[1163]Canaan. But the Cadmonites, and many of the people about Mount Libanus were of another family. The Hivites of Canaan Proper were those, who by a stratagem obtained a treaty with [1164]Joshua. Their chief cities were Gibeon, Cephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim. These lay within the the tribe of [1165]Judah, and of Benjamin, who possessed the southern parts of Canaan. But the other Hivites, among whom were the Cadmonites, lay far to the north under Libanus, at the very extremities of the country. The sacred writer distinguishes them from the Canaanites, as well as from the other Hivites, by saying, the Hivites of Baal Hermon. And he seems to distinguish the Sidonians from the genuine Canaanites, and justly: for if we may credit prophane history, the Cadmians had obtained the sovereignty in that city: and the people were of a mixed race. [1166]Καδμος--Τυρου και Σιδωνος εβασιλευεν. The Cadmians extended themselves in these parts quite to the Euphrates, and westward to the coast of Greece, and Ausonia; and still farther to the great Atlantic. They went under the name of Ellopians, Oropians, [1167]Cadmonites, Hermonians, Ophitæ, and wherever they settled there will be always found some reference to their antient history, and religion. As they were particularly styled Ophitæ, or Hivites, many places whither they came, were said to swarm with [1168]serpents. Rhodes was under this predicament, and had the name of Ophiusa: which name was given on account of the Hivites, who there settled, and of the serpent-worship, which they introduced. But the common notion was, that it was so called from real serpents, with which it was infested. The natives were said to have been of the giant race, and the [1169]Heliadæ or offspring of the Sun; under which characters the antients particularly referred to the sons of Chus, and Canaan. Their coming to the island is alluded to under the arrival both of Danaus and Cadmus, by whom the rites, and [1170]religion of the Rhodians are supposed to have been introduced. In Greece were several cities named Oropus, by which is signified Ori Serpentis civitas. One of these was near [1171]Tanagia upon the border of Attica, and Bœotia. This is the very spot where the Cadmians first resided: and the city was undoubtedly built by them. It stood near the warm baths of Amphiaraus, whose temple belonged to the Oropians; and who was particularly worshipped by them. We are informed by Strabo, that the temple of Amphiaraus was built either in imitation, or in memory, of one called Cnopia at [1172]Thebes. Cnopia is a contraction for Can-Opia; and the temple was certainly founded by people from Egypt. It took its name from Can-ope, or Can-opus, the Ophite God of that country; and of the people likewise, by whom the building was erected. The natives of Bœotia had many memorials of their having been originally Ophites. The history of their country had continual references to serpents and dragons. They seem to have been the national