^X?^^^o?iliif/iicce^ . 
 
TT H P" 
 
 PANTHEON: 
 
 O R, 
 
 FABULOUS HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HEATHEN GODS, 
 
 GODDESSES, HEROES, &c. 
 
 Explained in a Manner entirely new ; 
 And rendered much more ufeful than any hitherto publiflied. 
 
 ADORNED WITH 
 
 Figures from ancient Paintings, Medals, and Gems, 
 
 for the Use of thofe who would underiland History, 
 
 Poetry, Painting, Statuary, Coins, Medals, &c. 
 
 WITH 
 
 A Dissertation on the Theology and Mythology of 
 
 the Heathens, from the Writings of Moses, the 
 
 ^Egyptian, Grecian, Roman, and Eastern 
 
 Historians, Philosophers, Ports, &c. 
 
 By SAMUEL B Q Y S E, A.M> 
 
 WITH 
 
 AN APPENDIX, 
 
 Treating of their Astrology, Prodigies, Auguries, 
 
 Auspices, Oracles, &c. in which the Origisi of each 
 
 is pomted out; and an Historical Account of 
 
 the Rife of Altars, Sacred Groves, 
 
 Priests, and Temples. 
 
 By WILLIAM COOKE, A.M. 
 
 Late ReAor of Oldbury, Vicar of Enford, Chaplain to the 
 
 Earl of Suffolk, and Author of the Medallic Hiftory 
 
 of Imperial Rome, a vols, in 4to. 
 
 THE SEVENTH EDITION. 
 
 to which is now first added, 
 
 A furtherlLLUSTRATiONof theDii Majores of the 
 
 Romans, particularly adapted to the Classics. 
 
 DUBLIN: 
 
 Printed roR J. JONES, No. iii, GRAFTON-STREEr. 
 M.DCC.KCII. 
 
 \\ 
 
TO HIS GRACE 
 
 HENRY, 
 
 DUKE OF BEAUFORT. 
 
 MAY IT PLEASE YOUR GRACE, 
 
 IT has been long objeded to the mo- 
 dern method of education, that fo great 
 and valuable a part of youth is fpent 
 amid ft the ruins of Idolatry ; whence 
 an early taint and corruption (hard to 
 be got over) both in principles and 
 morals, has fometimes enfued. Indeed 
 the Heathen Theology is fo interwoven 
 with the writings of the ancients, and 
 makes fo large a part of claflical learn- 
 ing efpecially, as to be utterly infepa- 
 rable from it. He, therefore, who fhall 
 efFedlually dived it of the marvellous, 
 leaving it rational and accountable, and, 
 
 at 
 
jv I>EDICATION. 
 
 at the fame time, make the whole fub 
 fervient to the caufe of virtue and 
 true religion, will be allowed to have 
 rendered an acceptable fervice to man- 
 kind. 
 
 Such was the attempt of the inge- 
 nious author of this work. It mud be 
 admitted, that he has in great part 
 fucceeded. Had he lived to revife it 
 carefully, and to prepare it for another 
 edition, all foreign afliftance had pro- 
 bably been necdiefs. As it is, what 
 feemed wanting, or the effefl of inad* 
 vertency and error, I have endeavoured 
 to fupply and amend. 
 
 Having thus done what I could for 
 this adopted offspring, it is time that I 
 recommend it to a better and more able 
 benefador, whofe further fupport may 
 be of ufe towards its fettlement in the 
 world. And my acquaintance with the 
 goodnefs of your Grace's fpirit on 
 
 manv 
 
DEDICATION. ^ 
 
 many occafions, leaves me no room to 
 doubt, that you will take this orphan 
 alfo into your protedion. 
 
 Indebted to your Grace's illuftrious 
 houfe for all that I am, thither every 
 grateful confideration is wont to dire£l 
 my views and affedions. An apprehen- 
 fion which then (truck me, that fuch a 
 performance might be particularly fer- 
 viceable to your Grace, firfl inclined 
 me to liften to the overtures which were 
 made for preparing another and more 
 complete edition of this work ; againft 
 which my little leifure, from other im- 
 portant avocations, had elfe determined 
 me. When, therefore, I fat down to 
 examine the contents of it, and faw evi- 
 dently the general ufefulnefs of the de- 
 fign, I could with-hold no longer the 
 little affiftance which I was capable of 
 giving. Your Grace's name will bring 
 it to the public teft. If then it (hall 
 appear in fome fort to anfwer the intent, 
 A 3 and 
 
\i DEDICATION. 
 
 and be poffefled of intrinfic worth 
 enough to fave it, I fhall find my great 
 and leading expedation anfwered in the 
 fame degree ; which was, that it might 
 be improved into fomething agreeable 
 and ufeful to your Grace; an end, 
 which will ever principally command the 
 attention of 
 
 May it plcafe your Graci, 
 
 Your Grace's moft dutiful, 
 
 And devoted humble Servant, 
 
 WILLIAM COOKE. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Wi 
 
 E have here no defign to raife the repu- 
 tation of this work, by depreciannsr the many 
 others that have already been pubhihed on this 
 fubjed ; it is fufficient for us to fay, that we 
 have followed a plan entirely new, and, at ihe 
 fame time, fuch an one as appeared to us much 
 more ufeful, more rational, and lefs dry thau 
 any that has gone before it. 
 
 As all works of this kind muft necelTarily con- 
 fift of materials colleded from other authors, 
 no ex pence, no labour has been fpared; the mod 
 celebrated works on this fubject have been con- 
 fulted and compared with each other, and it has 
 frequently happened, that fcattered hints, widely 
 difperfed, have ferved to clear up the moll dif- 
 ficult and intricate meanings, to a degiee of de- 
 monftration; but amongft all the authors to 
 which we have had recourfe, we mufl here parr 
 ticularly acknowledge the great advantage we 
 have received from that ingenious gentleman, 
 the Abbe Pluche, in his biftory of the heavens. 
 
 But 
 
viii PREFACE. 
 
 But ns that learned anJ valuable writer feem: 
 now and then to have carried nnatters a little too 
 far» the reader will find lefs ufe made of him 
 than in the firfl: edition. We have been careful 
 to allow all things ;o evidence and reafon ; but 
 as little as mi^^ht be to conje6ture. We have 
 aifo r-^ceived fome ufeful hints from the Abbe 
 B.uiicr's mythologv. But it behoves us efpecial- 
 ly, to ack.no wledt^e the great fervice which we 
 have received from the writings of the learned 
 Bochart, Pignorius, Cafalius, Kircher, I '-^(ius, 
 Montfau9on, and others, who have profe. " to 
 treat of the Phoenician, Fgyptian, Greek, a 
 Roman antiquliics. 
 
 Some acquaintance with the heathen gods and 
 the ancient fables, is a necelTary branch of polite 
 learning, as without this it is impoiTible to obtain 
 a competent knowledge of the Claillcs ; impof- 
 fible to form a judgment of antique medals, fta- 
 tues, or paintings; or even to underftand the per- 
 formances of the moderns in thefe polite arts. 
 
 Hence thefe ftudies have been generally ef- 
 teemed neceOTary for the improvement of youth; 
 but in works of this kind, fufficient care has not 
 been taken to unfold the origin of the heathen 
 gods, which has generally been rciftaken. Some 
 imagining that they had been kings and princes ; 
 others, that they were the various parts of nature; 
 and others, that they were the patriarchs and 
 heroes of th.e Jewil"h nation. But each of ihefe 
 b-ive been found equally contrary to truth, when 
 applied to the pagan theology, though fome of 
 the r fables have been embclliflied with rr.any 
 circum^ar.^e: relaced iu the Mofaic biftory. In 
 
 worlLS 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 )X 
 
 works of this kind, no care has hitherto been 
 taken to give the leaft intimation of abundance 
 of circumllanccs neceflary to be known; and a 
 perfon reads the hiftory of the gods without 
 finding any thing added, that can help him to 
 unravel the myfleries he meets v/ith in every 
 page, or to entertain the leaft idea of the religion 
 of their worOiippers. 
 
 The Greeks were entiiely ignorant as to the 
 origin of their god-, and incapable of . tranfmit- 
 ting their hiflory to pofterity. Herodotus in- 
 forms us, that the gods of llie Greeks were ori- 
 ginally brought from Kgypt and Phoenicia, where 
 they had been the objeBs of religious worfhip 
 before any colonies from thefe countries fettled 
 in Greece. We ought then to fearch in Egypt 
 and Phoenicia for the origin of the gods ; for 
 the gods whofe worfhip was chiefly promoted by 
 the Egyptians, and carried by the Phoenicians 
 over all the coafts of the world then known. 
 The firft Egyptians, unacquainted with letters, 
 gave all the informations to the people, all the 
 rules of their cordu<Sl, by erecting figures, eafily 
 uiiderAood, and which fervid as rules and orders 
 neceffary to regulate their behaviour, and as ad- 
 vertifements to provide for their own fafety. A 
 very few figures diverlified by what they held in 
 their hands, or carried on their heads, were fuf- 
 ficient for this purpofe. Thefe were ingenious 
 contrivances, and, fuch as were abfolutely necef- 
 fary in a country, were the leaft miftake in point 
 ©f time was fufBcient to ruin all their affairs. 
 
 But 
 
X PREFACE. 
 
 Hut thefe Egyptian fymbots, giving way to the 
 eafy method of reaping inftruftion from the ufe 
 of letters, which were afterwards introduced, 
 foon became obfolete, and the memory of foiie 
 particular virtues ftill remaining, they were re- 
 vered as the images or reprefentations of fuperior 
 and friendly beings, who had frequently delivered 
 ihein from impending dangers, and foon were 
 vvor{hipped as the gods of iheir fathers. Their 
 hirtorits were wrote in verfe, and embellifhed 
 with fictions founded on ancient traditions. The 
 p;ie(is of oifFerent cour.tries increafed the delu- 
 fion ; they had read the Mofaic hi (lory, or at 
 least, h ' d heard that the fons of God had con- 
 verfation with ihe daughters of men, and from 
 hence, nHuenced by lufl or avarice, cloaked 
 ihfcir own debaucheries, and fometimes thofe of 
 princes and great men, under tho'e of a god; 
 and (he poer^ whenever a princefs failed m point 
 of modcfty, h;ad recou'fe to the fame method, 
 in order to (holier her reputation frojn vulgar 
 cenfure. By this mean:, the deities in after times 
 were faid to live in various countries, and even 
 in far diftant ages. Thus there became three 
 htmdied Jupirers, an opinion derived from there 
 being a number of places in which, in dilferent 
 a^^es, Jupiter was faid to have lived, reigned, and 
 perfor;ned fomeextraordinai y a<^ions, which an- 
 cient fable*-, the fiQ:ions of the poets, and the 
 artifices of the piiefis had rendered famous. But 
 r.oiwiiliiland ni^ all liiefe fahle?, Jupiter was al- 
 ways acknowledged by the wi'efl: heathens to be 
 impeccable, immortal, the aurhor of life, the uni~ 
 vcifal creator, and ihe fountain of goodnefs. 
 
 This 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 x» 
 
 This fcheme is here carried on and explained 
 with refpeft to each heathen deity, and added to 
 the common hiftories and fables of the gods and 
 goddefles. 
 
 In the (hort Differtation on the Theology of 
 the Ancients, w^ have (hewn the rife of idolatrv, 
 and its conne6lion with the ancient fymbcls. We 
 have there exhibited the fentiments of the Pagans 
 with regard to the unity of the deity, and the 
 perfe^lions they afcribe to him, from the con- 
 current teftimony of the philofophers in various 
 ages, amongd the Egyptians, Greeks and Ro- 
 mans. And the whole is concluded with a fhort 
 account of the progrefs of idolatry. 
 
 In the Diflertation on the Mythology of the 
 Ancients, we have endeavoured to account for the 
 rife of a variety of fables from the licence of poe- 
 try, embellifhing the common incidents of life, 
 by perfonating inanimate beings, introducing fic- 
 titious charaSers, and fupernaiural agents. Wc 
 have given the hiftory of the creation of the 
 world, the ftate of innocence, the fali of man, 
 the univerfal deluge, &c. according to the tra- 
 ditions of difirerent nations, and the opinions of 
 the poets and moft eminent philofophers, and 
 compared them with the account given by A-lofe?. 
 In (hort, we have here given a view of their 
 religious, as well as moral fentiments. 
 
 To the whole is added, by way of Appendix, 
 a rational account of the various fuperftitious 
 obfervancesof aftrology, and the manner by which 
 influences and powers became afcribed to the 
 
 figns 
 
3tli PREFACE. 
 
 figns and planets; of prodigies, auguries, the 
 aufpices and oracles ; of altars, facred groves, and 
 facrifices ; of priefts and ten^ples, &c. In which 
 the origin of each is pointed out, and the whole 
 interfperfed wirh fuch moral refieOJpns, as have 
 a tendency to preferve the minds of youth from 
 the infeftion of fuperf}:irious follies, and to give 
 them fuch fundamental principles, as maybe of 
 the greatefl fervice in helping them to form juft 
 ideas of the manners, principles, and condu<^ 
 of the heathen nations. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 THEOLOGY and HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HEATHENS, 
 
 EXPLAINED AND ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 OF CHAOS, 
 
 H 
 
 E S I O D, the firft author of the fabulous 
 fyftem of the creation, begins his genealogy of the 
 gods with chaos. Incapable of conceiving how fome- 
 thing could be produced from nothing, he aflerted 
 the eternity of matter, and imagined to himfeJf a 
 confufed mafs lying in the womb of nature, which 
 contained the principles of all beings, and which af- 
 terwards rifing by degrees into order and harmony, 
 at length produced the univerfe. Thus the Heathen 
 poets endeavoured to account for the origin of the 
 world ; of which they knew fo little, that it is no 
 wonder they difguiftd rather than iiluftrated the fub- 
 je(5l in their writings. We find Virgil reprefenting 
 Chaos as one of the infernal deities, and Ovid, at his 
 firft fetting out in the Metamorphofis, or transforma- 
 tion of the Gods, giving a very poetical pidure of 
 that diforderly ftate in which all the elements lay 
 blended without order or diftindion. It is eafy to fee, 
 wnder all this confufion and perplexity, the remaini 
 B of 
 
a 7ABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 of truth ; the ancient tradition of the creation being ob- 
 IcLired with a multiplicity of images and allegories, be- 
 came an inexhaiiftible fund for fidion to improve upon, 
 an fv/elled the heathen theology into an unmeafurable 
 compafs : fo that, in this fenfe. Chaos may indeed be 
 properly fliled the father of the Gods. 
 
 Thcugh it does not feem eafy to give a pidure, or 
 •-vaih cal reprefentation of Chaos, a modern painter 
 (i) has been fo bold to attempt it. Beyond the clouds, 
 which compofe the body of his piece, he has repre- 
 fcnted an immenfe abyfs of darknefs, and in the 
 clouds an odd medly of water, earth, fire, fmoke, 
 winds, &c. But he has unluckily thrown the figns of 
 the Zodiac into his work, and thereby fpoiled his 
 whole defign. 
 
 Our great Milton in a noble and mafterly manner 
 has painted the ftate in v/hich matter lay before the 
 creation. 
 
 On heaven' ly ground they Jlood, and from theJl:ort 
 They 'uie^ d the 'vaji unmeafurable abyfs -, 
 
 Outrageous as a fea, dark, -voofeful, fwlld. 
 Up from the bottom turned by furious avinds 
 And furging lua'ves, as ynouniahis-, to affault 
 Heti'vens height, and luith the centre mix the pole. 
 
 Book VII. 1. 21 ;. 
 
 CHAP II. 
 
 OF CJELUS >AND TERRA. 
 
 OjELUS, or Uranus, as he was called by the Greeks, 
 is faid to be the ofispring of Gaia or Terra. This 
 goddefs had given him birth, that fhe might be fur- 
 rounded 
 
 (i) The painter's name was Abraham Diepenbeke. He 
 was born at Bois le Due, and for fome time ftudied under 
 Peter Paul Rubens. M. Meyferts, in his book entitled Des 
 Images des Pe'mtres, gives him the charadcr of a great artift, 
 cfpecially in painting on glafs. The piece above mentioned 
 has been confidered by moft people as a very ingenious jumblr, 
 and 'tis jilain the painter himfelf was fond of it ; for he wrote 
 kis name in the mafs to complete the confufion. 
 
T H E II E A T II E N G O D S. 3 
 
 rounded and covered by him, and that he niij;!"^ ;»»- 
 ford a manfion for the gods. She next bore Ounja, 
 or the mountains, the refidence of the wood nymphb ; 
 and, laftly, flie became the mother of Pelagus, or llic 
 ocean. After this ihe married her fon Uranus, and 
 had by him a numerous offspring, among whom were 
 Oceanus, Casus, Creus, Hyperion, Japhet, Theia, 
 Rhea, Themis, Mnemofyne, Phcebe, Tethys, Sa- 
 turn, the three cyclops, viz. Brontes, Steropes, and 
 Arges ; and the giants Cottes, Gyges, and Briareus. 
 Terra, however, was not fo ftridly bound by her 
 conjugal vow, for by Tartarus flie had Typhaeus, or 
 Typhon, the great enemy of Jupiter. Caelus having, 
 for fome offence, imprifoned the cyclops, his wife, to 
 revenge herfelf, incited her fon Saturn, who by her 
 afliflance took the opportunity to caflrate his father 
 with an inftrument ihe furnifhed him with. The blood 
 of the wound produced the three furies, the giants 
 and the wood nymphs. The genital parts, which fell 
 into the fea, impregnating the waters, formed Venu?;, 
 the moft potent and charming of the goddefles. 
 
 According to Lactantius, C^lus was an ambitious 
 and mighty prince, who, affecfting grandeur, called 
 himfelf the/o« ofthejky ; which title his fon Saturn alfo 
 afiumed in his turn. But Diodorus makes Uranus the 
 firit monarch of the Atlantides, a nation Inhabiting the 
 the weftern coafl of Africa, and famous for com- 
 merce and hofpitality. From his fkill in aflronoirr/, 
 the Jlarry hea'vens were called by his name, and for 
 his equity and beneficence he was denominated king 
 of the uni'verfe. Nor was his queen Titea lefj cfieemed 
 for her wifdom and goodnefs, which after her death 
 procured her the honour of being deified by the nrane 
 of Terrfl. She is reprefented in the fame manner a., 
 Vefla, of whom we Ihall have occaiion to fptr.k 
 more particularly. 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 or HYPERION AND THEIA. 
 
 i HEIA, or Bafilea, fucceeded her parents, Caslus 
 
 and Terra, in the throne : Ihe was remarkable for 
 
 B a h.r 
 
A. 
 
 4 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 her modefty and chafthy ; but being defirous of heirs^ 
 flie married Hyperion her brother, to whom flie bore 
 Helios and Selene (the fun and moon), as alfo a fe- 
 cond daughter, called Aurora (or the morning) ; but 
 the brothers of Theia confpiring againfl her hufband, 
 caufed him to be aflafiTmated, and drowned her fon 
 Helios in the river Eridanus (2). Selene, who was 
 extremely fond of her brother, on hearing his fate, 
 precipitated herfelf from a high tower. They were 
 both raifed to the fkies, and Theia, after wandering 
 diftracled, at laft difappeared in a ftorm of thunder 
 and lightning. After her death the confpirators di- 
 \ided the kingdom. 
 
 Hiflorians fay, that Hyperion was a famous aftro- 
 nomer, who, on account of his difcovering the mo- 
 tions of the celeftial bodies, and particularly the two 
 5;rcat luminaries of heaven, was called the father of 
 thofe planets. 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 OF* OCEANUS AND TETHY3, 
 
 1 H I S deity was one of the eldeft fons of Caslus 
 and Terra, and married his filter Tethys, befides 
 whom he had feveral other wives. Each of them pof- 
 fefled an hundred woods and as many rivers. By Te- 
 thys he had Ephyre, who was matched to Epime- 
 theus, and Pleione the wife of Atlas. He had feve- 
 ral other daughters and fons, whofe names it would 
 be endlefs to enumerate, and indeed they are only 
 thofe of the principal rivers of the world. 
 
 Two of the wives of Oceanus were Pamphyloge 
 and Parthenope. By the firft he had two dsughters* 
 Afia and Lybia ; and by the laft, two more called 
 Europa and Thracia, who gave their names to the 
 countries fo denominated. He had alfo a daughter, 
 called Cephyra, who educated Neptune, and three 
 fons, viz. Triptolemus, the favourite of Ceres, Ne- 
 reus, who prefided over fait waters, and Achelous, 
 the deity of fountains and rivers. 
 
 The 
 
 (a) This feems copied from the (lory of Phaeton. 
 
T li E H E A T li E N G O D S. 3 
 
 The ancients, regarded Cceanus as the father o ' 
 j;ods and men, on account of the ocean's encompaf- 
 iing the earth with its waves, and becaufe he was the 
 principle of that radical moiitiire ditTufed through 
 iinivtrial matter, \^ilhout which, according to Thalct:, 
 nothing could either be produced or fubiifc. 
 
 Homer makes Juno vilit him at the rtmotefl limits 
 of the eartli , and acknowledge him and Tethys as 
 the parents of the gods, adding that Hie herfelf had 
 been brought up under their tuition, 
 
 Oceanus was depided with a bull's head, to repre- 
 fent the rage and bellowing of the ocean when agi- 
 ?lated by ftorms. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 OF AURORA AND TITHONUS. 
 
 We have already obferved, that this goddefs wa» 
 the youngeft daughter of Hyperion and Theia.--- 
 By the Greeks Ihe was ftyled ni? ; and by the Latins 
 Aurora, on account of her bright or golden colour, 
 and the dew which attends her. Orpheus calls her 
 the harbinger of Titan, becaufe the dawn befpeaks 
 the approach of the Sun ; others make her the daugh- 
 ter of Titan and the earth. She fell in love with a 
 beautiful youth named Cephalus, (whom fome fup- 
 pofe to be the fame with the fun) by whom flie had 
 Phaeton. She had alfo an amour with Orion, whom 
 file firft faw a hunting in the woods, and carried him 
 with her to Dclos. By Aftreas her hufband one 
 of the Titans, {lie had the fuars, and the four 
 winds, Argeflus, Zephyrus, Boreas, and Notus. But 
 her greateft favourite was Tithonus, to whom flie 
 bore ^mathion and Memnon. This young Prince' 
 iiie tranfported to Delos, thence to JEthiopia, and 
 laft into Heaven, where flie obtained for him, from 
 the deltinies, the gift of immortality ; but at the fame 
 time forgot to add youth, which alone could render 
 the prefent valuable. Tithonus grew old, andfode- 
 crepid as to be rocked to fleep like an infant. His 
 Huftrefs, not being able to procure death, to end his 
 
 mifery 
 
6 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 mifery changed him into a grafs hoppfr ; an infcdl 
 which by caftingits Ikin renews its youth, and in its 
 chirping Hill retains the loquacity of old age. 
 
 The hiftorians fay, that Tithonus was a great im- 
 prover of aftronomy, and iifcd to ride before morn- 
 ing to make his obfervations. They add, that his vi- 
 gilance and temperance were rewarded with a long 
 life ; but when the infirmities of old age came on at 
 laft, Aurora, by the help of oriental drugs, reftored 
 him to health and vigour. Thus have they done juf- 
 tice to the falubrity of the morning. This prince i« 
 laid to have reigned in Media, where he founded the 
 city of Sufa on the river Choafpes, which became 
 afterwards the feat of the Perfian Empire. 
 
 The ftory of Cephalus is related differently. He 
 was the nephew of -fl^olus, and had married Procris, 
 daughter of Erichtheus, king of Athens. Aurora 
 feeing him often early in the woods, intent on his 
 fport, conceived a violent paflion for him, and car- 
 ried him with her to Heaven, where fhe in vain 
 ufed all her arts to engage him to violate his conju- 
 gil vow. The prince, as fond of his wife as the 
 goddefs was of him, remained inexorably faithful. 
 Aurora therefore, to undeceive him, fent him to Pro- 
 cris in the difguife of a merchant, to tempt her 
 conftancy by large prefents : this artifice fucceeded, 
 and juft when his fpoufe was on the point of yield- 
 ing, the unhappy hufband difcovcred himfelf, and 
 Procris fled to the woods to hide her fhame. But being 
 afterwards reconciled, fhe made Cephalus a prefent 
 of an unerring dart. A prefent like this increafed his 
 inclination to hunting, and proved doubly fatal to the 
 donor. It happened the .young prince, one day, v>'ea- 
 ried with his toil, fat down in the v^'oods, and called 
 for Aurora, or the gentle breeze, to cool him (3): 
 this being overheard, was carried to Procris, who, 
 though inconftant, was woman enough to be jealous : 
 influenced by this paflion, flie followed her hufband, 
 and concealed herfelf in a thicket, where flie could 
 obferve his motions. Unluckily the noife flie made 
 alarmed her huflt>and, who thinking fome wild btaft 
 
 lay 
 
 (3) In a capital pi<5iure, near the Hague, this goildcfs is 
 reprcfented in a golden chariot drawn by white horfes wing- 
 « d, on htr head is the mornino; flar, and fhe is attended by 
 I'hcebus and the dawn. 
 
THE H E A T II E N G O D S. 7 
 
 lay concealed, dilcharged the infallible arrow, and 
 pierced her to the heart. 
 
 Mr. Pope, in fome lines upon a lady's fan of his 
 own defign, painted with this flory, has with hi* 
 Vvontcd delicacy and judgment applied it. 
 
 Come, gentle air 1 th^ jEoIian JJK'pherd fa'd, 
 
 ir/jile Procris panted in the fee ret Jkade ; 
 
 Come, gentle air, the fairer Delia erics, 
 
 n bile at her feet her fn.vain expiring lies. 
 
 Lo the glad gales oe^ r all her beauties flray. 
 
 Breathe on her lips, and in her hofom play ! 
 
 In Delia*s haiid this toy is fatal found, 
 
 Nor could that fabled dart more furely (ivound. 
 
 Both gifts deflruBive to the gii'ers proi'e ; 
 
 Alike both lo'vcrs fall by thofe they Icve. 
 
 Tet guilt lefs too this bright dcflroyer li-ves, 
 
 At random nvounds^ nor knozvs the <u;onnd fhe gi'ves ; 
 
 She 'vie-ivs the flory nvith atteuti-ve eyes. 
 
 And pities Procris (while her lover dies. 
 
 There U no goddefs of whom we have fo many 
 beautiful defcriptions in the poets as Aurora. Indeed 
 it is no wonder they are luxuriant on this fubied, as 
 there is perhaps no theme in nature which affords fuch 
 an extenfive field for poetry or painting as the varied 
 beauties of the morning, whofe approach feems to 
 cxhilirate and enliven the whole animal creation. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 OF ATLAS. 
 
 x\.TLAS was the fon of Japetus and Clymenc, and 
 the brother of Prometheus. In the divifion of his 
 father's dominions, Mauritania fell to his Ihare, where 
 he gave his own name to that mountain, which ftill 
 bears it. As he was greatly fkrlled in Aftronom.y,, he 
 became the firft inventor of the fpliere, which gave 
 rife to the fable, of his fupporting the heavens on his 
 ihoulders. He had many children. Of his fons the 
 rnoft famous was Hefperus, (Tooke calls him his bro- 
 ther, 
 
« FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 ther, p. 325) who reigned fome time in Italy, which 
 from him v/as called Hefperia. It is faid, this prince 
 ijeing on mount Atlas to obferve the motion of the 
 ftars, was carried away by a tempeft, and, in honour 
 to his memory, the morning ftar was afterwards called 
 by his name. He left three daughters, iEgle, Are- 
 thui;4, and Hefperithufa, who went by the general ap- 
 pellation of Hcfperides, and were poflefled of thofe 
 famous gardens which bore golden fruit, and were 
 guarded by the vigilance of a formidable dragon. 
 
 Atlas had feven daughters, called after his own name 
 Atlaotides, viz. Maia, Eledra, Taygete, Afterope, 
 Merope, Alcyone, and Celteno. All thefe were matched 
 cither to gods or heroes, by whom they left a nume- 
 rous pofterity. Thefe from their mother Pleione, 
 were alfo ftiled Pleiades (4). Bufiris, king of Egypt, 
 carried them off by violence ; but Herculer, travelling 
 through Africa, conquered him, and delivering the 
 Princelfes, reftored them to their father, who to re- 
 quite his kindnefs taught him aftronomy, v.'hence a- 
 rofe the fable, of that hero's fupporting the heavena 
 for a day to cafe Atlas of his toil. The Pleladcf , how- 
 ever, endured a ncv/ perfecution from Orion who 
 purfued them five years, till Jove, prevailed on by 
 their prayers, took them up into the heavens, where 
 they form the conftellation, which bears their name. 
 
 By iEthra, Atlas v/as the father of feven daughters, 
 called Ambrofia, Endora, Pafithce, Coronir, Plexa- 
 ris, Pytho, and Tyche, who bore one common appel- 
 lation of the Hyades (5). Thefe virgin? grieved fo im- 
 moderately for the death of their brother Hya?, de- 
 voured by a lion, that Jupiter, out cf ccmpaflion, 
 -changed them into liars, and placed them in the head 
 of Taurus, wliere they (till retain their grief, their 
 riung and fetting being attended with extraordinary 
 rain- Others rnake thefe laft the daughters of Lycurges, 
 born in the ille of Naxos, and tranllated to the fities, 
 for their care in the education of Bacchus, probably 
 becaufe thefe fliowers are of great benefit in forward- 
 ing the vintage. 
 
 (4) So call'd from a Greek word, -which fignifies failing ; 
 beeaufe they were reckoned favourable to navigation. 
 
 (5) From the Greek verb to rain, the Latins called them 
 lucuix, from the Greek rr.s, or fwine, becaufe they feemed te 
 delight in wet and dirty wer.ther^ 
 
T H E HEATHEN GOD S. 9 
 
 According to. Hyginus, Atlas having affifted the 
 giants in their war againft Jupiter, was by the vicftori- 
 ous god doomed, as a punilhment, to fuftain the weight 
 of the heavens. 
 
 Ovid gives a very different account of A.tlas, who, 
 as he fays, was the fon of Japetus and Afia. He re- 
 prefents him as a powerful and wealthy monarch, 
 proprietor of the gardens vv'^hich bore golden fiuit ; 
 but tells us, that being v/arned by the oracle of Themis, 
 that he fhould fuffer fome great injury from a fon of 
 Jupiter, he ftridly forbad all foreigners accefs to his 
 court or prefence. Perfeus, however, had the cou- 
 rage to appear before him, but was ordered to retire, 
 with ftrong menaces in cafe of difobedience. But the 
 hero prefenting his fliield with the dreadful head of 
 Medufo to him, turned him into the mountain which 
 ftills bears his name. 
 
 The Abbe La Pluche has given a very clear and in- 
 genious explication of thii! fable. Of all nations the 
 Egyptians had, with the greateft afliduity, cultivated 
 aftronomy. To point out the difficulties which at- 
 tend the ftudy of this fcience, they reprefented it by 
 an image, bearing a globe or fphere on its back, and 
 which they called Atlas, a word Hgm^ylng (6) great 
 toil or labour. But the word alfo fignif/ing fupport 
 (7), the Phsnicians, led by the reprefentation, took 
 it in this laft fenfe ; and in their voyages lo Maurita- 
 nia, feeing the high mountains of that country co- 
 vered with fnow, and lohng their tops in the cloud^, 
 gave them the name of Atlas, and "io produced the 
 fable, by which the fymbol of aftronomy ufed araon^ 
 the Egyptians, became a Mauritanian-king, transform- 
 ed into a mountain, whofe head fupports the hejvens. 
 The reft of the fable is equally eafy to account for. 
 The annual inundations of the Nile obliged that 
 people to be very exa(5l in obferving the motions 
 of the heavenly bodies. The Hyades or Huades, 
 took their name £ om the fi8:ure V which they form in 
 B 5 tht 
 
 (6) From Talaah, to ftrive, comes Atlii'i, toil ; whence ch.e 
 Greeks derived their aurAj.: or labour, and the Romans txa.itlo, 
 to furm:)unt great difficulties. 
 
 (7) From Telah, to fufpend, is derived Atlah, fupport, 
 whence the Greek woi^d Et)5X, for column or piliar. 
 
lo FA^RULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 the head of Taurus. The Pleiades were a remarkable 
 conftellation, and of great ufe to the Egyptians in re- 
 gulating the feafons. Hence they became the daugh- 
 ters of Atlas ; and Orion, who rifes juft as they fet, 
 was called their lover. By the golden apples that 
 grew in the garden of the Hefperides, the Phsenicians 
 exprefied the rich and beneficial commerce they had in 
 the Mediterranean ; which being carried on during 
 three months of the year only, gave rife to the fable 
 of the Hefperian filters (8). 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 Of Jafetus, and his fens Epimithkus and Prom]>- 
 THEUS ; of Pandora's Box, and the Story of Deu- 
 calion arid Pyrrha. 
 
 JaPE1*US Avas the offspring of Caelus, and Terra, 
 and one cf the giants who revolted againft Jupiter. 
 He was a powerful and haughty prince, who lived fo 
 long that his age became a proverb. Before the war 
 he had a daughter, called Anchiale, who founded a 
 city of her own name in Cilicia. He had feveral fons, 
 the chief of whom were Atlas, (mentioned in the 
 preceding chapter) Buphagus, Prometheus (9), and 
 Epimetheus. Of thefe, Prometheus became remark- 
 able, by being the object of Jupiter's refentment. 
 The occafion is related thus : having facrificed two 
 bulls to that deity, he put all the flefli of both in one 
 Ikin, and the bones in the other, and gave the god his 
 choice, whofe wifdom for once failed him fo, that 
 he pitched upon the worft lot. Jupiter, incenfed at 
 the trick put upon him, took away fire from the earth, 
 'till Prometheus, by the afliftance of Minerva, ftole 
 into heaven, andlighting a ftickatthe chariot of thefun, 
 recovered the bleffing, and brou^'^ht it down again to 
 mankind. Others fay the caufe of Jupiter's anger Wt.> 
 difierent. Prometheus being a great artift, had form- 
 ed a man of clay of fuch exquifite workmanfliip, that 
 
 Pallas, 
 
 (8) From Efper, the good Hiare or beft lot. 
 
 (9) So called from tnq Trpo/ujQsat, or proTidence, that is his 
 fVill in divination. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 1 1 
 
 Pallas, charmed with his ingenuity, offered him what- 
 ever in heaven could contribute to finifh his defign : 
 for this end flie took him up with her to the celeflial 
 manfions, where, in a ferula, he hid fome of the fire 
 of the fun's chariot wheel, and ufed it to animate his 
 image (i). Jupiter, either to revenge his theft, or the 
 former affront, commanded Vulcan to make a woman, 
 which, when he had done, (he was introduced into the 
 aflembly of the gods, each of whom bellowed on he^r 
 fome additional charm of perfedion. Venus gave her 
 beauty, Pallas wifdom, Juno riches, Mercury taught 
 her eloquence and Apollo mufic : from all thefe ac- 
 complifhments, fhe was ftiled Pandora (2) and was 
 the firftof her fex. Jupiter, to complete hisdefigns, 
 prefented her a box, in which he had enclofed 
 age, difeafesy ^var, famine, pejiilence, dlfcord, enij, ca- 
 lumny, and in fhort, all the evils and vices which he 
 intended to afBid the world with. Thus equipped, 
 Ihe was fent down to Prometheus, w^ho wifely was on 
 his guard againft the mifchief defigned him. Epime- 
 theus his brother, though forwarned of the danger, 
 had lefs refolution ; for enamoured wdth the beauty 
 of Pandora (3), he married her, and opened the 
 fatal box, the contents of which foon overfpread 
 the world. Hope alone refted at the bottom. But 
 Jupiter, not yet fatisfied, difpatched Mercury and Vul- 
 can to ieize Prometheus, whom they carried to mount 
 Caucafus, where they chained him to a rock, and an 
 eagle or vulture was commiliioned to prey on his liver, 
 which every night was renewed in proportion as it 
 was confumed by day. But Hercules foon after killed 
 the vulture and delivered him. Others fiy, Jupiter 
 reftored him his freedom for difcovering his father 
 Saturn's confpiracy (4), and difluading his intended 
 
 marriage 
 
 (1) Some fay his crime v^-as not the enlivening a man of 
 clay ; but the formation of woman. 
 
 (2) So called from ttcli/ ^xpov, i. e. loaded with gifts or accom- 
 plilhments. Hefiod has given a f ne defer iption of her in 
 hisTheogony, Cook, p. 770. 
 
 (3) Others fay Pandora only gave to the box the wife of 
 Epimetheus, who opened it from a cariofity natural to her 
 fex. 
 
 (4) Luclan has a very fine Dialogue between Prometheus and 
 Jupiter upon this fubje(ft. 
 
la FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 marriage with Thetis. Nicander, to this fable of 
 Prometheus, lends an additional circumftance. He 
 tells us fome ungrateful men difcovercd the theft 
 of Prometheus firft to Jupiter, who rewarded them 
 with perpetual youth. This prefent they loaded on 
 the back of an afs, who flopping at. a fountain to 
 quench his thirft, v/as hindered by a water fnake, 
 who would not let him drink till he gave him the 
 burthen he carried. Hence the Serpent renews his 
 youth upon changing his Ikin. 
 
 ri'omt;Lheu>s had an altar in the academy at Athens, 
 in common with Vulcan and Pallas. His ftatues 
 *re reprcfented with a fcepter in the hand. 
 
 There is a very ingenious explanation of this fa- 
 ble ; it is faid Prometheus was a wile Prince, 
 who reclaiming his fubje»5ls from a favage to a focial 
 life, was faid to have animated men out of clay : 
 he firft iuitituted facrifices (according to (5) Pliny) 
 which gave rife to the ftory of the two oxen. Being 
 cxpciled his dominions, by Jupiter, he fled to 
 Scythia, where he retired to mount Caucafus, either 
 to make aftronomical obfervations, or to indulge his 
 melancholy for the lofs of his dominions. This oc- 
 cafioned the fable of the vulture feeding upon his 
 liver. As he was alfo the firft inventor of forging 
 metals by fire, he was faid to have ftole the element 
 from heaven. In fliort, as the firft knowledge of 
 agriculture, and even navigation, is afcribed to him, 
 it is no wonder if he was cdebrated for forming a 
 living man from an inanimalcd I'ubftance. 
 
 Some authors imagine Prometheus to be the fame 
 with Noah. The learned Bochart imagines him to 
 be Magog. Each opinion is fupported by arguments, 
 which do not want a fhew of probability. 
 
 The ftory of Pandora affords very diftindt traces 
 of the tradition of the fall of our firft parents, and 
 the fedudion of Adam by his wife Eve* 
 
 CHAP. 
 (5) Pliny, Bock. 7, caj-, 56. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 15 
 
 CHAP. vni. 
 
 OF DEUCALION AND PYRRHA. 
 
 Deucalion was the fon of Prometheus, and 
 had married his coufin-^crman Pyrrha, the daughter 
 of Epimetheus, who bore him a fon, called Hclenec, 
 who gave his name to Greece. Deucalion reigned in 
 Theflaly (6), which he governed with equity and 
 juftice ; but his country, for the wickednefs of the 
 inhabitants, being deftroyed by a flood, be and his 
 queen only efcaped by faving themfelves on mount 
 Parnaflus. After the de<:reafe of the waters, this 
 illullrious pair confulted the oracle of Themis in 
 their diftrefs. The anfwer was in thefe terms, De- 
 part the teinpky veil your heads cr.d faces, unlcofe your 
 g'rdleSf and thronv behind your backs the bones of your 
 grandmother, Pyrrha was ftocked at an advice, 
 which her piety made her rcgr:rd with horror : but 
 Deucalion penetrated the myfiical fenfe, revived her, 
 by telling her the earth was their grandmother, and 
 that the bones were only fhones. They immediately 
 obey the oracle, and behold its eiFed : the ftones 
 which Deucalion threw, became living men ; thofe 
 call by Pyrrha rofe into wom.en. With thefe, re- 
 turning into TheiTaly, that prince repeopled his 
 kingdom, and was honoured as the teftorer of man- 
 kind. 
 
 To explain this fable it is neceflary to obferve, 
 there were five deluges, of which the one in queftion 
 was the fourth, in order of time, and laded, ac-. 
 cording to Ariftotle*s account, the whole winter. 
 It is therefore needlefs to wafte time in drawing a 
 parallel between this Itory and the Mofaic flood. 
 The circumftance of the ftones (7) feems occafioned 
 by the fame word bearing two fignifications ; fo that 
 thefe myfterious ftones are only the children of fuck 
 as efcaped che general inundation. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 (6) By the Arundelinn marbles, Deucalion ruled at Ly- 
 cerea, in the neighbourhood of ParnaCus, about the begin- 
 ning of the reign of Cecrops, king of Athens. 
 
 (7) The Phxnician word Aben, or Eben, fignifies both a 
 ftonc and a child ; and the Greek word Aaaj, or Aao;, denotes 
 «ither a ftone or a people* 
 
14 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 OF SATURN. 
 
 o 
 
 OAT URN was the yonngeft fon of Caelus and 
 Terra, and married his fifter Vefta. Under the arti- 
 cle of Caelus, we have taken notice how he treated 
 his father. We find a new proof of his ambition in 
 his endeavouring by the affiftance of his mother, to 
 exclude his elder brother Titan from the throne, in 
 which he fo far fucceeded, that this prince was 
 obliged to refign his birthright, on thefe terms, that 
 Saturn Ihould not bring up any male children, fo 
 that the fucceflion might devolve to the right male 
 line again. 
 
 Saturn, it is faid, obferved thefe conditions fo 
 faithfully, that he devoured all the fons he had by 
 his wife, as foon as born. But his exadnefs in this 
 point was at laft fruftrated by the artifice of Vefta. 
 Having brought forth the twins, Jupiter and Juno, 
 Ihe prefented the latter to her hulband, and conceal- 
 ing the boy, fent him to be nurfed on mount Ida in 
 Crete, committing the care of him to the Curetes 
 and Corybantes. Saturn, however, getting fome 
 intelligence of the affair, demanded the child, in 
 •whofe ftead his wife gave him a ftone iwaddled up, 
 which he fwallowed. This ftone had the name of 
 Ab-addir, (or the potent father) and received divine 
 honours. 
 
 This fidion, of Saturn's devouring his fons, ac- 
 cording to Mr. Le Clerc (8), was founded upon a 
 cuftom which he had of banifhing or confining his 
 children for fear they fhould one day rebel againft 
 him. As to the ftone which Saturn is faid to fwal- 
 low, this is another fiction, founded on the double 
 meaning of the word Eben, which fignifies both a 
 ftone and a child, and means no more than that Sa- 
 turn was deceived by Rhea's fubftituting another 
 child in the room of Jupiter. 
 
 Titan finding the mutual compatft made between 
 him and his brother thus violated, took arms to re- 
 venge the injury, and not only defeated Saturn, but 
 made him and his wife Vefta prifoners, whom he con- 
 fined 
 (8) Remarks upon Hefiod. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 15 
 
 fined in Tartarus, a place fo dark and difmal, tl?at it 
 afterwards became one of the appellations of the in- 
 fernal regions. In the mean time Jupiter being 
 grown up, raifed an army in Crete for his father's 
 deliverance. He alfo hired the Cecrops to aid him in 
 his expedition ; but on their refufal to join him after 
 taking the money, he turned them into Apes. After 
 this he marched againft the Titans, and obtained a 
 complete vidory. The Eagle which appeared before 
 the engagement, as an aufpicious omen, was ever 
 after chofen to carry his thunder. From the blood 
 of the Titans, flain in the battle, proceeded fer- 
 pents, fcorpions, and all venomous reptiles. Having 
 by this fuccefs freed his parents, the young prince 
 caufed all the gods aflembled, to renew their oath of 
 fidelity to Saturn, on an altar, which on that ac- 
 count has been raifed to a conftellation in the hea- 
 vens. Jupiter, after this, married Metis, daughter 
 of Oceanus, who, it is reported, gave Saturn a po- 
 tion, which caufed him to bring up Neptune and 
 Pluto, with the reft of the children he had formerly 
 devoured (9). 
 
 The merit of the fon (as it often happens) only 
 ferved to increafe the father's jt aloufy, which received 
 new ftrength from an ancient oracle or tradition, 
 that he fhould be dethroned by one of his fons. 
 Jupiter therefore fecretly informed of the meafures 
 taken to deftroy him, fuffered his ambition to get 
 the afcendant over his duty, and taking up arms, 
 depofed his father, whom, by the advice of Pro- 
 metheus, he bound in woollen fetters, and threw 
 into Tartarus with Japetus his uncle. Here Saturn 
 fuffered the fame barbarous punifhment of caftration 
 he had inflided on his father Caelus. 
 
 Macrobius fearches into the reafon why this god 
 was bound with fetters of wool, and adds, from the 
 teftimony of Apolidorus, that he broke thefe cords 
 once a year at the celebration of the Saturnalia (i). 
 This he explains by faying, that this fable alluded to 
 the corn, which being fliut up in the earth, and de- 
 tained by chains foft and eafily broken, fprung forth 
 and annually arrived at maturity. The Abbe Banier 
 
 fays 
 
 (9) By this, Jupiter fhould be the youngcfl fon of Saturn. 
 (I) Sat. lib. I.e. 8. 
 
i6 FABULOUS lilSTORY OF 
 
 fays (a), that the Greeks looked upon the places fi- 
 tuated to the eaft as higher than thofe that lay weft- 
 ward, and from hence concludes, that by Tartarus, 
 or Hell, they only meant Spain. As to the caftration 
 vof Saturn, Mr. Le Clerc conjedtures (3), that it on- 
 ly means that Jupiter had corrupted his father's 
 council, and prevailed upon the moft confiderable 
 perfons of his court to defert him. 
 
 The manner in which- Saturn efcaped from his 
 prifon is not related. He fled to Italy, where he was 
 kindly received by Janus, then king of that country, 
 who aflbciated him in the government. From hence 
 that pail of the world obtained the name of Saturnia 
 Tellus, as alfo that of Latium, from latcc, to lie hid, 
 becaufe he found a refuge here in his diftrefs. On 
 this account money was coined with a ihip on one 
 fide, to fignify his arrival, and a Janus with a double 
 head on the other, to denote his fharing the regal 
 authority. 
 
 The reign of Saturn was fo mild and happy, that 
 the poets have given it the name of the golden 
 AGE, and celebrated it with all the pomp and luxu- 
 riancy of imagination (4). According to Varro, this- 
 deity, from his inftruding the people in agriculture 
 and tillage, obtained his name (5) of Saturn. The 
 fickle which he ufed in reaping being caft into Sicily, 
 gave that ifland its ancient name of Drepanon, 
 which in Greek fignifies that inftrument. 
 
 The hiftorians give us a very different picture of 
 Saturn. Diodorus reprefents him as a tyrannical, 
 covetous, and cruel prince, who reigned over Italy 
 and Sicily, and enlarged his dominions by conqueft : 
 he adds, that he opprefTed his fubjeds by fevere 
 taxes, and kept them in awe by ftrong garrifons. 
 This account agrees very well with thofe who make 
 Saturn the firft who inftituted human facrifices, 
 which probably gave rife to the fable of his devouring 
 his own children. Certain it is, that the Carthagi- 
 nians 
 
 (2) Banier's Mythology, vol. 2. 185. 
 
 (3) Remarks upon Hefiod. , 
 
 (4) The reader will fee more on this head under the fuo 
 ceeding article. 
 
 (5) From Satus, that is, fowing or feed time. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 17 
 
 »lans (6) offered young children to this deity ; and ' 
 amongft the Romans, his pricfts were clothed in 
 red, and at his feftivals gladiators were employed to 
 kill each other. 
 
 The feafts of this deity were celebrated with great 
 folemnity amongft the ilomans about the middle of 
 December. They were firft inftituted by Tullus 
 Hoftilius, though Livy dates them from the conful- 
 fnip of Manilius and Sempronius. They lafled but 
 one day till the time of Julius Casfar, who ordered 
 them to be protraded to three days ; and in procefs 
 of time they were extended to five. During thefe, 
 all public bufinefs was flopped, the fenate never af- 
 fembled, no war could be proclaimed, or offender 
 executed. Mutual prefents of all kind?, (particularly 
 wax lights) were fent and received, fervants wore the 
 p'lleus or cap of liberty, and were waited on by their 
 maflers at table. All which was defigned to fhew 
 the equality and happinefs of mankind under the 
 Golden Age. 
 
 The Romans kept in the temple of Saturn, the 
 libri elephantmi, or rolls, containing the names of the 
 Roman citizens, as alfo the public treafure. This 
 cuftom they borrowed from the Egyptians, who in 
 the temple of Sudec, or Chrone, depofited their ge- 
 nealogies of families and the public'money. 
 
 Saturn, like the other heathen deities, had his a- 
 mours. He fell in love with the nymph Phyllyra, 
 the daughter of Oceanus, and was by his wife Rhea 
 fo near being furprifed in her company, that he was 
 forced to affiime the form of a horfe. This fudden 
 transformation had fuch an effe<51: on his miftrefs, that 
 Ihe bore a creature whofe upper part was like a man, 
 and the reft like a horfe. This fon of Saturn be- 
 came famous for his fkill in mulic and furgery. 
 
 A modern author, M. La Pluche, has very juftly 
 accounted for this fabulous hiftory of Saturn, which 
 certainly derived its ciigin from Egypt. The annual 
 
 meeting 
 (6) Mr. Selden, in his treatife of the Syrian gods, fpeak- 
 ing of Moloch, imagines, from d\e cruelty of his facrifices, 
 he was the fume iis Saturn. In the reign of Tiberius, that 
 prince crucified the priefts of Saturn for offering young infants 
 at his altars. This idea of Saturn's malignity is, perhaps, 
 the reafon why the planet, which bears this name, was 
 ihought fo inau^icious acd unfriendly to mankind. 
 
iS FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 meeting of the Judges in that country was notihtd 
 by an image with a long beard, and a fcythe in his 
 hand. The firft denoted the age and gravity of the 
 magiftra1.es, and the latter pointed out the fc-afon of 
 their afiembhng, juft before the firft hay-making or 
 harveft. This figure they called by the names of 
 Sudec (rr), Chrone (8), Chiun (9), and Saterin(i); 
 and in company with it, always expofed another 
 fratue reprefenting Ifis, with feveral breafts, and fur- 
 rounded with the heads of animals, which they cal- 
 led Rhea (2), as thefe images continued expofed till 
 the beginning of the new folar year, or the return of 
 the Ofiris (the Sun), fo Saturn became regarded as 
 the father of time. Upon other occafions the Egyp- 
 tians depidted him with eyes before and behind, fomc 
 of them open, others afleep ; and with four wings, 
 two fhut and two expanded (-5). The Greeks took 
 thefe pidures in the literal fenfe, and turned into fa- 
 bulous hiftory what was only allegorical. 
 
 Bochart, and fom.e other learned antiquaries, con- 
 ceived Saturn to be the fame with Noab, and drew a 
 parallel, in many inftances, which feem to favour 
 their opinion. 
 
 Saturn was ufually reprefented as an old man, 
 bareheaded and bald, with all the marks of age and 
 infirmity in his face. In his right hand they fome- 
 times placed a fickle, or fcythe, at others a key, and 
 a ferpent biting its own tail, and circumflexed in his 
 left. He fometimes was pidured with fix wings, and 
 feet of wool, to fhew howinfenfibly and fwiftly time 
 pafiTes. The fcythe denoted his cutting down and 
 imparing all things, and the ferpent the revolution 
 of the year : ^.od in ftfe vcl'vitur ar.nus, 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 (7) FromTfadic, or Sudec, jr.fticc, or the juft. 
 
 (8) From Kcron, fpleiidor, the name given to Mofes or 
 his defcent from the mount ; hence the greek xp'"''°?- 
 
 (9) From Choen, a iiricil:, is derived Ksunah, or the i^- 
 cerdotal office. 
 
 (1) From Seter, a judge, is the plural Scterim, or the 
 judges. 
 
 (2) From Rahah, to feed, comes Rehea, or Rhea, a nurfe. 
 
 (3) This figure feems borrowed from the Cherubim of the 
 Ikbrevvs. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 19 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 OF THE GOLDEN AGE. 
 
 I ^'IFFICULT as it is, to reconcile the inconfiften- 
 cies between the poets and hiftorians in the preceding 
 account of Saturn, yet the concurrent teftimony of 
 the former in placing the Golden Age in his time, 
 feems to determine the point in his favour ; and to 
 prove that he was a benefador and friend to man- 
 kind, fince they enjoyed fuch felicity under his admi- 
 niftration. We can never fufficiently admire the 
 mafterlydefcrip^iou given by Virgil of thefe halcyon 
 days, when peace and innocence adorned the world, 
 and fweetened all the blefTings of untroubled life. 
 Ovid has yet heightened the defcription with thofe 
 touches of imagination peculiar to him. Amongft 
 the Greek poets, Hefiod has touched this fubjed: with 
 that agreeable fimplicity which diftinguiflies all his 
 writings. 
 
 By the Golden Age might be figured out the hap- 
 pinefs of the primteval ftate before the firft and uni- 
 verfal deluge, when the earth, remaining in the feme 
 pofition in which it was firft created, flouriflied with 
 perpetual fpring, and the air always temperate and 
 ferene, was neither difcompofed by ftorms, nor dark- 
 ened by clouds. The reafon of affixing this time to 
 the reign of Saturn, was probably this : the Egyp- 
 tians held the firft annual aflfembly of their judges in 
 the month of February, and as the decifions of thefe 
 fages were always attended with the higheft equity, 
 fo the people regarded that ftafon as a time of general 
 joy and happinefs, rather as all nature with them was 
 then in bloom, and the whole country looked like 
 one enamelled garden or carpet. 
 
 But after all it appears, that thefe halcyon times 
 were but of a fhort dura::ion, fince tlie charader Plato, 
 Pythagoras, and others, give of this age, can only 
 relate to that ftate of perfed innocence which ended 
 with the fall. 
 
 C H A P. 
 
20 FABULOUS HISTORY Of 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 OF THE GIANTS. 
 
 J HE giants were produced (as has been already 
 observed) of the blood which flowed from the wound 
 of Saturn, when caftratedby his fon Jupiter. Proud 
 of their own ftrength, and fired with a daring am- 
 bition, they entered into an afTociation to dethrone 
 Jupiter; for which purpofe they piled rocks on 
 rocks, in order to fcale the ikies. This engage- 
 ment is differently related by authors, both as to the 
 place where it happened, and the circumftances 
 which attended it ; fome writers laying the fcenc in 
 Italy (4), others in Greece (5). It feems the father 
 of the gods was apprized of the danger, as there was 
 a prophetical rumour amongft the deities, that the 
 giants fhould not be overcome, unlefs a mortal af- 
 lifted in the war. For this reafon Jove, by the ad- 
 vice of Pallas, called up Hercules, and being aflifted 
 by the reft of the gods gained a complete vidory over 
 the rebels, moft of whom perifhed in the confiicfl-. 
 Hercules firft flew Alcyon with an aiTow, but he itill 
 furvived and grev/ ftronger, till Minerva drew him 
 out of the moon's orb, when he expired. This god- 
 defs alfo cut off the heads of Enceladus and Pal- 
 lantes, and afterwards encountering Alc/oneus at the 
 Corinthian ifthmus, killed him in fpite of his mon- 
 flrous bulk. Porphyris, about to raviih Juno, fell by 
 the hands of Jupiter and Hercules. Apollo and 
 Hercules difpatched Ephialtei, and Hercules flew 
 Eurytus, by darting an oak at him. Clytius was 
 r.ain by Hecate, and Polybotes flying through the 
 fea, came to the iOe of Coos, where Neptune tear- 
 ing off part of the land, hurled it at him, and form- 
 ed the ifie of Nifyros. Mercury flev/ Hyppolitus, 
 Gratian was vanquifhed by Diana, and the Parc-e 
 claimed their fhare in the vidory, by the de- 
 flrudion of Agryus and Thoan. Even Silenus's 
 
 afs, 
 
 (4) Tn the Phlegr.xan plains, in Campania, near mount 
 Vefuvius, wiiich abounded wiih fubterraneous fires, and hot 
 mineral fpring<;. 
 
 (5' Where they fet mount OfTa on Pelion, in order tA 
 afcend the fkies. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. ai 
 
 afs, by his opportune braying, contributed to put the 
 giants in confufion, and complete their ruin. During 
 this war, of which Ovid has left us a fliort defciip- 
 tion, Pallas diftinguiflied herfelf by her wifdom, 
 Hercules by his ftrength, Pan by his trumpet, which 
 ftruck a terror in the enemy, and Bacchus by his 
 aftivity and courage. Indeed their afliftance was no 
 more than feafonabie ; for when the giants lirll made 
 their audacious attempt, the gods were fo aftonifhed, 
 that they fled into Egypt, where they concealed them- 
 felves in various fhapes. 
 
 But the moft dreadful of thefe monfters, and the 
 moft difficult to fubdue, was Typhon or Typhseus ; 
 whom, when he had almoft difcomfited all the gods, 
 Jupiter purfued to mount Caucafus, where he 
 wounded him with his thunder ; but Typhon turning 
 upon him, took him, prifoner; and after cytting 
 with his own fickle the nerves of his hands and feet, 
 threw him on his back, carried him into Cilicia, and 
 imprifoned him in a cave, whence he was delivered 
 by Mercury, who reftored him to his former vigour. 
 After this, Jove had ?. fecond engagement with Ty- 
 phon, who flying into Sicily, was overwhelmed by 
 mount JEtna. 
 
 The giants are reprefented by the poets as men of 
 huge ftature and horrible afped, their lower parts 
 being of a ferpentine form. But above all, Typhon, 
 or Typhasus, is defcribed in the moft fliocking man- 
 ner ; Hefiod has giving him an hundred heads of dra- 
 gons, uttering dreadful founds, and having eyes that 
 darted fire. He makes him, by Echidna, the father 
 of the dog Orthus, or Cerberus, Hydra, Chimsera, 
 Sphinx, the Nemaean lyon, the Hefperian dragon, 
 and of ftorms and tempefls. 
 
 Hiftorians fay, Typhasus v^^as the brother of Ofiris, 
 king of Egypt, who, in the abfence of this monarch, 
 formed a confpiracy to dethrone him at his return ; 
 for which end he invited him to a feaft, at the con- 
 clufion of which, a theft of exquifite workmanfliip 
 was brought in, and offered to him who lying down 
 in it ftiould be found to fit it beft. Ofiris, not diftruft- 
 ing the contrivance, had no fooner got in but the 
 lid was clofed upon him, and the unhappy king thrown 
 into the Nile. Ifis, his queen, to revenge the death 
 ©f her beloved hufband, raifed an army, the command 
 
 of 
 
21 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 of which fhe gave to her fon Orus, who, after vanquidi- 
 ing the ufurper, put him to death. Hence the Egyp- 
 tions, who detefted his memory, painted him in their 
 hieroglyphic characters in fo frightful a manner. The 
 length and multiplicity of his arms denoted his pow- 
 er ; the ferpents which formed his heads, fignified his 
 addrefs and cunning ; the crocodile fcales which co- 
 Tcred his body, exprefled his cruelty and diflimulation ; 
 and the flight of the gods into Egypt, (hewed the 
 precautions taken by the great men to ihelter them- 
 felves from his fury and refentment. 
 
 It is eafy in this ftory of the giants to trace the Mo- 
 faic hiftory which, informs us how the earth was 
 a^i(5ted v.ith men of uncommon ftature and great 
 wickednefs. The tradition of the tower of Babel, and 
 the defeat of that impious defign, might naturally give 
 rife to the attempt of thcfe monfters, to infult the 
 fkies and make war on the gods. 
 
 But there is another explication of this fable, which 
 feems both more rational and curious. Amongft the 
 names of the giants we find thofe of Briareus (6), Rce- 
 chus (7), Othus (8), Ephialtes (9), Prophyrion (i), 
 Enceladus (2), and Mimas (3). Now the literal figni- 
 cation of thefe, leads us to the fenfe of the allegory, 
 which was defigned to point out the fatal confequenccs 
 of the flood, and the confiderable changes it intro- 
 duced with regard to the face of nature. This is fur- 
 ther confirmed by their tradition, that their Ofiris 
 vanquiflied the giants, and that Orus, his fon, in par- 
 ticular, flopped the purfuit of Rcechus, by appear- 
 ing before him in the form of a lion. By which they 
 
 meant, 
 
 (6) From Bcri, ferenity; and Karcus, loft, to ftew the 
 temperature of the air deftroyed. 
 
 (7) From Reuach, the winds. 
 
 (8) From Ouitta, or Othus, the times, to typify the vicifli- 
 tude of the feafons. 
 
 (9) From Evi, or Ephi, clouds; and Altah, darknefs, i.e. 
 dark gloomy clouds. 
 
 (1) From Phau, to break, comes Pharphcr, to feparatc 
 minutely ; to denote tlie general difTolution of the Primaeval 
 fyftcm. 
 
 (2) From Erceled, violent fprings or torrents. 
 
 (3) From Maim, great and heavy rains. Now all thefe 
 were phjenomena new, and unknown before the flood. Sec 
 L* Pluchc'i hillory sf the heavens, vol. i. p. 60. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS aj 
 
 meant, that that induftrious people had no way 
 of fecuring themfelves againft the bad efFecfts of the 
 vernal winds, which brought on their annual inun- 
 dation, but by exadly obferving the fun's entrance 
 into Leo, and then retiring into the high grounds, to 
 wait the going off of the waters. 
 
 It may i^ot be improper to add, that from the blood 
 of the giants defeated by Jupiter, were produced 
 I'erpents and all kinds of venomous creatures. 
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 OF JANUS. 
 
 1 HE connexion between Saturn and Janus, ren- 
 ders the account of the latter a proper fupplement to 
 the hiftoryof the former. Writers vary as to the birth 
 of this deity, fome making him the fon of C«lus and 
 Hecate, others the offspring of Apollo, by Creufa, 
 daughter of Eridheus, king of Athens. Hefiod is 
 nient about him in his Theogony, and indeed Janus was 
 a god little known to the Greeks. According to 
 Cato, he v^'as a Scythian prince, who, at the head of 
 a vidorious army, fubdued and depopulated Italy. 
 But the mofl probable opinion is, that he was an Etru- 
 rian king, and one of the earlieft monarchs of that 
 country, which he governed with great wifdom, ac- 
 cording to the teflimony of Plutarch, who fays. What- 
 ever he rojaSf nvhether a king or a god, he --^as a great 
 politician^ <who tempered the tnanners of his fuhje^s, and 
 taught them civility, on ivhich account he ii'aj regarded 
 as the god of peace, a^id tie'ver wvoLd duriyig the time of 
 ■ *ivar. The Romans held him in peculiar veneration. 
 
 From Fabius Pid:or, one of the oldeft Roman hif- 
 torians, we learn, that the ancient Tufcans were firft 
 taught by this good king to improve the vine, to fow 
 corn, and make bread, and that he firfl raifcd temples 
 and altars to the gods, v>'ho were before worfliipped 
 in groves. We have already mentioned Saturn as the 
 introducer of thefe arts into Italy, where Janus alTo- 
 ciated him into a fhare of his power. Some fay he 
 was married to the youngeft Vefta, the goddefs of/r<? ; 
 others make his wife the goddefs Carna, or Carnia(4\ 
 
 It 
 
 (4) Carna, or Carma, was a goddefs who prtuded over 
 the vital parts, and occafioned a healthy conllitution of body. 
 
24 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 It is certain that he early obtained divine honours 
 at Rome, where Nnma Pompiiiiis inftituted an annual 
 ftfiival to hinn in January, which was celebrated with 
 manly exerciles. Romulus and Tatius had before e- 
 red:cd him a templ.i', upon occafion of the union of 
 the Romans with the Sabines. Numa ordained it 
 fliould be opened in time of war, and fhut in time of 
 peace (5"), which happened but thrice for feveral cen- 
 turies. I. In the reign of Numa. 2. In theconfulatc 
 of Attilus Balbus, and Manlius Torquatus ; and, 3. 
 By Auguftus Casfar, affer the death of Antony, and 
 reduction of Egypt. 
 
 Janus was the god who prefided over all new un- 
 dertakings. Hence in all the facrifices the firft libations 
 of Avine and wheat were offered to him, as likewife 
 all prayers were prefaced with a fhort addrefs to him. 
 The peculiar offerings at his feftival were cakes of 
 new meal and fait, with new wine and frankincenfc 
 (6) . Then all artificers and tradefmen began their 
 works, and the Roman confuls for the new year fo- 
 lemnly entered on their office. All quarrels were laid 
 aflde, mutual prefents were made, and the day con- 
 cluded with joy and mirth. 
 
 Janus was reprefented with two faces, and called 
 RitVons, Byceps, and Didymasus, as forming another 
 image of himfelf on the difk of the moon, and look- 
 ing to the pafl and approaching year ; with keys, as 
 opening and fhutting up the day (7). He is faid to 
 have regulated the months, the firft of which is diflin- 
 guiflied by his name, as the firft day of every month 
 was alfo facred to him. He was therefore feated in 
 the center of twelve altars ; and had on his hands fi- 
 gures to the amount of days in the year. Sometimes 
 hir image had four faces, to exprefs the four feafons of 
 the year over which he prefided. 
 
 Though Janus be properly a Roman deity, yet it is 
 amongft the Egyptians we mufl feek for the true expla- 
 nation 
 
 (5) Hence Janus took the names of Patulelus and Clufius. 
 
 (6) Tooke contradldls Ovid, and fuppofes Pliny to prove, 
 that the ancients did not ufe this gum in their facrifices ; but 
 the paflage of that author only fays, it was not ixfed in the 
 time of the Trojan war. 
 
 (7) ^Jj^fi vtriufque janua caleji'is potentum ; qui tX9riens aperi^ 
 l/iim, oeeiJcnt claiidat. Macrob. 1. I. C. ^ 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. ij 
 
 nation of his hiftory. That nation reprefented tJxc 
 opening of their folar year by an image, with a key in 
 its hand, and two faces, one old, and the other young, 
 to typify or mark the old or new year. King Picus 
 with a hawk's head, who is ufually drawn near Janus, 
 leaves no doubt but that the fymbol of this deity was 
 borrowed from that people. The reader, after put- 
 ting all this together, will reafonably conclude, that 
 by this figure could only be intended the fun, the great 
 ruler of the year. 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Ofthe Elder Vesta, or Cybele, the Wife of Saturn. 
 
 It is highly neceffary, in clafling the Heathen divi- 
 nities, to diftinguiih between this goddefs, who is alfo 
 called Rhea, and Ops, from another Vtfta, their 
 daughter, becaufe the poets have been faulty in con- 
 founding them, and afcribing the attributes and adions 
 of the one to the other. 
 
 The elder Vefta, commonly called Eflia by the 
 Greeks, was the daughter' of Cselus and Terra, and 
 1 arried to her brother Saturn, to whom flie bore a nu- 
 merous offspring. She had a multiplicity of names 
 befides, of which the principal were Cybele/Magna Ma- 
 ter, or the great mother of the Gods ; and Bona Dea, 
 or the good goddefs, &c. under different facrifices. 
 
 Vefta is generally reprefented upon ancient coins fit- 
 ling, though fometimes Handing, with a lighted torch 
 in one hand, and a fphere in the other. 
 
 Under the charaifter of Cybele ilie makes a more 
 magnificent appearance, being feated on a lofty cha- 
 riot drawn by lions, crowned with towers, and having 
 a key extended in her hand. 
 
 Some indeed make the Phrygian Cybele a different 
 perfon from Vefta : they fay (he was the daughter of 
 Moeones, an an^^ient king of Phrygia and Dyndima, 
 and that her mother, for fome reafons, expofed her on 
 mount Cybelus, where flie was noiirifhed by lions. 
 Her parents afterwards owned her, and llie fell in love 
 with Atys by whom conceiving, her father caufed her 
 C lover 
 
26 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 Icrver to be flain, and his body thrown to the wild 
 beafts ; Cybele upon this ran mad, and filled the woods 
 with her lamentations. Soon after a pla^jue and famine 
 laying wafte the country, the oracle was confulted, 
 who advifed them to bury Atys with great pomp, and 
 to worftiip Cybele as a Goddefs. ^Accordingly they 
 eredted a temple to her honour at Peflinus, and placed 
 lions at her feet to denote her being educated by thefe 
 animals. 
 
 Ovid relates the ftory a little more in the marvellcus 
 way : Atys was a boy fo called by Cybele, whom (he 
 appointed to prefide in her rites, enjoining him invio- 
 late chaftity ; but the youth happening to forget his 
 vow, in refentment the goddefs deprived him of his 
 fenfes ; but at laft pitying his mifery fhe turned him 
 Into Sipine tree, v/hich as well as the boxy v/as held fa- 
 cred to her. The animal commonly facrificed to Cy- 
 •bele was the fow, on account of its fecundity. 
 
 The priefts of this deity were the Corybantes, Cu- 
 retes, Idasi, Da6tyli, and Telchines, who in their myf- 
 tical rites made great ufe of Cymbals and other inllru- 
 ments of brafs, attended with extravagant cries and 
 Jiowlings. They facrificed fitting on the earth, and 
 offered only the hearts of the vidims. 
 
 The goddefs Cybele was unknown to the Romans 
 till the time of Hannibal, when, confulting the Sybil- 
 line oracles, they found that formidable enemy could 
 not be expelled till they fent for the Idccan mother to 
 Rome. Attains, then king of Phrygia, at the requeft 
 -o1f their embaffadors, fent her ftatue, which was of 
 ftone. But the veflel which carried it arriving in the 
 Tyber, was miraculoufly ftopped, till Claudia, one of 
 the Veftal-Virgins, drew it alhore with her girdle. 
 
 This Vefta, to whom the living flame was facred, is 
 the fame with the iEgyptian Ifis, and reprefented the 
 pure atberj inclofing, containing and pervading all 
 things. Their expreffings and attributes are alike. 
 She was confidered as the caufr of generation and 
 motion, the parent of all the luminaries, and is con- 
 founded with nature and the ivorld. She obtained the 
 name of Eftia, as being the life or eflence of all 
 things (8). 
 
 As to the priefts of Cybele, the Corybantes, Cure- 
 tes, <3cc^ they are of the fame original. Crete was a 
 
 colony 
 
 i%) Pkto in Cratylo. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. %1 
 
 colony of the Egyptians, confiding of three clafTes of 
 people. I. The Corybantes or priefts (9). a. The 
 Curetes(i), or hufbandmen, and inhabitants of towns^ 
 3. The Dadyli (2), or artificers and labouring poor. 
 All which names are of Egyptian derivation. 
 
 Cybele was honoured a^ Rome by the title of Bona 
 Dea, or good goddefs. But this devotion was only 
 paid her by the matrons, and the rites were celebrated 
 in fo fecret a manner, that it was no lefs than death for 
 any man to be prefent at the affembly (3). Whence 
 they were called Opertoria. 
 
 The Roman farmers andlhepherds worftiipped Cybe- 
 le or Vefta, by the title of Magna Pales, or the god- 
 defs of cattle and pafture. Her feftival was in April, 
 at which time they purified their flocks and herds with 
 the fum^es of rofemary, laurel, and fulphur, offered 
 facrifices of milk and millet cakes, and concluded the 
 ceremony by dancing round ftraw fires. Thefe annual 
 feafts were called Palilia, and were the fame with the 
 e>jj-|Uo <f)cpja of the Greeks, and probably of Phaenician 
 or Egyptian original. 
 
 The great feftival of Cybele, called Megalefia, was 
 always celebrated in April, and lafted eight days at 
 Rome. 
 
 CHAP. XIV. 
 
 OF VESTA THE YOUNGER. 
 
 Collected fire is the offspring of aether. Hence 
 we have another Vefta, faid to be the daughter of the 
 other, by Saturn, or time, and the fifter of Ceres, 
 Juno, Pluto, Neptune, and Jupiter. She was fo fond 
 of a fingle life, that when her brother Jupiter afcended 
 C z the 
 
 (9) From Corban, a facrificc or oblation, 
 (i) From Kertt, a city or town, comes the plural Kerc- 
 tim, to fignify the inhabitants. 
 
 (2) From dac, poor; and tul or tyl, a migration : hence 
 our ultimma Thule. The Greeks, for the fame reafon call 
 the fingers Dailyli, hecaufe they are the inftruments of labour. 
 
 (3) So we learn from Tibullus, Eclogue VI. 
 Sacra kona marlbus nen adeunda dcdc. 
 
iS FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 the throne, and offered to grant whatever fhe aflced, 
 flie defired only the prefervation of her virginity, and 
 that fhe might have the firfl oblation in all facrifices 
 (4) Vshich file obtained. According to Ladantius, the 
 chaflity of Vefla is meant to exprefs the nature of fire, 
 which is incapable of mixture, producing nothing, but 
 converting all things into itfelf. 
 
 Numa Pompilius, the great founder of religion a- 
 Riong the Romans, is faid firft to have reftoredthe an- 
 cient rites and worfhip of this goddefs, to whom he 
 created a circular temple, which, in fucceeding ages, 
 vas much embelliflied. He alfo appointed four priefl- 
 -cfTes to be chofen out of the nobleft families in Rome, 
 and of fpotlefs chara<5ler, whofe ofiice was to attend 
 the facred frre kept continually burning near her altar. 
 Thefe Veflal-Virgins continued in their charge forthir- 
 ty years, and had very great privileges annexed to their 
 dignity. This fire was annually renewed, with great 
 ceremony, from the rays of the fun, on the kalend* 
 of March. It was preferved in earthen pets fufpended 
 in the air, and efleemed fo facred, that if ay any mif- 
 fortune it became extinguiflied (as happened once) a 
 ceflTation enfued from all bufinefs, till they had ex- 
 piated the prodigy. If this accident appeared to be 
 owing to the negled of the Yeftals, they were feverely 
 punifhed ; and if they violated their vow of chaflity, 
 they were interred alive. 
 
 As Vefla was the goddefs of fire, the Romans had 
 no images in her temple to reprefcnt her, the reafon of 
 which we learn in Ovid (5). Yet, as ihe was the guar- 
 dian of coufes or hearth, her image was ufually placed 
 in the porch or entry, and daily facri.'ce offered her(6). 
 
 It is certain nothing could be a flronger or more live- 
 ly fymbol of the fupreme Being, than fire. Accord- 
 ingly we find this emblem in early ufe throughout all 
 the cafl. The Perfians held it in venei-ation long, be- 
 fore 
 
 (4) It Is a queflion if this privilege did net rather belong 
 to the elder Vefla, in common with Janus, 
 
 (5) HisAvords are thefe : 
 
 E^gem mi Ham Vefla nee ignis habd. Fafti, lib. VI. 
 
 No image Vtfta's lemblance can exprefs, 
 Fire is too fubtile to admit of drefs. 
 
 (6) Hence the word veflibulum, for a porch or entrj''; and 
 the Romans called their round tables vefl.-e, as the Greeks ufed 
 the common word Er»a, to fignify chinmits in altars. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 29 
 
 fore Zoroafter, who, in the reign of Darius Hyftafpes, 
 reduced the worlhip of it to a certain plan. The 
 Prylianei of the Greeks were perpetual and holy fires. 
 We find iEneas bringing with him to Italy his Penates 
 (or houfliold gods) the Palladium and the facrcd fire. 
 The Vefta of the Etrurians, Sabiues, and Romans, 
 was the lame. 
 
 CHAP. XV. 
 
 OF JUPITER, 
 
 W E come now to tlis great king, or mafler of 
 the gods. This deity was the fon of Saturn, and 
 Rhea, or Veita, at kaft this is that Jupiter, to whom*' 
 the actions of all the others were chiefly afcribcd. For 
 there were fo many princes called by his name, that 
 it feems.to have been a common appellation in early 
 times for a powcri\il or victorious prince (7). The 
 moft confiderable of thefe was certainly the Cretan 
 Jove above-mentioned, of whofe education we have 
 \ery various accounts, as well as the place of his 
 birth. The Mefiersi.ms pretended to fhew in the 
 neighbourhood of their city a fountain called Ciep- 
 fydra, where Jupiter was educated by the nymphs 
 Ithome ar.d Keda, othera fay he was bom at Thebes 
 in BtEotia ; but the moit general and received opinion 
 iti, that he was brought up re;ir mount Ida in Crete. 
 Virgil tellvs us he was fed by the bees, out of gratitude 
 for which he changed them from an iron to a golden 
 eolour. Some fay his nurfcs were Amalthoea and 
 Melifla, daugiiters of Meiiiytras king of Crete, who 
 gave him goats milk and honey ; others, that Amal- 
 thaea was the name of the goat that nurfed him, whofe 
 horn he prcfented to thofe pnncefies with this privi- 
 lege annexed, that whoever pofTefTed it fhould imme- 
 diately have whatever they delired ; whence it came 
 to be called the horn of Plenty. After this the goat 
 dying, Jupiter placed her amongft the ftars, and by 
 the advice of Themis covered his Ihield with her Jkin 
 to ftrike terior in the giants, v/hence it obtained the 
 
 name 
 
 (7) Varro reckoned up 300 Jupiters, and each nation feemtf 
 v: .1. d one peculiar to itfelf. 
 
St FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 name of j^gis. According to others, he and his 
 fifler Juno fiickeJ the breafts of Fortune. Some al. 
 ledge his mother Vefta fuckkd him ; fome, that he 
 v.'as fed by wild pigeons, who brought him ambrofia 
 from Oceanus, and by an eagle, who carried nc<5lar 
 in his beak from a fteep rock ; in r^compence of 
 which fervices, he made the former the foretellers of 
 xvinter and fummer, and gave the latter the reward 
 of immortality, and the office of bearing his thunder. 
 In fhort, the nymphs and the bears claiir. 2 fhaie in 
 the honour of his education, nor is it yet decided 
 which has the beft title to it. 
 
 Let us now come to the actions of Jupiter. The 
 firft, and indeed the moft memorable of his exploits, 
 was his expedition againft the Titans, for his father's 
 deliverance and reftoration, of which we have al- 
 ready fpoken under the article of Saturn. After this 
 he dethroned his father, and having pciTelfed himfelf 
 of his throne, was acknowledged by all the gods in 
 quality of their fupreme. Apollo, himfelf, crowned 
 with laurel, and robed with purple, condcfcended to 
 fing his praifes to his lyre. Kercules, in order to 
 perpetuate the memory of his triumphs, infcituted the 
 Olympic games, where it is laid that Pecebus carried 
 off the firft prize, by overcoming Mercury at the 
 race. After this, Jupiter being fully fettled, divided 
 his dominions with his brothers Neptune and Pluto, 
 as will be Ihev/n in the fequel. 
 
 Jupiter, however, is thought to ufe his power in a 
 little too tyrannical a manner, for which we find 
 Juno, Neptune, and Pallas, confpired againft, and 
 adually feized his pcrfon. But the giants Cottus, 
 Gyges, and Briareus, who were then his guards, and 
 whom Thetis called to his affiftance, fet him at li- 
 terty. How thefe giants, with others of their race, 
 afterwards rev©lted againft him, and were overthrown, 
 has been already mentioned in its place. 
 
 The ftory of Lycaon is not the leaft diftinguifhing 
 of his actions. Hearing of the prevailing wickednefs 
 of mankind, Jove defcended to the earth, and ar- 
 riving at the palace of this monarch, king of Arcadia, 
 declared who he was, on which the people prepared 
 facrifices, and the other honours due to him. But 
 Lycaon, both im.pious and incredulous, tilled one of 
 his domeftics, and ferved up the flelh drelTed at the 
 
 entertainmeJit 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 31 
 
 tntei-tainment he gave the god, who detefting fuch 
 horrid inhumanity, immediately confumed the pa- 
 lace with lightening, and turned the barbarian into a 
 wv\?. Ovid has related this ftory with his ufual art. 
 
 But as ambition, when arrived at the height 0/ its 
 v/ifhes, feldoni ftriitly adheres to the rules of mode- 
 lation, fo the air of a court is always in a peculiar 
 manner fatal to virtj.e. If any monarch deferved the 
 chara^^ter of encourag**:^" gallantry by his example, it 
 was certainly Jupiter, whole amours are as number* 
 lefs as the metamorphof^'s he affiimed <o accomplifh 
 them, and h-r.e afforded an extenlive field of de- 
 fcription to the poets and painters, t)oth ancient and 
 niodern. 
 
 Jupiter had feveral wives: Metis, or Prudence, 
 hts firft, he is faid to have devoured, when big with 
 child, by which himfelt"' becoming pregnant, Minerva 
 ilTued out of his head adult and completely armed. 
 Itis fecond was Themi6,*or Judice, by whom he had 
 the Hours, meaning reinitiation of time', Eunomia, or' 
 good order', Diche, or lavj ; Eirene, or peace, and the 
 Deftinies. He alfo married Juno, his fifter, whom it 
 is reported he deceived under the form of a cuckoo, 
 who, to f]-iun the violence of a ftorm, fkd for fhelter 
 to her lap (8). She bcre him Hebe, Mars, Lucina, 
 and Vulcan. By Eurynome, he bad the three 
 Graces ; by Ceres, Proferpine ; Mnemofyne, the 
 nine Mufes ; by Latona, Apollo and Diana j by 
 Maia, Mercury. 
 
 Of his intrigues we have a pretty curious detail. 
 One of his firft miftrefies v/as Califlo, the daughter 
 of Lycaon, one of the nymphs of Diana. To de- 
 ceive her, he afiumed the folpm of the goddefs of 
 chaftity, and facceeded fo far as to make the virgin 
 violate her vow. But her difgrace being revealed, as 
 fhe was bathing with her patronefs, the incenfed 
 deity net only difgraced her, but (9) turned her into 
 a bear. Jove, in compaflicn to her punifhment and 
 fufferings, raifed her to a conftellation in the heavens 
 (i). Cahfto, however, left a fon called Areas, 
 who having inllru<5led the Pclafgians in tillage and the 
 
 focial 
 
 (8) At a mountain near Corinth, Icncc called Coceyy. 
 
 (9) Some fay it was Jnno turned her into that animal. 
 
 (l) Called Utfa Major by the L:.i rs» and Hclice by 
 the Greeks. 
 
3* FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 fecial arts, they from him took the name of Arca- 
 dians, and after his death he was, by his divine fa- 
 ther, allotted alio (a) a feat in the Ikies. 
 
 There is fcarce any form which Jupiter did not at 
 fome time or other aflume to gratify his defires. 
 Under the figure of a fatyr he violated Antiope, the 
 wife of Lycus, kang of Thebes, by whom he had 
 two fons, Zethus axid Amphion. In the rtfemblance 
 of a fwan he corrupted Lc»la, the fpouie of Tyn- 
 daris, king of Laconia. Under the appearance of a 
 white bull he earned off Europa, the daughter of 
 Agenor, king of Phsenicia, into Crete, where he en- 
 joyed her. In the fliape of an eagle he furprifed 
 Afteria, the daughter of C-jeus, and bore her away 
 in his talons in fpite of her modefty. Aided by the 
 feme difguife iie feizeJ the beauteous Ganymede, 
 fon of Tros, as he was hunting on mount Ida, and 
 raifed him to the joint funcftions of his cup-bearer 
 and catamite. 
 
 It was indeed difficult to efcape the purfuits of a 
 god, who by his unlimited power made all nature 
 fublervient to his purpcfcs. Of this we have a re- 
 markable inAance in Danae, whole fether, Acrifius, 
 jealoug of her eonduirt, had fecurcd her in a brazen 
 tower ; but Jupiter defcending in a golden fhower, 
 found means to elude all the vigilance of her keepers. 
 He inllamed iEgina, the daughter of iEfopus, kang 
 of Bceotia, in the fimilitude of a lambent fire, and 
 then carried her from Epidaums to a defert iile called 
 Oenope, to which fiie gave her own name (.^). Cly- 
 toris, a fair virgin of Theffhly, he debauched in the 
 fhape of an ant ; but to corrupt Alcmena, the wife 
 of Amphytrion, he was obliged to alTume the form 
 of her hufband, under vrhlch the fair one, deceived, 
 innocently yielded to his defires. By ^^ha]ia lie had 
 two fons called the Pallaci ; and two by Protogenia, 
 viz. JEthlius, the father of Endymion, and Epaphus, 
 the founder of Memphis in Egypt, and father of 
 Lybia, who gave her name to the continent of 
 Afiick. Eledra bore him Dardanus, Laodamia, 
 Sarpedon, and Argus, Jodamus, Deucalion, with 
 
 many 
 
 (a) The Urfa Minor of die I^atins, and Cynofura of the 
 Greeks. 
 
 (3) The iflc of ^glna, in the Archipelago. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 33. 
 
 many others too tedious to enumerate, though men- 
 tioned by the poets. 
 
 It is very evident that moft, if not all the ftories 
 relating to the amours of the gods, were invented by 
 their refpedive priefts, to cover their corruption or 
 debauchery. Of which this of Danae fecms at leaft 
 a palpable inftance, and may ferve to give fome idea 
 of the reft : Acriiius was informed by an oracle, that 
 his grandfon would one day deprive him of his crown 
 and life ; on which he fliut up his daughter Danae 
 in a brazen tower, of the temple of Apollo at Delphos, 
 the priefts of which oracle probably gave him this 
 information, with no other view than to for\^ard 
 their fchem.e, which tended to gratify the luft of Prse- 
 teus, the king's brother, who being let through the 
 the roof, pretending to be Jupiter, and throwing 
 large quantities of gold amongft her domeftics, ob- 
 tained his wifhes. 
 
 Two particular adventures of his are too remarka- 
 able to be paffed in filence. He had deluded by his 
 arts Semele, daughter of Cadmus, king of Thebes, 
 who proved with child. Juno hearing of it, and in- 
 tent on revenge, under the difguife of Beroe, nurfe 
 to the princefs, was admitted to her prefence, and 
 artfidly infinuated to her that fhe might net be de- 
 ceived in her lover, frie advifed her, the next time he 
 vilited her, to requelt, as a proof of his love, that 
 fhe might fee him in the fame majefty with which he 
 embraced Juno. Jupiter granted, not without re- 
 luctance, a favour he knew would be fo fatal to his 
 miftrefs. The unhappy fair-one, unable to bear the 
 dazzling effulgence, periflied in the flames, and with 
 her, her offspring muft have done fo too, if the god 
 had not taken it out, and inclofed it in his thigh, 
 where it lay the full time, when it came into the 
 world, and was named Bacchus. 
 
 Jupiter next fell enamoured with lo, the daughter 
 of Inachus, and, as fome fay, the prieftefs of Juno ; 
 having one day met this virgin returning from her 
 father's grotto, he endeavoured to feduce her to an 
 adjacent foreft ; but the. nymph flying his embraces, 
 he involved her in fo thick a mift, that fhe loft her 
 way, fo that he eafily overtook and enjoyed her. 
 Juno, v/hofe jealoufy always kept her watchftil, mif- 
 ling her hufband, and perceiving a thick darknefs on 
 C 5 ti>e 
 
34 FABULOUS HISTORV OF 
 
 the earth, defcended, difpelled the cloud, and had 
 Certainly difcovered the intrigue, had hot Jupiter fud- 
 denly transformed lo into a white heifer. Juno, 
 pleafed with the beauty of the animal, begged her, 
 and to allay her jealoufy, he was obliged to yield her 
 up. The goddefs immediately gave her in charge to 
 Argus, who had an hundred eyes, two of which only 
 flept at a time. Her lover, pitying the mifery of lo 
 in fo ftrid a confinement, fent Mercury down dif- 
 guifed like a fiiepherd, who with his flute charmed 
 Argus to fleep, fealed his eyes v\dth his caduceus, or 
 rod, and then cut off his head. Juno, in regard to 
 his memory, placed his eyes in the tail of the pea- 
 cock, a bird facred to her, and then turning her 
 rage againft lo, fent the furies to purfiie her wherever 
 ihe went (6) ; fo that the wretched fugitive, weary of 
 life, implored Jove to end her mifery. Accordingly 
 the god intreats his fpoufe to fhew her companion, 
 fwearing by Styx never to give her further caufe of 
 jealoufy. Juno on this becom.es appeafed, and lo 
 ijeing reftored to her former Ihape, is worfhipped in 
 Egypt by the name of Ifis. 
 
 The fable of lo and Argus is certainly of Egyptian 
 birth, and the true mythology is this : the art of 
 weaving, firft invented in Egypt, was by the colonies 
 of that nation carried to Greece and Colchis, where 
 it was praftifed with this difference, that the feafons 
 for working were varied in each country according to 
 to the nature of the climate. The months of Febru- 
 ary, March, April, and May, they employed in 
 Egypt, in cultivating Heir lands ; Avhcreas thefc 
 being winter months with the Grecians, they kept 
 the looms bufy. Now the Ifis, which pointed out 
 the neomenia, or monthly feftivals in Egypt, was al- 
 ways attended with an hcrus, or figure exprcflive of 
 the labour peculiar to the feafon. Thus the horus of 
 the weaving months was a little figure ftuck over with 
 eyea, to denote the many lights necefiary for working 
 
 by 
 
 (6) Dr. King relates this ftory a little differently, lo, 
 purfued by Tifiphone (one of the furies fell into the fea, and 
 was carried firft to Thracian Bofphorus, and thence into 
 Egypt, where the monfter ftill purfuino^ her, -was repelled by 
 the Nile. After this flie was deified by Jupiter, and appointcxl 
 to prefide ovif winds and navigation. Jt is eafy to ice tifts 
 agrees better with the Egyptian raytbology. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 35 
 
 by night. This image was called Argos (7), to fig- 
 nify his intention. Now the vernal Ifis being depid- 
 ed the head of a heifer, to exemplify the fertility and 
 pleafantnefs of Egypt, on the fun's entrance into 
 Taurus, at the approach of winter fhe quitted this 
 form, and fo was faid to be taken into cuftody of 
 Argos, from whom fhe was next feafon delivered by 
 the bonis, reprefenting Anubis (or Mercury), that is, 
 the rifrng of the dog-ftar. The taking thefe fym- 
 bolical reprefentations in a literal fenie, gave rife to 
 the fable. 
 
 It is no wonder if the number of Jupiter's gallan- 
 tries made him the fubjed of deteftation among the 
 primitive Chriftians, as well as the ridicule of the 
 wifer among the Heathens. Teiluliian obferves with 
 judgment. That if <ivas no 'voay Jl range to fee all ranks 
 Jo debauched, nixhen they nvere encouraged :n the moji in- 
 famous crimes by the example ofthcfe they nxjorflApped, and 
 from <vjhom they ivcre to expeh re-wards and punifhments , 
 Lucian, in his dialogues, introduces Momus pleafant- 
 ly rallying Jove with regard to his amorous meta- 
 morphofes : I hai<e often trembled for you (fays he) lefi 
 n.vhen you appeared like a bull, they fhould hanje carried 
 you to the fhambles, or clapped you in the plough ; had a 
 goldfmith catched you ivhen you wifited Danae, he ivould 
 ha'vc melted douon your godjhip in his crucible; or nvhen 
 you courted Leda like ajhvan, nvhat if her father had put 
 you on thefpit ? 
 
 Jupiter had a multiplicity of names, either from 
 the places where he was worlliippcd, or the attri- 
 butes afcribed to him : He had the epithets of Xenius, 
 or the hofpitable ; Elicious, on account of his good- 
 nefs and clemency ; and Dodonasus. on account of 
 the oracular grove at Dodona, confecrated to him, 
 and femous through all Greece. 
 
 Amongft the Romans he had the appellations of 
 Optimus Maximus, on account of his beneficence 
 and power ; Almus, from his cherifhing all things ; 
 Stabilitor, from his fupporting the world ; Opitula- 
 tor, from his helping the diftrelFed ; Stator, fiom his 
 
 fufpending 
 
 (7) From argoth, or crgosy weaver's work; whence the 
 Greeks borrowed their Eyo- » opus, or a work. Hence the 
 iflc of Amorgos, one of the jEgean ifles, derives its name 
 from Am, mother, and Orgin, weavers, or the mother or 
 coleny of weav^irs, being f rft phnted from Egypt. 
 
36 FABULOUS HISTORY dF 
 
 fiifpending the flight of the Romans at the prayer of 
 Romulus ; and Praedator, on account of part of the 
 plunder being facred to him in all vidtoi iej;. From the 
 temple at the Capitol, on the Tarpeia?! rock, he was 
 called Capitolinus and Tarpeius. Wricn a Roman 
 king or general flew an enemy of the fame quality, 
 the fpoils were offered to him by the name of Fere- 
 trius. 
 
 The reign of Jupiter not having been fo agreeable 
 to his fubjefts as that of Saturn, gave occalion to the 
 notion of the silver age; by which is meant an 
 age inferior in happinefs to that which preceded, 
 though fuperior to thofe which followed. 
 
 This Father of Gods and Men is commonly figured 
 as a majeftic man with a beard, enthroned. In his 
 left hand he holds a vidory, and in his right hand 
 grafps the thunder. At his feet an eagle with his 
 wings difplayed. The Greeks called him Zn/a, and 
 At'a, as the caufe of life (8), the Romans, Jupiter, 
 i. ^.jwvans pater, the aflifting father. 
 
 The heathens had amongft their deities different 
 reprefentatives of the fame thing. What Vefta, or 
 the Idoean mother, was to the Phrygians, and Ifis to 
 the Egyptians ; the fame was Jupiter to the Greeks 
 and Romans, the great fymbol of iEther. So the 
 author of the life of Homer, fuppofed to be the elder 
 Dionyfius of Halicarnaffus, and the poet himfelf (9). 
 So Ennius, as quoted by Cicero (i), 
 
 Lo the bright heaven, nxihich all hi'vohe as Jo've ! 
 and Euripides (2), 
 
 See thefubUme expanfe. 
 
 The boundlefs jEther, nvhich enfolds this ball 
 That hold for Jo've, the Godfupreme o'er all ! 
 
 To conclude with the words of Orpheus ; Jo-vc is 
 omnipotent, he is the fnfl and the laji ; the head and the 
 
 middle ', 
 
 (8) Plato in Cratylo. 
 
 (9) Zsuj 08 atSng, Tot/T£;;v n ttv aJon? Jtai tv^a^'^wo? u<r«5 j 
 
 Opufc. Mytholog. p. 326 & 327. 
 
 C l) Ajij'tce hoc fuhllme candent, quern i?tvccant omnei Jovem. 
 
 (2) V'ldtsfuhlimefufam, itumwleratum aihera, 
 ^ui ttnero tnram circiimjeCiu a:npldSl'itin\, 
 Hunc fummum babeio d'lv^m ; htir.c ferhibtto Jovem, 
 Cictrro de Nat. Deorum, 1. 2. 
 
T n't ■ H E A T HEN GODS. 37 
 
 tniJJ/e i the gi'ver of all things ; the fov.vdation of ihf 
 earth and/larry ht-a'vens ; he :j hoth male and female^ and 
 immortcd, 'Jitpiler is the jburce of enlivening p-e^ and 
 the ffirit of all things 
 
 CHAP. XVf. 
 
 OF JUNO. 
 
 JUNO, the fifter and confort of Jtipiter, was on 
 that account ftiltd tlie queen of heaven, and indeed 
 we find her in the rmets fuppoiling that dignity with 
 an ambition and pride fuitable to the rank fhe bore. 
 
 Though the poetical hiftcrians agree (lie came into 
 the world at a birth with her hufband, yet they differ 
 as to the place, fome placing her nativity at Argcs, 
 others at Samos near the river Imbrafus. Some fay 
 fne was nurfed by Eubsea.. Porfyinna, and Arzea, 
 daughters of the river Aiterion ; others by the 
 Nymphs of the ocean. Otes, an ancient poet^ tells 
 us fhe was educated by the Horre or Hours : and 
 Homer afTigns this poft to Oceanus and Tethys them- 
 felves. 
 
 It is faid that this goddefs, by bathing annually in 
 the fountain of Canatho near Argos, renewed her 
 virginity. The places where flie was principally ho • 
 roured were Sparta, Jlycene, and Argos. At this 
 place the facrifice offered to her con filled of 100 
 oxen. 
 
 Juno in a peculiar manner prefided over marriage 
 and child-birth ; on the firil occalion, in facrificing 
 to her, the gall of the vidim v/as alvrays thrown be- 
 hind the altar, to denote no ipl«en Ihould fubfift be- 
 tween married perfons. Women were pecu'iarly 
 thought to be under her proteeT.ion, of whom every 
 one had her Juno, as e\^ry man had his guardian ge- 
 nius. Kama ordered, that if any unchaftc woman 
 ihould approach her temple, flie ibould oiler a fe- 
 male iamb to expiate her offence. 
 
 The Laeedenionians ftyled her ^goph.igi, from 
 the goat which Hercules facrificed to her. At Eiis 
 *':; •. •: called Hoplclnjia, her fcatue being completely 
 
 armed. 
 
33 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 armed. At Corinth fhe was termed Bunoea, from 
 Buno, who eredfd a temple to her there. She had 
 another at Eubxa, to which the emperor Adrian pre- 
 fented a magnificent ofiering, confifting of a crown of 
 gold, and a purple mantle embroidered with the mar- 
 riage of Hercules and Hebe in (liver, and a large pea- 
 cock whole body was gold, and his tail compofed of 
 precious flones refemblii-j the natural colours. 
 
 Amongft the Romans, who held her in high venera- 
 tion, fhe had a multiplicity of names. The chief 
 were Lucina, from her firft ihewing the light to in- 
 fants ; Pronuba, becaufe no m.arriage was lawful 
 without prcvioufly invoking her ; Socigena and Juga, 
 from her introducing the conjugal yoke, and pro- 
 moting matrimonial union ; Domiduca, on account 
 of her i)ringing home the bride: Unxia, from the 
 anointing the door pofts at the ceremony; Cinxia, 
 from her nnloofing the virgin zone, or girdle ; Per- 
 feda, becar.fc marriage completes the fexes ; Opigena 
 and Obfletrix, from the affifting women in labour ; 
 Populofa, becaufe procreation peoples the world ; 
 and Sofpita, from her preferving the female fex. 
 She was alfo named Quiritus or Curitis, from a fpear 
 reprefented in her ftatues and medals ; Kalendaris, 
 becaufe of the facrinces offered her the firft day of 
 every month ; and Moneta, from her being regarded 
 as the goddefs of riches and wealth. 
 
 It is laid. when the gods fled into Egypt, Juno dif- 
 guifed herfelf in the form of a white cow, which ani- 
 mal was, on that account, thought to be acceptable 
 to her in her facrifices. 
 
 Juno, as the queen of heaven, preferved a good 
 ^.eal of ftate. Her ufual attendants Avere Terror and 
 Boldnefs, Caflor and Pollux, and fourteen nymphs ; 
 1)ut her moft faithful and infeparable companion was 
 Inc., the daughter of Thaurnas, who, for her fur- 
 prifiTig beauty, was reprefented with wings, borne 
 upon her own rainbow, to denote her fwiftnefs. She 
 vas tlic mefRnger of Juno, as Mercury was of Jove ; 
 and at death feparaLed the fjuls of women from their 
 corporeal chains. 
 
 This goddefr, Avas not the moft complaifant of 
 wives. We find in Homer, that Jupiter was fome- 
 times obliged to make ufc of his authority to keep 
 her in due fubjedion. When llie entered into that 
 
 famous 
 
T H E H E A T H E N GODS. 39 
 
 famous confpiracy againfl hiin, the fame author re- 
 lates, that, by way cf punilhiiient, CnG had two an- 
 vils tied to her feet, golden manacles f^llened to her 
 hands, and fo was fufpended in the air or fky, 
 where flie hovered, on account of her levity, while 
 all the deities looked on without a polTibility of 
 helping her. By this the mytholoeifls fay is meant 
 the harmony and connedion of the air with the 
 earth, and the inability of the gods to relieve her, 
 Rgnifies that no force, human fa divine, can diilolve 
 the frame or texture of the univerfe. According to 
 Taufanias, the temple of Juno at Athens had neither 
 iioors nor roof, to denote that Juno, being the air in 
 v.hich we breathe, can be incloftd in no certain 
 bounds. 
 
 The implacable arrogant temper of Juno once mac^e 
 her abandon her throne in heaven, and Ry into Eu- 
 bssa. Jnpittr in vain fought a recorciJiation, 'till he 
 coRlulted Citheron, kin^ of the Flatjeans, then ac- 
 counted the wifcft of men. By his advice the god 
 ilrefTed up a magnificent image, fcated it in a chariot, 
 and gave out it v\'as FlatHsa, the daughter of iSfopus, 
 whom he defigned to make his queen. Juno upon 
 this refuming her ancient iealoufy, attacked the mock 
 bride, and by tearing off its ornaments ibund the de- 
 ceit, quieted her ill humour, and was glad to make 
 up the m<atter with her hufoand. 
 
 Though none ever felt her refentment mere fenfi- 
 bly than Hercules, he was indebted to her for his 
 immcrtaiity ; for Fallas brought him to Jupiter wliile 
 an infant, who, while Juno was afleep, put him to 
 her breaft. But the goddefs waking haftily, fome cf 
 her milk falling upon heaven formed the milky v^ay. 
 The reft dropped on the caith, where it made the 
 lilies whit^, which before were of a fatfron colour. 
 
 Juno is reprefeuted by Komer as drawn in a clia- 
 riot adorned with precious flones, the wheels of 
 tbony nailed with filver, and drawn by horfes with 
 reins of gold ; but mcit commonly her car is drawn 
 by peacocks, her favourite bird. At Corinth fhe was 
 <lepi(51ed in her temple as feated en her throne, 
 crowned with a poniegranate in cneliand, and in the 
 other a fceptre with a cuckoo at top. This ftatue 
 was of gold and ivory. That at Hierapolis v/as fup- 
 poited by honS; and fo contrived as to participatt- 
 
 U 
 
40 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 of Minerva, Venus, Luna, Rhea, Diana, Nemefis, 
 and the Deftinies, according to the different points 
 in view. She held in one hand a fceplre, in the other 
 a diftaff. Her head was crowned with rays and a 
 tower ; and fhe was girt with the ceftus of Venus. 
 
 As Jupiter is the ather, Juno is the atmofphere. 
 She is female on account of its foftnefs ; and is cal- 
 led the wife and Hfter of the other, to import the in- 
 timate conjunction between thefe two (3). 
 
 T> 
 
 CHAP. XVIL 
 
 OF NEPTUNE. 
 
 HIS ;remarkab!e deity was the fon of Saturn and 
 Vefta, or Ops, and the brother of Jupiter. Some 
 fay he was devoured by his father. Others allege 
 his mother gave him to fome fhepherds to be brought 
 up amor. git the Iambs, and pretending to be delivered 
 of a foal, rr.ve it inftead of him to Saturn. Some 
 fay his nurfe's name was Arno ; others, that he was 
 brought up by his filler Juno. 
 
 His molt remarkable exploit was his aflifling his 
 brother Jupiter in his expeditions, for which that 
 god, when he arrived at the fuprcme power, afligned 
 him the fea .ind the iflands for his empire. Others 
 imagine he was admiral of Saturn's fleet, or rather, 
 according to Pamphus, generaliflimo of his forces 
 by fea and land. 
 
 The favourite wife of Neptune Avas Amphitrite, 
 Y.hom. he courted a long time to no purpofe, till he 
 fent the dolphin to intercede for him, who fucceeding, 
 the god in acknowledgment placed him amidft the 
 ftars. By her he had Triton. Neptune had two 
 other wives, the one called Salacia, from the falt-wa- 
 ter, the other Veniiia, from the ebbing and flowing 
 of the tides. 
 
 Neptune 
 
 (3) Aer auietTi, ut Jlolci difputant, inter mare \sf calum, yunonis 
 nomme confecrutur, qua: eftforor \^ conjux Jovis, quod \^ Jtniilitudo 
 4JI athcris \j cum eo fumma cjv'pir.H'io. Effa/iinartint autan cum, 
 "Juiioniqut 'tribitcrur.t, quod inhil ijl eo mollius, Cicero <]c Nat, 
 
 Deor. 1. a. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 41 
 
 Neptune is faid to be the firft inventor of horfe- 
 "manfliip and chariot-racing. Hence Mithric'ates, 
 king of Pontus, threw chariots drawn by four horfes 
 into the fca in honour of him, and the Romans infti- 
 tuted horfe-races in tht Circus during his feftival, at 
 which time all horfes left working, and the mules 
 were adorned with wreaths of flowers. Probably 
 this idea of Neptune arofe from the famous contro- 
 verfy between him and Minerva, when they difputed 
 who fliouid give name to Gecropia. The god, by 
 f.rii'Jng the earih with his trident, produced a horfe. 
 Pallas raifed an olive-tree, by which flie gained the 
 victory, and the new city was from her called Athens. 
 Piut the true meaning of this ftible is a ihip, not a 
 horfe ; for the queflion really was, whether the Athe- 
 nians fliould apply thernielves to navigation or agri- 
 culture, and as they naturally inclined to the firft, it 
 was neceflary to fl-ew them their miftake, by con- 
 vincing them that huibandry was preferable to fail- 
 ing. However, it is certain Neptune had fome fKill 
 ill the management of horfes : tor we find in Pam- 
 phus, the mofi: ancJent ^^Titer of divine hymns, this 
 encomium of hiin, T.iat hs<<vai the bciiefatJor of man 
 kind in bejloxving on ibem horfes-, andJfAps <iv}tb decks re- 
 fembl'ing tCKvers. 
 
 "When Neptune was expelled heaven for his con- 
 fpiracy againft Jupiter, he Red with Apollo to Lao- 
 medon, king of Troy, but he trcnicd them diltcrenlly, 
 for having employed them in raifing v alls round this 
 city, in which the lyre of Apollo was highly fervice- 
 able, he paid that deity divine honours, whereas he 
 difinified Neptune unrewarded ; w ho, in revenge, 
 fent a vaft fea mcniler to lay vvafte the country, to 
 appeafe which Laomicdon was forced to expofe his 
 daughter Kefione. 
 
 On another occafion this deity had a contefl with 
 Vulcan and Minerva in regard to their ficiil. The 
 goddefs, as a proof of hers, made a houfe ; Vulcan 
 crei^led a man, and Neptune a bull ; whence that 
 animal was ui'ed in the facrifices paid him. But it is 
 probable, that as the vidim was to be black, the de- 
 lign was to point out the mgi-ig quality and iiiry of 
 tl\e f;;a, over which he prefidtcl. 
 
 Neptune fell little ihort of his brother Jupiter in 
 point of gallantry. Ovid in his epiftks, has given a 
 
 catalogue 
 
41 FABULOUS HISTORY Of 
 
 catalogue of his miftreflTes. By Venn? he had a (on 
 Galkd Eryx. Nor did he alTume lefs different fhapes 
 to fucceed in his amonrs. Ceres Red him in the form 
 of a mare ; he purfued in thtU of a horfe ; but it is 
 uncertain v/htlher this union produced the Centaur ,. 
 called Orion, or a daughter. Under the refemblancc 
 of the river liinipeus, he debauched Tyro, the daugh- 
 ter of Salmoneus, Avho bore him Pelcu^ and Ne]eus. 
 In the fame dif«:uife he begot Cthus and Ephialtes, by 
 Ephimedia, wife of the giant Alcecs. Melantho, 
 daughter of Piiuteusj often diverting herfelf by ri ding- 
 on a dolphin, Nepture in that figure furprifed and 
 enjoyed her. Ke changed Theopbane, a beautifui' 
 virgin, into an ewe, and aiTuming the form of a ram, 
 begot the golfkn fleeced ram, which carried Fhryxus 
 to Colchis. In the liken«fs of a bird he had Pegafus 
 by Medufa. 
 
 He was not only fond cf liis power of transfbrmirg 
 himfelf, but he took a pleafure in beftowing it on his 
 favourites : Proteus his fon pofTefled it in a high de 
 gree. He conferred it on Periclimenus, the brother 
 of Neftor, who was at lafliiiiled by Hercules, as he 
 ■watched him in the form of a fly. He even obliged 
 his miftrefTss with it. We find an inftance of this in, 
 Metra, the daughter of Erificthon. Her father, for 
 cutting down an oak-grove, confecrated to Ceres, 
 was puniHied with fuch an infatiable hunger, that to 
 fupply it he was forced to fell all he had. His daugh- 
 ter upon this intreated of her lover the power of 
 changing her forth at pleafure ; fo that becoming 
 fometimes a mai"e, a cow, or a Iheep, her father fold 
 her to relieve his wants, while the buyers were ftill 
 cheated in their purchafe. Having raviflied Ccenis, 
 to appeafe her he promifed her any fatisfadion, on 
 which {lie deiired to be turned into a man, that flie 
 might no more fuffer the like injury. Her requeft 
 was granted, and by the name of Caeneus flie became 
 a famous warrior. 
 
 Neptune was a confiderable deity amongft the 
 Greeks. He had a temple in Arcadia by the name of 
 Proclyftius, or the o-ver-Zlo-jjer ; becaule at Juno's 
 requeft, he delivered the country fi'om an inundation. 
 He was called Hippius, Hippocourius, and Tarax- 
 ippus, from his regulation of horfemanfliip. The 
 places moft celebrated for his woriliip were Taenarus, 
 
 Corinth, 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 43 
 
 Corinth, and Calabria, which laft country was pe- 
 culiarly dedicated to him. He had alfo a celebrated 
 temple at Rome, enriched with many naval trophies ; 
 but he received a fignal afiront from Augufnis Csefar, 
 who pulled down his ftatue, in refentment for a tem- 
 peft, which had difperfed his fleet and endangered 
 his life. Some think Neptune the fame with the 
 ancient god Cenfus, w^orfliipped at Rome, and fo 
 called from his advifing Romulus to the rape of the 
 
 Let us now examine the mythological fenfe of the 
 fable. The Egyptians, to denote navigation, and 
 the annual return of the Phsenician fleet which vifited 
 their coaft, ufed the tigui-e of an Ofiris carried on a 
 winged horfe, or holding a three-forked fpear or liar- 
 poon in his hand. To this im.p.ge they gave the 
 names of Pofeidon (4)5 or Neptune (5), which the 
 Greeks and Romans afterwards adopted ; bat which 
 fufficiently prove this deity had his birth here. Thns 
 the maritime Ofiris of the Egyptians became a new 
 deity with thofe who knew not the meaning of the 
 fymbol. But Herodotus, lib. ri. is pofitive that the 
 Greeks received not their knowledge of Neptune 
 from the Egyptians, but from the Lybians. The 
 former received him not till afterwards, and even 
 then, however they might apply the figure to civil 
 purpofes, paid him no divine honours. However, 
 according to Plutarch, they called the maritime coaft 
 Nepthen. Bochart thinks he has found the origin oi 
 this ^od in the perfon of Japhet ; and has given rea- 
 fons which render the opinioD very probable. 
 
 Neptune, reprefented as god of the fea, makes a 
 confiderabie figure. He is defcribed with black or 
 dark hair, his garment of an azure or fea-green co- 
 lour, feated in a large flieil drawn by whales or fea 
 horfes, with his trident in, his hand (6), attended by 
 
 the 
 
 (4) From P.tjh, plenty, or provif ons, and Jedaim^ the fea- 
 foaii; or the provifion of the maricime countries. 
 
 (5) From Novph, to difturb or agitate, and 0«/, a flcef, 
 which forais Neptoni, tl e arrival of thie fleet. 
 
 (6) Some, by a far fetched aliufion, imagine the triple forks 
 «f the trident reprefent the three-fold power of Neptune in 
 drjlurbihg, moderating or calming the Teas. Others, his power 
 over iZx. water, fvvjili water, and that of lakes or pool:. 
 
44 . FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 the iea gods Pdlaeraon, Glaiicus, and Phorcys ; the 
 fea god'i^iTes Thetis, M^lita, and Panopoea, and a 
 long train of tritons and fca nymphs. In feme an- 
 cient ^'cms he appears on fhore ; but always holding 
 in his hand the three forked trident, the emblem of 
 his power, as it is called by Homer and Virgil, who 
 have given us a fine contrail with regard to irs ufe. 
 The ancient poets all make this infcrument of brajs ;. 
 the modern painters oi JJlter. 
 
 C H A P. XVUI. 
 
 OF PLUTO. 
 
 VV E now come to the third brother of Jupiter^ 
 and not the leaft formidable, if we confiderhis power 
 and dominion. He was alfo the fon of Saturn and 
 Opt, and ;rh :a his vi<5toriou3 brother 'lad eftabliihed 
 himfelf in tiie throne, he was rewarded with a ihare 
 in his fether*s dominions, which, as fome authors 
 frtV, was the eaftern continent and lower part of Afia, 
 Oihers mak« his divifioa lie in the Weft, and that he 
 fixed hi.j rtfidence in Spain, which being a fertile 
 country, and abounding in mines, he was efieemed 
 the god of ^'ec'ilth(7). 
 
 Some imagine that his being regarded as the rtiltr 
 of the deaily and king of the infernal regions, pro- 
 ceeded from his fint teaching men to bury the de- 
 ceafed, and inventing funeral rites to their honour. 
 Others fay he was a king of the Moloflians in Epirus, 
 called Aidoneus Orcus, that he dole Proferpine his 
 v/ife, and kept a dog called Cerberus, who devoured 
 Pirithous, and would have ferved Thefeus in the 
 fame manner, if Hercules had not timely interpofcd 
 to fave him. 
 
 The poets relate the matter differently : they tell 
 us that Pluto, chagiined to fee himfelf childlefs and 
 unmarried, while his two brothers had large fami- 
 lies, 
 
 (7) The poets confounded Pluto, the god of hell, with 
 Plutus, god of riches; whtrcas they are two very diftinC^ 
 deities, and were always io conlidered by the ancients. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 45 
 
 lies, mounted his chariot to vifit the world, and ar 
 riving in Sicily, chanced to view Proferpine, with her 
 companions, gathering flowers (8). Urged by his 
 paflion he forced her into his chariot, and drove her 
 to the river Chemarus, through which he opened 
 himfclf a palTage back to the realms of night. Ceres, 
 difconfolate for the lofs of her beloved daughter, 
 lighted two torches at the flames of Mount Etna, and 
 wandered through the world in fearch of h^r.-; till 
 hearing at laft where flie vvas,flie carried her com- 
 plaint to Jupiter, who, en her repeated folicitations, 
 promifed that Proferpine fiiould be refton d to her, 
 provided fte had not yet tafl:ed any thing in hell. 
 Ceres joyfully bore this commifiion, and her daugh- 
 ter was preparing to return, when Afcalaphus, the 
 fon of Acheron and Gorgyra, gave information, that 
 he faAv Proferpine eat fome grains of a pomegranate 
 file had gathered in Pluto's orchard, fo that her re- 
 turn vx^as irr.m^ediately countermanded. Afcalaphus 
 was for this mialicious intelligence transformed into a 
 toad. But Jupiter, in order to mitigate the grief of 
 Ceres, for her difappointment, granted that her 
 daughter Ihould half the year rcflde with her, and 
 the other half cnitiijue in hell with her huflDand. 
 It is eafy to fee, that this part of the fable alludes 
 to the corn, which muft remain ail the winter hid 
 in the ground, in order to fprout forth in the fpring, 
 and produce the harveft. 
 
 Pluto vras extremely revered both amongft the 
 Greeks and Romans. He had a m.agniflcent temple 
 at Pylos, near which was a rnountaii., that derived 
 its name from the nymph Menthe, whom Proferpine, 
 outof jealoufy at Pluto's familiarity v.-irh her, chang- 
 ed into the herb called mint. Near the river Corcl- 
 his, in Eocotia, this deity had aifo an altar in com- 
 mon with Pallas, for fom.e myilical reafon. l"he 
 Greeks called him Agekims, becaufe all mirth and 
 laughter werebanifhed his dominions ; as 2A{o Hades, 
 on account of the glocminefs of his dominions. 
 Among the Romans he had the name of Februus, 
 from tlie luftrations ufed at funerals, and Summ^anus, 
 becaufe he was the chief of ghofts, or rather the 
 prince of the infernal deities. He was alfo called 
 the terreftrial or infernal Jupiter. 
 
 His 
 
 (8) In ilic Valley of j^tna, near mount /Stna* 
 
46 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 His chief feflival was in February, and called Cha- 
 riftia, bscaufe then oblations were made for the dead, 
 at which relations aflifted, and all quarrels were ami- 
 cably adjufted. Black bulls were the vidtims offered 
 up, and the ceremonies were performed in the night, 
 it not being lawful to facrifice to him in the day- 
 time (9). 
 
 Pluto is generally reprefented in an ebony chair, 
 drawn by four black horfes, whofe names the poets 
 have been careful to fubmit (i) to us. Sometimes he 
 holds a fceptre to denote his power, at others a wandy 
 with which he commands and drives the ghofts. 
 Homer fpeaks of his helmet, as having the quality of 
 rendering the wearer inrilTible ; and tells us, that 
 Minerva borrowed it when fhe fought againft the 
 Trojans, to be concealed from Mars. 
 
 Let us now feek the mythology of the fable in that 
 country where it firft fprung, and we fliall find that 
 the myfterious fymbols of truth became, in the fequel, 
 thro' abufe, the very fources of idolatry and error. 
 Pluto was indeed the funeral Ofiridof the Egyptians. 
 Thefe people (2) every year, at an appointed feafon, 
 aflembled to mourn over and ofi'er facrifices for their 
 dead. The image that was expofed, to denote the 
 approach of this folemnity, had the name of Pelou- 
 tah (3) or the Deliverance, becaufe they regarded the 
 death of the good, as a deliverance from evil. This 
 figure was reprefented with a radiant crown, his body 
 being entwined with a ferpent, accompanied with the 
 figns of the Z odiac, to fignify the duration of one 
 fun, crXolar year. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 (9) On account of his averfion to the light. 
 
 (i) Orphxus, jEthon, Ny<fteus, and Alaftor. 
 
 (a) The Jtws retained this cuftcm, as we find by the an- 
 DUdl lanientutions of the virgins over Jeptha's daughter. 
 
 ( 3 ) I-rom Palft, to free or deliver, comes Peloutab, dcli- 
 Terjnce, v/hich is eafily by corruption made Pluto. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 47 
 
 CHAP. XIX. 
 
 OP PROSERPINE. 
 
 J H I S goddefs was the daughter of Jupiter and 
 Ceres, and educated in Sicily ; from whence fhe 
 was ftole by Pluto, as is related in the preceding 
 chapter. Some fay fhe was brought up with Minerva 
 and Diana, and being exticmcly beautiful, was 
 courted both by Mars and Apollo, who could neither 
 of them obtain her mother's confent. Jupiter, it is 
 faid, was more fuccefsful, and ravifhed her in the 
 form of a dragon. The Phsenicians, on the other 
 hand, afiirm with moie reafon, that fne was earlier 
 known to them than to the Greeks or Romans ; and 
 that it v.-as about ioo years after the time of Mofes, 
 that Ihe was canied c^ by Aidoneus or Orcus, king 
 of the Moloflians. 
 
 Jupiter, on her marriage with Pluto, gave her the 
 ifle of Sicily as a dowry ; but fhe had not been long 
 in the infernal regions, when the fame of her charms 
 induced Thefeus and Pirithous to form an aflbciation 
 to carry her off. They defoended by way of Taena- 
 rus, but fitting to reft themfelves on a rock in the 
 infernal regions, they could not rife again, but con- 
 tinued fixed, till Hercules delivered Thefeus, becaufe 
 his crime conMfted only in afiifting his friend, as 
 bound by oath (.4); but Pirithous was left in durance, 
 becaufe he had endangered himfelf through his own 
 wilfulnefs and raflmefs. 
 
 Others made Froferpine the fame with Luna, He- 
 cate, and Diana, the fame goddefs being called Luna 
 in heaven, Diana on earth, and Hecate in hell, when 
 flie had the name of Triformis or Tergemina. The 
 Greeks called her Defpoina, or the Lady, on account 
 of her being queen of the dead. Dogs and barren 
 cows were the facrifices ufually offered to her. 
 
 She is reprefented under the_ form of a beautiful 
 woman enthroned, having fomething Hern and me- 
 lancholy in her afped:. 
 
 The 
 
 (4) They agreed to aflift each other in gainkor a miftrefs 
 PiriUious had helped Thefeus to get Helena, who in return 
 ailcnded him in this expedititii. 
 
48 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 The mythological fenfe of tlie fable is this : The 
 name of Proferpine or Porfephone, amon/l the 
 Egyptians, was ufed to denote the change produced 
 in the earth by the deluge (5), which deftroyed its 
 former fertility, and rendered tillage and agriculture 
 neceflary to mankind. 
 
 CHAP. XX. 
 
 OF THE INFERNAL REGIONS. 
 
 I T is evident that the Heathens had a notion of fu- 
 ture punifhments and rewtirds, from the defcription 
 their poets have given of Tartarus and Elyhum, 
 though the Vv'hole is overloaded with fiction. Ac- 
 cording to Plato, Apollo and Ops brought certain 
 brazen tablets from the H) perb'.)reans to Deios, de- 
 fcribing the court of Pluto as little inferior to that of 
 Jove ; but that the approach to it was exceeding dif- 
 ficult on account of the rivers Acheron, Cocytus, 
 Styx, and Phlegcthon, which it Avas ntcefiary to pafs 
 in order to reach thefe infernal regions. 
 
 Acheron was, according to feme, the fon of Titan 
 and Terra, or, as others fa}-, born of Ceres in a 
 cave, withou':' a leather. The reafon affjgned for his 
 being fent to hell ir., that he furniflied the Titans 
 with water, during their war with the gods. This 
 {hews it was a river, not a perfon ; but the place 
 of it is not afcertained. Some fixing it amongft the 
 Cimmerians near mount Circe (6}, and in the neigh- 
 bourhood of Cocytus ; others making it that iul- 
 phureous and ftinking lake near Cape Mifcnum in 
 the bay of Naples (7), and not a few tracing its rife 
 fi-om the Acherufian fen in Epirus, near the city of 
 Pandolia ; from whence it fiows till it fails into the 
 gulph of Ambracia. 
 
 The 
 
 (5) From Peri, fruit, and Patat, to pcriih, comes Pere- 
 phattah, or the fruit loft ; from Peri, fruit, and S iphon, to 
 hide, comes Pcrfejilioneh, or the corn deftroyed or hid. 
 
 (6; On the coaft of Naples. 
 
 (7j Near Guma. 
 
THE HEATHLN .JOD ' n 
 
 The next river of the Plutonian jnanfions :'g Slyx» 
 though whetJier the daughter df Oceanus or Ten<<, 
 is uncertain. She was married to i'allas or Piras, l>y 
 whom (he had Hydra. To Acheron ilie bore Victory, 
 who having aflifted Jupiter againft the giants, he re- 
 warded her mother (S) with this privilege, liiat the 
 "moft folemn oath amongft the gods thould be by her 
 deity, viz. the river Styx ; fo that when any of iheni 
 were fufpedled of fallhood. Iris was difpatched ^o 
 bring the Stygian water in a golden cup, by whirh 
 he fwore ; and if he afterwards proved perjured, be 
 was deprived for a year of his nec^tar and ambroii?, 
 and for nine years more feparated fi-om the ccl^^ftial 
 aflembly. Some place Styx near the lake of Aver- 
 nus in Italy; others make it a fountain near Nonacris 
 in Arcadia, of fo poifonous and cold a nature, that 
 it would diflblve all metals (9), and could be be con- 
 tained in no vtfTel. 
 
 Cocytus and Phlegethon are faid to flow out of 
 Styx by contrary ways, and re-unite to increafe the 
 vaft channel of Acheron. The waters of Phlegethon 
 were reprefented as Itreams of fire, probably on ac- 
 account of their hot and fulphureous nature. 
 
 CHAP. XXI. 
 
 OF THE PARCit OR DESTINIES. 
 
 I HESE infernal deities, who prefided over humsn 
 life, were in number three, and had each their pe- 
 culiar province afiigned : Clotho held the ditlalf, 
 Lachefis drew or fpun off the thread, and Atropos 
 Hood ready with her fcilTars to cut it afunder. 
 
 Thefe were three fifters, the daughters of Jupiter 
 and Themis, and fiflers to the Horss or Hours ;' ac- 
 cording to others, the childi-en of Erebus and Nox. 
 They were fecretaries to the gods, whofe decrees 
 they wrote. 
 
 D Vv'e 
 
 (8) Some fay it was on her own account, for difcoverino- 
 the combination of the giants againft Jupiter. 
 
 (9) It is reported Alexander was poifoned with it at Bal-v- 
 lon, and that it was carried for this purpofe in an afs'sKcoi". 
 
^o FABULOUS KISTOPvY OF 
 
 V^e are indebted to a' lite ingenious vrriter for th? 
 true mythology of thefe characters. They were no- 
 thing more oiiginally than the myfticai figure or fyrr- 
 bcls, which reprefented the moviths of January, Fe- 
 bruary, and March, amongfl the Egyptians. They 
 depicted thefe in female drcfles, with the inftruments 
 cf fpinning and weaving, which was the great bud- 
 nefo can-ied on in that feafon. Thefe im.ages they 
 called (i)Parca3, which fignifies linen cloth, to denote 
 the manufadlure produced by this induftry. The 
 Greek?, who knew nothing of the true fenfe of thefe 
 aH^fgorical figures, gave them a turn fuitable to their 
 genius, fertile in fidion. 
 
 The Parcae were defcribed or reprefented in robes 
 of white, bordered with purple, and feated on the 
 thrones, with crowns on their heads, compofed of 
 the flowers of the NarciCus. 
 
 CHAP. XXII. 
 
 OF THE HARPIES. 
 
 J HE next group of figures we meet in the fhadowy 
 realms are the Harpies, who were three in number, 
 Celeno, Aello, and Ocypete, the daughters of Oce- 
 anus and Ten a. They lived in Thrace, had the faces 
 of virgins, the ears of bears, the bodies of vultures, 
 with human arms and feet, and long claws. Pheneus, 
 king of Arcadia, for revealing the myfteries of Jupi- 
 ter, was fo tormented by them, tha' he was ready to 
 perifii for hunger, they devouring whatever was fet 
 before him, till the fons of Bortas, who attended 
 Jafon in his expedition to Colchis, delivered the good 
 old king, and drove thefe monfters to the ifiands 
 called Echinades, compelling them to fwear to return 
 lio more. 
 
 This fable is of the fame original with the former 
 one. During the months of April, May, and June, 
 efpecially the two latter, Egypt was "greatly fubjed 
 to ftormy winds, which laid wafte their olive grounds, 
 and brought numerous fwarms of grafhoppers and 
 
 other 
 
 (i) From Pare, or Paroket, a cloth, curtain, or fail. 
 
J 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 51 
 
 •thcr troubleiome infeds from the fhores oi' the Red 
 Sea, which did infinite damage to the country. ' The 
 Egyptians therefore gave figures which proclaimed 
 thefe three months, a female face, with the. bodies 
 and claws of birds, and called them Harop (2), and 
 a name which fufficiently denoted the true ftJife of 
 the fymbol. Ail this the Greeks realized, ar.d c.ii- 
 bellifhed in their way. 
 
 CHAP. XXIII. 
 
 OF CHARON AND CERBERU£. 
 
 C_>iHARON, according to Hefiod's theogany, wa? 
 the fon of Erebus and Nox, the parents of the 
 greateft part of the infernal monfters. His poll was 
 to ferry the fouls of the deceafed over the waters of 
 Acheron. His fare was never under one half-penny, 
 nor exceeding three, which were put in the mouth 
 of the perfons interred ; for as to fuch bodies who 
 were denied funeral rites, their ghofts were forced to 
 wander an hundred years on the banks of the river, 
 Virgil's JEneid, VI. 330, before they could be ad- 
 mitted to a paffage. The Hermonicnfes alone claimed 
 a free paflage, becaufe their country lay fo near Hell. 
 Some mortal heroes alfo, by the favour of the gods, 
 were allowed to vifit the infernal realms, and return 
 to light ; fuch as Hercules, Orpheus, Ulyflcs, Thefc- 
 us, and JEneas. 
 
 This venerable boatman of the lower world, is re- 
 prefented as a fat fqualid old man, with abufaygrey 
 beard and rheumatic eyes, his tattered rags icaro'e 
 covering his nakcdnels. Hisdifpofition is mentioned 
 as rough and morofe, treating all his palTengers with 
 the fame impartial rudenefs, without regard to rank, 
 age, or fex. We (hall in the fequel fee that Charon, 
 was indeed a real perfon, and jufcly merited thischa- 
 radler. 
 
 After crofling the Acheron, in a den adjoining to 
 
 the entrance of Pluto's palace, was placed Cerberus, 
 
 or the three-headed dog, born of Typhon and Ecliid- 
 
 D z na, 
 
 (2) from Haroph, or Harop, a noxious fly ; or from \'- 
 h*h, :\ locuft. 
 
ja FABULOUS HISTORY O? 
 
 na, and the dreadful ma/lifT, who guarded thefe 
 g!oomy abodes. He fawned upoii all who entered, 
 but devoured all who attempted to get back ; yet 
 Hercules once maftered him, and dragged him up to 
 earth, where in ftruggling, a foam dropped from his 
 mouth, which produced the poifonous herb, called 
 aconite or wolf-bane. 
 
 Hefiod gives Cerberus fifty, and fome a hundred 
 heads ; but he is more commonly rej)refented with 
 three. As to the reft, he had a tail ot''a dragon, and 
 inftead of hair, his body was covered with ferpents 
 of all kinds. The dreadfulnefs of his bark or howl, 
 Virgil's iEneid, VI. 416, and the intolerable ftench 
 of his breath, heightened the deformity of the pic- 
 ture, which of itfelf was fufficiently difagreeable. 
 
 CHAP, XXIV. 
 
 OF NOX, AND HER PROGENY, DEATH, SLEEP, &:C. 
 
 In O X was the moft ancient of the deities, and 
 Orpheus afcribes to her the generation of gods and 
 men. She was even reckoned older than Chao?. 
 She had a numerous offspring qf imaginary' children, 
 as Lyfia, or Marlnefs, Erys, or Contention, Death, 
 Sleep, and Dreams ; all which llie bore without a 
 father. From her maniage with Erebus, proceeded 
 Old Age, Labour, Love, Fear, Deceit, Emulation, 
 Mifery, Darknefs, Complaint, Obftinacy, Partiality, 
 Want, Care, Difappointmcnt, Difeafe, War, pi.d 
 Hunger. In iliort, all the evils wliicb attend life, 
 and v/hich wait round the palace of Pluto, to receive 
 his commands. 
 
 Death brings down all mortals to the infernal ferry. 
 It is faid that her mother Nox be (lowed a peculiar 
 cire in her education, and that Death had a great 
 afe^fiion for her brother Somnus, or Sleep, of whofe 
 palace Virgil has given us a fine defcription, JEneid, 
 VI. 894. Somnus had feveral children, of whom 
 Morpheus was the moft remarkable for his fatyrjcal 
 humour, and excellent talent in myuicking the ac- 
 tions of mankind. 
 
 Amongft 
 
THE HEATHEN GOD S. 53 
 
 Amongfl the Elea-is, the gccMtfs Nox cr Night, 
 was rt-i'icitnted by a v/oman holding in eac]i hand a 
 boy aikep: with their legs diftorted ; that in her 
 right was white, to fignify licep, that in her left black, 
 to figure or repreftnt death. The fachfice offered 
 to her was a cock, becaufe of its enmity to darknefn, 
 and rejoiciny; at the Hj^ht. Somnris was iifnally re- 
 prefented with win^,:, to denote his uiiiverfai iWay. 
 
 C il A P. XXV. 
 
 OF THE INFfRNAL JUDGES, MtNOS, RHADAMAN- 
 THUy, AND EACUS. 
 
 After entering the infernal regions, jufc at the 
 feparation of the two roads whicli le;-.d to Tartarus 
 and Ely hum, is placed the tribiiiial of the tiiree in- 
 exorable judges, who examine the dead, and pafs a 
 final fcntence on departed fou'r.. The chief of thefo 
 was Minos, the fon of Jfupiter by Europa, and bro- 
 ther of Ivhadamanthus ard Sarpedon. After his fa- 
 ther's death the Cretins would not admit him to fac- 
 ceed in the kingdom, till praying to Neptune to give 
 him a fign, that god caufed a horle to rife (>'it of the 
 f-ia, en which he obtained the kingdom. Some think 
 this alludes to Lis reducing thefe illanders to fubjec- 
 tion, by means or a powerful fleet. It is added, 
 that Jove kept him nine years concealed in a cave, to 
 teach himlav/s and the arc of government. 
 
 Rhadamanthus, his brother, was alfo a great le- 
 giHator. It is faid that having killed his brother, he 
 fled to Oecbalia in Bceo'da, where he married Alcme- 
 na, the widow of Amphytrion. His province was to 
 judge fuch as died im.penitent. 
 
 JEacus was the fon of Jupiter by iSgina. When 
 the iile of iSgina (fo called from his mother) was 
 depopulated by a plague, his father, in compaflion 
 to his grief, changed all the ants there into men and 
 women. The meaning of which fable is, that when 
 the pirates depopulated the country, and forced the 
 people to fiy to caves, ^2acu3 encouraged them to 
 come out, and by commerce and iiidullry recover 
 what they had loft. His chara*fl:er for juftice was 
 
 fuch, 
 \ 
 
54 FABULOUS HISTORY Of 
 
 fuch, that in a time of univerfal drought he was no- 
 minated by the Delphic oracle to intercede for Greece, 
 and his prayer was anfwered. 
 
 Rhadamanthiis and JEacus Avere only inferior 
 judges, the firft of whom examined the Aiiatics, the 
 latter the Europeans, and bore only plain rods as a 
 mark of their office. But ail difficult cafes were re- 
 lerred to Minos, who fat over them with a fceptre 
 of gold. Their court was held in a large meadow, 
 cajled the Field of Truth. Plato and Tully add 
 Triptolemus to thefe as a fourth judge. 
 
 CHAP. XXVI. 
 
 or TARTARUS, AND THE EUMENIDES, OR FURIES. 
 
 i N the recefies of the infernal regions lay the feat 
 or abode of the wicked fouls, called Tartarus, re- 
 prefented by the poets as a vaft deep pit, furrounded 
 with walls and gates of brafs, and totally deprived 
 of light. This dreadful prifon is furrounded by the 
 waters of Phlegethon, which emit continual flames. 
 The cuftody of the unfortunate wretches doomed to 
 this place of punilhment, is given to the Eumenide^, 
 cr Furies, who are at once their goakrs and exe- 
 cutioners.^ ^ 
 
 The names of thefe avengeful fillers were Titl- 
 phone, Aledo, and Megaera : but they v/cnt by the 
 general appellation of the Furix, on account of the 
 rage and diftradlion attending a guilty confcience ; 
 of Erynniae, or Erynnis, becaufe of the feverity of 
 their puniflimcnt ; and Eumenides, becaufe though 
 cruel, they were capable of fupplication, as Oreftes 
 found by following the advice of Pallas. Their 
 birth is fo differently related, that it is impoffible to 
 lix their genealogy or parentage. Indeed the theoga- 
 ny of the Greeks and Romans requires an uncom- 
 mon clue to get out of the labyrinth which fidion 
 has contrived. 
 
 Though the Furies were implacable, they were fuf- 
 ceptible of love. We find an inftance of this in Tifi- 
 phone, who growing enamoured of Cytha^ron an 
 •'iniable youth, and fearing to affright him by her 
 
 form. 
 
T HE HEATHEN GOD S. 55 
 
 €;)rm, "piot a third perfon to diiclofe her fiame. Iht 
 was fo unhappy as to reject her fuit, on which i!ic 
 threw one of her fnakes at him, which twining roiin J 
 his body ftrangled him. All the conlblation he had 
 in death was to be changed into a mountain, v>-hich 
 A ill bears his name. 
 
 Thele goddelFes were fo terrible, that it Avas in 
 fome degree iacrilegious to invoke their narne.. Yet 
 however the objedts of terror, they had their tem- 
 ples, as at Athens near the Areopagus, at Caiina in 
 Arcadia, and at Carnia in the Peleponnefur. But 
 their higheft folemnities were at Tclphufiain Arcadia, 
 where their prieftefres went by the name of Hefycl i- 
 dce, and the facrifices were performed at midnight, 
 amidft a profound iilence, a black ewe burnt whole 
 being the vivflim. No wine Vv^as ufcd in the libati'jns, 
 but only limpid water, or a liquor made of honey ; 
 and the wreaths ufed were of the flowers of the Nar- 
 ciflus and Crocus intermixed. 
 
 The mythologifts have affigned each of thefe tor- 
 mentrefles their particular department. Tifiphone is 
 faid to punifh the (ins arifing from hatred and anger; 
 Jvlegxra, thofe occafioned by envy ; and Aled:o, the 
 crimes owing to ambition and luft. Some make but 
 one fury, called Adraftia, the daughter of Jupiter 
 and Neceffity, and the avenger of all vice. 
 
 The furies are depidted with hair compofed of 
 fnakes, and eyes inflamed with madnefs, carrying in 
 one hand whips and iron chains, and in the other 
 flaming torches, yielding a difmal light. Their robes 
 are black, and their feet of brafs, to fhew their pur- 
 fuit, though flow, is fteady and certain. 
 
 Is it poffible to conceive, that after this folemn 
 and horrid reprefentation, the Eumenides, or Furies, 
 fhould be quite harmlefs beings ? and the very defor- 
 mities afcribed to them the fymbols of national joy 
 and repofe ? The Egyptians ufed thefe figures to 
 denote the three months of autumn. The ferpent 
 wa<=, with that people, the hieroglyphic of life, light, 
 and happinefs ; the torch was the' public indication 
 of a facrifice ; and they placed t\Ao quails at the feet 
 of the figure, to fignify that the general fecurity w:-;, 
 owing to the plenty of the fcafon. Alt this is eluci- 
 dated by the names of thefe vifionary beings, Tih- 
 
 phone 
 
• 6 Y A B I] L O U a Rii 'V O h y 
 
 pr-.one (,3 ^ Ak(^o (4% and Megscra (-5 ) ; which are aU 
 cctived from circ mfrances 1 dating to the vintage. 
 
 C II A r, XXVII. 
 
 OF THE FABULOUS PERSONS PUNISHED 
 JM TARTARUS. 
 
 '"V 
 i II E poetS; in order to people this d^fnial region, 
 
 have placed here the Giants or Titans, who rebelled 
 
 ?gainlt Jupiicr, and who are bound in cverlafting 
 
 chains. They alfo mention feveral other notorious 
 
 criminals condemned to fufFer here, the chief of whom 
 
 fo'luv/ : 
 
 Titius was the fon of Jupiter and Elara, daughter 
 of the river Crchomenius in ThefTaly. His father, 
 apprehenfive of Juno's jealoufy, it is faid, concealed 
 him in the earth, where he grew to a monftrous bulk. 
 He refided in Panopcsa, v/here he became formidable 
 for rapine and cruelty, till Apollo killed him for en- 
 deavouring to ravirn Latona ; though others fay, he 
 ■ was flain by Diana, for an attempt on her chafiity. 
 He was next fent to Tartarus, and chained down on 
 his back, his body taking up fach a compafs as to 
 cover nine acres. In this poiUire a vulture conUnu- 
 ally -preyed on his liver, which ftill grew again asfafl: 
 as it was con fumed. 
 
 Phiegyas was the fon of Mars, and king of the I-a- 
 pithce, a people of Theffaly. Apollo having de- 
 bauched his daughter Coronis, to revenge the injury 
 he fet fire to the t'!mple of Delphos ; fur which fa- 
 crilege that god killed him with his arrows, and thruft 
 him into Tartarus, where he is fentenced to fit under 
 a huge rock, which hanging oyer his head, threatens 
 him with perpetual deflrudtion. 
 
 Ixion v/as the fon of Mars and Pifidice, or, as 
 others fay, of iEthon and Pifione. Having married 
 Dia, the daughter of Dioneus, he promifed very con- 
 
 fiderable 
 
 (3) From Tfaphan, to Inclofe or hide, and Tfcponch, the 
 time of putting wine into pitchers. 
 
 (4) From l^eket, to gather. 
 
 'S) From Migherah, the Cnldng of the ^regs» or the- cla- 
 rify injj the wine. 
 
T HE fi E A T H E N G O S. si 
 
 fiderable preftnts to her father for his consent ; but 
 to elude the performance, he invited him to a feaft, 
 and murdered him. Stung with remorfe for the crime, 
 he run mad, fo that Jupiter in coppaflion not onl/ 
 forgave him, but took him up into' heaven, where he 
 had the impiety to endeavour to coiTupt Juno. Ju- 
 piter, to be the better aflured of his wickednefs, 
 formed a cloud in the fliape of his wife, upon which 
 Ixion begot the Centaurs. But boafling of his hap- 
 pinefs, Jove hurled him down to Tartarus, where he 
 lies fixed en a wheel encompafled with ferpents, and 
 which turns vsithout ceafing. 
 
 Sifiphus was a defcendant of iEolus, and married 
 Merope, one of the Pleiades, who bore him 
 Glaucus. His refidence was at Epyra in Pelepon- 
 nefus, and he was a crafty man. The reafons given 
 for his puniihment are various, though all the poets 
 agree as to its nature, which was to roll a great ftone 
 to the top of a hill, from whence it conftantly fell 
 down again, fo that his labour was inceflantly re- 
 i:fcwed(6). 
 
 Tantalus, a Phrygian monarch, the fon of Jupiter 
 and the nymph Plota, had the impiety, in an enter- 
 tainment he gave the gods, to kill his fon Pel ops, and 
 ferve him up as one of the difiies. All the deities 
 I)erceived the fraud but Ceres, who eat one of his 
 fhoulders ; but in cornpa/Iion to his fate, ihe reftored 
 him to life, by boiling him in a cauldron, and gave 
 liim an ivory arm to fupply the defe<ft. The crime 
 of the father did not pafa unpuniilied. He was placed 
 in Tartarus, where he was alflidltd with eternal 
 third and hunger, having water and the moft delicious 
 fruits frill within his reach ; but not being able to 
 tafie either, becaufe they vanifhed before his touch. 
 Ovid IV. 445. 
 
 Salmoneus, kin^' of Elis, (Virgil, iEn. VI. 585) 
 had the prefumption to perfonate Jupiter, by driving 
 a chariot over a bridge of brafs, and cafting flaming 
 torches amongft the fpecSators, to imitate thunder 
 and lightening. For this he v/as doomed to the tor- 
 tures of this infernal dungeon. 
 
 The Belides complete this fabulous catalogue. 
 They were the daughters of Danaus, the fon of Be- ' 
 D 5 lus, 
 
 (6) Some make Sifiphus a Trojan fccretary who was pun- 
 ifhed for difcovering focrets of flatc Others f^y'he was a 
 notorious robber killc(' by Thcfcus 
 
j8 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 lus, who was contemporary with Cecrops, king of 
 Athens. This prince, who came from Egypt into 
 Greece, expelled Sthenelus, king of the Argivcs, out 
 of liis kingdom, and by different wives had thefe 
 fifty (;f ers. His brother Egyptus, with whom he had 
 forne cUffcrence, propofed a reconciliation, by mar- 
 ryii g his fifty fons with their fair coufin germans. 
 The wedding was agreed, but Danaus perfidioufly 
 dircded each of his daughters to murder their huf- 
 bands en the maiTiage night. Hypennneftra alone 
 fiifFered Linccus to efcape to Lyrcea, near Argos (7). 
 The Belides, for this unnatural crime, were con- 
 demned to draw water out of a well \\ ith fieves, and 
 pour it into a certain veffel ; fo that their labour was 
 without end or fuccefs. 
 
 CHAP, xxvni. 
 
 OF THE ELYSIAN FIELDS, AND LETHE. 
 
 Lj Y way of contraft to Tartarus, or the prifon of 
 the wicked, let us place the Elyfian Fields, or the 
 happy abodes of the juft: and good : of which Virgil, 
 of all the ancient poets, has given us the molt agree- 
 able pidure. Virgil's iEneid, VI. 6.^5. Itwereend- 
 1-fs to give all the variety of defcriptions, which a 
 fabjed of this nature affords room for. An eternal 
 fpring of flowers and verdure, a ficy always ferene, 
 a id fanned by ambrofial breezes, an univerfal harmo- 
 ny and uninterrupted joy embalmed thefe delightful 
 regions. But at the end of a certain period the fouls 
 placed here returned to the world to re-animate 
 new bodies, before which they were obHged to drink 
 at the river Lethe (8), whofe waters had the virtue to 
 create an oblivion of all that had pafied in the for- 
 mer part of their lives. 
 
 To illuftrate all this com.plexed chaos of fable, let 
 us once more have recourfe to the Egyptian mytho- 
 logy, where we fhall find the whole fecret of Tarta- 
 rus, and the Elyfian Fields unravelled. There was 
 near each of the Egyptian towns a certain ground 
 
 appointed 
 (7) He afterwards dethroned Danaus. 
 (8; Atto t>j; AhQk?, or oblivion. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 59 
 
 appointed for a common burial-place. That at Mem- 
 phis, as dcfcribed by Diodorus, lay on the other lide 
 of the lake Acheriiria(9), to the fhore of which the 
 deceafed perfon was brought and fct before a tribu- 
 nal of judges appointed to examine into his conduft. 
 If he had not paid his debts, his body was delivered 
 to his creditors, till his relations releafed it, by col- 
 leding the fums due. If he had not faithfully ob- 
 ferved the laws, his body was left unburied, or pro- 
 bably thrown into a kind of comman fhore called 
 Tartarus (i). The fame hiftorian informs u", tliat 
 near Memphis, there was a leaking veflel into which 
 they inceifantly poured Nile water, which circum- 
 ftance gives ground to imagine, that the place where 
 imburied bodies were caft out, Vv^as furrounded with 
 emblems expreffive of torture or remorfe, fuch as a 
 man tied on a wheel always in motion ; another whofe 
 heart was the prey of a vulture, and a third roliing 
 a ftone up a hill with fruitlefs toil. Hence the fa- 
 bles of Ixion, Prometheus, and Syfiphus. 
 
 When no accufer appeared again/l the deccafv.d, 
 or the accufer was convicted of falihood, they ceafed 
 to lament him, and his panegyric was made ; after 
 which he was delivered to a certain fevere ferryman,. 
 who by order of the judge?, and never without it, 
 received the body into his l3oat('z)and tranfported 
 it acrofs the lake, to a plain embellilhed with groves, 
 brooks, and other rural ornaments. This place was 
 called Elizout (3), or the habitation of joy. At the 
 entrance of it, was placed the figure of a dog, with 
 three pair of jaws, which they called Cerberus (4); 
 
 and 
 
 (9) From Acharei, after, and ifii, a man, comes Acharijs, 
 or the laft ftate of man ; or Acheron, that is the ultu-nate 
 condition. 
 
 (i) From the Chaldaic Tarah, admonition, doubled 
 comes Tartarah, or Tartarus, that is an extraordinary 
 warning. 
 
 (a) Sometimes the judges denied even their kings funeral 
 rites, on account of thiir mif-governmenc. 
 
 (3) From Elizout, full fdtisfa{5lion, or a place of repofc 
 and joy. 
 
 (4) They placed this image on account of that animals 
 known fidelity to man. The three hcuds denoted- the three 
 funeral cries over the corpfe, which is the meaning- of the 
 name. From Ccri or Cri, an exclamation, and Per, the 
 grave or vuult, comes Cerber. or Cerberus, ihe cries of the 
 grave. 
 
6o FABULOUS HISTORY OS 
 
 and the ceremony of interment was ended by thrice 
 (5) fprinkling fand over the aperture of the vault, and 
 thrice bidding the deceafed adieu. All thefe wife 
 fymbols addrefled as fo many inftrudions to the peo- 
 ple, became the fources of endlefs fidion, when 
 tranfplanted to Greece and Rome. The Egyptians 
 regarded death as a deliverance (6). The boat of 
 tranfportation they called BerisC;), or tranquillity ; 
 and the waterman who was impartial in the juft exe- 
 cution of his office, they fciled Charon, which figni- 
 fies inflexibiiity or wrath. 
 
 C II A P. XXIX. 
 
 OF APO LLC. 
 
 I H I S deity makes one of the moft confpicuous 
 figures in the heathen theology, indeed not unjuftly, 
 from the gloiious attributes afcribed to him of being 
 tht god of light, medicine, 'verfe, ?ind prophecy. Tully 
 mentions four of this name, the moft ancient of whom 
 was the fon of Vulcan, and tutelary god of the Athe- 
 nians ; the fecond a fon of Corybas, and born in 
 Crete ; the third an Arcadian, called Nomion, from 
 his being a great legiflator ; and the laft, to whom 
 the grcateft honour is afcribed, the fon of Jupiter 
 and Latons (^i), whofe b'.V.uty having gained the af- 
 fection of the king of the gods, Juno on difcovering 
 her pregnancy, drove her cut of henven, and com • 
 rnanded the ferpent Python to dcili'oy her, from 
 whofe purfuit Latona fled to the ifie of Delos in the 
 ifiape of a quail (9), where (lie v/as delivered of 
 twins, calkd Diana and Apollo ; the latter of whom, 
 foon after his birth, dtftroyed the rnonfler Python 
 
 with 
 
 (5) InjeSio ter puhere. Horace, book I. ode a8. 
 
 (6) They called it Peloutab, alleviaLoii cr deliverance. 
 Horace has the fame thought. 
 
 LtToare funS^,:m pauperum Laboribus, Carm. 1. 2. Od. l8. 
 
 (7) Beri, quiet, fcrenity; whence Diodorus Siculus calls 
 Charon's bark Bafis. 
 
 (8) The daughter of Creus the Titan, and Phoebe. 
 
 (9) Whence the i{l<J was called Ortygia, though fome fay 
 that N.-ptuuc rujfed it out of the ft a to give her refuge 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 6i 
 
 with his arrows (i), though fome defer the time of 
 of this vidory till he came to riper years. But La- 
 tona's troubles did not end here, for flying into Ly- 
 cia with her children, fhe was denied "the water of 
 the fountain Mela, by the (hepherd Niocles and his 
 clowns, upon which flie turned them into frogs. 
 After fettling her fon Apollo in Lycia, ihe returned 
 to Delos, and Diana went to refide in Crete. 
 
 The adventures of Apollo are pretty numerous. 
 The moft remarkable are his quarrels with Jupiter, 
 on account of the death of his fon Eiculapiits, killed 
 by that deity on the complaint of Piuto, that he de- 
 creafed the number of the dead by the cures lie 
 performed. Apollo, to revenge this injury, killed 
 the Cyclops, who forged Jove's tlmndei-bolts, for 
 which he wasbaniihed heaven, and endured great fuf- 
 ferings on earth, being forced to hire himftlf as a 
 Ihepherd to (2) Admetue, king of Thefialy, during 
 his excercifiug which oftice, he is faid to have invent- 
 ed the lyre or lute, to footh his trouble. In this re- 
 tirement an odd incident happened to him ; Mercury 
 was born in the morningj by noon he bad learned 
 muiic, and compofed the teftudo ; and in the evening 
 coming to Apcilo, he fo amufed him with this new 
 inftrun\ent, that he found an opportunity to fteal his 
 cattle. Apollo difcovcring the theft, and infifting on 
 reftitution, the fiy deity ftole his bow and arrows ; 
 fo that he was forced to change his revenge into 
 laughter (3). 
 
 From Theflaly, Apollo removed to Sparta, and 
 fettled near the river Eurotas, where he fell in love 
 with a fair boy called Hyacinthus, with whom being 
 at play, Zephyrue-, through envy, blew Apollo's 
 quoit at his head, and killed him on the fpot. To 
 preferve his memory, the god from his blood raifed 
 the flower which bears his name (4). Though ac- 
 cording 
 (i) Some affcrt that Diana affifled him in his fight. 
 {2} Some give this hiftory another turn, and tell us that 
 Apollo being king of the Arcadians, and dcpofed for his ty- 
 ranny, fled to Adnicius, who gave him the command of 
 t2>e country lying near the river Amphryfas, inhabited by 
 ihcpherds. 
 
 (3) TV ioves olimy ntft redid^Jfes 
 
 Per dolum amotas, puerum minaci 
 Voce ditm terrcty Viduus Pharetra. 
 
 Rifit Apollo. Herat. Lib. I. Ode X. 1. 10. 
 
 (4) The Hyacinth or violet. 
 
t% FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 cording to others he only tinged with it the violet 
 (which was white before) into a purple. 
 
 CyparilTus, a beautiful boy, a favourite of Apollo, 
 being exceffively grieved for the death of a fawn or 
 deer he loved, was changed by hi n into a cyprefs tree, 
 which is fince facred to funeral rites. 
 
 Apollo next vifited Laomedon, king of Troy, 
 where finding Neptune in the fame condition with 
 himfelf, and exiled from heaven, they agreed with 
 that king to furniih bricks to build the wall of his ca- 
 pital ; he alfo afiifted Alcathous in building a laby- 
 rinth, in which was a ftor.e whereon he ufed to do- 
 pofit his lyre, and which emitted an harmonious 
 found on the flighteit ftroke. 
 
 Though Apollo w as diftinguiflied for his excellency 
 in mufic, yet he was extremely jealous of rivaifhip 
 on this head. The Mufes were under his immediate 
 protedion, and the grafhopper was confecrated to- 
 him by the Athenians on account of its harmony (5), 
 We find Midas, king of Phrygia, being conftituted 
 judge between him and Pan, who pretended to vie 
 with him in harmony, and giving judgment for the 
 latter, was rewarded with a pair of afs's ears, to- 
 point out his bad tafte(6). Ovid has defcribed this 
 ftory in an agreeable manner. Linus, who excelled 
 all mortals in mufic, prefuming to fing with Apollo,, 
 was puiiiflied with death ; nor did Marfyas the fatyr 
 efcape much better, for having found a flute or pipe 
 which Minerva threw away (7), he had the vanity to 
 difpute the prize with Apollo, who being decreed 
 victor, hung up his antagonift on the next pine tree, 
 and flayed him alive ; but afterwards changed him 
 into a river, which falls into the Meander. 
 
 This deity was fo ikilled in the bow, that his ar- 
 rows were always fatal. Python and the Cyclops 
 experienced their force. When the giant Tityas en- 
 deavoured to ravifh Diana, he transfixed and threw 
 him into hell, where the vultures preyed on his liver. 
 
 Niobe, 
 
 (5) The Grecian poets celebrate the grafhopper as a very 
 mufical infeA, that fings amongft the higheft branches of 
 the trees -, fo that it muft have been a very different crea- 
 ture ^rom the grafliopper knoivn to us. See the notes in 
 Cook's Htfiod. 
 
 (6) Ovid, Book XT. Fab. III. line 90. 
 
 (7) Eecaufe as fhe blew it, feeing herfelf in a fountain^ 
 flie found it deformed her face. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 6j 
 
 Niobe, the daughter of Tantalus, and wife of Am- 
 phion, being happy in feven fons and as many daugh- 
 ters, was fo foolifh as to prefer herfelf to Latona. 
 This fo enraged Apollo and Diana, that the former 
 flew her fons with his darts, and the latter killed her 
 daughters in the embraces of their mother, whom 
 Jupiter, in compaflion to her inceflant grief, turned 
 into a (tone, which ftill emits moiftuie inftead of 
 tears (8). 
 
 The true meaning of the fable of Niobe is this, it 
 fignified the annual inundation of Egypt. The af- 
 front (he offered to Latona was a fymbol, to denote 
 the neceflity fhe laid that people under of retreating 
 to the higher grouiKls. The fourteen children of Ni- 
 obe are the fourteen cubits, that marked the increafe 
 of the Nile (9). Apollo and Diana killing them with 
 their arrows, reprefents labour and induflry, with the 
 afliftance of the fun's warm influence, overcoming 
 thefe difficulties, after the retreat of the flood. Ni- 
 obe's being turned to a ftone, was owing to an equi- 
 vocation. The continuance of Niobe was the prc- 
 fervation of Egypt. But the word Selau, which fig- 
 nitied fafety, by a fmall alteration (Selaw) exprefltd 
 a ftone. Thus Niobe became a real perfon metamor- 
 phofed to a rock. 
 
 Apollo refembled his father Jupiter, in his great 
 propenfity to love. He fpent fome time with Venus 
 in the ifle of Rhodes, and during their interview it 
 is faid the fky rained gold, and the earth was cover- 
 ed with lillies and rofes. His moft (selcbrated amour 
 was with Daphne, (the daughter of the river Peneus) 
 a virgin of Thefialy, who was herfelf prepoflefTed in 
 favour of Lucippus, a youth of her own age. Apol- 
 lo, to be revenged upon his rival, put it into his 
 head to difguife himfelf amongft the virgins who went 
 bathing, who difcovering the deceit, ftabbed him. 
 After this the god purfued Daphne, who flying to 
 preferve her chaftity, v^'as, on her intreaties to the 
 gods, changed into a laurel ( I ), whofe leaves Apollo 
 immediately confecrated to bind his temples, and 
 made that tree the reward of poetry. 
 
 The 
 
 (8) Ovid, Book VI. 1. 310. 
 
 (9) The ftatue of Nile in the Thuilleries iit Paris, has 
 fourteen children placed by it, to denote thefe cubits. 
 
 (i)Ovid, Book I. 1. 556. 
 
 S^^fP^"S °-^ empty pra'ife 
 
 He /natch' d at Love^ and filed Lis arms xoiih bays. Waller. 
 
64 FABULOUS HISTORY OK 
 
 The nymph Bolina, rather than yield to his fuit, 
 threw herfelf into the lea, for which he rendered 
 her immortal : nor was he much more fuccefsful in 
 his courtfhip of the nymph Caftaha, who vanilhed 
 from him in the form of a fountain, which was after- 
 wards facrcd to the mufes(2). He debauched Leu- 
 cothoe, daughter of Orchanus, king of Babylon, in 
 the fhape of her mother Eurynome. Clytia, her 
 fifter, jealous of her happinei'., difcovered the amour 
 to their father, who ordered Leucothoe to be buried 
 alive. Her lover, in pity to her fate, poured nedar 
 on her grave, which turned the body into a tree 
 which v/eeps the gum called frankincenfe. He then 
 abandoned Clytia, who pined- away, continually 
 looking on the fun, till fhe became the Heliotrope or 
 funflower (3). 
 
 Of the children of Apollo we fiiall Ipeak more at 
 large in the following fedion. 
 
 Apollo had a great variety of names, either taken 
 from lis principal attributes, or the chief places where 
 he was worfhipped. He was called the Healer, fi-om 
 his enlivening v/armth and cheering influence, and 
 Pcean (4), from the peftilential heats ; to fignify the 
 former, the ancients placed the graces in his right 
 hand, and for the latter a bow and arrows in his left ; 
 Nomius, or the fliepherd, from his fertilizing the 
 earth, and thence fuftaining the animal creation ; 
 Delius (5), from his rendering all things manifeft ; 
 Pythias, from his victory over Python ; Lycius, Phoe- 
 bus, and Phaneta, from his purity and fplendor. 
 
 The principal places vvhere he was v/orfnipped 
 were Chryfua, Tenedos, Srnyntha, Cylla, Cyrrlia, 
 Patrcea, Claros, Cynthius, Absea, a city in Lycia, at 
 Meletus, and amongft the JVIseonians, from all which 
 places he was denominated. He had an oracle and 
 temple at Tegyra, near which v/ere two remarkable 
 fountains, called the Palm and the Olive, on account 
 of the fweetnefs and trlnfparency of the v/ater. He 
 had an oracle at Deles, for fix monthsin the fummer 
 feafon, which for the reft of the year was removed 
 to Patara in Lycia, and thefe removals were made 
 
 with 
 
 (2) Thence called Caftalian fifters. 
 
 (3) Ovid, Book IV.'l. 205. 
 
 (4) 'Atto t5 TraUv Tag eviaj. 
 
 (5) 'Atto Ttf 5'oXa TravTU jrcjrjTy. 
 
r 11 E H E A r H E U GODS. 65 
 
 \vith great folcmnity. But his nioft cckbrated tem- 
 ple was at Delphos, the original of which was thus : 
 Apollo being inftrufted in the art of divination by- 
 Pan, the fon of Jui:Jiter, and the nymph Thymbris, 
 went to this oracle, where at that time Thtmid gave 
 heranfwers; but the ferpcnt Python hindeiing biru 
 from approacl.ing the oratle he Rcw him, and fo 
 took poli'ciiion of it. His temple here, in procefs 
 of time, became fo frequented, that it was called 
 tUe oracle of the earth, and all the nations and 
 princes in the world vied with each other in their 
 munificence to it. Crcefus, king of Lydia, gave at 
 one time a thoufand talents of gold to make an altar 
 there, befides prefents of immenfe value at other 
 times. Phalaris', the tyrant of Agrigentiun, prefented 
 it a brazen bull, a maiter-picce of art. The re- 
 fponfes here were delivered by a virgin prieflefs (6) 
 called Pythia, or Phoebus, placed on a tripos (7) or 
 (tool with three feet, called alfo Cortina, from the 
 fldn of the Python with which it was covered. It 
 is uncertain after what manner thefe oracles were de- 
 livered, though Cicero fuppofes the Pithonefs was 
 infpired, or rather intoxicated by certain vapours 
 Vv'hich afcended from the cave. In Italy, ApoUqhad 
 .a celebrated flirine at mount Sorade, where his 
 priefts were fo remarkable for fanclity, that they 
 could walk on burning coals unhurt. The Romans 
 erected to him many temples. After the battle of 
 Actium, which decided the fate of the world, and 
 fecured the .empire to Auguftus, this prince not only 
 l)uilt him a chapel on that promontory, and renewed 
 the folemn games to him, but foon after raifeda mcft 
 magnificent temple to him on mount Palatine, in 
 Rcrne, the v.hcle of Parian marble. Tlie gates 
 were of ivory exquifitely carved, and over the fron- 
 tifpiece were the folar chariot and hcrfes of mafiy 
 gold. The portico contained a noble library of the 
 Greek and Latin authors. Within, the place was 
 decorated with noble paintings, and a ftatue of the 
 god by the tamous Scopas, attended by a gigantic 
 
 figure 
 
 (6) Some fay the Pythonefs being once debauched, the 
 oracles were afterwards dehvered by an old woman in the 
 drefs of a young maid. 
 
 (7) Authors vary ai to the tripos, feme making it a vefTei 
 in which the priclls bathed. 
 
66 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 figure in brafs fifty feet high. In the area were four 
 brazen cows, reprcfenting the daughters of Practus, 
 king of the Argives, who were changed into that 
 form for prefuming to rival Juno in beauty. Thefc 
 ftatues were wrought by Myron. 
 
 The ufual facrifices to Apollo were lambs, bulls, 
 and oxen. The animals facred to him were the wolf, 
 from his acutencfs of fight ; the crow, from her au- 
 gury, or foretelling the weather ; the fwan from its 
 divining its own death ; the hawk, from its boldncfs 
 in flight , and the cock, from its foretelling his rife. 
 The grafhopper was alfo reckoned agreeable to him 
 on account of its mufic. Of trees, the laurel, palm, 
 olive, and juniper, were moft in efteem with him. 
 All young men, when their beards grew, confecrated 
 their locks in his temple, as the virgins did theirs in 
 the temple of Diana. 
 
 The four great attributes of Apollo were di-vina- 
 tion, healingy mujic, and archery ; all which manifeftly 
 refer to the fun. Light difpelling darknefs is a ftrong 
 em.blem of truth diffipating ignorance ; vv'hat con- 
 duces more to life and health than the folar warmth, 
 or can there be a jufter fymbol of the planetary har- 
 mony than Apollo's (7) lyre ? As his darts are faid to 
 have deftroyed the monfter Python, fo his rays dry 
 up the noxious moifture, which is pernicious to ve- 
 getation and fruitfulnefs. 
 
 The Perfians, who had a high veneration for this 
 planet, adored it, and the light proceeding from it, 
 by the names of Mithra and Orofmanes ; the Egyp- 
 tians by thofe of Ofiris and Orus ; and from their 
 antiquities, let us now feek fome illuftration of the 
 birth and adventures of Apollo. 
 
 The Ifis which pointed out the neomenia., or 
 monthly feftival, before their annual inundation, was 
 the fymbolical figure of a creature with the upper 
 part of a woman, and the hiiider of a lizard, placed 
 in a reclining pofture. This they called ],eto(8), 
 and ufed it to fignify to the people the ncceffity of 
 laying in the provifions of olives, parched corn, and 
 fuch other kinds of dry food, for their fubfiftence, 
 during the flood. Now when the waters of the Nile 
 
 decreafed 
 
 (7) The feven firings of which are faid to reprcfent the 
 feven pLmets. 
 
 (>J) irom Leto, or Letoah, a lizard. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 67 
 
 decreafed time enough to allow them a month, be- 
 fore the entrance of the fun into Sagittarius, the 
 Egyptian farmer was fure of Icifure enough to furvey 
 and fow his ground, and of remaining, in abfolute 
 fecurity till harvcii. This conquell: of the Nile was 
 reprefented by an Orus, or image, armed with ar- 
 rows, and fubduing the monfter Python. This they 
 called Ores (9), or Apollo (i). The figure of Ifis 
 above-mentioned they alfo ftiled Deione, or Diana (2), 
 and they put in her hand the quail, a bird which with 
 them was the emblem of fccurity (3). 
 
 Thefe emblems, carr:ed by the Phasnicians into 
 Greece, gave rife to all the fable of Latona perfe- 
 cuted by the Python, and flying to Delos in the form 
 of a quail, where fhe bore Orus and Dione, or 
 Apollo and Diana. Thus (as on former gccafions) 
 the hieroglyphics, only defigned to point out the re- 
 gular feftivals, and to inftrudt the people in what 
 they were to do, became in the end the objects of a 
 fenfelefs and grofs idolatry. 
 
 When Tyre was befieged by Alexander, the citi- 
 zens bound the ftatue of Apollo with chains of gold; 
 but when that conqueror took the place, he releafed 
 the deity, who thence obtained the name of Phila- 
 lexandrus, or the friend of Alexander. At Rhodes, 
 where he was worfhipped in a peculiar manner there 
 was a cololTal image of him at the mouth of the har- 
 bour fcventy cubits high (4). 
 
 Phoebus (5) was very ditferently reprefented in 
 different countries and times, according to the 
 character he alTumed. To depidt the lolar light, 
 the Perfians ufed a figure with the head of a 
 lion covered with a Tiara, in the Perfian garb, and 
 holding a mad bull by the horns, a fymbol plainly 
 
 of 
 
 (9) From Horcs, a deftroyer or wafler. 
 
 ( 1 ) Apollo fignifies the fame 
 
 (2) From Dei, fufficiency, comes Deione, abundance. 
 
 (3) Selave in the Phrenician fignifies fecurity, as alfo a 
 quail ; hence they ufed the quail to fignlfy the tiling. The 
 Latin words Salus and Salvo are derived from hence. 
 
 (4) We fliall fpeak of this hereafter. 
 
 (5) From Pheob, the fource, and 0^, the overPtOwing, or 
 the fource of the immdution, the Ec^yptians exprefling the an- 
 nual excels of the Nile by a fun, with a river proceeding 
 from its mtmth. 
 
68 r A B U I. O U S HISTORY OF 
 
 of Egyptian original. The latter people exprfeiTc-cl 
 him fometimes by a circle v/ith rays ; at other times 
 by a fccptre with an eye over it; but their great em- 
 blem of the folar light, as diftingnifhed from the orb 
 itfelf, was the golden feraph, or fiery flying fcrpctit 
 (6). The Hicropolitans fhewed him with a pointed 
 beard, thereby exprefiing the ftrong emifiion of his 
 rays dovvnv/ard ; over Ivis head was a bafket of gold, 
 leprefenting the etherial light : he had a brealt-plate 
 on, and in his right hand held a fpear, on the fum- 
 mit of wliich ftood the image of vidory {i'o that 
 Mars is but one of his att/ibutes) ; this l>;fpoke him 
 irrefiftible and ruling all things : in his left hand wps 
 a flower, intimating the vegetable creation nourifned, 
 matured, and coiitinued by his beams : around his 
 fiioulders he wore a veft, depided v/ith gorgons ami 
 fnakes ; ^liis takes in Minerva, and by it is cxpreHed 
 the virtue and vigour of the folar warmth, enlivening 
 the apprehenlion and promoting wifdom; whence 
 alfo he is with great propriety the preiident of the 
 mufes : clofe by were the expanded wings of the 
 eagle, reprefenting the aether, ftretched out from him 
 a; from its proper center : at his feet were three fe- 
 male figures Encircled by a feraph, that in the midil: 
 being the emblem of the eaith riiing in beauty from 
 the midft of nature and confujicn (the other two) by 
 the emanation of his li^hty fignified by the feraph or 
 dragon. 
 
 Under the charatfler of the fun, Apollo was de- 
 pi(5ted in a chariot drawn by four horfeF, whofe names 
 the poets have taken care to give us as v.-^ell as th ofe 
 of Pluto. The poets feigned each night that he 
 went to reft with Thetis in the ocean, and that the 
 next morning the Hours got ready his horfes for him 
 to renew his courfe, (fee Cambray's Teiemaque for 
 a picture) and unbarred the gates of day. It is no 
 wonder they have been lavilh on a fubjedt, which 
 affords fuch extenfive room for the imagination to 
 difplay itfelf, as the beauties of the fun-riiing. When 
 repr-knted as Liber Pater (7), he bore a Ihield to 
 
 ihew 
 
 (6) Vide Macrob. Saturn. 1. i, c. 17. 
 (7", Virgil gi/es him this name in his firll Oeorgic. 
 Vos, cUriffima mundi 
 
 Lntnlna, lihcnhim crelo qui ductus amuimy 
 
 JAbir Iff almu drit. 
 
THE H E A T H EN GODS. - 6.> 
 
 fticw his protedion of mankind. At other times he 
 was drawn as a beardlefs youth, his locks diihevelled, 
 and crowned with laurel, holding a bow in his right 
 hand with his arrows, and the lyre in his left. The 
 palace of the fun has been admirably defcribed by 
 Ovid, as well as his car, in the fecond book of his 
 Metamorphofis. 
 
 CHAP. XXX. 
 
 OF THE SONS OR OFFSPRING OF APOLLO, JESCV- 
 LAPIUS, PHAETON, ORPHEUS, IDMON, ARISr 
 T^US, cSfc. 
 
 /v. S Apollo was a very gallant deity, fo he had a 
 very numerous iffue, of which it is neceflary to give 
 fome account, as they make a confiderable figure in 
 poetical hiftory. The firft and moft noted of his fons 
 was iEfculapius, whom he had by the nymph Co- 
 ronis. Some fay that Apollo Ihot his mother, when 
 big with child of him, on account of her infidelity ; 
 but repenting the fad, faved the infant, and gave him 
 to Chiron to be inftruded (8) in phyfic. Others re- 
 port, that as king Phlegyas, her father, was carrying 
 her with him into Pelopennefus, her pains furprifed 
 her on the confines of Epidauria, where, to conceal 
 her fiiame, Ihe expofed the infant on a mountain. 
 However this be, under the care of this new mailer 
 he made fuch a progrefs in the medical art, as gained 
 )um a high reputation ; fo that be was even reported 
 to have railed the dead. His firil cures were wro\ight 
 upon Afcles, king of Epidauriis, and Aunes, king 
 of Daunia, which laft was troubled with fore eyes. 
 In fhort, his fuccefs was fo great, that Pluto, who 
 faw the number of his ghofts daily decreafe, com- 
 plained to Jupiter, who killed him with his thunder- 
 bolts. 
 
 Cicero reckons up three of his name. The firft the 
 fon of Apollo, worfliipped in Arcadia, who in- 
 vented 
 
 (8) Ovid, who relates the ftory of Coronis in his fanciful 
 way, tells us that Corvus, or the raven, who difcovercd her 
 nmour, had, by Apollo, his feathers changed from Had t« 
 
y« FABULOUS HISTOPvY OF 
 
 vented the probe and bandages for wounds ; the ft- 
 cond, the brcth.er of Mercury, killed by lightening ; 
 and the third, the fon of Arfippus and Arfione, who 
 frft taught the art of tooth-drawing and purging. 
 Others make it^fculapius an Egyptian, king of Mem- 
 phis, antecedent by a thoufand years to the iEfcn- 
 lapius of the Greeks. The Romans numbered him 
 amongft the Dii Adfcititii, of fuch as were raifed to 
 heaven by their merit, as Hercules, Caftor, and Pol- 
 lux, Sec. 
 
 The Greeks received their knowledge of iEfcu- 
 lapius from the Phsenicians and Egyptians. His 
 chief temples were at Pergamus, Smyrna, at Trica, 
 a city of Ionia, and the ifle of Coos ; in all which, 
 votive tablets were hung up (9), Ihewing the difeafes 
 cured by his afiiftance ; but his moft famous fhrine 
 was at Epidaurus, where every five years in the 
 fpring, folemn games were inftituted to him nine 
 days after the Ifthmian games at Corinth. 
 
 The Romans grew acquainted with him by an ac- 
 cident ; a plague happened in Italy, the oracle was 
 confulted, and the reply was, that they fliould fetch 
 the god ^fculapius from Epidaurus. An embafly 
 was appointed of ten fenators, at the head of v»'hom 
 was Q^Ogulnius. Thefe deputies, on their arrival, 
 vifiting the temple of the god, a huge ferpent came: 
 from under the altar, and crofling the city, went di- 
 redly to their fhip, and lay down in the cabin of 
 Oguinius ; upon which they fet fail immediately, and 
 arriving in the Tiber, the ferpent quitted the fhip, 
 and retired to a little ifland oppofite the city, where 
 a temple was ere^ed to the god, and the pefiilence 
 ceafed. 
 
 The animals facrificed to iEfculapius were the 
 goat ; fome fay, on account of her nurfing him ; 
 others, becaufe this creature is unhealthy, as labour- 
 ing under a perpetual fever. The dog and the cock 
 were facred to him, on account of their fidehty and 
 vigilance. The raven was alfo devoted to him for its 
 forecaft, and being fkilled in divination. Authors 
 are not agreed as to his being the inventor of phyfic, 
 fome affirming that he only perfeded that part which 
 relates to the regimen of the fick. 
 
 Let 
 
 (9"* From thefe tablets or votive infcriptlons, Hippocraicp 
 is faid to have colle<Sed his aphorifm«. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 71 
 
 Let us now leek for the origin of this fable. The 
 public iign or iVmbol expofed by the Egyptians in 
 their aliemblies, to warn the people to mark the 
 depth of the inundation, in order to regulate their 
 ploughing accordingly, was the figure of a ma.n with 
 a deg's head carrying a pole with ferpents twilled 
 itjund it, to which they gave the names of Anubis (i), 
 Thaaut (2), and ^fculapius (3). In procefs of time 
 they made ufe of this reprefcntation for a real king, 
 who, by the ftudy of phytic, fought the prefervation 
 of his fubjedts. Thus the dog and the ferpents be- 
 came the charaderiftics of JEfculapius amongft the 
 Rom.ans and Greeks, who were entirely ftrangers to 
 the original meaning of thefe hieroglyphics. 
 
 ^fculapius had, by his wife Epione, two fons, 
 Machaon and Podalirius, both (killed in furgery, and 
 who are mentioned by Homer as prefent at the fiege 
 of Troy, and were very ferviceable to the Greeks. 
 He had alfo two daughters, called Hygicea and Jafo. 
 
 This deity is reprefented in different attitudes. At 
 Epidaurus his ftatue was of gold and ivory (4}, feated 
 on a throne of the fame materials, his head crowned 
 with rays, and a long beard, having a knotty ftick in 
 one hand, the other entwined with a ferpent, and a 
 dog lying at his feet. The Phliafians depicted him as 
 beardlefs ; and the Romans crowned him witli laurel, 
 to denote his defcent from Apollo. The knots in his 
 ftafF fignify the difficulties that occur in the ftudy of 
 medicine. 
 
 Phaeton was the fon of Apollo and the nymph 
 Clymene. Having a difpute with Epaphus, the fon 
 of Jupiter and lo, the latter upbraided him, that he 
 was not really the fjn of his father, and that his 
 mother only made ufe of that pretence to cover her 
 infamy. The youth, fired at this reproach, by his 
 mother's advice carried his complaint to his father 
 Phoebus, who received him with great tendernefs, 
 and, to allay his difquietude, fwore by Styx to grant 
 
 him 
 
 (i) From Hannobeach, which in PhiEnician fignilies the 
 barker, or warner, Anubis. 
 
 (2) The word Tayant, lignifies the dog. 
 
 (3) From Ailh, man, and Caleph, dog, comes .^fcaleph, 
 the mandog, or ./Efculapias. 
 
 (4) This image was the work of Thrafymedcs, the fon 
 of Arignotus, a native of Pares. 
 
7t FABl'LOL^S HISTORY OF 
 
 him whatever he rcqueftcd, as a mark of his acknow- 
 ledging him for his fon. Phaeton boldly afked the 
 diredion of the folar chariot for one day. The father, 
 at once grieved and fui*prifed at the demand, ufed 
 all arguments in vain to diiTuade him from the at- 
 tempt ; but being by his oath reduced to fubmit to 
 his obflinacy, he gave him the reins, with the beft 
 diredlions he could how to ufe them. The ambition 
 of our young adventurer was too fatal to himfelf. 
 He loft his judgment and way together ; and Jupiter, 
 to prevent his fetting the world on fire, was obliged 
 with his thunderbolts to hurl him from his feat into 
 the river Eridanus or the Po. His lifters Phaethufa, 
 Lampetia, and Phcjebe, lauiented his lofs fo incef- 
 fantly upon the banks, that the gods changed them 
 into black poplar trees, vrhofe juice produces the 
 eledrum or amber. Cycnus, king of Liguria, no 
 lefs grieved for his lofs, was changed into a fwan, a 
 bird which became after facred to Apollo. This 
 ftory makes a very confiderable figure in. Ovid (5), 
 v.'ho has out-done himfelf on this fubjeA. 
 
 A late author offers an ingenious conjedure, with 
 regard to this fable (6). Linen-cloth was the great 
 manufacture of Egypt, and the bleaching of it con- 
 fcquently of great importance. The image expofed 
 for directing this, was a youth with rays round his 
 head, and a whip in his hand, feated on ^n orb, to 
 which thev gave the name of Phaeton (7), and Ben- 
 Climmah v8). Probably the months of JNIay, June, 
 and July, were the three fifters of Phaeton, becaufe 
 diiribg thefe months they wafhed their linen white ; 
 jof which Cygnus, or the fwan, the friend of Phaeton, 
 is a further fymbol. Now as the v/ord Aibanoth, 
 applied to thcfc months (9), fignifics alfo poplar trees, 
 it gave rife to this mctamorphofes. 
 
 Orpheus 
 
 (5) Ovid Metamorph. lib. II. in principio. 
 
 (6j La Pluche hifl. de Cieux. 
 
 (7) From Pha the month, and Eton linen, is made Phae- 
 ton ; that is, the indidion of the linen works. 
 
 (?) Een-Climmah, the fon of hot weather. Hence the 
 ftory of Phaeton's burning the world. 
 
 ((^\ Aibanoth, or Lebauoth, figniftes the w'.ut' ning fields 
 or yards for bleaching. 
 
THE HEATHEN G O D G. 73 
 
 Orpheus was the fon of Phoebus, by the mufe Cal- 
 liope (i). He was born in Thrace, and refided near 
 mount Rhodope, where he married Eurydice, a prin- 
 ccfs of that country. Arifteus, a neighbouring prince, 
 who fell in love with her, attempted to furprife her, 
 and in her flight, to efcape his violence, fhe was kil- 
 led by the bite of a ferpent. Her difconfolate huf- 
 band was fo affeded at his lofs, that he defcended by 
 the way of Taenariis to hell, in order to recover her. 
 As mufic and poetry were to him hereditary talents, 
 he exerted them in fo powerful a manner, that Pluto 
 and Froferpine were fo far touched, as to reftore him 
 liis beloved confort on or/e condition, that he Ihould 
 not look back on her, till they came to the light of 
 the world. His impatient fondnefs made him break 
 this article, and he loft her for ever. Grieved at her 
 lois, he retired to the woods and forefts, which it is 
 faid were feniible of his harmony (2). But the Mas- 
 nades or Bacchae, either incenfed at his vowing a 
 widowed life, or, as others fay, inftigated by Bac- 
 chus, whofe worfhip he negleded (3), tore him in 
 pieces, and fcattered his limbs about the fields^ 
 which were collected and buried by the Mufes. His 
 ?-ead and harp, v/hich were caft into the Hebrup, 
 were carried to Lefbos, and the former interred there. 
 His harp v/as tranfported to the flcies, where it forms 
 one of the conftelfations. He himfelf Avas changed 
 into a fwan, and left a fon called Methoi:, who 
 founded in Thrace a city of his own name. Ovid 
 has given us this whole ftory (4) ; but contrary to hi,^ 
 ufuai method, has brake the thread of it, by inter- 
 fper'ing it in different parts of h'v\ work. 
 
 It is certain that Orpheus may be placed as the ear- 
 licfl: poet of (irecce, where he (irft introduced /7^/ro- 
 ■>.'0/;/y, elh'inily, miifir^ and poet)-y^ all wh.ich he had 
 learned in Egypt. He wrote many volam.e.s in natural 
 philofophy and antiquities (5), of which only a few 
 V. imperfeA 
 
 (I) Some make him the fon of Oeagrus and Calliope. 
 
 (d) Ovid Metam. lib. XI. in principio. 
 
 (3) Others fay by Venus, on account of his dcfpifing her 
 rites, and that the nymphs, excited by her, tore him in 
 j-ieccs in ftruggUng who ihould hnve hira. 
 
 (4) In his Xth and Xlth books. 
 
 ^j) He wrote a book of iiymus, and treatifes on t]ie gene- 
 nirion of the elements; on the giaucs war; on the rape of 
 l-*!()ferpine ; on the labours of Hercules; of ftones ; oJi tli-' 
 rites and myfterie* of the Fgypti.uis. 
 
74 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 imperfcft fragments have efcaped the rage of tune» 
 In his book of ilones, he fays of himfelf, He could 
 underjland thejligbt and language of birds -^ Jlop the courfe 
 oj ri'vers, o-vercome the po'ifon offerpentSy and eten pe- 
 net rate the thoughts of the heart (6). 
 
 Let us feek the origin of this fable once more in 
 Egypt, the mother-country of fidion. In July, 
 when the fun entered Leo, the Nile overflowed all 
 the plains. To denote the public joy at feeing the 
 inundation rife to its due height, they exhibited a 
 youth playing on the lyre or fiftrum, and fitting by a 
 tame lion. When the waters did not increafe as they 
 fnould, this Horus was reprefented ftretched on the 
 back of a lion as dead. This fymbol they called 
 Oreph or Orpheus (7), to fignify that agriculture was 
 then quite unfeafonable and dormant. The fongs 
 they amufed themfelves with at this dull feafon, for 
 want of exercife, were called the hymns of Orpheus ; 
 and as hufbandry revived immediately after, it gave 
 rife to the fable of Orpheus returning from hell. 
 The Ids placed near this Horus, they called Eurydice 
 (8), and as the Greeks took all thefe figures in the 
 literal, and not in the emblematical fenfe, they made 1 
 Xurydicc the wife of Orpheus. 
 
 Idmon was the fon of Apollo by Afteria, and at- 
 tended the Argonauts in their expedition to Colchis, 
 being famed for his fkill in augury ; but wandering 
 from his companions, as they occafionally landed, 
 he was killed by a wild boar. 
 
 Another of the children of Apollo was Linus, 
 whom he had by the nymph Terplichore. He was 
 born at Thebes, and eminent for learning, if it be 
 true that Thamyris, Orpheus, and Hercnle.^:, were 
 sll his fcholars. Some fay he was flain by the latter 
 for ridicuHng him ; but if Orpheus (as others affirm) 
 lived a" hundred years before Hercules, it is rather 
 probable that Linus was the difciple of Orpheus. 
 However this be, Linus wrote on the origin of the 
 world, the courfe of the fun and moon, and the 
 produdion of animals. 
 
 After 
 
 (6) This probably gave rife to the fable of his making 
 rocks and forefts move to his lyre. 
 
 (7) From Oreph, occiput, or the back part of the hciicl. 
 
 (8) From F>i, a lion, and Daca, tamed, is formed Eri- 
 cT;:ca, Eurydice, or rhe lion tamed, i. e. tlic violence or rage 
 ci the irjundatior* ovcrccrr.o. 
 
THE H E A 1' H E N GODS, /J 
 
 After all, Linus was only a fymbol of the Egyp- 
 tians, which the Greeks, according to cuftom, per- 
 fonated. At the end of autumn or harveft, the 
 Egyptians fell to their night-work, of making linen- 
 elo'th (9), and the figure then expofed was called 
 Linus (i), and denoted the fitting up or watching 
 during the night. 
 
 Ariftxus was the fon of Apollo, by Cyrene, a vir- 
 gin nymph, who ufed to accompany him in hunting, 
 and whom he firft fell in love with on feeing her 
 encounter a lion. He was born in Lybia. He re- 
 ceived his education from the nymphs, who taught 
 him to extract oil from olives, and to make honey, 
 cheefe, and butter ; all which arts he communicated 
 to mankind. On this account he was regarded as a 
 rural deity. From Afiica he pafled into Sardinia and 
 Sicily, from whence he travelled into Thrace, where 
 Bacchus initiated him in his myfteries. We have 
 already mentioned how his paffion occafioned the 
 death of Eurydice, to revenge which the wood- 
 nymphs deftroyed his bee-hives. Concerned at this 
 lofs, he advifed with his mother, and was told by 
 the oracle to facrifice bulls to appeafe her fhade ; 
 V. hich counfel following, the bees wbich iffued from 
 tlie carcafes fully fupplied the damages he had fuf- 
 laiaed (z). He died near mount Hsemus, and was 
 deified on account of the fervices he had done to 
 mankind by his ufcful inventions. He was alfo ho- 
 noured in the ille of Coos, for his calling the Etefian 
 winds to relieve them in an exceffive time of heat, 
 Herodotus fays, 4:hat he appeared at Cyzicum after 
 his death, and three hundred and forty years after, 
 was kfn in Italy, at Metapontum, where he enjoin- 
 ed the inhabitants to erciit a ftatue to him near that 
 of Apollo ; which, on confulting the oracle, they 
 performed. 
 
 Circe wis the daughter of Phoebus, by Perfis, the 
 
 child of Oceanus, and a celebrated forcerefs. Her 
 
 Hrft huiband was a king of theSarmats:, whom {he poi- 
 
 E z foned, 
 
 f9j This was their chief manufa (flare. 
 
 (1) Lmus, from Lyn, to watch, whence our word linen, 
 that is, the work, for the tirae of doing it. 
 
 12} Virgil has introauc<;d this flory with g^-eat eleganc- 
 aad proprieiy, in his IVth Ccorgic, 1. 314. 
 
76 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 foned, for which fhe was expelled the kingdom, and 
 fled to a promontory on the coaft of Tufcany, which 
 afterwards took her name. Here fhe fell in love 
 mth Glaucus, one of the fea deities, who preferring 
 Scylla to her, flie changed her into a fea niDnilcr. 
 Picus, king of the Latins, her next favourite, for 
 rejed:ing her addreffes, was metamorphofed into a 
 woodpecker. 
 
 The moil remarkable of Circe's adventures, was 
 -with Ulyfles. This prince returning from Troy, was 
 caft away on her coaft, and his men, by a drink Ihe 
 gave them, were transformed to fwine, and other 
 beafts. Ulyfles was preferved by Mercury, who gave 
 him the herb moly, to fecure him from her enchant- 
 ments, and inftruded him, when Ihe attempted to 
 touch him with her wand, to draw his Avord, and 
 make her fwear by Styx, flie would ufc; him as a 
 friend, otherwife he would kill her. By this means, 
 fae procured the liberty of his companions, and con- 
 tinued a year with Circe, who bore him two cluldren, 
 \\7.. Agrius and Latinus. Circe had a ftpulchre in 
 one of the ifles, called Pharmacufas, near Salamis. 
 
 Circe was no other than the Egyptian Ifis, whofe 
 Horus, or attending image, every nionth afliiming 
 fome different form, as a human body, with the head 
 of a lion, dog, ferpent, or tortoife, gave rife to the 
 fable of her changing men by her inchantmtnts into 
 thefe animals. Hence the Egyptians gave her the 
 jiame of Circe, which fignifies the iEnigma. 
 
 Apollo had many other children. iBthufa, the 
 daughter of Neptune, bore him EUitherus. By 
 Evadne he had Janus ; by Atria, Miletus, Oaxlus, 
 and Arabus, who gave his name to Arabia ; by Melia, 
 he had Ifmenious and Tosnarus ; by Aglaia, Theftor ; 
 by Manto, Mopfus ; by Anathrippe, Chius ; by 
 Achalide, he had Delphus, and many others too 
 tedious to enumerate. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
Tl^ E HEATHEN GODS. yj 
 
 CHAP. XXXI. 
 
 OF THE MUSES, AND PEGASUS, THE GRACES, AND 
 
 THE SYRENS. 
 
 1 H E S E celebrated goddefies, the Mufes, were 
 t-he daughters of Jupiter and Mnemofyne, though 
 feme think them born ofCoeius, Their number at 
 firft WIS only three or- four (3), but Homer and 
 Uefiod have fixed it at nine (4), which it has never 
 fince exceeded. They v^/ere born on mount Kie-ru€, 
 and educated by the nymph Euphcme. 
 
 They had many appellaiions common to them all, 
 as Pierides, from the place of their birth ; Heliconi- 
 des, ft-om moant Helicon, in Boeotia ; Pernaffides, 
 fr-om t-he hii4 of Parnafiiis, in Phocie ; Citherides, 
 from mount Cithe-ron, a place they much frequented j 
 Aouides. from Aonia ; Hippocranide?, Agannipides, 
 and Caftftlide';, from difiVrent fountains confecrated 
 to them, or to vv'hich they were fuppofed to refort. 
 
 I« general they were the tutelar goddeffijs of all 
 facred feffcivais and ban'^uets, and the patronefies of 
 all polite and ufeful arts. They fupported virtue in 
 diftrefs, aTui preferved worthy ai'tions from oblivion, 
 riomer calls thenl rmilrefTes and corredreiTes of 
 laanners (5). With regj^rd to the fciences, thefe 
 fillers had each their particular province or depart- 
 ment, though poetry feemed more immediately un- 
 der their united protection. 
 
 Galiiope (fo called from the fweetnefs of her voice) 
 prefided over rhetoric, and was. reckoned the firft of 
 the nine fifcers. 
 
 Clio, 
 
 (3) Mtreme, AeJe^ Melete^ that is, Memory, Singing, and 
 Meditation, to which fome addThelexiope. 
 
 (4) Some afiign as a reafon for this, that when the citizens 
 of iiicyon diredcd three Ikilful {latuaries, to make each three 
 ftatues of the three mufes, they were all fo well executed, 
 that they did not know which to choofe, but ereiSled ail the 
 nine, and that Hcfiod only gave them names. 
 
 i 5 ) Hence the old bards and poets were in fuch high efleemj 
 that when Agamemnon went to the fiege of Troy, he left 
 one with Clytemnellra, to keep her faithful, and Egifthuft 
 could not corrupt Jier, till he had defiroyed this counfellor. 
 
-i FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 C lio , the fecond (6), was the Mufe of hiftory, and 
 takes her name from her immortalifmg the actions 
 Ihe records. 
 
 Erato (7), was the patronefs of elegiac, or amo- 
 rous poetry, and the inventrefs of dancing. To 
 Thalia (8), belonged comedy, and whatever was 
 gay, amiable, and pleafant. Euterpe (named from 
 her love of harmony) had the care of tragedy. 
 
 PJelpomene {(o Riled from the dignity and excel- 
 lency of her fong) was the guardian Mufe of lyric 
 and epic poetry (9). 
 
 Terpficbore was the protre<5trefs of mufic, parti- 
 cularly the Cute (i). The chorus of the ancient dra- 
 ma was her province, to which fome add logic. 
 
 To Polyhymnia (a) (belonged that harmony of voice 
 ar.d gefture, which gives a pcrfe(ftion to oratory and 
 poetry, and which flov/s fromjuft fentiments and a 
 good memory. 
 
 Urania was the Mufe whofe care extended to all 
 divine or celeftiai fubje«^s, fuch as the liVmns in 
 praife of the pods, the motions of the heavenly 
 bodies, and whatever regarded philofophy or aftro- 
 iiomy (3). 
 
 The MufcG, though faid to be virgins, were no 
 enemies to love (4). We have alvady taken notice 
 of Calliope and Terpficbore yielding to the addrefies 
 of Apollo. If tlieir* complaifance was folely owijig 
 to the refcntmtnt of Venus, v»'ho infpired the flames 
 of love, to revenge the death cf her favourite 
 Adonis ; it rnult be owned that the Mufes have iince 
 been fyflficiently devoted to her fervice. 
 
 The Mufes were themfelves not wholly free from 
 revenge, as appears in the llory of Thamyri.s. This 
 perfon was the fon of Philammon, and the nymph 
 Agriopa, and born at Oderfae, once a famons city 
 of Thrace. He became fo excellent a proficient in 
 
 mufiG, 
 
 (6) From kX£<^, Glory. (7) From Ifn-;, Love. 
 
 (8) From duWuf, to flourifh or revive. 
 
 {<)) From ^eXo?7ro'.«iv, to make a concert orfyraphony. 
 
 (l) TfjTEivTcj- ;iOf«j, to delight in chorufes. 
 
 (z) From TToXyc and juvija, a gr^at memory. 
 
 (3) From ufttv©', Heaven. 
 
 (4) The virginity or chaflity of the Mufes, is a point cif- 
 puted by the ancient v.riters, though the majority incliixs • 
 their favour. 
 
T 11 E H E A T H E N G O D S. 79 
 
 Thufic, that he had the courage or vanity to contend 
 (5) with the Miifes ; but being overcome, they not 
 only puniflied him with the lofb of fight and memory, 
 hut caufed Jupiter to call him into hell, to expiate^ 
 his impiety. 
 
 The Mufes were reprefented crowned with flowers,- 
 or wreaths of palm, each holding fom€ inftrument 
 or token cf the fcience or ^rt over which ftie prefided. 
 'J'hey were depided rs young, and the bird facred to 
 thtm was the fwan (6). 
 
 To trace the origin of thefe fabulous deities, it is 
 necelfary to obfcvve, that the nine emblematical 
 figures, which M^ere exhibited amongft the Egyptians 
 to denote the nine months, during which that country 
 was freed from the inundation, had each fome in- 
 fVrumcnt, or fymbol, peculiar to the bulinefs of the 
 raonths, as a pair of compaiTes, a flute, a malk, a 
 trumpet, &c. Al] thefe images v\'^ere purely hiero- 
 glyphical, to point out to the people what they were 
 to do, and to afcertnin their ufe, they were called 
 the nine Mufts (7). The Greek?, who adopted this 
 froap of <ejxibiem$ as Jo many real divinities, took 
 care to give each a particular name, fuited to the io- 
 ftrumentsthey boit, and which threw a new difguife 
 upon the truth. 
 
 The Orac^-s are alfo attendants of the MufttSj 
 though pkci;d i i the t>air» of Venus (8) Some make 
 them the daughters of Jupiter and Eurynome, others 
 of Bacchus and Venus, They were three, Agiaia, 
 Thalia, and Euphiofyne, names relative to their 
 nature (9). The Lacedemonians and Athenians 
 
 knew 
 
 (5) Thamyris wrote a poem on the wars of the go<!s with 
 the Titans, which exceeded every tiling that appeared of the 
 kind before. 
 
 (6) Perhaps becaufe it was confecratcd to their raafler 
 Apollo 
 
 (7) From the word Mofe, that is, faved or difengaged 
 from the waters; whence the name of Mofes given to the 
 Hebrew lawgiver : fo near did the Phoenician and Egyptian 
 languages agree, which with fome fmall difference of pro- 
 Kunciation only, made two diftinA tongues. 
 
 (8} I choofe to place them here on account of the explana- 
 tion of the fable under one view. 
 
 J 9) Aglaia, or honefty, to {hew that benefits fliould be 
 it/lowed freely ; Thidia, or fiourifliing, to denote that the 
 
 fenfc 
 
8o FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 knew but two, to whom they gave different appella- 
 tions (i). Eteocles, king of the Orchomenians, was 
 the firft who erected a temple to them. 
 
 Pegafus was a winged horie produced by the blood 
 which fell fi-om Medufa's head, when flie was killed 
 by Perfeus. He flew to mount Helicon, the feat of 
 the Mufes, where, with a ftroke of his hoof, he 
 opened a fountain called Hippocrene, or the horfe's 
 fpring (2). 
 
 The unravelling thefe figures will convince us how 
 juftly they belong to this article, as they complete its 
 iUuftration. Near the nine female figures which bc- 
 tokene:;^- the dry feafon, were placed three others, 
 reprefeiiting the three months of inundation, and 
 were drawn fometimes fwathed, as incapable of 
 ufing their hands and feet. Thefe were called Chari- 
 tout (3), or the divorce. The refemblance of this 
 word to the Greek Charities, which fignifies thankf- 
 givings or favours, gnve rife to the fable of the 
 Graces, or three goddefles prefiding over benefits 
 and outward charms. 
 
 Yet, as during the inundation, all parts could not 
 be fb fully fupplied, but that fome commerce was 
 neceffary, they had recourfe to fmall barks, to fail 
 from r>-,ic city to the other. Now the emblematical 
 jigure of a iliip or veflel, in Egypt and Phoenicia, 
 was a winged horfe (4), by which name the inhabi- 
 tants of Cadiz, a Phoenician colony, called their 
 velfels. Now, if the Mufes and Graces are the 
 goddefles which prefide over arts and gratitude, this 
 emblem becomes unintelligible ; but if v/e take the 
 nine Mufes from the months of adtion and induftry, 
 and the three Graces for the three months of inunda- 
 tion and reft, the winged horfe, or boat with fails, is 
 a true pidure of the end of navigation, and the re- 
 turn of rural toils. To this figure the Egyptians gave 
 
 the 
 
 fenfe of kindnefe ought never to die ; Euphrofyne, or chear- 
 fulnefi, to fignify that favours fliouid be conferred and re- 
 ceived with mutual pleafure. 
 
 (i) 'I'he Spartan Graces were Clito and Phaena; thofe of 
 Athens, Auro and Hcgemo. 
 
 (2) Pons Cabalhnus. See PerfraSj fatyr I. 
 
 (3) From Charat, to divide, comts Charltout, the fepr-ra- 
 tion of commerce. 
 
 C4k,) Sirabo Geograph. Lib. II- p. f^. edit. R.'-g. Paris." 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 8i 
 
 the name of Pcgafus (5), expi'eflive of its true mean- 
 ing. All thefe images tranfplanted to Greece, be- 
 came the fource of endlefs confufion and fable. 
 
 By the Latin and Greek poets, the Graces are re- 
 prefented as beautiful voung virgins, naked, or but 
 very flightly cloathed (6), and having wings on their 
 feet. They are alfo joined hand in hand, to denote 
 their unity. 
 
 The Syrens were the daughters of Achelous. Their 
 lower parts were hke fifhes, and their upper like 
 women ; but they were fo (killed in muiic, that they 
 infnared all who heard them to deftrudion. Prefuraing 
 to contend with the Mufes, they were vanquiihed, 
 and (tripped at once of their feathers and voices, as 
 a punifhment for their folly. 
 
 The Egyptians fometimes reprefented the three 
 months of inundation by figures half female and half 
 filh, to denote to the inhabitants their living in the 
 midfl of the waters. One of thefe images bore in 
 her hand the fifirum, or Egyptian lyre, to fhew the 
 general joy at the flood's arriving to its due height, 
 wliich was the afTurance of a fucceeding year of 
 plenty. To thefe fymbols they gave the name of 
 Syrens (7), expreflive of their real mea,ning. The 
 PhcEnicians, who carried them into Greece, repre- 
 fented them as real perfons, and the Greeks and. 
 Romans had too ftrong a lalte for the fabulous, not 
 to embelliih the fiory (i). 
 
 CHAP. XXXII. 
 
 OF DIANA, LUNA, OR HECATE. 
 
 J~ J AVING treated of the god of wit and harmony, 
 
 with his offspring and train, let us now come to his 
 
 twin-fiiler Diana, the goddefs of chaility, and the 
 
 E 5 daughter 
 
 (5) From Pag, to peafe, and Sas, a fhip, PcgaTos, or the 
 c<3ation of navigation. 
 
 (6) Soluth Gr.uise, Zonls. Ode XXX. 5. 
 yunii^tque nympbis Gratis daceittdi 
 
 AU(rno terram quai^unt pede. Horace, I^ib. I. Ode IV. 5 
 
 (7) From Shur, a hymn, and Ranan, to f>nir. 
 (i) Hence our imaginary form of the Merrnaid. 
 
\ 
 
 tz FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 daughter of Jupiter and Latona. Her father, at her 
 requeft, granted her perpetual virginity, beftowed en 
 her a bow and arrows, appointed her queen of the 
 woods and forefts (2), and affigned her a guard of 
 nymphs to attend her (3). She became the patronefs 
 of hunting thus : Britomartis, a huntrefs-nymph, 
 being one day entangled in her own nets, while the 
 wild boar was approaching her, vowed a temple to Di- 
 ana, and fo was preferved. Hence Diana had the 
 name of Didtynna. Others relate the ftory different- 
 ly, and fay that Britomartis, whom Diana favoured 
 on account of her paffion for the chace, flying from 
 Minos her lover, fell into the fea, and was by her 
 made a goddefs. 
 
 The adventures oiF Diana made a pretty confider- 
 able figure in poetical hiftory, and ferve to fliew that 
 the virtue of this goddefs, if inviolable, v/as alfo very 
 fevere. Adaeon experienced this truth to his coft. 
 He w^as a young prince, the fon of Ariftasus and Au- 
 tonoe, the daughter of Cadmus, king of Thebes. As 
 he was paflionately fond of the fpoit. he had the mif- 
 fortune one day to difcover Diana bathing with her 
 nymphs. The goddefs, incenfed at the intrufion, 
 changed him into a ftag ; fo that his own dogs mif- 
 taking him for their game, purfued and tore him in 
 pieces. Ovid has wrought up this fcene with great 
 art and imagination (4). 
 
 The truth of this fable is faid to be as follows : 
 Aftaeon was a man of Arcadia, a great lover of dogs 
 and hunting, and by keeping many dogs, and fpend- 
 ing his time in hunting on the mountains, he entirely 
 negle<5led his domeftic affairs, and being brought to 
 ruin, was generally called the wretched A<5taeon, who 
 was devoured by his own dogs. 
 
 Meleager was another unhappy vidim of her re- 
 fentment, and the more fo as his punifhment was 
 owing to no crime of bis own. Oentus, his father, 
 king of iEtolia, in offering facrifices to the rural 
 deities, had forgot Diana. The goddefs was not of 
 a charader to put up with fuch a negledl. She fent a 
 huge wildboarinto the licldscfCalcedon,vvhoiaideTfry 
 
 thing- 
 
 (2) Montlttm cvf.i: nevwrimquc virgc. Horat. I>ib> III. 
 
 '3) Sixty nymphs, called Occanlnae, and t^7cnty of tUe 
 AGje. 
 
 (4) Ovid, Lib. III. 131. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 83 
 
 thing wafte before him. Mcleager, with Thefeu>, 
 and the virgin Atalanta, undertook to encounter 
 it. The virgin gave the monfter the firft wound, and 
 Meleager, who killed it, prefented her the Ikin, 
 which his uncles tookfrom her, for which' he ficw them. 
 Althaea, his mother, hearing her two brothers had 
 perifhed in this quarrel, took an uncommon revenge. 
 She remembered at the birth of her fon the Fates had 
 thrown a billet into the chamber, with an afiur- 
 rance the boy would live, as that remained uncon- 
 fumed. The mother had till now carefully faved a 
 pledge on which fo much depended ; but infpired by 
 her prefent fury, fhe threw it into the flames, and 
 Meleager inftantly feized with a confuming difeafe, 
 expired as foon as it was burnt. His lifters, v/ho es- 
 ceflively mourned his death, were turned into hen- 
 turkies. Ovid has not forgot to embellilh his collec- 
 tion with this ftory (5). Others relate the flory of 
 Meleager thus : Diana had, to avenge hcrielf of 
 Oeneus, raifed a war between the Curetes and ^to- 
 lians. Meleager, who fought at the head of his fa- 
 ther's troops, had always the advantage, till killing 
 two of his mother's brothers, his mother Althea 
 loaded him with fuch imprecations, that he retired 
 from the field. The Curetes upon this advanced, 
 and attacked the capital of iEtolia. In vain Oeneus 
 prefifes his fon to arm and repel the foe ; in vain his 
 mother forgives and intreats him. He is inflexible, 
 till Cleopatra, his wife, falls at his feet, and repre- 
 fents their mutual danger. Touched at this, he calls 
 for his armour, iflues to the fight, and repels the 
 enemy. 
 
 Nor was Diana lefs rigorous to her own fex. 
 Chionc, the daughter of Dsedalion, being carefied both 
 by Apollo and Mercury, bore twins, Philamon, the 
 fon of Apollo, a famous mufician, and Autolycus, 
 the fon of Mercury, a Ikilfal Juggler or cheat. The 
 mother was fo imprudent to boaft of her fliame, and 
 prefer the honour of being miftrefs to two deities^ to 
 fhe modefty of Diana, v.-hich flie afcribed to her want 
 of beauty ; for this the goddefs pierced her tongue 
 with an arrow, and deprived her of the power of 
 future boafting or calumny. 
 
 The river Alphcus fell violently enamoured of 
 Diana, and having no hopes of fuccefs, had recourfe 
 
 to 
 
 <j> Ovid, Ub. Vlll. i6i. 
 
Sa IABULOUS HISTORV Or 
 
 to force. The goddefs fled to the Letrini, where {he 
 amufed herfelf with dancing, and v/ith fome art fo 
 difguifed herfelf and her nymphs, that Alpheus no 
 longer knew them. For this, thefe people ere(5ted a 
 temple to her. 
 
 During the chafe one day, Diana accidentajly fhot 
 Chenchrius, fon of the nymph Pryene, who bewailed 
 him fo much, that Ihe was turned hito a fountain. 
 
 Diana had a great variety of names ; fhe was called 
 Cynthia and Delia, from the place of her birth ; Arte- 
 mis, on account of her honour and modefty. By 
 the Arcadians flie was named Ortholia ; and by the 
 Spartans, Orthia. Her temples were many, both in 
 Greece and Italy ; but the moft confiderable was at 
 Ephefus, where fne was held in the bighefb venerati- 
 on. The plan of this magnificent edifice was laid by 
 Ctefiphon, and the ftructure of it employed for 320 
 years the ableft architeds and ftatuaries in the world. 
 It was fet on fire by Eroftratus, on the day that 
 Alexander the Great came into the world ; but was 
 foon rebuilt with equal fplendor under Dinocrates, 
 who alfo built the city of Alexandria. 
 
 The facrifices offered to Diana, were the firft fruits 
 of the earth, oxen, rams, and white hinds ; human 
 vidims were fometimes devoted to her in Greece, as 
 we find in the cafe of Iphigenia, Ker feflival was on 
 the ides of Aueuft, after which time all hunting whs 
 prohibited. 
 
 Diana was reprefented of an uncommon high fta- 
 ture, her hair difhevelled, a bow in her hand, and a 
 quiver at her back, a deer-fkin faftened to herbreaft, 
 and her purple robe tucked up at her knees, with 
 gold buckles or clafps, and attended by nymphs in a 
 hunting-drefs, with nets and hounds. 
 
 Diana was alfo called Dcr. Triformis or Terge- 
 mina, on account of her triple charader, of Lr.na in 
 heaven, Diana on earth, and Hecate in the infernal 
 regions ; though the anions of the iirfi and laft are 
 afcribed to her under the fecond name (6). 
 
 Luna was thought to be the daughter of Hyperion 
 and Theia. The Egyptians worfhipped this deity 
 both as male and female, the men facrificing to it as 
 Luna, the woa^.en as Lunus, and each fex on thefe 
 
 occafions 
 
 (6) Heflod r:r*i.es Luna, Diana, and ijecate^ three difiindl 
 godikffcs. 
 
THE Heathen gods. 5?5 
 
 occanons afiuming the drefs of the other. Indeed 
 this goddefs was no other than the Venus Urania, or 
 Gaglcflis of the AfTyrians, whofe v.-orlhip and rites the 
 Phoenicians introduced into Greece. Under this 
 charader Diana was alfo called Lucina, (a name fhe 
 held in common with Juno) and had the proteclion 
 of women in h!boiir (7), though fome make Lucira 
 a diftind goddefs from either (8), By this name fhc 
 was adorntd by the JEginenfes and Eleans. 
 
 If Diana was ib rigid in point of chaftity on earth, 
 her virtue grew a little more relaxed when fhe got to 
 the (kies. She bore Jupiter a daughter there, called 
 Erfa, or the Dew ; and Pan, who was not the moft 
 pleafmg of the gods, deceived her in the fhape Of a 
 white ram. But her moft celebrated amour was with 
 Endymion (i), the fon of iEthlius, and grandfon of 
 Jupiter, who took him up in to heaven, where he 
 liad the infolence to folicit Juno, for wiiich he 
 was caft into a profound fleep. Luna had the kind- 
 nefs to conceal him in a cave of mount Latmcs in 
 Caria, where fhe had fifty daughters by him, and a 
 fon called ^tolus, after which he was again exalted 
 to the fkies. 
 
 The faWe of Endymion had its origin in Egypt. 
 Thefe people in the neomenia, orfeafl, in which they 
 celebrated the ancient Rate of mankind, chofe a grove 
 or fome retired fl:!ady grotto, where they placed an 
 ifis, with her crefcent or moon, and by her fide an 
 Horus alleep, to denote the ftcuiity and repofe which 
 mankind then enjoyed. This figure they called En- 
 dymion (z), and thefe fymbolical figures, like the refl:, 
 degenerated into idolatry, and became the materials 
 for fabulous hiltbry. 
 
 As the moon, Diana was rcprefented with a cre- 
 fcent on her head, in a filver chariot drawn by white 
 
 hinds, 
 
 (7) It is fiiid fhe a/Tnled I.atona, her mother, at the birth 
 CI Apollo, but was lb temtied at the pains, tliat flic vowed 
 perpetual virginity. 
 
 (8) Some make Lucina the daughter of Jupiter and Ji:no, 
 and born in Crete. 
 
 (1) Others affirm, that Endymion was a kir>g of CI is, 
 much given to aRronomy and Jimar obfervations, for whicli 
 he vvas faid to be in love with the moon, and caroiTcd by her. 
 
 (2) From En, a grotto or fountain, and Dimion, refem- 
 blaacc, is-made Endyniion, or the ^rotio of the rcpr.-fei-tdtian. 
 
86 I'AEULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 hinds, with gold harncfs, which fome change to mules, 
 becaufe that animal is barren (3). Some make her 
 condudors a white and black horfe U), others oxen, 
 on account of the lunar horns, 
 
 Hecate was the daughter of Jupiter and Ceres. 
 As to the origin of the name there is forne variation 
 (5). She was the goddv.fs of the infernal regions, 
 and on that account is often confounded with Pro- 
 fcrpine. She prefided over ftrcets and highways ; for 
 which caufe fhe was called Trivia, as alfo Propyla, 
 becaufe the doors of houfes were under her protec- 
 tion (6). The appellation of Brimo was given her 
 on account of her dreadful fhrieks, when Mars, 
 ApoHo, and Mercury meeting her in the woods, at- 
 tempted to ravifh her. She was alfo famous for bota-- 
 ny, efpecially in difcovering baneful and poifonous 
 herbs and roots ; as alfo for her fkill in enchantments 
 and magical arts, in the pradice of which her name 
 was conftantly invoked (7). Hefiod has given a very 
 pompous defcription of the extent of her power (8). 
 She was f:;lcd in Egypt, Bubaftis. 
 
 As Hecate, Diana was reprefcnted of an exceflive 
 height, her head covered with frightful fnakes, and 
 her feet of a ferpentine form, and furrounded with 
 dogs, an animal facred to her, and under vvhofe form 
 (lie was fometimes reprefented. She was alfo efteem- 
 ed the goddefs of inevitable fate. 
 
 If we have recourfe to the Egyptian key, we fhall 
 find this threefold goddefs the fame fymbol with the 
 Juno and Cybele we have already treated of. The 
 Greek fculptors had too good a tafte to endure the 
 head of the bull or goat on their deities, which they 
 borrov/ed fiom that country. They therefore alter- 
 ed 
 
 (3) To exprefs that the moon had no light of her own, 
 but what flie borrowed from the fun. 
 
 (4) To exprefs the wane and full of the moon. 
 
 (5) Either from sxaGiv, at a diilance, becaufe the moon 
 darts her rays afar off; or from eh*tcv, a hundred, becaufe a 
 htcatomb was the ufual victim. 
 
 (o) At every new moon the Athenians made a fupper for 
 hcT in the open ilrect, which in the night was eatca up by 
 the pvor people. 
 
 (7) So Dit'o, in Virgil, calls on 
 
 TVr^^.w-v.' 7'/.' Hccuten, tria virginis ora DUina. iEneid IV» 
 
 (8) fhcogoTiy, 1. 411. 
 
T H E HEATH I. N C D 3. 8; 
 
 €d thefe hieroglyphical figures to tlieir own mode ; 
 but took care to preferve the attributes by difpofing 
 them in a more elegant manner. The lunar lymbol 
 amongft the Egyptians was called Hecate, or (9) 
 Achete, and by the Syrians, Achot. I'he latter alfv) 
 ftiled her Deio, or Deione (i), and Demetcr. The 
 crefcent and full moon over her head at the n;omerAa, 
 made her miftaken for that planet ; and the time of 
 the interlunia, during which fhe remained invilible, 
 ihe was fuppofed to take a turn to the invifible world, 
 and fo got the name of Hecate. Thus the tripartite 
 goddefs arofe. The meaning of the ancient fymbols 
 was confounded and forgot, and a fenfelefs jargon of 
 fable and fuperftition introduced in its place, a point 
 which can never be too exa<511y attended to on thia 
 occallon. 
 
 CHAP, xxxin. 
 
 OF MLRCURY. 
 
 J ASS we now to a deity neither famous for his 
 truth or honefty, though he makes no inconfiderable 
 figure in the celeftial catalogue. Mercury was the 
 fon of Jupiter and Maia, daughter of Atlas, and born 
 on mount Cyllene in Arcadia. He was fuckled by 
 Juno, feme of v.'bofe milk falling befides his mouth 
 on the heavens, produced the Galaxy. He began to 
 difplay early his talents for theft, as Ave have obferv- 
 ed under the article of Apollo. Being cai-efled when 
 an infant in Vulcan's arms, he ftole away his tool?. 
 The fame day he defeated Cupid at wreftling, ar;d 
 v.-hile Venus praifed him after his vidory, he found 
 means to convey avv'ay her ceftu?. Hepilfered Jupiter's 
 fceptre, and had done the fame thing by his thunder- 
 bolts, but they were too hot for his fingers. He 
 fervcd Battus a very flippery trick. This man faw 
 him ftcalirg king Admetus's cows frora Apollo his 
 
 herdfman. 
 
 (9) Achate, the only or excellent, or Achot, (in the 
 <yriac) the filter. 
 
 (i) Dtio, or Deione, from Dei, fuffrcienry; or Demetcr, 
 fcra Doi, and MatcK, rain, i. e. plenty of ruin. 
 
8-3 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 herdfman. To bribe him to filence, he gave him a 
 fine cow, and the down promifed to keep it fecrtt. 
 Mercury, to try hiiii-, aflumed another fhapc, and 
 offering a higher re A^ard, the fellow told all he knew, 
 on which (2) the god turned him into a touch- 
 llone. 
 
 Mercury had feveral appellations. He was called 
 Hermes (3) and Cyllenius, from his temple upon 
 mount Cyllcne, Nor were his employments lefs va- 
 rious. He ^vas the cupbearer of Jupiter till Gany- 
 mede took his place. He was the meflfenger of the 
 gods, and the tutelar god of roads and crofs-ways 
 (4), the inventor of weights and rneafures, and the 
 guardian of ail merchandize and commerce, though 
 this office feems but ill to agree with the adions 
 afcribed to him. He was in a peculiar manner the 
 protedlor of learning, being the firft difcoverer of 
 ktterr-5 and the god of rhetoric and oratory. He 
 was aifo famous for his ikill in mufic, and fo eloquent, 
 that he v/?,c not only the arbitrator in all quarrels 
 amongfi the gods, but in all leagues and negociations 
 particular regard was paid. (5) to him. 
 
 Together with Tcllus and Pluto, Mercury was 
 invoked amongft the terreftrial gods. In conjundion 
 with Hercules he prelided over wreftling and the 
 gymnai;!c e::ercife.s, to ihew that addrefs on thefe 
 occafions fliould always be joined to force. He was 
 alfo believed to prelide over dreams, though Mor- 
 pheus claims a fhare with him in this department. 
 
 Annually, in the middle of May, a feftival was 
 celtbrated to his lionour at Rome, by the merchants 
 and traders, M^ho facriiiced a fow to him, iiitreating 
 he would pi'ofper their bufinefs, and forgive their 
 frauds. In all facrifices offered to him, the tongues 
 of the victims were burnt, which cuftom was bor- 
 rowed 
 
 (i) Ovid h?s given a fine dtfcription of this incl<Ient. 
 Ivfetam. lib. i!. 60O. 
 
 (3) 'Ef/v-£;, die interpreter, becaufe he interpreted the 
 mhjds of the gods and men. 
 
 (4) V/here the Greeks and Romans placed certain figures, 
 called Herrus, f"r.;m him, being of marble or brafs, with 
 the head of a Tvl^.-cury, but downwards of a fquare figure. 
 
 (5) As tlif iccialcs, or pricils of Mars, proclaimed war; 
 fo the Caduceatores, or pricfts of Mercury, were employed 
 in all embaffics and treaties cf peace. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. S9 
 
 rowed ft-om the Megarenfes. Perfons who efcapcd 
 imminent danger facriticed to him a calf with milk 
 and honey. The animals facred to him were the 
 dog, the goat, and the cock. 
 
 By his lifter Venus he had a fon called Hermaphro- 
 ditus, a great hunter ; a wood nymph, called Sala- 
 macis, fell in love with him, but had the mortifica- 
 tion to be repuUed. Upon tliis, inflamed by her 
 paflion, ihe watched near a fountain where he ufed 
 to bathe, and when llie faw him naked in the water, 
 rufhed to embrace him ; but the youth ftill avoiding 
 her, fne prayed the gods their bodies might become 
 one, which was immediately granted ; and v.-hat was 
 yet more wonderful, the fountain retained the virtue 
 of making all thofe Hermaphrodites who ufed its 
 waters (6). 
 
 A late author gives this flory another turn. He 
 fays, the fountain SalmacisCy) being inclofed with 
 high v/alls, very indecent fcenes paiTtd tlicre ; but 
 that a certain Greek of that colony building an inn 
 there f>r the entertainment of ftrangers, the barba- 
 rians, v/ho reforted to it, by their intercourfe Vv'-ith 
 the Greeks, became foftencd and civilized, which 
 gave rife Ui the fable of their changing their iex. 
 
 Mercury had other children, particularly Pan, 
 Dolopa, Echion, Caicus, Erix, Ejnus, Phares, and 
 tlie Lares, with feveral others. Siich was the Mer- 
 cury of the Gretks and Komans. 
 
 But the origin of this d^eity muft be looked for 
 am-ongfc the Phoenicians, whofe image is the fymbo- 
 lical figure of their great anceftor and founder, and 
 the proper arms of that people. By the bag of money 
 v/hich he held, was intimated, the gains of merchan- 
 dize. By the wings with which his head and feet 
 Avere furnifiied, was fhadowed the fliipping of that 
 people, their extenlive commerce and navigation. 
 The caduceus, with which (8) he waa faid to 
 conduct the fpirits of the de'ceafcd to Hades, 
 pointed out the great principles of the foul's im- 
 mortality, a ftate of (9) rev/ards and punifhm.ents 
 
 after 
 
 (6) See Ovid's defcrijnion of this adventure. MctanC" 
 book IV. 
 
 (7) In Caria, near the city of HuiicarnafTits. 
 (8) yirgaqu3 levem coeras 
 
 Aurea turbam. 
 
 {y) Til pias leetis animus rcponis 
 
 Sedlbus. Horace. 
 
90 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 (i) after death, and a (2) refufcitation of the body. 
 It is defciibed as producing three leaves together } 
 hence called by Homer the golden three-lea-ved nvand. 
 The docirine alluded to by this, was more diftinctly 
 taught by the emblems adorning the hermetic wand : 
 for to the extremity of it was annexed the ball or cir- 
 cle. Two Seraphs entwined the red ; over which 
 were the expanded wing?, forming the complete 
 hieroglypj.ic of the iwighty ones. The name of 
 Mercury is a compound of the Celtic Merc, merchan- 
 dize (3), rind Ur, a man ; and correOouds very exadly 
 with the Hebrew Etymology, rendering the meaning 
 of the word Cnaan, or Canaan, a merchant or trader. 
 This fymboli'jal fi^iure (like many others, which at 
 Erft were very innocent) became in time the objeft 
 of idolatrous wcrlhip to molt nations. We are not to 
 ^vondcr that the Egyptians particiilas^y, whofc cotm- 
 try was the land of Ham, the father of Can:ian> 
 ftiould do honour to this figure, and apply it to thijir 
 purpcfes : for it is rv.Kn^^ than probable, that, being 
 fo near at baud, he might be gre.itly afiifling to his 
 brother Mizraim in the fettkiT.ent of that country j 
 befides the conlidtration of their after-obligations to 
 his defcendant the Ph-xnician, who is alfo called the 
 iEgyptian Hercxiles. 
 
 CHAP. XXXIV. 
 
 OF VENUS, 
 
 1 HE next deity that offers, is that powerfui 
 goddefs whofe influence is acknowledged by Gods 
 and men. Cicero mentions four of this name (4); 
 but the Venus generally known is (he who is fabled 
 to have fprung from the froth or fermentation raifed 
 by the genitals of Saturn, when cut off by his fon 
 Jupiter, and thrown into the fea. Hence fhe gained 
 
 the 
 
 (1) Hic alliit fub triflia Tartar a miii.'t. 
 
 (2) l),it ft'vnos aditnitque. ViRGIL. 
 
 (3) From Racal, to trade, comes Marcolct, merclxandize. 
 
 (4) The firft the daughter of Cxlum; the fecond Venus 
 Aphrod'ta; the third born of Jupiter and Dionc, and the 
 wife of Vulcan ; and the fourth Aftarte, or the Syrian 
 
 ' Vciius, the niiftrefs of Adonis. 
 
THE HEATHEN G O D 5. 91 
 
 l^e name of Aphrodite (5). As foon as born flie was 
 )iiid in a beautiful couch or fliell, embelliflied with 
 pearl, and by gentle zephyrs wafted to the ifle of 
 Cythera, in the JEgean fea, from whence flie failed 
 to Cyprus, which fhe reached in April. Kere, as 
 foon as Ihe landed, flowers rofe beneath her ftet, the 
 Hours received her, and braided her hair with golden 
 f.ilets, after which Hie was by them wafted to Hea- 
 ven. Her charms appeared i'o attradive in tlie alTem- 
 bly of the gods, that fcarce one of them but what 
 defired her in marriage. Vulcan, by the advice of 
 Jupiter, put poppy in her nedar, and, by intoxicating 
 her, gained pofTeflion. 
 
 Few of the deities have been fo cxtenfively wor- 
 Oiipped, or under a greater variety of names. She 
 W'A-y called Cytherea, Paphia, Cypria, Erycina, IJalia, 
 Acidalia, from the places where llie was in a parti- . 
 cular manner adored. Other appellations were given 
 her from her principal attributes. vSiie was lliled 
 ViOrix (6), to denote her relifllefs fway over the 
 mind ; Arnica, from her being propitiouo to lovers ; 
 Apatuvia, from the deceit and inconftar.cy of her 
 votaries; Ridens, from her love of mirth and laugh- 
 ter (7); Hortcnfis, from her influencing the vegeta- 
 tion of plants and fiowers ; Marina, from her being 
 born of the fea ; Melanis, from her delighting in 
 nofturnal (8) amours ; Meretrix, from the proftitu- 
 tion of her votaries ; and Genetrix, from her prtfiding 
 over the propagation of mankind. The epithet cf 
 Migonitis, was given her from her power i'.i the ma- 
 nagement of love (9) ; and that of Murica and Myrtea, 
 on account of the myrtle confecrated to her. She 
 was nsrmed Verticordia, from her power of changing 
 
 the 
 
 (5) From *A<f»j(f , froth, though feme derive it from a*raiVE»», 
 run mad, becaufe all love is infatuation or frenzy. 
 
 (6) Under this chara<5ter fne is reprcfented leaning on a 
 fliield, and carrying vicTtory in her right hand, and a fcsptrc 
 in her kft. At other times with a helmet, and the apple of 
 Paris in her hand. 
 
 (7) Horace, lib. I. ode 2, Sive tu uia'vis Eryc'ma ridem ; fo 
 Homer calls her <pi\':f/.Bihii;, or the laughter-lev: nv ijuccii. 
 
 (8) From ,w£>.a?, black, becaufe lovers choofe the night. 
 
 (9) From fjuymiju, to mix or mingle; fo Virgil, 
 
 Mixta DiO Mulier. 
 
91 FABULOUS HISTORY OP 
 
 the heart ; for which reafcn the Greeks ftiied her 
 fiTrtjrjoo.a. The SparUns calJed her Venus Armata, 
 becaufe when beiieged by the Mtflenians, their wivxs, 
 unknown to their hulbar^ds., raifcd the liege. The 
 Romans alfo termed her Barbata, bccaufe when a 
 diieafe had feized the women, in which they loft all 
 Iheir hair, on their prayers to Venus it grew again. 
 A temple wa.; d€dicate<l to her by the appellation of 
 Calva ; becaufe when the Gauls invented the capitol, 
 the woiiien offered their hair to make rop-^s for the 
 engines. She had alio the epithet of Cluacina (i), 
 from her image being creeled in the place where the 
 peace was concluded between the Romans and 
 Sabines. 
 
 Let us now enquire a litile into the adions afcribed 
 to this goddefs. Her conjugal behaviour we (hall fee 
 under the article of Vulcan, and find it was none of 
 the moft edir/ing. Her amours were numerous. 
 Not to mention Apolio, Neptune, Mars, and Mer- 
 cury, who all boailed of "her favours (2). She had 
 -ffineas (,5) by Anchifes; but ner principal favourite 
 was Adonis, the Ton of Cynaras, king of Cyprus a;nd 
 Myrrha, and a you'h of incomparable ly^aaty, un- 
 fortunately in hunting killed by a wild boar. Venu5, 
 who iRew to his a^iirtance, received a prick in her foot 
 with a thorn, and the blood which dropped., fiom it 
 produced the damafk rofe (4); but coming too late 
 to fave him; flic changed him into the flower Ane- 
 mone, which Rill retains a crimfon colour (5). After 
 this Ihe obtained of Proferpine, that Adonis fhould 
 continue lix m.onths with heron earth, and fix months 
 remain in the lower regions. 
 
 The 
 
 (i) From Cluo, to hear, liilen, or agree. 
 
 {z By Apollo fne had Elcfiryon, and five fons ; by Nep- 
 tune, Eryx, and Meligunis, a daughter; by Mars, Timor 
 aad Pallor ; aiid by Mercury, Hermaphro Jitus. 
 
 (3 She immortalized ^neas, by purifying and anointing 
 his body with ambrofial effence, and the Romans deified him 
 by the name of Indiges. We have feveral ancient mfcrip- 
 
 tionS. Z>;5 J/lJitr:-ti. 
 
 (4 Ovid, lib. X. 505. 
 
 5 Some mytholo;^izc this ftory, to fignlfy by Adonis the 
 Sun, who, during the fummer fig:;.^, refidea with Vtnu-- on 
 the earth, and during the winter with Piofcrpine. Ti)e 
 wild boar which killed him is the Cold. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. g^ 
 
 The moft remarfcable adventure of Venus, was her 
 famous conteft with Juno and Minerva for beauty. 
 At the marriage of Peleus and Thetis, the goddefs 
 Difcord refcnting her not being invited, threw a 
 golden apple amongfl the company with tiiis in- 
 fcription, Let it be ghrn to the fairejl (6). The com- 
 petitors for this prize were the three deities above - 
 mentioFjed. Jupiter referred them to Paris, youngeft 
 fon of Priamus, king of Troy, who then kept his 
 father's flocks on mount Ida. Before him the gcddefles 
 appeared, as moft fay, naked. Juno ojffered him em- 
 pire or power; Minerva, wifdom ; and Vtnus en- 
 deavoured to bribe him with the promife of \.\\t fatreji 
 <u:oman in the ciuorld. Fatally for himfelf and family, 
 the fliepherd was m.ore fufceptible of love than of 
 ambition or virtue, and decided the point in favour 
 of Venus. The goddefs rewarded him with Helen (7), 
 whom he carried olf from her hufoand Menelaus, 
 king of Sparta, and the rape gave rife to that for- 
 raidable alibciation of the Greek princes, which end- 
 ed in the deftrudlion of his family, and the ruin of 
 Troy. 
 
 Venus, however propitious flie was to lovers, was 
 very levere to fuch as oiVended her. She changed the 
 wom^en of Amathus, in Cyprus, into oxen for their 
 cruelty. The Propa^tides, who denied her dignity, 
 grew lb fliamplefsly impudent, that they v/ere faid 
 to be hardened into ftones (8). Plippomenes and 
 Atalanta were another inftance S3i her rcfentment ; 
 for after fhe had afiifted him to gain the virgin, on 
 their negledl to pay her the due offerings, fne infa- 
 tuated them fo, that they hy together in the temple 
 of Cybele, who, for that profanation, turned them 
 into lions (9). 
 
 Nor was ilie lefs favourable to her votarie?,. Pyg- 
 malion, a famous ftatuary, from a notion of the in- 
 conveniences of marriage, rcfolved to live fmgle. He 
 had, however, formed a beautiful image of a virgin 
 in ivory, with which he fell fo deeply enamoured, 
 that he treated it as a real mifnefs, and continually 
 
 foiicittd 
 
 (6) n^'ur PuldjricrL 
 
 ( 7 Such Helen ivas, and ivtjo can Hams the bcy^ 
 
 Who in fo bright a jiamt confum d his Troy ? WalLER, 
 (8; See Ovid, lib. X. \. 238. 
 (9, Sec the article Cybele, and Ovid, lib. X. 560. 
 
94 FABULOUS HISTORY OP 
 
 folicited Venus, by prayers and facrifices, to animate 
 his beloved ftatue. His wifnes were granted, and by 
 this enlivened beauty he had a fon called Paphoo, 
 who gave his name to the city of Paphos in Cy- 
 prus (i). 
 
 A goddefs fo univerfally known and adored could 
 not fail of temples. That of Paphos in Cyprus was 
 the principal. In that of Rome, dedicated to her by 
 the title of Venus Libitina, were fold all thin3:s ne- 
 cefiary for funerals. She had alfo a magnificent 
 (hrine, built for her by her fon iEneas, on mount 
 Eryx in Sicily. The facrifices ufually offered to her 
 were white goats and fwine, with libations of wine, 
 milk, and honey. The vidims were crowned with 
 flowers or wreaths of myrtle. The birds facred to 
 her were the fwan, the dove, and the fparrow. 
 
 So far for the Venus Pandemos, or Popularis, the 
 goddefs of wanton and effeminate love ; but the an- 
 cients had another Venus, whom they ftiled Urania 
 and Celeftis, (who was indeed no other than the 
 Syrian Aftart.) and to whom they afcribed no at- 
 tributes bui fuch as were ftrittly chaile and virtuous. 
 Of this deity they admitted no corporeal refemblance ; 
 but flie was repreicr.ted by the form of a globe end- 
 ing conically (a), and only pure fire was burnt on htr 
 altars. Her facrifices were called Nephalia, on ac- 
 count of her fobiiety, only honey and wine being 
 offered ; but no animal victims except the heifer, nor 
 was the wood of fign, vines, or mulberries, fuffered 
 to be ufed in them. 
 
 This diltinction of two Venufes, the ckajie and the 
 impure one, leads us to the true explication of the 
 fable. In the different attributes of the Egyptian 
 Ifis, we fee thefe contradidtory chara(5ters explained. 
 The Ifis crowned with the crefcent ftar of fome of 
 zodiacal figns, is the celeftial Venus. The Ifis with 
 the terreftrial fymbols, fuch as the heads of anin^ais, 
 a multitude of breafts, or a child in her lap, became 
 the goddefs of fruitfulnefs and generation, and con- 
 fequently the Venus Pandemos. As the latter was 
 regarded as a divinity propitious to luxury and plea- 
 
 fure, 
 
 (I) Ovid, lib. ". -245. 
 
 (a) This manner of reprofentatron was borrowed from tha 
 Arabians and Syrians, who thought tlie deity was noc to be 
 exprcficd by a:iy corporeal form. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 95 
 
 %re, it is no wonder if (he foon gained the afcendant 
 over her rival. In Phoenicia and Egypt, the young 
 girls (3) conl'ecrated to the fervice of the terreftrial 
 Ifis, ufually rehded in a tent or grove near the temple, 
 and were common proftitutes ; whereas thofe devoted 
 to the celeftial Ifis, or Venus Urania, were ftri(5tly 
 chaile. Thcfe tabernacles were called the painlllon 
 of the girls (4), and gave rife to the name of Venue, 
 afcribcd to the goddefs of love. The Syrians alio 
 called the terreftrial Ifis Mylitta, or lUitlie (5), and 
 the Greeks and Romans adopted the fame name. 
 Thus the fymbolical Ifis of Egypt, after producing the 
 different deities of Cybele, Rhea, Vefra, Juno, Diana, 
 Luna, Hecate, and Proferpine, formed alfo the dif- 
 ferent charaders of the common and celeftial Venus ; 
 fo eafily dees fuperftition and invention multiply the 
 objeds of idolatry. 
 
 As Venus was the goddefs of love and pleafure, it 
 is no wonder if the poets have been lavilh in the de- 
 fcription of her beauties. Homer and Virgil have 
 (6) given us fine pictures of this kind. Nor were the 
 ancient fculptors and painters negligent on fo in- 
 terefting a fubjed. Phidias formed her ftatue of 
 ivory and gold, with one foot on a tortoife (7). Sco- 
 pias reprefented her riding on a he- goat, and Praxiteles 
 
 wrought 
 
 (3) Thry were called the Kt;Tc4>cfci, or bailcet-bearers, be- 
 caiik diey carried the otTcrings. 
 
 (4) Succwth Vcnoth, tlie tabernacle of the giils. Th^ 
 Greeks and R.onians, who could not pronounce the v^^ord 
 Venoth, called it Vtnos, or Venus, and hearing the tent 
 of Venus fo often mentioned, took it for the name of tlie 
 goddefs herfelf. 
 
 (5) From Jelcd, to beget, comes Illitta, generation, which 
 the Latins well exj-rtfU'd by Diva Genetrix, or Genitalis, 
 See Horace, carmeu fcciilare, 1. 14. 
 
 (6^ She fi'id, a:id tur;i!i:g round her neck Jhe Jhoivd^ 
 I'hnt iviih celeftial charms divitich gloivd; 
 Her ivwohig lochs imwortal fragrance fed. 
 And breath'' d aT^ibrofuil fiueets around her head ; 
 In foiuing pomp her radiant robe ivas fen, 
 ylnd all the goddf Jparkled in her v;ien. 
 
 Pi ri's Virgil, jEneid I. 402. 
 (7) This ftatue was at Elis, and the tortoife was defign- 
 eA to ihew, that women fhould not go much abroad, b«t 
 ^tttCiid their domcftic affairs. 
 
96 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 wrought her ftatue at Cnidos of tvhite marble, lialf 
 opening her lips and fmiling. Apelles drew her as 
 ju'ft emerged from the fea, and preffing the water out 
 of her hair, a piece that was reckoned ineftimable. 
 It were endlefs to mention the variety of attitudes in 
 which fhe is reprefcnted in antique gems and medals 
 (8) ; fometimes fhe is cloathed in purple, glittering 
 with gems, her head crowned with rofes, and drawn 
 in her ivory car, by fwans, doves, or fpaiTovvs. At 
 others flie is reprefcnted ftanding, with the Graces 
 attending her ; but in all politions, Cupid, her fon, 
 is her infeparable companion. I fhall only add, that 
 the ftatue called the Medicean Venus, is the btft 
 figure of her which time has preferved. 
 
 CHAP. XXXV. 
 
 OF THE ATTENDANTS OF VENUS, VIZ. CUPID, 
 HYMEN, AND THE HORjE, OR HOURS. 
 
 Before we dofe the article of Venus, it is ne- 
 cefiary to give fome account of the deities who were 
 ufuaily reprefented in her train, and formed a part 
 of that ftate in which fhe ufuaily appeartd. 
 
 The firil of thefe is Cupid. Some make him one 
 of the moft ancient of the deities, and fay he had no 
 parents, but fucceeded immediately after Chaos. 
 Others report, that Nox, or Night, produced an 
 egg, which having liatched under her fable wings, 
 brought forth Cupi'i, or I^ovc, who, with golden 
 pinions, immediately flew throug-h the v»'hole world 
 (9). But the common opinion is, that Cupid w;?-? 
 the fon of Mars and Venus, and the favourite child of 
 his mother, who, v»'ithout his aid, as fhe confelTes in 
 
 (8) See a great number of thefe in Mr. Ogle's antiquities, 
 illuftrated by ancient jjjems, a work which, it is a great lofs to 
 the public, that ingeniou* and worthy gentlejnan did not live 
 to finifh. 
 
 (9) Others make him the fon of Porus, the god of counf..-l, 
 who being drunk begot him on Penia, the goddefs 0: poverty. 
 Others the fon cf Cuilus and Terra ; and fome of Zephyrus 
 and Flora. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 97 
 
 in Virgil, could do little execution. Indeed the poets, 
 when they invoke the mother, feldom fail to make 
 their joint addrefles to the fon (i). Perhaps this 
 confcioufnefs of his own importance, rendered this 
 little divinity fo arrogant, that, on many occafions, 
 he forgets his filial duty. This Cupid belonged to 
 the Venus Pandemos, or Fopularis, and was called 
 Anteros, or Luft. 
 
 But the ancients mention another Cupid, fon of 
 Jupiter and Venus, of a nobler charad:er, whofe 
 delight it was to raifc refined fentiments of love and 
 virtue, whereas the other infpired bafe and impure 
 defires. His name was Eros, or true Love. Eros 
 bore a golden dart, which caufed real joy and affec- 
 tion ; Anteros a leaden arrow, which raifed a fleeting 
 paflion, ending in fatiety anddifguft. 
 
 Cupid was reprefented ufually naked, to fliew that 
 love has nothing of its own. He is armed with a bow 
 and quiver full of darts, to fhew his power of the 
 mind ; and crovv^ned with rofes, to fhew the delight- 
 ful but tranfitory pleafures he bellows. Sometimes 
 he is depicted blind, to denote that love fees no faults 
 in the objed: beloved ; at others he appears with a 
 rofe in one hand, and a dolphin in the other ; fome- 
 times he is feen itanding between Hercules and Mer- 
 cury, to fignify the prevalence of eloquence and va- 
 lour in love ; at others he is placed near Fortune, to 
 exprefs how much the fuccefs of lovers depends on 
 that inconflant goddefs. He is always drawn with 
 wings, to typify, that nothing is more fleeting than 
 the paflion he excites. 
 
 The Egyptian Horus, which attended the terref- 
 trial Ifis, or the V«.nus Popularis, orPandemos, was, 
 according to the cuflom of the neomenia, reprefented 
 with different attn'butes ; fcmctimes v»'ith the wings 
 of the Etefian wind, at others with the club of Her- 
 cules (2), the arrows of Apollo, fitting en a lion, 
 driving a bull, tying a ram, or having a large filli in 
 his nets. Thefe figns of the different feafons of the 
 vear, gave rife to as many fable?. The empire of 
 F Eros, 
 
 (I', Set K»race, lib. 1. cc'.c xxx. 8< pafLm. 
 
 (2) There is a jjem -r. Mr. Qol.'s prfr-ITio.n, aiuVerlng 
 
9» FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 Eros, or Love, was made to extend to heaven and 
 earth, and even to the depths of the ocean ; and this 
 little but powerful child difarmed gods and men. 
 
 Hymen, the fecond attendant of Venus, was the 
 god of marriage, and the fon of Bacchus and that 
 goddefs (3). He is faid to be born in Attica, where 
 he made it his bufmefs torefcue virgins carried off by 
 robbers, and to reftore them to their parents. On 
 this account all maids newly married offered facii--. 
 fices to him ; as alfo to the goddefs of concord. He 
 was invoked in the nuptial ceremony (4) in a particu- 
 lar manner. 
 
 This god was reprefented of a fair complexion, 
 crowned v/ith amaricus, or the herb fvveet marjoram, 
 and robed in a veil of faffron colour (reprefentative 
 of the bridal blufhes) with a torch lighted in his hand, 
 becaufe the bride was carried always home by torch- 
 light. 
 
 Every one knows it was a conftant cuflom of the 
 oriental nations, on the wedding-day, to attend the 
 bride-groom and bride with torches and lamps. 
 The chorus on thefe occafions was, Hii! Humeneh! 
 Here he comes ! This is the fejii'val } (5) The figure 
 exhibited on this cccafion in Egypt, was a young 
 man bearing a lamp or torch, placed near the female 
 figure, which denoted the day of the month fixed for 
 the ceremony. 
 
 The Graces, who always attended Venus, have 
 been already defcribed with the Mufes under the 
 article of Apollo. 
 
 The Horse, or Hours, were the daughters of Jupi- 
 ter and Thenris, and the harbingers of Apollo. They 
 were alfo the nurfes of Venus, as well as her drefTers, 
 and made a necefTary part of her train. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 (3) Hymen is thought to be the fon of the goddefs Venus 
 Urania, or the celeflial Venus. 
 
 (4) They repeated often words, O Hymen! O Hy- 
 menae ! 
 
 (5) From Hu! lo! or here he is, and Mcneh, thcfeafl or 
 facrificc, comes Hymenaeus. 
 
THE HEATHEN GOPS. 99 
 
 CHAP. XXXVI. 
 
 OF V U L C A JJ. 
 
 I HOUGH the hufband fhould ufually precede the 
 wife, yet Vulcan was too unhappy in wedlock to 
 obtain this diftindtion. There were feveral of the 
 name (6) ; the principal, who arrived at the honour 
 of being deified, was the fon of Jupiter and Juno, 
 or, as others fay, of Juno alone ; however this be, 
 he was fo remarkably deformed, that his father 
 threw him down from heaven to the ifle of Lemnos, 
 and in the fall he broke his leg (7). Others report, 
 that Juno herfelf, difgufted at his fight, hurled him 
 into the fea, where he was nurfed by Thetis (8). 
 
 The firft rcfidence of Vulcan on earth was the ifle 
 'of Lemnos (9), where he fet up his forge, and taught 
 men how to foften and polifh brafs and iron. From 
 thence he removed to the Liparean ifles, near Sicily, 
 where, with the affiftance of the Cyclops, he made 
 Jupiter frefa thunderbolts, as the old grew decayed. 
 He alfo wrought an helmet for Pluto, which rendered 
 him invifible ; a trident for Neptune, that Ibook 
 both land and fea ; and a dog of brafs for Jupiter, 
 which he animated, fo as to perform (i) all the natu- 
 ral functions of the animal. Nor is this a wonder, 
 when we conlider, that, at the defire of the fame god, 
 he formed Pandora, who was fent with the fatal box 
 to Prometheus, as has been related in its place. 
 In fhort, Vulcan was the general armourer of the 
 gods, lie made Bacchus a golden crown, to prefent 
 F 2 Ariadne; 
 
 (6) The firft, faid to be fhe ion of Cselus; the fecond, 
 the fon of Nilus, called Opas ; the third, the Vulcan, fon of 
 Jupiter and Juno, mentioned above ; and the fourth, the fon 
 of Mjsnalius, who refided in the Vulcanian or Liparean ifles. 
 
 (7) He was caught by the Lemnians, or he had broke his 
 neck. It is added, he was a whole day in fallinj. 
 
 (8) Otherij report that he fell on the land, and was nurfed 
 by apes ; and that Jupiter expelled him the Ikies for attempt- 
 ixig to refcue Juno, when (he confpired againft him. 
 
 (9) Becaufe Lemnos abounds in minerals and hot fprings. 
 (i) Jupiter gave this dog to Europa, fke to Procris, and 
 
 by her it was given to Cephalus her hufljand, and by Japitef 
 after turned to a ilone. 
 
100 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 Ariadne; a chariot for the Sun, and another for 
 Mars. At the requeft of Thetis, he fabricated the 
 divine armour of Achilles, whofe fhield is fo beauti- 
 fully defcribed by Homer (2); as alfo the invincible 
 armour of iEneas, at the entreaty of Venus. To 
 conclude, with an inftance of his fkill this way, in 
 revenge for his mjt?ier Juno's unkindnefs, he prefent- 
 ed her a golden chair, managed by fuch unfeen 
 fprings, that when fhe fat down in it fhe was not able 
 to move, till fhe was forced to beg her deliverance 
 from him. 
 
 Vulcan, like the reft of the gods, had feveral names 
 or appellations : he was called Lemnius, from the 
 ifle of Lemnos, confecrated to him ; Mulciber, or 
 Mulcifer, from his art of foftening ftcel and iron. 
 By the Greeks, Hephaiftos, from his delighting in 
 flamesj cr fire ; and JEtneus and Lipareus, from 
 the places fuppofed to be his forges (3). As to his 
 \vorfliip, he had an altar in common with Prometheus 
 (4), and was one of the gods who prefided over mar- 
 riage, becaufe he firft introduced the ufe of torches 
 . at the nuptial rites. It was cuftomary with many 
 nations after vidory, to gather the enemy's arms in 
 an heap, and offer them to Vulcan. His principal 
 temple was in a confecrated grove at the foot of 
 Mount JEtna, guarded by dogs, who had the difcern- 
 ment to diftinguifli his votaries, to tear the vicious, 
 lind fawn upon the virtuous. 
 
 The proper facrifice to this deity was a lion, to 
 •denote the refiftlefs fury of fire. His feftivsls were 
 diflerent : at thofe called Proter\'ia (amongft the Ro- 
 mans) they ran about with lighted torches. The 
 Vulcania were celebrated by throwing living animals 
 into the fire. The Lampadophoria were races per- 
 formed to his honour, where the contention was to 
 carry ligfhted torches to the goal ; but whoever over- 
 took the perfon before him, had the privilege of de- 
 livering him his torch to carry, and to retire with 
 honour. 
 
 Vulcan, hovv-ever difagreeable his perfon, was 
 ienfible of love : his firfl pafTion was for Minerva, and 
 
 he 
 
 (a) See Iliad, lib. 18. 
 
 (3 ) On account of the volcanoes anc' fiery ei options there. 
 
 (4) Prometheus firfl invented fire, Vulcan the ufe of it, ifl 
 making arms und utcnfils. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. loi 
 
 he had Jupiter's confent to make his addreffes to her ;, 
 but his courtfliip was too ill placed to be i'uccefsful. 
 He was more fortunate in his fuit to Venus, though 
 he had no great reafon to boaft his lot. The goddefs 
 was too great a beauty to be conftant, and Vulcan 
 too difagrceable to be happy. She chofe Mars for 
 her gallant, and the intrigue for fome time went on 
 fwimmingly. As Apollo, or the Sun, had a fricnd- 
 Ihip for the hulband. Mars was particularly fearful 
 of his difcovering the affair, and therefore fet a boy 
 called Aledryon, or Galium, to warn him and his 
 fair mifirefs of the Sun's approach. The fentinel 
 unluckily fell a Deep, and fo the Sun faw them to- 
 gether, and let Vulcan prefently into the fecrct. 
 The blackimith god, to rtveiige the injury, againft 
 their next meeting, contrived fo fine and impercept- 
 ible a net- work, that they were taken in their guilt, 
 and expofed to the ridicule of the gods, till reJeafed 
 at the intercelfion of Neptune. Mars, to punifh 
 Aie<fiiyon fur his negled, changed him into a cock, 
 who, to atone for his fault, by his crowing, gives 
 conilant notice of the fun-rife (5). 
 
 This cieity, as the- god of fire, was reprefented ra- 
 rioufly in difierent nations. The Egyptians depidted 
 him proceeding out of an egg, placed in the mouth 
 of Jupiter, to denote the radical or natural heat dif- 
 fused through all ccated beings. Some hiftorians 
 make him one of the firft Egyptian kings, who for 
 his goodnefs was deified ; and add, that king Menes 
 eredcd a noble temple to him at Thebes with a co- 
 lofTal ftatue feventy-five feet high. The Phoenicians 
 adored him by the name of Chryfor, and thought 
 him the author and caufe of lightning and all fiery- 
 exhalations. Some writers confound him with the 
 Tubal Cain of fcripture. In ancient gems and me- 
 dals of the Greeks and Romans, he is figured as a 
 lame, deformed, and fqualid man, working at the 
 anvil, and ufually attended by hig men the Cyclops, 
 or by fome god or goddefs who come to alk his af- 
 fiftancc. 
 
 To examine into the ground of this fable, we muft 
 have once more recourfe to the Egyptian antiquities. 
 The Horus of the Egyptians was the moft mutable 
 figure on earth ; for hi aflumed (hapes fuitable to all 
 
 feafons 
 (5) See Ovid, Lib. IV. 167, 
 
102 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 feafons of time and ranks of people : to dircd the 
 hufbandman he wore a rural drefs. By a change of 
 attributes, he became the inftrudor of the fmiths 
 and other artificerr., whofe inltruments he appeared 
 adorned with. This Horus of the fmiths had a Ihort 
 or lame leg, to fignify that Hgriculture or hufbandry 
 halt without the afiiftance of the handicraft cr m.e- 
 chanic arts. In this apparatus he was called Mulci- 
 ber (6), Hephaiftos (7), and Vulcan (8), all which 
 names the Greeks and Romans adopted with the 
 figure, which as ufual they converted from a fymbol 
 to a god. Now as this Horus was removed from the 
 fide of the beautiful Ifis (or the Venus Pandemos) to 
 make room for the martial Horus, expofed in time of 
 Avar, it occafioned the jeft of the afiiftants, and gave 
 rife to the fable of Vulcan's being fupplanted in his 
 wife's affedlions by the god of war. 
 
 CHAP. XXXVII. 
 
 OF THE OFFSPRING CF TULCAN. 
 
 Though Vulcan had no ifliie with Venus, yet he 
 had a pretty numerous offspring. We have already 
 mentioned his pafiion for Minerva : this goddcfs 
 coming one day to befpeak fome armour of him, he 
 attempted to ravilh her, and in the ftruggle his feed 
 fell on the ground, and produced the monfter Erich- 
 thonius (9). Minerva nouriflied him in her thigh, 
 and afterwards gave him to be nurfed by Aglauros, 
 Pandrofus, and Herfe, but with a fcrid caution not 
 to look in the cradle or coffer \vhich held him. The 
 firlt and !aft negle<5ting this advice ran mad. Erich- 
 
 thonius 
 
 (6) From Malac, to direct and manage, and Ber or Beer, 
 a cave, or mine, comes Mulciber, the king of the mines or 
 forges. 
 
 (7) From Aph, father, and Efto, fire, is formed Ephaifto^ 
 or HepKeftion, the father of fire. 
 
 (8) From Wall, to work, and Canan, to haflen, comes 
 Wolcan, or work finifhed. 
 
 (9) Derived from Efths and x-»>^» °^ Earth and Con- 
 teotion. 
 
T H K HEATHEN GODS. loj 
 
 thonius being born with deformed, or as fome fay, 
 ferpentine kgs, was the firft inventor of chariots to 
 ride in. He was the fourth king of Athens, and a 
 prince of great jvifrice and equity. 
 
 Cacus, another ion of Vulcan, was of a different 
 character. He was a notorious robber, and received 
 his name from his confummate villainy (i). He 
 fixed himfelf on mount Aventine, and from thence 
 infeiled all Italy vAih his depredations ; but having 
 ftolen fome oxen from Pleixules, he draggtd them 
 backwards to his cave (a), that the robbety might 
 not be difcovered by th*.- track- Hercules, however, 
 paHing that way, heard the 'lowing of his cattle, 
 broke open the doorr., and felzing the wretch, put 
 him to death. 
 
 A third fon of Vulcan, Cceculus (3), fo called 
 •from his littk eyes, rtfembkd his brother Cacus, and 
 livtd by prey. It is faid his mother fitting by the 
 fire, a fjpark flew into her lap, upon which fne con- 
 ceived. Other*^ fay -fome fheplierds found him in the 
 fire af- foon as born. He founded the city Prosnefte. 
 
 By his wife Aglaia, one of the Graces, Vulcan had 
 feveral fons, as Ardalus, the inventor of the pipe, 
 calkd Tibia ; Brotheus, who being deformed like. 
 Ms father, deftroyed himfelf in the fire, to avoid thfi 
 reproaches he met with ; 7£thiops, who gave his 
 name to the iF.thiopians, before called iEthereans ; 
 Oltnus, the founder of a city of liis own name in 
 Bceotia ; iEgyptus, from whom Egypt was called ; 
 Albion ; Ptriphenus ; Morgion j Acus, and feveral 
 others. 
 
 CHAP. XXXVIII. 
 
 OF THE CYCLOPS AND POLYPHEMUS. 
 
 I HE Cyclops were the fons of Neptune and Am- 
 phitrite. The principal weee Brontes, Steropes, 
 
 and 
 
 ( 1) From y.a.x.<^, bad or wicked. 
 
 (2) Virgil has given a fine defcription of this cave, but 
 he makes him but half a man. See ^neid VIII. 194. 
 
 (3) It is chought the noble Roman family of Caecilii de- 
 rive their name Irom him. See Virgil, ^ncid X. 544, aui 
 4incid VII. 680. 
 
104 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 and Pyracmon, though their whole number was 
 abo^e a hundred. They were the journeymen of 
 Vulcan. It is faid, as foon as they were born, Jupi- 
 ter threw them into Tartarus, but that they were 
 delivered at the interceffion of Tellus, and fo became 
 the affiftants of our god. They had each but one 
 eye (4) placed in the middle of their foreheads, and 
 lived on fuch fruits and herbs as the earth brought 
 forth v^ithout cultivation. They are reported to 
 have built the walls of Mycenas and Tyrinthe with 
 fuch mafTy ftones, that the fmalleft required two yoke 
 of oxen to draw it. The dealers in mythology fay, 
 that the Cyclops (ignify the vapours raifed in the air, 
 which occafion thunder and lightning. 
 
 With thefe we may clsfs Polyphemus, though he 
 was the fon of Neptune, having like the Cyclops 
 but one eye ; but of fo gigantic a ftature, that his 
 very afpecl was terrible. His abode was in Sicily, 
 where he furprifed UlyfTes, and his companions, of 
 whom he devoured fix ; but Ulyfles making him 
 drunk, blinded him with a firebrand, and fo efcaped 
 with the* reft. Virgil has given us a fine defcription 
 of this fcene (5 ); 
 
 CHAP. XXXIX. 
 
 OF MINERVA OR PALLAS. 
 
 AVe come next to Minerva or Pallas, one of the 
 moft diftinguilhed of the Dii Majores, as being the 
 goddefs of fciences and wifdom. Cicero mentions 
 five (6) of this name ; but the moft confiderable was 
 the daughter of Jupiter, not by an infamous amour, 
 
 nor 
 
 (4) From KuxX©-, Circules, and v^, Oculus, that is, the 
 one-eyed men. 
 
 (5) See Virgil's ^neid. Lib. III. 6zo, but the whole de- 
 fcription, though admirable, is too long to be copied. 
 
 i^6) The firftjthe mother of Apollo, or Latona ; the fecond 
 produced from the Nile, and werlhipped at Sais, in Egypt ; 
 the third, the child of Jupiter's brain ; the fourth, the daugh- 
 ter nf Jupiter and Croypha, who invented chariots with four 
 wheels; and the fifth, the child" of Pallas, whom Ihe killed, 
 bccaufe he attempted her chaftity. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 105 
 
 nor even by the conjugal bed, but the child of his 
 brain. It is faid her father, feeing Juno barren, 
 through grief, rtruck his forehead, and three months 
 after came forth Minerva (7). On the day of her 
 nativity it rained gold at Rhodes (8). Her firft ap- 
 pearance on the earth was in Libya, were beholding 
 her own beauty in the lake Triton, fhe from thence 
 gained the name of Tritonis (9). 
 
 She had befide fevcral other appellations amongft 
 the Greeks and Romans. She was called Pallas 
 from the brandifhing her fpear in war. Athena, be- 
 caufe fhe v/as born full grown, and never fuckled ; 
 whence alfo fhe obtained the name of Ametrofis, or 
 Motherlefs. The epithet of Parthenis, or the virgin, 
 was given her on account of her perpetual chaftity ; 
 that of Ergatis, or the workwoman, for her excel- 
 lency in fpinning and weaving ; Mufica, from her 
 inventing the pipe ; Pylotis, becaufe her image was 
 fet up in the gates ; and Glaucopis, or green-eyed, 
 becaufe her eyes were of that caft (i), like thofe of 
 the owL 
 
 Minerva was the goddefs of war, wifdom and arts, 
 
 fuch as weaving, the making oil, mufic, efpecially 
 
 the pipe (z); of building caflles, over which fhe 
 
 prelided j and, in fhort, was the patronefs of all 
 
 F 5 thofe 
 
 (7) It Is faid Vulcan was tl»c midwife, by cleaving his 
 ikuU with a hatchet ; but that feeing an armed virago come 
 out, inftead of a child, he ran away. Others report, that 
 when Jupiter fwallowed Metis, one of his wives, iht was 
 with child of Pallas. 
 
 (8) Hence the Rhodians were the firil who worfbipped 
 her, as Claudian remarks : 
 
 Auratos RLoJiis imbres, nafctnie Minerva 
 Indux'iJJ'e 'jovem ftruitt. 
 
 Some fay it was becaufe fne taught them the art of making 
 coloffal flatues. 
 
 (9) An annujil ceremony was performed at this lake by the 
 virgins, who in diftinci bodies attacked each othei with va- 
 rious weapons. The nrfl: that fell was efteemed not a maid, 
 and thrown into the lake; but ibe who received mofl wounds 
 wa^ carried oflf in triumph. 
 
 ( 1 ) Yet Homer, and ail the poets, call her the blue-eyed 
 maid. See Pope, 
 
 (2) It is faid, feeing her cheeks reflected in the water is 
 flie played, flie threw away the pipe, with tJiis exprcifioc, 
 7Let mufti •was too (kar if purchuj d ai the exfctue of heaut\. 
 
Io6 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 thofe fciences which render men ufeful to focrety 
 and themfelves, and entitle them to the efteem of 
 pofterity. 
 
 We have already had occafion to obferve how this 
 goddefs vowed a perpetual virginity, and in what 
 manner flie rejected the addrefles of Vulcan. She 
 was indeed very delicate on this point, for fhe de- 
 prived Tirefias of his fight, becaufe he accidentally 
 faw her bathing in the fountain of Helicon ; but at 
 the interceflion of his mother Charicle, fhe relented 
 fo far, that, to compenfate his lofs, fhe endued him 
 with the gift of prophecy (3). Nor was fhe lefs 
 fevere to Medufa, who being ravifhed by Neptune 
 in her temple, fhe revenged the facrilege, by turning 
 her locks into fnakes, and caufing all who beheld her 
 after to be changed into ftones. 
 
 She was equally jealous of her fuperiority in the 
 arts fhe invented. Arachne, a Libyan princefs, the 
 daughter of Idmon, had the prefumption to chal- 
 lenge her at fpinning. The folly coft her dear ; for 
 Minerva ftruck her with the fpindle on the forehead, 
 for which attempting to hang herfelf, through dtfpair, 
 the goddefs turned her into a fpider, in which fiiape 
 fhe ftill exercifes the profeliion ihe fo much boaflcd 
 of (4). The reader may confult Ovid, if he would 
 fee this ftory fet in a beautiful light. 
 
 As condu<5l is oppofite, in military afiairs, to bru- 
 tal valour, fo Minerva is always by the poets placed 
 in contraft to Mars. Thus we fee Homer makes 
 her fide with the Greeks in the Trojan war, while 
 the other deity takes the part of the enemy. The 
 fuccefs is anfwerable to this difpclition (5), and we 
 fee prudence and difcipline vi<ftorions over valour 
 without counfel, and force under no direcftion. 
 
 One of the moft remarkable of Minerva's adven- 
 tures, was her conteft with Neptune, of which no- 
 tice has been taken under the article of that aeity. 
 When Cecrops founded Athens, it was agreed, that 
 whoever of thefe two deities Ihouid produce the mod 
 beneficial gift to mankind, fhould give name to the 
 new city. Neptune with a Itroke of his trident 
 
 formed 
 
 (3) Ovid relates tke flory of Tirefias very difftrer.dy : for 
 which fee Mctamorph. Lib. III. 316. 
 
 (4) See Ovid, Lib. VI. I. 
 
 (5; See the preface to Mr. Pope's Hornet. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 107 
 
 formed a horfe ; Pallas caufed an olive to fprin^ 
 from the ground, and carried the prize. The mean- 
 ing of this fable was to point out, that agriculture 
 was to a riling^ colony of more importance than na- 
 vigation. 
 
 Minerva was highly honoured, and had feveral 
 temples both in Greece and Italy. The Athenians, 
 who always had a particular devotion to her, as the 
 patronefs of their city, in the flourifliing ftate of their 
 republic, erefted a magnificent temple to her by the 
 name of Parthenis, or the virgin goddefs, in which 
 they placed her ftatue of gold and ivory thirty-nine 
 feet high, wrought by the hand of Phidias. She had 
 a (lately temple at Rome, on mount Avcntine, where 
 her feftival, called Minervalia, or Quinquatria, was 
 celebrated for five days fucceffively in the month of 
 March. She had fometimes her altars in common 
 with Vulcan, fometimes with Mercury. The ufual 
 vidtim offered her was a while heifer never yoked. 
 The animals facred to her were the cock, the owl,, 
 and the bafilifk. 
 
 We mufl not here omit the Palladium (6) or that 
 facred ftatue of her which fell down from heaven,, 
 and was preferved in Troy, as a treafure on whofe 
 fafcty that of the. city depended. Diomedes and 
 Ulylfes found means to fleal it, and the city was foon 
 after taken and deftroyed(7). However, it is cer- 
 tain that ^^neas brought either this or another of 
 the fame kind with him into Italy, and depofited it 
 at Lavinium, from whence it was removed to Rome, 
 and placed in the temple of Vcfta. When this edi- 
 fice was confumed by fire, Metellus, a noble Roman, 
 rufhcd in, and brought it off, though with the lofs 
 of his eyes ; in recompence for which heroic adion, 
 he had the privilege cf coming to the fenate in a 
 chariot, that the honour might in fome degree allay 
 the fenfe of his misfoitune. The Romans, indeed, 
 ^aln of their Trojan defcent, regarded the Palladium 
 
 in 
 
 ^(6) Authors differ as to this Palladium, fome making- it 
 of wood, and adding, it could move its eyes and JKake its 
 Ipear. Others fay, it was compofed of the bones of Pelors, 
 and fold by the Scythians to the Trojans. 
 . (7) Some alTeit it was a counterfeit Palladium the Greek 
 generals flole away, and that ^ncas favcd the true one. 
 Ot^trs m<ike two Falkdiums. 
 
li-'J FABULOUS HISTOKV OF 
 
 in the fame light with their anceflors, and thought 
 the fecurity and duration of their empire were an- 
 nexed to the poflelTion of this guardian image. 
 
 Come we next to enquire into the mythological 
 birth and origin of this fabled goddefs, who is no 
 other than the Egyptian Ifis under a new drefs or 
 form, and the fame with the Pales, or rural goddefs 
 of the Sabines (8). The Athenians, who were an 
 JEgyptian colony from Sais, foilowed the cuftoms of 
 their anceftors, by particularly applying themfelves 
 to railing flax for linen cloth, and the cultivation of 
 the olive (9). Now the figure worfhipped at Sais,. 
 prefiding over thefe arts, was a female in complete 
 armour. This, as Diodorus tells us, was becaufe 
 the inhabitants of this dynafty, were both the befi: 
 hufbandmen and foldiers in Egypt. In the hand of 
 this image they placed a fhield with a full moon de- 
 pided on it, furrounded by ferpcnts, the emblems of 
 life and happinefs. And at the feet of this fymbol 
 they placed an owl, to (hew it was a no<5turnal facri- 
 fice. To this they gave the name of Medufa (i), 
 exprefiive of what ihe was deligned to reprefent. 
 The Greeks who Vv'ere ignorant of the true meaning 
 of all this, did not think fit to put fuch a favourable 
 fenfe on the head of Medufa, which feemed to them 
 an objedl of horror, and opened a fine field for po- 
 etical imagination. The prefling of the olives did 
 indeed turn fruit into Hones in a literal fenfe ; hence 
 they made the aegis or ihield of Minerva petrify all 
 who beheld it. 
 
 To remind the people of the importance of their 
 linen manufactory, the Egyptians expofed in their 
 feftivals anotherimage, bearing in her right hand the 
 beam or inftrument round wliich the weavers rolled 
 the warp of their cloth. This image they called 
 Minerva (2). Now there are ancient figures of Pallas 
 
 extant, 
 
 (8) Towhofe honour the fcafts called, Palilia were celc- 
 fcrated. Now this word is nianilcilly of Egyptian deriviition, 
 being taken from Pillel, to gcvcia the city ; whence coint* 
 Peliiuh, tlie public order.- 
 
 (9) The city, of Sais derives its name from tliis tree, 
 i&aith or Sais fignifying the olive. 
 
 (l) From Dufti, to prefs, comes Medufha, or Mcduii., 
 the prelfing. See Ifaiah xxv. 10. 
 
 (») i?rom Manevra, a weavei's loom. 
 
THE M E A T H J» xM GODS. 109 
 
 extant, which correfpond with this idea (3). What 
 ftill heightens the probability of this is, that the 
 name of Athene, given to this ^oddefs, is the very 
 word in Egypt for the flaxen thread (4) ufcd in their 
 looms. Near this figure, which was to warn the 
 inhabitants of the approach of the weaving, or win- 
 ter feafon, they placed another of an infedl, whofc 
 induftry feems to have given rife to this art, and to 
 which they gave the name of Arachne (5), to de- 
 note its application. All thefe emblems, tranfplanted 
 to Greece by the genius of that people, fond of the 
 marvellous, were converted into real obje(5ts, and 
 indeed afibrded room enough for the imagination of 
 their poets to invent the fable of the transformation 
 of Arachne into a fpider. 
 
 Minerva, by the poets and fculptors, is ufually rc- 
 prefented in a ftanding attitude completely armed, 
 with a compofetl but fmiling countenance, bearing a 
 golden breaft-plale, a fpear in her right hand, and 
 her terrible aegis in her left, having on it the head of 
 Mcdufa entwined with fnakes. Ker helmet was 
 ufually entwined with olives, to denote peace is the 
 end of war, or rather becaufe that tree v/as facred to 
 her. See her pidure in Cambray's Telemaque. At 
 her feet is generally placed the owl or the cock ; the 
 former being the emblem of wifdom, the latter of 
 war. 
 
 CHAP. XL. 
 
 OF MARS AND BELLONA. 
 
 >'■ ARS was the fon of Juno alone, who being 
 chaprined that Jupiter fhould bear Minerva without 
 her help, to be even with him confulted Flora, who 
 Ihewed her a flower in the Olenian fields, on touching 
 of \Ahich flie conceived, and became the mother of 
 this dreadful deity (6). Thero, or Fiercenefs, Was* 
 
 his 
 
 (3) In the coUedlion of priats made by IVI. de Crozat. 
 
 /4) Atona, linen thread. See Pioverbs vii. 16. 
 
 ( 5 ) From Arach, to make linen cloth. 
 
 6) Others make him the fon cf Jupiccr and juno^ or of 
 J i;^ iter and£ry4. 
 
110 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 his nurfe, and he received his education amongft the 
 Scythians, the moft barbarous nation in the world, 
 amongft whom he was adored in a particular manner, 
 though they acknowledged no other god. 
 
 This deity had different appellations. The Greeks 
 called him Ares (7), from the deftrudlion he caufes. 
 He had the name of Gradivus, from his majeftic 
 port; of Quirinus, when on the defenfive, or at reft. 
 By the ancient Latins he was ftiled Salifubfulus, or 
 the dancer, from the uncertainty that attends all 
 martial enterprifes. 
 
 Mars was the god of war, and in high veneraticn 
 with the Romans, both on account of his being the 
 fa*her of Romulus, their founder, and becaufe of 
 their own genius, always inclined to conqueft. 
 Numa, though otherwife a pacific prince, having 
 implored the gods, during a great peftilence, received 
 a fmall brafs buckler, called ancik', from heaven, 
 which the nymph Egeria advifed him to keep with the 
 utmoft care, the fate of the Roman people and em- 
 pire depending on its confervation. To fecure fo 
 valuable a pledge, Numa caufed eleven more Ihields 
 of the lame fc.-m to be made, and intrufted the care 
 of thefe to an order of priefts he inftituted, called 
 Salii, or the priefts of Mars, in whcfe temple the 
 twelve ancilia were depofited. The number of 
 thefe priefts v:cre alfo twelve, chofen out of the 
 nobleft familic??, vv'ho, on the firft of March annually, 
 the feftival of Mars, carried the ancilia with great 
 ceremony round the city, clafhing their bucklers, 
 and finging hymns to the gods, in which they were 
 joined by a chorus of virgins chofen to aflift on this 
 occafion, and drelTed like themfelves. This feftival 
 was concluded with a grand fupper (8). 
 
 Auguftus erected a magnificent temple to Mars at 
 Rome, by the title of Ultor, which he vowed to 
 him, v.hcn he implored his affiftance againft the 
 murderers of Juhus Caefar. The victims facrificcd 
 to him were the v/olf for his fiercenefs, the horie on 
 account of its ufefulnefs in war, the woodpecker 
 and vulture for their ravenoufnefs. the cock for his 
 vigilance. He was crowned with grafs, becaufe it 
 grows in cities depopulated by war, and thickeft in 
 places m.ciilened v/ith human blood. 
 
 The 
 
 (7) From apEiV, to kill. 
 
 (8) Culled Cxna Saiiark. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. iii 
 
 The hiftory of Mars furnifhes few adventures. We 
 have already related his amour with Venus, by whom 
 he had Hermione, contraded to Oreftes, and after- 
 wards married to IPyrrhus, king of Epirus. 
 
 By the nymph Biftonis, Mars had Tereus, who 
 reigned in Thi-ace, and married Progne, the daughter 
 of Pandion, king of Athens. This princefs had a 
 fifter called Philomela, a great beauty ; and being 
 defirous to fee her, fhe requefted her hufband to go 
 to Athesjs, and bring her fifter, wi:th her father's per- 
 miflion to her. Tereus, by the way, fell in love 
 with his charge, and on her rejeding his folici^ations, 
 ravilhed her, cut out her tongue, and endofed her 
 in a ftrong tower, pretending to his vrife (he died in 
 the journey. In this condition the unhappy princefs 
 found means to embroider her ftory, and fent it to 
 her fifter, who, tranfported with rage, contrived 
 how to revenge the injury. Firft fhe brought her 
 fifter home privately ; next fhe killed her fon Ilys, 
 and ferved up his fielh to his father, for fupper : 
 after he had cat it, fhe expofed the head, and told 
 him what fhe had done; Tereus, mad with fury, 
 purfued the fifters, who in their flight became tranf- 
 formed, Progne to a fwallow, and Philomela to a 
 nightingale. Itys was by the gods changed into a 
 pheafant, and Tereus himfelf into a lapwing. Ovid 
 has (9) given us this ftory with his ufual embelhih- 
 ments. 
 
 Mars married a wife called Nerio, or Ntrione (i), 
 which in the Saliine tongue fignifies valour or flrength. 
 He hadfcveral children, the principal of whom were 
 Bythis, who gave his name to Bythinia ; Thrax, 
 from whom Thrace was fo called ; JEnomaus, Af- 
 calaphus, Bifton, Chalybs, Strymon, Parthenopsus, 
 Tmolus, Pylus, Euenus, Calydon, &c. 
 
 This deity having killed Halirothus, the fon of 
 Neptune, v/as indicltd before the aiiembly of the 
 gods for the murder, as v/ell as for ihe crime of 
 debauching Alcippe, fifter to the deccaiV.d. Twelve 
 gods were pi-efent", of v/hom fix were for acquitting 
 him ; fo that by the cuftom of the court, when the 
 voices were equal, the favourable fide carrying it, 
 
 ■ he 
 
 ■ f9} See Ovid, Lib. VI. 413. 
 (i) Hence the Claudian family at Rome are fy-id to derive 
 tt*i urnanie of Ntro. 
 
ir» FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 he came off. Some Cay this trial was in the famous 
 Areopagus, or hill of Mars, at Athens, a court 
 which, in fucceciiing time, gained the hightft repu- 
 tation, for the juftice and impartiality of its pro- 
 ceedings (z). 
 
 Mars was neither invulnerable nor invincible, for 
 we find him in Homer both wounded and purfued by 
 Diomedes ; but then it muft be confidcred, that 
 Homer was fo good a patriot, that he always affects 
 to difgrace the gods who took the Trojan's part. 
 Mars, whatever his appearance be, was of Egyp- 
 ' tian original. This nation was divided into three 
 clafles, the priefts, the hufbandmen, and the arti- 
 ficers ; of thefe, the firft were by their profefTion 
 exempt from war, and the latter reckoned too mean 
 to be employed in defence of the ftate ; fo that their 
 militia was wholly taken from the fecond body. 
 ,We have aLeady obferved, that in the facrifices which 
 preceded their military expeditions, their Ifis appear- 
 ed in a warlike drefs, and gave rife to the Greek 
 Pallas, or Minerva. The Horus which accompanied 
 this figure, was alfo equipped with this hdmet and 
 buckler, iind called by the name of Harits (3), or the 
 formidable. Tl e Syrians foftened this word to 
 Hazis (4) ; the Greeks changed it to Ares ; the 
 Gauls pronounced it Hefus ; and the Romans and 
 Sabines, Warets or Mars. Thus the military Horus 
 of the Egyptians became perfonified, and made the 
 god of combats or war. 
 
 Mars is ufually defcribed in a chariot drawn by fu- 
 rious horfes, completely armed, and extending his 
 fpear with one hand, while with the other hand he 
 grafps a fword embrued in blood. His afpedt is 
 fierce and fovage. Sometimes Difcord is repreftrnted 
 as preceding his car, while Clamour, Fear, and Ter- 
 ror, appear in his train. A''irgil has given a defcripti^n 
 of this god pretty much agreeable to this idea (5). 
 
 Bellona 
 
 (2) Thtfe judges were chofen out of perfons of the moil 
 blanielefs charadtors. They fuffered no verbal pleadings be- 
 fore them, left a falfe eloquence might varnifh a bad cauie ; 
 and all their fentcnce» were given ia writing, and delivcicd 
 in the dark. 
 
 (3) From Harits, violence and enragrd. See Job. xv. 20. 
 
 (4) Hazii, (Syr) the terrible in war, Ffalm xxiv. 8. The 
 Syrians alfo called him Ab Gueroth, or the father of com- 
 bats ; whence tlie Roman* borrowed their Gradivus Putcr, 
 
 (5) Y^-gii, -Encac VUJ^ ;to. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. X13 
 
 Bellona is ufually reckoned the fifter of Mars, 
 though fome call her both his lifter and wife. As 
 her inclinations werfe equally cruel and favage, Ihe 
 took a pleafure in fharing his dangers, and is conj- 
 monly depided" as driving his chariot with a bioody 
 whip in hei- hand. Appius Claudius built her a 
 temple at Rome, where, in her facriiices called 
 Bcllonaria, her priefls ufed to fiafh themfelves with 
 knives. Juft oppolite ftood the Columna Bellica, a 
 pillar ft-cm whence the herald threw a fpear, when 
 war was proclaimed againft any nation^ She is faid 
 to be the inventrefs of the needle ( 4), from Avhence 
 flie took her name. 
 
 This goddefs is reprffented fometimes holding 
 a lighted torch or brand, at others with a trumpet^ 
 her hair compofed of fnakes clotted with gore, and 
 her garments ftained with blood, in a furious and 
 diftraded attitude. 
 
 CHAP. XLI. 
 
 OF CERES. 
 
 f T may rot be improper now to pafs to fofter 
 pidures, w hofe agreeablenefs may ferve as a contraft 
 to the Wronger images juft difplayed. As plenty and 
 abundance repair the wafte and havock of war, we 
 fhall next to Mars, introduce Ceres, a divinity 
 fi-iendly and beneficent to mankind. 
 
 I'his goddefs was the daughter of vSaturn and Rhea. 
 Sicily, Attica, Crete, and Egypt, claim the honour 
 of her birth, each country producing its reafons, 
 though the iirft has the general fuftrage. In her 
 youth fbe was fo beautiful, that her brother Jupiter 
 fell in love with her, by whom flie had Proferpine. 
 Neptune next enjoyed her ; but the fruit of this amour 
 is controverted, fome making it a daughter called 
 Hira, others a horfe called Arion. Indeed as this laft 
 deity carelfed her in that form, the latter opinion 
 feems bett founded. However this be, (he was fo 
 alhamed of this laft affair, that (he put en mourning 
 
 garments, 
 
 (6) From BiXt'y*), * needle. 
 
114 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 garments, and retired to a cave, where fhe continued 
 fo long, that the world was in danger of periihing 
 for want (7). At laft Pan difcovered her retreat, and 
 informed Jupiter, who, by the interceffion of the 
 ParciE, or Fates, appeafed her, and prevailed on her 
 to return to the world. 
 
 For fome time fne took up her abode in Corcyra, 
 from whence (he removed to Sicily, where the mif- 
 -fortune befell her of the rape of Proferpine her 
 daughter by Pluto. The difconfolate mother imme- 
 diately canitd her complaints to Jupiter, upbraiding 
 him with in.^ permitting fuch an injuftice to be com- 
 mitted efpecially on the perfon of his own daughter. 
 But obtaining little fatisfaiftion, ftie lig-htcd her torches^ 
 ■at mount -^tna, and mounting; her car drawn by 
 winged dragons, fet out in fearch of her beloved 
 daughter. As her adventures in this journey were 
 pretty remarkable, we fhall mentiontheminthei*- order. 
 
 Her firft ftop v/as at Athens, where being hofpi- 
 tably received by Celeus, fhe in return taught him 
 to fow corn, and nourifhed his fon TriptoUmus 
 with celeftial milk by day, at night covering him 
 with fire, to render him immortal. Celeus, out of 
 curiofity, difcovering this laft particular, was fo 
 affrighted, that he cried out and revealed it bimfelf, 
 on which the goddtfs killed him. A§ to his ion, 
 Ceres lent hirn her chariot, and fent him through the 
 world to inftiTidl mankind in the art of agriculture. 
 
 She was next entertained by Hypothoon and 
 Meganira (8) his wife, who fet wine before her, 
 which fhe refufed, as unfuitable to her mournful 
 condition ; but fhe prepared herfelf a drink from an 
 infaiion of meal or corn, v.'hich (lie afterwards ufcd. 
 larnbe (9), an attendant of Meganira, ufed to divert 
 the goddefs with ftories and jefts, which (lie repeated 
 in a certain kind of verfe. It happened, during a 
 facrifice made her here, that Abbas, fon to Mega- 
 nira, derided the ceremony, and ufed the goddefs 
 Avith opprobrious language ; whereupon fprinkling 
 him with a certain mixture fhe held in her cup, he 
 became a newt or water lizard. Erifichton alfo, for 
 cutting down a grove confecrated to her, was punilli- 
 
 ed 
 
 (7) Becaufe during her ahfcnce the cardi produced no corn 
 "or fruits. v 
 
 (8) Hypothoon was the fon of Neptune and Afope. 
 
 (9) The daughter of Pan and Echo, and the invcntltfs of 
 Iambic verfe. 
 
THE H E A T H E N G O D S. 1x5 
 
 ed with fuch an infatiable hunger, that nothing could 
 fatisfy him, but he was forced to gnaw his own fleOi. 
 
 From thence Ceres pafled into Lycia, where being 
 thirRy, and defiring to drink at a fpring, the clowns 
 not only hindered her, but fullied and difturbed the 
 water, reviling her for her mit.fortunes ; upon which 
 (he turned thern into frogs. Thefe ftogs, though al- 
 ready punifiied for aftronting his fifter, had the folly 
 to adc Jupiter to grant them a king. He fent them a 
 frog, whom they rejeded, and ciefired another ; 
 upon which the god lent them a water ferpent, who 
 devoured them, and eftedually convinced them of 
 their weaknefs. 
 
 It is difputed, who fnft informed Ceres where her 
 daughter was ; fomc afcribe t'lC inleUigem:e to Trip- 
 tolemus, and his brother Eubuleus ; but the moft 
 part agree in giving the honour of it to the nymph 
 Arethufa (a fountain in Sicily) (i) who flying the pur- 
 fuit of the river Alpheus, faw this goddefs in the 
 infernal regions. 
 
 We have but one amour of Ceres recorded. Find- 
 ing Jafon, the fon of Jupiter and Eleftra, afleep in a 
 Held newly ploughed up, fhe acquainted him with 
 her paflion, and bore him Plutus the god of riches ; 
 but Jove, incenftd to fee his fon become his rival, 
 killed him with a thiinderbolt. 
 
 Ceres had feveral names ; fhe was called Magna 
 Dea, or the great goddefs, from her boimty in fup- 
 porting mankind ; Melaina, from her back cloathing ; 
 Euchlasa, from her verdure ; Alma, Altrix, and 
 Mammofa, from her nourifning and impregnating all 
 feeds and vegetables, and being as it were the com- 
 mon mother of the world. The Arcadians, by way 
 of excellence, fdled her Defpoina, or the Lady. She 
 "syas alfo honoured with the peculiar epithet of 
 Thefmophoris, or the Legiflatrefs, becaufe hufbandry 
 hrft taught the ufe of landmarks, and the value of 
 ground, the fource of all property and law. 
 
 It muft be owned this goddefs was not undeferving 
 the higheft titles given her, confidered as the deity 
 who firft taught men to plough and fow, to reap and 
 houfe their corn, to yoke oxen, to make bread, to 
 cultivate all forts of pulfe and garden-ftufif (except 
 beans), though fome make Bacchus the firft inventor 
 
 of 
 
 (i) The daughter of Nereus and Doris, and a companioa 
 of Diana. 
 
Il6 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 of agriculture. She alfo inftruded mankind to fix 
 limits or boundaries, to afcertaih their polTeflions. 
 
 There was none of the celeftial aflembly to whom 
 more folcmn facrifices were inftituted than to Ceres. 
 The place where fhe was principally woHhipped was 
 at Eleufis, where her rites were performed in the 
 moft folemn and myfterious manner. They were ce- 
 lebrated only once in five years ; all the matrons ini- 
 tiated, were to vow a perpetual chaftity. At the 
 commencement of the feftival, a feafl: \yas kept for 
 ^^ feveral days, during which wine was banifhed the 
 altars. After this the proceffion began, which con- 
 fifted in the carriage of thefacredbaflcets or canifters, 
 in one cf which was inclofed a child with a golden 
 feraph, a van, grains, cakes, &c. 
 
 The, rcprefentation of the myfteries, during which 
 a profound filence (a) was to be obferved, concluded 
 thus : after a horrid darknefs, thunder, lightning, 
 and v/hatever is moft awful in nature, Succeeded a 
 calm and bright illumination, which difcovered four 
 perfons fplendidiy habited. The firft was called the 
 Hierophant, or the expounder of /acred things f and 
 reprefented the Demiurgus, or fupreme being ; the 
 fecond bore a torch, and fignified Ofiris ; the third 
 ftood near the altar, and fignified liis ; the foiirth, 
 \*hom they call the Holy Mefienger, perfonared 
 Mercury (3). To thefe rites none were admitTed^but 
 perfons of the firft character, for probity or eminence. 
 Only the priefts were fuffered to fee the ftatue of the 
 goddefs. All the Aflembly ufed lighted torches, and 
 the folemnity concluded with games, in which the 
 victors were crowned with ears of barley. 
 
 According to Herodotus, thefe rites were brought 
 from Egypt to Greece, by the daughters of Danaus. 
 Others fay, that Eumolpus, the fon of Triptolemus 
 and Driope, transferred them, from Eleufis to Athens. 
 
 The Thefmophoria, or lefler feftivals of Ceres, 
 were celebrated annually at Argos, and in many 
 points refembled the Eleufinian myfteries, though 
 they fell fhort of them very much in the dignity and 
 grandeur of the celebration. 
 
 Q^Memmius 
 
 (j) It was death to fpcak, or to reveal what palTcd in 
 thefe religious rites. 
 
 (3) The whole purport of this reprefentation, was defigned 
 to allegorize the defolate ftate of mankind after the flood, and 
 (hew tlic benefits of agriculture and induflrjr. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 117 
 
 Q^Memmius the sedilc firft introduced thefe rites 
 into Rome by the title of Cerealia (4). None were 
 admitted to the facrifices guilty of any crime ; fo 
 that when Nero attempted it, the Roman matrons 
 exprelFed their refentment, by going into mourning. 
 Tliis ftllival was clofed by a banquet and pubUc 
 horfe- races. 
 
 I'he Ambarvalia were fcads celebrated by the 
 Roman hufbandmen in I'pring, to render Ceres pro- 
 pitious, by luftrating their fields. Each mafler of a 
 family furniihed a vidim with an oaken wreath round 
 its neck, which he led thrice round his tround, fol- 
 lowed by his family finging hymns, and dancing in 
 honour of the goddefs. The offerings ufed in the 
 luftration were milk and new wine. At the ciofe of 
 the harveft there was a fecond feftival, in which the 
 goddefs v/as prefented with the firft fruits of the fea- 
 fon, and an entertainment provided for the relations 
 and neighbours. 
 
 The beginning of April the gardeners facrificed to 
 Ceres, to obtain a plentiful produce of their grounds, 
 which were under her protection. Cicero mentions 
 an ancient temple of hers at Catanea, in Sicily, in 
 which the offices were performed by matrons and 
 virgins only, no man being admitted. The ufual fa- 
 crifices to this goddefs were a fow with pig, or a ram.. 
 The garlands ufed by her in her facrifices were of 
 myrtle or rape-wt^ed ; but flowers were prohibited,,^ 
 becaufe Profcrpine was loft as (lie gathered them?'^ 
 The poppy alone was facred to her, not only be- 
 caufe it grows amongft corn, but becaufe in her dif- 
 trefs Jupiter gave it her to eat, that fhe might fleep 
 and forget her troubles. 
 
 Let us now endeavour to find fome explanation of 
 this hiftory of Ceres. If we have recourfe to our for- 
 mer key, we fi^all find the Ceres of Sicily and Eleufis, 
 or'cf Rom.e and Greece, is no o ::her than the Egyptian 
 Ifis, brought by the Phoenicians into thoie countries. 
 The very name of myftery (<;) given to the Eleufinian 
 rites, fliews they are of Egyi>t.ian origin. ' The Ifis, 
 
 which 
 
 (4) This appears from a medal of thi.* magiurate, en 
 which is the efUgy of Ceres holding in one hrnel tlirte ears 
 of corn, in the other a torch, and widi her left foot treading 
 on a ferpent. 
 
 (5) Iron Millor, a v;il or covering. 
 
n8 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 which appeared at the feaft appointed for the com- 
 memoration of the ftatc of mankind after the flood, 
 bore the name of Ceres (6), fuitable to her intention. 
 She was figured in mourning, and with a torch, to 
 denote the grief ihe felt for the lofs of Perfephone (7) 
 her favourite daughter, and the pains (he was at to 
 recover her. The poppies with which this Ifis was 
 crowned, fignified the joy men received at their firft 
 abundant crop (8). Triptolemus was only the at- 
 tendant Horns (9), bearing in his hand the handle of 
 a plough, and Celeus his father was no more than 
 (i) the name of the tools ufed in the forming this ufe- 
 ful inftrument of agriculture. Eumolpus exprefled 
 (2) the regulation or formation of the people to in- 
 duftry and tillage ; and Proferpina or Perfephone 
 being found again, was a lively fymbol of the reco- 
 very of corn almoft loft in the deluge, and its 
 cultivation with fuccefs. Thus the emblems, almoft 
 quite limple, of the moft important event which ever 
 happened in the world, became, when tranfplanted 
 to Greece and Rome, the fources of the moft ridi- 
 culous fable and grolTeft idolatr)'. 
 
 •Ceres was ufually reprefented of a tall majeftic 
 ftature, fair complexion, languifliing eyes, and yel- 
 low or flaxen hair ; her head crowned with poppies, 
 or ears of corn, her breafts full and fwelling, holding 
 in her right hand a bunch of the fame materials with 
 her garland, and in her left a lighted torch. When 
 in a car or chariot, fhe is drawn by winged dragons, 
 or lions. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 ( 6) From Cerets, diflblution or overthrow, Jeremiah xlvi. 
 ao. 
 
 (7) From Peri, fruit or corn, and Saphan, loft, comes 
 Perfephone, or the corn loft. 
 
 (8) Bobo fignifies a double crop, and is alfo the name for 
 the poppy. 
 
 (9) From Tarap, to break, and Telcm, a furrow, comes 
 Triptolem, or the a<ft of ploughing. 
 
 (l) Celeus, from Celi, a tool or veffel. 
 
 Firgea praterea Celei •oilifquefupellex. ViRGIL GtO. 
 (i) From Warn, people, and Alep, to learn, is derived 
 Eumolep or Eumolpus, i. e. the people regulated or inftruded. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 119 
 
 CHAP. XLII. 
 
 OF BACCHUS. 
 
 As corn and wine are the nobleft gifts of nature, fo 
 it is no wonder, in the progrefs of idolatry, if they 
 became deified, and had their altars. It is there- 
 fore no unnatural tranfition, if from Ceres we pafs 
 to Bacchus. 
 
 This deity was the fon of Jupiter and Semele, (as 
 has been obferved in the article of Jimiter) and was 
 born at Thebes. Cicero mentions five (3) of the 
 name. It is faid the nymphs took care of his educa- 
 tion, though fome afcribe this office to the Horas or 
 Hours ; others to the Naides. Mercury after this 
 carried him into Eubas to Macris, the daughter of 
 Arift€us (4), who anointed his lips with honey ; but 
 Juno, incenfed at his finding a protection in a place 
 facred to her, banifhed him thence ; fo that Macris 
 fled with him into the country of the Phoenicians, 
 and nourilhed him in a cave. Others fay, that Cad- 
 mus, father to Semele, difcovering her crime, put 
 her and the child into a wooden ark, which by the 
 tides was carried to Oreatae, a town of Laconia, 
 where Semele being found dead, was buried with 
 great pomp, and the infant nurfed by luo in a cave. 
 During this perfecution, being tired in his flight, he 
 fell afleep, and an Amphifbena, or two-htaded fer- 
 pent, of the moft poifonous kind, bit his leg ; but 
 awaking, he ftruck it with a vine twig, and that 
 killed it. _ 
 
 In his infancy fome Tyrrhenian merchants found 
 him afleep on the fhore, and attempted to carry him 
 away ; but fuddenly he transformed himfclf into 
 monftrous fliapes ; at the fame time their mafts were 
 encompafled with vines, and their oars with ivy, and, 
 ftruck with madnef^i, they jumped into the fea, where 
 the god changed them into dolphins. Homer has 
 made this the fubjedt of one of his hymns. 
 
 Bapchus, 
 
 (3) The ift fon of Jupiter and Proferpinc ; the 2d the 
 Egyptian Bacchus, the fon of Nile, who killed Nyfa ; the 3d 
 the fon of Caprius, who reigned in Afia ; tiie 4th the fon of 
 Jupiter and Luna ; and the 5th born of Nifos and Thione. 
 
 (4) Other* fay Mercury carried him to Nyfa, a city of 
 Arabia, near Egypt. 
 
lao FABULOUS HISTORY OP 
 
 Bacchus, during the giants war, diftinguifhed 
 himfelf greatly by his valour in the form of a lion, 
 while Jupiter, to encourage his fon, ufed the word 
 Euhoe, which became afterwards frequently ufed in 
 his facrificcs. Others fay, that in this rebellion the 
 Titans cut our deity to pieces ; but that Pallas took 
 bis heart, while yet panting, and carried it to her fa- 
 ther, who collected the limbs, and re-animated the 
 body, after it had flept three nights with Profer- 
 pine(5). 
 
 The moft memorable exploit of Bacchus was his 
 expedition to India, which employed him three years. 
 He fet out from Egypt, where he left Mercurius 
 Trifmegiftus to aflift his wife in quality of co-regent, 
 and appointed Hercules his viceroy. Bufiris he con- 
 ftjtuted prefident of Phoenicia, and Antasua of Libya ; 
 after which he marched with a prodigious army, car- 
 rying with him Triptctemus and Maro, to teacK 
 mankind the arts of tillage and planting the vine. 
 His firft progrefs was weft ward (6), and during his 
 courfe he was joined by Pan and Lufus, who gave 
 their names to different parts of Iberia. Altering his 
 views he returned through Ethiopia, where the Satyrs 
 and Mufes increafed his army, and from thence croff- 
 ing the red fea, he penetrated through Afia to the re- 
 moteft parts of India, in the mountains of which 
 country, near the fource of the Ganges, he eretled 
 two pillars, to flicw that he had vifited the utmoft 
 limits of the habitable world (7). After this return- 
 ing home with glory, he made a triumphant entry 
 iiito Thebes, offered part of his fpoils to Jupiter, and 
 facrificed to him the richeft fpices of the eaft. He 
 then applied himfelf folely to affairs of government, 
 to reform abufes, enadt good laws, and confult the 
 happinefs of his people, for which he not only obtain- 
 ed 
 
 (^) The Mythologifis fay, this is to denote that the cut- 
 tings of vine will grow, but that they will he three years be- 
 fore they come to bear. 
 
 (6) Pan gave h s name to Spain, or Hifpania, Lufus to 
 Lufitania, or Portugal. 
 
 . (7) In his return he buijt Nyfa, and other cities, and pafling 
 the Hclk-rpcut he came into Thrace, where he left Maro, 
 who founded the city Maronjea. To Macedo he gave tlu; 
 country from him ca.iled Macedonia, and left Triptolemus ir» 
 Attica to inllruel; the people. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. lai 
 
 ed the title of the law-giver, by way of excellence, 
 but was deified after death. 
 
 Juno having (truck him with madnefs, he had be- 
 fore this wandered through part of the world. Pro- 
 teus, king of Egypt, was the firft who received him 
 kindly. He next went to Cybella in Phrygia, where 
 being expiated by Rhea, he- was initiated in the 
 myfteries of Cybele. Lycurgus, king of the Edoni, 
 near the river Strymon, affronted him in this jour- 
 ney, for which Bacchus deprived him of his reafon ; 
 Jfo that when he thought to prune his vines, he cut 
 off the legs of his fon Dryas and his own. 13y com- 
 mand of the oracle, his fubjecfts jmprifoned him, and 
 he was torn in pieces by wild horfes. It is eafy to 
 fee how inconfillent thefe accounts of the fame perfon 
 are, and that the adions of different Bacchufes are 
 afcribed to one. 
 
 We have two other inftances recorded of the re- 
 fentment of this deity. Alcithoe, a Theban lady, 
 derided his prieftefles, and was transformed into a 
 bat ; Pentheus, the fon of Echion and Agave, for ri- 
 diculing his foleninities, called Orgia, was torn in 
 pieces by his OAvn mother and lifters (8), who in their 
 madncfb took him for a wild boar. 
 
 The favourite wife of Bacchus was Ariadne, whom 
 he found in the iHe of Naxoo, abandoned by Thefeus ; 
 he loved her fo paffionately, that he placed the crown 
 (lie wore as a conftellation in the Ikies. By her he 
 had Staphilus, Thyoneus, Hymenjcus, &c. 
 
 CifTus, a youth whom he greatly efteemed, fport- 
 ing with the Satyrs, was accidentally killed. Bac- 
 chus changed him into the plant ivy, which became 
 in a peculiar mann.^r confecrated to his worfhip. 
 Silenus, another of his favourites, wandering from 
 his matter, came to Midas, king of Phrygia, at whofe 
 court he was well received. To requite tins favour, 
 Bacchus promifed to grant whatever he requefted. 
 The monarch, whofe ruling pallion was avarice, 
 delired all he touched might be turned to gold; but 
 he foon felt the incon\eniency of having his wifh 
 granted, when he found his meat and drink convert- 
 ed into metal. He therefore prayed the god to recall 
 his bounty, and releafe him from his mifery. He 
 G vvas 
 
 («) Ovid, Lih. il. 630. 
 
^zz FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 was commanded to wajfh in the river Padolus, which, 
 from that time, had golden fandsCg). 
 
 (i) Bacchus had a great variety of names ; he was 
 called Dionyfius (2), from. his father's lamenefs while 
 he carried him in his thigh : the appellation of Biformis 
 -was given him, becaufe he fometimes was reprefent- 
 ed as old, fometimes as young ; that of Brifaens, from 
 his inventing the wine prefs(3); that of Bromius, 
 fi-om the crackling of fire heard when Semele perilh- 
 ed by the lightning of Jupiter ; that of Bimater, 
 from his having tv/o mothers, or being twice bom. 
 The Greeks ftiled him Eugenes, or born of an ox, be- 
 caufe he was drawn with horns ; and for the fame 
 reafon the Latins called him Tauriformis. He was 
 named Dsemon Bonus, becaufe in all feafts the laft 
 glafs was drank to his honour. Evius, Evous, and 
 Evan, were names ufed by the Bacchanals in their 
 wild proceffions, as were thofe of Eleus and Eleleus. 
 He was ftiled lacchus, from the noife (4) made by his 
 votaries in their drunken ft-olics ; Lenasus, becaufe 
 wine affuages the forrows and troubles of life (5); 
 Liber, and Liber Pater, becaufe he fets men free 
 from conftraint, and puts them on an equality ; and 
 on the fame account he was furnamed Lyccus, and 
 Lycaeus (6) ; Nydtilius was an appellation given him, 
 becaufe his facrifices were often celebrated in the 
 night ; from his education on mount Nyfa, he gain- 
 ed the epithet of Nifaeus, as alfo that of Thyoneus, 
 fi-orw rhyo his nurfe ; and that of Triumphus, from 
 his being the firft who inftituted triumphs. 
 
 The principal feftivals of Bacchus were the Ofco- 
 phoria, inftituted by the Phoenicians. The Trieterica 
 
 cele- 
 
 (9) Ovid, Lib. XI. 86. 
 
 (i) From Banyjtv, to run mad, becaufe wine inflames, and 
 deprives men of their reafon. 
 
 (2) From Ai^, God, and wiror, hme or crippled. 
 
 (3) Some dcrive.it from Brifa his nurfe ; others from the 
 promontory Brifa, in the ifle of Leibos, where he was chiefly 
 worfliipped. 
 
 (4) From la-xxvi), to exclaim or roar. See Claudiau's rape 
 «f Proferpine. 
 
 (5) From knio, to foften; but Scrvius gives tlie epithet a 
 Greek etymology, from Xevoj a wine-prefs. The firft conjec- 
 ture is befl-fupported by the poets. 
 
 Cura fugJt^ multo a :i:iurrfue oicro. OviD, 
 
 ^Ib) From Xva.', to uuloofc or fet free. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 123 
 
 (7), celebrated in remembrance of his three years ex- 
 pedition to India. The Epilosnea were games ap- 
 pointed at the time of vintage, in which they con- 
 tended who Ihould tread out moft miift or wine, and 
 fung hymns to the deity. The Athenians obferved a 
 certain feaft called Apaturia ; as alfo others called 
 Afcolia and Ambrolia. The latter were celebrated in 
 January, the mouth facred to Bacchus ; the R.omans 
 called them Brum alia, and kept them in February 
 and Auguft (8) ; but the moft confiderable of the 
 Romans, with regard to this god, were the Baccha- 
 nali, Dionyfia or Orgia, folemnized at mid-day in 
 February, by women only at firft, but afterwards by 
 both fexes. Thefe rites were attended with fuch 
 abominable excefles and wickednefs, that the fenatc 
 abolifhed them by a public decree (9). 
 
 The vidlms agreeable to Bacchus, were the goat 
 and fwine, becaufe thefe animals are deftrudive to 
 the vines ; the dragon and the pye on account of its 
 chattering. The trees and plants ufed in his garlands 
 w^re the ivy, the fir, the oak, and the herb rape- 
 weed ; as alfo the flower Daffodil or Narcillus. 
 
 Bacchus was the god of mirth, wine, and good 
 cheer, and as fuch the poets have not been fparinjj 
 in his praifes. On all occafions of pleafure and focial 
 joy they never failed to invoke his prefence, and to 
 thank him for the bleffmgs he beftowed. To him 
 they afcribed the forgetfulnefs of their cares, and the 
 foft tranfports of mutual friendfliip and chearful con- 
 verfation. It would be endlefs to repeat the compli- 
 ments paid him by the Greek and Latin poets, 
 who, for the moft part, were hearty devotees to hi« 
 worfliip. 
 
 Bacchus, by the poets and painters, is reprefented 
 
 as a corpulent youth (1) naked, with a rwddy face, 
 
 wanton look, and erTeminate air. He is crowned 
 
 with ivy and vine leaves, and bears in his hand a. 
 
 G z thyrfu* 
 
 (7) Virgil, .^neid IV. :,C3. 
 
 (8) See C'xL Rhodog. Lib. XVII. cap. 5. 
 
 (9) See Horace, Book II, Od<i XIX. wholly confecrated 
 to his praife. 
 
 (i; Bacchus was foaietIrr)C5 depi.3:ed as an old nian with a 
 beard, as at Elis in Gieece, and ir was only then he had 
 liorns givca !ii:r ; ibiactiuics he v.a^- clo.ithed with 3 u-w ^ '* 
 
IJ4 FABULOUS HISTORY tDF 
 
 thyrfus (2), encircled with the fame. His car is 
 drawn fometimes by lions, at others by tigers, 
 leopards, or panthers, and furrounded by a band of 
 Satyrs and Maenades, or wood-nymphs, in , frantic 
 pollures ; and, to clofe the mad proceilion, appears 
 old Silenus riding on an afs, which was fcarcely able 
 -to carry fo fat and jovial a companion. 
 
 But on the great farcophagus of his Grace the 
 Duke of Beaufort, at Badminton, he is exprefled as 
 a young man mounted on a tyger, and habited in 
 a long robe. He holds a thyrfus in one hand, and 
 with the other pours wine into a horn. His foot 
 refts upon a balket. His attendants are the feafons 
 properly reprefented, and intermingled with Fauns, 
 Genii, &c. 
 
 To arrive at the true original of this fabled deity, , 
 -we mufl once more revifit Egypt, the mother-ceun- 
 try of the gods, where he was indeed no other than 
 the Ofiris of that people. Whence fprung another 
 Bacchus, diftinguilhed from him, will preftntly ap- 
 pear. We have already hadfufficient occafion to re- 
 mark how their Horus changed his name and attri- 
 butes, according to the feafons, and the circura- 
 llances or operations he was intended to dired. To 
 commemorate the ancient fcate of mankind, he appear- 
 ed tinder Lhe fymbol of a child, with a feraph by his 
 fide, ffnd aiTumed the name of Ben-Semele (3}. This 
 was an image of the weaknefs and imperfedion of 
 hulbandry after the deluge. The Greeks, who knew 
 nothing of the true meaning of the figure, called 
 it the fon of Semele, and to heighten its honour 
 made Jupiter his father, or, according to the eailern 
 flile (4), produced him out of his thigh. They even 
 ^mbelliihed the ftory with all the marvellous circum- 
 ftances cf his mother's death, and fo effectually corn- 
 pi eat ed the fable. 
 
 Let us add to this, that in all the ancieut forms of 
 invocation to the fupreme being, they ufed the ex- 
 preflions afterwards appropriated to Eacchu?, fucit 
 
 (2) The tliyrfas wasa wooden javclin with an Iron head* 
 (,3) Ben-S.:rnele, or the child of the representation. 
 '4) See Gcnefis xlvi. 26, fpeaking of Jacob's chilJr>.n, or 
 t'u came out of his thigh. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 115 
 
 as lo Terombe (j) ! lo Bacche (6) ! or lo BacGoth ! 
 Jehova ! H^van, Hevoe, and Eloah 7) ! and Hu Elh ! 
 Atta Eih (8). Thefe exclamations were repeated in 
 after-ages by the people, who had no longer any 
 fenfe of their true lignification, but applied them to 
 the objeds of their idolatry. In their huntings they 
 ufed the outcries of lo Saboi (9) ! lo Nifii ! which, 
 with a little alteration, became the titles of the deity 
 we are fpeaking of. The Romans or Latins, of all 
 thefe, preferred the name of Baccoth, out of which 
 they ccmpofed Bacchus. The more dehcate ear of 
 the' Greeks chofe t^^e word lo Nifli, out of wliich 
 they formed Dionyfius. Hence it is plain, that no 
 Bacchus ever exifted, but that he was only a mafque 
 or figure of fome concealed truth. In ihort, whoever 
 attentively reads Horace's inimitable ode to Bac- 
 chus (1), will fee that Bacchus meant no more than 
 the improvement of the world, by the cultivation of 
 agriculture, and the planting of the vine.- 
 
 C H A P. XLiIII. 
 
 OF THE ATTENDANTS OF BACCHUS; SILENUTy 
 SYLVANUS, AND THE M.tNADES OR BACCHE, 
 THE SATYRS, FAUNI, AND SELENl. 
 
 As Bacchus was the god of good-humour and fel- 
 lowfliip, fo none of the deities appeai-ed with a more 
 numerous or fplendid retinue. 
 
 Silenus, the principal perlr.n in his train, had been 
 his preceptor, and a very fuitable one for fuch a 
 deity ; for the old man had a very hearty afFciftion for 
 
 his 
 
 (j) lo Terombe ! let us cry to the Lord ; hence Dithyram- 
 bus. 
 
 (6) lo Baccoth ! God fee our tears! whence Bacchus. 
 
 (7) Jehova! Hevan or Hevoe, the author of exiilence; 
 Eloah, the mighty God! hence Evoe, Evous, &c. 
 
 (8; Hu Efli! thou art the fire! Atta Efli ! thou art the 
 life ! hence Attes and Ves. 
 
 (9 j lo Saboi ! Lord thou art an Hoft to me ! lo NifTi ! Lord 
 be my guide I hence Sebafras and Dionyfius, die names of 
 Bacchus. 
 
 VI) Horace, Lib. II. Ode XIX. 
 
126 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 his bottle ; yet Silenus diftinguifhed himfelf in the 
 giant's war, by appearing on his afs, whofe braying 
 put thofe daring rebels into confufion (a). Some fay 
 he was born at Malea, a city of Sparta ; others, at 
 Nyfa in Arabia ; but the moft probable conjedure 
 is, that he was a prince of Caria, noted for his equi- 
 ty and wifdom (3). However this be, he was acon- 
 ftant attendant and companion of his pupil in all his 
 expeditions. Silenus was a notable good moralift in 
 kis cups, as we find in Virgil, who has given us a 
 beautiful oration of his on the nobleft fubjeds (4}, 
 in the fine eclogue which bears his name. 
 
 Silenus is depided as a fhort corpulent old man, 
 bald-headed, with a flat nofe, prominent forehead, 
 and big ears. He is ufually defcribed as over-loaded 
 with wine, and feated on a faddle-backed afs, upon 
 which he fiipports himfelf with a long ftaff ; and in 
 the other hand carries a cantharus or jug, with the 
 handle woni out almoft by frequent ufc. 
 
 Silvanus was a rural deity, who often appears in 
 the train of Bacchus ; fome fuppofe him the fon of 
 Saturn, others of Faunus. He was unknown to the 
 Greeks ; but the Latins received the worfhip of him 
 from the Fthfgi, v/no, v.^^cz their migration into 
 Italy, confecrated groves to his honour, and appoint- 
 ed folemn feftivals, in which milk v.-as ofil^red to 
 him. Indeed the worfhip of this imaginary deity 
 feems wholly to have rifen out of the ancient facred 
 ulc of woods and groves. 
 
 Tht Maenades were the prieftefTes and nymphs 
 who attended Bacchus, and were alfo called Thyades, 
 from their fury ; Baccha;, from their intemperance ; 
 and Mimailones, from their difpofition to ape anc^ 
 mimic others, which is one of the qualities of drunken 
 p€Gpk. Thefe bore thyrfufes bound with ivy, and 
 in their proceffion fliocked the ear and eye with their 
 extravagant cries and ridiculous and indecent con- 
 tortions. 
 
 The 
 
 (2) For wliich it v»'as ralfed to the fklcs, and made a con- 
 leilauon. * 
 
 (3) On this account arofe the fable of Midas lending him 
 his tars. It' is laid, t>.at being once taken prifianer, he pur- 
 chztti his liberty with this rcwiarkable fentence, That i: -was. 
 I .1 «,r is h horn ; at.tl next to that^ Tr.oji ellg'.i'li to di: fnidly. 
 
 ' 14, Virfil, Eclogue VI. 14. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. ITJ 
 
 The life-guards or tramed bands of Bacchus were 
 the Satyrs. It is uncertain whence thtfe half crea- 
 tures fprung ; but their ufual refidence was in the 
 woods and forefts, and they were of a verv- wanton 
 and luflful difpofition ; fo that it wss very dangerous 
 far a ftray nymph to fell into their hands. Indeed it 
 was natural for them to ufe compulfion, for their 
 fonn was none of the moft inciting, having deformed 
 heads, armed with fiiort honvs, crooked hands, 
 rough and hairy bodies, goats feet and legs, and tails 
 as long as horfes. 
 
 We are now to feek feme explanation of this 
 groupe of ftgures, and to do this we muft have recourfe 
 to the Egyptian key. As idolatry improved, the 
 feafts or reprefeni.ations of thofe p>eople grew more 
 pompous and fbVemn, fiiow degenerated into maf- 
 qut^rade, and religion into farce or frenzy. The 
 Ben-Semele, or child or reprtfcnt.ition, mentioned ir? 
 the explanation of Bacchus, became a jolly rofy 
 youth, who, to adorn the pomp, wis placed in a 
 chariot, dra'ATi by a<flors in tigers or leopards (kJn*, 
 while others, dreffed in thofc of bucks or goats, 
 furrounded him ; and, to fhew the dangers they had 
 gone through in hunting, they fmeared their faces 
 with dregs of wine, or iiuce of miiXbernes, to imitate 
 the blood of the bcafts they killed. Tbefe affiftants 
 were called Satyrs (5), Fauns (.6), and Thyades (7), 
 and Msenades (8\ aiid BrtfTaridas (9). To clofe the 
 proceffion, appeared an old man on an afs, offering 
 wine to the tired youth, who had returned from a 
 profperous chace, and inviting them to take fomc- 
 reft. This perfon they called Sylen (1), or Sylvan, 
 and his drefs was detigned to fhew, that old men 
 were exempt from thofe toils of youth, which, by 
 extirpating beafts of prey, fecured the approaching 
 harveft. 
 
 All thefe fym.bols Nrere by the Greeks and Romans 
 adopted in their way, and the a<5tors of mafks of 
 Egypt, became the real divinities of nations, whofe in- 
 clination to the marvellous made them greedily em- 
 brace whatever flattered that prepofieilioH. 
 
 C H A P- 
 
 (5 ) From Satur, hidden or difguifed. 
 
 (6) From Phanim, a mafque or faife face. 
 
 (7) From Thouah, to wander or run about wildly. 
 (8 J From if«;-o,u3, to intoxicate or drive mad. 
 
 (9) From Batfar, to gather the grarcs. 
 (I) From Sclau, fafcty or rcpofe. 
 
X28 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 CHAP. XLIV. 
 
 OF HERCULES AND HIS LABOURS. 
 
 J~l A VI NG gone through the Dii Majores, or celef- 
 tial deities of the firft rank ; we Ihall proceed to the 
 deini gods, who were either thofe heroes whofe emi- 
 nent adions and fuperior virtues raifed them to the 
 fkies, or thofe terreftrial divinities, who for their 
 bounty and goodnefs to mankind, were claiTed with 
 the gods. 
 
 To begin with the former, Hercules undoubtedly 
 claims the foremofk place. There were feveral of 
 this name (2) ; but he to whom, amongft the Greeks, 
 the greateft glory is attributed, was the fon of Jupi- 
 ter and Alcmena, wife of Amphitryon king of Thebes. 
 This monarch being gone on an expedition againft 
 the JEtolians, Jove aiTumed his form, and under that 
 fafe difguife eafily enjoyed his defires. It is faid he 
 was fo enamoured, that he prolonged the darknefs 
 for three days and three nights fucceflively. Hercules- 
 was the fruit of this extraordinary amour, and at the 
 fame time Alcmena bore twins to her hufband, Lao- 
 <iamia,^and Iphiclus, who was remarkable fur hie ex- 
 traordinary fwiftnefs. 
 
 This intrigue of Jupiter, as ufual, foon came to 
 the ears of his jealous wife, who from that moment 
 meditated the deftrudion of Hercules. A favourable 
 occafioned offered to her refentment. Archippe, the 
 wife of Sthenelus, king of Mycene, being pregnant 
 at the fame time with Alcmena, Jupiter had ordain- 
 ed, that the child firft born fhould have the fuperiori- 
 ty, or command over the other. Juno caufed Archippe 
 to be delivered, at the end of feven months, of a fon, 
 called Euryftheus, and to retard the labour of Alc- 
 mena, in the form of an old woman fhe fat at the 
 gate of Amphitryon's palace with her legs acrofs, 
 and her fingers interwoven. By this fecrct enchant- 
 ment, that princefs was feven days and nights in ex- 
 treme pains, till Galanthis, one of her attendants, 
 feeing Juno in this fufpicious poflure, and conjedur- 
 
 (a) The Eg)'ptian Hercules Is reckoned the cldefl. of thefe 
 who fignalized himfelf in the giants war, and was one of the 
 principal divinities of that country. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 129 
 
 leg the caufe, ran haflily out with the news that her 
 miftrcrs was dehvered. The goddefs ftarting up at 
 the news, Akmena was that moment freed of her 
 burthen ; but Juno was fo incenfed at Galanthis, that 
 fne changed her into a weefel. 
 
 During his infancy, Juno fent two ferpents to de- 
 ftroy him in his cradle, but the undaunted child 
 ftrangled them with both his hands. After this, as 
 he grew up, he difcovered an uncommon ftature and 
 ftrength of body (3), as well as heroic ardour of 
 mind^ Thefe great qualities of nature were improv- 
 ed by fuitable care, his education being intrufted to 
 the greateft maRers (4) ; fo that it is no wonder if, 
 with fuch confiderable advantages, he made fuch a 
 ftiining figure in the world. 
 
 His extraordinary virtues were early put to the 
 trial, and the tafks impofed on him by Euryftheus, 
 on account of the danger and difficulty which attend- 
 ed their execution, received the name of the Labours 
 of Hercules, and are commonly reckoned to be 
 twelve in number. 
 
 1. The firft labour, or triumph of Hercules, was 
 the death of the Nemaean lion. It is faid this furi- 
 ous animal, by Juno's diredion, fell from the orb of 
 the Maon, and was invulnerable. It infcfted the 
 Nemasan woods, betv/een Philus and Cleone, and 
 did infinite mifchief. The hero attacked it both with 
 his arrows and club, but in vain, till perceiving his 
 error, he firft ftrangled, and then tore it in pieces with 
 his hands. The fkin he preferved, and conftantly 
 wore, as a token of his vi(Story. 
 
 2. His next enterprize was againft a formidable fer- 
 pent, or monftcr, which harboured in the fens of 
 Lerna, and infected the region of Argos with his 
 poifonous exhalations. The number of heads afii^:n- 
 
 G 5 ^ed 
 
 (3) Some fiiy v/hen he arrived at manhood he was four 
 cubits high, and had three rows of teeth. 
 
 (4) Linus, the fen of Apollo, inftruAtd him in philofo- 
 pliy; Eurytus taught him archery; Eimiolpus, mufic, parti- 
 cularly the art of touchincr the lyre; from Hvpalychus, the 
 fon of Mercury, he learnt wrcftling and the gymnaflic exer- 
 cifes; CaJ^or fiiewed him the art of managing his weapons; 
 and to complete all, Chiron initiated him in the principles of 
 aftronomy and medic i.'ic. 
 
I3<3 FABULOtJfe HISTORY 01^ 
 
 fed this creature is various (5) ; but all ?.uthors agree, 
 that when one was cat off, another fucceedtd in its 
 place, unlefs the wound was immediately cauterifed. 
 Hercules, not difcouraged, attacked this dragon, and 
 having caufed lolaus to cut down wood fufficient for 
 flaming brands, as he cut off the heads, applied them 
 to the wounds, and by that means obtained the con- 
 cjueft, and deftroyed the Hydra. Some explain this 
 fal3le, by fuppofmg Lerna k marlh, much troubled 
 with fnakes, and other poifonous animals, which 
 Hercules and his companions deftroyed, by fetting 
 fire to the reeds. Others imagine he only drained 
 this fen, which was before unpaffable. Others make 
 Lerna, a fort or caftle of robbers, under a leader 
 called Hydra, whom Hercules extirpated. However 
 this be, in confideration of the fervice of lolaus on 
 this occafion, when he grew decrcpid with eld age, 
 his mafter, by his prayers, obtained a renewal of his 
 youth. 
 
 3. The next talk impofed on him by Eiir^r^heus, 
 was to bring him alive a huge wild-boar, which ra- 
 vaged the foreft of Erymanthus, and had been fent to 
 Phocis by Diana, to punifh Oneus for negleAing htrf 
 facrifices (6). In his way he defeated the Centaurs, 
 who had provoked him by infuiting Pholus his hoft. 
 After this he feized the fierce animal in a thicket, 
 furrounded with fnow, and, purfuant to his injunc- 
 tion, carried him bound to Euryftheus, who had like 
 to have fainted at the light. 
 
 4. This monarch, after fuch experience of the 
 force and valour of Hercules, v.-as refolve to try his 
 agility : for this end he was commanded to take a 
 hind which frequented mount -Maenalus, and had 
 brazen feet and golden horns. As ftie v/as facred to 
 Diana, Hercules durft not v>-ound her, and it was 
 not eafy to run her dov/n : this chafe coft him a 
 whole year's foot-fpeed. At laft, being tired out, 
 the hind took to the recefics of m.ount Artemefius, 
 but was in her way overtaken, as fhe crofied the river 
 Ladon, and brought to Mycene. 
 
 5. Nt^ar 
 
 fj) Some make the hetcs of the Lcrnaean Hydra to be 
 ftveii ; others nine ; others f»fty- 
 
 (6, Thli ftory has a near rcfemVIance with the boar «Jf 
 Caly^in, mentioned in the article cf Diana. 
 
THE HEATHEN G O D 8. 131 
 
 5. Near the lake Stymphalus, in Arcadia, har- 
 boured certain birds of prey, with wings, beaks, and 
 talons of iron, who preyed on human flefh, and de- 
 voured all that pafled that way. Thefe Euryftheus 
 fent Hercules to deflroy. Some fay he killed them 
 with his arrows (7) ; others, that Pallas lent him fome 
 brazen rattles made by Vulcan, the found of which 
 frightened them to the ifland of Aretia. Some fup- 
 pofe the birds called Stymphalides, a gang of defpe- 
 rate banditti, who had their haunts near that lake. 
 
 6. His next expedition was againft the Cretan bull. 
 Minos, king of that illand, being formidable at fea, 
 had forgot to pay Neptune the worfhip due to him. 
 The deity, to punifh his neglccft, fent a furious bull, 
 whofe noftrils breathed fire, to deflroy the country. - 
 Hercules brought this terrible animal bound to Euryf- 
 theus, who, on account of his being facred, let him 
 loofe in the territory of Marathon, where tie was 
 afterwards flain by Thefeus. Some reduce the ftory 
 to this, that Hercules only was fent to Crete, to pro- 
 cure Euryftheus a bull for breeding out of. 
 
 9. Diomede, king of Thrace, the fon of Mara and 
 Gyrene, was a tyrant pofTeired of a ftud of horfes, fo 
 wild and fierce, that they breathed fire, and were con- 
 ftantly fed with human flefh, their mafler killing all . 
 ftrangers he could meet with for provender for his 
 cattle. Hercules having vanquiflied him, gave him 
 as a prey to them, and killing fome, brought the reft 
 to Euryftheus. 
 
 8. The next employment of Hercujes feems a little 
 toe mean for a hero, but he was obliged to obey a 
 fevere tafk-mafter, who was fo fenlible of his own in- 
 j^iftice in thefe injuncflions, that he did not care to 
 truft himfelf in the power of the perfon he command- 
 ed (8). Augeas, king of Elis, had a ftable intolera- 
 ble, from the ftench arifing from the dung and fiith it 
 cxjntained, which is npt very fuprifiiig, if it be true, 
 that it ihelttrcd three thoufand oxen, and had not 
 been cleaned for thirty years. This place Euryfthews 
 ordered Hercules to clear in one day, and Augeas 
 
 prom i fed 
 
 (y) There is an ancient gem cxprcITive of this. See Oo^le'a 
 antiquities. *^ 
 
 (S/ It is {lud Euryflhcus never woiild fufTer Hercules to 
 enter Mycene, but notified lus ccmamands .to him oyer the 
 Mfalh, by Caprcas, an heruld. 
 
132 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 promifed him, if he performed it, to give him a tenth 
 part of the cattle. Hercules, by turning the coiirfe 
 of the river Alpheus through it, executed his defign ; 
 which Augeas feeing, refufed to ftand by his engage- 
 ment. The hero, to reward his perfidy, flew him 
 with his arrows, and gave his kingdom to Phyleus, 
 his fon, who had Ihewed his abhorrence of his fa- 
 ther's treachery. Some add, that, from the fpoil* 
 taken at Elis, Hercules inftituted the Olympic games 
 of Jupiter, celebrated every fifth yearj and which 
 afterwards gave rife to the Grecian sera. 
 
 9. Euryftheus, dcfirous to prefent his daughtcf 
 Admeta with the belt or girdle worn by Hippolyta, 
 queen of the Amazons, Hercules was fent on this 
 expedition ; he was buf flenderly provided, having 
 but one fhip ; but valour like his was never deftitute 
 of refources in diftrefs. In his way he defeated and 
 killed Mygdon and Amj-cus, two brothers, who op- 
 pofed his paflage, and fubduing Bebrycia, gave it to 
 Lycus, one of his companions, who changed its 
 name to Heraclea, in memory of his benefaiftor. On 
 his approach to Themifcyra, he learnt that the Ama- 
 zons had colleded all their forces to meet him. The 
 firft engagement was warm on both fides, feveral of 
 the braveft of thefe viragoes were kilied, and others 
 made prifoners. The vidory was followed by the 
 total txtermination of that female nation, and Hip- 
 polyta, their queen, was by the conqueror given to 
 Thefeus, as a reward for his valour. Her belt he 
 brought to Euryftheus. 
 
 10. His fucceeding exploit was againft Geryon, 
 king of Spain, who had three bodies, and was the 
 fon of Chryfaoris and Calirrhoe. This monarch had 
 a breed of oxen, of a purple colour, who devoured 
 all ft rangers caft to them, and were guarded by a 
 dog v/ith two heads, a dragon with feven, belides a 
 very watchfid and fevere keeper. Hercules killed 
 both the monarch and his guards, and carried the 
 oxen to Gadira, or Cadiz, from v. hence he brought 
 them to Euryftheus. It was during this expedition,, 
 that our hero, as eternal monuments of his glory, 
 ere(5ted two pillars at Caipe and Abyle, upon the 
 "Utmoft limits of Africa and Europe. Some give a 
 more fimple turn to the whole, by faying Geryon 
 was a king of Spain, who governed by means of thrte 
 ioiii famous for valour and prudence^ and that Her- 
 cules 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 135 
 
 cules having raifed an army of mercenary troops in 
 Crete, firft overcame them, and fubdued that coun- 
 try. 
 
 11. The next talk enjoined him by Euryflheus, 
 was to fetch him tlie golden apples of the Hefperides 
 (9)^ which were guarded by a dragon with a hundred 
 heads. The injunction was not eafy, fincc Hercules 
 was even ignorant of the place where -they grew. 
 The nymphs of Eridanus, whom he confulted, ad- 
 vifed him to go to Prometheus (i), who gave him the 
 information and diredion he wanted, after which he 
 vanquifhed the dragon, and brought the precious 
 fruit to his mafter. 
 
 12. The laft command of Euryftheus was for him 
 to go down to hell, and bring away Cerberus, Pluto's 
 maftiff. Hercules, having facrificed to the gcds, en- 
 tered the infernal regions, by a cavity of mount 
 Tjenarus, and on the banks of Acheron found a white 
 poplar-tree, of which he made him a wreath, and 
 the tree was ever after confecrated to him ; pafiing 
 that river he difcovered Thefeus and Piriihous chain- 
 ed to a ftone. The former he re leafed, but left the 
 latter confined. Masnetius, Pluto's cowherd, endea- 
 vouring to fave his mailer's dog, was ciuilied to 
 death. Cerberus, for refuge, fled beneath Pkito's 
 throne, from whence the hero dragged him out, and 
 brought him upon earth by way of Traezcne. At 
 fight of the day, the monlter vomited a poilbnous 
 matter, from whence fprurg the herb aconite, or 
 wolf's-bane ; but being prefented to Euryftheus, he 
 ordered him to be diimilfed, and fuffered him to re- 
 turn to hell. 
 
 It would be almofl endlefs to enumerate all the 
 adions of this celebrated hero of antiquity, and 
 tnerefore we (ball only. touch on the principril. He 
 deUvered Creon, king of Thebcs, from an rr.'ufl 
 tribute impofed on him by Erginus anrl the Mv..i£e, 
 for which ier. ice that prince gave him his da-vhter 
 Megara, by wiicm he had fcveral fons ; bui. junof 
 
 Itriiving' 
 
 fp) Juno, on her marriage with Jupiter, gave him thtfe 
 trees, which bore golden frrnt, and were kept tiy the nvmphs 
 iF.gle, Arethufa, .xiid Hcf} titthufa, daughters of Hei^erus, 
 who were calkd the HefperitiL?. 
 
 (I i Or, as others fay, lo Nereus, vsho eli'dcd his en^iry, 
 Ly a^Tuming various {bapcs. . , 
 
134 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 ftriking him with frenzy, he flew thefe children, and on 
 recovering his fenles, became fo fhocked at his cruel- 
 ty, that he abltained from all human fociety for fame 
 time. In his return from the expedition againft the 
 Amazons, Laomedon, king of Troy, by the pro- 
 mife of fome fine horfes, engaged him to deliver his 
 daughter Hefione, cxpofed to a vaft fea monfter fent 
 by Neptune ; but when he had freed the princefs, 
 the deceitful monarch retraced his word. Upon 
 this Hercules took the city, killed Laomedon, and 
 gave Hefione to Telamon, who firft fcaled the Avails 
 (a). After this he flew Timolus and Telegonos, the 
 fons of Proccus, two celebrated wreftlers, who put 
 to death all whom they overcame. He alfo killed 
 Serpedon, fon of Neptune, a notorious pirate. 
 
 During his African expedition, he vanquifhed Cyc- 
 nus, king of ThefTaly, the fon of Mars and Cleobu- 
 lina, a favage pince, who had vowed to ered hi's 
 father a temple with the heads or Ikulls of the ftrangers 
 he deftroyed. Li Libya, he encountered the famous 
 Antaeus, the fon of Earth, a giant of immcnfe fta- 
 ture, who forced all whom he met to wreftle with 
 him, and fo ftrangled them. He challenged Hercules, 
 who flung hiiA thrice, and thought each time he had 
 killed him ; hut oa his touching the ground he re- 
 newed his flrcngth. Hercules being apprifed of this, 
 held him up in the air, and fqiieezed him in fuch a 
 Hianner, that iie foon expnred (3). In his progrefs 
 from Libya to Egypt, Bufiris, a cruel prince, laid an 
 ambufcade to furprize him, but was himfelf, and his 
 ibn Araphiadamus, facriiiced by the vidor on the 
 altars he had profaned. In Arabia, he beheaded 
 Ematiiion, the fon of Tithonus, for his want of hof- 
 pkality ; after which, croflin^ mount Caucafus, he 
 cleiivered Prometheus. In Calydon, he wreftled with 
 Achelous, for no Icfs a prize than Deianira, daugh- 
 ter to king Oeneus. The contefi: was long dubious, 
 for his antagonift had the faculty of alfuming all 
 ihapes ; but as he took that of a bull, Hercules tore 
 €>ffone of his horns, fo that he was forced to fubmit, 
 
 and 
 
 Xa) This princefs redeemed her brother Priamus; who 
 was aft^rv. lids lung of Troy. 
 
 (3; i'liis is finely cxiirtlTed ina double antique ftatue be- 
 longing to tiic Jiaii %H i?cy«ltoouth, at :HiJiDour»t', ia Hanip- 
 (hiit. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. ijj 
 
 and to redeem it, by giving the conqueror the horn 
 of Amalthaea, the daughter of Harmo<lius ; which 
 Hercules filled with a variety of fruits, and confc- 
 crated to Jupiter. Some explain the fable thus ; 
 Achelous is a winding river of Greece, whofe ftream 
 was fo rapid, that it overflowed the banks, roaring 
 l^ce a bull. Hercules forced it into two channels ; 
 that is, he broke off one of the horns, Said fo re- 
 ftored plenty to the country 
 
 This hero reduced the ille of Co06, and put to 
 death Eurylus, king of it, with his fons, on account 
 of their injuftice and cruelty ; but the princefs Chal- 
 chiope, the daughter, he married, by whom he had 
 a fon named Thellalus, who gave his nanie toThefialy. 
 He fubdued Pyracmos, king of Euboea, who had, 
 without a caufe, made war on tht Boeotians. In his 
 way to the Hefperidcs, he was oppofed by Albion, 
 and Brigio, two giants, who put him in great hazard, 
 his arrows being fpent. Jupiter, on his pi^a^i^er, over- 
 whelmed them with a ftiower of ftones, whence the 
 place was called the ftony ficki. It lies in the Gallia 
 Narbonenfis. Hercules did great fervice in Gaul, by 
 deftroying robbers, fuppreflmg tyrants and opp^eflbrf:, 
 and other adtions truly worthy the character of a 
 hero ; after which, it is faid, he built the city Akfia, 
 and made it the capital of the Celtas, or Gauls. He 
 alfo opened Itis way through the Alps into Italy, and 
 by the coafls of Ligiiria and Tufcany, amvtd on the 
 banks of the Tyber, and flew the furious robber 
 Cacus, who from his den on mou!)t Aventine, in- 
 fefled that country. Being denied the rites of hof- 
 pitality, he killed Theodania , the father of Hylas, 
 but took the letter with him, and treated him kindly. 
 
 Hercules, however inte-nt on fame and glory, v/as, 
 like other heroes, but too fufceptibk of love. We 
 find an ir.ftance of this in Oraphale, queen of Lydirv, 
 who gairiod fuc-h an afcendant over him, that he was 
 not afhamed to airume a female drefs, to fpin amongft 
 her women, and fubmit to be corredcd by her ac- 
 cording to her •caprice. 
 
 His favoaritc wife was Deiamra, before- mention- 
 ed, and whofe jealoufy was the fatal occafiunof his 
 death. Travelling with this princefs through JEtollR, 
 they had occafion to paf? a river, fweilcd by the fud-. 
 den rains. Nefiiu, the centaur, ottered Ilerculec his 
 fervice to carry over his conTort, who accepting it, 
 
 c*ofled 
 
136 FAEOLOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 croffed over before them. The monfter, feeing the 
 opportunity favourable, offered violence o Deiahira, 
 upon which her hufband, from the opp>ofite bank, 
 pierced him with one of thofe dreadful arrows, which, 
 being dipped in the blood of the Lernaean Hydra, gave 
 a wound incurable by art. NelFus expiring, gave 
 the pr ncefs his garment all bloody, as a fure remedy 
 to recover her hufband, if ever he fhould prove un- 
 faithful. Some years after, Hercules having fubdued 
 Oechjlia, fell in love with lole, a fair captive, whom 
 he brought to Euboea, where, having erected an altar 
 to facriiice to Jove for his viAory, he difpatched Ly- 
 cus to Deianira, to carry her the news, and inform 
 her of his approach. This princefs, from the re- 
 port of the raeflenger, fufpedting her hufband's fide- 
 lity, fent him as a prefent the coat of NeiTus, which 
 he no fooner put on, but he fell into a delirious fever, 
 attended vv'iih themofk excruciating torments. Una- 
 ble to (upport his pains, he retired to mount Oeta, 
 and ereding a pile of wood, to which he fet fire, 
 threw himfclf into the flames, and was confumed (4). 
 Lycus, his unhappy friend and companion, in his 
 agony, he firft hurled into the river Thermopolis, 
 whert: he became a roc^ ; his arrows he bequeathed 
 to Fhiioctetes, who buried his remains in the river 
 Dyra. 
 
 So perifhed tliis great hero of antiquity, the terror 
 of oppreflbrs, the friend of liberty and mankind, for 
 whofe happinefs (as Tul^y obferves) he braved the 
 greateft dangers, and furmounted the moft arduous 
 toils, going through the whole earth with no other 
 view than the eftablifhing peace, juftice, concord, 
 and freedom. Nothing can be added to heighten a 
 charader fo glorious as this, 
 
 Hercules left feveral children ; by Deianira he had 
 an only daughte/, called Macaria ; by Melita, who 
 gave her name to the ifle of Malta, he had Hylus : 
 Afar, Lydus, and Scythes, were his fons, who are 
 faid to have left their appellation to Africa, Lydia, 
 and Scythia ; befidcs which, he is faid to have had 
 fifty fons by the fifty daughters of Theftius. Kow*- 
 
 ever, 
 
 (4) There is at Wilton, the feat of the Earl of Pcpibrokc, 
 amidrt a multitude of other valuable curiofities, a fm.iil mar- 
 ble (latue of I.,ycus, fupporting the dying Hercules, of ini- 
 mitdble workmanlhip, in which the chiffei appears to -be ia- 
 finjteiy fuptrvor to ihe pencil. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 137 
 
 <fvcr, his ofFspring vv-ere fo numerous, that above 
 thirty of his defcendants bore his name, whofe ac- 
 tions being all attributed to him, produced the con- 
 fufion we find in his hiftory. 
 
 Euryitheus, after his death, was fo afraid of thefe 
 Heraclidae, that by his ill ufage he forced them to fly 
 to Athens, and then It-nt an embaffy to that city to 
 deliver them up, with menaces of a war in cafe of 
 refufal. lolaus, the friend of Hercules, who \vas 
 then in the fhades, was fo concerned for his mailer's 
 pofterity, that he got leave from Pluto to return to 
 earth, and kill the tyrant, after which he willingly 
 returned to hell. 
 
 Hercules, who was alfo called Alcides, was, after 
 his death, by his father Jupiter deified, and with 
 great folemnity married to Hebe his half fifter, the 
 goddefs of youth. At firil facrifices were only of- 
 fered to him as a hero ; but Phasftius coming into 
 Sycionia altered that method. Both the Greeks and 
 Romans honoured him as a god, and eredted temples 
 to him in that quality. His viiftims were bulls or 
 lambs, on account of his prcfcrving the flocks from 
 wolves, i. e. delivering men from tyrants and robbers. 
 He was called alfo Melius, from his taking the Hef- 
 ^erian fruit, for which reafoa apples were ufed (5) in 
 his facrifices. Mehercule, or by Hercules, was, a- 
 inongft the Romans, an oath oiiiy ufed by the men. 
 
 Many p^rfons were fond of afluming this celebrated 
 name. Hence Diodorus reckons up three ; Cicero 
 fix ; others to the number of forty-three. But the 
 Greeks afcribed to the Theban Hercules the actions 
 of all the reft. But the foundation of all v/as laid 
 in the PhcEnician or Egyptian Hercules ; for the 
 Egyptians did not borrow the name from the 
 Grecians, but rather the Grecians, efpecially thofc 
 who give it to the fon of Amphitryon from the 
 Egyptians ; principally, becaufe Amphitryon and 
 Alcmena, the parents of the Grecian Hercules, were 
 both of Egyptian defcent (6). The name too is of 
 Phcenician extrasftion (7), a name given to the dif- 
 toverers of new countries, and tbe planters of colo- 
 liies there ; who frequently fio;nali*e4. themfelves no 
 
 lefs 
 
 (5) From /weXo?, an apple. 
 
 (6) Herodotus in Euterpe. 
 (7; Harokel, a merchant. 
 
138 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 kfs by civilizing the inhabitants and freeing them 
 from the wild beafts that infefted them, than by the 
 commerce which they eftablilhed ; which no doubt 
 was the fource of ancient heroifm and war (8). And 
 however the Phoenician and Egyptian hero of this 
 name may have been diilinguifhed by a multitude of 
 authors ; I am fully perfuaded, after the moft dili- 
 gent enquiry, that they were indeed one and the 
 fame perfon : of uhofe hiftory let U3 take a Ihurt 
 review. 
 
 About the year of the world 213 1, the perfon 
 diilinguifhed by the name of Hercules Aflis (9), fuc- 
 ceedcd Janias as king of Lower Egypt, being the laft 
 of the Hycfos, or ihepherd-kings from Canaan ; who 
 had held the country 259 years. He continued the 
 war with the kings of Upper Egypt 49 years, and 
 then by agrecmtvit withdrew, with his fubjeds, to 
 t^e number of 240,000. In his retreat he is faid to 
 have founded firA the city of Jerufalcm(i), and after- 
 wards that of Tyre, Avhere he was called Melcarthus 
 (2). From Egypt he brought the computation of 365 
 days to the year, and fettled it in his OAvn kingdom, 
 where it continued many ages. In his voyages be 
 vifited Africa, v^'here he conquered Antaeus, Italy, 
 France, Spain as far as Cadiz, where he flew Geryon; 
 ifiia proceeded thence even to the Britilb ifles ; fet- 
 tling colonies, and raifing pillars wherever he came, 
 as the Handing monuments of himfelf, and of the 
 patriarchal religion which he planted ; for pillars 
 placed on eminences in circular order, were the tem- 
 ples of tbofe early times, and as yet we find no foot- 
 fteps of idolatry, either in Egypt or Phoenicia. To 
 his arrival in thcfe iflands (and not in Liguria) muft 
 be applied whatever is related of his encounter with. 
 Albion and Bergion, and of his being alhiled, when 
 his weapons were fpent, by a fliower of ftones from 
 heaven. Albion is the name given afterwards to this 
 country ; and by the miraculous iliower of ftones no 
 more is intended, than that the inhabitants were at 
 laft reconciled to him on account of the divine reli- 
 gion 
 
 (8) Banicr's Mythology, vol. iv. p. 7a. 
 
 (9) Afis, the valiant ; fo that Hercules Aflis, is the herok: 
 merchant. 
 
 (i) Manctho apud Jofephum, 1. I. contra Apion. 
 (2) Or king of the city, from Melek, king, and CarU»a, 
 city. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. ijp 
 
 gion which he taught, and the great number of thefe 
 open temples of ftone ereded by him. He is faid to 
 have been attended by Apher, the grandfon of Abra- 
 ham, whofe daughter he married, and by whom he 
 had a fan named Dodorus i^). To him the Phoeni- 
 cians were indebted for the gainful trade of tin, which 
 gave name to thefe idands (4). He found out alfo the 
 purple dye, and feems to have been the nrft who ap- 
 plied the loadftone to the purpcfes of navigation, 
 thence called Lapis Heraclius. He is fuppofed to 
 have been drowned at laft ; and became afterwards 
 one of the tirft objeds of idolatry amongft his coun- 
 trymen. The folem.nities were performed to him in 
 the night, as to one, who after all his great fatigues 
 and labours, had at length gained a time and place of 
 reft. Manetho calls him Arcles. 
 
 Hercules is ufaally dtpided in a ftanding attitude, 
 having the Ikin of the Nemasan lion thrown over his 
 flioulders, and leaning on his club, which is his infe- 
 parable attribute. The judgment of this hero, or his 
 preference of Virtue to Vice, who both folicit him to 
 embrace their party, makes one of the frneft pidures 
 of antiquity. The choice he made did no diihonour 
 to his memory. 
 
 It may not be amifs to add the explanation of the 
 
 ff^bl? C- the IIrr|.»rT-!arn5 etn givm DV a Istr fnj^rmiCITS 
 
 author (5), and which fufficicntly fhews how the moft 
 important and ufeful truth;>, reprefented under the 
 piaineft fymboLs, became difguifed or disfigured by- 
 error and fidion. The Phoenicians were the firft na- 
 vigators in the M-orld, and their trade to Hefperia 
 and Sjiaiii was one of the nobleft branches of their 
 commerce. From hence they brought back exquifite 
 wines, rich ore of gold and lilver, and tliat fine wool 
 to which they gave fo precious a purple dye. From 
 the coaft of Mauritania they drew the beft corn, and, 
 by the way of the Red Sea, they exchanged iron war* 
 and tools of fmall value for ivory, ebony, and gokl 
 duft. But, as the voyage was long, the adventurei-s 
 
 were 
 
 (3) Jofephus, from Polyhiftor and CIcdenius. Iileoi in 
 Antiq. 1. I. Shindler's Lexicon. See Htukcly's Abury and 
 Stonehenge ; and Cooke's Enquiry- into the Patriarchal Rtli- 
 gion. 
 
 (4) Britannia is from Barat-anac, the land of tia. 
 (^) Ld Pluche's hiflory of the heavens, vol. II. 150. 
 
I40 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 were obliged to affociate and get their cargoes ready 
 in winter, fo a« to fet out early in fpring. The public 
 fign, expofed on thefe occafions, was a tree with 
 golden fruit, to denote the riches arifing from this 
 commerce. The dragon which guarded the tree, fig- 
 niiicd the danger and difficulty of the voyage. The 
 Capricorn, or fometimes one horn placed at the root, 
 exprefled the month orfeafon ; and the three months 
 of winter, during which they prepared for the expe- 
 dition, were reprefented by three nymphs, who were 
 fuppofed to be proprietors of the tree, and had the 
 name of Hefperides (6) ; which fully Ihewed the 
 meaning of this emblematical groupe, from whence 
 the Greeks, miftaking its deiign and ufe, compofed 
 the romance of the Hefperian gardens. 
 
 CHAP. XLY. :• 
 
 OF H£££ AND GANYMEDE. 
 
 Hebe, the goddefs of youth, was, according to 
 Homer, the daughter of Jupiter and Juno- But the 
 gencrsiity of writers relate her birth thus : Juno being 
 invited to an entertainment by Apollo, eat very ea- 
 gerly fome wild lettuces, upon which (be conceived, 
 and inftantly brought fortli this goddefs. Jcve was 
 fo plcafed with her beauty, that he made her hi^ cup- 
 bearer, in the difcharge of which oflice ftie always 
 appeared crowned v^ath flowers. Unluckily at a fef- 
 tival of the gods in Ethiopia, Hebe being in waiting, 
 flipped her foot, and got fo indecent a fail, that 
 Jupiter was obliged to remove her from her iifual 
 attendance. To repair this difgrace, as well as the 
 lofs of her poft, Jupiter, upon Hercules being ad- 
 vanced to the Ikies, married him to Hebe, and their 
 nuptials were celebrated with all the pomp becoming- 
 a ccleftial wedding. By this union ihe had a foi) 
 named Anicetus, and a daughter called Alexiare. 
 
 Hebe was held in high veneration amongft the 
 Sicyonians, who eredled a temple to her by the name 
 
 (6) From Efper, the good ihare or "bed lot. Set a Sanmel 
 ^j. 19. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 141 
 
 of Din. She had another at Corinth, which was a 
 iandiiary for fugitives ; and the Athenians confe- 
 crated an altar in common to her and Htrrcules. 
 
 Ganymede, who fucceeded to her office, was the 
 fon of Tros, king of Phrygia or Troy, and a prince of 
 fuch wifdom and perfonal beauty, that Jupiter, by 
 the advice of the gods, refolved to remove him from 
 earth to the ilcies. The eagle difpatched on this com- 
 miflion, found him juft leaving his flock of fheep, to 
 hunt on mount Ida, and fei/ing him in his talons, 
 brought him unhurt to the heavens, where he entered 
 on his new office of ftUing nedar to Jupiter; though 
 others fay, he was turned into that coniltllation^ or 
 fign of the Zodiac, which goes by the name of 
 Aquarius (7). 
 
 The mythologiits make Hebe fignify that miid tem- 
 perature of the air, which awakens to life the trees, 
 plants, and flowers, and cloaths the earth in vegetable 
 beauty ; for which caufe f!ie is called the goddefs of 
 perpetual youth. But when flie flips or falls, that is» 
 when the flowers fade, and the autumnal leaves drop, 
 Ganymede, or the winter^ takes her place. 
 
 CHAP. XLVI. 
 
 OF CA'STOR AND POLLUX. 
 
 We have already, under the article of Jupiter, 
 mentioned his amours with Leda, the wife of Tyn- 
 darus, king of Sparta, in the form of a fwan, on 
 which account he placed that figure am.ongft the con- 
 ftellations. Leda brought forth two eggs, each con- 
 taining twins. From that impregnated by Jupiter 
 proceeded Pollux and Plelcna, both immortal ; from 
 the other Caftor and Clytemntftra,. who. being begot 
 by Tyndarus, were both mortal. They went, how- 
 ever, ail by the common name of Tyndari^lje, and 
 were born and educated in Paphnus, an ifland belong- 
 ing to Lacaedemon, though the Mtffinians difputed 
 this honour with the Spartans. The two brothers, 
 
 however, 
 
 ( 7 ) '1 he winter It- ing attended with frequent rains, it is not 
 itt.pu;barblc that Citiv) n.tdt fliouid be the C^n Aqvaiius 
 
I4Z FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 however, differing in their nature and temper (8), 
 had entered into an inviolable friendfliip, which laft- 
 ed for life. Jove foon after fent Mercury to remove 
 them to Pellene, for their further improvement. As 
 Jafon was then preparing for his expedition to Col- 
 chis, in fearch of the golden fleece, and the nobleft 
 youths of Greece crowded to become adventurers 
 With him, our two brothers offered their fervices, 
 and behaved, during the voyage, with a courage 
 worthy of their birth. Being obFiged to water on 
 the coaft of Babrycia, Amycus, fon of Neptune, 
 king of that country, challenged all the Argonauts to 
 box with him, Pollux accepted the bravado and killed 
 him. 
 
 After their return from Colchis, the two brothers 
 were very active in clearing the feas of Greece from 
 pirates. Thefeus, in the mean time, had ftolen their 
 lifter Helena ; to recover whom, they took Athens 
 by ftorm, but fpared all the inhabitants, except 
 '^thra, mother to Thefeus, whom they carried away 
 captive. For this clemency they obtained the title of 
 Diofcuri (9) ; yet love foon plunged them in the fame 
 error they had fought to punilh in the perfon of The- 
 feus. Leucippus and Arfinoe had two beautiful 
 daughters, called Phfjsbe and Taiayra. Thefe vir- 
 gins were contraded to JLynceus and Ida, the fons of 
 Aphareus. The tv/o brothers, without regard to 
 thefe engagements, carried them otfby force. Their 
 lovers flew to their relief, and met the ravilhers with 
 their prize near mount Taygetus. A fmart confii(^ 
 enfued, in which Caftor was killed by Lynceus, who, 
 in return, fell by the hands of Pollux. This immor- 
 tal brother had been wounded by Ida, if Jupiter had 
 not ftruck him with his thunder. Pollux, however, 
 was fo touched with his lofs, that he earneftly begged 
 of this dtit/ to make Caftor immortal ; but that re- 
 queft being impoPiible to grant, he obtained leave t« 
 fhare his own immortality with his brother ; fo that 
 they are faid to live and die alternatelv every day (1). 
 
 They 
 
 (8) This particular we learn from Horace : 
 
 Cijhr gaudet equis : ovo prognatiis eodem 
 Pugnis ; juot capitum vivuut totid^.tt Jiudiorum 
 
 7rMUa. Horat. 
 
 (9) The fons of Jupiter. 
 
 ( I ) Virgil alludes to this ; 
 
 Si fr.it. -^m Pollux (ilVrna mo te red.tnit 
 
 Itqus rtJique vu'.m. ViRG. iFneii VI. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 143 
 
 They were buried in the country of Lacedsemon, and 
 forty years after their deceafe tranllated to the Ikies, 
 where they form a conftellation called Gemini, (one 
 of the figns of the Zodiac) one of which ftars rifes as 
 the other fets. A dance of the martial kind was m- 
 vented to their honour, called the Pyrhic cr Cafto- 
 rean dance. 
 
 Caftor and Pollux were efteemed as deities propi 
 tious to navigation : the reafon was this : when the 
 Argonauts weighed from Sigseum (2), they v.-erc 
 overtaken with a tempeft, during which Orpheus 
 offered vows for the fafety of the ihip ; immediately 
 two lambent flames were difcovered over the heads 
 of Caftor and Pollux, whidi appearance was fucceed- 
 ed with fo great a calm, as gave the crew a notion of 
 their divinity. In fucceeding times thefe fires, often 
 feen by the mariners, were always taken as a good or 
 favourable omen. When one was feen alone, it was 
 reckoned to forbode fome evil, and was called He- 
 lena (3). 
 
 The Chephalenfes (or inhabitants of Cephalonia) 
 placed thefe two deities amongft the Dii Magni. The 
 vidims offered them were vvliite lambs. The Romans 
 paid them particular honours for their afhftance in 
 an engagement with the Latins, in which they ap- 
 peared on their lide, mounted on white horfes, and 
 turned the fcale of vivftory in their favour. For this 
 a temple was ere<5ted to them in the Forum. Amongfc 
 the Romans, iEcaftor was an oath peculiar to the 
 women, but iEdepol was ufed indifcriminately by 
 both fexes. 
 
 Caftor and Pollux were reprefented as two beauti- 
 ful youths, completely armed, and riding on white 
 horfes, with ftars over their helmets. Thefe deities 
 were unknown to the Egyptians or Phoenicians. 
 
 CHAP. XLVII. 
 
 OF FKR.SEUS AND BELLEHOP HON. 
 
 .1 tllS hero was the fon of Jupiter and Danae, 
 whofe amour has been already mentioned, and is ini- 
 mitably 
 '2) This cape lies near Troy. 
 (3) The £rft Hdciia carried off by Thcfetis. 
 
144 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 mitably defcribed by Horace (4). Acrifms her father, 
 on hearing of his daughter's difgrace, caufed her and 
 the infant to be fhut up in a cheft and caft into the 
 fea, which threw them on the ifle of Seriphus, go- 
 verned by king Polydede?, whofe brother l)i(5tys be- 
 ing a filhing, took them up, and ufed them kindly^ 
 When Perfous, for fo he was called, was grown up, 
 Polyde(5tes, who was enamoured of his mother, find- 
 ing he would be an obftacle to their courtfhip, con- 
 trived to fend him on an exploit he judged would be 
 fatal to him : this was to bring him the head of Me- 
 dufa, one of the Gorgons. This inchantrefs lived 
 near the Tritonian lake, and turned all who beheld 
 her into a ftone. Perfeus in this expedition was fa- 
 voured by the gods ; Mercury equipped him with a 
 fcymeter, and the wings from his heels ; Pallas lent 
 him a fliield, which reflected objedts like a mirror ; 
 and Pluto granted him his helmet, which gave him 
 ttie privilege of being invifible. in this manner he 
 flew to Tartefies in Spain, where, direded by his 
 mirror, he cut off Medufa's head, and putting it in 
 a bag lent him by the nymphs, brought it to Pallas. 
 From the biood arofe the winged horfe Pcgafu;?, and 
 all forts of ferpcnts. After this the hero paifed into 
 Mauritania, where his interview with Atlas has been 
 already fpoken of irndt-r its proper article (5). 
 
 In his return to Gre.::ce (others f-iy, at his firft fet- 
 ting out) he vilited Ethiopia, and mounted on Pe- 
 gafus, delivered Andromeda, daughter of Cephus, 
 king of that country, v/ho Vv'as expofed to a fea mon- 
 Iter. After his death this princefs, and her mother 
 Caffiope, or CafTiopeia, were placed amongft the celef- 
 tial conftellations. 
 
 Perfeus was not only famous for arms, but litera- 
 ture, if it be true that he founded an academy on 
 mount Helicon. Yet he had the misfortune inad- 
 vertently to commit the crime of parricide ; for be- 
 ing reconciled to his grandfather Acrifius, and play- 
 ing with him at the difcus or quoits, a game he 
 had invented, his quoit bruifed the old king in the 
 foot, which turned to a mortification, and carried 
 him off. Perfeus interred him, with great folcmni- 
 ty, at the gates of Argos. Perfeus himfelf was bu- 
 ried 
 
 (4) Horat. Lib. Til. Oie XVI. 
 
 (5) See the article of Atbs. 
 
1' H E HEATHEN GODS. 145 
 
 ried in the way between Argos and Mycense, had 
 divine honours decreed him, and wa;-? placed r.inongfl 
 the ftars. 
 
 Bellerophon, the fon of Glauciis, kinjr of Ki^h-yra, 
 and grandfon of Sifyphus, was boru at Co inih. 
 Happening accidently to kill his brother, he ii-^d to 
 PrKtus, king of Argos, who gave him an Lofpita- 
 ble reception ; but Sthenobgea, his queen, fa'lij g 
 enamoured with the beautiful flranger, whom no 
 eiltreaties could prevail on to injure his benefatflor, 
 accufed him to her hufband, who, unwilling to take 
 violent meafures, fent him into Lycia, with letters to 
 Jobates, his father-in-law (6), defiring him to punilh 
 the crime. This prince, at the receipt of the order, 
 vras celebrating a feftival of nine days, 'W hich pre- 
 vented Bellerophon 's fate. In the mean tim.e he 
 fent him to fiibdue the Solymi and Amazons, which 
 he i>erformed with fuccefs. Jobates next employed 
 him to deftroy the chimaera (7), a very uncommon 
 monfter. Minerva, or, as others fay, Neptune, 
 compafiionating his innocence, expofed to fuch re- 
 peated dangers, funiiilied lum with the horfe Pega- 
 fus, by whofe help he cam.e oiT vidorious. Jobalc?, 
 on his return, convinced of his truth and integrity, 
 and charmed with his virtue", gave him his daugh- 
 ter Philonoe, and affodiated him in h'is throne. Sthe- 
 nobasa hearing how her m;iliee wa.s difappointed, put 
 an end to her life. But, like other princes, Belle- 
 rophon grew fov)lini with too much profperity, and, 
 by the afTulaviCe of Pegafus, relolved to afcend the 
 fkics J Jnprter, to check his preiumption, ftruck him 
 blind in the fiight, and he fell back to the earth, where 
 he wandered till his death, in mifery and contempt. 
 Pegafus, however, made a flnit to get into heaven, 
 where Jupiter placed hizn amongft the conftella- 
 tions. 
 
 Let us once more try to give fome explanation of 
 thefe two fables. The fubjedts of Cyrus, who he- 
 fore this time had been known by the name of Cu- 
 thaeans and Elamites, henceforward began to be dif- 
 tinguiftied by that of the Perfians (8), or horfemen. 
 H For 
 
 (6) King, in his hiflory, makes jobates his fnn-in-la-'.v. 
 
 (7) The chiniaEra was a monfter with the forepart like a 
 lor;, the middle like a goat, sn J tKe tui! like v. ferijent. 
 
 i^.; Perfim, horfemen. 
 
146 TABUL QUS HISTORY OF 
 
 lor it was he who firft inured them to cqucftrian ex- 
 prcifes, and even made it fcandalous for one of them 
 to be fcen on foot. Perfes, or Perfeu?, then is a 
 horfeman. one who had learned the art of horfeman- 
 iliip from the Phoenicians, who attended Cadmus into 
 Greece. The wings at his heels, with which he is 
 faid to have been fiipplied by Mercury, were the 
 fpur? "^e v.'ore ; by the alTiftance of which he made 
 fuch fpeed. The Pegafus was no more than a reined 
 iU^ed (9). His rider, Bellerophon, is the captain of 
 the a-'chers or janctmen (i). The chimaera, having 
 the form of a lion before, a dragon behind, and a 
 goat between, is but the innocent reprefentative of 
 three captains of the Solymi, (a colony of the Phoe- 
 nicians in Pi'idia) whofe names, in the language of 
 that people, happened to fignify thefe three crea- 
 tures (a). And the very place in the country of the 
 Argives, where Bellerophon mounted his horfe and 
 fet forward, the Greeks called Kenthippe (3). From 
 fuch trifling grounds, the induftrious Greeks, ac- 
 cording to their cuilom, wove this wondrous taie. 
 
 C PI A P. XLVIII. 
 
 01 JASON, A>1D THE GOLDEN FLEECE. 
 
 T^HIS ancient Greek hero was the fon of iEfon, 
 king of Theflaly and Alcimede ; and by the father's 
 fide allied to ^olus. Pelias, his uncle, who was 
 left his guardian, fought to deftroy him ; but he was 
 conveyed by his father's friends to a cave, where 
 Chiron inftrudted him in phyfic ; whence he took the 
 name of Jafon (4). Arriving at years of maturity, 
 he returned to his uncle, who, probably with no 
 
 favourable 
 
 (9) From Pega, a bridle, and Sus, a horfe. 
 
 (ij From Bal, a lord or captain, and Harovin, archers or 
 >ancemen. 
 
 (1) Ary, a lion; Tfoban, a dragon; and Azal or Urzil, 
 a kid. 
 
 (3) From KtiTSu, to ftimulate or fpur, and TTr^of, an 
 horfe. See Bockart's Hierozoicon, 1. %, c. 6, p. 99. 
 
 '4) Or Healer, his former name beina^iomede. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 147 
 
 favourable intention to him, firft infpired him with 
 the notion of the Colchian expedition, and agreeably 
 flattered his ambition with the view of fo tempting a 
 prize as the Golden Fleece. 
 
 Athamas, king of Thebes, by his firfl: wife had 
 Helle and Phrixus. Ino, his fecond, fell in love with 
 Phrixus, her fon- in-law ; but being rejeO-led in her 
 advances, ihe took the opportunity of a great famine 
 to indulge her revenge, by perfuading her hufhand, 
 that the gods could not be appeafed, till he facrificcd 
 his fon and daughter. But as they ftood at the altar, 
 Nephele, their mother (5), invifibly carried them off, 
 giving them a golden ram (he had got from Mercury, 
 to bear them through the air ; however, in pafling 
 the Streights between Afia and Europe, Helle fell into 
 the fea, which from thence was called Hellefpont. 
 Phrixus continued his courfe to Colchis, where iEta, 
 king of the country, entertained him hofpitably ; 
 after which he offered up his ram to Jupiter (6), and 
 confecrated the ikin or hide in the grovie of Mart-. 
 It was called the Golden Fleece from its colour (7), 
 and guarded by bulls breathing fire, and a watchful 
 dragon that never flept, as a pledge of the utmoft im- 
 portance. 
 
 Jafon being determined on the voyage, 'built a vef- 
 fel at lolchos, in Thefialy, for the expedition (8). 
 The fame of this defign foon drew the bravell: and 
 moft diftinguifhed youth of Greece to become adven- 
 turers with him, though authors are not agreed as to 
 the names or number of the Argonauts, for lb they 
 were called (9). The firft place which Jafon touched 
 at was the ille of T.rinnos, where he continued fome 
 time with Hipfipile, the qu'^en, who bore him twins. 
 He next vifited Phineus, king of P.iphlagonia ; frum 
 H a whom, 
 
 (5) Nephele, in Greek, fignifies a cloud. 
 
 (6) Who placed it amongft the conftellations. 
 
 (7) Some make the fleece of a purple colour, others 
 white. 
 
 (8) Argos, a famous fhipwright, was the builder, whence 
 fhe was called Argo. 
 
 (9) Some make the number forty-nine, others more. The 
 principal were Ancseus, Idmon, Orpheus, Augia?, Ca'ai?, 
 Zethus, Caltor, Pollux • Tiphys was their pilot, and Lynccgs. 
 remarkable for his quick f?ght', their look-out in rale ot din- 
 ger. It is faid Hercules was with them, 
 
14^? -FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 ^ horn, as he had the gift of prophecy, he received 
 f /me informations of fsrvice to him in his enterprize. 
 After this, fafely pafiing the Cyanean rocks (i), he 
 tntered theEuxine, and landing on the banks of the 
 rhafis, repaired to the court of king iEta, and de- 
 manded the Golden Fleece. The monarch granted 
 his requt:!, provided he could overcome the diffi- 
 culties which I.iy in his way (2), and which appeared 
 r>ot ealiiy furrncimtable. Jafon v.-as more obliged to 
 Uvt than vnlour for his conqueft. Medea^ daughter 
 ta iEtaj by her enchantments, laid the dragon afleep, 
 ? :LJght him to fuLdtie the bulls, and fo by night he 
 p.iri-ied off the f rizt, taking v/ith him the princeft, 
 t-) whofe aid he xvas chiefly indebted for his fuc- 
 cd^ (3). 
 
 iEta, enraged at the trick put upon him, purfaed 
 the fugitives ; and, it is faid, that to e'l.d. his fury, 
 Jvledea tcre in pieces hor younger bic.':!i'.i, Abfyrtes, 
 2nd fcattered the lifribs in his way, to hop his pro- 
 grefo (4). After this Jafon returned faftly to Greece, 
 iiad foon heard thatPelias had deftroyed all his friends, 
 and made himfelf mafter of the kingdom. To re- 
 vc:ige this a<5ticn, Medea fails home before him, and 
 introducing herfelf to the daughters of Pelias, under 
 The chara<rter of a prieftefs of Diana, fliewcd them 
 feveral furprizirg inftances cf her magical power. 
 She propofed making their father young again, and 
 to convince them of the poflibility cf it, fhe cut an 
 old ram in pieces, and feethirg it in a ca. Idron, pro- 
 duced a young lamb. The daughter:;, f.t-viiig Pelias 
 in the fame manner, killed him (5), and fl'-d the coun- 
 try. Jafon, having notice of this, arrived in ThefTa- 
 }y, and took pofleflion of the kingdom ; but after- 
 v/ards he genercufly Teftored it to Acaftus, fon of 
 
 Pelias, 
 
 (i) Cyariean recks, called the Syrnplegades, were fo called 
 bccaufe they floated, and often crushed fhips together. The 
 Argonauts efcaped this danger, by fending out a pigeon, and 
 lying by till they faw her fly through. 
 
 (a) Such as killing the brazen-footed bulls, and the dragon. 
 
 (3) Ovid, lib. VII. 159. 
 
 (4) Others fay, that ^ta, to obflru<ft their return, ftationed 
 a fleet at the mouth of the Euxine ft.a, and fo obliged Jafcn 
 to come home by the weft of Europe. 
 
 (5) Some authors relate this ftory differently, and fay that 
 this experiment v.as tritd hy Medea on JEioOy Jafon's father. 
 Sec Ovid in the f Lcc cited. 
 
•1' HE HE A T H EN GO D S. i .! > 
 
 Ptlias, who had accompanied him in tlie Colchfan 
 expedition, and with Mv^dea went and fettled at 
 Corinth. 
 
 Here Jafon finding himfelf cenfured for cohabitin.4 
 with a forcerefs a!id aftranger, quitted her, and mar- 
 ried Criifa, daughter to Creon, king of the country. 
 Medea fe em in gly approved the rn^tch, but meditated 
 a fevere revenge. She fail privately killed the two 
 children /he had by him, and then fent the bride a 
 p^'efent of a robe and a gold crown tinged in iiaptha, 
 which fet fire to her and the whole pahtce. The en- 
 chantrefs then afcending her car (6), drawn by dra- 
 gons, cfcaped through the air to Athens, where ihi 
 married king i£geus, by whom ihe had a fon named 
 Medus. But attempting to poifon Thcfeus, his eldeft 
 fon, and the defign being revealed, flie with her fon 
 Medus fkd to Aiia, where he left his name to Me- 
 <lia (7). 
 
 Jafon had feveral temples ereded to him, particu- 
 larly one at Athens, by Parmenio, of poiifhed mar- 
 ble. The place where he was chiefly worlliipped was 
 at Abdera, in Thrace. 
 
 If we feck for the real truth of the Argonautic er.- 
 pedition, v/e fhall find it to be this : the value of 
 the royal treafury at Colchis had been greatly cried 
 up ; and the pillage of it was the thing aimed at by 
 the Argonautic enpedition. The word Gaza, in th<: 
 Colchian language (the fame, according to Herodotue, 
 with the Egyptian) fignifies a fleece as well as a trea- 
 fure. This gave occaiion to the circumftance of ih^ 
 Golden Fleece. The word Sor is alfo wall and a 
 bull; Nachafli, brafs and a ferpent. So this treafure 
 being fecured by a double wall ar.d brafs doors, th^y 
 formed hence a romantic ftcry of its being a Golden 
 Fleece, guarded by two bulls and a dragon (3). The 
 mariner's compafs is fuppofed (9) to have made a 
 part of this tr eafure, (and, if fo, this was of itfelf a 
 curiofity of ii>fir>ite value) whence the fnips cf Phrixus 
 and Jafor, v.!;i.;h carried it, are faid to have been 
 oracular a/.d to hav-e given refponfes. 
 
 . C II A P, 
 
 (6/ Given her by Phoebus, or the Sun. 
 (7) A region cf Porfja, 
 {?,) Bochait in Phakg. 1. 4. c. 31. p. s8^. 
 [ij/ Stukc'Iy's Stonehcnge. 
 
150 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 CHAP. XLIX. 
 
 OF THESEUS AND ACHILLES. 
 
 With thefe two great men, we Ihall clofe the lift 
 of demi-gods and heroes. 
 
 Thefeus was fon to JEgeus, king of Athens and 
 iEthra. In his youth he had an early paffion for 
 glory, and propofed Hercules for his model. Sciron, 
 a notorious robber, who infefted the roads between 
 Megara and Corinth, was by him thrown down a 
 precipice, as he was accuftomed to treat fuch as fell 
 into his hands. Procruftes, a famous tyrant of Attica, 
 he fattened to a bended pine, which being loofed, 
 tore him afunder (i). 
 
 His firft diftinguifhing adventure was the deftrudi- 
 on of the Cretan minotaur. Mines, king of that 
 ifland, had made war on JEgeus, becaufe the Athe^ 
 nians had bafely killed his fon, for carrying away 
 the prize from them. Being vi»5torious, he impofed 
 this fevere condition on the vanquifhed, that they 
 fiiould annually fend feven of their nobleft youths, 
 chofen by lot, into Crete, to be devoured by the mi- 
 notaur (2). The fourth year of this tribute, the 
 choice fell on Thef(?us, fon to JEgeus, or, as others 
 fiy, he entreated to be fent himfclf. However this 
 be, on the arrival of Thefeus at the court of Minos, 
 Ariadne, his daughter, fell deeply in love with him, 
 and gave him a clue, by which he got out of the la- 
 byrinth.- This done, he failed with his fair deliverer 
 for the ifle of Naxos, where he ungratefully left her 
 1 ,0> and where Bacchus found her, and took her for 
 his miftrefs. 
 
 The 
 
 (i) He was a tyrant of Attica, who fcized all ft rangers, 
 and meafured them by his bed ; if they were too long for it, 
 he cut them fiiorter; if too fhort, he ftretched them till they 
 died. 
 
 {Z) Pafiphae, wife to Minos, king of Crete, and daughter 
 of the Sun, inftigated by Venus, conceived a brutal paflTion 
 for a bail. To gratify her, Dicdalus contrived an artificial 
 cow, in which pla:ing her, fhe had her dcHre. The fruit of 
 this beartial amour was the minotaur, who was kept In a 
 Jabyrinth made by the fame D»dalus, and fed with human 
 ilcfh. 
 
 i-^' For tkis ftorv fee the article of Bacchus. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 151 
 
 The return of Thefeiis, through his own negle^, be- 
 came fatal to his father. The good king, at his de- 
 parture, had charged him, as he f^iilcd out with black 
 lails, to return with the fame in calc he mifcarried, 
 otherwife to change them to white. Impatiently he 
 every day went to the top of a rock that overlooked 
 the ocean, to fee what iliips appeared in view. At 
 laft his fon's veflel is difcovered, but with the fable 
 omens he dreaded ; fo that through defpair he threw 
 himfelf into the fea, which ftill retains his name (4). 
 The Athenians decreed ^geus divine honours, and 
 Ijicrificed to him as a marine deity, the adopted fon 
 of Neptune. 
 
 Thefeus performed after this feveral confiderable 
 adions : he killed the minotaur, he overcame the 
 Centaurs, fubclued the Thebans, and defeated the 
 Amazons. He aflifted his friend Pirithous, in his 
 enterprize to the infernal w^orld, to carry off Profer- 
 pine ; bat in this expedition he failed, being impri- 
 foned or fettered by Pluto, till releafed by Hercules. 
 No doubt, was the fiory of Thefeus divefted of the 
 marvellous, it would make a confiderable figure (5;. 
 
 Thefeus had feveral wives ; his tirffc was Helena, 
 daughter of Tyndarus, w'hom he carried off; the fe- 
 cond Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons, given him 
 by Hercules ; the laft was Phsedra, filler to Ariadne, 
 v/hofe lewdnefs fuificiently puniflied him for his 
 infidelity to her lifter. This princefs felt an in- 
 ceftuDus flame for her fon-in-lavv, Hippolitus (6), 
 a youth of uncommon virtue and chaftity. On 
 his repulfing 'her folicitations, her love turned to 
 hatred, and flie accufed him to his father, for an at- 
 tempt to ravifh her. Thefeus, now grown old and 
 uxorious, too eafily gave ear to the accufation. The 
 prince, informed of his danger, fled in his chariot ; 
 but his horfes being frighted by the PhociE, or fea 
 calves, threw him out of his feat, and his feet 
 being intangled, he was dragged through the 
 woods, and torn in pieces (7). Phsedra, tormented 
 
 with 
 
 (4) The ^gean fea. 
 
 (5) He firft walled Athens, and inftituted Iaw6; together 
 with tii.it democratic form of government which lafted till 
 the tiir... of Pififtratus. 
 
 (6j Con of Hippolyta, queen of the Amazons. 
 
 (7) Some fay iEfculapius reftortd hhn ta life, and that he 
 came into It-ily. wJverc he changed hU name to Virbius, j. e. 
 twice a roan. 
 
JSi FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 with remorfc, laid violent bands on heifcif; arid 
 foQTX after Theiem, being exiled from Athens, ^.-nded 
 an illufirious life in obfcurity. 
 
 To explain the ilory of the minotaur : it is faid, 
 that PaliphcC fell in love with a young nobleman of 
 the court, named Taurus ; that Dsedalus lent his 
 houle for the better candying on of their intrigue, 
 during a long illnefs of Minos ; and that the queen 
 in due time was delivered of two children, one of 
 which refembled Mino?, the other Taurus, whence 
 the minotaur : and the Athenians have aggravated 
 the ftory, from their extreme prejudice to Minos. 
 
 But what became of the Athenian youth, the tax 
 of whom w^as three times paid ? The Cretan king 
 had inftituted funeral games in honour of Androgeos, 
 v/Iierein thofe unhappy flaves were affigned as the 
 prize of the conqueror. The firft who bore away 
 all the prizes was Taures, of an infolent and tyran- 
 nical difpoiiticn, and particularly fcvere to the Athe- 
 nians delivered up to him ; which contributed not a 
 little to the fable. Thefe wretches grew old in fer- 
 vitude, and were obliged to earn their living by the 
 moft painful drudgery under Taurus, the fubjed of 
 Minos ; and may therefore with fome propriety be 
 faid to have been devoured bj^ him. But it is certain 
 rliat they neither fought at thofe games, nor v/ere 
 defcroyed by the cruelty of a monfter which never 
 exifted (8). 
 
 Of the flime ftamp is the tale of the Centaurs. 
 The 7'helTr'Jiaps pretty early diftinguifhed themfelves 
 from the rcil of Greece, v,'ho fought only on fcnat or 
 in chariots, by their application to hovfem.anfhi^. 
 'J'o acquire the more agility in this exercife, theV 
 were wont to fight with bulls, whom thtT^ pierced 
 'vvith darts or javelins ; whence they obtained the 
 name of Centrnrs (9} and Hippocentaui-s (i). As 
 ihefe horfemen became formidable by their depreda- 
 tions, the equivocation, which appeared in the name, 
 made them to be r.ccoiiiited monflers, compounded 
 of two natures. The potts catched at this idea, 
 which gave the ftory the air of the mrrvtllous ; and 
 they v/ho made cianrcs to pafs for golden apples, 
 
 fliepher- 
 
 (8) Abbe Bc<.nitr's.MY:hoIoj;y, vol. 3, p. 500. 
 
 (9) From /cVTEw, to piick or laiKC, and Tai/jcf, a bu-IL 
 ;i) Ta-G-Ti 'iTrro-, an hdiir. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. ic.? 
 
 fliepherdeffes for nymphs, fhepherds in difguife fcr 
 Myrs, and f^^iips with fails for winged dragons, would 
 make no difficulty in calling horfemen Centaurs (2^. 
 
 Achilles was the offspring of a .goddef?. ^Thetis 
 bore him to Peleus(3\ and was fo fond of him, "that flic 
 took hcrfelf the charge of his education. By day 
 Ihe fed him with ambrofia, and by night covered him 
 with celeftial iire, to render him immortal (4). She 
 alfo dipped him in the waters of Styx, by which his 
 whole body became invulnerable, except that part of 
 his heel by which Ihc held him. She afterwards intruft- 
 ed him to the care of the Centaur Chiron, (the mafter 
 of fo many heroes) w ho fed him with honey and the 
 marro%y of lions and wild boars, to give him that 
 ftrength and force necefTary for martial toil. 
 
 When the Greeks undertook the fiegc of Troy, 
 Chcdcas, the prieft of Apollo, foretold the city could 
 nevfjr be taken, unlefs Achilles was prtfent. Thttir-., 
 his mother, who knew what would be his fate if lie 
 went thtre, had concealed him in female difguife in 
 tlie palace of Lycomedes, king of the ifle of Scyros. 
 Uiylfes, who had engaged to bring him to the Greek 
 camp,, having difcovered the place of his retreat, 
 ufed the following artifice : under the appearance of 
 a merchant, he is introduced to the djuighters of 
 Lycomedes, and v>rhile they were ftudioufiy intent cu 
 viewing his toy?, Achilles employed himfelf in^ e» 
 amining an helmet and fome other armour, which 
 the cunning politician had purpofely thrown in his 
 way. Thus was Acbilles prevailed on to go to Troy, 
 after Thetis furnifhed him with a fuit of impenetra- 
 ble armour made by Vulcan (5). His anions before 
 Troy, as well as his character, are fo finely defcribcd 
 by Homer, that it would be doing them injuftice to 
 repeat them here. It is fuifjcient to f-ry he could 
 BOt efcape his fate, being treacheroufly killed by 
 H 5 I'aris 
 
 (2) See the Abbe Banicr's Mythology, vol. 3, p. 536. 
 
 (3) King of Theffaly. 
 
 (4) See the ftory of Triptolemus, under the arrixrie oit' 
 Ceres. Upon Peleus difcovering this, Thetis parted froui 
 him. 
 
 (5) The dcfcrlption of this fhicld in Komcr is one of that 
 poet's m'rtfler-picc.'s. 
 
134 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 Paris (6), who with an arrow wounded him in 
 the only part that v/as vulnerable. The Greeks, 
 after the capture of Troy, endeavoured to appeafe 
 bis manes, by facrificing Polyxena. The oracle at 
 Dodona decreed him divine honours, and ordered 
 annual vi(!iims to be offered at his tomb,. In puriu- 
 ance 6f this, the Theflalians brought hither yearly 
 two bulls, one black, the other white, crowned with 
 v/rcaths of flowers, and water from the river Sperchius. 
 
 CHAP L. 
 
 OF Cx\DMUS, EUROPA, AMPHION, AND ARION. 
 
 A GENOR, king of Phoenicia, by the nymph Melia, 
 had a daughter called Europa, one of the moil beau- 
 tiful princefles of her age. She could hardly then be 
 fuppofed to efcape the notice of Jupiter, whofe gal- 
 lantries extended to all parts of the world. To feduce 
 her, he aflumed the form of a white bull, and ap- 
 peared in the meadows, where (he was walking with 
 her attendants. Pleafed with the beauty and gentle- 
 .nefs of the animal, fhe ventured on his back, and im- 
 mediately the god triumphantly bore her off to Crete 
 (7) ; where laying afide his difgiiife, he made the bull 
 a conftellation in the Zodiac, and^ to liOnoufhis new 
 liiiftrefs, gave her name to the fourth part of the v/orld. 
 
 In the mean timeAgenor, difconiolate for hisdaugh- 
 ter's lofs, fent his fons, Cadmus and Thafus, with 
 different fleets, in fearch of her (8 \ Thafus fettled 
 in an ifland of the JEgean fea, to which he gave 
 his name (9). Cadmus enquiring of the Delphic 
 oracle for a fettlement, was anfwered, that he fliould 
 follow the direction of a cow, and build a city where 
 fhe laid down. Arriving among the Phocenfes, here 
 one of Pelagon's cows met him, and conducted him 
 
 through 
 
 (6) The cafe was thus : Achilles enamoured with Polyxena, 
 defired her of Priam, who conlepted to the match. The 
 nuptials were to be folemnized in the temple of Apollo, 
 where Paris had privately concealed himfelf, ard took the 
 opportunity to kill Achilles. 
 
 (7; Ovid, Lib. II. 835. 
 
 (8; With an injun6lion not to return without her under 
 pain of banifhnient. 
 
 (9) It was before called Plate, 
 
T H r 11 E A T H £ N G o r fl. iss 
 
 through Boeotia, to the place where Thtbes was after- 
 wards built. As he was about to lacriiice his guide 
 to Pallas, he feiit two of his comp.iny to the foun- 
 tain Dirce, for water, who were killed by a dragon. 
 Cadmus foon revenged their death by flaying the 
 monfter ; but fowing his teeth, according to Pallas's 
 advice, there fprung up a number of men armed, 
 who affaulted him to revenge their father's death. 
 Jt feems the goddefs of wifdom had only a mind 
 to frigliten him ; for on his cafling a (tone amongft 
 them, thefe upftart warriors turned their weapons 
 on each other with fuch animofity, that only five 
 lurvived the combat, v/lio proved very ufeful to 
 Cadmus, in founding his new city. Alter this, to 
 recompenfe his toils, the gods gave Cadmus Har- 
 monia orllermione, thedau^jhtcr of Mars and Vtnus,, 
 and honoured his nupiiahi with peculiar prefents and 
 marks of favour. But their pofterity proving unfor- 
 tunate, they quitted Thebes to Pentheus, and went 
 to govern the Eclellenfes, where, in an advanced av,-e, 
 they were turned to lerpents (i), or, others fay, feat 
 to the Elyfian Fields in a chariot drawn by ferpents. 
 The Sidonians decreed divine honours to Europa, and 
 coined money in memory of her, with the figure of 
 a woman crolhng the fea on a bull. 
 
 The Greeks were indebted to Cadmus, for the in- 
 Tenlion of brafs, and the firft ufe of arms. In the 
 Phoenician tongue the t-ivo (u,ordsy which the Greeks. 
 \r3.n?i3.\.ttX ferpeni^ s ieetby iignified as well fpears of 
 brafs {%). The ambiguity of another nvord iielped en 
 the fable (3), which from the difference of pronuncia- 
 tion fignified either the number fi^vc, or one ready for 
 aBion i and fo the fame fentence, which, with the 
 Phoenicians, intended only that he commanded a dijci- 
 pHned body of men armed Kjosth fpears of brcfj, was 
 rendered by thefe miracle-mongers, he made an army 
 of ffve men out of the teeth of a f-rpent {a,). Cadmus 
 being an Hivite, a name of near affinity v/ith that of 
 a ferpent, gave further occaUon to that part of it, 
 which fays that his men fprung frcm a ferpent, and 
 that himielf and his wife were changed into this ani- 
 mal. Thus induftrious were the Greeks to involve 
 the moft iimple fa<fls in the moft myfterious confufiono 
 
 The 
 
 (1) Ovid, Lib. IV. 56:1. 
 
 (2) Sheni Nachafh. 
 <3) Chemefh. 
 
 (4} Bochart de Coloniis Phcenicium, cap. 19. 
 
Ij6 FA-B ULCUS HISTORY OF 
 
 TV.e r'-v:^nicians with CadmuR, expelled their coun- 
 try ] y jofrm, fiift introduced among the Greeks the 
 practice !>f confeoiMting ftatiies to the gods ; and the 
 life of letters ; t'lence called Phoenician or Cadmaean 
 letter?. For tie Greek charaders are manifeftly taken 
 from the Samaritan or Phoenician alphabet. Cadmus 
 and Og, or Ogyges, are the fame : whence any thing 
 very ancient was termed Ogygian by the Thehans. 
 The Gophyrsei, fettled at Athens, Avere Phoenicians 
 that came with him, and preferved the memory of 
 liim by the name of Ogyges ; as from his name Cad- 
 ftrnis, or Cadem (5), was their famous place of learn- 
 ing, and thence every other named AcademiR(6). 
 
 Amphion, the fon of Jupiter and Antiope, was in- 
 ftrufted in the lyre by Mercury, and became fo great 
 a. proficient, that he is reported to Iiave raifed th« 
 walls of Thebes by the power of his harmony. He 
 married Niol>e, whofe infult to Diana occafioned the 
 iofs of their cliildren. The unhappy father, in de- 
 fp.rlr, attem})ted to deftroy the temple of Apollo, 
 but was puni filed with the Iofs of his figl.t and fkiil, 
 ?nd thrown into the infernal regions. 
 
 Arion was a native of Methymna, and 1. 'th a fkil- 
 f il mufician and a good Dithyrambic poet. He lived 
 in the time of Periander, king of Corinth. After 
 pafling fome time in Italy and Sicily, and acquiring 
 an eafy fortune by his profeffion, he failed from Ta- 
 rentum in a Corinthian veffel homeward-bound. 
 When they were got to fea, the avaritious crew 
 agreed tD throw Arion over-beard, in order to fhare 
 his money. Having in vain ufed all his eloquence to 
 foften them, he played a farewell air (called Lex 
 Orthia), and crowned with a garland, with a harp in 
 his hand, plunged into the fea, where a dolphin, 
 charmed with his melody, received him, and bore 
 him fafe to Tsenarus, near Corinth. Having inform- 
 ed Periander of his ftory, the king was incredulous^ 
 till the fnip arrived, when ^he mariners, being feized 
 and confronted with Arion, owned the fadt, andfuf- 
 fered the punilhment due to their perfidy. For this 
 adion the dolphin was made a conftellation. 
 
 " CHAP. 
 
 (5) Signifying the Eaft. He was fo called becatifc he 
 came from thence. 
 
 » ailllngfiect's Orl<:-: e& facr??. 
 
THE HEATHEN COD. 157 
 
 C H A P. LI. 
 
 OF ^OLUS AND TVOREAS 
 
 J N the multiplication of fabulous dc'licp, the an- 
 cients not only afiigncd each element, and prirt of 
 nature its tutelar god, but even idolized the paffions. 
 No wonder then if we fee a god or cl'.lef of Ihe winds 
 too, controiiiing all the reft. This province was na- 
 turally aifigned to that which was the nioft violent 
 and uncontronlrible itfelf. For this imarjnary deity 
 they borrowed a name from the Phoenicians, and 
 called him vEolus (7), the fon of Jupiter, by Acafia 
 or Sigefia, the daughter of Hippotus. He reigned 
 in the Lipai-iean ifles, near Sicily, from whence per- 
 haps the fable took its onginal ( 8) ; but his refidence 
 was at Strongyle, now called Strombolo (9). Here 
 he held thefe unruly powers enchained in a vaft cave, 
 to prevent their committing the like devaftation they 
 had been guilty of before they were put under hJs 
 dii-ecT:ion (i). 
 
 According to feme authons, the iEolian or Lipa- 
 rean illcb were uninhr.bited, till i ipavu=, the fon of 
 Aufonis, fettled a colony here, and gave one of 
 them his name. JEolus, the fen of Hippotus, who 
 married his daughter, peopled the rcif , and fucceeded 
 him in the throne. He ruled his fubje<fts v/ith equity 
 and mildnefs, was a hofpitabJe good prince, and 
 being ficilled in Aftronomy, by means of the reflux 
 of the tides which is remarkable near thofe iflands, 
 as well as by obferving fie nature of the volcanos 
 with which they a bound, he was able to foretell the 
 winds that fhould blow fi-om fnch a cjuarter (2}. 
 
 We are indebted to Virgil f c r a fine poetical de- 
 fcriptien of this god, when Juno vilits his cave to 
 defire his afiiftance to dcflroy JEneas in his voyage 
 to Italy. 
 
 Boreas 
 
 (7' From Aol or Alol, a Horni, whirlpool or tcmpeft. 
 
 { 8 j Thefe iflands being greatly fubjed to winds and ftorms. 
 
 (9) Famovisfor its volcano, though fome place his refidence 
 at Regio in Calabria. 
 
 ( I ; They had disjoined Italy from Sicily, and by drfuniting 
 Europe from Africa, opened a palTage for the ocean to form 
 the Mediterranean fea. 
 
 (a) It is faid that before a foutherly wind blows, Lipara is 
 covered with a thick cloud; but when it changes to the 
 r-orth,thc volcano emit? clear Came, with a remarkable noife. 
 
ijg FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 Boreas was of uncertain parentage j but his ufual 
 refidence v/as in Thrace (3). WheYi Xerxes, king 
 of Perfia, crofled the Hellefpont with his numerous 
 armada, to invade Greece, the Athenians invoked 
 his afliilance, and he fcattered and deftroyed the 
 greateft part of their fleet. This deity, notwith- 
 flanding his rage, was not inflexible to love. He de- 
 bauched Chloiis, the daughter of Arcturus, by whom 
 he had Hyrpace, and carried her to mount Niphates, 
 (called the bed of Boreas) but lince known by the 
 name of Caucalus : but his favourite miftrefs was 
 Oi ithya, the daughter of Eridheu:;, king of Athens. 
 By this princefs he had two fons, Zetes and Calais, 
 who attended Jafon in the Colchic expedition, deli- 
 vered Phineus from the Harpies (4), and were after- 
 wards killed by Hercules : as alfo four daughters, 
 Upis, Laxo, Hecaerge, and Cleopatra. Perhaps the 
 north wind, or Boreas alone, was deified, becaufe, of 
 the regular winds, it is the moft tempeftuous and 
 raging that blows. 
 
 CHAP. LH. 
 
 OF MOMUS AND MORPHEUS. 
 
 JVlOMUS was the god of pleafantry and wit, or 
 rather the jefter of the celeftial atfembly ; for, like 
 other great monarchs, it was but reafonable that 
 Jupiter fhould have his fool. We have an inftance 
 of his farcaftic humour in the conteft between Nep- 
 tune, Minerva, and Vulcan, for fkill. The firft had 
 made a bull ; the fecond a houfe ; and the third a 
 man ; Momus found fault with them all : he diflikcd 
 the bull, becaufe his horns were not placed before 
 Ids eyes, that he might give a furer blow ; he con- 
 demned Minerva's houfe, becaufe it was immovea- 
 ble, and fo could not be taken away if placed in a 
 bad neighbourhood. With regard to Vulcan's man, 
 
 he 
 
 (3) Probably becaufe this country is much fubje<9: to the 
 cold northerly winds. 
 
 (4) Some fay out of en\'y for their fwiftnefs; others, be- 
 caufe their father had by a tempeft deftroyed the ifle of Cos. 
 
r H E HEATHEN GODS. 
 
 *i9 
 
 he faid he ought to have made a window in his 
 breaft. Hefiod makes Momus (5) the fon of Somnus 
 and Nox. 
 
 Morpheus (6) was the god of dreams, and the 
 fon of Somnus, whom Ovid calls the moft placid of 
 all the deities. Mr. Addifon obferves, that he is 
 ftill reprcfented by the anciv:nt ftatuaries under the 
 figure of a boy afleep, with a bundle of poppy in 
 his hand : and bluck marble, from the relation which 
 it bears to night, has with great propriety been made 
 ufe of. 
 
 CHAP. LIU. 
 
 OF ORION. 
 
 i HE origin, or birth of Orion, borders a little 
 on the marvellous. Hyricus, a citizen of Tanagra, 
 in Boeotia, was fo hofpitable to ftrangers, that Ju- 
 piter, Neptune, and Mercury, were refolved, under 
 the charader of benighted travellers, to know the 
 tvuth. Their entertainment was fo agreeable, that, 
 difcovering their quality, they offered the old man 
 whatever he fhould alk ; his requtft was a fon (7}. 
 The gods, to gratify his wifh, called for an ox hide, 
 in which having depofited their urine, they bid him 
 keep it under ground for ten months ; at the expi- 
 ratii*n of which time, he found it produced a boy, 
 who was at firft called Urion, to exprefs his origin ; 
 but after, for decency's fake, his name was changed 
 to Orion. 
 
 He was a remarkable hunter, and kept a fleet pack 
 of hounds. Ntptune gave him the power of walkmg 
 on the furface of the waters, with the fame fpeed 
 that Iphiclus did (8) over the ears of corn. This 
 faculty fcemed needlefs, if it be true that Orion was 
 fo tail, that the deepeft fea could net cover his 
 
 fhoulders, 
 
 (5) From M(W|M.(^, cavilling or finding fault. 
 
 (6) From Mog4»i, a form or vifion. 
 
 (7) His wife having left him childlefs, whom on hdr 
 ieath-bed he promifed never to marry again. 
 
 (&J Brother to Hercules. See the article of that god. 
 
r6o FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 fhoulders. As a proof of thi?, he crofled from the 
 continent of Greece to the ifle of Chios, where at- 
 tempting to vitiate ^rope, the wife of king Oenopion, 
 that monarch deprived him of his eye-fight (9). 
 From Chios he proceeded and foimd his way to 
 Lelbos, where Vulcan received him kindly, and gave 
 him a guide to the palace of the lim, who reltored 
 him to light. He then made war on Oenopion, wha 
 concerned himfelf under ground to efcape his ven- 
 geance ; fo that fruftrated of his defii-n he went to 
 Crete, where he purfued his favourite exercife of 
 huntiiig. But having by fom.e means offended 
 Diana (i), that goddefs put him to death (2); but 
 afterwards relenting, prevailed on Jupiter to raifc 
 him to the fkies, where he forms a conftellaticn (3)* 
 remarlcible for prediding rain and tempeftuous 
 weather. 
 
 CHAP. LIV. 
 
 OF THE MARINE DEITIES, OCEANUS, NEREUS^ 
 TRITON, INO, PALEMON, AND GLAUCUS. 
 
 /V S the ancient theogany took care to people the 
 heavens and air with deities, fo the fea naturally 
 came in for its ihare, nor was it juft to leave the cx- 
 tendect realms of water without protedion and guar- 
 dianfliip. Neptune, though monarch of the deep?,, 
 could not be prefcnt every where, and it was proper 
 to affign him deputies, who might relieve him of fome 
 part of the weight of government. 
 
 Nereus fon of Oceajius, fettled himfelf in the 
 iSgean fea, and was regarded as a prophet. He had 
 the faculty of afmming what form he pleafed. By 
 
 his 
 
 (9) His purfuit of the Pleiades has been mentifcHed under 
 the article of Atlas. 
 
 (i) Either for attempting her chaftity, or for boafting his 
 fuperior fkill in the chace ; others fay, for endeavouring t« 
 debauch Opis, one of her nymphs. 
 
 (a; Either by her arrows, or as others fay, railing a 
 icorpion, which gave him a mortal wound. 
 
 (3) Virgil calls it Nimbofus Oripn, on account of tl.e 
 fhowers which attend his rifing. JEneid I. 555. Lib. IV. 52. 
 
T H E }i E A THEN GODS. jCl 
 
 his wife Doris he had fifty nymphs, cDi'ed Nereids (4% 
 ^vho conftantly attended on Ne-ptiine, and when he 
 went abroad furrounded his ehariot. 
 
 Triton was the fon of Neptune and Amphif rite{5), 
 and was his fiither's herald. He fometimes delighted 
 in mifchief, for he carried otF the cattle from the 
 Tanagrian fields, and dcftroyed the fmall coafting 
 veflTels ; fo that to appeafe his refentment, thofe peo- 
 ple oflered him libations of new wine. Of this he 
 drank fo freely tl-.it he fell yfloep, and tumbling from 
 an eminence, one of the natives cut off his head. 
 He left a daughter called Triftia, by whom Mars had 
 a fon named Menalippus. 
 
 This god is represented of a human form, from 
 the waill upwards, with blue eyes, a large mouth, 
 and hair matted like wild parlley. His fhoulders 
 were covered with a purple fkin, variegated with 
 fmall fcales, his feet refembling the fore feet of a 
 horfe, and his lower parts turned like a dolphin with 
 a forked tail. Sometimes he is drawn in a car with 
 horfes of a fky colour. His trumpet is a large conch, 
 or fea fhell. Ovid (6) has given two very beautiful 
 dcfcriptions of him. There were indeed many Tri- 
 tons, who compofed the numerous equipage of 
 Neptune, and ,were reckoned as deities propitious to 
 navigation. 
 
 Ino was the daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia, 
 and married to Athamas king cf Thebes. This 
 prince having the misfortune to lofe his fenfes, killed 
 his fon Learchus in one of his mad fits, upon which 
 his queen, to fave Melicertcs, her remaining boy, 
 leaped with him from the rock Molyris into the fea. 
 Neptune received them with open arms, and gave 
 them a place amonefl the marine gods, only changing 
 their names, Ino being called LeUcothea, and Meli- 
 certcs, Palemon (7) ; for this we are indebted to the 
 
 fertile 
 
 (.1.) By which are meant the rivers which empty themfclves 
 in the ocean. 
 
 (5) Some fay of Noptuiie and Calcno, others of Nereus 
 ©r Occanus. 
 
 (6) Ovid Met. Lib. I. 
 
 (7) I'he Romans called him Portiinus ; and painted him 
 vAih a key in his lumJ, to denote him a guardian of har- 
 bours. 'I'o hio ihty gave the name of IVIatuta, being re- 
 puted the goddcfs that ulhcrs in the morning. 
 
i6z FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 fertile invention of the Greeks, Mdiccrtes being no 
 other than Melcarihus or' Hercules of Tyre, who, 
 from having be^n drowned in it, v;as called a god of 
 the fea, and from his many voyages, the guardian of 
 harbours. 
 
 Glaucus was a fi'herman, v/hofe deification hap- 
 pened in a comical manner. His parentage and 
 country (8) are varioufly reported : but he was an 
 excellent fwimmer, and a fkilful filherman. Having 
 one day taken a large draught in his nets, he obferved 
 with furprize, that the fifties on tailing a certain 
 herb jumped into the fea ag?in. Upon trying the 
 experiment upon himfelf, he followed them, and be- 
 came a fea god. Some afcribe to Glaucus the gift 
 of prophecy. Ovid has not forgot his transforma- 
 tion amongft his metamorphofes (9). Virgil has 
 given an elegant lift of the fea deities in his fifth 
 iEncidCi). 
 
 CHAP. LV. 
 
 OF PROTEUS AND PHORCYS, WITH THE CRJEM 
 AND GORGONS, SCVLLA AND CHARYBDIS. 
 
 Proteus, the fon of Neptune, by the nymph 
 Phzenice, was by his father appointed keeper of the 
 Phocie, or fea-calves. His rcfidence was at Alexan- 
 dria, in Egypt, from whence in a journey he made 
 to Phlegra (i), he married the nymph Torone, who 
 bore him Tmolous and Telegonus, both killed by 
 Hercules for their cruelty to ftrangers. Their father 
 Proteus, who left them on account of their inhofpi- 
 table temper, it is fa;d, was not much concerned at 
 their death. By Torone he had alfo three daughters, 
 Cabera, Ratia, and Idothea. Proteus ha-l the art of 
 alfuming all forms (3); as alfo the gift of prophecy or 
 
 divination ; 
 
 (8) Some make him the fon of Mercury, others of Nep- 
 tune, others of Anthadon ; on account of his IkUl in fwim- 
 ming he was called Pontius. 
 
 (9) Ovid, Lib. XII I. 8.;-;. 
 (j) iEneid, Lib. V. 82^. 
 
 • (2) A town in Campania. 
 (3) See Ovid, Lib. YiU. 730. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 16,3 
 
 divination ; Orphea# calls him the univerfal principle 
 of nature. 
 
 Hiflorians make Proteus king of Carpathus (4) who 
 on account of his great character for vvifdom and 
 equity, was chofen king of Egypt, and deified after 
 his death. According to Herodotus, Paris and He- 
 lena in their flight from Sparta, were received at his 
 court, where Helen continued all the time of the 
 Tioian fiege, after which he reftored her honourably 
 to Menelaus. 
 
 Proteus is ufually reprefented in a chariot drawn 
 by horfes, in the form of Tritons. 
 
 His half brother Phorcys, or Phorcus, was the fon 
 of Neptune, by the nymph Thefea (5). He married 
 his fifter Ceto, by whom he had the Phorcydes and 
 Gorgons, Thoofa(6)and Scylla. He was vanquifhed 
 by Atlas, who threw him into the fea, where his fa- 
 ther raifed him to the ra^k of a fea god. 
 
 The Gorgons were in all four fiftcrs, of whom 
 Medufa was the chief. They had hair like fnakes, 
 tulks like wild boars, brazen hands and golden 
 wings. On the death of their fifter, they purfued 
 Perfeus, who faved himfelf by putting on the hel- 
 met lent him by Pluto, and which rendered him in- 
 vifible. 
 
 The Groese were their fifters, and are reprefented 
 as three old women, who lived in Scythia, and had 
 but one eye and tooth in common amongft them, 
 which they ufed as they had occafion, and afterwards 
 laid up in a coffer. For the prefervation of this va- 
 luable legend we are indebted to Palasphatus. 
 
 Scylla (7), another daughter of Phorcys, by her 
 familiarity with Glaucus, excited Ihejealoufy of Circe, 
 daughter of the Sun, who by magic fpells, orpoifon, 
 fo infected the fountain in vv-hich Ihe bathed, that flie 
 becam.e a monfter(8), upon which, through defpair 
 
 at 
 
 (4) An ifland in the ^gean fca, between Rhodes and 
 Grete, now called Scarpanto. 
 
 (j) Others call him the fon of Poutu^ and Terra. 
 
 (6) By whom Neptune had the Cyclops Polyphemus. 
 
 (7) Some make her the daughter of Phronis and Hecate, 
 and fay that her misfortune was owing to ihe jealoufy of 
 Amphitrite, for her cohabiting with Neptune. 
 
 (8) Authors difagree as to her form ; fome fay Ihe retain- 
 ed )i<:r beauty f^'om the neck downvvards, bat had fix dogs 
 
 headi ; 
 
l64 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 at the lofs of her beauty, flie threw herfelf into the 
 fea, and was changed into a rock (9), which bfcame 
 infamous for the multitude of ihipwrecks it occafion- 
 ed. Thofc who would fee a beautiful defcription of 
 Scylla will find it in Virgil (i). 
 
 Care mull be taken not to confound this Scylla 
 with another of the farPxe name, and daughtter of 
 Nifus, king of Megara. Minos had befiegcd this 
 monarch in his capital, but the oracle had pronounc- 
 ed Nyfus invincible, while he prefen'cd a purple lock 
 of hair which grew on his head. Scylla, who was 
 fecretly in love with Minos, betrayed both her father 
 and country into his hands, by cutting off the lock ; 
 but the conqueror detefting her treachery, banifhed 
 her^Hs fight. Unable to bear the treatment Ihe fo 
 juftly merited, flie caft herftlf into the fea, and was 
 changed into a lark (2). Her father, transformed 
 into a hav/k, flill purfues her for her ingratitude and 
 perfidy. 
 
 Charybdis v^'as a female robber, who, it is faid, 
 ftole Hercules's oxen, and was by Jupiter, on that 
 account, changed into a whirlpool (3"), which is very 
 dangerous to failors, and lying oppofite to the rock 
 Scylla, occafioned the provcii) of running into one 
 danger to avoid another (4). 
 
 C H A P. LVI. 
 
 OF PAN AVD FAUKUS ; OF THE NYMPHS, AND THE 
 GODDESSES FERONIA AND PALES. 
 
 I T is now time to revint the earth again, and fee 
 the numerous train of the inferior deities, appropri- 
 ated 
 
 heads ; others maintain, that her upper parts continued CD', 
 tire, but that ihe had below, the body of a wolf, and the 
 tuil of a ferpent. 
 
 (9) It lies between Sicily and Itily, and the noife of the 
 waves bcuting en it, gave rife to the fable of the barking of 
 dogs and Lo-wjing of wolves, afcribed to the monfler. 
 
 (l) Virgil r-.akes ];cr changed to a rock, which confounds 
 her with the other Scvila. iEneid, l^ib. III. 424. 
 
 i2) Ovid, Lib. Vill. I4t. 
 
 (3 An exidv, or whirlpool, on the coaft of Sicily, as ycu 
 enter the fair of MciTma. See Virgil, ^neid III. 420. 
 4, Inciilit hi Scyllam qui Vhlt vitari Char^bdim. 
 
1 H E H E A T HEN G O D S. 165 
 
 ffted to the forefls, wo(x!s, and thofc reeefies of na- 
 ture vvhofe profped fills the imaghiation with a kind 
 of religious awe or dread. 
 
 Pan the principal of thefe, is faid to be the Ton cf 
 Mercury and Per;elope C.0> the wife of Ulyflc?^ 
 whom, while flie Lept her J^.ther's flocks on mount 
 Taygetus, he deflowered in the form of a white 
 goat. As foon as born, his father carried him in a 
 goat fkin to heaven, where he charmed all the gods 
 with his pipe ; fo that they aflbciated him with Mer- 
 cury in the poil of their meflTenger. After this he 
 was educated on mount Msenalus, in Arcadia, by 
 Sinoe and the other nymphs, who, attraded by his 
 mufic, followed him as their conducftor. 
 
 Pan, though devoted to the pleafures of a rural 
 life, diftinguiflied himfelf by his valour, in the 
 giants war he entangled Typhon in his nets as we 
 have already obferved : he attended Bacchus in his 
 Indian expedition with a body of Satyrs, who did 
 good fervice. When the Gauls invaded Greece, and 
 \\'ere about to pillage the temple of Dtlphos, he 
 ftruck them v/ith fuch a fudden conllernation by 
 night, that they fled without any one to purfue 
 them (6). He alfo aided the Athenians in a fea 
 fight, gained by Miltiades over the Perfian fleet, 
 for which they dedicated a grotto to his honour un- 
 der the citadel. 
 
 This deity was of a very amorous conftitution. 
 In a conteft with Cupid, being overcome, that little 
 god puniihed him with a paffion for the nymph Sy- 
 rinx, who treated him with difdain. But being 
 clofely purfued by him, and flopped in her flight by 
 the river Ladan, ilie invoked the Naiades, who 
 changed her into a tuft of reeds, which the diiap- 
 pointed lover grafped in his arms. Contemplating a 
 transformation fo unfavourable to his defires, he 
 obferved the reeds tremble with the Avind, and emit 
 a murmuring found. Improving this hint, he cut 
 forae of them, and formed the pipe for which he be- 
 came fo famous. Kis other amours were the more 
 fuccefsful. He charmed Luna, or the moon, in the 
 
 ihape 
 
 (5) Some fuy of Peoelope and all her lov:rs, whence he 
 Tvas called nay. 
 
 (6j Hence the exprefnon of a ] *nic, for a fudden ku; 
 and terror. 
 
l66 FA BUI- O I' S HISTORY OF 
 
 fliape of a beautiful ram. In the difguife of a fhep- 
 herd, he became fervant to the father of Dryope (7), 
 in order to gain accefs to his miftrefs. By the nymph 
 Echo (3) he had a daughter, called Irynge, a famous 
 forcerefs, who fupplied Medea with her philtrum ; 
 but Pan afterwards (lighting her, fiie retired to the 
 receiTes of the hills, where {he pined with grief, till 
 fne dwindled to a fhadow, and had nothing left but 
 a voice (9; : others afcribe the change of Echo to 
 another caufe. 
 
 Pan was properly the god of fhepherds and hunters, 
 and, as he was a mountain deity, the flocks and 
 herds were under his immediate protection and care. 
 He was likewife honoured by the fifhermen, efpe- 
 cially thofe who inhabited the promontories walhed 
 by the fea. 
 
 He was chiefly efteemed in Arcadia, his native 
 country, where the fhepherds offered him milk and 
 honey in wooden bowls. If fuccefsful in hunting, 
 they allotted him part of the fpoil ; but, if other- 
 wife, they whipped his image heartily. At Molpeus, 
 a town near the city Licofura, he had a temple by the 
 title of Nomius, bccaufe he perfedled the harmony 
 of his pipe on the Nomian mountains. 
 
 The Romans adopted him amongil their deities by 
 the names of Lupercus and Lycaeus. His feftivals, 
 called Lupercalia, and celebrated in February, were 
 inflituted by Evander, who being exiled Arcadia, 
 fled for refuge to Faunus, king of the Latins, and 
 was by him allowed to fettle near mount Palatine (i), 
 Romulus made fome addition to thefe ceremonies, in 
 which the Luperci, or priefts of Pan, ran naked 
 through the city, ftriking thofe they met with things 
 made of goat fhins, particularly the women, who 
 fancied that it helped their eafy conception, or Ipeedy 
 delivery. 
 
 Pan 
 
 (7) Dr^'ope rejeAed his fait, but was aftei-vvards changed 
 into the lotus tree. See Ovid's Met. lib. IX. 2^5- 
 
 (8) Some fay that Echo fell in love with NarciiTus, and 
 was flighted by him. 
 
 (9) It is reported, that Juno punifhed Echo in this man- 
 rer for her loquacity, becaufe whtn Jupiter was engaged in 
 any new amour, he fent this nymph to amufe hi* jealous 
 fpoufe with her chat. 
 
 (I) Where he had a temple afterwards. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 167 
 
 Pan is reprefented with a fmiling ruddy face, and 
 thick beard covering his breaft, two horns on his head, 
 a ftar on his breaft, with the nofe, feet, and tail of a 
 goat. He is cloathed in a fpottcd fKin, having a 
 fhepherd's crook in one hand, and his pipe of unequal 
 reeds in the other, and is crowned with pine, that 
 tree being confecrated to his ff rvice. 
 
 Pan, however, faid to be the offspring of Penelope, 
 was indeed one of the moft ancient, being of the firft 
 eight of the Egyptian gods, and was looked upon as 
 the fymbol of nature. His horns, fay the mytholo- 
 gifts, reprefent the rays of the fun ; and the vivacity 
 and ruddinefs of his complexion, the brightnefs «f 
 the heavens ; the ftar on his breaft, the firmament ; 
 and his feet and legs overgrown with hair, denote 
 the inferior part of the world, the earth, the trees 
 and plants (2). 
 
 Faunus was the fon of Picus, king of the Latins, 
 who was cotemporary with Orpheus. He reigned in , 
 Italy at the time that Pandion ruled Athens, and in- 
 troduced both religion and hufbandry into Latium. 
 He deified his father, and his wife Fauna or Fatua (3). 
 He had the gift of prophecy. His fon Stercutius was 
 alfo honoured on account of his fhewing how to im- 
 prove land, by dunging or manuring it. The Fau- 
 nalia were kept in December with feafting and much 
 mirth, and the vi<5tims offered were goats. 
 
 The Fauni, or children of Faunus, were vifionary 
 beings much like the Satyrs, and were ufually 
 crowned with pine. Both Faunus and Ihey were 
 deities only regarded in Italy, and wholly unknown 
 to the Greeks. 
 
 The Fauni were the hufbandmen, the Satyrs the 
 vine-dreffers, and the Sylvan' 'hofe who cut wood in 
 the forefts ; who, as was ufual in thofe early times, 
 being dreffed in the fkins of beafts, gave rife to thofe 
 fabulous deities. 
 
 The terreftrial nymphs were divided into feveral 
 clafTes. The heathen theology took care that no part 
 of nature fhould remain uninformed or unproteded. 
 
 The 
 (a) Abbe Earner's Mythology, vol. I. p. 540. 
 (3) Some add fhe was his fifter and a pricflefs. He whipped 
 her to death with myrtle rods for being drunk, and then 
 made her a goddefb ; for which reafon no myrtle was ufed 
 in her temples ; the veffels were covered, and the win*, 
 oiFered was called milk. 
 
i68 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 The Oreades, or Ortfteades, prefided over the moun- 
 tains (4). Of thele Diana had a thoufand ready to 
 attend her at her pleafure. It is faid, they firft re- 
 claimed men fi om eating or devouring each other, and 
 taught the ufe of vegetable food. Melifla, one of 
 thefe, was the inventrefs of honey (5). The Napeae 
 were the tutelar guardians of vallies and flowery^ 
 meads. The Dryades inhabited the forefts and woods, 
 refiding in their particular trees, with which they 
 were thought to be coeval, as feveral inllances prove 
 (6). The oak was generally their choice, either from 
 its ftrength or duration. Some were called Hama,- 
 dryades, whofe cxiftence was infeparably united to 
 that of the tree they animated. The Naiades were 
 the nymphs of brooks and rivers ; the Limniades fre- 
 quented the lakes, and the Ephydriades delighted in 
 fprings and fountains. Thus all the face of nature 
 became enlivened by the force of imagination, and 
 the poets did not fail to improve fo ample a field for 
 defcription. The mythologifts deftroy all this fine 
 landfcape, by making the nymphs only tignify the uni- 
 verfal moifture which is diffufed through all nature. 
 
 There were alfo celeftial nymphs of a higher rank, 
 who attended the Dii Majores. Jupiter boafts of his 
 in Ovid (7). The Mufes were the nymphs or attend- 
 ants of Apollo, as the BaiTorides, or Msenades^ be- 
 longed to Bacchus. Juno had fourteen who waited 
 on her (8) perfon ; and Neptune had no lefs than fifty 
 Nereides at his beck, on which account he was called 
 Nymphagater, or the captain of the nymphs (9). 
 
 The ufual facrifices to thefe deities were goats ; 
 but more commionly milk, oil, honey, and wine. 
 The nymphs were always reprefented as young and 
 beautiful virgins, and dreiTed in fuch a m.anner as was 
 fuitable to the cliarader afcribed to them. 
 
 To the train of Pan we may join two rural god- 
 defles, of whom the firlt is Fcronia, or the goddefs 
 
 of 
 
 (4) Some make them five only, and call them the daugh- 
 ters of Hecatxus; but Homer ftiles them the offspring of 
 Jupiter. 
 
 (5) Whence the bees are called Meliflk. 
 
 (6) Areas prefcrving a decayed oak, by watering the roots, 
 was rewarded, by marrying the nymph who rcfided in it. 
 
 (7) Ovid Metam. lib. I. 
 
 (8) Virgil, iEneid I. 75. 
 (9; Sec Hcf.od and Pindar. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 169 
 
 of woods and orchards (i). The Lacedosmonians 
 firft introduced her vvorftiip into Italy under Evander, 
 and built her a temple in a grove near mount Soradte. 
 This edifice being let on fire, and extinguifhed, the 
 neighbours refolved to remove her ftatue, when the 
 grove became green again of a fudden(z). Strabo 
 tells us, that her priefts or votaries could walk bare- 
 foot over burning coals unhurt. Slaves received the 
 cap of liberty in her temple, on which account they 
 regarded her as their patronefs. 
 
 Pales was the proteding deity of fhepherds and 
 pafturage. Her fcftival was obferved by the country 
 people in May, in the open fields, and the offerings 
 were milk, and cakes of millet, in order to engage 
 her to defend their flocks fi*om wild beafts and infec- 
 tious difeafes. Thefe feafls were called Palilia. Some 
 make Pales the fame with Vefta or Cybele. This 
 goddefs is reprefented as an old woman. 
 
 Both thefe deities were peculiar to the Romans, 
 and wholly unknown in Greece. 
 
 CHAP. LVII. 
 
 OF PRIAPUS AND TERMINUS. 
 
 r^RIAPUS was, as the generality of authors agree, 
 the fon of Bacchus and Venus (3). This goddefs 
 meeting him in his return from his Indian expedition, 
 their amorous congrefs produced this child, who was 
 born at Lampfacus (4), but fo deformed, that his 
 mother, ailiamed of him, abandoned him (5). Being 
 grown up, the inhabitants of tiiat place banifhed him 
 their territory, on account of his vices; but being 
 vifited with an epidemical difeafe, upon confulting 
 I th€ 
 
 (1) From "Fero, to beai* or produce. 
 
 (2) This miracle is afcrihed to other deities. 
 
 (3; Some make him the fon of Bacchus and Nais; others 
 fay Chione v/as his motlipr, 
 
 (4) A city of Myfia, at the mouth of the Hellefpont. 
 
 (5) Some fuy that Jmio heing called to aflill at the labour 
 out ot hatred to Bacchus the fou of her rival Semele, fpoilt 
 *ite infant w the birth. 
 
I70 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 the oracle of Dodona, he was recalled (6). And 
 temples were ereded to him as the tutelar deity of 
 vineyards and gardens, to defend them from thieves 
 and birds deftrudtive to the fruit. 
 
 Priapus had feveral names. He was called Aviftu- 
 por, for the reafon juft mentioned. The title of 
 Heilefpcntiacus was given him, becaufe Lampfacus . 
 was feated on that ftreight or arm of the fea. It is 
 uncertain how he came by the epithet of Bonus Deu«, 
 afcribed to him by Phurnutius. Thofe of Phallus 
 and Fafcinum were afligned him on a very obfcene 
 account, and indeed his whole figure conveyed fuch 
 an idea of uglinefs and lewdnefs, that the poets ge- 
 nerally treat him with great contempt (7). The 
 facrifice offered him was the afs, either becaufe of the 
 natural uncomelinefs of that anima], and its ftrong 
 propenfity to venery, or becaufe, asfomefay, Priapus 
 attempting the chaftity of Vefta when afieep, Ihe 
 was awakened by the braying of old Silenus's afs, 
 and fo efcaped the injury defigned htr. 
 
 This deity is ufually reprefented naked and obfcene, 
 with a ftern countenance, matted hair, and carrying 
 a wooden fword (8) or fickle in his hand. His body 
 ended in a (hapelefs trunk or block of timber. 
 
 Some of the mythologifts make his birth allude to 
 that radical moifture, which fupports all vegetable 
 productions, and which is produced by Bacchus and 
 Venus, that is, the folar heat, and the water, or liquid 
 matter, whence Venus is faid to fpring. The wor- 
 Ihip of this infamous deity was taken from the Syrians 
 of Lampfacus. '' 
 
 With Priapus we may afibciate Terminus, a very 
 ancient deity amongft the Romans, whofc worftiip 
 was firft inftituteJ by Numa Pompilius, who ereded 
 him a temple on the Tarpeian Hill (9). This deity 
 was thought to prefide over the ftoncs or landmarks, 
 called Termini, which were held fo facred, that it 
 was facrilege to move them, and the criminal becom- 
 ing devoted to the gods, it was lawful for any man 
 to kill him. 
 
 The 
 
 (6) Others fa)% that the women of Lairpfacu: prevailed 
 on their hufoands to recall him. 
 
 (7) Herat, fatyr VIII. 
 
 /8; Virgil, Georg. IV. , 
 (9^ Wlach wa ope;; at oy. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS.' 171 
 
 The feafts called Terminalia, were celebrated an- 
 nually about the end of February, when the ancient 
 Termini, or landmarks, were carefully vilited and 
 crowned with garlands. At firft the facrifices to 
 thefe rural deities were very limple, fuch as wheat 
 cakes, and the firft fruits of the field, with milk(i); 
 but in later times the viAims were lambs, and fows 
 that gave fuck, whofe blood was fprinkled upon the 
 ftones. 
 
 The Roman Termini were fquare ftones, or pofts, 
 much refembling our mile ftones (a). 
 
 CHAP. LVIII. 
 
 OF FLORA. 
 
 1 HE poets make this goddefs the fame with Chlo- 
 ris, the wife of Zephyrus (3), mentioned by Ovid; 
 but the hiftorians agree that flie was a celebrated 
 Roman courtezan, who having amafled a confiderable 
 fortune by her profelfion, made the Roman people 
 her heirs, on condition that certain games, calleci 
 Floralia, might be annually celebrated on her birth- 
 day. The fenate, to give a glofs to fo infamous a 
 proftitution of religion, pretended this feftival was 
 deiigncd in honour of Flora, a certain Sabine goddefs 
 who prefided over flowers. Thefe fports were held 
 in the Campus Martins, and proclaimed by found of 
 trumpet. No women appeared at them, but the 
 moft immodeft of the fex (4). Yet when Cato, during 
 his cenfoilhip, came to behold them, they fufpended 
 Xhe ceremonies through ftiame, till he thought fit to 
 withdraw ; fuch an influence had the virtue of one 
 man over a corrupt and difl'olute multitude. 
 
 Flora's image, in the temple of Caftor and Pollux, 
 was drefled in a clofe habit, holding in her hands the 
 flowers of peas and beans ; for, at the celebration of 
 her rites, the aediles fcattered thefe and other pulfc 
 amongft the people (5). The modern poets and 
 I z painters 
 
 f i) To fhew that no force or violence HioulJ be ufed i:^ 
 icttling mutual boundaries. 
 
 (2) Ovid Fafti, lib. II. 
 
 (3) Ovid Fafti. 
 
 (4) Juvenal, fat. VI. 
 
 (5) Sec Valerius Maximus. lib. If^ 
 
17* FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 painters have fet off her charms in a more lavifh 
 manner, and not without reafon, fince no part of 
 nature affords fuch innocent and exquifite entertain- 
 ment to the fight and fmell, as the variety which 
 adorns, and the odours which embalm, the floral 
 Tvorld. 
 
 CHAP. LIX. 
 
 OF POMONA AND VERTUMNUS. 
 
 .1 HE goddefs Pomona was a Latian nymph, whom 
 that nation honoured as a tutelar deity of orchards 
 and fruit-trees. Vcrtumnus (the Proteus of the Ro- 
 man ritual) (6) was the god of tradefmen, and, from 
 the power he had of affuming any fhape, was believed 
 to prefide over the thoughts of nianldnd. His fefti- 
 vals, called Vertumnalia, were celebrated in Odlober. 
 
 Vertumnus*s courtfliip makes one of the mofl ele- 
 gant and entertaining ftories in Ovid (7). Under 
 the difguife of an old womaa he vifited the gardens of 
 Pomona, v/hom he found employed in looking after 
 her plantations. He artfully praifes the beauty of her 
 fruit, and commends the care which produced it. 
 Thence, from the view of the vine, fupported by the 
 elm, he infinuates to her the neceHity and pleafure of 
 a married life. The goddefs heard all ihis eloquence 
 with an indifferent ear. Her heart remained un- 
 touched, till, throwing off his difguife, the god af- 
 fumed his youthful beauty, and by his form foon 
 gained the goddefs's confent. 
 
 ^ome imagine Vertumnus an emblem of the year, 
 wTiich though it aflumes different dreffes, according 
 to the different feafons, is at no time fo agreeable as 
 in autumn, when the harveft is crowned, and the 
 richeft fruits appear in their full perfedlion and luftre. 
 The hiftorians fay, that this god was an ancient 
 Tufcan prince, Avho firft taught his fubjeds to plant 
 orchards, and to graft and prune fruit-trees j whence 
 he is faid to have married Pomona. 
 
 Both thefe deities were unknown to the Greeks, 
 and only honoured by the Romans. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 (6) Bccaiife of the turns or fluifluations to which trade is 
 fiibjeA. 
 
 (-) Ovid, lib. XIV. 6zz. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 173 
 
 CHAP. LX. 
 
 OF THE LARES AND PENATES, AND GENU. 
 
 The Lares were the offspring of Mercury. The 
 nymph Lara having offended Jupiter, by difclofing 
 feme of his intrigues to JunOj that deity ordered her 
 tongue to be cut out, and banifhed her to the infernaf 
 manfions. Mercury, who wavS appointed to conduct 
 her into exile, ravilhed her by the way, and fhe 
 brought forth the Lares (8). 
 
 Thefe dt- ities not only preftded over the highways,. 
 and the confervalion of the public fafety, but alfo 
 over private houfes, in mofl of which the Romans 
 had a particular place called Lararium, where were 
 depofited the images of their domeftic gods, the Ita- 
 tucs of their anceliors, unci the Lares. 
 
 Their fcftival, cailt d Compilalia, was celebrated in 
 January, in the open flreets and roads. At firft boys 
 were facriftced to them, but that favage cuftom was 
 foon difufed, and images of v/col and ftraw (<)">, with 
 the firft fruits of the earth, v/inc, incenfe, and gar- 
 lands of flowers, v/ere the oiferings. When the 
 Roman youth laid afide the bulla, an ornament they 
 conftantly wore (i) till fourteen years of age, they 
 confecratcd or hung it up to the Lares, who were 
 regarded as infernal as well as domeftic deities. 
 
 The ancients fuppofed, according to fome authors, 
 that the fouls of men after death became a kind of 
 dem.ons, called Lemures(z). Thefe they fubdivided 
 into two claffes, the one benevolent and friendly to 
 mankind, which they termed Lares ; the other, who 
 being wicked during life, letained a malicious difpb- 
 fition in their difembodied ftate, they ftiled Larva?. 
 
 The Lares were reprefented as young boys with 
 dogs Ikins about their bodies (3), and with their 
 
 heads 
 
 (8) Ovid Fall. lib. 11/ 
 
 (9) They hung up as many images as there were perfons 
 of all fexes and ages in the fiimily, and a v/ooilen ball for 
 every fervant. 
 
 (i) The Bulla was a golden ornament fhaped like a heart, 
 but hollow, 
 
 (,2) So called, from Remus, brother of Romulus, whofc 
 ghofl haunted his brother. The Lamuralia was celebrated la- 
 the middle of May, during which it was unlawful to marrj-. 
 
 (3) Some fay the images were like dogs. 
 
174 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 heads covered, which was a fign of that freedom and 
 liberty which men ought to enjoy in their own houfes. 
 They had always the image of a dog near them, to 
 denote their fidelity in preferving the places allotted 
 to their charge, on which account this animal was 
 peculiarly confccrated to them. Some confound 
 thefe with the Penates and Genii. 
 
 CHAP. LXI. 
 
 OF THE PENATES. 
 
 1 HE Penates (4) were the deities who prefided 
 over new born infants. The ancient Hetru/^i called 
 them Confentes, or Complices, though others make 
 of them four of the Dii Majores (5). But there were 
 three clafles or ranks of .them : thofe who preiided 
 over empires and ftates (6) ; who had the protedion 
 of cities ; who took the care or giiardianfhip of pri- 
 vate families, and were called the lelTer Penates ( 7 ). 
 
 Thefe domeftic gods were placed in the utmoft 
 recefs of the houfe, thence called Penetrale (8). 
 Dardanus brought them from Samothracia to Troy, 
 whence, on the deftrucTiion of that city, iEneas 
 tranfported them to Italy. They were reckoned fo 
 facred, that the expreffion. of driving a man from 
 his Penates (9), was ufed to fignify his being pro- 
 fcribed, or expelled his country. 
 
 Dionyfius, of HalicarnafTus, lib. i, fays, that he 
 had feen them at Rome, under the figure of two 
 young men fitting, with fpears in their hands. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 (4) So called, from Penus, within, either hecaufe they 
 prefide over lives, or were placed in the innermoft parts of 
 the houfe. 
 
 {5) Viz. Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, and Vefta. Some drop 
 Vefta : Others make them only two, Neptune and Apollo : 
 Ochers Caelum and Terra. 
 
 (6) Virgil, ^neid III. 148. 
 
 (7) ^neid VIII. 543. 
 
 (8) See Horace, lib. IV. ode 4, a6 
 {9) Virgil, iEncid IV. ai. 
 
ISIS. 
 
 l^cufe.^yS 
 
 'rkefzA-atny^ye^uitc orSetniineTaM^ n.onrirv th eJSc€/lei4X *i Sji^atr^ . 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 175 
 
 CHAP. LXII. 
 
 OF THE GENII. 
 
 Some do not dlflinguidi between thefe and the 
 Penates, or Lares ; but they were very different. 
 The ancients affigned to every thing its guardian or 
 peculiar genius ; cities, groves, fountains, hills, were 
 all provided with keepers of t1iis kind, and to each 
 man they allotted no iefs than two, one good, the 
 other bad (i), who iittended him from the cradle to 
 the grave. The Greeks called them Dsemons. They 
 were named Prseftltes, from their fuperintending 
 human affairs. 
 
 The lacrifices offered thefe divinities were wine (a) 
 and Howers, to which they joined incenfe, parched 
 Wiieat, and fait. Sometinits the vidim was a fwine 
 (3), though animal offerings were not uuial to them. 
 The Genii were reprefc;;ted under various figures, 
 fuch as 'thofe of boys, girls, olil men, and even fer- 
 pents. Thefe images were crowned with plane-tree 
 leaves, a tree confecrated to the Genii. 
 
 By Genius, is meant the a'.5tive power or force of 
 nature, from whence the nuptial bed is ftiled genial, 
 and the fame epithet given to all occafions wherein 
 focial joys and pleafures are felt. Hence alfo the ex- 
 preflions of indulging our Genius, that is, living hap- 
 pily, or according to our inclinations ; confulting 
 our Genius, for examining how far our capacity ex- 
 tends ; and the term of a great Genius, for an exalted 
 or comprehenlive mind. The later Romans, in the 
 degenerate days of the ftate, introduced the fervile 
 flattery of fwearing by the Genii of their Emperors, 
 and the tyrant Caligula put feveral to death for re- 
 fufing to take the oath. 
 
 CHAP. LXIII. 
 
 OF ISIS, OSIRIS, AND ORUS. 
 
 1 HESE three have been much fpoken of already aa 
 having given rife to alinoft all the different divinities 
 
 of 
 
 (1) Horace, lib. II. epift. z. 
 
 (2) Perfius, fat. VI. 
 
 (3) Some affert no blood was fuffcred to be fpilt in their 
 facrifices. 
 
176 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 of Greece and Rome. Ifis is faid to have been the 
 fifter of Ofiris (4), the daughter of Saturn, and a 
 native of Egypt. She married her brother, and 
 fhared his throne. They governed with great equi- 
 ty and wifdom, civilizing their fiibje<5ls, and inilru(^- 
 ing them in hufbandry and other iifeful arts. Thefe 
 inllrudions were delivered in verfe, and were called 
 the poems of Ifis (5). 
 
 Ofiris, having conferred the greateft benefits on his 
 own fubjeds, made the necefiary difpolition of his 
 affairs, committing the regency to Ins, and fet out 
 with a body of forces in order to civilize the reft of 
 mankind. This he performed more by the power of 
 perfuafion, and the foothing arts of mufic and poetry, 
 than by the terror of his arms. He marched firft 
 into Ethiopia ; thence to Arabia and India. Having 
 traverfed Afia, he croHcd the Hellefpont, and fpent 
 ibme time in Europe. Returning to Egypt, he was 
 flain by his brother Typhon ; of whom we have 
 fpoken fufficiently in the chapter of the giants. 
 
 When the news of this reached Copt us, where 
 Ifis then was, fne cut her hair, and in deep mourn- 
 ing went every where in fearch of the dead body ; 
 which fhe found at length, and concealed at Butus. 
 But Typhon hunting by moonlight, found it there, 
 and tore it into many pieces, which he fcattered 
 abroad. Ifis then traverfed the lakes and watry 
 places in a boat made of the papyrus, feeking the 
 mangled limbs of Ofiris : where fhe found one, 
 there fhe buried it. Hence the many tom.bs afcribed 
 to Ofiris. Thus Plutarch. But Diodorus fays, that ■ 
 fhe joined the fragments, embalmed and buried them 
 at Memphis; prevailing on the Egyptian priefts to 
 promote his deification, in confideration of a third 
 part of the kingdom given to them. 
 
 Ifis afterwards, with the alfiftance of her fon 
 Orus, vanquiflied Typhon, reigned happily over 
 Egypt to her death, and was alfo buried at Mem- 
 phis. At Bufiris, a moft fuperb temple was raifed 
 to her. She was fucceeded by her fon Orus, who 
 completed the reign of the gads and demi-gods in 
 Egypt. 
 
 To do the greater honour to thefe their favou- 
 rites, the Egyptians made them to reprefent the 
 
 obje<^s 
 (4) Diodor. Sic. 1, I. 
 is) Plato dc Leg, dialog. 
 
:P<ure,l76 OSIRIS. 
 
 D^g^.I^^^n^^^MTI-gga 
 
 imilHmilHMI^IimiKIIH^IIHimilHIfcyill 
 
 ToAen/^cnn tn^JJfctc crrJi etrtl'^Jie Jeivia n^mj en, iA^jB atji^etanJ^f' 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 177 
 
 ©bjeds of their idolatrous worfhip. The attributes 
 of Ifis, indeed, when expofed as the public fign of 
 their feafts, differed according to the different pur- 
 poles to which they applied the figure. But at other 
 times this goddefs was reprefented with a flowing 
 veil, having the earth under her feet, her head crowned 
 with towers (like the Phrygian mother) the em- 
 blem of height and ftability ; and fomelimes with 
 upright horns, equally exprefTive of dvominion and 
 power ; next to thefe the crefcent, then the fun, 
 and above all expanded wings. She has alfo wings 
 and a quiver on her fhoulders ; her left-hand holds 
 a cornucopia, her right a throne charged with the 
 cap and fcepter of Ofiris, and fometimes a flaming 
 torch ; and her right arm is entwined by a ferpent. 
 The imagination of the reader will prefently con- 
 ceive this to be the fymbol of the aether, the na- 
 tural parent and fpirit of the univerfe, comprehend-ing 
 and pervading the whole creation. As fuch, fhe is 
 eafily confounded wuth nature, which is defined by 
 Balbus in Cicero (4) to be Thai ■ra.jhich contains and 
 Jujlains the '■whole ^juorld. In Herodotus, (he is the 
 fame with Ceres ; in Diodorus, with Luna, Ceres and 
 Juno ; in Plutarch, with Minerva, Proferpine, Luna, 
 Thetys. By Apuleius, flie is called the Mother of 
 the Gods, and is the fame with Minerva, Venus, 
 Diana, Proferpine, Ceres, Juno, Bellona, Hecate, 
 Rhamnufia ; hence termed fometimes 'Av^mvoy,oq^ or 
 The Goddefs of a thoifajul names. Being a female 
 figure, and thus principally honoured, flie was de- 
 nominated Ifis (7 . 
 
 So likewife in Herodotus, Ofiris and Bacchus are 
 the fame ; in Diodorus, Sol, Ofiris, Serapis, Diony- 
 fius, Pluto, Ammon, Jupiter, Pan ; in Plutarch, 
 Sol, Ofiris, Pluto, Bacchus, Serapis, Apis, Ocea- 
 nus, Sirius. Kence we fee him in gemx with a radi- 
 ated crown and a bafket on his head, having the 
 horns of Ammon ; and in his hand a trident entwined 
 by a ferpent. He is the great emblem of the folar 
 body. 
 
 Orus is the fymbol of light, as the name imports (8}, 
 
 and is generally figured as a winged boy, flanding 
 
 1 5 between 
 
 (6) Naiura eji qua contincai niundum omnem eumque tucatur, 
 De Nat. Deor. I. a. 
 
 (7 J Or Hha, die woman. Kar I'lvynv, 
 <8; From Aor, light,- 
 
178 rABULOUl? HTSTOK> • 
 
 between Ofiris and Ills. He is the Kervvs of the 
 Greeks, and the Cupid of the Romans ; the fon of 
 Ofiris and Ifis, whofe paffion for each other is faid to 
 have commenced in the womb, where they em- 
 braced ; and Orus was the fruit of this early con- 
 jundion. The whole containing this fim.ple truth. 
 That light has began to flonu from the body cf the fujiy 
 jrom its firji exijience, through the rnidfl of ather. But 
 ^efe themfelves were but natural emljlems. Plutarch 
 therefore refers us higher, affirming that Oliris figni- 
 fies the adive principle, or the moft holy being ; Ifis, 
 the wifdom or rule of his operation ; Orus, the firft 
 production of his power (9), the model or plan by 
 which he produced every thing, or the archetype 
 of the world (i). 
 
 EXPLANATION OF THE THREE PLATES OF ISIS, 
 OSIRIS, AND ORUS. 
 
 Thefe three following plates, viz. of Is is, Osiris, 
 and Orus, were taken originally from the Bembine 
 or Ifiac table in the Bodleian library. This table 
 or altar-plate is of brafs, full of hieroglyphics in- 
 laid in filver and enamel, which conftitute an epi- 
 tome of the whole Egyptian theology. It has 
 been defcribed, copied, and elaborately explained 
 by the learned Jefuit, Athanafius Kirch er, in his 
 iEdipus iEgyptiacus, vol. 3, p. 8c, & feq. Romce, 
 1654. 7. lior. Apoll. 
 
 In this of Ifis, the top cornice over her abounds 
 with flames, diffufed like rifing ferpents, indicating 
 light and life fupernal and diftant from the contagion 
 of grofs matter. In thofe underneath, is the circle 
 with , expanded wings, the emblem of sether.^ The 
 
 architraves 
 
 (9) De Ifid. & Ofirid. p. 354. See RamV/'s Theology 
 of, the Pagans. 
 
 (I) The bull Apis was the fubftltute of Ofiris; the name 
 of the latter Sor, or Sur, fionifying a bull, and Apis, the 
 moft mighty. But the bull Apis had particular marks, and 
 they added, that the Apis was animated by the foul (;f Ofiri?. 
 The Greeks gave the article and the tcrrn'p.ation to the -vvord 
 Ofiris; fq difguidng^ it, that the Egyptians kiievv- it not ag;ain. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 179 
 
 architraves are fupported by two columnr>, with alter- 
 nate fquare divifions of black and white, crowned 
 with the head of Ifis. At fome diftance, on the out- 
 fides, are two pilafters, decorated with flowero, from 
 which rife two afpics, fymbols of warmth and moif 
 ture conjoined, the fecondary caufe of life. In the 
 midft of this magnificent throne, is the goddefs feat- 
 ed, to denote ftabiiity and power. From the navel 
 to the foot her habit is compofed of wings, reprefent- 
 ing the velocity and fublimity of the jether, diflrufing" 
 itfelf univerfally. Thence upwards to the breaft, fhc 
 is fuli of paps, fhewing the body of the world, or 
 the univtrfa] machir.e, to be thence nourifhed and 
 fuppoiled. The collars round her neck are the celef- 
 tial orbs. The great variety of created beirgs, is 
 aptly fignified by the party-coloured feathers of the 
 African hen, which cover her head in a flying atti- 
 tude. The balket on the back of this bird is the em- 
 blem of plenty, from which, on each fide, fprings a 
 leaf of the Egyptian peach ; and two horns, which 
 point out the crefcent moon, inclofing a circle marked 
 with the figure of the fcarabaeus or beetle, reprefent- 
 ing the fun. The gefture of her left hand is com.- 
 manding and monitory : her right holds a fceptre of 
 the flowering lotus. Her feat is adorned with the 
 figure of a dog fitting; to intimate her dominion, 
 according to Bio lorus, refulgent in the dog ftar. . 
 Within the table, beneath the throne, is the body of 
 a lion with the head of an hawk, at his fore-feet a . 
 canopus, fupporting upright wings ; emblems of 
 caith, fire, water, and air. Over the back of the 
 lion-hawk is the ferpent tianfmitted through a circle 
 with expanded wings, explained in the chapter of 
 Mercury, page 87, of whofe caduceus thefe are the 
 attributes, and on his head a crefcent, with the fun 
 over that. By the fmall hieroglypic characters near 
 the Ifis, fhe is faid to be The fpirit of the <^vorld, pene- 
 t rating all things ^ujitb the eye of Divine Pro'vidence ; 
 and the bond of the fuperior and inferior nvorlds. 
 
 EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE OF OSIRIS. 
 
 Osiris is reprefented here feated on a teflelated 
 throne, to eyprfrfs dominion and viciflitude of day 
 
 and 
 
>So FABULOUS HISTORY 6F 
 
 and night, which depend upon him. He has the 
 head of an hawk, a bird, fi-om his ftrength of vifioe, 
 by which he is faid to look fteady on the meridian 
 liin, frequently depided for the fymbol of the folar 
 orb. He is crowned with a mitre, full of fmall orbs, 
 to intimate his fuperiority over all the globes. The 
 gourd upon the mitre implies his aiftion and influence 
 upon moifture, which, and the Nile particularly, was 
 termed by the Egyptians the efflux of Ofiris. The 
 lower part of his habit is made up of defcending rays, 
 and his body is furrounded with orbr>. His right 
 hand is extended in a commanding attitude, and his 
 left holds a thyrfus or ftafl" of the papyrus pointing 
 out the principle of humidity, and the fertility thence 
 flowing, under his dired;ion. 
 
 EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURE OF ORU3. 
 
 •* HE figure of Orus, which is the emblem of the 
 folar efflux, is juvenile, as perpetually renewed and 
 renewing youth and vigour. He ftandsto denote the 
 unabated acftivity of light, and is habited in a fort of 
 network, compofed of globules of light pulhing and 
 interfering each other every way. He holds a ftafF 
 crofled, expreffing his power in the four elements ; 
 and on it the head of the hoop, a tranfient bird, to 
 reprefent the continual change of things which he 
 produces by thofe elements. This ftaff, the fymbol 
 of his rule, is further adorned with a gnomon and 
 trumpet, indicating feafon and fymmetry, harmony 
 and order. At his back is a triangle with a globe 
 fixed to it ; fhewing the regular being of the world 
 to depend upon him. The lides of the portal, which 
 he ftands in, are decorated with the celeflial bodies, 
 and on the top of it is the circle with expanded wings. 
 The hieroglyphics, engraven on the bafe, call him, 
 The Parent of 'vegetable Nature ; the Guardian of 
 Moifiure ; ProteEior of the Nile ; Avertcr of E-vi/s ; 
 Qo^ernor of the Worlds; the mar,y-f.gured Ccd ; the 
 Autljor of Plenty^ 
 
 CHAP. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. i8i 
 
 CHAP. LXIV. 
 
 OF THE CABIRI. 
 
 BoCHART fays, that the Cibiri were the Gods oF 
 the Phcenicians, and obferves jiiftly that Cabir fig- 
 nines, both in the Hebrew and Arabic tongue, Great 
 or Mighty ; fo that Cabiri, in the plural, are The 
 Great or Mighty Ones. He that miniftered in 
 holy things went by the appellation of Cohes, a nna- 
 nifeft corruption of the Hebrew Cohen, prieft or in- 
 terceffor. 
 
 They are fpoken of by the names of Axieros, 
 Axiocherfos and Axiocherfa ; as three diilind pei-fons": 
 and in them our author thinks that he has found 
 Ceres, Proferpine and Pluto ; the Abbe Pluche, Ofi- 
 ris, Orus, and Ifis ; others, Jupiter, Ceres, and Bac- 
 chus. To thefe, the Scholiaft upon Apollonius, has 
 added a fourth, Cafmiius or Cadmilus ; the fame, 
 fays he, is Hermes, or Mercury, whom Varro de- 
 clares to be only a minifter attendant on the Cabiri. 
 
 Several authors have confined the appellation of 
 Cabiri to Jupiter, Minerva, and Juno. Nor is it at 
 all improbable that thcfe Ihould have been fo called 
 in after ages, when the world in general had forfaken 
 the worfhip of the Creator for that of the creature, 
 and underftood by thefe teims thcfe things which 
 muft indeed be allowed the moit proper and figniti- 
 cant emblems of the divine p.^ -fonalities (a) ; the ^o- 
 lar fire being meant by Jupiter (,); by Minerva, 
 -darting from the head of him, the light thence fpring- 
 ing ; and by Juno, the se'bcr (^including the air), 
 the natural rcpreft^ntalive of the Sacred Spirit, 
 Thefe a- e indeed the fame wilh the E^-yptian Ofiris, 
 Orus, and Ifis. 
 
 But in earli-r times it was judged rm ad of irre- 
 verence to pronounce their names ; which was the 
 cafe of the tetnigrarr.maton Vvith the Jews. They 
 were therefore only fp.^ken of by the general deno- 
 mination of Diofjouroi, or fj>ruiig frcia Jov; ; a 
 title afterwards cor.fcired up-.n Caftcr and Pollux. 
 
 Even 
 
 ■f 2) Sic Homines n overs Densy quos arduus ^toer, 
 
 Occulit, llf colitur pro jo.,. lOiina Jovis. OviD. 
 
 (j) Macrob. 1. I. c. -j. Tlato in Fhitd, Orphtms, &c. 
 
i8a FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 Even children were initiated into thefe myfterics, 
 and thought by their parents to be afterwards fecure 
 from dangers of any kind. Such as were permitted 
 to partake of the ceremoniep, were wont to afTemble 
 in a wood of grove, which was held facred and be- 
 came a fan(5luary. By the initiation men were be- 
 lieved to become more holy, juft and pure ; and it is 
 faid that none ever duly performed the ceremonies, 
 without being amply rewarded for his piety. 
 
 As to what is faid of a man's being facrificed in 
 thefe myfteries upon fome extraordinary occafion, I 
 cannot find the aflertion to be well grounded. Julius 
 Firmicus intimates, that the Cabiri were three bro- 
 thers, one of whom was flain by the other two, and 
 then deified ; and fpeaks of his M^orlhippers, as 
 holding up their bloody hands to the once-bleeding ; 
 which may refer either to their hands being imbrued 
 in the blood of the ordinary vidlims, or to the war- 
 like difpofition of that conquering people (Macedo- 
 nians). But, if the thing be fad, it muft have pro-' 
 ceeded from an afiurance that fuch a facrifice was 
 one day or other to promote the happinefs of man- 
 kind (4). 
 
 CHAP. LXV. 
 
 CF THE INFERIOR DEITIES ATTENDING MANKIND 
 FROM THEIR BIRTH TO. THEIR DECEASE. 
 
 I T would be a tafs almoft endlefs to enter into a 
 minute detail of the inferior deities acknowledged 
 by the Greeks and Romana. The names of thefe 
 vifionary beings occur fo feldpm in the claffic au- 
 thors, that it is fufficient barely to mark their deno- 
 minations. 
 
 During pregnancy, the tutelar powers were the 
 gdd Pilumnus (5),. and the goddefies Intercidonia(6), 
 
 and 
 
 (4) Thip was alfo'the leading opinion of the Britiih Drii- 
 kis : Fr. 'vitalonut^is mji vita hominis reddatur^ non fojfe aliter 
 deorum immort.l-.um numen platcar't arbitrautur, Catf. Comm. 
 1. 6. c. 15. 
 
 (5) Either from Pilum, a peftle, or from Pello, to drive 
 away, becaufe he procured a fafe delivery. 
 
 (6) She taught the art of cutting v/ood with a hatchet to 
 make fires. 
 
THE HEAT HBN CODS. 1^3 
 
 and DeveiTa (7). The fignificatlon of thefe names 
 feems to point out the necefiit/ of warmth ar.tl clean- 
 linefs to perfons in this condition. 
 
 Bcfides the fuperior goddefles Juno-Lucina, Di^.- 
 na-Ilythia, and Latona, who ail prefided at the birth, 
 there' were the goddefles Egeria (8), Profa (9), and. 
 Manageneta d,, who with the Dii Nixii (s), had all- 
 the care of women in labour. 
 
 To children, Jinus performed the office of door- 
 keeper or midwife, and in this quality was afiifted 
 by the goddefii Opis, or Ops(;,); Cunia rocked the 
 cradle, while Carmenta fang their dcftiny ; Levana 
 lifted thcni from the ground (4),- and Vcgitanus took 
 care of them when they cried ; Rumina (5) vratched 
 them while they fucked ; Potina furniflied them with 
 drink, and Educa with food or nourijhment ; CiTila- 
 go knit their bones, and Carna (6) ftrengthcned their 
 conftitutions ; Nundina (7) was the goddefs of c^.il- 
 dren's purificatiou ; Statilirius or Statanus, inftruded 
 them to walk, and kept them from falling ; Fabuii- 
 rus learnt them to prattle ; the goddefs Paventia 
 prefei-\ed them from frights (8), and Camcena learnt 
 them to fing. 
 
 Nor was the infant, when grown to riper years, 
 left without his proteAo's ; Juventas was the god of 
 youth ; Agcnoria excited men to a(5lion ; and the 
 goddelles Stimula and Strcnua infpired courage and 
 vivacity ; Horta (9) infpired the love of fame or glory; 
 
 ^ud 
 
 (7) The inventrefs of brooms. 
 
 (S; From cafting out the birth. 
 
 (9) Aulas Gcllius, chap. xix. 
 
 (l)^lian. 
 
 (a) From F.nltor, to ftruggle. See Aufonius, Idyll, la. 
 
 (3) Some make her the fame with Rhea or Vefta. 
 
 (4^ Amongft the Romans the, midwife aiv. ays laid the 
 child o., the ground, and the father, or fomebody he appoint- 
 td, lifted it up ; hence the expreffion of Toiiere JLiberos, to 
 educate children. 
 
 5) Ihe goddefs had a tempte at Rome, attd her offerings 
 were milk. 
 
 (6) On the kalends of June facrifices were offered to Car- 
 na, of bacon and bean-flour cakes ; whence they were called 
 Fabaii;c. 
 
 (7; Loys were named .always 'on the 9th day after the 
 Vifth, girls on the Sih. 
 
 (8; From Pavorema yertendo. 
 ^5) She had a temple at Rome, which always fleoJ open. 
 
•!# FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 and Sentia gave them the fentiments of probity and 
 juftice ; Quies was the goddefs of repofe or eafe ( i ) ; 
 and Indolena, or lazinefs, was deified by the name of 
 Murcia(a); Vacuna proteded the idle ; Adeona and 
 Abeona, fecured people in going abroad and return- 
 ing (3); '"ind Vibilia if they wandered, was fo kind 
 to put them in the right way again ; FefTonia 
 refrefhed the weary and fatigued ; and Meditrina 
 healed the {ickly(4); Vitula was the patronefs of 
 mirth and frolic (5) ; Volupia, the goddefs who be- 
 ftowed pleafure (6) ; Orbona was addrefled, that 
 parents might not lofe their offspring ; Pellonia avert- 
 ed mifchiefs and dangers ; and Numeria taught peo- 
 ple to caft and keep accounts ; Angerona (7) cured 
 the anguifli or forrows of the mind; Hseres-Martia 
 fecured heirs to the eftates they expefted ; and Stata, 
 or Statua- Mater, fecured the forum, or mark^t- 
 placv from fire ; even the thieves had a protedtrefs in 
 Laverna (8); Averruncus prevented fudden misfor- 
 tunes ; and Confus was always difpofed to give good 
 advice to fuch as wanted it ; Volumnus infpired men 
 with a difpofition to do well ; and Honorus raifed 
 -them to preferment and honours. 
 
 Nor was the marriage-ftate without its peculiar 
 defenders. Five deities were efteemed fo neceflary, 
 that no marriages were folemnized without aflcing their 
 favours ; thefe were Jupiter-perfedus, or the. Adult, 
 Juno, Venus, Suadela (9), and Diana. 
 
 Jugatinus tied the nuptial knot ; Domiducus ufher- 
 ed the bride home ; Domitius took care to keep her 
 there, and preventing her gadding abroad ; Man- 
 
 turna 
 
 (i) She had a temple without the walls. 
 
 (2) Murcia had her temple on mount Aventine. 
 
 (3) From Abeo, to go away, and Adeo, to come. 
 
 (4) The feftival of this goddefs was in September, when. 
 ♦h»e Romans drank new wine mixed with old by way of 
 phyfic. 
 
 {5) From Vjtulo, to leap or dance. 
 
 (6) From Voluptas. 
 
 ( 7 ) In a grd^at murrain which deftroyecl their cattle, the 
 Romans invt.keci this goddefs, and fhe removed the plag^ue. 
 
 (8) The image was ahead without a body, Hora.e men- 
 •tions her, lil). I, epift. XVI. 60. fiie had a temple without the 
 
 walls, which gave the name to the Porto I.avcrnalis. 
 
 (9) The goddefs of eloquence or perfuafion, who had :al- 
 wajs a great hand in the fuccefs of courtlhip. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. its 
 
 turna preferved the conjugal union entire ; Virgi- 
 nenfis (i) loofed the bridel zone or girdle ; Viriplaca 
 was a propitious goddefs ready to reconcile the mar- 
 ried couple in cafe of any accidental difference ; 
 Matura was the patronels of matrons, no maid- 
 fervant being fufferred to enter her temple ; M^fno 
 and Februo (2) were the goddefles who regulated the 
 female Catamenia ; the goddefs Vacuna (3) is men- 
 tioned by Horace (4) as having her temple at Rome ; 
 the Ruftics celebrated her feftival in December, after 
 the harveft was got in (5). 
 
 The ancients afligned the particular parts of the 
 body to peculiar deities ; the head was facred to 
 Jupiter, the breaft to Neptune, the v^aift to Mars, 
 the forehead to Genius, the eyebrows to Juno, the 
 eyes to Cupid, the ears to Memory, the right hand to 
 Fides or Veritas, the back to Pluto, the reins to Venus, 
 the knees to Mifericordia, or Mercy, the legs to 
 Mercury, the feet to Thetis, and the fingers to Mi- 
 nerva (6). 
 
 The goddefs who prefided over funerals was Libi- 
 tina(7), whofe temple at Rome the undertakers fur- 
 nifhed with all the neceffaries for the interment of 
 the poor or rich ; all dead bodies were carried through 
 the Porto Libitina, and the Raticnes Libitina:, men- 
 tioned by Suetonius, very nearly anfwer cur bills of 
 mortality. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
 "(l) She was alfo called Cinxia Juno. 
 
 (2) From Februo, to purge. 
 
 (5) She was an old Sabine deity. Some make her the 
 fame with Ceres ; but Varro imagines her to be the goddefii 
 of victory, the fruits of which are cafe and repofe. 
 
 (4) Horace, Lib. I. Epill. 10,49. 
 
 (5) Ovid Faft. Lib. VI. 
 
 (6) From this diftribution arofe, perhaps the fcheme of 
 cur modern altrologers, who aflign the dilTerent parts of 
 the body to the cseieltial conftellations, or fiti^riS of the Zt'diac ; 
 as the head to Aries, the neck to Taurus, the ihoulders to 
 Gemini, the heart to Cancer, the breaft to Leo, the belly 
 to Virgo, the reins to Libra, the fecrets to Scorpio, the 
 thighs to Sagittarius, the knees to Capricorn, the legs to 
 Aquarius, and the feet to Pifces. 
 
 (7) Some confound this goddefs with Proferpine, other* 
 with Venus. 
 
.186 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 CHAP. LXVI. 
 
 OF THE INFERIOR RURAL DEITIES. 
 
 1 H E Romans were not content with the great 
 variety of gods, which filled their ritual. They were 
 daily inventing new deities of an inferior order, to 
 anfwer the demands of fuperflition, and increafe the 
 kakndar. Rufina thus became the name of a god- 
 defs, who prefided over the country in general. Col- 
 lina had the charge of the hills, and Yallona the in- 
 fpedion of the vallies ; Hippona was the guardian 
 rf ftabies and horfes ; and Bubona took care of oxen; 
 Sell, or Segetia, watched the feed till it fprouted ; 
 and Runcina weeded the young corn ; Sarritor was 
 the god of fowing, and Occator of harrowing ; Ro- 
 bigus kept the blights or Mildew away (8) ; Slcrcu- 
 tius manured or dunged the ground } Nodotus, or 
 Nodofus, took care to ftrengthen or knit the ftalks 
 of the corn ; Volufia watched the blade ; Patelina 
 unfolded the ear ; La(5tucina filled it ; and Matura 
 brought it to due ripenefs ; Heftilina produced a 
 plentiful crop ; and Tutelina took care to reap and 
 get it fafe in ; Pilumnus kneaded the bread ; and 
 Fornax baked it (9) ; Mellon a was the goddefs of ho- 
 ney ; but the truth is, thefe fanciful deities are fo 
 little m.entioned in authors, that we may call them the 
 refufe or fcum of the gods. 
 
 CHAP. Lxvn. 
 
 OF THEMIS, ASTREA, AND NEMESIS. 
 
 The MIS was the daughter of Caelum and Terra 
 and the goddefs of laws, ceremonies and orades. 
 Jupiter confulted her in the giants war, and after- 
 wards efpouled her ; fhe inftruded Deucalion how 
 to re-people the world after the deluge, and was 
 rather indeed a moral than an hiftorical deity, as fhe 
 
 fignifies 
 
 (8) His feftival, called Roblgalia, was celebrated in tb« 
 ^ginning of May. 
 
 (9) Ovid Fefti. Lib. YI, 
 
 \ 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 187 
 
 fignifies that power which rewards vhtue and puniflies 
 vice. 
 
 To Jupiter, Themis, befides a numerous offspring, 
 already fpoken of, bore the goddefs Aflrfca, who re- 
 fided on earth during the golden age, and infpired 
 mankind with the principles of jnftice and equity ; 
 but as the world grevv' corrupted flie returned to 
 heaven (i), and became that conftellation in the Zo- 
 diac which is called Virgo. ^This goddefs is repre- 
 fented with her eyes bound or blinded, having a 
 fword in one hand, and in the other a pair of balances 
 equally poifed. 
 
 Nemciii was the daughter of Jupiter and NecefTity 
 (2). She had the title of Adraftea, becaufe Adraflus', 
 king of Argos, firft raifed an altar to her. She had a 
 magnificent temple at Rhamnus in Attica, with a 
 ftatue. She is reprefented with a ftern afpctft, having 
 in one hand a whip, in the other a pair of fcales. 
 
 CHAP. LXVIIl 
 
 OF THE GODDESS FORTUNA, OR FORTUNE AND THE 
 OTHER VIRTUES AND VICES DEIFIED BY 
 
 THE Ancients. 
 
 t ORTUNE was thcueht to have fo great a fnare 
 in human affairs, that it is no wonder that the Ro- 
 mans made her a gcddtfs. Juvenal, however, is not 
 a little fevere upon his countrymen (3) for this 
 choice ; and He; ace exprefies, if not an abfolute 
 contempt for (4}, yet at heft a very mean opinion of 
 this deity. But whatever fentiments the philofophers 
 or poets might entertain of her, they did not lefTen 
 her in the fight of the vulgar, who paid her much 
 veneration. 
 
 This goddefs had a variety of epithets : fhe was 
 termed Regia and Aurea, from an image of her 
 ufually kept in the apartment of the Casfars. In the 
 capital fhe was worihipped by the title of Bona, but 
 
 hoa 
 
 ( 1 1 Terras Aflrea reliquit. 
 
 (a) Others fay of Ocean us and Npx, 
 
 (3, Satyr X. 
 
 (4) I.ib. I. Ode XXXIV. 14. 
 
iS8 FABULOUS HISTORY OP 
 
 her temple at the Efquilia was confecrated by al^ 
 name of Mala. She was called Confervatrix, Ma- 
 nens and Felix, in ancient infcriptions, to denote 
 the happinefs fhe bellows. Domitian confecrated her 
 a chapel by the llile of Redux, and in fome ancient 
 monuments fhe is called Stata. The names of Bar- 
 bdta and Pan were given her by Servius Tulliws, who 
 dedicated a /brine to her (5) ; fhe was alfo termed 
 Cceca, not unjullly, on account of the injudicious 
 diflribution of her favours. She was honoured at 
 Rome by the title of Fortuna Equeftris (6). In a 
 temple fhe had near that of Venus, fhe bore the ap- 
 pellations of Mafcula and Vii-ilis. At other times 
 fhe was named MammofaC;), Primogenia (8), and 
 Privata, or Propria (9). In the quality of Fortuna 
 Virgo, coats of yx>ung children were offered to her 
 before they put them on ; and fhe was fliled Vifcata, 
 or Vifcofa (i), on account of her alluring or attracting 
 people by h«ri deceitful kindnefs. 
 
 The principal temple of this goddefs was at Prse- 
 nefce, whence fhe was called Prasneftina. She is 
 ufually reprcfented blind, ftanding on a wheel in a 
 moving attitude, and holding a cornucopia, from 
 whence flie powers wealth, and all the emblems of 
 profperity. Horace has given a very maflerly pidure 
 of her in an ode to Maecenas (2), 
 
 She is fometim-es figured in a flying attitude, with 
 broad wings, founding a trumpet, and her flying 
 robe wrought all over with eyes, ears and tongues, 
 to denote the furprize, attention and difcourfe fhe 
 
 excites 
 
 ^5) He alfo called her Obfequen?, from her favouring his 
 wilhe?. Horace called her Saeva on a quite contrar/ account. 
 
 (6 This temple was eredted in purfuance of a vow of the 
 prjetor Q^FuIvius Flaccus, for a vid;ory he obtained in Spain 
 by means of his cavalry. 
 
 (7 Either from her having large brcafts, or the plenty 
 ftie fupplics. 
 
 (8 Irom her giving hirth to the city and empire. 
 
 f9 From her favouring particular perfons. Thefetwolafl 
 appellations were given her by Servius Tullus, » very great 
 admirer of her div'nity. 
 
 (i) From Vifcus, birdlime. Hence Seneca fays, Bensfiia 
 funt 'vifcofa, obligations are catching. 
 
 (z) Horace, Lib. III. Ode XXIX. 49. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 189 
 
 excites. Virgil (3) has given an inimitable defcrip- 
 tion of her, nor does Ovid fall much (hort of him(4). 
 
 Peace is a blefling fo univerfally efteemed, that it 
 is no wonder if ihe was deified. The Athenians 
 (according to Plutarch) ere«5ted her an altar with 
 her ftatue, attended by that of Plutus, the god of 
 riches, to ihow that Ihe was the fource of plenty. 
 At Rome Ihe had a magnificent temple in the Forum 
 (5), which was confumed by fire in the reign of 
 Commodus. 
 
 On medals, this goddefs is reprefented before an 
 altar, fetting fire with a torch in her left hand to a 
 pile of arms, and with the other holding an olive 
 branch . Behind her, on a column, appears the 
 im.age of a naked body or man extending his arms in 
 a rejoicing pofture (6). The poets generally intro- 
 duce her in company with the moft Ihining virtues 
 (7). And Virgil repreients her as the common wifh 
 of mankind (8). Claudian has compofed her pane- 
 gyric in a very diftinguifhed manner. Sometimes fhe 
 appears like a matron holding a bunch or ears of 
 corn, and crowned with olive or rofes. 
 
 The goddefs Concordia, or Concord, was another 
 divinity of the Romans. At the requeft of his mother 
 Livia, widow of Auguftus, a temple was dedicated 
 to her by Tiberius at Rome. She had feveral other 
 magnificent temples ; in one of thefe were depofit- 
 ed the rich fpoils of the temple of Jerufalem. 
 
 Virtue and Honour had their temples at Rome. 
 That to Virtue was eretfted by M. Marcellus (9), and 
 was the only paflage to the temple of Honour, to 
 fliew that worthy adions were the true foundation 
 of lafting fame. The facrifices to Honour were per- 
 formed by the priefts bareheaded. 
 
 Virtue was reprefented like an elderly matron 
 fitting on a fquare ftone ; in ancient medals they ap- 
 pear 
 
 (3) Virgil, iEneid I. 
 
 (4) Ovid, Metam. 42, 63. 
 
 (5) Begun by Claudius, and fmidied by Vefpafiafl. 
 
 (6) The legend of this^ medul, which was ftruck by Vcfpa- 
 fian on the conqueft of Judaza, is Pici Orlis Tt-rrarum. On 
 a medal of his fon Titus, ihe is feen with a palm in oxie 
 h.uid and a Iceptre in the other, the infcription Fax JEternc. 
 
 17) Horace, Carmen Sec. 57. 
 (8j ^neid XI. 362. 
 (9) Sou of Auguilus. 
 
190 FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 pear jointly : however, upon fome of Gordian and 
 Numenian, Ihe is found in the figure of an old man 
 with a beard. 
 
 Fides, or Faith, had a temple near the capitol, 
 founded by Numa Pompilius. No animals were of- 
 fered, or blood fpilt in the facrifices ; during the 
 performance of her rites, her priefts were cloathed in 
 white veftments, and their heads and hands covered 
 with linen cloth ; to fliew that fidelity ought to be 
 fecret. Her fymbol was a white dog, and a figure 
 where two women are joining hands reprefents the 
 goddefs. 
 
 Hope is another of the palTions deified by the Ro- 
 mans. She had a temple in the herb-market, which 
 was confumed by lightning. On medals Ihe appears 
 in a Handing attitude, with her left hand holding up 
 lightly her loofe robes, and leaning on her elbow ; in 
 her right flie has a plate, in which is placed a cibo- 
 rium, or cup, fafiiioned like a flower, with this in- 
 fcription, Spes, P. R. the hope of the Roman people 
 (i). In the modern ftatues and paintings, her cha- 
 raderiftic is a golden anchor. 
 
 Piety, or filial Aftedtion, had a chapel at Rome, 
 confecrated by the Duumvir Attilius and Glabrio on 
 a remarkable occafion : " A man being fentenced to 
 " hard imprifonment, his daughter, who v/as then a 
 " nurie, daily vifited him, and was ftridly fearched 
 *' by the goaler, to fee Ihe brought no food to the 
 ** prifoner. At laft a difcovery was made, that Ihe 
 ** lupported him with her milk. This inftance of 
 *' piety gained her father's freedom. They were 
 ** both afterwards fupported at the public expence, 
 " and the place was confecrated to this goddefs (2)." 
 
 Pudicitia, or Chaflity, was honoured at ilome under 
 two names. Into the temple of Pudicitia Patricia, 
 none were admitted but ladle's of noble birth. Vir- 
 ginia, the daughter of Aulus, having married a 
 Plebeian, fo offended thefe, that they excluded her 
 their alitmblies : upon which Virginia called a meet- 
 ing of the plebeian matrons, dedicated a chapel to 
 this goddefs by the name of Pudicitia Plebeia(0. 
 
 Her 
 
 (i) The reverfe is a head of Adrian, 
 (a) Pliny's Nat. Hift. lib. VII. cap. 36. 
 (3) All matrons who murried bat OQce, were honoured 
 •with the Corona Pudiciti;c, or crown of chaflity. 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 191 
 
 Her fpeech on this occafion was truly great : " I de- 
 " dicate," fays flie, " this altar to Pudicitia Plcbeia, 
 *' and delire you will adore Chaftity as much as the 
 " men do Honour ; and I wiih that this temple may 
 *' be frequented by purer votaries (if poflible) than 
 " that of Pudicitia Patricia." In both of thefe tem- 
 ples Ro matron was permitted to facrifice unlefs Ihe 
 had an unblemifhed character, and was but once 
 married. In medals this deity is reprcfented under 
 the figure of a woman veiled, pointing with the fore- 
 finger of her right-hand to her face, to fignify that 
 fhe had no reafon to blufh. 
 
 Mercy, or Clemency, had an altar at Athens, 
 erected by the kindred of Hercules. At Rome was a 
 temple dedicated to the Clemency of Ccefar (4). Both 
 the Romans and Greeks gaive the name of Afyium to 
 the temples each had erected to this goddefs. 
 
 Truth, according to Plutarch, was the daughter of 
 Saturn and Time, and the mother of Virtue, and 
 w'as reprefented as a beautiful young virgin of a 
 proper ftature, modeftly clad in a robe, whcfc white- 
 ncfs refembled that of fnow. Democritus, to give an 
 idea of the difficulty of her being found, fays that 
 ihe is concealed in the bottom of a well. 
 
 Liberty was fo much the delight of the Romans, 
 that it was but natural for them to imagine her a 
 goddefs, and to confecrate to her temples and altars. 
 She was reprefented in the form of a virgin cloathed 
 in white, holding a fceptre in her right hand, and a 
 cap in her left. 
 
 Good Senfe, or Underftanding [mens]* vv-as ho- 
 noured with an altar in the Capitol, by M. iEmilius; 
 and Attilias the praetor erected her chapel. 
 
 Fauftitas, or the public Felicity and Welfare, had 
 many altars, and was adored both by the Greeks and 
 Romans : the former honoured this goddefs under the 
 names of Endaimonia and Macaria. The Athenians 
 confulting an oracle on the fuccefs of a battle, were 
 informed, that they fhould V\in the vliftory if one of 
 ttie children of Hercules vni^ouM fubmit to a voluntary 
 death : on this Macaria, one of his daughters, killed 
 herfelf, and the Athenians becoming victorious, paid 
 her adoration under the name of Felicity. She was 
 reprefented in painting as a lady cloathed in a purple 
 
 veitment 
 (4) This temple was built by a decree of the fenate, after 
 the dcuth of Julius Casfar. 
 
I9X FABULOUS HISTORY OF 
 
 veftment trimmed with filver, fitting on an imperial 
 throne, and holding in one hand a caduceus, and in 
 the other a cornucopia. 
 
 Viiftory was honoured by feveral nations as a god- 
 defs. According to Hefiod, fhe was the daughter of 
 Styx and Pallas ; fhe was painted by the ancients in 
 the fonr. of a woman clad in cloth of gold, and is re- 
 prefented on fome medals with wings, flying through 
 the air, holding a palm in one hand, and a laurel 
 crown in the other ; in others fhe is to be feen Hand- 
 ing upon a globe, with the feme crown and branch 
 of palm. 
 
 The goddefs Salus, or Health, had a temple at 
 Rome near the gate, from thence called Porto Salu- 
 taris ; and as the blefiings fhe beflows are known to 
 all, fo no doubt but fhe had a great number of votaries. 
 She was reprefented by a woman fitting on a throne, 
 and holding a globe in her hand. Near her flood an 
 altar, with a fnake entwined round it. In this tem- 
 ple was performed the Augurium Salutis, a ceremony 
 which Auguflus revived from defuetude. It was a 
 day fet apart annually, for enquiring of the gods by 
 divination, whether they would allow the people to 
 pray for peace ? On this day the Roman armies were 
 forbid to march or engage. It is worthy of remark, 
 that the pricfts of this temple had arrogated to them- 
 felves the fole privilege of offering fupplications for 
 the health of every individual, as well as for the flate. 
 The Good Genius was adored by the Greeks, and, 
 according to Paufanius, had a temple in the road 
 leading to mount Maenalus. At the clofe of fupper 
 a cup was always offered him of wine and water, and 
 called the grace-cup. 
 
 Wealth has fuch an influence on the affairs of life, 
 that it has in all ages been the objed of public wor- 
 fhip, or of fecret idolatry. Thus the Romans deified 
 both Plutus and Pecunia, or Money. JMenander 
 wittily cbferves on this fubjed, " That if you can 
 " poffefs this deity, you may afk and have what you 
 ** pleafe ; even the gods themfelves fliall be at your 
 ** devotion." 
 
 Silence was, amongfl the Romans, both a male and 
 ftmale deity, by the names of Harpocrates and Ange- 
 rona ; but the latter feems only to have been a female 
 imitation of the former, whom they borrowed from the 
 Egyptians. He was the fon of liis, begotten by Ofiris 
 after his death, and on that account faid to have been 
 
 a weakly 
 
THE HEATHEN GODS. 193 
 
 a weakly child. His ftatue waj placed at fome finall 
 diftance from thofe of Ofiris, Orus, and Ifis, with his 
 finger on his mouth ; intimating to the worfhippers, 
 that not a word was to be faid that thofe deities had 
 once been mortal. The Greeks and Romans appro- 
 priated to themfelves this fymbol of Silence, but in 
 general were ignorant of its original intention. 
 
 Nor were thefe the only vifionary deities ere(5ted by 
 the heathens. Fear, Hope, Difeafes, Calamities, and 
 even Vices, were honoured with a view of averting 
 their vifitation, or allaying their noxious influences. 
 Thus Febris, or the Fever, had her altars at Rome. 
 Hoftilius Tullus vowed a temple to the goddefles 
 Terror and Palenefd. M. Marcellinus, after efcaping 
 a ftorm near Sicily, built a chapel to the god Tem- 
 peftas, without the gate of Capena. And Poverty 
 and Art were both deified by the people of Gadara, 
 becaufe Neceffity is the mother of invention. Envy 
 was a goddefs, whofe perfon and abode are inimitably 
 defcribed by Ovid (5). 
 
 Calumny had an altar ereifted to her by the Athe- 
 nians. We have a very remarkable pi(5ture of this 
 mifchievous goddefs, as drawn by the hand of the great 
 Apelles. Credulity, reprefented by a man with large 
 open ears, invites this deity to him, extending his 
 hand to receive her. Ignorance and Sufpicion ftand 
 jtift behind him. Calumny, the principal figure of 
 the piece,. appears advancing, her countenance ruffled 
 with pafiion, holding in her left hand a lighted torch, 
 and with her right dragging along a youth, who lifts 
 up his hands as fupplicating the gods. Juft before her 
 goes Envy, pale and fquihting. On her right fide arc 
 Fraud and Coufpiracy. Behind her follows Repent- 
 ance, with her cloaths torn, and looking backwards 
 on Truth, who flowly doles up the rear (6). Con- 
 tumely and Impudence were alio honoured by the 
 ^\thenians under the figure of partridges, efteemed a 
 very bold bird. Difcord is reprefented as a goddefs by 
 Petronius Arbiter, whofe defcription of her is worthy 
 fo mafterly a pencil ; and Virgil has given us a pi(Paire 
 of Fury, a deity much of the fame ft:amp. — It is no\T 
 lime to clofe the particular account, and to proceed 
 to a confideration at large of the Heathen Theology. 
 K A DIS- 
 
 CO Metam. lib. II. 762. 
 (6y Luci.*!!. 
 
A 
 
 DISSERTATION 
 
 ON T H 2 
 
 THEOLOGY of the HEATHENS. 
 
 The religion of mankind was at firft one, like the 
 objed of it. But when the latter was changed, the 
 mode and ceremonial of worfhip continued ftill the 
 fame; for idolatry, that worst of things, was but 
 in its origin, the corruption of true religon, which is 
 the BEST ! We are not therefore to wonder, if we 
 fee the fame ufage of temples, altars, priefts, facri- 
 fices, firft fruits, &c. common to the patriarchs and 
 unbelievers. We even behold, in thefe, and many 
 other inftances, the fam.e religious cuftams amongil 
 the heathens, which it pleafed the Divine Being to 
 enforce the continuance of by the Mofaic difpenfati- 
 on ; a convincing argument that they muft have been 
 uncorrupt and innocent in their original. 
 
 Nor did mankind in general lofe fight of the origi- 
 nal objed fo foon, or fo totally, as is commonly ap- 
 prehended. Since we find amongft the eaftern nati- 
 ons, and indeed amongft feveral of the Greeks and 
 Romans, the moft exalted notions of the Supreme 
 Being, the Creator of heaven and earth. 
 
 According to the Egyptians (i), Eidon, or the firft 
 God, exifted in his folatcr/ unity before all behigs. 
 He is the fountain and original of every thing, that 
 cither has underftanding, or is to be underftocd. He 
 is the firft principle of all things, felf-fufiicient, in- 
 comprehenfible/ and the father of all eflences. Her- 
 mes fays, likewife, that this Supreme God has con- 
 ftituted another God, called Emeph, to be head over 
 all fpirits, whether etherial, empyrean, or celeftial ; 
 and that this fecond God-, whom he ftiles the Guide^ 
 is a wifdom that transforms and converts into itfelf 
 all fpiritual beings. He makes nothing fuperior to 
 this god-guide, except the firft intelligent, and firft 
 intelligible, who ought to be adortd in filence. He 
 
 adds, 
 
 (l) Pamblicusde Myft. Egypt. Ed. LngJ. 1552. p. 153, 4. 
 
T H E O L O G Y, &c. 195 
 
 adds, that the fpirit which produceth all things has 
 different names, according to his different properties 
 and operations ; that he is called in the Egyptian lan- 
 guage Amoun, as he is wife ; Ptha, as he is the life 
 of all things ; and Ofiris, as he is the author of all 
 good (a). 
 
 Let us proceed to the Greeks, amongft whom Or- 
 pheus claims the firft place in right of his antiquity, 
 and to whofe theological fentiments the preference is 
 always given by the early writers in favour of Chrifti- 
 anity. 
 
 ** There is one unknown Being, exalted above, and 
 ** prior to all beings (3), the author of all things, even 
 *' of the aether, and of every thing that is below the 
 *' aether: this exalted being is life, light, and 
 " wisdom; which three names exprefs only one and 
 *' the fame power, which drew all beings, vifible and 
 " invilible, out of nothing." 
 
 Thus alfothe divine Plato : ** That which (4) gives 
 *' truth and reality to things unknown, and endues 
 *' the knower with the power of underftanding ; this 
 ** call thou the idea of the Good One, the fource of 
 *' v.dfdom and truth." But God is everywhere dlf- 
 tinguiflied throughout the works of this illuftrious 
 philofopher, as the beautiful, the go^d, the just 
 
 ONE. 
 
 Would you fee the being and the providence of God 
 depionftrated from the order and adminiftration of 
 the world ? You will no where find it more convinc- 
 ingly than in the reafoning of Balbus in Cicero ; and 
 from which obfervations you muft of neceffity draw 
 the fame conclufion which he does, that (5) " All 
 " things in the world are wonderfully direAed by a 
 " divine mind and counfel, to the fafety and corifer- 
 vation of the whole." 
 
 K 1 Thefe 
 
 (a) See Ramfay's Theology, annexed to Cyrus, 4to cd. 
 p. 14 and 17. 
 
 (3) Said, de Orph. p. 350, andCedrenus, p. 47. 
 
 (4) TtfTo TOf vv TO tuv etyh^cictv ireoJp^EV T«f yiyvoecy-ciMVn^ 
 Kd] TM yiyVKTy-ofri' rhv ^iva/jciv a.7roh^ov, ttiv tk 'Aya?"a i^itjv, 
 fabi t-;va<. De Repub. lib. 6. 
 
 (5) Sic undique omiii ratione coitcluditur tmnte conj-.lloqua dl'vint 
 omn'to in hoc miuido ad Jalutem omnium confervatiowmque odmirg" 
 biliter adminijlrari, Dc Nat.Deor. 1. 2. C. K}j, 
 
15>6 THEOLOGY OF 
 
 Thefe fentiments are -alfo the refult of Seneca's en- 
 <ju»ries : " By Jove, fays he (6), the wife men amongft 
 " the ancients did not mean fuch an one as we fee in 
 '' th€ Capitol and other temples, but the Guardian 
 *' and Ruler of the univerfe, a mind and spirit, the 
 " mafter and artificer of this mundane fabric, whom 
 " every title fuits. Would you call him Fate ? you 
 ** will not err; for he it is on whom all things de- 
 " pend ; the Cause of Causes. Would you call 
 ** him Providence ? you are in the right ? for by his 
 ** wifdom is the world directed ; hence it move.^ 
 *' unfhaken, and performs its every ofnce. Would 
 ** you call him Nature ? 'tis not amifs ; fmce from 
 ** him all things proceed, and by his fpirit we live ; 
 ** or the World ? tis well ; for he is All in all, and 
 *' exifting by his own power." 
 
 Innumerable are the inftances which might be 
 brought from the ancients to this purpofe. But thtfe 
 may fuffice. And from an attentive confideration of 
 tbefe it will appear, that the philofophers endeavour- 
 ed to eflablifh a particular fyftem with relation to the 
 origin of idolatry, which tends very much to leffcn 
 the fuppofed abfurdity of it. They maintained (7) 
 that the idea which the wife men of antiquity had 
 formed to themfelves of God, was that of a Being 
 fuperior to whatever exifts ; of a Spip.it prefent in 
 all the bounds of the univerfe, who animates all, 
 who is the principal of generation, and communi- 
 cates fertility to every being>; of a Flame, lively^, 
 pure, and always zG.iwG -, of an iNTELLiGENCEy in- 
 finitely wife, whofe providence continually watches 
 and extends over all ; in a word, an idea of a Being, 
 to whom they had given different names anfwering 
 to his fuperior excellence ; yet fuch as always bore 
 theftamp of that fupreme right of poflellion, which 
 js only inherent in the abfolute Lord, and in him 
 from whom all things flow. 
 
 It is, however, too fatally to be denied, that as 
 the' corruption of the heart of man dilated and en- 
 larged itfeif, a difrelifh of fpiritual things gradually 
 came on, and the mind grew mo-c devoted to fcnfiblc 
 objeds. Of all created things within his profpect, 
 the. Sun was the moft glorious and the moft likely to 
 
 engage 
 
 (6) jvnrural. Ouaeil:. 1. c. 45. 
 T> St-c Banlcr's Mythology, vo?. I. ]x i;-!. 
 
THE HEATHENS. 19? 
 
 engage his attention firft, and next his Wonder and 
 his worfhip^. Accordingly it had been confidered 
 from the beginning as the great or primary emblem 
 of the divinity, being not only the moft beautiful of 
 all bodies in its appearance, but the moft beneficent 
 in its efFecfts ; the regulator of the feafons, and the 
 natural parent of light and fertility. Hence Plato (8) 
 calls it ** The offspring of the good one, which the 
 ** good one produced analogous to himfelf." It is 
 termed by others (9) " The eye of Jove," and thie 
 '* mind of Jove, of heaven, of the world." In 
 fine, whoever will be at the pains to confult Macro- 
 bius, may fee that the figures of all the heathen 
 deities were but fo many different expreffions of the 
 qualities and attributes of the Sun, or of the feafons 
 which depended on and were governed by him ; to 
 whom his votaries afcribed omnipotence, and whom 
 m their invocations they faluted as ** The power, 
 *' the light, and the fpirit of tiie world (i)." 
 
 The Solar Bo^ly, before writing, could not more 
 property be reprefcnted than by the figure of a cir- 
 cle ; a (Vmbie fo plain and inoffenfive, that one would 
 think,- it fhould not carMy be perverted to the ufes of 
 idolatry. It was accordingly fubftiluted in hierogly- 
 phics as the artificial (its principal the Sun being the 
 great natural) emblem of the divinity, and became 
 the figure of all the open temples ; the earliefl places 
 of religious woi-fliip. Thefe circles, or difcs, are 
 the fun-images mentioned in fcripture (1), and are 
 at this day the fymbols of royalty, glory, and divi- 
 liity ; and it may be worth while perhaps to remark 
 that the word from which this is fapplied (3), is ufed 
 to fignify idolatry in general, from the near relation 
 which it bears to the original objed of it (4), whofc 
 derivative it is. 
 
 When 
 
 (8) Toy t5 AyaS^a inyoviv, ov t' 'AyA^hv lyhtirtv aveO^oytv 
 letvrai. De Repub. 1. 6. 
 
 (0) Apuleius de Mundo Macrobius Saturnal. I. i. cap. 17* 
 ufque ad finem cap. 23. 
 
 ( 1 ) Potentiam foils ad omnium fAefiatum fummitatem referri 
 indicant toeologi ; qui infacris hoc brevijftma precatione demonjlrant 
 dicentes. "HXte TravToxparo, Kog-fXH Tcyivf^a., Koa-fMS SiJvrtfwV xor|U«r 
 ^xw?. Ibid. c. 23. 
 
 (2) Haminichem, fun-images. 
 (•3) Hamon, idolatry. 
 
 (4) Hamah, the fan. 
 
198 THEOLOGY OF 
 
 When religious worfhip began to be transferred 
 from the divinity to his emblem, from the creator to 
 the creature, then that particular day of the week, 
 which had ever been kept facred to the creator of all 
 things, began likewife to be fet apart and dedicated 
 to the honour of this luminary, was thence termed 
 Sunday^ and continued to be had in efpecial reverence 
 above all the reft. Hence celebrated by one of the 
 moft ancient writers, as " An holy day, becaufe it 
 *' was the birth-day of Apollo, or the fun (5).*' 
 Which indeed was fo far true, that it was the com- 
 memoration of that day, on which the human eye 
 was bleffcd with the profpedl of that glorious objed. 
 For it requires no extraordinary fagacity, but only 
 2. little attention, however generally and unaccount- 
 ably this point has been over-looked, to fee and be 
 convinced that the firft Holy Seventh Day was the 
 particular ftated day of the Chriftian fabbath. It 
 appears from the original account of it, that the 
 work of the creation took up fix days, and that the 
 laft created being was man ; who was therefore in all 
 probability formed on the evening of the fixth day. 
 That which immediately fucceeded was the firft of 
 Adam's life as well as the firft fabbath. It was the 
 firft day of his firft week, and month and year, i. e, 
 the firft in man's account of time. On the expiration 
 of this firft fabbath, he began to number his fecular 
 days, as they advanced in order, till he had told fix. 
 The next was again his Holy Seventh ; yet the firft 
 day of his fecond week, for his weeks were afcer- 
 tained by the return of fabbath. Th»s obtained it 
 duly in all ordinary and civil computations to be the 
 firft day of the week, at the fame time that it was 
 diftinguifhed, with a retrofped to the work of crea- 
 tion, as an Holy Seventh Day. And remarkable it 
 is> that the moft ancient of the heathen writers, 
 while they fpeak of it as fuch, have rendered the very 
 fame reafon for it (6), which the Jewifti legiflator had 
 
 before 
 
 (5) . s$^of/.ov Tegov Kfxetp. 
 T£ yap 'A7reXX»;va yjfva-aofa yiivaro Avroi, Hesiod. 
 
 (6) •^'E^^ofA.ov iBfcv'Ufyiip. Hesiod. 
 
 ' E^tofA.v 'nv Upri, Homer. 
 
 't$oo[xcn ry-a-p Ixv xai r£ teteXj^o iiravra.. Homer. 
 
 'E0^ofxa,r*i J' r,p', ■mi^iiafjuint 7ra.\Tct rBrvy.Tctt. Lix. 
 
 'E0h/u,n h TTpooroio-i, nm 'i.BKp.y\ i<r T>)X£i>j. Callim. 
 
 Vide Clemont. Alex. Storm. I. j. p, 560, and Poli. 
 Synnops, ad Genef. xi. 2. 
 
THE HEATHENS. 199 
 
 before given , namely, that " On it all things were 
 ** ended or compleated." This then being of anci- 
 ent or patriarchial ufage, was not confined to any- 
 particular nation or fet of men, like the Jewifli fab- 
 bath, but extended to all mankind, and was univer- 
 faily obferved as the birth-day of the world ; but 
 being at length abufed and defecrated to the purpofes 
 of idolatry, it pleafed the divine Being, when he deli- 
 vered hi« people from the bondage of the ^Egyptians, 
 to confecrate another day to his peculiar vvorfhip,.. 
 This \vas the fclf fame day in which he brought them 
 forth with their armies from the land of -Slgypt. 
 Which was therefore to be a memorial of their deli- 
 verance (7), as long as their ftate and polity fhould. 
 lafl, and a lign (8) and covenant that the Moft High 
 God was their God. 
 
 But to refume our fubjexft ; from which, we hopr, 
 the reader will excufe this little digrelfion, if fuch it 
 be. Another emblem of the divinity, in a manner 
 univerfaily received, was the Seraph, or fiery-fiying 
 Serpent, "the Salutis Draco (9), the great fymbol of 
 Light and Wifdom, of Life and Health. Why the 
 figure of this animal w.^s thus honoured, feveral rea- 
 fons may be affigned ; as, the annual renovation of " 
 its youth and beauty ; its finuofity, which enabled 
 it to put on various forms ; the acutenefs of vifion, 
 and extraordinary fagacity afcribed to it ; and its 
 colour, which is that of vivid flame, or burnifhed 
 brafs. Its name of Seraph particularly is fo expref- 
 five (i) of that blaze of brightnefs, which it feems 
 to furnifh when reflecting the fplendor of the fun- 
 beams, that it has been transferred to a fuperior 
 order of angels ; and is once made ufe of to denote 
 even the glorious appearance of the cherubim (a). 
 This is the fame fymbol which was ered:ed by Mofes 
 in the wildernefs. But this alfo was at length profti- 
 tuted to abominable purpofes, and made the attribute 
 of all the JEgyptian deities (3)* . 
 
 Expanded 
 
 (7) Deuteronom. c. v. 15. 
 
 (8) Ezckiel. c, xx.lo, ii, 12, 13.. 
 
 (9) Macrobius. 
 
 ( I ) Seraph, a flame or burning. 
 
 (a) Ifaiah vi. 
 
 (3) Orus Apollo; ad initiura. 
 
aop T H E O L O G Y O F 
 
 Expanded Wings made a third emblem of the diM- 
 nity. This was the hieroglyphic fubftituted for the 
 aether, which was confidered as the natural fymbol 
 of the divine fpirit, and, as fuch, fucceeded to a 
 Ihare of idolatrous worfhip (4). In fome of the ori- 
 ginal open temples, particularly in that wonderful 
 one of Abiry in Wiltfhire, the complex figure of the 
 Circle, and Seraph, with expanded wings, was re- 
 prefented entire. 
 
 Such were the natural emblems of the divine Being, 
 and fo plain and fimple their hieroglyphical reprefen- 
 tations ; the original intent of which is explained to 
 us by Kircher (5), from a piece of antiquity in the 
 Phoenician language : " Jove,'* fays this fragment, 
 " is a figured Circle ; from it is produced a Serpent : 
 " the Circle fhcws the divine nature to be without 
 ** beginning or end ; the Serpent his word, which 
 •* animates the world and makes it prolific ; his 
 ** Wings the fpirit of God, which gives motion to 
 " the whole fyftem." 
 
 The commencement of idolatry, avowed and aim- 
 ing at fome eftablifliment, muft bear date from the 
 extraordinary projed: fet on foot at Babel. The de- 
 fign, as appears from the original account of it (6), 
 was to build a city and a tower, the citadel or com- 
 manding part of which was to be eredted to thefe 
 powers, which are there diftinguifhed as the Shemim, 
 or Heavens. The fuppofition of its being to reach 
 unto the heavens is an addition of the tranflators. 
 The confufion there fpoken of, was the confufion of 
 
 the 
 
 (4) Tiva. or, Kai a-iju.'.irji;v rrori xi'/et) S'fov, w Mlyi^Xe Kat 
 
 ia.l[x(ai^ ftfia KtLi ^ioi Tifxciv t£ y.ai bv^.e^ai Jia^JepjfTaj? avrZ, 
 Toy Ji xsi riv aXhuv aiTiov LyeJbvv Tritruv hfA,lv kvrov yiyavivxi^ 
 TTsiovig aTOfxoX yoifjiiv Piaton. Epinomis. 
 
 Ztr.')ni \5f retiqi^is fere Stoicis JEther videtur fummus DeuSy 
 menu pra£tusy qua omnia regantur. Ciceron Academ. Quaeft. 
 I. 4- c. 41. 
 
 Chanthes autem, qui Zenonem audivit, turn ultimum 15* altij/l' 
 mum ctque undique circumfufum^ Xlf exirewum omnia civgentem, 
 atque complexum ardorem, qui ^ther no;ninatur ; certijjlmum 
 Deumjudicat. Id. de Nat. Dcor. 1. 1, c. 14. See Chap. 62. of 
 Ifis, Ofiris and Orus. 
 
 (5) Obcl. Pamph. p. 403. 
 
 (6j Gen. xi. 4. The original r»ns ftridly thus: Lrt us 
 treSi to ui a city and a tower y and the tbisf place of it to the heaven?. 
 
T H B HEATHENS. io*. 
 
 tfee lip, or religious confeflion. The true believers- 
 on this occafion feparated from the idolaters, whom 
 they left behind in Aflyria to proceed in their mad 
 enterprize, and difperled themfelves in the adjoining, 
 countries, carrying with them the lame language and 
 the fame patriarchal religion, where we find both for 
 a conliderable time after. The confufion of tongue?, 
 as it is called, was but the natural, and by no means 
 the immediate confequence of this difperfion. 
 
 Next we find the folar body, and its natural fymboi 
 the fire, worfhipped at Ur of the' Chaldees, thence 
 denominated. The fame fymboi was held in efpecial 
 reverence afterwards by the Perfians, but never wor- 
 fhipped, in the proper fenfe of the expreflion. The 
 fpecies of idolatry relating to the worfhip of the huv 
 man figure was not introduced till long after; no^ 
 was the temple, which Ninus is faid to have built; 
 ered:ed to his father Belus, as many have aflerted^ 
 but to Bel or Baal-Shemim, the Lord of the Heavens, 
 meaning the Sun. 
 
 Thus idolatry in Aflyria was prior, to the time of* 
 Abraham (7), but it was confined to that country ; for 
 neithei in his time, nor for fome time after, do we find- 
 any trac-es of it in Arabia, Phoenicia, or Egypt. We 
 may reft affured that Ifhmael, the father of the Ara- 
 bians, and his brethren by Keturah, adored the God 
 of their father, and eftablifhed his worfhip in the eaft- 
 country, whither they were fent (Gen. xviii. 19). In 
 Phoenicia, we find Abimelech, the king of the Philif- 
 tines, believing in God, favoured wdth a divine inter- 
 courfe, and pleading to the heavenly vifion the righte - 
 oufnefs of his nation. Their behaviour with Ifaac 
 afterwards leaves no room to doubt that they con- 
 tinued then in the fame faith (8). God himfelf de- 
 clares to Abraham, that his children Ihall not pofTefs 
 that land till the fourth generation after him y bccaufe the 
 iniquity of itj inhabitants ivaj not yet full Whence it 
 is but rational to conclude, that till the fourth genera- 
 ticn after, or till about the time of Exodus, they had 
 not, at leaft generally, fwerved into idolatry. Sir 
 Ifaac Newton (9) imagines that they continued in the 
 true religion till the death of Melchizcdec ; but that 
 K y afterwards 
 
 (7) Jofhua, XXIV. a. 
 
 (8) Gen. xKvi. a8, 2-9, & feq. 
 
 (9j Chronoiogy of ancient kingdoms amentied, p. 188. 
 
aci THEOLOGY Of 
 
 afterwards they began to embrace idolatry fprcadine 
 thitherward from Chaldaea. They could not, how- 
 ever, in any Ihort time after, have amongft them more 
 than the beginnings of idolatry ; though I prefume, 
 they funk into it apace after the departure of Jofeph's 
 brethren with their families into Egypt. When the 
 patriarch came into this laft-mentioned country alfo, 
 God is faid to have fent judgments upon Pharoah's 
 family, becaufe of Abraham's wife ; and the king of 
 Egypt feems to have been no ftranger to the true God, 
 but to have had the fear of him befoi-e his eyes, and 
 to have been influenced by it in all his a(5tions(i), 
 Abraham was entertained by him without the ap- 
 pearance of any indifpofition towards him, or any the 
 leaft fign of their having a different religion. Even 
 the heathen writers give hints, that the Egyptians 
 were at firft worlhippers of the true God. Plutarch 
 teftifies, that in Upper Egypt, the inhabitants paid no 
 part of the taxes raifed for the idolatrous worfliip ; 
 aflerting themfelves to own no mortal being for God 
 (a), but profefling to worfhip their God Cneph only. 
 Porphyry calls this Egyptian Cncph, tov A»),o«tffj/ov, 
 the Creator of the univerfe. 
 
 I cannot perfuade myfelf that Jofeph, when long 
 after this he flourifhed at the head of the Egyptian 
 miniftry, had that people deferted the worfhip of the 
 true God, would have married into the family he did, 
 or that the zealous patriarch would have held fo fa- 
 cred and inviolable the lands and endowments of an 
 idolatrous priefthood. With juftice therefore has the 
 great Grotius remarked ( ,) that in the age of Jofeph 
 no certain footfteps of idolatry are to be difcerned in 
 Egypt. I would give it to the reader as a conjf^cture 
 highly probable, that idolatry was not eftablifhed by 
 law in any part of that country, till the difgrace of 
 Mofes at the court of Egypt, when he firft retired to 
 his brethren in Gofhen ; about forty years before the 
 Exodus. Tph is countenanced by a pafTage of fcrip- 
 ture, where it is faid of the children of Ifrael, that 
 ti^ey facrificed unto de'vihy not to GoD ; to gods nvhom 
 they kneq.u noty to new gods that^ came newly up, ivh^m 
 their fathers feared not (4}. / 
 
 So 
 
 (l) See Shuckford's Connexion, vol. I. p. a8l, and 3ii. 
 
 (a) De Ifide & Ofiride. i 
 
 ^3) Vide Poll Synopfiii in Gen. 46, \:r\. ulcim, • 1 
 
 i4}.Deuter. 33,.i7. •.• 
 
THE HEATHENS. 2oj. 
 
 So that Eufebius, La<5tantius, CafTiin, Lucian, with 
 many of the Jewifh Rabbles, as well as Voflius ; the 
 Abbe Banier, and the moderns in general, appear to 
 have been grofsly miftaken, in making either Phoeni- 
 cia or Egypt the birth-place of idolatry. But this 
 fymbolical and hieroglyphical divinity, proceeded 
 from Aflyria through Phoenicia to Egypt. But it was 
 the Phoenician commerce which fpread it in the re- 
 moteft quarters of the world ; and it is obferved, 
 that in all the religions we know, even in the Eaft and 
 Weft Indies, there is not one of them, whofe theology 
 is not full of the like emblems. 
 
 It muft be confefled that the multiplication of fym- 
 bols became at length an inexhauftible fund of idolatry. 
 Thofe characters which, before the knowledge of let- 
 ters, were innocent and even necelTary, being by that 
 rendered in a fhort time ufelefs, generally negle<fted, 
 underftood by few, and at laft grievoully perverted, 
 were the occafion of infinite errors. This may be well 
 exemplified by a Ihort account of the ZodiacC?). 
 
 The crab, an animal walking backwards or oblique- 
 ly, feemed a proper emblem of the fun, who arriving 
 at this fign begins his retrogradation (6). The wild 
 goat on the contrary, whole cuftom is to feed as he 
 climbs, was chofen to denote the Sun, who on coming 
 to this point of the heavens, quits the loweft part of 
 his courfe to regain the higheft. The ram, the bull, 
 and the two kids gave name to the three celeftial 
 houfes, through which the Sun pafles in fpring. This 
 diftinguifhed the different kinds of young cattle, pro- 
 duced in this feafon, as they naturally fuccee(ied each 
 other : the lambs appearing firft, the calves next, and 
 the kids laft. Two of thefe latter w^re chofen, on 
 account of the peculiar fruitfulnefs of the goat, which 
 generally bears twins. But thefe the Greeks difplaced, 
 fubftituting the twin-brothers, Caftor and Pollux. 
 The; fury of the Lion juftly exprelfed the heat of the' 
 Sun, on his leaving Cancer. The virgin crowned 
 with ears of corn, was an emblem of the harveft, 
 ufually ending about that time. Nothing could better 
 denote the equality of days and nights under the au- 
 tumnal equinox, than the balance Libra. The dif- 
 
 cafes, 
 
 (0 See Abbe Plucht's Hift. of the Heavens, vol. I. p. lo, 
 
 (6) MacroL. Saturn. I. i. c. j;. 
 
304- T H E O L C (^ Y OP 
 
 cafes, confequent upon the fall of the leaf, were 
 charaderifed by the Scorpion. The chafe of wild 
 beafts, annually obferved at that time, was not im- 
 properly diftinguilhed by Sagittarius, a man on horfe*- 
 back, armed with a bow and arrow. Aquarius repre- 
 fented the rains of winter ; and the two Filhes bound 
 together, or inclofed in a net, indicated the feafon 
 for fifhing, ever beft at the approach of fpring. What 
 could be more limple and ufeful than this divifion of 
 the Sun's annual courfe into twelve equal portions, 
 exprefled by fo many vifible figns, which ferved to 
 regulate and defcribe the fc^fons and the bufinefs 
 proper to each. Thefe rude delineations of the ce- 
 leftial houfes probably gave birth to painting. But 
 then thefe images prefented to the mind a meaning 
 very different from the idea conveyed to the eye. 
 And when this meaning was loft, the imagination 
 was quickly at work to fupply another more agreeable 
 to its own corruption. 
 
 The kingdom of Egypt, on account of its peculiar 
 fituation, became the great fchool of this fymbolical 
 learning ; and thence, in procefs of time, the grand 
 mart of idolatry. It is not improbable that the priefts 
 might endeavour to ftem the torrent of fuperftition 
 that enfued from it, till finding all their ftrength in- 
 effedtual, they fubmitted to the times, and from 
 views of avarice and ambition became public de- 
 fenders of thofe errors, which fecretly they con- 
 demned. For, it is certain, that while thus they 
 complied \vith the popular language, they yet ftudied 
 all they could colled of the ancient and real fignifi- 
 cation of the fymbolical figures, taking care to require 
 a profound fecrcfy of all perfuns whom they inftrudted 
 in this kind of knowledge. And for this reafon 
 fphin^es were placed at the entrances of their tem- 
 ples, inlimating to thofe who approached, that they 
 were to look for a further meaning in what they 
 Ihould fee ; for that all was myfterious there. 
 
 Such was the origin of thofe initiations ^o much 
 fought after in Egypt, Afia, and afterwards in Greece. 
 Indeed thefe myfteries themfelves were in the end moft 
 grofly abufed : yet there is no qucftion, but that in 
 their primary inftitution they were intended to explain 
 the natural and divine things couched under thofe re- 
 prefentaticns. For they did not only unfold the na- 
 ture 
 
T H E H' E A TH-P N ^: aoy 
 
 tiTre of things, though this feems to have h^dC;) the^ 
 greateft fhare in them ; but inculcated alfo the im- 
 mortality of the foul, a future ftate of (8) rewards and 
 punilhments, the confequent neceliity cf virtue, and- 
 the other great truths of religion which had been 
 handed dc%T'n from the earlieft ages. 
 
 Thus the ancient Eaftern nations had a referved:^ 
 meaning in- ail their emblematical figures ; which it is 
 frequently in our power, even at this diftance of time, 
 to make out. Much of the language fpoken by them 
 is ftill exifting : by the means of whith, matters of fo 
 remote antiquity may in a great meafure be difcngaged 
 from that myfterious darkntfs, in which the ignorance 
 of fome ages, and the follies of others, have involved 
 them. I Ihall be eafily underftood to fpeak this of 
 the Hebrew tongue ; fo much of which, I lay, is yet 
 remaining to us, as will eaiily, by a comparifcn with 
 other languages, manifeft it to be an original : and all 
 others, on examination, will difcover how largely tlicy 
 have drank of this fountain. The names of animals, 
 fo intimately expreflive of their properties, befperdc it 
 to have been given by the great author of nature ; and 
 thofe of the firft men (9^, fo nicely applied to their 
 refpe<5live conditions and circumflances, leave no 
 room to doubt that they were coseval with the.perfons 
 themfelves. The Greeks borrowed thtir idolatry 
 from Phoenicia and Egypt, which indeed the innovat- 
 ing 
 
 (7) OKiitto Ehiiftnanz fuvHam Warn lif augujiafn^ 
 Ub'i initiartur gentes orariim ulthr^a t 
 Pratereo Samotbraciam, eo.qite 
 
 ^ne Lemni ' 
 
 N'o^urno cditu ucuLta coluntur 
 Sylvejir'ibus fepi'uus denfu : 
 ^Uns explicatisj nd rationemque rfoocatis, rerum mag'is N'atura 
 cognofcitur quam Dcorinn. Ciccro de Nat. Dcor. 1. I. c. 4a. - 
 
 (8) TeXET?;? 0': {xiTZ-)(cyriq Trepl T£ t'c ra Bin Ti'Kirrr.q y&i rti 
 cbfATicfjToq dioxoQ r^ii3.r Tat; IXvliag i^Uui. Ifocr. ip PanCgvr. . 
 
 Alibi cum laulta eximia divinaque vidertttr yitosna j.ep^-'riJJ'e^ 
 '6*que in inta hominum attulijje, turn tii.bil tnelius iliis n:yji-riisy 
 :juibus ex agrejTi immarAqiti vita^ excu'ta ad butKaiutattm \3 aiiti-' 
 gati fumus : initiaque., i/t abpellantur, ita re vera principia i^ita 
 {•jgnovimus ; neque folum tum latitia vivcndi rationem accepinius, 
 fed et'iam cuni ff e mcliore moriendi. Cicero de legibus, 1. 3,. 
 \. 14. 
 
 (9) 3ee Origin of L?nguagcs by the late Er. Gregory 
 Sharpe. 
 
io6 THEOLOGY OF 
 
 ing fpirit of that people improved in the moft extra- 
 vagant manner ; and it is not pofTible to explain their 
 religious antiquities without having recourfe to the 
 language of thofe countiies from which they were 
 tranfplanted. When therefore this is done without 
 force or conftraint, propofing an interpretation na- 
 tural and cafy ; not to receive it were to rejcdt the 
 only means vin many cafes) of information, which 
 remain to us at this immenfe diftance of time. The 
 reader will coniider this as an apology for the freeufe 
 which is made of thistwngue in the preceding fheets; 
 where he will find a great -number of ftrange and 
 oiU^rrjuifi unaccountable ftories, having their founda- 
 tions folely in the different meanings of the fame 
 Aword : So that an account, in itfelf innocent and eafy, 
 by beiiig perverfely rendered, became fi-equencly the 
 fource of idle wonder, and at length of idolatrous ve- 
 nera'.ion. It is not from the fabulous Greeks them- 
 felves that we are to expect full faiisfadion in thefe 
 matters. Very few of them gave themfelves the 
 trouble to enquire inio the meaning of their own 
 ceremonies. Every thing that was but Egyptian was 
 readily adopted, and the very names of the gods they 
 worfhipped were originally taken upon truft. For 
 the PelalgisnR, as Herodotus informs us (i), had for- 
 merly facriiiced and prayed to gods in general, with- 
 out attributing cither name or iirname to any deity, 
 which in thofe times they had never heard of; but 
 they called them gods, becaufe they difpofed and 
 governed all .a6"ions and countries. After a long 
 time the name? of the other gods were brought among 
 them fi-om Egypt, and lafl of all that of Bacchus ; 
 upon which they confulted the ©racle of Dodona, 
 ftill ?xcourted the moft ancient, and then the only 
 or::cle in Greece, and having enquired whether they 
 ihould receive thefe names from the barbarians, the 
 oracle anfwered, they Oiould. So from that time 
 they invoked the gods in their facrifices under diftinft 
 names ; and the fame were afterwards received by the 
 Greeks from thefe Pelafgians. This, fays my author, 
 I had from the prieftefles of Dcdcna. 
 
 It is faid to the honour of Mofts, that he w^as 
 learned in d.V> the v.ifdorn of the Egyptians. Whence 
 is it then that greater abfurdities in religion have 
 been afcribed to this wife people, than have been 
 
 • ••• . nitt 
 
 4i; loEuterpt. 
 
THE HEATHENS. ^aj 
 
 m^t with amongft the moft barbarous and uncivilized 
 nations ? This could only proceed from the taveliing 
 Greeks, who underftood little of what they faw, and 
 made the worft ufe of what they carried home ; which, 
 by their poets, was afterwards enlarged and diverli- 
 fied with all the wantonnefs of a licentious imagina- 
 tion Thus that idolatry, which had its foundation 
 in the vanity and corruption of the human heart, 
 was chiefly indebted for its f?bulous bulk amongft the 
 Greeks, to the warm and plaftic imagination of the 
 poets ; was ftill further improved by the boldnefs of 
 the pencil, the fine expreflion of the chlflel, and the 
 licence of the ftage. 
 
 When the hum.an figure was firft made the object 
 of idolatrous veneration, vci?.y perhaps be difficult 
 to determine. We read of graven images in the 
 land of Canaan, in the time of Mofes and JofJiua. 
 But thefe in all probability were extremely rough and 
 inartificial, and perhaps nothing more than upright 
 ftones or ftanding pillars. Such as they were, how- 
 ever, Cadmus is faid to have carried the ufe of them 
 into Greece. I iliouid imagine, that they were not 
 worlhipped in Egypt till long after ; efpecialiy if that 
 be true, which Clemens of Alexandria quotes Leo 
 as affirming (2), in his treatife of the Egv'ptian gods, 
 that their celebrated Ifis lived not till the time of 
 Lynceus, in the eicventii generation after Moles. 
 
 It has been generally allowed, that the perfons 
 whofe memory was thus religioufly preferved, v/ere 
 fuch as had been greatly diftinguifhed for the inven- 
 tion of ufeful arts, and their beneficence to mankind 
 (3). But to make this fpecies of idolatry go down 
 with the people, fomcthing more than a pretended 
 deification feems to have been necefiary ; became, in 
 order to ftcure this extravagant honour to their fa- 
 vourites, we find the Egyptians arraying their images 
 V ith various enfigns and attribute^ ; thus makucg 
 them the repreientatives of fuch ratural things as 
 were adored already by tiie fuperf:itiaus herd. Thus 
 we find Ofiris adorned with the tmbltm.s of the fun, 
 Ifis decked with thofe of ihc aether, and the golden 
 
 Seraph 
 
 (2 Stromat. h I. p. 32a 
 
 (3 Siffcepit ant cm •vita v,im!/fvtn, cor^Juctu^cque cemrrvms. Mi 
 St/:rf:.:is excelLj'tis Jvitot in calum fctna uc vvt-.ntatd toIL'iei.t. 
 Cicciy de Nut. Dto. I. a. c. 24. 
 
2«g' THEOLOGY OF 
 
 Seraph infeparablc from Orus (4). Granting tftert^ 
 f(xre that there were fuch pcrfons in the world, as 
 Jupiter, Apollo, Bacchus, Ifis, &c. yet we muft allow 
 the attributes given, and the ceremonies paid to them, 
 to be fokly applicable to the luminaries, or to the 
 natural caufes and eft'eds, which, it is manifeft, were 
 reprefented by them. 
 
 Or it may be that mankind were not altogether fo 
 eager and fo hafty in their corniptions ; that the con- 
 fecration of eminent and virtuous men was no more 
 in the firfl place than a fort of canonization ; and that 
 the worlhip paid to them was only confidered as a 
 public teftimony of their belief, that fuch perfons 
 were received into the abodes of the blefled, and 
 numbered among the fons of God. This at leaft was 
 the opinion of Cicero (5). For that the law com- 
 mands thofe who v/ere confecrated from amongft 
 men, to be worfhipped ; it fhews indeed, fays he, 
 that the fouls of all men are immortal ; but that thofe 
 of the brave and the good are divine. 
 
 May we not therefore conclude, with regard to the 
 ancient Egyptians particularly, that they were not 
 ignorant of he One Supreme Being, who by his 
 knowledge conceived the world, before he formed it 
 by his will ; but to comply with the growing corrup- 
 tions of mankind, in which compliance they were ex- 
 tremely guilty, allowed them to adore (and in this no 
 doubt they found their account) the different attri- 
 butes of his eflence, and the different effeds of his 
 goGdncfs under the fymbols of the heavenly powers, 
 of renowned perfonages, and" at laft even of terref- 
 trial bodies, as plants and animals ; thus wilfully 
 laying the foundation of the groifeft fuperftition and 
 idolatry. 
 
 How little the befotted Greeks had to fay for them- 
 felves on this head, and how ignorant indeed they 
 were of their own religious rites, has been remarked 
 already. As thefe took their gods fo fondly from the 
 Egyptians, fo did the Romans theirs chiefly from 
 them. This appears at large in the preceding fheets. 
 
 It 
 
 (4) Infantemque v/(ftnt, exporrcclumque dracone?7i. OviD. 
 Ste chap. 63, of Ifis, Ofiris, and Orus. 
 
 (5) ^^(^(^ tt'^iem ex bomiiii'.m genere conjecratosy ficiit Herculem 
 tif cderosy cult lex juhety indicat omnium quidt/n animcs iinmortalcr 
 mffe^ Jidfitrtium bum^mi/ique divinos, Dc Legibus, 1. a. c. xi. 
 
THE HEATHENS. 109 
 
 It muft be confeffed at the fame time, that as fome of 
 thefe laft refer the whole multitude of their divinities 
 to the fun, the original objed: of idolatry, thence 
 called the univerfal one (6). So did others of them 
 to the Great Author of Nature, affirming, 
 ** Jupiter to be the foul of the world (7), who fonned 
 *' the univerfe of the four elements, and fills and 
 *' moves it thus compacted." In the xther he is 
 Jupiter -f in the air, Juno ; in the fea, Neptune ; in 
 the lower parts of the fea, Salacia ; in the earth, 
 Pluto ; in hell, Proferpine ; in domeftic fires, Vefta ; 
 in the working-furnace, Vulcan; in the heavenly- 
 bodies, the Sun, Moon, and Stars ; amongft diviners, 
 Apollo ; in trade, Mercury ; in Janus, the Beginner ; 
 in boundaries, the Terminator ; in time, Saturn ; in 
 war. Mars and Bellona ; Bacchus in the vintage; 
 Ceres in the harveft ; in the woods, Diana ; in the 
 fciences, Minerva ; and is himfelf, in fine, the whole 
 multitude of vulgar gods and goddefles. Thefe are 
 all the one Jupiter, whether they be confidered, ac- 
 cording to fome, as parts of himfelf, or, according 
 to others, as his virtues and attributes. This is ex- 
 adly of a piece with the reafoning of Seneca ; who 
 aflerts that God may have names in number equal to 
 his gifts (8). 
 
 Notwithftanding this, we find on fome occaficns, 
 even among thefe, the monftrous abfurdity of making 
 new gods arrived to fuch a pitch, that temples have 
 been every now and then vowed and eie<!Sed by ma- 
 giftrates and commanders, even to creatures of' their 
 own fudden imagination ; fuch as the chance of war, 
 or their own wifhes or fears had raifed. So that 
 Pliny's obfervations (9), with fome allowance for the 
 latitude of expreflTion, may feem to have been not 
 
 ill- 
 
 (6) Diverfa I'irtiites folis nomina Dili dederiir.t : unde f^pientum 
 frinc'tpes prodideriitrt. Macrob. Saturn. 1. I. c. 17. 
 
 (7) St. Auguftin de civitate Dei., c. 11. Tome 5. p. 42, 43. 
 
 (8) yovtm ilium optimum ac maximum rite dices Isf tonaniem 
 13" Jlatorem quo t Jfant Lenefcio ejus omnia y Jiator Jlabilitorque eji 
 
 ^^jiacunque 'uulcs illi nomina proprie a^tabis, 'vim aliquam effc6lum- 
 ^ue aelejlium reriim contitientia. Tot appellatioucs ejus pojfunt ejfe, 
 fuof muucra. Hunc tff Liberum Pat rem \Sf Herculem, ac Mer^ 
 turium najlri putatit. ^ia omnium parens fit : quia 'vis eius in- 
 Hficia ftt. ^ia ratio penes ilium e/I, numerufquCy Uf ordo, tj* 
 Scieiiiia, life. De Bene. 1. 4. c. 7, 8. 
 
 (9) Nat. Hift. Lib. II. c. ;» 
 
aio T H E O L O G Y, &c. 
 
 illfounded ; that the extravagance of human paflions 
 and affedions had made more gods than there were 
 men. 
 
 Yet upon the whole, the hiftory of religion is not 
 fo darkened with error, but that, through all thefe 
 fhades of folly, an attentive enquirer may ftill difcern 
 the difpenfations of God, from the firft offence of 
 man to this day, to have been regular and uniform, 
 and direded to one great end, namely, his own fu- 
 preme glcry in the happincfs of his creatures. 
 
 Let us therefore adore this ever-gracious Being 
 with humble fincerity. Let us acknowledge his infi- 
 nite mercies with a due fenfe of our oww demerits ; 
 and beware, r.bove all things, that we attempt not to 
 fet up our own weak reafon in oppofition to the de- 
 clared will and commandments of God. This has 
 been the great IHimhling-block in all ages : and from 
 fuch demerinour confufiou of every foit muft necef- 
 iaiily enfue. 
 
 OP 
 
OF THE 
 
 MYTHOLOGY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 HEATHENS. 
 
 ^^' E fhall now enter into tlie nature of the Pagan 
 fables, their religious fentiments, and the manner 
 of their worfhip. Here we Ihall find truth blend- 
 ed with error, and obfcnred with Rclion, which has 
 wrapt in clouds the moft important dodrines, fuch 
 as the creation of the world, the fall of man, the 
 dcftruc'^ion of the human race by an univerfal deluge, 
 the change produced in nature by that great event, 
 the origin of nature and moral evil, and the final rtfti- 
 tution of all things to their primitive glory and fplen- 
 dor. 
 
 Notwithftanding the great corruption which had 
 crept into the worftip of all nations, we have feen 
 that the men of learning and refledion generally 
 maintained honpurable notions of the deity, and the 
 obligations of moral virtue. As the Greeks and Ro- 
 mans had received their divinities from Phoenicia and 
 Egypt, and by miftaking the manners, the cuftoms 
 and language of thofe nations, had made gods ©f the 
 common fymbols which they employed to teach the 
 people to honour one God, the author of all good, 
 to live in peace, to exprefs the times and feafons for 
 the performance of the common occurrences of life, 
 and to expedt a better ftate to come ; fo their religion 
 became obfcured by fables, and a variety of fi<5tions, 
 which, while the vulgar underftood in a literal fenfe, 
 their fages endeavoured to explain and reduce to in- 
 genious allegories, and thereby to render the heathen 
 worfhip confident with ^11 the natural notions of a 
 fupreme Deity, the wife governor of the world, and 
 by accounting for the introdudion of moral evil, t» 
 vindicate the rules of his providence, and to juftiff 
 the ways of God to man. 
 
 Fables are indeed a very ancient method of con- 
 veying truth, and veils of fo fine a texture as not 
 wholly to conceal the beauties that lie beneath them. 
 
 " Tliu|»" 
 
aii MYTHOLOGY OF 
 
 " Thus," fays, Origen (i), " the Egyptian philofo- 
 ** phers have fublime notions with regard to the 
 " Divine Nature, which they keep fecret, and never 
 ** diicover to the people, but under the veil of fa- 
 •* bles and allegories. All the Eaftern nations, the 
 ** Perfiar.s, the Indians, the Syrians, conceal fecret 
 *' myiteries under their religious fables. The wife 
 ** men of all nations (a) fee into the true fenfe and 
 ** meaning of them, whilft the vulgar go no further 
 ** than the exterior fymbol, and fee only the bark 
 ** that covers them." 
 
 This was frequently the cafe when foreign and dif- 
 tant nations adopted what they but imperfe<5lly uu- 
 derftood. Allegories became objeds of faith. Thus 
 eould any thing give a more lively idea of the ftate 
 of retribution, than the ceremonies with which the 
 Egyptians buried their dead. The Greeks and Ro- 
 mans, (truck with the ideas that were lo ftrongly 
 conveyed, took the type for the reality; the boat 
 which was to convey the body to the place of burial, 
 which was v.-ith the Egyptians an emblem of death, 
 and was en -led Tranquillity, becaufe it carried over 
 none but the juft, was reprefented by the Greeks and 
 Romans a^ a boat to carry fouls. Cerberus, an hi- 
 eroglyphic, c^ved out of wood or ftone, to exprefs 
 the lamentations beftowed on the virtuous, became 
 an animated monfter. The lake of Acherulia be- 
 came a vifionary river of Tartarus, and was called 
 Acheron. The judges that decided the merit of the 
 deceafed, were reprefented as configning the fpirit to 
 final happmefs or mifery, and the flowery field where 
 the righteous alone were buried, into that p)ace of 
 joy which the elizout of the Egyptians was only de- 
 figned as a faint reprefgntation of. Yet, notvvith- 
 ftanding the fables into which thefe myfteries were 
 turned, this very important truth was flill convey- 
 ed, that there would be a ftate of judgment, in 
 
 which 
 
 (i) Origen contra Celfum, lib. i. p. ii. 
 
 (2 "Thofe who are acquainted with thefe myfteries," 
 fays Ifocrates, " infure to themfelves very pleafing hopes 
 " againft the hour of death, and which extend to a whole 
 " eternity." " Thefe myfteries 'fays Epidletus) were efta- 
 *' bliftied by the ancients, to regulate the lives of men, and. 
 " to haaifti difuidcrs from- d\e. world," 
 
THE HEATHENS. 113 
 
 which the virtuous would be rewarded, and the vici- 
 ous punifhed. The very prayer, or form of abfolu- 
 tion, which was gjveii by the Egyptian priefts to the 
 relations of the deceafed, contained a ufeful leffon 
 to the living, as it exhibited a concife fyftem of thofe 
 morals which were to entitle them to the Divine Fa- 
 vour, and to a decent burial in the plains, on the 
 confines of the lake Acherufia. This prayer was 
 prefcrved by Porphyry, who copied it from Euphan- 
 tes, whofe works are now Icil:, and is as follows : 
 " O Sun, thou firft divinity ! and ye celcitial Gods 
 ** who gave life to man ! vouchfafe to receive me 
 " this day unto your holy tabernacles. I have tn- 
 " deavoured, to the beft of my power, to render my 
 " life agreeable to you ; I have behaved with tlie 
 " higheft veneration towards the Gods, v.'ith whom 
 " I was acquainted in my infancy; 1 have never 
 *' failed in my duty to thofe who brought me into 
 ^* being, nor in natural afteclion to the womb that 
 *' bore me. My hands are pure from my neigh- 
 " hour's blood ; I have maintained an inviolable 
 ** regard to truth and fidelity ; and may I not appeal 
 *' to the iilence of mankind, who have nothing to 
 *' lay to my charge, as a fure and certain teftimony 
 ** of my integrity ? If however, any ptrfonal and 
 ** fecret fault has efcaped me, and I have offended in 
 " eating or in drinking, let theie entrails bear all the 
 ** blame." Here the entrails of the deceafed were 
 produced by the relations, and immediately thrown 
 into the lake. 
 
 But however ufeful thefe ceremonies might be, as 
 pradifed amongft the Egyptians, yet being confider- 
 ed as realities by the Greeks, and rendered more ri- 
 diculous by the abfurdity of their fables^ it is no won- 
 der that they loft their efficacy, and became, as Ju- 
 venal informs us, dilbelieved even by their children. 
 
 But it is not at ail ftrange, that this fnould be the 
 cafe with the Greek?, when the Egyptians themfelves 
 were fallen into idolatry, and thofe funple emblems, 
 once fo well known to this people, were become the 
 medium of their prayers and adorations. Every 
 thing had an air of myrcery, and thefe myfleries were 
 underltood by none but the priefts, or thofe <"o whom 
 they were pleafcd to explain them, which was always 
 done under the ital of fecrecy. The vulgar were 
 futiered to continue in their errors, fmcc it might 
 
 have 
 
214 MYTHOLOGY OF 
 
 have been dangerous even for their priefts to attempt 
 to open their eyes, and to reduce their worfhip to 
 the (implicity of the ancient practice. 
 
 Nothing has ever contributed more to difguife the 
 truth, and to corrupt the worftiip of the Greeks and 
 Romans, than the multitude of fidions introduced 
 by their poets. It is this that has principally occa- 
 fioned that jumble of images, that indecorum in 
 characters, and that abfurdity in their fidions, which 
 are fo juftly condemned by their wifeft philofophers. 
 
 It is the province of poetry to change the face of 
 nature, to give life and adivity to inanimate beings, 
 fubftance and form to thought ; to deify the pafTions, 
 and to create a world of its own. The poet is not 
 bound by the fame laws as other men ; he has a 
 power that enables him to create and deftroy at plea- 
 fure, and with the fame eafe he forms gods (3), he- 
 roes, men, and monfters. He makes quick tranfi- 
 tions from reality to fidion ; from fidion to reality, 
 and fi-om thofe gods which he believes to thofe of 
 his ovrn creating ; and from hence arifes a principal 
 fource of that confufion which has given fuch dif- 
 ferent interpretations to, and which renders it fo 
 difficult to explain the ancient mythology. The 
 Greek and Roman poets have almolt always preferred 
 the marvellous and the fparkling to the fimplicity of 
 naked truth. If a princefs died of grief for the lofs 
 of her hufband or her child, ihe was changed into a 
 rock or fountain ; inftead of faying that Cephalus 
 rofe with the fun, Aurora muft be in love with the 
 youth, and force him abroad. To reprefent the 
 long life of loalus, the goddefs of health muft renew 
 his age. Inftead of feying that Endymion ftudied 
 in the mountains of Caria the courfe of the moon, 
 they tell us, that he had there an interview with 
 Diana, and that her ftaying with her gallant was the 
 caufe of eclipfes ; but as thefe amours could not laft 
 for ever, they were obliged to invent a new fable, 
 to account for them another way^ and therefore they 
 feigned that fome forcerefs of Theflaly, by her en- 
 chantments, drew down the moon to the earth. To 
 account for the perpetual verdure of the laurel, they 
 
 talked 
 
 (3) The ancient heroes were fuppofed to be a middle 
 kind of beings, that partook both of the nature of gotifi 
 and men. 
 
THE HEATHENS. ai^ 
 
 talked of the amours of Apollo and (4) Daphne. To 
 exprefs the agility and fwiftnefs of Periclymnus, they 
 affirmed that he was able to aflume all ihapes, and at 
 laft turned himfelf into an eagle. Amphion, by his 
 oratory, prevailed on a barbarous people to build a 
 city, and to dwell in fociety : he is therefore faid to 
 raife up the walls of Thebes by the found of his 
 lyre ; and Orpheus to charm the lions and tigers, 
 and to move the rocks and trees by his harmony, be- 
 caufe nothing could withftand his perfualion, or relift 
 the force of his eloquence. 
 
 Who would imagine that by the wings of Dedalus 
 and Icarus, were lignified a Ihip uuder fail ? That all 
 the changes of Achelous, were only frequent inun- 
 dations ? That by the combat of Hercules with the 
 god of that river, was only meant a bank that was 
 raifed to prevent its overflowing ? That Hercules 
 encountering the hydra of Lerna, fignified no more 
 than a man's draining a marfhy country ? or that 
 Hercules feparating with his hands the two moun- 
 tains Calpe and Abyla, when the ocean ruHied in 
 with violence, and found a paflage into the Mediter- 
 ranean, meant no more, perhaps, than that, in the 
 time of one Hercules, the ocean, by the afliftance 
 of an earthquake, broke a neck of land, and formed 
 the llraits of Gibraltar ? Or that the fable of Pafiphas 
 contains nothing but an intrigue of the queen of 
 <I!rete with a captain named Taurus ? 
 
 Who could believe that Scylla and Charybdis were 
 only two dangerous rocks near the ifland of Sicil)-, fre- 
 quently fatal to mariners ? That the frightful monfter 
 which ravaged the plains of Troy, was the inunda- 
 tions of the fea ; or that Hefione's being expofed to 
 this monfter, meant no more than that fhe v>'as to be 
 given to him who put a ftop to thefe inundations ? 
 
 Thus what Homer and Virgil afcribe to Minerva, 
 ■is to be attributed to prudence and good condud. 
 It is no longer the exhalations that produce thunder, 
 but Jupiter armed to affright mortals. If a mariner 
 perceives a riling ftorm, it is angry Neptune fwelling 
 the waves. Echo ceafes to be a mere found, and be- 
 comes a nymph bewailing the lofs of her Narciflus. 
 
 Thus 
 
 (4.) The laurel was called by the Greeks Daphne. 
 
ai6 MYTHOLOGY OF 
 
 Thus by the cloud with which Minerva concealed 
 UlyfTes, is meant the darknefs of the night, which 
 fuffered him to enter the town of the Phcenicians 
 without being difcovered ; and when Priam is con^ 
 du6led by Mercury into the tent of Achilles, we are 
 only tounderftand, that he fet out to obtain He«5tor's 
 body in the dark, with a prefent to appeafe his anger. 
 Jf the delights of the country of the Lotophagi de- 
 tain the companions of Ulyfles, we are told by 
 Homer, that the fruits of that ifland made thofe 
 who tafted them lolc all remembrance of their fa- 
 milies, or their native country. This is an ingenious 
 fiftion intended to convey this important truth, that 
 the love of pleafure debauches the mind, and banifhes 
 from the heart every laudable affeflion. If they loi- 
 ter at the court of Circe, and abandon themfelves to 
 riot and debauchery, this pretended forcerefs, with 
 great elegance and ftrength of expreHion, is laid to 
 turn them into fwine. 
 
 If the poet, fays Ladtantius, found it for his in- 
 tereft to flatter or confole a prince for the lofs of his 
 fon, it was but giving him a place amongft the ftars. 
 Shepherds were all fatyrs or fauns ; fhepherdrefles, 
 nymphs or naiades ; Ihips, flying horfes ; men on 
 horfebeck, centaurs ; every lewd woman v:as a fyren 
 or a h-arpy ; oranges Avere apples of gold ; and ar- 
 rows and darts, ligiitning and bolts of thunder. 
 
 Rivers and fountains had their tutelary deities, and 
 fometimes were reprtfented as deities themfelves ; 
 the uniting their ftreams was called marriage, and 
 brooks and canals were their children. If they would 
 fpeak of the rainbow, that too muft be a goddcfs 
 drefied in the richeft colours ; and as they were at a 
 lofs to account for the production of this phsenome- 
 non, it was called the daughter of Thaumas, a poe- 
 tical perfonage, whofe name figniftes wonderful. 
 
 Sometimes a concern for the honour of the ladies 
 became the fource of fables. If a princefs proved too 
 frail to withftand the attempts of her lover ; her flat- 
 terer, to fcreen her reputation, immediately called in 
 the afliflance of fome enamoured god : this was eafily 
 believed by the ignorant vulgar, for they could fup- 
 pofe none but a divine perfon could prefume to at- 
 tempt one of her rank. Thus her reputation was 
 unfullied, and, inftead of becoming inf:;mous, ihe 
 was honoured, and th<; hulband partook of her 
 
 glory 
 
THE HEATHENS. 4i; 
 
 glory. Nor are the ftories of Rhea Sylvia (5), the 
 mother of Rhcmus and Romulus, and of Paulina 
 (6), the only inftances to be found in hiftory of the 
 credulity of hufbands and parents. From this fource 
 and corruption of the priefts, were derived many 
 of the fables relating to the amours of the gods. 
 
 At other times, the ftrangeft transformations fprung 
 only from a fimilitude of names, and confifted in a 
 play of words : the Cygnus was transformed into a 
 fwan ; Picus, into a woodpecker ; IJicrafe, into a 
 fpar-hawk ; the Gecrops, into monkies -; and Alopis, 
 into a fox. 
 
 The ancient opinion, that the world was formed 
 from Chaos, or a confufed concourfe of matter, which 
 Heliod calls the father of the gods, probably had its 
 rile from a literal interpretation of the beginning of 
 that lublime defcription, which Mofes gives us of the 
 creation (7); where j before the formation of any 
 part of the univerfc, it is faid. The earth njjas <ivhhout. 
 -form, and 'voidy and darknefs <^vas upon the face of the 
 deep ; as the latter part of the verfe, where the Spirit 
 of God is reprefented as moinng or hcvering ouer the 
 Qvaterjf might give the Egyptians, the Phoenicians, 
 the Chaldeans, the Perfians, and the Indians, the 
 idea which they mean to exprefs when they talk of the 
 egg of the world. 
 
 L But 
 
 (5) Her uncle Amulius h-aving found means to get into 
 her apartments, Numitor, her father, fprcad a report, that 
 the twins of *vhich flie was delivered proceeded from the 
 em'ojaccs of the god of war. Dion, de HaUc. Ant. Rom. 
 lib. I. Tit. Li/. ILv. I. 
 
 (6) A young Roman knl_;jht, called Mundus, falling in 
 love with Paulina, and finding all his endeavours to conquer 
 her virtue prove fruitiels, corrupted the priells of Anuhis, 
 who perfuaJcd her to believe that the god was ftruck with 
 hf:r beauty, on which (he was that vl ry night led by her huf- 
 >>:nd to the temple. A few dayj after, feeing Mundus, 
 whom fhe happened -accidentally to meet, he let her into 
 the ferret; Paulina, enraged and filled with indignation, 
 carried her complaint bc&ure Tiberius, who ordc-ed the fta- 
 tue of Anubis to be thrown into the Tiber, his priefts to bc 
 h;irnt alive, and Muadus to be fent into exile. 
 
 (7) Gen. i. s. 
 
2i8 MYTHOLOGY OF 
 
 But it was not fufficient for Hefiod to make a god 
 of Chaos, to defcribe the order that fprang from this 
 confufion ; Chaos muft have an offspring, and there- 
 fore, inftead of faying like Mofes, that darknefs was 
 upon the face of the deep, he fays Chaos brought 
 •forth Gloon^inefs and Night ; and, to continue the 
 genealogy, inftead of faying with the infpired writer, 
 God dh'ided the light from the darknefs^ he expreffes 
 fomething like the fame idea, by adding, that from 
 Night fprang Air and Day. Mofes fays, that God 
 ordered the dry land to appear., aud tnafed the Jirmament 
 ivhich he called heaven : Hefiod fays, that the Earth 
 begat Heaven, the high Mountains, and the Caves. 
 He then informs us of the origin of the Ocean, who 
 was the father of Springs and Rivers, of the birth 
 of the Sun and Moon, and fcveral other gods of the 
 like kind. 
 
 It is very evident, that this whole account is no- 
 thing more than an allegorical hiftory of the forma- 
 tion of all things, in which the various parts of na- 
 ture are perfonated ; but the hand of the gn at ar- 
 chitetft is wanting. Ovid treats this fubjecft in a more 
 intelligible manner, and with great beauty introduces 
 the creator, whom he calls God, or Nature, forming 
 thfe various parts with the utmoft regularity and or- 
 der. But in nothing does he come fo near to Mofes, 
 as in the account he gives of the formation of man, 
 ^'hich, as well as Mofes, he makes the laft work of 
 the creation, and introduces Prometheus, or Coun- 
 cil, forming him of clay, in the image of the gods. 
 
 A creature of a more exalted kind. 
 
 Was Kvanting yet, and then <was man deftgn^d ; 
 
 ■Confcioiis of thought, cf more capacious breafl. 
 
 For eynpire form'' d, a7id ft to ride the refl ( 8 ). 
 
 Trom this introdu<fdon it will not admit of a doubt, 
 but that Ovid undcrftood the ftory of Promcti^eus 
 in the literal fenfe. And as to the circumflance which 
 he cm.its, of hio taking fire from heaven to animate 
 the lumpifh form ; what is this, fays a modern au- 
 thor, but God's breathing Into his nojirils the breath of 
 life? 
 
 And here it cannot be improper to mention a fable, 
 which Plato pnts into the mouth of Arifto'phanes(9): 
 
 ** The 
 {%) Ovid, lih. I. 
 
 Kt) Plato in his Banquci 
 
THE heathen:^. 219 
 
 *' The gods (fays he) formed man at firft of a round 
 " figure, with two bodies, two faces, four legs, four 
 ** feet, and both fexes. Thefe men were of fuch 
 " extraordinary ftrength, that they refolved to make 
 " war upon the gods : Jupiter, incenfed at this en- 
 " ttrprize, would have deftroyed them as he had 
 " done the giants ; but feeing that by this means he 
 " mult have deftroyed the whole human race, he 
 " contented himfelf with dividing them afunder; and, 
 *' at the fame time, ordered Apollo to ftretch over 
 ** the breaft, and other parts of the body, the (kin, 
 *' as it is at prefcnt. Thefe two parts of the body 
 " thus disjoined, want lo be re-united ; and this is 
 *' the origin of love." 
 
 Ovid mentions only the formation of man, without 
 taking the leaft notice of Eve, in which he evidently 
 copies the account given- us by Mofes, who omits 
 me^ltion^ng this in his general hiftory of the creation. 
 And the hint of this fable was probably taken fr^a 
 this circumftance, where the fci*ipture fays (i), God 
 created man^ and then adtls, male and femals created 
 he them ; and the jcircumftance of their being cut 
 afunder, the doling up the flefh, and the reafon 
 given for conjugal love, from Eve's being made of a 
 rib taken out of Adam's fide, and his faying upon 
 this. She is bone of my bove,, ar.djiejh of rnyfujh; there' 
 fore f hall a man leanjs his father and mot her ^ andclea-ve 
 unto his <v.nfe (2). 
 
 Hence it feems at lealt probable, that the writings 
 of Mofes were not unknown to the Greeks, wbich 
 makes it the more likely, that thefe writings, or a 
 more ancient tradition, gave riie to the different re- 
 prefentations the Pagans have given us of an original 
 ftate of innocence, which was an obje^ of faith 
 amongft all civilized nations. This has been painted 
 in the moft beautiful colours, by the heathen poets, 
 under the diilin(Jtion of the golden age, or the reign 
 of Saturn. 
 
 In feveral things, indeed, both Mofes and the hea- 
 then philofophers agree : they equally aflert, that 
 man was created in a Jl:ate of innocence, and confc- 
 quently in a Hate of happinefs, but that debafmg his 
 nature, and alienating himfelf from God. he became 
 L >4 guilty, 
 
 if 1 Gen. 1. 27. 
 
 : 2, Gciu li. zi, az, 2-^, :4. 
 
MYTHOLOGY OF 
 
 difeafes, and death, and to 
 all thole afflidions which are nec^lTary to awaken his 
 mind, and to call him to his duty ; that we are 
 jlrangers here, that this isaftate of trial, and that it 
 rs as much our intcreft as duty to fit ourfelves, by a 
 courfe of virtue and piety, for a nobler and more ex- 
 alted ftate of txiftence. Th€ Egyptians (3) and Per- 
 fians (4) had other fchemes, wherein the fame im- 
 portant truths were -conveyed, the* according to the 
 genius cf thofe countries, they were wrapped up in 
 allegories. Plutarch has given us his fentiments on 
 the fame fubjed:, and they are too juft and rational 
 to be omitted. " The world, at its birth, fays he, 
 '' (5)received'from its Creator all that is good ; what- 
 ** ever it has at prefer t, that can be called wicked or 
 ** unhappy^ is an indifpofition foreign to its nature, 
 ** God cannot be the caufc of evil, becaufe he is 
 '* fovereignly good ; matter cannot be the caufe cf 
 • evil, becaufe it has no 3<5tive force j but evil comes 
 " from a third principle, neither fo perfeft as God, 
 '* nor fo imperfect as matter.'' 
 
 The notion of guardian angels has been contended 
 for by many Chriftians, who ailedge feveral pafTages 
 of fcripture that fetm to favour this dodrine, while 
 ethers have turned all that has been faid of thefe 
 genii into allegory ; and affert, that by the two dce- 
 mons, the one good and the other bad, are meant 
 the influences of confcience, and the ftrength of ap- 
 petite. 
 
 It is very evident, however, that the Greeks had 
 an idea of thefe beings, and that their exiftence was 
 
 generally 
 
 (3) The Egyptians dsrlve th-e foarcc of natural and moral 
 evil from a witkt-d fpirit whom they call TyphoH. 
 
 (4) The Perfians deduce the origin of all ths difortlcr and 
 v.'kkednefs in the world from evil fpirits, «he thitf of whom 
 they call Ahrini or Arimanius. Light, fay they, can pro- 
 duce nothing but light, and can never bo the origin of evil ; 
 it produced feveral beings, a!l of them fpirituitl, luminous 
 and powerful ; but Arimanius, their chief, had an evil thought 
 contrary to the light : he doubted, and by that doubting be- 
 «<ime dark, and from hence proceeded whatever is eoHtrary 
 to the light. They alio tell us, that there will come a time 
 when Arimanius liiall be completely deftroycdj when ths 
 earth will change its form, and when uli mankind fhall en- 
 joy the fame i:fc, language and government. See Dr. Hyde'" 
 •ncient religion cf the Perfxans. 
 
 is) Flutai'ch dc Aalm, form. p. loif. 
 
THE HEATHENS. c:.: 
 
 gciicrally believed. Hence, according to Plutarch^ 
 came their fables of the Titans and Giants, and the 
 engagements of Python againft Apollo ; which have 
 fo near a refcmblance to the fidions of Ofiris and 
 Typhon. Thefe were beings fuperior to men, and 
 yet compofed of a fpiritual and corporeal nature ; 
 and confoquently capable of animal pleafures and 
 pains. Vii'e fidions relating to the giants, in Mr. Ba- 
 nier's opinion (6), took their rife from a palFage in 
 Genefis, Tvhere it is fcAd, that the (7) fons of God, 
 whopi the ancients fiippofcd to be guardian angels, 
 became enamoured vvith the cbughtcrs of men, and 
 that their children were mighty men, or giants, the 
 v/ord in the original fignifying either giants, or men 
 become monitrous by their crimes ; their heads in-- 
 fiead of their guilt, Wv're faid to reach to the clouds, 
 while the wickcdnefb of their lives might not impro- 
 perly be termed fightin;^ againll God, and daring the 
 thunder of heaven. But however this be» it will 
 hardly be doubted but that this paflage might give 
 rife to the amours of the gods and goddelTes, and 
 their various intrigues with ntortale . A'j the frequent 
 appearance of real angels to the patriarchs, and the 
 hofpitable reception they met v.ith under the dif- 
 Fuife of travellers, might give room for the poets to 
 form, upon the fame plm, the tales of Baucis and 
 Philemon, and to conir.Ul that beautiful picture of 
 humble content, and ou the peace that bleflas the 
 homely cottages of the innocent and good, with the 
 ftory of Lycaon ; who waniing humanity, and being 
 of a favage inholpitable ter^per, is, v.'ith great pro- 
 priety, faid to change his form into one more fuitable 
 to the difpoiition of his mind. The moral of this 
 fable is, that humanity is the charaderiftic of man ; 
 and that a cruel foul in a hun.jn bcdy is only a wolf 
 in difguife. 
 
 It is certain, that the traditions relating to the 
 univerfal deluge, have been found in almofc all na- 
 tions ; and though the deluge of Deucalion Ihould 
 not appear to be the lame as that of Noah, it cannot 
 be doubted, but that fome circumftances have been 
 
 borrowed 
 
 (6) Banlcr, vol. I. 121, 122. 
 
 {7 , Gen. vi. 2. By die Ions of God, is here undoubtedly 
 meant the defcendants of Seth, who hr.d probably this title 
 given them to diftinguifli them from the defcendants of Cain» 
 who were called the fons of me?. 
 
11% MYTHOLOGY OF 
 
 borrowed from Noah's hiftory, and that thefe are 
 the moft ftriking parts of the defcription. Lucian, 
 fpeaking of the ancient people of Syria, the country 
 where the deluge of Deucalion is fappofed to have 
 happened, fays (8) that '' The Greeks alTert in their 
 " fables, that the firfl: men, being of an infolent and 
 " o-uel difpolition, inhuman, inhofpitable, and re- 
 " gardlefs of their faith, were all deftroyed by a de- 
 " luge; the earth (9) pouring forth vaft ftreams of 
 '' water, fwelled the rivers, which, together with 
 " the rains, made the fea rife above its banks, and 
 " overflow the land, fothat all was laid under water; 
 " that Deucalion alone faved himfelf and family in 
 ** an ark, and two of each kind of wild and tame 
 '* animak, who, lofing their animofity, entered into 
 '* it of their own accord ; that thus Deucalion floated 
 *' on the waters till they became alTuaged, and then 
 '* repaired the human race." 
 
 We are alfo informed, that this veffc-l relied on a 
 high mountain ; and Plutarch even mentions the 
 dove, and Abydenus fpeaks of a certain fowl being 
 let out of the ark, which, finding no place of relt, 
 returned tvv^ce into the veflel. We are told too, that 
 Deucalion, a perfon of ftriet piety and virtue, offered 
 facrifice to Jupiter, the f^iviour. Thus the facred 
 writings inform us, that Noah offered facrinces of 
 clean beafts, in token of gratitude to God. for havirig 
 gracioufiy preferved both liim and his family. 
 
 Thus it appears, that idolatry and fables being 
 once fet on foot, the people, who ftill retained con- 
 fufed ideas of fome ancient truths, or the moft re- 
 markable particulars of fome paft tranfactions, adapt- 
 ed them to the prefent mode of thinking, or applied 
 them to fuch fables as f:;emed to have any relation 
 thereto. By this m^eans truth and fallhood were 
 blended together ; and thus it happens, that we fre- 
 quently find fome traces of hiitory intermingled with 
 the moft ridiculous fidions, and remarkable tranfac- 
 tions fometimes pretty exadtly related, though at the 
 fame time confounded with the grolTeft abfurdities. 
 
 It is very evident, that the diviiion of time into 
 feven days, could only be a tradition conflantly pre- 
 ferved, 
 
 (8) De Dea Syria. 
 
 (9) The fame thought is exprefled by Mofes, who fays, 
 *Tbi- Jouiiiains of the great deep ivere broltn vt. 
 
T li E H E A T H E N S. 223 
 
 fcrved, and handed down from the mofl early ages. 
 This appears to be the moft ancient method of reck- 
 oning time, fincc it was very early obfcrved by the 
 Egyptians. Bat of this we have faid enough in the 
 jVrcctding diflertation, to which it properly belongs. 
 
 it appears from the account we have given of the 
 theology of the ancients, that the Egyptians, Greeks, 
 and Romans worfhipped only one Almighty, inde- 
 pendent Being, the Father of gods and men, with a 
 lupreme adoration ; and that the feveral fuperior 
 deities publickly worfhipped, were only different 
 names or attributes of the fame Gods. This is af- 
 f-rted not only by feveral of the Pagans, but even by 
 M, Auftin. Whether this diftinvftion was maintained 
 by the bulk of the people amongft the Greeks and 
 Romans, is not fo ealy to determine ; it is probable,., 
 that they might imagine them diftin(5t beings, fubor- 
 di nate to the fupreme. However, there were others 
 univerfaliy allowed to be of an inferior clafs, and 
 ihtfe were ihv national and tutelary deities ; among 
 v/hich lait number \\*e may reckon tjie good daemons, 
 or houfhold gods, which the Romans, upon con- 
 quering any-ndtitm or city, invited to take up their' 
 rtfidence amongft them. Thefe were undoubtedly 
 vvQiiliipped wilh an inferior kind of adoration. Since, 
 the Stoic and Epicurean philoibphers, who allowed 
 their exil^cncc, bciitved them to be mortal, and that 
 they weie to periJh in the general conflagration, in 
 V. hich they imagined the world was to be deftrcyed 
 by fire. To this Piiny alludes, when defcribing the 
 darknefs and horror that attended the eruption of 
 Vefuvius, he fays, that fome were lifting up their- 
 hands to the gods ; but t hat the great er part imagined, 
 that the lalt and eternal night was come, which was 
 to deftroy both the gods and the world together. 
 
 This diftin«5tion may be juflified by the united tcf-- 
 timony of the ancients ; and indeed it in a great 
 meafure removes the abfurdity of the continually in- 
 troducing what were called new gods ; that is ncw- 
 mediators, and new methods or ceremonials to be 
 added, on particular occafions, to the ancient vvor- 
 fhip. 
 
 The idolatry of the Pagans, did not cohfift in pay- 
 ing a dhxS. adoration to.ihc ftatues, but in making 
 
 them 
 
214 MYTHOLOGY OF 
 
 them the (i) medium of worlhip ; and therefore, 
 whether the feveral deities were reckoned to be infe- 
 rior beings, or only different names or attributes of 
 ope fupreme ; yet their fymbols, the fun, moon, and 
 ftars, or the ftatues erected to the honour of their 
 gods, were never (except amongft the loweft and 
 moft ignorant of people) acknowledged as the ulti- 
 mate objedts of worfhip. In thefe ftatues, however, 
 the deity was fuppofcd to refide in a peculiar man- 
 ner. 
 
 But even this was not always the cafe ; it is very 
 evident, that the ftatues eredted to the pafiions, the 
 virtues, and the vices, were not of this clafs. The 
 Romans had particular places for offering up parti- 
 cular petitions ; they offered up their prayers for 
 health in the temple of Sallus ; they prayed for the 
 prefervation of their liberties before the ftatue of Li- 
 berty, and offered their facrifices to the Supreme be- 
 fore a figure expreffive of their v;ants. Fever, in the 
 opinion of the moft ftupid of the vulgar, could never 
 be coniidered as a god, yet at the altar of Fever they 
 befcught the Supreme to preferve them from being 
 infc(5ted with this diforder, or to cure their friends 
 who v.'cre already infed-ed by it : and at the altar of 
 
 Fear, 
 
 (l) The folly of repreienting the inilnite and omnlprcfcnt 
 fpirit, by a fcufible image, is obvious from a very fmall de- 
 gree of rcficcflion ; and from hence arifcs the crime of idolatry, 
 or reprefcDtiug him by the works of nature, or thofc of 
 jrien's hands, as it is a degradation uf the deity, and an af- 
 front to the Being, whofc glorious effcnce is unlimited and. 
 i^nconfmcd ; from hence proceeds that exclamation of the 
 prophet, IV hereunto Jhall you 'Llim'^i me, fititli the Lord, &.C. 
 
 When the IfraeUtes made the golden calf, and cried out, 
 '2'l>is is the God that brought us out cf the land of J'gypt, they 
 muft'be fuppcfed to mean, T/»/j reprefmts the God tkat Irottght 
 ; s out cf the land of Egypt. Tliey had lately left a country 
 fond of fymbols, where they had been ufed to fee one thing 
 reprefented by another; and the fun, the mofl glorious image 
 T)f the deity, when he enters into Taurus, reprefented by a 
 hull. Had they been fo ftupid as to imagine tMs calf, which 
 ilicy had juft made, to be the god of their fathers ; the god 
 that had wrought fo many miracles for them, even before 
 they had given him exiftence ; their folly would be entirely 
 inconfiftent with the rational nature of man, and they muft 
 have been abfolutely incapable both of moral and civil go- 
 •/erraent. and could only be accounted idiot; or madmen. 
 
THE HEATHENS. 'J.1S 
 
 Fear, they put up their fupplications, that they 
 might be preferved from the influence of a ftiamtful 
 pannic in the day of battle. 
 
 As this appears evidently to be the cafe, it is no 
 wonder that the number of thefe kind of gods became 
 very great. Some of thefe, by the parade of cere- 
 monies that attended this method of devotion, were 
 found to have a mighty effed on the minds of the 
 vulgar : So that when any virtue began to lofe ground, 
 a temple, or, at leaft, an altar erefted to its honour, 
 was fure to raife it from its declining ftate, and to 
 reinftate its influence on the heart of m.an. 
 
 This appears to be a true reprefentation of the 
 cafe, from the account which Dionyfms of Halicar- 
 naffus gives (2) of the reafons which induced Numa 
 Pompilius to introduce Faith into the number cf the 
 Roman divinities,, and which, doubtlefs, gave rife to 
 all the other deities of the fame kind, that were af- 
 terwards introduced. ** To engage his people to 
 ** mutual faith and fidelity, fays he, Numa had re- 
 " courfe to a method hitherto unknown to the moft 
 ** celebrated legiflators ; public c^ntrafts^ he obferv- 
 " ed, were feldom violated, from the regard paid to 
 " thofe who were witnefTes to any engagement, v%'hilc 
 " thofe made in private, though in their ov/n nature 
 ** no lefs indifpenfible than the other, were, not fo 
 *' ftridly obferved ; whence he concluded, that by 
 " deifying Faith, thefe contracts would be ftill more 
 ** binding: befidcSy he thought it unreafonable, that 
 " while divine honours were paid to Juftice, Nemehs 
 " and Themis, Faith, the moft facred and venerable 
 ** thing in the world, Ihould receive neither public 
 ** nor private honour ; he therefore built a temple to 
 ** public Faith, and inilituted facrifices, the charge 
 ** of which was defrayed by the public. This he did 
 ** with the hope, that a veneration for this virtue 
 " being propagated through the city, would infenfi- 
 ** bly be communicated to each individual. His 
 
 conjectures proved true, and Faith became fo 
 
 revered, that fhe had more force than even wlt- 
 " neffes and oaths ; fo that it was the common me- 
 " thod, in cafes of intricacy, for magiftrates to re- 
 *' fer the decilion to the faith of the contending 
 *' parties," 
 
 L 5 Thus 
 
 (2.; Dion. Halic. 1. 2. c, 75, 
 
 << 
 
•ii(, MYTHOLOGY h,. 
 
 Thus it appears evident, that thefe kind of gods, 
 and the temples ereded to their honour, were found- 
 ed not only on political, but on virtuous principles. 
 This was undoubtedly the cafe, with refpe<^ to the 
 Greeks as well as the Romans ; for a propofal being, 
 made at Athens, to introduce the combats of the 
 gladiators ; firft throw down, cried out an Athenian 
 philofopher from the midil of the r-iTemlly, throw 
 down the altar, erecfted by our anceftors above a 
 thoufand years ago to Mercy. Was not this to fay, 
 that they had no need of an altar to infpire a regard 
 to mercy and compaflion, when they v^-anted public 
 fpedlacles to teach a favage cruelty and hardntfs of 
 heart. 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
A P P E N D I X. 
 
 CON TAIN ING 
 
 An Account of the various Methods of Divination 
 by Aftrolojs')', Prodigies, Magic, Augury, the Au- 
 fpiccs and Oracles ; with a ihort Account of Altars, 
 facrcd Groves and Sacrifices, Priefts and Tcmpkc. 
 
 I. OF ASTROLOGY. 
 
 Astrology was doubtlefs the flrft method of 
 divination, and probably prepared the mind of man 
 for the other, no lefs abfurd, ways of fearching into 
 futurity ; and therefore a fhort view of the rife of 
 this pretended fcience cannot be improper in this 
 place, efpecially as the hiftory of thefe abfurdities is 
 the bed method of confuting them. And indeed, as 
 this treatife is chiefly defigned for the improvement 
 of youth, nothing can be of greater fervice to them 
 than to render them able to trace the origin of tho-fe 
 pretended fciences, fome of which have even ftill 
 an influence on many weak and ignorant minds. But 
 to proceed. 
 
 The Egyptians becoming ignorant of the aftrono- 
 mical hieroglyphics, by degrees, looked upon the 
 names of the figns, as exprefling certain powers with 
 which they were invefted, and as indications of their 
 feveral oflSces. The Sun, on account of its fplendt)r 
 and enlivening influence, was imagined to be the 
 great mover of nature ; the Moon had the fecond 
 rank of powers, and each fign and conftellation a 
 certain fhare in the governm.ent of the world ; the 
 Ram had a ftrong influence over the young of the 
 flocks and herds ; the Ballance could infpire nothing 
 but inclinations to good order and jufticc ; and the 
 Scorpion excite only evil difpofitions ; and, in fliort, 
 that each fign produced the good or evil intimated 
 by its name. Thus, if the child happened to be 
 born at the inftant when the firft ftar of the Ram rofe 
 above the Horizon, (when, in order to give this non- 
 fenfe the air of a fcience, the ftar was fuppofed to 
 
 have 
 
aaS APPENDIX. 
 
 have its greatcft influence) he would be rich in cattle; 
 and that he who fhould enter the world under the 
 Crab, ihould meet with nothing but difappointment, 
 and all his affairs fhould go backwards and down- 
 wards. The people were to be happy whofe king 
 entered the worM under the fign of Libra ; but com- 
 pletely wretched if he fliould light under the horrid 
 lign Scorpion : the perfons born under Capricorn, 
 efpecially if the Sun at the fame time afcended the 
 Horizon, were fure to meet with faccefs, and to rife 
 upwards like the Wild Goat, and the Sun which then 
 afcends for fix months together ; the Lion v/as to 
 produce heroes ; and the Virgin with her ear of corn 
 to infpire chaftity, and to unite virtue and abundance. 
 Could any thing be more extravagant and ridiculous ! 
 ** This way of arguing," fays an ingenious modern 
 author, " is nearly like that of a man, who fliould 
 *• imagine, that, in order to have good wine in his 
 *' cellar, he need do no more than hang a good cork 
 «* at the door." 
 
 The cafe was exadly the fame with refped to the 
 planets, whofe influence is only founded on the wild 
 fuppofition of their being the habitation of the pre- 
 tended deities, whofe names they beai', and the fa- 
 bulous characters the poets have given them. 
 
 Thus to Saturn they gave languid and even de- 
 ftruftive influences, for no other reafon, but becaufe 
 they had been pleafed to make this planet the refi- 
 dence of Saturn, who was painted with grey hairs 
 and a fcythe. 
 
 To Jupiter they gave the power of bellowing 
 crowns, and diftributing long life, wealth and gran- 
 deur, merely becaufe it bears the name of the father 
 of life. 
 
 Mars was fuppofed to infpire a ftrong inclination 
 for war, becaufe it was believed to be the reiidence 
 of the God of war. 
 
 Venus had the power of rendering men voluptuous 
 and fond of pleafure, becaufe, they had been pleafed 
 to give it the name of one, who, by fome, was 
 thought to be the mother of pleafure. 
 
 Mercury, though almoft always invifible, would 
 never have been thought to fuperintend the profpe- 
 rity of ftates, and the affairs of wit and commerce, 
 had not men, without the leaft reafon, given it the 
 name of one who was fuppofed to be the inventor of 
 civil polity. 
 
 According 
 
APPENDIX. 2^9 
 
 According to the aflrologers, the power of the 
 afcending planet is greatly increaled by that of an 
 afcending fign ; then the benign influences are all 
 united, and fall together on the heads of all the 
 happy infants which at that moment enter the world 
 (i) ; yet can any thing be more contrary to experi- 
 ence, which fliews us, that the charaders and events, 
 produced by perfons born under the fame afped of 
 the ftars, are fo far from being alike, that they are 
 dire<5tly oppofite. 
 
 Thus it is evident, that aftrology is built upon no 
 principles, that it is founded on fables, and on influ- 
 ences void of reality. Yet abfurd as it is, and ever 
 was, it obtained credit, and the more it fpread, the 
 greater injury was done to the caufe of virtue. Inftead 
 of the exercife of prudence and wife precaution, it fub- 
 ftituted fuperftitious forms and childiih prac^tices, it 
 enervated the courage of the brave by apprehenfions 
 grounded on puns and quibbles, and encouraged the 
 wicked by making them lay to the charge of a planet 
 thofe evils which only proceeded from their own de- 
 pravity. 
 
 But not content with thefe abfurdities, v^-hich de- 
 ftroyed the very idea of liberty, they aflerted that 
 
 thefe 
 
 (i) " What completes the ridicule, fays the Abbe, la 
 " Pluche, to whom we are obliged for thefe judicious ob- 
 *' fervations, is, that what uftronomers call the firfl degree 
 " of the Ram, of the Balance, or of Sagitarius, is no longer 
 *' the firft fign, which give fruitfulnefs to the fiocks, inlpires 
 " men with a love of juftice, or forms the hero. It has 
 " been found that all the celeflial fignshave, by little receded 
 " from the vernal Equinox, and drawn back to the eaft : 
 " notwithftanding this, the point of the zodiac that cuts the 
 " equator is ftill called the fir ft degree of the Ram, though 
 "• the firft ftar of the Ram be thirty degrees beyond it, and 
 " all the other figns in the fame proportion. When there- 
 ' fore any one is faid to be born under the firft degree of 
 " the Ram, it was iu reality one of the degrees of Pifces 
 " that then came above the horizon ; and when an©ther is 
 " faid to be born with a royal foul, and heroic dlfpofition, 
 " becaufe at his birth the planet Jupiter afcendcd the horizon, 
 ■*' in conjun6lion with the firft ftar of Sagit^ary ; Jupiter was 
 " indeed at that time in conjundion Avith a Itar thirty decrees 
 " eaftward of Sagittary, and in good truth it was the periii- 
 *' cious Scorpion that prtfided at the biith of this happy, this 
 *' incomparable child." Abbe Pluchc's Hiftory of the Hea- 
 vens, Vol. 1. p. ijj. 
 
2^0 appendix:. 
 
 thefc ftars, which had not the leaft connexion with 
 mankind, governed all the parts of the human body 
 (z), and ridicuioudy affirmed, that the Ram prefided 
 over the head ; the *3uil over the gullet ; the Twins 
 over the breafl: ; the Scorpion over the entrails ; the 
 Filhes over the feet, <Scc. By this means they pre- 
 tended to account for the various diforders of the 
 body ; which was fuppofed to be in a good or bad 
 difpofition, according to the different afpeds of the 
 (igns. To mention only one inftance ; they pretended 
 that great caution ought to be ufed in taking a me- 
 dicine under Taurus, or the bull, becaufe as this 
 animal chews his cud, the perfon would not be able- 
 to keep it in his ftomach. 
 
 Nay, the influences of the planets were extended to 
 the bowels of the earth, where they were fuppofed to 
 produce metals. From hence it appears, that when 
 luperftition and folly are once on foot, there is no 
 fettiug bounds to their progrefs. Gold, to be fure, 
 muft be the production of the Sun, and the confor- 
 mity in point of colour, brightnefs, and value, was a 
 fenfible proof of it. By the fame way of reafoning, 
 the Moon produced all the lilver to which it was re- 
 lated by colour j Mars all the iron, v/hich ought to be 
 the fa^ ourite metal of the God of War ; Venus pre- 
 fided over copper, which fhe might well be fuppofed 
 to produce, fmce it was found in plenty in the ifle of 
 Cyprus, which was fuppofed to be the favourite refi- 
 dence of this goddefs. By the fame fine way of rea- 
 foning, the other planets prefided over the other 
 metals. The languid Saturn was fet over mines of 
 
 lead J 
 
 (2) Each hour of the day had alfo one ; the number feven, 
 as beiiig that of the planets, became of mighty confequence. 
 The feven days in the week, a peiiod of time handed down 
 by tradition, happened to correfpond with the number of the 
 planets ; and therefore they gave the name of a planet to 
 each day ; and from thence feme days in the week were con- 
 fidered as more fortunate or unlucky than the reft : and 
 hence feven times feven, called the clima<5ierical period of 
 hours, days or years, were thought extremely dangerous, 
 and to have a furprizing effecl on private perfons, the fortune 
 of princes, and the government of ftutes. Thus the mind 
 of man became diftrefild by imaginary evils, and the ap- 
 proach of thefe moments, in themfelves as harmlefs as the 
 reft of their Hves, has, by the ftrength of invagination, brought 
 on the moft fatal cffe<5ls. 
 
APPENDIX. 2^1 
 
 lead ; and Mercury, on account of his a<5lJvity, had 
 the fuperintendancy of quickfilver ; w hile it was the 
 province of Jupiter to prefide over tin, as this was 
 the only metal that was left him. 
 
 From hence the metals obtained the names of the 
 planets ; and from this opinion, that each planet en- 
 gendered its own peculiar metal, they at length con- 
 ceived an opinion, that as one planet was more pow- 
 erful than another, the metal produced by the weakefl 
 was converted into another by the influence of a 
 ftronger planet. Lead, though a real metal, and as 
 perfed in its kind as any of the reft, was confidered 
 as only a half metal, which, through the languid in- 
 fluences of old Saturn, was left imperfed ; and there- 
 fore, under the afped: of Jupiter, it was converted 
 into tin ; under that of Venus, into copper ; and at 
 laft into gold, under fome particular afpeds of the 
 Sun. And from hence, at laft arofe the extravagant 
 opinions of the alchymifts, who, with wonderful fa- 
 gacity, endeavoured to fmd out means for haftening 
 thefc changes or tranfmutations, which, as they con- 
 ceived, the planets performed too flowly ; but, at 
 laft, the world was convinced that the art of the 
 iilchymift was as Lneffedual as the influences of the 
 planets, which, in a long fucceffion of age«, had never 
 been known to change a mine of kad to that of tin, 
 or any other metal. 
 
 II. OF PRODIGIES, 
 
 VVhOEVER reads the Roman hiftorians(3), muft 
 he furprifed at the number of prodigies which are 
 conftantly recorded, and v/hich frequently filled the 
 people with the moft dreadful apprehenfions. It muft 
 be confefTed, that fome of tliefe fcem altogether fu- 
 pernatural ; while much the greater part only confift 
 of fome of the uncommon produdions of nature, 
 which fuperftition always attributed to a fuperior 
 caufe, and reprefented as the prognoftication of fome 
 impending misfortunes. 
 
 Of this clafs may be reckoned the appearance of 
 two funs, the nights illuminated by rays of light, the 
 
 views 
 
 (3) Particularly lavy, Dionyflus of Halicarnaffus, Pliny, 
 rind Valerius Maximus. 
 
?:z ' A P P E N .D 1 X. 
 
 \ic\vs of fighting armies, fwords and fpears darting 
 through the air ; ihowers of milk, of blood, of ftones, 
 of aflies, or of fire ; and the birth of monfters, of 
 children, or of beafts who had two heads, or of in- 
 fants who had feme feature refembling thofe of the 
 brute creation. Thefe were all dreadful prodigies, 
 which filled the people with inexprefiible aftonifh- 
 ment, and the whole Roman empire with an extreme 
 perplexity ; and whatever unhappy event followed 
 upon thefe, was fure to be either caufed or predided 
 by them. 
 
 Yet nothing is more eafy than to account for thefe 
 produ(ftions ; which have no relation to any events 
 that may happen to follow them. The appearance of 
 two fans has frequently happened in England, as well 
 as in other places, and is only caufed by the clouds 
 being placed in fuch a fituation, as to reflect the 
 image of that luminary ; nodturnal fires, inflamed 
 fpears, fighting armies, were no more than what we 
 call the aurora borealis, northern lights, or inflamed 
 vapours floating in the air : fhowers of ftones, of 
 allies, or of fire, were no other than the effedls of the 
 eruptions of fome volcano at a confiderable diftance ; 
 fhowcr:: cf milk were only caufed by fome quality in 
 the air condenfing, and giving a whitifh colour to the 
 water ; and thofe of blood are now well known to be 
 only the red fpots left upon the earth, on ftones and 
 the leaves of trees, by the butterflies which hatch in 
 hot or ftormy weather (4). 
 
 III. OF MAGIC. 
 
 JViAGIC, or the pretended art of producing, by 
 the aiTiftance of words and ceremonies, fuch events 
 as are above ♦he natural power of man, was of feveral 
 kinds, and chiefly coniifted in invoking the good and 
 benevolent, or the wicked and mifchievous fpirits. 
 The firft, which wa*^ called Theurgia, was adopted 
 by the wifeft of the Pagan world, who efteemed this 
 ij much as they defpifed the latter, which they called 
 iioetia. Theurgia was, by the philofophers, ac- 
 counted 
 
 (4) 1 his has \, ■;n tally proved by M. I^\vaiur, in his 
 hiflory of infccl. . 
 
APPENDIX. 23.3 
 
 counted a divine art, Avhich only ferved to raife the 
 mind to higher perfection, and to exalt the foul to a 
 greater degree of purity ; and they, who by means 
 of this kind of magic, were imagined to arrive at 
 what was called intuition, v\'herein they enjoyed an 
 intimate intercourfe with the deity, were believed to 
 be inverted with their powers ; fo that it was ima- 
 gined, that nothing was impoflible for them to per- 
 form. 
 
 All who made profeflion of this kind of magic 
 afpired to this ftate of perfection. The prieft, who 
 was of this order, was to be a man of unblemifhed 
 morals, and all who joined with him were bound to 
 a ftridt purity of life ; they were to abftain from 
 women, and from animal food ; and were forbid to 
 defile themfelves by the touch of a dead body. No- 
 thing was to be forgot in their rites and ceremonies ; 
 the leaft omifiion or miftake, rendered all their art 
 inefFe(f^ual ; fo that this was a conftant excufe for 
 their not performing all that was required of them, 
 though as their fole employment (after having arrived 
 to a certain degree of perfedion, by falling, prayer, 
 hnd the other methods of purification) was the ftudy 
 of univerfal nature ; they might gain fiich an infight 
 into phyfical caufes, as might enable them to perform 
 avStions, that might fill the ignoi-ant vulgar with 
 amazement. And it is hardly to be doubted, but 
 that this was all the knowledge that many of them 
 ever afpifcd after. In this fort of magic, Hermes, 
 Trifmegiftus and Zoroafter excelled ; and indeed it 
 gained great reputation amongil the Egyptians, Chal- 
 deans, Perlians, and Indians. In times of ignorance, 
 a piece of clock-work, or fom.e curious machine, was 
 lufficient to entitle the inventor to the works of 
 magic ; and fome have even aflerted, that the Egyp- 
 tian magic, that has been rendered fo famous by the 
 writings of the ancients, confifted only in difcoveries 
 dr2.wn from the mathematics and natural philofophy, 
 fince thofe Greek philofophers who travelled into 
 Egypt in order to obtain a knowledge of their fciences, 
 returned with only a knoAvledge of nature and reli- 
 gion, and fome rational ideas of then* ancient fymbols. 
 
 But it can hardly be doubted, but that magic in its 
 grolTeft and moft ridiculous fenfc was pradtifed in 
 Egypt, at leaft amongft fome of the vulgar, long be- 
 fore Pythagoras or Empedoclee travelled into that 
 country. 
 
 Tbe 
 
J234 APPENDIX. 
 
 The Egyptians had been very early aecuftomed to 
 vary the fignification of their fymbols^ by adding to 
 them feveral plants, ears of corn, or blades of grafs, to 
 exprefs the different employments of hufbandry ; but 
 underftanding no longer their meaning, nor the words 
 that had been made ufe of on thefe occafions, which 
 were equally unintelligible, the vulgar might miftake 
 thefe for fo many myfterious pradices obferved by 
 their fathers ; and hence they might conceive the 
 notion, that a conjunction of plants, even without 
 being made ufe of as a remedy, might be of efficacy 
 to preferve or procuie health. *' Of thefe, fays the 
 ** Abbe Pluche, they made a colledtion, as an art by 
 " which they pretended to procure the bleflings, and 
 ** provide againft the evils of life." By the afliftance 
 of thete, m.en even attempted to hurt their enemies^ 
 and indeed the knowledge of poifonous or ufeful fim- 
 ples might, on particular occafions, give fuflicient 
 weight to their empty curfes or invocations. But 
 thefe magic incantadons, fo contrary to humanity^ 
 were detefted and punifnedby almoft ail nations, nor 
 could they be tolerated in any. 
 
 Pliny, after mentioning an herb, the throwing of 
 v.'hich into an army, it was laid, was fuflicient to put 
 it to the rout, afki, where was this herb when Rome 
 Avas i^o diftfeffcd by tJie Cimbri and Teutones ? VVliy 
 did not the Perfians make u^^ of it when Lucullufe 
 cut their troops in pieces ? 
 
 But amongft all the incantations o^ magic, the mofl 
 folemn, as \vt\\ as the moft frequent, v/as that of 
 calling up the fpirits of the dead ; this indeed was 
 the quintefTence of their art ; and the reader canaot 
 be difpleafed to find this myf^ery unravelled. 
 
 An afTecftion for the body of a perfon, who in his 
 life-time was beloved, induced the firft nations to 
 inter the dead in a decent manner ; and to add to this 
 melancholy infbance of their efreem, thofe wiflies 
 which had a particular regard to their new ftate of 
 exiftence, the place of burial, conformable to the 
 cuftom of characfterizing all beloved places, or thofe 
 diftinguifhed by a memorable event, was pointed out 
 by a large ftone or pillar raifed upon it. To this 
 place families, and when the concern was general, 
 multitudes repaired every year, where, upon this 
 ftone, were made libations of wine, oil, honey, and 
 flour ; and here they facrificed and eat in common, 
 
 ha\ing 
 
A P P E N D r X. 2:^3 
 
 having firft made a trench, in which they burnt the 
 entrails of the vidim, and into which the libation and 
 the blood was made to flow. They began with thank- 
 ing God for having given them life, and providing 
 their neceflary food ; and then praifed him for the 
 good examples they had been favoured with. From 
 ihefe melancholy rites were baniflied all licentiouf- 
 nefs and levity ; and while other cuftoms changed, 
 thefe continued the fame. They roafted the flefli of 
 the vicT:im they had offered, and eat it in common, 
 difcoiirfing on the virtues of him they came to lament. 
 
 All other feafts were diftinguilhed by names fuitable 
 to the ceremonies that attended them. Thefe funeral 
 meetings were fimply called the Manes, that is, the 
 aflcmbly. Thus the manes and the dead were words 
 that became fynonymous. In thefe meetings, they 
 imagined tJiat they renewed their alliance wiih the 
 deceafed, who, they fuppofed, had flill a regard for 
 the concerns of their country and family, and who, cis 
 affedionate fpirits, could do no iefs than inform them 
 of whatever v.-as nectfiary for them to know. Thus 
 the funerals of the dead were at laft converted into 
 methods of divination, and an innocent inftitution in- 
 to one of the grolTeft pieces of folly and fuperllition. 
 
 But they did not ftop here ; they grew fo extrava- 
 gantly credulous, as to believe that the phantom drank 
 t'le libations tliat had been poured fortb, wl-ile the 
 relations vvere feailing on the reft of the facrifice round 
 the pit ; and from hence became apprehenfive left the 
 reft of the dead iliould promifcuoufly throng about 
 this fpot to g<.t a ihare in the repaft' they wc c fup- 
 pofed to be fo fond of, and leave nothing for the dear 
 fi^int for whom the fcaft was intended. I'hey then 
 made two pits or ditches, into one of which they put 
 wine, honey, u*ater, and flour, to employ the gene- 
 rality of the dead ; and in the other they poured the 
 blood of the vidlim ; when fitting down on the brink, 
 they kept off, by the light of their fv/orcls, the crowd 
 of dead who had no concern in their affairs, v/hile 
 they called him by name, whom they had a mind to 
 chear and confult, and defircd him to draw near((;). 
 
 The 
 
 (5) Homer gives the fame account of thefe ceremonies, 
 when Ulyfles raifes the foul of Tirefias ; and the fame ufages 
 are found in the poem of Silius Italicus. And to thefe cere- 
 monies tiie fcriptures /vequently allude, when the Ifraelitcs 
 are forbid to aflemble upon high places. 
 
136 APPENDIX. 
 
 TIk- qiieftions made by the living were very intelli- 
 gible ; but the anfwers of the dead were not fo ealily 
 undcrftood, and therefore the priefts and magicians 
 made it their bufincfs to explain them. They retired 
 into deep caves, where the darknefs and filence re- 
 fembled the ftate of death, and there fafted and lay 
 upon the Ikins of the beafts they had facrificed, and 
 then gave for anfwer the dream which moft affeded 
 them ; or opened certain books appointed for that 
 purpofe, and gave the firft lentence that offered. At 
 other times the prieft, or any pcrfon who came to con- 
 falt, took care, at his going out of the cave, tohften 
 to the firft words he fnouid hear, and thcfe were to 
 be his anfwer. And though they had no relation to 
 the bufinefs in hand, they were turned fo many ways, 
 and their fj ifc fo violently wrefted, that they made 
 them ngnify almoft any thing they pleafed. At other 
 times they had recourfe to a nuiriber of tickets, on 
 v/hich v/ere fgrne words or vcrfes, and thcfe being 
 thrown into an urn, the firft that v\-as taken out was 
 delivered to the familv. 
 
 IV. OF AUGURV. 
 
 A HE fupcrftitiousfondriefsof mankind, for feirch- 
 ing into futurity, has given rife to a vaft variety of 
 follies, all equally weak and extravagant. The Ro- 
 mans, in particular, found out almoft innumerable 
 ways of divination, all nature had a voice, and the 
 moft fenfelefs beings, and moft triiling accidents,, be- 
 came prefages of future events. This introduced ce- 
 remonies, founded on a miftaken knowledge of anti- 
 quity, that were the moft childifli and ridiculous, and 
 which yet were performed with an air of folemnity. 
 Birds, on account of their fwiftnefj in flying, were 
 fometimes conlidered by the Egyptians as the fym- 
 bols of the winds ; and figures of particular fpecies 
 of fowl, were fet up to denote the time when the 
 near approach of a periodical wind was expected. 
 From hence, before they undertook any thing of con- 
 fequence, as fowing, planting, or putting out to fea, 
 it was ufiial for them to fay (6), Let us ccnjnh the b'lrdsy 
 
 meaning 
 
 (6) Abbe Pluche's Hilloryof the Heavens, vol. I. p. 24.T,. 
 
APPENDIX. in 
 
 meaning the figns fixed up to give them the neceffary 
 informations they then flood in need of. By doing 
 this, they knew how to regulate their conduA ; 
 and it frequently happened, that when this pre- 
 caution was omitted, they had reafon to reproach 
 themfelves for their neglect. From hence, mankind 
 miftaking their meaning, and retaining the phrafe, 
 Ltt us confidt the b'ndsy and perhaps hearing old fiories 
 repeated of the advantages fuch and fuch perfons had 
 received, by confulting them in a critical m.oment, 
 when the periodical wind would have ruined their af- 
 fairs, they began to conceive an opinion, that the 
 fowls which {kim through the air were fomanymef- 
 fengers fent from the gods, to inforrn them of future 
 events, and to M-arn them againft any difaftt rous un* 
 dertaking. From hence they took notice of their flight, 
 and from their different manner of flying prognofti- 
 cated good or bad omens. The birds were inftantly 
 grown wonderous wife, and an owl, who hates the 
 light, could not pafs by the window of a fick perfon 
 in the nighty where he was offended by the light of a 
 lamp or a candle, but his hooting mufl be confidered 
 as prophefying, that the life of the poor man was 
 nearly at an end. 
 
 The place where thefe auguries were taken, amongft 
 the Romans, was commonly upon an eminence ; they 
 were prohibited after the month of Augufl, Ifecaule 
 that was the time for the moulting of birds ; nor were 
 they permitted on the wane of the moon, nor at any 
 time in the afternoon, or when the air was the leafl 
 difturbed by winds or clouds. 
 
 When all the previous ceremonies vrere performed, 
 the augur, cloathed in his robe, and holding his au- 
 gural ilaff in his right-hand, fat down at the door of 
 his tent, looked round him, then marked out the di- 
 vifions of the heavens with his ftaff, drev/ a line from 
 eaft to VN'cfl, and anothev from north to fouth, and 
 then oHered up his facrifice. A fhort prayer, the form 
 of which may be fufSciently feen, in that offered to 
 Jupiter, at the eledion of ISTuma Pompilius, which 
 was as follows : " O father Jupiter, if it by they will, 
 *' that this Numa Pcmpilins, on v,hofe head I have 
 ** laid my hand, fliovlci be king of Rome, grant that 
 " there be clear .ir.d unerring figns, within the bounds 
 ** I have defcribed." The prayer being thus ended, 
 the priefc turned to the right and left, and to v.-hat- 
 
 ever 
 
Z3^ APPENDIX. 
 
 ever point the birds direded their flight, in order to 
 determine from thence, whether the god approved or 
 rejected the choice. 
 
 The veneration which the Romans entertained for 
 this ceremonial of their religion, made them attend 
 the refult of the augury with the moft profound fi- 
 lence, and the affair was no fooner determined, than 
 the augur reported his decifion, by faying. The birds 
 approve, or the birds difappro've it. However, not- 
 witliftanding the augury might be favourable, the en- 
 terprife was fometimes deferred, till they fancied it 
 confirmed by a new lign. 
 
 But of all the figns which happened in the air, the 
 mofb infallible was that of thunder and lightning, ef- 
 pecially if it happened to be fair weather. If it came 
 on the right-hand it was a bad omen, but if on the 
 left a good one ; becaufe, according to Donatus, all 
 appearances on that fide were fuppofed to proceed 
 from the right hand of the gods. 
 
 Let us now take a view of the facred chickens ; 
 for an examination into the manner of their taking 
 the corn that Avas offered them, was the moft 
 common method of taking the augury. And indeed 
 the Romans had fuch faith in the myfteries contained 
 in their manner of feeding, that they hardly ever un- 
 dertook any important affair without firft advifing 
 with them. Generals fent for them to the field, and 
 confulted them before they ventured to engage the 
 enemy; and if the omen was unfavourable, they im- 
 mediately defifted from their enterprize. The facred 
 chickens were kept in a coop or pen, and entrufted 
 to the care of a perfon, who, on account of his of- 
 fice, v/as called PuUarius. I'he augur, after having 
 commanded filence, ordered the pen to be opened, 
 and threw upon the ground a handful of corn. If the 
 chickens inftantly leaped out of the pen, a-nd pecked 
 up the corn with fuch eagernefs as to let fome of it 
 fall from their beaks, the augury was called Tripu- 
 dium, or Tiipudium Soliftimum, from its itriking the 
 •earth, and was efleemed a molt aufpicious omen ; 
 =but if they did not immediately run to the corn, if 
 i;hey flew away, if they walked by it without minding 
 it, or if they fcattered it abroad with their wings, it 
 portended danger and ill fuccefs. Thus the fate of 
 the gre.iteit undertaking, and even the fall of cities 
 ^nd kingdoms, was thought to depend on the appe- 
 tite of a few chickens. 
 
 Obfervations 
 
APPENDIX. 23^ 
 
 Cbfervations were alfo taken from the chattering, 
 (tnging, or hooting ot crows, pies, owls, &c. and 
 from the running of beafts, as he'.feis, alles, rams, 
 hares, wolves, foxes, weefels, and mice, when they 
 appeared in uncommon places, crofied the way, or run 
 to the right or left, ccc. They alfo pretended to 
 draw a good or bad omen from the moft common 
 and trifling adions or occurrences of life, as fneezing, 
 Humbling, ftarting, the numbnefs of the little finger, 
 the tingling of the ear, the fpilling of fait upon the 
 table, or wine upon one's cloaths, the accidental 
 meeting of a bitch with whelp, &c. It was alio the 
 bufmefs of the augur to interpret dreams, oracles, 
 and prodigies. 
 
 The college of augurs, at firft inftitutcd at Rome 
 by Romulus, was only compofed of three perfons, 
 taken fiom the three tribes, into which all the inha- 
 bitants of the city were divided ; but leveral others 
 were afterwards added, and at laft, according to a 
 regulation of Scylla, this college confifted of fifteen 
 perfons, ail of the firft diitindtion, the eldeftof whom 
 was called the mailer of the college : " It was a 
 *' priefthood for life, of a charader indelible, which 
 " no crime or forfeiture could efface ; it was nccef- 
 *' fary that evf;ry candidate fhould be nominated to 
 ** the. people by two ai:gurs, who gave a folemn tef- 
 *' timony upon oath, ot his dignity and fitnefs for 
 ** that office (7)." The greateft precautions were 
 indeed taken in this eledion ; for as they were in- 
 ycfted with fuch extraordinary privikges, none were 
 quaUfied but perfons of a blamelefs life, and free from 
 all perfonal defeds. The fenate could affemble in no 
 place but what they had confecrated. They fre- 
 quently occafioned the difplacing of magiftrates, and 
 the deferring of public aflemblies. ** But the fenate, 
 ** at laft, ccnfidering that fuch an unlimited power 
 *' was capable of authorifing a number of abufes, 
 " decreed that they Ihoukl not have it in their power 
 ** to adiourn any aifembly that had been legally con- 
 " vencd(8)." 
 
 Notlii ng can be more aftonifhing, than to find fo 
 wife a people as the Romans addicted to fuch childifh 
 fooleries. Scipio, Auguftus, and many others, have, 
 without any fatal confequcnces, defpifed the chickens 
 
 and 
 
 (71 Mickllcton's Life of Cicero. 
 
 |8) Banicr's Mythology, vol. I. p. 400. 
 
440 APPENDIX. 
 
 and the other arts of divination ; but when the gg' 
 nerals mifcarried in any enterprize, the people laid 
 the whole blame on the heedleflnefs with which they 
 had been confulted ; and if he had entirely negleded 
 confulting them, all the blame was thrown upon him 
 who had preferred his own forecaft to that of the 
 fowls ; while thofe who made thefe kinds of predic- 
 tions a fubjecft of raillery, were accounted impious 
 and piophane. Thus they conftrued, as a punifh- 
 ment from the gods, the defeat of Claudius Pulcher, 
 who, when the facred chickens refufed to eat what 
 was fet before them, ordered them to be thrown into 
 the fea : If tkey cwon't eat, faid he, they Jhall drink. 
 
 V. OF THE AUSPICES* 
 
 .1 N the moft early ages of the world, a fenfe of 
 piety, and a regard to decency, had introduced a 
 cuftom of never facrificing to him, who gave them 
 all their blelfings, any but the foundcft, the moft fat 
 and beautiful victims. They were examined with the 
 clofeft and moft exaft attention. This ceremonial, 
 w^hich doubtlefs fprang at firft from gratitude, and 
 fome natural ideas of fitnefs and propriety, at laft 
 degenerated into trifling niceties and fuperftitious ce- 
 remonies. And it having been once imagined, that 
 nothing was to be expected from the gods, v/hen the 
 victim was imperfedt, the idea of perfe<5lion was 
 united with abundance of trivial circumftances. The 
 entrails were examined with peculiar care, and if the 
 whole was without blemiih, their duties were fulfill- 
 ed ; and under an afTurance that they had engaged 
 the gods to be on their fide, they engaged in war, 
 and in the nroft hazardous undertakings, with fuch a 
 confidence of fuccefs, as had the greateft tendency 
 to procure it. 
 
 All the motions of the vi(5lim that was led to the 
 altar became fo many prophecies. If he advanced 
 with an eafy air in a ftraight line, and without offer- 
 ing refiftance ; if he made no extraordinary bellowing 
 when he received the blow ; if he did not get loofe 
 from the perfon that led him to the flaughter, it was 
 a prognoftic of an eafy and Howing fuccefs. 
 
 Th^ 
 
APPENDIX. a4i 
 
 The vidim was knocked down, but before its 
 belly was ripped open, one of the I6bes of the liver 
 was allotted to thofe who offered the facrifice, and 
 the other to the enemies of the ftate. That which 
 was neither blcmifhed nor withered, of a bright red, 
 and neither larger nor fmaller than it ought to be, 
 prognofticated great profperity to thofe for whom it 
 was fet apart ; that which was livid, fmall, or cor- 
 rupted, prefaged the moft. fatal mifchiefa. 
 
 The next thing to be confulered was the heart, 
 which was alfo examined With the iitmoft care, as 
 was the fpleen, the gall, and the lungs ; and if any 
 of thefe were let fall, if they fmelt rank, or were 
 bloated, livid or withered, it prefaged nothing but 
 misfortunes. 
 
 After they had finiflied their examination of the 
 entrails, the fire was kindled, and from this alfo they 
 drew feveral prefages. If the flame was clear, if it 
 mounted up without dividing, and went not out till 
 the victim was entirely confumed, this was a proof 
 that the faci-ifice was accepted ; but if they found it 
 difficult to kindle the fire, if the flame divided, if it 
 played around, inftead of taking hold of the vidim, 
 If it burnt ill, or went out, it was a bad omen. 
 
 At Rome, the aufpices were always chofen from 
 the beft families, and as their employment was of the 
 fame nature as the augurs, they were as much ho- 
 noured. It was a very common thing indeed to fee 
 their predi(5lions verified by the event, efpecially in 
 their wars ; nor is this at all wonderful, the predic- 
 tion never lulled them into fecurity, or prevented 
 their taking every neceffary precaution ; but, on the 
 contrary, the affurance of victory infpired that intre- 
 pidity and high courage, which in the common fol- 
 diers was the principal thing neceffary to the attain- 
 ment of it. But, if, after the appearance of a com- 
 plete favour from the gods, whom they had addreffed, 
 their affairs happened to mifc?.rry, the blame was 
 laid on fome other deity. Juno or Minerva had been 
 negleded. They facrificcd to them, recovered their 
 fpirits, and behaved with greater precaution. 
 
 However, the bufinefs of the aufpices was not re- 
 ftrained to the altars and facrifices, they had an 
 equal right to explain all other portents. The fenate 
 frequently confulted them on the melt CKtraordinary 
 prodigies. 
 
 M " The 
 
24* APPENDIX. 
 
 "** The college of the aufpices (9), as well as 
 ** thofe of the other religious orders, had their par- 
 ** ticular regifters and records, fuch. as the memo- 
 ** rials of thunder and lightning, the (i)'rufcan hif- 
 ** tories, &c." 
 
 VI. OF ORACLES. 
 
 Of all the nations upon earth, Greece was the 
 moft famous for oracles, and fome of their wifeft 
 men have endeavoured to vindicate them upon folid 
 principles, and refined reafonings. Xenophon expa- 
 tiates on the neceffity of confulting the gods by au- 
 gurs and oracles. He reprefents man as naturally 
 ignorant of what is advantageous or deftructive to 
 himfelf ; that he is fo far from being able to penetrate 
 into the future, that the prefent itfelf efcapes him ; 
 that his defigns may be fruftrated by the flighteft ob- 
 jects ; that the deity alone, to whom all ages are 
 prefent, can impart to him the infallible knowledge 
 of futurity ; that no other being can give fucce/s to 
 his enterprizes, and that it is highly reafonable to be- 
 lieve that he will guide and protedt thofe who adore 
 him with a pure afiedion, who call upon him, and 
 confult him with a fincere and humble reflgnation. 
 How furprifing it is that fuch refined and noble- 
 principles ihould be brought to defend the moft pue- 
 rile and abfurd opinions ! For what arguments can 
 
 vindicate 
 
 (9) Kennet's Roman Antiq. lib. II. c. 4. 
 
 (l) Romulus, who founded the inftitution of the aufpices, 
 borrowed it from the Tufcans, to whom the fenate afterward* 
 fent twelve of the fons of the principal nobility to be inftruAcd 
 in thcfe myfteries, and the other ceremonies of their religion. 
 The origin of this art amongft tlie people of Tufcany, is re- 
 lated by Cicero, in the following Tnanner : " A peafant (fays 
 *' he) ploughing in the field, his ploughihare running pretty 
 ** deep in the earth, turned up a clod, from whence fprung a 
 « child, who taught him and the other Tufcans the art of di- 
 ** vination." See Cicero de Div, 1. 2. This fable undoubt- 
 edly means no more, than that this child, faid to fpring from 
 a clod of earth, was a youth of a very mean and obfcure birth, 
 and that from him theTafcans learnt tliis method of divina- 
 tion. But it is not known whether he was the author of it, or 
 whether he leiunt it of th- Greeks or other nations. 
 
A f» P E N D I X. %43 
 
 vindicate their prefuming to interrogate the moftHigh, 
 and oblige him to give anfwers concerning etery idle 
 imagination and unjuft enterprize ? 
 
 Oracles were thought by the Greeks to proceed in 
 a more immediate manner from God than the other 
 arts of divination ; and on this account fcarce any 
 peace w^as conclutled, any war engaged in, any new 
 laws ena(^ted, or any new form of government infti- 
 tutecl without confuting oracles. And therefore 
 Minos, to give his laws a proper weight with the 
 people, afcribed to them a divine fan<5cion, and pre- 
 tended to receive from Jupiter inftrudlions how to 
 new model his government. And Lycurgus made 
 frequent vifits to the Delphian oracle, that the people 
 might entertain a belief, that he received from Apollo 
 the platform which he afterwards communicated to 
 the Spartans. Thefe pious frauds were an effedlual 
 means of eftablifhing the authority of laws, and en- 
 gaging the people to a compliance with the will of the 
 law-giver. Perfons thus infpired were frequently 
 thought worthy of the higheft truft ; fo that tht 
 were fometimes advanced to regal power, from 
 perfualion, " that as they were admitted to the coun- 
 *' wh of the gods, they were beft able to provide for 
 " the fafety and welfare of man (l)." 
 
 This high veneration for the priefts of the oracles, 
 being the ftrongeft confirmation, that their credit 
 was thoroughly eftabliflied, they fuffered none to 
 confult the gods but thofe who brought facrifices and 
 rich prefents to them ; whence few, befides the 
 great, were admitted. This proceeding fcrved at 
 once to enrich the priefts, and to raife the chara(fter 
 of the oracles amongit the populace, who are always 
 apt to defpife what they are too familiarly acquainted 
 with ; nor were the rich, cr even the greateft prince 
 admitted, except at thofe particular times when the 
 god was in a difpofition to be confulted. 
 
 One of the moft ancient oracles, of which we have 
 received any particular account, was that of Jupiter 
 at Dodona, a city faid to be built by Deucalion, 
 after that famous deluge which bears his name, and 
 which deftroyed the greateft part of Greece. It was 
 fituated in Epirus, and here was the firft temple that 
 ever v/as feen in Greece. According to Herodotus, 
 both this and the oracle of Jupiter Hammon had the 
 M a fame 
 
 (2) Potter'* Antiquities of Greece, toL I. p. 26;^. 
 
244 APPENDIX.' 
 
 fame original, and both owed their inftitution to the 
 Egyptians. The rife of this oracle is indeed wrapped 
 lip in fable. Tvo black pigeons, fay they, flying 
 from Thebes, in Egypt, one of them fettled in Lybia, 
 and the other flew as far as the foreft of Dodona, a 
 province in Epirus, where fitting in an oak, flie in- 
 formed the inhabitants of the country, that it was 
 the will of Jupiter that an oracle fliould be founded 
 in that place. Herodotus gives two accounts of the 
 rife of this oracle, ont of which clears up the myf- 
 tery of this fable. He tells us, thai he was informed 
 by the priefts of Jupiter, at Thebes, in Egypt, that 
 fome Phoenician merchants carried otf two prieftefles 
 of Thebes, that one was carried into Greece, and 
 the other into Lybia. She who was carried into 
 Greece, took up her refidence in the foreft of Dodo- 
 na, and tiiere at the foot of an oak, erected a fraall 
 chapel in honour of Jupiter, whofe prieftefs ihc had 
 been at Thebes (.0. 
 
 We learn from Servius (4), that the will of heaven 
 m.s here explained by an old woman, who pretended 
 to find out a meaning to explain the murmurs of a 
 brook that flowed from the foot of the oak. After 
 this, another method was taken, attended with more 
 formalities ; brazen kettles were fufpended in the 
 air, with a ftatue of the fame metal, with a whip in 
 his hand (5): this figure, when moved by the wind^ 
 ftruck againft the kettle that was next it, which alfo 
 caufing all the other kettles to ftrike againft each 
 other, raifed a clat<-ering din, which continued for 
 fome time, and from thefe founds fhe formed her 
 predidlions. 
 
 Both thefe ways were equally abfurd, for as in 
 each the anfwer depended folely on the invention of 
 the prieftefs, flie alone was the oracle. Suidas in- 
 forms 
 
 (3) The Abbe Sallier takes this table to be built upon the 
 double meaning of the v^ord vr£-Ktta.ty which in Attica, and 
 fcveral other parts of CJrcece, fignifies pigeons, while in the 
 dialed of Epirus, it meant old women, bee Mem. Acad. 
 Belles Lettres, vol. V. p. ?S- 
 
 (4) Servius in 3. iEn. 5, 466. 
 
 I?) As this was evidently a figure of Ofiris, which was 
 on particular occafions reprefented with a whip in hishand, 
 ■it is an additional prot)!" that this oracle was deriv d ftoru 
 L^pt. 
 
APPENDIX.. 2A^ 
 
 Forms us, that the anfwer was given by an oak in this 
 grove, as Homer alfo ha« delivered (6) ; and as it was 
 generally believed to proceed from the trunk, it is 
 eafy to conceive how this was performed : for the 
 prieflefs had nothing more to do than to hide herfelf 
 in the hollov^ of an old oak, and from thence to give 
 the pretended fenfe of the oracle, which fhe might 
 the more eafily do, as the diftance the fuppliant was 
 obliged to keep, v/as an effedual means to prevent 
 the cheat from being difcovered. 
 
 There is one remarkable circumftance relating to 
 this oracle yet remaining, and that is, that while all 
 the other nations received their anfwer from a wo- 
 man,, the Boeotians alone received it from a man, 
 and th-<: reaibn given for it is as follows : During the 
 war between the Thracians and Boeotians, the latter 
 fcnt deputies to confult this oracle of Dodona, when 
 the pricftefs gave them this anfwer, of which fhe 
 doublkfs did not forefee the confequence : If you 
 ivculd meet '^lit.b fuccfsy you ynujl be guilty of fame impious 
 aBi:n. Tilt deputies, no doubt larprized, and per- 
 haps cxafperated, by imagining that the prieftefs pre 
 varicattd with thern in order to pleafe the Pelafgi, 
 from w hom ihe was defcended, and who were in a 
 ftri<5l alliance \^ith the Thraciaiip,- refoived to falhl 
 the decree of the oracle ; and therefore itizing the - 
 pricitefp, burni her alive, alledging, that this adion 
 was jufliiiable in v/hatev^r light it was conlidered, 
 tliat if ihe intended to deceive them, it was fit fhe 
 fhould be puniflied for the deceit ; or, if fne was fin- 
 cere, thsy had only literally fulfilled the fenfe of the 
 oracle. The two remaining prieflefTes, (for, accord- 
 ing to Strabo, the oracle at that time had ufually 
 three)' highly exafperated at this cruelty, caufedthem 
 to be feized, and as they v/ere to be their judges, 
 the deputies pleaded the illegality of their being 
 tried by women. The juflice of this plea was ad- 
 mitted by the people, who allowed two priefts to 
 try them in conjundtion with the prieftelTes ; on 
 which, being acquitted by the former, and condemn- 
 ed by the latter, the votes being equal, they were 
 releafed. For this reafon the Bceotians, for the future, 
 received their anfwers from the priefts. 
 
 The 
 
 (6) Toy Je; Aa)S^»v>lv (^iro Br^asvaj, o<f>^a 3^£»jo 
 £k Jguof v^iH,o[A.oto A(3; B9>.>iv k'n-oLstuTn. 
 
 HoM. Od. i^. 
 
24^ APPENDIX. 
 
 The oracle of Jupiter Hammon, in Lybia, we 
 have already faid, was derived from Egypt, and is of 
 the fame antiquity as the former of Dodona, and, 
 though furrounded by a large tra<5t of burning lands, 
 was extremely famous. This oracle gave his anfwers 
 not by words, but by a fign. What was called the 
 image of the god, was carried about in a gilded 
 barge on the fhoulders of his priefts, who moved 
 whitherfocver they pretended the divine impulfe di- 
 redted them. This appears to have been nothing 
 more than the mariners compafs (7), the ufe of which 
 was not entirely unknown to that age, though fo 
 long kept a fecret from the Europeans. It was 
 adorned with precious ftones, and the barge with 
 many filver goblets hanging on either fide : and thefe 
 proceflions were accompanied with a troop of ma- 
 trons and virgins finging hymns in honour of Jupiter. 
 Thefe priefts refufed the bribes offered them by Ly- 
 fander, who wanted their affiftance to help him to 
 change the fucceifion to the throne of Sparta. How- 
 ever, they vvtie not fo fciupulous when Alexander, 
 eltner to gratify his vanity, or to icreen the reputa- 
 tion of his mother, took that painful march through 
 the deferts of Lybia, in order to obtain the honour 
 of being calied the fon of Jupiter ; a prieft ftood 
 ready to receive bim, and faluted him with the title of 
 fon of the king of gods. 
 
 The Oracle of Apollo at Dejphos, was one of the 
 moft famous in all antiquity. This city ftood upon 
 a declivity about the middle of mount Parnaffus : it 
 was built on a fmall extent of even ground, and fur- 
 rounded with precipices, that fortified it without the 
 help of art (8). Diodoius Sicuiiis relates (9) a tradi- 
 tion of a very whimfical nature, which was faid to 
 give rife to this oracle. There was a hole in one of 
 the vallies, at the foot of Parnaffus, the mouth of 
 which was very ftrait : the goats that were feeding 
 at no great diftance, coming near it, began to ikip 
 and frilk about in fuch a manner, that the goat-herd, 
 being ftruck with furprize, came up to the place, 
 and leaning over it, was feized with fuch an enthuii- 
 
 aftic 
 
 (7) Umbilice fimilis, fmaragdo \ff gemmis coagmentatuj. Hunt 
 nav';gio aurato gfiant ficerdutti. Q^CuRTlUS, i. 4. c. 7. 
 
 (8) Strabo, hb. xiv. p. 427, 4^^^- 
 
 (9) Diod. 4. I. 
 
APPENDIX. 247 
 
 aftic impulfe, or temporary madneft, as prompted 
 him to utter fome extravagant expreflions, which 
 pafled for prophecies. The report of this extraordi- 
 nary event drev^' thither the neighbouring people, 
 who, on approaching the hole, were fcized with the 
 fame tranfports. Surprifed at fo aftoniihing a pro* 
 digy, the cavity was no longer approached without 
 reverence. The exhalation was concluded to have 
 fomething divine in it ; they imagined it proceeded 
 from fome friendly deity, and from that time be- 
 ftowcd a particular worfh?p on the divinity of the 
 place, and regarded what was delivered in" thofe fits 
 of madntfs as predidions ; and here they afterwards 
 built the city and temple of Delphos. 
 
 This oracle, it w-as pretended, had been poffefTed 
 by feverai fuccelfive deities, and at laft by Apollo, 
 who raifed its reputation to the greatcft height. It 
 rvas reforted to by ]>erfons of all Nations, by which 
 it obtained immenfe riches, which expofed it to be 
 frequently plundered. At hrft it is faid the god in- 
 fpired nil indifl'erently who approached the cavern ; 
 but fome having in this fit of iiiadnefs thrown them- 
 felves into the gulf, they thought fit to choofe a 
 prieffefa, and to^fct ov<:'r the hole a tripos, or three- 
 legged Itool, Avhence Die might without danger catch 
 the exh,llatio^^ : and this prieitefs was called Pythia, 
 from the fe/pent Python, flain by Apollo. For a 
 long time none but virgins pofleHed this honour, till 
 a young Thefialian, called F.checrates, falling in love 
 with the prieftefs, v ho was at that time very beauti- 
 ful, raviflied her ; when, to prevent any abufes of the 
 like kind for the future, the citizens made a law to 
 prohibit any woman being ciiofen under fifty years 
 old. At firft they had only one prieftefs, but after- 
 wards they had two or three. 
 
 The oracles were not delivered every day, but the 
 facrifices were repeated till the god was pleafed to 
 deliver them, which frequently happened only one 
 day in the year. Alexander coming here in one of 
 thefe intervals, after many intreaties to engage the 
 prieftefs to mount the tripod, which were all to no. 
 purpofe, the prince growing impatient at herrefufal, 
 drew her by force from her cell, and was leading her 
 to the fanduary, when faying. My fort tbou art inviTi' 
 cibU, he cried out, that he was fatisfied, and needed 
 no other anfwer. 
 
 Nothing 
 
248 APPENDIX. 
 
 Nothing was wanting to keep up the air of myftc" 
 ry, in order to prefcrve its reputation, and to procure 
 it veneration. The neglecfting the fmalleft pundilio 
 was fufficient to make them renev/ the facrifices that 
 Vere to precede the refponfe of Apollo. The prieftefs 
 herfelf was obliged to prepare for the difcharge of 
 her duty, by falling three days, bathing in the foun- 
 tain of Caftalia, drinking a certain quantity of the 
 water, and chewing fome leaves of laurel gathered 
 near the fountain. After thefc preparations the tem- 
 ple was made to fhake, which paflcd for the fignal 
 given by x\pollo, to inform them of his arrival, and 
 then the priefts led her into the fan<fuiary and placed 
 her on the tripod, when beginning to be agitated 
 by the divine vapour, her hair ftood an end, her 
 looks became wild, her mouth began to foam, and a 
 fit of trembling felzed her whole body. In this con- 
 dition file feemed to ftruggle to get loofe from the 
 priefts, who pretended to hold her by force, while 
 her Ihrieks and howiings, which refounded through 
 the temfile, filled the deluded by-ftanders with a 
 kind of facred horror. At lull, being no longer able 
 to refift the impu'fes of the god, Ihc fubmitted, and 
 at certain intei v?d3 uttered fome unconnected words, 
 which were carefully picked up by the priefls, who 
 put them in connection, and gave them to the poets, 
 who were alfo prefcnt to put them into a kind of 
 verfe, which was frequently ftiii, unharmonious, and 
 always obfcure ; this occafioned that piece of raillery, 
 that Apollo, the prince of the mufes, was the worft 
 of the poets. One of the pricftefies, who was called 
 Phcmonbe, is faid to have pronounced her oracles 
 in verfe : in latter times they were contented with 
 delivering them in profe, and this, in the opinion of 
 Plutarch, was one of the reafons of the decienfion of 
 this oracle. 
 
 Croefus intending to make trial of the feveral ora- 
 cles of Greece, as well as that of Lybia, commanded 
 the refpedtive ambafladors to confult them ail on a 
 ftated day, and to bring the refponfes in writing. 
 The queftion propofed was, " What is Croefus, the 
 " fon of Alyattes, king of Lydia, now doing ?'* 
 The reft of the oracles failed ; but the Delphian an- 
 fwered truly, that " He was boiling a lamb and a 
 ** tortoife together in a brazen pot. This gained his 
 confidence and a profufion of the richeft offerings. 
 
 In 
 
APPENDIX. 249 
 
 In return, the oracle, on the next enquiry, informed 
 him, that " By making war upon the Perfians, he 
 fliould deftroy a great empire.'* The event is well 
 known. This vain confidence loft him both his crown 
 and liberty ( I ). 
 
 Trophonius, who, according to fome authors, was 
 no more than a robber, or at moft a hero, had an 
 oracle in Boeotia, which acquired great reputation. 
 Paufanias, who had confulted it, and gone through 
 all its formalities, has given a very particular defcrip- 
 tion of it,, and from him we fliall extrad a Ihort 
 hiftory of this oracle. 
 
 The facred grove of Trophonius, fays this author, 
 (z), is at a fmall diftance from Lebadea, one of the 
 fineft cities in Greece ; and in this grove is the temple 
 of Trophonius, with his ftatue, th« workmanfhip of 
 Praxiteles. Thofe who apply to this oracle muft per- 
 form certain ceremonies before they are permitted to 
 go down into the cave where the refponfe is given. 
 Some days muft be fpent in a chapel dedicated to 
 Fortune and the Good Genii, where the purification 
 confifts in abftinence from all things unlawful, and in 
 making ufe of the cold bath. He mufc facrifice to 
 Trophonius and all his family, to Jupiter, to Saturn, 
 and to- Ceres, firhamed Europa, who was believed to 
 have been the nurfe of Trophonius. The diviners 
 confulted the entrails of every victim, to difcover if 
 it was agreeable to Trophonius that the perfon fhould 
 defcend into the cave. If the omens were favourable, 
 he was led that night to the river Hercyna, where 
 two boys anointed his body with oil Then he was 
 €onduded as far as the fource of the river, where he 
 was obliged to drink two forts of water, that of 
 Lethe, to efface from his mind all profane thoughts, 
 and that of Mnemofyne, to enable him to retain what- 
 ever he was to fee in the facred cave ; he was then 
 prcfented to the ftatue of Trophonius, to which he 
 was to addrefs a fhort prayer ; be then was cloathed 
 in a linen tunic adorned with facred fillets ; and at 
 laft was condudled in a folemn manner to the oracle, 
 which was inclofed within a ftone wall on the top of 
 a mountain. 
 
 M 5 In 
 
 il) Hcrodot. in Clio. 
 
 {%) Paufan, lib. h. p. 6oa, 604. 
 
250 APPENDIX. 
 
 In this inclofure was a cave formed like an oven, 
 the mouth of which was narrow, and the defcent to 
 it not by fleps, but by a fhort ladder : on going down 
 there appeared another cave, the entrance to which 
 was very ftrait. The fuppliant, who was obliged to 
 take a certain compofition of honey in each hand, 
 without which he could not be admitted, proftrated 
 himfelf on the ground, and then putting his feet into 
 the mouth of the cave, his whole body was forcibly 
 drawn in. 
 
 Here fome had the knowledge of futurity by vifion ; 
 and others by an audible voice. They then got out 
 of the cave in the fame manner as they went in, with 
 their feet foremoft, and proftrate on the earth. The 
 fuppliant going up the ladder was conducted to the 
 chair of Mnemofyne, the goddefs of memory, in 
 which being feated, he was queftioncd on what he 
 had heard and feen ; and from thence he was brought 
 into the chapel of the Good Genii, where having ftaid 
 till he had recovered from his affright and terror, he 
 was obliged to write in a book all that he had feen or 
 heard, which the priefts took upon them to interpret. 
 There never was but one man, fays Paufanias, who loft 
 his life in this cave, and that was a fpy who had been 
 fent by Demetrius, to fee whether in that holy place 
 there was anything worth plundering. The body of 
 this man was afterwards found at a great diftance ; 
 and indeed it is not unlikely, that this defign being 
 difcovered, he was aflaflinated by the priefts, who 
 might carry out his body by fome ftcret pafiage, at 
 which they went in and out without being per- 
 ceived. 
 
 The oracle of the Branchidae, in the neighbourhood 
 of Miletus, was very ancient, and in great efteem. 
 Xerxes returning from Greece, prevailed on its priefts 
 to deliver up its treafures to him, and then burnt the 
 temple, when to fecure them againft the vengeance of 
 the Greeks, he granted them an eftablifliment in the 
 moft diftant part of Alia. After the defeat of Darius 
 by Alexander, this conqueror deftroyed the city where 
 thcfe priefts had fettled, of which their defcendants 
 were then in adual poffeflion ; and thus punilhed the 
 children for the perfidy of their fathers. 
 
 The oracle of Apollo at Claros, a town of Ionia, 
 in Afia Minor, was very famous, and frequently con- 
 
 fulted. 
 
APPENDIX, %si 
 
 fulted. Claros was faid to be founded by (3) Manto, 
 the daughter of Tirofias, fome years before the taking 
 of Troy. The anfwers of this oracle, fays Tacitus (4), 
 were not given by a woman, but by a man, chofe out 
 of certain families, and generally from Miletus. It 
 was fufficient to let him know the number and names 
 of thofe who came to confult him ; after which he 
 retired into a cave, and having drank of the waters of 
 a fpring that ran within it, delivered anfwers in verfe 
 upon what the people had in their thoughts, tho* he 
 was frequently ignorant, and unacquainted with the 
 nature and rules of poetry. " It is faid (our author 
 " adds) that he foretold the fudden death of Ger- 
 ** manicus, but in dark and ambiguous terms." 
 
 Paufanias mentions an oracle of Mercury, in 
 Achaia, of a very fingular kind. After a variety of 
 ceremonies, which it is needlefs here to repeat, they 
 whifpered in the ear of the god, and told him, what 
 they were defirous of knowing ; then ftopping their 
 cars with their hands, they left the temple, and the 
 firft words they heard after they were out of it, was 
 the anfwer of the god. 
 
 But it would be an endlefs tafk to pretend to enu- 
 merate all the oracles, which were fo numerous, that 
 Van Dale gives a lift of near three hundred, moft of 
 which weve in Greece. 
 
 But no part of Greece had fo many oracles as 
 Boeotia, which were there numerous, from its abound- 
 ing in mountains and caverns ; for, as Mr. Fonteneile 
 obferves, nothing was more convenient for the priefts 
 than thefe caves, which not only infpired the people 
 with a fort of religious horror, but afforded the priefts 
 an opportunity of forming fecret paflages, of conceal- 
 ing themfelves in hollow ftatues, and of making ufc 
 of all the machines and all the arts neceflary to keep 
 up the delulion of the people, and to increafe the 
 reputation of the oracles. 
 
 Nothing 
 
 (3) Manto has been greatly extolled for her prophetic 
 fpirit ; and fabulous hiftory informs us, that lamenting the 
 rtiiferies of her country, Ihe diflolved away in tears, and that 
 thefe formed a fountain, the water of which communicated 
 the gift of prophecy to thofe who drank it, but being at the 
 fame time unwholcfome, it brought on diftafcs, and fhortened 
 life. 
 
 (4) Tacit. Annal. 1. %. c. ^4. 
 
ajz APPENDIX. 
 
 Nothing is more remarkable than the different man- 
 ners by which the fenfe of the oracles w^s conveyed ; 
 befides the methods already mentioned, in fome the 
 oracle was given from the bottom of the ftatue, to 
 which one of the priefts might convey himfelf by a 
 fubterranean paflage ; in others by dreams ; in others 
 again by lots, in the manner of dice, containing cer- 
 tain charaders or words, which were to be explained 
 by tables made for that purpofe. In fome temples 
 the enquirer threw them himfelf, and in others they 
 were dropped from a box ; and from hence arofe the 
 proverbial phrafe, The >jt is fallen. Childilli as this 
 method of deciding the fuccefs of events by a throw 
 of dice may appear, yet it was always preceded by 
 facrifices and other ceremonies. 
 
 In others the queftion was propofed by a letter, 
 fealed up, and given to the prieft, or left upon the 
 altar, while the perfon fent with it was obliged to lie 
 all night in the temple, and thefe letters were to be 
 fent back unopened with the anfwer. Here this won- 
 derful art confifted in the priefts knowing how to 
 open a letter without injuring the feal, an art Hill 
 pradlifed, on particular occaiions, in all the general 
 poft-offices in Europe. A governor of Cilicia, whom 
 the Epicureans endeavoured to infpire with a con- 
 tempt for the oracles, fent a fpy to that of Mopfus at 
 Mallos, with a letter well fealed up ; as this man was 
 lying in the temple, a perfon appeared to him and 
 uttered the word Black, This anfwer he carried to 
 the governor, which filled him with aftonifiiment, 
 though it appeared ridiculous to the Epicureans, to 
 whom he communicated it, when to convince them 
 of the injuftice of the raillery on the oracle, he broke 
 open the letter, and fhewed them that he had wrote 
 thefe words, Shall I facrifice to thee a <wbtte ox or a 
 black? The emperor Trajan m.ade a like experiment 
 on the gcd at Heliopolis, by fending him a letter 
 fealed up, to v/hich he requefted an anfwer. The 
 oracle commanded a blank paper, well folded and 
 fealed, to be given to the emperor, who, upon his 
 receiving it, was ftruck with admirarion at feeing an 
 anfwer fo correfpondent to his own letter, in v/hich 
 he had v/rcte nothing. 
 
 The general chara<Seriftic of oracles, fayr, the juftly 
 admired lloilin (3}, were ambiguity, or)fcurity, and 
 
 convtrtability ; 
 
 (5) Ancient Hill. vol. j. p. aj. 
 
APPENDIX. ^S3 
 
 •convertability ; fo that one anfwcr would zigree with 
 feveral different and even oppofite events ; and this 
 was generally the cafe when the event was in the leaft 
 dubious. Trajan, convinced of the divinity of the 
 oracle, by the blank letter above mentioned, fent a 
 fecond note, wherein he defired to know, whether 
 he fliould return to Rome after the conclufion of the 
 war which he had then in view ; the oracle anfwered 
 this letter by fending to him a vine broke in pieces. 
 The predi<5tion of the oracle was certainly fulfilled} 
 for the emperor dying in the v^^ar, his body, or, if 
 you pleafe, his bones, reprefented by the broken vine* 
 were carried to Rome. But it would have been 
 equally accomplif])ed had the Romans conquered the 
 Parthians, or the Parthians the Romans : and what- 
 ever had been the event, it might have been conftrud- 
 ed into the meaning of the oracle. Under fuch am- 
 biguities they eluded all difficulties, and were hardly 
 ever in the wrong. In this all their art, and all their 
 luperior knowledge confifted ; for when the queftion 
 was plain, the anfwer was commonly fo too. A man 
 requefting a cure for the gout, was anfwered by the 
 oracle, that he fhould drink nothing but cold water. 
 Another defiring to know by what means he might 
 become rich, was anfwered by the god, that he had 
 no more to do but to make himftlf mafter of all be- 
 tween Sicyon and Corinth (6). 
 
 VII. OF ALTARS, OPEN TEMPLES, SACKED GROVES, 
 AND SACRIFICES. 
 
 Altars and facrifices mutually imply each other, 
 and were immediately confequent to the fall of man : 
 though the original altars were fimple, being com- 
 pofed of earth or turf, or unhewn ftones. There is 
 great probability that the cloathing of our firft parents 
 conlifted of the Ikins of beafts facrificed by Adam in 
 the interval between his ofitnce and expulfion from 
 paradife. Cain and Abel, Noah and the patriarchs, 
 purfued the pradice. Even thofe who forfock the 
 living God, yet continued this early method of wor- 
 fhip. Thefe idolaters at firft imitated the fimple 
 #fianner in which they had bciii raifed by Noah. But 
 
 the 
 (6) Eanier, vol. i. 
 
254 APPENDIX. 
 
 the form and materials infenlibly changed ; there were 
 fome fquare, others long, round, or triangular. Each 
 feaft obtained a peculiar ceremonial, and an altar of 
 a particular form. Sometimes they were of common 
 flone, fometimes of marble, wood, or brafs. The 
 altar was fun^ounded with carvings in bas relief, and 
 the corners ornamented with heads of various ani- 
 mals. Some reached no higher than to the knee, 
 others were reared as high as the waift, whilft others 
 were much higher. Some again were folid, others 
 hollow, to receive the libations and the blood of the 
 vidims. Others were portable, refembling a trevet, 
 of a magniticent form, to hold the offering from the 
 .fire, into which they threw frankincenfe, to over- 
 power the difagreeable fmell of the blood and burn- 
 ing fat. In fhort, what had been approved on fome 
 important occalion, pafled into a cuftom, and became 
 a law. 
 
 Where the altars were placed, there was faid to 
 be in the early ages of the world an houfe or temple 
 of Jehovah, which wasmoftly upon eminences, and 
 always uncovered. Where they could be had, up- 
 right ftones were ereded near them. This in fcrip- 
 ture is called Jetting up a pillar ; nor was it done 
 without a particular form of confecration. The be- 
 haviour of the patriarch Jacob, to which wc refer 
 the reader (7), will explain the whole. 
 
 It is faid of Mofes likewife That he rofe up early in 
 the morning, and budded an altar under the hill, and 
 twelve pillars, iffc. (8). The entire work of thefc 
 facred eminencles was furrounded at a convenient dif- 
 tance, by a mound or trench thrown up, in'ord^r to 
 prevent the profane intrulioh of the people (9). 
 
 At other times the walls were inclofed by groves of 
 oak (i) ; whence this tree is faid to be facred to Jove. 
 The heathens, when they left the objedl, yet conti- 
 nued this ufage alfo of the original worfhip ; which 
 indeed was fo linked to idolatry, that it became ne- 
 ceflary for Mofes to forbid the Hebrews planting 
 groves about their altars, to prevent their falling into 
 
 the 
 
 (7) Gen. xxviii. 18, 19, ao, ii, aa, and xixv. 7, 14, 15. 
 
 (8) Exod. xxiv. 4. Tbechtb, ii.feriuty ^o//I/ot, on the decli- 
 vity of the hill. 
 
 (9) Exod. xix. I a, 23. 
 
 (i) Gen. xxi. 33. xii. 6. 7, xxxv. 4, xiii, x8. Deut. xi. 
 JO. Judges ix. 6, tiff. 
 
A P 1^ E N D f X. 
 
 255 
 
 ihe pra^iccs of the nations round about thenl. TJ^efc 
 groves were hung with garlands and chaplets of flow- 
 ers, and with a variety of offerings in fo lavifli a man- 
 ner, as almofc entirely to e^ccludc the light of the fun. 
 They were confidered as the pecuhar refidence of the 
 deity. No wonder therefore, that it was deemed the 
 moft inexpiable facrilege to cut them down (2). 
 
 The high antiquity and univerfility of facrificing, 
 befpeak it a divine inftitution. The utter impoflibi- 
 lity that there (hould be any virtue or efficacy in the 
 thing itfelf, (hews plainly that it muft have been look- 
 ed upon as vicarious, and having refpecil to fomewhat 
 truly meritorious, and which thofe that brought the 
 facrifice were at firft fufficiently acquainted with the 
 nature of. For it is not to be prefumed upon what 
 grounds men could be induced to think of expiating 
 their fins, or procuring the divine favour by facrificial 
 oblations. It is much more reafonable to conclude it 
 a divine appointment. All nations have ufed it. 
 They who were fo happy as to walk with God, were 
 inftruded in it from age to age. And they who re- 
 jeded him, ftill facriticed. But they invented nevr 
 rites ; and at length, miftaking and perverting the ori- 
 ginal intent and meaning, offered even human vidtims ! 
 It is indeed moft furprjlmg to obferve, that almoft all 
 nations, from the ufe of beaiftial, have advanced to 
 human facrifices ; and many of them, from the fame 
 miftake and perverfion, even to the facritice of their 
 own children ! 
 
 This moft cruel cuftom, amongft the Carthageni- 
 jns, of offering children to Saturn (3), dccaftonedan 
 cmbaffy being fent to thehi from the Romans, in or- 
 der to perfuade them to abolifii it. And in the reign 
 of Tiberius, the priefts of Saturn v^rere crucilied for 
 
 prefuming 
 
 O2.) I.ucan meritioning the trees v^'hich Csefar ordered to be 
 felled, to make his warlike engines, defcribes the confterna- 
 tion of the ibkii-jrs, who refufed to obey his orders, till taking 
 an axe, he cut down one of them himfelf. Struck with a 
 religious reverence for the fandlity of the grove, they ima- 
 gined that if diey prefumptuoully attempted to cut down any 
 of its trees, the axe would have recoiled upon themfelves. 
 I'hey however believed it lawful to prune and clear them, and 
 to fell thofe trees v.'hich they imagined attracl<id the thunder. 
 , (3) Thefe facrifices were praetifed aiinually by the Cartha- 
 ginians, who firft offered ^he fons of the principal citizens; 
 but afterwards privately^brought up children for that purpofe. 
 
4j6. , APPENDIX. 
 
 prefuming to facrifice children to him ; and Amafis* 
 king of Egypt, made a law, that oaly the figures of 
 men fltould be facrificed inftead of themfelves. Plu- 
 tarch informs us, that at the time of a plague, the 
 Spartans were ordered by an oracle to facrifice a vir- 
 gin ; but the lot having fallen upon a young maid 
 whofe name was Helene, an eagle carried away the 
 facrificing knife, and laying it on the head of an 
 heifer, it was facrificed in her ftead. The fame au- 
 thor informs us, that Pelopidus the Athenian general 
 dreaming the night before an engagement, that he 
 fliould facrifice a virgin to the manes of the daughters 
 of Scedafus, who had been raviflied' and murdered, 
 he was filled with horror at the inhumanity of fuch a 
 facrifice, which he could not help thinking odious to 
 the gods ; but feeing a mare, by the advice of Theo- 
 critus the foothfayer, he facrificed it, and gained the 
 vidory. 
 
 The ceremonies ufed at facrifices were extremely 
 different, and to every deity a diftin<5t vidim was al- 
 lotted (4) ; but whatever victims were offered, the 
 greateft care was to be taken in the choice of them ; 
 for the very fame blemifnes that excluded them being 
 otitred by the Jews, rendered them alfo imperfect a- 
 mong the Pagans. 
 
 The prieft having prepared himfelf by continence, 
 during the preceding night, and by ablution, before 
 the procellion went a herald crying hoc age, to give 
 the people notice that they were to give their folt at- 
 tention to what they were about; then followed the 
 playtrs on feveral inftruments, who betv/een the in- 
 tervals of playing, exhorted the people in the fame 
 manner. The prieft, and fometimes the facrificers, 
 went before cloathed in white, and the prieft, befides 
 being drefled in the veftments belonging to his office, 
 was fure to be crowned with a chaplct of the leaves of 
 the tree facred to the god for whom the facrifice was 
 appointed ; the vidim haci his horns gilt, and was alfo 
 crowned with a chaplet of the fame leaves, and a- 
 dorncd with ribbands and fillets. In Greece when 
 
 the 
 
 (4) Lucian informs, that " The vldims were alio different 
 •' according to the ouality and circumftance of the perfons who 
 *' offered them. The hufbandman, fays he, facrifices an ox j 
 " the fhepherd, a lamb; the goat herd, a goat. There are 
 " fome who offer only cakes, or incenfe ; and he that has 
 •' noihiiigj Lcrificcs by kifling his right h^d." De Sacr. 
 
APPENDIX. %si 
 
 the prieft approached the altar, he cried, Who ts here ? 
 To which the fpe(5tators anfwered. Many good people 
 (^•). The prieft then faid. Be gone all ye profane ^ \\h.\ch. 
 tlie Romans exprefled by faying, Procul ejle profani. 
 
 The vidim arriving at the altar, the prieft laid one 
 hand upon the altar, and began with a prayer to all 
 the gods, beginning with Janus, and ending with Vef- 
 t.i, during which the ftridteft filence was obferved. 
 Then the facrifice began, by throwing upon the head 
 of the vidim corn, frankincenfe, flour, and fait, lay- 
 ing wpon it cakes and fruit (6), and this they called 
 immolitio, or the immolition. Then the prieft took 
 the wine, which having hrft tafted, he gave it to the 
 by-ftanders to do fo too (7), and then poured it out, 
 or fprinkled the beaft with it between the horns. Af- 
 ter this the prieft plucked off fome of the rough hairs 
 from the forehead of the vidim, threw them into the 
 fire, and then turning to the eaft, drew a ci-ooked line 
 with his knife along the back, from the forehead to 
 the tail, and then ordered the fervants (8) to flay the 
 vidim, which they had no fooner done than he was 
 opened, and the duty of the anifpex began, which was; 
 i.o fooner over, than the carcafe was cut in quarters, 
 and then into fmalier piece-;, and, according to Paufa- 
 nias (9), and Apolionius Rodius (i), the thighs were 
 covered with fat, and focrificed as the part allotted 
 to the god (a); after which they regaled themfelves 
 upon the reft, and celebrated this religious feaft with 
 dancing, mulic, and hymns fung in honour of the 
 gods. 
 
 Upon fignal vidories, or in the midft of fome pub- 
 lic calamity, they fometimes offered in one facritice 
 a hundred bulls, which was called an hecatomb : but 
 fometimes the fame name was given to the facrifice of 
 an hundred iheep, hogs, or other animals. 'Tis faid 
 that Pythagoras offered up an hecatomb for having 
 
 found 
 
 (5) noXXoj )^a.ya,Q<ii. 
 
 (6) All theie VTere net ufed for every facrifice. 
 
 (7) This Wcus Ciilled libatio. 
 
 (8) Thefe inferior officers, whofc bufinefs it was to kill, to 
 embowel, to flea, and to wafh the vidim, were called f^ic 
 timarii, I'opx. Agoiih, Cultraril. 
 
 (9) Lib. J. p. 192. 
 (i) In Att. p. 4Z. 
 
 (a) In the holocau.*ls, the whole vidim was burnt, and 
 notihing left for the feaft. 
 
^/S APPENDIX. 
 
 found out the demonftration of the forty-feventh 
 propofition in the firft book of Euclid. 
 
 Till. OF THE PRIESTS, PRIESTESSES, &C. OfTHl 
 GREEKS AND ROMANS. 
 
 1 N the early ages of the world the chiefs of families 
 compofed the priefthood ; and afterwards, when pub- 
 lic priefts were appointed, kings, as fathers and mafters 
 of that large family which compofed the body politic, 
 frequently offered facrifices ; and not only kings, Sut 
 princes and captains of armies, Inftances of this kind 
 are frequently to be met with in Homer. 
 
 When the ancients chofe a prieft, the ftrii^left enqui- 
 ry was made into the life, the manners, and even the 
 bodily extern^^l perfe(5tions of the perfon to be chofen. 
 They were generally allowed to marry once, but were 
 not always forbid fecond marriages. 
 
 The Greeks and Romans had feveral orders of 
 priefts J but as Greece was divided into many inde- 
 -pendent ftatetj, there naturally arofe different hierar- 
 chies. In feveral cities c»f Greece the Government 
 of religon was intrufted to women, in others it was 
 conferred on the men ; while again, in others, both in 
 concert had a fhare in the management of it. The 
 prieftelFes of Argos were very famous. At Athens a 
 prieftefs prefided over the worfhip of Minerva ; there 
 was alfo a prieftefs for Pallas, at Clazomenae ; for Ce- 
 res, at Catanea, &c. The Hierophantae were very fa 
 mous priefts of Athens, and both they and their wives, 
 who were called Hierophantidae, were fet apart for 
 the worlhip of Ceres and Hecate ; as were the Orgio- 
 phantae, and the women ftiled Orgiaftae, appointed to 
 prefide over the orgies of Bacchus, Sec. Befides the 
 prieftefs of Apollo, at Delphos, who was by way of 
 eminence called Pythia (3), there belonged to this 
 
 oracle 
 
 (3) Thus the prieftefs of Palks, at Clazomenae, was call- 
 ed Hefychia, and that of Bacclius, Thyas ; and ia Crete, 
 that of Cybe'e, Meliffa. Among the Athenians, the inferi- 
 or minjfters were ftiled Parafiti, a word that did not at that 
 time carry -y^nth it any mark of reproach ; for it is mention«d 
 in an infcription at Athens, that of two bull* offered in facri- 
 fices. 
 
APPENDIX. 259 
 
 oracle five princes of the priefts, and feveral prophets, 
 who pronounced the fenfe of the oracle. There were 
 alfo chief priefts one of whom prefidcd over a city, 
 and fometimes over a whole province ; fometimes he 
 was invefted with this dignity for life, and, at other 
 times, only for five years. Befides thefe, there were 
 chief prieftefles, who were the fuperintendants of the 
 prieftefies, and were chofen from the nobleft families; 
 but the moft celebrated of thefe was the Pythia. 
 
 The priefts of Rome enjoyed feveral very confider- 
 able privileges ; they were exempted from going to 
 war, and excufed from all burthenfome ofllices in the 
 ftate. They had commonly a branch of laurel and a 
 torch carried before them, and were allowed to ride 
 in a chariot to the capitol. Romulus inftituted fixty 
 priefts, who were to be at leaft fifty years of age, free 
 from all perfonal defeds, and diftinguilhed both by 
 their birth and the reditude of their morals. 
 
 The Pontifex Maximus, or the high-prieft, was 
 efteem.ed the<-judge and arbitrator of all divine and 
 human affairs, and his authority was fo great, and his 
 ofiice fo much revered, " that all the emperors, af- 
 " ter the example of Julius Csefar and Auguftus, ei- 
 ** ther adually took upon them the office, or at leaft 
 " ufed the name (4)." He was not aiiowed to go 
 out of Italy, though this was dii'penfed with in favour 
 of Julius Caefar ; whenever he attended a funeral, a 
 veil was put between him and the funeral bed ; for it 
 was thought a kind of profanation for him to fee a 
 dead body. 
 
 The Rex Sacrorum (5), according to Dyonyfi^us of 
 Halicarnafiiis (6), was inftituted after the expulfion of 
 the Roman kings, to perpetuate the memory of the 
 great fervices fome of them had done the ftate. On 
 this account, the augurs and Pontifices were dired- 
 ed to choofe out a fit perfon, who fhould devote him- 
 felf to the care of religious worfliip, and the cere- 
 monies 
 
 fices, the one ftiould be referved for the games, and the other 
 ciflributtd among the priefts and parafites. Thefe parafites 
 had a place among the chiaf magiftratcs, and the pi-incipal 
 part of their employment was to choofe the wheat appointed 
 fjr their facrifices. Banier's Mydiology, Vol. I. p. 283. 
 
 (4^ Kennet's Pvom. Antiq. 
 - (5) He was alfo ftiled Rex Sacrificulus. 
 
 (6) lib. I. 
 
s6o APPENDIX. 
 
 monies of religion, without ever interfering in civil 
 arfairs ; but left the name of king, which was become 
 odious to the people, fhould raife their jealoufy, it 
 was at the fame time appointed, that he fTiould be 
 fubjeft to the high priefts. His wife had the title 
 of Regina Sacrorum. 
 
 The Flamines, according to Livy (7), were ap- 
 pointed by Numa Pompilius, to difcharge thofe re- 
 ligious offices, which he imagined properly belong- 
 ed to the kings. At firft there were but three (8), 
 which were chofen by the people, and their eledion 
 confirmed by the high prieft. They were afterwards 
 increafed to fifteen, three of whom were chofen from 
 among the fcnators, and were called Flamines Majo- 
 res ; and the other twelve, chofen from the Plebeans, 
 v/ere fliled Flamines Minores. 
 
 The Feciales were alfo inflituted by Numa, and 
 conliftcd of twenty perfons, chofen out of the moft 
 diftinguiJlied families. Thefe were properly the he- 
 ralds of the republic, who, whenever it was injured, 
 were^fcntto demand fatisfaction, which, if they could 
 not obtiiin, they called the gods to witnefs between 
 them and the enemy, and denounced war. They had 
 the power of ratifying and cunfi.-ming alliances, and 
 were the arbitrators of all the differences between the 
 rcpuhjic and other nations ; fo that the Romans could 
 not lawfully take up arms, till the Feciales had de- 
 clared that war was moft expedient. 
 
 The Pater Patratus derived his name from a cjrcum- 
 f.ance necefiary to his enjoying the title ; and in or- 
 der that he might be more ftrongly interefied in the 
 fate of his country, he was to have both a father and 
 a fon living at the fame time. lie was chofen by the 
 college of F^-ciales out of their own body, to treat 
 with the enemy on the fubjed of war and peace. 
 
 The Epulones were minifters appointed to prepare 
 the facred banquets at the folemn games, and had the 
 
 privilege 
 
 (7) Llv. lib. I 
 
 (8) I'he Flamcndiafis of Jupiter, the Martlalis of Mars, 
 and tlie Quirinalis of Quirinus. The firft facred to Jupiter 
 was a pci-lon of a very high diftindlion, though he was oblig- 
 ed to fubiiiit to burthenfome regulations and fupcrftitious ob- 
 fcrvanccs : his wife was -a pricftcls, and had the title of Fiami- 
 nica; and afo enjoyed the fame privileges, and was under the 
 fame reftridioiis as her hufband. Aulas Gellius, Noct. Att. 
 i. JO. c. IJ. 
 
APPENDIX. 261 
 
 privilege of wearing a robe like the pontiffs, border- 
 ed with purple. Thefe minifters were originally thrte 
 in number, to which two were afterwards added, and 
 then two more, till in the pontificate of Julius Ccefar 
 they were increafed to ten. The moft confidcrable t)f 
 the privileges granted to the Epulones, was one which 
 they enjoyed in common with the other minifters, 
 their not being obliged to make their daughters vel- 
 tals (9). 
 
 Belides thefe were the Salii, or priefts of Mars ; 
 the Phaebades of Apollo ; the Baflarides of Bacchus ; 
 the Luperci of Pan, and feveral others who prefided 
 over the worlhip of particular deities, each of which 
 had a particular college, and conftituted a diftind 
 community. 
 
 OF THE TEMPLES OF THE PAGANS. 
 
 V-/AKEN groves, with a circular opening in the 
 midft, or upright ftones placed in the Aime order, in- 
 clofing an altar, were the original temples. The firft 
 covered one was that of Babel, and in all probability 
 it was the only one of the kind, till Mofes, by ereding 
 the tabernacle, might give the Egyptians the firft 
 thought of building alfo a houfe for their gods. Had 
 temples been built in Egypt at the time when Mofes 
 refided there, it can hardly be conceived but that he 
 would have mentioned them ; and that this moving 
 temple might ferve as a model for the reft, is the more 
 probable, as there is a near refemblance between the 
 Sancflum Sandtorum and the holy places in the Pagan 
 temple- In that of Mofes, God was confulted, and 
 jione fuffered to enter but the priefts : this exadly 
 agrees with the holy places in the Heathen temples, 
 where the oracle was delivered. 
 
 It was the opinion of Lucian, that the firft temples 
 were built by the Egyptians, and that from them the 
 cuftom was conveyed to the people of the neighbour- 
 ing countries ; and from Egypt and Phcenicia it palfed 
 into Greece, and from Greece to Rome. 
 
 They all began with little chapels, v.hich were ge- 
 nerally ereded by private perfons, and thefe were foon 
 fucceeded by regular buildings, and the moft magni- 
 
 feccnt 
 
 (9) Aulus Cellius, lib. I. c. 12. 
 
26a APPENDIX. 
 
 ficent ftrudlures, when even the grandeur and beauty 
 of the buildings heightened the veneration that was 
 entertained for them. They had often porticos, and 
 always an afcent of fteps, while fome of them were 
 furrounded by galleries fupported by rows of pillars. 
 The fiHt part in entering thefe temples was the porch, 
 in which was placed the holy water for the expiation 
 of thofe that entered into the temple. The next was 
 the nave(i^, or body of the temple, and then the 
 holy place (»), into which none but the priefts were 
 allowed to enter. Sometimes there was behind the 
 buildings another part, called the back temple. 
 
 The infide was frequently adorned with paintings, 
 gildings, and the richeft offerings, among which were 
 the trophies and fpoils of war. But the principal 
 ornaments were the ftatues of the gods, and thofe 
 of perfons diftinguiihed by great and noble adlions, 
 which were fometimes of gold, filver, ivory, ebony, 
 and other precious materials. 
 
 The veneration for thefe buildings was carried by 
 the Romans and other nations to the moft fuperftitious 
 excefs. Before the ereding one of thefe noble edi- 
 fices, the Arufpices chofe the place, and fixed the 
 time for beginning the work ; for here every thing 
 was of importance. They began when the air was 
 ferene, and the fky clear and unclouded ; on the limits 
 of the building were placed fillets and garlands, and 
 the foldiers whofe names were thought aufpicious, 
 entered the enclofure with bows in their hands ; then 
 followed the veftal virgins, attended by fuch boys and 
 girls who had the happinefs to have their fathers and 
 mothers living, and thefe affifted the veftals in fprink- 
 ,ling all the ground with clear water ; then followed a 
 Solemn facrifice, and prayers to the gods, to profper 
 the building they were going to erect for their habita- 
 tion ; and this being over, the prieft touched the ftone 
 that was to be firft laid, and bound it with a fillet, 
 after which the magiftrates, and perfons of the great- 
 eft diftincflion, affifted the people, with the utmoft 
 joy and alacrity, in removing the ftone, which was 
 extremely large, fixed it for a foundation, throwing 
 in with it feveral fmall gold coins, and other pieces 
 of money. 
 
 When 
 
 (I) N*9f. 
 
 (!) Called Penctralis, Sacrarium, Adytum. 
 
APPENDIX. a«j 
 
 When thefe buildings were finiftied, they were con- 
 fecrated with abundance of ceremony, and fo great 
 was the veneration felt by the people for the temples, 
 that they frequently, as a mark of humiliation, clamb- 
 ered up to them on their knees ; and fo holy was the 
 ^lace, that it was thought criminal for a man to fpit 
 or blow his nofe in it. The women proftrated them- 
 felres in them, and fwept the pavements with their 
 hair. They became fanduaries for debtors and cri- 
 minals ; and on all holidays were conftantly decked 
 with branches of laurel, olive, and ivy. 
 
 One of the firft temples built in Egypt, was that of 
 Vulcan, at Memphis, ereded by Menes : At firft it 
 had the primitive fimplicity of all other ancient build- 
 ings, and without ftatues (3); but the fucceffors of this 
 prince ftrove to excel each other in embellifhing this 
 w^ork with ftately porches and ftatues of a monftrous 
 fize. There were indeed a great number of temples 
 in Egypt, but the moft extraordinary thing of this 
 kind was a chapel hewn out of a fingle fione, which 
 by order of Araafis was cut out of the quarries in 
 upper Egypt, and with incredible difficulty carried as 
 far as Sais, where it was defigned to have been fet up 
 in the temple of Minei-va, but was left at the gate. 
 Herodotus mentions this work with marks of aftoniih- 
 mcnt : " What I admire more, fays he, than at the 
 " other works of Amufis, is his caufing a houfe to 
 " be brought from Eliphantina, a houfe hewn out of 
 ** a fingle ftone ; which two thoufand men were 
 " unable to remove thither in lefs than three years. 
 " This houfe was thirty-one feet in front, twenty- 
 ** one feet in breadth, and twelve in height ; and on 
 " the infide twenty-feven feet in length, and feven 
 " feet and a half high.'' 
 
 The temple of Diana at Ephefus (4), has been al- 
 ways admired as one of the nobleft pieces of architec- 
 ture that the world has ever produced. It was four 
 
 hundred 
 
 (3) According to the beft hiflorians, there were no ftatuct 
 in the ancient temples of Egypt. But this is not at all 
 ftrange, ftnee Plutarch, who has his authority from Varro, 
 fays, " That the Romans were a hundred and fcventy years 
 " without ftatues ; Numa prohibited them hy a law ; and 
 " TertuUum lets us know, that even in his time there were 
 *' fevcral temples that had no ftatues." 
 
 (4) This temple was accounted one of the wonders of the 
 world. 
 
a64 APPENDIX. 
 
 hundred and twenty- five feet long, two hundred feet 
 broad, and fupported by a hundred and twenty-feven 
 columns of marble (ixty feet high, twenty-feven of 
 which \^'ere beautifully carved. This temple, which 
 was 200 years in building, was burnt by Eroftratus, 
 with no other view than to perpetuate his memory ; 
 however, it was rebuilt, and the laft temple was not 
 inferior, either in riches or beauty, to the former, 
 being adorned with the works of the moft famous 
 flatuaries of Greece. 
 
 The temple of Ceres and Proferpine w\is built in 
 the Doric order, and w^is of fo wide an extent as to 
 be able to contain thirty-thoufand men ; for there 
 were frequently that number at the celebration of the 
 myfteries of the two goddefles. At firft this temple 
 had no columns on the outlide ; but Philo afterwards 
 added to it a magnificent portico. 
 
 The temple of Jupiter (Dlympius, as well as the ad- 
 mirable ftatue of Jupiter placed in it, were raifed from 
 the fpoils which the Elians took at the facking of Pifa 
 (5). This temple was of the Doric order, the moft 
 ancient, as well as the moft fuitable to grand under- 
 takings ; and on the outfide was furrounded with 
 columns, which formed a noble peryftile. The length 
 of the temple was two hundred and thirty feet, its 
 breadth ninety- five, and its height, from the area to 
 the roof, two hundred and thirty. From the middle 
 of the roof hung a gilded victory, under which was a 
 golden fliield, on which was reprefcnted Medufa's 
 head ; and round the temple, above the columns, 
 hung twenty-one gilt bucklers, which Mummius con- 
 fecrated to Jupiter after the facking of Corinth. Upon 
 the pediment in the front was reprefcnted, with ex- 
 quifite art, the chariot race between Pelops and 
 Oenomaus ; and, on the back pediment, the battle of 
 the Centaurs with the Lapithas at the marriage of 
 Pirithous ; and the brafs gates were adorned with the 
 labours of Hercules. In the in fide, two ranges of tall 
 and ftately columns fupported two galleries, under 
 which was the way that led to the throne of Jupiter. 
 
 The ftatue of the god and his throne were the 
 mafter-pieces of the great Phidias, and the moft mag- 
 nificent and higheft finifhed in all antiquity. The 
 ftatue, which was of a prodigious fize, was of gold 
 and ivory, fo artfully blended as to fill all beholders 
 
 with 
 
 (5) Paufanias in Iliac, p. 303, & feq. 
 
APPENDIX. zCs 
 
 with aflonifliment. The god wore upon his head an 
 olive crown, in which the leaf of the olive was imi- 
 tated in the niceft perfection. In his right-band he 
 held the figure of vidory, formed likewife of gold 
 and ivory ; and in his left a golden fccptre, on the 
 top of which was an eagle. The f!ioes and mantle of 
 the god were of gold, and on the m.Tnde were eu- 
 graven a variety of flowers and aniiiials. The throriC 
 fparkled with gold and precious ftones, vvhiic thi! 
 different materials, and the aflemblage of animals and 
 other ornaments, formed a delightful varitrty. At 
 the four corners of the throne, were four Victorie? , 
 that feemed joining hands for a dance ; and at the 
 feet of Jupiter were two others. On the forelide, the 
 feet of the throne were adorned with fphinxes pluck 
 ing the tender infants from the bofoms of the Theban 
 mothers, and underneath were Apollo and Diana 
 flaying the children of Niobe with their arrows, &c. 
 At the top of the throne, above the head of Jupiter, 
 were the graces and hours. The pedeftal which fup- 
 ported the pile, was "equally adorned with the reit : 
 it was covered with gold ; on the one fide, Phidias 
 had engraven Phoebus guiding his chariot ; on the 
 other, Jupiter and Juno, Mercury, Vefta, and the 
 graces : here Venus appeared as riiing from the fea, 
 and Cupid receiving her, while Pitho, or the goddefs 
 of perfuafion, feemed prefenting her with a crown : 
 there appeared Apollo andDiraia, Minerva and Her- 
 cules. At the foot of the pedtftal v.*ere Neptune and 
 Amphitrite, with Diana, wiio appeared mounted on 
 horfeback. In (hort, a woollen veil dyed in purple, 
 and curioufly embroidered, hung down from the top 
 to the bottom. A large balluftrade painted and 
 adorned with figures encompalfed the whole work j 
 there, with inimitable art, was painted the Atlas 
 bearing the heavens upon his (houlders, and Hercules 
 {looping to eafe him of his load ; the com.bat of Her- , 
 cules with the Nemean lion ; Ajax offering violence to 
 CafTandra ; Prometheus in chains, and a variety of 
 other pieces of fabulous hiflory. 
 
 This temple was paved with the fine/t marble, 
 adorned with a prodigious number of ftatues, and 
 with the prefents which fevecal princes had confe- 
 crated to the God. 
 
 Though the temple of Apollo at Delphos, was 
 
 greatly inftrior in point of magnificence to the former, 
 
 N yet 
 
•266 APPENDIX. 
 
 yet the fmmenfe preTents fent to it from every quarter, 
 rendered it infinitely more rich. The principal value 
 of the former arofe from its containing the works of 
 Phidias, and his mafter-piece was really invaluable ; 
 but what this temple wanted, in not containing the 
 produdions of fo curious an artift, was amply made 
 up by a profufum of treafure, which arofe from the 
 offerings of thofe who went to confult the oracle. 
 The firft temple which was built being burnt, the 
 -Ampbictyones, or general council of Greece, took 
 tipcn themielves the care of rebuilding it ; and for 
 tliat purpofe agreed viith an archite<5t for three hunr- 
 dred talents, which amounts to forty-five thoufand 
 pounds, and this fum was to be raifed by the cities 
 of Greece ; colledlions were alfo made in foreign 
 countries. Amafis, king of Egypt, and the Grecian 
 inhabitants of that country, contributed confiderable 
 fums for that fervice. The Alomoeonedes, one of the 
 moft powerful families in Athens, had the charge of 
 conducing the building, which they rendered more 
 magnificent, by making, at their own expence, con- 
 fiderable additions that had not been propofed in the 
 model. 
 
 After the temple of Delphos was finifhed, Gyges, 
 king of Lydia, and Crcefus, one of his fuccelTors, en- 
 riched it with an incredible number of the moft va- 
 luable prefents ; and, after their example, many other 
 princes, cities, and private perfons beftowed r.u.n it 
 a vaft number of tripods, tables, veflels, fjiiclds, 
 crowns, and ftatues of gold and filver of inconceivable 
 value. Herodotus informs (6), that the prefents of 
 gold made by Croefus alone to this temple, amounted 
 to more than two hundred and fifty talents, or 33,500!. 
 Iterling ; and it is probable that thofe of filver were 
 not of lefs value. And Diodorus Siculus (7) adding 
 thcfe to thofe of the other princes, computes them at 
 ten thoufand talents, or about 1,300,0001.(8). 
 
 Plutarch informs us (9), that amongft the Itatucs of 
 gofd, whi<;h ^roefus placed in the temple of Delphos, 
 
 was 
 
 (6) Her. lib. i. c. 50, si- 
 
 (7) Diod. lib. 16. p. 453- 
 
 (8) It is impoffible to form any tolerable idea of thcfe 
 funis without bringing alfo into the account the compara-.ive 
 fcarcity of gold at that time, which rendered it? real value 
 vaflly greater than what it bears at prefent. TBe m'nci of 
 Mexico and Peru have deftroyed all comparifon. 
 
 (9) Plut. de Pyth. Orac. p. 401. 
 
APPENDIX. a67 
 
 was one of a female baker, of which this was the 
 occafion : Allyatus, the father of Croefus, having 
 married a fecond wife, by whom he had children ; Ihc 
 formed the defign of fecuring the crown to her own 
 iffue, by putting a period to the life of her fon-in-Iaw ; 
 and with this view engaged a female baker to put 
 poifon into a loaf, that was to be ferved up at the 
 table of the young prince. The woman, ftruck with 
 korror at the thought of her bearing fo great a fhare in 
 the guilt of the queen, let Croefus into Mie fscret ; en 
 which the loaf was ferved to the queen**.:' o'-v;^ .-.:hi]'' 
 dren, and their death fecured his fucceflion to tlie 
 throne, which when he afcended, from a fcnfe of 
 gratitude to his benefadrefs, he eredled thic ftiitue ie 
 her memory in the temple of Delphos ; an honour 
 that, our author fays, flie had a better title to, than 
 many of the boafted conquerors or heroes, who rok- 
 to fame only by murders and devaftation. 
 
 Italy was no lefs famous for a multiplicity of tem- 
 ples than Greece ; but none of them were more noble, 
 or more remarkable for the Angularity of their form, 
 than the Pantheon, commonly called the Rotunda, 
 originally confecrated to all the gods, as it is now to 
 all the faints. It is generally believed to have been 
 built at the expence of Agrippa, fon- in-law to Au- 
 guftus. This ncble fabric is entirely round, and 
 without v/indows, receiving a fufficient degree of light 
 from an opening admirably contrived in the center of 
 the dome. It was richly adorned with the ftatues of 
 all the gods and goddeffes fet in niches. But the 
 portico, compofed of fixteen columns of granate 
 marble, each of one fingle ftone, is more beautiful 
 and more furprifing than the temple i^fjlf, fince thefe 
 columns are five feet in diameter, and thirty-feven 
 feet high, without mentioning the baf;;s and chapiters. 
 The emperor Conftantius the Third ftripped it of the 
 plates of gilt brafs that covered the loof, and of the 
 beams, which were cf the fame metal. Of the copper- 
 plates of the portico. Pope Urban the Eighth after- 
 wards formed the canopy of St. Peter ; and even of 
 the nails, which faftened them, caft the great piece of 
 artillery, which is ftill to be feen in the caftle of 
 St. AHgelo. 
 
 But of the Roman temples the Gapitol Was tie 
 principal ; with an account of which we fhall there- 
 fore conclude. In the laft Sabine war Tarquinius 
 N z Prtfca\ 
 
xCS APPENDIX. 
 
 Prifcus vowed a temple to Jupiter, Juno and Minena . 
 The event of the war correfponded with his wifliejr, 
 and the Aufpicesunanimoully fixed upon the Tarpcian 
 mountain for the deftined ftrudure. But little morfe 
 feemj^to have been done towards it, befides this de- 
 fignaticn, till the reign of Tarquinius Supertus, a 
 prince of loftinefs and fpirit conforming to his name, 
 who fet about it in earned ; having laid out the delign 
 withfuch amplitude and magnificence as might fiiitthe 
 king of gods and men, the glory of the rifing empire, 
 and the majefty of the fituation. The Volfcian fpoils 
 were dedicated to this fer\'ice. An incredible fum 
 was expended upon the foundations only, which were 
 quadrilateral, and near upon two hundred feet every 
 way : the length exceeding the breadth not quite fif- 
 teen feet. When the foundations were clearing, a 
 hum.an head was found, with the lineaments of the 
 face entire, and the blood yet frefh and flowing, 
 which was interpreted as an omen of future empire. 
 This head was faid to have belonged to one Ollus, or 
 Tolus, whence the ftru(5lure received '1 c( mpound 
 name. Though poffibly it might be as \-. cil to deduce 
 the name from Caput only ; and that too upon another 
 account, becaufe it was the commanding part, the 
 head and citadel of Rome, and the chief place of its 
 religious worlhip. The edifice was not finilhed till 
 after the expulfion of the kings ; the completion of it 
 being a work, fays Livy, referved for the days of li- 
 berty. It flood the Ipace of 425 years, to the confu- 
 late of Scipio and Norbanus, when it was confumed 
 by fire ; but it was rebuilt by Sylla, whofe name was 
 infcribed in letters of gold upon the faftigium or pe- 
 diment of it. In the midft were formed three ctlls 
 or temples feparated by thin partiiiv :. , in which 
 flood the golden images of the deities to whom it had 
 been devoted. Thofe of Juno and Minerva were on 
 each fide of Jupiter ; for it was not ufual for him to 
 be worfhipped Avithout the company of his wife and 
 daughter. The three temples were covered by one 
 eagle with his Avings expanded. This wonderful 
 Ilrudure feems to have been of the Doric order, in 
 imitation-of thofe raifed to the fame deity in Greece, 
 and abounded with curious engravings and eveiy 
 plaiftic ornament, particularly the Faftigium. The 
 fpacious entrances, or threfliolds, were compofed of 
 brafs. The lofty folding-doors, which were of the 
 
 fame 
 
APPEND!. X. -^oy 
 
 fame metal, moft elegantly emboflTed, grated, harfii 
 thunder upon brazen hinges, and were afterwards 
 entirely overlaid with plates of gold. The taflellated 
 pavements fcuicklhe eye with an aftoniOiing ali'em- 
 blage of rich colours from the variegated marble. 
 The beams were folid brafs ; and the fplejidour of the 
 fretted roof was dazzling ; where (i) 
 
 The glitt'ring flame 
 
 Play'd on the temple's gold and awful height. 
 And Ihed around its trembling rays of light. 
 Without, the covering was of plates of brafs, fafhion- 
 cd like tiles; which being gilt with gold, reflected 
 the fun-beams with excefiive luftre. The front to the 
 Ibuth was encompalTed with a triple row of lofty 
 marble columns beautifully poliflied, brought from 
 the temple of Olympian Jove at Athens, by order of 
 Sylla : all the other fides by a double row. The afcent 
 was by an hundre^lleps that gently rofe, which made 
 the paflage to it extremely grand and flriking. 
 
 But this C.ipitol was likewife burnt in. the civil v/ar, 
 between Vitellius and Velpafian, and reftored by the 
 latter, with fome additio-i of height : it quickly after 
 underwent the fame fate, and was raifed again by 
 Domitian with rr)ore itreiiglh and magnificence than 
 before ; who arrogated the whole honour of the ftruc- 
 ture to himfelf. The poets were miitaken, when they 
 promifed to this laft f ibric an eternal duration, for 
 not many years inter\entd before it was fired by 
 lightening, and a great part of it confumed. The 
 left-hand of the golden image of Jupiter was mejted. 
 Afterwards, under Arcadius andHonorius, the plun- 
 der of it was begun by Stilicho ; who ftripped the 
 valves or folding-doors of the thick plated gold which 
 covered them : in one part of which was found a 
 grating infcription, declaring them referred for an k«- 
 J a rtimate Prince. Genferic, king of the Vandals, carried 
 vi ith him into Africa moft of its remaining ornaments^ 
 among which one-half of the gilded tiles of brafs ; 
 and the great part of it was deftroyed by Totilas the 
 Goth. Theodoric indeed made fome attempts to 
 repair the Capitol, the Amphitheatre, and others of 
 the more fplendid buildings of the city; but in vain, 
 the prevailing light of Chrifcianity left them for the 
 moft part iifv;i«. Ts and deferted. 
 
 Or 
 
 (l) rimnirti altore fuo t emptor urn verbsrat aurum^ 
 
 r4 tremv.lum funirua fpargit in <Ede jubar, Ovxo FasT» h.O.. 
 
a7o APPENDIX. 
 
 Of THE USEFULNESS of FABLE. 
 
 By Mr. Rollin, Profefibr of Eloquence in the Royal 
 
 College at Paris, and Member of the Royal Academy 
 
 of Infcriptions and Belles Lettres. 
 
 W HAT I have already obferved (fays this learned 
 author) concerning the origin of fables, which owe 
 their birth to fiction, error, and fallhood, to the al- 
 teration of hiftorical fadts, and the corruption of 
 man^s heart, may give reafon to alk, whether it is 
 proper to inftrua: Chriftian children in all the fooliih 
 inventions, abfurd and idle dreams, with which Pa- 
 ganifm has filled the books of antiquity. 
 
 This ftudy, when applied to with all the precau- 
 tions and wifdom, which religion demands and in- 
 fpires, may be very ufeful to youth. 
 
 Firfi, it teaches them what they owe to Jefus Chrift, 
 their Redeemer, who has delivered thtni iVom the 
 power of darknefs, to bring them into the admirable 
 light of the Gcfpel. Before him what were even the 
 wifeft and beft of men, thofe celebrated philolbpherr, 
 thofe great politicians, thofe famous Icgiliators of 
 Greece, thofe grave fenators of Rome ; in a word, all 
 the belt governed and wifeft nations of the world ? 
 Fable informs us, they were blind worfnippers of the 
 devil, v»'ho bent their knees before gold, lilver, and 
 marble ; who offered incenfe to ftatues, that were 
 deaf and dumb ; w-ho acknovvledged, as Gods, ani- 
 mals, reptiles, and plants ; who were not aOiamed 
 to adore an adulterous Mars, a proftituted Venus, 
 and an inceftuous Juuo, a Jupiter polluted with all 
 manner of crimes, and for that reafon moft worthy of 
 the firft place among the Gods. 
 
 What great impurities, what monftrous abomina 
 tions were admitted into their ceremonies, their fo- 
 leranities, and myfteries i The temples of their gods 
 were fchools of licentiouihefs, their pidlures inviU- 
 tions to fin, their groves places of profcitution, their 
 facrifices a frightful mixture of fapei-ftition and 
 cruelty. 
 
 In this condition were all mankind, except the 
 people of the Jews, for near four thoufand years. In 
 this ftate were car fatlsers, and we fliould have like- 
 wife been, if the light of the Gofpel had notdifpcrfcd 
 ©ur darknefs. Every icory in fabulous hiftory, ever\- 
 
 circumitanco 
 
A ^^ P E N D I X. 21/ 
 
 5;ircumllance of the lives of the God?, fiiould till us af 
 once with confufion, admirktion and gratitude, and 
 Ictm to cry out to us aloud in the words of St. Paul 
 to the Ephefians : Remember, and torget not, thnt 
 bein^ fprung from Gcntiltif ye rattre ftran^i^ers from //..•' 
 •co've7ia7its of proniift^ halving no bote, coid r^ilLout God 
 in the qvorld. 
 
 A fecond advantage of fabk is that in dlfcovering 
 to us the abfurd ceremonies and impious maxims of 
 Paganifm, it ought to infpire us with new refpect for 
 the auguft majefty of the Chriftian religion, and the 
 fandity of its mcrals. We karn from ecclefiauicai 
 biltory, that an holy bijhop, in order to eradicate 
 entirely all difiDontions to idolatry out cf the minds 
 of the faithful, brought to light and publickly expofcd 
 all that was found in the inlide of a temple he cauled 
 to be demoiiih^d, the bones of men, the members 
 of children lacrificed. to devils, and feveral ether 
 footfteps of the facrilegious worfliip. which the Pa- 
 gans paid to their deities. The fcudy of fable fhould 
 produce a like cZj.-ti in the mind of every lenfible 
 perfon, and it is this lUe the holy fathers and all the 
 iipologifts of Chriftianity have made of it. 
 
 It is impoffible to underftand the books which have 
 been vvritten upon this fubjed, without having fome 
 knowledge of fabulous hiftory. St. Auguftin's great 
 work, entitled, Be Ci'vitate Dei, which has done fo 
 much honour to the church, is at the fame time both 
 a proof of what I lay down, and a perfed: model of 
 the manner how we ought to flmdify profane fcudies. 
 The fame may be (iiid of the other fathers, who have 
 gone upon the fame plan from the beginniHg of Chrif- 
 tianity. Theophilus of Antioch, Tatian, Arnobius, 
 Ladantius, Theodorct, Eufebius of Caefarea, and 
 efpecially St. Clement of Alexandria, w^hofe Stromata 
 are not to be underftood by any one that is not verfed 
 in this part of ancient learning. Whereas the know- 
 ledge (*f v.iolc makes the knowledge of them extreme- 
 ly eafy, vn-'ucIi we ought to look upon as no fmali 
 
 It is aiia very ufeful (and particularly to youth, for 
 whom I write) for the understanding both of Greek, 
 J^atin, French, and Englifh authors ; in reading ot 
 which they muit be often at a ftaad, without fome 
 acquiiintance with fable. I don't fpeak only of the 
 poets, to whom we know it is a kind of natural lan- 
 guage j it IS alfo frequently made uie of by orators, 
 
 anvi 
 
27^- A P P E . N D i X 
 
 and fometimes, by an h^^^^y application, lappi.es 
 them with very lively and^loquent turns : Such, for 
 inftance, araofigft a great many others, is the follow- 
 ing paffage in Tully's oration concerning Mithridates, 
 king of Pontus. The orator takes notice, that this 
 prince flying before the Romans, after the Icfs of a 
 battle, f(3Qnd means to efcape out of the hands of 
 fais covetous conquerors, by fcattering upon the road, 
 from time to time, a p)art of his treasures and fpoils. 
 In like manner, fays he, as it is told of Medea, that 
 when (lie was purfued by her father, in the fame 
 country, fhe fcattered the members of her brother 
 Abiyitus, v/hom fhe had cut to pieces, along the 
 Vay, that his care in gathering up the difperfed mem- 
 bers, and his grief at the fight of fo fad a fpeftacle, 
 might retard his purfuit. The refemblance is exa<5t, 
 except that, as Tully remark?, ^eta, the father of 
 Medea, v/as flopped in his courfe by forrow, and the 
 Romans by joy. 
 
 There are different fpecies of books expofed to the 
 viev/ of the whole world, fuch as pictures, prints, 
 tapeflry, and ftatues. Thefe are fo many riddles to 
 thofe who are ignorant of fabulous hiftory, fi'om 
 v/hence their explication is frequently to be taken. 
 Thefe matters are likewife frequently brought into 
 difcourfe, and it is not, in my opinion, over agree- 
 able to fit mute, and feem flupid in company, for 
 want of being inflruded, whilft young, in a matter 
 fo eafy to be learnt- 
 
 01*E ONny SUPREME GOD, OMNIPOTENT, AND THE 
 AUTHOR OF FATE. 
 
 Notwithstanding the monfirous multipli- 
 city of Homer's Gods, he plainly acknowledges one 
 firft being, a fuperior God, upon whom all the other 
 Gods depended. Jupiter fpeaks and ads every where 
 as abfolute, and iafiiiitely fuperior to all the other 
 Gods in po'.v:^r and authority, as able by a v/ord to 
 caft them all out of heaven, and plunge them into the 
 depths of Tartaru3, as having executed his vengeance 
 upon fome of them ; whilft all of them own his Jii- 
 periority and independence. One fingle pafTage will 
 fufnce to fhev/ the' idea .vhich the ancients conceived 
 of Jupiter. 
 
 •^ ^ ** Aurora 
 
A P P E' N D I X. %i:>, 
 
 ** Aurora now, fair daughter of the dawn, 
 ** Sprinkled with rofy light the dewy lawn ; 
 ** When Jove convened the fenate of the fkics,. 
 " Where high Olympus' cloudy tops arife ; 
 ** The Sire of Gods his awful filence broke, 
 ** The heav'ns attentive trembled as he fpoke : 
 
 " Celeftial ftates, immortal Gods, give ear ! 
 " Hear our decree, and reverence what you hear ; 
 " The fix'd decree, which not all heav'n can move, 
 ** Thou, Fate ! fulfil it ; and ye powers approve ! 
 " What God but enters yon' forbidden field, 
 *^ Who yields affiftance, or but wills to yield ; 
 " Back to the (kies with fname he fhall be driven, 
 ** Gafh'd with difiioneft: v/ounds, the fcorn of heav'n ; 
 " Or far, oh ! far from deep Olympus thrown, 
 *• Low in the dark Tartaa^ean gulph fhall groan, 
 " With burning chains fix'd to the brazen floors, 
 " And lock'd by hell's inexorable doors ; 
 ** As deep beneath th' infernal centre hurl'd, 
 *' As from that centre to th' aetherial world. 
 " Let him, who tempts me, dread thefe dire abodes; 
 " And know, th' Almighty is the God of Gods ! 
 ** League all y^ur forces then, ye pow'rs above, 
 "Join all, and try th' omnipotence of Jove : 
 ** Let dov/n our golden, everlafting chain, j^main: 
 ** Whofe ftrong embrace holds heaven and earth and 
 *' Strive all, of mortal and immortal birth, 
 *' To drag by this the Thund'rer down to earth : 
 * ■ Ye drive in vain ! If I but ftretch this hand, 
 *' I heave the Gods, the ocean, and the land, 
 ** I fix the chain to great Olympus height, 
 ** And the vaft world hangs trembling in my fight. 
 ** For fach I reign, unbounded, and above, 
 ** And fach are men and Gods compared to Jove. 
 
 " Th' Almighty fpoke, nor durft the pow'rs reply, 
 *' A rev'rend horror filenc'd all the iky : 
 « Trenibling they flood before thtirfov'rcign's look. 
 
 Pope.. 
 
 H,5 
 
A FURTHER 
 
 ILLUSTRATION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Dil MAJORES OF THE ROMANS; 
 
 PARTICULARLY ADAPTED TO THE CLASSICS. 
 
 iN the works of the poets, painters, and ftatuaries, 
 the greateft characreriftic of Jupiter is majefty. The 
 pbleft of the laft was Phidias of Athens, and the 
 Jupiter Oh mpius was his mafter-piece. Being aiked 
 from what pattern he framed Co divine a figure, he 
 anfwcred, from the archetype which he found in 
 Homer (A. 1. 528, 29, 30), which Mr. Pope has thus 
 tranflated, 
 
 He fpoI';e, and awful bends his fable brows ; 
 Shakes his ambrofial curls and gives the nod, 
 The ilamp of Fate and fanction cf the God: 
 liigh heav'n with trembling the dread fignal took. 
 And all Olympus to the center fhook. 
 
 It is obferved, that all the perforal ftro'ces in this 
 defcription relate to the hair, the eye-brow i, and the 
 beard (before fpoken of). And tothefe the beft heads 
 of Jupiter owe moft of their dignity. However mean 
 our opinion may be of thefe appurtenances, and of 
 the laft particularly, yet all over the eaft a full beard 
 ftill conveys the idea of majefty, as it did then amongft 
 the Greeks ; as their bufts»of Jupiter and the medals 
 of their kings teftify. But Rome, long before fhe 
 loft her liberty, had parted with this natural orna- 
 ment ; infomuch that a beard was only worn by per- 
 fons under difgrace or misfortune. Virgil therefore, 
 in his imitation of this pafTage {JEn. 9. 1. 104, s, 6), 
 has preferved only the nod, with 4ts ftupendous ef- 
 ft£i ; but neglected the hair, the eyebrows, and the 
 beard, thofe chief pieces of imagery, whence the 
 artift took the idea cf a countenance proper for the 
 Jting -of gods and men. 
 
 His 
 
A FUKTHEa ILLUSTRATION, &c. 2:j 
 
 His ftatue in the Verofpi palace at Rome, though 
 ■one of the beft extant, docs by no means come up to 
 the idea which the ancient poets have impreffed of 
 him. Yet the dignity of his look, the fullnefsof the 
 hair about his face, the venerable beard, tJie fceptre 
 in his left hand, and the fulmen in his right, eafily 
 bcfpeak th-e deity reprefented. 
 
 But the ancient fceptres v/ere not fliort and adorn- 
 •ed, like the modern ; but as long, at leart, as the 
 bearer. Originally they were no other than walking- 
 It icks. That of Latinus was a young tree ftript of 
 its branches. 7En. xii. 
 
 The fulmtn h;id three different meanings, as dif- 
 ferently reprefented. One v/ay it is a conical wreath 
 of flames, like the bolt. This was held down in the 
 hand, and Ihewcvl Jupiter to be mild and calm. Ano- 
 ther way it is the fam.e figure, with two tranfverfe 
 darts of lightning, and fomctim.es with wings on each 
 lide, to denote rapidity. This reprefented him as 
 executing vengeance. The tkundcring legion bore 
 this upon their IhieMs, which fpread over all the 
 field ; as is feen in the Antonine pillar. The epithets of 
 trlfidum and tr'ifculum (three-forked) are given to this, 
 'I'he third way is a handful of flames, which Jupiter 
 holds up, when exacting punifliment in a more ex- 
 traordinary manner. B it it was neither the fceptre 
 nor the fulmen of Jupiter, but that air of majefty 
 which the artifts endeavoured to exprefs in his coun- 
 tenance, which chiefly indicated the fuperiority of 
 Jupiter on all occafions. The lail kind are the ira- 
 tunda fulmina of Horace. 
 
 On a gem at Plorence, the mild Jupiter appears 
 with a mixture of dignity and eafe ; that ferene majef- 
 ty which Virgil gives him, when receiving Venus with 
 fuch paternal tendernefs in the firft iEneid. 
 
 But the (latues of the terrible Jupiter, differ in 
 every particular from thofe of the mild. The laft 
 were generally of wliite marble, the other of blacko 
 Tlie mild fat with an air of .tranquillity.. The tern- 
 tie ftood, and was more or icfs diftuibed, with an 
 angry or clouded countenance, and the hair fo dif- 
 compofed as lo fall half v/ay down the forehead* 
 Yet he is never repreunte^ fo angry but that he ftiit 
 retains his majelb/. 
 
 On medals and gems the thundering Jupiter holds 
 up the three-forked fulmen, ftauding in a chaiiot 
 
 &urri;:d; 
 
^70 A ?.:RTii£r. IIvLUSTRATIOK or thk 
 
 hurried on by four horfcs. And the poets deforibc 
 the n«ife of his thunder, as caufed by the rattfing 
 of his chariot and hcrfes over the arch of heav^en. 
 Thus Horace, (Od. 1. i. 34.) according to Mr. Fran- 
 cis, 
 
 For Ic ! that awful heavenly fire, 
 
 Wflo frequent cleaves the clouds with fire, 
 
 P.irtnt of day, immortal Jove, 
 ' Late through the floating fields of air, 
 'i he face iA hcnv'n fv^rene and fair, 
 
 His thundering l>eeds and winged chariot drove ! 
 
 Juno had various charaders among the Romanp. 
 The Juno Matrona is covered like a Roman matron, 
 with a long robe from head t-o foot. By this name 
 Horace fpeaks of her in- the battle of the giants i 
 ^cugh at other times fhe is indifferently called by 
 this, or that of the Juno Romana. So gem togata 
 fignified the Roman people. 
 
 • But the Juno Regina, and the Juno Morels, are 
 always in a more fpiendid-and magnificent habit. In 
 the fii-ft JEneid, Virgil fpeaks of the Carthagiaian Ju- 
 no ; in the fecond of the Juno Argiva, who was v/or- 
 fnipped under that name even in Italy. 
 
 I'he Mild Juno appears on a Greek m.edal, with a 
 gentle and good-natured countenance. Handing in a 
 chariot drawn by peacocks. Here fhe appears almoft 
 naked. -So Homer gives her the epithet of MvKahivcg^ 
 with white elbows or arms. But he is never imitated 
 JB'this by the Roman poets. She is reprefented by 
 ".all of them as an imperious and jealous wife, oftener 
 fcolding than carefling. It is wonderful that fhe 
 fhculd be thus generally expofed in a difagrceable 
 .Irght, v>rhen confidered on all hands as the patronefa 
 of marriage. 
 
 Pallas or Minerva is a beauty, but of a feverer 
 kind, having none oi the graces or foftnefles of A'^e- 
 Bus. Dignity, firmnefs, and compofure, with a 
 kind of mafculine fternnefs, form the diftinguifhing 
 charader of her face ; which has therefore been often 
 miftaken for that of Alexander the Great. Her drefs 
 and attributes arc well adapted to her characfter. 
 Her head is armed, with an helmet, and the plume 
 nods dreadfully in the air. Her right hand holds a 
 fpear, and her left a fhield, with the head of the 
 dying Medufa thereon. The fame figure is feen upon 
 
 her 
 
•DII MAJORES OF THE ROMANS. 277- 
 
 her breaft-plate, and is fometimes raofl beautiful, and 
 fometimes quite the reverfe. The Strczzi-Medufa 
 at Rome has indeed a dead look, but with it a beauty 
 which death itfelf cannot extinguifh. The poets de- 
 fcribe both the beauties and horrors of Medufa's face, 
 and her ferpents, particularly two, whofe tails are 
 entwined under her chin, and their heads reared 
 over her forehead. (Ovid Met. iv. 793.) Minerva 
 tierfelf has fometimes ferpents about her bofom ajid 
 fhouldcrs. 
 
 The poets and artifts agree. They give to the 
 afpedl of Minen^a much beauty, but more terror. 
 /With all her grace, fhe is entitled the virago, and 
 the flern goddefs. They fpeak of a threatening turn 
 in her eyes. Virgil afcribes a fiery motion t.) thofe 
 of the Palladium (the tutelary Miuerva). As making 
 her appearance firft in Africa, fhe has much of the 
 Moor in her complexion ; and her light-coioured eye 
 ftiews it more ftrongly. From this colour of her eyes 
 Ihe is called by Komer yTyavy-xTrii^ or grey-eyed; 
 though it is ftrange that no poet of tlic Augiiftan age 
 has copied this epithet. 
 
 Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, are frequently joined 
 together by the Roman authors, as well as in ancient 
 infcriptions and in the works of the artifts. They 
 were confidered as the guardians of the empire, and 
 invoked by name, v;hile the reft were referred to in 
 general. Hence Cicero addreffes-^" Thee, O greateft 
 ** Jupiter!— and thee,. O royal Juno! — and thee, 
 *' Minerva ! — and ye, the other immortal gods and 
 ** goddefles !" The lame diftinclion is in Livy. 
 They are frequently feen together on gems and me- 
 dals ; and fometimes (as in a medal of Antoninus) 
 they are- reprefented by their attributes only ; as Mi- 
 nerva, by the owl ; Jupiter, by the eagle ; and Juno, 
 by the peacock. 
 
 Neptune is generally reprefented ftanding with a 
 long trident in liis right hand, (Ovid Met. vi.l. 77.) 
 
 The god of ocean, figur'd ftanding, here 
 With his long trident ftrikes the ragged rock. 
 
 This was his peculiar fceptre.; and the fame pott 
 fays, that with the ftroke of it, the waters were let 
 loofe for the general deluge, (Met. i.) 
 
 Then 
 
■I 
 
 *78 A FC7IITH2R ILLUSTRATION of the 
 
 "Then with his mace the monarch ftruck the gound, 
 With inward trembling earth receivM the wound 
 And riling ftreams a ready paffage found. 
 
 But this was laid afidsi when he was to appeafe the 
 itorm, (Met. i. L 331.) 
 
 The fea-god lays afide his trident mace, 
 And fmooths the wavec. 
 
 His afpec^ is always raajeftic, ferene and placid in 
 good figures, whatever occafton may be given for 
 anger and difturbance, (Virgil iEn. i.l. 130, i.) 
 
 Much mov'd and feeing from his wat'ry bed, 
 Above tile waves he rear'd -his placid head. 
 He is delcribed by the poets as paffing over the furf?ice 
 of the waters, in his chariot^ drawn fwiftly by fea- 
 horfes, (Virgil iEn. I.l. 159,' 60.) 
 
 His Heeds he turns, upborne in open air. 
 And giving to his eafy car the reins. 
 With rapid flight he Ikims the liquid plains. 
 Venus is figured with the prctticft face that can be 
 conceived. She has all tlie taking airs, wantonnefles, 
 and graces, which the poets and artiils could confer 
 upon her. Her fhape the moft bewitching ; all foft 
 and full of tendernefs. Her complexion fo exquifite, 
 that it required the utmoft Ikill of Apellcs to exprefs 
 it. Her eyes were occalionally wanton, quick, lan- 
 guilhing, or petulant. Her face and air were corref- 
 pondent. Sometimes a treacherous fmile is evident 
 on her face. But in whatfoever circumftances flie is 
 reprefented, all about her is graceful and charming. 
 And this is no where more confpicuous than in the 
 Venus of Medici. If in this figure fhe is not really 
 inodeft, fhe at leafl: counterfeits modefty extremely 
 well, accor<^ing to Ovid, (De Art. Amand. 1. a. %< 
 613, 14.) 
 Where Venus 'felf, with half-averted face. 
 With her left hand o*erfhades the fecret place. 
 With regard to fhape and proportion, this ftatue will 
 ever be the ftandard of female beauty and foftnefs. 
 Some few have fufpefted the head, but without fuffi- 
 -eitnt reafon, to have been the work of another artift ; 
 while others have difcovered beauties, which feem 
 only to have been the work of their own fancies. 
 
 They 
 
DII MAJORES OF THE ROMANS. 179 
 
 They fay that three different pafliors are exprefTed 
 in it ; that at your firft approach, avcrfion appears 
 in her look. Move a ftep or two, and you perceive 
 compliance in it. One ftep more (fay they) to the 
 right, turns it into a little infulting fmile, as if ihc 
 had made fure of you. 
 
 Befides the infulting fmile with which Ihe appears 
 in fome figures, Ihe is reprefented fmiling in others, 
 and in a mofi: perfuative attitude. Such was the Ery- 
 cina ridens of Horace, and the Venus Appias in the 
 forum ; and luch was the defign on the medal of Au- 
 relius, in which Venus is entreating Mars. This laft 
 was infcribtd to the Veneri Vidrici, as fure of car- 
 rying her point. In a ftatue at Florence, fhe holds 
 one of her hands round the neck of Mars, and the 
 other on his breaft enforcing her rcqueft. Virgil de- 
 fcribes her in thefe circumftances urging her petition 
 to the demurring Vulcan, U^'^. viih 1. 387, 8.) 
 
 She fpoke, and threw 
 
 Her arms around him with reliftlefs grace, 
 
 And footh'd him, doubting, with a foft embrace. 
 
 She is alfo frequently reprefented as the genius of 
 ir.doience, reclined on a bed in a larguifliingpofture, 
 and generally attended by Cupids, the minifters of 
 her commands. She thus appearti in one of the 
 fineft-coloured pictures in the Barnardini Palace at 
 Rome. The air of the head rivals Guido, as the co- 
 louring does Titian. 
 
 Yet in the poets of the third age, as Flaccus and 
 Statius, Ihe appears in a quite contrary charader, as 
 the furious Venus, or the goddefs of jealoufy. The 
 taft of thefe poets has a Venus improba. If this be 
 not fhe fame v.i' h the furious, it can only fuit the 
 vicious or abandoned Venus. 
 
 Mars is never reprefented without his attributes, 
 the helmet and fpear. He dots not even quit thefe 
 when going on his amours. His molt celebrated one, 
 next to that with Venus, v. as vvrith Rhea Sylvia, the 
 mother of Romulus and Remus. In a relievo be- 
 longing to the Bellini Family at Rome, having de- 
 fcended, he moves towards Rhea, who lies afleep. 
 On the reverfe of the medal of Antoninus, he is fuf- 
 pended in the air, juft over the Veftal Virgil^. Th<»re 
 is a pafTage in Juvenal, on this occafion, which (hews 
 the ufefulnefb of antiques for the explanation of the 
 poets (Jur. Sat, J I.) 
 
 Or 
 
j?t> A KURTHER ILLUSTRATION 07 Titr 
 
 Or elfe a helmet for himfelf he made, 
 Where various warlike figures were inlaid : 
 The Roman wolf fuckling the twins was there, 
 And Mars himfelf armed with his (hield and fpear, 
 . Hov'ring above his creft, did dreadful ftiow, 
 As threat'ning death to each refifting foe, 
 
 Dryden, 
 Juvenal here defcribes the fimplicity of the old 
 Roman foldiers, and the figures that v/ere generally 
 engraven on their helmets. The firft was the wolf 
 giving fuck to Romulus and Remus. The fecond, 
 which is comprehended in the two laft verfes, is not 
 fo intelligible. 'The commentators are extremely at 
 a lofs to know what is meant by the Pci7J<^^tifq;e JDeiy 
 as it is in the original. Some fancy it to cxprcfs'only 
 the great emboflment of the figure ; others, that it 
 hung off the helmet in alto relievo^ as in the foregoing 
 tranilation. Lubin thinks him faid to be hanging,, 
 becaufe the fhield which bore him, hung on the left 
 fhoulder. One old interpreter thinks, that by hanging, 
 is only meant a pofture of bending forward to ftrike 
 the enemy. Several learned men imagine a fault in 
 the tranfcribcr, and that it fhould be pendentis ; but 
 upon no authority. Mr. Addifon has certainly hit 
 upon tht true meaning. The Roman foldiers (fays 
 he), who v/ere not a little proud of their founder 
 and the military genius of the republic, ufed to bear 
 on their helmets the full hifiory of Romulus, who 
 was begot by Mars and fuckled by a wolf. The figure 
 of the god was made, as if defcending on. the prieftcfs. 
 The occaiion required that his body iliould be naked, 
 (Ovid, de Faft. 1.3.) 
 
 Then too, our mighty Sire, thon v/afl difarmed, 
 When thy rapt foul the lovely prieftefs charm'd 
 That Rotne*s high founder bore — 
 
 though on other occafions he is drawn as Horace de- 
 fcribes him, 
 
 Begirt with adamantine coat of mail. 
 The fculptor, however to diftinguifh him, has given 
 him his attributes, a fpear in one hand, and a ihield 
 in the other. As be was reprefented defcending, h,U 
 iigure appeared fiifptr,ded in the air over the Veflral 
 Virgin, in which fenfe the word pendentis is extremely 
 proper and- poetical. The fame figures are alfo en 
 
 another 
 
DII MAJORES OF THE ROMANS. a8i 
 
 another medal of Antoninus Pius, ftamped in com- 
 pliment to that emperor for his excellent government, 
 whom the fenate regarded as a fecond founder. The 
 ftory alluded to, is thus related by Ovid (de Faft. lib. 
 3. cleg. I.) 
 
 As tht'fair Veftal to the fountain came,, 
 (Let none be ftartred at a Veftal's name) 
 ' Tir'd with the v/aik, fhe Inid her down to reft, 
 And Lo the winds 'exp>os'd iier glowing brealt 
 To take thefrefhnefs of Lhc morning air, 
 And gathered in a knot her fowing hair ; 
 While thus fhe refttjd on her arm reclin'd. 
 The hoary willows waving with the wind. 
 And feather'd quires that warbled in the fhade, ") 
 And purling ftreams that through the meadow ( 
 ftray'd, C 
 
 In drowfy murmurs lull'd the gentle maid. J 
 
 The god of war beheld the virgin lie, 
 The god beheld her with a lever's eve ; 
 And by fo tempting an occafion pre/t-V., 
 The beauteous maid, whomhe beheld, poficfsM : 
 Conceiving as fiie fiept, her fruitful womb 
 Sweird with the founder of iiriinortal Rome. 
 
 Addison. 
 
 Vulcan, the god of fire, is never otherwife de- 
 
 Icribed than as a mere immortal blackfmith. But the 
 
 poets have given him the additional difgrace of Lame- 
 
 riefs, (Horat. Od. i. 4. ) 
 
 While Vulcan's glov^dng breath infpires 
 
 The toilfome forge, and blows up all its fires. 
 
 He is black, and hardened from his cuflomary labour, 
 with a fiery red face ; thence called ardens \iilcanus. 
 He is ever the iiibjed of pity or ridicule ; the grand 
 cuckold of heaven ; and his lamenefs ferved only to 
 divert the gods. (Ovid, de Art. Amand. lib. a. v. 567, 
 8, 9, 10. 
 
 How oft woul'd Vulcan's too lafcivious bride 
 His large fplay-feet ai d callous hands deride. 
 And hobbling, while his abfence this allows, 
 Ape, before Mars, the limping of her fpoufe ! 
 'Twas pretty all ; whate'er flie did became ; 
 Such vvinujng grace adorn'd the lovely dame. 
 Vefta had no fcatue. Ovid indeed iV.caka of hp: 
 images in one place (Fall. lib. 3. v. 45, 6) ; buti*rfhe 
 
 courfe 
 
ziz A FURTHEH 5LLUSrRATlON or the 
 
 courfe of the fame work corrects himfelf (Faft. lib. 
 6. V. 295 and feq.) 
 
 Long thought i, Vefta had her ftatucs too, 
 But in her temple no fuch form I view ; 
 Fire unextinguilh'd there indeed is known, 
 But Vefta and the fire no image own. 
 
 The figures which are fuppofed to be hers, having no- 
 thing which would not be as j)roper for a Veftal Vir- 
 gin. Even thofe on medals, which have her name, 
 may only mean one of the Veftals her reprefentatives. 
 And indeed there is one infcribed with the name of 
 Vefta, wherein the figure is in the ad of facrificang, 
 which is applicable to the prieftefs, but by no means 
 to the goddefs. 
 
 Apollo is always to be diftlnguifhed in his ftatues and 
 heads by the beauty of the face, in which there is an 
 air of divinity not to be conceived without the help of 
 the artift. He is more comely than Mercury, but not 
 fo effeminate as Bacchus, who rivals him in beauty. 
 His features are quite regular, his limbs exadly pro- 
 portioned, and there is as much foftnefs as is coniif- 
 tent with ftrength. He is ever young and beardlefs. 
 His long and beautiful hair falls in eafy waves down 
 his fhoiilders, and fom«times over his breaft. A grace 
 refults from the whole, which it were a vain talk to 
 defcribe to any perfon who has not feen the Apollo 
 Behndera. (TibuU. lib. 2. eleg. 3. v. 11. 12.) 
 
 Admetus' herds the fair Apollo fed ; 
 
 Nor hai-p, nor unfhorn locks avail'd him then. 
 
 In the ftatuejuft mentioned, the noblell: in the world, 
 he is nrprefented as the Apollo Fenator. His hair is 
 gathered a little above his forehead. His robe, faft- 
 ened with a gem over his breaft, falls loofely down 
 his back, and is thrown over his arm. His feet are 
 covered w:th fine bulkins : the reft of his body is 
 naked ; and he has a bow in his hand, as if he had 
 juft diicharg'id an arrow. 
 
 The Mutical Apollo is fometimes naked, with the 
 hair gathered over the forehead, his lyre in one hand, 
 and his pi rclrum in the other. Sometimes he is dreiT- 
 ed in a long robe, with his- hair flowing at full length, 
 and crowned with laurel. 
 
 Diana, the goddefs of the chace, is commonly re- 
 prefented as runrung, with her veit flying back, though 
 
 girt 
 
D» MAJORKS OF THE ROMANS. a8 ' 
 
 girt around her. Htr ftature is tall and her face, 
 thaiigh very haiidfome, is Ibmewhat manly. Her legs 
 are naked, well-fhaped and ftrong. Her feet are 
 Ibmetimes clad in buficin^j, and foinetim«s bare. A 
 quiver adorns her fhoiildcr, and Ihc has in her right- 
 hand a fpear or bov/. Thefe Itatiies were frequent in 
 woods. The ftory of Adaeon is to be feen on a gem 
 in Maffei's Collection. 
 
 Ceres has her head crowned either with corn or 
 poppies, and her robes fall down to her feet. Her 
 beauty feems to have been of the brunette kind j and 
 her drefs was adapted to her complec^ion. But her 
 brcafts are in moft figures reprefented very large. 
 Virgil defcribes her as regarding the hufbandman from 
 heaven, and blefling his work. (Georg. lib.i. v. 95. 6.) 
 
 Nor from high heav'n amid theXarry train 
 
 The yellow Ceres him behcids in vain. 
 In this charader flie appears in a picfture in the Vati- 
 can manufcript. 
 
 Mercury, as the meffenger of Jupiter, is young, 
 airy, and light ; ail proper for fwiftnefs. His limbs 
 are finely turned, and he is inferior in beauty 
 to none of the gods, except Apollo and Bacchus. 
 (Horat. Carm. lib. i. ode 2. v. 41 and feq. ) 
 
 Or thou, fair Maia's winged fon, appear, 
 And mortal fliape, in prime of manhood, bear; 
 Declar'd the guardian of th' in^.perial ftate. 
 Divine avenger of great Csefar's fate. 
 
 The attributes by which he is diilinguifhed, are the 
 petafus, or winged cap ; the talaria, or wings for his 
 feet ; and the caduceus, or wand, entwined by two 
 ferpents, His harp, or long fword, is added to thefe. 
 with a particular hook to the latter. He is thus re- 
 prefented in the Vatican manufcript, with his veft 
 floating behind him in the air, to denote his fwiftnefs. 
 
 We have already given a full account of this deity, 
 in the chapter of Mercury ; fo that nothing material 
 can be here added. We ihall ther.fore take leave of 
 the reader by preicnting him with the tranflation of an 
 ode, probably written for the cekbKation of his feaft, 
 in which his' ingenuity and office are fully defcribed. 
 (Horat. Carm. lib. i. ode 10) 
 
 Thou God of Wit, from Atlas fprung, 
 Who by perfualive pow'r of tanajue, 
 
 - And 
 
kU A r»RT»ER ILLUSTRATION &c. 
 
 And graceful cxercifc, refin'd 
 
 The favage race of human kind ; 
 
 Thou winged mtfTengcr of Jove, 
 
 And all th' immortal powers above ; 
 
 Thou parent of the bending lyre, 
 
 Thy praife fhall all its founds infpir€ ; 
 
 Artful and cunning to conceal 
 
 Whate'er in playful theft you ileal ; 
 
 When from the god, who gilds the pole, 
 
 Ev*n yet a boy, his herds you ftole, 
 
 With angry look the threat'ning pow'r 
 
 Bad thee thy fraudful prey reftore ; 
 
 But of his quiver too beguil'd, 
 
 Pleas'd v/ith the theft, Apollo fmilM. 
 
 Thou waft the wealthy Priam's guide, 
 
 When fafe from ftern Atrides' pride, 
 
 Through hoftile camps, which round him fpr€a<J 
 
 Their watchful fires, his way he fped. 
 
 Unfpotted fpirits you confign 
 
 To blifsfull feats and joys divine, 
 
 And powerful with your golden v/and 
 
 The light unbodied crowd command. 
 
 Thus grateful does thy office prove 
 
 To gods belov/, and gods above. 
 
 INDEX. 
 
N D E X. 
 
 A 
 
 Abas turned by Ceres into a newt, or water-lizard 114 
 Achelous, whoaffumed all (hapes, conquered by Hercules 135 
 An explication of this fable il>id 
 
 Acheron fent to hell, and transformed into a river 48 
 
 Achilles, his birth and education, 153. Is concealed, to pre- 
 vent his going to Troy, and is difcovered by Ulyfles, Hid. 
 Divine honours paid him 154 
 
 Acrifius (huts up Danae in a brazen tower, $3- CaufesDanae 
 and her fon Perfeus to be put into a cheii, and caft into 
 the fea, 144. Receives an accidental hurt, which caufes his 
 death Hid 
 
 AcSseon turned into a frag, and devoured by his own 'dog5, 
 82. The literal fenfe of t>ie fable i6id 
 
 Adonis beloved by Venus, 92. Killed by a wild boar, and 
 turned by that goddefs into the flower anemone ibid 
 
 ^acus, who, his hiftory t;^ 
 
 uEgeus throws himfelf from a rock, and is drowned in the 
 fea, which afterwards was called the ^Egeau fea 15 1 
 
 ^gis, Jupiter's Ibield, why called by this name 30 
 
 ^gina, corrupted by Jupiter under the appearance of fire 3 z 
 Aglaia, one of the graces 79 
 
 ^olus, god of the winds, his hiftory 157 
 
 ^fcuhpius, the god of phyfic, his birth and (kill 69. His 
 coming to Italy in tlie form of a ferpenr, 70. Killed by 
 Jupiter, i6id. The origin of the fable, 71. The manner 
 in which he was reprtfented iliJ 
 
 Mt^, the father of Medea, deprived of'the golden fleece 14S 
 Aglaia, one of the graces, and the wife of Vulcan _ 79 
 
 Alchymy, or the tranfmutation of metals, &c. founded only 
 on the names given to the planets 230 
 
 Alcides, one of the names of Hercules 137 
 
 Alcithoe, for deriding the prieftefles of Bacchus, transformed 
 into a bat 121 
 
 Alcmena, deceived by Japiter under the form of her huiband 
 Amphytrion 3 a 
 
 Aledo, one of the furies 56 
 
 Alpheus, in love with Diana Sy 
 
 Altars, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Alurs, facred groves, and facrilices, ajj. Of the fimpHfckf 
 of the moft early ages, and the introdu6tion of altars, 254. 
 The original of facrsd groves, ibid. Of the ancient facri- 
 fices, ihiJ. Of human vidims, ^$5. The ceremonies ufed 
 at facrifices, and the manaer in which they were per- 
 formed 256, 25 7 
 AlthiEa caufes the death of her fon 83 
 Amalthsea, the goat that ntufed Jupiter 90 
 Amati!-,is the women of f changed into oxen 93 
 Amazons, defeated by Hercules 13 a 
 Ambarvalia, feflivals in honour of Ceres, how performed II 7 
 Amphion, faid to raiie che walls of Thebes by the harmony 
 of his lyre 156 
 Amphitrite, Neptune's wife 41 
 Emycus, fon of Neptune, killed by Pollux 142 
 Ancile, a brafs buckler, fuid to be fent from heaven no 
 Andromeda, expofed to a fea monfter, delivered by Perfeus 1 44 
 Anteus, a giant fqueezed to death by Hercules 134 
 Antiope, debauched by Jupiter in the form of a fatyr 3a 
 Apollo, his birth and adventures, 60. The principal places 
 where he was worfhipped, 64. The origin of the fable of 
 Apollo, 66. In what manner he was reprefented, 68. His 
 offspring, 69. His oracle at Delphos defcribed 65 
 Arachne pretending to excel Minerva in weaving, is turned 
 into a fpider, 106. The origin of this fable 108 
 Ariadne gives Thefeus a clue, by which he gets out of the 
 labyrinth ; but he ungratefully leaves her ; fhe is found by 
 Bacchus, who takes her, 121. Her crown turned into a 
 conftellation ibid 
 Argonauts, Jafon's companions, who attended him in his 
 expedition to fetch the golden fleeee, 147. The origin of 
 the fable of the Argonauts expedition 149 
 Argus, who had an hundred eyes, ordered to watch lo, but 
 is killed by Mercury, when Juno turns him into a pea- 
 cock, 34. This fable explained ibid 
 Arion, a fKilful muficia'^i, l,eing robbed and threwn into the 
 fea, is carried to land on the back of a dolphin 156 
 Ariflaeus, his hiftory 75 
 Aurufpicts, or foretelling future events, by infpecfting the en- 
 trails of vidims, 241. From whence thefe fupcrftitious ob- 
 fervances were derived , ibhl. The manner in which the en- 
 trails were examined, and what were the rules of 
 judging ibid 
 Afcalaphus, telling that Proferpine had eaten fome grains of 
 a pomegranate, is transformed into a toad 45 
 Aftcrio, carried away by Jupiter in the (hape of an eagle 34 
 Aflrea returns to heaven, and is changed into the conftella- 
 tion Virgo 187 
 
 Aftroicgy^ 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Aftrology, its origin, 227. The names of the Zodiac, and 
 thofe of the planets, imagined to be indications of their 
 feveral offices, and to produce good and evil, according to 
 their names, 228. The ligas fuppokd to prclide over all 
 parts of the human body 230 
 
 Atalauta and Hipponiones turned into lions 93 
 
 Atlas, his defcent and offspring, 7, His exploits, 8. Per- 
 feus, by (hewing ftLm Mediifa's head, turns liim into a 
 mountain, 9. I'hc origin of the fable of Atlas ib'rd 
 
 Atropus, one of the dcftinics 49 
 
 Atys, beloved by Cybele, is murdered by his father's order, 
 a6. Turned into a pine-tree ihid 
 
 Augeas's flable, containing three thcufand oxen, cleanfcd by 
 Hercules in a day, and himfelf flain for his perfidy 131 
 
 Augury, or forming a judgment of futurity by the flight of 
 birds, 236. From whence it arofe, 237. The manner in 
 ^\hich the ceremony was performed, and what were the 
 rules of judging, ibid. Of the facred chickens, and the 
 other methods of divination, 238. Of the college of 
 augurs, and the qualifications necefTary to render a perfon 
 capable of being chofe into the office 239 
 
 Aurora, her defcent, 5. Carries Cephalus and Tithonus into 
 heaven, ibid. Her defcription ^ 6 
 
 B 
 
 Bacchanalia and Brumalia, feftivals in honour of Bacchus i 23 
 
 Bacchus, his education and exploits, 119. His names, 122. 
 
 His principal feftivals, 123. How reprefented by the 
 
 poets and painteps, ibid. The true origin of this fabulous 
 
 deity, 124. His attendants laj 
 
 Battus, turned into a touch-ftone 88 
 
 BcUdes, their crime and punifhment in Tartarus 57 
 
 Bellerophon, hishiilory, 145. The origin of the fable ibid 
 
 Bellona, the goddefs of war, defcribed 1 13 
 
 Boar of Erimanthus taken by Hercules 130 
 
 Bolina, to fave herfelf from Apollo, throws herfelf into th« 
 
 fea 64 
 
 Bona Dea, one of the titles of Cybele 2^ 
 
 Boreas, the North wind, his hiflory and ofTspring 15S 
 
 Branchidx, oracle of 250 
 
 Brttomartis, being entangled in her own nets, is favcd by 
 
 Diana 8z 
 
 Bull, one that breathed fire, taken by Hercules 131 
 
 Bufiris, a cruel tyrant taken by Hercules, and facrificed to 
 
 Neptune 134 
 
 Cabiri, three great deities Introduced from Egypt into Sa- 
 mothracia 181 
 
 Cacus, 
 
t N D E X. 
 
 Cacus, the fon of Vulcan, a notorious robber, killed by 
 Hercules ~ 103 
 
 Cadmus, his hiilory, 154. He and his wife Hermionc turned 
 to ferpents, 155. This fable explained ibid 
 
 Cselus, the fon of Gaia or Terra z 
 
 Cncculus, fon of Vulcan I03 
 
 Cienis, transformed into a man 42 
 
 Califto, debauched by Jupiter under the form of Diana; 
 turned into a bear, and made a conftellation 3 1 
 
 Calliope, one of the Mufes prefiding over rhetoric 77 
 
 Calumny an altar ereAed to her, 193. A piAure of this 
 goddefs drawn by Appelles defcribed ibid 
 
 Capitol at Rome defcribed 267 
 
 Caftalia turned into a fountain 64 
 
 Caftor and Pollux, their birth and ailions, 14T. Their fhar- 
 ing immortality between them, and being made the con- 
 ftellation Gemini I43 
 Cecrops turned into apes 15 
 Celeus, killed by Ceres I14 
 Cephalus, beloved by Aurora. 5. Kills his wife Procris with- 
 out defign 6 
 Cerberus defcribed, 52. Dragged out of hell by Hercules, . 
 
 133. The origin of the fables related of this monfter 59 
 Ceres, her birth^ 113. Her adventures while in fearch of 
 her daughter Proferpine, 114. Her feveral names, and a 
 defcription of the manner in which facrifices were offered 
 to her, 115. The origin of the fables, and of the niyftc- 
 rious rites of Ceres, 116. The manner in which fhe was 
 reprefented by the poets and painters, 118. The temple 
 of Ceres and Proferpine 264 
 
 Chaos,, according to Heliod, the father of the gods, I. Why 
 reprefented as a god ibid 
 
 'Charonj his office and charader, 51. The origin of this fa- 
 bulous cliarader 60 
 Charybdis, turned into a whirlpool 164 
 Chenchrius, killed by Diana, and transformed into a foun- 
 tain 84 
 Chimaera, deftroyed by Bellerophon 146 
 Chione, deprived of fpeech by Dir:na 83 
 Circe, a famous forcerefs, baniHied for killing her hufband, 
 76. falls in love with Glaucus, and turns her rival Scylla 
 into a fca monfter, ibid. Turns the companions of UlyiTes 
 into fwine, ibid. The orig-in of this fable ibid 
 Cifius, transformed by Bacchus into the plant ivy 121 
 Clemency, altars and images eredled to this virtue 191 
 Clio, one of the Mufes, prefiding over hiftory 78 
 Clotho, one of the deftinies 49 
 Clytie, changed into a fun-fiower 64 
 Clytoris, deflowered by Jupiter in the fhape of an ant 33 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Cocytus one of the infernal rivers 4^ 
 
 Compitalia, a feftival in honour of the Lares 173 
 
 Concordia, or concord, a goddefs iSgr 
 
 Cupid, two of this name mentioned by the poets, 97. The 
 manner in which Cupid is reprefented by the poets and 
 painters, ibid. The origin of this Httle god derived from 
 the Egyptian Horus 9S 
 
 Cybele, or Vefla the elder» her hiftory, and the defcription 
 of her image, 25. Her priefts, facrifices, &c. t^ 
 
 Cyclops defcribed, 104. Their employment, ibid. Killed by 
 Apollo 6r 
 
 Cycnus, a favage prince, vanquifhed by Hercules 134 
 
 Cycnus, turned into a fwan 6 1 
 
 Cynthia, one of the names of Diana 84 
 
 CyparilTus, turned into a cyprefs-trec 6 a 
 
 Cypria and Cytherca, names given to Venus 9a 
 
 Cytheron, rejeding Tifiphone's love, is turned Into a moun- 
 tain ss 
 D. 
 Danae, feduced by Jupiter in the form of a golden ftiow- 
 cr jz 
 Daphne turned into a laurel 63 
 Dejanira, the wife of Hercules, the innocent caufe of his 
 death 136 
 Death, the daughter of Nox or Night 54 
 Deities inferior, attending mankind from their birth to their 
 deccafe 1 8^ 
 Delius, one of the names of Apollo 64 
 Delphos, the temple and oracle of Apollo there 6s 
 Deftinies or Fates, their names and offices. The mythology 
 of thefe charadlers 50 
 Deucalion, reftores the race of mankind deflroycd by the de- 
 luge, 13. Other fables of the fame kind 243 
 W.Diana, her adventures, 85. Her feveral names, and the 
 different charaAers under which ihe was worfliipped, 86. 
 The origin of the fable relating to this goddefs, 87. Her 
 temple at Ephefus defcribed ^6i 
 Diomede, the tyrant of nif ace, vanquifhed by Hercules, and 
 given as a prey to his own horfes, who breached fire, ani 
 were fed with human flefh 131 
 Differtation on the theology of the heathens 194 
 Dryadcs, the nymphs of die forefts and woods 168 
 
 E. 
 
 ^ho, has a daughter by Pan ; but he flighting her, flic pined 
 
 away till fhe had nothinng left but her voice 166 
 
 Egyptians, fome remarks on the ceremonies ufed at their 
 
 iuoerals, 59. Temples f.rft built by the Egyptians 263 
 
 O Eleufmiao 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Eleufinlan rites 1 16 
 
 Blyfian fields defcribed, j8. The origin of the fables relating 
 
 to them 59i 60 
 
 Endymion, beloved by Diana, 8j. The origin of this 
 
 fable ibid 
 
 EpimetheHs, opens Pandora's box II 
 
 Epulones, their office a6o 
 
 Erato, one of the Mufes prefiding over elegiac poetry and 
 
 dancing 78 
 
 Eridhonius, the fon of Vulcan, the firft inventor of cha- 
 riots 103 
 Erimanthlan boar felzed by Hercules j 30 
 Erificthon, punifhed by Ceres with perpetual hunger, and fells 
 
 his daughter under different Ihapes to fupply his wants 114 
 Eumenides, or the Furies, defcribed, 56, 57. The fable of 
 
 the Furies explained $$ 
 
 Euphrofyne, one of the Graces 79 
 
 Europa, debauched by Jupiter in the fhape of a white 
 
 bull, 1 54 
 
 Eurydice, her flory 73 
 
 Euryftheus commands Hercules to perform his labours 1 19 
 Euterpe, the niufe of tragedy 78 
 
 F. 
 Fame, how reprefented 188 
 
 Fauns, rural gods 1 27, 167 
 
 Faunus, a rural god, from whence fprung the Fauns 117, 167 
 Fauftitas, or Public Felicity, many temples confccrated to her, 
 191. How reprefented iLiJ 
 
 Fecialcs, their office 160 
 
 Feronia, the goddefs of woods and orchards 168 
 
 Fides, or Faith, the manrier in which her facriflces were 
 performed 190 
 
 Flamlnes, their office a6o 
 
 Flora, goddefs of flowers 171 
 
 Floralia, feafts in honour of Flora ibid 
 
 Fortuna, or Fortune, worfhipped as a goddefs, 187. Her va- 
 rious names, z^/V. How reprefented 188 
 Furies, their officr, characters and perfons defcribed, $$. The 
 fable of the Furies explained ibid 
 
 G. 
 
 Galanthis changed into a weafel . 1 29 
 
 Callus, or Akdlryon, transformed into a cock lOl 
 
 Ganymede, carried by Jupiter into heaven, and made his ^ 
 
 cup-bearer 141* 
 
 Genii, or Daemons, attendant fpirits, 1 75. The facrificcs 
 
 and offerings made them ibid 
 
 Geryon, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Geryon, king of Spain, who had three bodies, killed hj 
 Hercules I3» 
 
 Giants, their war with Jupiter, and defeat, ao. An explica- 
 tion of this fable ai, az 
 Glaucus, a fifherman, made a fea god 1 6a 
 Golden Age defcribed 19 
 Golden Fleece, an account of the ram that bore it, 149. It» 
 bei«p guarded by a dragon and bulls breathing fire, iiic/. 
 And of its being carried away by Jafon i6id 
 Good Genius, a temple ereAed to him 19a 
 Good Scnfe, an altar erededto him 19I 
 Gorgons defcribed l6j 
 Graces, three attendants on the Mufcs, 79. Their origin, 
 i6iJ. How reprefented 80 
 Grsex, lifters to the Gorgons, defcribed 1 63 
 Groves, from whence they were confidered as facred 254 
 
 H. 
 
 Hamadryades, nymphs who animated fome tree 168 
 
 Harpies, their names, and a defcriptioii uf them; with the 
 mythology of their chara6ters 50 
 
 TIarpocrates, the god of filence, his origin 19 a 
 
 Health, her temple 19a 
 
 Hebe, her birth and hiftory, 140. Her temples jiiiJ 
 
 Hecate, one of the names given to Diana, 86. Her figure as 
 goddefs of the infernal regions, iiiJ. The origin of this 
 goddefs, and of her difierent aames and charatflers 8 7 
 
 Helena, carried away by Thefeus 15 1 
 
 Hclle, when on the point of being facrifioed, is carried 
 through tlie air on the ram that bore the golden fleece ; but 
 failing, is drowned in that fea, which, from her, is called 
 the Hellefpont 147 
 
 Hercules, his birth, 128. His labours, 129, I30, 131, 13a, 
 ^33* I34» ^35' His death, 136. 'Ihe origin of thefe 
 fables 139 
 
 Hermaphroditus and Salmacis, formed into one perfon called 
 an Hermaphrodite 89 
 
 Hermes, one of Mercury's names 88 
 
 Hermione, th; wife of Cadmus, turned into a ferpent 155 
 Hcfione, expofed to a fea monller, and delivered by Her- 
 cules 134 
 Hcfperides, their garden guarded by a dragon with an hun- 
 dred heads ; Hercules kills the dragon, and takes away the 
 golden fruit, 133. An explication of the fable of the 
 Hefperides 139 
 Hefperus, the fon of Atlas, transformed into the morning 
 ftar 8 
 Hind, with brazen feet and golden horns, taken by Her- 
 cules 130 
 
 Hippolitui 
 
INDEX. 
 
 KippoIIta-^ rgjcds the foUcItations of Phaedra, flies to efcapr 
 the efitds of her revenge, and is killed by a fall from his 
 chariot I5 1 
 
 Hippomenes and Atalanta turned into lions I93 
 
 Honour, her temple 189 
 
 Hope wor.'hipped, 19Q. How reprefented ibid 
 
 Horie, or the Hours, their defcent, and how employed -98 
 Horn of plenty, its origin 29 
 
 Hyacinthus, killed by Ap®lIo, and changed into a flower 61 
 Hyades, lamenting the lofs of their brother Hyas, are turned 
 into flars 8 
 
 Hydra, a monftrous ferpent, killed by Hercules 1 30 
 
 Hymen, his birth, and the manner in which he was repre- 
 fented, f 8. His origin an Egyptian Horus ibid 
 Hyperion, the fon of Catlus and Terra, aiTaflinated 4 
 
 J&I 
 
 Janus, his h^ftofy, 53. His image defcribed, 24. The 
 meaning of the fiible of Junus 25- 
 
 Japetus, the father of Epimetheus and Prometheus 10 
 
 Jafon, his birth and education, 146. Undertakes a voyage to 
 fetch the golden fleece, which he gains by the airiftance of 
 Medea, 148. The actions of this forcerefs, v/ho follows him 
 to Greece, ihiJ. Jafon's leaving her, and her revenge I49 
 Idalia, one of the names of Venus 9 1 
 
 Idmon, the fon of Apollo, killed by a wild boar 74 
 
 Idolatry, its original ly8 
 
 Illuftration of the Dii Majores of the Romans 275 
 
 Infernal regions defcribed 48 
 
 Inferior deities, attending mankind from their birth to their 
 deceafe 182 
 
 Inferior rural deities i 86 
 
 Ino and Melicertes turned into Marine deities, and take the 
 naraes of Leucothea and Palemon l6r 
 
 lo, her ftory 34 
 
 lolaus, at the intercefllon of Hercules, rellored to youth, after 
 his death, returns to earth to revenge the infults offered 
 to the H^raclidae I37 
 
 Iris, the melTenger of Juno 38 
 
 Ifis, an Egyptian goddefs, whofe worfhip was introduced at 
 Rome 176 
 
 Itys murdered by Prognc, and turned into a pheafant HI 
 Juno, her birth and name, 37. The manner in which Ihe 
 was reprefented 39 
 
 Jupiter, his birth and education, 29. His war with the gi- 
 ants, 30. His other exploits, 31. His intrigues, ibid. An 
 explication of the fables related of Jupiter, 35. The man- 
 ner in which he was reprefented, 36. His oracle at Do- 
 dona 
 
INDEX. 
 
 dona defcribed, 346. And that of Jupiter Amnion' m 
 
 Lybia, 247. The temple of Jupiter Olympius, &c. 164 
 
 Ixion, his crime and puniriin>cnt in .T«»rt.iiius 56, 57 
 
 L. 
 
 Lachefis, one of the dcflinies 49 
 
 Lares, donicftic gods, their dcfcent, 173. The manner- in 
 which they were reprcfcnted, ibid 
 
 I.atona, the moiher of Apollo and Diana, turns the clowns 
 of Lycia into fiogs, for refufiuj; to let her drink. 60 
 
 Leda, debauched by Jupiter in the fliape of a fwan,"3Z. 
 Brings forth two eggs '14 i 
 
 Lethe, the river of forgctfulncfs 58 
 
 Leucippus ftabbed ~ 63 
 
 Leucothoe tarned into the tree that bears franklnccnfe 64 
 
 Liberty, altars and temples confecrated to her 1 91 
 
 i>imniades, nymphs who frequented lakes 1 68 
 
 Linceus kilh Caflor, and is himfclf killed by Pollux 14 z 
 
 l^inus punifhed with death, for prefuming to firg v/ith 
 Apollo 6 1 
 
 Linus, fon of Apollo, his (lory, 74. The origin of the 
 fable, 75 
 
 Lucina, one of the names of Juno and of Diana 38, 85 
 
 Luna, or the Moon, one of Diana's names 84 
 
 Lupercalia, a fcall celebrated in honour oi Pan 166 
 
 I^ycaon, for bis impiety and inhumanity, turned into a wolf 3 1 
 liycas, being hurled into the air by Hercules, falls into the ri- 
 ver Thcrmopolis, where he is transformed into a rock 136 
 Lycian clowns, turned into frogs, for muddying the water, 
 when Ceres wanted to drink ilj 
 
 I^ycurgus having affronted Bacchus, is deprived of his rta- 
 fon 121 
 
 M. 
 M.tnades, the prieflefles and nymphs of Bacchus l^(i 
 
 Macris, the nurfe of Bacchus 1 19 
 
 Magic, of two kinds, 232. Its origin, 234. Of calhng up the 
 fpirits of the^dead ibid 
 
 Ma^na Pales, one of the names of Cybele. s 7 
 
 Mars, how produced, 109. His different names, no. His 
 intrigue with Venus, loi. His offspring, in. The origin 
 of the fables relating to tliis god, 112. The manner in 
 which he has been reprefented by poets, painters, and 
 ftatuaries ibtd 
 
 Alarfyas, pretending to equal Apollo in mufic, is flead alive, 
 and afterwards changed into a river .6a 
 
 Mcdca, a forcerefs, aflifls Jafoa in obtalnlnj the golden fleece, 
 148. Her exploits ibid 
 
 O 3 MeduiU, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Medufa, her hair turned to Tnakes by Minerva, io6. All that 
 looked at her turned into ft ones, ibid. Her head cut off 
 by Perfeu3 I44 
 
 Megaera, one of the furies 56 
 
 Melantho, furprifed by Neptune as {he was riding on a Dol- 
 phin 42 
 Mcleager, Kis ftory, 82. His fillers turned into hen tur- 
 kies 83 
 Melpomene, one of the Mufes, v/ho prefided over lyric and 
 epic poetry 78 
 Mentha, changed into mint 39 
 Mercury, his birth, thefts, and his other exploits, 87. His 
 various offices, 88. The real origin of this fabulous deity, 
 89. His oracle in Achaia ajl 
 Mercy, altars and temples cre<Sted to this virtue 191 
 Metra transforms hcrfelf into various fhapes, and is as often 
 fold by her father 4a 
 Midas, for giving an unjuft fentence againft Apollo, is re- 
 •wardedwith affss' ears, 62. Bacchus grants his wifh that 
 whatever he touched might be changed into gold 1 2 1 
 Minerva, her fcveral names, 105. Her charadler and exploits, 
 106. Her temples, ftatues, &c. 107. The origin of this 
 goddefs, and of the fables related of her, ibid. How re- 
 prefented by the poets and fculptors I09 
 Minos, one of the judges of hell, his hiftory ^^ 
 Minotaur, a monfter who lived on human flefh, killed by 
 Tbefeus, 150. This fable explained 152 
 Mxnades tear Orpheus in pieces 74 
 Momus cenfures die adions of the gods X58, 159 
 Morpheus, the god of fleep, defcribed 159 
 .Mufes, their birth and diftindt provinces, 77. Their origin 79 
 Mythology of the heathens, 211. Of fiAion in general, ibid. 
 By what means allegories became obje6ts of faith, illuftrated 
 by fome obfervations on the ceremonies with which the 
 Egyptians buried their dead, ai 2. A prayer ufed by the 
 Egyptians at their funerals, 213. Many of the heathen 
 fables derived from the fidions of the poets, a concern for 
 the honour of the ladies, and a fimilitude of names, 214. 
 The fentimerfts of the Pagans in relation to the origin of 
 the world, compared with thofe given us by Mofes, 217. 
 Of the golden age, as defcribed by the philofophers and 
 poets, 219. Of the fall of man, as defcribed by Pythagora*. 
 Plato, and feveral Indian and Chinefe authors, 220. Of 
 good or bad daemons, ibid. Of the fables of the Titans 
 and Giants, ibid. Traditions relating to the univerfal de- 
 luge, 222. The heathen fables filled with noble fenti- 
 m«nts, 225- Of the morals of the Greek and Roman 
 philofophers, ihiJ. In what Pagan idolatry confifted 223 
 
 N. Naiades, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 N. 
 
 Naiades, nymphs, of brooks and rivers 1 6S 
 
 Napcje, the tutelar guardians of vallies and flowery 
 
 meads '^'^ 
 
 Naemean Hon killed by Hercules 129 
 
 Nemefis, one of the goddeffes of juUicc, how reprefented 187 
 Neptune, his defcent, 40. His remarkable anions, 41. The 
 
 mythological fenfe of this fable, 43. The manner in 
 
 which he was painted ibid 
 
 Nereus, a fea god 160 
 
 Nereids, fea nymphs, the fifty daughters of Nereus 161 
 
 Ncffus, the centaur, killed by Hercules with a poifoned 
 
 arrow 136 
 
 Niobe's children flaln by Apollo, and herfelf flupified with 
 
 grief for the lofs of her children, is turned into a Hone, ^3. 
 
 The origin of this fable ibid 
 
 Nox, and her progeny 51 
 
 Nyfus, after having loft his purple lock of hair, and his 
 
 kingdom, is transformed into a hawk. 164 , 
 
 Oceanus,- the fon of Caelus and Terra 4 
 
 Omphale, queen of Lydia, gains fuch an afcendant over Her- 
 cules, as to make him fit among her women and fpin, j 35 
 Ops, one of the names of Cybele a.? 
 
 Oreades, nymphs who prefide ever mountains 168 
 
 Orion, his furprifing birth and adventures, 159. Killed by 
 Diana, and made a conflellat'.on l5a 
 
 Orpheus, his ftory, 75. The origin of this fable 74 
 
 Of Oraeles, 242. I'hat much of the happinefs of life Is 
 owing to our ignorance of futurity, ibid. On the firft rife- 
 of oracles, and the ufe made cf them by the greatcft legi- 
 flators, 243. Of the oracle of Jupiter at Dodona, /^/a'. A 
 remarkable circumitance relating to this oracle, 245. Of 
 the oracle of Jupiter Ammon in Lybia, 246. Of the oracle 
 of Apollo at Dclphos, a tradition concerning the rife of it, 
 and the manner in which its anfwers were delivgred, 247, 
 Of the oracle of the Triphonius. 249. Of the oracles of 
 the Branchidae, 250. Of Apollo at Claros, and that of 
 Mercury in Achaia, 2jl. Some obfervations on the dif- 
 ferent ways by which the fenfe of the oracles were con- 
 veyed 25 a 
 Orgia, feftivals In honour of Bacchus 123 
 Orus, an Egyptian deity J77 
 O firs, an Egyptian deity 1 74 
 
 P. 
 Palemon and Ino, changed into marine deities 162 
 
 Pales, the gpddefs of ihepherds 169 
 
 Paiilia, . 
 
INDEX. 
 
 fiiUlia, feafts in honour of Pales ihlJ 
 
 Palladium, a fcatue of Minerva, fald to full down from 
 heaven ■. jq? 
 
 Pallas, one of the names of Minerva 1 05 
 
 Pan, the chief of all the rural gods, 165. His amours, ibid. 
 Hio IdHvals, and the manner in vLkli he s defcribed by 
 poets and painters 169 
 
 Pater Patratus, his office ido 
 
 Pandora, the firft woman, it. Her lox, and the evils that 
 fpread from thence amotigft mankind ihid 
 
 Parcas, or Deflinics, their office, and the mythology of Uicir 
 chara(fters ' 40 
 
 Paris decides the difpute between the three goddcfles, and 
 gives the golden apple to Venus 93 
 
 Parthenis, one of the names of Minerva 105 
 
 Peace,^ an altar ere Acd to her, 189. liovi reprefcnted ibid 
 Pecunia, or Money, a goddefs 192 
 
 Pegafus, or flying horfe, how procucel, 80. The origin of 
 the fable ibid 
 
 Penates, domeftic deities, 174. Three ranks of them ibid 
 Pentheus, torn in pieces by his own mother and filters, 121 
 Perfeus, his defcent, 143. The gifts he received from the 
 gods, 144. Cuts off Medufa's head, ibid. Turns Atlas 
 into a mountain, 9. Delivers Andromeda, founds an aca- 
 deijjy, dies, and is placed among the ftars, 144. An ex- 
 planation of the fable cf Perfeus aad Andromeda r46 
 Phabe andTalayra carried away by Caftor and Pollux 142 
 Phoebus, one of the names of Apollo 64 
 
 Phaedra, attempts to debauch her fon Hippolitus ; her fuit is 
 rejeded, and (he lays violent hands on herfclf 151 
 
 Phaeton obtains leave of his father Apollo to drive the chariot 
 of the fun for one day ; but lofing the reins, is flruck down 
 by Jupiter, 72. His fifters turned into poplar-trees, ibid. 
 The origin of this fable ibid 
 
 Philomela turned into a nightingale ill 
 
 Phineus, tormented by the harpies, for revealing the myfle- 
 ries of Jupiter jo 
 
 Phlegethon, one of the infernal rivers 49 
 
 Phlegyas burns the temple of Apollo, is punifhed in Tar- 
 tarus 36 
 Phorcus, or Phorcys, one of the fons of Neptune, being van- 
 quiflied by Atlas, who threw him into the fea, is changed 
 into a fea-god 163 
 Phryxus rejeds the advances of Ino, and efcapes the effe<5ls of 
 her revenge, by being carried through the air or^ the ram 
 that bore the golden fleece 147 
 Picus turned iato a w^ood-pecter 76 
 
 Pirtv 
 
INDEX. 
 
 3^ety, or filial aiFeAron, what it was that occafioned a cKapel 
 being eredled to this virtue 1 90 
 
 Planets, the names given them, became indications of their 
 feveral offices, aa8. Why they were fuppofed to produce 
 metals 130 
 
 Pleiades, the daughters of Atlas, taken up into heaven, where 
 they form the conftellation that bears their name 8 
 
 Pluto, his defcent, 44. Steals away Proferpine, 45. The 
 manner in which he is reprcfented by the painters and 
 poets, 46. The mythology of the fable iii^ 
 
 Plutus and Pecunia deified by the Romans 19* 
 
 Pollux and Caftor, their birth and exploits, (hare immorta- 
 lity between them, and are made the conftellation Gemini, 
 143. A temple eredted to them ibid 
 
 Polyhymnia, one of the Mufes, who prefided over harmony 
 of voice and gefture 78 
 
 Polyphemus, a monftrous giant with but one eye 104 
 
 Pomona, the goddcfs of fruit-trees, courted and married by 
 Vertumnus iy% 
 
 Pontifex Maximiis, or the high-prieft, his office 259 
 
 Priapus, the tutelar deity of vii;e-yards and gardens. The . 
 feveral names given hhn, and his image defcribed 1 70 
 
 Priefls and prieftelTcs of the Greeks and Romans, 258. Of the 
 Pontiftx Muximus, or the high-prieft, 459. Of the Rex 
 .Sacronim, ioi^/. Of the Flamines, 260. Of the Feciales, 
 Hit/. Of the Pat-r Patratus, Hid. Of the Epulones i6ij 
 Procris mahes Ceijhalus a prefent of an unerring dart 6 
 
 Prcc»*.IU;s killed by Thefv-us ijo 
 
 Prodigies, the fuperftition of the Romans in relation to them , 
 and how they may be accounted fur ^31-, 
 
 Progne turned into a fvvallow HI 
 
 Prometheus makes a man of clay, and animates him with fire 
 ftiolen from heaven, 10. His punilhment, II. Delivered 
 by Hercules, il^ia. This fable explained I» 
 
 Propjetides turned into flones 95 
 
 Proferpine carried away by Pluto, 45. Her various names, 47. 
 The mythological fenfe of the fable 48 
 
 Proteus, the fon of Neptune, one that could transform hini- 
 felf into any fhape l6z 
 
 Pryene turntd into a fountain 85 
 
 Pudicitia, or Ghaftity, honoured at Rome under two names 1 90 
 Pygmalion falls in love with a ftatue of his own making, 
 which Venus, at his requeft turns into a woman 95 
 
 Pyrrha, the wife of Deucalion 93 
 
 Python, a monftrous ferpent, {lain by Apollo ; and the origin 
 of the fable 63 , 
 
 Rhadamantbus, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 R- 
 
 Rhadamanthus, one of the judges of hell 53 
 
 Rex Sacrorum, his office 2j9 
 
 Rhea, one of the names of Cybele i.5 
 
 6. 
 Sacrifices originally extremely limple, 254. Of human vic- 
 tims, 255, The ceremonies ufed at facrifices, and the 
 manner in which they were performed 256 
 
 Salmoneus puniflied in Tartarus, for imitating thunder, &c. 57 
 SaluSj or Health, her temple, 192. How reprefented ibid 
 Saturn devours his male children, 14. Ttl.en prifoner by 
 Titan, but fet at liberty by Jupiter, 'tvho afterwards de- 
 thrones him, 1^. The fable of Saturn explained, 14, 15, 16, 
 17. Fellivals in honour of Saturn, /iii/. His amours i^/</ 
 Satyrs, the attendants of Bacchus, defcribed, IZ7. Their 
 original ibid 
 
 Sciron killed by Thefcus jjo 
 
 Scylla, the daughter of Phorcus, turned by Circe into a mon- 
 fter, throws heifelf into the fea, and is changed into a 
 rock 163 
 
 Scylla, the daughter of Nyfus, betrays her father, by cutting 
 cfF a purple lock of hair, and is turned into a lark 164 
 
 Semele deftroyed by Jupiter's embraces 33 
 
 Silence, worfliipped by the Romans, 192. The origin of this 
 fuppofed deity tbid 
 
 Silecus, the companion of Bacchus, licfcribed, 125. The 
 origin of th.'s fabulous charadtcr 127 
 
 Silver age defcribed 36 
 
 SiCphus, his punifhment in Tartarus 57 
 
 Stable of Augeas cleaned by Hercules I32 
 
 Stymphalides, monftrous birds dcftroy ^d by Hercules 131 
 
 S^yx, a river of hell 49 
 
 Sylvanus, a rural deity I26 
 
 Sylvan i, who 167 
 
 Syrens, defcribed; 81. The origin of the fable ibid 
 
 Syrinx flies from Pan, and is changed into a tuft of reeds 1 6 j 
 
 T. 
 
 Tantalus, his crime and punifhment in Tartarus 57 
 
 Tartarus defcribed, 54. The fabulous perfons punifhed there, 
 56. 1 he origin of thcfe fables 57 
 
 Temples firft built by the Egyptians, 261. The ceremonies 
 ufed by the Romans before they began to build a temple, 
 262. Of the temple of Vulcan at Memphis, and an ex- 
 traordinary chapel hewn out of one ftone, 263. Of the 
 temple of Diana at Ephefus, ibid. Of the temple of Ceres 
 . and Proferpine, 264. A particular defcription of the tem- 
 ple of Jupiter Olympus. Of his Ilatue and hio throne, ibid. 
 
i N D E X. 
 
 Of the temple of Apollo at Delphos, and the immenfc trca- 
 iures it contained, 267. Of the temple in Italy, ibiJ. Par- 
 ticularly the Pantheon, ibid. The capitol a68 
 Thalia, the mufe of comedy 7^ 
 Thalia, one of the graces 79 
 Thamyris, contending with the Mufes, is punifhed v/ith. 
 bUndnefs and caft hito hell »'*'</ 
 Themis, her birth and a6lions 1 80 
 Theology uf the heathens, a diflertation upon it, 194 The firft 
 nations of the world had very exalted fentiments of the 
 deity, ib'd. Emblems of the deity become the caufe of. 
 idolatry, 197. The rcafon of the names given to the figns 
 of the Zodiac, 103. Egypt the grand mart of idolatry ibid. 
 That the ancient eaflern nations had a referved meaning in 
 all their fables, 205. On the deification of great and emi- 
 nent men, 208. That the Greeks t«ok their gods from the 
 Egyptians, an<i the Romans from the Greeks ibid 
 Tereus, after marrying Progne, fails in love with her filler 
 Philomela: her barbarous treatment; for which Tereus is 
 turned into a lapwing III 
 Terminalia, a Roman feflival 17I 
 Terminus, the god who prefides over landmarks 1 70 
 Terra, the mother and wife of Cslus X, 3 
 Tethys, the wife and fifter of Oceanus 4 
 Theia, the daughter of Crelus and Terra, marries Hyperion, 
 4. Difappears in a ftormof thunder and lightning ibid 
 Thcophane, changed into an ewe by Neptune, who debauches 
 her under the form of a ram 4a 
 Thefeus, hi* birth and exploits I50 
 Thetis, the mother of Achilles IJ3 
 Tirciias, deprived of fight by Minerva, but receives the gift 
 of prophecy I06 
 Tifiphone, one of the furies, being rejcded by Cythaeron, 
 kills him by throwing one of her iriakes at him ^S 
 Titans make war on Jupittr, and are fubducd ao 
 Tithonus marries Aurora, and obtains immortality; but 
 g owing decrcpid with age, is turned into a grafsliopper 56 
 Tityus, his punilhment in Tartarus 56 
 Triptolemus, fed by Ceres, and fent by her in a chariot to 
 inilru(ft mmkind in the benefit of tillage II4 
 Triton, the fon of Neptune, defcribed 161 
 Trophonius, his oracle defcribed 449 
 Truth, how reprefented 191 
 Tyndaridas, who I41 
 ^i'yphon, or Typhieus, one of the g'ant« who made war 
 againft Jupiter, 21. His figure defcribed ibtd 
 Tyrrhenian merchants changed by Bacchus into dolphins 119 
 
 VcnuF, 
 
INDEX. 
 
 V&U. 
 
 Venus, how produced, go. Her various names, 91. Itei 
 ad^ions, 92. The diftin<5lion of two Venufcs, 94. An 
 explanation of thefe fablei, ibid. How rcprefented, 95. 
 Her attendants ibid 
 
 Vertumnalia, fcafts In honour of VertuBinus lyz 
 
 Vertumnus and Pomona, their ftory, 17 a. Vertumnus thought 
 by fome to be an emblem of the year ihiJ 
 
 Vefta the elder, her hiftory, 25. The manner in which fhc 
 is reprefentcd iSiJ 
 
 Vefta the younger, the goddefs of fire, 27. Her chaility, 28. 
 Veftal Virgins ibiJ 
 
 Vivfuory, a goddefs, how rcprefented, 192 
 
 Virginia, the daughter of Aulus, dedicates a chapel to 
 Pudicitia Plebeia 191 
 
 Virtue and Honour, temples ereiled to them 189 
 
 Vulcan, his employment, and the curious works he performed, 
 99. His various names, 100. Difcovers Mars with his 
 wife Venus, by means of a net, and expofes them to the 
 ridicule of the gods, loi. The manner in which he was 
 
 , reprefented, iiiJ. The origin of theie fables, ibiJ. His 
 . offspring, 102. His temple as Memphis defcribed 263 
 
 tJlyffes difcovers Achilles, notwithftanding his being dif- 
 guifed, and take<r him with him to the fiege of Troy, 153. 
 Is preferved from Circe's enchantments, 76. Blinds the 
 giant Polyphemus I04 
 
 Urania, the divine mufe 78 
 
 Uranus, the offspring of Gaia or Terra a 
 
 X. 
 
 Xifuthrus, favcd from the deluge, a Chaldaean tradition 221 
 
 Z. 
 
 Zephyrus blows Apollo's quoit againft Hyaclnthus's head, 
 and kills him 61 
 
 Zodiac, its invention, and the rcafon of the names given to 
 the figns ft03, 204 
 
 t? ! K I S