insigne: at least they were esteemed so by the people of Thebes. Hence we find, that upon the tomb of Epaminondas there was figured a shield with a serpent for a device, to signify that he was an Ophite, or [1173]Theban. The Spartans were of the same race: and there is said to have been the same device upon the shield of [1174]Menelaus, and of [1175]Agamemnon. The story of Cadmus, and of the serpent, with which he engaged upon his arrival in Bœotia, relates to the Ophite worship, which was there instituted by the Cadmians. So Jason in Colchis, Apollo in Phocis, Hercules at Lerna, engaged with serpents, all which are histories of the same purport; but mistaken by the later Grecians. It will not, I think, be amiss to take notice of some of those countries westward, to which Cadmus is said to have betaken himself. From Bœotia he is supposed to have passed to Epirus and Illyria; and it is certain, that the Cadmians settled in many places upon that coast. In Thesprotia was a province of the Athamanes; who were denominated from their Deity Ath-Man, or Ath-Manes. Here were the rivers Acheron, and Cocytus, the lake Acherusia, and the pestiferous pool [1176]Aornon Here was the city Acanthus similar to one of the same name about forty miles above [1177]Memphis: and a nation of people called [1178]Oreitæ: all which have a reference to Egypt. The oracle at Dodona was founded by people from the same country, as we are assured by [1179]Herodotus and others. And not only colonies from that country, but people from Canaan must have betaken themselves to these parts, as is evident from names of places. This will appear from the city [1180]Phœnice: and from another near Oricum, called Palæste; and from the coast and region styled Palæstina. This was the spot where Cæsar landed, before he marched to Pharsalia. [1181]Postridie terram attigit Cerauniorum saxa inter, et alia loca periculosa, quietam nactus stationem. At portus omnes timens, quod teneri ab adversariis arbitrabatur, ad eundem locum, qui adpellatur Palæste, omnibus navibus incolumibus, milites exposuit. Lucan takes notice of the same circumstance, and the coast Palæstina. [1182]Inde rapi cœpere rates, atque æquora classem Curva sequi; quæ jam, vento fluctuque secundo Lapsa, Palæstinas uncis confixit arenas. Here was the haven Comar, or [1183]Comarus, near the pool Aornus: and a city [1184]Oropus, similar to the Oropus of Syria, and Bœotia. And higher up was a region Europa, styled Europa Scythica by Festus Rufus. It is observable that there was a city in Epirus called [1185]Tecmon, similar to one in Canaan, as we may infer from the chief of David's captains being styled the [1186]Tecmonite.