which brought down this curse was idolatry, and the term used in all these instances is Chomah; I should think that it related to a temple of Chom, and his high places, called by the Greeks λοφοι μαστοειδεις: and to these the spouse of Solomon certainly alludes, when she Says, εγω τειχος, και ὁι μαστοι μου ὡς πυργοι. This will appear from another passage in Solomon, where he makes his beloved say, [293]_We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts. If she be a Comah, we will build upon her a palace of silver._ A palace cannot be supposed to be built upon a wall; though it may be inclosed with one. The place for building was a Comah, or eminence. It is said of Jotham, king of Judah, that [294]_on the wall of Ophel he built much_. Ophel is literally Pytho Sol, the Ophite Deity of Egypt and Canaan. What is here termed a wall, was a Comah, or high place, which had been of old erected to the sun by the Jebusites. This Jotham fortified, and turned it to advantage; whereas before it was not used, or used for a bad purpose. The ground set apart for such use was generally oval; and towards one extremity of the long diameter, as it were in the focus, were these mounds and towers erected. As they were generally royal edifices, and at the same time held sacred; they were termed Tarchon, like Tarchonium in Hetruria: which by a corruption was in later times rendered Trachon, Τραχων. There were two hills of this denomination near Damascus; from whence undoubtedly the Regio Trachonitis received its name: [295]ὑπερκεινται δε αυτης (Δαμασκου) δυο λεγομενοι Τραχωνες. These were hills with towers, and must have been very fair to see to. Solomon takes notice of a hill of this sort upon [296]_Lebanon, looking toward Damascus_; which he speaks of as a beautiful structure. The term Trachon seems to have been still farther sophisticated by the Greeks, and expressed Δρακων, Dracon: from whence in, great measure arose the notion of treasures being guarded by [297]Dragons. We read of the gardens of the Hesperides being under the protection of a sleepless serpent: and the golden fleece at Colchis was entrusted to such another guardian; of which there is a fine description in Apollonius. [298]Πυργους εισοψεσθε Κυταεος Αιηταο, Αλσος τε σκιοεν Αρεος, τοθι κωας επ' ακρης Πεπταμενον φηγοιο Δρακων, τερας αινον ιδεσθαι, Αμφις οπιπτευει δεδοκημενος· ουδε ὁι ημαρ, Ου κνεφας ἡδυμος ὑπνος αναιδεα δαμναται οσσε. Nonnus often introduces a dragon as a protector of virginity; watching while the damsel slumbered, but sleepless itself: [299]Ὑπναλεης αγρυπνον οπιπτευτηρα κορειης: and in another place he mentions [300]Φρουρον εχεις απελεθρον Οφιν. Such an one guarded the nymph Chalcomeda, [301]Παρθενικης αγαμοιο βοηθοος. The Goddess Proserpine had two [302]dragons to protect her, by the appointment of her mother Demeter.