of their Deities were formed out of titles and the whole of their worship was confined to a few deified men, these Lares, Manes, Dæmones, of whom we have been treating. They were no other than their Arkite ancestors, the Baalim of the Scriptures to these they offered and to these they made their vows. OF THE CABIRI, CORYBANTES, IDEI DACTYLI, CURETES, IGNETES, TELCHINES, AND OTHER ARKITE PRIESTS. I HOPE, that I have given a satisfactory account of the Deluge, and of the supposed Genius of the Ark, as described by the Gentile mythologists. She was represented as a Goddess, and worshipped under the titles of Melitta, Rhea, Cybele, and Damater; also of Isis, and 'Athena. As the department of the Deity has been sufficiently made out, the history of the priests may be easily ascertained; and at the same time the purport of their titles, under whatever denomination they may come. Of these priests the prin * Οι Αιγύπτιοι Ισιν πολλάκις τῳ της Αθήνας ονόματι καλασι. Plu tarch. Isis et Osiris. p. 376. |