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
Uch, Υκ, expressed also Ach, Och, Οχα, was a term of honour among the
Babylonians, and the rest of the progeny of Chus; and occurs continually in
the names of men and places which have any connection with their history. I
have shewn, in a former [293]treatise, that the shepherds who ruled in
Egypt were of that race, and that they came from Babylonia and Chaldea.
Eusebius informs us, that their national title was [294]Υκουσος; or, as it
was undoubtedly expressed by the people themselves, Υκκουσος, Uc-Cusus. It
is a term taken notice of by Apion and Manethon, and they speak of it as a
word in the sacred language of the country, which signified a king: [295]Υκ
καθ' ἱεραν γλωσσαν βασιλεα σημαινει. I wonder that this word has been
passed over with so little notice; as it is of great antiquity; and, at the
same time, of much importance in respect to etymology. Uc-Cusus signified
the royal, or noble, Cusean: and, as it was a word in the sacred language
of Egypt, we may from hence learn what that language was; and be assured
that it was the primitive language of Chus, the same as the antient
Chaldaïc. It was introduced among the Mizraïm by the Auritæ, or Cuthites,
together with their rites and religion: hence it obtained the name of the
sacred language. Diodorus Siculus affords [296]evidence to the same
purpose: and it is farther proved by Heliodorus; who says that the sacred
characters of Egypt and those of the Cuthites in Ethiopia were the
[297]same. This term occurs very often among the titles of which the
Babylonish names arc composed; such as Ochus and Belochus. Among the
Egyptians it is to be found in Acherez and Achencherez; which are the names
of two very antient princes. Acherez is a compound of Ach-Ares, Magnus Sol;
equivalent to Achorus, another name of the same Deity, assumed in like
manner by their kings. The latter was sometimes expressed [298]Achor,
Achoris. Ochuras, Uchoreus; which are all the same name, diversified in
different ages and by different writers. As priests took the titles of the
Deities whom they served, Lucan has, very properly, introduced a priest of
Egypt under the name of Achoreus:
[299]quos inter Achoreus,
Jam placidus senio, fractisque modestior annis.
The name of Osiris seems to have been Uc-Sehor, and Uc-Sehoris. According
to Hellanicus, if a person had in Egypt made inquiry about the term Osiris,
he would not have been understood: for the true name was [300]Usiris. Philo
Biblius, from Sanchoniathon, calls the same Deity [301]Isiris; and adds,
that he was the brother of Cna, or Canaan; and the inventor of three
letters. Ισιρις, των τριων γραμματων ἑυρετης, αδελφος Χνα του Φοινικος. I
take Isiris and Usiris, as well as Osiris, to be all Uc-Sehoris softened,
and accommodated to the ears of Greece.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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