CANAAN, CNAAN,

AND

ΧΝΑΣ;

AND OF THE

derivative ΚΥΚΝΟΣ.

Ηελιος Φαεθον επιδερκεται ακτινεσσιν.

The Canaanites at Byblus, Berytus, Sidon, and afterwards at Tyre, used particularly mournful dirges for the loss of Adonis, or Thamuz; who was the same as Thamas, and Osiris in Egypt. The Cretans had the like mournful hymns, in which they commemorated the grief of Apollo for the loss of Atymnius.

Ὁια παρα Κρητεσσιν αναξ ελιγαινεν Απολλων

Δακρυχεων ερατεινον Ατυμνιον.

Ὁσσαι αρισται εσαν, Διωνη τε, Ῥειη τε,

Ιχναιη τε Θεμις, και αγαστονος Αμφιτριτη.

Whose annual wound in Lebanon allur'd

The Syrian damsels to lament his fate

In amorous ditties all a summer's day:

While smooth Adonis from his native rock

Ran purple to the sea; suppos'd with blood

Of Thammuz yearly wounded.

By which is meant, that they were Egyptian priests; and an eagle was probably the device in their standard, as well as the insigne of their nation.

Μηονιον Πακτωλον εκυκλωσαντο λιποντες

Ἑβδομακις περι Δηλον· επηεισαν δε λοχειῃ

Μουσαων ορνιθες, αοιδοτατοι πετεηνων.

The whole of this relates to a choir of priests, who came over to settle at Delos, and to serve in the newly erected temple. They circled the island seven times; because seven, of old, was looked upon as a mysterious and sacred number.

Ἑβδομη εν πρωτοισι, και ἑβδομη εστι τελειη.

Ἑβδοματῃ δη ὁι τετελεσμενα παντα τετυκται.

Ἑπτα δε παντα τετυκται εν ουρανῳ αστεροεντι.

Κρωγμος.

And Lucretius confesses, that the screaming of a crane is not quite so pleasing:

Clamor:

OF