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
Another name for those Amonian temples was Campi, of the same analogy, and
nearly of the same purport, as Arpi above-mentioned. It was in after times
made to signify the parade before the temples, where they wrestled, and
otherwise celebrated their sacred games; and was expressed Campus. When
chariots came in fashion, these too were admitted within the precincts; and
races of this sort introduced. Among the Latines the word Campus came to
mean any open and level space; but among the Sicilians the true meaning was
in some degree preserved. Καμπος--Ιπποδρομος, Σικυλοι. Hesychius. It was
properly a place of exercise in general, and not confined to races. Hence a
combatant was styled [772]Campio, and the chief persons, who presided,
[773]Campigeni. The exercise itself was by the Greeks styled αγων, αεθλος,
ἁμιλλα; all Amonian terms, taken from the titles of the Deity, in whose
honour the games were instituted. These temples partly from their symbols,
and partly from their history, being misinterpreted, were by the antient
mythologists represented as so many dragons and monsters. Nonnus mentions
both Arpe, and Campe in this light, and says that the latter had fifty
heads, each of some different beast,
[774]Ης απο δειρης
Ηνθεε πεντηκοντα καρηατα ποικιλα θηρων.
But Campe was an oracular temple and inclosure, sacred to Ham or Cham:
where people used to exercise. The fifty heads related to the number of the
priests, who there resided; and who were esteemed as so many wild beasts
for their cruelty. Nonnus makes Jupiter kill Campe: but Diodorus Siculus
gives the honour to Dionusus; who is supposed to have slain this monster at
Zaborna in Libya; and to have raised over her, χωμα παμμεγεθες, a vast
mound of earth. This heap of soil was in reality a high place or altar;
which in after times was taken for a place of burial. These inclosures grew
by degrees into disrepute; and the history of them obsolete. In consequence
of which the ταφοι, or mounds, were supposed to be the tombs of heroes. The
Grecians, who took every history to themselves, imagined, that their
Jupiter and Dionusus, and their Hercules had slain them. But what they took
for tombs of enemies were in reality altars to these very Gods; who were
not confined to Greece, nor of Grecian original. The Campanians in Italy
were an antient Amonian colony; and they were denominated from Campe or
Campus, which was probably the first temple, they erected. Stephanus
Byzantinus shews, that there was of old such a place: Καμπος--κτισμα
Καμπανου: but would insinuate that it took its name from a person the head
of the colony. Eustathius more truly makes it give name to the people:
though he is not sufficiently determinate. [775]Καμπανοι απο των
ὑποκαθημενων εκει Καμπων ωνομασθησαν, η απο Καμπου πολεως. There were many
of these Campi in Greece, which are styled by Pausanias ὑπαιθρα, in
contradistinction to the temples, which were covered. They are to be found
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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