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
All these appellations are from the same
object, the edifices which they erected: even Hetruria seems to have been a
compound of Ai-tur; and to have signified the land of Towers. Another name
for buildings of this nature was Turit, or Tirit; which signified a tower
or turret. I have often mentioned that temples have been mistaken for
Deities, and places for persons. We have had an instance of this above;
where Tarchon, and Tursenus are supposed to have been founders of colonies.
Torone was a place in Macedonia; and signifies literally the Tower of the
Sun. The Poets have formed out of it a female personage; and supposed her
to have been the wife of [246]Proteus. So Amphi-Tirit is merely an oracular
tower. This too has by the Poets been changed to a female, Amphitrite; and
made the wife of Neptune. The name of Triton is a contraction of Tirit-On;
and signifies the tower of the Sun, like Torone: but a Deity was framed
from it, who was supposed to have had the appearance of a man upwards, but
downwards to have been like a fish. From this emblematical representation
we may judge of the figure of the real Deity; and be assured that it could
be no other than that of Atargatis and Dagon. The [247]Hetrurians were
thought to have been the inventors of trumpets: and in their towers upon
the sea-coast there were people appointed to be continually upon the watch
both by day and night; and to give a proper signal, if any thing happened
extraordinary. This was done by a blast from the trumpet; and Triton was
hence feigned to have been Neptune's trumpeter. He is accordingly described
by Nonnus,
[248]Τυρσηνης Βαρυδουπον εχων σαλπιγγα θαλασσης·
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