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
Thus have I endeavoured to state the progress of the Cuthites under their
different appellations to Greece; and to describe the rout which they took
in their peregrinations, I have shewn, that under the title of Phenicians
and Cadmians, they first settled in Canaan, and in the region about Tyre
and Sidon: from whence they extended themselves towards the midland parts
of Syria; where they built Antioch. [1256]Κασος, και Βηλος, Ιναχου παιδες,
προς τῳ Οροντῃ ποταμῳ την νυν Αντιοχειαν της Συριας πολιν εκτισαν. _Casus,
and Belus, two sons of Inachus, built the city in Syria, which is now
called Antioch upon the river Orontes._ By Casus is meant Chus; and Belus
is a Babylonish title of Ham, as well as of his immediate descendants, who
are here alluded to. From Syria they penetrated to the Euphrates, and from
thence to Armenia: and that there were colonies here of Amonians, and
particularly of the Cuthites, may be known from the history of Cadmus: but
more especially from the similitude of language, person, and manners, which
subsisted among these [1257]nations. Zonaras is very explicit upon this
head. He mentions the incroachments of the sons of Ham in these parts, and
shews the extent of the trespass, of which they were guilty. [1258]Ὁιδε γε
παιδες του Χαμ την απο Συριας και Αβανου και Λιβανου των ορων γην κατεσχον,
και ὁσα προς θαλασσαν αυτων ετετραπτο, μεχρις ωκεανου, κατειληφασι. _In
respect to the sons of Ham, they seized upon all the inland country, which
reaches from Syria, and particularly from the mountains Albanus, and
Libanus: and all the region, which from thence extends towards the sea,
even as far as the Ocean._ Of these emigrants Tacitus has given a curious
account, which has never been sufficiently heeded. He takes notice of those
who settled in Canaan, as well as those who passed higher towards the
north. [1259]Sunt, qui tradant Assyrios convenas, indigum agrorum populum,
parte Ægypti potitos, ac mox [1260]proprias urbes, Hebræasque terras, et
propiora Syriæ coluisse. As the Cadmians settled about Byblus and Sidon,
there seems in consequence of it to have been a religious correspondence
kept up between this colony and Egypt. It is said according to the
enigmatical turn of the times, that the head of Osiris was annually wafted
by the floods to [1261]Byblus. It was reported to have been just seven days
in its passage; and the whole was performed θειῃ ναυτιλιῃ, by a voyage
truly miraculous. There are many proofs that the religion of Syria came in
great measure from Egypt. The rites of Adonis, and the lamentations upon
his account at Sidon, and Byblus, were copies of the mourning for Osiris,
and represented in the same [1262]manner. Lucian, having described the
pompous temple at Hierapolis, says, that there was another in the
neighbourhood, not of Assyrian, but Egyptian original; the rites of which
were received by the natives from Heliopolis in that [1263]country. This he
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