the priests, and those in which they used to apparel their Deities, had sacred names, taken from terms in their worship. Such were Camise, Candys, Camia, Cidaris, Mitra, Zona, and the like. The last was a sacred fillet, or girdle, which they esteemed an emblem of the orbit described by Zon, the Sun. They either represented their Gods as girded round with a serpent, which was an emblem of the same meaning; or else with this bandage, denominated 9° Zona. They seem to have been secondary Deities, who were called Zoni and "Azoni. The term signifies Heliadæ: and they were looked upon as æthereal essences, a kind of emanation from the Sun. They were exhibited under different representations; and oftentimes like Cneph of Egypt. The fillet, with which the Azoni were girded, is described as of a fiery nature and they were supposed to have been wafted through the air. Arnobius speaks of it in this light. 9 Age, nunc, veniat, quæso, per igneam zonam Magus ab interiore orbe Zoroastres. I imagine, that by Azonaces, Agwvans, be 9° Sce Plates annexed. 9 Martianus Capella. 1. 1. c. 17. Ex cunctis igitur Cœli regionibus advocatis Diis, cæteri, quos Azonos vocant, ipso commonente Cyllenio, convocantur. Psellus styles them Alwrol, and Zavalo. See Scholia upon the Chaldaic Oracles. s? Arnobius. 1. 1. p. 31. forementioned, the reputed teacher of Zoroaster, was meant the chief Deity, the same as Oromanes, and Oromasdes. He seems to have been the supreme of those æthereal spirits described above; and to have been named Azon-Nakis, which signifies the great Lord, " Azon. Naki, Nakis, Nachis, Nachus, Negus, all in different parts of the world betoken a king. The temple at Istachar, near which these representations were found, is at this day called the palace of Naki Rustan, whoever that personage may have been. ORPHEUS. THE character of Orpheus is in some respects not unlike that of Zoroaster, as will appear in the sequel. He went over many regions of the earth; and in all places, whither he came, was esteemed both as a priest, and a prophet. There seems to be more in his history than at first sight appears: all which will by degrees be unfolded. His skill 93 The Sun was styled both Zon, and Azon; Zan and Azan: so Dercetis was called Atargatis: Neith of Egypt, Aueith. The same was to be observed in places. Zelis was called Azilis: Saba, Azaba: Stura, Astura: Puglia, Apuglia: Busus, Ebusus: Damasec, Adamasec. Azon was therefore the same as Zon; and Azon Nakis may be interpreted Sol Rex, vel Dominus. in harmony is represented as very wonderful : insomuch that he is said to have tamed the wild beasts of the forest, and made the trees follow him. He likewise could calm the winds, and appease the raging of the sea. These last circumstances are taken notice of by a poet in some fine verses, wherein he laments his death. Ουκ ετι κοιμασεις ανέμων βρόμον, εχι χάλαζαν, He is mentioned, as having been twice in a state of death; which is represented as a twofold descent to the shades below. There is also an obscure piece of mythology about his wife, and a serpent; also of the Rhoia or Pomegranate; which seems to have been taken from some symbolical representation at a time, when the purport was no longer understood. The Orpheans dealt particularly in symbols, as we learn from Proclus. 3 Ορφικοί δια συμβολον, Πυθαγορειοι δια εικόνων, His character for science was very great; and Euripides takes particular τα θεία μηνύειν εφιεμένοι. Antholog. 1. 3. p. 269. 2 See Huetius. Demons. Evang. prop. 4. p. 129. 3 In Theolog. Platonis. 1. 1. c. 4. 5 notice of some antient tablets, containing much salutary knowledge, which were bequeathed to the Thracians by Orpheus: Oppein naтeygate γηρύς. Plato styles his works • βιβλων ὁμαδόν, a vast lumber of learning, from the quantity, which people pretended had been transmitted from him. He one while resided in Greece; and particularly at Thebes in Boeotia. Here he introduced the rites of Dionusus, and celebrated his Orgies upon mount Citharon. He is said to have been the first who instituted those rites: and was the author of all mysterious worship. Пgwтos Oppεus 7 Πρωτος Ορφευς μυςήρια Θεων παρέδωκεν. All these were accompanied with science of another nature: for he is reputed to have been skilled in many arts. From Thebes he travelled towards the sea-coast of Chaonia, in order to recover his lost Eurydice; who had been killed by a serpent. According to Agatharchides Cnidius it was at i 4 Ουδε τι φαρμακον Θρήσσαις εν σανίσι, Τας Ορφείη κατεγραψε γηρυς. Alcestis. v. 968. 5 Plato de Repub. 1. 2. p. 364. 6 Lactant. de F. R. 1. 1. p. 105. 7 Scholia in Alcestin. v. 968. Concerning Orpheus, see Diodorus. 1. 1. p. 86. Aristoph. Ranæ. v. 1064. Euseb. P. E. lib. 10. p. 469. L. 22. See Natalis comes. 1. 7. p. 401. |