_Homer_, and Reigned in _Lemnos_; and _Cinyras_ was an inventor of arts, [298] and found out copper in _Cyprus_, and the smiths hammer, and anvil, and tongs, and laver; and imployed workmen in making armour, and other things of brass and iron, and was the only King celebrated in history for working in metals, and was King of _Lemnos_, and the husband of _Venus_; all which are the characters of _Vulcan_: and the _Egyptians_ about the time of the death of _Cinyras_, _viz._ in the Reign of their King _Amenophis_, built a very sumptuous Temple at _Memphis_ to _Vulcan_, and near it a smaller Temple to _Venus Hospita_; not an _Egyptian_ woman but a foreigner, not _Helena_ but _Vulcan's Venus_: for [299] _Herodotus_ tells us, that the region round about this Temple was inhabited by _Tyrian Phœnicians_, and that [300] _Cambyses_ going into this Temple at _Memphis_, very much derided the statue of _Vulcan_ for its littleness; _For_, saith he, _this statue is most like those Gods which the _Phœnicians_ call _Patæci_, and carry about in the fore part of their Ships in the form of Pygmies_: and [301] _Bochart_ saith of this _Venus Hospita_, _Phœniciam Venerem in Ægypto pro peregrina habitam._ As the _Egyptians_, _Phœnicians_ and _Syrians_ in those days Deified their Kings and Princes, so upon their coming into _Asia minor_ and _Greece_, they taught those nations to do the like, as hath been shewed above. In those days the writing of the _Thebans_ and _Ethiopians_ was in hieroglyphicks; and this way of writing seems to have spread into the lower _Egypt_ before the days of _Moses_: for thence came the worship of their Gods in the various shapes of Birds, Beasts, and Fishes, forbidden in the second commandment. Now this emblematical way of writing gave occasion to the _Thebans_ and _Ethiopians_, who in the days of _Samuel_, _David_, _Solomon_, and _Rehoboam_ conquered _Egypt_, and the nations round about, and erected a great Empire, to represent and signify their conquering Kings and Princes, not by writing down their names, but by making various hieroglyphical figures; as by painting _Ammon_ with Ram's horns, to signify the King who conquered _Libya_, a country abounding with sheep; his father _Amosis_ with a Scithe, to signify that King who conquered the lower _Egypt_, a country abounding with corn; his Son _Osiris_ by an Ox, because he taught the conquered nations to plow with oxen; _Bacchus_ with Bulls horns for the same reason, and with Grapes because he taught the nations to plant vines, and upon a Tiger because he subdued _India_; _Orus_ the son of _Osiris_ with a Harp, to signify the Prince who was eminently skilled on that instrument; _Jupiter_ upon an Eagle to signify the sublimity of his dominion, and with a Thunderbolt to represent him a warrior; _Venus_ in a Chariot drawn with two Doves, to represent her amorous and lustful; _Neptune_ with a Trident, to signify the commander of a fleet composed of