we may, I think, learn that the priest was styled Petor, and Pator: and that it was the place, which properly was called Patora. The Colossal statue of Memnon in the Thebaïs was a Patora, or oracular image. There are many inscriptions upon different parts of it; which were copied by Dr. Pocock, and are to be seen in the first volume of his travels. They are all of late date in comparison of the statue itself; the antiquity of which is very great. One of these inscriptions is particular, and relates to the Omphi, which seems to have frightened away some ill-disposed people in an attempt to deface the image: 43 Εικονα λωβητήρες ελυμήναντ ̓ ὅτι διαν One of the most famous oracles of Apollo was in Lycia: and in consequence of it the place was named Patara. Patra in Achaia was of the same purport. I should imagine, that the place where Balaam the false prophet resided, was of the same nature; and that by Pethor and Pethora + Pocock's Egypt. p. 108. Plate xlii. 43 Pocock. Plate xxxix. p. 105. He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor. Numbers. c. 22. v. 5. was meant a place of interpretation, or oracular temple. There was probably a college of priests; such as are mentioned to have existed among the Amonians: of whom Balaam had been by the king of Moab appointed chief Petora, or priest. It seems to have been the celebrated place in Arabia, famous in after times for the worship of Alilat, and called by the Romans 5 Petra. 45 The custom of carrying the Deity in a shrine, placed in a boat, and supported by priests, was in use among the Egyptians, as well as the 46 Ammonites. It is a circumstance which deserves our notice; as it appears to be very antient, and had doubtless a mysterious allusion. We have three curious examples of it among 47 Bishop Pocock's 45 We learn from Numbers. c. 22. v. 36. and c. 31. v. 8. that the residence of Balaam was in Midian, on the other side of the river to the south, beyond the borders of Moab. This seems to have been the situation of Petra; which was either in Midian or upon the borders of it: so that Pethor, and Petra, were probably the same place. Petra is by the English traveller, Sandys, said to be called now Rath Alilat. Petra by some is called a city of Palestine: Πετρα πολις Пaλs. Suidas. But it was properly in Arabia, not far from Idume, or Edom. See Relandi Palæstina. p. 930. and Strabo, 1. 16. 46 The Ammonites were a mixed race; being both of Egyptian and Ethiopic original: Αιγυπτιων και Αιθιοπων αποικοι. Herod. 1. 2. c. 42. 47 Pocock's Egypt. vol. 1. plate xlii. valuable specimens of antiquity, which he collected in those parts. He met with them at Luxorein, or 48 Lucorein, near Carnac, in the Thebaïs; but mentions not what they relate to : nor do I know of any writer who has attended to their history. The accounts given above by Curtius, and Diodorus, are wonderfully illustrated by these representations from Egypt. It is plain that they all relate to the same religious ceremony, and very happily concur to explain each other. It may be worth observing, that the originals whence these copies were taken are of the highest antiquity; and, probably, the most early specimens of sculpture in the world. Diodorus mentions that the shrine of Ammon had eighty persons to attend it: but Dr. Pocock, when he took these copies, had not time to be precisely accurate in this article. In his specimens the greatest number of attendants are twenty: eighteen support the boat, and one precedes with a kind of sceptre; another brings up the rear, having in his hand a rod, or staff, which had undoubtedly a mystic allusion. The whole seems to have been emblematical; and it will be hereafter shewn, that it related to a great preser 48 Luxorein by Norden, called Lucorein. It was probably erected to the Sun and Ouranus, and one of the first temples upon earth. |