Note 449 — RADICALS.

Herodotus tells us, that, when he discoursed with the priests of Thebes about the kings who had reigned in Egypt, they described them to him under three denominations, of Gods, of heroes, and of men. The last succeeded to those above, and were mere mortals. The manner of succession is mentioned in the following words: [449]Πιρωμιν εκ Πιρωμιος γεγονεναι—και ουτε ες θεον, ουτε ες Ἡρωα αναδησαν αυτους (ὁι Αιγυπτιοι). There are many strange and contradictory opinions about this [450]passage; which, if I do not deceive myself, is very plain; and the purport of it this: After the fabulous accounts, there had been an uninterrupted succession of Piromis after Piromis: and the Egyptians referred none of these to the dynasties of either the Gods or Heroes, who were supposed to have first possessed the country. From hence I think it is manifest that Pi-romis signifies a man. Herodotus, indeed, says, that the meaning of it was καλος καγαθος, a person of a fair and honourable character: and so it might be taken by implication; as we say of a native of our own country, that he is a true and staunch [451]Englishman: but the precise meaning is plain from the context; and Piromis certainly meant a man. It has this signification in the Coptic: and, in the [452]Prodromus Copticus of Kircher, Πιρωμι, Piromi, is a man; and seems to imply a native. Pirem Racot is an Alexandrine; or, more properly, a native of Racotis, called Raschid, and Rosetta. Pirem Romi are [453]Romans.