selves, they appeal to authors far prior to any Helladians: and their works are crowded with extracts from the most curious and the most antient histories. Such were the writings of Sanchoniathon, Berosus, Nicholaus Damascenus, Mocus, Mnaseas, Hieronymus Ægyptius, Apion, Manethon: from whom Abydenus, Apollodorus, Asclepiades, Artapanus, Philastrius, borrowed largely. We are beholden to Clemens, and Eusebius, for many evidences from writers, long since lost; even Eustathius and Tzetzes have resources, which are now no more. It must be after all confessed, that those, who preceded, had many opportunities of information, had they been willing to have been informed. It is said, both of Pythagoras and Solon, that they resided for some time in Egypt: where the former was instructed by a Son-chen, or priest of the Sun. But I could never hear of any great good that was the consequence of his travels, Thus much is certain; that whatever knowledge he may have picked up in other parts, he got nothing from the Grecians. They, who pretended most to wisdom, were the most destitute 4 * Πολλην εξερευνησαμενος ύλην, εχι την παρ' Έλλησι. Philo apud Euseb. P. Evang. 1. 1. c. ix. p. 32. $ Clemens Alexandrinus Strom. 1. 1. p. 356. of the blessing. Ο Αλλα παρ αλλοις συλλεξάμενος, μονον παρά των σοφων Ἑλληνων εχίεν ουδεν, πενια σοφιας και απορια συνοικέντων. And as their theology was before very obscure, he drew over it a mysterious veil to make it tenfold darker. The chief of the intelligence transmitted by Solon from Egypt contained a satire upon his own country. He was told by an antient priest, that the Grecians were children in science: that they were utterly ignorant of the mythology of other nations; and did not understand their own.. Eudoxus likewise and Plato were in Egypt; and are said to have resided there some time: yet very few things of moment have been transmitted by them. Plato had great opportunities of rectifying the history and mythology of Greece: but after all his advantages he is accused of trifling shamefully, and addicting himself to fable. Πλατων δε, ὁ δοκων των Ελληνων σοφώτατος γεγενησθαι, εις ποσην φλυαρίαν εχω nov. Yet all the rites of the Helladians, as wellas their Gods and Heroes, were imported from 8 6 Eusebij Præp. Evang. 1. 10. c. 4. p. 471. Τι ωφέλησε Πυθαγοραν τα Άδυτα, και Ἡρακλεως σηλαί. Theophilus ad Autol. 1. 3. p. 381. 7 Plato in Timeo. Clemens. Strom. 1. 1. P. 426. Ω Σόλων, Σολων, Έλληνες αει παιδες-κτλ. the east and chiefly from 10 ୨ Egypt, though, they were unwilling to allow it. Length of time had greatly impaired their true history; and their prejudices would not suffer them to retrieve it. I should therefore think it by no means improper to premise a short account of this wonderful people, in order to shew whence this obscurity arose; which at last prevailed so far, that they, in great measure, lost sight of their origin, and were involved in mystery and fable. The first inhabitants of the country, called afterwards Hellas, were the sons of Javan; who seem to have degenerated very early, and to have become truly barbarous. Hence the best historians of Greece confess, that their ancestors were not the first inhabitants; but that it was before their arrival in the possession of a people, whom they style "Bagbago, or Barbarians. The Hella 9 See Eusebius. Præp. Evan. 1. 10. c. 4. p. 469. and c. 5. p. 473. also Clemens Alexand. Strom. 1. 1. p. 361. Diodorus Siculus. 1. 1. p. 62, 63. and p. 86, 87. 10 Καθολς δε φασι της Έλληνας εξιδιαζεσθαι τις επιφανεςατες Αιγυπτιων Ήρωας τε, και Θεες. 1. 1. p. 20. See here a long account of the mythology of Egypt being transported to Greece; and there adopted by the Helladians as their own, and strangely sophisticated. Η Εκαταίος μεν ουν ὁ Μιλησιος περι της Πελοποννησε φησιν, ὅτι προ των Ελληνων ᾤκησαν αυτην Βαρβαροι σχεδόν δε τι και ท σύμπασα Ελλας κατοικια Βαρβαρων ύπηρξε το παλαιον. Strabo. l. 7. p. 321. dians were colonies of another family and introduced themselves somewhat later. They were of the race which I term Amonian; and came from Egypt and Syria: but originally from Babylonia. They came under various titles, all taken from the religion, which they professed. Of these titles I shall have occasion to treat at large; and of the imaginary leaders, by whom they were supposed to have been conducted. As soon as the Amonians were settled, and incorporated with the natives, a long interval of darkness ensued. The very union produced a new language at least the antient Amonian became by degrees so modified, and changed, that the terms of science, and worship, were no longer understood. Hence the titles of their Gods were misapplied and the whole of their theology grew more and more corrupted; so that very few traces of the original were to be discovered. In short, almost every term was misconstrued, and abused. This æra of darkness was of long duration at last the Asiatic Greeks began to bestir themselves. They had a greater correspondence than the Helladians: and they were led to exert their talents from examples in Syria, 12 ** Οδε μεταξυ χρονος παραλέλειπται, εν ᾧ μηδεν εξαίρετον Ἑλλησιν iroga. Theopompus in Tricareno, and nature. Egypt, and other countries. The specimens, which they exhibited of their genius were amazing: and have been justly esteemed a standard for elegance The Athenians were greatly affected with these examples. They awoke, as it were, out of a long and deep sleep; and, as if they had been in the training of science for ages, their first efforts bordered upon perfection. In the space of a century, out of one little confined district, were produced a group of worthies, who at all times have been the wonder of the world: so that we may apply to the nation in general what was spoken of the school of a philosopher: cujus ex ludo, tanquam ex Equo Trojano, meri Principes exierunt. But this happy display of parts did not remedy the evil of which I have complained. They did not retrieve any lost annals, nor were any efforts made to dispel the cloud in which they were involved. There had been, as I have represented, a long interval; during which there must have happened great occurrences: but few of them had been transmitted to posterity; and those handed down by tradition, and mixed with inconsistency and. fable. It is said that letters were brought into Greece very early, by "Cadmus. Let us for a 13 How uncertain they were in their notions may be seen from what follows: Alii Cadmum, alii Danaum, quidam Cecropem |