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
[818]Μη φθονεσῃς, ὁτι Βακχος εμην φιλοτητα φυλασσει.
Ὁττι νεος γενομην, ὁτι και φιλος ειμι Λυαιου.
The worship of Ham was introduced by the Amonians in Phrygia and Asia
Minor: and in those parts the Poet makes Ampelus chiefly conversant.
[819]Ηδη γαρ Φρυγιης ὑπο δειραδι κουρος αθυρων
Αμπελος ηεξητο νεοτρεφες ερνος ερωτων.
He speaks of his bathing in the waters, and rising with fresh beauty from
the stream, like the morning star from the ocean.
[820]Πακτωλῳ πορε και συ τεον σελας, οφρα φανειη
Αμπελος αντελλων, ἁτε φωσφορος--
Κοσμησει σεο καλλος ὁλον Πακτωλιον ὑδωρ.
In all these instances there are allusions to a history, which will
hereafter be fully discussed. Ovid seems to make Ampelus a native of
Thrace; and supposes him to have been the son of a satyr by one of the
nymphs in that country:
[821] Ampelon intonsum, Satyro Nymphâque creatum,
Fertur in Ismariis Bacchus amâsse jugis.
But however they may have mistaken this personage, it is certain that in
early times he was well known, and highly reverenced. Hence wherever the
Amonians settled, the name of Ampelus will occur: and many places will be
found to have been denominated from the worship of the Deity under this
sacred title. We learn from Stephanus Byzantinus, [822]_that, according to
Hecatæus, in his Europa, Ampelus was the name of a city in Liguria. There
was likewise a promontory in the district of Torone called Ampelus: a like
promontory in Samos: another in Cyrene. Agrœtas mentions two cities there,
an upper, and a lower, of that name. There_ _was likewise a harbour in
Italy so called_. We read of a city [823]Ampeloëssa in Syria, and a nation
in Lybia called Ampeliotæ: Αμπελιωται δε εθνος Λιβυης. Suidas. Also,
Ampelona in Arabia; and a promontory, Ampelusia, near Tingis, in
Mauritania. In all these places, however distant, the Amonians had made
settlements. Over against the island Samos stood the sacred promontory,
Mycale, in Ionia. This, too, was called Ampelus, according to Hesychius, as
the passage is happily altered by Albertus and others. Αμπελος, μηχανη, και
ακρα Μυκαλης, ηγουν ορους. From the words ηγουν ορους one might infer, that
Ampelus was no uncommon name for a mountain in general: so far is certain,
that many such were so denominated: which name could not relate to αμπελος,
the vine; but they were so called from the Deity to whom they were
[824]sacred. Many of these places were barren crags, and rocks of the sea,
ill suited to the cultivation of the [825]vine. And not only eminences were
so called, but the strand and shores, also, for the same reason: because
here, too, were altars and pillars to this God. Hence we read in Hesychius:
Αμπελος--αιγιαλος--Κυρηναιοις αιγιαλος. _By Ampelus is signified the sea
shore; or Ampelus, among the people of Cyrene, signifies the sea shore_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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