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This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copy order if, in its judgement, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of the copyright law. AUTHOR: TRESSAN, ABBE DE TITLE: A HISTORY OF THE HEATHEN MYTHOLOGY PLACE: LONDON DA TE : 1806 COLUMr3IA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT BIBLIOGRAPtllC MICROIORM TAKCi r Master Negative # Original Material as Filmed - Existing Bibliographic Record b85 't726 Restrictions on Use: »»ii — — Tj- Tressan, able de, 1749-1809. A history of the heathen mythology ; or, The fables of the ancients ehicidated from historical records. An important key to tlie classics. To which is added, an enquiry into the re- ligion of the first inhabitants of Great Britain. And a partic- iilar account of the ancient Druids. Translated from the French of ^I. Pabbe de Tressan; by H. North. 2d ed., em- belhshed with seventy-five engravings. London, Printed for B. Crosby and co., 180G. xll, 516 p. front., plates. 22^°". TnmslMtion first published 1797. 1. Mytliolo^y, Clnsslcjil. 2. Druhls nnd druldlsm. i. North, II tr Tranalation of La DiytTIologie compai<:^ avec Thlst'olre. ^ Llbniry of Congress 30-33850 BUOD.TTS 1800 200 REDUCTION RATIO: I i ^ TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE:___35^j;2L^^ IMAGE PLACEMENT: "lA ~^^~IB IIB DATE FILMED: 1_1 ._-l__>J2:''^INITIALS FILMED BY: RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS, INC VVOOnRRmnFF^' 1^/ D Association for information and image Management 1 1 00 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1 1 00 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 301/587-8202 Centimeter 15 mm Inches 1.0 I.I m m ■■; - 3 l«o 1 2.8 3.2 3.6 4.0 2.5 2.2 2.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 MPNUFflCTURED TO RUM STflNDfiRDS BY nPPLIED IMfiGE, INC. W i f?' j."fi ,#a* &^'. ^^M04$iWMfdim'^iM^2(jiSU^M'^ r- n'j. 's^.'itsj'y .,''•' m I Columbia i\U ^^tlll I ».'• ^'ii.cbuo Jit ^^^"^'oment i** ^Kuo I +'' llirrel j HI STORY OF THE HEAlilEN MYTHOLOGY; OR, THE FABLES OF THE ANCIENTS ELUCIDATED FROM historical EecorDs. A71 important Key to the Classics, AN ENQUIRY I?XQ' OTBiHi^^i^lOK^'OF THE FIRST INHA'Bif ANTC cfF-GTREAT KRITAIN, • -A03*«a p5ftic«laft Aicdimtof THE ANCIENT DRUIDS. ' ' tr. Translated from the French of M. VABBE DE TRESSAN; By H. north. SECOND EDITION, EMBELLISHED WITH SEVENTY-FIVL ENGRAVIXGS. LONDON: PRINTED FOR B. CROSBY AND CO. STATIONERS' COURT.. PATERNOSTER ROW. i8oa. V \ TO THE » * • . » » •" V » S h t • • • • «, < i t » * • . -^ * » » -l «•• • » • • . ' ■ • * • • • • • , « < • c • ■ * . 5 ft) to RIGHT HONOURABLE LADY BARBARA PLEYDELL BOUVERIE. =8e Madam, Jl venture with the greater confidence to dedicate this work to your Ladyfhip, as it is in fome degree your own; and (hould it meet with any fuccefs, it is to you I fliall think my felf indebted for it. I forefee that, unaffuming as you are, you will difclaim all title to this eulogium; you difplay only the fprightlinefs and graces fo natural to your age ; you feem wholly occu- pied by your amufements, and it is to a faith- ful memory, that you attribute the fatisfac- tion afforded by your anfwers. You will fay then, you will even believe, that you owe all a a ^ to ^M 5 IV DEDICATION. to the care of your maflers. I certainly fhall not combat this modefty, which gives luflre to every quality ; but though the truth may coft you fome embarraffment, I muft tell it all. You will recollecl, Madam, that when w^e began by reading together Le Didionairr de la Fable, I cauied, as it were, all Olym- pus to pafs in review before you. The long life of perfonages wearied, without intereft- ing you, yet fomaC names ftruck your atten- tion forcibly, by their refemblancc to thofe Vvith which your progrefs in antient hiftory had made you acquainted ; from that time I found in your own talents the means of en- gaging you in the ftudy of Mythology, by e:xplaining to you its relation to hiftory. Being prefcnt at your lelTons, I have fre- quently fcen you employ the pencil, in cor- redly imitating the drawings given you to copy; this gave me an opportunity of men- tioningthc woiksofXeuxis, Phidias, Apelles, and other celebrated Artifts, which formed the greatefl < ' D£DPCATION. y greateft ornaments of the temples of antic^uity . On hearing you awake the tones of the Piano Forte, I fpoke to you of the power of mufic^ I mentioned to you Orpheus, the fon of Apollo and Calliope; I defcribed to you the temple of the Mufes, and you learnt with pleafure that Terpfichore prefided over thofe lively, airy dances, which ferve at once to amufe and ftrengthen you, and to give free- dom and grace to all your motions. It was thus, by feeing the fuccefs with which you rewarded the pains bellowed on your education, that I fek the greatefl: defire to contribute to your improvement; and it was for that purpofc, that I endeavoured to find a method of giving you at the fame time a fufiicient knowledge of Mythology, and of proving to you, that it almoft always has its origin in ancient hiftory and tradition. This work prefented many difficulties, but you iu- fpired emulation, and your appofite queftions repeatedly fuggeftcd to me what I fought. Accept % VI DEDICATIOK. Accept then the homage of a tafk, which ov€S its exiftence to you. Were the public .'0 fee, and hear you, the Author would be overlooked, you would be the only objedl of admiration, and the wifh of every parent would be, that their children might equal you, I am, Madam, With the greateft refpecft. Your Ladyship's Very humble fervant, IvL TRESSAN. ADDRESS TROM THE TRANSLATOR. xIaving long been engaged in the inllrii6lion of youth, particularly of the female fex, it was with peculiar fatisfa6lion I undertook the translation of a work which feemed to me fo eminently qualified to convey to them a fpecies of knowledge, which the general plan of their educ2.'tion in feme meafure excludes them from the polTibility of acquiring. The compre- henfive manner in which the fubjc6l is viewed, the order and connexion obfervcd in the arrangements ; but above all, that fmgular delicacy which pervades every part of it, gives the treatife of Mr. I'Abbe de TrefTan, in my opmion, a decided fuperiority over any publication of the kind exifting in the Englifh language. With Ill ADDRESS FROM THE TRANSLATOR. With leipeEt to my own performance, I hav6 endea- voured faithfully to render the fenfe of my author, and as far as poiTible to obferve eafe and freedom in my flyle ; fhould I have fucceeded, I have attained the fummit of my wifiies ; fhould I Iiave failed, I deprecate fevere cen. fure b)- an apology which is ever favourably received by a liberal and indulgent public : it is a firfl attempt. N*". 16, Rupert-Street, LEICtilTER-SQUARE. H. NORTH. PREFACE. 1 HE French edition of Mythology com- pared with Hiflory being completely exhaufled ; the author, encouraged by the flattering reception which that work experienced from an indulgent public, has thought it his duty to yield to the nu- merous folicitations of his friends, by giving a tranflation of it in the Englifli language. He has carefully made fuch corre6lions as ap- peared to him necefiary, and has annexed fome ad- ditional articles which are indifpenfable for thofc who wiili to have a general knowledge of Mytho- logy, and the progrefs of Paganifm. It is for the public alone to determine, how far this perform- ance is worthy of being dedicated to the inftruction of youth. Les talents, le zele et les foins du tradufteur vicnnent de donner un merite reel a cet ouvrage ; I'auteur faifit avec empreflTement I'occafion d'en temoigncr fa reconnoiflfance*. It is unlverfally acknowledged, that to travel with advantage, to eftimate the capital productions of the arts, to read poets and ancient authors, it is * Here modcfty compels my pen to make a paufe. A com- pliment {o highly gratifying 1 dare not appropriate to myfelf till auihorifed by the fandion of the public. b rcquU i X PREFACE. requifitc to have a competent knowledge of My- tholoo-y; confequently we fliall not dwell upon the necefTity of cultivating that fpecies of ftudy; but that it might equally fuit every age, it was ne- ceflary to obferve the moft fcrupulous attention to the method of conveying infl:ru6lion of this kind. The author is happy and proud to repeat it, that every parent who has done him the honour of fub- fcribing to his work, has condefcended to give him the flattering afllirance, that, after having atten- tively examined it, they have found that they might with the greatefl fafety abandon it to the ufc of their children. We wifh our readers to obferve, that our objed being to give a complete idea of Mythology and the origin of idolatry, it has been unavoidably neceflary to take a general view^ and return to the firft ages of the world. It is not an abridgment by way of queftion and anfvver we have wiflied to prefent, it is not Amply a knowledge of the heathen divinities we have intended to give ; encouraged by the genius of a great nation, fond of reflexion and profound ftudy, vhich knows how to avail itfelf of the happy dif- pofitiqns of youth, to accuftom it to the nobleft * and moft arduous purfuits, we have thought it our duty to foar above the common track, and have endeavoured by every method to point out the true fources to which it is neceflary to recur for real in- formation. If fome think we arc liable to ccnfurc PREFACE. XI for npt having the entered more fully into many of the fubjecfts, and for having omitted fevcral names in the lift of thofc called Divinities of a particular fpecies, our reply is, that this lift alone woul4 require volumes, and anfvver no other pur- pofe than fatiguing the memory, without giving any eflfcntial inftruftion; it is by reading the prin- cipal produftions of great mafters that we acquire a knowledge of thcfe names, and then the trouble of retaining them will be repaid by the charms we fhall find difFufed through their works. Our principal objedl has always been to take a general view of Mythology, to trace it from its origin, to follow it through its wanderings, and mark its every ftep; it is the more efFcftually to accom- plifli this end that we have added an account of the religion of the firft inhabitants of Great Britain, and the hiftory of the Druids: the names of thefe pricfts are fo celebrated, and we ftill fo frequently meet with veftiges of their religious ceremonies, that it would in a manner be unpai-donable to be totally ignorant of what concerns them. If the former part of this work is thought to exceed the capacity of youth in general, parents or preceptors may themfelves, by die progrefs of their pupils, judge the period when it will be of utility to bring them back to it, ard at firft it will be fufficient to teach them the divifion of the pagan deities, and the particular hiftories of the gods. We XIl PRfcFACE, We have, as frequently as pofTible, compared fidion with hiftory, and given explanations of the fables, in order, as much as lay in our power, to add to the numerous objects of inftru(5tion pre- fented to youth in England: this method we have carefully followed, having obferved that all tutors make a point of impreffing upon the me- rncry of their fcholars, the chronology of empires and their moft remarkable events. By the method which we have obferved. Mythology will in fome degree be only a continuation of the fludy of hiitory. The work of the learned Abbe Banier is only proper for thofe perfons who are accuftomed to refearches into antiquity: but we take this oppor- tunity of declaring, that, notwithftanding our care in confulting the moft efteemed authors, it is prin- cipally this able mafter who has been our guide. The Billionaire dela Fahky by Chompre, has great merit, and is even neceiTary in alTilling the me- mory, but being arranged in alphabetical order, and containing no hiftorical elucidation, it muft be judged infufficient. The Metamorphofesof Ovid, as well as the works of other poets, can by no means be ftiled a com- plete fy Item of mythology; and befides are not adapted to the capacity of every defcription of readers : thefe are the reafons which led us to undertake this work, which we hope will be found worthy of the public approbation. MYTHOLOGY J" t I ] MYTHOLOGY COMPARED WITH HISTORY. — aoacaaEEaaa— Prellminar}^ Refleaions upon the Origin of Ido LATRY. If we wifli to trace the origin of idolatry, we muft afcend to the origin of the paffions. Sacred Writ alone can teach us the true caufc of the miferies, and diforders of the human race. That celeftial light has alone the power of diOi- pating the gloom : and it is by taking this for his guide, that man, perceiving at once his weaknefs and his pride, ceafes at laft to be the fport of his doubts. We fhall not repeat the inftruftions didated by the Almighty himfelf : they are known to all our readers. It is from this pure and facred fource, that the eloquent Boffuet drew the firft principles, and elements, of his immortal difcourfe on Univerfal Hiftory. Let us content ourfelves with following him, when, fupported by holy fcripture, he grafps the ^ hole extent of hiftory, and traces, with a maf- B terly / 2 PRELIMINARY REFtECTIONS. terly hand, the rapid, but fublime plfture, of the infancy of the world. " Every thing has a beginning, and there is no hiftory, however ancient, in which we cannot difcover evident marks of the recent creation of the world. " We fee laws eflabliflied, manners polifhcd, empires formed, and the human race inftrudled by experience, gradually emerge from a ftate of ignorance. Arts are invented, mankind increafc, the earth is peopled : precipices, mountains, feas, rivers, are no longer obllaclcs — all are furmounted. Levelled woods give place to fields, to paftures, villages, towns, and cities ; man bends even metals to his ufe, and by degrees makes all nature fubfervient to it. " But as the didance from the originals increafed, men confounded the ideas they had received from their ancellors -, the human mind debafed could no longer elevate itfelf, and men becoming unwilling to adore what they did not fee, idolatry fpread itfelf over the whole univerfe. Yet an obfcure idea of the Divine Power maintained itfelf by its own force; but, confounded with the images intro- duced by the fenfes, they adored whatever ap- peared to have any motion or power: thus the . fun, the planets, whofc influence was felt from fo great a diftance ; fire, the elements fo univerfal in their cfFefts, became the firft objefts of public adoration. PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS. ^ adoration. Men bore the penalty of fubmitting themfclves to their fenfes ; all was determined by rhem, and, in fpite of reafon, they created all the gods that were adored upon earth. '' In the time of Abraham, and a little while after, the knowledge of the true God appeared ftill to fubfift in Paleftine, and in Egypt. " Melchifedeck king of Salem, was the pried of the mod High God, who made heaven and earth. '' Abimelech king of Gerar, and his fucceflbr who bore the fame name, feared God, fwore by his name, and admired his power. The threats of this mjghty God were dreaded by Pharaoh king of Egypt ; but, in the time of Mofes, the nations were fallen into idolatry, the true God was no longer known in Egypt as the God of the univerfe, but only as the God of the Hebrews ; Chey adored even animals and reptiles: every thing was God, except God himfelf." In this pifture, traced by the hand of genius, we fee prophane hiftory, always doubtful, when it willies to penetrate the obfcurity of diftant ages, lubmit its narrations to the authority of fcripture, and draw them from that infallible fource, which alone can enlighten us upon the formation of the univerfe. We fee the caufe of the firft errors and diforders, and ceafe to be aftonidied " at feeing the human mind, hurried on B 2 by i M PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS, by a blind impreflion, fink into idolatry without the poffibility of preventing it. Man regarding as divine whatever was powerful, and feeling himfelf drawn with irrefiftible force towards vice, thought that this force was fomething different from himfelf, and formed it into a god : thence it was, that altars were raifed to impict}-, and that man tormented by remorfe, regarded the Divinity as an enemy, who was not to be appeafed by common viftims : impelled by terror, parents facrificed even their children, and burnt them for incenfe to their gods." After having fecn thefe firft caufes, let us confider how man could fall into a flate of degeneracy, ' which continually incrcafcd as he advanced in life. The firft families multiplied. The earth ^o longer fmiled upon man, it no longer yielded fpontaneoufiy. The neceffity of finding fubfift- cnce conftrained them firft to emigrate. New fruits, new fields, were to be fought; and thefe families, at their departure, carried with them impreffions which nothing could efface. They had not fcen that delightful garden— the abode of innocence — where the firft man had been placed during the former part of his life, but the defcription of it had been tranfmitted from age to age, and the defire of happinefs, that Bioft conftant and irrefiftible of all defires, per- petuated PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS. J petuatcd the remembrance of it ; perhaps even a vague hope of again finding it determined thefc wandering families to direft their fteps towards unknown regions. But thefe pleafing illufions of hope, foon gave place to the moft melancholy- reality. As they advanced, they found nothing but the wrecks of the globe, as it were, which the imiverfal deluge had overthrown from its foun- dation ; and the dangers which threatened them at every ftcp. Imprinted the remembrance of it in indelible charafters. After fruitlefs and painful refearches, the neceffity of fubfifting compelled them to ftop, and apply themfelvcs to labour. But what obftacles had they to furmount ? Im- menfe forefts impenetrable to the rays of the fun, infefted with venemous reptiles, and wild beafts ; marflies, which art had not yet taught how to drain ; barren plains, or which produced nothing but brambles : thefe were the new domains refcrved for man. All nature leemed in arms againft him, which ever way he turned. Inftead of fafety and repofe, he found fatigue and death, and, to complete his mifery, he ftill preferved the remembrance of his primitive happinefs. Yet he muft cither work or perifh. Some portions of ground were cultivated, but he, who by the fweat of his brow could fcarce procure food for himfelf and family, had no thought of being B 3 generous: ^ PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS. generous : he inclofed his fields, he defended his harvefts; and, as their prefervation alone could infure his own exiftence, he threatened with death whoever Ihould attempt to deprive him of them. It was thus that a right to property was firft cftablifhed among men, whom the fear of pcrilh- ing with mifery, and hunger, foon armed againft each other. A father of a family, furrounded by his chil- dren, it may eafijy be conceived, would have long remained in peace; but prefled by other men, purfued by the fame necefTities, whofe induftry or labours were not equal to his own, he was foon obliged to make ufe of force to repel their depre- dations. The inftruments which ferved to fruc- iify the earth, became the inftruments of death ; War arofe, and when this terrible fcourge had let loofe its rage, cruelty and vengeance, felfifli- ncfs and injuftlce over-ran the whole earth. Man then entirely occupied by his necelTities and pafTions, thought the lefs of prefcrving the precepts and worfhip of the true God, as he had already loft the knowledge of him when he left his native land. Each fucceeding generation wandered ftill farther into the mazes of error; wickcdnefs eftablifhcd her empires (he alone gave laws, or rather plunged men into the moft horrible ftatc of depravity, leaving them no other PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS. 7 ^ther guide than their defires, and Inordinate pafTions. Let us leave thefe hordes of favages, their hiftory can only infpire us with horror, we ftiall refume it hereafter, at the period when civilized colonies, condufted by experienced and courageous chiefs, came to refcue them from this deplorable condi- tion, by introducing among them more falutary laws and more Rcntle manners. The compendious hiftorical account of M. dc BolTuet, is fufficient to inform us of the original eftablifliments of mankind, and in what manner they forgot the precepts received immediately from God : it likewife proves, that the remem- brance of great events could never have been Joft, and that as foon as corruption had led men to imagine Gods, hiftorical truths and the fabu- lous hiftory of divinities muft have been con- founded together. Obfervation likewife fhows us, that the inha- bitants of the eaft muft have efcaped that igno- rance and barbarity which difgraced thofe people who had penetrated into remote regions. The patriarchs had tranfmitted to the former a knowledge of their arts, and more noble ideas, and to this day, notwithftanding the ravages of ages, their works are the admiration of the whole world. B 4 To Q CHALDEAN TRADITION'S. To prcfcrvc fome order in thefe dark periods, and to explain the difference between the gods of the eaft, and thofe of the weft, we fhall give fome of the opinions which are entertained con- cerning the traditions of the Chaldeans and Egyptians. We fhall fee, that it was among thefe people that idolatry firft had its rife, and it will appear in the courfe of this work, that it was colonies of thefe fame people, who introduced among the Greeks, and the inhabitants of the weft, laws, cuftoms, more civilized manners, and the greater part of their arts. In procefs of time, the Greeks tranfmitted them to the Romans, and it is to avoid confounding epochs, that we have divided the Pagan deities into two claffes, the Gods of the eaft, and the Gods of the weft. TRADITION or the CHALDEANS. It is among the people of Afia, that we tnuft feck for the origin of idolatry. The Chal- deans were undoubtedly one of the moft ancient people of the earth. TI>eir firft king was Nimrods he is fuppofed to be the author of the mad attempt of the tower of Babclj and lived in the time of the Phalcg. Notwith- CHALDEAM TRADITIONS. 9 Notwithftanding the difficulty of afcending to fo diftant a period, there are always to be found fome traces by which truth may be difcovered. Hiftorians, fucceeding each other from age to age, have ftood in need of authorities to fupport their writings ; they hav^e had recourfe to the fragments of preceding hiftorians, and it is by carefully collefting thefe, that an attentive ob- ferver founds his remarks upon folid bafes, and avoids error, though the original writings of men be loft. The hiftorian Jofephus relates, that the Chaldeans, from the earlieft times, carefully pre- ferved the remembrance of paft events, by public infcriptions and other m.onuments. He fays, they caufed their annals to be written by the wifeft men of their nation. To this, we may add, that there cannot be a greater proof of their antiquity than the refemblance between their defcription of the origin of the v/orld, and that conveyed to us through the writings of Mofes. Four ancient authors * had written the hiftory of the Chaldeans; their v/orks are loft, but fome fragments of them are ftill to be met with in Eufebius, Jofephus, and Syncellus; it is to the latter we are indebted for the following extraft from Berofus, * Abydenus, Apullodorus, Berofus, and Alexander Poly- fciftor. *' A man. iCd CilALDEAN TRADITIONS, ^^A man, or rather a monfter, half man and half fifh, coming from the red fea^ appeared near Babylon i he had two heads; one, which was the higheft, refcmbled that of a man^ the other that of a filh. *^ He had the ftet of a man, and the tail of a fiih ; and his fpeech and voice refembled that of a man : a reprefcntation of him is ftill preferved. This monfter, according to the Chaldean author, dwelt by day with men, but took no food; he gave them the knowledge of letters, arts, and fciences; he taught them to build towers and temples; and to eflablifli laws; he inflruflcd them in the principles of geometry ; taught them to fow, and to gather the fruits of the earth ; in ihorty whatever could contribute to polifh and civilize their manners. At fun fet he retired to the fea, in which he palled the night. ^ " There appeared like wife others of the fame Ipecies, and Berofus had promifed to explain thefe myfteries, in his hifiory of kings, but of that there are now no remains. This fiih was called Oarmes. ^^ He left fome writings upon the origin of the workl, in which he fays, that there was a time, in which all was darknefs, and water, and that this darknefs, and water, contained monftrous animals/* However fingular this ftory may be, it appears to CMALDEAN TRADITIONS, »i 'to be only a diftorted tradition of the creation of the world, taken from the writings of Mofes ; we ought particularly to remark that part, where he fays, that darknefs and water once covered the face of the earth. In vain does the human mind endeavour to corrupt truth, it always leaves fome enlightening veftfge by which it may be known. We may perceive that the Chaldean author at once ap- proaches too near the origin of die world, not to be convinced of its recent creation, and is too far from the facred fource, w^here he mifrht have informed himfelf, to have any knowledge of that. We find him furrounded with nothing but dif- figured and confufed traditions ; yet the order, yifible in the univerfe, made fuch an imprelTion on his imagination, that it was eafier for him to believe thefe perverted traditions which fpeak of an all-powerful God, Creator of all things, than that whatever furrounded him was eternal, or felf created. Let us farther obferve, that if wx trace the etymology of the word Cannes, it appears to be derived from the Syrian word Onedo, which fignifies traveller. This fliows then, that at a period, which cannot be determined, a man arrived by fea, from whom the Chaldeans received fome principles of philofophy, and a knowledge of ancient traditions ; and that he left them written information on thefe fubjedts. He is repre- 6 fented 12 CHALDEAN TRADITION'S. CHALDEAN TRADITIONS. »3 fented as half man, and half fifli, bccaufe he came from the fea, and was cloathed with the (kins of fiili. As he retired every evening to his veflel, and took his repafts on board of it, they feigned that he took no food, and pafTed the night in the fea. A fragment of Heladius, ftill extant, relates the hiftory of Oannes, and gives this explanation of his pretended form of a fifh. Such was the tra- dition of the Chaldeans, concerning the origin of the world. The ancient aftronomlcal obfervations of the Chaldeans, and the antiquity which they attribute to their nation, are fo frequently fpoken of with allonifliment, that to elucidate this hiftorical my- ftery, we think it neceffary to relate the manner in which they reckoned their time, and reigns. The Chaldeans counted their generations and reigns by fares : they likewife divided time into neres, d,nd fcfes. Thc/arey confided of three thoufand, fix hun- dred years : the nercj of fix hundred, and the fo/fy of fixty. This method of computing feems to give an infinite number of years to the duration of the reigns of their firft monarchs. But the Univerfal Hiftory, publifhed by an Englifh fociety, Scaliger, and feveral learned ob- fervcrs, agree in informing us, that the Chaldeans o-avc the name of years to their days ; fo that by reducing the calculation of three thoufand fix hundred years, which compofed a fare, to three thoufand fix hundred days, we fliall find, that the number of years, related by thefe ancient authors, is almoft exactly the fame as that given by Mofes, to the duration of die lives of the ancient patri- archs. This comparifon is the more correfl:, as it is found to be perfedtiy conformable to aftro- nomical obfervations. Mr. Bailli, in his hiftory of Ancient Aftronomy, proves the truth of this calculation: he traces from eclipfe to eclipfe, and by counting days for years, he arrives at thofe mentioned by the Chaldeans. It is thus that vanity has frequently thrown a veil over antiquity ; each nation wifiiing to give as late a date as pofiible to the epoch of its origm. The Chaldeans give the hiftory of their ten firft kings; the laft of which was Xixutrus. They fay, that it was in his time the deluge happened. We fiiall give their account of him, to prove its correfpondence with facred hiftory. This frag- ment will likewife fhow, that the fabulous accounts of antiquity are founded upon ancient traditions, and are not merely the production of fancy. Chronus, or Saturn, having appeared in a dream to gave H CHALDLAN' TRADITIOx\5^ CHALDEAN TRADiXiONS. 1 '* I to Xixutrus, informed him, that on the fifteenth day of the month Doefius the human race would be dcfiroyed by a deluge s and ordered him to write down the origin, hiftory, and end of all things, and to conceal this account under the earth, in the city of the fun, called Sippara^ after- wards to build a veffel, furnifh it with provifions, and to enter into it, himfelf, his family, and friends, taking likewife with him birds, and four footed animals. Xixuti-us punftually obeyed thefc orders, and built a vcfTel, two ftadia broad, and five lono-, which he had no fooner entered^ than the earth was covered with water. Sometime afterwards, perceiving that the wa- ters were abated, he fent forth fome birds, which finding neither food, nor place of reft, returned to the veflcl. Some days after, he libe- rated others, which returned with mud upon their claws; the third time when difcharged, they returned no more, which led him to believe that the earth began to be fufRciently dry. He then made an opening in the v^fTel, and feeing it had flopped upon a mountain, he came out of it, with his wife, daughter, and the pilot, paid his adorations to the earth, raifed an altar, Sacrificed to the Gods, and afterwards, himfelf, v/ith all thofe who had accompanied him, difap- peared. Thoie that remained in the vefTcl, finding them them not return, quitted the fame, and fought them every where but in vain. A voice was heard, informing them, that the piety of Xixutrus had merited his tranflation to heaven; and that both he, and thofe who accom- panied him, were now admitted among the number of the gods. The fame voice exhorted them to be religious, and having procured the records buried at Sippara, to proceed to Babylon. The voice having ceafed, they went and built the city juft mentioned, with feveral others. Such is the celebrated tradition of the Chaldeans, where we already find fabulous hiftory intermixed with facred. It is worthy remark, that Bcrofus in his Frag- ments, makes no mention of the time in which Cannes appeared. He begins his hiftory with thefc words, " The firft year appeared this extraordinary man." It is evident, then, that time does not commence from Cannes, but only that he firil enlightened the Chaldeans, and left them this tradition. TRADITION ) ^t 16 JLGYPTIAN TRADITIONS. EGYPTIAN TRADITIONS. ^7 TRADITION OF the EGYPTIANS. OOME among the Egyptians believed, that there exifted a Supreme Intelligence who created the world j and that in man there likewilc cxifted an intelligence fuperior to the body, which, was the foul. But this great, this fublime idea, was admitted and received, only by a few more enlightened than the reft; and as the knowledge of fo impor- tant a fecret gave them a fuperiority over other men, they confidered it of moft ineftimable value, and involved it in impenetrable myfteries. None were admitted to the knowledge of thefe myfteries, till tliey had undergone the moft terri- ble probation, which was called their initiation. The religion of the people was the groflefl: idolatry. Struck wdth the fight of the fun, and the other ftars and planets, they fuppofed that thefe luminous bodies were fovereigns of the world, and the only gods who governed it. They called the fun Ofiris, and the moon Ifis. Ofiris fignifies full of eyes, very clear fighted. Ifis fioniiies the ancient, hccmic thev thought the moon to be eternal. But they did not ftop here. When once \vc arc bewildered in obfcurity, every ftep we take 1 increafes increafes our perplexity s the.Egyptians acknow^ ledged eight principal deities, the Sun, Saturn, Rhea, Jupiter, Juno, Vulcan, Vefta, and Mer- Gury or Hermes. Chronos, or Saturn, having efpoufcd Rhea, became the father of Ofiris and Ifis, or according to others, of Jupiter and Juno. The lattet make Jupiter the parent of five other godsj Ofiris, Ifis, Typhon, Apollo, and Aphrodite or Venus. They add that Ofiris was the fame as Bacchus, and Ifis the fame as Ceres. We have here mentioned the names of thefe deities, becaufe we Ihall continually meet with them among the gods of die weft, that is of the Greeks and Romans, which will prove in the moft convincing manner, that the former received their religious ceremonies, and divinities, from Egyptian, and Phoenician colonies, which fettled amongft them and civilized them. The Egyptian mythology, fays Plutarch, is of two defcriptions, one facred and fublime, the other fenfible and palpable. It is on that account they place Sphynxes at the doors of their temples: they wifli us by that to underftand, that their theology contains the fecrcts of wifdom, couched in enigmatical expreflions. To the fame caufe we may attribute the fol- lowing infcription on a ftatue of Minerva, or Ifis, ^ at i3 EGYPTIAN TRADITIONS. l^ at Sals :— " I am whatever is, whatever was> what- ever Ihall be, and mortal never yet has raifed the veil that covers me." We fee, then, that the Egyptian theology had two fignlfications, one facred and fymbolical, the other vulgar and literal. The reprefentation of animals in their temples which they feemed to adore, were only hieroglyphicks, intended as fymbols of divine attributes. It is by comparing thefe different obfervations, that we fhall be enabled to comprehend how the Egyptians, fo famous for the vaftnefs of their works, the wifdom of their laws, and cuftoms, and their extenfive knowledge of the fciences, Ihould at the fame time be fo blinded by fuper- ftltion, as to worfhip infefts, reptiles, plants, and animals. Hiftorians both facred and pro- phane, fpeak of this as one of the wifeft of nations j and one of the eulogiums which the infpired writings pafs on Mofes, and on Solomon, is, that they were fkilled in all the fciences of the Egyptians. We muft carefully diftinguilh then, between the ignorance which reigned among the multitude, and the profound wifdom of thofe who cultivated the fciences, and had read the works attributed to Hermes Trifmegiftus, or thrice great. According to this celebrated man, *^ God '* exiftcd in his fglar unity before all beings. <^ He •> •i* EGVPTIAN TRADITION-3. ,g " He is the foiirce of all that is intelligent. The " firft incomprehenfible principle. Himfelf all- •' fufficient, and father of all eflences." ' We are under no apprehcnfion of fatiguing our readers by thefe quotations. Every one endowed vvuh the gift of reafon muft wilh to know the Idea which the firft philofophers of the world entertained of the Divinity. We ftall likewife give the celebrated Zoroaftcr's definition of him j it is the moft beautiful pro^ dudlion of antiquity. Eufebius has preferved it in his Evangelical Preparation ; he tranfcribed It literally from a book of Zoroafter's ftill extant >n h.s time, entitled A Sacred Colledion of Perfian Monuments. . God is the firft of incorruptibles, eternal, not begotten. He is not compofed of parts, there IS nothing like him, or equal to him : He is the author of all good, the moft excellent of all excellent beijigs, and the wifeft of all intel- ligences : the father of juftice and good laws, ieif-inftruded, all-fufficient in himfelf, and the original author of all nature. Thefe fublime definitions of the divlritr prove that there have exifted fome men cf a knowledge fuperior to the ages in which they I'ved who had collec-ted the information pre- i^rved by ancient traditions , but their number ^■^^ fo ,mall, that they were not fufficient to to EGYPTIAN TRADITIONS. ftop the progrefs of ignorance, and the moft abiurd idolatry. The farther we advance in the knowledge of mythology, the more clearly we (hall perceive that the greater part of their divinities were cither men rendered illuftrious by their adions, or beings entirely fabulous. A ftrift examina- tion will fhew us, that the majority of fidions owe their birth to ignorance or flattery. But to give them authority, it was neceflary to attribute to them a divine origin, and to drefs them in the moft amiable colours; in thefe irregular fancies the poets indulged them- felves the more freely, as they were certain of being fupported by the paflTions, and inclinations of men. Truth was covered with a veil; falfehood, as it were, came and threw over her his garments, and the better to conceal his impofture, he left her feme of her moft pleafmg qualities, nay he even perfidioufly undertook to embellifli them. I: is thus the poets have disfigured ancient events, the remembrance of which had been pre- ferved by tradition, and religious fongs. Since religion has difpelled the darknefs of idolatry, it has been found neceflary to give a new name to a collection of fabks, which ftill pofleffed many charms, as they were adorned with all the beauties of poetry. They EGYPTIAN TRADITIONS. ' at They are called Mythology : a word de- rived from A^/^^j — fabulous, and Logos ^ difcourfe- After having pointed out the difference between the poets and philofophers, it ftill remains for us to obferve, that it was among the eaftern nations, and particularly the Egyptians, that the moft celebrated men of the eaft acquired their greateft knowledge. This was the fchool of Thales, Pythagoras, and Plato. Orpheus, whofe principles the Pytha- goreans adopted, and who lived long before Hefiod and Homer, went for inftruftion into Egypt; it was from thence he brought the following definition of the Divinity. '' There exifts an unknown being, who is the higheft, and moft ancient of all beings, and author of all things ; this fublime being is life, light, and knowledge. Thefe three names are expreffive of that power, which, out of nothing, formed all things, '^ vifible and invifible.'' In a fecond paffage, not lefs eloquent, he gives a name to this unknown being : " The univerfe was formed by Jupiter; the heavens, profound Tartarus, the earth,' and ocean, the immortal gods and goddeffcs; what- ever is, whatever was, whatever fhall be, were originally contained in, and proceed from, the « ^ 3 fruitful ^ AS ZGYPTIANT TRADITIONS. ORIGIN OF IDOLATRY, ^3 'ii«i':r fruitful bofom of Jupiter. He is the firft and the laft, the beginning and the end. All beings are emanations from him, he is the life and caufe of all things j he is the firft father, there is only one power, one god, one king, who go- verns all." Such were the fublime ideas Orpheus received from the Egyptians s but they were only com- municated to him, becaufe he had been initiated into the language called facred, and into the knowledge of myfteries, which were concealed from the multitude. We fhall fee in the courfe of this work, under die article demi-gods and heroes, who were the chiefs, that led the Egyptian and Phoenician colonies into Greece. - We /hall at the fame time fee, that by intro- ducing their laws, cuftoms, arts, and divinities; they likewife introduced the knowledge of ancient traditions which they had corrupted. This curlbry view is fufficlent to fliew that the fable§ of antiquity are founded upon real ev^ents. THE THE ORIGIN OF IDOLATRY. 1 HE word idolatry is derived from two Greek words, which fignify worjhip and repre^ Jentation, It appears that it is in the family of Cham we muft feek for the firft: appearance of idolatry. The unhappy children of a father already labour- ing under a parent's curfc, were the firfl: to forget the wife counfcl of Noah, and abandon- ing themfelves to their pafTions, fought fenfiblc objefts to which they might pay their fuper- ftitious adoration. The two fons of Cham, Chanaan, and Mifrainr.^ having fettled in Phoe- nicia and Egypt, we may fuppofe it was in thefe two countries that idolatry had its birth. Lucian fays exprefsly, that the Egyptians were the firft: who paid folemn adoration to the gods. Hero- dotus, at the beginning of his hiftory, fays confidently, the Egyptians were the firft who diftinguiflied the twelve principal gods by their names i and it is from them, that the Greeks acquired their knowledge of thefe divinities. Sacred hiftory itfelf defcribes Egypt as the centre of idolatry. There, it fays in different places, reigned magic, divinations, foothfayings, and interpre- c 4 tations 24 riRST OBJECT OF IDOLATRY. tations of dreams, the unhappy fruits of idolatrous worlhip. In the time of Mofes, idolatry was at its higheft pitch. He even feems to have given the Jews fo great a number of precepts only to render their ceremonies entirely the reverfe of thofe of the Egyptians. This then is undoubtedly the country where idolatry firft began ; from thence it fpread into the eaft, into the countries inhabited by the defcendants of Shem ; into Chaldea, Mefopo- tamia, and the adjacent parts -, it was afterwards carried into the weft, among the children of Japhet, that is into Afia Minor, Greece, and the neighbouring ifles. In Egypt, and Phoeniqra, then, idolatry had its birth. THE FIRST OBJECT OF IDOLATRY. .EN perceiving the earth to be filled with good and evil, and having no longer the •facred traditions to guide them, could not believe that a being, who is himfclf efientially good, could be the author of evil ; they, therefore, imagined two divinities equal in power, and both eternal. One, which was called the good prin- ciple. FIRST OBJECT OF IDOLATRY. 25 ciple, they fuppofed the author of all good ; the other, which they called the bad principle, the author of all evil. Zoroafter found this doftrine eftabliflied among the Perfians. It is not ki;iown who this Zoroafter was, nor the precife time in which he lived. Some learned men agree with VofTius, in thinking him to be Mifraim himfelf, the fon of Cham, who after the death of his father was called Zoroafter, that is, the living ftar; becaufe he taught the Egyptians to worihip the ftars. But this opinion by no means agrees with the fublime definition of the divinity, taken from the w^orks of Zoroafter himfelf, which we quoted fome time back. ^ A learned Englifh author, Tho- mas Hyde, who was better acquainted with the religion of the ancient Perfians than Vofiius, has fully juftified Zoroafter, by proving that this cele- brated man, far from having introduced idolatry among the firft Egyptians, never lived among them, and was known to the Perfians alone in the time of Darius Hydafpes. He fays, he employed all his eflforts to deftroy thofe abfurd opinions which men entertained, and to bring back the moft reafonabie, to the knowledge of one fingle principal Creator of heaven and earth ; but find- ing the worfliip of ftars and planets the prevailing religion, and unwilling to offer too great violence to dieir underftandings, towards the fun, the principle 6 of 26 FIRST OBJECT OF IDOLATRY. of fertility to the earth, he inftltuted feme rcli. gious ceremonies, which are flill pradifed in India among the Magi who are defcendants of the an- cient Perfians. Mr. Hyde adds, they adore but one God, the principle of all beings, and if they honour fire and the fun, it is becaufe they regard them as the pureft emblems of the Creator, and the temple where he has cftabliflied his throne. I'hefe magi are now very few in number. However it may be, the idolatry of the two prin- ciples, was of very ancient date in Egypt ; and it was to exprefs this that the Egyptians in their Theology — which abounds in fymbols— faid, that Ofiris had inclcfed in the egg, from which the world was originally produced, twelve white pyra- midical figures, to denote the infinite number of blcfTmgs he intended to fhower down upon men ; but that Typhon his brother, the author of evil, having opened this egg, introduced twelve black pyramids, the caufes of all the miferies with which the earth is over-run. The Perfians gave the name of Oromafes to the good principle, and that of Ariman to the bad. The Chaldeans reprefented them, under their benign and malignant planets. SECOND OBJECT OF IDOLATRY. 27 Tilt THE SECOND OBJECT OF IDOLATRY. However ancient the doftrine of the two principles may be, many learned men arc of opinion that the adoration of the flars is ftill more fo. The idea of the divinity having never been entirely loft, it is probable that man, though by nature weak, yet proud, did not at firft pay divine honours to his fellow- creatures: Grander objefts were necelTary to feduce him. The fun by its beauty, the luftre of its beams, the regularity with which it by turns illumines the whole earth, and every where Ipreads fertility, led ignorant men (already corrupted) to believe there was another God ; or at leaft that this luminary w^as the throne of the divinity. Men incapable of conceiving the fublime idea of an invifible, and immaterial fubftance, faw nothing in nature fo beautiful as the fun -, pro- bably even gratitude had fome fhare in their adoration ; they could not doubt but it was the fertilizing principle of nature, and as the difpenfer of all that was agreeable or ufeful to the human fpecies, thought it entitled to their homage. The name of Sabifm, was given to that worfhip which was paid to ftars and planets. The \ 1 PROGRESS OF IDOLATRY. 29 fig PROGRESS OF IDOLATRY. The learned are not agreed concerning the ety- mology of this appellation ; but the moft eflential for us to know, is, that this feci is the moft ancient, and moft numerous, of any mentioned in hiftory; even more fo, than that of the two principles,- and that it ftiU fubfifts among feveral American nations. The infpired writings inform us, that it began a little after the deluge, fmce it was known in the time of Abraham, Thares, and Saruo- THE PROGRESS OF IDOLATRY. \v HEN the firft men feparated, they fell into a ftate of the groiTeft barbarity. The Greeks, afterwards fo learned and polite, owe their know- ledge ennrely to the colonies which fettled among them. Yet idolatry at firft was not a fyftem founded upon reafon, nothing was more abfurd than the religion and ceremonies of the original idolaters. In the time of Cecrops, the Athenians only offered Jitpiter fimple cakes. The firft Scythi- ans adored a fey meter; the Arabians a rough ftone. In the ifle of Orcades, the image of Diana was a piece of unwrought wood ; at Citheron, Juno was only the trunk of a tree; at Samos, a ftmpic fimple plank. But the invention of arts gave a rapid progrefs to Idolatry. VN^ell-formed ftatues infpired refpefb, and men began to think, that the Gods whom they reprefented took pleafure in inhabiting them. From the worfiiip of die ftars, they proceeded to that of heaven, the elements, feas, rivers, &c. ; at laft even illuftrious men were ranked among their deities. The invendon of an ufeful art, the beauty of a work, gratitude for benefits, conjugal or maternal tendernels, thefe caufed temples and altars to be raifed, portraits to be honoured, and woods and afylums to be confecrated. This fpecies of worftiip began in Egypt a ftiort time after the death of Ofiris, and Ifis: both of them having diftinguillied themfelves by their brilliant exploits, and by the invention of feveral ufeful arts, the grateful people thought they could not make them fo proper a return as by raifing them to the rank of divinities; but as they cculd not without manifeft abfurdity call beini?;s immortal who were juft dead, it was pretended tliat their fouls were returned to the ftars, v/hencc they originally defcended to animate their bodies. It Vv-as thus they came to be looked upon as the fun and moon, and to have their worfiiip con- founded with that ofthofe two luminaries. It is here likewife we are probably to look for 3« DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FABLES- DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FABLES. s* for the origin of the metempfychofis, or tranfmi- gration of fouls, an idea which was by after generations fo ftrangely abufed. After the celeflial bodies, each particular part of nature became the objea of adoration, and had its prefiding deity. The earth was worfliipped under the names of Rhea, TeJlus, Ops, Cybele, Proferpine, Maia> ^Flora, Faunus, Pales, Sec, OF THE DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FABLES. 1 HE fables of the poets. may be divided into fix clafTes, the hiftorical, philofophical, alle- gorical, moral, the mixed, and thofe invented at pleafure. The hiftorical are compofed of ancient hiflories, which they have interlarded with fidion. Such are thofe of Hercules and Jafon. Inftead of faying, that the former drained the marilies of Lerna, overflowed by numberlefs rivulets 5 this marili is reprefented under the figure of an hydra v/hicli Hercules vanquiflied: when Jafon went to demand reftitution of the treafure carried by Phrixus to Colchis, inftead of defcribing the fad, the fable of the golden fleece was invented. Yet the Greeks, notwithftanding their predi- Icdion for fables, were not fatisfied with them i ^ alone. alone, they frequently wiflied only to embellifli their hiftories by ornamenting them with the graces of poetry. The greateft men of antiquity have always looked upon the ancient poets as the firft hifto* rians. Alexander would not fo much have admired Homer, nor have envied Achilles in having had fuch an able panegyrift, had he looked upon him fimply as a writer of fiftion : he was very certain that the poet preferved the principal exploits, and painted the true charadler of his heroes. Philofophical fables, are thofe which the ancients invented, as parables, to conceal the myfterics of their fpeculative or natural philofophy. Thus, they faid, the ocean was the father of rivers; and that the moon efpoufed the air, and was the mother of the dew. The allegorical, were likew^ife parables, which had a fecret meaning, or implied fenfe; as the fable which fays, that pleafure was the ofi^spring of riches and poverty, to fliew that the one does not exclude happinefs, and that the other is not fuflicient to infure it. Moral fables, are thofe which inculcate precepts for the improvement of our manners. Of this fort is that which fays, that Jupiter fent the ftars upon earth by day, to inform themfelves of the aflions of men, and give him an account of tliem. The 32 DIFFERENT SPECIES- OF FABLES. The fables of Efop, Lafontaine, and apologues in general, are of this kind. Mixed fables, are a compofitlon of allegory and morality, without any thing hiftorical; fuch as that of Ate, related by Homer. She was the daughter of Jupiter, but made mifchief her whole ftudy. Dctefted equally by Gods and men, Jupiter feized her by the hair, precipitated her from heaven, and fwore an oath that fhe fhould never return. ; By this fable the poet wifhed to reprefent the propenfity of man to evil. • This female, fays he, traverfcs the whole earth, with incredible fwiftnefs; her fillers, called Prayers, likewlfe daughters of Jupiter, always follow her, to counteraft, as far as pofTible, her deteflable machinations ; but unfortunately being lame, they cannot keep pace with their fifier; which implies that evil in its operations is always more prompt, and real, than reparation and repentance. The laft defcription of fables, are thofe which have no other objed than to amufe, or to difplay a brilliant imagination, and invention. Thole that were called Milefian, were of this number, fo were the Sybaritides, which took their name from the inhabitants of Sybaris, a people entirely addifted to their pleafures. Thefe include nearly every fpecies of fables j but we muft remember, that there are very few which DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FABLES. 3d Which we meet with in the ancient poets, which do not contain fome hiftorical faft. When Homer fays, tha^ Eolus gave UlylTes the winds inclofed in a fkin, and that his com- panions let them efcape, it is an hiftorical fad ; which teaches us, that this prince had cautioned Ulyfies not to expofe himfelf to a tempeftuous wind, which would blow in a few days; but the companions of UlyfTes perfifted in purfuing their courfe, and were wrecked; for having refufed to attend to the advice of Eolus» Likewife, Atlas was a prince and an aftronomer, who made ufe of a fphere, to ftudy the motions of the heavenly bodies* The ftory reprefents him, as bearing the hea- vens upon his fhoulders. Proteus was a prince, wife, prudent, eloquent, and politic ; they defcribed his character, by fay- ing, he had the power of changing his form at pleafure. Dedalus invented fails for veflels inftead of oars, and by this means efcaped the vengeance of Minos; he is faid to have. made himfelf wings j an exprefllvc method of defcribing the velocity of veflels with fails. It is thus writers have disfigured hiftory, by endeavouring to embellifh it with the charms of poetry. Such particularly was the genius of the D caftern \iu i / 3^ COMJLCTURES CONCLRNIN& caftern nations, from whom we have received the greater part of our fables. This fpirit ftill reigns among them, and to this day their writings, which abound in parables> prove, that they now are, what the Greeks were when fidlion was at its greateft height. CONJECTURES CONCERNING THE ORIGIN OF FABLES. On feeing every people of the earth (except the people of God) eagerly adopt thefc fiftions, and make them the foundation of their religion, morality, and government. It becomes indifpenfably necefiary to endeavour to difcover the origin of an error fo univerfal, and fo fatal to mankind. The ftudy of truth is neither longer nor more difficult than that of error. And it would be a crime towards youth, not to employ our beft faculties and endeavours, in giving them juft Ideas concerning the natural propenfity of man to evil. They ftand in need of a light to enable them to fee through the delufion. It is only by being habituated to found their rca- fonings and conclufions upon the beft authorities, fureft principles, and moft folid bafcs, that they can THE ORIGIN OF FABLES. 35 can be fe cured from random conjcdurcs, and de- lufive fyftems. In vain has pretended modern philofophy en- deavoured to avail itfelf of the obfcurity in which the firft ages of the world are involved, to render it a fource of Its doubts and fophifms: the vcftigcs which remain of the moft unenlightened periods, prove to a dcmonftration, that all men have felt the ncceffity of a fupreme deity, dircftor, and creator of all things. The fame neceflity obliged them to acknow- ledge themfelves in a ftate of dependance on this powerful being, and that they owed him adoration. The facred writings inform us, that this worftiip was prefcribed by the Divinity himfelf, and the account we have given in the preceding chapters, is fufficient to fhow, that facred tradition has been disfigured, in proportion a$ corruption overlpread the earth. The moment the firft link of that facred chain was broken, man was hurried on from error to error j the human imagination could never fupply the place of eternal wifdom. Vanity was one of the principal fources of fiftion. Truth was found not fufficlently fur- prifing, not fufficiently attractive ; they decked her with borrowed ornaments, and thought to magnify the reputation of heroes, by afcribing to them adlions they had never performed. They D 2 VTQ- \ •' 3"6 CONJECTURES CONCERNING, &C. , probably even propofed thefe imaginary models as more powerful incitements to virtue. But by permitting themfelves to be thus led away by a tafte for the marvellous, they at lad deprived illuftrious men of all the merit they might have poffeflcd. For inftance, when Perfeus flays Medufa, he furprifes her fleeping ; if he delivers Andromeda, he has the wings of Mercury. Achilles is clad with impenetrable arms forged by Vulcan. They went fo far as to lavifli on their heroes all the attributes of Gods. It is thus we are blinded by vanity and other paffions, which mifs of their intended obje£t> by beins; carried to excefs. Before the invention of letters, great events and brilliant exploits were no otherwife recorded, than in the memory of men, or at moft only by a few obfcure hieroglyphicks. The remembrance of celebrated afllons, then, was preferved by tradition; but experience proves, how feldom it is, that even the moft fimple narrations are not mixed with fome em- bellifhing circumftances. When in the courfe of tim.e men wifhcd to write thefe a6licns, they found nothing but confufed traditions, and by giving them a place in hiftory, they have in fome degree eternised fidions. FABLE.^ FABLES INTRODUCED BY A LOVE, 8cc. 37 FABLES INTRODUCED BY A LOVE OF THE MARVELLOUS. JtLxPERiENCE fhows US what influence the marvellous has over the human mind. It is not difficult to perceive the caufe; it hopes to enlarge itfclf by believing in whatever is fupe- rior to itfelf. In the fame manner it finds charms in whatever furprifes it. Abfolute filence and tranquillity re femble death, man is terrified at them^ he mufl: neceffarily be in motion. The fight of any extraordinary event fatisfies his ever aftive curiofity, and he feems in fome meafure to participate in the heroic deeds which he fees, or hears related. He who conceives thefe actions in his fertile imagination, infplres a belief that he could not have invented them, had he not been capable of exe- cuting them J and he who hears, or reads them with enthufiafm, perfuades himfeJf in like manner, that they would not have been fuperior to his own ftrengthi both of them only fee a degree of excellence which their pride leads them to fup- pofe they could attain. The panegyrifl: of Achilles was more concerned for his own glory, than for that of his hero, D 3 Were 38 FABLES INTRODUCED BY A LOl'E Were the moft celebrated poems diveftcd of all their ornaments, we fhould be furprifcd at the mediocrity of the events they record. The Iliad, the Odyffey, the ^neid, would be of little confequence, without the prefence of the gods^ and that perpetual mixture of fafts, little interefting, with fidions which engage our atten- tion. The ignorance of natural philofophy has like- wife given rife to many fabulous (lories. In the ages of ignorance, whatever flruck the fenfes, they fuppofed to be animated; rivers, fountains, ftars, &c. but as they could not have a very clear idea of the latter, they dreaded their influences, and to appeafe them, when they thought them irritated, paid them divine honours 3 when any one more enlightened than the reft, attempted to correft thefe errors, he was accufed of impiety j the un- happy Anaxagoras was punifhed with death, for having faid the fun was not animated, but only a plate of fleel. One of the moft fertile fources of fiftion, was the ignorance of ancient hiftory and chronology. The ufe of letters began very late among the Greeks; feveral ages elapfed, during which they had no knowledge of remarkable events but by tradition. Even when writing was in ufe they did not at firft write connefted hiftories. It fcrved only to record fome panegyricks, hymns, and I genealo- OF THE MARVELLOUS. 39 genealogies, abounding in fiftion, fo that confu- fion reigned every where; and whenever wc wifti to examine thefe genealogies, after having traced them for three or four generations, wc find ourfelvcs at the hiftory of the gods, and every where meet with Jupiter, Saturn, Caelum, or Terra. The Greeks ^yere equally ignorant of their origin; the major part thought they fprung from the ants of the foreft of ^Egina. Yet as they wifhed to be thought very ancient, they flattered themfelves by citing gods, heroes, and kings, who never had exlfted: and when they fpoke of thofe remote periods, of which they had acquired a flight knowledge from the colonies who fettled among them, they conftantly fubftituted fidions for truth. Their fables evidently bore the marks of ancient traditions, but they were fo confufed, that Ariftotlc himfelf reproaches them with being mere infants, when they wiflied to converfe of ancient times. The vanity of the Greeks went fo far as to be- lieve the whole world had been peopled by their colonies. It is not then from them we muft inform our- felves of the people of antiquity, the original deities, and the firft fables. Their hiftory does not begin to merit any degree of confidence, till the time of the olympiads. P4 DIVISION 'fif! 40 DIVISION OF TIME ACCORDING TO VARRO. 4* DIVISION OF TIME ACCORDING TO VARRO, 1 o throw greater light on the period when fables began, we muft follow Varro, and like him diftinguifh time into three divifions. The unknown, the fabulous, and the hiilorical. The firft, which was in fome manner the infancy of the world, comprifes what pafled from chaos, or the creation, to the deluge of Ogyges, which happened about 1600 years before the birth of Chrill. The fecond reaches from that period to the firft olympiad, where begins the hidorical. This celebrated divifion of Varro, can only regard the hiftories of the Greeks, and Romans j for the Egyptians, Chaldeans, Phoenicians, and ancient inhabitants of the Eaft, are confiderably better acquainted with diftant ages. They had their traditions, and their annals, though cer- tainly they are much intermixed with fidlion. The Greeks had no certain knowledge of the firft ages of the world j and when they arrive at the times called Heroic, they involve them in fo much obfcurity, that the hiftory of them is abfo- lutely disfigured. The period of the Trojan war^, particularly, fo fertile fertile in heroes, produced an infinite number of fiftions. This celebrated city was twice taken, firft by Hercules, and about thirty years after by the Grecian army, under the command of Aga- memnon. It was at the time of its firft capture that Her- cules, Telamon, Thefeus, Jafon, Orpheus, Caftor and Pollux — names which their mutual friendlhip has rendered infeparable — appeared 5 then flou- riflied all thofe heroes who participated in the conqueft of the Golden Fleece. At the fecond taking of Troy, appeared the fons, or grandfons, of the above; Agamemnon, Menelaus, Achilles, Diomedes, Ajax, Heftor, Ulyfles, Priam, Paris, Eneas, &c. In the interval between the time of the firft and fecond capture, we fiiould place the two Theban wars, in which appeared Adraftus, CEdipus, Eteocles, Polynices, Capaneus, and fe- veral others, the conftant objeds of poetical fiftion. It was not tin the eftablifliment of the olym- piads, that the hiftory of Greece aflumed at laft ;i regular form, and that events were clafled under their proper epochs. THE 4» ©LVMflC GAMES. THE OLYMPIC GAMES. It is not clearly determined at what time thefe games were inftituted. Their origin is very obfcure. Diodorus Siculus only fays, that Hercules of Crete was the firft founder of them, without telling us at what time, or on w^hat occafion. The mod common opinion among the learned is, that they were eftablifhed by Pelops, and that the firft celebration took place at Elis, in the twenty-ninth year of the reign of Acrlfius, the twenty-fourth of Sicyon, nineteenth king of Sicyon ; and to compare prophane epochs with facred, it was in the twenty-fourth year of Deborah, who judged I frael. Atreus, fon of Pelops, revived them, and ordered their fecond celebration,- 141 8 years before the time of our Saviour. Laftly, Her- cules, at his return from the conqueft of the Golden Fleece, aflembled the Argonauts in Elis, to celebrate thefe games, in gratitude for the happy fjccefs of their expedition, and they agreed to affemble there for the fame purpofe every fourth ear. However, thefe games were difcontinued till the reign of Iphitus, king of Elis, that is, during a fpace EFFECTS PRODUCED IN GREECE, &:c. 43 a fpace of 442 years; and it was then that the Greeks took them for their principal epoch. They now counted only by olympiads, and it is from that time that we find lefs fidion in their hiftory. EFFECTS produced in GREECE, and in the WEST, by the arrival of EASTERN COLONIES. "When the Phoenicians, or Egyptians, came to fettle in Greece, they were obliged to learn the eftablilhed language of the country ; but they muft have preferved many words from their own language, particularly thofe which were employed in the new laws, cuftoms, and religions, which they introduced among the Greeks. ' Thefe latter, in adopting their innovations, made ufe of their terms which quickly produced a con- fufion of the two languages. Some time after, when the Greeks wifhed to read their ancient hiftor)% they found it full of Phoenician words, which they did not fail^ to explain favourably to their tafte for fiaion, and often abufed the ambiguity which fre- quently occurs in the Phoenician language. For inftance, the word Jl^ha or //p^^, fignified equally 44 EFFECTS PRODUCED m GREECE, &c, equally a bull or a fliip; whence the Greeks took occafion to fay, that Jupiter, in the form of a bull, had carried off the young Europa, inftead of faying he carried her in a Ihip to the ifland of Crete, where he reigned. The fable of the Fountain Arethufa,and the River Alpheus, is likewife founded upon an equivocal expreflion. The Phoenicians on landing in Sicily found a fountain furrounded with willows, which they called Alphaga, that is the fountain of willows. In procefs of time, the Greeks, on their arrival in the fame country, recolledling their river Alpheus, which flows through Elis, faid that the waters of that river palTed under the fea, to join thofe of the fountain Arethufa. The more we ftudy their origin, the more we are forced to acknowledge, that the major part of the Grecian fables were an imitation of thole of the Oriental colonies. At the time when the inhabitants of the weft am lived in the grofieft ignorance and barbarifin, Egypt was the feat of arts and politenefs. It was the Egyptians and Phoenicians who taught them to build cities, clothe themfelves, and live in a ftate of fociety: from them they received their religious ceremonies, their worfliip, and their facrificcs ; and the Greeks by adopt- ing their religion, adopted likewife all their fables. The HESIOD AMD HOMER. 45 The worfliip of Bacchus was modelled after that of Ofiris ; Orpheus obtained his fyftem of the infernal regions from the Egyptians ; it was there Pythagoras borrowed his idea of the tranf- migration of fouls. Thefe proofs are more than fufEcient to fliew that the fables of the Greeks and Romans were originally received from Egypt and Phoe- nicia. If we find fome difference, it is becaufc the Greeks, to their pafTion for fidion, added a defire of appearing very ancient; they endea- voured at once to conceal both their ignorance and their recent origin. They were alhamed of owing all to foreign nations i and the hope of infpiring a belief that all had originated with themfelves, induced thera to alter names, adventures, and even religious ceremonies. OF HESIOD AND HOMER. The name of Homer never prefents itfelf to the mind, without excitmg the tribute of admi- ration. <^ Who is then this wonderful man, (fays the author of the travels of the young Anacharfis,) whofe glory only increafes with revolving ages, and I I I w 46 HESIOD AND HOMER. and of whom the human intellect: no more is jealous, than of the beams of the bright luminary of day 1" Hefiod and Homer are not the inventors of the Greek fables, they only enriched them widi new ornaments isidolatry was antecedent to the age in which they wrote. It is probable that more ancient poets had left them models, which they have furpafled; for it is hardly probable, that the firft eflays of Grecian poetry fhould be patterns of excellence. Before the time of Homer the fiege of Troy was univerfally fung, and hymns were compofed in honour of the Grecian gods, before die exift- cnce of his poems. Hefiod and Homer contented themfclves with following the principles of the theology of their country, the fyftem of which had been introduced by Cecrops, Cadmus, and other leaders of colonies. Homer then was only the panegyrift, not the inventor of his gods ; he conforms to the theology of his time, and as he wifhes at once to pleafe and avoid obfcurity, he does not depart from the fyftem of religion eftablifhed in his country. We muft not then look upon him as the inventor and creator of fo many gods and abfurd cuftoms. THE GODS OF THE GREEKS, &C. 47 THE THE GODS OF THE GREEKS, AND ROMANS, AND OTHER WESTERN NATIONS. The preceding reflexions are fufficient to Ihew that idolatry originated among the eaftern nations: this is the reafon^vhy we have divided the pagan deities into two claffes, the gods of the eaft, and thofe of the weft. Concerning the former we fliall extend our refearches no farther. Though a knowledge of this part of mythology is extremely interefting, and even neceflary, in order to ftiew the origin of fable and idolatry 5 yet the principal objeft of this work being to enable our readers to travel with advantage, and to form a juft opinion of the principal performances of the poets, and arrifts, we fliall principally dwell upon the different branches of the Greek and Roman mythology, and fliall devote the reft of this work to that pur- pofe 5 taking care at the fame time to make hifto- rical comparifons, and give every explanation rcquifitc to connedl the former and the follow- ing parts. The pagan deines may be divided into the ccleftial, the marine, the terreftrial, and the infer- nal. We (hall afterwards come to the fubaltcrn divinities, of whofc refidence they had no deter- mined idea. ■ OF 48 CELESTIAL DEITIES. DIFFERENT ORDERS OF THE DEITIES. 49 I OF THE CELESTIAL DEITIES. * V ARRO, the greateft of pagan theologians;^ makes the number of thefe to amount to thirty thoufand, which will not appear furprifing, when we confider that they had invented deities to prefide over every diftinft pare of the univerfc, and over all the pafTions, and necefTities of life* Befides, at the fame time that different nations or cities adored the fame god under the name of Jupiter, each of them pretended to have their own particular Jupiter. Varro reckons more than three hundred of this name. It was the fame v/ith the other gods and demi-gods : more than forty of the name of Hercules were reckoned. But, as diffenfion might arife among fo many different divinities, the pagans perceived the necefTity of believing, and maintaining, that there v/as one fupcrior to the reft, called Deftiny, or Fate. This god, whom they fuppofed blind, governed every thing by an abfolute necefTity: Jupiter himfelf, the fir ft and greateft of gods, was forced to fubmit to his decrees. Dcftiny had his religious worfhip ; but as he could not be comprehended by the human mind;» tnind, they never dared determine his form, fo that his ftatue was never worfhipped, like thofe of the other gods : they endeavoured, however, to give a reprefentation of him ; and it was under the figure of an old man, holding an Urn between his hands, which contained the lot of mortals. They placed a book before him in which were recorded future events : all the gods, with- out exception, were obliged to confult this book, becaufe they could do nothing contrary to its decrees, and it was only by reading it, that they could obtain a knowledge of futurity^ This idea of Deftiny is the moft ftriking ac- knowledgementj men could pofTibly have made, of the necefTity of a fupreme and only God. But having once lofl the inftrudlions given by the Almighty to the firfl patriarchs, it was no longer in their power to define and compre- hend the Divine Being. DIFFERENT ORDERS OF THE DEITIES. JL HE gods were divided into four orders. The firfl: comprifed the fupreme gods, who were likewife called gods of the nations, becaufe they were known, and revered by every nation: E they i' 50 DIFFERENT ORDERS OF THE DEITIES. TARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE GODS. 5» I ihcy were twenty iii number, of whom Jupiter was the chief and principal. The fecond order included the gods, whom Ovid ftiled the celeftial populace, they were called the inferior gods of nations 3 they had no place in heaven, nor were they admitted to the council of Jupiter i Pan, Pomona, Flora, and the other rural deities were of this clafs. The third order was compofed of demi gods, who deriv^ed their origin from a god and a mortal ; or a goddefs and a mortal. Such were Hercules, Efculapius, Caftor and Pollux, &c. Heroes, likewife, who by their illuftrious valour had raifed themfelves to the rank of immortals, had a place among thefe. The fourth order contained the virtues which had formed great men, as Fidelity, Concord, Cou- rage, Prudence, &c. i and even the mifcries of life, as Poverty, Pain, &c. The twenty gods of the firft order were divided into two clafles, the firft, which was compofed of fix gods, and fix goddefles, formed the council of Jupiter. The fix gods, were Jupiter, Neptune, Mercury, Apollo, Mars, and Vulcan. The fix goddefles, Juno, Ceres, Minerva, Vefta, Diana, and Venus. The fecond clafs was compofed of eight divini- • ties, who did not alTift at the fupreme council, they they were called Dii SeleBi, feleft gods; their names were Coelus^ Saturn, Genius, Orcus, Bac- chus, Sol, Terra, and Luna. Thofe divinities who were not of the firft or fecond clafs, were called Indigetes and Semones. The word Indigetesy fignifies afting as gods, and the word Semones, fignifies half-men, becaufe they were defcended from an immortal, cither by the father or mother's fide. PARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE GO0S. Before wc give the hiftory of Jupiter, wc think it neceflary to fpeak of Saturn his father, and Cybele his mothen The rank of thefe two divinities was confiderably inferior to that of Jupiter, who was chief and fovereign of the gods. Cybele and Saturn were not reckoned among the celeftial deities ; but the account we are about to give will fcrve to illuftratc the hiftory of their fon Jupiter. z 2 SATURN, M i2 SATURN, JANUS, THE GOLDEN AGE/ AND THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. 53 •li SATURN, JANUS, THE GOLDEN AGE, AND THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. CcELUs or Heaven, whom the Greeks called Uranus, was by their account the moft ancient of the gods; as Vefta Prlfca, or Titea, or Tellus, (names which exprefs the earth) was of the goddefles. Their fons were called Titan and Saturn, which latter was the fame as Chronus or Time. The right of feniority infured the fucceffion of the kingdom to Titan, but he, in compliance with his .mother's defire, yielded his right to his younger brother, on condition that he fhould deftroy all his male children : Saturn, conformably to this agreement, devoured his fons the moment they were born. To compare this with hiftory, before we pro- ceed any farther, let us remark that the Phceni- ■ cian word Balahy fignifies equally to confine, and to devour. This ambiguity was fufficient to give rife to the inhuman ftory of a father devouring his children; but there is another explanation more natural, given by Cicero. The Greeks regarded Saturn, and Time, as the fame god. The name Chronos, which is given to him, fignifies time: now time being eternal, and the the deftroyer of all, he muft certainly fee his chil- dren perifh. This is the origin of that barbarous allegory. But to return to our fabulous hiftory : Cybelc having brought forth Jupiter, and at the fame time Juno, found means to conceal the former, and in his ftead gave Saturn a ftone, which he devoured. The preceding explanation is fuffi- cient; we fhall only obferve that this pretended {tone afterwards became an objeft of veneration, and had divine honours paid to it, under the name of Abadir, or Abdir. Cybele wifhing to withdraw Jupiter from the fight of Saturn, had him fecretly tranfported to the ifland of Crete, where he was brought up by the Corybantes, or Curetes. The goat Amalthea fuckled him, and the two nymphs, Adrafta and Ida, fometimes called the MeliflTaf, took charge of his infancy. The poets relate, that to prevent Saturn from hearing the cries of Jupiter, the priefts of Cybele invented a fort of dance, in which they beat upon brazen fliields. Thefe precautions, however, did not prevent Titan from being informed of what had pafled; and wifliing to preferve for his children their right of fuccefiion to the throne, he made war upon Saturn, conquered him, and threw both him and Cybelc into ftrid: confinement, where they re- E 3 mained. 54 SATURN, JANUS, THE GOLDEN AGK, AND THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, 55 I nialned, till Jupiter, arrived at years of maturity, made war upon Titan, conquered him, and reftored them to liberty. Jupiter having delivered his father, took pofTeffion of the throne for himfelf, and fearing Saturn would employ every method to recover his rights, he drove him from heaven^ The dethroned king took refuge in Italy, with Janus king of that country, by whom he was hof- pitably received. Tiie kingdom of Janus, from this event, took the name of Latium, which word comes from Latercy to lie hid. Again to refer to hiftory : At Rome were cele- brated, in the month of December, the feafts called Saturnalia, in commemoration of the time that Saturn dwelt in Italy. During their continuance no biifinefs was tranfafted in the fenate, nor in the public fchoolsj perfons mutually fent each other prcfents, and (laves were waited upon by their mailers. This latter cuftom was intended to pre- fervc the remembrance of the golden age, in whjch all were equally happy. This period, which poets have defcribed in the moft enchanting colours, continued, alas! only two reigns i thofe of Saturn and Janus. The foliow^ing ages were ftiled of filver, brafs, and iron. So true it is, that a wife government, under a good prince, is the greateft blefling heaven can bellow upon mortals ! Jt is but too neceffary again to repeat this truth 1 to I to man ; and to fupport it with authority more refpcftable than that of fiftion, let us recoUeft, that the Egyptians were never greater or more happy, than under their king Sefoftris. Athens did not become the moll tiouriihing of cities, till the time of Pericles, who had no title^ it is true, but yet enjoyed all the authority of a king; and in the annals of the world, if we feek for the true period of human happinefs, every heart and mind, will at once recognife the reigns of Antoninus, Marcus Aurclius, Trajan, and Titus. In a preceding chapter we have fhown, that the defire of happinefs is inherent in man. It v/as even to fupply the place of this irreparable lofs, that he imagined the goddefs Hope: let us at the fame time remark, that the poets, in defcriblng the golden age, are more careful to paint the inno- cence and primitive virtue which reigned upon the earth, than the abundance. This will induce us to believe, that they owed their defcriptlons to the dear remem- brance of the moft facred, the moft ancient, and confequently the beft preferved of all tra- ditions, facred writ. To return to fabulous hiftory. Saturn in gratitude for the kind recep- tion he had experienced from Janus, and for having been admitted to a participation in his kingdom, endowed him with extraordinary pru- dence, to which he added the knowledge of E 4 ' future Is Is ^6 MONTHS or THE YEAR. future events, and a perpetual remembrance of the paft; which they wifhed to exprefs, by re- prefenting him with a double face: it is fron; thence he is called Bifrons. To explain this fable. We learn from hif- tory, that Janus was reprcfented with two faces^ becaufe he governed two different people, and becaufe he divided his kingdom with Saturn, lit! likewife caufed medals to be ftruck with two faces, to {how that his dominions fhould be governed by the joint councils of himfelf and ^aturn. THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. Janus prefided over the year. He had twelve altars, to fhew that it was compofed of twelve months. January was fo called from his own name. The word February comes from Februare^ to perform purifications : a ceremony which was praftifed this month in honour of the dead. March takes its name from the god Mars, whofe defcendant Romulus pretended to be, and under whofe protedlion this prince had placed his warlike people. April comes from Jperircy to open 5 becaufe p this month the earth opens her bofom, to pour ./ Bi/rAiC- 'r 5^ MONTHS OF THE YEAR. future events, and a perpetual remembrance of the pad; which they wiilied to exprefs, by re- prefenting him with a double face: it is from thence he is called Bifrons. To explain this fable. We learn from hlf- tory, that Janus was reprefented with tv/o faces, becaufe he governed two different people, and becaufe he divided his kingdom with Saturn. He likewife caufed medals to be flruck with two faces, to fhow that his dominions fliould be governed by the joint councils of himfclf and 3aturn. THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. Janus prefided over the year. He had twelve altars, to fhew that it was compofed of twelve months, January was fo called from his own name. The word February comes from FebriiarCy to perform purifications : a ceremony which was praclifed this month in honour of the dead. March takes its name from the god Mars, whofe defcendant Romulus pretended to be, and under whole protection this prince had placed his warlike people. April comes from Aperire^ to open 5 becaufe in this month the earth opens her bofom, to pour \ tturcl M t^ MONTHS OF THE YEAR, gf pour forth her riches. Some etymologlfts de- rive It from the Greek word Aphrodite^ a fur- name of Venus, to whom this month was parti- cularly confecrated. May is derived from Majcresy fignifylng the cldefti becaufe it was confecrated to perfons advanced in years; as June is from Juniores^ the younger, becaufe it was confecrated to youth. July and Auguft, take their names from the emperors, Julius Cacfar, and Auguftus. September, Oftober, November, and Decem- ber, are fo called from the rank they occupy in the year. Before the time of Julius Casfar and Auguf- tus, July and Auguft, from the fame reafon, were called quintiliSy the fifth, and JextiliSy the fixth. The year, as originally divided by the Romans, confifted only of ten months, and began with March and April ; but Numa Pompilius added January and February, and made the year begin with the former of thofe months. CONCLUSION 'Sv *• ■ Hill I a* HISTORY Of SATURN AND JANU«% CONCLUSION of the HISTORY of SATURN, and JANUS, with HISTORICAL COxMPARISONS. Janus received divine honours, but neither Saturn nor he were ever ranked among the deities of the firft clafs. Janus Ihould be reckoned among thofe gods called indigetes. He was rcprefented with a wand in his hand, becaufe he prefided over the public ways. He likewife holds a key, becaufe he firft invented doors. He had a temple erefted to him by Numa Pompilius, which was open in time of war, and fhut during peace, on which account he was regarded as the god of peace. It is worthy of remark, that this temple was only Ihut thrice by the Romans : under Numa, after the fecond Punic war 3 and in the reign of Auguftus, after the battle of Aftium. The ftatues of Janus frequently exprefs, with the right hand, the number three hundred, and with the left", fixty, in allufion to the extent of the year. The invention of crowns, and boats, is attri- buted to him; he was likewife the firft who ftruck copper money. It feems, that it is to Ianu§, more than Saturn, we fhould attribute the HISTORY OF SATURN AND JANUS. ^^ the mild and falutary laws which procured their reigns the appellation of the golden age. This prince quitted Pcrrha^bea a town of Theflaly, about a hundred and forty fix years before the taking of Troy. He came by fea into Latium, and fome of his medals, upon which may be fecn the prow of a fhip, are a proof of his maritime courfe. When he ar- rived in Latium the inhabitants of that barba- rous country lived without laws, and almoft without religion. This prince foftened the ferocity of their manners, aflfembled them in towns, and gave them laws. It is probable that he brought with him fome remembrance of the firft ages of the world. He made them fenfible of the charms of innocence, and the great advantages arifing from the praftice of juftice. He contrafted the pidlure of happinefs with that of the miferies attendant on ignorance and barbarity; he, in fome meafure, conftrained them to be happy, and when fuccefs had crowned his efforts, gratitude raifcd altars to his memory. Janus, as he is reprefented by the poets in their defcription of the golden age, was too good, too generous, to refufe an afylum to the unfortunate Saturn, when dethroned by Jupiter. He did more than receive him with hoipi- tality, he wiflicd to divide his kingdom with him J h m 6o HISTORY OF SATURN AND JANUS. him ; but jealous of prefcrving thofe laws, cuf- toms, and that mild government, which confti- tutcd the happinefs of himfelf and fubjefts, he did not admit him to a participation of his power, till he was convinced that his method of governing would be entirely conformable to his own. Such is the defcrlption of that time, fo cele- brated among the Greeks. If we are aftonifhed to fee Saturn, both in heaven and on earth, occupy a rank fuperior to his benefadtor Janus, who was the real reftorer of the golden age ; we muft attribute it to the brilliant reputation of his fon Jupiter, who be- came the firft and moft powerful of all the pagan deities. We fhall fee the hiftory of that god Ihortly. The reputation of Saturn grew fo famous in Latium, that the mountain, afterwards named the Capitoline Hill, was called Saturninusj and wc find in Dionyfius Halicarnafilis, and Juftin, that all Italy was, from him, called Saturnia. The ancient ftatues of Saturn wear chains, in remembrance of thofe with which his fon loaded him ; they were taken off during his feafts, the better to fhew that his reign had been tliat of happinefs and liberty. He is fre- quently reprefented under the form of an old man, ' HISTORY OF CYBELE. 6i man, armed with a fcythe, to imply that he pre- fided over the times and feafons. When under this form, he was called Chronos, or Time. HISTORY OF CYBELE. 1 HOUGH Cybele be of the number of the tcrreftrial deities, we Ihall give her hiftory in this place, as fhe was the wife of Saturn, and mother of Jupiter. Cybele was generally regarded as the mother of the major part of the gods, which procured her the appellation of Magna Mate^'^ the Great Mother. She had fcveral names ; the moft common arc Dindymene, Id^a, and Berecynthia ; they are de- rived from different mountains, where ftie was more particularly worftiipped. She was likewife called Ops, and Tellus, be* caufe flie prefided over the earth, as Saturn her huft)and did over heaven ; and Rhea, derived from a Greek word, which fignifies to flow, becaufe all things proceed from the earth. Cybele is generally reprefented fitting, to de- note the ftability of the earth , fhe carries a drum or difk, emblematical of tlic winds confined in 62 tllSTOKY OF CYBELE. in the bowels of the earth j and wears upon hct head a crown, formed with towers : her figure is that of a mafculine woman 3 and, the better to cxprefs the fertility of the earth, fhe appears in the laft ftate of pregnancy. She has keys in her hands, to fhew, that dur- ing winter, fhe preferves in her bofom the feeds of every kind of fruit ; laftly, her temples were round, in imitation of the orbicular form of the earth. The feafts of Cybele were called Megalefia, and her priefts Galli, from a river of Phrygia. It is pretended, that as foon as they had drank the waters of this river they were feized with fuch a frenzy, that they gave themfelves wounds with fwords, which procured them, according to fome authors, the name of Corybantes, which fignifies to flrike. But we fhall fee it may probably be afcribed to another origin. Thefe priefts arc fometimes ftiled Curetes, from the ifland of Crete, where they brought up Jupiter; and Daftyli, from a Greek word fignifying finger, becaufe they were ten in num- ber, like the fingers of the hand. The feafts of this goddefs were celebrated to the noife of drums, with frightful yells and cries. At Rome Ihe had a temple, called Opertum, into which men were never admitted; and the fcaft of ablution, in honour of Cybele, w^as celebrated HISTORY OF CYBELE. gj celebrated there with great magnificence. During this feaft, the ftatue of the goddefs was drawn in proceiTion upon a car, with great pomp 3 an im- menfe retinue accompanied it to where the river Almon falls into the Tyber ; when they arrived here, the ftatue of the goddefs was wafhed in the waters of the river. This ceremony which took place on the 25th of March, was inftituted in commemoration of the epoch, when the worfhip of Cybele was brought from Phrygia to Rome. The Romans, having learned from the verfcs of the Sybils, (of whom we Ihall fpeak in the courfc of this work) that they were to honour Cybele, as being the mother of the gods, lent a Iplendid cmbafly into Phrygia, to demand the ftatue of the goddefs, which was of black ftone ; the requcft was granted, and it was tranfported by fea, but as foon as it arrived at the mouth of the Tyber, the veffel ftopped, and every efibrt to make it advance was in vain. The oracle, or the book of the Sybils, was again confulted, and returned for anfwer, that a virgin alone could have the power of bringing it into port. The defire of pleafing is always dangerous when imprudently indulged without rcftraint; It had till then had too much fway over the young and beautiful Claudia; doubts injnrious to her honour began to arife, and in vain did ftic ftied tears €^ FllSTORY OF CYBELE; tears of forrow, and remorfc, at feeing her reputa-^ tion blafted. Being informed of the anfwer of the oracle^ Ihe earneftly folicited to undergo this trial; it was granted, and fhe appeared in the midfl: of the Roman people, decked in all her beauty. Her demeanour, at once full of modefly and dignity, Ihowed her to be fuperior to all fear; fcorning fufpicions which flie knew to be unfounded, and confcious of her own innocence, with an audible voice, fhe addreffed a prayer to the goddefs, and faftening her girdle to the veffel, it in an inftant advanced without the lead oppofition. Hiftory informs us that Cybele was daughter to a king of Phrygia ; fhe left her own country to go to Latium, where fhe married Saturn. She was the firft who fortified the walls of cities with towxrs, which is the reafon of her being repre- fcnted with a crown of towers upon her head. Cybele, before fhe was deftined for the wife of Saturn, had feen Atys, a young Phrygian, whofc love fhe fought, but he preferred the nymph San- garis, daughter of Sangar, king of Phrygia. This fable tells us, that the goddefs revenged her- felf upon Atys, in the perfon of Sangaris; her life was attached to that of a tree, which being cut down, the nymph perifhed. Atys in defpair became furious ; his frenzy led him into the mountains of Phrygia, where hcftabbed himfelf IM HISTORY OF CYBELE. 65 \^ 1 himfelf with a knife; he was at the point of death, when Cybele, having compafTion upon a mortal vvhom Ihe had fo tenderly loved, changed him into a pine, which tree was confecrated to her ever after. This fable of Atys and Sangaris, is founded upon the circumftance of Midas king of Peflinus having promifed his daughter in marriage to the young Atys; Cybele learning fhe had a rival, affembled her troops, haftened to Peffinus, and entered the city by cutting down the gates; Atys endeavoured in vain to refift this attack ; he was dangeroufly wounded, and Sangaris died of grief and defpair. All thatwc can learn from hiftory, refpeding the birth and name of Cybele, is, that fhe wat cxpofed the moment fhe was born, without afllgn- ing any caufe, or informing us how Ihe came to be known by her father, the king of Phrygia. She was called Cybele, from the name of the mountain upon which Ihe was found cxpofed. Some etymologifts think this name derived from an Hebrew word, which fignifies to bring forth with forrow, and that the tradition of Eve's being condemned to bring forth in forrow is con- cealed under this fable. The worlhip of Cybele, and of the earth, is extremely ancient; many authors afTert, that Cad- mus firft brought it into Europe. F They '1' i ■ '1 1 If I 66 THE VESTALS, AND VESTA. They fay that Dardanus, (who was contempo- rary with Cadmus) aicer the death of his brother Jafon, came with Cybele his fifter in law, and Corybas his nephew into Phrygia, where they introduced the myfterious rites of the earth and the mother of the gods; that Cybele gave her name to this goddefs, and that her priefts were called Corybantes, from Corybas. Such appears to be the origin of the worfhip of the earth, which, with other ceremonies of the Egyptians, fpread firft into Syria and Phoenicia, and after- wards into Phrygia, which is a part of Afia Minor, from whence it was imported into Greece and Italy. The name of Vefla Prifca, or Vefta Tel- his, is frequently given to Cybele, but fhe mull not be confounded with the fccond Vefta, daughter of Saturn, who was the goddefs of fire, and pre- fided over virginity. We Ihall now give her hiftory. OF THE VESTALS, AND OF VESTA, GOD^ DESS OF FIRE AND VIRGINITY. NuMA PoMPiLiusralfed an altar. to Vefta, daughter of Saturn, and inftituted thofe celebrated priefteffes who bore the name of Veftals. At firit they were only four in number^ but were after- wards increafed to fcven. The THE VESTALS, AND VESTA. 6/ The Roman virgins deftined for the fcrvicc of Vefta, were chofen between the age of fix and ten years. Their birth muft be without fpot, and theif bodies without blemifli. The time of their confecratlon to Vefta laft^d thirty years, during which they were vowed to virginity, and it was not till after this term that they were free from their priefthood, and at liberty to marry. During the firft ten years they were inftruded in the duties of their office, prac^ifed it during the fecond ten, and in the ten laft years inftrufted the novices. The principal employment of the veftals con- fifted in conftantly maintaining the facred fire which burnt in honour of Vefta. Every year during the kalends of March, this fire was renewed by the rays of the fun. Of fo much importance was the prefervation of the lacred fire confidered, that when it happened to expire, all public games were interdicted till the crime ftiould be expiated. This event was the fubjeft of general mourning; it was con- fidered as the moft melancholy prefage. Every eye attentively fought the caufe of this public cala- mity, fufpicions of every fort were entertained, and fometimes they fell upon the veftals. It was difficult to elude refearches, and if one of them F 2 had i' 68 THE VESTALS, AN'D VESTA. had violated her vows, nothing could fave her from death; fhe was buried alive. It was on an occafion of this kind, that EmilU one of the veftals being fufpefted, threw her veil upon the facred afhes, which immediately rekindled. ^neas is iuppofed to be the original inftltutor of the veftals, and Numa Pompillus only the reviver of them. The common opinion was, that -bcfides the facred fire, the temple of Vefia con- tained the palladium, the houfehold gods, and other images, which the pious iEneas had faved from the ruins of Troy and brought with him into Italy. Thefe precious depofits were looked upon as neceffary to the prefervation of Rome, and it was to fave them that Cecilius Metellus precipitated himfelf into the flames, when the temple of Vefla was on fire, whilft the timid prieftefTes fled in every direftion. The Romans rewarded this generous a6lion, by raifing a ftatue to him, in the capitcl, bearing an honourable infcription. It is certain that the worfliip of Vefta and of fire was brought from Phrygia by -Sneas, and the Trojans that accompanied him, but the Phrygians themfclves originally received it from the Eaft. The Chaldeans held fire in great veneration, and regarded it as a deity. JUPITER. JUPITER. 69 JUPITER. W: HEN we wifn thoroughly to invefti- gate the idea which the Pagans entertained of this firft of gods, we are terrified at the attempt. The generality of their philofophers fuppofed Jupi- ter to be the pureft air, the asther, and Juno, his wife, the grofTer air which furrounds our globe. Thofe who looked upon him as an animated god, as one of thofe men whofe great exploits had procured him divine honours, did not hefitate to contradi6t themfelves in the moft palpable man- ner, by attributing to him the bafeft aftions and the blackeft crimes. Sometimes they defcrlbe him as abfolute fovc- reign of gods and men, as the principle of all jufticcj and not unfrequently as the weakeft and moft criminal of men. What idea of the divinity had then thefe Greeks and Romans, of whofe boaftcd delicacy of fentiment we hear fo much ? What renders the hiftory of Jupiter ftill more obfcure, is, that there were feveral of the name, and all their different ac5tions were attributed to him, who was king of Crete, as being the moft generally known. The ancients are by no means agreed concern- ing the number of Jupiters. Diodorus Siculus F 3 reckons h'- k . >f T f.h ■■'*^ i. 1 7^ JUPITER. JUPITER. 71 i reckons two j the firft a prince of the family of Atlas i the fecond, confiderably more famous, was his nephew and king of Crete, who extended the limits of his empire to the extremities of Europe and Africa, Cicero counts threes the firft born in Arcadia, "vvas the fon of ^ther, and father of Proferpine and Bacchus J the fecond was fon of Ccelus, and father of Minerva, who, according to Cicero, was the firft that engaged in w^ir. The third was fon of Saturn ; born in the ifland of Crete, where his tomb was formerly to be feen. The name of Jupiter is confiderably more ancient than Cicero and Diodorus appear to think. The firft of all is the Jupiter Ammon of the Lybians, There is reafon to believe this Ammon was Ham himfelf, vvhom his fon Myfraim, or Meftraim, raifed to the rank of a divinity. It is v/ell known, that this patriarch and his family went to fettle in Egypt^, which in fcripture is called the land of Mefraim, or Ammon, or Noammon. Jupiter Serapis, worlhippedin the fame country^^ is alfo very ancient. Jupiter Belus, mentioned by Herodotus, w^as the Jupiter of the Afiyrians. According to the fame auchor Heaven was the Jupiter of the Per- fi^ns. The Greeks, on the contrary, looked upon Coelps, or Uranus, as the grand-father of Jupiter. Among Among the number of the moft ancient Jupi- ters, ftiould be ranked that of Thebes in Egypt: fince, according to the laft-mentioned author, it was a prieftefs of this god who brought the firft oracle into Greece. The Scythians had their Jupiter. Each nation gave him a particular name. The Ethiopians called him Aflabinus. The Gauls Taranus. The inhabitants of the Lower Nile Apis. The Arabians Chronos. The Afiy- rians Belus, or Zeus. We fliall not give a complete lift of all thefe names, nor the hiftory of thofe who bore them ; fince, according to Varro, their number amounted to three hundred. In the firft ages of the world, the majority of kings took this name; which cuftom did not ceafe till after the taking of Troy. This is the reafon why fo many different coun- tries boafted the honour of having given birch to Jupiter, and almoft all brought fome proof in fup- port of their aflfertion. We fhall diftinguifti thofe who were the moft famous. He who carried ofi^ Europa, Is Jupiter Afterius, father of Minos, king of Crete, and was contem- porary with Cadmus, about 1400 years before the Chriftian sera. He who efpoufed the daughter of Atlas, lived ' F 4 about 1 ■■M i'llj ■'! I it ;| 72 JVTlTEt. about a hundred and forty years before the capture of Troy. He who entered into the tower of Danae was Jupiter Pr^tus, uncle to that princefs. He who was the flither of Hercules, lived about 70 years before the taking of Troy. — Laftly, He who had by Leda the two Diofcures, Caftor and Pollux, lived much about the fame epoch. It would be ufelefe to give the hiftory of all that have borne this name. It is probable that the events of all their different lives have been united to furnifh materials for the hiftory of one fingle Jupiter. We fliall content ourfelves, therefore, with explaining what Mythology has thought proper to preferve, and leave it to the refearches of the learned to determine the difference between thefe feveral gods. The hiftory of Jupiter being found continually mixed with that of the other godss we think it indifpenfably neceffary to give it with its principal particulars, we jfhall in confequence relate what we find recorded of him in fidion, and Ihall after- wards cite what is tranfmitted to us by tradition and hiftory. We fliall recount the names by which he vv'as moft commonly diftinguiflied, the manner in which he was reprefented, and the worfliip which was paid to him. By ¥ ,>i ^. J ' FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER. 73 By treating his hiftory thus largely we fhall confiderably facilitate that of the other gods, and enable the reader to form a more diftind* idea of Mythology in general. FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER. 1 HE ftory of Saturn and Cybele has already made us acquainted with the birth of this god. Cybele after having prefented the ftone, called Abdir, to Saturn, which he immediately devoured,, confided the care of Jupiter's infancy to the Curetes, and it was to prevent his cries from being heard that they danced ftriking their Ihields with their lances. Saturn, before the birth of Jupiter, had already devoured Vefta his eldeft daughter, Ceres, Juno, Pluto, and Neptune. Rhea finding herfelf pregnant with Jupiter, faved him in the manner we have juft related ; and had him afterwards fecretly tranfported into the ifle of Crete, where he was concealed in a cave called Diftcj and two nymphs of the country, Adrafta and Ida, otherwife called Meliff^, took charge of his infancy, and the milk of the goat Amalthea nouriflied him. As i -A FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER. As foon as Jupiter arrived at years of maturity he afibciated with Metis, a name which fignilics Providence, that is to fay, from that time he dif- played great prudence. Metis advifed him to give his father a drink, which made him caft up the ftone Abdir, and immediately all the children which he had devoured were reftored to life. It is here neceflary to remind the reader of the explanation we gave in the hiftory of Saturn, of the Phoenician word Balah, which fignifies either to confine, or to devour. We fhall then perceive that Jupiter, by his prudence, found means to deliver his brothers and fillers from prifon, who combined to make war upon their father Saturn> and the Titans his relations. After this war, which lafted ten years. Terra foretold to Jupiter, that lie fliould gain a complete viftory over his enemies, provided he could fet at liberty thofe Titans, whom his fatlier held confined in Tartarus, and could engage them to take part in his caufe. He undertook this dangerous adventure, killed Carnpe who guarded the prifon, and delivered his rtrlaticns. It v/as then that the Cyclops — of whom we fhall fpeak hereafter — furnifned Jupiter with thunder, which lias ever unce been his common fymboh at the fame time they gave Pluto a hel- met, and Neptune a trident. With DIVISION OF THE WORLD, 75 With thefe arms they vanquilhed Saturn, whom Jupiter treated as Saturn had treated his father IJranus. He precipitated him into the lowefl gulph of Tartarus, with the Titans, where they were guarded by Hecatonchires, giants, who had an hundred hands. It was after this viftory that the three brothers, feeing themfelves mafters of the univerfe, divided it amongft them. Jupiter had Heaven for his parts Neptune the Seai 4nd Pluto the Infernal Regions. EXPLANATION OF THE DIVISION OF THE WORLD, 15 E FORE we proceed any further in the fabulous hiftory of Jupiter, we fliall give the man- ner in which the learned explain this celebrated divifion of the world. They almoft all agree in regarding it as a con- fufed tradition of the beginning of the world, nearly the fame as related in the book of Genefis. Noah, fay they, divided the earth amongft his three children, Shem, Ham, and Japhet. Africa became the portion of Cham 5 and there is great probability that it was he, who was after- wards known under the name of Jupiter j for in Egypt there was a city confecrated to his honour* Beiides it FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER. 77 III <»'. ■'i f »l !•■! f. 4 76 FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER* Befides, the names of Cham or Ham bear great affinity to that of Ammon, fo celebrated In Africa. Japhet, fccond fon of Noah, had for his fharc all the maritime parts of Afia, with the Archi- pelago and Europe, which caufed him afterwards to be accounted god of the fea. Shem, third fon of Noah, had the reft of Alia ; where the worfliip of fire became almoft general, which occafioning conflagrations that confumed feveral cities, pro- cured him the appellation of god of the infernal regions. We fhali ao;ain return to this divifion, when we have related what hiftory has preferved concerning Jupiter. COIsTINUATION OF THE FABULOUS \\\^. TORY OF JUPITER. 1 HE Titans and giants having refolved to revenge themfelves upon Jupiter, undertook to befiege him, even in heaven, that is, upon Mount Olympus, where he generally refided. For this purpofe they piled the mountains OfTa and Pelion upon each other. Jupiter, terrified at the fight of fuch formidable enemies, called all the gods and godde fifes to his affiftance. The firft who came was Styx, daugh- ter of Oceanus and Thetis, accompanied by her I children. children, Vidlory, Power, Emulation, and Strength. Jupiter was fo pleafed with her diligence that he decreed, that every oath made in the name of the goddcfs Styx — who was afterwards confounded with one of the rivers of hell — fhould be held facred even by himfelf. The confequence of vio- lating this oath, was the forfeiture of their divine privileges for a century. The giants, ions of Coelum and Terra, were of a monftrous fize, and proportionate itrength. Their afpedl was fierce and terrible, and their lower parts refembled that of a ferpent. Their general refidence was in tlie Phlegrean plains. In the aflTault which they made upon heaven, they threw enormous rocks and flaming trees. The mofl. formidable of them were Porphyrion and Alcyoneus : the latter was to be immortal as long as he fiiould remain in the place of his nativity. What moft terrified Jupiter was a prediftion, that the giants could neither be vanquifhed nor flain, unlefs fome mortal came to the afliftance of the gods. Jupiter in confequence forbade Aurora, the Sun> and Moon, to appear and difcover his defigns ; he prevented the Earth, who wifiied to fuccour her children ; and by the advice of Pallas invited Hercules, to come and alfift him. This hero, with his arrows, feveral times over- threw the terrible Alcyoneus, but he receiving frefh t m^. it it'' ♦•i! 7^ TABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPlTEIt. frefli vigour every time he touched the earthy Pallas feized him by the middle of the body, and tranfported him beyond the moon, where he ex- pired. In the mean time, Porphyrion attacked at once Hercules, and Junoj but, furprifed at the beauty of the goddefs, he fufpended his ftroke a moment to gaze at her, and was immediately ftruck dead by the thunder of Jupiter, and the arrows of Hercules. Epialtes, and Otlius his brother, fons of Ateus and Iphimedia, who were furnamed the Abides, attacked the god of war; the former was difabled from the fight, by having his eyes pierced with the arrows of Apollo and Hercules. Eurytus daring Hercules to the combat, was killed by that hero with an oaken club; whilft Vulcan, with a red hot iron bar, brought Clytius to the ground. Enceladus feeing the gods viftorious, was going to fly, but Minerva flopped his courfe, by overwhelming him with the ifland of Sicily. Polybotes, purfued by Neptune, fled acrofs the fea, and had juft reached the ifland of Cos, when that god tearing up part of it, threw it upon the body of the giant, which formed a new ifland of the name of Nvfvros. Minerva, on her part, having vanquiflied the giant Pallas, flayed him, and wore his fkin as her armour. Mercury, who had on the helmet of 3 Pluto, 79 FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER. Pluto, killed the giant Hippolytus; Diana, Ora- tion ; and the Fates flew Agrius and Thaon. The Earth enraged at this viftory, redoubled her efforts, and poured from her bofom the dreadful Typhon, who alone was more formidable to the gods than all the other giants colleftively. His head reached heaven; he was half man, and half ferpent ; the fight of this monfler fo terrified the gods, who were come to the aiTiflance of Jupiter, that they fled from heaven, and took refuge in Egypt. This retreat having confiderably weakened the party of Jupiter, gave occafion to the flory that Typhon had cut off the hands of that god with his own weapon, a fcythe of adamant. This ter- rible enemy allowing the gods no refpite, purfued them into Egypt, where they metamorphofed themfclves into different animals; Apollo into a crow, Bacchus into a goat, Diana into a cat, Juno into a cow, Venus into a fifli, and Mercury into a fv/an; which means, that they embarked on board velTels, carrying thele different figures at their prows. Typhon having deprived Jupiter of his hands and legs, with the diamond fcythe, carried him into Sicily, and confined him in a cave, under the guard of a monfler, half woman and half ferpent. Mercury and Pan, liaving eluded the* vigilance of his keeper, reflored Jupiter his hands and feet, that is, fet him at liberty; and this god, having mounted I k .' So FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER, mounted a chariot drawn by flying horfcs, purfued Typhon with his thunder, to the fartheft part of Arabia; from thence he drove him into Thrace, where the giant having torn up a mountain, whirled it at Jupiter, who drove it back upon him with a thunder bolt; at laft Typhon having fled into Sicily, was there whelmed by Jupiter under mount Etna. Earthquakes, fays the fable, are the efforts of Typhon to difengage himfelf from the mountain which oppreflTes him. After the defeat of the Titans, and giants, Jupiter devoted the whole of his attention to the government of the univerfe, and the happinefs of mankind. Hefiod fays, that Jupiter was m.arried {even times. His wives were Metis, Themis, Eury- jiome, Ceres, Mnemoflne, Latona, and Juno, who appears to have been the lafl, and moft celebrated. By thefe he had a great number of children ; he had likewife fcveral by mortals, with whom he frequently formed attachments. Though all thofe who are mentioned in fabulous hiftory do not belong to the fame Jupiter, yet we fhall give the account of them as we find it there, as they fo repeatedly occur among the demi-gods and heroes. Metamorphofed into a fwan, he had by Leda, Caftor and Pollux. By Europa, daughter of Agenor, he had Minos, and Radamanthus. By Califto, i \ FABULOUS HISTORY OF JUPITER. 8x Califto, Areas. By Niobe, Pelafgus. By Sar- dane, Sarpedon and Argus. By Alcmena, the wife of Amphitrion, Hercules. By Antiope, Am- phion and Zetes. By Danae, Perfcus. By lodamc, Deucalion. By Carnc, the daughter of Eubulus, Britomarte. By the nymph Schytinide, Megara. By Protogenia, i^thilius, father of Indymion, and Memphis, who afterwards efpoufed Lydia. By Toredea, Arcefilaus. By Ora, Colax. By Cyrnos, Cyrneus. By Eleftra, Dardanus. By Thalia, the gods Palices. By Garamantis, larbas, Philea, and Pilumnus. By Ceres, Pro- ferpine. By Mnemofyne, (for whom he meta- morphofed himfelf into a Ihepherd) the Nine Mufes. By Juno, Mars. By Maia, daughter of Atlas, Mercury. By Latona, Apollo, and Diana. By Dione, Venus. By Metis, or Providence, Mi- nerva, goddefs of wifdom. By Semele, daughter of Cadmus, Bacchus. We ihall not be furprifed at this long lift of children, when we refledl, that many different charafters have borne the fame name. The Cretan Jupiter, being the moft celebrated of all, has principally engaged the attention of the. poets, and ancient authors. In his hiftory they have united whatever was remarkable in that of all others of .the name. HISTORY ft u HISTORY OF JUPITER HISTORY OF JUPITER AND THE TITAN PRINCES. The following hiftory is principally taken from Diodorus, who extrafted it himfelf from Evhemerus. Father Pezron has proved its au- thenticity in the cleared manner, by collefting in fupport of it all the fcattered paflages which wc meet with in ancient authors. The Scythians, defcendants of Magog, the fccond fon of Japhet, eftablilhcd themfelves firft in the northern provinces of Upper Afia. Dividing afterwards into different branches, fomc went to fettle in Margiana, Badria, and the moft eaftern parts of Sogdiana, whilft others direfted their courfe towards Iberia, and Albania, between the Cafpian and Euxlne feas. Becoming too numerous for the country which they inhabited, they went in fearch of new abodes. Armenia, according to Strabo, was the firft place they took polTeffion of; they afterwards advanced into Cappadocia, and direfting their courfe always towards the weft, they fixed their refidence in the countries watered by the Thermodon and Iris, where they built the city Acmonia, fo called from Acmon fon of Phanes their leader. The F^H AND THE tiTAN PRINCES. 83 The defire of conqiieft led Acmon into Phrygia, where he built another city, likewife called Acmo* nia; and after making himfelf mafter of Phoenicia and Syria, died, in confeqUencc of having over fatigued himfelf in the chace. He was ranked among the gods, by the name of the Moft High. Uranus, which fignifies in Greek, heaven, the fon and fuccelTor of Acmon, efpoufed Titoea, or the earth, and had by her feveral children, who from their mother were called Titans, a name fo celebrated in ancient hiftory, and which caufed them to be regarded as the offspring of the earth* Thefe princes exceeding in ftrcngth and ftaturc the common race of men, were called giants j and from thence the Titans and giants have fre- quently been confounded together, though it is neccflary to make a clear diftinftion between them. Uranus was fo called by the ancteiMs^ only becaufe he applied himfelf clofely to tlie ftudy of aftronomy. His defcendants, dextrous in availing themfelves of whatever might exalt their ilkiftrious family, feized the opportunity offered by the names Uranus and Titoea, to report thac they were the children of heaven and earth. Uranus fo far furpaffcd his father AcrTion, and his predcceflbrs, that he fcem3 almpft to have Q 2 effaced 8* HISTORY OF JUPITER effaced from the memory of pofterity, the names of thofe from whom he was defcended. This prince paffed the Bofphorus, carried his arms into Thrace, and conquered feveral iflands, among others that of Crete, the government of which he gave to one of his brothers whofe male children were called Curetes. Uranus afterwards invaded the other provinces of Europe j penetrated even into Spain, and pafTmg the ftraits which feparatc that country from Africa, he over-ran the coafts of that part of the worlds from whence returning, he directed his courfe towards the north of Eu- rope, and reduced the whole country to fubjeftion. Uranus had feveral children. Titan, Oceanus, Hyperion, Japetus, Chronos, or Saturn; when arrived at manhood, they confpired againft their father, but were all overcome and thrown into prifon, except Oceanus, who had not engaged in the plot. Saturn beinoj releafed bv his mother Titcea, libe- rated his brothers, who Iiaving in their turn feized their father Uranus, out of gratitude conferred the kingdom upon their deliverer Saturn. Not long after however fymptoms of jealoufy and difcontent appeared among fome of them, but thefe were quickly fupprefled j Saturn now met with no more refiftance, and Uranus reduced to the condition of a private individual, died of grief. I Saturn AND TH^ TITAN PRINCES- 85 Saturn feeing himfclf mafter of a vafl: empire, efpoufed his filler Rhea, and with the title of king, affumed the crown and diadem. Uranus, when dying, and Titoea enraged at the conduft of their fon Saturn, told him that his own children would one day treat him in the fame manner that he had treated his father. Terrified at a menace and a reproach which he was con- fcious of having fojuftlydeferved, Saturn regarded this as a prediftion, and to avoid its effefts, caufed all his children to be confined, without any diftinc- tion of fex. Rhea, afflidled beyond meafure at this cruelty, had the addrefs to fave Jupiter, and fent him from Arcadia, where he then was, into Crete, where his uncles, the Curetes, brought him up in the receffes of mount Ida. Such is the origin of the fable which reprefents Saturn devouring his children, and that of the Hone which was prefented to him for Jupiter; a fable explained by the ambiguity of the Phcenician word Balah. In the mean time, the Titans who beheld the grandeur of Saturn with a jealous eye, revolted from him, and feizing his perfon, committed him to clofe confinement. Jupiter, at that time very young, but of intrepid courage, quitted the ifle of Crete, defeated the Titans, delivered his father, re-eflablilhed him on his throne, and returned home vidorious. G 3 Saturn I jgg HISTORY OF JUPITEH Saturn afccr this reigned feveral years, but age, ^ and the remembrance of his own conduft towards his father Uranus, rendering him fufpicious, he confuked the oracle, which returned for anfwer, thac he had every thing to fear from the youngeft of his children. From that time he endeavoured by every me- thod to get rid of Jupiter : he laid fnares for him which the latter copftandy efcaped. At lad, fee- ing himfelf every day expofed to new dangers, the youftg prince thought ferioudy of defending himfelf. Soon after this, Saturn came into Crete, of which he w^s fovereign, in purfuit of his fon ; but thufe whom he had appointed to govern it, taking part with Jupiter, he was obliged to retire with precipitation into that part of Greece called afterwards fcloponnefus. Jupir.tr followed him, and Saturn being de- feated was obliged to fly for refuge into Italy, where he was favourably received by Janus. The Titans, at that time fcattered over all Greece, alarmed ^t the power of the new con- queror, and being folicited by Saturn, aflemblcd troops apd offefcd him battle ^ but being de- feated, thev fled with Saturn into the fartheft parts of Spain, Jupiter, having firfl delivered his brothers and fifttrs, purfucd the Titans to their place of retreat, and gave them a fccond defeat, in the vicinity -' ' " of I r t 1 AND THE TITAN PRINCES. %f of Tarteflus, which terminated this war, after it had laded ten years. Saturn, feeing himfelf no longer fecure, in a country of which his fon was mafter, paffed into Sicily, where he experienced the fate pre- difted by his expiring father, and died of grief. It was from this period that the reign of Jupiter began. His real name was Jou, that is young, to fliow that he was the lad of Saturn's children, and, at the fame time, that he gained great reputation during his youth. In the courfc of time. Pater, or Father, was added to it, from whence was formed Joupater, and Jupiter. Becoming mafter of a mighty empire, he cf- poufed his filler, called by the Romans Juno, and by the Greeks Hera, or Miftrefs. The name of Jovis was likevvife given to Jupiter, and the word Father was added, to exprefs that he was fove- reign of the gods. Finding it impoffible to govern alone fuch extenfive dominions, he appointed governors to afTift him. Diodorus Siculus informs us, that Atlas go- verned the frontiers of Africa, and became fo famous there, that he gave name to the chain of mountains extending to the fca : this name they ftill retain. And for the fame reafon, that part of the fea, which wafhes thefe mountains, was called the Adantic Ocean. We likewife learn, from G 4 ancient 88 HISTORY OF JUPITLR ancient authors, that Pluto was governor of th« weftern parts of the empire of the Titans, of the. Gauls, and of Spain, which we fliall fpeak of in the hiftory of that god. After the death of Pluto, the government was given to Mercury, who acquired great repu- tation, and becam(^ the principal divinity of the Celts, The hiftory of the other governors we are ig- norant of. It is only known that Jupiter referved for himfelf the Eaft, Greece, the Grecian Ides, and that part of Afia from whence his anceftors proceeded. It is eafily perceived, without doubt, that thefc traditions, and hiftorical fragments, make no mention of the partition of the world among the three brothers : on the contrary, it appears that Jupiter remained fole mafter of the empire, and only bellowed governments upon his brothers. But we muft obferve, that the Greeks having no authentic hiftory to direcft them, their poets were able to give fcope to their imaginations : they confulted their mofl: ancient traditions, and it was probably the remembrance of the divifion of the world, among the three fons of Noah, by which they were guided, in alT^gning the empire of each god. We muft alfo add, that the divi- fion of the world between Jupiter, Neptune, and PUito^ w^s not univerfally admitted among tht; ancients. AND THE TfTAN PRINTRS. 89 ancients. England poiTefles a valuable monument which proves this difference of opinion, and throws great light upon this dilputed point. At London, in the coUeSion of Mr. Townly — which is one of the richeft, and mofl: beautiful in the world — is an antique ftatue of Jupiter, which re- prefents this god holding thunder, the fymbol of the fovereign of Heaven, in his right hand ; In his left a trident, fymbol of the god of the Sea; and by his fide is a Cerberus, fymbol of the god of Hell. This precious remnant of antiquity, which is in good prefervation, agrees perfcLily with the hiftorical account juft mentioned. The ancients who have written the hiftory of Crete, fp^ak highly in praife of the courage, prudence, jqftice, and civil and military virtues of Jupiter. The whole of their works are no longer extant; but the Greeks have tranfmiitted to us fome frag- ments of them. They fay he was an excellent legiflator, that his laws were juft, and, by his care, duly enforced. He exterminated the rob- bers who infefted ThelTaly j and wiftiing to have a place of defence there, he built it upon Mount Olympus, which occafioned tlic poets to fay, that he inhabited heaven. The place of cur nativity, tlie feat of our infant days, are always particularly dear to us. Whence Is^ ''wiA ^ ^isw o ^O HISTORV OF JVPirtK Sec- Whence proceeds this chafm ? Is it not bet they rccal to our minds the care that was be- flowed upon i:5> at a rime whrn we were (< much in need of i: r And docs it not kern as thouc^h Providence, by this pkaiing partiality, lias uifhed to imprefs us with a ftrong fenfe of that nrfi cf all obligations, gratitude? Tht cares of the empire of the world did not pre* vent J'lpiccr from frequently vifiting the iHand of Crete ; there he enjoyed repofc ; happy, had he not Uliicd the glory of his iUuftrious adions by an immoderate propenliiy to pleafure. It is to this defed we muft attribute that multitude of criminal, and frequently ridiculous, intrigues, vhich have been handed down to us, under the difguife of his different metamorphofes. They fo "far alienated the affedions of Juno his wife, that f e engaged in a confpiracy againft him i which was defeated by Jupiter as foon as difco- vered. This was the laft of his exploits. Worn out with age, he retired to end his days in his favourite ifle of Crete, where his tomb was to be feen near Gnoflus, one of the principal cities of the ifland, with this infcription: « Here lies Zan, who was called Jupiter/' He lived to the age of 120 years -, 62 of which he is fuppofed to have reigned after the defeat of the Titans, and the death of Saturn. His EXPLANATION OF IICTIONS, fcc. 91 His funeral was performed by the Curetes his relations. The empire of Jupiter had the fate common to great ftates, whofe fplendour feldom furvives the fovereign by whom they were erefted. After his death it was divided into feveral petty king- doms, governed by a fucceflion of princes, the major part of whom arc unknown j and what remains of their hiftory is unworthy of relation. The ifle of Crete was that portion of this empire which fubfifled longefts it was governed by Cres, fon of Jupiter, after the death of his father. An Explanation of fome of the Fictions contained in the History and Fable of Jupiter. W E fhall content ourfelves with explain- ing the principal circumflanccs, as they will ferve to elucidate more clearly the hiftory of Jupiter. To comprehend the (lory which fays, that Jupi- ter precipitated his father into the infernal regions, we muft obferve, that the Greeks regarded the countries fituated towards the eaft as the moft jclevatcd part of the world j on the contrary, thofe towards 93 £XPLAXATION OF FICTION'S towards the weft were fuppofed to be the loweft. This was fufficient to furnifh matter for the fertile imagination of the Greeks. To the eaftern coun- tries they gave the name of heaven, and thofe of the weft, or the loweft, they called hell. It was in confequence of this idea (as we fhall fee in the hiftory of Pluto) that they placed the infernal regions in Spain, Italy, Epirus, or in the countries weft of Greece. The Titans having been forced to take refus^c in Italy and Spain, the poets pretended that they were driven into the infernal regions. In the fame man- ner, they gave the name of Tartarus to the Tar- tefilis, a river of Spain j and the Titans having been vanquiftied near this river, and partly drowned in its waters, they were faid to have been plunged into Tartarus; fome of them again having been recalled from Italy and Spain, they were feigned to have been delivered from their infernal manfion. They entered into a frefti confpiracy with Saturn, but were conquered by Jupiter, who having pur- fued them to the fir theft extremity of Spain, placed faithful valiant troops to guard the pafTages ; which gave rife to the fiflion of the hecatonchires, or giants with an hundred arms. In the fame manner we muft explain the fable of the god Neptune, who imprifoned the Titans in the fea. This brother of Jupiter commanded his fleets, and making himfelf mafter of the ports of Spain, IN THE HISTORY OF JUPITER. 93 Spain, fo completely blocked up the Titans that they had no pofTibility of efcaping. We have faid, Jupiter exterminated the robbers who laid wafte ThefTalv. They are defcribed as formidable giants. Jupi- ter had built an impregnable fortrefs on mount Olympus, which the poets reprefented as heaven itfelf, and the efforts of his enemies to make them- felves mafters of it, are defcribed by the fable of mount OfTa heaped upon mount Pelion, In the battle of the Titans, Polybotes is repre- fented as overwhelmed by Neptune, under part of the ifte of Cos. This fable fignifies, that the admiral purfued him to this ifle, and there flew him. In one of the fables concerning the manner ia which Jupiter was brought up in the ifle of Crete, it is faid that he was nouriftied by doves. This fable owes its origin to the Phoenician word Himcin or Heman^ which fignifies equally prieft and dove ; this ambiguity was fufficient to caufc the priefts, called Curetes, and doves to be con- founded together. The Curetes have acquired fo great a reputa- tion, that it is indifpenfably neceflary to give fomc account of them. Antiquity carried its veneration fo far as to raile altars and temples to their honour : the invention of J^ EXPLANATION Of flCTlONS, &.C. of forging iron, and other metals, is attributed to them ; but fci ipture afcribes it to Tubal Cain j however it is very poflible that they were the fitrft who introduced it into Greece 5 and upon the Parian marbles, now called Arundelian, we fee recorded the event which gave the Curetes an opportunity of making this valuable difcovery. Their infcriptions import, that a fire having broken out in the foreft of mount Ida, cither by lightning or fome other accident, the intenfenefs of the heat m.elted into a ftate of fufion a confidtr- able quantity of iron, and other metals. The Curetes perceived all the advantages that might be derived from this difcovery, found means to repeat it, and applied it to their own purpofes. The above mentionedmonumentinformsus,thatthis event happened during the reign of the firft Minos. The ufe which the Curetes made of their difcovery was to employ metals in the fabrication of arms, different from thofe commonly employed. It appears certain, that to one of thefe Curetes or Daayli Idei, called the Idean Hercules, muft be attributed the tirft inftitution of the Olympic Games. An hiftorical fragment relates, that this Her- cules, followed by three of his companions, quitted mount Ida, fituated in the iHand of Crete, and came into Elis 1 it was there, that to commemorate 3 ^^"^ REPRESENTATION OF JUPITER, 95 the war between Saturn and Jupiter, he inftitutcd a courfe, and appointed as a reward for the viftor a crown of olive. After having thus eftablifhed thefe games, which afterwards became fo famous, he raifed an altar ia Elis to Jupiter Olympus. To the explanations we have already given, it is neceflary to add, that Typhseus, or Typhon, reprcfentcd as fo formidable in the battle of the giants, is no other than the Typhon of th^ Egyptians. THE MANNER IN WHICH JUPITER WAS REPRESENTED. J as generally reprefcnted under the figure of a majeftic man, with a venerable beard, featta on a throne. In his right hand he held the thunder, and in his left was feen viftory and 3 fcfptre: at his feet was a large eagle with extended wings, in the adl of carrying off Ganymede, The Ijpper part of his body was naked, the lower part clothed. The throne by its ftability denoted the fecurity of his empire; the upper part of his body was uncovered, to (how that he was vifible to fuperior beingsi ()6 REPRESENTATION OF JUPITER. beings, and to the celeftial parts of the univerfc ; and the long garments which covered the lower part of his body, gave us to underftand that he Hvas invifible to the earth, and to mortals; the fceptre and crown, were emblematical of the irre- fiftible force of his power; and the eagle with out- fpread wings, was to exprefs that he was fovereign of the heavens, as the eagle is of die air. Each people had their different method of repre- fenting Jupiter. In the iiland of Crete he had no cars, fignifying, faid die Cretans, that the God of die univerfe ought to hear no one in particular, but be equally favourable to all who implore his afliftancc. The Lacedemonians gave him four cars, that he might receive prayers '^a whatever direftion they came. The figure of juftice was always placed by the fide of this god. Thofc of the hours and graces were likewife added, to fhow, that he condefcends at all times to liften to the fupplicadons of mortals, is always jud, and delights in doing good. Homer defcribes Jupiter with black eyebrows, his head covered widi clouds, and fhaking all Olympus with a nod ; in his hands he holds the thunder; at his feet is the eagle; by his fide is refpeft and equity; before hira are the two cups of good and evil, which he diftributes at pleafure to mankind. He adds, that this thun- der was compofcd of three portions of hail, three of rain, three of fire, and three of wind. With th€fe JUPITER S METAMORPHOSES. 97 diefe were intermixed terror, lightning, noifc and wrath. OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF JUPITER. It would be impofnble to give an exaft account of all the metamorphofcs of Jupiter; we fliall content ourfelves with mendoning one of the principal; to which we fhall fubjoin fome of thofc with which he either rewarded or puniflied mor- tals. ' He affumed the form of an eagle, to carry off Ganymede, fon of Tros, king of Troy, whom he appointed to ferve the gods with neftar, in the room of Hebe goddefs of youth. This meta- morphofis was not the only reafon of his being reprefented with an eagle at his feet. We learn from a mixture of fidion and hiflory, that Periphas, king of Athens, engaged fo much the affedlions of his people, that they wifhed to adore him as Jupiter himfelf; that is, have no other fovereign. The deity incenfed, was at firft going to crufh him with a thunderbolt, but con- tented himfelf with changing him into an eagle, on which he mounted when he traverfed the regions of die air. This ftory m.eans, that Jupiter dripped him of his dominions, and gave him fome employment in his court. H We g Jupiter's metamorphoses. We llkewife find in hiftory, that Jupiter, before his departure from Naxos, in his expedition againft the Titans, offered a facrifice on the fea fhore, and that whilft he was paying his adorations to the gods an eagle was feen to fly towards him, and alight upon his head. When Jupiter defcended upon the earth, he fcldom retained his divine attributes. In one of his excurfions, he went to the houfe of Lycaon, a cruel prince of Arcadia, who put to death all ftrangers that arrived in his dommions. Jupiter however made himfelf known to Lycaon, who wilhing to prove the truth of his affertion ferved up to him the limbs of a gueft whom he had killed This crime was punifhed inftantaneoufly, the palace was reduced to afhes by lightning, and Lycaon changed into a wolf, that he m.ght ftd retain under this form the marks of his original ferocity. In feeking the explanation of this fable, we find that Lycaon, a prince confiderably inferior to Jupiter, frequently abufed his power, and was euilty of enormous crimes: Jupiter, before he pu- nilbed him, wifhing to be certified of the truth ' himfelf, went to the court of Lycaon, and finding the complaints but too well founded, executed inftant juftice on the delinquent. _ _ We have already feen, that Jupiter m his infancy was nouriflied with the milk of the goat Amalthea. The fable tells us, that as a reward, he Jupiter's metamorphoses. .99 he placed her with her two kids among the ftars> where they formed the fign Capricorn. It like- wife fays, that in acknowledgment for the care beftowed on his infancy by the nymphs, he gave ,them one of the horns of the goat Amalthea, and to it added the property of producing whatever they fhould defire; whence it was called the horn of plenty. It is eafy to perceive that this faculty of pro- ducing every blelTing, was nothing elfe but a pro- mife to grant whatever they fhould require; we muft explain nearly in the fame manner the horn of abundance which Hercules received from the river Achelous. The fable relates, that this river becoming the rival of Hercules in the afFecElions of the nymph Dejanira, ventured to engage him, and was van- quifhed. Achelous metamorphofed himfelf into a bull, and under this new form returned to the attack, but being thrown down and one of his horns torn off, he could not obtain the reftitution of it, but by yielding to the conqueror the horn of plenty. The hiftory of that exchange is as follows: The river Achelous being much fwelled by the rains, or the melting of the fnow, overflowed its banks, and laid wafte the country. Hercules to proteft the crops from future ravages, caufed dykes to be raifcd, which not H 2 being M w jQ^ WORSHIP OF JUPITER. being fufficiently ftrong, were broken down by the torrent: however he found means to repair them, and formed fome judicious canals which interfefted, and by watering fertilized the lands. The poets celebrated this meritorious adt by inventing the fable of the exchange juft men- tioned. To dwell longer on the hiftory of Jupiter's metamorphofes would be ufclefs, as we Ihall find them interfperfed through the hiftories of the gods, dcmi-gods, and heroes. OF THE WORSHIP RENDERED TO JUPITER, It cannot be doubted but the worfliip of Jupiter was the moft folemn of any that was paid to the heathen deities : it was likewife the moft dlverfified, as each nation changed their reli- gious ceremonies at pleafure. It appears certain that no human viftims were ofFercd to him, as they frequently were to his father Saturn. Of this the ftory of Lycaon is an indubitable proof. Thefe barbarous facrlfices were not very com- mon, and when Cecrops camt to fettle at Athens h€ abolifhed them for ever. The i I NAMES GIVEN TO JUPITER. lOl The viflims moft commonly offered to Jupiter were a goat, a flieep, or a white bull whofe horns were gilt; frequently his offerings were only a little flour, fait, or incenfe. The oak and the olive were confecrated to him. The worftiip of this deity was almoft unlverfal, but he was by none more particularly honoured than by the Roman ladies. He had feveral tem- ples at Rome, one of which, the moft remarkable, was near the Capitol, and dedicated to Jupiter the Avenger. He was reprefented with arrows in his hand, to fliow that he was always ready to punifli guilt. He had three oracles much celebrated, that of Dodona, of Trophonius, and of Ammon in Lybia. NAMES GIVEN TO JUPITER. i HE greater part of the names given to Jupiter are derived from the places where he was honoured, or from events which had occafioned altars and temples to be raifed to him. As it would be impoffible to recount them all, we fhall only mention the principal. The titles generally beftowed on this god were Optimus, Maximus^ the beft, the greateft. Ho- mer gives him the name of king Jupiter. Virgil H 3 calls ; 102 NAMES GIVEN TO JUPITER. calls him the All Powerful. During the ides of June, the Romans celebrated his feaft under the title of Jupiter the invincible ^ he was called Sta- tor, becaufe he had iflopped the flight of the Roman army; and Piftor, in remembrance of the manner in which he had faved the capitol, when it was befieged by the Gauls. Jupiter advifed the gar- rifon to make bread with all the corn that remained, and throw it into the enemy's camp, for the pur- pofe of making them believe that provifions were in great abundance; this ftratagem fucceeded, and the fiege was raifed. He was called Diefpiter, as being the father of light and day -, Pluvius, for having granted rain in the time of a great drought; Hofpitalis, becaufe he was the father of hofpitality; Father of the gods, moderator, governor, to ex- prefs his fovereignty over the gods; Mafter of tempefts and winds, and frequently Serenus, be- caufe he rcprefented the aether ; Capitolinus, from his temple in the Capitol; Olympius, Atabyrius, Diftoeus, and Idoeus, becaufe the mountains fo called were confecrated to him; Dodonxus, Tro- phonius, and Ammon, from his oracles; and Tonans, and Fulminans, from the thunderbolt. The Greeks fometimes gave him the name of Egyptus, and Nilus, and he was then confounded with Ofiris, He was likewife termed Expiator, becaufe he abfolved the crimes of men. Thefe are the principal names of Jupiter. THE HISTORY OF JAPETUS, 8iC* i03 THE HISTORY OF JAPETUS, PROxMETHEUS. EPIMETHEUS AND PANDORA. 1 HESE princes being much celebrated, and of the family of the Titans, we fhall place their hiftory immediately after that of Jupiter. Japetus, from whom the Greeks boaft that they were defcended, was the fon of Titan, and father of Prometheus (a Greek name, fignifying to forefee the future), and Epimetheus (which fignifies to remember the paft). Prometheus feeing that Jupiter had created man, endeavoured to imitate him, by forming ftatues with clay, and attained fo great a degree of perfeftion that they appeared almoft animated. Minerva, the goddefs of wifdom, tel- ling him that heavenly fire alone could give them life, the ambitious Prometheus conceived hopes of flealing this; he lighted a flambeau at the rays of the fun, and as foon as he had communicated this celeflial flame to his fl:atues, they became fuiiilar to the work of Jupiter. The fovereign of the gods, to punifh this theft, ordered Mercury to bind Prometheus upon mount Caucafus, where a vulture was continually tearing H 4 his 104 HISTORY OF JAFKTUS, StC. his liver, which growing as faft as it was confumcd rendered his piinifhinent eternal. The other gods, jealous that Jupiter alone fhoukl poffefs the power of creating man, united their talents to form a perfeft woman. Minerva gave her wifdom, Venus beauty, Apollo a knowledge of mufic, and Mercury eloquence. This afiemblage of perfeftions procured her the name of Pandora, a name derived from two Greek words, fignifying all gifts. • Jupiter v/iflied to fee her, and under pretence of likev/ife beftowing fome endovvment upon her, gave her a box with orders to carry it to Prome- theus. This prince, too wife and cautious not to perceive the danger of fuch a meffage, rcfufed to receive Pandora, or open the box; but the impru- dent Epimetheus, feduced by the beauty of Pan- dora, took her for his wife, and had by her a daughter named Pyrrha, who was afterwards mar- ried to Deucalion. Unable to rellrain his curiofity, Epim.etheus ventured to open the box given by Jupiter to Pandora, which containing every fpecies of evil, they in an infrant efcaped, and difperfed themfclves over the whole earth. Epimetheus regretting too late his fatal curiofity, wiihed to clofc the box, but alas ! it now contained only Hope, the laft refource of unhappy mortals. This deluge of woes produced the iron age. This fable^ the moil beautiful of any tranfmitteJ to P'i FABLE OF PROMETHEUS. 105 to US by the Greeks, reminds us too readily of the fill of Adam to need any other explanation, than by laying, it is a corrupt tradition of the hiftory of the creation of man, and of the inftant when he loll his happinefs v/ith his innocence. HISTORICAL ENQUIRY INTO THE FABLE OF PROMETHEUS. Observation and a ftudy of antiquity induce us to believe, that Prometheus was the firft inventor of flatues. A beautiful monument which has efcaped the ravages of time, (an engraving of which is found in the firft volume of Antiquity explained by figures) reprefents Prometheus form- ing a man j he is ittn working with a chifTel and a mallet ; a certain proof that the formation of /latues is concerned. To conform to the poetical defcriptions, Minerva is placed by his fide aflift- ing him with her advice, and near them is a car containing Pfyche, fymbol of the foul, who is known by having the wings of a butterfly. Every thing proves that this monument was intended to Ihow the pcrfeftion Prometheus attain- ed in the formation of his ftatues, which appeared even animated, and that he could not have arrived at fo great a degree of excellence, had he not received the io6 FABLE OF PROMETHEUS. FABLE OF PROMETHEUS. 107 t the afliftance of Minerva, goddcfs of wifdom, and the arts. This firft imitation of man fo much aftonifhed the original, that Prometheus is reprefented in the fable as afecond creator : Daedalus was afterwards feigned to make thefe ftatues walk, becaufe in carving them he firft feparated the legs. Prometheus was one of the Titans who ren- dered themfelves formidable to Jupiter; obliged to fly before that viftorious prince, he retired into Scythia, and concealed himfelf in the forefts of mount Caucafus, which feemed the habitation only of eagles and vultures. The grief occafioned by an exile fo mortifying to an ambitious mind, was reprefented by a vulture tearing his liver. Hiftory informs us that the inhabitants of Scy- thia and Caucafus, who were very numerous, lived without laws, in a ftate of the grofleft ignorance. Prometheus, a wife and polite prince, taught them to live in a more civilized focial ftate, which gave rife to the fable, that with the affiftance of Minerva he had formed man. He is likewife reprefented as ftealing fire from heaven, becaufe he firft introduced forges into Scythia. When the empire of Jupiter was fo firmly eftabliflied that it could no longer be fhaken by the attempts of the Titans, Hercules obtained the pardon of Prometheus, and this occafioned the ftory that he had liberated him from Caucafus, i: and killed the vulture. Yet as Jupiter had fworn that his banifliment lliould laft thirty years, he thought at once to mitigate his punifhment and fulfil his oath, by permitting Prom.etheus to wear on his finger a fragment of a rock of mount Cau- cafus; it is even thought that from thence arofe the cuftom of wearing rings on the finger. Prometheus availing himfelf of his liberty, re- turned to pafs the remainder of his days in Greece, where after his death he received thofe honours which were paid to demi-gods and heroes. Some ancient hiftorlans and commentators, give another interpretation to the ftory of Prome- theus having ftolen celeftial fire. They fay, that this prince difcovered the method of obtaining fire with the flint and tteel. According to others, Prometheus forefeeing that he fliould find no fire in Caucafus, took the precaution of carrying fome with him in a plant called by the Latins, ferula^ which has a ftalk five or fix feet high, and is full of pith ; when lighted it confumcs flowly, and continues burning as long as any of this pith remains. It is a plant well known to failors, and frequently employed by them to carry fire from one ifland to another. We may obferve by thefe two explanations the value which men ftamped on the firft ufeful dif- coveries; they thought the inventors of them worthy of divine honours. Money io8 HISTORY OF JUNO. Money is fufficient to pay the labourer, but genius has a claim to greater rewards ^ and let us never forget, that the labours of thofe men are entitled to our warmeft gratitude who devote part of their lives to the advancement of fcience, and the real intereft of mankind. Hiftory has prefcrved nothing concerning Epi- methcus. We only meet with his name in fiftion, which contents itfelf with faying, that he was me- tamorphofed into an ape. From this we may imagine that he wiflied to imitate his brother, but being neitlier fo prudent nor fo fkilful, failed in the attempt i for which he was compared to an ape, an animal which imitates whatever it fees. . _ HISTORY AND FABLE OF JUNO. Juno was the daughter of Saturn and Rhea, and fifter to Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Venus, and Ceres. She was called by the Greeks Hera, Miftrefs ; or Megale, the great. The Romans gave her the name of Juno, from Juvans; affiftmg, (an epithet common to both her and Jupiter) they likewife called her the Queen. Several countries difputed the honour of having given birth to this goddefs^ the principal were ^ Samos HISTORY OF JUNO. 109 Samos and Argos, where fhe was more particularly worfliipped. Homer fays fhe was brought up by Oceanus and his wife Thetis; others on the contrary fay, by the daughters of the river Afterion ; laflly, others, that the hours took charge of her infancy. In the time of the Titan princes men ftill fol- lowed the cuftoms of the ancient patriarchs, and Jupiter, after the example of his father and grand- father, efpoufed his fifter Juno. The nuptials were celebrated in the country of the Gnoflians, near the river Therenus. In the time of Diodorus, the temple of Juno was ftill to be feen there; it was ferved by priefts of the country, and every year the inhabitants comme- morated the ceremony of this marriage. Jupiter, to give more folemnity to the occafion, charged Mercury to invite all the gods, men, and animals. The nymph Chelone defpifing the invita- tion, was thrown by Mercury into a river, and xhanged into a tortoife, that fhe might keep eternal filence j the Greek word fignifying a tor- toife, and that animal being regarded by the ancients as the fymbol of filence. Juno had three children : Hebe, goddefs of youth, who before the carrying off of Ganymede ferved the gods with neftar. The fable fays, that z fall which flie experienced in heaven excited the iiO HISTORY OF JUNO. Ill the laughter of the gods, which determined Jupiter to have a cup bearer. Her fecond child was Mars, whom fhe conceived by virtue of a flower. Juno, jealous that Jupiter had from his brain produced Minerva, the goddefs of wifdom, wifhed likewife to produce fomething equally furprifmg. She confulted the goddefs Flora, who told her that in the fields of Olena grew a flower which would ope- rate the defired tfftO. as foon as flie fliould touch it. Juno tried the experiment, and became the mother of Mars the god of war. Vulcan was her third child. Jupiter for his deformity threw him headlong from heaven. We fhall, in its proper place, give the hifliory of Vulcan, as well as that of Mars and Minerva; but we fliall ftop here to explain the extraordinary births of the two laft mentioned. The fable fays, that Jupiter felt violent pain in his head, and that Minerva, his nobleft produdion, came forth completely formed and armed, without having pafled through the flate of infancy. It adds, that he defired Vulcan to divide his head with an axe. - • This fable is allegorical, and fignifies thatwifdom is not acquired without exertion, which is exprefl^ed by the blow of the axe, and the pain which Jupiter experienced. It is likewife intended to exprefsy that Jupiter being ^ > HISTORY OF JUNO. being the wifefl: and greatefl: of the divinities, the goddefs Wifdom proceeded from his brain in all her perfeftlon. The birth of the god of war has another origin, though likewife an allegory. Juno, a haughty jealous goddefs, had frequent quarrels with Jupiter, llie even took part againft him with the Titans; implacable in her anger, revenge was her darling paflion; this is the rcafon why the god of war was faid to be her fon. The leaft offence excited her refentment ; the refufal of a flower was in her eyes crime fufficient to draw down her hatred and vengeance. Her pride and jealoufy were cruelly felt after the fliepherd Paris had preferred Venus to her, when he was charged to give to the mofl: beautiful the apple thrown by the goddefs DIfcord. Paris was fon to Priam, king of the Trojans; this was the caufe of thofe perfecutions experienced by iEneas, and his unhappy followers ; all thofe be- loved by Jupiter, as well as their children, flie perfecuted with increafing hatred. Wearied by fo much malice and revenge, Jupiter refolved to punifh Juno for having taken part againft him in his war with the Titans. . : He fufpended her in the air by means of two loadftones, and after having bound her hands be- hind her, faficned two anvils to her feet. This tafk 112 HlStORY OF JUNO. tafk was affigned to Vulcan, who willingly executed it to revenge himfelf on her for having brought him into the world in ilich a ftate of deformity. None of the gods could deliver her from thefe fetters. They were obliged to have re- courfe to Vulcan, who, as his reward, demanded in marriage Venus, the mofl beautiful of the goddeffes.' This punlihment did not reform Juno. The nymph lo, daughter of Inachus and Ifmena, having engaged the afFeftions of Jupiter, became the objeft of her revenge. To conceal this nymph from the knowledge of Juno, Jupiter metamorphofed her into a cow; but this artifice could not deceive the goddefs : Ihe, in a peremptory manner, demanded that this cow Ihould be entrufted to her, and Jupiter dared not refufe. When in her poffcmon llic committed it to the care of Argus, who had an hundred eyes. To furprife this fpy was impoffible : fifty of his eyes watched, whilft the other fifty took rcpofe— a perfect image of jealoufy. ^However, Mercury, at the requeft of Jupiter, lulled him to fleep with his flute, and then flew him. Juno, to recompenfe Argus, changed him into a peacock, and was pleafed that his eyes fliould remain imprinted upon his plumage. This HISTORY OF JUNO. 113 This bird was efpecially confecrated to her: fhe is frequently reprefented in a car drawn by two of them. The death of Argus did not deliver the un- happy 16 from the perfccutions of Juno. She produced from the earth a gad fly, which incef- fantly purfued the daughter of Inachus. Driven to defpair by thefe perpetual torments, Ihe plunged into the fea, fwam acrofs the Mediter- ranean, and landed in Egypt, where fhe recovered her original form. She had a fon named Epaphus. The worfhip paid by the Egyptians to the goddefs Ifis, under the form of a cow, has certainly given occafion to this fable -, and the manner In which 16 crofTed the Mediterranean can have been nothing but a voyage by fea. Mercury was the meflenger of jupiter, and Iris that of Juno, who, in return for her fervices, placed her in Heaven under the form of a rainbow. The children of Cadmus> whofe fifler Europa was carried ofF by Jupiter, were the unhappy vidtims of Juno*s jealoufy. Ino the eldefl: of the four daughters of this prince, having efpoufed Athamas, was fo perfecuted by Juno, that flie threw herfeif into the fea, with her fon Melicertes, who was afterwards honoured as a fea god, under the name of Palsemon. I Agave, m It4 HISTORY OF JUMO. Ao-ave, daughter of Echion, faw her fon Pen- theus torn in pie.ces by the Bacchanalians. Autonoe, wife of Arift^us, with grief beheld her fon Adxon changed into a flag, and devoured by his own dogs. This young prince conduced by Juno, or Ibme fatal chance, had furprifcd Diina bathing, Laflly, Semek, the wife of Amphytrion, having, at the inftigation of Juno, defired to fee Jupiter in all his gWy, was con- fumed by the rays which furrounded him. Such were the cruel means by which Juno revenged herfcif on the charms of Europa, for having engaged the affeflions of Jupiter. il^glna, daughter of x\fopus king of the country of .^gina, became a fource of mifery to her unhappy fubjedis. Juno vifited them with a deadly pefdlence, becaufe Ihe had infpired Jupiter with fentiments of tendernefs. iEacus, fon of TEgina, intreating his father Jupiter to re-peoplc the country, that god, from an old oak in the foreft of Dodona, produced a prodigious fwarm of ants, which were immediately metamorphofed into men. The Greeks who followed Achilles to the Trojan war, pretended to be dcfcended from thefe ants. They were called Myrmidons, from the Greek word myrinex, which fignifies an ant. Juno is generally reprefented under the figure of a woman feated upon a throne, holding in one band History of jumo. u^ hand a fceptre, and in the other a fpindle ; on hef head is a radiant crown. Sometimes her head is encircled with a rainbow. In her temple at Argos, was her ftatue of gold and ivory of prodigious fize, and above it were placed the hours and graces. This goddcfs principally prefided over empires and riches. She ofFcred both, but in vain, to Paris, if he would give her the apple in pre- ference to Venus. She alfo prefided over child^ birth; on which occafion flie was called Lucina ; and when ilic is reprefented exercifing this func- tion, fhe is fcen feated, holding in one hand an infant in fwaddling clothes, and in the other a flower ; or elfe with a whip in one hand, and a fceptre in the other. During the feafts called Lupercalia, the women were defirous of being ftruck with this whip. At Rome fhe had a magnificent temple^ under the name of Matuta s another at Samos, under that of Samia. Sometimes flie was called the Earth, as Jupiter was Rain, or the Air, becaufe both equally fertilize the earth. Of all the pagan divinities, there was none whofe woriliip was more folemn, or more univerfal. The prodigies flie had operated, and her vengeance when negledled, or when any one had the temerity to put them- felves in competition with her, infpired fo much fear and awe, that nothing was omitted to honour I 2 her. Il6 HISTORY OF JUKO. her, and render her propitious ; fo that her wor- fhip was more general even than that of Jupiter. Divine honours were paid to her in Europe, Afia, Africa, and particularly in Syria and Egypt, though we muft remark, that the Juno of the Egyptians was the fame as Ifis and Aftarte. Young geefe, the hawk, and the peacock, were particularly confecrated to her. Among tlic Egyptians the vulture. Of plants, the dittany and poppy were offered to her. In her facrifices a ewe lamb was the ordinary viftim. So great was the refpeft for this goddefs, that every one having their geniusy that of the women was called Juno. Cleobis and Biton, two brothers celebrated for their piety, drew the chariot of their mother, who was going to the temple of Juno, the diftance of forty ftadia. The grateful parent befought Juno to reward them as their piety deferved. After having offered their facrifices, the brothers took their repaft and retired peacefully to reft, but it was to their eternal reft, they flept to wake no more. From that time the inhabitants of Argos looked upon death as the moft perfeft repofe, and the greateft of bleffings. They raifed two ftatues to Cleobis and Biton, where they were reprefented drawing the chariot of their mother. The HISTORY OF HYMEN» &C. 117 The History of Hymen, Hymen.^us and other Deities who presided over Marriage. W E think it proper that the hlftory of Juno Lucina fhould be followed by that of Hymen, It was from him that the Greeks gave this name to the union of man and wife, and that of Hymen^a to marriage fcftivals. It is faid that there was at Athens a young man of fingular beauty, but very poor and of obfcure birth, whofe name was Hymen^us. He fixed his affeftions on a female of his own country, much fuperior to him in rank and fortune. One day as fhe was going with the Athenian women to celebrate a feaft in honour of Ceres upon the fea fhore — from which men were excluded— Hyme- nasus difguifed himfelf as a woman and joined in the proceffion. During the ceremony the women were furprifed and carried off by pirates. In- flamed by the fight of the wine brought for the feftival, they drank till they were intoxicated, and the fumes fo overpowered their fenfes that they fell into a profound fleep. The valiant Hymenacus then made himfelf known, exhorted the women to affift him, feized i 3 ' thd |: 118 HISTORY OF HYMEN, &.C, the arms of their ravifliers, and maflacred them whilft in a ftate of infenfibility. After this ex- ploit Hymensus haftened to Athens, told what he had done for the deliverance of the Athenian ladies, and demanded, as his reward, the objett of his love in marriage 3 which requeft was granted. The Athenians in commemoration of this ev^nt,* and the happy marriage it was the occa- fion of, afterwards invoked Hymensciis as a divi- jiity, and celebrated fcafts to his honour. To give luftre to his obfcure birth, it was re- ported that he was defcendcd from the god of day and the miife Calliope. This deity was always reprefented under the figure of a beautiful young man, crowned with flowers and marjoram, holding in his right hand a flam.bcau, and in his left a veil, the colour ot fire, or a bright yellow. Though the Romans adopted this divinity of the Greeks, they wifned likewife to haye their own god of marriage. A circumftance nearly fimilar to that juft related, having happened at the time of the rape of the Sabine women s Thalamus, the hero of that adventure, received the fame honours as Hymen^eus. The Romans likewife honoured two other deities, as prcfiding over marriage, Jug^atinus and Domiducus. HISTORY 1i HISTORY OF CERES, ^W ii HISTORY OF CERES. 1; 1 HE fable and hiftory of Ceres ought properly to be clafTed with tliofe of the infernal deities ^ but we think it neceffary to relate part of it to facihrate the knowledge of the family of the Titans. The fame reafun will inciuce us afterwards to give fome account of Atlas and his daughters. Ceres was daughter of Saturn and Cybelc, and was fuppofed to be the firft who cultivated the earth. Pluto her brother having carried off her daugh- ter Proferpine, and taken her to the infernal re- gions — that is to Spain — Ceres complained of this violence to Jupiter, who decreed, that ilie lliould go and demand her daughter, and that Pluto lliould be compelled to reftore her, provided Ihe had neither eaten nor drunken during her refidence in his dominions; unfortunately (lie had already taken part of a pomegranate, which was perceived and told by Afcalaphus. This fo irritated Ceres that Ihe threw fome of the waters of Phlegethon into the informer's face, and he was immediately tr4nsformed into an owl, the harbinger of mif- fortune, 1 4 Minerva 120 HISTORY OF CERES. Minerva afterwards took the owl under her proteftion, becaufe it is a watchful bird and difcerns objefts in the dark — an allegory perfectly applicable to wifdom, which is always guarded againfl: furprife. In feeking the explanation of this fable we find, that, by the advice of Afcalaphus, Proferpine confented to efpoufe Pluto, which was the caufe of much regret to Ceres. Afcalaphus became the objeft of her vengeance -, but it anpears that his prudence and wifdom engaged Minerva to take him under her protection. Jupiter, willing to appeafe and confole Ceres, permitted Proferpine to pafs one half of the year in the infernal regions, and the other half in heaven. This divifion of the year admits of two explanations. Prpferpine was frequently taken for the moon; and this fable was intended to exprefs the time when fhe difappears : but it is explained in a man- ner ftill more natural by faying, that Jupiter per- mitted her to pafs part of the year in the dominions of Pluto, and part with her mother Ceres. We fhall not dwell too much upon the expla- nation of thefe fables, but we think it neceflary to give fomc examples, in order to accuflom our readers to make ufe of their fagacity, and we doubt not but on many occafions we lliall be furpaffed in this fpccies of ftudy and refearch. The HISTORY OF THE ATLANTIDES. 121 The fountain of Arethufa which flowed under ground, was witnefs to this aft of violence on the part of Pluto. She informed Ceres of it, who, with two flambeaus in her hand, went in quefl: of her daughter. Arethufa, daughter of Nereus and the nymph Doris, had been one of Diana's nymphs, and was by her metamorphofed into a fountain, to fave her when purfued by the river Alpheus, We have already given the explanation of this fable. We fliall purfue no farther the hiftory of Ceres, as we fliall meet with it again in fpeaking of the infernal deities, Diodorus Siculus relates, that after the death of Hyperion, the children of Uranus divided the kingdom amongfl: them. The two mofl: famous of their children were Saturn and Atlas. The maritime parts were the portion of Atlas. His fubjefts were called Atlantes, and his name was likewife given to the highefl: mountain of the country. He excelled in afl:ronomy, and was the firfl: who repreiented the terrefl:rial globe by a fphere, which gave occaflon to the fable of his fupporting the world upon his flioulders. He had jfevcral children. Hefperus w^as the mofl: remarkable for his piety, jufl:ice, and goodnefs. Being one day on the highefl: point of Mount Atlas, he was carried away it li t22 HISTORY OF THE ATLAN TIDES. away by a fudden gufl of wind, and his body- could never be found. The people, afFeded at his unhappy fate, and mindful of his virtues, thought he was taken by the gcds up to heaven, and granted him divine honours. To perpetuate his name, it was given to the moil brilliant of the planets. Atlas had fcvcn daughters much celebrated5who i^ere called Atlantides 3 but their real names were Maia, Eledra, Taygete, Afterope, Merope, Alcyone, and Ca^leno. They were beloved by the moft illuftrious heroes, and had children, who afterwards equalled their fathers, and became fovereigns of power- ful nations. Maia, the cldcft, had, by Jupiter, Mercury the inventor of arts. According to the Grecian accounts, almoft all their heroes were defcended from the At- lantides. After their death they were honoured as god- deffes, and placed among the conftellations, under the name of the Pleiades. They were fomctimes called Hefperides, from their mother Hefperis. . Their great reputation for beauty induced Bufi- ris, king of Spain, to attempt carrying them off by means of pirates, whom he fent into their country^ Thefe pirates furprifed them in a gar- den, feized them, and were preparing to embark them. HISTORY OF THE ATLANTIDES, 123 them, when their cries were heard by Hercules who happened to be upon the fea rtiore. He ran to their affiftance, eafily put to flight their cowardly ravifhers, and reflored them to their father Atlas, who out of gratitude gave him the golden apples of the garden of the Hefperides, which the hero was come to conquer, by order of Eridheus, king ofAthens. Thefe golden apples were probably oranges, at that time very rare, which Atlas carefully guarded by large maftiffs; and this gave rife to the fable, that they were of gold, and defended by a dragon. Adas did not confine his gratitude to this tri- fling prefent, he inftrucled Hercules in aflronomy, and that hero acquired immortal glory by firft introducing into Greece the knowledge of the fphere. It was on this occafion, that Atlas was feigned to have requefted him to bear the burden of the world a fhort time, that he might obtain fomc repofe. Mount Atlas Is of fuch a ftupendous height, that it feems to reach the heavens, its fummit is lofl: in the clouds, and the poets confounding this moun- tain with the prince whofe name it bore, defcribed Atlas as fupporting the world. It was likewifc fpeaking of this mountain, that the poets in the hiftory of Perfeus, reprefented him as metamor- phofing M HISTORY Of THE SUN. 1^5 124 HISTORY OF THE SUN. phofing Atlas into a rock, by prefenting to him the head of Medufa. The Hyades likewife paffed for the daughters of Atlas: they were reckoned fix in number, Eudora, Ambrofia, Pedilla, Coronis, Phileto and Polixo. Some add Thyaneas. They derive their name from the Greek word Hyade^ which fignifies rainy. It appears, that thefe pretended daughters of Atlas were poetical perfonages, which reprefented fome ftars difcovered by Atlas ^ as we at prefent give the name of Herfchell to the planet lately dif- covered by that famous Aftronomer. HISTORY OF THE SUN. 1 HE Greeks and Romans always con- founded the fun with Apollo. Plato aflures us they were the fame. Cicero fays, the fun and moon are two divinities, one of which is called Apollo, and the other Diana. Plutarch is of the fame opinion. Notwithftanding thefe authorities, the Arundelian marble, and all ancient monuments prove, that they fhould be diftinguiflied from each other. Apollo is always painted under the figure of a young man, having a bow, or a lyre, in his hand, whilft whilft the fun is reprefented with his head fur- rounded with rays, holding in one hand a globc^ which is never obferved in any reprefentation of Apollo, The adoration of the fun is the firft idolatrous worfhip known: we have already given an account of it under the name of Sabifm. The Egyptians, Phoenicians, Arabians, and Perfians adored the fun long before the Apollo of the Greeks was known. It was worfliipped by all the people of the eaft ; by the Chaldeans and Phoenicians under the name of Belusi by the Egyptians, under that of Ofiris and Orus his fon; the Ammonites called it Moloch; the Perfians Mythras : it was only among the Greeks and Romans that thefe two divinities were con- founded together. The fun was particularly adored in the Ifle of Rhodes ; the inhabitants of which raifed to its honour a coloflal ftatue of brafs aa hundred feet high. It was one of the fcven won- ders of the world, and was overthrown by an earth- quake. Hifl:ory tells us, that the Saracens having taken this IQand, loaded nine hundred camels with the Fra2:ments of this fi.atue alone. Antiquity has tranfmitted to us the names of the four horfes which drew the chariot of the fun. Ovid calls them Eous, Pyrois, iEthon, and Phlegons names which fignify in Greek, Red, Luminous, Shining, and to love die Earth. The firft \ 126 HISTORY OF rul SUN. HISTORY OF THE SUN. IV firft denotes the rifing of the fun, whofe rays at that momont are red ; the fecond, the period when it acquires a brighter colour; the third reprefents noon, when it is in all its glory; and the fourth, the time of its fetting, when it appears to approach the earth. The fun prefides over the tv;elve figns of the Zodiac, each of which anfwers to a month of the year ; fo that the fun by completing his courfe through them in twelv^e months, has procured them the appellation of the twelve houfes of the fun. In March he enters the flgn of the ram, which reprefents that upon which Phryxus and Helle fled to efcape the perfecutions of their cruel ftep- mother. In April, he enters the EjII, which reprefents the animal whofe form Jupiter aflumcd to carry off Europa. In May, that of the twins, which reprefent Caftor and Pollux, fons of Jupiter and Leda. In June, that of the Crab, fuppofed to be the fame which came to bite Hercules while killing the Hydra of Lerna. In July, that of the Lion, which reprefents the one (lain by Hercules in the Foreft of Nemea, whofe fkin he wore on his fnoulders. In Auguft, that of the Virgin, or Aftrca. Du- ring die golden age flie dwelt upon earth, but 3 when when that terminated, unable to fupport the fight of human depravity, fhe afcended to heaven with the other gods. She was the laft that quitted the earth, and retired to that part of heaven which forms the fign of the Virgin. In September, the fun enters the fign of the Balance, which reprefents Juftice, whofe Balance ought always to be equally poifed — It fignifies like- wife that in this month, day and night are of equal length. In Oftober it enters the fign of the Scorpion, which reprefents Orion, whom Diana metamor- phofed into that Anim.al. In November, that of Sagittarius, which repre- fents the Centaur Chiron who was an archer. He was the preceptor of Hercules, and much beloved by that grateful hero ; but in the battle between he Lapithii^ and the Centaurs, Hercules involun- tarily wounded him with one of his arrows dipt in the blood of the Hydra, which occafioned fuch racking torture that, though'immortal, he wifhed to die. The gods moved with his complaints gi'ant- cd his requeft. He died, and was tranflated to heaven, w^here he was placed among the figns of the Zodiac, In December, that of the Goat, which repre- fents the Goat Amalthea, or the Princefs Melifla who nurfed Jupiter during his infancy. In January, that of Aquarius which reprefents Ganymede liS HISTORY OF THE SU?^. Ganymede pouring out neftar for Jupiter and the other gods. — It likewife denotes the abundance of rain which falls in this month. In February, it enters the fign called Pifces, tvhich reprefents the Dolphins who drew the car of Neptune and Amphitrite. Men did not confine themfclves to Aftronomy ; the defire of penetrating into futurity gave birth to Aftrologyj a falfe fcience, calculated to deceive the ignorant and gratify the avarice of thofe who knew how to turn it to their advantage. Aftrolo- gcrs, to make themfelves of greater importance, pretended that each fign of the Zodiac anfwered to a part of the human body. Among thofe perfons who confl:ltuted figns of the Zodiac, we muft particularly remark Orion, whofe fl:ory is as follows : — Jupiter, Neptune, and Mercury, making the tour of the earth, went to the houfe of one CEnopeus or Hyreus, who not only received them with hofpitality, but killed his only remaining ox for their entertainment. The gods admiring the good intention and generofity of this honefl: man, told him, they would grant whatever he fliould defire. A fon, without a wife, was his requeft i it was granted, and the gods produced Orion from the flcin of the fame ox that had been killed for their repaft : they formed him with a mixture of earth and water. I OrloR HiSTOkV O^ THE SUN. I29 Orion when arrived at years of maturity, became a hunter, but being mortally wounded by a Ser- pent, Diana, goddefs of the chace, changed him into the confiellation which bears his name. Orion 4s thought to have been a difciple of Atlas, and to have firfl: inftrufted the Greeks in the movements of the ccleftial bodies, for which reafon^ at his death, he was placed among the figns of the Zodiac. The Sun was fuppofed to have feveral children. Otes and Pafiphae paffed for his daughters, and Rhodia, fo called from the ifiand . of Rhodes. The poets fay, that the day fhe was born there fell a fliower of gold, and that the rofc trees of the ifland of Rhodes Ihot forth in frefh bIoflx)ms. But the mofl: difl:inguifhed of his children were Au- rora and Phaeton. Aurora every morning opens the gates of heaven, precedes her father, and announces his return. She one day carried off=" Tithonus, fort ofLaomedon, and petitioned the gods to render him immortal; her requefl: was granted, but flie could not obtain for him eternal youth. Tithonus, fecurc of immortality, thought only of the happi- nefs he enjoyed with his Aurora; he forgot that time has wings, and in its flight carries away youth and beauty. Its ravages had no efi^eft on Aurora, pofltfTed of all the attributes of a divinity, whilft every day, every year, hurried on Tithonus to a ftatc of infirmity and old age. The difguft which K attends 130 HISTORY OF THE SUN. HISTORY OF PHAETON. 131 ^ attends this ftate rendered life Infupportable ; -Im- mortality to him was now only a painful burthen j he again had recourfe to the influence of Aurora withAe godsi andlhe, moved with compafTion, procured his transformation into a grafliopper. This charming Grecian fable is an allegory, the objeft of which is, to exhibit to our view the im- prudence of many of our wilhes, and to fhow, that were they all to be granted, we Ihould frequently only eternize our milery and regret. From the union of Aurora and Tidionus fprung Memnon, who afllfted Priam in the Trojan war. He was flain by Achilles, and his mother from his funeral pile produced birds, which from that time were called Memnonides. Aurora made a fccond rape, which was attended with melancholy circumftances. Cephalus was newly married to Procris. Their tendernefs was mutual, and nothing was wanting to complete their happinefs. The pleafures of the chace frequently led Cephalus into the woods be- fore break of day. Aurora furprifed him, and carried him off in her chariot. The fight of the goddefs did not prevent him from delivering him- felf up to all the defpair he felt at being feparated from his beloved Procris. ' Aurora reftored him to the earth, and gave him a javelin which never failed of its intended objeft. His palTion for hunting again carried Cephalus into into the woods; his wife alarmed at his frequent absence, and fearful of a new rival among the nymphs, or even goddefles, went and concealed herfelf in the middle of a thicket to obferve his motions 3 an involuntary movement which fhe made occafioning fome noife, deceived Cephalus i he levelled the fatal fliaft, and with his own hand pierced the bread of the tender, unhappy Procris, HISTORY OF PHAETON. 1 HE fall of the rafh Phaeton> offspring of the Sun, is too well known to be paffed over ia filence. Kpaphus fon of Jupiter and the nymph lo^ difputed him the honour of being defcended from the Suii. Phaeton irritated at this reproach, con- lulted his mother Climene, who advifed him to go to the palace of his father, and demand fome proof of his dcfcent. The Sun having fworn by the river Styx that he would grant whatever he Ihould defire, the imprudent Phaeton demanded for a fingle day only, the command of the chariot which brings light to the world. The god of day no longer Able to refufe, was obliged to comply. In vain did he give diredions to the ralli youth* The K 2 horfcs \ 13* HISTORY OF APOLLO. y horfes quickly perceived the weaknefs of the hand which guided themi they quitted the track they ought to have purfued, and involved heaven and earth in one general conflagration. The unhappy Phaeton was, by a thunderbolt from Jupiter, precipitated into the river Po. The Heliades, his dlfconfolate fifters, were changed into poplars, and their tears into drops of amber : Cygnus his brother died of grief, and was meta- morphofcd into a fwan. This fable appears to be an allegorical defcrip- tlon of an ambitious young man, who engages in undertakings beyond his ftrength. However, we read of one Phaeton a great aftronomer, who reigned over the country of the Molofli, and drowned himfelf in th^ river Po. HISTORY AND FABLE OF APOLLO. J u PITER having quitted Juno for Latona, had by her two children, Apollo and Diana. Before their birth the enraged goddefs incited againft her rival a dreadful ferpent called Python. This monfter, according to the poets, was pro- duced from the mud left upon the earth after the univerfal deluge. This fable much rcfembles that of the ferpent generated by the peftilential ex- halations HISTORY OF APOLLO. ^33 halations of the river Nile ; and there is every reafon to believe, that the Greeks formed their Apollo after the model of Orus fon of Ofiris, whom the Egyptians confounded with the fun. We jfhall give the ftory of Apollo, as tranfmit- tcd to us by the poets. Juno inceflantly purfuing her rival, prevailed upon the earth to afford her no afylum. Latona (whofe name fignifies concealed) took refuge in a floating ifland in the Archipelago, called Delos, which was frequently covered with water. Neptune, out of compaflion to Latona, fecured this ifland from being overflowed, and gave it a permanent foundation. It was here flie brought forth Apollo and Diana. The dread of Juno pre- vented her long refidence on this ifland ; flie fled continually from place to place. One day tra- verfing the country of Lycia, flie came to a marfli where fome peafants were working; exhaufted with thirfl: and fatigue, flic requefl:ed of them a little water i it will preferve my life, faid flie. The Lycians however, infl:igated by Juno, refufed her this fmall relief, and even infulted her; to punifli their brutal inhumanity, Latona metamor- phofcd them into frogs. We fliall not o-ive the hifl:cry at length af Apollo and Diana; it is to be met with in all poetry, both ancient and modern; we fliall confine ourfelves to the principal features And moil interefting fl:ories. K 3 Apollo i# 134 HISTORY OF APOLLO. ij H Apollo had feveral different names. He was called Delos, from the IQand Dclos where he was borns Phoebus, alluding to the light of the fun; Phos, and Bios, fignlfying light and life 3 and Pythius, from the viftory he gained over the fer- pent Python. (This vidory muft be attributed to the fun, which by giving heat to the earth, and drying its ftagnated waters, deftroys venemous reptiles)* He was called Aftiacus, from Aftium, a pro- montory famous for the viftory which rendered Auguftus matter of Rome and die whole world. The name of Palatinus was given to him, becaufe Auguftus built him a temple on mount Paladne, to which he added a library. Apollo was banilhed heaven, for having with his arrows flain the Cy- clops who forged the thunder of Jupiter. The ftory is as follows : Efculapius, fon of Apollo, had made fuch pro- c:refs in the fcience of medicine, under the inftruc- tion of his father and the centaur Chiron, that he had been able to reftore to life Hippolitus, fon of Thefeus. (We fliall give the hiftory of Hippo- litus in the fecond part of this work, under the article Heroes.) Jupiter, offended that a mortal fhould prefume to ufurp his privilege, ftruck the too flcilful phy- fician with a thunderbolt, Apollo, unable to revenge himfelf upon Jupiter, wreaked HISTORY OF APOLLO. »35 wreaked his vengeance upon the Cyclops, by flay- ing them with his arrows. No weapon was more dreadful than thefe arrows of Apollo j it was with more juftice he employed them againft the ferpent Python, which Juno had raifed up againfl himfelf and his mother Latona. The deflruftion of this monfter gave rife to the Pythian Games fo famous in Greece. During the celebration of thefe games, which was every fourth year, they contended in finging, dancing and mufic ; and the reward of the viftor was a crown of laurel. It is neceffary to explain the idea which the Greeks, and the ancients in general, entertained of thefe arrows of Apollo. They reprefented the rays of the fun, and were fuppofed to pofTefs fo much power, that all fudden deaths were attributed to them. Homer was of the fame opinion, with this difference, that the death of women appeared to him to proceed from the vengeance of Diana, or the moon, and that of the men, from Apollo, or the fun. The hiftory of the children of Niobe, killed by Apollo and Diana, proves what influence was afcribed to the fun and moon. The haughty Niobe, incenfed that divine ho- nours were paid to Latona, whilft flie, though equally entitled to them by birth and the number of her offspring, was neglefted, haftened to Thebes, and endeavoured to interrupt the facrifices offering K 4 to ,f' f.: i 136 HISTORY OF APOLLO, to that goddefs. This infult drew on her the vengeance of Apollo and Diana^ who pierced her children with their arrows, whilft performing their exercifes on the plains near Thebes, We fhall explain this ftory by comparing it with hillory. Niobe, daughter of Tantalus and filter of Pelops, accompanied her brother, whep he came into that part of Greece which from him was called Peloponnefus. She married Amphion, a prince celebrated for his eloquence, who had juft built the walls of the city of Thebes, by perfuading his fubjefts to facrifice fome part of their property to put their city in a ftate of defence. This fame prince being an admirer of mufic, added three new firings to the four which the lyre already pofleflcd. Thofe ^wo circumftances. were the caufe of the fable, that he had built the yisMs of Thebes by the harmony of his lyre, The marriage of Amphion and Niobe was produ6liye of a numerous offspring; they had fourteen children, but were all carried off by a cruel peftilence which defolated the country. This peftilence being attributed to intenfe hear, which night itfelf could not « allay, the ftory of their death which we have juft given was invented. It was from the prevalence of this fame opinion that Homer fays, the Greeks were vifited with a peftilence as foon as Apollo had difchargcd hisi arrows, — When- HISTORY OF APOLLO, ^37 Whenever they wiflied to defcribe Apollo as irritated, they reprefented him armed with his arrows, and when appeafed, holding a lyre in his hand. In the time of contagious diftempers they placed branches of laurel before their doors, hoping the god would fpare thofe who rendered this ho- nour to his beloved nymph Daphne, w^hom he had metamorphofed into a laurel tree. Homer ftys, that the children of Niobe remained unbuiied nine days, and were then interred by the gods themfelves. Hiftory fays, that thefe princes dying of fhe peftilence, it was a long tiir.e before anybody dared approach them. The Thebans, terrified for their own fafety, appeared infcnfible to the misfortunes of their queen -, and this was the origin of the ftory, that they were changed into ftones. Yet fome among them, from motives of attachment, bcftowed the rites of fepulture on them; and to foothe the defpair of Niobe, reported that they were buried by the gods. Amphion foon after died of grief, or of the plague, and Niobe inconfolable for her misfortunes, returned into Lydia, and Hved at the foot of mount Sipylus, where forrow quickly ter- minated her exiftence. She was feigned to have been turned into a ftone, becaufe the excefs of her fufferings in fome manner rendered lier infenfible, and deprived her of power even to utter her complaints. Jupiter 138 HISTORY OF APOLLO. Jupiter revenged the death of the Cyclops hy banifhing Apollo from heaven, (that is, from the government he had entrufted to him.) He found an afylum at the court of Admetus, who received him favourably/ and conferred on Jiim the fovereignty of that part of his dominions fituated on the banks of the river Amphrifus. In thofe diftant ages, the names of paftor and king 'w-ere frequently fynonimous. The fable defcribes Apollo as tending the Bocks of Admetus, which was the caufe of his being regarded as god of the fhepherds. It adds, that Mercury having difco- vered him in this new capacity, dexterouily Hole one of his cows, and Apollo feeking for his arrows to punifli the thief, found that they like- wife were ftolen. It was during this exile that Daphne, daughter of the river Peneus, was metamorphofed into a laurel, at the moment when her feeble limbs, una- ble longer to continue her flight, had nearly left her a prey to her purfuer, Apollo. The god was pleafed to confecrate this tree to himfelf, and to appropriate a crown of its foliage to thofe who ftould excel in poetry and in the Pythian Games. Pliny, the naturalift, affures us, that the laurel has the remarkable property of being never ftruck with thunder. A fragment of Hiftory relates that Daphne, daughter to a king of Theffaly, named Peneus, being purfued by a young prince upon HISTORY OF APOLLO. 139 \3pon the borders of a river, called likewife Peneus, fell into it and was drowned j and that the great quantity of laurels which grew on the banks of this river caufed it to be faid, that flie was meta- morphofed into that tree. It was not long after, that Apollo inadvertently killed the young Hyacinthus, to whom he was tenderly attached. Zephyrus, who likewife loved this youth, jealous on feeing him play at quoits with Apollo, with a blaft of his breath drove the quoit of the god with fo much violence, that it beat out the brains of the unhappy Hyacinthus. Apollo changed him into a flower, which bears the fame name. His ufelefs regret for this unintentional murder, did not appeafe the parents of Hyacinthus. To avoid their implacable revenge, he fled for refuge to Laomedon, king of Troy, who begged his afTiftance in building the walls of that city. Here he met with Neptune, who, like himfelf, exiled by Jupiter, was wandering over the earth. The ungrateful Laomedon, after having received their fervices, refufed them their promifed reward. In revenge, Neptune demoliflicd their work by an inundation, and Apollo vifited the Trojans with a dreadful peftilence. The oracle being confulted on the means of appeafing heaven, returned for ^nfwer, that a Trojan virgin, chofen by lor, mufl be cxpofed annually upon the rocks to be devoured by a fea monfler. The firfl: vidim was Hefione, daugther iio HISTORY Of APOLLO, daughter of Laomedon; neither the power of her father, nor her own beauty, were able to favc her; the oracle muft be obeyed: happily at this moment Hercules came to her afliftance and kil- led the monfter. The avaricious Laomedon had the bafenefs to refufe him two fine horfes which he had promifed for.fo eminent a fervice^ this fo enraged the hero, that he facrificed Laomedon to his refentment, fet fire to the city, and carried away prifoner his fon Priam. Thefe two fables being connected with the hif- tory of Hercules, we fliall give the explanation of them when we come to treat of that demi-god. Some time after thefe adventures, Apollo was permitted to return to heaven, and was reftored to his former condition. Jupiter confided to his care the chariot of the fun, and appointed him to diffufc light over the earth. Cicero diftinguiflies four of the name of Apollo; the three laft were Grecian princes; the moft ancient of all was Orus, fon of Ofiris and Ifis, His mother gave him for nurfe Latona; and to protect him from the perfecutions of Typhon, iht concealed him in the ifland of Chemnis, fitua- tcd upon a lake near Butes, which was the native city of Latona. We have already obferved that Oliris, and after him Orus his fon, were, among the Egyptians, fymbols of the fun. The Greeks almoil always confounded Ofiris with their Jupiter; it w HISTORY OF APOLLO. i4t It is therefore by no means furprifing, that having given the namd of Apollo to feveral of their princes, • they fhould have confounded them with the Egyp- tian deity of the fame name. Of all the pagan deities, to none have the poets afcrlbed more wonderful quarit;aes. He is defcribed as the inventor of poetry, mufic and eloquence. No divinity pofieffed a better knowledge of futurity; his oracles were innumer- able. To all thefe advantages he united beauty, grace, and the power of charming by his wit, and the harmony of his lyre. The title of God. of Day, furpaflcs any eulogium which the moft brilliant imagination can beftow on him. Among the Grecian princes who bore the name of Apollo, was one, who having engaged the afFeftions of Clitie, a nymph of the ocean, deferted her for Leucothoe, daughter of Orchamus, king of Baby- lon; and Clitie in defpair refufing all nourilhment pined to death. The poets obferving that the heliotrope, or fun flower, conftantly turned towards the fun, took advantage of this difcovery to feign that Clitie was metamorpholed into that flower; and that flill retaining her fenfibillty, fhe conftantly turned towards the fun to reproach his infidelity. The poets wifiied likcwife to affign an origin to the cyprefs, a leaflefs melancholy tree ; tliey feigned that the infant Cyparifiiis, much beloved by Apollo, I ' havin? I4'2 HISTORY OF Al'OLLdi. having accidentally killed a favourite flag, died of grief, and was changed into a cyprefs by Apollo, who confecrated this tree to funerals. No deity was more honoured than Apollo: his temples were innumerable both in Greece and Italy, and oracles were given in all of them* Delos attradled vifitors from every part of the globe, by the magnificent feftivals which were there celebrated in honour of this god. All the cere- monies of his worfhip had relation to the fun, whom he reprefented. The hawk and the wolf were confecrated to him, becaufe they have a piercing eye ; and the crow, daw and fwan, becaufe they were fuppofcd to have the gift of fore- fight, and were employed in auguries. The flxble invented concerning the crow is worth recounting. Its plumage was originally white, but was changed into black by Apollo, to punlfh him, for having imprudently revealed to him the infidelity of Coronis. The tranfports of Jealoufy are terrible, and frequently blind. Apollo de- Itroyed this nymph and too late repented his rafh- nefs. He metamorphofcd her into a daw, wifhing by her mournful plumage, and that of the crow, to perpetuate at once his revenge and his regret. There are many ancient monuments reprefcnt- ing this god, dill extant. He is always known by the luminous rays round his head, his youthful appearance, his beauty, his lyre, and his arrows; generally HISTORY OF THE MUSES. >43 \ i generally he appears beardlefs. His names were almoft as numerous as the countries where he was worfliipped. We have already mentioned the principal, but w^e Ihall conclude with that of Mufagetes, becaufe it leads us to the hiflory of the Mufes, whofe mafler and preceptor he was. HISTORY AND FABLE OF THi: MUSES, Varro and St. Auguftine inform us, that at Sicyon thfree able fculptors were employed at the fame time in forming the ftatues of thQ Mufes. They were at that time only three in number, and it was intended to confecrate only the three ftatues which fliould appear moft perfeds but the 'equal talents of the artlfts rendered the decifion fo extremely difficult, that to prefcrve thefe finiCied performances they were all nine placed in the temple of Apollo. From that time the poets celebrated nine Mufes, and we think it by no means neceffary to examine what their real num- ber orio-inally was. The obfcurlry upon this fubjeft is the greater, as the name of Mufagetes, or leader of the Mufes, is frequently given to Hercules. It is true that on thefc occafions, that J hero H il4 HISTORY OF THE MUSES. hero appears to be confounded with the fun. Mft Court de Gebelin has in a very ingenious manner' endeavoured to prove that the Mufes were twelve in numbers but Hefiod and the poets reckon only nine daughters of Jupiter, and Mnemofyne, the goddefs of memory. They were virgins, and the fable fays, that a young man of the name of Adonis, having attempted to gain their afFe6iions, paid the forfeit of his life for his temerity. This fable is intended to reprefent how fruitlefs are the attempts to excel in poetry, unlefs nature has beftowed the neceffary talents. This pre- tended death of Adonis is an alkgory intended to defcribe a man vain of his underftanding, who afpired to the charadler of a poet, but left no works to furvive him. It is generally believed, Aat the name of the Mufes is derived from the Greek word Myfein^ fignifying to contemplate fubllme fubjefts. They are fometimes called Pierides, from the following circumftance : The nine daughters of Pierus, king of Macedo- nia, had the prefumption to contend with the Mufes in finging; when to punifh their vanity, the viilorious Mufes changed them into magpies, and afilimed the name of Pierides, in commemo- ration of their triumph. This fpecies of challenge of the gods was always dangerous, and fcldom went unpunifhcd. ' The HISTORY OF THE MUSES; H5 The fatyr Marfyas had the temerity to afTert, that the founds which he produced from his flute were more harmonious than thofe which Apollo drew from his lyrCi Judges were chofen, and the fatyr being vanquifhed, Apollo to punifli his pre- fumption, flayed him alive. The origin of this fl:ory is as follows: Before the invention of the lyre, the principal mufical inftrument was the flute. Apollo by the afliflance cf his lyre, found means to unite the harmony of an accompaniment, to the beauties of the voice, and thus procured that infl:rument the preference to the flute. The poets have defcribed the jea- loufy and regret of Marfyas on this occafion, by- faying, that he was flayed alive by Apollo. An* cient authors do not perfeftly agree concerning the names -and fymbols of the Mufes i we fliall give their general appellations, and the manner in which they are commonly defcribed* 1. Clio, the firfl:.of the Mufes, takes her name from glory, renown. Her province was to pre- fide over hifl:ory. She is fuppofed to be the inventrefs of the guittar, which infl:rument fhe generally holds in her right hand, and In her left a fle5lru7ny fo called in Latin, infl:ead of the bow ufed in playing on that inftrument. She is like- wife frequently reprefented writing hiftory. 2. Thalia prefided over comedy. Her name L fignifies 14^ HISTORY OF THE MUSES. I fignifies the blooming. She is repreiented re- clining upon a pillar, holding a mafk in her hand. 3. Melpomene prefided over tragedy. She is ge- nerally feen wich her hand refting on the club of Hercules, becaufe the objeft of tragedy is to repre- fent the brilliant exploits of heroes, the moft illuf- trious of whom was Hercules. 4. Euterpe prefided over inftrumental mufic;- her "name fignifies agreeable. She always appears furrgunded with flutes, lyres, gulttars, and all the appendages of mufic. 5. Terpfichore, or the amufing, prefided over the dance ; fhe has always a fmiUng countenance, and with one foot lighdy touches the earth, whilK the other fports in the air. 6. Erato. Her name is derived from the Greek word Eros, love. She is the infpirer of light poetry, and amorous verfes; her changeable phi- fiognomy cannot be expreffcd, as it varies every time a new fubjeft prefents itfelf. 7. Polyhymnia takes her name from thfc gr^-at variety of her fongs; Ihe is reprefented with a lyre, as being the inventrefs of harmony ; her eyes direfted towards heaven fliow that ihe prefided over the ode. 8. Urania, or the heavenly, was the inventrefs of aftronomy and the fciencesi in her hand flie holds a globe» which fometimes appears placed upon Birrd ^cc. U* i4S insTORV OF THE MUSES. I fignifies the blooming. She is reprefented re- clining upon a pillar, holding a mafic in her hand. 3, Melpomene prefided over tragedy. She is ge- nerally feen with her hand refting on the club of Hercules, becaufe the objeft of tragedy is to repre- fent the brilliant exploits of heroes, the moft illul- trious of whom was Hercules. 4. Euterpe prefided over inftrumental mufic; her name fignifies agreeable. She always appears furrounded with flutes, lyres, guittars, and all tiic appendages of mufic. 5. Terpfichore, or the amuling, prefided over the dance; Ilie has always a fmiUng countenance, and with one foot lighdy touches the eardi, whillt the other fports in the air. 6. Erato. Her name is derived from the Greek word Eros, love. She is the infpirer of light poetry, and amorous verfes; her changeable phi- fiognomy cannot be expreffcd, as ii varies every time a new fubjeft prefents Itfcif. 7, Poiyhynmia takes her name from the great variety of her fongsj ihe is reprefented with a iyre, as being the inventrefs cf harmony; her eyes direfted towards heaven fliow that ilie prefided over the ode. 8. Urania, or the heavenly, was the inventrefs of aftronomy and the fciences; in licr hand fne holds a globe» which fometimes appears phxed upon Him/ •>'<■' i HISTORY Ot THE MUSES. M7 ■\y m tipon a tripod ; and then ihc is feen holding a fcale or a compafs in her hand. Calliope owes her name to the majefty of her voice; file prefided over heroic poems. Near her are feen the trumpet of fame, crowns of laurel^ arms, and trdphies. The Mufes going one day to Parnaflus to receive the inftruftion of their preceptor Apollo, were compelled by a violent fliower to take fhelter in the palace of Pireneus, king of Phocis, who wiihing to infult them, they affumed wings and took flight. Pireneus attempting to purfue them^ leaped from a tower and was dafhed to pieces. Hiftorians inform us, that Pireneus banifhed from his kingdom all learned men, and fhut up the public fchools : a brutal caprice which procured him univerfal contempt; and at his death none were found to honour his memory. Having in vain endeavoured to acquire reputation by his poetry, he thought to revenge himfelf by perfe- cuting the fciences ; and to fix an eternal blot upon his memory, the poets invented this fable. The Mufes are frequently reprefented furround- ing Apollo upon mount Parnafllis, or mount Heli- con. Pegafus is likewife feen with wings extended, raifing himfelf into the air, and with a blow of his foot forming the fountain Hippocrene, fo cele- brated among the poets. We Ihall refume this fubjed in the fecond part of this work^ when we L 2 relate 148 HISTORY OF THE MUSES. ^1: relate the hlftory of Perleus. Among the children of Apollo, one of the moft diftinguiflied was Linus, the inventor of lyric poetry. He excelled in teaching the lyre; the moft famous of his fcholars were Orpheus, Thamyris and Hercules; the latter, more formed to combat monfters than cultivate the polite arts, was fo irritated at being repri- manded by his mafter Linus, that he broke his lyre in pieces upon his head. Many cities and countries were rendered famous by the oracles of Apollo ; particularly Delphos, where he had a moft magnificent temple. The prieftefs whom he infpired with an enthufiaftic phrenzy was co- vered with the fkin of the ferpent Python, and fat upon a fort of table with three legs, called cordna, or tripod. That great fraud was praftifed in the anfwcrs of thefe oracles there is no doubt; however many of them were certainly verified. The fathers of the church are unanimoufly of opinion, that the Al- mighty has fometimes permitted the eternal enemy of mankind to forefee future events; and this opi- nion receives great confirmation from the many inftances wherein the predictions of thefe oracles were undoubtedly accomplilhed. If their anfwers had conftantly been falfified by the event, not all the artifice of the priefts of Apollo could have preferved their credit fo many ages. It muft be however obferved^ that the anfwers given by the oracles HISTORY OF DIANA. H9 oracles were fo equivocal and obfcure, that they would admit of feveral interpretations, fo that the truth might fometimes concur with that which they had adopted. We ihall refume the fubje6l of oracles in the chapter where we treat of the Sybils. HISTORY OF DIANA, OR THE MOON. Diana was the fifter of Apollo, and as he was called Phoebus, flie was ftyled Phoebe; both had the fame attributes. We have already proved that among the Egyptians, Ofiris was the fymbol of the fun, and Ifis that of the moon. To avoid a repedtion of thefe particulars, we Ihall give the hiftory, or rather the fable of Diana, as adopted by the Greeks. Among them, Diana was honoured under three different charafters. Firft, as a celcftiui divinity, and fhe was then the Moon or Phoebe ; fecondly, as aterreftrial divinitv, when Ihe was called Diftea, or Di6lynna, from the name of a favourite nymph, the firft inventrefs of nets; and laftly, as goddefs of the infernal regions, where fhe reigned under the name of Hecate, or Proferpine. It was to exprefs thefe different qualities, that ftie was ftyled the triform goddefs. I. 3 The i6^ HISTORY OF DIANA. HISTORY OF DIAN"A. ^51 The Theffalian Ihepherds boafted, that they could bring down the moon to the earth by their enchantments. When it happened to be eclipfed, they aflerted that it defcended to the earth and became obedient to their orders. ' Diana came into the world before her brother, and immediately (as the Fable fays) performed the office of midwife to her mother Latona. The pains fhe faw her fuifer induced her to demand of Jupiter the gift of virginity, and per- miffion to prefide over child-birth, both which were o-ranted. Virgins on their marriage tlioughc themfelves obliged to appeafe this goddefs, and confecrated to her their girdles, which procured her the name of Lyfizone, or loofe-girdk. She was likewife called Trivia, becaufe fhe prefidcd over the highways. In Egypt there was another Diana, named Bubaftes; fiie was Daughter to Ofiris and Ifis, and like her mother received the furname of Diana. Lucina was a name common to both this goddeis and Juno. Pregnant women near the time of their delivery invoked them indifferently under this appellation. The greater part of her other names were derived from places where fhe was particularly honoured. She had tv/o temples much cekbrated -, that of Ephefus, one of the feven wonders of the world (a defcription of which we fhall give in the fecond part part of this work, under the article Temples) was burnt the 6th of June, the day Alexander the Great was born. Eroftratus the incendiary wiflied to render his name immortal by committing a crime which could never be forgotten. The fecond temple was fituated in Taurica Cherfonefus, now called the Crimea. It was par- ticularly famous for the human viftims offered there to Diana. All ftrangers, whether they landed by chance, or were driven on the coaft by ftorms> ^ere here barbaroufly facrificed. Orefles and Pylades, fo diftinguifhed for their mutual friend- fhip, killed the Pontiff Thoas, carried ofFtheftatuc of the goddefs, and brought it into Italy, wherb it was called Phazelis, becaufe they had concealed it in a faggot of wood. Upon earth Diana prefided over the chacc. Sixty nymphs, daughters of Oceanus, and twenty other females, had the care of her hunting efta- blifhmcnt. She is reprefented with bufkins on her feet, and a quiver and bow in her hand. Hei* forehead is ornamented with a crefcent^ and her car is drawn by hinds. Diana was regarded as the goddefs of chaftity, the nymphs, her attendants, were obliged to imitate her, and if they failed, although unintentionally, they were feverely puniflicd. The unfortunate A^ason,ledbyJuno the enemy of his family, inad- h 4 vertently "j*:^^ 152 HISTORY OF DIANA. ,f^'- fi i vertcntly penetrating to a retired grotto, where Diana and her nymphs were bathing, was inftantly metamorphofed into a Stag, and devoured by his own dogs, Califto, a nymph of Arcadia, though favourite of the goddefs, could not efcape her vengeance. Jupiter, to feduce her, had afliimed the form of Diana herfelf ; but even this excufe did not proteft her; fhe was driv-en from her fociety, and aban- donedto the jealoufy of Juno, who metamorphofed her into a bear. Obliged to conceal herfelf in the decpeft recefies of the foreft, flie could not always efcape the purfuit of the hunter; Areas, her own fon, arrived at that age when fo many charms arc found in the chafe, by accident met his mother j Califlo difcovering in him all the features of Ju- piter, which were ftill imprinted upon her mind, no longer thought of flying; fhe anxioufly fixed her eyes on the young prince, who was preparing to pierce her with a dart, when Jupiter to prevent fo horrible a crime, metamorphofed him like wife into a bear, and tranflated them both to heaven. Such is the fable invented by the poets concern- ing the conftellation compofed of feven ftarsj -which is now called the Greater Bear. The ftar called Bootes which follows it reprc- fcnts the fon of Califlo. Near the Ar6tic pole is fccn the Lefler Bear, known to aftronomers by the name of Cynofura ; it HISTORY OF DIANA ^5!^ it IS the guide of mariners. The ftars of which this is compofed reprefcnt the nymphs who had the care of Jupiter in his infancy. Diana, equally proud as Juno, would fufFer none to be compared with her. Dedalion fon of the morning ftar, called Lucifer, was changed into a hawk from the following cir- cumftance. Chione his daughter, being rafli enough to prefer her own beauty to that of Diana, was killed by an arrow from thatgoddefs. Dedalion, difconfolate for the lofs of his daus^h- ter, precipitated himfclf from the top of a tower, when Apollo, out of compafllon, transformed him into an hawk. There is a ftory that Diana becoming enamoured of Endymion, king of Elis, every night dcfcended from her car to vifit him upon the mountains of Caria. This fiftion fo injurious to Diana is founded folely upon the pafllon of Endymion for aftronomy, and the attention which he beftowed on the courfe of the moon. This prince was fond of retiring to a grotto in Latmos, one of the mountains of Caria, where he frequently palTed whole nights ; which occafioned the ftory of his being vifited by Diana. His conftant application to ftudy, and his in- difference to pleafure, caufed it like wife to be faid, that he had obtained from Jupiter the gift of per- petual fleep. There is ftill to be feen in mount Latmos '■"^iK 154 HISTORY or DIANA. ^ ILatmos a fort of cavern, which is yet called the grotto of Endymion. The chariot of the fun was of gold, and that of the moon filvcr. The tranquil progrefs of the latter was defcribed by faying, that fhe filcntly advanced amid the Ihades of Night ; who was a particular divinity, faidto be the daughter of Chaos. She pafTed for the moft ancient of all the goddefifcs, to exprcfs that darknefs exifted before light. She is rcprc- fented in a chariot of ebony, covered with a large black veil, and furrounded with ftars. In her hand (he holds a flambeau, which ihc appears to be in the aftofextinguifliing. The poets attribute to her a number of chil- dren, but they were all metaphorical, fuch ai Pain, Fear, Love, Envy, Age, &c. &c. We fhall fpeak of all thefe divinities under an* other article j at prefent their hiftory would give too much interruption to that of the principal deities. The name of Hecate was given to Diana; this is derived from a Greek word, which fignifies to ftrike at a diftance ; by this furname was meant the rapidity with which her rays pafs from heaven to earth. Thefe rays, like thofe of Apollo, were called Arrows, and the influence of both was equally dreaded. The HISTORY OF DIA^^A. ^^55 1 The names of Phoebus and Phoebe, which %vcre given to Apollo and Diana, on account of the light they difFufed over the earth, had an origin which it will be of fervice to know ; they are derived from the mother of Latona, whofe name was likewife Phcebe ^ ignorance of her birth caufcd this perfonage to be regarded as the ofl^spring of the earth. This primary Phcebe derived her greatcfl: ccr lebrity from an oracle fituated at the foot of Par- nafllis, yielded to her by her mother the Earth. Apollo and Diana at first divided this fpecies of inheritance, but not long after Apollo only was confulted there. This being the' oracle of Delphos, it is nccef- fary to be acquainted with its origin. Diodorus Siculus fays, that it was firfl difco- vered by means of goats feeding in the valleys of mount ParnaiTus. In one of thefe valleys was to be feen a narrow opening ; fome goats approaching to brovv^fe the herbs which grew around, experienced a fort of intoxication, v/hich made them leap about in an extraordinary manner. The flieplierd who was tending them, furprifed at this effesft, went to take a nearer furvey of this cleft, when the air v/hich proceeded from it occafioned him a kind of deli- rium, which he looked upon as divine infpiration» The report of this miracle drew together the 3 neighbouring i; ia6 HISTORY OF DIANA. I ill V neighbouring inhabitants. The experiment re- peated a thoufand times conftantly produced the fame efFed. Surprifed at a prodigy which their knowledge at that time did not enable them to account for upon natural principles, they fuppo- led fome propitious divinity, or the earth itfelf, difpenfed oracles through this aperture, and gave thofe who approached it the power of predicting futurity. From that time this place was regarded as facred. A fort of fandluary was eftablifhed there which could not be approached without rich offerings to the divinity they wifhed to con- fuk. This fanftuary was in time • enclofed in a magnificent temple, and the afflux of thofe who reforted here fo increafed the number of ha- bitations, that they were confiderable enough to form the city of Delphos. This famous aperture was fituated about the middle of Parnaflus, a mountain of Phocis, on the fouthern defcent. The temple and city of Delphos acquired fuch immenfe riches, that they were compared to thofe of the kin2:s of Perfia. Before we conclude this work we fhall treat more fully the interefting fubjed of oracles. HISTORY jnSTORY OF BACCHUS. ^57 HISTORY OF BACCHUS. 1 HE pride and ambition of the Greeks led them to believe their own country the birth- place of all the gods and heroes. Never was a people more defirous of appearing illuftrious. The conquefts of Bacchus had rendered his name too famous not to attribute to him a Gre- cian origin. However, Herodotus, Plutarch, and Diodorus Siculus, (who faithfully executed the office of hiftorians,) inform us, that he was born in Egypt, and brought up in Nyfa, a cit)' of Arabia the Happy, where he had been fent by his father Ammon. We even perceive by them, that the Bacchus of the Greeks was no other than the famous Ofiris, conqueror of India. The fiftions of the poets, and the accounts of an- cient authors, can only be applied to this King of Egypt. Speaking of Bacchus, they firft fay that he came to the afTiflance of Jupiter in his war againft the giants ^ and afterwards, that he was the fon of Semele, and grandfon of Cadmus. Now this laft mentioned' prince did not exift till many ages after the above war. The fable adds, that Bacchus clothed in the fkin of a tiger, rendered I great I i I ia8 HISTORY OF BACCHUS. I* I i !1 great fervicc to Jupiter; but was torn in pieces by the giants. This latter circumftance undoubtedly alludes to the death of Ofiris, who was killed by his inhu- man brother Typhon. Diodorus explains this con- tradiftion by faying, that the worfnlp of this divinity was brought from Egypt into Greece byOrpheus, who being favourably received by Cadmus, wifhed to exprefs his gratitude by attributing to one of that prince's family the hiftory and fable of the Egyptian Bacchus — and, indeed, the worfl:iip which was paid to this god, and that which was paid to Ofiris, perfectly refembled each other. This comparifon ferves ftill more to prove that the Greeks were indebted to the eaftern colo- nies, not only for their divinities, but even the major part of their names, Diodorus Siculus reckons three of the name of Bacchus ; Cicero five ; and the moderns are ftill more divided, as to their number and origin. Many learned men are of opinion, that the Bacchus of the poets is no other than Mofes. — ► They find fo great a refemblance between them, that we think it necefiary to give their reafons for imagining them the fame, without pre- tending however to off'cr any thing pofitive upon the fubjedl. Both are reprefented as having been born in Egvpt, and expofed upon the Nile. The HISTORY OF BACCHUS* ^59^ The name of Mofes, and that of Myfas, given to Bacchus by Orpheus, both exprefs that they were favcd from the water. Bacchus was brought up in Arabia, on a mountain called Nyfa ; it was in this fame coun- try that Mofes pafled forty years. Bacchus, when cruelly perfecuted, retired to the borders of the Red-Sea; Mofes, to deliver the Hebrew people from the oppreflion of the Egyptians, crofled the Red-Sea. The numerous army of Bacchus, compofed of men and women, palTed through Arabia in their way to the conqueft of India. The army of the Jewifli legiflator, compofed of men, women, and children, were obliged long to wander in the defart, before they arrived in Paleftine, which, as well as India, belongs to the continent of Afia. The fable frequently reprcfents Bacchus with horns ; which may be fuppofed to allude to the two rays of light which flione on the forehead of Mofes. Bacchus was brought up on Mount Nifa 3 Mofes received the tables of the law on Mount Sina. By the tranfpofition of a fingle letter thefe two names become exaftly alike. Bacchus, armed with his thyrfis, defeated the giants ; Mofes fought the giants defcended from Enoch, and a rod is the inftrument of his miracles. Jupiter fent Iris to order Bacchus into India to de- ftroy h. i6o HISTORY OF BACCHUS. IW ftroy a finful nation ; God commanded Mofes into Palcftine to exterminate an idolatrous nation. The god Pan gave Bacchus a^ dog to accom^ pany him in his travels ; Caleb, which in the He- brew fignifies a dog, was the faithful companion of Mofes. Bacchus, by ftriking the earth with his thyrfis, produced rivers of wine. Mofes, by ftriking the rock with his miraculous rod, caufed fountains of water to gufh from it. This parallel agrees too perfectly not to induce us to believe, that the fable of Bacchus is a dif- figured tradition of the hiftory of Mofes. Again, there are fome who endeavour to prove, that Bac- chus is the fame as Nimrod, the fon of Chus, which procured him at firft the name of Bar- Chus, fon of Chus, and by corruption Bacchus. Others on the contrary think, that Bacchus is the fame as Noah, to whom facred hiftory attributes the firft cultivation of the vine. However it be, we may conclude from thefe comparifons, that the Jewilh legiflator, having been much celebrated in Egypt, they have bor- rowed many of the principal features of his life to cmbellifh the hiftory of Bacchus, or rather Ofiris, who appears to have been the real Bacchus. We learn from hiftory, that the worftiip of this divinitv was introduced into Greece by Cadmus. Semele, daughter to that prince, having a fon named FABLE OF BACCIILTSr i6t named Bacchus, who performed fome aftions and exploits in fome refped fimilar to thofe of the Egyptian Bacchus, was afterwards confounded with that God, and in compliment to his grand- father, Cadmus, received the fame honours. FABLE OF BACCHUS. It is not fufficient to know the hiftori- cal comparifon between Mofes and Bacchus ; we Ihall give the ftory of his birth as we find it in the Grecian poets. He was the fon of Jupiter and Semele, daugh- ter of Cadmus. This princefs dwelt in the city of Thebes. Juno becoming jealous of Semele afllimed the form of Beroe her rival's nurfe, and advifed her to requeft of Jupiter, that he would appear to her armed with his thunder, and in all the majefty with which he was invefted when he appeared to Juno. The unfufpecfiing Semele accordingly informed Jupiter, that fhe had a favour to demand, and made him fwear by the river Styx not to refufe her : he pronounced the oath, and notwithftanding the fatal confequences which he knew would attend it was obiig-ed to comply. M The 1! l62 FABLE OF BACCHUS. The unhappy Semele could not fupport h glorious a fight, her palace was confumed by the rays of light which furrounded him, and flie her- felf perifhed in the flamc>. However, Jupiter willing to fave the infant with which fhe was pregnant, enclofed it in his thigh, where it remained till the appointed time of its birth.— This ridiculous ftory afterwards pro- cured Bacchus the furname of Bimater, which fignifies having two mothers. "^In tracing the origin of this extraordinary ftory concerning the birth of Bacchus, we find, that Semele was fo fcorched by the fire which con- fumed her palace that ilie expired, but that the child with which fhe was pregnant was prefcrvcd. Immediately on its birth, Jupiter fent Mercury with it to Nyfa, a city near a mountain called Meros, which word fignifies thigh. This is the only foundation of the above fable. At the in- treaty of Mercury, the daughters of Atlas took charge of the Infant Bacchus. Sllenus undertook the care of his education, and conceived fuch an attachment for him, that he would never after- wards leave him, but accompanied him in all his conquefts. As we fnall refume the hlftory of Silenus in its proper place, we Ihall content ourfelvcs at pre- fent with obferving, that in fable he is defcribed as the god of wine 5 becaufe he is fuppofcd firft to ■'Tp-tnitK >■'■ * 'W'^m^ FABLE OF BACCHUS. 163 to have cultivated the vine. Bacchus, out of o-ra- titude to the daughters of Atlas, changed them into the ftars called Hyades; from the word Hyie, one of his fiirnames. He is generally re- prefented under the figure of a young man with a ruddy frefh complexion, to exprefs the joy which wine infpires even in old age. In his hand he car- ries a thyrfis, which is a fort of wand furrounded with vine leaves and ivy : the latter plant being cool and refrefliing, was fuppofed to have the power of difpelling the fumes of wine, and pre- venting it from intoxicating the brain : It is for this reafon that Bacchus almoft always appears crowned with Ivy and vine branches. He is frequently feen fitting in a chariot drawn by panthers and tygers. By this equipage we muft underftand, that excefs of wine deprives man of his reafon, renders him furious and frequently cruel. The vidims facrificed to Bacchus were generally either a magpie or a goat. The former to fliow that wine renders a man incautious in his converfation ; and the latter becaufe the goat browfcs on the vine buds. The feafis of this god were celebrated with great diforder by prieftefies named Bacchantes, or Bafiarydes, or Thyades, and frequently Menades, who ran up and down the mountains clad in the fkins of tigers. When they invoked the god their hair was difhc veiled, and in their hands they M 2 . held i h ^54 FABLE OF BACCHUS. held thyrfes and torches. Thefe feafts were called Bacchanalia, and Dlonyfia, from the furname of Bacchus, or Tritcrica, becaufe they were cele- brated every third year. They likewlfe gave them the name of Orgia, which fignifies fury. During another fcaft, named Afchofia, they amufed themfelves with jumping upon bladders filled with air, and thofe who fell afforded fport to the others. Nothing was more terrible than the vengeance of Bacchm, or his worfliippers, when any pre- fumed to difturb their rites, or oppofe his divinity. Pentheus, fon of Echion and Agave, wilhing to prevent the Thebans his fubjefts from cele- brating thefe feafts ; the god infpired his mother A^A. ^75 "f iM Oil fliows, that to acquire knowledge we mufl frequently confecrate our nights to ftudy. The art of fpinning reprefents the patience and perfeverance neceflary in profecuting our works; and by the ornaments of tapeftry we are fhown, chat it fliould be our ftudy to embellilh them. Minerva is faid to have proceeded from the head of Jupiter, to exprefs, that wifdom is not of human invention, but of divine origin. She is reprefented coming into the world armed; becaufe the wife fupported by a clear confcience, and un- Ipotted virtue, are able to combat vice, and remain firm under misfortune. She is defcribed as a vir- gin> becaufe wifdom cannot unite with corruption, or earthly pleafure. She has no external orna- ments, and is of a frern countenance^ becaufe fhc needs no borrowed decorations; flie fliines with equal luflre when clothed in the ruffe t gown, or inverted with royal purple. Her afped, always noble, infpires equal love and re fpe6t, whether under the wrinkles of old age, or the charms and bloom of youth. She is frequently reprefented holding a diftaff, and preparing to fpin, intended to teach us, that we fhould avoid idleneis, and, to all others, prefer thofe employments which are moft ufeful. Bcllona prcfided over fanguinary wars; it was over the war agalnil vice that Minerva prefided. On her head fhe wears a helmet, having on the top of it an owl. In one hand fhe holds a lance, and in the the other the egis, (a fort of fhield, covered with the (kin of a fcrpent flain by herfelf, and having in the middle a reprcfentation of the head of Medufa one of the Gorgons.) This fliield and armour were ufed by the god- dcfs to ftrike terror into the guilty. The owl perched upon the helmet was to cx- prcfs, that wifdom frequently delights to meditate in the folemn filence and tranquillity of night. B ELLON A. 1 HIS goddefs was by the Greeks called Enyo, and yet they frequently confounded her with Pallas. She was daughter of Phorcis and Ceto, and fifter of Mars. Among the ancients her moft common appellation was Duellona, She is defcribed by the poets as a warlike divi- nity, who prepared the horfes and chariot of Mars when he departed for battle. She is likewife reprefented with diflievelled hair, holdine; a torch in her hand. Bellona had a temple at Rome, near the Car- mental gate. It was in this temple the fenate gave audience to ambaffadors, who, as well as generals returning from war, were not permitted to enter the city. At the gate of this temple was a litde pillar, againft ' uU tjS HISTORY OF MARS AND VICTORY. i againfl: which a ftone was thrown on a declaration of war. BeJldna was clafled among the common divi- nities; in rank fhe was equal to the god Mars. Her priefts were inftalled into their office by ma- Icing incifions in the thigh, and offering as a facri- fice to the goddefs the blood which flowed from the wound i but this cruelty was only pretended. The worfhip of Bellona, though famous at Rome, was ftill more fo in two confiderable cities par- ticularly confecrated to that goddefs > both called Comana. In ancient monuments, Bellona is feen armed with a pike and jfhield, but it is extremely difficult to diftinguifh her from Minerva. I HISTORY OF MARS AND VICTORY. 1 HE god Mars, whom the Greeks called Ares, was the fon of Jupiter and Juno. The fable of his birth, which we have already given in the hiftory of Juno, was invented folely by the Latin poets. To the Greeks, and more ancient nations it was entirely unknown. The recent invention of this fable fcrves to prove that it was an allegory of the Latins, to defcribe the jealoufy of Juno at feeing the m.anner in which Jupiccr had produced wifdom. Juno HISTORY OF MARS AND VICTORY. »7; Juno entrufted the education of Mars to Priapus one of the Titans, or Daftyli Idjei. This fkilful preceptor obferving the promifing talents of his young pupil, inured him to bodily exercifes and the ufe of arms. He trained him for the office of a great commander, and taught him that by acquiring glory, he might afpire to the rank of the mofl: illuftrious divinities, and foar above thofe inferior gods among whom, by birth, he was placed. It was out of gratitude, and in acknowledgement for the care and fuccefs of Priapus, that he received the tenth of the fpbils confecrated to the god Mars. There were many princes of this name, and in the fequel almoft every people had their Mars ; but we (hall mention only the principal of them. Diodorus fays that the original Mars, to whom is afcribed the invention of arms, and the art of ranging troops in order of battle, was Belus ; called m fcripture Nimrod; and mentioned as ^ mighty hunter before the Lord. He firfl: exercifed his powers againfl: wild beafl:s, but afterwards employed them in reducing man- kind to fubjedion. Glory and power always excite our furprifc. Nimrod was at firfl: feared and admired, but the people foon perceived how capable he was of protefting and defending them. Tlie execution of his orders infured fuccefs, and fecured thefafety of all; theyfaw the advantage of invefl:ing the fu-. N prcme 11 178 HISTORY OF mahs an'd victory. 4 i If preme power in one 3 bellowed on him the crown, and the defcendants of thefe fame people created him a divinity. The learned Hyglnus informs us, that the name Bel-JS was given to this king of Babylon, becaufc he was the firft who hunted wild beafts. The fccond Mars was an ancient king of Egypt. The third, a Thracian monarch called Odin. He became fo diftinguiflied for his power, courage, and conquers, that he was by this people (the moft warlike in the world) ftyled the ^rod uf war. The fame Odin was frequently called Hyperborean Mars. The fourth god of that name, v/as he whom the Greeks furnamed Ares i and the tifth, was the Mars of the Latins, fuppofcd to be thefadicrof Romulus and Remus. The Gauls had likewife their Mars whom they called Hefus. They facrificed human vidimus to him. The Scytliians, with their ufual fim.plicity, adored the god of war under the form of a fword ; and the Pcrfians, when thtry deilied the fimous Nimrod, gave him the name of Orion, and re- garded him as the god of battle. The Greeks, al- ways defirous of embelliiliing the hiftory of their crods attributed to their Mars the exploits of all thofe we have juft mentioned. The celebrated tribunal called the Areopagus v/as inftituted to decide a difference which had airifen between Mars, or Ares, and Neptune. The . HISTORY OF MARS AXD VICTORY. ,79 The former refufing to confent to the marria-e of his daughter Alcippe with Allirotius, fon of Nep- tune, that ralh youth, liftening only to the dilates . of his paffion, had the temerity to carry her off. But he could not efcape the god of war, and his life was the forfeit of his bold attempt. Neptune in defpair for the lofs of his fon cited Mars to appear before the judges. The gravest Athenians being affembled to determine this affair declared Mars innocent, and acquitted him after the ufual manner. The Court of Juftice being fituated on an emi- nence, was called Areopagus, from Ares, and Pagos, the rock of Mars. The eftabli.-hment of this tribunal, fo refpeded for the equity of its de- cifions, according to the Arundclian marble, ihould be placed 1560 years before theChriftian era, under the reign of Cranaus, This ftory received the em- bellilhments of poetical invention. The noble fimphcityofhiftory was abandoned for the brilliant ornaments of poetry. It was pretended that Mars had been pronounced innocent by the twelve principal deities, becaufe the judges, who amounted to that number, were chofen from the moft illuftrious families of Athens. The names given to the god Mars had different fignifications. Ares fignifies injury, and repre- sents the miferies attendant on war j or probably Tiay be derived from the Hebrew word Arits, N 2 fti'ons i8a HISTORY OF MARS AND VICTORY. HISTORY OF MARS AND VICTORY. iS ■^ I ftrong and terrible. The Latins called him Gra« divus, in peace, and Quirinus, in war. Romulus, whom the Romans regarded as the (on of Mars, when honoured as a divinity, re- ceived the name of Qnirinus. When Mars was invoked to proteft the culti- vated lands from the ravages of war, he was called Silvcftcr, andfother. The Greeks, to paint him cruel and ttrrible, named him Corythaix, which fignifies iliaking his helmet. He is generally reprefented in a chariot guided by Bellona^ his horfcs, the offspring of Boreas and Erynnis, were called Terror ;ind Fea^'r -, on his breaft-plate are the figures of leveral monfters: The poets add, that Fury and Indignation fat perched upon his helmet, and that Fame always announced his approach. Mars had feveral temples at Rome. Auguftus, after the battle of Philippi, erefted a moft magni- ficent one in honour of him, under the naiife of Mars the Avenger. The priefts of this god were called Salii^ they had the care of the Ancilla, or facred lliields, the origin of which is as follows : — A fliield, of a form till that time unknown, being found, it was fuppofed to have fallen from heaven. The oracle being confulted, returned for anfwer, that the empire of the world was deftined for that city which Ihould preferve this fhield. Numa Pompiiius, the better to fecurc it from irom lofs, had feveral made fo exadtlyin imitation of it, that it was impofllble to diflinguifh which was the original. The form of the Ancilia was an oval, a little in- dented in one part. Their length was about two feet and an half. The number of the Ancilia, like that of the priefiis called Salii, was twelve. Tullus Hofllliiis increafed them to twenty-four. During the feaft of the Ancilia, which began in the calends of March, and laded thirteen days, they were carried in procefTion, the attendants dancing, and finging verfes adapted to the occafion. During the continuance of thefc feafts no mi- litary enterprife, no expedition, no bufinefs of importance was permitted. Ancient monuments generally reprefent Mars under the figure of a man extremely robuft, armed with a helmet, a pike, and a fliield. He is fometimes naked, and fome- times wears a military drefs, and a cfoak. Mars the Conqueror carries a trophy. Mars Gradivus Is in the attitude of a man w^alkingwith large flrldes. ^^'3 VICTORY I ' , 'If i h . .4 182 VICTORY, Ills i VICTORY. riEsiOD fays that vidlory was the daugh- ter of Styx and the river Acheron. She afiifted Minerva in the battle of the giants. This goddefs had feveral temples in Greece and Rome, and it was in her temple the Romans placed the ftatue of Cybele, when brought from PeflTnus. The Arcadians, the moment of their arrival in Italy^ erefted a temple to the goddefs Victory; and the Didlator Sylla inftituted ganies ^to her honour. In micdals and pieces of fculpturc ihe is feen flying in the air, holding in her hand a crown, or a branch of palm. The Egyptians reprefented her under the form of an eagle ; a bird ever victorious. She fometimes carries a globe, to fliow that her empire extends over the whole earth. In naval victories fiie is feen placed on the J)ro\y of a veffel. THE M -P Hu. HIbTORV : OF VENL^. 183 , ^ ;;. ■ THE HISTORY AND FABLE OF VENUS. To adorn the imagination with the power and language of truth ; to furprife, affed, and ever pkafe, arc the principal objefts of poetry, when rne abandons herfelf to what fhe calls her aenbs. She may embelUfli and even exaggerate a common occurrence ; but this power is ufckfs in defcribing the excefs of the paffions ; for the limits of truth are hers, and when Ihe attempts to overftep them ihe becomes ridiculous and met- The poets foon perceived the weaknefs of their pencil when they attempted to paint beauty. Its dangerous influence was felt. -^ their motl al- lurina defcriptions were frequently echpkd by the mo^e°ls they were intended to reprefent. To avoid this hazard, and dlfguife their inability, they created it a divinity, and were not deceived m their opinion that ueak mortals would foon become their accomplices, and haften to erect altars to its honour. , , r Venus fprlngs from the foam of the fca;_a fea Ihell failing gently on the furface of tae • ^ater is wafted by the gentle breath of zephyrs to the foot of Mount Cythera. Here the god- N 4 "*='* hirrii .fc f HI^TORV OF VLNa^S. i8^ I'hll^ , THE HISTORY AND FABLE OF VENUS. To adorn the imagination with the power and language of truth; to furprife, affed. and ever pkale, arc the principal objefls of poetry, ^vhcn fne abandons herfclf to what fhe calls her eenitis. She may embellifl. and even exaggerate a common occurrence ; but this power is ufelels in dcfcribing the excefs of the pafiions; for the limits of truth are hers, and when ihe attempts to overftep them ihe becomes ridiculous and ine.- ^ 'xhe poets foon perceived the weaknefs of their pencil when they attempted to paint beauty. Its dangerous imluencc was felt, and their moll al- U,n°a dcfcriptions were iTcquently echpled by the models they were intended to reprefent. To avoid this hazard, and dlfguife their inability, they created it a divinity, and were not deceived in their opinion thac weak mortals would foon become their accomplices, and haften to ereft altars to its honour. , i r o Venus firings from t!ie foam of the ica ; ^ a f.a ihell failing gently on the furface ot tae ■ v^ater is wafted by the gentle breath of zephyrs to the foot of Mount Cythera. Here the goa- N 4 /n/7. / ..-.• N%' ■if } <■ 4 184 HISTORY OF VENUS. defs lands, and as fhe walks, flowers ipring under her feet. The Hours, who were charged with her education, received her, and conduced her to heaven. Her train is compofed of the Smiles, Sports, and Graces. Her power and charms are heightened by the ceftus, a myfterious girdle, producing every paffion at the appearance of tlie objedl who wears it. Such was the Venus of the poets when fhe appeared before the gods -, but let us leave to poets the taflv of embellifhing their plftures, and content ourfelves with knowing what mythology informs us concerning the origin of Venus. Hefiod fays that (he was produced from the foam of the fea, and the blood which flowed from' Coclus, when wounded by his fon Saturn. From diis fingular compound proceeded the moft beauriful of the goddefles ; fhe firft appeared at Cythera, and from thence pafTed into Cyprus. Almoil all the poets have followed the tradition of Hefiod. However Homer, who was equally as ancient, and much more celebrated, fays fhe was the daugliter of Jupiter and Dione. Cicero reckons four of the name of Venus. — The firfl, daughter of Coelus and Lux, or the Light. — The fecond, fprung from the foam of the fca, was mother of Cupid, — The third, daughter of Jupiter and Dione, was wife to Vul- can HISTORY OF V£NUS. igj can, and mother of Anteros.— The fourth and lafl, was Aflarte, wife of Adonis, born in Phoenicia. Paufanias mentions three: one celeftial, who prefided over chafte afFedliion ; another terreflrlal who prefided over marriage ; and a third, called Averfativa, who banifhed all criminal defircs. Such was the difference of opinion among the ancient poets concerning Venus. Among tlie moderns, the illuflrious Sir Ifaac Newton feems to reckon only one Venus, whom he calls Calycopis ; and fays flie was daughter of GEtreus, king of Phrygia ; that fhe married Thoas furnamed Cinyras, and was mother of JEneas. Thoas raifed altars to her at Paphos, in Amathus, in the ide of Cyprus, and at Byblos — he inftituted feafts to her honour which were called orgies ; and committed the care of her worfhip to a college of priefts which he founded. It is upon the authority of Tacitus, Evhemerus, and Ladlantius, that the illuflrious Newton founds his opinion concerning the origin of Venus. We can give no clear information concerning this goddefs, cither from fabulous hiflory or the accounts of the poets ; becaufe we find in them a perpetual mixture of natural philofophy, mora-- lity, and hiflory. Frequently fhe is confidcrcd as a goddefs, fometimes as a planet; but her name in general ferves only to defcribe the paflions. - That there have been many of the name of 3 Venus / ^; y I I ■ i 186 HISTORY OF V£:;U5. Venus appears certain i biiE llie was originally of Phoenicia. This eaftern nation adored Venus Urania, or the heavenly, that is to fay the planet of that name; and in the courfe of time her v/orfhip becamx confounded with that of Aftartc, wife of Adonis. Vv'hen the Phcenicians led their colonies into the ifics of the Mediterranean, they firlt (topped at the ifland of Cvprus, which lay neareft to the coaiL of Syria. From thence they proceeded to ' Cythera, an ifland not far from the Continent of Greece. Here tliey introduced their commerce and religion among the inhabitants, whofe paflion for the marvellous led them to report that it was among them Venus firft appeared. They gave her the name of Aphrodite, Foam, to cxprefs that flie arrived by fea. The Temple of Cythera was one of the moft ancient \''enus pofieffed in Greece. The hiftories of Aftarte and Venus were foon confjunded by the Greeks. The uncertainty of hiftdrical fadts, the impoITibility of arranging them with order, lefi the poets no other guide than their imagination ; they confulted only their own paf- fions, or thofe of the princes or great characters they wiihed to flatter. From thence it was that the moft alluring pic- tures, and frequently the mofl flandalous adven- tui'es, HISTORY OF VENUS. 187 tures, furnifhed them with materials for the hiftory of their Venus. - ^Painting and fculpture, filters of poetry, thought themfelves entitled to imitate her extra- vagancies. Venus was reprefented as the goddefs of Pleafure. Cupid, or Love, was faid to be her fon, and all the finifhed produ6tions of the poets and artilts were thus realized into divinities. Yet however bad the idea they entertained of this divinity, fhe was regarded as one of the mofl: pow^ erful, becaufe flie prefided over the paffions. Her temples were found every where.— Thofe of Paphos, Gnidus, Amathus, Cythera, and Idalia, were the moft remarkable for their beauty ; but the moft prophaned by licentioufnefs and difordcr. The worfliip of Venus was extremely various ^ in fome places they only burnt incenfe' upon her altars,- in others they facrificed a white goat. Women ufed to confecrate their hair to this goddefs. Queen Berenice, wifliing to obtain fuccefs for her huft)and in his war againft Seleucus, devoted her hair to this goddefs, and fufpended it in her temple : it difappeared, and the foothfayers being confulted, to flatter the queen, faid, that the hair had been changed into a ftar, and tranflated to heaven. This fable procured a ftar which had been newly difcovered, the name of Berenice 'slock. The ! '^■ m HISTORY OF VLNUS. •J* . p : I 1 » » •'I :- I ^liil' The hiftoricsof Aftarte and Venus being con- founded together, gave rife to the fable of Adonis. He was fon of Cinyras, king of Cyprus, and Myrrha — This nymph was metamorphofcd into the tree of the fame name, before the birth of her fon Adonis. When the time of her delivery arrived, the tree opened, and Adonis was received and brought up by the Naides. Educated in the woods, the chafe became his greateft pleafure ; Venus ufed to accompany him, and trembled when forced to part from him, left he fliould be wounded by fome wild beaft. Mars, jealous oi the attention paid by Venus to this handfome youth, excited againft him an enormous boar ; the animal made furloufiy towards Adonis, who wounded him with a javelin, but not morrally j he ftill retained ftrcngth enough to tear him with his tufks. Venus came to his adiftancc, but too ' late y he was dead. Difconfolate for his lofs, fl^^e iTietamorphofedhim into an anemone, and obtained of Proferpine, that he fhould pafs fix months in the infernal regions, and fix months on earth. Temples were raifed to this favourite of Venus, — That in the ifle of Cyprus, which was the moft magnificent, contained the famous necklace of Eriphilc, wife of Amphiaraus, given her by Poly- nices, fon of CEdipus, to betray her hufi3and* Hiftory gives an explanation of the ftory of Adonis. It fays, that this young prince go- verned , History of vexus. 189 Vcrned part of Phoenicia, and to confummate beauty of perfon, added moft amiable qualities of mind. He married the daughter of the king of Byblos, and at his death fucceedcd to that prince's throne. One day hunting in the forefts of mount Libanus> he was dangeroufly wounded by a wild boar. The queen, thinking the wound mortal, delivered her- fclf up to fuch excefllve grief that his fubjedirs thought him dead ; and the mourning was general throughout Phoenicia. He however recovered, 5nd in the tranfports of public joy, they dcfcribed the danger he fiad efcaped, by faying he was returned from the infernal regions. This fable acquired the greater credit, as Ado- nis afterwards reprefented the Sunj and queen- Aftarte the Moon. By faying that he pafl^ed fix months on earth, and fix in the infernal regions, it was intended to defcribe the divifion of time into days and nights. We fhall not attempt to relate all the fables of the poets concerning V^enus ; they are innumer- able ; and we have already faid they are a mix- ture of hiftory, morality, and natural philofophy. Every poet had the right of creating them at pleafure ; thofe which poflfcfTed genius will be tranfmitted to the latcft pofterity ; whilft thofe which poflefltid only mediocrity funk into oblivion. Amongft the moft celebrated, is that of the mar- ria^ I P f > ( '- d -, t , I.*- ■■ ?^<> HISTORY or VENUS. HISTORY OF VENUS. 191 I ' riage of Venus v/ith Vulcan, the moil deformed of all the gods. This fible fignifies that beauty extends her empire even over thofe on whom .nature has beftowed no talents for pleadng. Vul- can reieafing Juno from the fetters which he him- felf had forged by the command of Jupiter, fet- ting a price upon this fcrv^ice, and becoming the hufband of Venus, is an image of thofe un- equal unions in which the gifts of fortune are thought to compenfate for thofe of nature. In the fable of Mars, v/c fee the terrible god of war crowned by Viftory, regardlefs of his bloody tro- phies, come to depofit his laurels at the feet of Beauty. The genius of painting thought himfeif. obliged to pay her his tribute s he guides the hand of Apelles, and that Ikilful artift immortalizes his name by anim.ating the canvas, upon which Venus appears in all her charms. The air of chagrin and jealoufy in the countenance of Juno is the greateft homage fhe can pay to the beauty of her rival. — Near her is feen Pallas in a ftate of afto- xiiihment. Her lips, which appear almod moving, fhcw that fhe has juft been fpeaking, and the fpeccator, feduced by the fkill of the painter, thinks he hears her with regret confirm the judg- ment of Paris, when he gave Venus the apple thrown by the go4defs Difcord, with tiiis m- fcription, ** To the mofl beautiful." It It would be impolTible to recount all the different methods of reprefenting this goddefs. The works of painting and fculpture varied almoft as much as the poetical fi(5lions. When fhe holds a globe in her hand fhe repre- fents the celeflial Venus, or the planet of that name. The flatue by the celebrated Scopar, reprefents her mounted on a car, drawn by a fea goat ; Nereids and Dolphins, carrying Cupids, ap- pear fwimming round her. She is frequently painted borne on a fea fhell, fporting on the waves of the ocean ; her head is covered with a veil, floating in die breath of zephyrs. Love fvv'ims by her fide ; tritons furround her; and at her feet is an oar, emblematical of her origin; fometimes a horn of plenty is placed there, to exprefs the riches produced by commerce v/ith diftant nations. When Venus traverfes the heavens or the earth, her car is drawn by doves or fwans. She is ac- companied by Love, and followed by the Graces. The mofl perfedl, and the mcfl: beautiful of her ftatues, is that called Venus de Medicis, which is attributed to the celebrated Phidias. There is a very Angular reprefentation of her, where flie appears crowned with ears of corn, holdinc; in one hand a thyrfis furrounded with grapes and vine leaves, .and in the other, three arrows. By this we are to underftand, that her fhafts are more v.* 192 HISTORY OF VENUS. 'I more fure when affifted by wine and the pleafurcs of the table. She is accompanied by two Cupids. A drawing by Beger, reprefents this goddels upon a car, drawn by two lions ; a veil floats over her head, and her left hand is armed with an arrow; Cupid, hovering over her, places a crown upon her head ; laurels and myrtles fur- round her on every fide ; a man walks before, holding a lyre, which he fcems to touch ; two others attend wdth torches ; and the procefllon is clofed by a flityr playing upon the flute. Thi^ picture reprefents Venus triumphant. The flory of the leap of Leucas is too nearly connefted with that of Venus to be paflTed over in filence. There was in Leucadia, near Nyfopolis, a lofty eminence, from which difconfolate lovers threw themfelves as a remedy for their hopelefs pafTion. Nets ingcnioudy fpread prevented their rcceivino- any injury from their fall, and the inventors of this impoilure were rewarded with rich prefcnts. Phocas was the firft who took this dangerous leap. However, repeated experience apparently brought this ridiculous cufl:om into difrepute; the nets were no longer continued ; hut the pro- montory of Leucas {till remained famous ; and the unhappy Sappho (to whom the Greeks gave the name of the Tenth Mufe) again revived its cele- brity. In defpair at the infenfibility of Phaon, fnc HISTORY AND FABLE OF VENUS. '93 fiie ran to the promontory, plunged into the fea, and there periflied. The river Selinus, near Patara, was fup- pofed to have the property of extinguifliing the flames of love by bathing in its waters. The rofe was particularly confecrated to Venus, as the moft beautiful of flowers. The fable adds, that its colour was originally white i but being flightly tinftured with the^'blood of Adonis, who had been pricked by a thorn, it became red. The myrtle was dedicated to her, becaufe it is generally found on the fea fliore and this goddefs originally fprung from the waves. The fable llkewife informs us of the reafon why doves were firft confecrated to hen Cupid and Venus being together in a place abounding in flowers; Cupid boafted that he could gather more than his mother. Venus ac ccpted the challenge; but Cupid making ufe of his wings to fly from flower to flower, would foon have carried off^ the vicliory, had not the nymph Perifl:era come to theaffiftance of Venus. Cupid picqued at this defeat, changed the nymph into a dove. This fable is founded on the ambiguity of the Greek word priftera, which fignifies a dove. The furnames of Venus were as various as the (lories concerning her, and the places where fhe was worfliipped. She was called Urania, or Cce- lefla, where ihe was confounded with the planet of Hi 1^ t • |4 « ' h\ -■ ■ I il " « I In 4 . Im" lABLE OF LOVE» OR CUPID* her name; and Aphrodite, becaufe flie proceeded from the froth of the fea. The Romans named her Murtia, from the myrtle; the AfTyrians, Aftarte ; the Perfians, Anaitis j they likewifc gave her the names of mother, viftorious, and friend, becaufe flie prefided over the union of hearts, &c. FABLE OF LOVE, OR CUPID. Love is no real perfonage; he exifted only in the imagination of the poets. Cicero reckoned three Cupids, becaufe he admitted three of the name of Venus. Hefiod mentions only one, fon of Nox and iEther, — coeval with Chaos and Terra; by this allegorical perfonage, he wiflies to reprefent the moment when the earth was peopled by men and animals. The poets defer ibe him as fon to the god of riches and the goddefs of poverty, to exprefs that no condition is exempt from the power of love. Without entering into all the genealogies in- vented by the poets, we fhall content ourfelves with obferving, that by love they wilhed to be underftood, the phyfical principle which fervcd to conneft together the fcattered parts of matter when Chaos was reduced to order. ♦ This general idea was not fufficient for the poets to KEPRESEKTATION OF CUPID. ^9e CO embellifh their defcriptions ; they firft diftin- guiflied two Cupids; one, fon of Venus Urania, prefided over legitimate union ; the other calUd Anteros, was fon of Mars and Venus, and pre- fided over the pafTions. • They were afterwards increafedto a prodigious number; but their diffe- rent ftories belong rather to poetry than mytho^ logy. Their worfhip, temples, and altars, were confounded with thofe of Venus. OBSERVATIONS UPON THE MANNER OF REPRESENTING CUPID. \Ve fhall not attempt to defcribe the different methods of reprefenting Cupid. The Mufes, the Graces, the Arts of every age have made liim the fubjea of their moft animated pleafing performances: to relate the whole of them canno't poffibjy be expefted. We beg leave to prefent only one of the many finifhed produftions upon this fubjea. The fight of thofe ftatues, pidlures, and drawings, which have efcaped the ravages of time, at firft inclines us to believe that art can extend no farther, and that they are to be looked upon as the ftandards of perfedion; but who has rhe right of prefcribing limits to genius ? Why fliould the. moderns yield to the ancients an ho- nour they themfclves can attain? A faithful imi- ^ 2 ration m' i i-v: 3 X w ■ I ■ f I h if j f> ,q6 REPRESLNTATIOM OF CUPID. tation of nature, is the only rule prefcrlbed by the o-od of o-enius, and tafte. — How often have we fcen the mcft learned and experienced artifts deceived, notwithftanding their prejudice in favour of an- tiquity ? Mediocrity alone is terrified at the fight of difficulties and great models. - Apelles when he painted Venus receiving the Apple deftined to the moft beautiful, willed to oblio-e every eye to yield to the judgment of Paris^ He affembled all the beauties of Greece ; but did not imitate the fliepherd of Mount Ida. Obedient to the rules of his art, he did not fuffer himfelfto be dazzled; one fingle beauty alone had not the pov/er to engage his whole attention. It was by borrowing from each their mcft perfeft feature that he formed his Venus. Scarce had he finiilied this mader-piece, when the multitude of beauties, furprifcd and confounded at the fight of the goddefs, proftrated themfelves before her, and feemed now to be only nymphs in her train. We may be allowed to imitate Apelles, and think ourfelves authorifed from this circumllance to mention a modern Cbtf d' izuzre whofe title and addrefs is as follov/s, *^ Birth andiriinnpb of Ctipid, fron papers cut by Lady DaJlKvoody iniheccUe^iionofherMajeJly. ^ Engraved by P. W. Tomkins, engraver to her Majefly. DEDICATED TO THE OUEKN*" This PSYCHE. ^97 This charming work confifts of fix and twenty engravings, in which are united all the beauties of true genius, ftnfe, grace, and propriety. In fur- veying them, we imagine we fee the drawings of Albano, or the gardens of Alcina, and Armida, as defcribed by Taffo and Ariofto. It may be thought that the title above mentioned does not fufficiently difcover the real author of this finifhed performance ; but we muft refpeft the veil which the glory even of having produced it has never dared to raife. When Rome and Athens were in the height of their glory, it would have been more eafy to^'have imagined it fallen from heaven than to attribute this filencc to modefty alone. This work, worthy of Apollo, would have been placed in his temple, and even procured adoration, but the times of fiftion are pafled^ the god no longer has altars, yet the temple of tafte is eternal, and there it will remain as a model for future ages. PSYCHE. 1 HE fable of Pfyche has not the leaft con- neftlon with hiftory. It is fimply an allegory, figurative of the foul. Her marriage with Cupid procures her the rank and attributes of an immortal. oj This it ; til ■I •I It ■•I i ^ \^ t |«^ THE GRACES. This union was intended to rcprefent the empire of the paflions over the foul. The amiable and celebrated la Fontaine has adorned this fable with all the charms of his genius, and at the fame time has prefervcd that fimplicity of ftyle, and that moral inftrudlion, which cha- rafterife all his produftions. It is neceffary to read him y for to abridge la Fon- taine would be as improper as to feparatc the ftatues of the Graces. The ancients rcprefented Pfyche with the wings ©f a butterfly; and in the Greek language P/yck fignifies equally foul and butterfly. THE GRACES. Of all the imaginary divinities of the ancients, the raofl: agreeable were undoubtedly the Graces; fince it was to them the others were indebted for all their charms. To places, perfons and performances, to every thing they gave that finifliing touch which embelliflies even perfeftion. They alone difpenfed the general gift of pleafing. Each arc and fcience had its prefiding deity ; but every art and fcience acknowledged the empire of the Graces. Their power, fuperior to that of beauty, added frefh charms to fmiling youth^ and 7 was THE GRACES. j^g was felt and admired even under the features of old age. The ancients were by no means unanimous con^ cerning their origin; fome faid they were the daughters of Jupiter and Juno; others, of Jupiter and Eurynome; but the moft general opinion was, that they were daughters of Venus and Bacchus. The number of the Graces is very uncertain. The Athenians and Lacedemonians reckoned only two ; Hefiod and the other poets, three ; whom they called Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrofyne. Homer gives the name of Pafithea to one of the Graces; and in Greece, and fcveral other countries, they were frequently reckoned four in number,' but they then reprefented the hours, and fliU more frequently the four feafons. To diftinguifh them, they were reprefented crowned with ears of corn, flowers, grapes, and olive branches; or fome other green foliage. - There exifl antique fl-atues of Apollo, holding in their hands four little graces. Some authors added Perfuafion to their number, to fliow that to pleafe is the furefl: method of perfuadinc^ Originally the Graces were reprefented by unhewn fl:ones; which were intended to ihow that the mofl: fimple objefts received charms from them. They were afterwards dcfcribed as young virgins, naked, or lightly covered with gauze, to exprefs that ^ 4 beauty 1 ^iX^I ta; ii ■ i- Hob THE GRACES. THE GRACES. 201 r.i ! ii i^-'' ill W 'f. ■I II i .3; I beauty muft be the gift of nature, tliat nothing can fupply it when wanting, and that it ought to be cautious and moderate in the ufe of borrowed ornaments. At Elis were to be feen the three ftatues of the Graces. The firft held a rofe, the fecond a myrtle, and the third a die : the myrtle and the rofe, becaufe they were confecrated to Venus ; and the die, becaufe youth is fond of amufement. Statues of fatyrs were frequently met with of a moft hideous appearance. Thefe ftatucs ^vere hollow, and contained within them images of the Graces, (a leflbn equally mild as inftruftive, to teach us, that the advantages of beauty alone are not fjfficient.) The amiable qualities of the foul, and the charms of the mind, are net perceived at the firfl glance; unhappy is he who knows not how to feek for and difcover them. The figure of Efop was frequently the obje6t of ridicule; but the wife of all ages will do juftice to the beauty of his genius. It may eafily be imagined that the Graces had numberlefs altars. Eteocles, king of Orchomenus, is faid to have ^ftablifhed their worfhip, and to have eredled the firfl temple to their honour. In the courfe of time, this circumftance caufed him to be regarded as the father of them. How- ever ever the Lacedemonians difputed him the honour of having firft invoked them, and attributed it to Lacedemon, their fourth king. The towns of Perinthe, Byzantium, Delphos, and feveral others, both of Greece and Thrace, raifed temples to them. All thofe which were confecrated to the god of love were decorated with their figures. They had a place in the temple of Mercury, to fliow, that the god of eloquence cannot difpenfe with their afliftance. They were alfo found in thofe of the Mufes ; when thefe were invoked, the Graces were never fora:otten. Pindar, and all the celebrated poets, implored their infpiration as much as that of the Mufcs ; they were infeparable. Every feafon of the year feafts were celebrated to their honour; but to them as to Venus fpring was more particularly confecrated. Flowers were fuppofed to convey a flriking idea of them. They had monuments throughout every part of Greece. At Smyrna was a pifture of them by Apelles. The wife Socrates formed their ftatue in marble; and Bupa- lus made one of gold. They were generally thought the difpenfers of a graceful appearance, cvennefs x)f temper, chearfulnefs, eloquence, and wifdom. But the principal and nobleft of their attributes, was that of prefiding over afts of friendfhip and gratitude. The N|','- m ' •.4f i I. ■ t .- -.4 H •ir ;l i U ■ \ %\ ±02 THE GRACES. The Athenians having received afTiftance from the inhabitants of Cherfoncfus in a cafe of immi- nent danger, raifed an altar with this infcription: ** To that Grace which prcfides over gratitude." The difcerning Athenians clearly perceived that gratitude can only be regarded as a burthen by the ungrateful; but at the fame time they defcribcd thefe goddelTes as quick and lively, to denote that a favour fhould never be waited for; it was a favourite faying among them, that a kindnefs which comes too flow was no longer fuch. All the attributes and furnames of thefe goddeffes were allegorical. They were called charites,]oY, to fig- nify that he who gives, and he who receives, ought both to experience equal pleafure. They were defcribed always young, to fhow that the remem- brance of a favour fliould never be foro-otten. As virgins, becaufe the intention of him who con- fers a favour ought always to be pure. They were endowed with prudence, which made Socrates fay, the Graces were virgins and not courtezans. In their dances they were reprefented hand in hand, to teach us that men fhould unite by mutual ads of friendfhip. Laftly, thefe dances were always performed in a circle, to fignify, that real gratitude always endeavours to return to the fource the benefits it has received. HISTORY HISTORY OF VULCAN. fi03 HISTORY AND FABLE OF VULCAN, It appears that we mufl: diflinguifli three of the name of Vulcan. The firft was Tubalcain, mentioned by Mofcs, \v\\o places him in the tenth generation of the defcendants of Cain. This was, without doubt, the firft inventor of the art of forging metals. The fecond was one of the firft Egyptian monarchs, or rather, their firft divi- nity. The filence they obferve concerning his origin, leads us to believe that to find it we muft return to Tubalcain. The third Vulcan (whofe hiftory the Greeks have compiled from the preceding two, with fomc additions of their own) was a Titan prince, fon of Jupiter, obliged by difgrace to take refuge in the ifland of Lemnos, where he eftabliftied forces. We ftiall give the account of him as tranfmitted to us by the Greeks. He was the fon of Jupiter and Juno, of a premature birth, and much de- formed. Jupiter, to recompenfe him for having, during the war of the giants, provided him with thunder, and for having forged fetters to punifti Juno, confented to his marriage with Venus, the moft beautiful of the goddcftes. He was furnamed Mulciber, and Tardipcs, from being lame. After his 1 '•f It ■-' If ! i I*. I.' fJI- ■I V J.i Ml l>l li^ S04 HISTORY OF VULCAN. his retreat, or banifhment, to the ifle of Lemnos, he was called Lemnius. It is to him that fabulous hiftory attributes the mod famous works which it makes mention of; particularly the palace of the fun; the arms of Achilles and ^neas, the neck- lace of Hermione, the crown of Ariadne, and the brazen dog which he animated. Jupiter prefented this dog to Europa; Europa gave it to Procris, and its greateft value in her eyes arofe from bein^* able to beflow it on her beloved Cephalus. It was at lad by Jupiter metamorphofed into a Hone. Wc may perceive on reading this fable, that the dog of Vulcan was imitated by fome artifts who made it of ftone inftead of brafs. Jupiter finding Vulcan too crooked and deformed to permit him to remain in heaven, with his foot precipitated him into the ifland of Lemnos, fitu- ated near thofe called Liparis, which were originally called Vulcanian, and afterwards Eolian. Thefe ifiands abounding in volcanos, which vomited forth torrents of burning lava, were looked upon as the forges of Vulcan. The fame opinion was enter- tained of mount JEtna, in Sicily. Hiftory reprefents the Grecian Vulcan, one of the Titan princes, as very expert in the art of forging iron and other metals. Fire, which he had fo ingenioufly employed, was confecrated to him, and frequently went under his name. The utility of this art was fo clearly perceived. HISTORY OF VULCAX. 203 perceived, that the inventor of it was thought worthy of divine honours. The (lory fays, that Vulcan w?.s affifted in his labours by the Cyclops; after Polyphemus their father, his fons Brontes, Steropes and Pyracmon, are mentioned as the moft celebrated. Polyphemus was Ion of Neptune, and a daughter of the giant Tityus, called Europa, like the daugh- ter of Cadmus carried off by Jupiter. Galatea, a fea nymph, daughter of Nereus and Doris, was fo unfortunate as to pleafc him. In hopes of gain^ ing her afFeclions he raifed a temple to her honour; but difcovering that fhe preferred Acis, he crullied his rival under a rock, which he hurled at him. The afRiftcd Galatea unable to reftore him to life, metamorphofed him into a river, which flows in Sicily, and flill retains the name of Acis. The Cyclops appear to have been the firft inha- bitants of Sicily. Ignorance of their origin occa- fioncd them to be regarded as the fons of Heaven and Earth. It is probable they firit eilabhfhed themfelves at the foot of mount 7Etm, v/hich from the flames it fends forth, was fuppofed to be the forge of Vulcan; and its dreadful roaring was compared to the reiterated itrokes of the Cyclops upon their anvils. - They are defcribed as having one eye in the middle of the forehead; this may probably mean that they wore maflcs to defend themfclve* from the m. r\^^'^^ fio6 HISTORY OF \*ULCAy HISTORY OF MERCURY. ■f i , ♦ 1l the fire, in which was a fingle opening for the purpofe of feeing their work. Vulcan had feveral children j but the moft dif- tinguifhed was Erifthonius, or Eridheus, fourth king of Athens; born it was faid without a mother, or fon of the earth. Having crooked or diftorted limbs, to conceal his misfortune he invented chariots and carriages with four horfcs a-breatt. After his death he was feigned to have been tranf- lated to heaven, and appointed to dired the con-. ftellation called Charles's Wain. The deformity of his limbs gave occafion like-^ wife to the ftory, that his lower parts refembled thofe of a ferpent. The feafts celebrated in honour of Vulcan were called Lampadaphores ; fignifying to carry flambeaus. Thofe who con- tended in the race at thefe games ran to the end of the courfe with a lighted torch in their hands 3 if they happened to extinguifh it they were driven from the amphitheatre, and he who firft touched the goal with his torch lighted gained the prize. In ancient monuments Vulcan always appears with his hair and beard difcompofed, a 'coat reaching juft to his knee, a round cap pointed at the top, a hammer in his right hand, and the pincers in his left. The Romans, in their moft folemn treaties, in. voked the avenging fire ;:s witnefs ; and the afrem- ^ Wies, 207 blics, where the moft weighty affairs wxrc dif- cuffed, met in the temple of Vulcan. Of the more ancient people the Egyptians arc thofe among whom this god was held in greateft veneration. He had a magnificent temple at Memphis, before which was placed a colofTal ftatuc 75 feet high. That which was in the temple being fmall and contemptible, excited the derifion of Cambyfes when he conquered Memphis i and out of contempt he ordered it to be thrown into the fire. The lion was confecrated to Vulcan, be- caufe its roaring refembled the noife of a Volcano, and his temple was continually guarded by dogs. HISTORY AND FABLE OF MERCURY. 1 HE ancients reckoned fuch a number of Mercuries, whofe employments were fo widely dif- ferent, that to avoid confufion we muft recur to hiftory. From that we learn that the number muft be re- duced to two -y the moft ancient of which was the Thaut, or Thot, of the Egyptians, contemporary with Ofiris. The fecond, according to Hefiod, was fon to Jupiter and Maia, daughter of Atlas. We meet with no perfon in antiquity more cele- brated than the Mercury of the Egyptians. He v;a$ s ■ 3 •• \ i ■ i I 1- : i » -I- ■ !•. f r i f =03 lirSTOfvY Ot M£rvCUR\.- was t!ie foul of the council of Ofiris, who, on hi* departure for the conqjueit of India, left him with Ifis, whom he had appointed regent of his domi- nions ; confidering him as the man moil capablii! of aiTifting her in the difcharge of that office. To Mercury the Egyptians were indebted for the flouriihing ftate of their arts and commerce/ Engaged in the ftudy of the mod fublime fciences, bv his extenfive knowledge of geometry, he taught the Egyptians how to dillinguilh their lands ; whofe limits were frequently deftroyed by the inundations of the Nile. . He was the inventor of hieroglyphick charaftcrs, which afterwards ferved to perpetuate the memory of their religion and myfleries. Diodorus Siculus agrees with Hefiod as to the confidence repofed in him by the great Ofiris, and adds, that he reformed and reduced to exadl rules the Egyptian tongue, fubflituting it for the rude uncertain dialefts before made ufe of. He gave names to things which till then had none; firft invented letters, and regulated even the harmony of words and phrafes. After having eftablilhed the rites of facrifice and religious worfhip; he imparted his knowledge of aftronomy to others. He was the inventor of the lyre, which had originally but three firings, bafe, tenor and treble. He firll praclifed elocu- tion and interpretation, which afterwards procured liicn HISTORY OF MERCURY. §0^ him the name of Hermes. To him the Egyptians afcribed the difcovcry of the olive. He likewifc cflablifhed the cuflom of wreflling and dancing, which give flrength to the body, and grace to the motions. The number of books which he left are reckoned forty-two, and nothing could equal the veneration in which they were held by the Egyptians. Some authors attribute part of them to a fccond Egyptian Mercury, furnamed Trifmegiftus i but their proofs are very dubious. Thefc celebrated books have long been loft ; it is only known that the firft thirty-fix contained the whole of the Egyptian philofophy, and that the laftfix treated of medicine, furgery, and anatomy. This is all that is tranfmitted to us of the moft ancient of the Mercuries. The fecond Mercury, fon of Jupiter and Mala, acquired great reputation among the Titan Princes. After the death of his father, Italy, Gaul, and Spain, fell to his lot ; but he was not abfolute fove- reign of them till the death of his uncle Pluto. • This prince pofTefTing great talents, great ad- drefs, and even great fubdety, travelled into Egypt to acquire a knowledge of the fciences and culloms of that country. He there learned magic in particular, which was then much in ufe. He was confulted by the Titans hi^ relations as P 'an P 5tl i ■ i !«' • >»■ 1*1 -* til. .- f < i J ' f i i i i n t! I ' i ! J i. ! : f l'|« I » 1 21 JTABLE OF MERCURY. an augur, which gave occafion to the poets to dc- fcribe him as interpreter of the will of the gods. in this excurfion into Egypt he obtained initia- tion into all their myfteries. The ufe which Jupiter made of his addrefs and eloquence made him regarded as the meffenger of the gods ; and his fuccefs in feveral treaties of peace procured him the appellation of God of Peace. He contri- buted greatly to civilize the manners, and cultivate the minds of the people. He united them by commerce and good laws ; but the great dcfefts which accompanied his extraordinary abilities in- volved hirn in a war with the other children of Jupiter, in which he was vanquilhed ^ and return- ing into Egypt ended his days there. This Mercury of the Greeks was generally re- garded as the inventor of the fine arts. The Gauls honoured him under the name of Tcutatesj and offered to him human vi6tim§. lABLE OF THE GREEKS CONCERNING MERCURY. xWercury, fon to Jupiter and Maia, daughter of Atlas, had the mofl aftivc employ- ment of any of the celeftial deities. The confi- dant and melTcnger of the other gods, he was charged TABLE OF MERCURY. 211 charged with all their commiffions; upon him depended peace and war; he prefided at their afTcmblies, heard and infpired their harangues, anfwered them, and in fhort was principal minijler of the gods. To exprefs the celerity with which he per- formed fo many funftions, he is reprefented with wings to his head and feet. The latter are called Talaria. To dcfcribe his talents for negociatlng peace, he has the caduceum in his hand ; (a fpecies of wand with two ferpents twifted round it.) This caduceum was the fymbol of peace. It is faid that Mercury one day finding two fnakes which were fighting, feparated them, or rather recon- ciled them with his wand, and from that time, when negociating peace, he carried this fymbol of reconciliation. It was in honour of Mercury, that negociators for peace afterwards carried the caduceum, and called themfelves Caduciators. When Mercury was reprefented with a fimple wand, he was fup- pofed to be conducing departed fpirits to the infernal regions. It was thought he alone had the power of feparating with this wand the foul from the body. He prefided over tranfmigration, and transfufed into different bodies thofe fouls which had remained their deflined time in the dominions of Pluto. He was reprefented with a chain of P 2 gold •i 212 !,J| ; I M ■I' it H 1 'It 1 it 1 I i FABLE OF MERCURV. gold proceeding from his mouth, which was faf- tened to the cars of his auditors. A lively image to dcfcribe the influence of his eloquence over the mind. His (tatues were placed in the highway, to point out the road to travellers. The Romans fome- times joined thefe ftatues to the backs of thofe of the other gods. Thofe which were placed be- hind Minerva, were called Hermathenea i thofe which were joined to Cupid, Hermerotes, &c. He was called Mercury from mercatura. Com- merce i over which he prcfided. But as he was likewife fufpefted of countenancing knavery, he was confidered as the god of thieves i and his adventure with Battus proves, that he would oc- cafionally praftife this art himfelf. - One day feeing ApQllo attending the flocks of Admetus, he dole fome of Ws cattle, but was per- ceived by Battus. Mercury, to filence him, and engage him to fccrecy, gave him a fine cow i but fufpediqg his finccrity, he went away, and returned foon after under another form ; queflioned Battus concerning the theft, and promifed him an ox and a cow if he would difcover the robber. Tempted by fo dazzling an ofl^er, the unlucky Battus difclofed the fecret, and Mercury immediately making him- felf known, changed him into a touch-flone. This fable \ FABLE OF MERCURY. 21 J fable originated in the circumflance of Battus having firft difcovered the properties of that ftone by which metals are tried. Mercury was fly led the three -headed god, from his power in heaven, in earth, and in hell ; or according to fome poets, becaufe he had three daughters by Hecate. He was called Cyllenius from the mountain Cyllenus where he was born ; Nomius from being the inventor of laws ; Camil- lus from fcrving the gods (this name was after- wards given to thofe who officiated in facrifices) and Vialis, becaufe he prcfided over the high- ways ; on which occafion his ftatues had neither hands nor feet, being what are now called bufts. Mercury was the inventor of weights and meafures, which by facilitating retail trade, in- creafed the profits of commerce. The lyre was alfo of his invention ; it was called by the Romans teftudoy tortoifc ; be- caufe it was originally formed of the fhell of that animal. Some poets fay, that he gave it to Apollo In exchange for the caduceus. In his facrifices they burnt the tongues of vic- tims in honour of him, as being the god of elo- quence. They ufed to place his ftatue before their doors, in hopes he would defend them from thieves, whofe patron he was fuppofed to be. P 3 DIVINITIES Clf SEA AND RIVER DIVLN'ITIES. DIVINITIES OF THE SEA AND RIVERS. 1 HE necefiities of life which conftantly prcfs us, necefiities which, ungratified, deprive us of cxiftence, thefc led men to believe that there were gods appointed to prefide over them. Hence every element had its divinity. From the impof- fibility of forming an idea of thofe invifibk be- ings, they were fymbolically reprefented by fome- thing animated. It was thus the Egyptians gave the names of Ofiris and Ifis to the Sun and Moon. Neptune, famous as commander of the fleets of Jupiter, became god of the fea. Each river, fountain, and head of water, had its particular deity. This worfhip, like the cuftoms and opinions of different people, was various ; but water was univerfally adored. The Egyptians held the fea in abhorrence, becaufe it reprefented to them the dreadful Typhon. They referved all their vene- ration for the waters of the Nile. They called this river Oceanus, Ipeus, or Nilus ; frequently Siris, by way of abbreviation for Ofiris ; they reprefented it, or rather the deity that prefided over it, under the form of a vafe, pierced in every part, which they called Hydria. The Perfians having SEA AND RIVER DIVINITIES. 215 having offered to maintain the pre-eminence of Fire, which was their great divinity, the Egyptian priefts accepted the challenge. The Hydria was placed upon a flaming furnace ; but the perfora- tions being curioufly fliopped with wax, when thi^ melted, the water guflied out, andextinguifhingthe fire, the Nile was pronounced victorious. From that time nothing could equal the veneration in which it was held by the Egyptians. According to them, the Nile, or water in general, was the principal of univerfal fertility, and alone gave life and motion to every living creature. The Indians paid divine honours to the Ganges ; which fuperfl:i- tion ftill continues ; and the princes who reign on the banks of that river, make their fubjefts pay for the privilege of bathing in it, and fetching water from it. Almofl: every people of the earth paid divine honours to the ocean, feas, fountains, and rivers. In Greece there was neither fountain nor river which had not ftatiies and religious infcriptions. To water were attributed the mod furprifing cffefts, and the poets increafed confiderably this fpecies of worfhip and idolatry, by the addition of their fidions. Hence proceeded thofe divinities who furpafs in nuniber thofe of heaven, and every other part of the univerfe. Oceanus had by The- tis feventy-two nymphs, called Oceanides. Nereus had fifty Nereides, whofe names are mentioned p 4 by \ si6 HISTORY OF OCEANUS AND THETIS. by Hefiod. The fame poet makes the number of aquatic nymphs amount to three thoufand; and if to thcfe are added the Nereids, the Napas^c, the Lymniades, &c, &c. — we (hall find that this clafs of divinities was without number ; — but wc fhall confine ourfelves to the moft remarkable. HISTORY OF OCEANUS AND THETIS. ' V-/CEANUS was fon to Coelus and Terra, He was juftly regarded as the principal marine divinity, fince he reprefents the greateft colleftion of water, and it appears certain that this name was borne by a prince of the family of the Titans. Homer fays, that Juno was brought up by Oce- anus and Thetis his wife. From Oceanus and Thetis fprung Nereus and Doris, who had feveral children, known under the name of Nymphs. Thofe who prefided over forefts, trees, and meadows, were called Dryads and Hamadryads, or Napa^as. Thofe who were the tutelar deities of rivers, rivulets, and fountains, were named Nai- ades. Thofe who inhabited mountains were called Oreades ; and thofe who refided in the fea were called Nereides, from their father Nereus. The moft illuftrious of the latter, called alfo Thetis, muft be diftinguiflied from the wife -of HISTORY or NEPTUNE AND AMPHITRITE, iij cff Oceanus. She was beloved by Jupiter, but he having read in the book of Fate, that fhe would have a fon more famous than his father, gave her in marriage to Peleus, by whom fhe had Achilles. Two antique monuments have tranf- mitted to us the manner in which Oceanus was reprefented. The firft is a ftatue difcovered at Rome, about the middle of the fixteenth century. The god is feen feated upon the waves, under the figure of an old man holding a pike, and near him is a fea-monfter of a form unknown. The fecond is a ftone of Beger, where he is likewife reprefented as an old man fitting upon the fea, and at a diftance are feen feveral veflcls. The hiftory of Oceanus is not extenfive, as the ancients did not regard him as a real perfonage. Nereus was reprefented furroundcd by his daugh- ters, dolphins^ and fea horfes. HISTORY OF NEPTUNE AND AMPHITRITE. ISIeptune was fon of Saturn, and brother to Jupiter. In the divifion of his father's kingdom the dominion of the waves fell to his lot. His fceptre was a trident, his car, a vaft fhell, drawn by fea calves, or horfes, half whofe body refcmbled that of a fifli. His train was compofed Of Sl8 HISTORY OF NEPTUNE AND AMPHITRITE. of a number of Tritons, founding fea fhells inflead of trumpets. We learn from hiflory, that Nep- tune was one of the moft celebrated of the Titan princes, and had for his portion the Sea, the Ifles^ and all maritime places. Diodorus fays, that Neptune was the firft who commanded a naval armament. Saturn his father employed him to oppofe the Titans by fea. Jupiter, his brother, having feized the empire of Saturn, continued him in the command of the fleet, and always found him faithfully co-operate with him in all his projefts. The Titan princes having fled before Jupiter, as far as the weftern countries, Neptune blocked them up there i which gave rife to the fiftion ; that he had imprifoned them in the infernal regions. The poets increafed the number of Neptunes, by giving this name to every unknown prince who arrived by fea, and acquired any degree of celebrity. It is to this abufe we muft attribute the multitude of (lories, meta- morphofes, and adventures, afcribed to Neptune. Amphitritc, wife of Neptune, was a being en- tirely poetical ; having no relation at all to hiflory. Some of the ancients, however, believed her to be the daughter of a Titan prince, and fay that Nep- tune flood in need of an able negociator to accom- plifli this marriage. This gave rife to the flory that Neptune fent a dolphin to obtain the confent of Amphitrite, which having fucceeded, the deity I out JTISTORY Of NEPTUNE AND AMPHITRITE. 219 out of gratitude placed It among the conflwllations near Capricorn ; and endowed it with a rapidity in fwimming fjperior to other fifh. To dolphins the poets attribute a particular attachment to man, whom they are fuppofed to fuccour when fliip- wrecked. The fable of Neptune affifting Apollo to rebuild the walls of Troy, is founded on the circumftance of that city and its dykes towards the fea being fo (Irong, that they wxre fuppofed to be the workmanfhip of the gods. The covetous Laomedon plundered the temple of Neptune of the money depofited there, and neglefted the wor- Ihip of Apollo. A violent irruption of the fea having deftroyed the dykes, and left the fhorc covered with dead bodies and flime, the heat of the fun generated a peflilence, and the people, ever fupcrP-'^'ius, attributed thefe tv/o calamities to the vengeance of Neptune and Apollo. The Greeks gave Neptune the furname of Pofcidon, fignifying to dalh veflels in pieces. His trident had three points, expreffive of the waters of the fea, rivers, and fountains. The numerous vefTels which compofed the fleet of Neptune were vliftinguifhed by diff'erent animals or figures placed vpon their prows; it is to that, we muft attribute his different metamorphofes. This deity is gene- rally reprefented advancing upon the waves in a fhell drawn by two fea horfes ; in one hand he holds a trident, and the other he repofes upon a dolphin. tl 120 THE TRITONS AND SYRENS. THE TRITONS AND SYRENS* 2Si dolphin. We fhall not give an account, either of all the furnames of Neptune, or of all the temples raifed to him j their number almoft equalled that of the mariners who efcaped from Ihip-wreck. His viftims were generally a horfe and a bull. The month of February was confecrated to him, becaufe this was the month of purifications. Du- ring the feafts of Neptune, horfcs and mules, adorned with flowers, enjoyed a ceflation from la- bour. None dared difturb their repofe. This was a token of their gratitude to him for having firft inftrufted them in the art of breaking thefe animals, and rendering them ufeful. THE TRITONS AND SYRENS. 1 HE firft of the Tritons was fon of Nep- tune and Amphitritc ; or according to fome poets of Neptune and Cseleno. The upper part of his body refembled that of man, the lower part that of a dolphin. Triton being the Trumpeter of Neptune, afted in that capacity in the war againft the giants; and the extraordinary noife of his inftrument, fays the fable, fo terrified them, that they took to flight, and left the gods vidtorious. May not this be a corrupted tradition of the fall of the walls of Je- richo ? richo ? The other ftories of the Tritons are merely imaginary, founded upon the almoft general belief q( both ancients and moderns, that there exift in the fea animals refembling the human fpecies. The natural predileftion of the Greeks for the marvellous, and the prodigious diverfity of fea animals, were fufficient to procure credit to thefe fidlions, and render them innumerable. Of the Syrens we muft likewife entertain the fame opinion. They are reprefented by the poets as beautiful young females inhabiting the rocks on the coaft of Sicily. The charms of their finging allured mari- ners, who were wrecked in their attempts to ap- proach them. Leucofia, Ligea, and Parthenope were the moft famous. The latter died in a city called after her name, which being afterwards re- built by the tyrant Phalaris, was by him called Neapolis, Naples, or new city. The Syrens were daughters of the river Achelous, and the nymph Calliope. Ovid in his Metamor- phofes fays, that they were the companions of Proferpine at the time flie was carried off' by Plu- to. They petitioned the gods for wings to tra- verfe the ocean inqucft of her, which was granted. The jealous Juno treacheroufly prompted them to challenge the nine Mufes in finging, but beino vanquiflied, the pupils of Apollo punifhed them by tearing off^ their wings, of which they made them- felvcs I ! % tt% THE TRITONS AND SYRENS. fclves crowns. Several ancient monuments reprc- fented the Mufes wearing thcfe ornaments. The Syrens had melodious voices, and touched the lute moft enchantingly. Orpheus, when he accompanied the Argonauts^ faved his companions from their allurements by finging himfelf the battles and vi6lorics of the gods. The beauty of his verfcs which he accompanied on the lute, clearly fhowcd the Syrens their own inferiority. Enraged at being excelled, they threw their inftruments into the fea, and never fang after. Their pride received a fecond mortification from Ulyfles. Being warned againft their feducingarts, by the enchantrcfs Circe, he caufed himfelf to be bound to the main maft of his vefiel, having firft taken the precaution to flop the cars cf his com- panions with wax. Hiftory explains thefe two fables by faying, that the coafts of Sicily were inhabited by a6lrefres and courtezan?, who endeavoured to detain tra- vellers among them by continually offering them a fucceflion of pleafures. They are re pre fen ted as beautiful females to the middle, the reft of their bodies terminating like thofeof the Tritons. The word Syren comes from seira, chain, to exprefs the difficulty of rcfifting their charms and avoiding their fetters. The PROTEUS. 223 The holy man, Job, in one of his books, fays, * I lament my misfortunes with the melancholy tone of a Syren.' He feems to allude to certain Indian birds, men- tioned by Pliny the naturahft; the melody of whofe finging lulled travellers to fleep. They were only found in the moft unfrequented places. PROTEUS. A ROTEus, the fon of Neptune, or of Oceanus and Thetis, was entrufted with the care of Neptune's flocks, compofed of fea calves and other marine animals. The Latins called hini Jikewifc Vertumnus. He had the faculty of alTum- ing any form at pleafure. Smitten with the charms of Pomona, goddefs of gardens, he perfonated an old woman, the entire confidant of that goddefs. The ftratagem fuccecded, and he efpoufed Pomona. The ftory of Arifteus, fon of Apollo, and the nymph Cyrene, proves how capable Proteus was of transforming himfelf into whatever Ihape he pleafed. Eurydice was preparing to efpoufe Or- pheus 3 already was the nuptial altar raifed in a meadow enamelled with flowers j the fiery Arifteus oppofed this union, and furioufly advanced to feizc Eurydice s aflTrighted ihe fled through the meadow, and ttf PROTEUS. and heedlefs of any other foe than the rafh youth who purfued her, was mortally ftung by a ferpcnt upon which fhe placed her foot. The nymphs, difconfolate for her lofs, revenged themfelves upon Arifteus by deftroying his bees. To repair this lofs, his mother Cyrene fent him to confult Proteus, advifing him to furprife him when afleep, to bind him faft, and affured him, that having in vain attempted to efcape by his metamorphofes, he would at laft afllime his origi- nal form, and give him the information he required. Proteus being furprifed by Arifteus, awakes faft bound in chains; in vain does he praclifc every art of transformation, he is compelled to yield to recover his liberty. He informs his vanquifhcr, that he muft facrifice four bulls and as many hei- fers, to the manes of ^Eurydice ? and that from thefc would proceed numerous fwarms of bees. Virgil affures us, than the ikin of a bullock or heifer, when expofed to the fun, attradls infefts which prefently become bees. Hiftory makes mention of one Proteus, king of Egypt, who lived about the time of the Trojan war. From his fecrecy, wifdom, and forefight, this prince was fuppofed to have the power of feeing into futurity. The difficulty of difcovering his defigns, and the defire of enfnaring him by his anfwers, might have caufed the poets to feign, that to difcover his fecrets it was ncceflary to bind him. Some Claucus. 3«J Some authors fay, that Proteus was one of the magicians fent for by Pharaoh, when Mofes per- formed his miracles, at the departure of the Ifracli ites out of Egypt. Others, on the contrary, regard the fable of Proteus as an allegory intended to fiiow, that truth is difficult to be difcovcred by thofe who do not apply themfelves ro the Icar: of it with courage and perfcvcrancc. ^'* GLAOCUS, PORTUNUS, PHORCYS, SARON, ^GEON. VXL Aucus was a fifherman. One day per- reiving that the fifh acquired extraordinary ftrength on touching a herb upon which he had laid them, he wifhed himfelf to try the experi- ment, arid immediately on touching it he leaped into the fea, where he was received into the num- bcr of the fea deities. Glaucus was a dextrous fiflierman, who had the talent of diving and remaining a long time under water. To make himfelf of more importance^ he boafted of being entertained by the fea godss he was at laft drowned, and gave rife to the fable we have juft related. The ancients reckoned three of the name of Glaucus; one, fon of Minos; another, fon of Hippolitus; and the third, fur- named Ponticus. Q^ Portunus m6 PORTUNUS, PHORCYS- Portunus, fo called by the Latins, was fon of Athamas, king of Thebes, and Ino, daughter to Cadmus. Juno, the declared foe of Cadmus be caufe he was brother rco Europa, infpired Athamas with fuch a phrenzy that he threatened to tear in pieces his wife Ino, and her fon Melicerta. Flying pre- cipitately to avoid his vengeance, they fell into the fea, where they both perifhed, and by the poets were feigned to have been changed into gods of the ocean. The name of Ino was exchanged into Leu- cothoe, and Melicerta was called Pala^mon, or Por- tunus. He is defcribdd with a key in his right hand, to exprefs, that ports are under his care and proteftion. The Roman ladies held Leucothoe in great veneration, but dared only invoke her in fa- vour of their nephews; they were afraid left their own children fhould fuffer the fame misfortunes as Leucothoe and her fon had experienced. Fe- male flaves were not permitted to enter her temple. Phorcys, or Phorcus, a fea deity, was fon of Pontus and Terra, or according to others, of Nep- tune ; he was the father of the Gorgons, of whom we fhall fpeak in the hiftory of Perfeus. He had alfo a daughter named Thoofa, who was mother of Polyphemus, the moft celebrated o fthc Cyclops. He was likewifc looked upon as the father of the ferpent which guarded the golden apples of the Hefperides. Scylla alfo was fup- pofed to be his daughter^ This SARON, ^GEOX. Sfij This nymph having engaged the afFeftions of Neptune, excited the jealoufy of the goddefs Am- phitrite, who poifoned a fountain in which fiie ufed to bathe. Scylla, on feeling the effedls of the poifon, became diftrafted, threw herfelf into the fea, and was changed into a monfter, much dreaded by mariners. Such is the fable invented concerning the gulph fituated between Reggio and Meflina. The noife of clafliing currents here refembles the barkins of dogs ; and the dread of this gulph^ as well as that of Charybdis, fituated On the oppofite fide^ caufed them to be honoured as fea deities. The gulph Charybdis derived its hame from a cruel woman who ufed to plunder travellers, but was at laft killed by Hercules. Saron was regarded as the particular divinity of failors. He was king of Corinth, and being paffionately fond of the chace, one day plunged into the fea in purfuit of a ftag. Exhaufted with heat and fatigue he there perifhed, and his body being thrown on fliore by the waves, near a wood facred to Diana, in the Phcebean marfli, was buried in the court before the temple. From that time this was called the Saronic, inftead of the Phcebean marfli. iEgeon is defcribcd by Homer as a formidable giant. Ovid calls him fon of Coelus and Terra. He inhabited the ocean, from whence he iifued to ^2 affift t2S NYMPHS, DRYADS, HAMADRYADS, tffift the Titans s^inft Jupiter, but being van- quilhed bv Neptune he was forced to retire, and fcek refuge in his watery abode. We muil not negled mentioning the ftory of tho Halcyon, a fea bird which builds its neft upon the waves even in winter. During fourteen days, from the thirteenth of December to the twcnty- ekhth of the lame month, the fea is perfedly calm, and kems to refpeft this bird. Mariners call thefc Halcyon days; a phoenomenon which produced the following ftory : Halcyone, wife of Ceyx, king of Trachrinia, faw in a dream her hulband who was returning from confulting the oracle at Delphos. At break of lav fne haftened to the fea fhore, and perceived a dillance the floating body of her beloved Ceyx. Following only the dilates of dcfpair, fhc plunged into the ocean and was drowned. Touched with companion, the gods transformed them both into the birds called Halcyons. 1 2f NYMPHS, DRYADS, HAMADRYADS, NAPi£y«, AND NEREIDS. These divinities derived their origin from the water, &c. and ought confcquently to be claffed with the fea deities. Thofe who inha- bited die earth were called in general Nymphs; 3 Thofc UAPA/E, and NEREIDS. ^^m Thofe who prefided over rivers and fountains were named Naiads. Thofe who refided m marfhes and pools were called Lymniadcs. Thofc who dwelt in groves, Napsese. Dryads were thofe who dwelt in woods; and Hamadryads thofe whofe fate was attached to a particular tree, with which their life commenced and ended. Nymphs of the mountains were called Oreades, and the name of Nereids was given to all thofe who inhabited the ocean. Milk, oil, honey, and fometimes goats were offered them in facrifice. The word nymph is fuppofed to be derived from /jmj)bay water; or from the Phoenician word nepbas, foul. Before the fyftem of Tartarus and the Elyfian fields was adopted, fouls were fuppofed to wander round the tombs, or in gardens and woods, which had been their favourite haunts when living. Thefe places were regarded with religious veneration, and hence arofe the cuftom of facrificing to the mafies of the dead under green trees. The care of thefe was committed to the nymphs, whofe number of courfc muft have increafcd prodigioufly. To name them ' all we think would be entirely ufclcfs. ^3 OF JJO lOLUS AND THE WINDS- OF EOLUS AND THE WINDS. EoLus, god of winds and tempefts, miift be placed among the marine divinities. He pafied for the fon of Jupiter; a title which he owed entirely to his own merit. He was fon of Hip- potes, lived in the time of the Trojan war, and reigned over the Eolian iflands, called before his time Vulcanian. They are feven in number. So little knowledge had the ancients of navigation^ and lo great were the dangers of the fea, that to forefee and provide againft them, was thought beyond the reach of human power. Eolus pofieir- ing a forefight, penetration, and knowledge fuperior . to his contemporaries, by frequently foretelling the approach of ftorms, feemed to be fomething more than mortal. By attentively obferving the direc- tion in which the fmoT or the Egyptian Mercury, who by this means redlificd the difordcrs ©ccafioned by the overflowing of the Nile. , Nuraa^ t t ¥ TERMINUS. 23^ Numa, finding the laws eftabliflied for the fecu- rity of property infufficienr, perfuaded the Roman people that there exifted a god, guardian of boundaries, and the avenger of ufurpation. He built a temple to him on the Tarpeian mountain, inftituted feafts to his honour, and prefcribed the form of his worfliip. He reprefented this new divinity under the form of an immoveable rock. His feaft was called Terminalis, from Terminus. Milk, fruit, and a few cakes, were ofil^red to him. Public facrifices were performed in his temple, and individuals facrificed to him on their own lands. During thefe feafts thofe whofe lands were contiguous prefented themfelves, each on his own fide, near the mark which feparated their grounds. This mark they adorned with a garland of flowers, and rubbed it with oil to render it more durable. At the conclufion of this innocent fcftival they facrificed lambs and young pigs, which afterwards ferved as a repaft for the two families united, and concord was invoked by all prefent. A circumftance which happened, contributed much to the credit of the god Terminus. Tarquin the Proud wiflied to ered on the Capitoline mountain the temple which Tarquin the Elder had vowed to Jupiter. For this purpoie It was neceflfary to difplace feveral ftatues and altars 3 thefe were removed withour any refiftance, but S40 rtORA, fOUOSAr VERTUMNtSi but the god Terminus, more firmly eftabliflied by Numa, braved all their efforts, and they were oblio-ed to leave him in the middle of the temple they were conftrudling. The priefls pretended that all the other gods^ from refpeft towards Jupiter, had yielded their places, but that Jupiter himfelf, out of regard for the right of property, had permitted him a place in the middle of his temple. Such is the origin of the god Terminus. However, before the time of Numa, Jupiter was honoured under the name of Jupiter Terminalis; and the Greeks had a divinity who prefided over limits, who was called Jupiter Horius. The moft folemn and facred oaths were thofc taken upon thefe flones. In after ages, the god Terminus was frequently reprefented by a pyra- midal land mark, having a head upon the top of it. FLORA, POMONA, VERTUMNUS, AND PRIA- PUS, THE GOD OF GARDENS. Flora was wife to Zephyrus, and goddeft of flowers. There appears to have been one of this name extremely ancient, whofe origin was unknown, The Romans honoured a fecond Flora, and AND PRIAPUS, THE GOD OF'CARDENS. 241 and afcribed to her the worihip rendered to the former, who probably was only an allegorical per- fonage. Acca Laurentia, a celebrated courtezan, bequeathed her immenfe property to the Roman fenatc. This bequeft was accepted, but to con- ceal the fource from whence it came, they aflimi- lated Laurentia with this ancient Flora, and ho- noured her as the goddefs of groves and flowers. Her feafts gave rife to the Floral Games. Pomona, goddefs of orchards, became the wife of Vertumnus, or Proteus, in the manner we have already mentioned. The fkill of this goddefs in the cultivation of fruit-trees and gardens, pro- cured her great reputation among the Romans, which was increafed by her uncommon beauty. She was placed in the Pantheon at Rome, but we find not the leaft mention of her among the Greeks. Vertumnus her hufband, whofe name is derived from verterey to turn or change, was the fymbol of the year, and of the variation of the feafons. He was frequently reprefented under the forms of a ploughman, a mower, a vine-drefTer, and that of an old woman; to exprefs fpring, fummer, autumn and winter. By fome authors he is confounded with Janus s others, on the contrary, fay that he was a king of Etruria, celebrated for the pleafure he took in the cultivation of gardens. Pomona is reprefented under the form of a beautiful young female fitting upon a baflcet of R fruit ; f4- RURAL DEITIES. RURAL DEITIES. ^43 fruit ', in her lap Ihc has apples, and round her arc branches loaded with fruit. Vertumnus is painted as a young man, holding fruit in one hand, and in the other a horn of plenty. He is only half covered by his drefs. Priapus was llkewiie regarded as the god of gardens; he was faid to be the fon of Venus and Bacchus, born at Lampfacus. His hideous figure was generally employed in gardens, to terrify thieves and birds. The eaftern nations worihipped him under the name of Baal Pegor. OF PALES, AND OTHER RURAL DEITIES. Pales was the goddefs of fliepherds, and proreftrcfs of flocks. Her fealt called Palilia, or Parilia, was celebrated in the month of April, on which occafion no vidim was killed, nothing was offered but the fruits of the earth. The Ihepherds purified their flocks with the fmoke of fulphur, olive wood, box, laurel and rofcmary; they then made a fire of ftraw, round which they danced, and afterwards offered to the goddefs, milk, cheefe, prepared wine and millet cakes. It was during this feafl that they commemorated the foundation of Rome. Anna Anna Perenna was another rural divinity of the fame rank as Pales. The purefl and mofl rational pleafure, the iivelieft and moft unafi^eaed joy conftantly animated the feafls of thefc two o-od- deffes. Bubona, goddefs of herdfmen, was the tutelar deity of horned cattle. Mellona protedtcd bees, for which purpofe the fliepherd Ariftceus was alfo fometimes invoked. Seia prefided over corn while yet in the ground, Segefta during the harveft, and Tutelina when ftored in barns. Robigus was invoked to preferve the corn from the mildew. Bonus Eventus, good fuccefs, was honoured with a particular worlhip : his flatue, executed by Praxiteles, was placed in the Capitol; he was ranked among the number of the principal rural and tcrrcftrial deities, Populonia, whofc name fignifies devaflration, ravage, protcfted the fruits of the earth from hail and lightning. Pilumnus prefided over the grinding of corn, and Picumnus over manure. Saturn likewife had the name of Sterculius, becaufe he firfl: taught the praftice of enriching the ground with dung. Hippona was the goddefs of fl:ables and horfess Collina was the tutelar deity of hills. R 2 Jugatinus s^^ SATYRS, FAUNS, yliGYPANS, Jugatinus prcfidcd over hilloeks. All thefc divinities were invented by the Latins, and derived their names from their different occu- pations ; none of them are to be met with among the Grecian deities. AND THE GOD PAN. H5 OF SATYRS, FAUNS, .i'.GYPANS AND THE GOD PAN. Satyrs, Fauns, and iEgypans, were all rural divinities, or rather demi-gods, whom the ancients fuppofed to inhabit forefts and mountains. They were called indifFerently Pans, iEgypans, and Satyrs, and were reprefented as men of fmall ftature, bearing a great refemblance to goats. Thofe advanced in years were called Sileni. They were faid to be defcendcd from Mercury and the nymph Iphiteme, or from Bacchus ^nd the nymph Nicea, daughter of Sangarius. It fhould feem that thefe extraordinary deities owed their divinity to the fear and furprife occafioned on the firft appear- ance of apes. We can reafonably attribute to them no other origin. Pan held the principal place among the moft ancient deities. By the poets he is called fon of Jupiter and the nymph Califto, or of Mercury and Penelope. He He is reprefented under the form of a Satyr, holding in his hand a flute called Syrinx. By the Arcadians this god was particularly worfhipped. In the month of February the Romans celebrated to his honour feafts called Lupercalia, from the place confecrated to him by Evander, and where Romulus and Remus were fuppofed to have been fuckled by a wolf. His priefts were called Luperci. The real origin of Pan was extremely ancient. The Egyp- tians, after having paid divine honours to the Sun under the name of Ofiris, the Moon under that of Ifis, and the feveral parts of the univerfe under different names, adored the whole world collec- tively under the name of Pan, which fignifies all. They gave him a human figure down to the middle, to reprcfent man, and the reft of his body repre- fented animals. The origin of the expreffion Fa- me is uncertain. Some authors attribute it to the fudden terror excited among the Gauls, by the god Pan, when under their general Brennus they were preparing to pillage the temple of Delphos. Others fuppofed it derived from the circumftance of the god Pan's inhabiting forefts, in whofe folitary fhades when bewildered, we are alarmed and terri- fied at the leaft noife. The poets relate that the nymphs Echo, Syrinx, and Pythis were beloved by the god Pan. He was rejefted by Echo for the beautiful Narciflus, ^ 3 who I j,5 SILENUS AND MIDAS. who having feen himfelf In a fountain, was fo ftruck with his own form, that he continued gazing on it till he languiflied and died. Echo, inconfolable for his lofs, pined away with grief, but being immortal, Ihc preferved her voice, which fne employs in repealing every thing fhc hears. This fable may be ranked among the allegorical. , Syrinx, a nymph of Arcadia, was in the tram ot Diana. Being one day purfued by the god Pan, fhe fled for refuge to the rivvrr Ladon, her father, who metamorphofed her into a reed. Pan having obferved that the wind in agitating the reeds produced a pleafmg found, formed fome ©f them into a pipe which was called Syrinx. The nymph Pythis was more favourable to the vows of the god Pan; but Boreas, jealous of this preference, with a blaft of his breath precipitated her from the top of a rock. The gods changed her while falling. Into a pine, which tree was confecrated 'to the god Pan. OF SILENUS AND MIDAS. SiLENUS, foftcr-father of Bacchus, was the moft famous of the Satyrs. We fhall give the poetical and hiftorlcal account of this per- fonage. SILENUS AND MIDAS. 247 fonage, fo confpicuous in the annals of antiquity. Fiftion and truth will unavoidably be fometimes blended together, but our readers will have no difficulty in diftinguifliing them from each other. Pindar informs us that Silenus was born at Malea, or at leaft was brought up there. He Is generally {ccn mounted upon an afs, almoft always in a ftate of inebriety, with difficulty keeping his feat upon the beaft, and following Bacchus, whom he conftantly accompanied. Such is the idea commonly given us by the poets of Silenus s but he Is defcribed by more grave authors in a manner much more advan- tageous. They fay that Silenus was a philofopher of great learning and wifdom j that his pretended intoxi- cation was myfterious, intended only to exprefs his profound meditation when engaged in ftudy. The circumftances which led him to remain fome time with Midas, gave occafion to feveral ftories. Bacchus having quitted Thrace, when the un- happy Pentheus had been torn in pieces by the Bacchanalians, came into Lydia, near mount Tmolus, famous for its excellent vines. Silenus ufed to make excurfions into the country mounted upon an afs, and frequently retired to meditate or repofe by the fide of a fountain. Midas, king of the country, being acquainted with his great abili- R 4 ties. 248 SILEXUS AND MIDAS. ties, and having long wiflied to convcrfc with him, had him conveyed, during his Heep, to his own pa- lace, but being himfelf initiated into the myfteries of Bacchus, he received Silenus with great refpeft, and detained him only ten days and as many nights, to receive his inftruflion and celebrate the orgies. At the expiranon of this time, he would himfelf accompany him on his return to Bacchus. Here fiftion begins. Bacchus overjoyed at the fight "* of his fofter-father, whofe abfence had given him great uneafmefs, promifed Midas whatever he /hould demand. Stimulated by a thirft for riches, he defired the power of converting whatever he Ihould touch into gold. His requefl was granted, but foon he found its fatal confequences. Under his hand trees and ftones became gold, but fo did likewife the food which he was preparing to cat. Impelled by hunger he again had recourfe to Bacchus, who told him to go and wafh ii^ the Paftolus, and from that time the fands of that river were found intermixed with gold. In this manner was hiftory disfigured by the poets, but we fhall diveft it of its difguife, and reftore it to its fim- plicity. Midas was king of the country through which the Paftolus flows -, after the death of his father, Gordius, he prefented to the temple of Delphos a golden chain of ineftimable value. The gardens of this prince were very famous, and Silenus wifh- ing to fee them, paflcd fomc days with Midas, who, SILENUS AND \nDAS. 249 who, though fovereign of a rich country, was ceconomical even to parfimony. The fale of his corn, cattle and wine produced him immenfe fums, which gave rife to the ftory that his touch converted every thing into gold. Being informed by Bacchus and Silenus, that the fands of the Paftolus contained gold, his avarice changed its objeft; he quitted his rural purfuits, and employed his fubjefts in collefting gold; this occafioned the fable, that by wafhing his hands in the Fafto- lus he had communicated to it the property of producing gold. Midas, notwithftanding his attachment to riches, neglefted nothing which concerned religion, good laws, or the happinefs of his fubjefts. To acquire greater credit and authority, he pretended that Silenus inftrudled him in the myfteries of the orgies of Bacchus j and he undoubtedly profited by his knowledge, and was guided by his diredlions in forming his cfta- blifhments, religious and political. In aid of the police of his kingdom, Midas employed Ipies, or watchful officers; this occafioned it being faid, that he heard at a great diftance, and the dif- afFefted defcribed him w^ith the ears of an afs. A few punifliments which he inflifted filcnced their injurious refleftions, and this gave rife to a fecond "allegorical fable, in which it is pretended that the barber of Midas not daring openly to declare that he had fcen thefe afs's cars, confided the »5<5 OT ^AUNUS AND SYLVAKUS. LARES AND P£NATES. 2.^1 the fecret to a marfh, and that foon after the reeds, when agitated by the wind, produced this found -, « Midas has the ears of an afs.' That thefe two fables are allegorical is evident. The paffion of Silenus for wine, and his introducing the orgies into Lydia, oc- cafioned him to be reprefented under the form of a man intoxicated. Serious authors however fay, that the afs upon which he was mounted was emblema- tical of the fiow but certain progrefs of philofophy. Some authors confound Silenus with Marfyas, who was the celebrated performer on the flute ; flayed alive by Apollo for contending witli him. This error arifes from the circumftance of their both being fatyrs, and having lived at the fame time. After the death of Silenus he was honoured as a demi-god, and had a worfhip independent of that paid to Bacchus. OF FAUNUS AND SYLVANUS. Faunus, fon of Picus, lived in the dme of Pandion, king of Athens, and was con- temporary with Evander and Hercules. This prince was fo diftinguilhed for his bravery and wifdom that he paffcd for the fon of Mars. The attention which he beftowed on hufbandrjr procured him the rank of a rural divinity -, and he is reprefented under the form of a fatyr. He was fuppofed fuppofcd to render oracles, but this proceeds from the etymology of his name ; phonein in Greek, and fart in Latin, fignifying to fpeak. By the Romans, Faunia his wife, and Sylvanus his fon, were clafled among the rural deities. The latter name is derived ivomfyha, a foreft. He prefided over woods, and is reprefented in the fame man- ner as *the fatyrs, who were fuppofed to be his brothers. Picus, father of Faunus, was an accompliflied prince ; he efpoufed the beautiful Canens, Vv'hofe enchanting portrait is given us by Ovid. Having pcrifhed by an accident when hunting, and his body being never afterwards found, it was pre- tended that the enchantrefs Circe in defpair at his infenfibility, had metamorphofed him into a wood- pecker. Canens, inconfolable for the lofs of her hufband, never afterwards fpoke, but retired from human fight to the moft dreary folitude. As a reward for her tenderncfs, it is pretended that flie was tranflated to heaven by the Gods. OF THE GODS called LARES, and PENATES. These Gods prefided over empires, cities, hi^^hways, houfes, and individuals. They were divided into Lares Public, Domeftic, Rural, Hoftile, 11 152 LARES AND PENATES. •-«< Hoflile, Marine, and thofe who prefided over the Highways. Their number was prodigious, and every one chofe his own at pleafure. Among thefc Gods were ranked the fouls of thofe who had faith- fully fcrved the ftate -, and families placed among them the departed fpirits of their friends and relations. Their worfhip confifted only in keeping little figures in the moft retired part of the houfe thence called Lararium. Lamps, the fymbol of vigilance, were confecrated to them, and their facrifice was that faithful animal the dog. When an infant quitted the ornament called bulla, it was depofited at the feet of thefe domeflic deities; and when a Roman family received any one by adoption (which was a circumflance very common) the magiftrates appointed thofe who were to attend to the worfhip of the Lares, whom the adopted child fcemed to have abandoned. During the public feafts of thefe divinities, which were called Compitalitia, little waxen figures were fufpended in the ftreets, and the Lares and Penates were entreated to make thefe the only objefls of their difpleafure. The Romans fuppofed the Lares and Penates defendants of Jupiter and Larmida. The re- femblance between the names of Lares and Lar- mida, and the ignorance of their real origin, were the only caufes of this genealogy. It appears that their worfhip was brought by ^Eneas from Phrygia. The LAKES AND PENATES. «53 The Lares and Penates of Laban, called in Scrip- ture Teraphim, were carried away by his fon-in- bw Jacob. The Genii were likewife ranked among thefe divinities. Every man had two, one author of all good, the other of all evil. Women had likewife their Genii, which were called Junones : Thefe Genii were not fuppofed to be pofTefTed of equal power; the genius of Antony was faid to dread the genius of Auguflus. They are reprefented as young men holding in one hand a drinking vefTel, and in the other a horn of plenty. Sometimes they appear under the form of ferpents. The forehead was principally confecrated to them. All perfons invoked their genius, particularly on their natal day. The ground was fire wed with flowers, and wine was offered to them in cups. Every place had its particular genius. An opinion prevailed, that the whole univerfe abounded in fpirits who regulated its movements. Plato, who mofl enlarged this fyflem, fpeaks of Gnomes, Sylphs, and Salamanders. The firfl inhabited the earth ; the fecond, air ; the third, fire ; but let us leave to the tales of the fairies the pleafure of particularly defcribing them. , I I INFERNAL *o4 INFERNAL DEITIES. INFERNAL DEITIES. The idea of a god who puniflies vice and rewards virtue, is coeval with the world. The firft man received it from the Almighty him- felf, and has tranfmitted it to his pofterity. In proportion as the diftance from the originals in- creafed, ideas became confounded, traditions cor- rupted, and idolatry reared its head ; but the dif- ference between vice and virtue was fo forcibly felt by fome men of fuperior wifdom to the reft, that they endeavoured carefully to preferve this necefiary reftraint, which alone can prevent gene- ral corruption. The more we examine into ancient traditions, the more clearly we per- ceive the univerfal belief in the immortality of the foul. The moft criminal of all errors could alone raife doubts on this important truth ; but they are fo fully contradifted by the general voice of every confciencc, and every nation, that to combat them is unnecefiary. Philofophers of every age have confirmed this truth, and poets by their defcriptions have endea- voured as much as pofTible to difFufe it. We learn from a fragment of Diodorus Siculus, that the poetical fyfcem of the infernal regions was taken entirely from the cuftoms adopted by the Egyptians before the interment of their dead. The Grecian Mercury, fays he, who took charge ©f INFERNAL DEITIES. «55 of departed fpirits, was the prieft whofc office ic was to receive the body of a decealed (rpis; by him it was conducted to a fecond prieft, who wore a mafk reprefenting three heads, like thofe afcribed by the poets to Cerberus. The fecond prieft tranfported it acrofs the ocean, adling as ferryman, and carried it to the city of the Sun, whence it was conveyed into the happy re- gions, inhabited by the fouls of the blefled. The ocean, continues Diodorus, was the Nile itfelf, to which the Egyptians gave that name. The city of the Sun was Heliopolis. The happy re- gions here mentioned were the beautiful plains fituated in the environs of the lake Acherufa near Memphis. Here terminated the proceflion, and here wxre interred the dead bodies of theEgyptians. In all funeral ceremonies, the firft ftep was to fix the day appointed for the interment ; of this the judges were firft informed, and afterwards the relations and friends of the deceafed. His name w^as proclaimed in the moft public manner, and notice given that he was about to pafs the lake. Immediately forty judges afTem- bled, and proceeded to the banks of the lake, where they feared themfelves in the form of a circle. A barge w^as brought by the afliftants, and the pilot, called by the Egyptians Charon, took his ftation at the helm. Before the coi^n was placed upon the barge, all thofe who had been ^ injured it ^] \ 4^5 INFERxVAL DEITIES. injured by the deceafed were permitted to pre- fer their complaints. Kings themfelves were not exempt from this cuftom, and if there appeared to be juft grounds for the accufation, the judges pronounced fentence, by which the dead body was deprived of the rites of fcpulture ; but he who could not fubftantiate his charge was liable to a heavy punifliment. When no accufation was preferred, the relations of the deceafed laid afide their mourning, and commenced his funeral oration i beginning with his infancy and taking a furvey of his whole life, they extolled his juftice, piety and courage, and befought the infernal deities to admit him to the abodes of the blelTed. This was followed by the applaufes of the attendants, who united in his praifes, and felicitated him on having merited a pafiage to eternity in peace and glory. Such were the ceremonies which Orpheus had feen praflifed among the Egyptians, and upon which he founded his defcription of the infernal reo^ions — makino; fuch additions as were conforma- ble to the Grecian cuftoms. The fame Diodorus adds, that to perpetuate their illuftrious aftions they frequently embalmxcd their anceftors, and kept them in their houfes. So great was the re- fped of the Egyptians for the dead, that they often preferved the bodies of thofe who, for debt or fome crime, were denied the rites of burial; and Infernal deitiesl igj^ land when their defcendants became rich and powerful, they difcharged the obligations of their anceftors, cleared their memory from imputation, ^nd interred them honourably. Embalmed bodies were fometimes given as fecurity for films bor- rowed, and not unfrequently even their own bodies 3 when thofe who failed in their engage- ments were devoted to infamy during their lives, and deprived of the honour of burial at their death. Notwithftanding the profound darknefs in which thefe ages were involved, it was generally believed, that after death the material body was refolved into duft and aflies -, but that the foul, the fpiritual part of man, returned to heaven. The Pagans diftinguiflied the foul from the mind. — The former they regarded as the receptacle of the latter, and fuppofed, that when feparatcd from the body, it defcended into the infernal regions. The poets were not agreed upon the time which de- parted fpirits were to pafs in the Elyfian fields; fome fixed it at a thoufand years; but all regarded the punifhment of Tartarus as eternal. We think it incumbent on us to give the idea which the ancients entertained of Tartarus, which we fliall do by a Ihort quotation from Virgil. DESCRIP. 1^8 IS FERN AL REG10!^S, DESCRIPTION OF THE INFERNAL REGIONS. Before the gate of the infernal regions Pain and Sorrow have eftablifhed their abode. Here is the refidence of pallid Difeafe, melancholy Old Age, Terror, Hunger the fuggeftor of fo many crimes, Labour, Death, and Sleep his bro- ther. Here alfo is found War and Dlfcord, whofc fnaky locks are bound up with gory bands. Near this monfter are feen the Furies' iron beds. A hundred other monfters befiege the avenue to this fatal habitation. Such is the defcription of Aver-. BUS, the firft entrance to the infernal regions. Near this difmal cavern is a road leading to Acheron. Hither refort from all parts thofe fouls who are to pafs that river, when Charon receives into his bark thofe who have received the honours of burial j but inexorable to thofe who have not, they wander for a century on its folitary bank. After having pafied the river, another gate leading to the palace of Pluto prefents itfelfi this is guarded by Cerberus, a monfter with three heads, one of which is conftantly watching. On entering this feat of terror, we firft defcry the fouls of thofe who expired as foon as born , the next we come to are thofe deprived of life by an unjuft INFERNAL REGIOJ^S; »59 :ij \ihjuft fcntence, or who terminated themfelves their own exiftence. A little beyond, wandering in a foreft of myrtle, are the fouls of lovers, vi6lims to cruelty and defpair. On leaving thefe, we arrive at the abode of heroes, who nobly periftied in the field of battle. Not far from this is ken the tribunal where juftice is difpenfed by Minos, iEacus and Rhadamanthus. -^acus and Rhadamanthus pronounce judgment, and Minos approves or alters it. A frightful noife attradls attention, and difcovers the dreary Tartarus, the eternal prifon, round which the flaming Phlegethon rolls his boiling vvaves^ and Cocytus with its infcdious miry marlhes fur- rounds it on every fide. Three mafly walls with gates of folid brafs, fe- cure ftill more this feat of forrow. Vain is evafion, vain the hope to efcape from hence by flight. There every ftep is watched by dire Tifiphone, chief of the furies, who, with her fifters, laflies with whips of fcorpions the guilty wretch when judged by Rhadamanthus. No reft, no peace they find^ but woe unending. Such is in part the defcription Virgil gives of the Infernal Regions. He adds that of the Elyfian Fields, which he reprefents crowned with an eter- nal fpring* It is eafy to perceive, that thefe Greek and Roman fables are only an imitation of the Egyp- * 2 tian So INFERNAL DEITIES. tian ceremonies, which they have embelliflied wkk the ornaments of poetry. ^^K PLUTO, CERES, PROSERPINE AND OTHER INFERNAL DEITIES. Pluto, third fon of Satiirn and Ops, with Proferpinc governed the Infernal Regions. His principal names were Dis, Ades, Urgus and Februus. Dis and Ades, fignify riches, over which he prefided, becaufe they were contained in the bowels of the earth. Urgus, comes from the Latin word urgere, to impels becaufe he con- ftantly urged mortals towards their diffolution; and Februus, comes from Februare, to perform purifications, which were always performed in funeral ceremonies. The fceptre of Pluto was an inftrument with two points; in his hand he* held the keys of his empire, to cxprefs, that from thence none ever returned. The viftims offered to him were generally black fheep. Pluto was the youngeft of the brothers of Jupiter. In the divifion of the world he had the eaftern countries, which extend to the ocean, and fxxed his refidencc m the moft remote part of Spain. He there difcovered mines of gold and filver. As to work thefe it is neceffary to defccnd into the eardi, it was liiii rNFERNAL DEITIES, S6l was pretended that he had penetrated to the Infernal Regions, and taken poffeflion of them. Though Plutus was likewife the god of riches, he mud not be confounded with Pluto, a divinity by far his fuperior. Plutus was the fon of Ceres -and Jafon; like Fortune he was reprefented blind, to Ihow that riches are difpenfed to both good and bad. The deformity of Pluto, and the gloominefs of his dominions, having procured him a repulfe from all the goddefles, he complained to his'bro- ther Jupiter, who gave him permiffion to choofe which he pleafed. Alarmed at the repeated fhocks which proceeded from mount ^Etna, he was afraid left by fome aperture light Ihould penetrate into his empire. To inform himfelf more particularly he paid a vifit to Sicily, and it was in this excur- fion he met with Proferpine, daughter of Ceres. This princefs, attended by her companions, wa^ amufing herfclf with gathering flowers, when fhe was perceived and carried off by Pluto. Cyane endeavouring to oppofe him, was changed into a fountain; and the fovereign of hell opening the earth with a blow of his fceptre, difappeared in an inftant, carrying with him the daughter of Ceres. We have already ktn in the hiftory of that goddefs, the excefs of her forrow, and the coun- tries fhe traverfed in fearch of her lofl child. That the Ceres of the Greeks was the fame as s 3 the 26: IKFERKAL DEITIES. the Egyptian I fis, there remains no doubt; thetr myfteries were the fame, and they were introduced among the former by oriental colonies. During the reign of Ereftheus there happened a dreadful famine in Greece. This was particu- larly felt by the Athenians, whofe foil was naturally infertile. Ereftheus formed the refolutlon of fending into Egypt, from whence his emiiTaries returned with a great quantity of corn, and the method of cultivating it : they at the fame time brought with them the worihip of the divinity who prefided over agriculture. The calamity they had juft fufFered, and the fear of feeing it again return, engaged them to adopt the myfteries of this goddefs. At the fame time thefe religious ceremonies were received by Triptolemus, king of Eleufis, who would himfelf be prieft of Ceres or Ifis; and as a mark of gratitude for the return of plenty, by means of agriculture, in afiifting his neio-hbours he carefully inftrucled them in the labours of Ceres, and endeavoured to introduce her worihip among them. This is the origin of the fable concerning Ceres and Triptolemus. It was pretended that Ceres came from Sicily to Athens ; and added, that her daughter Proferpine was carried off by violence, becaufe for fome time they experienced a dearth of provifions. Pluto was fuppofed to have taken her to the infernal regions, to exprefs the time which TRANSMIGRATION. «53 which the feed remained in the earth ; and Jupiter is reprefented reconciling this difference between Pluto and Ceres, to jfhow the return of plenty and fertility. Some learned men are of opinion that Ceres was queen of Sicily, that fhe went to Attica to inftruft Triptolemus in the art of hufbandry, and that it was her daughter who was carried off by Pluto king of Spain. The rape of Proferpine is likewife fuppofed to be an allegory, intended to reprefent the feafon during which the grain remains in the earth, and that in which it vegetates. OF TRANSMIGRATION. When fouls had left the body which tliey animated, they were by Mercury conduced cither to Tartarus or the Elyfian Fields; the wicked to the former, the juft to the latter. It was almoft univerfally believed, that after remain- ing a thoufand years in thofc delightful abodes, the foul returned upon earth to animate other bodies, cither of men or animals. Before they quitted the infernal regions they drank the waters of Lethe, which had the property of effacing from the memory paft events. s 4 This $B4 JUDGES OF THE I^^FERNAL REGIONS, This idea owes its origin to the Egyptians; it is in imitation of them that Orpheus, Homer and other pocts^ have introduced it into their writings. OF THE JUDGES OF THE INFERNAL HE. GIONS, FURIES AND FATES. Three judges examined at their tribunal the fouls condufted by Mercury to the infernal regions. Minos, king of Crete, and fon of Afterius, was the firft. He wifhed to be thought the fon of Jupiter and Europa, and to obtain this, he pro- mifed to facrificc to Neptune the firft objeft he fliould receive from the ocean. At that inftant he faw a beautiful white bull make to land. Unwilling to facrificefo fine an animal, he preferved it for the head of liis Pxock. Neptune incenfed, revenged himfclf on Minos by infefting his family with troubles and misfortunes. Pafi- phae his wife involved him in dreadful calamities. He had by her three fons, and two daughters,, much celebrated, Phaedra and Ariadne ; we Ihall o-ive the hiftory of thefe females when we come to treat of the demi-gods. Rhadamanthus was likewifc fuppofed to be the fon of Jupiter and Europa. Obliged to fly from I Crete FURIES AND FATES. 26^ Crete for having killed his brother, he retired to CEchalia, a city of Baeotia, where he married Ale- mena, widow of Amphitryon. iEacus, fon of Jupiter and ^Egina, daughter of Afopus, was fovereign of the ifland Delos -, by his fecond wife, who was daughter to the cen- taur Chiron, he had Telamon and Peleus, His firft wife, Piammathe, daughter of Ncreuij, brought him Phocus. Rhadamanthus was appointed judge of the Afia- tics J iEacus of the Europeans 5 and Minos, fuperior to both, was fupreme judge, and determined all doubtful cafes. The tribunal was held in a place called the Field of Truth ; which Falfehood and Calumny could not approach. The fuperi- ority of Minos was marked by a fceptre which he held in his hand, and near him was feen an urn, containing the fentences pafltd upon mortals, who, when guilty, were delivered over to the furies for punifhment. Thefe furies were three in num- ber — Tifiphone, Megara, and Aledo. They were faid to be daughters of Cupid and Nox. Their names fignify, rage, flaughter, and envy. They are reprefented with flaming torches in their hands, fnakes inftead of hair, and a whip of ferpents. The Greeks named them Erynnes, which fig- nifies difturbers of the mind. They were like- wife called Eumenides, mild, when Minerva had appeafed z6S NEMESIS, THE MANKS, KOX, SOMNUS, AND MORS, 267 appeafed them, and they had ceafed to torment Orcftes, who had (lain his mother.— The three Fates were likewife inhabitants of the infernal re- gions ; they were the daughters of NecefTity. It vras they who fpun the days and deftiny of man. The youngeft, named Clotho, held the diftafFi Lachefis turned the fpindle, and Atropos, with her fatal fcilTars, cut the thread of life. The poets faid, that they fpun happy days with gold and filvcr, and days of forrow with black worfted. The Fates are reprefented as three old women worn down with years. Clotho, in a robe of different colours, wore a crown of kwtn ftars upon her head, and in her hand fhe held a diftaff, reaching from heaven to earth. The robe of Lachefis was covered with ftars, and near her lay a number of fpindles. Atropos, clothed in black, held the fciflars, and round her were numberlefs fpindles, more or Icfs full, according to the long or fliort duration of life. OF NEMESIS, THE MANES, NOX, SOMNUS, AND MORS. AIemesis prefided over the punifliment of erimes. She traverfed the earth with great vi- gilance I I gilance in fearch of the wicked, whom fiie pur- fued even to the fliades below, and punifiied with inflexible feverity. She was reprefented with wings, a helm, and a chariot wheel, to fhow that no place can fecure the cruilty from her indefatigable purfuit. As daughter of Juflice fhe rewarded virtue, but punifaed, with relcntlefs hand, impiety. The gods Manes were not clearly diflinguiflied by the ancients j they were frequently confounded v/ith the fouls of the dead, and fometimes with the gods Lares. Thefe divinities however pre- fided over funerals, and departed fpirits, who were fuppofed to wander about the tombs. Nox, or Night, was daughter of Chaos, flic was reprefented in a long black veil befpangled with ftars, traverfing the vaft expanfe of the firmament in a chariot of ebony -, fometimes fhe is feen without a chariot, wearing a veil which floats in the air, as fhe approaches the earth, to cxtinguifli a torch which fhe held in her hand. Somnus, or Sleep, fon to Nox, and brother of Mors or Death, is reprefented under the figure of a child in a profound fleep, holding in one hand popples, which likewife ferve for his pillow ; and near him is a veflTel full of foporiferous liquor. Mors, or Death, daughter of Nox, and fifler to Somnus, is reprefented under the hideous form of a flccleton i her black robe is covered with ftars. 268 CHARON, CERBERUS, ftars, (he has wings of an enormous length, and her flefhlefs arm is furnilhed with a fey the. OF CHARON, CERBERUS, AND THE RIVERS OF HELL. ' C/HARON, whofe name fignifies angiiifh, was, according to the poets, fon ofNox and Erebus. His difpofitionwas gloomy and fevere. Neither dignities nor riches obtained refpecft from him. Charged with the care of tranfporting fouls to the infernal regions, he was inflexible in rejeft- ing thofe who had not received the rights of bu- rial. A century they wandered on this lonely bank before they gained admiflion to his fatal bark. So perfuaded were people that he would require a paflage fee, that they always placed a piece of money under the tongues of the dead. This piece of money was called naulum : for kings it was generally gold. It was neceflary likcwife to have an attcftation of the good life and conduct of the deceafed under the hand of the high-pried. We have received from the ancients the form of this attcftation : " I Amitius Septus, high-prieft, do certify, " that m AND THE RIVERS OF HELL. 269 ^ that the life and condu6t of N. has been ** pcrfcftly unexceptionable. Let his Manes ^^ enjoy peace.'* ^his cuftom was an exa6l imitation of that of the Egyptians. Cerberus, guardian of the infernal regions, had three heads -, for hair his neck was furroundcd with fnakes. He fprung from Typhon and Echidna, When Orpheus went to requeft of Pluto the reftitution of his wife Eurydice, he lulled this monfter to fleep with his lyre. When Hercules defcended to thefe dreary manfions to deliver Alcefte, he bound Cerberus and compelled him to follow him. It is faid that pafTing through Theflaly, the fight of day made him vomit his venom upon the grafs, which rendered it mortal to whatever tafted it. This fable alludes to the vaft quantity of poifonous herbs which that coun- try produces. The fable of Cerberus was like- wife founded upon a cuftom of the Egyptians, who guarded their dead by means of maftifFs. There were five principal rivers in the domi- nions of Pluto. The firft was Acheron, driven there for having quenched the thirft of the Titans in their war againft Jupiter. Its name fignifies anguifli or howling. This river is in Thefprotia, rifes in the marfh of Acherufa, and empties itfelf into the Adriatic Gulph near Ambracia. The kcond is Cocytus, which fignifies tears, groans j * gjO CHARON, CERBERUS, 8iC.- it is faid to be formed by the tears of the con- demned. This was likewifc a river of Epirus, or rather Thefprotia, emptying itfelf into the marfh Acherufa ; it was rather a miry pool than a river. Styx is the third — This is a fountain of Arcadia which flows from a rock, and forms a rivulet which fmks under ground. Its water was of a poifonous quality, which occafioned the poets to fay, that it was one of the rivers of hell. Fabulous hiftory makes Styx a daughter of Oceanus, and mother of Vl£loria or Viftory. She affifted Jupiter in his war with the Titans. The Hydra was faid to be her offspring. So much terror did her name infpire, that the mod inviolable oath was fworn by the river Styx. The gods themfelves could not infringe it j if they did, Jupiter commanded Iris to prefent them with a cup, filled with the waters of this fountain, dif- milled tliem from his table during twelve months, and even deprived them of their divinity for nine years. When fv/earing by this river, they placed one hand upon the earth, and the other upon the 9cean. The word Styx fignines water of filence. The waters of this ftream were likewife ufcd for the purpofe of determining the innocence or guilt of accufed peribns. Thefe are the principal circum- ftances which gave rife to the (lories concerning this ELYSIAN FIELDS. ^1 I this river. In general all waters of a poifonous quality were accounted rivers of hell. It was the fame with Avernus, a lake of Italy, near Pozzuolj, and Lethe, or the river of Oblivion, fituated ia Africa. The poets attributed to the latter the property of inducing an oblivion of pad events. This conftituted the fourth. — Phlegethon, whicfi was the fifth, had waves of flaming fire. The waters of this marfh exhaled fulphureous vapours, and its mud was hot and burning, which caufed ic to be claflfed among the infernal rivers. OF THE ELYSIAN FIELDS. W E fhall not enter into a particular de- fcription of the Elyfian Fields ; each poet de- fcribes them according to his own imagination, and invents whatever he thinks moft capable of pleafmg, leaving his readers likewife at liberty to make their own additions. We Ihall only obfcrve that the ancients generally placed thefe happy manfions in the iflcs now called the Canaries. It is probable, that the idea of the Elyfian Fields was firfl taken from the tradition of the terreftrial paradife. OF sye WORSHIP or THE INFER^rAL DEtTIES. OF THE WORSHIP PAID TO THE INFERNAL DEITIES. To thcfc terrible deities no altars were everraifed; they were referved for the tcrreftrial and marine deities, who were called fuperior gods, as thofe of the infernal regions were called inferior. Trenches were made, into which was poured the tlood of vicStims, which were always of a black colour. The prieft during the prayers lowered his hands towards the earth, inftead of raifing them towards heaven. Being regarded as implacable, thefe divinities were in general the objefts of fear and averfion : never were they implored for their affiftancc ; to appeafe them was all that was fought. No hymns were compofed to their honour, no temples dedicated to them, nor any advantage cxpeded from the prayers addreffed to them. Theif power in hell was equally abfolute with that of Jupiter in heaven. » OF THE PRINCIPAL CRIMINALS PUNISHED IN THE INFERNAL REGIONS. The Titans were precipitated into Tar- tarus for having waged war againft Jupiter. The fable defcribcs them whelmed under mount JEtna. Typhon, titar I'o ''''*>phu.- iV^ f-diuth was fuppofed to be the mother of Virtue, and daughter of Time; fhe was reprefented as a young virgin covered with a robe white as fnow. Democritus, to exprefs the difficulty of difco- vering it, faid, that truth lay concealed at the bot- tom of a well. Concord, Peace and Tranquillity, were three different goddeffes. The authority of Concord extended over houfes, families and cities; that of Peace over empires. Suetonius fays, that in the temple of PeaCe were depofued the riches brought from the temple of Jerufalem. In the fame temple they likewife affembled ^11 thofe who profeffed the arts^ TA?vTICULAR SPECIES OF DIVINITIES. 281 arts, when they had their rights and privileges to maintain, in order to baniih from their difputes all heat and animofity by the prefence of the god- defs of Peace. She was reprefented under the form of a woman, crowned with laurel, olive and rofes. In her hand fhe holds the caduceus and fome ears of corn, emblematical of the abundance Ihe produces. Her companions were Venus and the Graces. Fidelity prefided over fincerity in treaties, and equity in commerce. The moft inviolable of oaths was that taken in her name, or in the name of Jupiter Fidius. It is generally believed that Numa Pompilius was the founder of her firil tem- ple. This goddefs is ufually reprefented by two women, in the aft of joining hands. Liberty, that idol of the Roman people, could not fail of being eredled into a divinity; and accordingly we find feveral temples to her honour. She was reprefented reclining upon a table of the laws, having in her hand, to defend them, a fword with this infcription : " THEY SECURE THE LIBERTY OF ALL. >> Licentioufnefs was reprefented ftruck with a thunderbolt from heaven, at the moment flie wa^ attempting to break one of thefe tables and the balance of juftice. Silence had his altars; by the eaftern nations he .o. PARTICULAR SPECIES OF DIVINITIES. he was adored under the name of Harpocrates, but the Romans worfhipped it as a goddefs, which they called Angerona. The latter had likewife tlie god of Speech, which they ftyled Aius Loquutius. Temples were raifed to Modefty. She was reprefented under the form of a woman veiled, or of a woman pointing to the forehead with her finger, to exprefs that there was neither reproach nor fhame. Providence was reprefented by a woman leaning upon a pillar, holding in her left hand a horn of plenty, and with her right pointing to a globe, to teach us, that her care extends over the whole univerfe, and that it is fhe who dilpenfes every bleffing. Juftice was reprefented as a young female, hold- ing a balance equally poifed in one hand, a naked l\vord in the other, and havino^ a bandaee over her eyes 5 (he was feated upon a large ftone, ready to punifli vice and reward virtue. Fortune prefided over good and evil. She was reprefented under the figure of a woman, blind, and almoft bald, having wings to her feet, one of which is placed upon a wheel turning with great velocity, the other waves in the air. Opportunity was reprefented in the fame man- ner; fhe had a lock of hair upon her head, to prefcnt the means of being fcized, Palencfs PARTICULAR SPECIES OF DIVINITIES. 2^3 Palenefs and Fear. Men ftruck with the ap- pearance of events which infpired them with ter^ ror, and ignorant of the caufe whence they pro- ceeded, addreffed even the agitation of their minds as a divinity, and offered it their prayers and fupplications for deliverance from their apprehen- fions. .It is impoffible to fix the period when this worlhip began. ' In battle the god Mars was attended by Fear and Flight. The Corinthians, having maffacred the two fons of Medea, were vifited with a pefti- lence which carried off great part of their children. On confulting the oracle, they were ordered to facrifice to the offended manes of thefe innocent vi6lims, and at the fame time to ralfe a ftatue to Fear. She was reprefented with hair ereft, in the attitude of looking upwards, her mouth extended, and a troubled afpeft. Palenefs was reprefented with a long emaciated countenance, fixed look, and drooping locks. The Lacedemonians placed the temple of Fear near the Ephori, in order to infpire criminals with the dread of fevere punifliment. In pronouncing an oath. Fear was always named with the other o-ods. It would be equally tedious as ufelefs, to defcribe all this fpecies of divinities. In general the Romans, and the Greeks before them, honoured as deities, Virtues, Vices, Paffions and even Extra- ordinary Events. Every one could create new gods c84 PARTICULAR SPECIES OP DIVINITIKS. gods at pleafiire. When travellers in crofTing a river or forcft, experienced any danger or furprife, they railed an altar, adoj ned it with attributes and infcriptions, and thefe arbitrary monuments were refpefted, and even adored by thofe whom Chance led that way. It Vv^ill always be eafy to fupply the numerous lift which we have fupprelTcd to avoid fatiguing our readers. The poets and ancients when they fpeak of thefe divinities, are particularly careful to defcribe their influence and efFeft, fo that they may at any time be recognized; they will therefore at leaft poflefs the charms and ornaments of poetry. However, am.ong the malignant divi- nities, we muft not forget Ate or Difcord. Driven from heaven by Jupiter, for endeavouring to fow diffenfion among the gods, fhe came to vent her fury upon earth. To this cruel goddefs were attri- buted wars, quarrels and domeftic difputes; it was flie who threw among the company aflembled to celebrate the marriage of Peleus the fatal apple^ bearing the infcription, " TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL.*' Wc have already faid, that fhe is continually- followed by her fillers, the Prayers, to repair the evils which flie occafions, but being lame, they are conflantly outftripped by their more aftive fifter. OF il COM us AND ^lOMUS, a^ OF COMUS AND MOMUS. V/OMus prefided over entertainments and the pleafures of the table. He is only known bv name : every artift is at liberty to reprefent him according to his own fancy. His name is derived from commeffari, to eat together; or according ta fome from a fortof fong well known to the ancients called Comos, which was fung during their repairs. Momiis, fon of Somnus and Nox, was the eod of Raillery and Repartee. Satirical to excefs, neither the gods nor Jupiter himfelf were fecure from his flinging fhafts — His name comes from the Greek word 7nomos, reproach. He blamed the gods for not having made an aperture in the brcaft of man to diftinguilh truth from falfehood. OF THE GODS OF MEDICINE. 1 HI. name of Efculapius, whom the Greeks called Afclepios, appears to be foreign to that nation, and feems derived from the oriental languages. It is certain that Efculapius was known in Phoenicia before the Greeks had any knowledge of him. Sanchoniatho, the moft ancient of the Phoenician 3 authors. COMUS AND MOMUS- Z^S OF COMUS AND MOMUS. V/OMus prefidcd over entertainments and the pleafures of the table. He is only known bv name : every arcifl: is at liberty to represent him according to his own fancy. His name is derived from ccmmelfdri^ to eat togetlierj or according- to fome from a fortof fong well known to the ancients called Comos, which was fung during their repairs. Momiis, fon of Somnus and Nox^ was the god of Raillery and Repartee. Satirical to cxcefs, neither the gods nor Jupiter himfelf were feciire from his Hinging Ihafts— His name comes from the Greek word womos, reproach. He blamed the gods for not having made an aperture in the bread of man to diflinguiili truth from falfehood. OF THE GODS OF MEDICINE. 1 H£ name of Efculapius, whom t\\t Greeks called Afclcpios, aptuars to be foreian to that nation, and feems derived from the oriental languages. It is certain that Efculapius was known in Phoenicia before the Greeks had any knowledge of him. Sanchoniatho, the moft ancient of the Phci:niciiin Z aurhor?;. g^ CODS OF MEDICINE* authors, fpeaks of an Efculapius, fon to Sydik> or the Juft, and a princefs of the family of the Titans. The celebrated Marfliam, whofe opinion is an authority to the learned, mentions an Efculapius, king of Memphis ; he was brother to the firft Mercury, lived two hundred years after the deluge, and more than a thoufand before the Grecian Efcu- lapius. Eufebius likewife gives an account of an Egyptian Efculapius, a famous phyfician, who contributed greatly in propagating throughout Egypt the ufe of letters, which had been invented by Mercury. It is in Phcenicia and Egypt then we muft feek for the true Efculapius. Honoured as a divinity In both countries, his religious ceremonies were brought into Greece by means of colonies. They were firft eftablifhed in Epidaurus a cij:y of Pelo- ponnefus, and foon after the Greeks pretended that he was originally of their country ; but as their mythology was very uncertain, his hiftory is differently related. According to tiie poets he was defcended from Apollo and Coronis, daughter of Phlegyas. Efculapius, the moment of his birth, was expofed upon a mountain, where he was nourifhed by a goat. The ihepherd who dif- coveredhim, thought he faw the infant furrounded with rays of light, and carrying him home, deli- vered him to his wife Trigone by whom he was I brought GODS OF MEDICINE. £ 87 brought up. When able to fpeak, he was placed under the tuition of the celebrated Centaur Chiron. His genius, lively and penetrating, enabled him to make great progrefs in the knowledge of herbs, and the compofition of medicines. According to the cuftom of thofe times he pradlifed both furgery and phyfic, and attained fo great a degree of excellence that he was regarded firft as the in- ventor, and afterwards as the god of medicine. The Efculapius, contemporary with Hercules and Jafon, accompanied them in the expedition of the Argonauts, and rendered them effential fervice. A Ihort time after his death he was honoured as a divinity, and being placed in heaven, formed the fign called the dragon. His defcendants reigned over part of Meflina : it was thence that his two fons, Podalirius and Machaon, went to the Trojan war. The poets pretended that the fkill of Efcu-- lapius extended even to the ralfing of the dead i that Pluto complained of this to Jupiter, afferting that his kingdom became a defart; and that Jupi- tcr to appeafe his brother, cruflied the phyfician with a thunderbolt. We have already mentioned, that Apollo to revenge the death of his fon, flew the Cyclops with his arrows. At Epidaurus, Efculapius was honoured fometimes under the form of a ferpent, and fometimes under that of a man. His ftatue^ from the hand of Thrafimedes of Paros, was 28S CODS OF MEDICINE. was like that of Jupiter Olympius at Athens, of gold and ivory, but not more than half the fize. He is Teprefented fitting upon a throne, holding in one hand a wand, and repofing the other upon the head of a ferpent. Round his temple were feen a number of pillars infcribed with the names of thole who pretended to have received cures from him. The ferpent and the cock were par- ticularly confecrated to this deity. Efculapius was feigned to have proceeded under the form of a ferpent, from the egg of a crow. A man having found means to introduce one of thefe reptiles into the egg of a crow, dcpofited it in the foundation of the temple building to the honour of Efculapius, pretending that he found it there, and that it was Efculapius himfelf under that difguife. This ftory gained credit with the people, who ran in crouds to pay their adoration to the god of health. The priells of this deity being well verfed in the prafticc of medicine, and pofleffing the fecrets of Efculapius, difoenfcd remedies to the fick, and attributed to their divinity all the honour of the cure. The ferpent became the fymbol of Efculapius ; it was likewife that of prudence, a quality fo necef- fary in phyficians. Titus Livius relates, that the Romans being vifited by a peftilence, were in- ftrucled by the facred bQoks of the Sybils, to go and fetch Efculapius from Epidaurus, For GODS OF MEGICINE. 289 Pot this purpofe they deputed ambafladors, \vho received from the priefts a^tame fnake, which they affcrted was Efculapius himfelf It was folemnly embarked, and on the arrival of the vefiel at an Ifland in the Tiber, the reptile efcaped and concealed itfeJf am.ong the reeds. Thinking the God had chofen this place for his abode, they raifed him a fuperb temple on the fame fpot, and bordered the whole Ifland with fine white marble, giving it the form, or rather the plan of a large veflTel. It was thus that, in the four hundred and fixty-fecond year of the city, the worfhip of Efculapius was introduced at Rome. We fliall not conclude our account of this fpecics of divinities without obferving, that the Greeks and Romans granted divine honours to friendfliip. The former called it Phi/ia -, the latter reprefcnted it under the form of a young female, with her head uncovered, clothed in a fimple drefs, having this infcription at the bottom : •* LIFE AND DEATH. On her forehead was written "Winter andfum- mcr." In her hand flie held a fcroll, infcribed •' Far and near/' Thefe exprefTions and fymbols fignify that friend- fliip is ever young, is the fame at all times, in abfence and in prefcnce, in life and in death ; that Ihc fears no dangers in ferving a friend, and that U for '5 -i 290 DEMI-GODS AND HEROES. for him flie has no fdcrets. This laft idea was ex- prefled by one of her hands placed upon her heart. This pidure, eloquent as it is, does not equal the expreflions of Montagne, when bewail- ing the death of a friend he fays, ^ Since thou art gone, all to me is forrow and regret ; our hearts, our minds were one 5 we mingled our tears, our griefs were fhared, our pleafures doubled, but now, my woes receive the addition of thy lofs, and if fome tranfient joy furprize my mind, I rcoroach mvfelf, and think I rob thee of thy part.' OF DEMI-GODS AND HEROES. PRELIMINARY REFLECTIONS. In our preliminary refledions we have already faid that the firft families feparated, and that numerous colonies having long travelled in hopes of finding more happy abodes, quickly funk into the grofleft depravity. Thefe colonies carried with them only a faint remembrance of ancient traditions 3 every day dlminirtied their knowledge of the true Godj the impetuous movements of the pafTions became the only guides, and man, being thus degraded, hurried on BEMl-GODS AND HEROES. 291 Cn from error to error, till he at lafl: arrived at that ♦.Ireadful condition, when the belief in a juft and powerful God, the dilpenfer of rewards and punifli- ments, becomes only a fource of terror to the wicked. It was then the guilty wretch, alarmed at every danger, at every peal of thunder, invoked the aid of doubt to fnatch him from his cruel ftate, and dared advance that horrid blafphemy-— *^ There is no God.'* This lafc reilraint once broken, ignorance and barbarity concluded what fin had begun. The degeneracy of parents was increafed in their cor- rupted offspring. Virtue and Truth, unwelcome guells on earth, returned to heaven, and left their place to Vice. Slaves to their defires, no bounds retrained them. This finful race, forgetful even €>i their Creator, could only produce hordes of robbers and affaflins, and the weak, having no refource againft the powerful, became unavoidably their prey. However, as the property of guilt Is only to increafe its own misfortunes, and to pollute what- ever it touches, experience, and the infupportable weight of mifery, at lafl: refl:ored fome morality to the world. The neceffity of a proteftion fu- perior to that of man was perceived 5 to heaven they directed their eyes in fearch of it; but the true God being no longer known, the elements, ftars, and whatever appeared fupcrior to human V 2 force. -ftgz DEMI-GOnS AND HEROES. force, became the obje* I fli(3vver of gold, penetrated into the towen and not long after, Perfeus was born. The guards re- ported that Jupiter had eluded their vigilance; but Acrifius refufing to liften to their flory, put to death the nurfe of Danae, and enclofed his daughter and her child in a chefl, which was thrown into the fea. Driven by the waves towards one of the Cyclades^ this chefl was picked up by Diftys^ brother of Polydeftes. By the king of the country Danae and her fon were itiofl hofpitably received^ and Perfeus was brought up in his court; but as this hero grew up, he gave umbrage to Poly- defies, who difmiffed him his court, and expofed him to the mofl imminent danger, by fending him to kill Medufa and bring him her head. On this occafion the gods themfelves came to his affifl- ance; Minerva lent him her mirror, or rather Jegis, which ferved as his fhield; Mercury lent him his wings, and his fcymeter, forged by Vulcan - and Pluro accommodated him with his helmet. By the help of the wings he could trarifport him- felf wherever he pleafed, and the helmet and mir- ror enabled whoever pofTefTed them to fee all, but remained himfelf invifible. Thus powerfully fuccourcd, Perfeus furprifed Medufa, and fevered her head from her body. The cruelty of Acrifius, however, could not Prevent the accomplifhment of the oracle. He Y ftll 3" MEDUSA AND THE CORGONS. fell by the hands of Perfeus, in the manner which we Ihall hereafter mention. This part of the fable of Perfeus too nearly rcfembles his hiftory to need any explanation. We fliall only obferve that his armour, fo cele- brated by the poets, was notliing but an allegory. By the wings of Mercury, we are to underftand the veCTel which carried Perfeus to the coaft of Africa. The helmet of Pluto, which he wore upon his head, expreffcd the fecrecy neceffary to fecurc fuccefs to his enterprife ; and the fnield of Minerva was the fymbcl of prudence, a quality he fo much ftood in need of. We ftall continue the hiftory and fable of Perfeus in rekting what we meet with in mythology concerning Medufa, the Gorgons and Andromeda. FABLE OF MEDUSA AND THE GORGONS. Phorcus, fays Hefiod, had by Ceto two daughters, Pephredo and Enyio, born with white hair. , He was likewife father of the Gorgons, who refide at the extremity of the world, beyond the ocean, near the abode of night. Their names were Stheno, Euryale and Medufa ; this laft was mortal, but Euryale and Stheno were immortal, and enjoyed perpetual youth. - The god of the ocean i was MEDUSA AND THE GORGON^S. ^ ^33 >vds firuck with the charms of Medufa, but this did not prevent her tragic end; while fleeping ihe Vas furprifed by Perfeus, who cut off her head^ from the blood of which proceeded the hero Chrifaor, and the horfe Pegafus — Chrifaor derived his name from a golden fword which he held in his hand when born — He married Calllrhce, daughter ofOceanus, and was father of Geryon, a famous giant, having three heads. — Pegafus was fo called from being born near the ocean. At the very in- ftant of his birth, he ftruck the earth with his foot, and immediately produced the fountain Hippocrene, fo celebrated by the poets; then quitting the earth, he afcended to the rcfidence of the gods, where he inhabits the palace of Jupi- ter, and is employed in tranfporting thunder and lightning. - ^fchylus, in defcribing the daughters of Phor- cus, faysi they had but one eye and one tooth. Which they made ufe of alternately. This tooth for ftrength furpaffed the tufks of a boar 5 their hands were brafs 3 their hair was formed of fnakes, and their look w'as inftant death. Pindar fays, that the Gorgons transformed into ftones thofe who looked on them, and Perfeus, to revenge himfelf on Poiydeftes, and the inhabitants of the iile of Seriphus, changed them into ftones, by prefenting to them the head of Medufa. He reprefents Minerva affifting Perfeus whilft y 2 he 3-4 ME0USA AMD THE GORGOKS. he approached Medufa, and relates, that the god- defs furprifed at the melody which proceeded from the groans of the Gorgons and the hiffing of the ferpents, invented a flute in imitation of them, and beilowed it on mankind. He adds, that Minerva having broken the horfe Pegafus to the bridle, gave it Bellerophon when going to com- bat the Chimera. This hero wifliing to afcend even to the {l<:ies, was thrown headlong to the earth, and his courfer placed among the ftars. Ovid in his Metamorphofes fpeaks of the extreme beauty of Medufas he fays fhe wai> famous for her fine hair. Neptune, fmittea with her charms, declared his paffion to her in the temple of Minerva. The goddefs, irritated at this profanation, changed her locks into fnakes, and affifted Perfeus to furprife and con- quer her. Pegafus being produced in the man-, ner we have already related, was m.ounted by Perfeus, who flew towards Mauritania, where he revenged himfelf on Atlas, who had refufed him the rights of hofpitality, by changing him into a mountain of the fame name.- From thence he diredted his courfe into Ethiopia, where he deli- vered Andromeda from a fea monfl:er, which wa$ on the point of devouring her. He likewifc" transformed into ftones Phineus his rival, and the foldiers that accompanied him, by fliewirtg them the head of Medufa : in all his expeditions it was of STORY OF ANDROMEDA^ 3*5 of fervice to him, and he at laft gave It to Mi- nerva, who placed it in the middle of her cegis. To thefe flories Ovid adds, that Perfeus hav- ing killed Medufa, took flight over the plains of Lybia, and that the drops of blood which fell from the Gorgon's head were changed into fer- pents. Such is the origin he gives to the vene- mous reptiles which are met with at every flep ia that country. STORY OF ANDROMEDA. vJviD in his Metamorphofes fays, that Calliope, mother of Andromeda, having irritated the Nereids by prefuming to compare herfelf with them in beauty, drew down their vengeance' upon the whole country. The oracle of Ammon being confuked, returned for anfwer, that to ap- peafe their anger Andromeda mufi: be expofed to a fea monflrer. The unhappy princefs was bound fafl: to a rock, and now almoft within the jaws of the devourer, when Perfeus mounted on Pegafus perceived her from aloft in the air, flew to her relief, flew the monfl:er, broke afunder her chains, and refl:ored her to her parents. Andromeda had been promifed in marriage to him who fliould deliver her; Perfeus efpoufed her, but during the nuptials, Phineus, nephew of Calliope, to whom y 3 before ^o6 STORY OF AKDROMEDA. befoi^ her delivery fhe had been betrothed, pr^r fented himfeif with a troop of armed followers :!;> the banqueting hall, and began a moft bloody- combat. Perfeus feeing himfeif in danger of being over- powered by numbers, and willing to puniih more, effeftually this cowardly attack, metamorphofed them into ftones by prefenting to them the head of Medufa. After this enfrac-ement, he conducted his wife to the ifle of Seriphus, where he delivered his mo- ther from the addrefles of Polydectes, whom he fought and flew. He afterwards vanquiilied Pr^- tus, who had dethroned Acrifius, father of Danae. It was then the Oracle was fulfilled. Acrifius beinp- informed that his grandfon Ferfeus was re- turning trium.phantly to Argos, went as far as Larifius, on the river Peneus, to meet him. He arrived while they were engaged in the game at quoits, at that time much in ufe ; Perfeus wiiliing to difplay his ftrength, difcharged his quoit, but fo unfortunately, that he ftruck his grandflither, Acrifius, dead on the fpot. Per- feus, unable to forgive himfeif for this involuntary aftion, flayed a very ihort time at Argos. He en^ao-ed Me^-apenthus, fon of Pra^tus, to exchange kingdoms with him, and went to found Mycens;, which became the capital of his new dominions. Such STORY OF ANDROMEDA. 327 Such is the fabulous account of Perfeus, which we find continually intermixed with his hiflory. This hero, during his life, was a great patron of letters, and built an academy upon Mount Helicon. From thefe tw^o motives; joined to the luftre of his acflions, he was by the poets exalted to the heavens ; they honoured him as a demi-god, and affigned him, and the family of his wife, places among the conftellations, under the names of Perfeus, Calliope, and Andromeda. The monfcer which was to have devoured An- dromeda was reprefented by the fign called the v/hale. The recital of the adtions of this prince abounds in the fupernatural, and as his conquefts and expeditions had been executed with equal wifdom, rapidity and fuccefs, it was pretended that the gods had lent him their arms ; Mer- cury his wings, to exprefs the velocity of his progrefs ; Pluto his helmet, the fymbol of that prudence and difcretion, which taught him to ob- ferve the moft profound fecrecy ; and Pallas her buckler, to mark the good fortune which pro-, tefted him from every danger. This prince had a temple at Athens. Argos and the Ifle of Seriphus only iionoured him as a hero. V4 EXPLA^ 328 HISTORY OF PERSEUS. EXPLANATION of the FABLES which are cok- iNECTED WITH THE HISTORY ot PERSLUS 1 ERSEus on his return to Greece, rendered thanks to the gods for the fucccfs of his expe- dition. He confecrated the prow of his fhip, an4 placed it in the temple of Jupiter pn Mounf Olympus. This prow reprefented a horfe, and the veflel was called Pegafus. Olympus was fuppofed to be the refidence of the gods. Thefe two circum- flances the poets embellifhed by faying, that Pe- gafus remained only a moment upon eardi, and then directed his flight towards the refidence of the gods. Perfeus confecrated fome other parts of his veflel in the temple of Apollo, upon Mount ParnaflTus. This temple the poets defcribed as the common habitation of Apollo and the Mufes. They re- prefented the genius of poetry under the form of a flying horfe, which furmounts all obfl:acles ; and the fountain Hippocrene, which Pegafus caufed to fpring from the Earth by a blow with his foot^ Js intended to exprefs, that the produclions of genius are never marked v.ith the fervile fl:amp of labour, but refemble pure and cryfl:al ftreams fi|^ plied from an abundant fountain. The HISTORY OF PERSEUS. 329 The learned were much divided in their opinions concerning the Gorgons. Diodorus pretends that they were warlike women who inhabited Lybia, near the lake Tritonide. They were frequently at war with the Amazons their neigh- bours. In the times of Perfeus they were go- verned by a queen named Medufa. This hero defeated them, and flew their queen ; but Her- cules alone was able entirely to exterminate them. By fome ancient authors, the Gorgons are reprefented as warlike women of great beauty. Admiration at the fight of them baniflied all idea of defence, and they availed themfelves of this advantage to attack and defeat tlieir enemy. This fatal effe6l of their beauty, the poets de- fcribed by faying, that their looks converted into flone, and deprived of motion. Pliny, the naturalifl-, paints them as uncivilized females, extremely formidable. Near the Wefl:ern Cape he fays are the Gorgates, formerly inhabited by the Gorgons. Hanno, general of the Carthagi- nians, having penetrated into their country, met with women who in fpeed equalled tiic . J.-Uty of a horfe, or even a bird. He took two of them who were covered with hair. Their flvins were hung up in the temple of Jupiter at Carthage, where t!iev remained till the defl:ruftion of that city, Paufanias 33^ HISTORY OF PERSEUS- Paufanlas mentions an hiilorian, v/ho gives a fimilax* account. He imagines Medufa to have been a barbarous woman of furprifing ftrength, who was conquered by Perfeus. Mr. Fourmont, by confuking the eaftern lan- guages, finds in the names of the Gorgons, thofe of three veiTels which carried on a trade along the coaft of Africa, where they met with gold, ele- phants' teeth, horns of different animals and pre- cious ftones. Thefe commodities were afterwards brought into the ports of Ph(xnicia; this, fays he, is the explanation of the tooth, horns and eye which were common to the three Gorgons. Thefe veffels ha3 prows which reprefented monfters ; Perfeus met, engaged and captured themj his veficl v/as called Pegafus, and carried a flying horfe at her head. When this prince arrived in Greece with immenfe riches, there were great re- joicings for his return, and the poets invented the fable of Medufa and the Gorgons. Thefe expla- nations are fufficient to fhov/ the lengths to which their imaginations led them, vv'hen the poets wiflied to defcribe the iliufirious actions of thofe heroes whom they confidered as their friends and pro- tedors. V BKLLi^.- BELLEROPHON AND THE CHIMJERA. S3* BELLEROPHON AND THE CHLM.^RA. >ELLER0PH0N, according to Homer, was fon of Glaucus, king of Corinth, and grandfon to ^ifyphus. He was firft called Hipponous, but having killed his brother, or fome other Corin- thian of diftlnction, named Belier, they gave him the appellation of Bellerophon, murderer of Belier. Compelled to fly to Argos, he was there favour- ably received by Praetus j but Antcea or Sthoenobea his wife, unable to procure a return of the tender fentiments fhe entertained for Bellerophon, accufed }iim to her huiband of an attempt to feduce her. Enraged at fuch an infult, he firfl: propofed to put him to deatl\5 but out of refpecl to the rights of hofpitality he fent him to lobates, king of Lycia and father of Sthcenobea, with a letter, importing a defire that he fliould fmd means to make away with the bearer. The. hero fet out under the pro- tection of the deities, guardians of innocence, and arrived fufely in Lycia, on the banks of the river Xanthus. lobates received him with joy, and according to the cuftom of thofe times, celebrated feafts during nine days, in gratitude to the gods for {he arrival of the young prince. The tenth day he read the letter of Pr^tus, and unwilling HISTORY OF THE FIRST iMINOS, 8CC. 333 33* BSI.LEROPHOK AND THE CHIMARA. unwilling himfclf co Ihed the blood of Bellerophon, he fen: him to combat a fiis^htful monfter called Chimcera, which laid wade the country. This monfter was of immortal defcenti it had the head of a lion, the body of a goat^ and the tail of a dragon ; it v^cmited from ko mouth volumes of fire and fmoke. The young hero however,- afTifted by Minerva, who brought him the horfe Pcgafus, flew it with his arrows. After this de- feat of the Chimera, and feveral other expeditions from which he always returned viftorious, lobates, convinced of his innocence, gave him in m.arriage his daughter, Philonoe, and declared him fuccefibr to his throne. Sthoenobea feeing all the crimes fhe had engaged in ineffeftual, flung with fhame and remorfe, terminated her exiftcnce by poifon. After the death of Bellerophon, the poets placed him among the flars, and willing to preferve the remembrance of the Chima*ra, they afcribed to it a genealogy -, they faid it was daughter of Typhon and Echidna. The defcription which they give of it is entirely allegorical. In Lycia there were feve- ral mountains covered with extenfive forcfls, which were inhabited by lions and other beads of prey. Bellerophon was charged by lobates to render thefe forefts lefs dangerous, by hunting and de- ftroying the wild beafts, which having accom- pliflied, it was pretended that he liad vanquifhed the Chima^ra. The ^The name of this pretended animal is now ap* plied to all imaginary monilers. The poets added that it vomited forth flames; this was to exprefs a volcano, placed on the fum- mit of one of thefe mountains. By a proverb, letters, which contained any thing to the difadvantage of the perfons who carried them, were called letters of Bellerophon. In the fecond volume of the Thefauro Britan^ nlco is to be feen a medal which reprefents Belle- rophon in the air mounted upon Pegafus, giving the finifliing blow to the Chimasra. This medal was undoubtedly engraved from the fable of this hero, and not his hiftory; for every thing con- curs to prove that Pegafus was a veiTcl, and not a horfc. HISTORY OF THE FIRST MlNOS, RHADAMAX- THUS, AND SARPEDON. OoME of the ancients, and in imitation of them, feveral moderns, have defcribed Minos fometimes as a legiflator of confummate wifdom and jufticc, and fometimes as a fanguinary cruel tyrant. The chronicle of Paros explains this contradiflion in a very fatisfadlory manner, by jfhowing that there were two of this name. The firft, fon of Jupiter Aftcrius and Europa, was brother 334 HISTORY OF THE FIRST^ MIX05, brother ta Rhadamanthiis and Sarpedon, and fuc- ccedcd to die throne of Crete after the death of his father. This prince efpoufed Ithone, by whom he had Lycafte, who fucceeded him, and a daughter named Acacallida. This Minos governed his people with great mlidnefs, and the ifle of Crete, till that time little known, became under his gfo- vernment much celebrated. In the eleventh epoch, the marbles of Paros mention two cities which he built, Apollonia, and MinoiaLyftia. The laws of this prince have procurred him the reputation of one of the grcatefi; legiflators of an- tiquity: to flrengthen their influence and render them more facred, he feigned that they were dic- tated to him by his father Jupiter in a retired cavern in the ifle of Crete, v/hcre he ufed to refort„ It is remarkable that almou: all the ancient leo^ifla- o tors have thought it neccfiary to give a divine origin to their laws. Zoroafler had his genius^ Numa Pompilius his nymph Egeria. Pythagoras gave it out that he had defcended into the domi- nions of Pluto. Epimenidcs faid that he had flept fifty years, and that during this fleep he had re- ceived the code of laws which he propofed, from the mouth of Jupiter himfelf. Thefe great men perceived, that the authority of an individual, even though pofTeffed of kingly pov/er, v/as not fuffi- ci^nt wKen it was neccfiary to reprefs the paffions and RHADAMANTITUS AND SARPEDON". 335 and infpire religious veneration for the laws. This perfuafion undoubtedly led them to feek the aid of divine fupportj though it is not improbable that they had fome knowledge of the glorious manner in which the true God had delivered ta Mofes the two tables of the law on mount Sinai ; the tradidon of this event Vv'as univerfally difrufed, and there is every reafon to believe that each of thefe legiflators adopted Mofes for their model. Every ninth year Mines went and enclofed himfelf In the cavern of Jupiter, to acquire frefh know- ledge, and to reform or make additions to his laws as circumftances required, and experience dictated. In procefs of time, this fpecies of fanduary was called Jupiter's cavern. So much were the laws of Minos refpefted by antiquity, that Lycurgus wTnt into Crete to acquire a knowledge of them, and the major part of thofc which he inflituted for the Lacedemonians, v/erc copied from the Cretan law^giver. Jofephus thought Minos alone could be compared to Mofes, and certainly this eulogium cannot be fufpectcd when it is given by a Jewilli hiftorian. Minos v/as fen of a Phoenician princefs, and always miaintained a correfpondence with that country. It was by this means, probably, he be- came acquainted with the laws of Mofes, which enabled 33^ HISTORY OF THE FIRST MIN'OS, &:c. enabled him fometimes to take them as models for his own. After having governed his people with great wiPiom and moderation, he died in the ifle of Crete, and this infcription was placed upon his tomb: The Cretans afterwards wifhing to infpire a be- lief that this was the tomb of Jupiter himfelf, effaced the name of Minos. The poets, to add greater celebrity to the equity of this prince, defcribed him as principal judge of the infernal regions j TEacus and Rhadamanthus were joint with him in this office, but both yielded the fuperiority t(^ Minos. To exprefs this fuperiority, he was reprefented ■with a fceptre, and near him was an urn which contained the fate of mortals. The Arundelian marbles make this prince con- temporary with Pandion, firft king of Athens^ Rhadamanthus, brother of Minos, was a prince remarkable for his wifdom, modefty and temper- ance. His great prudence and virtue made him frequently confulted by Minos in the foundation or execution of his laws. Being fent by Minos toeftablifh thefe laws in the Archipelago, lie gained pofleiTion of feveral neighbouring iflands entirely by HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS, &C. 837 by the power of his perfuafion and eloquence. His love of juftice led the poets to rank him among> the infernal judges. Sarpedon, brother of Minos and Rhadamanthus, difputing the crown of Crete, was vanquifhed, and obliged to fly into Caria, where he built the city Miletus i he then penetrated farther into Afia, and arrived at the country of the Milyades, which a ihort time after afTumed the name of Lycia, from Lycus, king of Pandion, and brother of ^Egeus, who took refuge there. This Sarpedon muft not be confounded with that of the fame name, mentioned by Homer, who reigned in Lycia, about a century after the former, and led to the fiege of Troy the Lycians, who inhabited the banks of the river Xanthus, HISTORY of the SECOND MINOS.—STORYof the MINOTAUR.—FIRST EXPLOITS of THESEUS. After the death of Minos the firft, Lycafles his fon fucceedcd to the throne. His reign contained nothing remarkable, and his me- mory was foon obliterated by his fon, the fecond Minos, fo celebrated for his power and conquefts. Never could prince before his time boaft of fuch numerous fleets i with thefc he quickly njade him- z ftir 338 HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS. felf mafter of the neighbouring Iflcs. At lad, arrived at the higheft pitch of glory, he faw his peace and happinefs deftroyed by a circumftancc which we fhall here relate. As the celebration of the Panathenas always drew to Athens the mofl confiderable perfons of Greece, Minos wifhed his fon Androc-eos to be likewife there. This young prince carried ofF every prize, and acquired general efteem and admiration. He cemented the moft tender friend- Ihip with the fons of Pallas, brother to i^geus, king of Athens. This connexion excited the jea- loufy of -^geus, as at that time Thefeus his fon and heir to the throne was not acknowledged. The friendfliip of Androgeos for the Pallantides, infpired JEgtus with a fpecies of terror; he feared left Minos, by the perfuafion of the fons of Pallas, fliould employ his forces to deprive him of his kingdom. To free himfelf from fo many cares and apprehenfions, he caufed Androgeos to be aflafiinated on the confines of Attica as he was returning to his father. But this crime did not remain long unpuniflied ; Minos prepared a fleet and invaded Attica, before they were in any con ^ dition to oppofe him. Nyfa, a city near Athens, which derived its name from Nyfus, brother of i^geus, was the firft which felt the power of his arms : yet, though taken by furprlfe, it could have made a vigorous refiftancc had it not have been for HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS^ 339 For the treachery of Scylla, daughter of Nyfus. Perceiving Minos from the battlements of the city, (lie conceived a moft defperate pafiion for him. Acquainted with the fecrets of her father and all his refolutions, fhe communicated them to Minos, and found means to convey to him the keys of the city, which Ihe fecreily ftole during the night. The Cretan mxOnarch profited by this abomina- ble treachery to gain poffeflion of the city, but frruck with horror at the bafenefs of the perpetra- tor, he refufed to fee her, and Scylla, flung with Ihame and remorfe for a crime fo dreadful and fo fruitlefs, threw herfelf into the fea. The Greeks alhamed of having fuffered themfelves to be fur- prized, wifhed to conceal the caufe of their defeat by pretending that the defliny of Nyfa depended on a fatal lock of hair which grew upon the head of Nyfus. They faid, that Scylla having fecretly gained pofTefTion of it and fent it to Minos, theit city foon after fell into his hands. The poets added, that Scylla was transformed Into a lark, and her father Nyfus into a hawk, and that he is feen continually purfuing his daughter to punifh her bafenefs. Megarcus arriving too late for the relief of Nyfa, rebuilt it after the departure of Minos, and furrounded it with walls of fuch great beauty that they were faid to be the workmanlhip of Apollo. From that time this city bore the z 2 name- 34<^ HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS. HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS. 34* name of Megara. The deftru6lion of Nyfa did not fatisfy the vengeance of Minos, he proceeded to lay fiege to Athens. Heaven itfelf feemed to take part in his caufe. An extraordinary drought defolated all Greece, and the oracle being confiilted, returned for anfwer, that the gods could only be appeafed by the prayers of iEacus. This procured relief for part of Greece, but heaven was inflexible to Athens and the reft of Attica. The Athenians under the impulfe of their terror became cruel, and upon the faith of an oracle, which commanded the facrifice of fome ftrangers, they violated the facred rights ofhofpitality, by offering up the daughters ofa Lacedemonian, named Hya- cinthus, who had refided among them but a fhort time. Finding their condition no better for this barbarous oblation, they again confuked the ora- cle, and were informed that they muft give the moft perfeft fatisfaftion to Minos. Ambaffadors were fent to implore the clemency of the viftori they obtained peace, but on condition that they fliould fend every fevcnth year to Crete a tribute of kvcn youths, and as many young females. Who were to be the vidims, was decided by lot. The vanquiihed Athenians endeavoured to bring an odium on the memory of this Minos, by invent- ing a fable which became extremely famous. According to this fable, the king of Crete ufed to confine confine his prifoners in the noted labyrinth con{lru61:ed by Dxdalus ; there they became the prey of the Minotaur, a monfter half man and half bull, the offspring of Pafiphae, wife of Minos. This monfter Is merely the produ6lion of fancy. We learn from hiftory, that Minos inftituted fwne- ral games in honour of his fon Androgeos. The Athenian prifoners became the rev/ard of the vidlors at thefe games ; and the firft who obtained the prize was Taurus, a man of a haughty cruel difpofition, who treated his flaves with great feve- rity; this, together with his name, which fignlfies bull, gave occafion to the ftory we have juft related. The honour of delivering the Athenians from this dilgraceful tribute was referved for Theieus. The ambition of this young prince was to tread in the fteps of Hercules. Without being conftrained by lot, he obtained of his father ^Egeus permiQion to accompany the prifoners. During the equipment of the vefTel deftined to tranfport them to Crete,, numerous facrifices were offered to render the gods propitious. Thefeus, on his arrival at the port of Phalera, made a folemn vow that he would fend every year to offer a facrifice in honour of Apollo at Delphos, and the oracle which he con- fuked returned for anfwer ^^ that love would be his guide." At the concliifion of the ceremonies the wind became favourable, and fetting fail he foon z 3 after /^ 34« HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS. after landed in Crete. His youth, beauty and heroic deportment caught the eye of Ariadne, daughter of Minos. Determined to fave him from defrruftion, fhe conveyed to him a ball of thread to afTift him in difcntangling himfelf from the windings of the labyrinth. Thefeus arrived at the Minotaur, engaged and flew him. We fhall now difencumber hiftory from the orna- ments of fiftion. Some authors pretend that The- feus did not fight in the labyrinth, but publickly in the place where they celebrated the funeral games of Androgeos. They fay that the prefence of Ariadne infpired the hero with fuch courage, that he van- quifhed Taurus, and that this victory was not dif- pleafing to Minos, as the infolence and ambition of this tyrant had already begun to give him umbrage. Other hiftorians of more weight and more conform- able to the circumflances of the fable, fay, that Ariadne fmi.tten with the charms of Thefeus, fur- niflied him with arms to combat Taurus, and gave him a plan of the labyrinth, which flie had ob- tained from Daedalus. That Thefeus by this means made his cfcape after the vi6lory, accom- panied by Ariadne, and that both arrived in fafety at the ifle of Naxos. A fccond fable fays, that Thefeus abandoned his benefaftrefs, but that Bacchus finding her overwhelmed with grief, had no great difficulty in perfuading her to forget one w^ho had proved himfelf HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS. 343 himfelf guilty at once of ingratitude and infidelity. Hiftory, however, contradidts this, and informs vsy that Onarus, prieft, or rather confidential friend of Bacchus, carried ofi^ this princefs from the ifland of Naxos. That Bacchus foon obtained par- don for this violence, and cfpoufed Ariadne. > The crown which Bacchus prefented to her was, by the poets, placed among the conftellations, Hiftory purfuing the relation adds, that from Naxos, Thefeus proceeded to the ifle of Delos, where he confecrated a ftatue from the hand of P^edalus, which had been given him by Ariadne, and which recalled to his mind the too painful remembrance of his loft princefs. In this ifland he inftituted a dance called the Crane, in which were imitated the different windings of the labyrinth, Thefeus, ever thinking of Ariadne, and inconfo- lable for her lofs, forgot a promife which he had made his father iEgeus, the moment of his depar- ture. The vefiel which carried the prifoners had black fails, and Thefeus had promifed to hoift a white flag if he returned vidtorious. For the reafons we have already given, the vcflel ap- peared in fight of Athens without the appoint- ed fignal, and the unhappy -/^Lgeus, perceiving only the black fails, caft himfelf into the fea, and there periflied. From that time the fca of Athens was called the iEgean fea. To perpetuate ithc remembrance of this fatal event, a chapel was z 4 built 844 HISTORY or THE SECOND MINOS. E built upon the fea fhore, in which was feen a rc- prefentation of Viftory without wings, to fhew that the triumph of Thefeus was known too late, Thefeus, on his return to Athens, performed the laft duties to his father; he inflituted feafts, the cxpence of which was defrayed by the families of thofe prifoners whom he had reftored to liberty. He caufcd medals to be ftruck, on which were feen the reprefcntation of a bull; but nothing rendered the commemoration of this viftory fo famous, as the care with which the vow made by Thefeus to Apollo was afterwards executed. Every year were fent to Dclos ambafladors crowned with olive branches. This embafly was called Theoria, or a vifit to the god ; and to tranfport them, the veflel was employed in which Thefeus had failed. So carefully did they preferve it and keep it in repair, that it ftill exifted near a thou-- fand years after the death of Thefeus. From the moment the high-prieft had purified this veflel, till that of its return, no public executions took place in Attica. After the flight of Thefeus, Minos, determining to punifli Daedalus for having favoured the efcape of this prince, imprifoned him with his fen Icarus in the labyrinth, which that ingenious man had himfelf conftrudled ; but hav- ing cafily unravelled its intricacies, the doors were opened for him by Pafiphae, wife of Minos, who likcwife procured him a veflTel, to which he fafl:ened fails. HISTORY OF THE SECOND MINOS. 343 falls, till that time unknown to the Athenians. By the help of a favourable wind he outfailed the galley of Minos, who was purfuing him, though provided with a number of excellent rowers. D^dalus, having efcape d from his for- midable enemy, came to an ifland at a great dif- tance from the main land, and there his fon Ica- rus, defcending from the fliip with too much pre- cipitation, fell into the fea and was drowned. The poets, to celebrate this flight, pretended that Dasdalus had formed himfelf wings ; and de- fcribed the death of Icarus by faying, that negleft- ing the council of his flither, he had attempted to foar near the fun 3 but that the heat melting the wax wdth which his wings were attached to his body, he fell into the fea, and there periflied. This fea was afterwards called the Icarian fea. — D^dalus being at laft arrived in Sicily, there found with Cocalus an afylum which had been refufed him by fcveral princes, from their dread of the power of Minos. — But even here he was not an reft, Minos purfued him into Sicily, and fum- moned Cocalus to give him up his prifoner.— • Cocalus, unwilling to violate the rights ofhofpitali- t}", and fore feeing the advantage he might derive from a man of fuch diftinguiflied talents, propofed to Minos to fettle the affair in an amicable man- ner. This prince imprudendy accepted the ofi^er. Cocalus received him with every mark of dif- tindtion; i M 34^ HISTOHY OF THE SECOND MIMOS. PH^DRA AND HIPPOLYTUS. 347 tindlion ; but thefe exterior marks of refpeft con- cealed the blackeft defign , he invited him to en- ter a bath, and there caufed him to be fuffocated. To conceal his treachery, he alfefted the mofi: lively grief for the death of Minos, and reftored the body to his foldiers, who interred it fecredy. The better to conceal the place of his interment, a temple was erecfted to Venus over it, which af- terwards became very farnous. Some centuries after, in building the city of Agrigentum, this tomb was difcovercd, and the aflics of that prince coi- ledted, and fent to the ifland of Crete. Thus died the fecond Minos, v/ho would have been efteemed one of the greateft princes of his time, had it not been for the malignity of the tragic poets, who conftantly endeavoured to fix a re- proach upon his memory. As there were two of the name of Minos, who are frequently confounded together, to diftinguifh them we rnufl remark, that the firft was fon of Jupiter Ailerius and Europa; the fecond, of Lycaftus and Ida, daugh- ter of Corybas. The firft had two brothers, Rhadamanthus and Sarpedon. The fecond had none. The firft had only two children, Lycaftus and Acacadilla -, the fecond was father to Andro- geos, Glaucus, Deucalion, Molus, Ariadne, and Phaedra. The firft was a peaceful prince, a lover of juftice and retirem^ent^ the fecond was a war- rior and a conqueror, whofe peace was confti^ntly 3 dif. difiurbed by domeftic misfortunes. After the death of the fecond Minos, Deucalion mounted the throne, and was fucceeded by Idomeneus his fon. This laft diftingulftied himfelf much at the fiege of Troy, but in his return was forced to quit his kingdom and retire into Italy, where he founded the city of Tarentum. The iUuftrious author of Telemachus has treated this part of the hiftory of Idomeneus in a manner which has pro- cured him immortal honour. HISTORY OF PH^DRA x\ND HIPPOLYTUS. After the death of the fecond Minos, Deucalion his fon afcended the throne of Crete. The- feus fent to him to demand his fifter Phredra in mar- riage. His requeft was granted ; but the blood of Minos was fated to be deftruftive to the repofe of The feus. This princefs, on her arrival at Athens, caft her eyes on the young Hippolytus, fon of Thefeus and the Amazon Antiope -, this fight was fuftici- ent to kindle in her bofom the moft criminal and deadly pafiion. Pretending a defire to appeafc Venus, the implacable enemy of her houfe, flic built a temple to her on a mountain ; here fhe daily reforted to offer frefti facrifice, but her de- votion proceeded from another motive. From the ? 4« PH^DHA AND HIPPOLVTUS. the top of this mountain fhe could fee Hippolytus in a plain below, difplay his flrength, addrefs, and grace In performing his exercifes. She hcrfelf gave the name of Hippolydon to this temple, and it afterwards was called the temple of Venus the Obferver. The indifference and con- tempt of Flippolytus rendered life a burden to her 3 fhame and dcfpair at having made an unfuc- cefsful declaration, determined her to put a period to her exigence ; but unwilling to die without re- venge, flie left behind her a letter, importing, that Hippolytus was the moft criminal of men, and the only caufe of her death. Thefeus, ftruck with horror at the fight of this proof of his guilt, fent immediately for Hippoly- tus, to punifh him for the attempt of which Phn^- dra had accufed him. The young prince haftened to obey the fum- mons in all the fecurity of innocence; but his horfes, urged by the whip, flew with him. over rocks, which breaking the axle of his carriage, his feet became entangled in the harnefs, and thus unfortunately perifhed this youthful hero. Some authors relate his death in a different manner. They fay, that he arrived in prefence of his father, and loft his life as he was leaving Troezene, from which his father had baniihed him, loaded -with maledictions. The unhappy Hippolytus, forrowfully rtfieding on the unjuft difpkafure of fUJCDKA AND HIPPOLYTUS. €49 of his father, had no thought of guiding his horfes, which drew him over a precipice, where he perifhed. This ftory has produced feveral mafterly performances, of which the beautiful tracredy of Racine mufl be confidered as the principal. The poets likewife took pcfTeflion of this event. They pretended that Thefeus implored the af- fiflance of Neptune, and claimed the accom- plifhment of the promife made by that god to grant his firft petition. This too credulous and difconfolate father, unwilling to embrue his hands in the blood of his own fon, abandoned him to the wrath of Neptune, who raifed from the bot- tom of the ocean a horrible monfler, which fo terrified the horfes of Hippolytus, that they ran precipitately with him over rocks, and occafioned his death in the manner already related. Thefeus, when too late, dlfcovered the inno- cence of his fon, and the fable adds, that Efcula- pius, god of medicine, reflored him to life ; but the Athenians, who were witneffes to the death of this young prince, conflantly rejefted this fa- ble. In procefs of time, Hippolytus was adored as a divinity at Troezene. Diomedes raifed a temple to him, and rendered him divine honours. The Trcezenians afErmed that he was not dead, but that he was placed among the conflellations as conduftor of Charles's wain. In the time of Numa J Pompilius t 350 HISTORY OF D^DALUS A:>D Pompilius there appeared an impoftor of the riari^tf of Hippolytus, who inhabited the foreft of Aricia. He aflumed the furname of Virbius, twice a man; and gave out that he had been reftored to life by Efculapius. It appears that it was this pretended Hippolytus who gave occafion to the ftory of Efciilapius being flruck dead by Jupirer, for having reftored a mortal to life. This fable was unknown to the Athenians^ and by no means agrees with the opinion entertained by theTroezenians concerning the true Hippolytus- HISTORY OF D^DALUS AND THE CRETAN LABYRINTH. Jj^^DALus great grandfon of Ereflheus, king of Athens, was the moft ingenious and cele- brated artift of Greece i a flvilful architeft and expert fculptor. It was his fertile genius which invented the axe, the level, and the auger. The honour of having firftmade ufe of fails is likewife afcribed to him, but for nothing was he more famous than for the perfedion he attained in the art of fculpture j his ftatues were faid to be animated, and it was pre- tended that they even walked. This fable is founded upon the flow progrefs which the Greeks had •ittE CRETAN LABYRINTH. 3S« had made in fculpture, before the time of Disdains. Their ftatues, which were extremely rude, and inelegant, had neither eyes, arms, nor legs. Some of thefe ftiapelefs maffes are ftill to be feen in the cabinets of the curious. D^dalus in making his' ftatues, took the human form for his model, and exadlly obferved its proportions. He gave them eyes, even fucceeded in producing a refemblance, added arms to the body, and feparated the legs like thofe of a man in the aft of walking. He after- wards however became more famous by his mlf- fortunes than by his performances. Minos was formidable to all Greece, audit was with aftoniili- ment they faw a fingle individual elude his ven- geance, and brave his power, merely by the eiforts of his own genius. Unhappily for this artift he was not fuperior to jealoufy, which involved him in guilt and eclipfed his glory. He had taken delight in inftruding Talus one of his nephews. The pupil foon became equal to his mafter; he invented the potter's wheel 5 and having one day found the jaw of a fcrpent with fliarp teeth, he made ufe of it in cutting a piece of wood : from this he causrht the idea of a faw, an inftrument fo fimple, and yet fo ufeful. Daedalus pofleffed too much penetration not to perceive that fuch inventions were of real fervice to mankind, and rendered the difcoverers of them immortal. Fearful of being furpafTcd by Talus, he found w 55* HISTORY OF D.'tDALUS AND found means lecretly to make away with him. He was furprifed in the aft of filling up a grave, and being interrogated concerning this extraordinary- occupation, he anfwered, that he had been bury- ing a ferpent. This, by exciting fufpicion, led to the difcovery of the crime. He was condemned to die by the Areopagus, but this fentence was afterwards mitigated to perpetual banifliment. So deteftable an aftion having rendered him odious at Athens, he took refuge in Crete, where for his extraordinary abilities he was gladly received by Minos, It was during his refidence in this ifle, that he built the famous labyrinth near the city of GnoiTus. Pliny affures us, that Dasdalus had been in Egypt, and had taken the model of his labyrinth from that near Thebes, one of the wonders of the worlds but it is certain that he only imitated the windings and the chambers of the paflages, which do not con- ftitute an hundredth part of the Egyptian labyrinth. In the time of Pliny, the Cretan labyrinth no longer exifled; whereas to this day are {ccn the immenfe and magnificent veftiges of that of Egypt, thouo;h built ao-es before the other. The labyrinth of Crete feems to have been nothing more than a vaft prifon. Some authors fay only a quarry from whence the ftone w^as drawn which was employed in building the principal cities of Crete. However that were, Daedalus, obliged to fly from Minos, HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. 353 Minos took flicker in Sicily, where probably he paf- fed the refl: of his days. The time and manner of his death are unknown. To exprefs his gratitude to Cocalus, he formed a canal which receives the river Alabas now called Cantera. On a rock near the city of Agrigentum he built a ftrong citadel, the avenues to which were fo difficult, that they might be defended by an inconfiderable number of men. Here Cocalus refided. The works of Daedalus wefe certainly numerous, but in the courfe of time, from his great reputation, all thofe which poflfefl^ed any great excellence were attributed to him. With refpefl: to Talus, the poets feigned that being thrown by his uncle Daedalus from the top of the citadel of Minerva, he was by that goddefs, the protedtrefs of the arts, metamorphofed into a par* tridge. The mofl: fkilful of the pupils of Dsedalus was Eudocus; he was at the fame time the mofl: grateful. In all his misfortunes he never abandoned his mafl:er. He is likewife the only one whofe name has defcended to pcfl:erity. DIFFERENT HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS CON. CERNING THESEUS. 1 HisEus paffed for the fon of Neptune and ^thras but was in reality fon of -^geus, king of Athens, who was lineally defcended from the A A great 3<54 HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. HiStORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUSi 3i5 great Erefthcus, king of Attica, and feveral other countries. Thefeus, by his mother's fide, was grandfon of Pelops, king of Peloponnefus, one of the mod powerful princes of his time. Pelops had fcveral children, one of whom, named Pittheus, formed the city of Troezene, and had a daughter called ^Ethra, who became the wife of iEgeus. This prince compelled by neceflity to leave her, before his departure carefully concealed a fword under the fragment of a rock, orderino* iEthra if fhe fhould have a fon, to keep him till he fhould haveflrength to raife that ftone and take poffeflion of the fword, promifing to acknowledge him, on bringingthatproof of his birth. Thefeus from his carlieft infancy announced by his every adtion, that he would one day be a great hero. Hercules coming to vifit Pittheus whilft he was at table, laid afide his lion's ikin ; feveral children were terrified at feeing the form of this terrible beafl:, but Thefeus, then only fevcn years of age, feizing an axe which a flave held in his hand, ad- vanced to combat the animal. JEthra havino- fcen frequent proofs of the courage of her fon, at laft difclofed to him the fecret of his birth, on which he raifed up the flone, took pofl^efiion of the fword, and fet out from Troezene for the purpofe of ma- king himfelf known to his father TEgeus. In his way thither he delivered the roads from fcveral robbers and wild beafls which infcftcd them. His Mis firft exploit was to attack Perlphates, who, armed with a bar of iron, lay wait for pafiTcngers in the environs of Epidaurus and killed them. The- feus conquered and flew him, and ever after pre- ferved this weapon as a monument of his firft vidlory. On his arrival at Athens, he found the houfc of iEgeus involved in the greateft calamities. Ac- cording to the accounts of the poets, Medea had taken refuge there, and formed the projedl of marrying jEgeus. They fay that her fkill in magic enabling her to penetrate into every thing, fhe eafily difcovered the youthful Thefeus; that re- garding him as an obf^acle to her defigns, and certain that the king did not yet know him to be his fon, flie infufed fufpicions into^geus, andper- fuaded him to poifon Thefeus at a banquet. The fatal cup was prepared, and the innocentyouthdrew near to receive it, but firft unflieathed his fword, and brandifhed it before the king's eyes. That inftant he was acknowledged by ^geus, who dafhed away the cup, and declared him publickly his fon and fucceffor to his throne. Pallas, fon of londion, had fome pretenfions to this throne; he regarded ^geus himfelf as a ftranger to the royal blood of the Ere£lhides, and having taken arms to difpofTefs him of the kingdom, was defeated and flain with his adherents by Thefeus. After this vidtory, Thefeus went to engage the bull of Marathon, which he took alive, and afterwards facrificed. It A A 2 was 2^6 HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. was a fliort time after this, that he undertook to deliver his country from the fhameful tribute im- pofedupon it by the fecond Minos. This account of the poets is a mixture of the fabulous and hiftorical. We fhall fee in the hiftory of Medea, that this too famous woman could not poffibly be prefent at the court of -^geus when he recognized his fon, and that confequently the poets have attributed to her crimes of which fhe never was guilty. Thefeus accompanied the Argonauts to the- conqueft of the Golden Fleece. He went with Hercules to the w^ar of the Amazons. He was With Pirlthous at the battle between the Centaurs and the Lapith^, and with Meleager at the hunt of the Caledonian boar. It was this hero who exterminated two tyrants of Sicily, famous for their crimes and barbarity. The firft, called Phalaris, enclofed men alive in a brazen bull, and then placed a flow fire under it^ when the cries of the fuffering wretches refembled the bellowing of a bull. Perillus, the inventor of this horrible machine, was the firfl: who proved his own work, being put into it by the command of Phalaris. The fecond tyrant was called Procruftes. This monfter ufed to place ftrangers on a bed of iron, and lop off that part of their body which exceeded the length of the bed. Pirithous^^ HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. 257 Pirithous, king of the Lapith^e, a people of Thef- faly, contrafted the moft intimate friendfhip with Thefeus. This prince having heard the exploits of Thefeus much boafted of, wifliec} to become acquainted with him, and to make trial of his valour; but thefe two heroes upon knowing each other, far from fighting, mutually vowed an eternal friend- fhip. Some time after, Pirithous efpoufcd Deida- mia, likewife called Hippodamia, and Invited Thefeus and the Centaurs to his nuptials. The latter being heated with wine attempted to carry off the bride, and killed feveral of the Lapitha? who oppofed them. But this outrage on his friend was foon revenged by Thefeus, with the blood of the greater part of the Centaurs. Ceneus, one of the mod famous of the Lapith^, being crufhed under heap of trees, was feigned to have been metamor- phofed into a bird. Thefe Centaurs were a people of Theffaly, who firft found out the art of breaking horfes, and em- ploying them in battle. This method of fighting caufcd fo much aftonifhment, that in the firft mo- ments of furprife horfes and men were fuppofed to be one animal, which they delcribed as half man, and half horfe. They were called Hippocentaures from the word hippoSy horfe. The moft tender friendfhip, as we have faid, uni- ted Thefeus and Pirithous ; they engaged in feveral adventures together, fome of which were fuccefsful. A A 3 Helen, 3^8 HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THF.SEUS, Helen, daughter of Tynd^rus, though at that time very young, was celebrated for her beauty through-, out all Greece. Pirithous and Thefeus formed the projed: of gaining poffefTion of her by force. For this purpofe they went to Sparta, and having fucceeded in their attempt, Helen fell by lot tq Thefeus. To make fome compenfation to his friend Piri- thous, Thefeus promifed to accompany him into Epirus, and afTift him in the defign of carrying off Proferpine, wife of Aidoneus, This fecond enter- prize proved fatal to them. Pirithous was torn in pieces and devoured by the dogs of AidoneuS;^ and Thefeus being made prifbner, did not reco- ver his liberty till granted to the intreaty of Her- cules. The prifon of Thefeus being in the ifland ot Scyros, wliere are the lake Acherufa, and the rivers Acheron and Cocytus, the poets took occafion from this circumflance to feign, that he dcfcendcd into the ipfcrnal regions to carry off Proferpine, that he was confined by Pluto, and owed the reflorapon of his liberty to the intercefTion of Hercules. Thefeus had feveral wive?. The firfl was An- tiope, or Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, and mother of Hippolytus, whofe hiftory we have al- ready given. Hercules bellowed her in marriage on Thefeus in reward for the afTjflance he had receiv- ed from him in his war with thofe martial females, His HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. 359 His next wife was Phasdra, daughter of the fecond Minos, fo well known for her criminal and fatal attachment to the young Hippolytus. During the imprifonment of Thefeus, the un- grateful Athenians, forgetful of his important fer- vices, took part with his enemies. Caftor and Pollux came at the head of a numerous army to recover thoir fifter Helen. This was called the war of the Tyndaridcs. To give a better idea of the ingratitude of the Athenians, it is necefTary to recount the cfTential benefits they had derived from Hercules. He had united the twelve towns of Attica into the fmgle city of Athens, and no longer made laws but with their joint confent. This novel form of government exciting ge- neral curiofity, Athens was reforted to from all parts of Greece. Thefeus, fearful left fo great a number of ftrangers (hould difturb the public order, divided the people into three bodies : the firft was compofed of the nobility 5 — the fecond of mecha- nics;— and the third of the peafantry. Whatever privileges they thought necefTary to their happinefs, were granted by Thefeus ; he only referved the right of fuperintending the preferva- tion of the laws. It was then he introduced the worfhip of the goddefs Pytho, or Perfuafion, to unite by her means their minds and interefls. He revived the Ifthmic Games, in honour of Neptune : he carefully fupported and propagated A A 4 religion. 360 HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. religion, perceiving that this alone couJd curb the human padions. He inftituted feafts which rpight be frequented with fafety, as he had, after the ex- ample of Hercules, delivered Greece from the robbers and wild beads which before infeftcd it. Thefeus, in uniting the twelve towns of Attica, had no other intention than to render the Athe- nians more powerful, and did not forefee that in ferving them he was deftroying his own authority. Before this time, each town having its particular intereft, had no thought of governing; they feared the other towns which Thefeus might employ to retain them in obedience; but by this union Thefeus had no more power at his difpofal. He had only referved for himfelf the fuperin- tendence of the laws, he could no longer enforce obedience to them, and thus he annihilated his own power. In vain did he rely on the gratitude of the Athe- nians, in vain did he increafe the privileges of the people ; it was perceived that he could not compe} their obedience, they wifhed to have the authority in their own hands, and all the efforts of Thefeus to preferve his prerogativps feemed ac5ls of tyranny or defpotifm. It might have been thought that Thefeus, covered with glory, had only to repofe himfelf in the en- joyment of public gratitude ; but the Athenians, jealous even of the lliadow of power which re- mained HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS. 361 niai.ncd to him, grew weary of the refpefl: they owed hjm ; they fided with his enemies, bafely abandoned him, and forced him into exile. Perceiving the impoflibility of governing a corrupt people who wifhed continually to be flattered, he fccretly fent his children into Eubasa to Elphenor, fon of Calco- don, and went himfelf to the town of Gagetta, where he imprecated the vengeance of the gods upon the ungrateful Athenians. This place is ftill called the field of Malediftions. After this, Thefeus embarked for the court of Lycomedes, king of the ifland of Scyros. This treacherous monarch, a friend of the Athenians, received him with hofpi- tality only the more effeflually to deflroy him. Under pretence of fhowing him the extent of the ifland and his numerous fleets, he led him to the top of a lofty rock from which he precipitated him headlong. Thus perifhed one of the moft illuflrlous heroes we meet with in the annals of antiquity. His death happened during the thirteenth year of the reign of Mneflheus, who fucceeded him. It was not till after the death of this king that the children of Thefeus returned to Athens, and af- cended the throne. Thcfe fafts are attefled by the marbles of Paros, and all the glory which the Athenians afterwards acquired on fo many different Qccafions, could never efface the remembrance of their ingratitude. The fword of juftice is fre- quently 562 HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS, Jjiilil quently too feeble topunifli the crimes of a nation; but impartial hiftory eternizes their fhamc, devotes them to the cenfure of future ages, and to the deteftarion of every lover of juftice and virtue. The power of the Athenians was not great enough to prevent Greece and the whole univcrfe from preferving the memory of Thefeus. After his death they called to mind his illuftrious adions, and his veneration for the gods; they rendered him the honours granted to heroes, and even raifed him a temple. The Athenians themfelves feveral ages after, blufhing for the crime of their anceftors, endeavoured in fome meafure to expiate it, by honouring as a divinity the hero who was born amcng them. Thefeus, in imitation of Bacchus, had, during Ms life, confecrated his hair in the temple of Apollo. The manner in which he wore it was called thejei^ desy as that of Bacchus was called after the name of that god. They were afterwards imitated by Hcclor. Thefeus had by Phaedra a celebrated fon called Demophoon. In his way to the Trojan war he was hofpitably received by Phillis, queen of Thrace and daughter to Lycurgus, who reigned over part of the fame country. This princcfs Demo- phoon married, but quitting her foon after, his \inliiippy wife, unable to fupport the pains of ab- fence, put a period to her exiftcncc. The poets pre-. HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS OF THESEUS, 363 pretended that flic was changed into an almond tree. The name of Phillis nearly approaching to that of phillay an almond tree, gave occafion to this fable. They added, that the almond tree blooms early in the fpring, becaufe Phillis in this manner exprefled the joy flie felt at the return of Demophoon, which happened in the fpring. Under the Archontate of Phaedon, Cimon per- fuaded the Athenians to fearch for the relics of the great Thefeus. The tomb was difcovered by means of an eagle which was turning up the earth with its beak, and on being opened was found to contain the aflies and arms of that unfortunate hero ; thefe the Athenians received with the great- eft veneration, and placed them in the middle of their city. Thefeus during his life had always been the friend of the unfortunate i never was afliftance implored of him in vain. It was therefore deter- mined that his burial place fliould be for ever a facred and inviolable afylum for all who feared the violence of their perfecutors^ fo that long after his death, Thefeus was ftyled the benefaftor ' of mankind, and the proteftor of the diftreffed. HISTOKY 3^4 HISTORY OF HERCULES. HISTORY OF HERCULES. W E think we fliall oblige our readers by prefenting them with what the author of the travels of Anacharfis has written upon this moft illuftrious of heroes. " His fame, and the monuments of his glory, reach to the very extremities of the globe. He was defcended from the kings of Argos, but pafied for the fon of Jupiter, and Alcmena, wife of Am- phytrion. ''His hiftory is a feries of prodigies, or rather it is the hiftory of all thofe who have borne the fame name and undergone the fluue labours. Writers have exaggerated their exploits, united them in one man, and attributed to him every illuftrious adlion whofe author was unknown j they have loaded him with a glory which feems to redound upon the whole human fpecies, for the Hercules they adore is a phantom of grandeur raifed between heaven and earth, as it were, to fill up the interval, *' The real Hercules differed from, other men in nothing but his ftrength, nor refembled the gods of the Greeks in any thing but his weaknefs." Among the moft celebrated of this name^ Dio- dorus Siculus diftinguifties three. The firft travelled into Africa, and near Cadiz created HISTORY OF HERCULES. j6 3 erefted thofe famous pillars which told the traveller that it was in vain to wifli to pals beyond them. The fecond was born in Crete, among the Dac- tyl! Id^i, and firft inftituted the Olympic Games. The third, fon of Jupiter and Alcmena, was born at Thebes, and rendered himfelf famous by a thou- fand exploits. There exifted another Hercules, more ancient than the three we have juft men- tioned, but as the Greek writers reckon more than forty of this name, it would be ufelefs and tedioua to give an account of them. We muft however remark, that the orimn of this name feems to be derived from the Phoenician word harokely trader. It was a name given in general to chiefs of colonies, celebrated navigators, and illuftrious ftrangers. We are particularly confirmed in this opinion, on feeing that the Tyrian Hercules was called Thafius; the Phoenician, iVgenor; the Grecian, Alceus, or Alcides ; and the Egyptian, who was contem- porary with Ofiris and general of his troops, Ozochor. It was Thebes which gave birth to Alcides, the moft illuftrious of the name of Hercules. He was fon to Alcmena and Amphytrion, a de- fcendant of Perfeiis. This prince, heir to Elec- trion in right of his wife, was appointed fuccefTor to the kingdom of Mycence, and after him his fon, Alcides i but Amphytrion, having accidentally kil- led his father in law Eledrion, was obliged to fly and r'*^ 366 XilSTORY OF HERCULE5* HISTORY OF HERCULES. 367 i ^^} and efcipe to Athens. Sthenelus then became king of Mycense, and was fucceeded by his fort Euryfthcus, who was born at the fame time as Alcidcs, fo that the latter found himfclf the fubje6t of Euryftheus. The great reputation of Hercules foon led the poets to intermix fiftion with his hiftory. His ftrength, his courage, and his furprifing exploits flattered human vanity; but the impofTibility of attaining the fame excellence, made them attribute to him divine extraftion, and fay he was defcended from the fovereign of the gods. Jupiter, fays the fable, aiTumed the form of Am- phytrion, and became the father of Alcides. The night on which the Thunderer pradifed this fraud was of longer duration than ufual. Juno, jealous of the grandeur to which this hero was deftined, retarded the moment of his birth, in order to fecure the kingdom of Mycenas to Euryftheus by right of feniority. Knowing likewlfe that Jupiter had fworn an oath, that he who fliould be firft born, fhould have command over the other, flie difguifed her- lelf as an old woman, and under the name of Luci- na, featcd herfelf at the door of Alcmena mut- tering magic incantations to retard the birth of Alcides. Galanthis, companion of Alcmena, having perceived her, deceived the goddefs by telling her that Alcmena was juft delivered of a fine child ; Juno furprifed, quitted her place, and that inftanc inftant Hercules was born ; enraged at being thus difappointed, ftic changed Galanthis into a wcafel. Juno conftanrly purfued Hercules with the moft implacable hatred; when an infant in the cradle Ihe fent two ferpents to devour him, but the young hero ftrangled them both with his hands. However, atthe intreaty of Minerva, Iherelaxed of her fcverity againft Hercules, and even went fa far as to nourifh him with her own milk, fome drops of which efcaping his lips, formed that part of heaven fmce called the milky way. (This is an innumerable multitude of ftars which give greater luftre to that part of heaven.) Thethunderwas heard to roll the moment Hercules was born, and this the poets pretend was a prefage of his future greatnefs. Such are the principal fables which adorn the account of the birth of this hero, let us remove thefe veils, and return to his hiftory. Euryftheus, fon of Sthenelus, on afcending the throne of Mycenas, became jealous of Hercules. The rights of that hero, and his courage, gave him great alarm ; he fought every opportunity of en- gaging him in fome enterprife, and even of ex- pofing his life on many occafions. Greece was at that time over-run with robbers, murderers and wild beafts ; it was in combating thefe the whole life of Hercules was employed, and the poets have defcribed his perpetual and dangerous labours by reprefenting them as the pcrfecutions of Juno. I Hercules 36^8 HISTORY OF HERCULES. Hercules wasbrought up by Creon, kingof ThcbeV who beftowed great pains on the cultivation of his mind. The great courage he difplayed from his carlleil infancy determined Creon to give him in marriage Megara his daughter, by whom he had ieveral children. Having learned that all his life he fliould be fubjedt to the commands of Euryftheus, he fell into fo violent a rage, that, no longer knowing any thing around him, h^ mafiacred his own children, and his coufin lolas. When his fury abated, his grief and regret were fo great, that he would no longer live at Thebes, but went to procure expiation for his involuntary crime at Aehcns, and returned to fubmit himfelf to the orders of Eu- ryftheus. This prince found his repentance fo fincere, and his fubmilTion fo undifTembled, that he entrufted him with the command of his ar- mies, taking care, however, to engage him per- petually in new cnterprifi-s. The poets attributed this exceffive fury to the jealoufy of Juno ; they pretended that Pallas by cafting a ftone rcftored him to tranquillity, and threw him into a pro- found fleep. This is an allegory, defcriptivc of the anxious folicitude of his friends, and the pru- dent refolutions which, upon cool refleftion, he adopted. Hercules regarding his marriage as in- aufpicious, feparated from his v/ife Megara, and gave LABOURS OF HERCULES. 369 gave her in marriage to the fecond lolas, his faith- ful companion in all his undertakings. EXPLANATION OF THE LABOURS OF HERCULES. 1 HE firfl: exploit of Hercules was to kill two dreadful ferpents. His extreme youth caufed it to be faid that Juno had fent them to devour him in his cradle, and that by his (trangling them he gave a proof of his being defcendcd from Ju- piter. He hunted feveral lions in the forcft of Nemca : one among them which was greater than the reft he flew himfelf, and ever after wore its (kin as a covering. To give this combat more of the marvellous, the fable relates, that Juno fent this lion againft him, and that when killed by Hercules, the o-od- defs placed it among the conftellations. The kings of Syria, in imitation of Hercules, ufed likewife to adorn themfelves with the fkin of a lion. Birds near the lake Stymphalus laid wafte Ar- cadia ; Hercules with a great noife purfued and drove them out of the country. This is the fable, we fliall now give the hiftory. This country was infefted with robbers, who concealed themfelves in the woods which cover the banks of the lake Stymphalus. Hercules B B went 37° LABOURS OF HERCULES. ' went in purfult of them, and frightened them out of the woods by beating upon brazen kettle drums. Being thus driven from their retreat, they were defeated and exterminated. Xhefe arc the birds Stymphalides, which are frequently con- founded with the Harpies, from which however they ought always to be diftinguifhed. The marlhes of Lerna, near Argos, abounded >vith ferpents, which feemed to increafe as faft as they were deftroyed. Hercules, entirely to extir- pate them, fet fire to the reeds, and thefe marlhes being afterwards cultivated became exceedingly fertile, which occafioned it to be faid, that he had employed a golden fcythe to cut off the heads of the Hydra, which were feigned to fpring again as faft as fevered from the body. It appears like- wife that among thefe ferpents, there was afpecies particularly venomous called Hydros, which gave rife to the ftory of the Hydra of Juno. ^ Hercules fteeped his arrows in the venom of this ferpent, which rendered the wounds given by them incur- able. Juno, continues the fable, feeing that Hercules had almoft vanquiHied the Hydra, fent afea crab to divert him from the combat by bitmg his heel ^ this Hercules cruflied, and it was by Juno transformed into the fign Cancer. The foreft Erymanthus was over-run with wild boars. Hercules hunted and deftroyed them, carrying the head of the largeft as a prcfenc to Euryf- LABOURS OF HERCULES. 371 Euryftheus; who thinking it was not yet dead was fo terrified, that he ran and concealed him- felf. The tulks of this boar vv^ere long preferved in the temple of Apollo. Euryftheus ordered Hercules to bring him a hind very remarkable for its addrefs in eluding the hunters. In accomplifliing this, the hero was a whole year, but at laft fucceeded in taking it alive. It was pretended that this animal had feet of brafs ; an allegory intended to defcribe the rapi- dity with which it ran ; and ftill more to increafe the marvellous, they gave it horns of gold. Augeas, king of Elis, had fuch numerous flocks, that he had no ftable fufficiently large to contain them. In confequence he fufl^ered them to range over the fields, which being trodden down and covered with dirt, became unfit for cultivation. Hercules, at his entreaty, employed his troops in turning the courfe of the river Alpheus over thofe plains, which, by thus clean fing them, reftored their original fertility. This was the origin of the fable that the ftables of Augeas were cleanfed by a river. That avaricious prince having refufed the reward he had promifed for this fervice, Her- cules entered Elis, conquered and put to death both him and his fon Eurytus, but fpared Phi- leus, upon whom he beftowed the crown, becaufe he had endeavoured to perfuade his fatlier from a conduit fo unjuft and ungrateful. B B 2 Aidoneus, 372 LABOURS OF HERCULES* '*'^ K Aidoncus, king of Epirus, coming to the affif- tance of Augcas, was defeated and wounded, which gave rife to the fable of Pluto combating Hercules, and being wounded by that hero, who was protected by Minerva during the battle. The idand of Crete produced bulls of extraor- dinary beauty i Euryftheus ordered Hercules to. go and bring away by force the moft beautiful, which he executed. This bull was according to the poets that of Pafiphae. Hercules received likev;ife orders to go and bring off the mares of Diomedes, who in attempt- ing to prevent him was killed. This prince was fo curious in his horfes, that to maintain a greater number of them, he ruined himfelf, and even fold his flaves. From this circumftance it was pre- tended, that he fed them with human flefh. Hercules, on his way into Spain, plundered the ifland of Cos, and defeated the famous Geryon, a giant with three bodies ; that is to fay, he de- feated a prince who reigned over the three iflands^ Majorca, Minorca, and Ebufa. On his arrival in Italy, Hercules made feveral conquefls ; rendered confident by his courage and numerous victories, he took little precaution in choofing his plan of encampment. Cacus, a petty tyrant, who refided among inac- ceflible rocks, furprifed him in the night, and car- ried ofFpart of his booty. Hercules purfued him, befieged LABOURS OF HERCULES, 373 H befieged him in his fortrefs, and flew him. This Cacus was faid to be defcended from Vulcan, and is defcribed as a giant with three heads, who fent forth flames of fire from his mouth and nofl:rils. Hercules, wifliing to efliablifli a colony on the coafl: of Africa for the convenience of commerce, was rcpulfed by another adventurer, who was fo firmly cfl:abliflied there, that it was impofllble to diflodge him. Hercules found means to draw him out to fea, and cutting him off^ from all communi- cation with the land, where he ufcd to retire to repair his lofs, and procure frefli troops, there killed him. This viftory gave rife to the fable of Antasus a famous giant, fon of Terra. When fighting with Hercules he recovered new flirength every time he touched the Earth his mother ; this be- ing perceived by Hercules, he caught him in his brawny arms, and holding him between heaven and earth thus fl:rangled him. This Antaeus built the little city of Tingi, which is now the town of Tan- gier. Sertorius many ages after had the tomb of this giant opened, and his bones were in reality found to be a prodigious fize. During the refidence of Hercules in Africa, the tyrant Bufiris fent pirates to carry off^ the Hefpe- rides, nieces to Atlas, king of Mauritania and Flef- peria. Thefe Hercules defeated, and afterwards attacked Bufiris himfelf, whom he vanquiflied and flew. To reward this fervice Atlas infl:ruited him B D 3 in *%-, S'-^ 374 LABOURS or HERCULES. in the principles ofafcronomy, a fclence in which Hercules made fuch progrefs, that he was the firft who difcovered that the Milky Way was only an aflemblage of ftars. The poets defcrlbed this dif- covery by faying, that he had let fall fome drops of the milk of Juno upon that part of heaven. In the fame manner the afllftance which Hercules ^avc Atlas in his war againft Biifiris, was reprclented by the fable of his having affifted him to fup- port the heavens upon his fhoulciers. Adas having prefented him with fome of the fineft fheep of his country, and the Greek word cxpreffing equally Iheep and apple, it was pretended that Hercules had received from the garden of the Hefperides apples of gold. This hero penetrated as far as Cadiz, which he regarc'ed as the extremity of the world, be- caufe at this point the fetting fun feems to fink into the ocean. Here he raifed two pillars, upon which he infcribed, ne plus ultra, which means it is impoiTible to advance any farther. Bacchus, or rather Ofiris, did the fame in his Indian expedition. All the fabslous hiftorians fpeak of thefe pillars, and yet many learned cri- tics are of opinion they never exifted. They fay tliat this fable was occafioned by the two mountains called Calpe and Abyla, in the ftraits of Gibraltar, one of which fl-ands in Africa, and the other in Europe. It was looked upon as ralh, and LABOURS or HERCULES. 375 and even iropoffible to advance beyond thefe moun- tains. However, in the temple, which the inhabi- tants of Cadiz raifed at fome diftance from their city to the honour of Hercules, were feen two magnificent pillars, and the Phoenician charafters with which tiiey were infcribed gave reafon to believe, that they had been erefted by Hercules himfelf. The ancients attributed to thefe pillars the power of checking the impctuofity of the winds, and of preventing the ocean from being driven by their violence over the earth, and thus introducmg the diforder and confufion which reigned in the time of Chaos. The fituation of this temple, as they fuppofed, on the confines of the world, its an- tiquity, its ever durable woods, its infcriptions, its hieroglyphicks, and the labours of Hercules, which the Greeks afterwards engraved there, all rendered it extremely famous. The inhabitants of Cadiz thought themfelves fecure from all dangers, becaufe they were under the immediate proteftion of the greateft of heroes. Theron, king of Spain, wiiliing to pillage this temple, a panic fear dif- perfed his troops, and 'drove his fleet from the coaft. It is generally thought, that the expedition into Africa was the laft of the labours enjoined by Euryftheus. That prince now perceived, that he only encreafed the glory of Hercules, and that he had nothing to apprehend from his pretenfions to the throne. But repofe and inaftlvity did not B B 4 ^"'' 37^ LABOURS OF HERCULES. fuit this hero. His courage continually led him to engage in fome new enterprize. He penetrated into the heart of Scythia to deliver Prometheus, as we have related in the firfl: part of this work. The river Achelous by overflowing its banks laid wafte the country of Calydon, and carried away the marks which diflinguifhed their refpedive lands. Hercules conftrufted dykes, and thus rc- ftored peace to the Calydonians and Arcadians, who had often gone to war on this account. The fable as we have already faid defcribed this under- taking as an aftual combat with the river. It re- prefents Achelous as changed into a fcrpent, to ex- prefs the windings of its courfe. He is metamor- phofcd into a bull, becaufe this was the fymbol under which they reprefented rivers. Hercules tears off a horn, which means that he united two branches into one. This horn is exchanged for that of the goat Amalthea, which produced every bleffing, that is to fay, the ancient branch of the river was converted into fruitful land. CEneus, king of Calydon, rewarded this diftinguilhed fer- vice by giving Hercules in marriage his daughter Dejanira, who bore him afon named Hyllus. At the court of this king Hercules remained three years. The fable of the battle of Hercules with Ache- lous proves with what art the poets disfigured the moft fimple events. In the fame manner they have difguifed the hiftory of Alcmson fon of Am- phiaraus. LABOURS OF HERCULES. 377 ■\ '•I ^1 phiaraus. This prince having killed his mother, confulted the oracle, which anfwered, that he would never be delivered from the Furies till he inhabited a place upon which the fun did not fhine at the time he committed the crime. The river Achelous having in one of its inundations fwept away great mafies of earth, thefc foon formed themfelves into little iflands, upon one of which Alcmseon took up his abode, and there found an afylum. Thefe iflands were called Echinades^ The fabulous account of their origin is, that fomc nymphs of this name having neglected Achelous in one of their facrifices, that god carried them away in his ftream, and metamorphofed them all into heaps of earth and fand. Amono; the labours of Hercules we mufi: not forget the affiftance he afforded Thefcus, when that hero with his friend Pirithous attempted to carry off Proferpine, wife of Aidoneus, king of Epirus. Pirithous we have already laid perifhed, and Thefeus was detained a prifoner. Hercules paffed into Epirus, delivered Thefeus, killed a ferpent that was retreating into the cave of Tasnarus, and brought away a maftiff of prodigious fize from the city of TricafTia. Aidoneus was wounded by Hercules ; and as he inhabited the country which was called the infernal regions, it was pretended that Hercules had defcendcd into the 37^ LABOUR,? OF IIKRCULES.. the manfions of the dead to deliver Thefeus, had bound Cerberus, and wounded Pkito himiclf. Hercules fecms to have regarded his expedition againft Aidoneus as extremely perilous j before he entered on it, he wifhed to be initiated at Athens into the myfteries of Eleufina. Mufeus, fon of Or- pheus, who prefidcd over thefe myfteries, reprefent- cd to him, that men could not be admitted j but to avoid giving this formidable hero a pofitive re- fufal, he inftituted others on his account, which were called the little myfteries of Eleufina. After Hercules, thefe were admifTible to ftrangers. The deliverance ofAlcefte is one of the moft bril- liant actions of Hercules. Medea, fays the fable, advifed the daughters ofPclias to cut their father in pieces, and boil his limbs with certain herbs which fhe mentioned, a.Turing them that by this means his youth would be reftored in the fame manner as llie had reftored tliat of ^fon, father of Jafon. The unhappy old man wastiie vidim oftiie cre- dulity of his daughters. Acaftus his fon purfued his filters to the court of Admetus, where they had taken refuge after their unintentional crimen this prince was the lefs inclined to deliver them up, as fmitten with the charms of Alcefte he had already married her. Acaftus in confequence of this rc- fufal laid wafte the country, and Admetus quitting bis capital to repel thefe ravages was unhappily taken prifoner. It was then that Alceftie, obedient only to LABOURS OF HFRCULES. 379 to the dictates of conjugal affcflion, offered to fur- render hcrfelf into the hands of her brother, if he would reftore the liberty of Admetus. The ex- change was accepted, and Alcefte, fays the fable, had juft been offered up as a facrifice where Al- cides met Death and encountered him ; he found means to vanquifli him, and binding him with chains of adamant, refufed to fet him at liberty on any other condinon but that of reftoring Alcefte to life. Death was forced to accede to the terms, and Hercules condufted the tender, generous Al- cefte to her huft>and Admetus. Hiftory makes no mention of the treacherous counfel given by Me- dea to the daughters of Pelias; on the contrary wc Ihall fee in the hiftory of Jafon, that many crimes were by the poets attributed to Medea of which Ihe never was guilty. It is not difficult to explain this ftory of Alcefte. Hiftory informs us, that Admetus being conquered by Acaftus, and taken prifoner, was obliged to deliver to him Alcefte : Ihe had already paffed the river Acheron on her return to the dominions of her brother, when they were met by Alcides, who engaged Acaftus, and compelled him to give up Alcefte, whom he car- ried back to her huftjand. In the time of Hercules the Amazons were very famous, and by their conquefts over their neigh- bours, became extremely formidable. Euryftheus lent Hercules againft thefe illuftrious female war- riors. LABOURS OF HERCULES. 3^» 380 LABOURS OF HERCULES^ riors, enjoining him to bring back their treafurcs. This hero embarked on the Euxine fea, and ar- rived on the banks of the river Thermodon. He attacked thele heroines, obtained a complete viftory, and to reward the afTiftance he had re- ceived from Thcfeus, gave him in marriage An- tiope, orHippolyta, their queen, whom he had taken prifoner. Menalippe then afcended the vacant throne, and to obtain peace, confented to give up the m.ajorpart of her riches. Thefe females, whofe territory was contiguous to that of the Scythians, would permit no man to refide among them 3 they every year went to vifit their hulbands, and at thefe interviews, refigned to them all the male in- fants, referving the females, whom they brought up to the profeffion of arms. They had a cuftom of burning their right brcaft, to give them greater facility in drawing the bow. The hiftory of thefe warlike fem.ales has frequently been called in queflion, but the truth of their exiftence is attefled by Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, Paufanias, Plu- tarch, and feveral other refpcdlable hiftorians. They reigned over that part of Scythia Vv-hich bor- ders on the river Thermodon. Penthefilea one of their queens carried afiiftance to Priam, during the fiege of Troy, and was flain by Achilles. Quintus Curtlus llkevv ife affures us, that one of their queens went to vifit Alexander. Hercules accompanied the Argonauts to the I conquefl: conqueft of the Golden Fleece, but did not go to the end of the expedition, landing in the road, in fearch of Hylas, who had either loft his way, or was drowned in going to fetch water for his com- panions. The Argonauts perceiving he did not return, purfued their courfe without him, and Hercules finding them gone direfted his route to- wards the city of Troy, part of whofe walls had recently been wafhed away by an inundation of the fca. It was reported, that Neptune had taken this method of revenging himfelf on Laomedon, and that, to fave the city from deftruflion, they muft cxpofe a virgin to be devoured by a fea monfter. The lot for this purpofe, fell upon Hefione, daughter of Laomedon. In the mean time, Hercules arrived and offered to deliver the princefs, on condition of receiving fix horfcs, fwift as the wind, who could traverfe the waves without finking, (that is, fix good galleys, which were necefllary for his return.) Hefione was delivered, but Laomedon refufed the galleys. Enraged at his perfidy and ingratitude, Hercules attacked and took the city, carried off Hefione, whom he beftowed in marriage upon Telamon, killed Laomedon, and gave the crown to Podar- cus, that prince's fon. This fea moniler, was nothing but the inundation of the fea. The king promifed his daughter to whoever fhould find means of defending the city from their ravages. This 382 LABOURS OF HERCULKS. This Hercules effected, and puni/hed Laomcdon for having violated his word. Such is the origin of the fable we have juft related. It would be impofiible to give an cxaS: account of all the labours, combats and victories of Alcides, or rather of all the celebrated chara6lers that have at different times borne the name of Hercules. He of Thebes was the moll illuftrious of all, and to him they attributed the heroick aftions of all thofe who attempted to tread in his fteps. The Theban Hercules after having executed the labours impofed upon him by Euryftheus, and thofe which his own courage led him to undertake, conceived an ardent afteclion for lole, daughter of Eurytus 5 this pafiion proved fatal to himfelf and to Dejanira whom he had efpoufed in Italy. The valour of Hercules could not proteft him from the power of love ; fometimes his paffions even made him forgetful of his glory. Being fent for into Lydia to combat a monftrous ferpent which defolated the country, he faw and willied to pleafe Omphale daughter to the king of that country. This prin- cefs, proud of her afcendency over fo great a hero, obliged him to degrade himfelf fo far as to fpin among her women. He exchanged his club for the didaff, and laid afide the fldn of the Nemean lion to clothe himfelf in the attire of a woman ; but this delufion could not continue lono-j he heard of new adventures, indignant burft the chains 2 that LABOURS OF HERCULES. 383 that bound him, and thought no more of any thing but glory. Before we relate the manner of his death, we muft inform our readers, that a fhort time after his marriage with Dejanira he engaged in new expeditions. Being arrived at the baiiksof the little river Evenus, he found it by the melting of the fnows incrcafed to a rapid torrent. NefTus, whom the fable defcribes as a Centaur, (becaufc he was conftantly on horfcback) offered to take De- janira behind him, and tranfport her to the other fide, to which Hercules confented. Neffus being come to the oppofite bank, thinking himfelf fecure from Hercules, infulted and attempted to carry off Dejanira i but the hero let Ry an arrow fteeped in the blood of the Hydra, and gave him a mortal wound. Perceiving his death approach, NclTus gave his robe to Dejanira, aiTuring her that it had the pro- perty of preventing the aiTeftions of Flercules from wandering to another. The credulous De- janira preferved this fital prefent, and having perceived the tendernefs of Hercules for lole, fent him the veft of NciTus at the moment he was going to facriiice on Mount CEta: but no fooner had he placed this deadly gift upon his body than, felzed with frightful pains, he felt himfelf confumed by a devouring lire. He ran to confult the oracle, which having informed him that his difeafe admitted of no cure, he returned to mount CEta, accompanied by his friend Philoc- tetes; hN hi \} i\ \ 3^4 LABOURS OF HERCULES. tetes ; here with his own hands he raifed a pile which he covered with the (kin of the Ncmean lion, and extending himfelf upon it, his head fup- ported by his club, gave orders to Philoftetes to fet it on fire. This faithful friend had fworn to obey him ; he applied the fatal torch, and the hero, with his lafl looks exafting the execution of his promife, wa^ in a few minutes reduced to afhes. Thus perilhed the valiant Alcide^^ in the fifty- fecond year of his age, and about thirty years be- fore the war of Troy. The unhappy Dejanira, unable to furvive his lofs, died of grief at Trachina, and requefted to be interred at the foot of mount CEta, near the city which was afterwards called Herculia. After the death of this hero he became the confrant fubjecT: of poetical fidion. It was pretended that on his arrival in heaven he efpoufcd Hebe, the goddefs of youth (in allufion to immortality.) Atlas, fays the fable, who bore the heavens upon his fhoulders felt fcnfibly the additional increafe to his accuf- tomed burden. Hercules, according to the poets, having pre- fented himfdf in the lifts at the Olympic cLmes, and meeting with none who dared oppofe him, Jupiter himfelf afiumed the form of a wreftler and encountered him. He likewife contended with Apollo, and attempted to carry oft the tripod at Delphos. Hiftory LABOURS OF HERCULES. 38 Hiftory gives us the origin of this laft fable ^ it fays that Hercules going to confult the oracle at Delp.los, received an unfavourable anfwer from the prieftefs, which fo enraged him that he carried away the tripod from the temple ^ but the Pythia having reproached him with injuftice, and with deviating from the fteps of the Egyptian Hercules, whom he had adopted as his model, he was fo ftruck with the rebuke that he returned the tripod. Before his death he impofed an oath upon Phi- loftetes that he would never difclofe the place of his interment, nor that where he had depofited his arrows. An oracle having foretold, that Troy could never be taken without the arrows of Her- cules, and the difcovery of his tomb, Ulyfles, the moft eloquent and moft artful of the Greeks, was charged with this commiftion. Philoftetes dared not violate his oath, but either feduced or perfuaded, went fo far as to make a fign with his foot, which did not efcape the penetration of Ulyfies; he difcovered the urn and the arrows, and prevailed on Philoftetes to accompany him to the fiege of Troy. This breach of fidelity did not go unpuniflicd. Philoftetes having one day the arrows of Hercules in his hand, one of them flipped and fell upon the foot which had difclofed the fecret.. The wound became fo angry and ofFenfive that his companions taking advantage of his abfcnce, abandoned him to his pains and C c remorfc 1 11 i'* lir M (♦ i. (.^ 386 HISTORY OF HERCULES' SUCCESSORS. remorfe on the ifland of Lemnos. This ungene- rous perfidy availed the Greeks but little, they were commanded by the oracle to make fatisfac- tion to Philoftetes. Ulyfles was now employed to deprecate his anger, and was again fuccefsful; Philoftetes fuffered himfelf to be conveyed to the Grecian camp, where his wound was cured by Machaon, fon of Efculapius. Hercules is generally reprefented under the form of a man extremely robuft, leaning upon a club, his flioulders covered with the fkin of the Nemean lion s the head of which fometimes covering his own, gives him an appearance ftill more terrible. His hair appears bufhy, and his beard ftrong and black. The furnames of this hero were as nume- rous as the countries which had been the theatre of his exploits. HISTORY OP THE SUCCESSORS of HERCULES. This hero is fo celebrated that we think it our duty to give fome Ihort account of his fucceflbrs. Ceyx took charge of the education of the children of Hercules. Euryllheus, apprehenfive of feeing them foon in a condition to afiert their pretenfions to the crown of Mycenae, threat- ened the king of Trachinc with a war, unlefs he HISTORY OF HERCULES* SUCCESSORS. 387 he baniflied them from his court, as well as lolas, and the troops who were determined to follow the fortunes of Hercules and his children. Terrified at this threat, Ceyx ordered them to quit his do- minions. On their departure from him they were favourably received by Epalius, king of the Da- rians, who even adopted Hylhis, fon of Hercules, and Dejanira. It was thus he acknowledged his gratitude to that hero for having re-ellabllllied him in the poflelTion of his throne. Some time after, the defcendants of Hercules were again compelled to fly, when Thefeus, a rela- tion and friend of Hercules, gave them an afylum in Attica. Euryftheus wifliing to drive them from hence alfo, the Athenians aflembled their forces and gave him battle, under the condufl of Thefeus and Hyllus; this latter with his own hands killed Euryftheus, and with him perifhed his whole family. Such was the end of this branch of the fuccelfors of Perfeus. The crown of Mycena: then defcended to the family of Pelops. Atrcus, fon of that prince, was governor of Mycence, and on the death of Euryftheus caufed himfelf to be declared king. The Heraclides went to cftablifli themfelves in the Peloponnefus, of which they had made them- felves mafters j but a peftilence having deftroyed their army, they were informed by the oracle that it would not ceafe till they fhould leave the coun- c c 2 try^ i m M m _^^ 388 HISTORY OF HERCULES SUCCESSORS, try; the fame oracle commanded them not to return till after the third harveft. They departed, . but thinking they had obeyed the oracle, returned at the end of three years. They were however defeated by Atreus^ and Thomceus one of the chiefs of the Heraclides was flajn. Hyllus, feeing that the war was likely to be protracted to a long period, pro- pofed to engage in finglc combat whoever fhould be oppofed to him, on condition that if he came off conqueror, Atreus fhould yield the crown of My- cenae to the Heraclides, but that in cafe he fhould be vanquifhed, his defcendants fhould not enter Peloponnefus till after the expiration of a century, Echemus, king of Arcadia, accepted his chal- lenge, killed Hyllus, and obliged the Heraclides to abandon Peloponnefus according to their own agreement. Clodeus, fon of Hyllus, after fome time again attempted, but in vain, to enter this country, he loft Ariftomachus, one of his fons, in the attempt. Temenes, Chrefphontes and Ariftodemus, his three remaining fons, having equipped a fleet at Naupadtus, Arnus, a famous augur at that time, wilhed to join them, but being taken for a fpy was put to death. The peftilence again breaking out, to procurr a deliverance from it they inftituted games to his honour. The Heraclides at laft fuc- ceedcd in gaining pofTefHon of Argos, Laced^mon md Mycense ; tljcy extended their conquefts, and fhortlv VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. 389 Ihortly all Peloponnefus became fubjeft to the de- fcendants of Hercules. This return of the Hera- clides happened about four hundred and eighty years after the capture of Troy, and conftitutes one of the principal epochs in the hiftory of Greece. It is even regarded as the moft exaft of them all, which led us to believe that it would be of fcrvicc to remark it. Voyage of the argonauts.— conquest OF the golden fleece.— history OF JASON Ar^D MEDEA. 1 HERE is no event recorded in the hlflory of Greece more famous or more abounding in fic- tion> than the conqueft of the Golden Fleece. There are few authors who do not mention it, and though many of their works are loft, there ftill remain three poems upon this expedition; that of Onomacritus, compofed about five hundred years before the Chriftian sra; that of Apollonius the Rhodian, who lived in the time of the Ptole- tnies; and that of Valerius Flaccus, who wrote under Vcfpafian. To form a juft idea of this voyagei we muft regard it as a military expedition, undertaken by the moft illuftrious warriors of Greece, to recover the treafures which Phryxus had carried to Colchis, and at the fame time to c c 3 cftablilh ■Ik Hni ■m jiiii 39^ VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. eftablifh a maritime commerce, and form new fct- tlements or colonics, in the countries they (liould difcover. To iniure fuccefs, feveral fhips and many people were necefTary; it is evident they were provided with both, fince the companions of Caftor and Pollux founded the colonies of the Tyndarides and the Heniochians. The fhip Argo alone is celebrated, but it ap- pears chat this was the Admiral's fhip, on board of which were the chiefs of the expedition. As all Greece took part in this enterprize, and as wc meet with it continually in fabulous hiftory, wc fhall give the moft efTential particulars concerning Its origm. Athamas, fon of ^olus, and great grandfon of t)eucalion, was king of Thebes. His firft wife was Ino, daughter of Cadmus, whom he divorced fomc time after to efpoufe Nephelc ; by whom he had Phryxus and Helle. Nephele having fhowa fymptoms of a derangement of mind, Athamas became reconciled to Ino, who mortally detefted the children of her rival, by right of feniority heirs to the crown. The weak and inconflant Athamas fuffered himfelf to be perfuaded by Ino, that Nephele had poifoned the grain, and occafioncd the famine which had depopulated Thebes. This bafe calumny fhe caufed to be confirmed by the pricfts, who declared in the name of the oracle that the fcourge could only be removed by facri- ficing VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. 39» i ficing the two children of Nephelc. Phryxus, informed by one of the priefls of the barbarous projeft of Ino, fecredy equipped a veflel, found means to carry off part of his father's treafures, and, accompanied by his filter Helle, embarked to feek an afylum with his relation, JEttcSy king of Colchis. During the voyage, the young Helle fell from the vefTel into the fea, and there perillied. This circumftance occafioned that part of the fca to be ever after called the Hellefpont. Such is the origin of the fable invented by the poets of the ram with the golden fleece. They fay, that Phryxus and Helle mounted this ram to efcape from their cruel ftep-mother, and that Helle, terrified by the rolling of the waves, fell from its back and was drowned. The veflfel was exprefled by a ram, becaufe it carried the reprefcntation of that animal on its prow. They even wifhed to alTign it a genealogy. Hiftory goes on to inform us, that Phryxus arrived hap- pily at Colchis, where he interred his fifter Helle, 2nd confecrated the prow of his veflel to Jupiter Phryxus, or the Preferver. Phryxus while at Colchis efpoufed Chalclope, daughter of JEtt^s. The firft years of their mar- riage pafled away very happily s they were bleft with four children; but ilietes, envious of the riches of his fon in law, caufed him to be aflaflinated, and Chalciope, topreferve herchildren from the barba- c c 4 rou5 i I. m iii 1' 392 X'OYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS^r roiTS and criminal avarice of her father, fecrctif provided a veffel and fent them into Greece, hoping as (he had lieard of the death of Ino, that Athamat would remember his fon, and receive favourably his grand-children. A ftorm, in which their veffel was wrecked, threw the children upon an ifland, where they remained till the arrival of Jafon, who conduced them back to their mother ^ and Chal- ciope out of gratitude for this fervice, favoured Che pafllon which Jafon had conceived for her fifter Medea. At this time Pelias, a relation of Athamas, reigned over part of Theffaly^ he had ufurped the crown which by right belonged to iEfon, and by a feries of tyrannical aftions had rendered himfelf odious to his people. Being informed that Alcymede, wifeofiEfon, was juft delivered of a fon, he endeavoured by every method to deftroy him, as the oracle had foretold that he flaould be dethroned by a prince of the race of the bolides, ^fonand Alcymedc being apprifed of the black defigns of Pelias, caufed it to be reported that the young Diomedes (the original name of Jafon) was dangeroufly ill^ and foon after, that he was dead; they even per- formed the ceremony of his funeral. Having thus eluded Pelias, Alcymede carried her fon upon mount Pelion, and delivered him into the hands of Chiron, the wifeft and moft enlightened man of hk time. It wa« under this fkilful preceptor that Jafoi^ i n ■ J VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. g^J Jafon acquired that knowledge which afterwards rendered him fo illuftrious. Having attained the age of tv/enty-one, this young prince went to confult the oracle, by which he was ordered to clothe himfelf after I he manner of the Magnefians, to add the ikin of a leopard like that worn by Chiron, to provide himfelf with two fpears, and thus equipped to prcfcnt himfelt at the court of lolchos. Jafon punftually obeyed the injunclions of the oracle, but in going from mount Pelion to the city, it was neceffary to crofs the river Anaurus, which at that time had over- flov/ed its banks. Juno, fays the fable, difguifed as an old woman, offered to tranfport him to the oppofite fide, but in the paflage this young prince loft one of his Ihoes; and Pelias had been warned by the oracle to beware of the man who fhould appear before him with but one ilioe. Jafon however arrived at lolchos. His beauty, youth, and even the fmgularity of his diftrefs, attraft- ing every eye, Pelias himfelf wiihed to receive this ftranger; but perceiving his naked foot, he no longer doubted that this was the man pointed out by the oracle. He adopted the refo- lution however to diffemble, and begged the ftranger to inform him of his name. Jafon, with a noble affurance, told him that he v/as fon of .-Efon; related the manner in which he had been brought vp in the care of the centaur, Chiron .; and ccn- cludet? i K ■'i 394 VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. 395 eluded by addrefTing himfelf to the chiefs of the afifembly, from whom lie learned the refidence of his father, was conduced to him and acknow- ledged, while the tyrant who had remarked the interefl which the prefence of this young prince infpired in his behalf, dared make no attempt againft him. Pheres, who - reigned over part of Theflaly, hearing of the arrival of his nephew, came to lolchos, accompanied by his fon Admetus, and fent to fetch his two other fons, Neleus and Amidiaon, who were eftablifhed in Meflina. When thefe princes were met together, during iive days they celebrated feafts j on the fixth, Jafon, with his father and his uncles, concerted meafures to driv^e the ufurper from the throne. Accompanied by his family he went to the palace of the king, and demanded the crown which by right belonged to him, telling Pelias he might keep pofierfion of the riches, his own ambition being only glory. Pehas, detefted by his people, and aftonifhed at language fo bold, dared not rcfufe Jafon, whofe courage and noble countenance engaged the hearts of all who beheld him; perceiving likewife the eagernefs of this young prince to fignalize himfelf, he told him, that the unhappy Phryxus, their relation, and like them defcended from ^Eolus, had been maffacred at Colchis, that he had appeared to him in a dream, defiring him to revenge his murder, and fave his 2 children. children, who were' perpetually expofed to the cruelty of an avaricious and barbarous tyrant. His ape, he added, would not permit him to under- take this voyage, but he befought Jafon to appeafe the manes of Phryxus, promifing on his return to refisn to him the crown. He then related how Phryxus, when he fled from Thebes, had carried with him a fleece of moii inefi:imable value, by recovering which he would gain immortal glory and immenfe riches : he did not conceal from him the dangers he would have to encounter ; the crafty old man knew very well that thefe would only •ftimulate the courage of this young hero. His- harangue had the defired effeft; Jafon immediately accepted the propofal, and to give greater luftre to the expedition, he invited all the princes of Greece to accompany him. Whllft thefe were flocking to the ftandard of Jafon in Theflaly, a veflTei was confl:ru(5led proper for fo long a voyage, and this was the celebrated fliip, Argo, concerning which fo many wonders are related. The origin of this name is difftrently explained. Some fay, that the plan of it was drawn by Argus, and that from him it took its name. Others derive it from the Greek v/ord ^r^cj, fwift, lights others again imagine, that it was built at Argosj and laftly, fome fuppofe it to come from the word argivos^ becaufe it was employed to carry the Greeks. In i 'n\ Ti ■i;P Mil \\>\- VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS, 397 39^ VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. In the fame manner, there are difTcrent opinion^ concerning the quality of the wood, which was made ufe of in conftrufting it; but it is fufficient for us to remark, that the maft was formed of a tree taken from the foreft of Dodona, v/hich gave rife CO the fable that it rendered oracles. The fhape of this vefTel was long, like that of a galley. Trading veflels were generally of a round form. The number of thofe who embarked on this expedition is computed at fifty-two. It was firil propofed to confer the honour of the command upon Hercules, but he himfelf pointed out Jafon as their chief, as he was the original caufe of the expedition. Tiphys, a fkil- fill mariner, who, for that reafon, was fuppofcd to be the fon of Neptune, they chofe for their pilot; Lynceus, by the quicknefs of his fight, difcovered the fhoals; and Orpheus, by the harmony of his Voice and lyre, difpelled the wearinefs of fo long a voyage. We ihall not enter into a particular account of all the Argonauts, but content our- felves with obferving, that in this expedition were engaged the moft diftlnguifhed perfons of Greece, cither for their birth or valour. The art of navi- gation was at that time fo little underftood, that they feldom ventured to lofe fight of land. The centaur, Chiron, was confulted upon the courfc they v/ere to purfue ; they defired him to compofc a new almanack and reform the old one, which he did. did, and brought it juft as they had finifhed their facrifices. He gave them his advice, and with his laft farewell mingled his prayers for the fuccels of his pupil, Jafon, whom he tenderly loved. We learn from hiftory that Chiron was then entrufted . with the education of Achilles ; a certain proof that the expedition of the Argonauts took place a fhort time before the Trojan war, of which Achilles was the moft illuftrlous hero. The Argonauts had at firft a prolperous voyage, but a ftorm foon obliged them to caft anchor at the ifland of Lemnos. The women of that ifland having, according to the poets, failed in their rc- fpeft towards Venus ; that goddefs, to punifh them, infpired their hu (bands with fuch averfion, that they abandoned them for the flaves of Thrace. Enraged at fuch contempt, they availed themfelves of the abfence of the greater part of their hufoands to maffacre thofe which remained. Hypfipyle alone fpared her father, Thoas, king of the ifland. This circumftance is mentioned by all the ancient writers. It was at this period the Argonauts arrived. The Lemnian women thinking they were their hulbands, prepared to attack them, but learn- ing that they were the Argonauts, they gave them a favourable reception. From Lemnos they fet fail for Samothracia, to fulfil a vow which Orpheus had made during the tempeft. They firft pro- ceeded to the country of the Tyrrhenians, who 3 oppofin; !|]i!1 m ^g 39^ VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. VOYAGE OF THE ARGONAUTS. 399 oppofing them, a bloody battle enfiied, in which all the heroes of the expedition were wounded, with the exception of Glaucus, who difappeared, and gave rife to the fable already mentioned, that he was received among the number of the marine deities. From thence the Argonauts entered the Hellefpont, fleered towards Afia, and landed a little above Troas. It was here Hercules, Hylas and Te- lamon abandoned them. The departure of Her- cules gave them no concern, as he himfelf con- fumed the greater part of their provifions. From thence they continued their courfe to Cyzicus, atownfituatedat the foot of Mount Dyn- dimus, at that time governed by a king of the name of Cyzicus. PItre they met with giants having fix legs and fix arms (that is to fay vef- fels and galleys). Cyzicus received them hofpita- bly, and furniflied them with provifions. They fct fail from the town, but in the night, meeting with contrary wind, were forced to return ; and Cyzicus, who thought them already at a great diftance, imagining it to be the Pelafgi, his natural enemies, attempted to oppofe them, and was killed by Jafon. This prince, to expiate his in- voluntary crime, beflowed on Cyzicus a magnifi^ cent funeral, he then offered a folemn facrifice to the mother of the gods, and built her a temple upon Mount Dyndimus. Clyte, wife of Cyzicus, unable to furvive the lofs of her hufband, died fliortly fliortly after of grief and regret. From Cyzicus they proceeded to Bebrycia, (che original name of Bithynia) at that time governed by Amycus. This prince excelled in the combat of the ceflus. He gave a challenge to Pollux, who accepted it; but Amycus havingtreacheroufly way laid them, was fiain by Pollux and his companions. Quitting this place, they were carried by a gale of wind upon the coafl of Thrace, near the dominions of Phi- neus. This prince, old and blind, was inceffantly tormented by the Harpies. Here fidion continually Intermixes itfelf with hiftory, but it will not be difficult to diflinguifh them from each other. Phineus had two fons by a former wife. Idea, daughter of Dardanus, his fecond wife, invented the blackeft calumnies againfl: thefe children, and at laft perfuaded the weak and credulous Phineus, that he could not befecure from the dangers with which they threatened him but by putting out their eyes, and this piece of barbarity was aftually put in execution. Boreas, their uncle, who reigned over part of Thrace, be- ing informed of this cruelty, haflened to revenge his nephews, defeated Phineus, and in like man- ner deprived him of fight. It was fubfequent to thefe events that the Argonauts arrived 3 Phi- neus received them favourably, and offered to condufl: them over the Cyanean rocks which were extremely dangerous. In gratitude for .( 400 VOYAGE or THE ARGON'AUTS- ARRIVAL OF THE ARGONAUTS* 401 for his reception, the Argonauts engaged Calais and Zethes, fons of Boreas, who had wings (that is vefic Is with fails) to go in purfuit of the Harpies, (by which arc meant corfairs, who laid wade the country). Thefe they purfued to the ifles called Strophadcs, where they loft fight of ihem. Ic was in acknowledgment for this kindnefs that Phineus gave them pilots to conducl them acrofs the Cyanean rocks, which were called Sympleg- ades, becaufe they feemed to -claili againft each other. The Argonauts, terrified at the fight of this ftrait, let fly a dove, which pafied it happily, and fervcd them as a guide. This dove, which the ilory mentions, was the light vefi^el which Phineus .gave them, to point out the track they were to follow. This experiment of the Argonauts firft made known the above paflage, which the Greeks after- wards made ufe of, to eftabliih their commerce along the coaft of the Euxine fea. Having paflTed this fi:r2it, they turned towards Afia, and landed in the country of the Mariandynians, by whofe king, Lycus, they were well received. Here their pilot, Tiphys, died, and v;as fucceeded in his employment by Anceus. Compelled by ftrefs of weather to land in the ifle of Arecia, they there found the children of Phryxus, whom they took with Uicm to Colchis ; but on quitting this ifland, they : : I ■ i : they had a fevere conteft to maintain againft its inhabitants. The fable defcribes this combat by faying, that they found birds, who by difcharg- ing their quills did great execution. This was the manner in which they reprefent the arrows made ufe of by the inhabitants during this com- bat. At laft, after many difficulties, they reached the port of JEa^ capital of Colchis^ the theatre of their grand adventures* ARRIVAL OF THE ARGONAUTS in COLCHIS. ./IiLetes learning the arrival of Jafon, and tlie reafon of his coming, thought only how he might deftroy him, or at Icaft engage him to re- iinquifti his dcfign of demanding a reftitution of the treafures of Phryxus. He prefcribed to him conditions w^hich it feemed impofllble to be com- plied v/ith. Before we relate thefe conditions, and the whole of that fabulous narration, it is nccefl!ary to ob- ferve, that it was written in the Phoenician lan- guage, which tvas brought into Greece by Cadmus. This language had a vaft number of words of an ambiguous meaning, Or of a fignification en- tirely unknown 5 it is not at all furprifing then, that the poets ftiould have intermixed fo many fiftions and wonders with the truths of hiftory* D D This m 402 ARRIVAL OF THE ARGONAUTS. ARRIVAL OF THE ARGONAUTS. 403 This celebrated conqueft produced fcveral po- ems and tragedies, in which the events were mif- reprefented. It is even with regret we find that the famous tragedian Euripides received a bribe from the Corinthians to blacken the memo- ry of Medea. Thefe particulars we fliall give in the hiftory of that princefs, but at prefcnt purfue the disfigured account, which it is abfolutely nc- ceflary to be acquainted with. Apollonlus of Rhodes, and Onomacritus relate, that Jafon being equally beloved by Juno and Mi- nerva, thofe goddefles agreed to infpire Medea with a pafTion for him, as by her knowledge of the art of magic fhe could proteft him from all dangers. Medea, already prejudiced in his favour by her fifter Calciope, met him in the temple of Hecate, where both were come to implore the fervices of that goddefs. Jafon, charmed at the fight of Medea, and acquainted with her power, demanded her afliftance, which flie pro- mifed, on condition of receiving his hand. After exchanging vows, they feparated, and Medea fought by every method in her power to fave her hulband. To effect the conqueft of the Golden Fleece it was necefl!ary firft to reduce to the yoke two bulls (a prefent from Vulcan) having horns and feet of brafs, and torrents of fire ifluing from their noftrlls. When this was accompliflied, they were to be faftcned to a plough of Adamant, and employed employed in turning up four acres of ground confecrated to the god Mars, which had never be- fore been cultivated. This labour done, it was ordered to fow this ground with the teeth of a dragon, from whence were immediately to fpring armed men, whom Jafon was obliged entirely to exterminate i after having furmounted thefe diffi- culties, the dragon that defended the Golden Fleece remained ftill to be conquered and de- ftroyed. One day only was allowed for the per- formance of fuch prodigious undertakings. Jafon, relying on his courage, and fecure of the aflift- ance of Medea, boldly accepted the conditions. The field of Mars was opened, the king of Col- chis ranging himfelf on one fide, and the Argo- nauts on the other. Immediately the two bulls ruflied into the place of aftion, but Jafon having previoufly received from Medea cakes made of honey and flour, the animals on receiving thefe became difarmed of their rage, and volunta- rily prefented their necks to the yoke. The field was ploughed, the dragon's teeth were fown, and the armed men appeared, when Jafon throwing a ftone into the midft of them, in an inftant they were feized with fuch fury, that they attacked and flew each other. Jafon then marched towards the dragon which guarded the Golden Fleece ; this he lulled afleep with a foporiferous potion, like wife prepared by Medea, and thus atchieved the con- o D 2 queft |i ! Ill 404 ARRIVAL OF THE ARGONAUTS. queft of the famous Golden Fleece. The fsLtnt day on which he gained thefc viftories, Jafon, thinking only how he might efcape from ^etes, whofe treachery he feared, returned to his veffel, was there joined by Medea, and, fetting fail, they were foon at a diftance from the coaft of Colchis. This account is in appearance a mere fidion s however the celebrated Bochart, who knew perfectly the genius of the Eaftern languages, and their real fig- niiication, finds in the Phoenician words the expla- nation of thefe fables. After having made a com- parifon v/ith thefe v/ords, he fuccceds in proving, that the Argonauts were engaged in a bloody bat- tle, from which they came off victorious. The opinions concerning this Golden Fleece are vari- ous. Some authors think, that in Colchis were ri- vulets, whofe fands were intermixed with particles of gold, that to colleft thefe they extended at the bottom of the water fheep ikins with the wool on, and that by this means iEetes amafled great riches. Alchemifts, and thofe who pretend to make gold, fuppofe, that this fleece was a book, which contained the fecret of tranfmuting all me- tals into gold 5 but this opinion defervcs not the Icaft attention. RETURN OF THE ARGONAUTS. A<^5 RETURN RETURN OF THE ARGONAUTS. Jason having happily terminated his ex- pedition, now thought only of quitting Colchis ; availing himfelf of the darknefs of the night, he fet fail, accompanied by Medea, carrying with him the treafures of iEetes, who quickly fitted out a fleet, and fent his fon Abfyrtus in purfuit of them. Onomacritus in his poem relates that Jafon and Medea feeing no poflibilit.y of efcaping, invited Abfyrtus to go on fliore, under pretence of an accommodation, but no fooner was he landed than they murdered him, and fl:rewed his limbs in dif- ferent places, in order to detain his foidiers, who they imagined would fl:ay to collefl: and bury them. This extraft from the poem of Onomacritus is entirely contradifted by hifl:ory, which even par- ticularifes the different countries through which Abfyrtus pafl:ed in fearch of the fliip Argo. The ancient poets have given accounts of the return of Jafon; but the Argonauts wherever they flopped having left monument^ of their paflage^ the reality of their return could never be called in doubt by hiflorians, and we fl^.all give what they relate upon this fubjedt. Their accounts will be found frequently much interlarded with fiftion. The Argonauts coafl:ed along the eaftern fliore i^iil D D 2 of j^oS RETURN OF THE ARGONAUTS. of Afia, croficd the Cimmerian Bofphorus and the Palus Maeotis, and entered the northern ocean. Steering afterwards to the left, they reached the ifland of Peucefta, which was known to the pilot Anceus. Hence they proceeded to the ifle of Circe, which princefs, according to Onomacri- tus, refufed to purify Jafon from the murder of Abfyrtus. Purfuing their route, hiftorians fay they arrived at the pillars of Hercules, whence they re- entered the Mediterranean, and near Sicily pafled the ftrait of Scylla and Charybdis, where they would have perifhed had it not been for the afliftance of Thetis. The Syrens had nearly proved fatal to them, when they were faved by Orpheus; and arriving in the country of the Phoenicians, here met the fleet of Abfyrtus, the commander of which demanded the reftitution of Medea. It was agreed on both fides that, in cafe fhe was not his wife, Jafon ihould reftore her. The wife of Alcinous being chofen arbitrefs, wiflied to favour Jafon, and caufing his nuptials with Medea to be cele- brated during the night, declared the following day to the fleet of ^Eetes that none had any claim to Medea, lawful wife of Jafon. The Argonauts were then at liberty to depart, and quitting the country of the Phoenicians experienced a heavy ftorm, which drove them upon the quickfands of Africa, where they found themfelves in the moft: imminent danger. At lafl: they arrived at Cape Malea, RETURN OF THE ARGONAUTS. 407 Malea, where Jafon, according to the advice of Circe, made atonement for his crime. Every ob- jed of their voyage being accompliflied, they arrived on the coaft of Theflaly, whence they had originally departed. Pelias, fays Pau- fanias, having died during their abfence, his fon Acaftus invited his fellow-adventurers to celebrate, before they feparated, funeral games in honour of his flither, at which Jafon and Medea afllfl:ed. This fable, mentioned by Paufanias, and confirmed by feveral circumfl:ances which he quotes, proves clearly that Medea was by no means concerned in the death of Pelias; on the contrary, the fame au- thor relates, that his brother ^fon committed that crime, by compelling him to drink the blood of a bull. The Argonauts, before their feparation, made a league for their mutual defence, and to give it the more folemnity, Hercules aflfembled them in the plains of Elis to celebrate the Olympic Games, which had been for fome time interrupted, and were again fo after his death. Jafon confecrated the fliip Argo In the iflhmus of Corinth, and by the poets it was afterwards placed among the conftellations. This celebrated expedition took place about thirty years before the Trojan war. Ancient hiftorians aflure us, that Abfyrtus lofl: his life in a naval combat, which took place on the Euxine fea when the fleet of ^etes overtook m 1 I ]:!. 4q8 adventures of medea and jasom. the Argonauts. Herodotus fays, that both this prince and his fon fell in this engagement, which left the Argonauts at liberty to purfue their voy- age. When driven by a tempeft upon the coaft of Lybia, a prince of that country named Eurypilus gave them great affiftance, and provided them with guides to conduft them through the difficult pafiage of the Syrtes. The fable paints this hofpitable prince under the form of a Triton. Jafon, in acknow- ledgment for his fervices, prefented him with a golden tripod, which was fuppofed to have the vir- tue of giving oracles. CONTINUATION OF THE ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AND JASON. 1 HE hiflory of Jafon after his return from Colchis, and that of Medea, are fo differently related, that it is extremely difficult to diftinguifn the truth. Some hiftoriahs, and particularly the poets, defcribe her as the murderefs of her brother. They fay flie caufed Pelias to be maflacred by his own daughters, giving them the dreadful counfel to cut hira in pieces, and put his limbs into a caul- dron of boiling water, affuring them that herbs which flie pointed cut to them would reftore him to youth and vigour. The fame poets add, that fhe caufed Glaucis her rival, daughter of Creon, to perilh miferably, and that her furious jealoufy adventures of MEDEA AND JASON. 409 jealoufy even led her to facrifice the two chilcirert which flie had by Jafon. Other authors fpeak of her in the higheft drain of eulogium, they aficrc that fhe was a lover of virtue, and only reproach her with having been too much guided by her paffion for Jafon, who bafely abandoned her, not- withftanding the two pledges of affe6lion flie had brought him. They even reprefent her as em- ploying all the knowledge flie derived from her mother Hecate, in relieving and healing thofc who applied to her. In fliort, they relate that this unhappy perfecuted princefs, having in vain re- minded Jafon of his oaths and promifes, was oblicred to wander from court to court in fearch of anafylum. In reading thofe poets w ho have accufcd her of fa niany crimes, w^e may perceive that they are obliged to own flie was born virtuous, and had been hurried on to the commiflion of vice by a fort of fatahty, or by the impulfe of the offended gods, particularly Venus, who relentlefsly purfued the race of Apollo for having difcovcred her attachment to Mars. Thefe poetical accounts compared with hiflory, clearly fiiow, that the ancient tragic writers, to give greater efte6t to their pieces, have entirely disfi- gured the hifl:ory of that princefs, in order the better to infpire terror and compaflion. Some hifl:orians giving credit to fafts which were mifre- prefented, have tranfmitted to us the hifl:ory of Medea ri'< t't I. ifi 1:1 •S: 4 JO ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AKD JASOX. Mcdca under the moft odious colours ; and in this they have been imitated by our modern tragic poets. We fhall mention fome of the reafons which induce us to believe that Medea was not fo criminal as fhe has been reprefented. We have already Ihown that Abfyrtus perifhed in a naval combat, long after he was faid by the poets to have been murdered by Medea and Jafon, therefore of this crime fhe can never be accufed. The ftory of her having advifed the daughters of Pelias to cut their father in pieces is void of any foundation in truth. This prince expired under the hands of his brother iEfon, who, as we have faid, compelled him to fwallow bullock's blood. When the Argo- nauts returned he was already dead, and we have {ten that thofe heroes, at the intreaty of Acaftus, cele- brated his funeral honours with the greateft pomp ; Jafon and Medea being prefent, without the leaft furprife being exprefled, or accufation preferred on the part of that prince who was fon to Pelias. Kiftory acquaints us with the origin of this fable ; it relates, that, after the death of Pelias and iEfon, Acaftus and Jafon difputed the crown ; the party of Acaftus was triumphant; Jafon and Medea were obliged to fly, and embarking on board a vefiel called the Dragon, arrived at Corinth, then governed by Creon, who dared not refufe them an afylum, becaufc Medea had pretenfions to that crown. Thefe pretenfions appear the more certain, as I Eumelius ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AND JASON. 41I Eumelius, a grave hiftorian and a native of Corinth, affures us that Medea divided that kingdom with Creon. Diodorus Siculus fays, that the Corin- thians themfelves invited Medea to quit lolchos, and come to take poflcflion of a throne which be- longed to her by right. He adds, that Medea and Jafon lived ten years in that city in the greateft harmony, during which they had two children ; it was then that Jafon, abandoning himfelf to his infidelity, forgot the obligations which he had to Medea. He violated the facred laws of marriage, at that time much refpefted, efpoufed Glaucis, daughter of king Creon, and divorced Medea. Such is the hiftory which the poets have fo dif- figured in their fables, poems and tragedies. Medea, according to their accounts, fent her rival an empoifoned robe (like the veft of NefTus) which terminated her exiftence with the moft excruci^iting torments. She fet fire to the palace of Creon, who periftied in the flames, and thinking herfelf not yet fufficiently revenged, with her own hands fhe tore in pieces her two fons, Pheres and Memer- cus. Terrified at having committed fo many crimes, and dreading the vengeance of Jafon, fhe had recourfe to her knov/ledge of magic, mounted a chariot drawn by two dragons, and borne through the air came to Hercules, whofc afliftance fhe implored in revenging her. Being repulfed by that hero with indignation, and become the horror and detcfta- lull ^tt ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AND JASON. detcftation of mankind, flie came to Athens in fcarch of an afylum. There is no mention in hiftory of the horrible event fo well known under the name of Medea's farewell. A well authenti- cated tradition afferted, that either to revenge the death ofCreon, of which Medea was fufpeded, or to avoid the war which the pretenfions the children of this princefs had to the crown might have excited, the Corinthians themfclves mafiacred thefe two young princes. They had taken refuge in the temple of Juno, but in vainj the people dragged them from this facred. afylum, and tore them in pieces. Not long after, being vifited by a peflilence, the Corinthians went to confult the oracle, from which they learned, that their cala- mities v;ould not ceafe till they had expiated their horrid facrilege. It was on this occafion they inflituted a feftlval which fubfilled long after. Paufanias relates, that they offered facrifices in honour of the children of Medea, and confecrated a fiatue to them, which reprefentcd fear. This ftatue was dill to be fccn in his time. In memory of this crime, and as an atonement for it, the Corinthians cut the hair of their children, and made them wear mourning till a certain age. Thefe fcafls, facrifices, cudoms, and this ftatue, are monuments much more worthy of credit, than the inventions of the poets, The ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AND JASON* 4*3 The brilliant genius of Euripides could not in- validate the records and writings of his time, and we find in feveral ancient authors, that the Corin- thians, hearing Euripides had chofen Medea for the fubj eft of one of his tragedies, m.adc him an offer (which he accepted) of five talents, on condition that he would employ all his art to exculpate them from a crime which rendered the memory of their fathers odious and defpicable throughout all Greece. Some time after, another ftory was pro- pagated to brand with infamy the memory of Me- dea. It is in Ovid we meet with it. He fays, Me- dea, after having maffacred the children of Jafon, took refuge at Athens, and gained fuch influence over ^geus, that fhc perfuaded him to marry her. During thefe tranfadlions, continues this author, Thefeus, for the firft time, prefented himfelf before iEgeus, bringing with him the fword which was to be the proof of his dcfcent. Medea, from whom nothing was concealed, endeavoured to perfuadc iEo-eus to poifon this young prince at a banquet. The fatal cup was prepared; but Thefeus having made himfelf known, as w^e have already faid, Me- dea, afhamed of having failed in this attempt, efcaped in the fame chariot which (he had made life of to avoid the vengeance of Jafon, This fidtion falls of itfelf, when we recoiled that ^geus threw himfelf into the fea, which bears his name, on feeing the veffel which had carried Thefeus to 1 the 414 ADVENTURES OF MEDEA AXD JASON. the ifle of Crete, in his expedition againft the Mino- taur, return without holding the appointed fignal. This event which happened while Thefeus was very young, took place long before the time when Jafon abandoned Medea for the daughter of Creon, and obliged her to take refuge at Athens. Befides, Thefeus was the companion of the Argonauts. It is furprifing that fo flagrant a contradiction was not fufficient to check the inventive fancy of the poets. After the arrival of Medea at Athens, no further mention is made of her. A few authors, however, fay that flie crolTed the fea, to procure a reconciliation with Jafon, that they returned to Colchis, where they reinftated iEetes on the throne, from which he had been driven by a faction ; they add, that Jafon acquired fuch glory by his conquefls in Lower Afia, that he was honoured there as a divinity, and that after his death, Medus, his fon, built the city of Medea, in honour of his mother, and that it was from him the Medes derived their name. But all the traditions of the Greeks ao^rce in faying, that Jafon died in Theflaly. They aflure us, that after his feparation from Medea, he led a wandering life, and that one day repofing himfelf onthe fea ihorc, under the fhade of the fl:iip Argo, a beam fell from it, and crufhed him to death. This lafl account appears mofl credible. HISTCPvY HISTORY OF CASTOR AND POLLUX. 4^^ HISTORY OF CASTOR AND POLLUX. CJastor and Pollux, for the many illuft- rious aftions they performed, were dignified with the appellation of the fons of Jupiter. Their fillers were Helen and Clytemneftra. The fable fays, that Jupiter having metamor- phofed himfelf into a fwan, Venus affumed the form of an ea2:le and purfued him: he took refusjc with Leda, and fome time after it was pretended, that Caftor and Clytemneftra, Pollux and He- len, had proceeded from two eggs. Pollux and Helen were regarded as the defcendants of Jupi- ter, Caftor and Clytemneftra were fuppofed the children of Tyndarus. To explain this fable wc muft remark, that in thofe times palaces contained chambers of an oval form, nearly refembling an egg; this, perhaps, was fufHcient to occafion the fable we have juft related. Thefe princes and princefles were born on the banks of the river Eurotas, in Laconia, near Sparta. On this river were always feen a number of fwans, which gave the poets an idea of introducing that bird into their fable. The beauty of Leda, her fair complexion, and fine turned neck, caufed her to be compared to a fwan, and thefe circum- ftances, with the embelliftiments of the poets, produced the fable of Jupiter and Leda, How- ever !•' ill 4t6 HISTORY OF CASTOR ANt) POLLUX. HISTORY OF CASTOR AND POLLUX. 4^; ever this may be, Caftor and Pollux were for their heroic valour looked upon as fons of Jupiter, and went by the name of Diofcures, ^a name under which they afterwards received divine honours. It was in the expedition to Colchis, that thefe two heroes mod diftinguiflied themfelves- During a tempefl, in which the Argo had nearly perifhed, they, with Orpheus, made a vow to ini- tiate themfelves into the myfteries of Samothracia. The divinities of this country were called Cabiris, and pafied for the fons of the Egyptian Vulcan, adored in Egypt as the mofl powerful and chief of the gods* Nothing was more celebrated, or more facred, than thefe myfteries of Samothracia. Particularly they were fuppofed to have the power of rendering the gods propitious in long voyages. Pollux, while going on this expedition, killed the famous Amycus, who challenged the whole world to fight w ith the Ccftus. This viftory, and that which he obtained at the Olympic Games, when celebrated at Elis, by the defire of Her- cules, caufed him to be regarded as the patron of wreftlers. At thefe fame games, Caftor, his brother, diftinguiflied himfelf in the race, and in the art of breaking horfes. After the voyage to Colchis thefe two heroes became very formidable by fea, and cleared the Archipelago of the corfairs which infefted it. For Pot this fervice, they were after their death ranked among the gods favourable to mariners. Tliis ho- nour w^as thought due to them, becaufe, during a ftorm which endangered the fliip Argo, fires were feen to play round the heads of the Tyndarides, and the inftant after the ftorm ceafed. From that time, thofe fires which frequently Appear on the furfaceof the ocean were called the fires of Caftor and Pollux. When two were fcen at the fame time, it announced the return of calm, when only one, it was the prefage of a dreadful ftorm. This fpecies of fire is frequently feen by failors, and is a Ipecies odgmsfatuus. In revenge for an infult offered to their fifter, thefe two heroes took the city of Aphidnse, but contented themfelves with punifliing thofe who had committed the offence. The Athenians, charmed with this moderation, inftituted feftivals to their honour under the name of Anaftoe, which is derived from a greek word fignifying kwg. Not long after they gave occafion to call their prudence and moderation in queftion. Being invited as re- lations to the nuptials of Idas and Lynceus, they carried off Phcebe and Hilara, daughters of Leu- cippus. Idas, and Lynceus, the intended huft)ands of thefe two ladies, purfued the ravifliers. Lyn- ceus was firft killed by Caftor, who in his turn fell by the hands of Idas. Pollux arrived too late to fave his brother, but he revenged his death E E with ni 4i8 HISTORY or CASTOR AND POLLUX. with that of Idas. Pollux, fays the fable, in hh quality of fon to Jupiter, was immortal, but he begged his father either to fufFer him to die, or permit him to fhare his immortality with his brother Caftor. Jupiter granted his requeft. They fuc- ceeded each other alternately upon earth, and in the manfions of the dead. This fable is founded upon the circumftance of their being after death reprefented by the fign called the twins ; and^ as one of the ftars which compofe that fign appears jlbove the horizon whilft the other remains concealed, the poets invented this pretended di- vifion of immortality. Hiftory informs us that they were both buried near Scyades, a town of Laconia, and according to a cuftom abfurd enough, but common at that time, their temple was erefted by the fide of their tomb. They were firft honoured as heroes j but the Greeks afterwards admitted them to the rank of their fuperior divinities, and the Romans, who conftantly imitated the Greeks, honoured them in the fame charadler. They were thought frequently to appear to men, and were generally reprefented on horfeback, under the figure of two young men, wearing a cap with a (lar upon the top of it. This manner of reprefenting them proves, that the cqueftrian art was known before the Trojan war* i I ! HISTORY J>tcx^,i ;5''-' fi^-r.uUs^'^' "-TV^.W 4''' KtrrA j. kiSTORY OF ORPHEUS, 419 HISTORY OF ORPHEUS. )0ME learned men, from a paflfage which V/e meet with in Cicero, have called the exiftence of Orpheus in queftion ; but this dpinion cannot difcredit that of all antiquity, and of the graveft hiftorians. In every account of the Argonautic expedition, which has been tranfmitted to us, we find him conftantly mentioned. Some indeed reckon five of the name of Orpheus, and relate the particular adventures of each, from whence they conclude that it has been the fame with this cele- brated perfonage as with Hercules, and that the adlions of feveral have been united to form the hiftory of one man. Orpheus was fon of CEagrus Jcing of Thrace, and the Mufe Calliope. The brilliancy of his talents caufed him to be regarded as the offspring oi Apollo. Mufeus was his fon. The application of Orpheus to matte r$ of religion, and his different voyages to acquire that fpecies of knowledge, obtained for him the title of hfgh priefl^ as well as king. He was regarded as the minifter and interpreter of the will of the Gods. Before his time the f!ute was almofl the only inftrument in ufe \ he invented the harp, which it v/as pretended he had received from Apollo and Mercury 5 to him the lyre was indebted for two additional ftrings, Orpheus had many who imi- 1 E 2 tated •V 'V//.y,..- ♦'••' /<(>./ . HISTORY OF ORPHEUS, 4^9 HISTORY OF ORPHEUS. )0ME learned men, from a paflage which We meet with in Cicero, have called the exiftence of Orpheus in queftion ; but this opinion cannot difcredit that of all antiquity, and of the graveft hiftorians. In every account of the Argonautic expedition, which has been tranfmitted to us, we find him conftantly mentioned. Some indeed reckon five of the name of Orpheus, and relate the particular adventures of each, from v; hence they conclude that it has been the fame with this cele- brated perfonage as with Hercules, and that the aitions of feveral have been united to form the hiflory of one man, Orpheus was fon of CEagrus king of Thrace, and the Mufe Calliope. The brilliancy of his talents caufed him to be regarded as the offspring of Apollo. Mufeus was his fon. The application of Orpheus to matters of religion, and his different voyages to acquire that fpecies of knowledge, obtained for him the title of high pricft, as well as king. He was regarded as the minifter and interpreter of the will of the Gods. Before his time die flute was almoft the only inflrument in ufe ; he invented the harp, which it was pretended he had received from Apollo and Mercury ; to hiin the lyre was indebted for two additional urings. Orpheus had many who imi- E £ 2 tated c ito HISTORY OF ORPHEUS. HISTORY OF ORPHEUS. 421 tated him, but none who ever excelled him ; the invention of hexameter verfc is afcribed to him > he was at once great in the different charafters of theologian, philofopher, and mufician. He dc- fcribed the origin of the world, by faying that from a large egg proceeded love, and that love was the principle of all beings. This definition, given by one of the greateft men of antiquity, proves how unable is genius itfelf, when left to its own ftrength and conclufions, to attain the elevated idea of one only God, all powerful, and creator of all things. Giagrus, his father, gave him his firft notions of religion, by inftrufting him in the myfteries of Bacchus, as they were at that time praclifed in Thrace. He afterwards placed himfelf under the tuition of the Daftyli Ida^i, but it was particularly during his refidence in Egypt, that he became acquainted with the myfteries of Bacchus, or Ofiris, and of Ifis or Ceres. Concerning inidations,. funeral ceremonies, and other points of religious worfhip, he acquired a knowledge much fuperior to that which he poffeflfed before. It was from this country he brought the ftory of the infernal regions, the orgies, and other ceremonies after- wards adopted by the Greeks. After him Mufeus his fon, Melampus, and feveral others made the fame voyage. Orpheus at his return into Greece made himfelf of great confidcration, by perfuading the natives that he knew knew the means of expiating crimes, purifying the guilty, healing unknown difeafes, and appeaflng the anser of the gods. From the funeral ceremonies of the Egyptians he borrowed the materials for his defcription of the infernal regions. This w^as the moft powerful check upon vice which that great man thought it poflible to impofe. Among the ^ginetes he inftituted the myfteries of Hecate ; and thofe of Ceres he eftablifhed at Sparta. In the religion of the Greeks he made fuch ccnfider- able alterations for the better, that he muft be regarded as the firft and greateft of their reformers. He much improved, like wife, their manner of living i in fliort, his talents and the eminent fervicc which he rendered mankind have juftly procured him a place among the moft celebrated men of antiquity. Having had the misfortune to lofe his wife Eurydice whom he tenderly loved, he went to a place in Thefprotia called Aornos. Here an ancient Oracle gave anfwers, and pretended to have the power of raifing up the fpirits of the dead; and indeed Orpheus for a moment thought he faw and had found his dear Eurydice j but the illufion lafted only a moment ; flie vanillied from his fight; he vainly turned himfelf on every fide in fearch of her : defpair and anguifli now took poflreffion of his foul, and the friendly hand of death foon once more united him to his beloved fpoufc. Other authors relate his death differently : they fay, that E E J the © •422 HISTORY OF ORPHEUS. HISTORY OF ORPHEUS. 423 the Thracian women, enraged to fee themfelvcs abandoned by their hulbands, who were following Orpheus, lay in wait for him and tore him to pieces. Plutarch affures us of this fad, and adds that the men revenged his death by their treatment of their wives. Some authors agreeing with Plu- tarch as to the manner of his death, pretend that he was maflacred in Macedonia ; and it is certain that his tomb was to be feen near the city of Dion. It confifted of one fimple pillar bearing a marble urn. The voyage of Orpheus into Thefprotia gave rife to the fable of his defcent into the infernal re- gions. Orpheus, fays Virgil, by the harmony of his voice, fufpended the torments of the damned. Pluto himfelf could not refift, but reftored to 'him Eurydice, on condition that he (hould not look behind him. His anxious tendernefs could not be reftrained, he looked and loft once more his deaireft treafure. In the time of Orpheus, magic and the conju- ration of the dead were much praftifed ; this undoubtedly gave rife to the fable of Orpheus having again found Eurydice. Some authors ex- plain it differently. They fay, that fhe was bit- ten by a ferpent, and that Orpheus cured her; but being fhortly after attacked by another difor- der, which proved fatal, that this gave occafion to to the ftory of a fecond defcent into the infernal regions. The poetical produftions of Orpheus were few in number and very fliort. The Lycomides (an Athenian family) knew them by heart, and ufed to fing them in celebrating their myfteries. Thefe hymns had not the elegance of Homer's verfes, yet they were adopted by religion; an honour not conferred upon the poems of the author of the Iliad. None of the works of Orpheus are now re- maining ; the Argonautics and Orphics are by Onamacritus, contemporary with Pififtratus, or fome other author unknown. The fable which defcribes Orpheus as followed by wild beafts and even rocks, is an allegory to defcribe his exquifite fkill in the fcience of mufic ; it like- wife is meant to exprefs that he employed his talents in civilizing the rude unpolilhed manners of his time. Orpheus was contemporary with the Argonauts. The charm and illufions attached to his me- mory occafioned it to be fliid, and even in- duced a perfuafion, that the nightingales in the vicinity of his tomb furpaficd all others in the- ftrength and melody of their voices. None could walk under the fhade of the facred wood which furrounded his urn, without experiencing a religi-. ous veneration, and the imagination, drawn by a £ £ 4 pleafin or O 45^4 CALYDONIAN HUNT. CALYDONIAN HUNT. 4^5 pleafing, tender melancholy, thought at every noife it heard the fighs of Orpheus, and faw the wandering ftiade of poor Eurydice. CALYDONIAN HUNT, xMELEAGER, ATALANTA. i HE hiflory of this hunt is found in Ho- mer ; we fhall firft give his account, which is entirely devoid of fiftion, except the inter- vention of the goddefs Diana -, and afterwards we fhall notice the additions made to it by other poets. The Curetes and the warlike iEtolians car- ried on a cruel war under the walls of Calydon. The ^tolians defended the city, which the Cure* tes attacked with all their forces. This war had been excited by Diana, to revenge herfelf upon GEneus, who had forgotten her in his facrifices. Enraged to fee her altars neglefted, fhe fent a monftrous boar, which fpread devaftation through the cultivated lands, tore up trees, and defolated tlie whole country. The brave Meleager, fon of CEneus, affembled a troop of hunters, to go in queft of this terrible animal, which had already filled iEtoliawith mourning. The boar was killed by Meleager, but Diana's wrath was not yet ap- peafcd. Irritated by this goddefs, the iEtolians and Curetes difputed the honour of pofieiTing the (kin fivin of this monfter, and nothing but a war could terminate their difference. The brave Me- leager at the head of the iEtolians was not daunted by the fuperior force of the Curetes -, when he fal- lied forth nothing could protedl them from his fury. It was in one of thefe bloody combats that he flew the two brothers of his mother Althsa. Difconfolate for her lofs, Ihe yields to the indig- nation which kindles in her bofom, and with hor- rid imprecations calls on Proferpine and Pluto to revenge her by the death of her fon. Now fierce and cruel Dlfcord rode triumphant through the furrounding air ; fhe hears Althaea's cries, and plcafed, fhe echoes back the welcome found. The fiery Meleager heard too, and his proud heart, fwollen with rage and difdain, refolved to abandon the iEtolians to the hoftile attack. Retired with his wife Cleopatra, he refufes even to hear the iffue of the* battles fought. His abfence gives frefh courage to the Curetes, they redouble their attacks, and the ^Etolians are nearly vanquifhed. The moft ancient fages, and the mod vene- rable priefts, are then deputed to Meleager to requeft his aid in the prcfervation of Calydon. CEneus, alarmed at the danger which threat- ens his city and his fubjefts, cafts himfelf at the feet of bis fon. The brothers of Meleager join their fupplications, and even his mother, touched with repentance, unites her tears ; but all in vain ; he ^26 CALYDONIAN HUNT. he remains inflexible. In the mean while the Cu- retes, already mailers of the city walls, prefent themfelves before the avenues of the palace ; al- ready arc their hands armed with torches to con- fume it ; it was then the beautiful Cleopatra on her knees befought him to proteft her from the impending danger. Unable to rcfift fo many tears and fupplica- tions, he once more takes his arms -, fury fpar- kles in his eyes, he darts into the thickeft of the fight and bears down all before him ; death and deftruftion mark every ftep. The vanquifhed foe now only thinks of flight, and Calydon is faved by his victorious arm. In this account of Homer, as we have obferved, nothing is fabulous but the intervention of Diana j the other fafts are recorded in hiftory. That poet gives the names of the principal hunters, among whom we diftinguifli Thefeus, and the beautiful Atalanta, fo famous for her fwiftnefs in the chace. It was at her feet Meleager laid the fkin of the Calydonian boar, the fatal caufc of the death of his uncles, Plexippus and Toxeus. Ovid, and the poets who fucceeded Homer, have tnadc many additions to this account. It was they who invented the (lory of the fatal brand to which the days of Meleager were attached. They fay that at the moment of his birth, the Fates put into the fire a brandy and predidted that this prince CALYDOKIAN HUNT. 427 prince fiiould expire as foon as that brand was confumed ; they then began to fpin the thread of his life, and the brand was already in flames when they left the apartment of Althsea. No fooner were they gone, than that princefs flew towards the fire, feized the brand, and carefully preferved it to prolong the days of her fon ; but when Me- leager had flain his two uncles, who difputed him the flvin of the Calydonian boar, Althasa, going to return thanks to the gods for the fuccefs of her fon, met the dead bodies of her two brothers ; impelled by a blind fury, and forgetful of mater- nal tendernefs, (he committed to the flames the fatal brand, and Meleager perifhed in a few mo- ments, as though confumed by fire. The cruel Althsea, when her rage had fubfided, unable to fupport fo afflifting a fight, terminated Jier exiftence, and the two fifters of Meleager died of grief. It was pretended they were changed into .birds called Meleagrides. CEneus, after the death of Alth^a, married Perhib^a, by whom he had Diomedes. Paufanias relates, that one of the tun and bewildering them in the intrica- cies of mount Phineus, betrayed them into the hands of her treacherous afTociates. CEdipus dif- covered her retreats, difperfed the accomplices of her crimes, and in reaping the fruit of his vidlory fulfilled the oracle in its whole extent. '' Inceft reigned triumphant upon the earth, but heaven hailed to check its progrefs. An unwel- come difcovery came to confound this guilty pair, Jocafta terminated her misfortunes by a violent death ; and CEdipus (fome authors fay) tore out his eyes, and died in Attica, where Thefeus had offered him an afylum. But according to other ac- counts, he was condemned to fupport the light, to lee the theatre of his crimes ; and life, to tranfmit it to children more criminal and more unhappy than, himfelf. Thefe were Eteocles, Folynices, Anti- gone and Ifmtna, all of whom he had by Eurigania his fecond wife. The two princes were no fooner of an age to govern, than they confined GEdipus in a remote part of his palace, and agreed to hold by turns the reins of government, during a year. Eteocles firft mounted this throne, ever tottering on the brink of ruin^ and rcfufed to refign it at the appointed appointed time. Polynices applied to Adraftus, king of Argos, to procure redrefs, who gave him his daughter in marriage, and promifed him pow- erful alTiftance. <^ Such was the occafion of the firft expe- dition in which the Greeks difplayed fome knowledge of the military art. Before this time we have feen troops without order over-run a neighbouring country, and retire after having com- mitted fome temporary ravages and cruelties. In the war of Thebes, we fee projefts concerted wdth prudence, and purfued with firmnefs; people of different nations affembled in the fame camp, and fubjedl to the fame authority, difplaying a courage equal to the rigour of the feafons, the delays of a fiege, and the dangers of daily combats. Adraftus divided the command of the army with Polynices, whom he wilhed to eftablilh on the Theban throne ; the brave Tydeus, fon of CEneus, king of ^tolia; the fiery Capaneus ; Amphiaraus the augury Hip- pomedon and Parthenopxus. After thefe warriors, all illuftrious for their birth and valour, appeared a fucceflion lefs diftinguifhed for their merit and dignities; the principal inhabitants of Arcadia and Argolis. *^ The army being put in motion, entered the foreftofNemea,where its generals inftituted games, which are ftill celebrated with the greateft folemnity. *' After pafling the ifthmus of Corinth, it pro- F F ceedeci 434 "^^VO THEBAN WARS. ceeded into Boeotia, and compelled the troops o{ Eteocles to confine themfelves within the walls of Thebes, The Greeks were as yet unacquainted with the art of taking a place defended by a ftrong garrifon. Ail the efforts of the bcfiegers were direfted towards the gates, and all the hopes of the befieged confifted in frequent fallies. The anions thefe occafioned had already cofl many lives on both fides ; already had the brave Capa- neus been precipitated from the top of a ladder which he had applied to the wall, when Eteocles and Polynices agreed themfelves to determine their difpute. The day was fixed, the place appointed; the people in tears, the armies in filence awaited the event, when the two princes rufhing furioufly together, pierced each other with repeated wounds, and even death, could not appcafc their mu- tual rancour. Their bodies were placed upon the fame funeral pile, and with a view of exprefling by a frightful imagine the fentiments which had animated them during life, it was pretended that the fiame, penetrated with their hatred, had divided, that their afhes might not be confounded. Creon, brother of Xocafla, was charged, during the minority of Laodamas, fon of Eteocles, with the continuance of a war which became every day more fatal to the befiegers, and which was at laft terminated by a vigorous fally on the part of the Thebans. The combat was bloody i l^deus and the TWO THEE AN ^VARS. 435 the greater part of the Argian generals were (lain. ^^ Adraflus, conftrained to raife the fiege, could not beftow the rights of burial upon thofe left dead in the field of battle. Thefcus was obliged to interpofe his authority, and compel Creon to fub- mit to the rights of nations, which then began to be obferved. The victory of the Thebans only fufpended for a ihort time their deftruftion. The Argian chiefs had left fons worthy to revenge them. When arrivedat a proper age, thefe young princes, in whofe number were Diomedes, fon of Tydeus, and Sthenelus, fon of Capaneus, at the head of a formidable army entered the territory of their ene- my. A battle was foon fought, and the Thebans being defeated, abandoned their city, which was delivered up to pillage. Therfander, fon and fuc- celTor of Polynices, was killed fome years after on his way to the fiege of Troy. After his death Thebes was governed by two princes more of the fame family, but the fecond being fuddenly feized with madnefs, the Thebans, perfuaded that the Furies would haunt the blood of CEdipus as long as a drop of it remained upon the earth, placed another family on the throne. Three generations after they adopted the republican form of govern- ment, which they ftill retain." F F 2 OF 43^ TROJAN WAR. %i OF THE TROJAN WAR. 1 HE extract we have juft given of the two Theban wars is fufficient, no doubt, to fhow the neccffity of recurring to thofe mafterly perform- ances which the ancients have left us upon that intercfting fubjcft. We think it advifable to adopt the fame plan, in ' fpeaking of the moft celebrated event in the Grecian hiftory. When we mention Troy, the names of Homer and Virgil naturally occur to every mind. To prefume to make extradls from them, would be to militate againft every principle of tafte. We fhall content ourfelvcs therefore with tranfcribing what the author of the travels of Anacharfis prefcnts us with upon this fubjeft. *^ The repofe which Greece enjoyed after the fecond Theban war, could not be of long duration. The chiefs of that expedition re- turned covered with glory i the foldicrs loaded with booty; both appeared with that pride and importance which ever accompany viftory; and relating to their children and friends who ga- thered round them, the hiftory of their labours and exploits, made a powerful impreilion upon the imagination, and kindled in every breaft an ardent thirft for war. An event which quickly follow- ed, difcovered the efFeds which this had produced. '' Oa TROJAK WAR. 437 « On the coaft of Afia, oppofite to Greece, reigned Priam, king of Troy, a peaceful prince, defcended from a long line of kings, having him- fclf a numerous race, almoft entirely compofed of youthful heroes. His kingdom, by its opulence, the bravery of his fubjefts, and the alliances which he had formed with the Afiyrian monarchs, was equally as famous in that part of Afia as the kingdom of Mycense was in Greece. <^ The houfeof Argos, eftablilhed In this latter city, acknowledged for its chief Agamemnon, fon of Atreus. He had annexed to his dominions thofe of Corinth, Sicyon, and feveral neighbour- ing cides. His power, increafed by that of his brother Menelaus, who had juft efpoufed Helen, heirefs to the kingdom of Sparta, gave him great influence in that part of Greece called, from his grandfather Pelops, Peloponnefus. Tantalus, his great grandfather, reigned firft over Lydia, and had, in violation of the moft facred rights, retained in chains a Trojan prince, named Ganymede. Further, Hercules, defcended from the kings of Argos, had more recenriy put to death Laomedon and carried off his daughter Hefione. The remembrance of thefe unrevenged injuries maintained an hereditary and implacable hatred between the houfes of Priam and Agamemnon, which every day became more inveterate from a rivalry of power, the moft terrible and fanguinary r F 3 of ^^8 TROJAN WAR. of all pafTions. Paris, fon of Priam, was the man for whom it was refervcd to blow into a flame thefe embers of refentment. Paris came into Greece, and repaired to the court of Menelaus, where the beauty of Helen attrafted every eye. To the advantages of perfon, the Trojan prince united the defire of pleafing, and Helen abandoned all to follow him. In vain did the Atrides en- deavour by gentle means to obtain a fatisfaftion equal to the offence; Priam confidered his fon only as the avenger of thofe wrongs which his houfe and all Afia had experienced from the Greeks, and rejefted every propofal for an accommodation. At this extraordinary news, tumultuous fangui- nary cries and rumours, which announced ap- proaching war and flaughter, burft forth and fpread on every fide. The Grecian nations feem like the foreft agitated by a tempeft. Kings, whofe power was confined within a fingle city, and mo- narchs, w hofe empire extended over many nations^ all equally infpired with the fpirit of heroifm re- pair to Mycense. ■^'^ They fwear to acknowledge Agamemnon chief of the expedition, to avenge Menelaus, and to raze Ilium to the ground. If fome at firfl: refufed to join in this confederacy, they are foon per- fuaded by the powerful eloquence of the venerable Neftor, kingofPyloSj by the artful language of Ulyflfes, king oflthacai by the examples of Ajax, of TROJAN WAR. 439 of Salamis ; Idomeneus, of Crete ; Achilles, fon of Peleus, who reigned over part of Theffalys and a crowd of youthful warriors, already intoxicated with their hopes of fuccefs. After long prepa- rations, the army, confifting of about one hundred thoufand men, affembled at the port of Aulis, and embarked on board a fleet of ne^r twelve hundred veflTels for the Trojan fliore, " The town of Troy, defended by towers and ramparts, was likewife protected by a numerous army, under the command of He6lor, fon of Priam ; with him were many allied princes, whofe troops were joined to thofe of Troy. Being afl^em- bled on the fiiore, they prefent a formidable front to the Grecian army, which having repulfed them, fhuts itfelf up in a camp, with the greatefl: part of its veflTels. Again the hoftile armies try their fl:rength, and the doubtful fuccefs of many battles proves that the fiege will be protrafted to adifl:ant period. With flight built veflTels, and very little knowledge of the art ofnavigition, the Greeks had not been able to efl:ablifli a regular communication between Greece and Afia, and provifions began to fail. Part of the fleet was fent to ravage, or fow grain, in the ifles, and neighbouring coafl:s, whilfl: parties difperfed themfelves over the coun- try, and carried off the flocks and harvefl:s. An- other motive rendered thefe detachments indifpen- fibly neceffary. The town was not invefl:ed, and F F4 as -f 40 TROJAN WAR. s the troops of Priam fecured it from being taken by furprize, it was refolved to attack the allies of that prince, either for the advantage of their fpoils, or to deprive Priam of their afllftance. Achilles carried every where fire and fword s having like a raging torrent fvvept all away before him, he re- turned loaded with immenfe bootv, which he dif- tributed among the army, and with numberkfs flaves, which were divided among the generals. " Troy was fituated at the foot of mount Ida, at fome diftance from the fea; the tents and veflcls of the Greeks occupied the fhore ; the fpace be- tween was the theatre of their courage and ferocity. The Greeks and Trojans, armed with pikes, clubs, fwords, and javelins, defended by helmets, breaft- plates, cuifhes and fhields, with thick embattled ranks, and headed by their generals, advanced to meet each other ; the former with loud Ihouts, the latter with afilence ftill more frightful. Immediately the chiefs, becoming foldiers, more anxious to give great examples than fage advice, precipitate themfelves into the greateft dangers, and almoft al- ways leave to chance the care of a fuccefs they neither know how to prepare, nor to improve ; the troops confufedly beat and crufli each other, like the waves driven and repelled by the wind in the Euba;an ftraits. Night parts the combatants ; the city, or the entrenchments, receive the vanquilhcd ; the vidory cofts much blood without any decifive advantage. TROJAN WAR. ■+''•* advantage. Next day the pile confumes the flain, and tears and funeral games honour their memory. The truce expires, and the confiift is renewed. Often in the heat of an engagement a warrior, with a loud voice, defies to fmgle combat any who dare oppofe him. The troops in filcnce lee them, now launch their arrows, or the mafiy fragment of i broken rock, now hand to hand engage, and try by mutual infults more to provoke each other's rage. Viftory did not fatiate their fury ; if they could not disfi<^ure the body of their fallen enemy, and de- prive it of the rights of burial, they ftrove at leaft to fpoil it of its arms ; but in an inftant the troops on both fides advance either to ravifli from him his prey, or to fecure it to him, and the aftion becomes general. This likewife happens when one party has too much to fear for the life of its champion, or when he himfelf endeavours to preferve it by fliaht. Circumftances could juftify this laft con- duft ; he who fled without fighting was branded with' eternal infamy and difgrace, becaufe at all times we muft know how to face death to be de- ferving of life; but the man who having expe- rienced the fuperiority of his ad verfary endeavoured to fave himfelf, was treated with indulgence. The valour of thefe times confifting Icfs in courage of mind than in a reliance on their own ftrengthi it wasnoftiameto retreat, when compelled by ne- ceffity 5 but it was a glory to reach the flying foe, and 442 TROJAN WAR and to the ftrcngth which prepares viclory, to unite the fpeed which fecures it. " AfTociations of arms and lendments between two warriors^were never fo common as during the Tro- jan war. Achilles andPatroclus, Ajax and Teucer, Diomedes and Sthenelus, Idomeneus and Mcrion, and many other heroes worthy to follow their ex- ample frequently fought fide by fide, and throwing themfelves into the thickefl: of the battle, divided equally the dangers and the glory i at other times, mounted on the fame chariot, one guided the fteeds, whilft the other Ihielded off that death which he dealt round amongft the enemy. The lofs of a warrior required a fpeedy fatisfaftion on the part of his companion in arms 3 blood demanded blood. This idea, flrongly imprinted on the mind,enabled both the Greeks and Trojans to fupport the nu- merous calamities which they had to encounter, Many times were the former nearly mailers of the city, as often did the latter force the camp of the Greeks, though pallifadoes, ditches, and walls defended it. The armies now begin to appeaK diminifhed, and the warriors to difappear. Heftor, Sarpedon, Ajax, and ev^n Achilles himfelf lay numbered with the dead. At fight of this reverfe, the Trojans figh for the reftitution of Helen, and the Greeks after their native foil; but both are rcftraincd by fliame, and that unhappy facility with which men accuflom themfelves to all but happinefs TROJAN WAR. 443 happuiefs and repofc. The whole world had fixed its eyes on the plains of Troy, on that fpot where glory loudly called thofe princes who had not from the beginning engaged in the expedition. Impatient to fignalize themfelves on this new theatre of aftion open to all nations, they came fuccefiively to join their forces to thofe of their allies, and often perifiied in the firft engagement. '' At laft, after ten years' refiftance and labour, after lofing the flower of their youth, and their choicefl: heroes, the city fell under the efibrts of the Greeks; a fall fo great, that it ftill ferves for the principal epoch in the annals of nations. Its walls, habita- tions, and temples, levelled with the ground; Priam expiring at the foot of his altars ; his fons mafiTacred around him ; Hecuba, his wife, CafiTandra, his daughter, and many other princeflTes loaded with chains, and dragged like flaves through the blood which ran in torrents down the flreets, amidft a whole people, confumed in the devouring flames, or deftroyed by the avenging fword : fuch was the cataftrophe of this difmal tragedy. The Greeks fatiated their vengeance; but this cruel fatisfaaion was the meafure of their profpcrity, and the beginning of their misfortunes. " Their return was diftinguiflied by the moft cruel difafters. Mncftheus, king of Athens, ended his days in the iflandofMelosi Ajax, king of the Locrians, perilhed with his whole fleet; Ulyfles, more unfor- tunate 444- TROJAN WAR. tunate, was frequently in danger of the fame fate, during ten years that he traverfed the main: others ftill more worthy to be pitied, were received by their families like ilrangers invefted with titles which, through long abfence, had been forgotten, and which an unexpefted return now rendered odious. Inftead of the tranfports their prefence ought to have excited, they heard nothing around them but the horrid cries of ambition, adultery, and the moft fordid intereft : betrayed by their re- lations and friends, the major part, under the con- du6l of Idomeneus, Philodetes, Diomedes, and Teucer, went into unknown countries in fearch of inore faithful connexions. The houfc of Argos involved itfelf in the blackeft crimes, and tore its entrails with its own hands, Agamemnon found his bed and throne polluted by a bafe ufurper, and died murdered by his wife Clytcmneftra, who fomc time after fell by the hand of her own fon Oreftes. Thefe horrors, at that time fpread overall Greece, and ftill reprefented on the Athenian ftage, fhould be a warning to both monarchs and people, and teach them to dread even vidtory itfelf. That of the Greeks was as fatal to themfelves as to the Trojans i weakened by their exertions and their fiiccefles, they could no longer refift their inteftinc divifions, and accuftomed themfelves to thatde- ftrudtive idea, that war is as ne'ceflary to ftates as peace. In a few generations, the greater part of thefe TROJAN WAR. 44-5 thefe fovereign houfes, which had deftroyed that of Priam, fell, and were buried in oblivion, and within eighty years after the demolition of Troy, part of the Peloponnefus paffed into the hands of the Heraclides, or defcendants of Hercules.*' The year of the capture of Troy forms a very elTcntial epoch for the knowledge of thofe events which happened in the times called Fabulous. Ancient authors differ much in their manner of fixing it. The illuftrious Sir Ifaac Newton places it about nine hundred and fevcn years before the Chriftian era. Eratofthenes, quoted by Eufebius, and Apollodorus, quoted by Clement of Alex- andria, fay that this city was taken 1181 years before the Chriftian era, 450 years before the foundation of Rome, and about 400 years before the firft Olympiad, the laft year of the reign of Mneftheus, king of Athens, and at the time when Ehud was judge of Ifrael. This latter is the opinion moft generally adopted. Any thing that we could add to the extraft from the travels of Anacharfis would be ufciefs, and extend this work beyond its deftined limits. We have carefully traced the principal events down to that epoch, and we ftiall undoubtedly be excufed if we abridge our labours, and are even filent, when for informa- tion we refer our readers to the finiflied produc- tions of Homer, Virgil, and Fenelon. CF us ANTIQUITY OF TEMPLES. OF THE ANTIQUITY OF TEMPLES. 1 HAT temples are of great antiquity is undoubted, but the precife period when they were liril erc6led is not known. Idolatry had its rife in Egypt and Phoenicia a Ihort time after the deluge ; confcquently, it is in thefe two countries we muft feek for whatever concerns religious worfhip and the ufe of temples. The fyftem of Idolatry was not ettabllfhed at once, and cere- monies were only introduced by degrees. A rude uncivilifcd worfliip was firft paid to their falfe di- vinities i altars of flone or turf in an open field were the only preparations for their facrifices. Places were not enclofed, chapels nor temples built till fome time after. The Egyptians themfelves appear to have had none in the time of Mofes. The filence he obferves on this fubjeft, may be con- fidered as a certain proof that they had none. It IS reafonable to believe, that the Tabernacle erefted by that legiflator in the Defart (which may be con- fidered as a portable temple) was the firft known^ and ferved as a model for all others. This temple borne by the Ifraelites in fight of the nations near which they paflTed, might have given them the firft idea of building one themfelves. The temple of Dagon, god of the Philiftincs, mentioned in Scripture, was probably an imitation a of ANTIQUITY OF TEMPLES, 44-7 of the tabernacle, and the place which contained it: a proof of this is, that this temple had fecret places called Adyta, which correfponded to the JanBumJan5forum. Every thing concurs to prove that the cuftom of building temples was by the E«yyptians propagated among other nations. Lu- clan fays, that Afly^ria, Phoenicia, Syria, and other neighbouring nations, received this cuftom from the Egyptians. From Egypt and Ph