A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume 1 (of 6)Bryant, Jacob
Religion
A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume 1 (of 6)
Bryant, Jacob
History, Ancient; Mythology
From the shrines of Amon abovementioned we may derive the history of all
oracles; which, from the Deity by whom they were supposed to be uttered,
were called Omphi and Amphi, as I have shewn: also, Alphi, Elphi, Orphi,
Urphi, from El, and Orus. The Greeks adhered religiously to antient terms,
however obsolete and unintelligible. They retained the name of Amphi,
though they knew not the meaning: for it was antiquated before they had
letters. That it originally related to oracular revelation is plain from
its being always found annexed to the names of places famous on that
account; and from its occurring in the names of men, renowned as priests
and augurs, and supposed to have been gifted with a degree of
foreknowledge. We read of Amphiaraus, Amphilocus, Amphimachus, persons
represented as under particular divine influence, and interpreters of the
will of the Gods. Amphion, though degraded to a harper, was Amphi-On, the
oracle of Apollo, the Sun: and there was a temple, one of the antient
ὑπαιθρα, dedicated to him and Zethus, as we may read in Pausanias. Mopsus,
the diviner, is styled Αμπυκιδης, Ampucides; which is not a patronymic, but
a title of the oracular Deity.
[765]Ενθα και Αμπυκιδην αυτῳ ενι ηματι Μοψον
Νηλειης ἑλε ποτμος· αδευκεα δ' ου φυγεν αισαν
Μαντοσυναις· ου γαρ τις αποτροπιη θανατοιο.
Idmon, the reputed son of Abas, was a prophet, as well as Mopsus: he was
favoured with the divine Omphe, and, like the former, styled Ampucides.
[766]Ενθα μεν αισα παρεσχε καταφθισθαι δυο φωτας,
Αμπυκιδην Ιδμωνα, κυβερνητηρα τε Τιφυν.
What his attainments were, the Poet mentions in another place.
[767]Δε τοτ' Αβαντος παις νοθος ηλυθε καρτερος Ιδμων,
Τον ῥ' υποκυσσαμενη τεκεν Απολλωνι ανακτι
Αμβροσιον παρα κυμα φερετριος Αντιανειρα,
Τῳ και ΜΑΝΤΟΣYΝΗΝ επορε, και θεσφατον ΟΜΦΗΝ.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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