I have shewn, that the Pateræ, or Priests, were so denominated from the Deity styled Pator; whose shrines were named Patera, and Petora. They were oracular temples of the Sun; which in aftertimes were called Petra, and ascribed to other Gods. Many of them for the sake of mariners were erected upon rocks, and eminences near the sea: hence the term πετρα, petra, came at length to signify any rock or stone, and to be in a manner confined to that meaning. But in the first ages it was ever taken in a religious sense; and related to the shrines of Osiris, or the Sun, and to the oracles, which were supposed to be there exhibited. Thus Olympus near Pisa, though no rock, but a huge mound, or hill ([862]Περι γαρ τον Κρονιον ΛΟΦΟΝ αγεται τα Ολυμπια) was of old termed Petra, as relating to oracular influence. Hence Pindar, speaking of Iämus, who was supposed to have been conducted by Apollo to Olympia, says, _that they both came to the Petra Elibatos upon the lofty Cronian mount: there Apollo bestowed upon Iämus a double portion of prophetic knowledge_. [863]Ἱκοντο δ' ὑψηλοιο Πετραν Αλιβατου Κρονιου, Ενθ' ὁι ωπασε θησαυρον Διδυμον ΜΑΝΤΟΣYΝΑΣ. The word Ηλιβατος, Elibatos, was a favourite term with Homer, and other poets; and is uniformly joined with Petra. They do not seem to have known the purport of it; yet they adhere to it religiously, and introduce it wherever they have an opportunity. Ηλιβατος is an Amonian compound of Eli-Bat, and signifies solis domus, vel [864]templum. It was the name of the temple, and specified the Deity there worshipped. In like manner the word Petra had in great measure lost its meaning; yet it is wonderful to observe how industriously it is introduced by writers, when they speak of sacred and oracular places. Lycophron calls the temple at Elis [865]Λευραν Μολπιδος πετραν: and the Pytho at Delphi is by Pindar styled Petraëssa: [866]Επει Πετραεσσας ελαυνων ἱκετ' εκ Πυθωνος. Orchomenos was a place of great antiquity; and the natives are said to have worshipped Petra, which were supposed to have fallen from [867]heaven. At Athens in the Acropolis was a sacred cavern, which was called Petræ Macræ, Petræ Cecropiæ. [868]Ακουε τοινυν, οισθα Κεκροπιας πετρας, Προσβοῤῥον αντρον, ας Μακρας κικλησκομεν.