called Parez and the same name, but without the prefix, was given to a lion by many nations in the east. It was at first only a mark of reference, and betokened a solar animal, specifying the particular Deity to whom it was sacred. There were many nations, which were distinguished in the same manner; some of whom the Greeks styled Parrhasians. Hence the antient Arcadians, those Selenitæ, who were undoubtedly an Amonian colony, had this appellation. A people in Elis had the same. The Poets described the constellation of Helice, or the Bear, by the title of Parrhasis, Arctos, and Parrhasis Ursa. This asterism was confessedly first taken notice of by Perez or Perseus, by which is meant the Persians. 21 Versaque ab axe suo Parrhasis Arctos erat. In the east, where the worship of Arez greatly prevailed, there were to be found many nations called after this manner. Part of Media, accord were some waters of this nature near Carthage, which were named Aqua Persianæ. See Apuleii Florida. c. 16. p. 795, and p. 801. They were so named from Perez, the Sun, to whom they were sacred. 11 Ovid. Trist. 1. 1. eleg. 3. v. 48. See Natalis Comes, 1. 7. ing to "Polybius, had the name of Parrhasia. There were also Parrhasii and Parrhasini in " Sogdiana; and the like near Caucasus: also a town named 25 Parasinum in the Tauric Chersonesus. The people styled "Parrhasians in Greece were the same as the Dorians and Heraclidæ ; all alike Cuthites, as were the antient Persians. Hence it is truly said by Plato, that the Heraclidæ in Greece, and the Achæmenidæ among the Persians were of the same stock: 27 Το δε Ηρακλεες τε γενος και το Αχαιμένεις εις Περσέα τον Διος αναφέρεται. On this account 28 Herodotus makes Xerxes claim kindred with the Argives of Greece, as being equally of the posterity of Perses, the same as Perseus, the Sun: under which character the Persians described the patriarch, from whom they were descended. Perseus was the same as Mithras, whose sacred cavern was styled Perseüm. 22 Polyb. 1. 5. p. 389. 23 Plin. Hist. Nat. 1. 6. c. 16. See Q. Curtius, and Strabo, 24 Parrhasii in Hyrcania. Strabo. 1. 11. p. 775. 25 Plin. Hist. Nat. 1. 2. c. 98. 25 Of Parrhasians in Arcadia. Strabo. 1. 8. p. 595. See Plin, Hist. Nat. 1. 4. c. 6. Υιος Δίνυττα Δαμαρχος την δ' ανεθηκεν Εικον", απ' Αρκαδίας Παῤῥάσιος γενέας. Pausan. 1. 6. p. 471. See also 1. S. p. 654. 27 Plato in Alcibiad. vol. 2. p. 120. 28 Herodot. 1. 7. c. 150. * Phoebe parens--seu té roseum Titana vocari Gentis Achæmeniæ ritu; seu præstät Osirin Frugiferum; seu Persei sub rupibus antri Indignata sequi torquentem cornua Mithram. OF MYRINA, AND THE AMAZONIANS OF LIBYA. FROM a notion that the Amazons were a community of women, historians have represented the chief personage of their nation as a 1o female. She is mentioned by some as having flourished long before the æra of " Troy: and it is by others said more precisely, that she lived in the time of Orus, the son of Isis and Osiris. This removes her history far back; so as to make it coeval with the first annals of time. Her dominions lay in the most western parts of " Africa, at the 29 Statii Theb. 1. 1. v. 717. 10 Diodorus Sicul. 1. 3. p. 185. 33 Πολλαις γενεαίς πρότερον των Τρωικών. Ibid. 33 Της Λιβύης εν τοις προς ἱσπεραν μερεσιν επί το περάτος της . Diodorus Sic. 1. 3. p. 186. She likewise was in possession of the νησοι ευδαίμονες, or Islands of the blessed, which lay opposite to her dominions in Africa. extremity of Atlas; where the mountain terminated in the ocean, to which it gave name. This country was called Mauritania; and was supposed to have been possessed by the Atlantes and Gorgons. The Grecian writers, who did not know that the same family went under different titles, have often made the same nation at variance with itself. And as they imagined every migration to have been a warlike expedition, they have represented Myrina as making great conquests; and what is extraordinary, going over the same ground, only in a retrograde direction, which Osiris had just passed before. Her first engagement was with the Atlantes of Cercene: against whom she marched with an army of 30,000 foot, and 2,000 horse; whom she completely armed with the skins of serpents. Having defeated the Atlantes, she marched against the Gorgons, whom she likewise "conquered; and proceeding forward, subdued the greater part of Africa, till she arrived at the borders of Egypt. Having entered into an alliance with Orus, she passed the Nile, and invaded the Arabians, whom she defeated. She then conquered the Syrians, 33 Writers mention that she raised over the slain three large mounds of earth, which were called rapor Aualorar the tombs of the Amazons. This shews that the Gorgons and Amazons were the same people, however separated, and represented in a state of warfare. and Cilicians, and all the nations about MountTaurus; till she arrived at Phrygia, and the regions about the river Caïcus. Here she built many cities, particularly Cuma, Pitane, and Priene. She also got possession of several islands.; and among others, of Lesbos and Samothracia, in which last she founded an asylum. After these transactions, Myrina, accompanied with Mopsus the diviner, made an expedition into Thrace, which was the ultimate of her progress; for she was supposed to have been here slain. According to Homer she died in Phrygia: for he takes notice of her tomb in the plains of Troas; and represents it as a notable performance. 34 Εςι δε τις προπαροιθε πόλεως αιπυια κολώνη, Αθανατοι δε τε σημα πολυσκαρθμοιο Μυρίνης. The tomb of this heroïne was in reality a sacred mound, or high altar; and Myrina a Gentile di vinity. In her supposed conquests we may in great measure see the history of Osiris, and Perseus, reversed, and in some degree abridged; ibid. Iliad B. v. 811. Mugira oroμa xugios Auaforos. Scholia |