A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology Volume I Part 13

L. F CL. ARGENTO...

We may learn from the inscription, however mutilated, that this pillar was not the work of Pompeius Magnus; nor could it at all relate to his history: for the time of its being rebuilt was but little removed from the age in which he lived. The original work must have therefore been far prior. The pillar in Egypt is doubtless the same which was built upon the ruins of a former, by Sostratus of Cnidos, before the time of Pompeius: so that the name must have been given on another account. The inscription is preserved by [793]Strabo.

SOS?????S ??????S ????F????S T???S SO???S??

Y??? ?O?

??O??????O?.

The narrow streight into the Euxine sea was a pa.s.sage of difficult navigation. This was the reason, that upon each side there were temples and sacred columns erected to the Deity of the country, in order to obtain his a.s.sistance. And there is room to think, that the pillars and obelisks were made use of for beacons, and that every temple was a Pharos. They seem to have been erected at the entrance of harbours; and upon eminences along the coasts in most countries. The pillars of Hercules were of this sort, and undoubtedly for the same purpose. They were not built by him; but erected to his honour by people who worshipped him, and who were called Herculeans.

[794]???? ?a? pa?a??? ?p???e t? t??es?a? t????t??? ?????, ?a?ape? ??

??????? t?? st???da e?esa?, t?? ep? t? p???? ?e?e???, p????? t?. ?a? ?

?e????? ?e??e??? p????? a?t??e?ta? t? ta?t? st???d?. _For it was a custom_, says Strabo, _among the antients, to erect this kind of land-marks, such as the pillar at Rhegium, near the foot of Italy: which is a kind of tower, and was raised by the people of Rhegium at the streight where the pa.s.sage was to Sicily. Directly opposite stood another building of the same sort, called the tower of Pelorus._ Such Pillars were by the Iberians styled Herculean, because they were sacred to Hercules; under which t.i.tle they worshipped the chief Deity. Some of these were near Gades, and On.o.ba[795], ?at' ???a? t?? ????a?: others were erected still higher, on the coast of Lusitania. This caused an idle dispute between Eratosthenes, Dicaearchus, and [796]others, in order to determine which were the genuine pillars of Hercules: as if they were not all equally genuine; all denominated from the Deity of the country. Two of the most celebrated stood upon each side of the Mediterranean at the noted pa.s.sage called fretum Gaditanum--?ata ta a??a t?? p?????. That on the Mauritanian side was called Abyla, from Ab-El, parens Sol: the other in Iberia had the name of[797] Calpe. This was an obelisk or tower, and a compound of Ca-Alpe, and signifies the house, or cavern of the same oracular G.o.d: for it was built near a cave; and all such recesses were esteemed to be oracular. At places of this sort mariners used to come on sh.o.r.e to make their offerings; and to inquire about the success of their voyage. They more especially resorted to those towers, and pillars, which stood at the entrance of their own havens.

n.o.body, says [798]Arrian, will venture to quit his harbour without paying due offerings to the G.o.ds, and invoking their favour. Helenus in Virgil charges aeneas, whatever may be the consequence, not to neglect consulting the oracle at c.u.ma.

[799]Hic tibi ne qua morae fuerint dispendia tanti, Quamvis increpitent socij, et vi cursus in altum Vela vocet, possisque sinus implere secundos, Quin adeas vatem, precibusque oracula poscas.

The island Delos was particularly frequented upon this account; and the sailors seem to have undergone some severe discipline at the altar of the G.o.d, in order to obtain his favour.

[800]?ste???, p????e, p??????te, t?? de se ?a?t??

?p???? ???a???? pa?????e ??? ?e??s??

???' ??t? e?a??? ?? ep?p?e???s?? a?ta?, ??e?? d' ?tt? ta??st?? a?e? p????, a??a ta ?a?f?

O?ee? este??a?t?, ?a? ?? pa??? a???? e?sa?, ???? e?a? ? se? ??? ?p? p????s?? ????a?

??ss?e???----

O! ever crown'd with altars, ever blest, Lovely Asteria, in how high repute Stands thy fair temple 'mid the various tribes Who ply the aegean. Though their business claims Dispatch immediate; though the inviting gales Ill brook the lingering mariners' delay: Soon as they reach thy soundings, down at once Drop the slack sails, and all the naval gear.

The ship is moor'd: nor do the crew presume To quit thy sacred limits, 'till they have pa.s.s'd A painful penance; with the galling whip Lash'd thrice around thine altar.

This island was greatly esteemed for its sanct.i.ty, and there used to be a wonderful concourse of people from all nations continually resorting to its temple. The priests, in consequence of it, had hymns composed in almost all languages. It is moreover said of the female attendants, that they could imitate the speech of various people; and were well versed in the histories of foreign parts, and of antient times. Homer speaks of these extraordinary qualifications as if he had been an eye-witness:

[801]???? de t?de e?a ?a?a, ?t?? ??e?? ??p?t' ??e?ta?.

????a? ????ade?, ??at?e?ete? ?e?apa??a?, ??t' epe? a? p??t?? e? ?p?????' ???s?s??, ??t?? d' a? ??t? te, ?a? ??te?? ???ea????, ???sae?a? a?d??? te pa?a???, ?de ???a????, ???? ae?d??s??, ?e????s? de f??' a????p??.

?a?t?? d' a????p?? f??a?, ?a? ???a??ast??

??e?s?a? ?sas?? fa??? de ?e? a?t?? ??ast??

F?e??es?a?, ??t? sf? ?a?? s??a???e? a??d?.

The Delian nymphs, who tend Apollo's shrine, When they begin their tuneful hymns, first praise The mighty G.o.d of day: to his they join Latona's name, and Artemis, far fam'd For her fleet arrows and unerring bow.

Of heroes next, and heroines, they sing, And deeds of antient prowess. Crowds around, Of every region, every language, stand In mute applause, sooth'd with the pleasing lay.

Vers'd in each art and every power of speech, The Delians mimick all who come: to them All language is familiar: you would think The natives spoke of every different clime.

Such are their winning ways: so sweet their song.

The offerings made at these places used to be of various kinds, but particularly of liba, or cakes, which were generally denominated from the temple where they were presented. A curious inscription to this purpose has been preserved by Spon and Wheeler, which belonged to some obelisk or temple upon the Thracian Bosporus. It was found on the Asiatic side, nearly opposite to the Pompean pillar, of which I before took notice. The Deity to whom it was inscribed was the same as that above, but called by another t.i.tle, Aur, and Our, ???; rendered by the Greeks [802]??????; and changed in acceptation so as to refer to another element.

[803] ?????? e? p????? t?? ?d???t??a ?a?e?t?

???a, ?ata p??ta??? ?st??? e?petasa?.

??t' ep? ??a?ea? d??a? d????, e??a ??se?d??

?ap???? ????sse? ??a pa?a ?aa????, ??te ?at ???a??? p??t?? p?a?a, ??st?? e?e????

?e?s??, t? de ?a??? ?a?sta pa?a ??a??.

??? de ?a? e?a?t?t?? ae? ?e?? ??t?pat??? pa??

St?se f???? a?a??? s????? e?p?????.

Great Urian Jove invoke to be your guide: Then spread the sail, and boldly stem the tide.

Whether the stormy inlet you explore, Where the surge laves the bleak Cyanean sh.o.r.e, Or down the Egean homeward bend your way, Still as you pa.s.s the wonted tribute pay, An humble cake of meal: for Philo here, Antipater's good son, this shrine did rear, A pleasing omen, as you ply the sail, And sure prognostic of a prosperous gale.

The Iapygian promontory had a temple to the same G.o.d, whose name by Dionysius is rendered ?????.

[804]???at' ??p????? tata??se?a, esf' ??????

?a??a??a?, ?????, t??? s??eta? ?d??a? ???.

The more difficult the navigation was, the more places of sanct.i.ty were erected upon the coast. The Bosporus was esteemed a dangerous pa.s.s; and, upon that account, abounded with Cippi, and altars. These were originally mounds of earth, and sacred to the Sun: upon which account they were called Col-On, or altars of that Deity. From hence is derived the term Colona, and ??????. It came at last to denote any ness or foreland; but was originally the name of a sacred hill, and of the pillar which was placed upon it. To say the truth, there was of old hardly any headland but what had its temple or altar. The Bosporus, in particular, had numbers of them by way of sea-marks, as well as for sacred purposes: and there were many upon the coast of Greece. Hence Apollonius says of the Argonauts:

[805] ??? de ??ss?e???s?? ??? a?ete??e ??????.

In another place of the Bosporus--

[806] Fa??eta? ?e??e? st?a ??sp????, ?de ?????a?

??s?a?.

The like occurs in the Orphic Argonauts, where Beleus is pointing out the habitation of the Centaur Chiron:

[807]O f????, a??e?te s??p??? p??????ta ???????, ?ess? e?? p????? ?atas????, e??a de ?e????

?a?e? e?? sp??????, d??a??tat?? ?e?ta????.

These Colonae were sacred to the Apollo of Greece; and, as they were sea-marks and beacons, which stood on eminences near the mouths of rivers, and at the entrances of harbours, it caused them to be called ???a, ???ea, and ????. Homer gives a beautiful description of such hills and headlands, and of the sea-coast projected in a beautiful landscape beneath, when, in some ravishing poetry, he makes all these places rejoice at the birth of Apollo:

[808]?asa? de s??p?a? t?? ad??, ?a? p????e? a????

?????? ??e??, p?ta?? ?' a?a de p???e??te?, ??ta?t' e?? ??a ?e???e?a?, ??e?e? te ?a?a.s.s??.

In that happy hour The lofty cliffs, that overlook the main, And the high summits of the towering hills, Shouted in triumph: down the rivers ran In pleasing murmurs to the distant deep.

The shelves, the sh.o.r.es, the inlets of the sea, Witness'd uncommon gladness.

Apollo, from this circ.u.mstance, was often called epa?t???, or the tutelary G.o.d of the coast; and had particular offerings upon that account.

[809]?e?sata t' ??ae??? p??s???e? ?e?a ?a?a ???? ?a??fa??, ?a? epa?t?? ?p??????.

It was not only upon rocks and eminences that these Cippi and Obelisks were placed by the antients: they were to be found in their temples, where for many ages a rude stock or stone served for a representation of the Deity.

They were sometimes quite shapeless, but generally of a conical figure; of which we meet with many instances. Clemens Alexandrinus takes notice of this kind of [810]worship: and Pausanias, in describing the temple of Hercules at Hyettus in [811]Botia, tells us, that there was no statue in it, nor any work of art, but merely a rude stone, after the manner of the first ages. Tertullian gives a like description of Ceres and Pallas. Pallas Attica, et Ceres [812]Phrygia--quae sine effigie, rudi palo, et informi specie prostant. Juno of Samos was little better than a [813]post. It sometimes happens that aged trees bear a faint likeness to the human fabric: roots, likewise, and sprays, are often so fantastic in their evolutions, as to betray a remote resemblance. The antients seem to have taken advantage of this fancied similitude, which they improved by a little art; and their first effort towards imagery was from these rude and rotten materials. Apollonius Rhodius, in his account of the Argonauts, gives a description of a monument of this sort, which was by them erected in a dark grove, upon a mountainous part of [814]Bithynia. They raised an altar of rough stones, and placed near it an image of Rhea, which they formed from an arm or stump of an old vine.

?s?e de t? st?a??? st?p?? ape???, e?t?ef?? ???

?????? ?e?a?d????, t? e? e?ta?? ?f?a pe???t?

?a????? ???e??? ?e??? ?eta?? e?ese d' ?????

????s??, ?a? d? ?? ep' ?????e?t? ??????

?d??sa?, f????s?? ep??efe? a???tat?s???

?? ?a te pasa?? pa??pe?tata? e??????t?

???? d' a? ?e?ad?? pa?a???e??, af? de f??????

Ste?ae??? d??????s? ???p????? ee???t?.

A dry and wither'd branch, by time impair'd, Hung from an ample and an aged vine, Low bending to the earth: the warriors axe Lopt it at once from the parental stem.

This as a sacred relick was consigned To Argus' hands, an image meet to frame Of Rhea, dread Divinity, who ruled Over Bithynia's mountains. With rude art He smooth'd and fashion'd it in homely guise.

Then on a high and lonely promontory Rear'd it amid a tall and stately grove Of antient beeches. Next of stones unwrought They raise an altar; and with boughs of oak Soft wreaths of foliage weave to deck it round.

Then to their rites they turn, and vows perform.