of Cyrene. The natives were not remarkable for either mines or merchandize: yet, Palæphatus, having mentioned that they were κατα γενος Αιθιοπες, Ethiopians by extraction, that is, Cuseans, subjoins: Elo de podea xeuro. Pindar, in celebrating each happy circumstance of the Insulæ Fortunatæ, mentions, that there were trees with branches of gold: 3 Ανθεμα δε χρυσε φλέγει. The river Phasis, in Colchis, was supposed to have abounded with gold; and the like was pretended of the Hermus and Pactolus in Iönia. Not only the Poets, bút many of the graver historians, speak of their golden sands. Yet there is reason to doubt of the fact: for not one of them produces any good voucher for what they suppose. They do not mention any trade carried on, nor riches accruing from this lucky circumstance: so that there is no reason to think that one grain of gold was gathered from these celebrated streams. Among the 2 Palæphatus. Edit. Elz. 1642. p. 76. the author would not say σφόδρα πλέσιοι, but keeps to the antient term χρυσοι, though it is scarce sense. 4 Pindar. Olymp. Ode 2. spop. d. p. 25. Χρυσοφορεσι δ' εκ το Καυκασι πολλαι πηγαι ψήγμα αφανες. Αρpian de Bello Mithridat. p. 242. Salauces, an antient king of Colchis, was said to have abounded with gold. Pliny. 1. 33. c. 15. P. .614. Arrian supposes that they put fleeces into the river, to intercept (nya apaves) this imperceptible mineral; and that hence arose the fable of the Golden Fleece. several islands occupied by this people were Rhodes and Delos. In the former, the chief city is said to have been blessed with showers of gold. 5 Ενθα ποτε βρεχε θεων Βασιλεὺς ὁ μεγας χρυσαις νιφάδεσσι πολιν. At Delos every thing was golden, even the slippers of the God. Χρυσέα και τα πεδιλα, πολόχρυσος γαρ Απολλων. And this not only in aftertimes, when the island was enriched with offerings from different nations, but even at the birth of the God; by which is meant the foundation of his temple, and introduction of his rites. . Χρυσέα τοι τοτε παντα θεμείλια γείνατο, Δηλε ' Pindar. Olymp. Ode 7. p. 64. 6 • Callimachus. Hymn to Apollo. v. 31. In like manner there was a shower of gold at Thebes, in Bootia. Pindar speaks of Jupiter Χρυσῳ μεσονύκτιον νιφοντα. Isthm. Ode 7. p. 746. 7 Callimachus. Hymn to Delos. v. 260. 1 We find that the very soil and foundations of the island were golden: the lake floated with golden waves: the olive tree vegetated with golden fruits and the river Inopus, deep as it was, swelled with gold. Homer, in a hymn to the same personage, represents the whole more compendiously, by saying, that the island was weighed down with treasure: Βεβριθει. 8 Χρυσῳ δ' αρα Δηλος άπασα I have before mentioned that the Amonians set tled in Liguria: and, in consequence of it, the Heliadæ are represented as weeping, not only amber, but gold. Philostratus, speaking of a particular species of fir-trees in Boetica, says, that they dropped blood, just as the Heliade upon the Padus did gold. Chus, by the Egyptians and Canaanites, was styled Or-Chus, and 10 Chus-Or: the latter of Homer. Hymn to Apollo. v. 135. • Πευκης ειδος έτερον λείβεσθαι δ' αίματι, καθαπερ τῳ χρυσω την Hada aygor. Philostratus. 1. 5. p. 211. Eschylus mentions the Arimaspians as living upon a golden stream: Οικόσιν αμφί να μα Οι Χρυσοῤῥυτον Πλυτωνος πορε. Prometheus. p. 49. 10 Hence the celebrated city in Egypt had the name of CerchuSome traces of Orcus may be found in Zeus Hircius, and VOL. II. sora. E which was expressed by the Greeks, analogous to the examples above, Xeurwe, Chrusor and we learn in Eusebius, from Philo, that Chrusor was one of the principal Deities of the Phenicians, a great benefactor to mankind; and by some supposed to have been the same as Hephaistus. Both the Tyrians and Sidonians were undoubtedly a mixed race, and preserved the memory of Ham, and Chus, equally with that of Canaan. This name, so often rendered Chrusos, and Chrusor, was sometimes changed to Xpurawę, Chrusaor and occurs in many places where the Cuthites were known to have settled. We have been shewn that they were a long time in Egypt; and we read of a Chrusaor in those parts, who is said to have arisen from the blood of Medusa. We meet with the same Chrusaor in the regions of Asia Minor, especially among the Carians. In these parts he was particularly worshipped, and said to have been the first deified mortal. The great Divan of that nation was called Chrusao Orcius, mentioned by Pausanias. 1. 5. p. 442. He supposes the name to be from ógzos, an oath, and mentions a legend to that purpose. "Hesiod. Theog. v. 281. rium; and there was a city " Chrusaoris, and a temple of the same name. 13 Εγγυς δε της πόλεως το το Χρυσαορέως Διος κοινον ἅπαντων Καρών, εις ὁ συνιασί θυσαντες τε και βελευσαμενοι. This city was properly called Chus-Or, and built in memory of the same person; as the city Chusora, called also " Cerchusora, in Egypt. It was undoubtedly founded by some of the same family, who in aftertimes worshipped their chief ancestor; as the Sidonians and Syrians did likewise. For this we have the testimony of Sanchoniathon; who, having mentioned the various benefits bestowed upon mankind by Chrusaor, says, at the conclusion, " Δια και ως θεον αυτον μετα θανατον επεβασθησαν ̇ for which reason, after his death, they worshipped him as a God. The first king of Iberia was named Chrusaor, the reputed father of "Geryon; and he is said to have been woλuxguros, a person of great wealth all which is an Egyptian history, transferred from the Nile to the Bætis. 12 Χρυσαορίς, πολις Καρίας --Επαφροδιτος δε την Καρίαν πασαν Χρυσαορίδα λεγεσθαι (φησι). Steph. Byzant. 13 Strabo. 1. 14. p. 975. than one of the family. Zeus was a title conferred upon more 14 Herodotus. 1. 2. c. 15. Alsó c. 17. and 97. called by Strabo Kegneouça. 1. 17. p. 1160. 15 Sanchoniathon apud Euseb. Præp. Evan. 1. 1. p. 35. |