Note 822 — OMPHI,

But however they may have mistaken this personage, it is certain that in early times he was well known, and highly reverenced. Hence wherever the Amonians settled, the name of Ampelus will occur: and many places will be found to have been denominated from the worship of the Deity under this sacred title. We learn from Stephanus Byzantinus, [822]that, according to Hecatæus, in his Europa, Ampelus was the name of a city in Liguria. There was likewise a promontory in the district of Torone called Ampelus: a like promontory in Samos: another in Cyrene. Agrœtas mentions two cities there, an upper, and a lower, of that name. There was likewise a harbour in Italy so called. We read of a city [823]Ampeloëssa in Syria, and a nation in Lybia called Ampeliotæ: Αμπελιωται δε εθνος Λιβυης. Suidas. Also, Ampelona in Arabia; and a promontory, Ampelusia, near Tingis, in Mauritania. In all these places, however distant, the Amonians had made settlements. Over against the island Samos stood the sacred promontory, Mycale, in Ionia. This, too, was called Ampelus, according to Hesychius, as the passage is happily altered by Albertus and others. Αμπελος, μηχανη, και ακρα Μυκαλης, ηγουν ορους. From the words ηγουν ορους one might infer, that Ampelus was no uncommon name for a mountain in general: so far is certain, that many such were so denominated: which name could not relate to αμπελος, the vine; but they were so called from the Deity to whom they were [824]sacred. Many of these places were barren crags, and rocks of the sea, ill suited to the cultivation of the [825]vine. And not only eminences were so called, but the strand and shores, also, for the same reason: because here, too, were altars and pillars to this God. Hence we read in Hesychius: Αμπελος—αιγιαλος—Κυρηναιοις αιγιαλος. By Ampelus is signified the sea shore; or Ampelus, among the people of Cyrene, signifies the sea shore.