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
We find here, that the founder of this city was a shepherd, and a king, and
the reputed son of Vulcan, the same as Urius. It is said of him, that he
was, inventum focis, because he was ab origine from the land of fire; by
which is meant Ur of Chaldea. So the personage, represented under the
character of Cacus upon Mount Aventine, is by Livy said to have been a
shepherd. [1251]Pastor accola ejus loci, nomine Cacus, ferox viribus. He
likewise is said to have been the son of the God of Fire: [1252]Huic
monstro Vulcanus erat pater. The first city which the Cadmians built in
Bœotia was named [1253]Poimandris; or as Eustathius renders it Poimandria,
[1254]Ποιμανδρια; the same which was afterwards called Tanagra. It is said
to have been so denominated from one Poimander. This name is by
interpretation a shepherd, or rather a shepherd of men. It answers to the
title of Ποιμην λαου, so frequently to be met with in Homer. That excellent
Poet was wonderfully fond of every thing, which savoured of antiquity: and
has continual references to the antient history of Egypt, and to the rites
of that country. He sometimes seems to adhere superstitiously to obsolete
terms, thinking probably, that they enriched his verse, and gave a
venerable air to the narration. Of these, no one occurs more frequently
than the title of a shepherd Prince, which he bestows on many of his
leaders. It is the translation of a title, which the sons of Chus, as well
as the Egyptians, gave to their Deities, and to their kings. Hence the
writings of Hermes were inscribed the works of the Shepherd Prince, as we
may infer from the Greek transcript: for that was written in imitation of
the former, and called [1255]Poimandras.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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