A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume 2 (of 6)

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Transcriber's note: A few typographical errors have been corrected: they
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A

NEW SYSTEM;

OR, AN

ANALYSIS

OF

ANTIENT MYTHOLOGY:

WHEREIN AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO DIVEST TRADITION OF FABLE;
AND TO REDUCE THE TRUTH TO ITS ORIGINAL PURITY,

BY JACOB BRYANT, ESQ.

_THE THIRD EDITION._
IN SIX VOLUMES.

WITH A PORTRAIT AND
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR;

A VINDICATION OF THE APAMEAN MEDAL;

Observations and Inquiries relating to various
Parts of Antient History;

A COMPLETE INDEX,

AND FORTY-ONE PLATES, NEATLY ENGRAVED.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR J. WALKER; W.J. AND J. RICHARDSON; R. FAULDER AND SON; R. LEA;
J. NUNN; CUTHELL AND MARTIN; H.D. SYMONDS; VERNOR, HOOD, AND SHARPE; E.
JEFFERY; LACKINGTON, ALLEN, AND CO.; J. BOOKER; BLACK, PARRY, AND
KINGSBURY; J. ASPERNE; J. MURRAY; AND J. HARRIS.

1807.

       *       *       *       *       *


A

NEW SYSTEM

OR AN

ANALYSIS

OF

ANTIENT MYTHOLOGY.

       *       *       *       *       *


PHŒNIX AND PHŒNICES.

As there has been much uncertainty about the purport and extent of these
terms; and they are of great consequence in the course of history; I will
endeavour to state their true meaning. Phoinic, or Poinic, was an Egyptian
and Canaanitish term of honour; from whence were formed Φοινιξ, Φοινικες,
Φοινικοεις of the Greeks, and Phoinic, Poinicus, Poinicius of the Romans;
which were afterwards changed to Phœnix, Punicus, and [1]Puniceus. It was
originally a title, which the Greeks made use of as a provincial name: but
it was never admitted as such by the people, to whom it was thus
appropriated, till the Greeks were in possession of the country. And even
then it was but partially received: for though mention is made of the coast
of Phœnice, yet we find the natives called Sidonians, Tyrians, and
[2]Canaanites, as late as the days of the Apostles. It was an honorary
term, compounded of Anac with the Egyptian prefix; and rendered at times
both Phoinic and Poinic. It signified a lord or prince: and was
particularly assumed by the sons of Chus and Canaan. The Mysians seem to
have kept nearest to the original pronunciation, who gave this title to the
God Dionusus, and called him Ph'anac.

  [3]Ogygia me Bacchum vocat,
  Osirin Ægyptus putat,
  Mysi Phanacem.

It was also conferred upon many things, which were esteemed princely and
noble. Hence the red, or scarlet, a colour appropriated to great and
honourable personages, was styled Phoinic. The palm was also styled
Phoinic, Φοινιξ: and the antients always speak of it as a stately and noble
tree. It was esteemed an emblem of honour; and made use of as a reward of
victory. Plurimarum palmarum homo, was a proverbial expression among the
Romans, for a soldier of merit. Pliny speaks of the various species of
palms; and of the great repute in which they were held by the Babylonians.
He says, that the noblest of them were styled the royal Palms; and supposes
that they were so called from their being set apart for the king's use. But
they were very early an emblem of royalty: and it is a circumstance
included in their original name. We find from Apuleius, that Mercury, the
[4]Hermes of Egypt, was represented with a palm branch in his hand: and his
priests at Hermopolis used to have them stuck in their [5]sandals, on the
outside. The Goddess [6]Isis was thus represented: and we may infer that
Hermes had the like ornaments; which the Greeks mistook for feathers, and
have in consequence of it added wings to his feet. The Jews used to carry
boughs of the same tree at some of their festivals; and particularly at the
celebration of their nuptials: and it was thought to have an influence at
the birth. Euripides alludes to this in his Ion; where he makes Latona
recline herself against a Palm tree, when she is going to produce Apollo
and Diana.

    [7]Φοινικα Παρ' ἁβροκομαν
  Ενθα λοχευματα σεμν' ελοχευσατο
    Λατω.

In how great estimation this tree was held of old, we may learn from many
passages in the sacred writings. Solomon says to his espoused, [8]_how fair
and how pleasant art thou, O Love, for delights: thy stature is like a Palm
tree_. And the Psalmist for an encouragement to holiness, says, [9]_that
the righteous shall flourish like the Palm tree_: for the Palm was supposed
to rise under a weight; and to thrive in proportion to its being
[10]depressed. There is possibly a farther allusion in this, than may at
first appear. The antients had an opinion, that the Palm was immortal: at
least, if it did die, it recovered again, and obtained a second life by
renewal. Hence the story of the bird, styled the Phoenix, is thought to
have been borrowed from this tree. Pliny, in describing the species of
Palm, styled Syagrus, says, [11]Mirum de eâ accepimus, cum Phœnice Ave, quæ
putatur ex hujus Palmæ argumento nomen accepisse, iterum mori, et renasci
ex seipsà.