Note 1269 — ANTIENT HEROES.

When therefore we speak of the history of Greece as far back as we can carry it, and of the rites and religion introduced into that country, we may accede to the account given of them by Zonaras. [1269]Εκ Χαλδαιων γαρ λεγεται φοιτησαι ταυτα προς Αιγυπτον κακειθεν προς Ἑλληνας. All these things came from Chaldea to Egypt; and from thence were derived to the Greeks. The same is attested by [1270]Josephus. What preceded the arrival of the Cadmians, and other Cuthites, in these parts, is utterly unknown. With them commences the history of the country. It is true, there are accounts concerning Erectheus, Ericthonius, Cecrops, and other antient kings: but they were superadded to the history of Attica, just as the names of Inachus, Phoroneus, Apis, were to that of Argos. It was therefore matter of great surprise to Solon, when he was informed by the Egyptian priests of the antient occurrences of their country, and of the wars of the Atlantians, to find the same names stand at the head of their histories, as were observable in those of Greece: [1271]Κεκροπος τε, και Ερεχθεως, και Εριχθονιου, και Ερισιχθονος, των τε αλλων. For instance, the names of Cecrops, Erectheus, Ericthonius, Erisicthon, and others. Και τα των Γυναικων και ταυτα. The names also of their women were the same. In reality, they were all titles of the Deity, as might be easily shewn. Erectheus for instance was the God of the sea, and as such worshipped by the very people who enlisted him among their kings. This may be proved from Athenagoras. [1272]Αθηναιος Ερεχθει Ποσειδωνι θυει. The Athenian sacrifices to Erectheus the same as Poseidon. Strabo seems to think, that most of the antient names were foreign; [1273]such as Cecrops, and Codrus, and Arclus, and Cothus: and he is certainly right in his opinion.