OB, OUB, PYTHO,
Reading edition
SIVE DE
OPHIOLATRIA.
Παρα παντι των νομιζομενων παρ' ὑμιν Θεων Οφις συμβολον μεγα και μυστηριον αναγραφεται. Justin. Martyr. Apolog. l. 1. p. 60.
Ophis Thermuthis, sive Ob Basiliscus Ægyptiacus cum Sacerdote Supplicante.
Pl. VII.
Ιατρομαντις, παις Απολλωνος, χθονα
Την δ' εκκαθαιρει κνωδαλον βροτοφθορων.
Factaque de saxo longi simulacra Draconis.
Pl. VIII.
CUCLOPES or CYCLOPES.
Παλαιοτατοι μεν λεγονται εν μερει τινι της χωρας (της Σικελιας) Κυκλωπες, και Λαιστρυγονες οικησαι· ὡν εγω ουτε γενος εχω ειπειν, ουτε ὁποθεν εισηλθον, η ὁποι απεχωρησαν. Thucydides. l. 6. p. 378.
Thucydides acquaints us concerning the Cyclopes and Læstrygones, that they were the most antient inhabitants of Sicily, but that he could not find out their race: nor did he know from what part of the world they originally came, nor to what country they afterwards betook themselves. I may appear presumptuous in pretending to determine a history so remote and obscure; and which was a secret to this learned Grecian two thousand years ago. Yet this is my present purpose: and I undertake it with a greater confidence, as I can plainly shew, that we have many lights, with which the natives of Hellas were unacquainted; besides many advantages, of which they would not avail themselves.
Ανδρι γε σιτοφαγῳ, αλλα ῥιῳ ὑληεντι.
Virgil says of the same person,
As these buildings were oftentimes light-houses, and had in their upper story one round casement, Argolici clypeï, aut Phœbeæ lampadis instar, by which they afforded light in the night-season; the Greeks made this a characteristic of the people. They supposed this aperture to have been an eye, which was fiery, and glaring, and placed in the middle of their foreheads. Hence Callimachus describes them as a monstrous race:
Πρηοσιν Οσσειοισιν εοικοτα· πασι δ' ὑπ' οφρυν
Φαεα μουνογληνα σακει ισα τετραβοειῳ.
Αγχου Κυκλωπων ανδρων ὑπερηνορεοντων.
Mœnia conspicio.
Bellum Mycenis restat, ut Cyclopea
Eversa manibus mœnia nostris concidant.
Nonnus speaks of the city in the same light:
Κυκλωπων κανονεσσι.
Turres, labore majus humano decus.
Pl. IX. MEDUSA.
From a Gem in the Collection of His Grace the Duke of Marlborough
Acmon seems to have been worshipped of old at Tiryns, that antient city of Greece, whose towers were said to have been built by the Cyclopians. For Acmon was the Cyclopian Deity; and is represented by Callimachus as the tutelary God of the place, though the passage has been otherwise interpreted.
Ἑστηκε προ πυλεων.
The term has commonly been looked upon as an adjective; and the passage has been rendered Talis Tirynthius indefessus, which is scarce sense. Callimachus was very knowing in mythology, and is here speaking of the Cyclopian God Acmon, whom he makes the θεος προπυλαιος, or guardian Deity of the place. It was the same God, that was afterwards called Hercules, and particularly styled Tirynthius, to whom Callimachus here alludes, under a more antient name.
Brontesque, Steropesque, et nudus membra Pyracmon.
