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

TIT and TITH.

Reading edition

Αλσος τε σκιοεν Αρεος, τοθι κωας επ' ακρης

Πεπταμενον φηγοιο Δρακων, τερας αινον ιδεσθαι,

Αμφις οπιπτευει δεδοκημενος· ουδε ὁι ημαρ,

Ου κνεφας ἡδυμος ὑπνος αναιδεα δαμναται οσσε.

Such are the poetical representations: but the history at bottom relates to sacred towers, dedicated to the symbolical worship of the serpent; where there was a perpetual watch, and a light ever burning. The Titans, Τιτανες, were properly Titanians; a people so denominated from their worship, and from the places where it was celebrated. They are, like Orion and the Cyclopians, represented as gigantic persons: and they were of the same race, the children of Anak. The Titanian temples were stately edifices, erected in Chaldea, as well as in lower Egypt, upon mounds of earth, λοφοι μαστοειδεις, and sacred to Hanes; Τιτανις and Τιτανες are compounds of Tit-Hanes; and signify literally μαστος ἡλιου, the conical hill of Orus. They were by their situation strong, and probably made otherwise defensible.

—— per tota novem cui jugera corpus

Porrigitur.

By which is meant, that he was a tower, erected upon a conical mount of earth, which stood in an inclosure of nine acres. He is said to have a vulture preying upon his heart, or liver; immortale jecur tondens. The whole of which history is borrowed from Homer, who mentions two vultures engaged in tormenting him.

Κειμενον εν δαπεδῳ· ὁδ' επ' εννεα κειτο πελεθρα·

Γυπε δε μιν ἑκατερθε παρημενοι ηπαρ εκειρον,

Δερτρον εσω δυνοντες, ὁδ' ουκ απαμυνετο χερσι.

Ορθος, εχιδναιων διδυμων μεσσηγυ καρηνων,

Ὑψιφανης πτερυγων πισυρων τετραζυγι κημῳ.

Τῃ μεν ξανθος ιασπις επετρεχε.

Ὁν κτανεν ὑψιμεδων Ζευς ψολοεντι βελει.

Os petit, et sparsos stillanti rore capillos.

Tandem Phœbus adest: morsusque inferre parantem

Arcet; et in lapidem rictus serpentis apertos

Congelat; et patulos, ut erant, indurat hiatus.

All the poetical accounts of heroes engaging with dragons have arisen from a misconception about these towers and temples; which those persons either founded, or else took in war. Or, if they were Deities of whom the story is told, these buildings were erected to their honour. But the Greeks made no distinction. They were fond of heroism; and interpreted every antient history according to their own prejudices: and in the most simple narrative could find out a martial achievement. No colony could settle any where, and build an Ophite temple, but there was supposed to have been a contention between a hero and a dragon. Cadmus, as I have shewn, was described in conflict with such an one near Thebes, whose teeth he sowed in the earth:

Αονιοιο δρακοντος, ὁν ωγυγιῃ ενι Θηβῃ

Καδμος, ὁτ' Ευρωπην διζημενος εισαφικανε,

Πεφνε.

Δελφυνην τοξοισι πελωριον εξεναριξε,

Κουρος εων ετι γυμνος, ετι πλοκαμοισι γεγηθως.

The dragon of Apollonius is ever watchful.

Ουδε ὁι ημαρ, Ου κνεφας ἡδυμος ὑπνος αναιδεα δαμναται οσσε.

The like character is given of him by Hermippus, of Berytus.

Fiscus, et ad vigilem ponendi Castora nummi.

The Deity, originally referred to, was the Sun: As he was the chief Deity, he must necessarily have been esteemed the supervisor and arbitrator of all sublunary things:

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · Nonnus often introduces a dragon as a protector of virginity; watching while the damsel slumbered, but sleepless itself: [299]Ὑπναλεης αγρυπ Note 2 · In respect to the legends about dragons, I am persuaded that the antients sometimes did wilfully misrepresent things, in order to increase t Note 3 · Terræ omniparentis alumnum,Note 4 · Και Τιτυον ειδον Γαιης ερικυδεος ὑιον,Note 5 · The same story is told of Prometheus, who is said to have been exposed upon Mount Caucasus, near Colchis; with this variation, that an eagle Note 6 · Αιετος εν χρυσειος, ἁτε πλατυν ηερα τεμνων,Note 7 · The history of Tityus, Prometheus, and many other poetical personages, was certainly taken from hieroglyphics misunderstood, and badly expla Note 8 · I have taken notice that the word δρακων, draco, was a mistake for Tarchon, Ταρχων: which was sometimes expressed Τραχων; as is observable i Note 9 · Θρηϊκα χρυσολυρην τηδ' Ορφεα Μουσαι εθαψαν,Note 10 · All these histories relate to sacred inclosures; and to the worship of the serpent, and rites of fire, which were practised within them. Suc Note 11 · Hic ferus expositum peregrinis anguis arenis Note 12 · οδοντας Note 13 · Serpents are said to have infested [326]Cyprus, when it was occupied by its first inhabitants: and there was a fearful dragon in the isle of Note 14 · Ὡς ποτε πετραιῃ ὑπο δειραδι Παρνησσοιο Note 15 · After all, this dragon was a serpent temple; a tumbos, τυμβος, formed of earth, and esteemed of old oracular. To this, Hyginus bears witness Note 16 · We often read of virgins, who were exposed to dragons and sea-monsters; and of dragons which laid waste whole provinces, till they were at l Note 17 · Irrestincta focis servant altaria flammas.Note 18 · What the Poet styles the eyes of the Dragon, were undoubtedly windows in the upper part of the building, through which the fire appeared. Pl Note 19 · From what has preceded, we may perceive, that many personages have been formed out of places. And I cannot help suspecting much more of anti Note 20 · Ὁν Χειρων εδιδαξε δικαιοτατος Κενταυρων.Note 21 · Ὁυτος Εις τε δικαιοσυνην θνητων γενος ηγαγε, δειξας Ὁρκον, και θυσιας ἱλαρας, και σχηματ' Ολυμπου.Note 22 · Right was probably more fairly determined in the Chironian temples, than in others. Yet the whole was certainly attended with some instances Note 23 · There were many edifices denominated Chironian, and sacred to the Sun. Charon was of the same purport, and etymology; and was sacred to the Note 24 · As towers of this sort were seminaries of learning, Homer from one of them has formed the character of sage Mentor; under whose resemblance Note 25 · Castor, the supposed disciple of Chiron, was in reality the same as Chiron; being a sacred tower, a Chironian edifice, which served both for Note 26 · Æratâ multus in arcâ Note 27 · The Deity, who was alluded to under the name of Castor, was the Sun: and he had several temples of that denomination in Laconia, and other p Note 28 · Καστορα θ' Ἱπποδαμον, και πυξ αγαθον Πολυδευκεα.Note 29 · Ηελιος, ὁς παντ' εφορᾳ, και παντ' επακουει.Note 30 · On this account the same province of supreme judge was conferred on his substitute Castor, in conjunction with his brother Pollux: and they Note 31 · Many instances to the same purpose might be produced; some few of which I will lay before the reader. Trophonius, like Chiron and Castor, wa Note 32 · By the same analogy we may trace the true history of Terambus, the Deity of Egypt, who was called the Shepherd Terambus. The name is a compo Note 33 · I have taken notice that towers of this sort were the repositories of much treasure; and they were often consecrated to the Ophite Deity, ca Note 34 · There was another name current among the Amonians, by which they called their λοφοι, or high places. This was Taph; which at times was rende Note 35 · The Amonians, when they settled in Greece, raised many of these Tupha, or Tapha, in different parts. These, beside their original name, were Note 36 · Est urbe egressis tumulus, templumque vetustum