Part 12

I remember I open’d this affair, near 20 Years ago, to Dr. _Halley_, who was of the same sentiment. Nor am I the first who suspected the _Phœnicians_ of old were possessed of this great secret, as well as the _Chinese_, from times immemorial. I am not moved to think otherwise by what _Bochart_ writes against it. The very name of the magnet _lapis Heraclius_ strongly suggests, the _Tyrian_ navigator before-mention’d knew it, as is well argued by _Fuller_ in his Miscellanies, IV. 19. And many things occur, in the mythology of the antients, wherein (if I mistake not) I discern most evident traces of this knowledge of the directive power of the magnet. We are not to despise the fables of the antients, but to make the best use of them, and search out for their latent truths. My predecessor _Cumberland_, observes in _Sanchoniathon_, p. 325. “that _Apollodorus_ (for instance) hath many truths in his mythic history, deriv’d from the tradition of _Phœnicians_ and _Egyptians_, planting _Athens_.” And the _Greeks_, those happy practitioners in writing, as well as other arts, took the unlucky turn of the _marvellous_, to so exorbitant a degree, as to write nothing without it. In _Apollodorus_, put out by the learned Dr. _Gale_, p. 114. we have an account of the 10th labour of _Hercules_, his conquest of _Cadiz_, or _Gadira_, as then call’d, or _Erythea_. We are told, the hero set up the 2 pillars at the Streights mouth, at _Gibralter_, or then _Tartessus_; which we may reasonably suppose some temple made of these rough stones, or some _main ambres_, like those we mention’d before, the _petræ ambrosiæ_ in the _Tyrian_ coins. Then, says our author, going on his journey, “the rays of the sun were so vehement upon him, that he had the boldness to draw his bow against him. The god admiring the intrepidity of the man, gave him a golden cup with which he sail’d over the ocean.” _Pisander_ in his IId. book, (in _Atheneus Deipnos._ XI.) writes the same, only that _Oceanus_ lent him the cup. _Panyasis_ in his I. of the history of _Hercules_, says, he begg’d it of _Nereus_, son of _Sol_, and with it sail’d to _Erythea_. (Macrob. _Saturn._ XXI. 5.) _Theoclytus_, in _Atheneus_ aforesaid, in his II. _de tempest._ mentions the same thing. He said it before in his _Titanomachia_. _Pherecydes_, in his III. of history, quoted both in _Atheneus_ and _Macrobius_, tells a story somewhat like that of _Apollodorus_, but more particular. _Servius_ Æn. VII. mentions it, but as some of the former, makes the cup of brass, instead of gold. _Alexander Ephesius_ the like. All very ancient writers. _Lucian_ says, that _Hercules_ sail’d in a sea-conch shell. What can we understand by all this, mention’d by so many grave authors, but a compass-box, which enabled him to sail the great ocean, and penetrate to our northern island, less obnoxious to the suns vehement heat? Add to this, in the same place, _Apollodorus_ speaks of his fighting _Albion_ and _Dercynus_, by _Mela_, called _Bergion_, Sons of _Neptune_; which were the most antient names of the _Britannic_ Isles, before the name of _Britain_. _Diodorus Siculus_, in his IV. book delivers a like account of this 10th labour of _Hercules_, but in a mere historical manner. And adds, that when he return’d by _Sicily_, he dedicated a grove to _Geryon_ the hero, where, to his time, the people did religious rites. For this affair of sacred groves, we know our _Druids_ were famous. He built a temple likewise at _Gades_. We are not to suppose it a cover’d edifice, like what posterity call’d a temple, but an open one, according to the mode of those days. Cover’d temples, at that time, being a thing unknown in the world. Afterward, a magnificent temple, properly, was there built to him. _Mela_ witnesses, that it was our _Egyptian Hercules_, who was there worshipped. For I suppose our _Egyptian_ and the _Tyrian Hercules_ to be all one. The same mention’d by the name of _Assis_, in _Manethons_ XVII. _Dynasty_, in _Josephus_ c. App. in _Africanus_, _Eusebius_, and _Syncellus_. _Apollonius_ II. 14. writes, it was not the _Theban_ but the _Egyptian Hercules_ that came to _Gades_: which is confirm’d by _Hecateus_. And _Herodotus_, in _Euterpe_ says, _Hercules_ is a very antient deity among the _Egyptians_, not so, among the _Greeks_. And I suppose this hero lived at, or very near the time of the patriarch _Abraham_.

These were the times about the beginning of idolatry. And _Hercules_ was far from being an idolater himself, though worshipp’d afterwards, for his great exploits, and perhaps on this very account of his inventing or knowing the use of the compass. This is the _Hercules_ kneeling on one knee, a constellation in heaven, taken notice of by _Dionysius Halycarn._ by _Tzetzes_, _Hyginus_, _Æschylus_ and others. It seems to indicate his piety; for which the astronomers his disciples plac’d him in the heavens. He kneels upon the arctic circle, and supports the zodiac on his shoulders; tho’ this is not understood by the painting on our modern globes. The _Phœnicians_, his successors in the tin trade of _Britain_, kept the trade and the very name of the Island as a great secret; as well as the use of the compass, till it was lost with them. But it seems highly probable, because _Lucian_ describes _Hercules_ with a sphere in his hand, that he affixed the present Asterisms of the zodiac: and his successors, the _Phœnicians_, propagated them.

’Tis next to our present purpose, to consider that famous oracle of _Jupiter Ammon_ in _Africa_, to be referr’d to the most early times of idolatry: render’d illustrious by _Alexander_ the Great taking a journey to it. Which gives us the opportunity of knowing somewhat of it.

_Quamvis Æthiopum populis, Arabumq; beatis Gentibus, ac Indis, unus sit Jupiter Ammon._ Lucan.

All these nations, with _Egypt_ and _Africa_, were peopled by the posterity chiefly of _Ham_. They were the first that fell into idolatry, and worshipped their common progenitor, call’d _Amynus_, in _Sanchoniathon_. _Hecateus_ says, _Amoûn_, as the _Egyptians_ write it, is the word of those that invoke god, and that they meant somewhat very mysterious by it. The history of its origin is this. _Bacchus_, the hero, or demigod, travelling through the sandy desarts of _Africa_, with a great army, was perishing with thirst; he pray’d to his father _Jupiter_ for relief, who sent a _ram_ that show’d him a spring, sav’d him and his host. Out of gratitude, the hero builds a temple there, to the deity who thus aided him under the form of a _ram_. There is no room to doubt, that this is in part copied from the transaction of the children of _Israel_, in the _Arabian_ wilderness. They have added to it, a name and notion borrowed from patriarchal tradition, of a divine person, symboliz’d by a ram; horned, anointed, which is all one. We christians mean _Messiah_. Innumerable passages in old authors, which I might cite, innumerable monuments of antiquity in sculpture, shew, that _Jupiter Ammon_ was figur’d as a ram, with a ram’s head, with rams horns. They applied the patriarchal notion of the _Messiah_, to their progenitor _Ham_, in an idolatrous way: and deified him under that character. There is a very remarkable passage in _Herodotus_, which, it is worth our while, to transcribe.

[Illustration: _P. 58._ TAB. XXX.

_Prospect from the west end of the Cursus of Stonehenge._

_Stukeley. d._

A. _the eastern meta._ B. _the eastern wing of the avenue._ C. _Stonehenge._]

In _Euterpe_ cap. 42. that author tells us, why the _Theban Egyptians_ pay so great a regard to the sheep. “_Hercules_ on his importunity to _Jupiter_, that he might have the honour personally to see him, at length prevail’d. And the god consented to exhibit himself to his view, under this device. _viz._ _Jupiter_ cut off a ram’s head, put the skin over his own head, and thus appear’d to _Hercules_. Whence the _Egyptians_ made the statue of _Jupiter_, with a ram’s head, and call _Jupiter Ammôun_. Whence they hold sheep for sacred animals, never kill them but once a year, upon the festival day of _Jupiter_, when only one ram is sacrificed, and his head put upon the statue of _Jupiter_; all that are there present, beat the ram, and at last he is buried in a sacred urn.”

It is impossible not to see, that this is derived from that history recorded, _Exodus_ xxxiii. _Moses_ desires of _Jehovah_ repeatedly, that he might see him. He calls it seeing his glory. He is answer’d at length. “I will make all my _goodness_ pass before thee, and I will proclaim the _name_ of _Jehovah_ before thee. Thou canst not see my face, but I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and cover thee with my hand, whilst I pass by. Thou shalt see my back parts only.” Here he notoriously promises _Moses_, that he shall see him, in a symbolical form. In the next chapter, _Jehovah_ descended in the luminous cloud, or _Shechinah_, and proclaimed the _name_ of _Jehovah_; recites those attributes that relate to his dealings with mankind, in the strongest point of light; “his goodness and mercy, and long-suffering, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin: but adds, he will by no means clear the guilty, but visit the fathers iniquity upon the children.” Wherein our original and fatal transgression is sufficiently intimated, and that God’s justice is equal to his mercy; and the necessity of a divine redemption by sacrifice, which in scripture language is call’d, “the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

All this the most ancient nations had a knowledge of, from patriarchal tradition. When they laps’d into idolatry, they applied these good notions to their new idolatry, and made statues from the symbolical and figurative forms of speech, us’d in true religion. Their sacrificing the ram on the festival day of _Jupiter_, their beating the ram, putting his head on the statue of their deity, burying him in a sacred urn: all most evidently pointing out the notions they had, in the most early times, of the suffering state of the _Messiah_. And such was the origin, in short, of _Jupiter Ammon_. But it appears, by what learned authors write, on _Curtius_’s description of his statue, that a magnetical compass box made one considerable part of his sacreds. This we read in _Hyde_ Pers. relig. p. 495. in _Curtius_ publish’d by _Pitiscus_, and by _Rader_ the jesuite, and _Schottus_ in _Ortelius_, by _Fuller_, _Herwart_ and others. “This compass box with the statue of the deity, was set in a golden ship (the golden cup of _Hercules_) and carried in procession on the shoulders of the priests, accompanied by women singing an hymn in their own language.” I doubt not, but the circumstance of carrying this golden ship, on the shoulders of the priests, is an imitation of the _Mosaic_ ark in the march of the _Israelites_, thro’ the wilderness, during their forty years pilgrimage. Tho’ they mistook the reason of the thing; the _Jewish_ church then being in a military and travelling state. But where the camp rested, the ark was reposited, in the _adytum_ of the tabernacle: so likewise when in possession of the land of _Canaan_. This is sufficient proof, that the _Lybians_ herein, copied after the _Israelites_, not _vice versa_, as our moderns are willing to think, in these cases.

_Curtius_ tells us, the habit of _Ammon_’s statue was made of _Smaragd_ and other precious stones, wrought in _Mosaic_ work. Which I take to be too, in imitation of the pontifical attire, under _Moses_’s administration: particularly of the sacred, oracular pectoral, made of _Mosaic_ work, with gems. I apprehend, that beside the statue of _Ammon_, there was a figure of (the upper part at least of) a _ram_, on the compass box: which was the oracle. And it is easy to guess how this may be managed for the purpose; even beyond the trick of _Januarius_’s blood, and other _Popish_ devices.

Hence we may better understand the famous golden fleece, which occasioned the _Argonautic_ expedition, one of the earliest and most memorable _Æra’s_ of the _Grecian_ history. If we suppose this golden fleece to be a compass box, we see the reason why the choice youth of _Greece_ set out upon that voyage: which, as all other matters of ancient history, among the _Greeks_, is so unaccountably puft up with the leaven of fable. It became navigators to run any hazard for such a treasure. If we enquire into its origin, it is thus. _Phrixus_ son of _Athamas_ and _Nepheles_ (according to the _Greeks_) had a ship given him by his mother. The ship is call’d in the fable a golden _ram_, or the ram with a golden fleece (the same thing as _Hercules_’s golden cup.) In this, he and his sister _Helle_, flying the ill-usage of their mother-in-law _Ino_, sail away by sea. _Helle_ affrighted in the voyage, falls overboard and gives name to the _Hellespont_. _Phrixus_ continues the voyage, and goes to _Æetes_ king of _Colchis_, where he hangs up his golden _ram_ in the temple, to _Jupiter Phyxius_, (one would be apt to imagine they meant _Pyxius_, alluding to the box.) _Jason_ made his far-fam’d expedition thither afterward, and stole it. But the ram was placed in the heavens, among the constellations, as a memorial; the first sign in the _Zodiac_: which shews the high antiquity of the story.

This account manifestly pretends very great antiquity, and some signal event. I observe this _Ino_ their mother-in-law, is said to be the nurse of _Bacchus_, and throwing herself with her son _Melicerte_ into the sea, became a goddess, under the name of _Leucothea_. Her son became a god, under the name of _Palæmon_. This _Melicerte_ is allowed by all the learned, to be no other than our _Melcartus_ above-mention’d. _Palæmon_ is _Hercules_, says _Hesychius_. _Palæmon_ is his name of deification. _Pausanias_ in the beginning of his _corinthiaca_ informs us, this _apotheosis_ of _Ino_ and _Melicerta_ was the occasion of founding the famous _Isthmian_ games. _Plutarch_ says the same, and _Phavorinus_. Again, I observe, _Phrixus_ is said to be son of _Nephele_ (a cloud) whence call’d _nubigena_ by _Columella_. We must hence expect somewhat very secret and obscure. Further, all writers say openly this _ram_ or ship of _Phrixus_ was oracular and could speak upon occasion. So all the writers of the _Argonautics_ too will have the ship _Argos_ to be loquacious and oracular. _Magnes_ another name of the load-stone is often call’d _Adamas_, which seems to be no other than _Athamas_. _Apollodorus_ makes _Magnes_ the son of _Æolus_, who marrying _Nais_, inhabited the isle _Seriphus_. _Æolus_ was a great sailor, invented sails, and studied the winds, therefore deified and made the god of the winds. I suppose it all ends in the mysterious invelopement of the knowledge of the magnetic compass.

I hope for the readers candour, in reciting thus much from antient fable, which I did as concisely as possible. But in matters of obscure antiquity, we must make use of all helps. And in heathen antiquity we have no other. A strictly historical way of writing in former times, is only to be expected in the sacred canon of the _Jews_. And what is remarkable, after God’s holy spirit had deserted _them_, their writers became the greatest fablers in the world, and, if possible, out-did the _Greeks_, in that way.

[Illustration: _P. 60._ TAB. XXXI.

_A Prospect of the barrows in Lake field called the Eleven barrows & lately the prophets barrows._

_2^d. Sep^r. 1723._

_Stukeley d._

A. _Stonehenge._ P. _barrow open’d by_ .L. _Pembroke_. SS. _by Stukeley_.]

One would imagine, the fashion of these most antient charts, was to divide the circle into 12 parts, and affix the celestial signs of the zodiac to them; beginning with the east at _aries_, where the sun rises at the equinoxes; and thence they might call the box by the name of _aries_, as shewing the east where _aries_ is plac’d. As now the _Turks_ and _Arabians_ call it _kibla noma_, _i. e._ shewing the _kibla_, or south point, the way toward which they turn their faces in devotion. So we only enquire for the north point; and call it the lode-stone, because it shews the lode-star or north pole. But ’tis all one; any one point in a circle being found, the rest are found too.

From what has been said, it seems probable, that the fable of the hero finding out the spring in the sandy desarts of _Africa_, by the help of a ram sent from _Jupiter_, means the travelling over those immense plains by the help of a compass, which they call’d by the name of a _ram_, or a golden ram. And that the possessors of the antient oracle of _Ammon_ had such a secret, which they cunningly applied to the sacreds of their deity. Probably, in that most early age, they had not improv’d the use of it to the pitch and manner that we enjoy, with a needle; and _that_ set upon a central pin: but having found out the veracity of the magnet, they put it into a boat, which was to swim on water, and therein it would have liberty to turn itself to its proper direction. And this is the sentiment of the learned Dr. _Wallis_, in the _Philosophical Transactions_, N^o. 278. This boat was the better a handle for the mythologists to call _Hercules_’s vessel a golden cup, because cups were made in the shape of a boat, and had the same denomination, _cymbium_.

Those learned commentators upon _Curtius_ abovementioned agree, there was a stone along with the statue of _Ammon_, carried about in the golden ship; and perhaps, hence the antient navigators took the hint of applying the figure of the ram to their compasses, however form’d, and gave it the name of the _ram_, or golden fleece, which the _Greek_ fables, their most antient history, ring of: and hence their ships deriv’d their oracular quality. _Phrixus_’s ship, the golden _ram_, being said to speak on occasion, as well as the ship _argos_. The stupendous properties of this stone, without difficulty, would persuade even those above the vulgar, that there was a divine principle in it, quite metaphysical, consequently oracular. And in the dawnings of idolatry, the evil agent who was vigilant to pervert every thing to his own purpose, would not fail to make great use of the secrets of the magnet. The intire notion of oracles among the heathen, is caused by the devil’s mimickry of God’s transactions among the patriarchs and the _Jews_. But I believe the _Egyptians_ took their notion of carrying a boat in all their religious processions, from this magnetic boat, of which both _Herodotus_ and _Plutarch_ inform us. For they intended it to signify the movement and descent of the divine ideas from the supreme mind; especially the very fountain and principal of those ideas: and it must be own’d to be admirably well chose. Hence the top and the bottom of the verge or _limbus_ of the celebrated _Isiac_ tablet, is adorn’d with a boat. In one a ram, in the other a bull. Meaning the origin of the chain of ideas flowing from the divine mind. ’Tis highly probable, _that_ with the ram is the copy of _Jupiter Ammon_’s boat, mention’d by _Curtius_. And I suppose this is _Herwart_’s opinion, but I have not yet seen his book. Of this I shall discourse larger in my explication of the _Bembin_ table. However _Herodotus_ tells us in his II. book, that the temple of _Jupiter Ammon_ took its rise from _Phœnicia_. I only mention this for the sake of those that are over acting the credit of antiquities in _Egypt_.

We learn in _Plutarch_’s discourse _de Isid. & Osir_, that the ship _argos_ of the _Greeks_, was in reality the ship that our _Hercules_ sail’d round the world in. Further, this oracular ship has its name _argos_, says my friend Mr. _Baxter_, _gloss. ant. rom._ from the _Hebrew_ and _Syrian_ word _argan_, an ark. Which confirms what I said above, concerning the carrying about the ship of _Ammon_ on the shoulders of the priests. _Strabo_ in II. of his geography, mentions the temple of _Leucothea_, built by _Phrixus_ at _Colchos_; that there was an oracle there; and that the sheep was never slain at the place. This shews its relation to that of _Jupiter Ammon_. _Leucothea_ is the name of consecration of _Hercules_ his mother, _Hercules_ himself being call’d _Palæmon_; both made sea deities: from the extraordinary fame of _Hercules_, the first and great sea captain. _Pausanias in Atticis_ says, he was buried in the _Corinthian Isthmus_; where the _Isthmian_ games were kept to his memory. But _Mela_ writes, that his remains were at _Gades_. It’s probable there was only an honorary monument of him at the _Isthmus_, as founder: as the honorary monument of _Jolaus_ mention’d to be among the _Thebans_, by the _Stadium_, p. 42.

Mr. _Baxter_ in _gloss. ant. rom. v. ascania_ makes _Phrixus_ to be _Aphricus_, and the same person as _Jupiter Ammon_, or the founder of the temple of _Jupiter Ammon_; rather, of that prior to _Jupiter Ammon_. We are not to regard the little artifices of the _Greeks_, who draw all celebrated events and persons of antiquity, into their own country. _Aphricus_, no doubt, is the _Aphre_ before-mentioned, son of _Midian_, son of _Abraham_; whom _Cleodemus_ makes an associate of _Hercules_, in his _Lybian_ wars. _Josephus_ makes him the conqueror of _Lybia_, and that he gave name to _Africa_. ’Tis not unlikely but that he is the hero that travell’d over these barren sands by the help of the compass, as his countrymen the _Arabians_ have from times immemorial practised, in travelling over their own desarts. And might probably erect a patriarchal temple there; and in times of his posterity it degenerated into the idolatrous temple of _Jupiter Ammon_. And there the compass box of the hero remain’d, and was converted into part of the heathen sacreds.

’Tis no very strange matter, if they at another time call this same hero _Bacchus_, therein confounding him with the like travels of the _Israelites_, through the _Arabian_ desarts. We are not to expert these histories of old times involv’d in fable, absolutely consistent. But if this account be agreeable to truth or near it; then we may imagine the same _Aphre_, by the _Greeks_ call’d _Phrixus_, according to Mr. _Baxter_, pass’d the _Hellespont_, made the expedition into _Colchis_, and built a like temple there. And a compass box called the golden _ram_, was made alike part of the object of their adoration. This is exceedingly confirm’d by the report of _Herodotus_ and _Diodorus S._ who say, the _Colchi_ practised the rite of circumcision, a matter which the learned cannot account for; but appears plain from hence: these being the descendants of _Abraham_. They say, at the same time, that the _Ethiopians_ practise the like: and that ’tis no recent custom among them, but from the beginning. I apprehend by _Ethiopians_ are meant _Arabians_, who are people descended from _Abraham_. _Herodotus_ says likewise the _Egyptians_ circumcis’d, which must be accounted for in this same manner; some _Arabian_ or _Ethiopian_ nation bringing the custom among them. As a further confirmation of _Phrixus_ being _Aphricus_, _Bochart_ shews the _Colchic_ and _Hebrew_ tongue is much a-kin. And thus we may account for what Mr. _Toland_, p. 133. says, that the idiom of the _Irish_ language (which we suppose the remnant of the most antient oriental,) has a mixture of _Arabic_ in it.