TEMPLE SCIENCE.

Κυρβεας, ὁις ενι πασαι ὁδοι, και πειρατ' εασιν

Ὑγρης τε, τραφερης τε, περιξ επινεισσομενοισιν.

Πασης βενθεα οιδεν, εχει δε τε ΚΙΟΝΑΣ αυτος

Μακρας, ἁι Γαιαν τε και Ουρανον αμφις εχουσιν.

Ægæona suis immania terga lacertis.

I imagine that the shield of Achilles, in Homer, was copied from something of this sort which the poet had seen in Egypt: for Homer is continually alluding to the customs, as well as to the history, of that kingdom. And, it is evident, that what he describes on the central part of the shield, is a map of the earth, and of the celestial appearances.

Εν δ' ετιθει ΠΟΤΑΜΟΙΟ μεγα σθενος ΩΚΕΑΝΟΙΟ.

The antients loved to wrap up every thing in mystery and fable: they have therefore described Hercules, also, with a robe of this sort:

He was invested with a robe, which was a type of the heavens, and a representation of the whole world.

The garment of Thetis, which the poets mention as given her upon her supposed marriage with Peleus, was a Pharos of the same kind as that described above. We may learn, from Catullus, who copied the story, that the whole alluded to an historical picture preserved in some tower; and that it referred to matters of great antiquity, though applied by the Greeks to later times, and ascribed to people of their own nation.

Sedibus in mediis; Indo quod dente politum

Tincta tegit roseo conchylis purpura fuco.

Hæc vestis priscis hominum variata figuris

Heroum mirâ virtutes indicat arte.

There, is an account in Nonnus of a robe, or Pharos, which Harmonia is supposed to have worn when she was visited by the Goddess of beauty. There was delineated here, as in some above mentioned, the earth, and the heavens, with all the stars. The sea, too, and the rivers, were represented; and the whole was, at the bottom, surrounded by the ocean.

Ουρανον εσφαιρωσε τυπῳ κεχαραγμενον αστρων.

Συμφερτην δε θαλασσαν εφηρμοσε συζυγι Γαιῃ,

Και ποταμους ποικιλλεν· επ' ανδρομεῳ δε μετωπῳ

Ταυροφυης μορφουτο κερασφορος εγχλοος εικων.

Και πυματην παρα πεζαν εϋκλωστοιο χιτωνος

Ωκεανος κυκλωσε περιδρομον αντυγα Κοσμου.

All this relates to a painting, either at Sidon or Berytus; which was delineated in a tower, or temple, sacred to Hermon.

Orpheus alludes to a Pharos of this sort, and to the paintings and furniture of it, in his description of the robes with which Apollo, or Dionusus, is invested. He speaks of them as the same Deity.

Σωμα θεου πλαττειν περιαυγους Ηελιοιο.

Πρωτα μεν αργυφεαις εναλιγκιον ακτινεσσι

Πεπλον φοινικεον, πυρι εικελον, αμφιβαλεσθαι.

Αυταρ ὑπερθε νεβροιο παναιολου ἑυρυ καθαψαι

Δερμα πολυστικτον θηρος κατα δεξιον ωμον,

Αστρων δαιδαλεων μιμημ', ἱερου τε πολοιο.

Ειτα δ' ὑπερθε νεβρης χρυσεον ζωστηρα βαλεσθαι,

Παμφανοωντα, περιξ στερνων φορεειν, μεγα σημα.

Ευθυς, ὁτ' εκ περατων γαιης Φαεθων ανορουσων

Χρυσειαις ακτισι βαλῃ ῥοον Ωκεανοιο,

Αυγη δ' ασπετος ῃ, ανα δε δροσῳ αμφιμιγεισα,

Μαρμαιρῃ δινῃσιν ἑλισσομενη κατα κυκλον

Προσθε θεου, ζωνε δ' αρ' ὑπο στερνων αμετρητων

Φαινετ' αρ' ωκεανου κυκλος, μεγα θαυμ' εσιδεσθαι.