22

As the Patriarch was esteemed the author of the first ship, which was navigated, he was in consequence of it made the god of seamen; and his temple was termed 32 ἱερον Ποσειδωνος Κανωβε. He was esteemed the same as Serapis : and inscriptions have been found dedicated to him under the title of Eos Ewrng. In this temple, or rather college, was a seminary for astronomy, and other marine sciences. Ptolemy, the great Geographer, to whom the world is so much indebted, was à member of this society, and studied here 23 forty years. The name of the temple was properly Ca Noubi: the latter part, Noubi, is the oracle of Noah.

She is

Niobe was the same name, and person; though by the Greeks mentioned as a woman. represented as one, who was given up to grief, having been witness to the death of all her children. Her tears flowed day and night; till she at last stiffened with woe; and was turned into a stone, which was to be seen on mount Sipylus in Magnesia.

in Apollon. Rhod. 1. 4. v. 1397. The account is taken from the 3d book of the Libyca of Agrotas.

23 Olympiodorus. See Jablonsky. 1. 5. c. 4. p. 136.

24 Ιω, παντλάμων

Νιόβα, σε δ' έγωγε νέμω θεον,

Ατ' εν τάφῳ πετραίῳ

Αν, αι, δακρύεις.

Pausanias had the curiosity to ascend mount Sipylus, in order to take a view of this venerable 25 figure. He says, that he beheld an abrupt rocky clift; which at a near view had no appearance of a person grieving, or of a human likeness; but at a distance had some resemblance of a woman shedding tears. Niobe is often mentioned as a person concerned in the deluge: at least is introduced with persons, who had an immediate relation to it. Πλάτων εν Τιμαίῳ τῳ διαλογῳ τη Φορωνέως επιμεμνηται χρονων, ὡς πανυ παλαιων, και Νιόβης, και κατ' Ωγυγον αρχαιοτερα κατακλυσμό. Plato in his Timeus speaking of the most antient times, mentions the age of Phoroneus, and Niobe, as such; and the ara of the first deluge under Ogyges. In the passage alluded to she is joined with Phoroneus

26

**Sophocles Electra. v. 150.

25

Ταυτην την Νιόβην και αυτος ειδον ανελθών ες τον Σιπυλον το όρος, x. T. A. Pausan. 1. 1. p. 49.

Ωσαύτως δε και Νιόβην λεγεσιν εν Σιπύλῳ τῷ ορει θερες ώρα κλαίειν. Pausan. 1. 8. p. 601.

26

and Deucalion, two persons principally concerned in that event. It occurs, where Plato is speaking περι Φορωνέως τε πρωτα λεχθέντος, και Νιοβης, και μετα τον κατακλυσμον αυ Δευκαλίωνος, of the first Phoroneus, and Niobe, and of the things subsequent to the deluge of Deucalion. Sophocles in the passage above speaks of her as a Deity: and she is said to have been worshipped in Cilicia. By some she was represented as the mother of 25 Argus.

As the antients described the ark, the vaus aμpinguμvaïs, like a lunette; it was in consequence of it called M, and Eɛλnn, which signify a Moon: and a crescent became a common symbol on this occasion. The chief person likewise, the Patriarch, had the name of Meen, and Menes: and was worshipped all over the east as Deus Lunus; especially at Carrhæ, Edessa, and other cities of Syria and Mesopotamia. His votaries were styled Minyæ; which name was given to them from the object of their worship. Wherever the history of the Deluge occurs, these names will be found. I have spoken of the cities of Phrygia, and the memorials there preserved. At Caroura near mount Sipylus Zeus was worshipped under the title of

25 Plato in Timæo. vol. 3. p. 22.

27 Athenagoras. p. 290. Niby Kiλires (debboi).·

38

Agyou To Nibns. Pausan. 1. 2. p. 191. 145. Homer. Schol 1. 1. v. 123.