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
Hence the Cadmians were styled Ανακες, and [1227]Ανακτες; and the temples
of their Gods, Ανακτορια, Anactoria. These terms were imported from the
Anakim of Egypt and Canaan: but as the people, who brought them, were
Oritæ, and the sons of Urius, they must ultimately have come from
Babylonia. Here astronomy, and the other sciences first commenced; and the
worship of the Sun was first instituted: where the priests, and professors
were styled Oritæ, and [1228]Orchani. Lucian indeed says, that astronomy
was not derived to the Greeks either from the Egyptians, or the Ethiopians;
but from [1229]Orpheus. This however intimates, that the Ethiopians, under
which name the sons of Chus are mentioned by the [1230]Greeks, were
supposed to have introduced science into this country; otherwise this
caveat had been unnecessary. But we shall in the end shew, that Orpheus was
from the same quarter. And to put the matter out of all doubt, we find
Herodotus maintaining very determinately, that the knowledge of the
heavens, and every thing relating to the distribution of time, was imported
from [1231]Babylonia. As these Babylonians, these sons of Urius, manifestly
came to Greece by the way of Egypt, it appears pretty evident, that they
were the sons of Chus, of the shepherd race, who so long held the
sovereignty in that kingdom. Hence it is, that throughout the whole
mythology of the Grecians there are continual allusions to shepherds; a
title, which we know was peculiar to the Auritæ of Egypt. Nonnus, in his
allegorical poem, describes Cadmus in a pastoral habit, playing upon an
instrument, and reclining himself under the shade of an oak.
[1232]Κλινας γειτονι νωτον ὑπο δρυι φορβαδος ὑλης,
Και φορεων αγραυλον αηθεος ἑιμα Νομηος.
He gives to him the same powers in harmony which were attributed to
Orpheus. Hence Cadmus is made to say that he could charm the woods upon the
mountains, and sooth the wild beasts of the forest: that he could even calm
the ocean, and stop the course of its turbulent waters.
[1233]Θελξω δενδρεα παντα, και ουρεα, και φρενα θηρων·
Ωκεανον σπευδοντα παλινδινητον ερυξω.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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