Note 1197 — ANTIENT HEROES.

Ariadne underwent the like [1197]change. Also Battus, Atlas, [1198]Alcmena, and others. All these histories relate to personages, enshrined in temples styled Petra, who had a στυλος or rude pillar erected to their honour. This was the usage in all parts, before the introduction of images. There are allusions to these Ophite temples, and to these pillars, upon the coins of Syria, and Tyre. Upon these the Deity is represented between two rough stones, with two [1199]serpents on each side of him. A temple of this sort, which betrayed great antiquity, stood in the vicinity of Thebes, and was called the serpent's head. Pausanius speaks of it as remaining in his [1200]time. The same author affords another instance in his account of Achaia; which is attended with some remarkable circumstances. He tells us, [1201]that at Pheræ, a city of that region, was a fountain sacred to Hermes; and the name of it was Hama. Near this fountain were thirty large stones, which had been erected in antient times. Each of these was looked upon as a representative of some Deity. And Pausanias remarks, that instead of images, the Greeks in times of old universally paid their adoration to rude unwrought [1202]stones.