L. 1. v. 40. There were two cities fo named in Theffaly ; and many in other parts 


Media, Mauritania 


39 


AcLgiao-ct, nca fi catgoTroXis tb Apy&$. Steph. Byzant. Paufan. L. 2. p. 165. 


©ZTTctAntov Apyos, ri vvv A xpurertt. Scholia in Dionyfium. v. 419. p. 76. 

40 Minerva dicitur naverr 
F. x68. p. 283. 

41 Arnojoius. L. 6 . p. 193. 


Hv 


M m m 2 


It 



452 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

It is remarkable, that Lariffa in Theflaly was alio called 
4i Argilfa : from all which we may fairly infer, that Argos, 
Argis, and Laris, were of the fame purport. 

It is, I think, manifeft, that the terms Lar and Laren, 
whence came Laris, and Lariifa,. had a. reference to the fea. 
We are told by Hefychius, AoigiVEfyrw. cihtsvcILarineutes Jig- 

nifies a man of the fea* A ctgivcuou- Kt)gTW ai AA ibiq : "They , who 
ffh in the fea , call the machine ,, which they ufe , Larineeum . 

There was a fea bird called Lar,. and Larus ; which, as it 

■ 

was often feen in tempeftuous weather, and outlived the 
worfb of ftor.ms, was,. I imagine, upon that account made an 
emblem of the Ark- When Hermes takes his flight down¬ 
wards from mount Pieria, and Ikims over the furface of the 
ocean towards the idand of Calypfo, he is by Homer com¬ 
pared to this bird- 

43 Down he bent his way 
In femblance like the leamew, that frequents: 

The dreary gulfs, which bound the troubled main- 
There with unwearied wing die roams the deep. 
Seeking her fifh.y prey ; and ftooping low 
Dips her light pinions in the briny wave.. 

There was another bird, which was named Aithyia, and for 


42 AsLGipzrct—ev rw ne/\cccryix.u) ms Qsc'.cccAixSj nv OApyiea-xv 

in Apollon. L. i* v. 40. 

'Oi t 5 Aoyicraxv Iliad. B- V. 738. 

43 SsuaT eireiT tin xvjjlx^ Actocc opv&l eoixc^s. x. A. 

T^ 0 u$ xypwaucov •uivxtvx 'z&tsox Ssvercti OdyfF. E. v. 5T. 

^ccAacaioy. Scholia. 


SchoL 






The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 453 

the fame reafon made a fimilar hieroglyphic. The Larus I 

have mentioned as the Seamew; and the Aithyia feems to. 

* 

have been a fpecies of Seacoot. Birds of this nature occur 
in thofe fpecimens of Egyptian fculpture, which have been 
copied ; efpecially among the engravings from the Parnphy- 
lian obelifk. In fome parts of this monument are to be feen 
reprefentations of water : and a little above are. fome marine 

birds, probably the Larus, and 44 Aithyia. The latter was 

► 

held very facred, as we may infer from perfonages, who were 
fo called, or had in it the compofttion of their names. Mi¬ 
nerva, heavenly wifdom, had the title of 4S Aithyia : and 
both Orithyia, Idithyia, and Ilithyia* were named from this 
hieroglyphic. This lflft was the Goddefs of the birth ; con- 
fequently the fame as Juno Lucina,. and Diana : the fame 
alfo as Venus Lubentia,. and Genetillis, who rofe from the 
fea. When the Poet defcribes. Ulyfles as nearly loft in the 
ocean, and ftruggling with the waves, he makes Leucothoe, 
the fame as Ino, compaftionate his diftrefs ; and introduces 
her in the fhape of this bird. 

46 A iQvicl cT aima 'nrorp avz^vcrccro A/pnos. 

* 

Under this appearance (he accofts the hero, who is perifh- 
ing. in, the waters ; and gives him a facred veil, by which 
means he is preferved. 

'£lg ago. <pooi/Y)crct<ra, Saa zg^e^tvov b^ocksv^ 

44 They feem in fome inftances like Cormorants.* 

45 Paufan. JL. i. p 99. 

** Odyff.. L* E. v. 327. 

The 



454 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


t 

The Lares, and Manes, thofe domeftic Deities of the an¬ 
cient Hetrurians, and Latines, were the fame perfonages tin¬ 
der different names. From Man, Mantis, Mania, came the 
Manes; as from- Laren and Laris were derived the Lares.. 
By thefe terms are fignified Dii Arkitas, who were no other 
than their 47 Arkite anceffors, • the perfons preferved in the 
Laren or Ark; the genius of which was Ills, the reputed 
parent of the world. She accordingly by Apuleius is intro¬ 


duced faying, that fhe was the queen of the Manes. 


*8 


En, 


affum tuis commota precibus, rerum Natura parens, ele- 
mentorum omnium domina, Seculorum progenies initialis, 
fumma Numinum, Regina Maniuni. The feafts inftituted 
to the honour of thefe Deities were ftyled Larenfalia; which 
the Romans ufed to celebrate once every year: but Au- 
guftus ordered, that they fhould be obferved twice in that 


49 


period. 


The Lares were the fame as the Dii PrasRites, 


who according to 50 Macrobius were imported from Egypt. 1 
They are defcribed as Daemons, and Genii, who once lived 
upon earth, and were gifted with immortality. Arnobius 


ftyl 


es 


th 


m 


5 1 


Lares quofdam Genios, et fundtorum animas. 


And he fays, that according to Varro, they were the children 
of Mania. Maniam matrem effe 


cognominatam sz Larum. 


The like is faid by Huetius, who adds, that Mania had alfo 


47 Apuleius de Deo Socratis. 

4B Metamorph. JL. 9. p. 362. 

49 Suetonius in Augufto. 

JO Saturn. L. 1. p. 276. 
f ‘ L. 3. p. 124. 

S1 See Varro de Ling. Lat. L. S. p, 113. 


the 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


455 


the name of Larunda. 53 Lares Varro Manes efte vult, Ma¬ 
nias filios, quae dicitur vulgo Larunda. And agreeably to 
what has been mentioned above, fhe is ftyled the mother of 
the Daemons, 54 A ctgvvdct A oupovwv (JLVJYjg. By fome fhe is 
called Lara, and faid to have been the daughter of 55 Almon. 
She was fuppofed to prefide over families : and they ufed 
to offer children at her altar in order to procure her favour : 
for it was a uniform prevailing opinion, that no atonement 
could be obtained but by blood ; and that fome muft die to 
procure the happinefs of others. 56 Praeceptum eft, ut pro 
capitibus capitibus fupplicaretur j idque aliquamdiu obler- 
vatum, ut pro familiarium fofpitate pueri madtarentur Manias 
Deae, matri Lamm. In lieu of thefe they in aftertimes of¬ 
fered the heads of poppies, and pods of garlick. The Lares 
were the fame as the Penates, as we may infer from Servius. 
57 Penates funt omnes Dii, qui domi coluntur. They were 
properly marine Deities, and the fame,, which were wor- 
Ihiped in Samothracia. 58 Penates Deos Samothracas volunt 

Varro, et Caftlus Hemina.. Arnobius fpeaks of 59 Neptune 

. _ ^ 

Demonft. Prop. 4. p. 139. 

54 Glofile Philoxeni apud Huetium. ibid. 

55 Natalis Comes. L. 4. C.. 4 . p. 155* Hartc Laram, five, ut alii dixerunt, La- 
mndam, nonnulli Maniam appellarunt. 

See Ovid. Faft. L. 2. v> 599, of Lara Na'is, whom he makes the daughter of 
Almon. 

56 Macrob. Sat. L. 1. c. 7. p. 154. 

Cor pro corde, precor, pro fibris accipe fibras : 

Hanc animam vobis pro meliore damus. Ovid. Faft. L. 6 % v. 161. 

57 In Virg. _i£neid. L. 2. v. 514. 

5S Huetii Demonftratio, p. 138. See Macrob. Sat. L. 3. p. 276. 

59 L. 3. p. 125. 

9 




as 





The Analysis of Ancient Mythology* 

i 


as one of them : and the reft of them are confeftedly Deities 
of the 60 fea. They are accordingly fpoken of in this light 
by Livy ; who mentions a temple being built by Regillus the 
Cenfor to the 61 Lares Permarini in the Campus Martius. 
The particular time for making offerings to them was, when 
the Sun had entered 6z Aquarius. Neptune was the fame as 
Paltemon of Corinth ; efteemed alfo the fame as Hercules. 
63 TloChou pLWV He was deferibed, as a child expofed 

upon the feas, and fupported by a Cetus. Sometimes he 
was represented upon the Corinthian Cupfelis or Ark : and 
behind him there is commonly a pine tree. There were the 
fame offerings made to Palsemon in Greece, as were ex¬ 
hibited by the Latines to Mania, and the Tares. Hence he 
is ftyled by Lycophron, figecpoKTOvog, Infanticida, on ac¬ 
count of the children, which were offered at his fhrine. 
From the above we may fee clearly, that there was a corre- 
refpondence in the rites and mythology of thefe different 
nations : and that they :had univerfally a reference to the 
fame hiftory. 

It is faid by Mela, that the ° s Augelenfes, who lived near 


6 " This is evident from the Greek epigram. 

FA ecux'-fy N nprty xou I*ciy xou 

(2v 9/w Kpov.J'cc v.cLi ^cc/xober^L ©£o/$ x. A. 

61 I^ares-permarini, quibus redes dedicavit in Campo Martio iEmilius Regillus 
Cenfor. L..40. c. 52. Macrob. L. 1. c. 10. p. 161. 

Macrob. Sonin. Scip. Cum Sol Aquarium tenet, Manibus parentatur. L. 1. 

P- 43* 

6i Hefych. 

64 Kcci on rj«A xifjLM (PecxeTou @cc<£cx,Tcvtt. Lycoph. v. 229, TlcchcafJiooy Ivas 
viq$. Schoh 

JL• 1. c, 8. 


the 



TLATEXVJir. 


jPalasmon et Cet 


* 

IPalaemaon, Cetos *ju-fi&fr^btwm/ si<‘ rat u, : 





m 



-r 

« 


_c 


L 





C^rttttlY * ; ‘ 


1 































































































































































































































































The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


457 


the Syrtes in Africa, held the Manes, as the fupreme and 
only Deities : that to them they directed their prayers, and 
made their offerings : and when they gave any ftrong attefta- 
tion to their word, they ufed to fwear by the Manes. The 
Greeks, as well as the Romans, did the fame thing : and it 
is wonderful, that they fhould be fo blinded, as not to per¬ 
ceive it. Moft of their Deities were formed out of titles : 
and the whole of their worlhip was confined to a few deified 
men, thefe Lares, Manes, Dsemones, of whom we have been 
treating. They were no other than their Arkite anceftors, 
the Baalim of the Scriptures : to thefe they offered; and to 
thefe they made their vows. 


VOL. II. 


N n n 


OF 



OF THE 



* 

other Arkite Priests. 


I Hope that I have given a fatisfa&iory account of the De¬ 
luge, and of the fuppofed Genius of the Ark, as de- 

fcribed by the Gentile mythologies. She was reprefented as 

* 

a Goddefs, and worfhiped under the titles of Melitta, Rhea, 
Cybele, and Damater ; alfo of Ids, and 1 Athena. As the 
department of the Deity has been fufficiently made out, the 
hiftory of the prieflis may be eafily afcertained ; and at the 
fame time the purport of their titles, under whatever deno¬ 
mination they may come. Of thefe priefts the principal 
were the Cabiri ; whofe office and rites were eixeemed par¬ 
ticularly facred, and of great antiquity. They were the 
fame as the Curetes, Corybantes, Telchines, and the Idsei 
Dadtyli of Crete. But in treating of them great confufion 

1 'Ot Ktyvimot I aiv , ro-oAA«jc(S tm tvs Afisjvas ovoju.ix.rt jtaAacri. Plutarch. Ifis et 
Ofiris. p. 376. 


N n n 2 


has 



460 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


has enfued from not confidering, that both the Deity, and 
prieft, were comprehended under the fame title. 


The 


on 


ginal Cabiritic Divinity was Zeuth ; the fame as Dionufus, 
though by fome writers idly diflinguifhed : a THaJosigoov 'urgscr- 
Evrepov fJLSV A fa. His priefts had the fame title. By Pau- 


fanias he is faid 


have been 3 Prometheus, the father of 


mankind ; which more plainly points out the perfon alluded 

It was no other than the Patriarch, who was of fo great 


to. 


repute for his piety, and juftice. Hence the other Cabiri,. 
his immediate offspring, are faid to have been the fons of 
Sadie ; by which is fignified the juft man. 4 Xa.S'aKca yeeg 

sysvono 'srctrfsg, sg AioCKOgag igfjiwsvfscri, xou K aJSsigsg. To 

Sadyc, the man of juftice , were born fons, who were Jlyled the 


Diofcori and Cabiri. This is the very t 
triarch by Mofes in the book of Genefis 


given to the Pa- 
t is there faid of 


Noah, that he was pn*, Sadie, a juft man , and perfeH in his 


generation 


All fcience, and every ufeful art was attributed 


him \ and through his fons they were tranfmitted 


pof 


Hence the author of the Orphic Argonautica men- 
0t.yXa.0L budget K u^sigoov ; the noble gifts bequeathed to 


terity. 
tions 6 

manki?id by the Cabiri. They 


were reprefented as daemons 
and in number three : and they are fometimes mentioned a 


2 Scholia in Apollon. L. i. v. 918. The author of thefe Scholia makes a di- 
ftinflion between Zeuth and Dionufus \ K ctSetpcuv th peaSvTepov f*ev A/a, vsoo-regav cfg 
Aigvvct ov: but they were the fame perfon. 

3 Paufan. L. 9- p. 759. 

4 Damafcius apud Photium. p. 1073. He fuppofes them to be eight in number. 

5 Genefis. c. 6. v. 9. 

6 V. 17. 

the 



The Analysis op Ancient Mythology. 461 

the fons of the great artift 7 8 Hephaiftus, the chief Deity of 
Egypt, and the reputed father of the Gods. He was the 
fame as Helius; and upon the pillar of Rameftes, which 
flood in Heliopolis, he was according to Hermapion ilyled 

* ‘Upcagog 6 tocu ®eoov 'ura.T The perfon, from whom this 

% 

obeliik was, named, is generally called Ramafes, or Ram- 
Afis. Rameftes is of the fame purport j being a compound 
of Ram-Eftes. Magnus Vulcanus, Eftes, Aftes,. 9 * 11 * Aftus, are 
all variations of the fame term, and equally relate to fire. 
Hence came Apha-Aftus, or Hephaftus, the Hephaiftus of 
the Greeks: hence alfo the Hiftia, Heftia, and Vefta of other 
countries. The Cabiri are many times reprefented as He- 
liadse, or the offspring of the Sun, ftyled Cam-11 : alfo the 
defcendents of Proteus, the great prophet, and. Deity of the 
I0 fea. According to Varro they were particularly ftyled 
11 Divi Potes: and Caftius Hermina defcribed them as 
11 ©£8£ fJLsyaXovg, ®s%g ®sag SvvctTisg, the greats bejtefi- 

centy and powerful Gods. One of the moft ancient temples 
of thefe Deities was at 13 Memphis ; which was held fo fa- 
cred, that no perfon, excepting the priefts, was differed to 

7 AeyovTou S'e tivcu He peu^e 'zzrcuS'es. Hefych. 

Kcci T€x.eoov.'H(pcLic^o$ ecov ccAeyi^e KccSeiocov.. Nonnus. L. 24- p- S26. 

8 Marcellinus. L. 17. c. 4. p. 126. 

9 See Volume the firft. p. 59. and 62. 

xa AxeciAaos cPg 5 Apyeios ex K <x€$iom xca r H (peaces Kosa/Aoi' A eyzi, tbSs rpei; Ka- 

CeigBSi xA, <Pe—ex Kcc^eirvs tvs FlgooTeoos kcci 'H <pou^& K ccSeip&s Tp*hf, xxi 

vvy.(pcL$ Tpeis KctSeigtcfcts. Strabo. L. 10. p. 724. 

11 Hi, quos Augurum libri feriptos habent fic, Divi Potes, funt pro illis 3 qui in 
Samothrace Qeot Suvaroi. Varro de Ling. Lat. L. 4. p. 17. 

1Z Macrob. Sat. L,. 3. c. 4. p. 376. 

? 3 Herodotus. L. 3. c. 37. 


enter 




462 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

ft 

enter its walls. In the fame place flood a temple of their 
father 14 Vulcanus, the head of the Cabiri. Cambyfes en¬ 
tered into thefe 15 famftuaries ; and took a view of the ftatues 
in each. They were nearly 16 alike, and of a fantaftic form, 
after the mode of Egypt : on which account he ordered 
them to be thrown down, and the temples to be 17 deftroyed. 
From Egypt their worfhip was carried to Canaan, and Sy¬ 
ria ; and from thence to Greece. To what thefe rites al¬ 
luded may be known from the department of the Deities, in 
whofe honour they were fuppofed to have been inftituted, 
and with whom the Cabiri are introduced. Thefe are 
chiefly Damater, Cybele, Selene, Meen, Barith, Dione. 
According to Sanchoniathon the Cabiri were the fame as the 
Diofcuri and Corybantes : and like Damafcius above he re- 
prefents them, as the offspring of the juft man 18 Sadyc. 
They lived in the time of Elion, furnamed the Mojl High ; 
and of a perfonage named 19 Barith : and from them the 
myfteries in Samothracia were derived. Some of their pof- 

terity came to Byblus, which they furrounded with a 20 wall: 

% 

and they built a temple upon Mount Cafius in the fame re¬ 
gion. They are faid to have been the firft conftrucftors of a 

14 Strabo. L. 10. p. 725. 

15 Ibid. 

16 cTe itcu tolutcc quloicc T'd C H (poults. Herod. L. 3. c. 37. 

17 Ibid. 

18 Eufebius exp relies it Sydyc. t bt zvXvtqv xca AIKAION. Eufcb. 

Pnep. Evang. p. 36. Ex. Se tb A too'WQoi^ 21 K ccSsLpqs, n Kofu^ccyras. Ibid, 

p. 37. 'XuJvku tw teyofAtvtp AIKAIQz. Ibid. 

19 Ibid. 

Ibid. 

float, 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 



21 float, or fliip : and are reprefented as hufbandmen, and at 
the fame time az men of the fea. To them the city Byblus 
is faid to have been appropriated by Cronus for the worfhip 
of Baaltis, the fame as 33 Dione, the Dove. They alfo built 
Berytus,'the city of Beryth : and, what is extraordinary, they 
are faid in this city to have confecrated 21 YIovts Asn^ava ; by 
which certainly is meant, all that the Deluge had fpared ; 

the fad remains of the former world. Thefe rites conflfted 

% 

in memorials of the Ark Berith, and of the per foils therein 
preferved; who were the original Cabiri, or Baalim. By 
^anjchoniatbon they are deferibed as eight in number ; the 
chief of which was 25 Afclepius, the God of health, and re¬ 
storer of life. He is likewife mentioned by Damafcius ; who 
fpeaks o^bina as a perfon, of whom the mother of the Gods 



2,1 Tlp^roi soppv. Ibid. 

ccyporocis tc<xi a^iepaiv. Ibid. p. 33. 

BaasATJ^X, tw yiui Z^ioovn. Ibid. 

^ • f 

14 Oi xat nONTOT AEI'EANA eis ty,v ’Evpvroi' afyitpatrca’. Ibid, p, 39. 

Ibid. 

BV . T&71GUT4J- At7XA>77T*G* &&■ 'EAAjjr, B'/s A lyUTTTtOZ^ aAAo. T/S eTTl^s't'plOS 

^.cc.S'OKcp yap eysvovro 'ujctiS^is x. A. O y$;o? <fs ByeviTo evri tUto'-B o V.aov 

AaxXvTnov eppawsuscrii'. c Outos — Buof^tvoB yeyove — IS'hncGS ©Sar. Apud Phctium. 

P- X073. 

2,7 CFKOTCp S'iCtiXoyiCp <urQ?lU.(pW$ CLVCC^CLS. Ibid. ’ 


6 




464 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


He was reprefented with 28 four eyes; two of which were in 
their natural polition forward : the two other were placed 
in a contrary direction, upon the hinder part of the head. 
The fymbolical hiftories of the eaftern countries were fir ft 
compofed by a perfon ftyled the fon of 29 Thabion. I have 
mentioned, that nothing was more common than for the 
priefts to be called the fons of the Deity, whom they ferved. 
Thaba was the Ark, the Theba of the Ionians : and the fon 
of Thabion was no other than the prieft of Theba-Ion, the 
Arkite 30 Dove, particularly worfhiped in this country. He 
is faid to have been the moft ancient Hierophant, that ever 
officiated in Phenicia. 

There were many cities, and thofe in parts very remote, 
where the Cabiritic rites were for a long time maintained. 
Some of thefe cities were named Cibura, Gabura, and Ca~ 
beira; and in all of them may be feen a reference to the 
fame ancient hiftory. In Pontus was a city Cabira, the 
royal feat of Mithridates ; where was one of the moft mag¬ 
nificent temples in the world. The nature of the worfhip 
may be known from the Deity, to whom it was facred : for 
the temple was dedicated, 31 A^a<w, to the Deus Lunus 

Arkitis. In Phrygia, near Caroura was the city Cibura: 
and it is well known, that all this region was devoted to 

18 Eufeb. P. E. p. 39. 

2,9 TclUTCL 22 TCtVTCL 6 (5)ct€lOOVO$ nsrccis 'GJpGOTOS TCOV CZTT CtlMVQS yeyOVOTOOV $OIVMOOV 'Iepo- 

.( p < zvctAXyiycgwacts — ' zxrctgsfoonz . Ibid. 

30 p% loo, Columba. 

31 cT e Uqqv Myvos Aoxcub'— e^t fence* tbto to legov* Strabo. 

JL. J2. p. 835. 

the 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


4^5 


the worfhip of Cybele, and. the rites of Theba. Here too 
was a temple of the 3Z God Lunus, the lame as Agzouog. 
Near Side in Cilicia was another city of this name : and we 
may infer from many circumflances, that the fame worfhip 
prevailed. The Cabiritic rites were likewife kept up in 
33 Imbros, and Lemnos; and particularly in Samothracia. 
They prevailed alfo in Greece; and efpecially in the city 
Theba in Boeotia. Damater, the fame as Theba and Ifis, 
had the title of 3+ Cabiria : and it was an opinion, that thefe 


myfleries were firft eflablifhed by 35 her : by which was meant, 
that they were derived from the Ark, the reputed mother 
of all beings. Hence the Cabiri h^jd often joint worfhip 
with Damater. An inflance of this was obfervable at An- 
thedon in Boeotia, where flood 36 K oJoSificav 1 spov, kou oChvog 


VfJLYiTgog i the temple of the Cabiri , and the grove of Da 
mater. They were the fame as the Cabarni of the Parians 


* 


who were equally priefls of Damater 


37 


KctSapvoiy 01 rr\g 


A 


Yiunrgog isgets 


n«f 


It is obfervable, that the chief 


province of the Cabiri related to the fea, and fhipping. Their 
influence was particularly implored by mariners for fuccefs 
in their voyages : 


3* 


'legov Ka£8£ KzyofJLevov* Ibid. p. 869. 

MaAi^ra, v£v s?v ev AwLtrw xcti IuGpoo (K <z£eipoi) 


Strabo. L. 10. p. 724. *B S's 


ly£pos ©paxijcw jjlzv vTuroSy tegcc. KctSetgoov. Euftath. in Dionyf. v. 524. 


34 


aA(jos. Paufan. L. 9. p. 758. 


pos Kctbg;£;as 

35 iHvfJWTgos yuv t oi9 K ctCeipcciois (Pcppov eq-’tv £ TeAgr> 7 . 

36 Ibid. p. .753. The region was called Cabeiraia. 


Ibid. p. 759. 


37 


Hefych 


VOL* II 


O O G 





466 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

38 O <pga. 

Xworsgoi xgvosrtrc&v t *mt§ uXa. vqlvtiKKoivtq. 

The Corybantes were priefts of the fame order, and were 
ftyled 39 AvotJCTOTsKss'oti, as being of a royal, or fupereminent 
priefthood. Clemens mentions that they were the fame as 
the 40 Cabiri; and that their myfteries were ftyled Cabiritic. 
In thefe the Rhoia, or pomegranate, was introduced : and 
they were often celebrated in woods, and upon mountains r 
and the whole was attended with ftiouts, and fcreams, and 

every frantic manoeuvre. Nonnus has fome allufion to thefe 

% 

rites, when at the marriage of Harmonia he makes the beafts 

of the foreft imitate the howling of the Cabiri. 

■ 

41 BgVKr)@[XU $S XzOVTBS CfJLO^Y}XwU V7TQ Xcuflm 

Mcum7roX(t)V cthoLKccy [aov e{JU(j,ri<ra.VTQ KctSsigoov. 

The perfons concerned were crowned with ferpents 5 and 

by their fury and madnefs exhibited a fcene Blocking to ima- 

* 

gination : yet nobody was thought completely happy, who 
did not partake in thefe myfteries. 

[JLOUCOLg, og rig SV$0U[JL0W 

TsXsrctg ®euv sifroog 

B iotolv dyirsvsi' 

T a rs M argog peyccXccg 

Apollon. Rhod. v. 918. 

39 Clemens Alexand. Chohort. p. 16. 

40 Kcc€etgs$ Kopu£czvT(z$» Ibid. 

41 L. 3. p. 88. 

41 Euripides. Bax^a/. v. 73. quoted by Strabo. L. 10. p. 720. 


Qgytot 



The Analysis op Ancient Mythology. 467 

♦ 

Ogyia KaJosKcls ^[jLi^svcaVy 

Avot B’vgtrov rs nvotrrcaVy 
Kicrtrw rs s ' spa . mQsis , 

AlOVV(TOV $egK7T£VSl* 

* 

Its B <x.KyoLi 

BgOfJUOV 'UTCLlSoL SSOV S^SS 

Aiovvcov xctTctyzrcti 

<&gvyim £% ogewv 

*EA XolSos bis svgwfcCiOgiis ayvic&s. 

& 

ft 

The noife and difionance at thefe celebrities are finely de- 
fcribed in the Edoni of 43 iEfchylus : 


Ta XfjLog aAaAa^h’ 

T CtVgOtpQofy.Ot S’ V7r0[JL0tKUVTCLl 'UrotVTohv 

E§ oLpccvzg cpoSegioi [Zipoi' 

Tv[j,7ra.vu <T 1 jyw, 

Tto-#’ V7C0y£l3 figOVTYlS, <p£g£T0U fiagVTdfi^YiS 


The like is to be found in Pindar. 



44 So ;'[jlsv accmgycu, MaTg£, 'arotgoc, 

M syaCKoi pofjdooi fcvfjJoaAcav, 

Ei/ rs 'uraAXotmv KgoraAot, 

AiOoftsvcc ts Sous v7to %ctvQr)<n 'ursvmis. 

This wild joy, attended with fhouts and dancing, and the 

43 Ibid. p. 721. The fecond line in the original has uttojjwkwvtcu 'zaroQer* which 
I have altered to v 7 rof+x 7 L&vTcu ttccitToBev* 

44 Findarus apud Strabonem, L,. 10. p. 719. 

O O O 2 




noife 



468 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

noife of pipes and cymbals, feems to have been exhibited in 
memorial of the exit from the Ark ; when the whole of the 
animal fyftem iffued to light upon the fummit of mount Baris. 

Corybas, the father and head of the band, was the fame as 
Helius ; and in the Orphic hymns is further defcribed with 
the attributes of Dionufus : 

45 AlQXOfJLOgpOV CtVCLXTCt, ®£0V - 

®Y)P0TV7Tii S~£[JL£VQV p.0gq>Y]V SvoQSgOlO AgCUCOVTQ?. 

I 

His offspring, the Corybantes, were twofold. Strabo fpeaks 
of them both ats priefts, and divinities; and undoubtedly 
both were comprehended under this title. 46 "The Corybantes 
were a kind of Dcemons , 0 the offspring of Helius , and Athena. 
Under the denomination of Cabiri , and the like , were included 
7iot only a fet of perfons , who adminiflered to. the Gods, but the 
Divinities, whom they worfhiped. The Tityri, Satyri, Mae- 
nades, Thyades, Lycaones, Sileni, Lenae, were of the fame 
order : as were the Curetes, Telchines, and Ignetes. The 
Curetes were Heliadae, the priefts of Helius, ftyled Cur- 
Ait : and the term Quirites among the Romans had the fame 
origin. The Telchines and Ignetes were the firft, who fet¬ 
tled at 47 Rhodes ; and they in like manner were efteemed 
Heliadae. The latter were denominated from their God 
Hanes, who was at different times called Agnis and Ignis. 
But notwithftanding their relation to Hanes and Helius, 

Hymn 38. 

46 KopvSotvTe^ Aaiuoves T/rsc, AShpccs xct; r HAf» 'zsra.ftJfs '—8 'zsrpoaTr 0X0,1 Qew pLovar , 
ctAAa 7 tcci gcvtoi ©eo; r z*rpoo-v)yopzvfyf}Gccv. L. IO. p. 723. 

47 lyvv Tff, U ptera. tos TeA. %?vcc$ €7roDOiGctvTes tw'PqS'qv. Hefych?. 




The Analysis of Ancient Mythology- 469 

they were at the fame time fuppofed to be defcended from 
the fea^ Hence it was faid of them by Simmias Rhodius, 

48 A [JLfJLCl 

lyvvTCiov kcu TsX’X'ivcdv e<pv Yj ctlhvxT, Zccvf/. 

► 

Zaps, is nearly of the fame purport of the Saph or 
Suph of the Chaldeans and Hebrews. It fignifi.es the 49 fea,. 
©r the fea in a ferment: and the purport of the verfe is, 
that the Ignetes and Telchines carried their origin upwards 
to the deluge. Though they had the character of Tnysmg,. 

and O vgaviooveg, yet they univerfally took to themfelv.es the 
title of foils of the fea. 

50 'O'yr 01 rffw vioi psv &othct<r<rr\g 5 dog 6 [jivOog 'tirv.gztiooKS. 

"They were looked upon ,. fays Diodorus, as the offspring of the 
fea , according to the traditions of the ancients . The Telchi- 
nes were fuppofed to have made their firfl appearance at the 
time of a Deluge, which. 51 Diodorus would confine to 
Rhodes : and Nonnus, from fome emblematical reprefenta- 
tion, has defcribed them, as wafted over the ocean upon- 
feahorfes. 

s * QKVTsgoi T eTvgivzg <xAiTgs<pscav V7rsg hntuv. 

43 Clemens-AlexancL Strom. 5^ p. 674. Ajj.ua. fignifies a mother. 

49 It is fometimes ufed fora whirlwind: but among the ancient Greeks it figni- 
fied properly the furge of the fea. 

FJopts fjocivofxevoto txjsol<^B tve ; tx^vycn . Dionvfius Iambus apud Clementem 

fugra. 

50 L. 5. p. 326. ICap-re; yyyeveis. Strabo. L. 10. P . 723.. 

5 ‘ Ibid. p. 327. 

51 L. 24. p. 626. 


They 



47 ° The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 

They arc faid, under the character of Heliadse, to have been 
very famous for 53 navigation : and through them many ufe- 
ful arts were tranfmitted to s+ mankind. They were like- 
wile the firft introducers of 55 idolatry ; and deeply Ikilled in 
Magia : and we may infer from Diodorus, that they were of 
the Anakim, or gigantic race ; for fuch are faid to have been 
the firft inhabitants of s6 Rhodes. 

I have mentioned, that great confufion has arifen from 
not confidering, that the Deity and prieft were named alike ; 
and that the people often were comprehended under the 
fame title. The God Helms was ftyled S7 Cur-Ait c and 
his priefts had the fame name. But additionally to thefe, 
the ancient inhabitants of .ZEtolia, Euboea, and Acarnania 
were ftyled 58 Curetes, and their country Curetica. Helius 
was likewife called by the Egyptians and other people Tal- 
chan : for Tal, which the Grecians rendered Talus, fignified 
the Sun. TaAoj, 0 HAiOj: Talus y fays Hefychius, fignijies 

the Sun. T cthcuog, 6 Zst>? sy K^T» 3 : Zeuth in Crete <was Jlyled 
Talceus. The term Tal-chan, which the Grecians rendered 
Telchin, fignified Sol Rex : and under this title he was 
worfhiped at 59 Lindus in Rhodes. His priefts alfo and 
votaries were denominated in the fame manner. The Cu- 

53 Diodorus. L. 5. p. 32$. 

54 Ibid. p. 326. T ey^vcov eu^eTCts, xcu tc*>v e/s t ov ( 2 >iov Ibid. 

55 Ibid. 

56 Ibid. 

* 

57 Kupss 0 r HA<cs. Plutarch. Artaxerxes. 

5 - s Strabo. L. io. p. 692, 714. 

59 fj.ev AivS'io.s ATroAAwra TeA %iviov. Diodor. L. 5. p. 326. Talus by 

Apollodorus is faid to have been the fame as Taurus. L. 1. p. 54. 



The Analysts of Ancieln.t Mythology. 47^1 

retes by fome were edeemed the offspring of the 60 nymph 
Danais, and Apollo : by others they were faid to have been 
the Tons of 61 Jafon, the fame as Jafiom, with whom Damar- 
ter was fuppofed to have been enamoured: all which, I 
think, is not difficult to be underdood. 

I have fhewn that the Telchinian and Cabiritic rites con¬ 
fided in Arkite memorials. They paded from Egypt and- 
Syria to Phrygia and Pontus : and from thence were intro¬ 
duced in Thrace, and in the cities of Greece. They were like- 

wife carried into Hetruria, and into the regions of the Celtse 

# 

and traces of them are to be obferved as high up as the 
Suevi. Tacitus takes notice that this people worfhiped Ids : 
and he mentions that the chief object at their rites, was an 
Ark, or fhip; 6z lignum in modum Liburnse figuratum; 
which was held in great reverence. The like myderies ac¬ 
cording to Artemidorus prevailed in one of the Britidi 
idands : in which, he fays, the worfhip of Damater was 
carried on with the fame rites as in 63 Samothracia, I make 
no doubt, but that this hidory was true : and that the Ark- 
ite rites prevailed in many parts of Britain ; efpecially in the 
file of Mona, where in aftertimes was the chief feat of the 
64 - Saronides, or Druids. Monai fignifi.es infula Selenitis, vel 
Arkitis. It was fometimes expreiTed Menai ; as is evident 
from the frith between the idand and the main land beins; 

D 

dyled Aber Menai at this day. Aber Men-Ai fignifi.es fre- 

60 'Oi.fxsi' Kaonrss Aarcti'J'oa — k<xi A7roAAcyros 'z&ouf'e*.. Schul. in Lycoph. 
v- 77 - 

61 Servius in iEneid. L. 3. v. in. 

61 De moribus Germanorum. p. 603, 

65 Strabo. L. 4. p. 304. 

64 Diodorus. L. 5. p. 308.. 


tU Ill 



47 2 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


turn infulae Dei Luni; which ifland undoubtedly had thk 
name from its rites. The fame worfhip was probably fur- 
ther introduced into fome of the Scotifh ifles, the Hebrides 
of the ancients ; and particularly into that called Columbkil, 
or Columba. This ifland is faid to have been in old time a 
feminary ; and was reputed of the highefl fan&ity; fo that 
there is a tradition of above fifty Irik and Scotifh kings 
being there 65 buried. Columb-kil is plainly a contraction 
of Columba-kil: which was not originally the name of the 
ifland, but of the temple there conftrudted. The ifland 
was called limply Columba. When there was a change 
made in religion, people converted the heathenifh temples 
to fan&uaries of another nature : and out of the ancient 
names of places they formed faints, and holy men. Hence 
we meet with 67 St. Agnes, St. Allan, St. Earth, St. Enador, 
St. Herm, St. Levan, St. Ith, St. Sancrete, in Cornwall : and 
from the Caledonian Columba there has been made a 68 St. 

Columbus. This laft was certainly a name given to the 

* 

ifland from its worfhip : and, what is truly remarkable, it 
was alfo called Iona; a name exactly lynonymous, which it 
retains to this 69 day. But out of Columbus they have made 
a Saint, and of-Iona a 70 Bifhop. 

65 Martin’s account of the Scotifh ifles. p. 256. Camden’s Britannia, p. 1462.. 

65 Cal, Col, Cala, fignified a building upon an eminence. 

* 7 See Norden’s Comwal, and Camden. 

63 Camden calls the perfon Columba. p. 1462. 

* 9 Between Ila and Scotland lies Tona. Camden, fupra. 

70 People have fuppofed the ifland to have received its name from an Irifli Bifhop, 
who firft preached the gofpel to the Pidbs. See Bede L. 3. c. 4. But it is no - 
where, faid that he was ever upon the ifland; much lefs that he gave name to it. 
The very exiftence of this perfonage is uncertain. 


OF 



O F 




ARGONAUTI C 


N D 

EXPEDITION. 


$oinai 'Wean 


T o$$ 'uregi cuiti?® v <rvyysyga<pa* T oov av()gW7rMV 61 [jlsv yag '&si- 

a.vo^’hYfToi c ropictg, mi ski- 

mi 'urQXv7rgccyfjt,ovsg, cltti 
T%Tc*)V. Palasphatus. 


Ksyousvoig 




SI Jg 'GTVKVQTZgOl ?Y\V QVVlV 
'STGCg 0 L 7 COLV , U,Yj$ 8 V ySVB(T&<X,l 


M Y purpofe has been univerfally to examine the ancient 

mythology of Greece ; and by diligently collating the 
evidences afforded, to find out the latent meaning. I have 
repeatedly taken notice, that the Grecians formed variety of 
perfonages out of titles, and terms unknown : many alfo took 
their rife from hieroglyphics mifinterpreted. The examples, 
which I have produced, will make the reader more favour¬ 
ably inclined to the procefs, upon which I am about to pro¬ 
ceed. Had I not in this manner opened the way to this 
difquifition, I fhould have been fearful of engaging in the 
Vol. II. P p p purfuit. 


474 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

purfuit. For the hiftory of the Argonauts, and their voyage r 
has been always efteemed authentic,, and admitted as a chro¬ 
nological asra. Yet it may be worth while to make fome 
inquiry into this memorable tranfadlion ; and to fee if it de- 
ferves the credit, with which it has been hitherto favoured. 
Some references to this expedition are interfperfed in moft 
of the writings of the 1 ancients. But befide thefe fcattered 
allulions, there are compleat hiftories tranfmitted concerning 
it: wherein writers have enumerated every circumftance of 
the operation. 

By thefe writers we are informed, that the intention of 
this armament was to bring back a golden fleece, which was 
detained by flEetes king of Colchis. It was the fleece of 
that ram, on which Phrixus and 2 Helle fled to avoid the 
anger of Ino. They were the two children of Athamas, con¬ 
ceived by (NspsAig)' a cloud : and their brother was Learchus. 
The ram, upon which they efcaped, is reprefented as the 
fon of 3 Neptune and Theophane. Upon his arrival at Col¬ 
chis, Phrixus facrificed it to Mars, in whofe temple the fleece 


The principal are thofe who follow. 
Author of the Orphic Argonautica 
Apollonius Rhodius. ' 

Valerius Flaccus. 

Diodorus Siculus. L. 4. p. 245. 
Ovid. Metamorphofis. L. 7. 
Pindar. Pyth. Ode 4. 

Apollodorus. L. 1. p. 4. 

Strabo. L. 3. p. 222. 


Hyginus. Fab. 14. p. 


3S. 


* Hyginus, Fab. 2. p. 18. Paufan. L. 9. p. yyS. 


Hyginus. Fab. 3. p. 21. 


was 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


475 


’was fufpended. Helle was fuppofed to have fallen into the 
fea, called afterwards the Hellefpont, and to have been 
•drowned. After an interval of fome years, Pelias, king of 
Jolcus, commiflioned Jafon, the foil of his brother JEfon, to 
go, and recover this precious fleece. To effedt this a fhip 
was built at.Pegafe, which city lay at no great diftance 
from Mount Pelion in Theffaly. It was the firft that was 
ever attempted ; and the merit of the performance is given 
to Argus, who was inftrudted by Minerva, or divine wifdom. 
This fhip was built partly out of fome facred timber from 
the grove of Dodona, which was facred to Jupiter Toma- 
rias. On this account it was faid to have been oracular, 
and to have given verbal refponfes ; which hiftory is beauti¬ 
fully defcribed by Claudian. 

4 Argois trabibus jactant fudafle Minervam : 

Nec nemoris tantum vinxifle carentia fenfu 
Robora ; fed, caefo Tomari Jovis augure luco, 

Arbore praefaga tabulas animafle loquaces. 

As foon as this facred machine was compleated, a feledt band 
of heroes, the prime of their age and country, met together, 
and engaged in this honourable enterprize. Among thefe 
Jafon was the chief; by whom the others were fummoned, 
and collected. Chiron, who was famous for his knowledge, 
and had inftrudted many of thofe young heroes in fcience, now 
framed for their ufe a delineation of the heavens : though 
fome give the merit of this operation to Mu feus. This was 

* De Bello Getico. v. 1 6. 


£>£ S' -CCgQL 

Is ho$ tinSpojjiesax T oyjocpios (pvyas* 


'Orph. Argonautica. y. 1153. 


the 


* 


p p p 2 



The Analysis of Ancient MyTHbLOGY, 


476 

the firft fphere conflrudted : in which the ftars we're formed 


into afterifms for the benefit of the Arg 


that they 


ght be the better able to conduct themfelves in their 


perilous voyage. The heroes being 


affembled, waited 


for the riling of the Peleiades 


fail 


which feafon they fet 


Writers differ greatly about the 


which they 


took at their fetting out ; as well as about the way of 
their return. The general account is, that they cbafted 

a 

Macedonia, and proceeded to Thrace; where Hercules 
engaged with the giants; as he is fuppoled to have done 


many other pi 


They vifited Lemnos, and Cy 


> 



were two 



and from thence came to the Bofporus. 
rocks called the Cyanean, and atfo the Symplegades 
ufed to cl a ill together with a mighty nolle, and intercept 
whatever was palling. The Argonauts let a Dove fly, to fee 
by her fate, if there were a poffibility of efcaping. The 
Dove got through with fome difficulty r encouraged by 
which omen the heroes preffed forward and by the help of 
Minerva efcaped. After many adventures, which by the 


Poets 


defcribed 


manner wonderfully pleafing, they 


arrive at the Phafis, which was the chief 


of Colchis 


They immediately addrefs iEetes y and after having informed 
him concerning the caufe of their coming, demand a redi¬ 
tu tion of the fleece. The king was exafperated at their 
claim ; and refufed to give up the objedt in view, but upon 
fuch terms, as feemed impracticable. Jafon however ac¬ 
cepted of the conditions : and after having engaged-in many 
labours, and by the affiftance of Medea foothed a fleeplefs 


5 Ay.os ^ avT?XAovTi TlsMia.S'es. Theoc. Idyl. 13. v. 25. 


dragon. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


477 


dragon, which guarded the fleece, he at lafl: brought off the 
prize* This being happily effected, he retired privately to 
his (hip, and immediately fet fail; at the fame time bringing 
away Medea, the king’s daughter. As foon as TEetes was 
apprized of their flight, he fitted out fome fhips to purfue 
them : and arriving at the Thracian Bofporus took pofleflion 
of that pafs. The Argonauts having their retreat precluded, 
returned by another rout, which by writers is differently 
reprefented. Upon their arrival in Greece they offered facri- 
fices to the Gods ; and confecrated their {hip to Neptune. 

What is alluded to in this romantic detail, may not per¬ 
haps at firft fight be obvious. The main plot, as it is tranf- 
mitted to us, is certainly a fable, and replete with inconfift- 
ency and contradiction. Yet many writers have taken the 
account in grofs : and without hefitation, or exception to 
any particular part, have prefumed to fix the time of this 
tranfaCtion. And having fatisfied themfelves in this point, 
they have proceeded to make ufe of it for a Anted sera. 
Hence many inferences, and deductions have been formed,, 
and many events have been determined, by the time of this 
fanciful adventure. Among; the moft eminent of old, who 

. O J 

admitted it as an hiftorical truth, were Herodotus, Diodo¬ 
rus, Strabo ; and with them every Grecian Mythologifl:: of 
the Fathers, Clemens, Enfebius, and Syncellus. Among the 
moderns, the principal are Scaliger and Petavius : and of our 
country, Archbifhop Ufher, Cumberland, Dr. Jackfon, and 
Sir Ifaac Newton. This lafl: fpeaks of it without any diffi¬ 
dence ; and draws from it many confequences, as from an 
event agreed upon, and not to be questioned : an asra, to 

which 



The Analysis or Ancient 'Mythology. 


478 

which we may fafely refer. It was a great misfortune to 
the learned world, that this excellent perfon was lb eafily 


latisfied with Grecia 
tion, whatever was 


taking with 


examina 


anfmitted to his hands. By thefe 
many events of great conlequence are determined from 

Had he looked 

icals. and 


hiilor 


very uncertain and ex 
more carefully into the 
difcarded, what he could 
other refpecis his fuperi< 
would have been as eminent for 
been for demonftration. 


ptionable data 


par 


when he quitted 


to which he appeals, ai 
renticate j fuch were in all 
, and penetration, that he 
moral evidence, as he had 
This laid was his great prerogative ; 
he became, like Sampfon, fhorn of 


his Idrength ; he went out like 
upon which he builds fo much 


er man. This hildory 
founded upon fome an 


traditions, but milinterpreted greatly 


Gr 


country 

voured 


find 


It certainly did 
though adopted by the people of that 
Ifaac Newton with great ingenuity has endea- 

the time of this expedition by the place 


the degrees, which they have fince 
And this, he does upon a fuppofition that there 
fuch a perfon as Chiron :. and that he really, as an an- 


of the 6 Colures then, and 
gone back. 


poet would perfuade 


formed a Iphere for 


Ar 


gonauts 


'Ovtos 


■Eff rs £ikquo<tvvyiv 3 -vystuv ysvog vyctye, frsi^ccg 
'O gtLQv, xou 3yc nag iKagcug, tccu <ryri(jLOLT OA 


6 Newton’s Chronology, p. 83, 84. 

7 Auctor Titanomachite apud Clementem. Strom. L. 1. p. 360. 

In 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


479 


* 

In anfwer to this the learned Dr. Rutherforth has exhibited 
fome curious obfervations : in which he {hews, that there is 
no reafon to think that Chiron was the author of the fphere 


fpoken of, or of the delineations attributed to him 


Among 


many very juft exceptions he has one, which feems to me to 
be very capital, and which I {hall tranfcribe from him. 8 


Be- 
39 °; 


fide Pagafce , from whence the Argonauts failed , is about 
and Colchis , to which they were failing , is i7i about 4 . 5 0 north la¬ 
titude. The far Canobus of the frf magnitude , marked ol by 
Bayer , in the confellatio?i Argo, is only 3 7 0 from the fouth pole : 
and great part of this confdlation is fill nearer to the fouth 


pole. 


Therefore this principal far , and great part of the con 


fellation Argo could not be fecn , either in the place , that the 
Argonauts fet out from , or in the place , to which they wiere fail- 
mg. Now the Jhip was the frf of its kind ; a?id was the prin¬ 
cipal thing in the expedition : which makes it very u?ilikely, that 
Chiron fould chufe to call a fet of fans by the name of Argo , 
mof of which were invifble to the Argonauts. If he had de¬ 
lineated the fphere for their ufe , he would have chofen to call 
fome other confellation by this 7 tanie : he would 7?7of likely have 
given the name Argo to fo7?ie co7ifellatio7t m the Zodiac : how- 
ever , certainly , to 07ie , that was vifble to the Arg 07 iauts and 


not to 


0713 


which was fo far to the fouth , tha-t the prmcipal 
far i7i it coitlcl not be feeti by the?77 , either whe 7 i they fet out , or 
whe 7 i they came to the eitd of their voyage. 

Thefe arguments,. I think, fhew plainly, that the fphere 


* Rutherforth’s Syftem of Natural Philofophy. Vol. 2. p. 849. 


could 



480 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

9 

could not have been the invention of 9 Chiron or Mufaeus ; 
had fuch perfons exifted. But I muffc proceed farther upon 
thefe principles : for to my apprehenfion they prove moft 
fatisfadlorily, that it was not at any rate a Grecian work; 
and that the expedition itfelf was not a Grecian operation. 
Allowing Sir Ifaac Newton, what is very difputable, that 
many of the afterifms in the fphere relate to the Argonautic 
operations ; yet fuch fphere could not have been previoufly 
conftrudted, as it refers to a fubfequent hiftory. Nor would 
an aftronomer of that country in any age afterwards have 
fo delineated a fphere, as to have the chief memorial in a 

manner out of fight; if the tranfaftion, to which it alluded, 

■ 

had related to Greece. For what the learned Dr. Ruther- 
forth alledges in refpedt to Chiron and Mufaeus, and to the 
times, in which they are fuppofed to have lived, will hold 
good in refpedl to any Grecian in any age whatever. Had 
thofe perfons, or any body of their country, been authors of 
fuch a work ; they muff have comprehended under a figure, 
and given the name of Argo to a collection of ftars, with 
many of which they were unacquainted : confequently their 
longitude, latitude, and reciprocal diftances, they could not 

9 Sir Ifaac Newton attributes the invention of the Sphere to Chiron, or to Mu- 
feus. Some give the merit of it to Atlas ; ethers to Palamedes. 

Etpeu^e cf cc^pcov fJ.BTpct^ xcci •zz'Sptq-pcCpcz,^ 

TafsG re toc’jtcc& pa.net re •erw^txTa. Sophocles in Nauplio. 

The chief contlellation, and of the moft benefit to Mariners, is the Bear with the 
Polar itar. This is faid not to have been obferved by any one before Thales : the 
other, called the .greater Bear, was taken notice of by Nauplius : S'ittcu J'e eicnvy 
cuv jjjev l\GLV7r/\.iQ$ eupe , ryv sAocrrovcc 0 crc^o?. Theon. in Arat. v. 27. 

l\ T <xi/7r/\;oi ctTTcyzvos APXAIOT ts llocreifocvos v&. Schol. Apollonii. L. i. v. 134. 

9 know. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 481 

"know. Even the Egyptians feem in their fphere to have 
omitted thofe conftellations, which could not be feen in 
their degrees of latitude, or in thofe which they frequented. 
Hence many afterifms near the fouthern pole, fuch as the 
Croziers, Phcenicopter, Toucan, &c. were for a long time 
vacant, and unformed : having never been taken notice of, 
till our late difcoveries were made on the other fi.de of the 
line. From that time they have been reduced into after¬ 
ifms, and diftinguifhed by names. 

If then the fphere, as we have it delineated, was not the 
work of Greece, it muft certainly have been the produce 
of 10 Egypt. For the aftronomy of Greece confefledly came 
from that 11 country: confequently the hiftory, to which it 
alludes, muft have been from the fame quarter. For it can¬ 
not be fuppofed, that in the conftrudfcing a fphere the Egyp¬ 
tians would borrow from the Ia Helladians, or from any 
people whatever : much lefs would they crowd it with after¬ 
ifms relating to various events, in which they did not par¬ 
ticipate, and with which they could not well be acquainted : 
for in thofe early days the hiftory of Hellas was not known 




trom. 


xo Diodorus fays that the Sphere was the invention of Atlas ^ by which wc arc 
to underftand the Atlantians. L. 3. p. 193. 

11 rigto tss A.iyu7TT&s ccvQpcoirccv 'zo'ocvtcov tqv evicrjTov^ (PuooS'sx.cc fs-zoeot S'oc- 

rPflN eA eyov. Herodot. 

1 j ./ 1 * 

L. 2* c. 4. 

Tboo^stts ecu evpercu ysyovcco-iv (c 1 Aiyv 7 rrici)., Clemens Alexand. 

L. 1. p. 361. 

1Z The Egyptians borrowed nothing from Greece. O u jxm acTe (jww, ohms At- 

yvTrnrLoi *moLo 'EAAtfJ'ft,'* sA cz£ov >? tbto ((paAAoy ts Atowey) « aAAo xb ti voucctor, 

Herodot. L. 2. c. 49. See alfo Diodorus Siculus. L. 1. p.62 5 63. of arts from 
Egypt. 

VOL. II. ~ 


Q_q q 


to 



482 The Analysis of Anctent Mythology. 

to the fbns of Mizraim. Many of the conflellations are ap-^ 
parently of Egyptian original; and were defigned as emblems 
of their Gods, and memorials of their rites and mythology. 
The Zodiac, which Sir Iiaac Newton fuppofed to relate to 
the Argonautic expedition, was an aflemblage of Egyptian 
hieroglyphics. Aries, which he refers to the golden fleece, 
was a reprefentation of Amon : Taurus of Apis r Leo of 
Arez, the fame as- Mithras, and Oflris. Virgo with the 
fpike of corn was 13 Ills. They called the Zodiac the grand 
aflembly, or fenate, of the twelve Gods, £v 

&soi BovXouoi. The planets were efteemed lidfcors 

and attendants,, who waited upon the chief Deity,, the Sun. 
Thefe, fays the Scholiaft upon 14 Apollonius, were the peo¬ 
ple, who firft obferved the influences of the flats; and diflin- 
guiflied them by namesand from them they came to 
* 5 Greece. 

Strabo, one of the wifeft of the Grecians, cannot, be per- 
fuaded but that the hiftor.y of the Argonautic expedition was 
true : and he takes notice of many traditions concerning it 
in countries far remote : and traces of the heroes in many 
places; which arofe from the temples, and cities, which they 


13 C Oi fJiBU yctg CLVTYIV (pCCG'l /XWTgCtVy SlCC TO' S%BlV ^CC^V lA 01 cTg I VIV* OS <pB A.TCCp- 

yuriv. Eratofthenis Afterifm. Ylctfievos* 

14 Teyavevxi S'B ccv T3<=, (prto'iv A^oATicovics rsrpo tzocvtcc t cl cc^pec (pavwvca kocB 7 o. 

tyiv Tc qvcriv xctTctvoYiacti avT&v S qvjkji^ tcoli t cc cvofxocrct Sreivc&i. K on ret pcBv c PcodexcL. 


C 


Scholia Apol¬ 


lon. Argon. L. 4. v. 261. 

15 cTg -X.CU TuciVTa, Tec uvopcarcc. t&v ©ecov sf AtyvTTTB eAj?Aif(}g e$ rnv C EA- 

XccS'ct. Herod. L. 2. c. 49. 50. 

Tbt OV (©BuB At 0 ) V7TTlCCX,0v) TupOdTOV CiglBpcoV TB KCU 2\.6yi(Tpt.QV BVpBlV, XCU yBOOfJlB- 

Tpiccv tccci cc<?pQVO{Aiccv. Plato in Phaedro. v. 3. p. 274, 

built. 



The Akstalysis gf Ancient Mythology. 483 

huilt, and from the regions, to which they gave name. He 
mentions particularly, that there ftill remained a city called 
* 6 Aia upon the Phalis ; and the natives retained notions, 
that ^Eetes once reigned in that country. He takes notice, 
that there .were feveral memorials both of Jafon and Phrixus 
an Iberia, as well as in Colchis. 17 In Armenia too , and as 
far off as Media , and the neighbouring regions , there are , fays 
Strabo, temples Jlill /landing, called fafonea ; and all along the 
coajl about Sinope , upon the Po 7 itus Luxinus : a?td at places in 
'the ;Propontis , and the Hellefpont , as far down as Lemnos , the 
like traces are to he obferved , both of the expeditwi undertakeit 
by fafon, ajid of that , which was prior, by Phrixus. There are 
likewife plain veftiges of fafon in his retreat, as well as of the 
Colchians, who purfued him , in Crete , a?id in Italy , a?id upon 
the coajl 

about the Ceraunian mountains in Lpirus: a?id upon the wefter71 
coajl of Italy in the gulf of Pofeidonium , and in the ijlands of 
Hetruria. I?i all thefe parts the Argonauts have apparently 
heejz. In another place he again takes notice of the great 


of the Adriatic. 


18 


They are particularly to be feen 


16 -Ht£ Aicc S'UxvuTcii 'z vegi <3 ?&,g-iv tvo?us 0 you o Aivtvs fictcriAevcrca tvs 

■KoA^cTo? 3 kcu eq-'i tois eyei tbt e7n^copiov t Bvoy.cc^ y. t A. L. 1- p. 77 . 

17 K-ai locaoveuz 'sroAAct^e ycu tvs A gpit vices ycci tvs M voices, you tcov tv Avan- 

CVJTOIS TQ7T<OV £SlKWTCtl. K CU fAVV UCLL ^IVGOTTVV^ X£tl TVV TCCUTVS 'uTCCfCC- 

Aiccv, you t vv Tlgo7rovTi^oc 9 you tov c EAA)ja-7ro^TOJ ; TC0,/ yccxcc tvv A vpevov to- 


thoTJAcl 


VOS. 


t • 

OCCCt Tool' eTTl^lOO^CCVTCCV ' TVS KpYITVS} TCd.1 TVS ItccAoZS KCCl 78 ‘ A§ fid m 


P- 77 - 

18 /S£l%VVTCLl yvog T-iVCC aVfJLBLGt you Tcrepl TCC K-SpCCVl'lCC OpV) you * 7 TTzgt TGV*A^glCCV} you 

ev tw nocretcfcoviccTy xoA'Zcrw, you tccis T*rpo tyis Tvpp^vias merots tvs rcov ApyovxvTow 

tuAolvvs avf^eix, Ibid. p. 39^ 


(i_q a 2 


number 



484 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology* 


t 


4 


number of temples eredted to 19 Jafon in the eaft; which 
were held in high reverence by the barbarous nations. Dio¬ 
dorus Siculus alfo mentions many tokens of the 20 Argonauts 
about the ifland iEthalia, and in the Portus Argoiis in He- 
truria; which latter had its name from the Argo. And he 
fays, many fpeak of it as a certainty , that the like memorials are. 
to he found upon the Celtic coajl ; a?td at Gades in Iberia , and 
i?i divers other places. 

From thefe evidences fo very numerous, and colledted 
from parts of the world fo widely diftant, Strabo concludes 
that the hiftory of Jafon mu ft necefiarily be authentic. He 
accordingly fpeaks of the Argo and Argonauts, and of their 
perils and peregrinations, as of fadts 21 univerfally allowed. 
Yet I am obliged to diflent from him upon his own princi¬ 
ples : for I think the evidence, to which he appeals, makes 
intirely againft his opinion. I muft repeat what upon a like 
occafion I have more than once faid ; that if fuch a perlon 
as Jafon had exifted, he could never have performed what is 
attributed to him. The Grecians have taken an ancient hif¬ 


tory to themfelves, 
the real purport of 


to which they had 


and 


as 


was totally hid from them, they have 


by their colouring and new modelling what they did 


19 Ibid. p. 798 . 

b• 4. p• 259* 

Kara tvv ASctAiuu A ifAW Apy&os. Strabo. L,. 5. p. 342. fie mentions near 
Fsnrum to tws "Hpxs itgov t ns Apyovixs^ I ctcrovos iSpu/joa. L. 6. p. 386. Near Cir- 
cfeum Abyss kAzivov cpixov. Lycoph. v. 1274. See the Scholia: alfo Ariftotle 
rzrspt ^rxv/xxs. avdscr [xxtccv. p. 728. and Taciti Annales. L. 6. c. 34. 

2,1 T ccv Se rarzpt Tor Iccg’ovcc aufj£cLVToov 0 Kcti tvv Agy&y kcci tbs ApyorctVTas tcov o/ao- 
Ao^euevcov tojv tuxpx Tsxcnv tc t A, Strabo. L. 1. p. 77. 

derftand. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 485 

derftand, run themfelves into a thoufand abfurdities. The 
Argo is reprefented as the firft fhip built; and the heroes 
are faid to have been in number according to Valerius Flac- 
cus, fifty-one. The author of the Orphic Argonautica 
makes them of the fame 22 number. In Apollonius Rhodius 
there occur but forty-four : and in Apollodorus they 
amount to the fame. Thefe authors give their names, and 
fubjoin an hiftory of each perfon : and the higheft, to which 
any writer makes them amount, is 23 fifty and one. How is 
it pollible for fo fmall a band of men to have atchieved, what 
they are fuppofed to have performed ? For to omit the 
fleeplefs dragon, and the bulls breathing fire ; how could 
they penetrate fo far inland, and raife fo many temples, and 
found fo many cities, as the Grecians have fuppofed them to 

0 

have founded ? By what means could they arrive at the ex?- 
treme parts of the earth ; or even to the fhores of the Adria¬ 
tic, or the coaft of Hetruria ? When they landed at Colchis* 
they are reprefented fo weak in refpedt to the natives, as to 
be obliged to make ufe of art to obtain their purpofe. • Hav¬ 
ing by the help of the King’s daughter, Medea, ftolen the 
golden fleece, they immediately fet fail. But being purfued 
by JEetes, and the Colchians, who took pofieflion of the pafs 
by the Bofporus, they were forced to feek out another paf- 
fage for their retreat. And it is worth while to obferv.e the 

He Teems to fpeak of fifty and one. 

I vHrovct xoipcct'or eircu 

ritvTVxovT epeT&iaiv. Argonaut, v. 298.- 
Theocritus ftyles the Argo Tpiaxovrcc^vycs. Idyl. 13. v. 74. 

23 Natalis Comes makes the number of the Argonauts forty-nine : but in his 
catalogue he mentions more. 

different 



486 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

different routs, which they are by writers fhppofed to have 
taken : for their diftrefs was great; as the mouth of the 

9 

Thracian Bofporus was poffelfed by JEetes ; and their return, 
that way precluded. The author of the Orphic Argonautics 
makes them pafs up the Phafis towards the Mseotis : and 
from thence upwards through the heart of Europe to the 
Cronian fea, or Baltic : and fo on to the Britifh feas, and 
the Atlantic ; and then by Gades, and the Mediterranean 
home. Timagetus made them proceed northward to The 
fame feas, but by the 24 Ifter. According to Timseus they 
went upwards to the fountains of the Tanais, through the 
25 Palus Mseotis : and from thence through Scythia, and Sar- 
matia, to the Cronian feas : and from thence by the Atlantic 
home,. Scymnus Delius carried them by the fame rout. 
Hefiod, and Antimachus, conduit them by the fouthern 
ocean to 26 Libya ; and from thence over land to the Medi¬ 
terranean. Hecatseus Milefius fuppofed them to go up the 
Phafis ; and then by turning fouth over the great continent 
of Alia to get into the Indian ocean, and fo to the 27 Nile in 
Egypt: from whence they came regularly home. Valerius 
Flaccus copies Apollonius Rhodius ; and makes them fail up 
the Ifter, and by an arm of that river to the Eridanus, and 
from thence to the 28 Rhone : and after that to Libya, Crete, 
and other places. Pindar conduits them by the Indian ocean. 


14 Scholia in Apollon. L. 4. v. 259. 

Diodorus Sic. L. 4. p. 259. Natalis Comes. L. 6. p. 317. 

5,6 Scholia in Apollon, fupra. 

L7 Scholia. Ibid. 

i8 Etc Se roQev P ccf ccuzio ficSw poov etcrc7TBpiV7£v. Apollon. Rhod. L. 4. v. 6 27. 

E n 


9 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


487 


29 E vt axsccm 'T'sXaysam p,iy&v 
31 ovtm t E gvQgca. 

Diodorus Siculus brings them back by the fame way, as 
they went out ; but herein, that he may make things plau- 
lible, he goes contrary to the whole tenor of hiftory. Nor 
can this be brought about without running into other dif¬ 
ficulties, equal to thofe, which he would avoid. For if the 
Argonauts were not in the feas, fpoken of by the authors 
above; how could they leave thofe repeated memorials, upon 
which Strabo builds fo much, and of which mention is made 
by 30 Diodorus ? The latter writer fuppofes Hercules to have 
attended his comrades throughout: which is contradictory to 

moft accounts of this expedition, tie moreover tells us, 

*%# 

that the Argonauts upon their return landed at Troas ; 
where Hercules made a demand upon Laomedon of fome 
horfes, which that king had promifed him. Upon a refufal, 
the Argonauts attack the Trojans, and take their city. Here 
we find the crew of a little bilander in one day perform, 
what Agamemnon with a thoufand fhips and fifty thoufand 
men could not effeCt in ten years. Yet 31 Hercules lived but 
one generation before the Trojan war : and the event of the 
firft capture was fo recent, that 31 Anchifes was fuppofed to. 


29 Pyth. Ode.4. p. 262. 

30 L. 4. p. 259. 


3X c O< *EAA nves (pcuriv TljaKAca 9 erecrQoci yevea, f arpoT£^ov t cov T pcoikcov • Diodor;' 
L. i.p. 21- Homer gives Hercules fix fhips, .when he takes Troy.. C E§ o/ns cv? 
vnutrt* Iliad- E. v. 642. 

32 Anchifes is made to fay. 

Satis una fuperque 

Vidimus excidia, et captas fuperavimus urbi* Virg* iEneid. L. 2. v. 642. 

have 



488 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology* 

* 

have been witnefs to .it: all which is very ftrange. For how 
can we believe, that fuch a change could have been brought 
about in fo inconfiderahle a fpace, either in refpedt to the 
ftate of Troy, or the polity of Greece ? 

After many adventures, and long wandering in different 
parts, the Argonauts are fuppofed to have returned to Iolcus: 
and the whole is faid to have been performed in 33 four 
months; or as fome defcribe it, in 34 two. The Argo upon 
this was confecrated to Neptune ; and a delineation of it in- 
ferted among the afterifms of the heavens. But is it pof- 
fible for fifty perfons, or ten times fifty, to have performed 
fuch mighty operations in this term ; or indeed at any rate to 
have performed them? They are faid to have built temples, 
founded cities, and to have paffed over vaft continents, and 
through feas unknown: and all this in an open 3S boat, which 
they dragged over mountains, and often carried for leagues 
upon their fhoulders. 

If there were any truth in this hiftory, as applied by the 
Grecians, there fhould be found fome confiftency in their 
writers. But there is fcarce a circumflance, in which they 
are agreed. Let us only obferve the contradictory accounts, 
given of Hercules. According to 36 Herodotus he was left 
behind at their firft fetting out. Others fay, he was left on 


3J T'op 'ujcLVTct'urA'iv e\> Teacccccri /Avert Teheicrjaavres, Apollodorus. L, i. p. 55 * 

Top 'ujclv'tol tjsKsv bp <Pucri y^’iiaLp ccpuctocptbs. Scholia in Lycoph. v. 175* • 

35 The Argo was fly led A pyojcv cntccqoz by Diodorus, and the Scholiaft upon 
Pindar: alfo by Euripides. It is alfo called A py&op ccxccror. Orphic. Argonaut* 
v. 12 61. and v. 489. Ti<pus l&jpTcop azctroio* 

2 ° Herodotus. L. 7. c. 193. 


fhore 



The Analysis op Ancient Mythology, 489 


fhore upon the coaft of 37 Bithynia. Demaretes and Dio¬ 
dorus maintain that he went to 38 Colchis : and Dionyfius 
Milefius made him the captain in the 39 expedition. In re- 
fpedt to the firft fetting out of the Argo, moft make it pafs 
northward to Lemnos and the Hellefpont: but 40 Herodotus 
fays that Jafon failed firft towards Delphi, and was carried 
to the Syrtic fea of Libya ; and then purfued his voyage to 
the Euxine. The asra of the expedition cannot be fettled 
without running into many difficulties, from the genealogy 
and ages of the perfons fpoken of. Some make the event 
41 ninety years, fome 42 feventy-nine, others only forty years 
before the sera of Troy. The point in which moft feem to 
be agreed, is, that the expedition was to Colchis : yet even 


this has been controverted. We find by Strabo, that 


4J 


Scep- 


fius maintained, that iEetes lived far in the eaft upon the 
ocean ; and that here was the country, to which Jafon was 
fent by Pelias. And for proof of this he appealed to Mim- 
nermus, whole authority Strabo does not like : yet it feems 
to be upon a par with that of other poets; and all thefe tra¬ 
ditions came originally from poets. Mimnermus mentions, 

37 Apollonius Rhodius. L. i. v. 1285. Theocrit. Idyll, 13. 

38 Apollodorus. L. 1. p. 45. Diodorus. L. 4. p. 251. 

39 Apollodorus, L. 1. p. 45. 

40 Herodotus. L. 4. c. 179. 'TVoAaC’fn' ccvefjiov xai uttc^osiv 'zrcos rr.v 

A i€vm f . 3ct A. 

41 E-ufeb. Chron. Verlio Lat. p. .93. 

41 Thrafyllus apud Clement. Alexand. Strom. T. 1. p. 401. 

Petavius 79 years. Rationarii Temp. Pars fecunda. p. 109. 

43 'Xxt'^'lOS OS tv TOO ooxeotvco TV0tv<T0t$ TVV 01XV0 IP T B AHJTtf, TCrpOi T OLlS OtVCCToXcti^ 

€xtos 'TzrZfJLtyfyvrcci <pvaiv vi to tb HeAie tqv Icccrovcc. Strabo. L. r. p. 80 . 

Ev t co eoxectvqj tqv 'zuctp A ivtb 'vtAbv e7rAc&TTEv. Strabo, L. 1 . p. 


77 


VOL. II. 


R r r 


that 



49 ° The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

that the rout of Jafon was towards the eaft, and to the coaft 
of the ocean : and he fpeaks of the city of ALetes as lying in 
a region, where was the chamber of the Sun, and the dawn 
of day, at the extremities of the eaftern world. 

44 A iqra.o 'GfoKiv, ro6i r ooicsog HsAw/o 

Afcnveg ygviree* ic.5ia.Tou ev §ol\ol[a.w 
£Iksqlv8 'wocga. ^siXsg, Iv w^sto $eiog h)TM„ 

How can we after this truft to writers upon this fubjedt, who 
boaft of a great exploit being performed, but know not 
whether it was at Colchis, or the Ganges ? They could not 
tell fatisfa<5torily who built the Argo. Some fuppofed it to 
have been made by Argus : others by Minerva. 45 Poffis of 
Magnefia mentioned Glaucus, as the architect : by Ptolemy 
Hephseftion he is faid to have been 4S Hercules. They were 
equally uncertain about the place, where it was built. Some 
faid, that it was at Pagafse; others at Magnefia; others 
again at Argos. 47 Er Agysi svcm7rr}yr}Qn, oog <pr\<rw 

fyog o XaXa[MViog. In fhort, the whole detail is filled with 
inconfiftencies : and this mu ft ever be the cafe, when a peo¬ 
ple adopt a hiftory, which they do not underhand, and to 
which they have no pretenfions. 

I have taken notice, that the mythology,, as well as the 
rites of Greece, was borrowed from Egypt : and that it was 
founded upon ancient hiftories, which had been tranfmitted 

44 Strabo. L. i. p. So. 

47 Athenseus, L. 7. c. 12. p. 296. 

45 Apud Photium. p. 475. 

47 Scholia in Lycoph. v. 883. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 491 

in hieroglyphic al reprefentations. Thefe by length of time 
became obfcure ; and the flgn was taken for the reality, and 
accordingly explained. Hence arofe the fable about the bull 
of Europa, the flih of Venus and Atargatis, the horfe oF 

t 

4 

Neptune, the ram of Helle, and the like. In all thefe is the 
fame hiffory under a different allegory, and emblem. I have 
moreover taken notice of the wanderings of Rhea, of Ills, 
of Aftarte, of Iona-; and laftly of Damater : in which fables 
is figured the reparation of mankind by their families, and 
their journeying to their places of allotment. At the fame 
time the difperflon of one particular race of men, and their 
flight over the face of the earth, is principally defcribed. 

4 

Of this family were the perfons, who preferved the chief 
memorials of the ark in the Gentile world. They looked 
upon it as the nurfe of Dionufus, and reprefented it under 
different emblems. They called it Demeter, Pyrrha, Selene, 
Meen, Argo, Argus, Areas, and Archaius (A gyyuog). And 
although the laft term, as the hiftory is of the highefl: anti¬ 
quity, might be applicable to any part of it in the common 
acceptation 9 yet it will be found to be induftrioufly intro¬ 
duced, and to have a more immediate 48 reference. That it 
was ufed for a title is plain from Stephanus Byzantinus, 
when he mentions the city Archa near mount Libanus. 
A gyjn 'uroXig 3>omW ro s&vixov Agyaiog. Upon one of the 

45 It is found continually annexed to the hiftory of Pyrrha, Pelias, Aimonia, 
and the concomitant circumftances of the Ark, and Deluge. Clyvyos^ ccp^caos / 3 a- 
ctXevg ©>?£W. OSe flyvyos vtos r,v Ylotitif'ctiios. Schol. in Lycoph. v. 1206. Iluppa, 
CLI^OUCL ccXo^os. lens ccpX'ouct. Aijj.ov:cl ecg%cct<z. 

Ngcv7tXio$ (0 AgyovGCJTi]$) cciroyovos A.p^cus Ty TJoasiS'cavo^ SchoL in Apollon. 

L. i. v. 137. 

R r r 2 plates 



49 2 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

plates is a reprefentation from Paruta of the Sicilian Tauro- 
Men with an infcription 49 AA APKAIOS, Al Arkaios. 
This is remarkable ; for it flgnifies literally Deus Arkitis : 
and the term A .g'^ouog above is of the fame purport, an Ar- 
chite. The Grecians, as I have faid, by taking the ftory of 
the Argo to themfelves, have plunged into numberlefs diffi¬ 
culties. What can be more ridiculous than to fee the firft 
conftrudted ffiip purfued by a navy, which was prior to it ? 
But we are told, to palliate this abfurdity, that the Argo was 
the firft long s ° fhip. If we were to allow this interpreta¬ 
tion, it would run us into another difficulty : for Danaus,, 
many generations before, was faid to have come to 51 Argos, 
in a long fhip : and Minos had a fleet of long fhips, with 
which he held the fovereignty of the feas. Of what did the 
fleet of ffietes conflft, with which he purfued the Argonauts, 
but of long fhips ? otherwife how could he have been fup- 
pofed to have got before them at the Bofporus, or overtaken 
them in the liter ? Diodorus indeed omits this part of the 
hiftory, as he does many other of the principal circum- 
ftances, in order to render the whole more conflftent. But 
at this rate we may make any thing of any thing. We 
fhould form a refolution, when we are to relate an ancient 
hiftory, to give it fairly, as it is tranfmitted to us ; and not 
try to adapt it to our own notions, and alter it without 
authority. 

49 Parutce Sicilia, p. 104. 

50 Longa nave Jaibnem primum navigafle Philoftephanus Au£tor eft. Plin*. 
L. 7. c. 56. Herodotus mentions the. Argonauts xccTcc 7 rAooaoivroLs jxacTtgriwu €$ Aiolv* 
L. j. c. 2. 

£±ccvctov 'urpurov (uctxpoLV vcivv) xctTct(TxzvcL(rcLi. Scholia in Apollon. L. 1. v. 4. 

In 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


493 


In the account of the Argo we have undeniably the hiftory 

of a facred {hip, the ftrft which was ever conftru&ed. This 

% 

truth the beft writers among the Grecians confefs ; though 
the merit of the performance they would fain take to them- 
felves. Yet after all their prejudices they continually be¬ 
tray the truth ; and {hew, that the hiftory was derived to 
them from Egypt. Accordingly Eratofthenes tells us, sa that 
the aferifm of the Argo in the heavens was there placed by 
divine wifdom : for the Argo was the frf fhip , that was ever 
built : Kca v.ggr$sv STBfCTOpyjdrj, it was moreover built in the mof 
ea 7 ~ly times , or at the very beginning ; and was an oracular vef- 
fel. It was the frf fhip-, that ventured upon the feas , which 
before had never been paffed : and it was placed in the heavens 
as a fgn, a?id emblem for thofe , who were to come after. Con¬ 
formably to this Plutarch informs us, S3 that the confellatian , 
which the Greeks called the Argo, was a reprefentation of the 
facred fhip of Ofris : and that it was out of reverence placed 
in the heavens. I have fpoken at large both of Ofiris, and 
his lacred fhip : and we know to what it alludes, and that it 
was efteemed the firft fhip 54 conftrudled. It was no other 
than the Ark, called by the Greeks Argus, and Areas, and' 
reprefented above as 'Z*rAo iov\ o c/Leggjf sv< sTSfiTonfa.- Hence 

sz Apyco — ctv tv <Picc tyv A 0 mvoLV ev to is ct<^poi$ eio-Yiyflrf EIPflTR y&g ccvry vccv$ xct-- 
TBcncevcco'dy, x.ai apyyQev ereitTovyQy' (poovyeaaa. cTg yevofj.evri TspooTy to T&sXctyos SiziXtv 
cl€cctov or 9 Iv 3 y to/s e ?nyiyvofjLSvois xgcufetyptcc accepeq-epov.. Eratofthenes in xctra- 
q~epi<TfA. A gyco. 35. 

53 To *zzrA otov oi KctX&criv c EAA>jy£s Agyco*, tw OcrigiS'os vsoos e/cTojAov em t ijxy xarrn— 
cfBgiafjLevov. Ifis et Ofiris. Y. i. p. 359. 

54 Kcct ntregtaBn $e xvry cT/oc t nv A 9yvxv^ otj TjpcoTy uuxp auT«>. Theon 

inAratum de Argo nave; 

the 



494 


T«,e Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


tlie G i;e c ians, though fome few would represent the Argo as 
only the firft long ffiip, yet in general fpeak of it, as the fir ft 
fhip which, was framed. And although their account of it 
is attended with numberlefs inconfiftencies, yet they reli¬ 
gion % abide, by the. truth. Eratofthenes above, to prevent 
all m.iftnterpretation, explains his meaning by faying, The 
Argo was the, firfo fhip that divided the waters of the fea y 
which before had never been penetrated.; 5S Ugc*)TY} 'GTeXa.yos <j \ei- 

Agy, aSctTov ov. Hence alfo Catullus keeps to- this ancient 
tradition, though he is guilty of great inconfiftency in Ipeak- 
ing of fhips, which were ftill prior. He fays of the Argo, 

56 Ilia rudem curfu prima imbuit Amphitriten. 


Commentators have endeavoured to explain away, the mean¬ 
ing of. this pafiage.:. and have, gone fo far as to alter the 
terms prima imbuit to prora imbuit, that the author may 
not contradict himfelf. But they fpoil the rythm, and ren¬ 
der the paflage. fcarce fenfe. And after all, the lame difficulty 
occurs repeatedly in other writers* There, was certainly a 
conftant tradition that the Argo was the firft fhip; and that 
it was originally framed by divine wifdom- The author of 
the Orphic Argonantics reprefents it, in this light; and fays, 
that Juno gave a commiffion to Minerva to build it out of 
her regard to Jafon. 


57 K tu pet KOLhe<r<rctfJL£ni. &tt btsTTst o T giToyeveiy, 



51 Afterifm 35. 

56 Epithalam. Pelei etThetidos. v. 11. 

n Orphic. Argoaautica. v. 66 . This writer a£ts with the lame inconfiftency as 

Catullus: 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


* 


495 

£ 

K oa oi <pY)ytveY)v HIPflTON tb^v^octo vyjd, 

*H Kdl V7T BlKCLTVQig SgSTfJLOig dhipLVgBOL fisvfa 

IIPOTH V7rs%£7regri<rs, Tg&tsg t wvcrcrz S’aAacrcn^. 

0 

The like is faid by Theon upon Aratus, sZ K.am)g'£giG'@Y\ $£ 
clvtyi Siol rr\v A$> y&v, on 'Srg’WTJi vccvg 'Grctg ccvTrig . It 

was placed in the heavens by Minerva , as a memorial , that the 

% 

firjl Jhip was devifed by her . All the Latiil Poets have clofe-*- 
ly copied this tradition. Lucan fpeaks of navigation com¬ 
mencing from the sera of the Argo. 

m 

59 Inde laceflitum primum mare, cum rudis Argo 
Mifcuit ignotas temerato littore gentes. 

This, according to Manilius, was the reafon of its being in¬ 
serted in the fphere. 

60 In Coelum fubducta, mari quod prima cucuxrit. 

I 

All the other 61 poets are uniformly of this opinion ^ and they 


Catullus : for after having reprefented the Argo as the firft fhip r he mentions the 
Pheacians, as a people prior to it, and very expert in navigation. 

'J spies’ Btgs<rt 7 iS} kcci ce/\i 7 r?^cty>LTcio 'zsropsws. v. 12.92. He alfo fpeaks of INI [yjua’tv 
ccTreigecnctis ( 3 gictpoz A o^os Airjr ao. v. 1298* 

58 Theon in Aratum. 

The Argo is termed epyov AS wcuns ItooviJ'oc. Apollonius. L. 1. v. 55 1 - The 
feme is to be found in Apollodorus. K cixetvos (A gyos) AQvvas uTrodepievK 'z&evTnxQv- 
tqqov vclvv xccTScncevctGre, T 7 iv •uTpoc'ayogeuQeicrccr olttq. tb xccTccaxevctactvTQS L- 

%. p. 42. 

59 Lucan. Pharfal. L. 3. v. 193. 

60 Manilii Aftron. L. 1. v. 403. 

6 * Prima Deum magnis canimus freta pervia- nautis, 

Fatidicamque ratem.. Valerius Flaccus. L. 1. v. r. 

H^ec fult ignoti prima carina maris. Martial. L. 7. Epig. j.g» 

iEquor 

IO 



496 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


ipeak the fenfe of the beft mythologies, who preceded, 
ginus, who made it his foie pnrpofe to colledl the var 
traditions of the mythic ages, concludes his account of 


Hy 


Argo in thefe words 
in ftderalem circulur 


62 


Hasc eft 


Argo, quam Minerva 


ob hoc, quod ab fe eflet aedifi 


primum in pelagus deducfta 


From hence 


think 


pi 


the hiftory of the 


Argo related to an ancient event, which the Egyptians com¬ 
memorated with great reverence. The delineation in the 
fphere was intended as a lafting memorial of a wonderful 

account one of the brighteft ftars in 

O 

re is reprefented upon the rudder of 


deliverance 


which 


the fouthern hemifphere is r< 
the fhip. The ftar by the Egyptians was called Canobus ; 
which was one of the titles of their chief Deity ; who under 
this denomination was looked upon as the particular God 


of mariners. There was 


city of this 


upon the moft 


weftern branch of the Nile, much frequented by 63 bailors 


and there was alio a temple called by Steph 


Ispov no 


iEquor Jafonio pulfatum remige primum. Ovid, de Ponto. L. 3. Epift. i.v. 1. 
Primseque ratis molitor Jafon. Ovid. Metam. L. 8. v. 302. 

Per non tentatas prima cucurrit aquas. Ovid. Trift. L. 3. Eleg. 9. v. 8. 
Prima malas docuit mirantibus $quora ventis 

Peliaco pinus vertice caefa vias. Ovid. Amorum. L. 2. Eleg. n.v. 1. 
Vellera cum Minyse nitido radiantia villo 

Per mare non notum prima petiere carina. Metamorph. L. 6. v. 721. 
Prima fretum fcandens Pagafseo littore pinus 

Terrenum ignotas hominem projecit in undas. Lucan. L. 6 . v. 400. See 
alfo Scholia upon Euripides. Medea, v. 1. 

6 * Hy ginus. Fab. 14. p. 55. 

63 MaA^a [xevTQi tw Katt'ooSix.u ^o/aclti cos ef/.7rogiu>. Strabo. L. 17. 

P- 1 153- 

c retSoovog 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 497 

c rstSoovos K.ctvw'og, the t-emple of Canohus Neptunius^ the great 
God of mai'iners. Over againft it was a fmall ifland named 
Argasus. 64 E^; <3s ‘Wgog rw Kai'Woai puttgCL VYi<ro$ Agyouz. 
Argaius, Archaius, and Argoiis, all relate to the fame hif- 

at Canobus feems to have been a ftately 
edifice ; and to have had a facred inclofure, as we may infer 
from Dionyftus. 

f 

65 K cti TSfjisvog 'uregiTv^ov ApLVxXotioio K avooKis, 

The ftar of this Deity was put upon the rudder of the Argo, 
to fhew, that Providence was its guide. It is mentioned by 
Vitruvius ; who calls it Canopus, and fays, that it was too 
low to be feen in Italy. 66 Stella Canopi, quse his regioni- 
bus eft ignota. It was alfo fcarce high enough to be feen in 
any part of Greece. Eudoxus is faid to have juft difcerned 
it from an eminence near 67 Cnidus. But there is fcarce a 
place in Europe of a latitude fo far fouth as 68 Cnidus : in 
all the celebrated places in Greece it was utterly inviftble. 
This alone would prove, that the fphere could not be the 
work of a Grecian , and that this afterifm could have no re- 

lation to that country. The ftar Canobus, as I have fhewn, 

0 

04 Steph. Byzant. 

6s n epivywais. v. 13. c O ev ax.pa tco' rnyf ctXicf A Pyvs xeijj.evo$ ^et[j. 7 rpo; ct^yp 

K ccvcoSos ovojAtzCfcTcu, Proclus de Sphxera. 

66 Vitruvius. L. 9. c. 7. 

67 Strabo. L. 2. p. 1S0. K ctv&Gos ucpccvTjs ysv toi$ tv tco 'EAAcc^/jcw kA tfActTU 
Scholia Dlonyf. v. 10. 

* s It could fcarcely be feen at Rhodes, which was nearly die fame latitude as 
Cnidus. Outos yjzv (0 KccvcoCos) ev P oSta S’evgv'ros n 'utcc.vtb^.cos ctcp 

A coy tott&v cpcctos. Proclus de Sph^ra. Scholia in Dionyf. 'wspmyw. v« 11. 

Vol. II. S f f 



was 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


49 & 


was denominated from an Egyptian Deity; and placed in 
the fphere with a particular deflgn, and attended with a very 
interefting hiftory : but both the ftar itfelf, and the hiftory, 

was in great meafure a fecret to the 

it in their ancient accounts 


which it related 


Greeks 


Not 


word is faid of 


of the 69 Argo. 


The caufe of all the miftakes in this curious piece of my¬ 
thology arofe from hence. The Arkites, who came into 
Greece, fettled in many parts, but efpecially in Argolis and 
Theflalia ; where they introduced their rites, and worfhip. 
In the former of thefe regions they were commemorated un¬ 
der a notion of the arrival of Da-Naus, or Danaus. It is 
fuppofed to have been a perfon, who fled from his brother 
fEgyptus, and came over in a facred fhip given by Minerva. 
This fhip, like the Argo, is faid to have been the firft fhip 
conftrudted : and he was aflifted in the building of it by the 
fame Deity, Divine wifdora. 70 'T7raQs[i£W}.S- Ajfaptae ou>rep 

(A ixpetos) volvv 'W.gooTQg xctrs&csuot&e . Both hiftories relate to 
the fame event. Danaus upon his arrival built a temple 
called Argus to Iona, or Juno ^ of which he made his 
daughters priefteffes. The 

feure tradition of a deluge, in which mo ft perifhed ; fome 
few only efcaping. The principal of thefe was 71 Deuca- 



69 Canopus, and Canobus, was the fame as the God Elbrus, or Aforus,. who was. 
worfliiped in Paleftine and Syrian and was fuppofed to have been the founder of 
Carthage. He is repreiented by Hefychius* as the pilot of the Argo, A o 
otuCepvv tvs tvs Apy&s* Artemis was ftyled Icr&ga. Paufan. L. 2. p. 240. and 274. 
Aforus, and Azorus, was the fame as the Hazor of die Scriptures. 

70 .Apollodorus. L. 2. p. 63. See alfo Scholia in Apollon. Argonaut. L. 1. v. 4. 

71 Natalis Comes. L. S. c. 1 7. p. 466. 

lion. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


499 


lion, who took refuge in the Acropolis, or temple. Thofe 
who fettled in Thefifaly, carried with them the (fame memo ¬ 
rials concerning 7i :Deucalion, and his deliverance; which 
they appropriated to their own country. They mu'ft have 
had traditions of this great event ftrongly imprefled upon 


their minds ; as every place, to .which they gave name, ,had 

feme reference to that hiftory. In procefs of time thefe im- 

# 

.preflions grew more and more faint; and their emblematical 
worfhip became very obfcute, and unintelligible. Hence 
they at laft confined the hiftory of this event to their own 
country : and the Argo was fuppofed to have been built, 
where it was originally enfiirined. As it was reverenced un¬ 
der the fymbol of the Moon, called Man, and Mon ; the 
people from this circumftance named their country Ai- 
Mona, in aftertimes rendered Aimonia. And we are in¬ 
formed by the Scholiaft upon 73 Apollonius, that it had of 
old many other names ; fuch as Pyrrhodia, which it received 
in memory of Pyrrha the wife of 74 E>eucalion. The hiftory 
given of the region, by the ancient poet Rhianus, is very cu¬ 
rious, and fhews plainly the original of this Arkite colony. 



7X Strabo. L. g. p. 66o and 677. 

O/ cc7ro Aei/JcaA/oorcs to yevos e%ov tes gCaciAeuc v Qeo’o-ecAioc.s. Schol. in Apollon. 
L. 4. v. 266. 

7} Strabo. L. 9. p. 677. Schol. Apollonii. L. 3. v. 1087. 

74 She was the wife of that Deucalion, 



'Os 'srpctiTos tzto inert 'worsts, kcc; t^£i/j.ccTO v»ss 

ASaraTois, TtrpwTog sTe. a.v§pwrc»v fietaihevev. 

* • 

Apollonius Rhod. L. 3. v. 1087. 


Scholia Apollon, fupra. 


* 



s ff 2 



5°° 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


EE vppag AevzaAiwvog a% APXAIAS aXoyoia. 

76 'Ai[jloviy}V <T s^avng a<p 'Aipovog, ov pa UsXa<ryog 

■ VziV.OLTO <p£gT££QV VIOV, 6 (T CIV TSZS ©SCTCTaAoJ/ 'A l [/.(tilt. 

Ta<T a7C0 ®e<T<rahiY\v Xaoi naTs<pY\[u%avTo . 


this country 


were the cities Arne, LarifTa, Argos, Theba 
and Magneiia; all denominated from the fame worihip 
Here was 77 ILiAjaoW atcpov, the promontory of the Doves : 


and the fea port 


of the fame purport 


Arg 


and 


Theba. It was one of the moft ancient cities of Theffaly, in 
which the Argo was fuppofed to have been laid up : and the 

denomi- 
ie of the 


hiftory of the pi 


name fhews the true 
nated from the Ark, ftyled 'O Knag ; which was 
Grecian names for a large ark or float 


was 


Ily 


Iolcus was origi- 
prefled laolcus, which is a variation of Aia-Olcasy 

lius makes ufe of 


the place of the Ark. Medea in Apollonius 
the true name, when fhe fpeaks of being wafted to Greece 


78 H avrr\v [jlb ra^eiai vnsg 'utwtoio cpsgoiev 

TLv6zv <T sig Iao7\Kov avagna%a<rai asKKau 

• « • 

Pagafas in the feminine is the fame as Pegafus : and received 
its name from a well known emblem* the horfe of Pofeidbn; 


/6 The country *Aipcvict is in like manner ftyled by Callimachus* in. 

•fpeaking of the Argonauts. 

c Hpcoes a.7r Amtclo KTTAIOT 

AuGjs APXAIAN S 7 rAeov C A ip.Qi'i<x.v. See Strabo. L. i. p, yS . 

77 Adt nta. S' yepw 'zvoAvAvics cact Tls^ccayoov 

Z^vero^ rhihia.S'cts Se ruj-ccgetzvfjLeiGov spi 7 ri>ct$. Apollon. L. i. v. 580. 

78 .Apollon. Rhod. L. 3. v. mo. Homer alfo flyles it Eucv^ogos Iccfi\xo;. 
OdylT. A. v. 255. 

by 

♦ 

1 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 50.1 

by which we are to underftand an ark, or fhip. 79 I7 r7tsg 

yotg 6 'GT01K)TY)S T Ct$ PCLVg B17CS, KOU YjfJOSig TOP TloVSt$CCVC& 'I 7T7tlOV 

KCLha^tev. kou by syyt 7\oyop zm yr\g imtog, top olvtop sp Sot- 

I 

XcartTY] vctvg. By horfes, fays Artemidorus, the poets mean 
jhips ; and hence it is, that Pofeidon is Jiyled Hippius. For 
there is a ftriEt analogy between the poetical horfe on land, and 
a real floip in the fea. Hence it came, that Pegafus was 
efteemed the horfe of Pofeidon, and often termed ^Kvcpiog ; a 
name, which relates to a 80 fhip, and fhews the purport of 
the emblem. The ark, we know, was- preferved by divine 
providence from the fea, which would have overwhelmed it: 
and as it was often reprefented under this fymbol of a horfe, 
it gave rife to the fable of the two chief Deities contending 
about horfes. 

** 'Os 'UfOTZ. 01 $Ylgl<r<TCtV Ots7\KO7rQ$O0P • U7T££ 'l7T7roOP 

Zeus v-^/tEgs[A£Trig, kou 'urovnog Evvoriycaog , 

It was upon this account that the cities named Argos had 
the title, of 'I THTioi kou 'IttttoSoto;, Hippii and Hippobotce. I 
have mentioned that the Arkite worfhip was introduced into 
Italy by people ffcyled Arcades, and Argasi.: and here was an 
821 Argos Hippium in the region of Daunia. I imagine, that 
none of thefe appellations related to the animal, an horfe \ 
but to an emblem, under which in thofe places the ark was 


79 


80 


81 


Artemidorus. L>. i. c. 58.* 

O vof+cc yv to) 'gtXqiu FI vyccaoc. Palcepliatus.-. 

Orph. Argonaut, v: 1275.- 

Tcc 'urepi /Savi'i&s xca to A.pyos to c iiririov . Strabo. L. 5. p. 329. See alio 


L. 8. p. 56S. A pyos—IctGovf n v IttttoQotov, 


reverenced, 



5°' 2 


The Analysts of Ancient Mythology. 


* 3 reveffenced. Daunia itfelf is a compound of Da-Ionia, and 
fignifies the land of the Dove. In Theflaly every rplace 
feems to have had a reference to this hiftory. Two of the 


chief 


s 


and Oila. 


of which fi g 


lies the mountain of the Dove, and the other of the 8+ Oracle. 
Near Pagafae and Iaolcus was a promontory named Byrrha ; 
and near it two illands, named the illands of 85 Pyrrha and 


Deucalion. 


Thefe circumftances contain no internal evi 


dence of the Grecian Argorrantic hiftory ; hut afford won¬ 
derful evidence of the Arkites, and their rites, which were 
introduced in all thefe places. The Grecians took the hif¬ 
tory to themfelves ; and in confequence of this alfumption, 
wherever they heard that any people under the title of Ar¬ 
cades or Argsei fettled, they fuppofed that their Argo had 
been. Hence they made it pafs not only through the mofh 
diftant feas, but over hills, and mountains, and through the 


* l There is no fatisfactory hiftory, that any of thefe places were really famous for 
horfes : and though the poet fays Aptum dicet equis 'A fgo's j yet I' have' reaforr to 
think, that the notion arofe from a miftake in terms. I imagine, that the term itt- 
TTOaOTos was originally differently expreffed ; and that it dignified, Hippo-Bat, or 
the temple of the Ark. It was fometimes reprefented by a Cetus 5 and Nonnus 
under the character of Perfeus defcribes fame Perezites, who fettled in Daunia, 
founding a temple under this emblem. 

" ' ‘ 'z&ccf " 


OAxacfa Aa ivSnv Tvpo-rmSt -sr?j^s S'aAac-o-n 


P 


1232. Hence we may fee that tl 
84 Oaaa , Srsicc, x.A»JW, xan (pvuv. 


‘z&eTP&ttrbcTO Ttepirivs. ' Noniii Dionyf. L. 47 


Scholia in Iliad. B. v. 9^. 
He t is oacrccy 

He th aJ>sAos opvn. Apollon. Argon. L. 3. v. mo. 

* J T Trsp canav Se at G>/)€at, sito. ccx-ga. Duppa, x.at Svo yijtrtJ'uc 

Happen to Ss x«Ae<T6c;. Strabo. L. 9. 665. 

7 


midft 



The- Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 503. 

midft of both Europe and Afia; there being no. difficulty, 
that could flop it. They fe.nt their heroes to Colchis, 
merely becaufe fome of their family had fettled: there. They 
made them vifit Troas and Phrygia, where was both a city 
Theba, and Larifla, fimilar to thole in their own country. 
Some Arcades had fettled here ; who were fuppofed to have 
been led by Dardanus, the brother of Jafion. Virgil, I 
know not why, would make him come from Italy : but 
86 Dionyfius Halicarnaflenfis, a better mythologifl, ftyles him 
Areas ; by which we are to underhand an Arkite : and fays, 
that after a deluge he came with his nephew Corybas from 
Arcadia to Samothraee ; and from thence to Phrygia. There 
were innumerable colonies of Arkites, who went abroad, and 
made various fettlements : but the Grecians have aferibed the 
whole to the Arcades, Argasi, and Argonautas of their own 
country. Yet after all their prejudices they alford many cu¬ 
rious traditions ; lb that from the collateral hiftory we may 
always perceive who thefe Argives and Argonauts were. Bfer- 
mione, one of the mod: ancient cities in Greece, was laid' to 
have been built by Argives. The true name was Herm- 
lone, a compound of two Egyptian titles ; and by them was 
denoted a city facred to the Arkite Dove. Samos was parti¬ 
cularly dedicated to Juno: and we are told, that fome Ar¬ 
gonauts came hither, and brought the image of the Goddefs 
from 87 Argos ; for the reception of which they built the 
chief temple in the ifland. But upon inquiry we ffiail find. 


86 


L. 1. p. 48. 


s> E*<7U' 5 01 l&gVGCtcBoU <pa.fji TBS tv Tfl 01 ITAf GLTTCC'jfSG'Qxi S'S CCVT&$ TO 

0:5 aA/xa A eyas. Paufanias. L. 7. p. 53 9. 


that 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


S°4 

that thefe Argonauts were no other than the ancient Maca- 

The Grecians defcribe them in the lingular by the 


rians. 


name of Macareus; whom they fuppofe to have come to 88 Sa- 

9 

mos, Lelbos, and other Afiatic idands after the deluge ; and 

to have raifed temples to the Gods ; and renewed the reli- 

♦ 

gious rites, which had been omitted, while thofe idands lay 
89 defolate. There was a remarkable mountain in Samos, 
named 90 Cercetus ; undoubtedly from fome building facred 
to the Cetus, the fame as Atargatus, and Dagon. Tarfus, a 
city of the higheft antiquity, was founded by the firft Ionim 


Syria. 


from 


This too was faid to have been built by people 
Argos. The city Gaza in Paleftine was named both 
Iona, and Minoa : the latter of which names it was faid to 
have received from 91 Ion of Argos. I have taken particular 
notice of the city Cibotus in Lydia; which was apparently 
denominated from the Ark, and retained many memorials of 
the Deluge. This was faid to have been built by one of the 
daughters of 93 Danaus ; confequently by the people of Argos. 
If we look into the hiftory of 94 Danae, and her fon Perfeus, 


S8 


Diodorus Sic. L. 5. p. 347. Tw otvTiirepctv roov vvacov' Sict tgv otaTccxXvafiov 


fxeyaXccs xcti S'eivccs xctTcta^eiv cct voices. 

89 ZSicc rets e 7 ro[j€pia.s ecp^ccgfjevcov tcov xctp 7 rcoi\ Ibid. 

90 Strabo. L. 10. p. 747. Ei/cPo^cu re xcci to tv clvtv opa KecxeTsds. 

Dercetus is called Cercetus by Ampelius, c. 9. -SeeHyginus. notes, p. 343- 

91 T ctpaoi^ S* ccttoixos A gyeiwv. Steph. Byzant. 

‘ 9 * Se xcti I coni ex. tv$ Ib?. Steph. Byzant. 

93 Strabo. L. 12. p. 868. Lindus, Jalyfus, and Camirus, in Rhodes, were faid 
to have been named from fome of the daughters of Danaus. Strabo. L. 14. p. 966. 
The temple at Lindus Aarai'JW iSpvfj.cc . Ibid. p. 967. 

94 Qu Aawtt Kct^ev oixov 0?ivfj.7ricv 3 vygoirogx cf e 
IS.cegvcxM.oi evS'ov exact A 10 s raimAActra wpecpn 


’Mefj.<pofjev:u 

IO 


Nonnus. L. 25. p. 648. v. 12. 


the 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. S°S 

the like circumftances will be obfervable. After they had 
been expofed in an ark, they are faid to have come to Argos. 
From thence they paffed into Italy ; where forrie of their 
company fettled upon the Portus Lunus, and Portus Argons; 
others founded the cities Larina, Ardea, and Argos Hippium 
in Daunia. All which was fuppofed to have been performed 
by Argonauts and Argives. Even' 95 Memphis in Egypt is fup¬ 
pofed to have had the fame origin. This too, if we may be¬ 
lieve the Grecians, was built by Argives. But by this was 
certainly meant Arkites : for Argos itfelf in the Peloponnefus 
could not have fupplied perfons to have effefted, what was 
fuppofed to have been done. There were fome lonim, who 
fettled upon theOrontes ; where they built the city Iona, called 
afterwards Antiochea. Thefe alfo were termed Argives by 
the Greeks, and were fuppofed to have come from Argos. Ce- 
drenus accordingly ftyl'es them 96 rag cl A Agy&g lwvtT&g? the 
Tonitce from -Argos. It is alfo faid by another writer, 97 that 
Perfeus being informed that there were lonitse in Syria, who 
were by nation Argives, made them’ a vifit, and built for 
them a temple. He did the fame in Perfis ; and in both re¬ 
gions inftituted Puratheia; and the name, which he gave to 
each of thefe edifices, was the temple of the everlafting fire. 
Thefe temples however were not built by Perfeus; but 


95 Eufeb. Chron. p. 27. 29. 

96 P. 2.2. E/T<x-e$.To opos ivg& tbs car A pyss If2NITA2» 

A pyeioi} oiTives mcLpoc tols czvto:$ Icr.v.rca zti vvv. Chron. Faf- 

chale. p. 42. 

97 O fAcSoov on t y-Hvpia, £'ipc.y&<riv sx, tb APFOT2 IfFNlTAI^ /jASsp 

vm tyiv 2 vpicci'i —O cTe ctvTOS Flepcrevi SKTore tois Ico7roA/TaG (It lliould be laroTroAi- 
tccis) tepov^ ktA. Chron. Pafch. p. 40. 


VOL. 11. 


T t t 


ereSted 



506 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


erected to hi 


have fhewn that Perleus was 


Deity, the fame as Helius, and Ofiris : and he was worfhiped 


in thefe pi 


by the Ionim, who were Arkites 



The 

counts therefore, which have been given above, may be all 
admitted as true, if inftead of Perfeus we fubftitute Pere- 
iians, and Perezzites ; and inftead of natives of Argos we 
read Argoi, and Arkitas, or as it is fometimes rendered. 

People of thefe denominations did fettle in Pa- 
leftine ; and occupied a great part of Syria. From thence 
they came to Greece and Italy : though the Grecians have 
reverfed the hiftory ; and would perfuade us that they pro¬ 
ceeded from Hellas, and more particularly from 99 Argos. 


Architae 


The 


to which we 


pp'y 


Egypt. To this 


country we muft look up for the original of this much mif- 
taken people, the Ionim, Arkitze, and Argonauts. 


Here was 


the moft 


ancient city Theba : and from hence we may ob¬ 
tain the beft accounts of thefe Colonies, which were diffufed 
fo widely. Apollonius Rhodius mentions that the various 
peregrinations 6 f the Argonauts were appointed by an. 
oracle ; 


and fays, that it came from Theba in Egypt 


too 


ycLP 'urXoog 


AQolvoltwv 'legrjsz 


Ilepgccoev, 61 ©ij&js T giToovdos SKyeyctcLtn 


98 So the title was exprefled in Syria. The Goddefs upon mount Libanus was 
ftyled Venus Architis. Macrob. Sat. L. 1. c. 21. 

99 Even among the Grecians the term Argivus was not of old confined to Ar¬ 
gos. Agyeioi, at ‘EAAwrss. All the Grecians , fays Hefychius, are Argivi. Hence 
we may perceive, that though it was fometimes limited to one diftridt, yet it was 
originally taken in a greater latitude. Agyetvs cTg TO s 'EAAjj vets 01 -za-aA ouoi 'wo.vt as 
of *aAzus ■zzrpoanyopsvov. Plutarch. Quseft. Romanas. p. 272. -It is ufed continually 
in this acceptation by Homer. 

100 L. 4. 260. 

This 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


5°7 


This was the city, where the Arkite rites in 1 Egypt were 
firfl inftituted; and from which all other cities called Theba 
feem to have had their name. It flood high upon the Nile: 
and if any body fhould afk, whence it was fo denominated, 
Nonnus can give a precife and determinate anfwer. 


* VOTIW <WCLgCL N eiXcp 

©HBH2 APXErONOIO (psgoovvpLog S7rK5To ©jo?*}. 

The purport of which, I think, is plainly, that 'Theba upon 


the mof fouthern part of the Nile 


the remotef region of 


Egypt, ’was built , and named , after the ark , which was the true 
and 07'iginal Theba. 

The chief title, by which the Argonauts were diftinguifh- 
ed, was that of Minyas : the origin of which appellation has 
been matter of debate among moft writers upon this fubjedl. 
The rnofb general account is, that there was a perfon named 
Minyas, a king of Orchomenos in ThefTaly ; from whofe 
daughters the Argonauts were in great meafure defcended. 


3 Tg£ fzsv Agisyois Mivvctg 'sregivousTOLoneg 

Y^IKXyiVKQV [JLCtXOt 'UTOLVTCCg, S7TSI M IVVOLO ©vyurgoov 

Oi 'wXsig'oiy koli ctgifoi cup dtipLouTog evyerowTo 

’EfJLfJLSVCtr (kg Je KOU OLVTOV ItjCOVO, ySlVCLTO [JLYjTYjg 

A7\Kipubr ii KAtijttg vqg MivvY\i$og eaysyccviot. 


* I fay in Egypt: for thefe rites came originally from Chaldea, being intro¬ 
duced by the Cuthite Shepherds. 

* D onyf. L. 41. p. 1068. 

3 Apollon. L. 1. v. 229. 


T t t 2 


The 



508 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

The Scholiaft upon Pindar fpeaks to the fame purpofe ; and 
fays, that the Minyas were CLg’fcouov ysvog , an ancient race, and 
defcended from 4 Miny.as of Theffaly. This Minyas was the 
fon of Callirrhoe, and Pofeidon: though Paulanias makes 
him the fon of 5 Chrufes : and other writers vary {fill more 
in their 6 opinions. Thefe genealogies are fidtitious, and in- 
confiftent; and confequently not at all fatisfadtory. The Ar¬ 
gonauts are enumerated by many authors ; and are defcribed 
as coming from places widely feparated : on which account 
there could not have fubfiffed between them the relation 
here fuppofed. They could not be fo generally defcended. 
from a king of Orchomenos : for they are reprefented as na¬ 
tives of very different regions. Some of them came from 
Pylos, Taenarus, and Lacedaemon : others from Phocis, and 
iEfolia, There were others, who came from countries ftill 
more remote : from 7 Thrace, and the regions about Mount 
Haemus ; alfo from Samos, Ephefus, and places in Aha. 

I have already given fome intimations that the Minyae, 

however expreffed, were no other than the worfhipers of the 

♦ 

4 To S £ T OJU M IVVWV ysvos CLp^CClOV 0C7T0 M IVVB T 3 ©6TT# Afe?.—- cTg X.QZI 

yziToves ci M ivvocS'ou O^ofJCBvicov. 'O yctp M ivuos 'zergooro; QpxpfjLevioov. Schol. 

In Pindar. Olymp. Ode 13. p. 124. 

Opxoptvov Miweiov. Homer. Iliad. B. v. 511. Atto tb Aios vre. Schol. ibid. 

A.7T0 ’Mwv's tb rico-etJ'oovos txtcliSos Kcti KaAA/ppcws. Schol. in Lycoph. v, 874. 

5 Tzos yivercu XPT 2 H JyUvuczs, kcli cltt outtb M ivucu. Paufan. L. 9. p. 783, 

6 See Scholia upon Pindar. Pyth. Ode 4. p. 240. Alfo Schol. Apollon. L. 1. 
v. 230. Servius in Virg. Eclog. 4. v. 34. 

M ivvtov^ Agycpccurcdv' on 61 1 ttXzibs ccutcdv Op^optsm tb M ivusib yjaocp-. Schol. in 
Lycoph. v. 874. 

7 Orpheus came from Thrace; alfo Zethus and Calais from the fame quarter: 
Eurytus and Echion from Ephefus : Anceus from Samos ; Erginus fronr Miletus: 
Deucalion from Crete : Therfanon from Andros. Hyginus. Fab. 14. p. 38. 

10 Lunar 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


509 


Lunar Deity Menes : and under this title there occur people 
in many different parts. We muff not then look for the 
original of the term Minyae in Greece ; but from among 



dians. There were Minyae, or 8 Minnaei upon the Red Sea ; 
Minyas near 9 Colchis ; a city Minya, and people denomi- 
nated from it, in 10 Phrygia. In the ifland Sicily were Me- 
nasi, the fame as the Minyas in Greece. Their chief city 
was ” Menas near the country of the Leontini ; where the 
emblem of the facred Bull was fo religioufly preferved. All 
thefe places will be found to have been thus denominated 
from the fame rites and worfhip. The people, who were 
called. Minyae, or Menians, were Arkites : and this denomi- 
nation they took from the Ark ; and alfo from the Patriarch, 


who was at times called Meen, Menes, and Manes. Thofe 
therefore, who in any part of the world went under this ap¬ 
pellation, will univerfally be found to have a reference to 
the fame objedt. The principal, and probably the moft an¬ 
cient, Minyae, were thofe, whofe country is mentioned in 
12 Nicolaus Damafcenus by the name of Minyas.. This peo¬ 
ple refided at the bottom of Mount Ararat, where the Ark 


8 AvTctg TLpvbpoLtws *z<rA evgctv rcti&crt SraActcro'VS 

M wveuoL t£> re. * Dionyf. Tz-epiyy. v. 959. 

Minnseique maris prope Rubri littora vivunt. Prifcian. Periegefis.. v. S88. 
fylivctioiy s^vcs t>j r znyccpcc\ioj TipuBgcts Srcthoicr o~yj?» Stcph. Byzant. See Strabo* 

L. 16. 1122. 

9 Minyse appellati vel ab agro hujus nominis.Colchorum,.&c. Servius in "V irg. 


Eclog. 4. v. 34. 


10 


M tvvex* izroAiv &£t TaA/a5— cTg sr^pcc tfrpvyioi;. 


Steph. Byzant. Minya: in 


Arcadia. Strabo. L. 8. p. 519. 

IX Stephanus. See Cluver. L. 2. c. 7. Sicilia, p. 339 * called now Manio. 

“ Eufeb. Pra^p. Evang. L. 9. p. 414. £7rep t w MiwccS'cc i^eycc opos Bag*. 



5 io The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

firffc refted. I have mentioned, that they called this moun¬ 
tain Baris from the appulfe of the facred fhip ; and retained 
many memorials of the Deluge. At no great diftance, in 
the fame region, was a city named 13 Areas, and Area. The 
Minnasi upon the Red Sea were Arabians, who all worfhiped 
the Lunar Deity. By this they did not refer to the Moon ; 
but to the genius of the Ark, whom they ftyled Menith, 
Maneth, and Mana. One of their chief cities was named 
,+ Manna-Carta, from this Goddefs there worfhiped. They 
called her alfo Mather, and Mither, fimilar to the 15 Mithra 
of the Perfians : by which was fignified the mother of Gods, 
and men. Of the Minyas near Magnelia and mount Sipulus, 
and in the neighbourhood of 16 Cibotus, I have taken notice 
before. They preferved, as I have fhewn, wonderful evi¬ 
dences of the Deluge : and many thought that the Ark itfelf 
refted in their country, upon the mountains of Celaenae; 
The Menaei in Sicily were fituated upon the river Mena’is. 
They had traditions of a Deluge ; and a notion, that Deu¬ 
calion was faved upon mount JEtna ; near which was the city 
17 Noa. There were of old Minyae in Elis, upon the river 
t8 Minyas, which ran by the city Arene, as we learn from 
Homer. He renders it Minyeius. 

,J Antoninus, p. 148. p. 214. It is called Apxct by Hierocles Grammaticus, 
p. 703. ibid. 

IX Steph. Byzant. Pliny mentions Sabasi Minasi. L. 6. c. 28. 

15 Selden de Diis Syris. Syntag. 2. p. 179. 180. Meneth is mentioned in the 
Alcoran as an Arabian idol. 

16 Their chief city was named Minua* which Stephanus places ev r cus opiois tt# 

/iuf'iccs* 

17 Steph. Byzant. N ootu Diodorus. L. 11. p* 67. 

18 Paufanias. L. 5. p. 387. 

Efi 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology- 



x 9 


E?i <Js rig 'uroTotfjLog Mivvyiog 
EyyvOsp APHNH 2 . 


Q> aAAow 


The city Arena is literally the city of the Ark. It feems to 


have been fltuated upon a facred hill called 10 Sama-Con, 
near the grove and temple of Iona : in all which names we 
may fee a reference to the fame rites and hiflory. The 
moft celebrated city of this name (WLipvcl) was Orchomenes 
in Theffaly; which was fo denominated from the Lunar 
God, and from the rites fpoken of above. Hence it was 
alfo called Almon, and the region Almonia ; equivalent to 
Aimon and Aimonia, by which it was alfo diftinguifhed. 

M ivvoty T*ro?\ig ©erraAia^, y\ 'urgoregov AA^&wa, cup r t g y) : Mivvcl. 
Pliny affords evidence to the fame purpofe. “ 


%1 


autem 


M In Theffalia 

Orchomenus Minyeus antea didlus, et oppidum 
Almon, ab aliis Elmon. Oppidum Almon and Elmon fig T 
nifies literally the town of the God Lunus, or Deity of the 
Ark : for the Ark, as I have repeatedly fhewn, was expreffed 
and reverenced under the figure of a lunette. All the na¬ 
tives of thefe cities called Magnefia, were properly Minyae, 
and named from the fame worfhip. lolcos iix Theffaly was 


9 Iliad. .A- v. 721-. 

xo It is rendered Samicon by Strabo. To fxev sv 'Xa.uiy.cv e~iv epvfxa. — ra^a S'e- 
kcli ms Agvvvs a.ypQ7TQ?^is y\v EvrauQx Se yai ?a ocAan^ to re IflNAIQN. 

Strabo. L. 8. p.532, .533. Sama-Con, fignum ccelefte, five fignum Dei. Strabo 
fuppofes that Samos and Samicon were fo n£med from Sama, high : eireiS'w Xajxys 
zxclAbv rcc. v^v. And Sama certainly had that.meaning: but in this place Sama 
fignifies. fignum ; fimilar to and avjxa, .which were derived from it. . 

2,1 Steph. Byzant. 

** L. 4. c. 8. Harduin reads Salmon. 

23 Orchomenus^ is a compound of Or-Chom-Men, three titles, .which need* no 
explanation.. 

the 



512 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


the city of the Ark, and hence called alfo ** Lariffa: on 
which account the ancient inhabitants were ftyled as Minyae, 
and the country ~ 6 Magnefia. As the name of the Deity 
Meen and Manes was changed to Magnes; fo the people 
thence denominated had alfo the title of Magnetes : which was 
the .ufual appellation given to them by the natives of Afia. 

Thus have I endeavoured to fhew that the Arg-onautic ex¬ 


pedition, as reprefented by the Greeks, was a fable : and I 
have proceeded to afcertain the true objebt, to which it re¬ 
lated. The Grecians in their accounts of the heroes have 
framed a lift of perfons who never exifted. And had there 
been fuch perfons, as they reprefented ; yet they would have 
been far too few to have effected, what they are fuppofed to 
have performed. Jafon has been efteemed the chief in all 


their adventu 


of 


facred 


But this is a feigned perfonage, made 
Strabo takes notice of many temple 


which were held 


high 


reverence 


the eaft called Jafo 
by the natives of thofe parts 

EIVCU TO. IxCTOVSlCL 'H£6<)a, T IfJLOOfJLSVCt <r<po£gcc VTO T OOP 

Marcellinus mentions the a8 mountain of Jafon near Ecba 


Toy fJLEV lourovog V7T0[JLVir\fJUCTCl 


(2>otg£ag 


cav. 


Media 


and in another pi 


he 


prefents that city 


as fituated at the bottom of this Z9 mountain 


Some of 


+ In Theffalia Larifla, aliquando Iolcos. Mela. L. 2. c. 3. 

20 Tov I wAjcov M ivuxi ton'w. Schol. Apollon. E. i. v. 763. M ivuou quafi Ma- 
vvgli. Selenitic. 

Mayvncrict', oy.cowfAos ’t'a Schol. Apollon. L. 1. v. 584. Some make 

lolcos the fame as l J agafe, where the Argo was built. Pagafe was in Magnefia. 
J^KPoornciov blccywcricts. Schol. Apollon. L. 1. v. 238. 

27 L. 11. p. 798. 

2S L. 2. p. 288. 

29 L. 3. p. 289. Egbatana fub monte Jafonio. 

thefe 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 513 

thefe temples flood in 30 Armenia : others were to be met 
with as far off as the 31 Pyls Cafpias, near Badtria, and Mar- 
giana. In all thefe countries we may obferve names of 
cities, which had a reference to the Arkite hiflory ; fuch as 
3a Area, 33 Lariffa, 34 Baris, 35 Argos : and we have reafon to 
infer that the temples of Jafon related to the fame event. 
Some of thefe are mentioned by Juflin as of great antiquity, 

w 

and much reverenced ; which however Parmenio, the gene¬ 
ral of Alexander, ruined. 36 Quas Parmenio, dux Alexandri, 
poll multos annos dirui juflit. To fuppofe with Strabo, 
that all thefe temples, and cities, fituated in regions fo re- 
mote, were built by Jafon of Greece, would be idle. Be¬ 
ll cles, there are writers, who mention the like memorials 
of the Argonauts among the Iberians, and Celtae, upon the 
great 37 Atlantic ; and all along the coafl of Hetruria. Ja¬ 
fon was certainly a title of the Arkite God, the fame as 
Areas, Argus, Inachus, and Prometheus : and the temples 
were not built by him, but eredted to his honour. It is faid 


30 T cc Ictcrcveict tws ApfJiWias* kcu tyis koli twv 'z&hycnoys&pMv 

ctvrccis itottoov £eiKWTcci. Strabo. L. i. p. 77. and L. x 1. p. 769. 

31 Opos fJieycc vyrep tcov Kccgttigvv 'ZuuAoov bv ctpi^epcx* ito&A&fASvov I otaovetov. Ibid* 

P- 798 . 

31 Hieronymus Grammat. apud Antonin. Itin. p. 703. Apkcc. Antonini Xtin. 
p. 148. Areas. 

33 Xenophon. Ara£. p. 308. There was alfo a LarifTa in Syria. Strabo. L. 16. 
p. 1092. 

34 Strabo. L. n. p. 803. Tws Bapi^o? vecos upon mount Taurus near Egbatana: 
the fame probably as the Jafoneum. 

35 A^-os, epu/xa. 'wgas tm Tavpcu. Strabo. L. 12. p. 811. 

56 L. 42. c. 3. 

37 Diodor. Sic. L. 4. p. 259. 

VOL. II. 


U u u 


of 



514 The Analysis op Ancient Mythology. 

of this perfonage, that, when a child, he underwent the lame 
fate as Ofiris, Perfeus, and Dionufus : 3 ® in area opertus et 
claufus eft, tanquam mortuus : He 'was concealed and Jhut up 
in aji Hrk, as if he had been dead. Juftin places him in the 
fame light as Hercules, and Dionufus: and fays that by moll 
of the people in the eaft he was looked up to as the founder 
of their nations; and had divine honours paid to him. 
29 Itaque Jafoni totus ferme Oriens ut conditori, .^ivinos ho- 
nores, templaque conftituit. I fiifpedl, that JEfon, Jafon,. 

Jafton, and Jaftus, were originally the fame title ; though 
at this time of day we cannot perhaps readily arrive at the 
purport. Argos was ftyled Jafon. $ which further confirms 
me, that it was an Arkite title. Eurymachus in Homer 
tells Penelope, that fhe would have a greater number of 
lovers, 

41 Et 'urcLV'tsg <rs i$oiev oul Ia<rov A gyog Aypuoi, 

Strabo alfo mentions ** Jafon Argos, and Hippium. The 


38 Natalis Comes. L. 6. p. 315. 

39 Juftin. L. 42. c. 3. p. 589. Tacitus. Annal. L. 6. c. 3-4. 

40 It may be worth while to fee the hiftory, which the mythologifts give of thefe 
perfonages. Jafus was the fon of Argus. Apollodorus. L. 1. p. 59, 60. 

Jaftus, Janigena, tempore Deucalionis, cujus nuptiis interfuit 16 . Hoffman 
from Berofus. 

Ictaicov AyfAYirpos epxcrBeis. See Servius in iEneid. L. 3. v. 168. 170. I&> lctas 

S'vya.T/ip* Paufan. L. 2. p. 145. lexers ( 2 capias. Ibid. L. 5. p. 412. /Elbn was re- 
ftored to fecond youth. 

Aur/xa cF A taovee (pi^ov xogov fiSooovTct 

Twgccs ex 7 ro^uacco-cc . Auftor Reditus. 

4T Odyff. S. v. 245. 

41 A^aiKov Apyo;j— n lac rovj i\ e Vtnriov 5 'Ittt-o&toj'* ;ov* L. 8. p. 568. 

9 lame 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology, 515 

fame is repeated by Hefychius. Hence I am led to think, 
that all thofe temples, mentioned by Strabo under the name 
of Jafonea, were temples of 43 Argos, the Ark. Many of 
them were in Armenia, the region of the mod; ancient Mi- 

4 

nyas, in the vicinity of mount Baris ; where the Ark really 
refted, and where the memorials of the Deluge were reli- 
gioufly preferved. 

43 The temple of Juno Argiva, among the Lucanians in Italy, was laid to have 
ben built by Jafon. Strabo. JL. 6, p. 3 s6 - 


J 


U U U 2 


THE 



( 5*7 ) 


THE 

s 

CONCLUSION. 

T HESE inftances of Arkite worfhip in. the Gentile world 

I thought proper to enumerate and difplay : as it is a 
fubjedfc very curious and interefting, and at the fame time 
quite new, having hitherto been overlooked, and neglected. 
From what has been faid, I think, it is plain, however the 
Grecians may have taken the hiftory to themfelves, that the 
Argo was the facred fhip of Oliris ; and confequently no other 
than the Ark. The fhrines, where it was reverenced, were 
efteemed oracular ; and the prlefts who officiated, had among 
other titles that of Cabiri. And it is probable, that both 
they and their oracle are alluded to by Mofes, when he pro¬ 
hibits that particular kind of divination, which he ftyles 
"pn, "On, 1 Chabar, Chabar. The rites were certainly of high 
antiquity: and though they began very foon in Egypt; yet 
they feem to have been of ftill earlier date among the people 
. of Babylon and Chaldea. I imagine that they commenced in 
the ancient city Erech, which was built by * Nimrod ; and 


* Deuteronomy, c. 18. v. iu 
x Genelis* c. io* v. ro*. 


5 i8 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

was called Erecca, and Aracca, by the Grecians. They 
probably prevailed in other cities of the country, efpecially 
at Barlippa ; if that were not another name for the fame 
place, as I have reafon to fufpeCl. The name Area, which 
was current in other regions, feems to he no other than 
Arecca contracted : and I am induced to believe, that Ar¬ 
eas, Argos, Arguz, were the fame term with different termi¬ 
nations. The Deity of Erech was undoubtedly the original 
EreCtheus. The Chaldeans expreffed it Erech-Thoth, ana¬ 
logous to Pirom-Thoth, or Prometheus ; and by it they de- 

4 

noted the Arkite God. The Grecians took this perfoiiage 
to themfelves, and fuppofed that he had reigned in Attica. 
But I have mentioned, that when Solon was in Egypt, and 
heard the. hiftory of the Atlantians, and of other colonies, 
from that country, he found the name of 3 EreCtheus, and of 
many other perfonages, at the head of their lifts, which 
flood foremoft in the lifts of Greece. Hence it is plain that 

they were adventitious, and foreign to his nation, which had 

* 

through ignorance adopted them. Erech-Thoth, or EreCt- 
heus, was certainly a Deity : and who was alluded to under 
this character may be known by his department. Zeus by 
4 Lycophron is ftyled EreCtheus : and the Scholiaft tells us, 
that it was alfo a title of Pofeidon. 5 Hge’xflsvg YloareiScav, t) 6 

Xsvg. Athenagoras fays exprefly, that the Athenians wor- 
fhiped him as the Deity of the fea. 6 A Otyociog 'Egsy^si Uo- 

} Plato. Critias. vol. 3. p. no. See alfo page 190 of this volume. 

4 V. 158. 

6 Ibid. Ereftheus is A oe% r ®eos. Deus Architis. 

6 Legatio. p. 812. Plutarch in Lycurgus mentions TloaeiS'oov 

<r$t$oevi 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 519 

CeificdPi &vsi. Eridthonius was the fame perfonage whom Mi¬ 
nerva was fuppofed to have inclofed in an Ark. 7 E^crrj koli 

Yl&vdgocrw ftovvou <pa<nv A drjvctv — kolQsktolv sg KIBQTON. He 

was depolited in this Ark in a ftate of childhood ; and re- 
prefented under the emblem of an infant, whofe lower parts 
ended in a ferpent. Others defcribed him as guarded by a 
lerpent, which twined 8 round him. His reputed daughters 
were prieftefles of the Ark : one of which feems to have 
been guilty of fome profanation of the myfteries intrufted to 
her ; and upon this account were fuppofed to have incurred 
the anger of Minerva. Ovid fpeaks of Eridthonius, as a per- 
fon who had no mother, and has handed down a curious 
epitome of his hiftory. 

9 Pallas Eridlhonium, prolem fine matre creatam, 

Clauferat Adteo texta de vimine cilia : 

Virginlbufque tribus, gemino de Cecrope natis, 
Servandam tribuit, fed enim inconfeffa, quid effet : 

Et legem dederat, fua ne fecreta viderent. 

One of them however, milled by a fatal curiolity, took off 
the cover of the Ark, and difclofed the hidden myftery to 
her lifters. 

Aglauros nodofque manu diducit ; et intus 
Infantemque vident, exporredtumque draconem. 

Eridthonius feems as a name to be a compound of Erech, the 


7 Paufanias. L. i. p. 41* 

8 nepe<r7r€ipa:{ji€vDv Spccxovrct. Apollodorus. L. 3. p. 196. 

9 Ovid. Metamorph. L. 2. v. 553* 


Arkite 



520 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


Arkite title; and Thon or Thonius, which was an oriental 
term, and poftibly had the fame meaning as yr}yevy)$. Paufa- 
nias lpeaks of him as an earth-born perfonage ; one who 
had no real 10 father. Ovid above had defcribed him as 

to 

having no mother. Erecftheus likewife had the title of 11 yyj- 
yspYjg. He was faid to have firft introduced the ufe of corn ; 

and his daughter was named 11 n gwToysveix. There was a 
remarkable temple, and of great antiquity, in Argolis, 
named Arachnaon. It was fuppofed to have been built in 
the time of Inachus : and clofe to it was an altar, upon 
which they only made offerings, when they wanted to ob¬ 
tain 13 rain. Arach-naos in the mafculine is literally the 
temple of Arech : and the hiftory, with which it is accom¬ 
panied, fhews to what the building referred, and for what 
purpole it was eretfted. 

I have mentioned Theba in Egypt as the mo ft ancient 
Arkite temple : but this muft be fpoken with a deference 
to Chaldea, and Babylonia : for from this quarter thefe rites 
originally proceeded. And the principal place where they 
were firft inftituted, I fbould imagine to have been Erech, 
mentioned as one of the cities, which were firft founded in 


the 14 world. 


It is to be obferved, that there were two ci¬ 


ties of this name in differe 
diftance from each other. 


different provinces, yet at no very great 
other. Bochart fpeaks of them as one 


10 ,L. 1 . p. 8. 

11 Herod. L. S. c. 55. E ts ynyersos /\eyoyw& vvos, 

Suidas. 

Paufanias. L. c. p. 169. Arach-Naos may relate to a perfonage, the fame as 
Inachus ^ for the term Naos had a twofold reference. 

** Gencfis. c. 10. v. 10. 


and 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 521 

and the fame 1S place :. but Herodotus, to whom he appeals, 
diftinguiflies them in a moll plain and precife manner. As 
they were fo near to each other, and likely to be confounded 

V 

from this identity of name, the natives took care to give to 
each an effectual mark of diftindtion. The one they ftyled 
And-Erech, the other Ard-Erech, the Anderica, and Ar- 
derica of Herodotus. The former was in Sufiana to the 
eaft of the Tigris, not far from fome fiery pools, whence pro¬ 
ceeded 16 bitumen. Ard-Erech, or Arderica, was in a region 
equally inflammable. It flood below Babylon, to the weft 
of the Tigris, and upon the river Euphrates ; which river, 
that it might not deluge their grounds, the Chaldeans had 
made fo to wind, that a perfon in going up the ftream touch¬ 
ed three times at Ard-Erech in his way to 17 Babylon. Mar- 
cellinus takes notice of Anderica in Sufiania by the name of 
18 Arecha; and mentions the pools of bitumen. Herodotus 
gives a like 19 hiftory of the place : and Tibullus alfo takes 
notice of its fiery ftreams. 

20 Ardet Araccasis aut unda perhofpita campis. 

As we are certain from the above, that Andrica in Sufiana 

was the name of the city Erech compounded; we may fairly 

• _ 

15 Geographia Sacra. L. 4. p. 236. 

16 Herod. L- 6. c. 119. 

17 T? S'e XGOfJiri WOJJLOL eq-lySS TVV <X.7ri'KVZ£TCU 0 TLv(pOY}TW> XCtl VVV Cl c&v 

TCQJJLl^MVTCLt CC7T0 TVScSt TtfS B‘CC^CC(70'tJ$ €9 B CtSudiWlCt} X(XTCC7r/^60VTe9 €9 T OV EwpfHTHP 

r zzroTcc/JLQy , t pis t£ £$ tm ccvtyiv xco/jliiv 'vrccpccyivovTa.i^ kou sv Tg/CTI Herod. 

L. i. c. 185. 

18 L. 23. p. 287. It is called Arecca by Ptolemy. 

19 L. 6. c. 119. 

ao L. 4. Carmen ad Mefialam. v. 142. 

Vol. II. X X X 


infer. 



522 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology-. 


infer, that Arderica in Babylonia was the fame: though the 
purport of the term, which diicriminates, may not be eafy to 
be deciphered. Indeed it is not certain, but that Arderica 
was the Erech or Aracea of Tibullus : for there were erup¬ 
tions of fiery matter in many parts of Shinar, and 41 Baby¬ 
lonia, as well as about Sufhan. 

I have obferved that Erech was probably Arecha, or the 
city of the Ark : and we accordingly find it by the Hebrew 
commentators exprefied 44 Arcua; and Ezra takes no¬ 

tice of the natives of 43 Erech, whom he ftyles the people of 
»D"!N ; and places them in the vicinity of Perils, Babylonia, 
and Sufhan. The Seventy mention theie nations in the 
fame fituation and order; and they are together rendered 
A<pxg<rcuoi 9 A gxyauot, BaJovTwvioiy 'Eug'olvo^ouoi. From hence 
X am further induced to believe that the Archuaei of Erech 


were Arkites ; whichever city we may treat of. But there 
is a remarkable circumftance, which, I think, determines' the 


ren 


point fatisfadlorily. Erech by the Arab interpreter 

dered Al-Bars, or A 1 Baris, D"Q Sx. Upon which Bochart ob 
ferves, 

Al Bai 

Ark : 


Erech quorfum ab Arabe reddatur Al Bars non video. 

Baris, fignifies the 


s, or, as it fhould be rendered, Al-Baris, 
and Erech Al Baris denotes plainly the Arkite city 


Campus Babylonia Bagrat quadam velutL pifcindjugeri magnitudine. Pliny* 
L. 2. c. 107. p. 123. See alfo Herod. L. 1. c. 179. 

Michaelis Geograph. Hebrseorum Extera. p. 220.. 

3 Ezra. c. 4. v. 9. For this obfervation I-am indebted to the very learned'pro-, 
ft. fib r Michaelis j from whom however in this one inftance, refpecting the fituation- 
of Erech, I am obliged to difient. 

Geog. Sac. L. 4. p. 237. Edit. Paris. See alfo Michaelis Geog. Heb. Ex¬ 
tera, p. 225. 

Erechi. 



1 


The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


523 


Erech. Arab authority in this cafe, muft, I think, have 

Cities had often many names, and titles ; as 


great weight. 

O D 

we may learn from Paufanias, Stephanus, and others. Edefta 
in Mefopotamia was called both 25 Erech, and Orchoe, fimilar 
to two cities in Babylonia. It is remarkable, that Ptolemy, 
in enumerating the mold famous cities in thofe parts, omits 
Charrhae, or Haran. He however makes mention of 26 Acdoxva, 
iLabana, the city of Laban, the Moon ; which, from what has 
preceded, we may be affured, was the fame place under a dif¬ 
ferent appellation. By thefe means it often happened that the 
ancient name was eclipfed by a later title. This, I am per- 
fuaded, was the cafe of Erech, or Arech, which has been loft 
in the name of Barfippa. For Barfippa is a compound of Bars, 
or Baris-Ippa ; two terms which are precifely of the fame 
purport as Arech, whofe inhabitants are ftyled 27 A^vouoi } 
or Arkites. Hence it is, that Arech has been by the Arab 
tranflator Saad very juftly rendered El Bars, or Baris. For 
Aracha and Baris are fynonymous terms ; and Ippa or Hippa 
is of the fame purport. As.Edeffa was ftyled both Erech and 
Orchoe, fome have been led to feek for Ur of Chaldea in the 
upper regions of Mefopotamia. But thefe were fecandary 
names ; which belonged primarily to two cities in the plains 
of Shinar, and to the fouth of Babylon. Ptolemy diftinguifhes 
Bdeffa from the original Orchoe ; and gives us the fituation 
of thefe places fo precifely, that they cannot be miftaken. 


15 Michaelis fupra. See alfo Bayeri Hiftoria Ofrhoena. 

Tab. Urbium Infig. apud Geographos Vet. minores. Vol. 3. p. 3 6. 

17 Ezra. c. 4. v. 9. Verf. LXX. Arecca, Arecha, and Archa, are only variations 
of the fame term ; and Ippa, and Baris related to the fame objefl, being perfectly 
fynonymous. 


Longitude 


X x x 2 



524 


•'The Analysis of Ancient Mythology* 


Longitude. Latitude; 

* s Edefia 72 0 . 30* 37 °* 3 °* 

Babylon 79 0 . 00. 35 0 . 00. 

Barfippa 78°. 45. 33 0 . 20. 

Orchoe 78°. 10, 3 2°. 30. 

% 

I have attempted to £hew, that Barfippa was the fame as 
Erech, or Aracca: and we find from its appropriated diftances 
that it lay in the land of Shinar, and in the province called 
now Irac ; and in a fituation between Orchoe and Babylon. 
It is reprefented as a famous feminary; and the city Orchoe 
had the fame character. The natives of each are mentioned 
by 30 Strabo as Chaldeans by race, and of great Ikill in aftro- 
nomy : and he adds, that Barfippa was facred to Artemis, and 
Apollo ; and had a great manufacture of linen. I with that 
he had fpoken of the Deities by their provincial titles ; for 
by thefe the hiftory of the place might have been ill ultra ted 
greatly. The latter circumftance, of Barfippa being famous 
for weaving, is another inducement to believe it to be the 
city, which I imagine.. Erech was particularly celebrated 
upon this account. Hence the fpider for its curious web 
was fly led Arachana, contracted Arachna. And the Poets 

4 

* 

28 Ptolem. deUrbibus Infig. See Geog. Gr. Minor; Vol. 3.. See Strabo conr 
eerning Barfippa. L. 16. p. 1075. 

29 The province ftill retains the name of Irac, the fame as Erech, though the 
city, from whence it was derived, has long fince loft it. Orchoe was certainly no 
other than the ancient city Ur of the Chaldees. Orchoe, according to my anaiyfis, 
fignifies Ori Domus, velTemplum. 

30 He calls the place Borfippa. Ecp / S'e kqli tgjv tcov cx.q-’povo/jit'Koov yevw 

itctt yctp Op^vvoi Tivsg r sr^oo'cx.yopsuovTcc{^ kcci ^>opo‘i7T7rv)voi. H>op><ri7r7rct ispoc f zzro- 

A & Ap'TepuS'oSi xctt AttoAAcovgs^ Aiv&pyeiov pteycc, L. 16. p. 1074. 


fabled 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


525 


» t • % 

fabled that this infe& was once a 31 virgin, who for fkill in 

weaving vied with the Goddefs of wifdom. The looms of 

* 

6 

Erech are continually alluded to in the poetry, and mytho- 

— ■ 

logy of the ancients : and the hiftory is always fo circum- 
ftanced, that we may be allured, that the city referred to 
was the Erech of Babylonia. Pliny has a remarkable paf- 
fage, wherein he tells us, 3a fufos in lanificio Clofter filius 
Arachnes ; linum et retia Arachne (invenifle fertur). It is 
to be obferved that the ancients formed perfonages out of 
places ; and made the natives the children of thole perfon¬ 
ages. The term Clofter, which Pliny introduces as a proper 
name, is Greek for an artificer in weaving. With this al¬ 
lowance the purport of Pliny’s account will be found to fignify 
that the jirji man, who wove, and who invented the fpindle for 
carrying on the manufacture of wool , was a native of 33 Erech : 
in which place likewife the weaving of linen , and making of nets 
was firfl found out . The hiftory is curious ; but has been 
almoft ruined by the manner, in which it has been trans¬ 
mitted. The Poet Nonnus fpeaks of Erech by the name 
of Arachne, and mentions the manufactures, for which it 
was fo famed : but reprefents it as a Perfic city, and near 
the Tigris. 

34 Kca 'urogs 'nromXcx, 'GTB7r7\CL, rot. i wrsg 'Grotgot T iygi$og vfroog 
Ni^ar* AgTmtAsw TS’gyY\<roLTQ Usgtng Agot’/yq. 

31 Ovid fuppofes this perfonage to have been of Lydia: but Arachne by other 
writers is ftyled Babylonica. 

3Z L. 7. c. 56. 

33 By the city Arachne is meant Civitas Arachana. Eryx in Sicily was properly 
Erech, and denominated from the fame rites. 
f 4 L- 18. p. 326. Edit.. Plant. 1569. 

There 

<• 



5 26 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

There were in Babylonia cmials of communication, which 

led from the Euphrates to :tho Tigris : fo that the cities fitu- 
ated upon them might be referred to either river. What 
the poet means by ftyling Arajphne, which was of Babylonia, 
Perfic, may be known from his giving the lame title to the 
3S Euphrates, upon which river the city was properly fitu- 
ated ; and from whence he mentions thefe valuable commo¬ 
dities to have been fent abroad. 

36 Nrigev; psv rct$e doogcc 'Gro?^vTgo7roL* S'cafcs' Ss K&gy 
H sgtnxog Eyp£jjT*j$ ttohv$<xi$cih3 hfiour APAXNH£. 

The river here fpoken of was afluredly in Babylonia: and 
we may, from what has been faid, perceive, that Erech? or 
Aracline, was a city of the fame country upon the Euphrates, 
at no great distance from the Tigris ; and that it was the 
fame as Bars-ip pa, the city of the Ark. 

Thus far I have ventured to proceed in my Analyfis of 
ancient Mythology; and in the explanation of thofe hiero¬ 
glyphics, under which it was defcribed. And though I have 
not advanced fo far, as I could have wifhed ; yet what I 
have faid may ferve for a clue to others : fuch as perhaps 
may lead them to a more intimate and fatisfadtory knowledge.. 
Thefe emblems in the firff ages feem to have been fimilar in 

.. O .. 

moft countries: and to have almoffc univerfally prevailed. 

The facred writers often allude to them : and many of them 

% 

35 After that the Aflyrians, and Perfians, had been in pofleffion of Babylonia, and 
Chaldea, the country was at times looked upon both as an A (Tyrian, and Perfic pro- 

. vince : and the cities were reprefented accordingly both as Perfic and Afiyrian cities. 

36 Nonnus. L. 42. p. 747. . I read the cornipon reading 

is ixro^vSouSecP^oy ei<Pos. 


were 



The Analysts 7 or Ancient Mythology* 


527 

were retained even in the church of God* For the fymbol 
thus admitted was a very proper memorial: and all the em¬ 
blems were originally the heft that could be devifcd to put 
people in mind of what had palled iri the infancy of the world. 
The whole was defigned as a difplay of God-s wifdora 
goodnefs ; and to tranfmit to lateft- pofterify memorials of 
the prefervation of mankind. The fymbols in antient times 
were inftead of writing ; harmlefs, if not abufed : nay of great 
confe-quence when directed to a proper purpofe. Such were 



the Serpent, the 



the Iris, the Dove j together with 


known 


in Scrip 
the Ifraelkes before their de 


many others, to which there are apparent allufibns 
ture. Thefe wer 
fcent into Egypt: 
the flood, where 
properly 



originally from that country beyond 


fathers of old refided 


And when 




were 


as innocent as the elementary 
characters' by which the fame hiftories were in aftertimes re¬ 
corded. The lifting up ; of the ferpent in the wildernefs was 

ation, and as pertinent to the 


as proper a prophetic defigttation, 
people, to whom it was exhibited, as the purport would have 


been, if exprefled by 


and: written at length upon 


tablet. It is true, that thefe fymbols were at laft perverted 
and thte memorials above mentioned degenerated into ido 


latrous rites, and worfhiip. It 
of Providence, in its difpenfatio 


was 


accordingly the purpofe 
* the Ifraelites. to with¬ 


draw them from this idolatry of the Gentiles : and this was 
effected', not by denying them the u-fe of thofe characters, 
which were the current 


types 


of- the world, and to which 


they had conftkntly- been ufed'; but to adapt the fame to a 
better purpofe, and defeat the evil by a contrary destination> 

2 Upon? 



528 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

% 

Upon the refiing of the Ark upon Mount Baris, and the ap¬ 
pearance of the Bow in the 
covenant with man, and to afford him fome gracious pro- 
mifes. A memorial of this was preferved in the Gentile 
world. They reprefented this great event under the type of 
an Ark, as I have before fhewn ; which they ftyled Barith, 
in allufion to the covenant. Some ages after, another cove¬ 
nant of a more peculiar nature was made by the Deity with 
the pofterity of Abraham ; and a law was promulged from 
mount Sinai. In confequence of this, another Ark by divine 
appointment was framed, feemingly in oppofition to the for¬ 
mer; and this too was called the Ark of the covenant. This 
I mention, becaufe many perfons have been alarmed at find¬ 
ing fometimes the fame fymbols among the Egyptians, as 
were to be found in the ordinances of the Ifraelites. Both 
Spencer, and Marfham have animadverted upon this : and 
feem to have carried their notions too far; for from them 
one might be induced to imagine that the law of Mofes was 
in a manner founded upon the rites of Egypt. But there is 
not the leaf; reafGn for fuch a furmife. The religion of the 
two nations was effentialiy different: and though fome fym¬ 
bols were fimilar, yet it does not follow, that they were, bor¬ 
rowed from that quarter.. They were many of them general 
types, of great antiquity, and known to the whole world. I 
know of no term, which occurs fo often figuratively among 

the facred writers, as that of a horn. By this they denoted 

% 

any thing fupereminent, and powerful. They were forbid¬ 
den to make any 

have no inftance from them of its being ever reprefented to 

the 


reprefentation of itone or metal: fo that we 


clouds, it pleafed God to make a 



The Analysis of Ancient MvTHoioGYr 529 

the eye. The fame was a fymbol among the Egyptians : 
They copied it in ftone and brafs : and affixed the reprefen- 
tation of a horn to the ftatues of their Kings and Deities. 
But though this was a common emblem in thefe two nations, 
it does not follow, that one borrowed it from the other. For,, 
as I before faid, it was a general type of early date, and in al- 
moft univerfal acceptation. In every nation- of old, to whole 
hiftory we can gain accefs, it was an. emblem of affluence 
and power. 

I have taken notice, that the moft early defection >to ido¬ 
latry confifted in the adoration of the Sun, and the worffiip 
of Daemons, ftyled Baalim. Who thefe were, could not be 
a {Beret to Mofes ; nor to many of the facred writers. Yet, 
though they fpeak of this worffiip with deteftation, it is cu¬ 
rious to obferve, with what delicacy they treat the fubjeCt, 
and what a veil is drawn, over this myfterious iniquity. Not 
a word is faid about the origin of this idolatry : nor the leaft 
hint given to ffiew, who they were to whom this undue re¬ 
verence was tendered. For of all reverential regard, none is 
fb liable to lapfe into an idolatrous veneration as that, which 
is paid to the memory of friends departed : more efpecially,, 
if fuch perfons were the founders of families, and benefactors; 
men, who had- endeared themfelves by their good works, 
and been a bleffing to pofterity. This is evident from the 
adoration, ftill paid to their anceftors by many people in the 
eaft. It is a feeming duty the moft plaufible of anyand at 
the fame time the moft captivating. Hence the lilence of 
the facred writers upon a fubjeCt of fuch feeming importance: 
whofe purpofe it appears to have been,, that, if ever the 

Vol. II* Y y y great 



53 ° The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

great objeCt of this idolatry Ihould be loft, it might lie in 
oblivion ; and never be again retrieved ; at leaft to no ill pur- 
pofe. The Jews by thefe* means loft light of the original, 
and were weaned from the worfhip : and the Gentiles, who 
continued the rites, did not know to whom they were di¬ 
rected : fo blind was their procefs. In Ihort, they were 
plunged in the depth of darknels for ages, till they became at 
laft confcious of their fituation. This rendered them the more 
ready to return to the light, as foon as an opening was made. 

I have dwelt long upon the hiftory of the Deluge, be- 
caufe I thought it a fubjeCt of great moment: and as the 
fyftem, upon which I proceeded, was new, it required a 
more thorough difcuflion, to remove every prejudice, which 
might arife. Some have been induced to think, that this 
event was partial j and confined to a particular people, and 
province. Others, becaufe they could not account for the 
means, have looked upon the whole as a fable. By the Mo- 
faic hiftory we are allured, that the calamity was univerfal; 
that all llelh died, excepting eight perfons, who were provi¬ 
dentially preferved : that the world was afterwards renewed 
in one man ; and that from his three fons all the nations 
upon earth were derived. It has been my purpofe through- 

A 

out to eftablilh thefe great truths : to bring evidence from 
every age, and from every nation, to which we can gain ac- 
cefs, in fupport of the hiftory, as it has been delivered by 
Mofes. We accordingly find it a circumftance univerfally 
known : and however the memorials may have been abufed, 
yet traditions of it were kept up with great reverence in all 
the rites, and ceremonies of the Gentile world. And it is ob- 

5 ' fervable. 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 


53 * 


fervable, that the farther we go back, the more vivid the traces 
appear efpecially in thole countries, which were neareft to the 
fcene of action. But the reverfe of this would happen, if the 
whole were originally a fable. The hiftory would not only 
be lefs widely diffufed’j but the more remote our refearches, 
the lefs light we fhould obtain : and however we might {train 
our fight, the objects would by degrees grow faint; and the 
fcene terminate in clouds and darknefs. Befides this, there 


♦ * 


would not be that correfpondence and harmony in the tra- 

• • 

ditions of different nations, which we fee fo plainly to have 
fubfifted. This could not be the refult of chance : but mult 
necefiarily have arifen from the fame hiftory being univerfally 


acknowledged. Thefe evidences 


derived 


through 


the hands of people, who were of different ages, and 


tries; and < 
and what is 


fequently widely feparated from each other 


rdinary 


many inftances they did not 


know the purport of the data, which they have tranftnitted 


the value and conlequence of their intellig 


In their 


mythology they adhered to the 


the 


and 


iefced 


the 


they were ftrang 


the purport 


without confidering 
deroglyphic, though 
i refpedt to ourfelves, 


it muft furely be deemed providential, not only that thefe 
hiftories have been tranfmitted to us ; but that after an in¬ 
terval of fo long date we fhould be enabled to fee into the 

materials obtain fuch 
have before obferved. 


hidden myftery; and from thefe crude 
fatisfadtory truths. And this too, as I 


when the whole was a fecret to the perfons, through whofe 
hands the knowledge is derived. We may therefore apply to 
them the words of the Poet: 


Y y y 


2 


B KewovTss 



532 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology* 

BhS7rovrss eStettov /Liamv, 

KXvovrsg an yik&ov. 

at 

Herodotus lived early, and was a man of curiofity and ex¬ 
perience ; one, who for the fake of knowledge had travelled 
over a variety of countries. If any perfon could have ob¬ 
tained an infight into the Theology of the times, in which 
he lived, he bad fair to have obtained it. But he fhews that 
it was all a dreary profpedt: that he could find nothing fa- 
tisfa&ory, in which he might confide. As he was folicitous 
to obtain fome information, he betook himfelf to 37 Podona; 
and made inquiry among the priefts of that temple; which 
was reputed the moft ancient in Greece. But they ingenu- 
oufiy owned that they did not know, who the Deities were, 
to whom they made their offerings. They had indeed di- 
ftinguifhed them by names and titles ; but thofe were adven¬ 
titious, and of late 38 date in comparifon of the worfhip, 
which was of great antiquity. Hence the author concludes 
with this melancholy confeflion, concerning the Gods of his 
country, 39 that he did not know how they came firffc into 
the world 5 nor how long they had been in it: nor could he 
tell, what fort of beings they were. He believed that their 
nature, and origin, had always been a fecret; and that even 

57 TJurBxvofASvcs fa : r co evotcrx.00 eov. Herod. L. 2. c. 50. 

Hbvov cT-fi r wctvTec ttportfov 01 I~le'Au? r ) 01 Sreoxrt eirev^yuycvo^ (Ls tyw ev cifoc, 

eiv^fjcts. S' 7 Tcovvfj.r,:v sT' Hvoy^cc ZTroisuvTo sSevi ctvTZcov 9 & ctyawoeaccv xco. Ibid. 
c - 53 - See page 309. of the firft volume of this work. 

J is^sABovtos £ 7 tvBjv~q ex, t:i$ AiyvirTB cc7riY.0y.evcL tcl bvojjlcctcl 
V tov Sreayv xtA. Herod. ibid. 

39 'EvBevSe eyzj'sro toov eiTe £* ccei y.uclv < zc-ctvT£$ 9 okoipl Tive$ vet 

Btfeoc, by ,i7rs$-eccTo y~£%Pi b 'zrpec:jv ts ycci ^0c-S cos zittziv Ac>w. Herod, fupra. 

9 the 



The Analysis qe Ancient Mythology. 533 

tlie Belafgi, who ^rft introduced them, and their rites, were 
equally: unacquainted with their 40 hiftory. 

From whence the falutary light has proceeded, by which 
we have been dire&ed in our progrefs, need not be pointed 
out. The Gentile hiftories of themfelves could not have. af- 

' . > V 

forded the infbrmatiqn here fpoken of. If they could* it 
certainly would have been no fecret to a people fo intelligent, 
as the Grecians, in whofe hands thefe memorials were pre- 
ferved. But we find, that it was hidden from them. We 

- * i . 

live in better days : and whatever light may have been ob¬ 
tained towards the elucidation of thefe hidden truths, Jia$ 

• « 

been owing to the facred records. Thele were little known, 
to the Gentile world: fo that they could not avail themfelves 

0 

of this great advantage. We have both the mythology of the 
ancients, and the fcriptural account to direct us: and by 
comparing thefe together we can difcern the latent purport 
of many histories, to which the Grecians were firangers. In 
the Mofai'c writings we have the native truth ; from which 
the Gentiles were continually receding. They varied fo 
much, and every reprefentation was fo extravagant, that at 
firft fight there feems fcarce any fimilitude of the obje<St from 
whence they drew. All appears dark, and conrufed ; fo that 
we almoft defpair of an explanation. But upon a nearer in- 
fpection there is a more favourable appearance. For though 
the copy is faded, and has been abufed, yet there are fome 
traces fo -permanent, lome of die principal outlines fo diitindt, 

•that, when compared with the. original, the true character 

% 

cannot be miftaken. I do not here mean, that the ancients 


t 


Herod. L. 2. c. 30. 


copied 



534 The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 

copied from the fcriptures : -1 am fpeaking of . primitive tra¬ 
ditional hiftories, to which in their mythology they contin¬ 
ually referred : thofe hiftories, which were every where cor¬ 
rupted, excepting in the writings of Moles. 

The certainty of an univerfal Deluge is of great confe- 
quence to be proved \ as the hiftory of the antediluvian 
world, and all the religious truths, with which it is attended, 
depend upon it. Not that the Mofaic hiftory ftands in need 
of any foreign evidence to an ingenuous and unprejudiced 
mind. But there are perfons in the world, who with a 
fmall {hare of reading and philofophy prefume to arraign the 
divine Hiftorian ; and by a fpecious way of writing have 
had an undue influence upon others. This makes it neceflary 
to accumulate thefe additional proofs : and I have accord¬ 
ingly taken thefe pains towards the recovery of loft evidence 
in favour of this great event: that from the univerfal aflent 
of mankind the truth might be afcertained. Much light 
will continue to accrue in the progrefs of the enfuing work, 
when I come to treat of the firft: nations upon earth. 

Thus far we have been in a manner travelling up hill, in 
order to arrive at this point of profpedt. Having with no 
fmall labour gained this eminence, it will be eafy for us to 
look down, and take a view of the great occurrences, which 
happened afterwards, upon the increale of mankind. It will 
appear, that jealoufles arofe, and feuds enfued : and the fons 
of men were at laft feparated, and difperfed towards the four 
winds of heaven. And when navigation commenced, and 
the feas were explored, we fhall find, that colonies went 
out, and new fettlements were made, till the earth was peo- 



The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 535 

pled to its remoteft regions. I have before made mention of 
one family in particular, which was daring and enterprizing 
to a great degree ; and at the lame time gifted with uncom¬ 
mon fagacity and knowledge. Thefe overran a great part of 
the earth ; fo that traces of them are to be found in the moft 
diftant countries. Of this people, and the occurrences in 
the firft ages, it will be my next buftnefs to take notice. I 
fhall dwell long upon the hiftory of the Chaldeans, as con¬ 
tained in thofe valuable extracts from Berofus, which have 
been ftrangely perverted : alfo upon the hiftory of the Egyp¬ 
tians, and their dyna|ties, which will afford wonderful light. 
It will be my endeavqur to {hew, that there fubftfts a perfect 
correfpondence between them, and the Mofaic hiftory, as far 
as the latter extends. It is moreover to be obferved, that in 

0 

the records of thefe nations, there are contained memorials 
of many tranfadtions, which were fubfequent to the age of 
Mofes ; and of others, which were foreign to his fyftem, yet 
very neceffary to be known. I fhall therefore treat of them 
at large ; as they contain events of great confequence, and 
afford the only bafts, upon which the hiftory of mankind can 
be founded. 


END OF THE SECOND VOLUME. 

0 



V