A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume 2 (of 6)

TAPH, TUPH, TAPHOS.

Reading edition

Desertæ Cereris; juxtaque antiqua cupressus.

Κρητες ετεκτῃναντο, συ δ' ου θανες, εσσι γαρ αιει.

Atque quanto nox fuisti longior hâc proximâ, Tanto brevior dies ut fiat, faciam; ut æque disparet, Et dies e nocte accedat.

Were it not invidious, I could subjoin names to every article, which I have alleged; and produce numberless instances to the same purpose.

Ζευ, σε δ' εν Αρκαδιῃ.

Fertur Alexirhoë Granico nata bicorni.

Ην ἑκατον κεφαλαι οφιος, δεινοιο Δρακοντος.

As there was a perpetual fire kept up in the upper story, he describes it as shining through the apertures in the building.

Θεσπεσιῃς κεφαλῃσιν ὑπ' οφρυσι πυρ αμαρυσσε·

Πασεων δ' εκ κεφαλεων πυρ καιετο δερκομενοιο.

But the noblest description of Typhon is given in some very fine poetry by Nonnus. He has taken his ideas from some antient tower situated near the sea upon the summit of an high mountain. It was probably the Typhonian temple of Zeus upon mount Casius, near the famed Serbonian lake. He mentions sad noises heard within, and describes the roaring of the surge below: and says that all the monsters of the sea stabled in the cavities at the foot of the mountain, which was washed by the ocean.

Ἱσταμενου Τυφωνος εσω βρυοεντος εναυλου

Βενθεϊ ταρσα πεπηκτο, και ηερι μιγνυτο γαστηρ

Θλιβομενη νεφεεσσι· Γιγαντειου δε καρηνου

Φρικτον αερσιλοφων αϊων βρυχημα λεοντων,

Ποντιος ειλυοεντι λεων εκαλυπτετο κολπῳ. κτλ.

We may perceive, that this is a mixed description, wherein, under the character of a gigantic personage, a towering edifice is alluded to; which was situated upon the summit of a mountain, and in the vicinity of the sea.

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · In process of time the word tumulus was in great measure looked upon as a tomb; and tumulo signified to bury. The Greeks speak of numberless Note 2 · Κρητες αει ψευσται· και γαρ ταφον, ω Ανα, σειο Note 3 · I make no doubt, but that there was some high place in Crete, which the later Greeks, and especially those who were not of the country, mist Note 4 · It may be said, that I run counter to the opinions of all antiquity: that all the fathers who treated of this subject, and many other learne Note 5 · Ζευ, σε μεν Ιδαιοισιν εν ουρεσι φασι γενεσθαι,Note 6 · He was at times supposed to have been a native of Troas, of Crete, of Thebes, of Arcadia, of Elis: but the whole arose from the word ταφος b Note 7 · I have in a former chapter taken notice of the Tarchons and Dracontia in Syria, and other parts: which consisted of sacred ground inclosed w Note 8 · Κουρος, εων, ΕΤΙ ΓYΜΝΟΣ, ετι πλοκαμοισι γεγηθως.Note 9 · Near mount Cyllene in Arcadia was the sacred Taphos of [422]Æputus, who was supposed to have been stung by a serpent. Æputus was the same as Note 10 · The Greeks had innumerable monuments of the sort, which I have been describing. They were taken for the tombs of departed heroes, but were r Note 11 · Æsacon umbrosâ furtim peperisse sub Idâ Note 12 · The antient Arcadians were said to have been the offspring of [447]Typhon, and by some the children of Atlas; by which was meant, that they Note 13 · Εκ δε ὁι ωμων Note 14 · Εκ δε ὁι οσσων Note 15 · Εν ιχθυοεντι δε ποντῳ