Note 293 — RADICALS.

Uch, Υκ, expressed also Ach, Och, Οχα, was a term of honour among the Babylonians, and the rest of the progeny of Chus; and occurs continually in the names of men and places which have any connection with their history. I have shewn, in a former [293]treatise, that the shepherds who ruled in Egypt were of that race, and that they came from Babylonia and Chaldea. Eusebius informs us, that their national title was [294]Υκουσος; or, as it was undoubtedly expressed by the people themselves, Υκκουσος, Uc-Cusus. It is a term taken notice of by Apion and Manethon, and they speak of it as a word in the sacred language of the country, which signified a king: [295]Υκ καθ' ἱεραν γλωσσαν βασιλεα σημαινει. I wonder that this word has been passed over with so little notice; as it is of great antiquity; and, at the same time, of much importance in respect to etymology. Uc-Cusus signified the royal, or noble, Cusean: and, as it was a word in the sacred language of Egypt, we may from hence learn what that language was; and be assured that it was the primitive language of Chus, the same as the antient Chaldaïc. It was introduced among the Mizraïm by the Auritæ, or Cuthites, together with their rites and religion: hence it obtained the name of the sacred language. Diodorus Siculus affords [296]evidence to the same purpose: and it is farther proved by Heliodorus; who says that the sacred characters of Egypt and those of the Cuthites in Ethiopia were the [297]same. This term occurs very often among the titles of which the Babylonish names arc composed; such as Ochus and Belochus. Among the Egyptians it is to be found in Acherez and Achencherez; which are the names of two very antient princes. Acherez is a compound of Ach-Ares, Magnus Sol; equivalent to Achorus, another name of the same Deity, assumed in like manner by their kings. The latter was sometimes expressed [298]Achor, Achoris. Ochuras, Uchoreus; which are all the same name, diversified in different ages and by different writers. As priests took the titles of the Deities whom they served, Lucan has, very properly, introduced a priest of Egypt under the name of Achoreus: