Some of this family proceeded to the western part of the Adriatic gulf, and settled upon the Eridanus, or Po. Here were the Orobians, the same as the Oropians, whose chief city was Comus: near which the consul Marcellus overthrew the [1187]Galli Insubres. The story of Phaethon, who was supposed to have fallen into the Eridanus, is manifestly of Egyptian original; as the fable of Cycnus is from Canaan. Phaethon is by some represented as the first king, who reigned in [1188]Chaonia, and Epirus. He was in reality the same as Osiris, the Sun; whose worship was in there very early, as well as upon the Padus. The names of the Deities in every country are generally prefixed to the list of kings, and mistaken accordingly. Cycnus is supposed to have resided not only in Liguria, but in Ætolia, and Phocis. There was in these parts a lake [1189]Conope, from Cycnus called also [1190]Cycnëa; which names undoubtedly came from Egypt, and Canaan. The colonies upon the Padus left many memorials of their original; especially those, who were from the Caphtorim of Palestina. Some of them had carried on a great work upon the part of the river, where they settled; which from them was called [1191]Fossa Philistina; and Fossiones Philistinæ. Of this I have made mention [1192]before. It is said of Cadmus, that at the close of his life, he was, together with his wife Harmonia, changed to a serpent of stone. This wonderful metamorphosis is supposed to have happened at Encheliæ, a town in Illyria, which circumstance is taken notice of by Lucan. [1193]Tunc qui Dardaniam tenet Oricon, et vagus altis Dispersus sylvis Athamas, et _nomine prisco_ Encheliæ, versi testantes funera Cadmi. The true history is this. These two personages were here enshrined in a temple, or Petra: and worshipped under the symbol of a serpent. Scylax Caryandensis, speaking of this part of Illyria, says, [1194]Καδμου και Ἁρμονιας ὁι λιθοι εισιν ενταυθα, και ἱερον. _In this region are two stones sacred to Cadmus, and Harmonia: and there is likewise a temple dedicated to them._ Lucan, who calls the place Encheliæ, speaks of the name as of great antiquity. It undoubtedly was of long standing, and a term from the Amonian language. Encheliæ, Εγχελιαι, is the place of En-Chel, by which is signified the fountain of heaven; similar to Hanes, Anorus, Anopus in other parts. The temple was an Ophite Petra: which terms induced people to believe, that there were in these temples serpents petrified. It is possible, that in later times the Deity may have been worshipped under this form: whence it might truly be said of Cadmus, and Harmonia, that they would one day be exhibited in stone. [1195]Λαϊνεην ημελλον εχειν οφιωδεα μορφην.