Theffaly, were famous for uncommon plants. Circe and Calypfo are like Medea, reprefented as very experienced in pharmacy, and fimples. Under these characters we have the hiftory of Cuthite priefteffes, whofe charms and incantations were thought to have a wonderful influence. From the knowledge of this people in herbs, we may justly infer a great excellence in phyfic. Egypt, the nurse of arts, was much celebrated for botany. (Hom. Od. d. v. 229.) To the Titanians was attributed the invention of chemistry. Χημια Γιγανίων. εύρημα. (Syncellus, p. 14.) The Pæonians of Thrace (upon the Hebrus) were fo knowing in pharmacy, that the art was diftinguished by an epithet taken from their name. The Pierians were famed for poetry and music. In latter times we find people in these parts, who difplayed no fmall fhew of genius; and were much addicted to letters. (Tacit. Annal. L. 2. c. 64. Ovid. de Ponto. L. 2. El. 9. v. 65.) The Hyperboreans feem to have been equally celebrated. The music of the Egyptians and Canaanites was very affecting. The Marianduni, an Amazonian tribe, were noted for the moft melancholy airs. (Dionys. v. 788. et Schol.) The Iberians of Botica delighted in a kind of dirges, and funereal mufic. (Philoftrat. in vita Apollon. p. 211.) The ancients fpeak of the Dorian and the Phrygian measures as more animated and manly. Those of Lefbos and Æolia were particularly fweet and pleafing nor was it only harmony, which they efteemed a requifite in their hymns; they were made the repofitaries of all knowledge, and contained an hiftory of their ancestors, and of their deities, and the annals of paft ages. In short; wherever this great family fettled, they always fhewed themselves fupcrior in fcience: and though they degenerated by degrees, and were oftentimes overpowered by a barbarous enemy, which reduced them to a ftate of obfcurity; yet fome traces of their original fuperiority were in most places to be found. Thus the Turditani, one of the Iberian nations upon the great western ocean, are to the last represented as a most intelligent people. Σοφωτατοι δ' εξελαζονται των Ιβηρων ούλοι, και γραμ μακη χρωνίας, και της παλαιας μνήμης έχουσι συγγραμpeala, και ποιημαία, και νομους εμμέτρους εξακισχιλίων είων, as par. Strabo. L. 3. p. 204. We must lament that the Romans have not tranfmitted to us the leaft fample of these valuable remains. In Tatianus Affyrius (c. 1. p. 243.) and more especially in Clemens of Alexandria (L. 1. p. 364.) we have an account of those perfons, who were fuppofed to have bleffed the world with fome invention and upon examination almost all of them will be found to have been of Cuthite original. III. 509. AMORA, Cakes made in honour of Ham-Orus. I. 297. AMPEL. This term is a title, the fame as Omphel, and felates to the oracular deity of the pagan world; under which character Ham was principally alluded to. As the Vine was esteemed facred both to Dionufus, and Bacchus, and had the name of Ampel, which the Greeks rendered Auλos; and as it was their custom out of every title to form a new perfonage, fo they have fuppofed Ampelus to have been a youth of great beauty, and one whom Bacchus particularly favoured. Wherever the Amonians fettled this name occurs. Many cities, promontories, mountains, barren crags, rocks of the fea, ftrands and fhores, ill fuited to the cultivation of the Vine, were denominated from it, because here were altars and pillars to this oracular deity. The name therefore could have no relation to the Greek word, word, fignifying the Vine, but they were fo called from the deity to which they were facred. We meet with Ampelus, Ampeloëffa, a nation in Lybia called Ampeliota; Ampelona, Ampelufia, &c. Ampelus and Omphalus were the fame term originally, however varied afterwards, and differently appropriated. They are each a compound from Omphe; and relate to the oracular deity. I. 273. AMPHI. This term originally related to oracular revelation. It is always found annexed to the names of perfons famous on that account; e. g. Amphiaraus, (He was worshiped by the Oropians, and his temple was built in imitation, or in memory, of one called Cnopia at Thebes.) Amphilochus, (He was the god of light and prophecy. I. 253. n.) Amphimachus; perfons reprefented as under particular divine influence, and interpreters of the will of the gods. Amphion, though degraded to a harper, was Amphi-On, the oracle of Apollo, the Sun. Ampucides, Apunidas, (fo was Mopfus ftiled). This is not a patronymic, but a title of the oracular deity. Ampycus, faid to be the father of Mopfus; but he was the fame with Apollo. But these fuppofed prophets were deities, to whom temples were confecrated under these names; or rather, they were all titles, which related to one god, the Sun. Amphictuons were originally prophetic perfonages, who attended at Delphi. Amphira, fo is Minerva ftiled by Lycophron; it is a compound of Amphi-Ur; the divine influence, or oracle of Orus. Amphiffa, Amphiffa, a city in Phocis, famous for the oracle of an unknown goddess, the daughter of Macaria. Amphryfus, in Boeotia, much famed for the influence of Apollo. Amphimallus, in Crete, well known for its oracle. Amphiclea, in Phocis; here was a fhrine of Dionufus, which was oracular. Amphipolis (called of old Oropus. II. 165.) I. 252. &c. Amphi-Tirit is merely an oracular tower, whom the poets have changed into Amphitrite, and made the wife of Neptune. I. 405. Aupiμaloga, facred cakes, fo called from an oracular temple ftiled Mentor, and Mantor (q. v.) I. 440. Amphi, Aug. I imagine that the facred oracular influence under this term is often alluded to in the exordia of poets, especially by the writers of Dithyrambic measure, when they addrefs Apollo. Taken in its usual sense for circum, it has no meaning ; and there is otherwise no accounting for its being chofen above all others in the language to begin hymns of praise to that deity, who was the principal god of prophecy. We have one inftance in the Nubes of Ariftoph. v. 595 Αμφι μοι αύτε αναξ, Δήλιε, Κύνθιαν εχων Apollo was fo frequently called Augi ava, that it was in a manner looked upon as a neceffary proœmium. In the short hymns afcribed to Homer, this term is induftriously retained; it was a term of long standing; the fenfe of which was no longer understood, yet the found was retained by the Greeks, and used for a customary exclamation. 1.255. AMPHIPRUMNAIS, A kind of veffel copied by the Greeks from one at Thebes in Egypt; the extremities were fashioned nearly alike; no diftinction of head or stern. Danaus (q. v.) is faid to have croffed the fea from Egypt to Argos in a fhip of this form. There was fomething esteemed facred and falutary in this kind of veffels. Αμφιπρυμνα, τα επι σωτηρια πεμπομενα Whoa. Hefych. This Navis biprora was not a veffel commonly made use of to cross the feas; it was a copy of the facred fhip of Ifis. II. 226. 248. πλοία. AMUMONE. There was a place in Argos named Triaina where the waters of Amumone arofe; this word is a variation from Amim-On, the waters of the Sun. The ftream rose close to the place, whofe true name was undoubtedly Tor-Ain from its vicinity to the fountain. I. 409. AMYCLE, A city in Italy, of Spartan original; it was faid to have fwarmed of old with ferpents. I. 485. AMYCUS, A king of Bithynia, is reprefented as of a gigantic fize, and a great proficient with the cæftus. (Paufan. L. 1.) He was in confequence of it the terror of all ftrangers who came upon the coast. II. 45. AN-AIT, Fountain of the Sun. In Armenia, near Comana and Camifene, was the temple of Anait; it was a Perfic and Babylonish deity, as well as an Armenian, which was honoured with Puratheia, where the rites of fire were particularly kept up. The city was called Zela, and clofe behind was a nitrous lake. |