From what has preceded, we may perceive that there once existed a wonderful resemblance in the rites, customs, and terms of worship, among nations widely separated. Of this, as I proceed, many instances will be continually produced. I have already mentioned that this similitude in terms, and the religious system, which was so widely propagated, were owing to one great family, who spread themselves almost universally. Their colonies went abroad under the sanction and direction of their priests; and carried with them both the rites and the records of their country. Celsus took notice of this; and thought that people payed too little attention to memorials of this nature. He mentions particularly the oracular temples at Dodona, at Delphi, at Claros, with those of the Branchidæ and Amonians: at the same time passing over many other places, from whose priests and votaries the whole earth seemed to have been peopled[844]. Τα μεν ὑπο της Πυθιας, η Δωδωνιων, η Κλαριου, η εν Βραγχιδαις, η εν Αμμωνος, ὑπο μυριων τε αλλων θεοπροπων προειρημενα, ὑφ' ὡν επιεικως πασα γη κατῳκισθη, ταυτα μεν ουδενι λογῳ τιθενται. As colonies went abroad under the influence and direction of their tutelary Deities; those Deities were styled Ἡγεμονες, and Αρχηγεται: and the colony was denominated from some sacred title of the God. A colony was planted at Miletus; of which the conducting Deity was Diana. [845]Σε γαρ ποιησατο Νηλευς Ἡγεμονην. This Goddess is styled πολυπτολις, because this office was particularly ascribed to her: and she had many places under her patronage. Jupiter accordingly tells her: [846]Τρις δεκα τοι πτολιεθρα, και ουκ ἑνα πυργον οπασσω. Thrice ten fair cities shall your portion be, And many a stately tower. Apollo likewise was called Οικτιστης and Αρχηγετης, from being the supposed founder of cities; which were generally built in consequence of some oracle. [847]Φοιβῳ δ' εσπομενοι πολεας διεμετρησαντο Ανθρωποι· Φοιβος γαρ αει πολιεσσι φιληδει Κτιζομεναις· αυτος δε θεμειλια Φοιβος ὑφαινει. 'Tis through Apollo's tutelary aid, That men go forth to regions far remote, And cities found: Apollo ever joys In founding cities. What colony, says [848]Cicero, did Greece ever send into Ætolia, Ionia, Asia, Sicily or Italy, without having first consulted about every circumstance relative to it, either at Delphi, or Dodona, or at the oracle of Ammon. And Lucian speaks to the same purpose. [849]Ουτε πολεας ῳκιζον, ουδε τειχεα περιεβαλλοντο--πριν αν δη παρα Μαντεων ακουσαι ἑκαστα. _People would not venture to build cities, nor even raise the walls, till they had made proper inquiry among those, who were prophetically gifted, about the success of their operations_. * * * * * PATOR AND PATRA.