57 Εςι δε τις θηητος εὔῤῥειτην παρα Γαγγην εν Χώρος τιμήεις τε και ἱερος, ὃν ποτε Βακχος Τ ̓ ἕνεκα Νύσσαιην μεν εφημίξαντο κελευθον. In consequence of this, they had many rites similar to those in 5 Greece. It was customary with them to crown themselves with ivy; which was to be found only at Meru, a mountain sacred to Bacchus. They also at their sacrifices wore the nebris, or spotted skin, like the Bacchanalians in the west and used cymbals and tabours upon the like solemn occasions. They had also, ogxnis augun, the satyric dance, which was common among the Thracians, and the people of Greece. τις σατυρική, On this account, when Alexander came into this country, the natives looked upon the Grecians as in great measure of the same family, as they were themselves and when the people of Nusa sent Acouphis, the chief person of their city, to solicit their freedom of the Grecian con 57 Dionys. Perieg. v. 1152. Arrian. Hist. Ind. p. 318. p. 321. Diod. Sic. 1. 2. p. 123, The Indians also worshipped Osiris. Ibid. 1. 1. p. 17. queror, they conjured him by the well-known name of Dionusus, as the most efficacious means of obtaining their purpose. 59 Ω βασιλευ, δεονται σε Νύσσαιοι εασαι σφας ελευθερες τε και αυτονομες, αιδοι T8 ALOVUGS. O king, the Nussaæans intreat thee to suffer them to enjoy their liberties and their laws, out of regard to their God Dionusos. Their chief city was Nusa: and wherever the Cutheans settled, they seemed to have founded a city of this name. Hence Stephanus says, Νυσαι, πολεις The Amonian colonies may be continually traced by this circumstance: for there was a city Nusa in Arabia, in Egypt, in Syria, in Colchis, upon Mount Caucasus, in Thrace, upon Helicon near Thebes, in Naxos, in Eubœa; and one in 62 Libya, of which it was said, that it 60 πολλαι. 59 Arrian. Exp. Alex. 1. 5. p. 196. 61 The Scholiast upon Homer. Z. v. 139. mentions a Nusa in Arabia, and in Egypt. Nusa in Arabia is taken notice of by Herodorus, a later poet. 61 nepas, ανθεον ύλη, Εσι δε τις Νύση, ύπατον Scholia Apollonii. 1. 2. v. 1215. Steph. Byzant. of cities styled Nusa. Also Eustathii apexCora in Dionys. v. 1159.-Stephanus of Nusa in Eubœa : ɛv0× μιας ημερας την αμπελον φασιν ανθειν, και τον βοτρυν πεπαινεσα dice θαι. 62 Strabo. 1. 7. p. 459. Nusa in Libya, the city of Dionusus. There was a city Scythopolis in Canaan, undoubtedly founded. could never be seen twice by the same person. The Oxydrace, another Indian people, pretended that they were immediately descended from DioNusos; of whom Strabo takes notice : 3 Οξυδρακαι, ες τε Διονυσε συγγενεις εφαμεν μυθήσασθαι-Οξυδρακας απογονος Διονυσε. 63 There were many other tribes of people, which lay upon the Indus and the Ganges; and betrayed their origin in their name. Of the latter river Dionysius speaks: 64 Κείνος του πολεων αποτέμνεται έθνεα φωτων Ητοι μεν δύνοντος επι κλισιν ηελίοιο Ώριτας τ' Αρίβας τε, λινοχλαινες τ' Αραχωτας. by Cuthites, who came early into these parts of the country near Hermon. It is remarkable, that this place was of old called Nusa : Scythopolim, antea Nysam, a Libero Patre, sepulta nutrice, ibi Scythis deductis. Plin. Nat. Hist. 1. 5. c. 18. So that there is an uniformity in the history of all these places. It was also called Tricomis, Τρικωμις, and Bethsan, which last sigrifies, the house or temple of San, or Zan, the Shepherd Deity, the Zeus of the Greeks: Ενθα μέγας κειται Ζαν, ὃν Δια κικλησκέσι. 43 Strabo. 1. 15. p. 1008. 1026. 64 Jamblich. in Vita Pythag. Dionys. Perieg. v. 1096. He expresses Arabes, Αριβές, Separat innumeras et vastas gurgite gentes; Oritasque, Aribasque simul, linique Arachotas Utentes lænis. And the Scholiast upon Dionysius more particu larly; weos δυσιν τε Ινδε ποταμε Ωριται. The 66 titles of Oritæ and Aribes, like that of Ethi opes, were peculiar to the sons of Chus. Hence, when mention is made of Scythia Indica, and when the poet to the same purpose tells us, Est Scythiæ tellus australis flumen ad Indum; we may be assured that the country alluded to was Cuthia. The inland" Oritæ in some degree degenerated from their forefathers, and became in habit like the natives of the country; but differed from them in speech, and in their rites and customs: γλωσσα δε άλλη αυτοισι και αλλα νομαία : so that we may be assured, that they were not the original inhabitants, though they came thither very early. One region of the Gangetic 68 Es Priscian. v. 1001. 66 Αιθιοπία, ἡ βλέπεσα κατα τες Ινδες. Chron. Pasch. p. 29. €7 Insula Solis-in quâ Ori gens. Pliny 1. 6. p. 326. 68 Arrian. Hist. Indic. p. 340. and 338. of the Oritæ. country was named Cathaia, and the people 69 Cathaians. Arrian speaks of them as a very brave and respectable people; and says, that their chief city was Singala: αυτονομες Ινδών αλλες, και τις λεγόμενες Καθαιες-Σαγγαλα το ονομα τη πολεί, και αυτοι οι Καθαιοι ευτολμώτατοι τε, και τα πολεμια κρατιςοι EVOμCOUTO. Cathaia is a small variation for Cuthaia, as Aribes before was for 7 Arabes: and the latter are rendered by Arrian Arabians, Agables; who speaks of them as residing upon one of the mouths of the Indus, near the island Crocale. 74 Προσοικεει δε ταυτη εθνος Ινδικον, οι Αραβιες καλεμενοι. They lived upon the river Arabis; which served as a boundary to them, and to their brethren the Oreitæ: 73 ός δια της γης αυτων ρεων εκδίδοι ες θάλασσαν, όριζων τέτων τε την χώρην και των Ωρείτεων : which ran through their territories, and so passed into the 72 69 The Cathaians, famous for a breed of fierce dogs; and for mines of salt, and others of gold and silver. Strabo. 1. 15. p. 1025. Cathaia is no other than Cuthaia, the name by which Persis and Cusistan were called, according to Josephus. Kolara-{}} Ispod. Antiq. Jud. 1. 11. c. 4. p. 556. 70 Arrian. Expedit. Alexandr. 1. 5. p. 224. 71 The country is called Araba at this day, to the west of the Indus. 72 Arrian. Hist. Indic. p. 336. 73 Ibid. Apaces Ivdwv. Euseb. Chron, p. 11. |