Shem, and Shamesh, are terms, which relate to the heavens, and to the Sun, similar to שמש שמיס שום, of the Hebrews. Many places of reputed sanctity, such as Same, Samos, Samothrace, Samorna, were denominated from it. Philo Biblius informs us, that the Syrians, and Canaanites, lifted up their hands to Baal-Samen, the Lord of Heaven; under which title they honoured the Sun: [236]Τας χειρας ορεγειν εις ουρανους προς τον Ἡλιον· τουτον γαρ, φησι, θεον ενομιζον μονον ΟΥΡΑΝΟΥ ΚYΡΙΟΝ ΒΑΑΛ-ΣΑΜΗΝ καλουντες. Ephesus was a place of great sanctity: and its original name was [237]Samorna; which seems to be a compound of Sam-Oran, Cœlestis Sol, fons Lucis. We read of Samicon in Elis, [238]χωριον Σαμικον, with a sacred cavern: and of a town called [239]Samia, which lay above it. The word Σεμνος was a contraction of Semanos, from Sema-on; and properly signified divine and celestial. Hence σεμναι θεαι, σεμνη κορα. Antient Syria was particularly devoted to the worship of the Sun, and of the Heavens; and it was by the natives called Shems and Shams: which undoubtedly means the land of Shemesh, from the worship there followed. It retains the name at this [240]day. In Canaan was a town and temple, called Beth-Shemesh. What some expressed Shem and Sham, the Lubim seem to have pronounced Zam: hence the capital of Numidia was named Zama, and Zamana, from Shamen, Cœlestis. This we may learn from an inscription in [241]Reineccius. JULIO. PROCULO. PRÆF. URB. PATRONO. COL. BYZACENÆ. ET. PA TRONO. COLON. ÆLIÆ. [242]ZAMANÆ. REGIÆ. Ham being the Apollo of the east, was worshipped as the Sun; and was also called Sham and Shem. This has been the cause of much perplexity, and mistake: for by these means many of his posterity have been referred to a wrong line, and reputed the sons of Shem; the title of one brother not being distinguished from the real name of the other. Hence the Chaldeans have by some been adjudged to the line of [243]Shem: and Amalek, together with the people of that name, have been placed to the same account. His genealogy is accordingly represented by Ebn Patric. He makes him the son of Aad, and great grandson of Shem. [244]Fuitque Aad filius Arami, filius Shemi, filius Noæ. The author of the Chronicon Paschale speaks of [245]Chus, as of the line of Shem: and Theophilus in his treatise to Autolycus does the same by [246]Mizraïm. Others go farther, and add Canaan to the [247]number. Now these are confessedly the immediate sons of [248]Ham: so that we may understand, who was properly alluded to in these passages under the name of Shem. MACAR. This was a sacred title given by the Amonians to their Gods; which often occurs in the Orphic hymns, when any Deity is invoked. [249]Κλυθι, Μακαρ Παιαν, τιτυοκτονε, Φοιβε Λυκωρευ. [250]Κλυθι, Μακαρ, πανδερκες εχων αιωνιον ομμα.