Note aa — BOOK V.

Among the curious Inventions of the Ancients Archytas’s Dove was much famed; of which Aul. Gellius gives this Account: Scripserunt Simulachrum Columbæ è ligno ab Archytâ ratione quâdam disciplinâque mechanicâ factum, volâsse: Ita erat scilicet libramentis suspensum, & aurâ spiritûs inclusâ atque occultâ concitum. Noct. Attic. L. 10. c. 12. The same eminent Pythagoræan Philosopher (as Favorinus in Gellius calls him) is by Horace accounted a noble Geometrician too, Te maris & terræ, numeroque carentis arenæ Mensorum Archyta. Among the rest of his Inventions, Children’s Rattles are ascribed to him. Aristotle calls them Ἀρχύτου πλαταγὴ, Polit. 8. i.e. Archytas’s Rattle. And Diogenianus the Grammarian, gives the Reason of his Invention, Ἀρχύτου πλαταγὴ ἐπὶ τῶν, &c. That Archytas’s Rattle was to quiet Children; for he having Children, contrived the Rattle, which he gave them to prevent their [tumbling, διασαλεύσωσι] other Things about the House.

To these Contrivances of Archytas, we may add Regiomontanus’s Wooden Eagle, which flew forth of the City aloft in the Air, met the Emperor a good Way off, coming towards it, and having saluted him, return’d again, waiting on him to the City Gates. Also his Iron-fly, which at a Feast flew forth off his Hands, and taking a Round, returned thither again. Vid. Hakewill ub. supr. c. 10. §. 1.

As to other Inventions of the Ancients, such as of Letters, Brick and Tiles, and building Houses, with the Saw, Rule, and Plumber, the Lath, Augre, Glue, &c. also the making Brass, Gold, and other Metals; the use of Shields, Swords, Bows and Arrows, Boots, and other Instruments of War; the Pipe, Harp, and other Musical Instruments; the building of Ships and Navigation, and many other Things besides; the Inventors of these (as reported by ancient Heathen Authors) may be plentifully met with in Plin. Nat. Hist., L. 7. c. 56.

But in this Account of Pliny, we may observe whence the Ancients (even the Romans themselves in some measure) had their Accounts of these Matters, viz. from the fabulous Greeks, who were fond of ascribing every Thing to themselves. The Truth is (saith the most learned Bishop Stillingfleet) there is nothing in the World useful or beneficial to Mankind, but they have made a shift to find the Author of it among themselves. If we enquire after the Original of Agriculture, we are told of Ceres and Triptolemus; if of Pasturage, we are told of an Arcadian Pan; if of Wine, we presently hear of a Liber Pater; if of iron Instruments, then who but Vulcan? if of Musick, none like to Apollo. If we press them then with the History of other Nations, they are as well provided here; if we enquire an Account of Europe, Asia, or Libya; for the first we are told a fine Story of Cadmus’s Sister; for the second of Prometheus’s Mother of that Name; and for the third of a Daughter of Epaphus. And so the learned Author goes on with other particular Nations, which they boasted themselves to be the Founders of. Only the grave Athenians thought Scorn to have any Father assigned them, their only Ambition was to be accounted Aborigines & genuini Terræ. But the Ignorance and Vanity of the Greek History, that learned Author hath sufficiently refuted. Vid. Stilling. Orig. Sacr. Part. 1. B. 1. c. 4.