A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume 2 (of 6)Bryant, Jacob
History
A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume 2 (of 6)
Bryant, Jacob
History, Ancient; Mythology
The like is mentioned by the Scholiast upon Lycophron, [741]Εριννυς ἡ
Δημητηρ εν Ογκαις πολει της Αρκαδιας τιμᾳται. Her temple stood upon the
river Ladon, and she had this name given to her by the people of the place.
Καλουσι δε Εριννυν ὁι Θελπουσιοι την Θεον. _The Thelpusians call the
Goddess Demeter a Fury_. Herodotus speaks of a Prutaneion in Achaia
Pthiotic, called Leïtus; of which he gives a fearful account. _No person_,
he says, _ever entered the precincts, who returned. Whatever person ever
strayed that way, was immediately seized upon by the priests, and
sacrificed. The custom so far prevailed, that many, who thought they were
liable to suffer, fled away to foreign parts. And he adds, that after a
long time, when any of them ventured to return, if they were caught, they
were immediately led to the Prutaneion. Here they were crowned with
garlands. and in great parade conducted to the altar_. I shall quote the
author's words. [742]Ληιτον δε καλεουσι το Πρυτανηιον ὁι Αχαιοι· ην δε
εσελθῃ, ουκ εστι, ὁκως εξεισι, πριν η θυσεσθαι μελλῃ· ὡστε τι προς τουτοισι
πολλοι ηδε των μελλοντων τουτεων θυσεσθαι, δεισαντες οιχοντο αποδραντες ες
αλλην χωρην. Χρονου δε προϊοντος, οπισω κατελθοντες, ην αλισκωνται,
εστελλοντο ες το Πρυτανηιον, ὡς θυεται τε εξηγεοντο, στεμμασι πας
πυκασθεις, και ὡς συν πομπῃ εξαχθεις. The people of Leïtus are said to have
been the sons of Cutissorus. Herodotus speaks of the temple, as remaining
in his time: and of the custom still subsisting. He farther mentions, that
when Xerxes was informed of the history of this place, as he passed through
Thessaly, he withheld himself from being guilty of any violation. And he
moreover ordered his army to pay due regard to its sanctity; so very awful,
it seems, was mysterious cruelty.
I imagine, that the story of the Harpies relates to priests of the Sun.
They were denominated from their seat of residence, which was an oracular
temple called Harpi, and Hirpi, analogous to Orphi, and Urphi in other
places. I have shewn, that the antient name of a priest was Cahen, rendered
mistakenly κυν, and canis. Hence the Harpies, who were priests of Ur, are
styled by Apollonius, _the Dogs of Jove_. His accosting Calais, and Zethus,
tells them, that it would be a profanation to offer any injury to those
personages.
[743]Ου θεμις, ω ὑιεις Βορεου ξιφεεσιν ελασσαν
Ἁρπυιας, μεγαλοιο Διος ΚYΝΑΣ.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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