ANALYSIS

OF

ANTIENT MYTHOLOGY.

PHŒNIX and PHŒNICES.

Osirin Ægyptus putat,

Mysi Phanacem.

Ενθα λοχευματα σεμν' ελοχευσατο

Λατω.

ADDENDA.

OF THE PALM TREE.

Λευκον σημ' ετετυκτο περιτροχον ηϋτε μηνη.

OF THE

Term CAHEN:

THE

COHEN, כהן, OF THE HEBREWS.

Αυτοκτονοις σφαγαισι Δηραινου ΚYΝΕΣ

Δμηθεντες αιχμαζουσι λοισθιον βοαν.

The name of the Deity, Canouphis, expressed also Canuphis, and Cnuphis, was compounded with this term. He was represented by the Egyptians as a princely person, with a serpent entwined round his middle, and embellished with other characteristics, relating to time and duration, of which the serpent was an emblem. Oph, and Ouph, signified a serpent in the Amonian language; and the Deity was termed Can-uph, from his serpentine representation. The whole species, in consequence of this, were made sacred to him, and styled Canyphian. To this Lucan alludes, when, in speaking of the Seps, he calls all the tribe of serpents Cinyphias pestes:

Πευκης οδοντας.

Προς κυνουρα, προς τραχειας πετρας. Scholiast. ibid.

Εξαπινης, Ἑρμης κοινος, εφη θυγατηρ.

Σαινων ηθαδα φωτα.

What is more remarkable, there were many gaping dogs in this temple; which are represented as so many statues, yet were endowed with life.

Ψευδαλεων σκυλακων στιχες εμφρονες.

Homer describes something of the same nature in the gardens of Alcinous.

Ὁυς Ἡφαιστος ετευξεν ιδυιῃσι πραπιδεσσιν,

Αθανατους οντας, και αγηρως ηματα παντα.

Ουδαιου Κρονιδαο μεγαν κυνα Χαλκεοφωνον

Χερσιν ανελκομενον μεγαλητορος Ἡρακληος,

Δεινον απο στοματων βαλεειν σιαλωδεα χυλον.

But however the Deity in all these instances may have been degraded to the regions of darkness, yet he was the God of light, Κυν-ἁδης; and such was the purport of that name. He was the same as Apollo, as may be proved from the Cunidæ at Athens, who were a family set apart for his service. Κυννιδαι, γενος Αθηνῃσιν, εξ ὁυ ὁ ἱερευς του Κυννιου Απολλωνος. Hesychius. The Cunnidai are a family at Athens, out of which the priest of Apollo Cunnius is chosen. He styles him Apollo Cunnius: but the Cunidai were more properly denominated from Apollo Cunides, the same as Cun-Ades. Poseidon was expressly styled Cun-Ades; and he was the same Deity as Apollo, only under a different title, as I have shewn. Κυναδης Ποσειδων Αθηνῃσιν ετιμᾳτο. Hesychius. Poseidon was worshipped at Athens under the title of Cun-Ades.

To conclude: The Dog, in Egypt, was undoubtedly called Cahen, and Cohen; a title by which many other animals, and even vegetables, were honoured, on account of their being consecrated to some Deity. The Greeks did not consider that this was a borrowed appellation, which belonged to the Gods and their Priests; and was from them extended to many things held sacred. Hence they have continually referred this term to one object only: by which means they have misrepresented many curious pieces of history: and a number of idle fables have been devised to the disparagement of all that was true.

OF