Note 251 — RADICALS.

Many people assumed to themselves this title; and were styled [251]Μακαρες, or Macarians: and various colonies were supposed to have been led by an imaginary personage, Macar, or [252]Macareus. In consequence of this, we find that the most antient name of many cities and islands was Macra, Macris, and [253]Macaria. The Grecians supposed the term Macar to signify happy; whence Μακαρες θεοι was interpreted ευδαιμονες: but whether this was the original purport of the word may be difficult to determine. It is certain that it was a favourite term; and many places of sanctity were denominated from it. Macar, as a person, was by some esteemed the offspring of [254]Lycaon; by others, the son of [255]Æolus. Diodorus Siculus calls him [256]Macareus, and speaks of him as the son of Jupiter. This term is often found compounded Macar-On: from whence people were denominated Μακαρωνες, and [257]Μακρωνες; and places were called Μακρων. This, probably, was the original of the name given to islands which were styled Μακαρων νησοι. They were to be found in the Pontus Euxinus, as well as in the Atlantic. The Acropolis of Thebes in Bœotia was, in like manner, called [258]Μακαρων νησος. It was certainly an Amonian sacred term. The inland city, Oäsis, stood in an Egyptian province, which had the [259]same name: so that the meaning must not be sought for in Greece. This term was sometimes expressed as a feminine, Macris, and Macra: and by the Grecians was interpreted longa; as if it related to extent. It was certainly an antient word, and related to their theology; but was grown so obsolete that the original purport could not be retrieved. I think we may be assured that it had no relation to length. Eubœa was, of old, called Macris; and may be looked upon as comparatively long: but Icarus, Rhodes, and Chios, were likewise called so; and they did not project in length more than the islands in their [260]neighbourhood. They were, therefore, not denominated from their figure. There was a cavern in the Acropolis of Athens, which was called Macrai, according to Euripides.