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
And the name, originally, did not relate to the island in general, but to a
part only, and that a small district near Ætna. This spot had been occupied
by the first inhabitants, the Cyclopians, Lestrygons, and Sicani: and it
had this name from some sacred tower which they built. Callimachus calls
it, mistakenly, Trinacria, but says that it was near Ætna, and a portion of
the antient Sicani.
[253]Αυε δ' αρ' Αιτνα,
Αυε δε Τρινακριη Σικανων ἑδος.
The island Rhodes was called [254]Trinacia, which was not triangular: so
that the name had certainly suffered a variation, and had no relation to
any figure. The city Trachin, Τραχιν, in Greece, was properly Tor-chun,
turris sacra vel regia, like Tarchon in Hetruria. Chun and Chon were
titles, said peculiarly to belong to Hercules: [255]Τον Ἡρακλην φησι κατα
τον Αιγυπτιων διαλεκτον Κωνα λεγεσθαι. We accordingly find that this place
was sacred to Hercules; that it was supposed to have been [256]founded by
him; and that it was called [257]Heraclea.
I imagine that the trident of Poseidon was a mistaken implement; as it does
not appear to have any relation to the Deity to whom it has been by the
Poets appropriated. Both the towers on the sea-coast, and the beacons,
which stood above them, had the name of Tor-ain. This the Grecians changed
to Triaina, Τριαινα, and supposed it to have been a three-pronged fork. The
beacon, or Torain, consisted of an iron or brazen frame, wherein were three
or four tines, which stood up upon a circular basis of the same metal. They
were bound with a hoop; and had either the figures of Dolphins, or else
foliage in the intervals between them. These filled up the vacant space
between the tines, and made them capable of holding the combustible matter
with which they were at night filled. This instrument was put upon a high
pole, and hung sloping sea-ward over the battlements of the tower, or from
the stern of a ship: with this they could maintain, either a smoke by day,
or a blaze by night. There was a place in Argos named [258]Triaina, which
was supposed to have been so called from the trident of Neptune. It was
undoubtedly a tower, and the true name Tor-ain; as may be shewn from the
history with which it is attended. For it stood near a fountain, though a
fountain of a different nature from that of which we have been speaking.
The waters of Amumone rose here: which Amumone is a variation from Amim-On,
_the waters of the Sun_. The stream rose close to the place, which was
named Tor-ain, from its vicinity to the fountain.
[Illustration: A _The ancient Tower at Torone_
B _Tower of Cronus in Sicily_]
[Illustration: _Ancient Triainæ_]
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