be known from a specimen still remaining, which is to be seen upon those curious monuments of Egyptian antiquity, in the British Museum. The Deity is here described sitting in an erect posture, in the express form of the Minotaur; only with this difference, that, like many emblematical figures in Syria, Babylonia, and other parts of the east, he is represented with two heads. His horns are industriously so placed as to form two lunettes. In his hand he holds an instrument like a scythe, as a token of husbandry; and before him is a priest upon his knees, who seems to be dedicating two small pyramids. From these hieroglyphics misinterpreted came the stories of Europa and Pasiphaë; also the fable about Argus and Iö. They all related to the same event; and to the machine styled Bas, and Taurus, wherein Osiris was inclosed. For it is said of Isis, that during the rage of Typhon, she preserved Osiris in an ark of this denomination : 61 62 εις δεν ξυλίνην εμβαλειν ; She inclosed him in a bull of wood by which is meant the ark, Theba. The Syrians understood it so. Θηβα γαρ ἡ βους κατα Zugous. A Bull or Cow among the Syrians signified an Ark, or Theba: — año Kadμx Coos paci OnEnv, απο Καδμε φασι Θηβην ❝ Diodorus Sic. 1. 1. p. 76. την έπταπυλον κληθηναι. The city Theba in Greece, s0 renowned for its seven gates, was denominated from the sacred Cow, by which Cadmus was directed. The name of the animal must, therefore, have been Theba: and we may be assured that the Syrians and Egyptians under this hieroglyphic continually referred to the "Ark. The city Tyre, from whence Europa is supposed to have come, was named Sor, and Tur, similar to the , and , of the Chaldeans. Both these terms signify a Bull: and it was undoubtedly the insigne, by which the Deity was there represented. There were many Arkite ceremonies in different parts of the world; which were generally styled Taurica Sacra. In some of these there was a memorial of the Παλιγενεσία : and those who were initiated imagined, that they obtained, by their admission to these rites, an addition to their 64 term of years. These mysteries were of old attended with acts of great cruelty. Of these I have given instances, taken from different parts of the world from Egypt, Syria, Cyprus, Crete, and Sicily. The Bull of Perillus was probably constructed upon a religious account, and designed for a renovation of some cruel rites; which 63 Onba xicwrior. Hesych.* 68°06 were prevented by the prince of the country. Practices of this nature prevailed in the "s Tauric Chersonesus. The Scuth of these parts wor shipped Diana under the title of "Tauropolus, and 7 Taurione. There is reason to think, that the Deity was here represented under the Egyptian hieroglyphic of either a steer or heifer. It is expressly said by Eustathius, that the region was denominated from the animal Taurus; and that it was so named in memorial of an antient history, which was certainly imported from Egypt. δε Ταυροι το έθνος απο το ζως Ταύρε, φασί, καλενται, δια το εκει τον Όσιριν ζεύξαντα δεν αρέσαι γην. — και η Αρτεμις δε Ταυροπόλος απο τετων δοκεί των Ταύρων λεγεσθαι, εις έχαιρεν, ὡς ξενοκτενεσιν επ' αυτή. We find, that according to the custom of most nations, the people of the Chersonesus supposed the Deity to have been of their country: in other respects the history is conformable to the truth. We learn from the above, that the Tauric nation was so named from the animal Taurus, or Buli, which was looked upon as a memorial of the great husbandman 5 Clementis Cohort. p. 36. 66 Diodorus Sic. 1. 4. p. 218. Βαρβαρες θύειν Αρτεμίδι Ταν ροπολῳ. 47 Ταυριώνη 68 — εν Ταύροις της Σκυθίας τιμωμένη (θεα). Suidas. Eustath. in Dionys. v. 306. |