Note 229 — TEMPLE SCIENCE.

When the poet has thus adorned the Deity, we find, towards the conclusion, that these imaginary robes never shew to such advantage as in the morning. When the sun, says he, rises from the extremities of the earth, and enlightens the ocean with his horizontal rays; then they appear in great splendour, which is increased by the morning dew. All this investiture of the Deity relates to the earth and the heavens, which were delineated upon a [229]skin, δερμα πολυστικτον θηρος, styled πεπλον. This is described, Αστρων δαιδαλεων μιμημ', ἱερου τε πολοιο: as a copy and imitation of all the celestial appearances. The whole was deposited in a Pharos upon the sea shore, upon which the sun, at his rising, darted his early rays; and whose turrets glittered with the dew: Ὑπο στερνων αμετρητων φαινετ' αρ' ωκεανου κυκλος: from the upper story of the tower, which was of an unmeasurable height, there was an unlimited view of the ocean. This vast element surrounded the edifice like a zone; and afforded a wonderful phænomenon. Such, I imagine, is the solution of the enigma.