Oph signifies a serpent, and was pronounced at times and expressed, Ope, [183]Oupis, Opis, Ops; and, by Cicero, [184]Upis. It was an emblem of the Sun; and also of time and eternity. It was worshipped as a Deity, and esteemed the same as Osiris; by others the same as Vulcan. Vulcanus Ægyptiis Opas dictus est, eodem Cicerone [185]teste. A serpent was also, in the Egyptian language, styled Ob, or Aub: though it may possibly be only a variation of the term above. We are told by Orus Apollo, that the basilisk, or royal serpent, was named Oubaios: [186]Ουβαιος, ὁ εστιν Ἑλληνιστι Βασιλισκος. It should have been rendered Ουβος, Oubus; for Ουβαιος is a possessive, and not a proper name. The Deity, so denominated, was esteemed prophetic; and his temples were applied to as oracular. This idolatry is alluded to by Moses,[187] who, in the name of God, forbids the Israelites ever to inquire of those dæmons, Ob and Ideone: which shews that it was of great antiquity. The symbolical worship of the serpent was, in the first ages, very extensive; and was introduced into all the mysteries, wherever celebrated: [188]Παρα παντι των νομιζομενων παρ' ὑμιν Θεων ΟΦΙΣ συμβολον μεγα και μυστηριον αναγραφεται. It is remarkable, that wherever the Amonians founded any places of worship, and introduced their rites, there was generally some story of a serpent. There was a legend about a serpent at Colchis, at Thebes, and at Delphi; likewise in other places. The Greeks called Apollo himself Python, which is the same as Opis, Oupis, and Oub. The woman at Endor, who had a familiar spirit, is called [189]אוב, Oub, or Ob; and it is interpreted Pythonissa. The place where she resided, seems to have been named from the worship there instituted: for Endor is compounded of En-Ador, and signifies Fons Pythonis, the fountain of light, the oracle of the God Ador. This oracle was, probably, founded by the Canaanites; and had never been totally suppressed. In antient times they had no images in their temples, but, in lieu of them, used conical stones or pillars, called Βαιτυλια; under which representation this Deity was often worshipped. His pillar was also called [190]Abaddir, which should be expressed Abadir, being a compound of Ab, אוב, and Adir; and means the serpent Deity, Addir, the same as Adorus. It was also compounded with On, a title of the same Deity: and Kircher says that Obion is still, among the people of Egypt, the name of a serpent. אוב, Ob Mosi, Python, vox ab Ægyptiis sumpta; quibus Obion hodieque serpentem sonat. Ita [191]Kircher. The same also occurs in the Coptic lexicon. The worship of the serpent was very antient among the Greeks, and is said to have been introduced by Cecrops. [192]Philochorus Saturno, et Opi, primam in Atticâ statuisse aram Cecropem dicit. But though some represent Opis as a distinct Deity; yet [193]others introduce the term rather as a title, and refer it to more Deities than one: Callimachus, who