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
The Helladians, and the
Persians, were of the same [436]family: hence we find many similar rites
subsisting among the two nations. The latter adhered to the purer Zabaïsm,
which they maintained a long time. They erected the same sacred Tupha, as
the Grecians: and we may be assured of the original purpose, for which
these hills were raised, from the use to which they put them. They were
dedicated to the great fountain of light, called by the Persians, Anaït:
and were set apart as Puratheia, for the celebration of the rites of fire.
This people, after they had defeated the Sacæ in Cappadocia, raised an
immense Comah in memorial of their victory. [437]Strabo, who describes it
very minutely, tells us, that they chose a spot in an open plain; where
they reared a Petra, or high place, by heaping up a vast mound of earth.
This they fashioned to a conical figure; and then surrounded it with a wall
of stone. In this manner they founded a kind of temple in honour of Anaït,
Omanus, and Anandrates, the Deities of their country. I have mentioned that
the Egyptians had hills of this nature: and from them the custom was
transmitted to Greece. Typhon, or more properly Tuphon, Τυφων, who was
supposed to have been a giant, was a compound of Tuph-On, as I have before
mentioned; and signified a sacred [438]mount of the sun. Those cities in
Egypt, which had a high place of this sort, and rites in consequence of it,
were styled Typhonian. Upon such as these they sacrificed red haired men,
or men with hair of a light colour; in other words strangers. For both the
sons of Chus, and the Mizraïm were particularly dark and woolly: so that
there could be no surer mark than the hair to distinguish between a native
and a foreigner. These sacrifices were offered in the city [439]Idithia,
[440]Abaris, [441]Heliopolis, and Taphosiris; which in consequence of these
offerings were denominated Typhonian cities. Many writers say, that these
rites were performed to Typhon at the [442]tomb of Osiris. Hence he was in
later times supposed to have been a person, one of immense size: and he was
also esteemed a [443]God. But this arose from the common mistake by which
places were substituted for the Deities there worshipped. Typhon was the
Tupha, or altar, the supposed tomb of the God: and the offerings were made
to the Sun, styled On; the same as Osiris, and Busiris. As there were
Typhonian mounts in many parts, he was in consequence of it supposed to
have been buried in different places: near mount Caucasus in Colchis; near
the river Orontes in Syria; and under lake Serbonis. Typhon, or rather
Typhonian worship, was not unknown in the region of [444]Troas, near which
were the Scopuli Typhonis. Plutarch mentions that in the Phrygian Theology
Typhon was esteemed the grandson of Isaac or Isæac: and says that he was so
spoken of εν τοις Φρυγιοις [445]γραμμασιν. But all terms of relation are to
be disregarded. The purport of the history was this. The altar was termed
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account