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After his Death, he was honour'd with Divine Worship; first by the Oropians, and afterwards by all the other Grecians: And a stately Temple with a Statue of white Marble, was erected to him in the Place where he was fwallow'd up, faith my Author, being about XII Stadia diftant from Oropus, a City in the Confines of Attica and Boeotia, which for that Reafon, is fometimes attributed to both Countries. There was also a remarkable Altar, dedicated to him in the fame Place; it was divided into five Parts; the first of which was facred to Hercules, Jupiter, and Paonian Apollo: The second to the Heroes and their Wives: The third, to Vefta, Mercury, Dmphiaraus, and the Sons of Amphilochus, (for Alemaon, the Son of Amphiaraus, was not allow'd to partake of any of the Honours paid to Amphilochus, or Amphiaraus, because he flew his Mother Eriphyle :) The fourth to Venus, Panacea, Jafon, Hygia, and Paonian Minerva. The fifth Part to the Nymphs, Pan, and the Rivers Achelous, and Cephifus.

Anfwers were deliver'd in Dreams: Jophon the Gnofian, who publifh'd the antient Oracles in Heroick Verfes, reports, That Amphiaraus return'd an Answer to the Argives in Verfe; but my Author herein contradicteth him, and reports farther, that it was the general Opinion, that only thofe, who were infpir'd by Apollo, gave Answers after that manner; whereas all the reft made Predictions either by Dreams, or the Flight of Birds, or the Entrails of Beafts. He adds, for a Confirmation of what he had faid, before, viz. That these Answers were given in Dreams; That Amphiaraus was excellently skill'd in the Interpretation of Dreams, and canoniz'd for the Invention of that Art.

They that came to confult this Oracle, were firft to be purify'd by offering Sacrifice to Amphiaraus, and all the other Gods, whofe Names were infcrib'd on the Altar: (a) Philoftratus adds, they were to faft 24 Hours, and abftain three Days from Wine. After all, they offer'd a Ram in Sacrifice to Amphiaraus; then went to Sleep, lying upon a Victim's Skin, and in that Pofture expected a Revelation by Dream. In the fame manner did the People of Apulia Daunia expect Answers from Podalirius, who died there, and return'd prophetick Dreams to those that came to inquire of him. Whoever confulted him, was to Aleep upon a Sheep's Skin at his Altar, as we learn from thefe Words of Lycophron (b),

Δοραῖς δὲ μήλων τύμβΘ- εγκοιμωμένοις
Χρήσει καθ ̓ ὕπνον πᾶσι νεμερτῇ φάτιν.

They, whofe afpiring Minds, curious to pry
Into the myftick Records of Events,

Ask Aid of Podalirius, must fleep

Proftrate on Sheep Skins at his hallow'd Fane,
And thus receive the true prophetick Dreams.

H. H.

To return: All Perfons were admitted to this Oracle, the Thebans only excepted, who were to enjoy no Benefit from Amphiaraus in this way: For, as Herodotus reporteth (c), he gave them their Option of

(a) Vita Apollonii Tyanei, lib. II. (b) Caffandra, v. 1050.

cap. CXXXIV.

(c) Lib. VIII

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two Things, viz. his Counsel and Advice, to direct them in time of Neceffity, or his Help and Protection, to defend them in time of Danger; telling them they must not expect both: Whereupon they chose the latter, thinking they had a greater need of Defence than Counsel, which they could be fufficiently furnish'd with by Delphian Apollo.

This Oracle was had in very great Efteem: Herodotus (a) reckons it amongst the five principal ones of Greece, confulted by Crafus, be fore his Expedition against Cyrus, viz. the Delphian, Dodonean, Amphiaraus's, Trophonius's, and the Didymaan; and Valerius Maximus (b) faith, it was not inferior either to the two first of those already mention'd, or that of Jupiter Hammon.

Near the Temple was the Fountain, out of which Amphiaraus afcended into Heaven, when he was receiv'd into the number of the Gods, which for that Reason was call'd by his Name: It was held fo facred, that it was a capital Crime to employ the Waters of it to any ordinary Ufe, as wafhing the Hands, or Purification; nay, it was unlawful to offer Sacrifice before it, as was ufual at other Fountains: The chief Use it was employ'd in was this, viz. They that by the Advice of the Oracle had recover'd out of any Disease, were to cast a piece of coin'd Gold or Silver into it; and this (c) Paufanias tells us, was an antient Custom, and deriv'd from the Primitive Ages.

At Phara, a City of Achaia, Anfwers were given by Mercurius Azoei, fo nam'd from weg, i. e. the Market-place, where was a Statue of Stone erected to him, having a Beard, which feems to have been a thing unusual in his Statues; before it was plac'd a low Stone Altar, upon which ftood brazen Bafons foldered with Lead. They that came for advice, firft offer'd Frankincenfe upon the Altar, then lighted the Lamps, pouring Oil into them; after that, they offer'd upon the right-fide of the Altar a piece of Money, ftamp'd with their own Country Impreffion, and call'd Xanxes; then propos'd the Questions they defir'd to be refolv'd in, placing their Ear close to the Statue; and after all departed, stopping both their Ears with their Hands, till they had pafs'd quite thro' the Market-place; then they pluck'd away their Hands, and receiv'd the firft Voice that prefented itself, as a Divine Oracle. The fame Ceremonies were practis'd in Ægypt, at the Oracle of Serapis, as (d) Paufanias reports.

(e) At Bura in Achaia there was an Oracle of Hercules, call'd from that City Buraicus; the Place of it was a Cave, wherein was Hercules's Statue: Predictions were made by throwing Dice. They that confulted the God, firft addrefs'd themselves to him by Prayer; then taking four Dice out of a great Heap that lay ready there, they threw them upon the Table: All the Dice had on them certain peculiar Marks, all which were interpreted in a Book kept for that purpose; as foon therefore as they had caft the Dice, they went to the Book, and there every Man found his Doom.

At Patra (f) a City on the Sea-coaft of Achaia, not far from the facred Grove of Apollo, there was a Temple dedicated to Ceres, in

(4) Lib. I. cap. XLVI. () Lib. VIII. cap. XV. (c) Atticis. (d) Achaicis. (e) Ibidem. (f) Paufanias ibidem.

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which were erected three Statues, two to Ceres and Proferpina, standing; the third to Earth, fitting upon a Throne, Before the Temple there was a Fountain, in which were deliver'd Oracles, very famous for the Truth of their Predictions. These were not given upon every Account, but concern'd only the Events of Diseases. The manner of confulting was this; They let down a Looking-glafs by a fmall Cord into the Fountain, fo low that the bottom of it might juft touch the furface of the Water, but not be cover'd by it: This done, they offer'd Incense and Prayers to the Goddefs, then look'd upon the Glass, and from the various Figures and Images represented in it, made Conjec tures concerning the Patient.

(a) At Trozen, a City of Peloponnefus, there was an old Altar dedicated to the Mufes and Sheep, by Ardalus, one of Vulcan's Sons; who was the first Inventor of the Flute, and a great Favourite of the Mufes, who from him were call'd Ardalides. They that came for Advice were oblig'd to abftain certain Days from Wine: Afterwards they lay down by the Altar to fleep, where, by the fecret infpiration of the Mufes, proper Remedies for their Diftempers were reveal'd to them.

(b) At Epidaurus, a City of Peloponnefus, there was a Temple of Efculapius, fam'd for curing Difeafes; the Remedies of which were reveal'd in Dreams. When the Cure was perfected, the Names of the difeafed Perfons, together with the manner of their Recovery, were register'd in the Temple. This God was afterwards tranflated to Rome, by the command of Delphian Apollo, who told them, that was the only way to be freed from the Plague, which at that time rag'd exceedingly amongst them. Whereupon they fent Embaffadors to Epidaurus, to defire the God of them: But the Epidaurians being unwilling to part with fo beneficial a Gueft, Afculapius of his own accord, in the fhape of a great Serpent, went ftrait to the Roman Ship, where he repos'd himfelf, and was with great Veneration convey'd to Rome, where he was receiv'd with great Joy; and having deliver'd them from the Distress they lay under, was honour'd with a Temple, in the little Island encompafs'd by the River Tiber, and worship'd in the fame Form he had affum'd. This Story is related by Pliny (c), and Ovid (d).

At Amphiclea, call'd by Herodotus Ophitea, by Stephanus Amphicaa, there was a Temple facred to Bacchus, but no Image, at leaft none expos'd to publick View. To this God, faith Paufanias (e), the Amphicleans afcribe both the Cure of their Diseases, and the foretelling of future Events: The former he effected by revealing proper Remedies in Dreams; the latter, by inspiring into his Priefts Divine Knowledge.

Strabo, in his Defcription of Corinth, tells us, Juno had an Oracle in the Corinthian Territories, in the way between Lechaum and Paga. There was alfo in Laconia, a Pool facred to Juno, by which Predictions were made after this Manner: They caft into it Cakes made of Bread-corn; if thefe funk down, Good; if not, fomething dreadful was portended.

(a) Faufanias. (b) Idem. Corinthiac. (c) Lib. XV. (d) Met. XV. (e) Phocicis.

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(a) Cœlius Rhodiginus telleth us out of Philoftratus, that Orpheus's Head at Lesbos, gave Oracles to all Enquirers, but more especially to the Grecians, and told them, that Troy could not be taken without Hercules's Arrows; He adds, that the Kings of Perfia and Babylon, often fent Embaffadors to confult this Oracle, and particularly Cyrus, who being defirous to know by what Death he was to die, receiv'd this Anfwer, Ta' qua, & Kups, Ta ba My Fate, O Cyrus, is decreed you. Whereby it was meant he fhould be beheaded; for Orpheus fuffered that Death in Thrace, by the fury of the Women, because he profefs'd an Hatred and Averfion to the whole Sex: His Head being thrown into the Sea, was caft upon Lesbos, where it return'd Answers in a Cavern of the Earth. There were alfo Perfons initiated into Orpheus's Myste=ries, call'd Oggeorenesai, who affur'd all those that should be admitted = into their Society, of certain Felicity after Death: Which when Philip, one of that Order, but miferably poor and indigent, boafted of, Leorychidas the Spartan reply'd, Why do not you die then, you Fool, and put an -end to your Misfortunes, together with your Life? At their Initiation, little elfe was requir'd of them, befides an Oath of Secrecy.

An Oracle of the Earth is faid to have been in the Country of Elis (b). An Oracle of Pan, which was confulted by the Inhabitants of Pisa, feems to be meant in the following words of Statius (c) :

-licet aridus Ammon

Invideat, Lyciaque parent contendere fortes,
Niliacumque pecus, patrioque aqualis honori
Branchus, undofa qui rufticus accola Pifa
Pana Lycaonia nocturnum exaudit in umbra.

Seneca fpeaks of an Oracle at Micene (d):

Hinc orantibus

Refponfa dantur certa, cum ingenti fono
Laxantur adyto fata, & immugit fpecus
Vocem Deo folvente.

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An Oracle of the Night is mention'd by Paufanias (e).

In Laconia, in the way betwixt Oebylus and Thalamie, (f) Paufanias faith, there was a Temple and Oracle of Ino, who gave Anfwers by Dreams, to thofe that enquir'd of her.

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(g) Plutarch maketh mention of another famous Oracle in Laconia, at the City Thalamia, which was facred to Pasiphae, who, as some say, was one of the Daughters of Atlas, and had by Jupiter a Son call'd Ammon. Others are of Opinion it was Caffandra the Daughter of King Priamus, who dying in this Place, was call'd Pasiphae, y To πᾶσι φαίνειν τὰ μαντεία, from revealing Oracles to all Men. Others will have it, that this was Daphne the Daughter of Amyelas, who flying from Apollo, was transform'd into a Laurel, and honour'd by that

(a) Antiquitat. lib. XV. cap. IX. (b) Paufanias Eliac. d. (c) Thebaid. III. v. 476 (d) Thyefte ver. 677. (e) Atticis p. 75. Edit. Hanov. (f) Laconicis. (g) Agide, God

God with the Gift of Prophecy. This Oracle, when Agis King of Sparta endeavour'd to reduce the Spartans to their ancient manner of Living, and put in force Lycurgus's old Laws, very much countenanced and encouraged his Undertaking, commanding the People to return to the former State of Equality. Again, when Cleomenes made the like Attempt, it gave the fame Advice, in this manner, as my Author relates the Story (4): "About that Time, faith he, one of the Ephori fleeping in Pafiphae's Temple, dream'd a very furprizing Dream; for he thought he faw the four Chairs remov'd, where the Ephori "us'd to fit and hear Causes, and only one placed there; and whilst " he wonder'd, he heard a Voice out of the Temple, faying, This is the best for Sparta."

Upon the Top of Citharon, a Mountain in Baotia, was a Cave call'd Sphragidium, where many of the Inhabitants of that Country were infpir'd by the Nymphs call'd sphragitides,and thence nam'd Nuupón, (b) i. e. infpir'd by the Nymphs.

Ulyffes had an Oracle amongst the Euritanes, a Nation of Ætolia, as (c) Ariftotle is faid to report by Tzetzes, in his Comment upon Lycophron, who hath these words concerning Ulysses,

(α) Μάντιν δὲ νεκρὸν Εὐρυτὴν σέψει λεως,
Ο, τ' αἶπυ ναίων Τραμπύας εδέθλιον

Etolian People the dead Prophet crown,

Several other Oracles we read of in Authors, as that of Tirefias, and Egeus, with others of lefs Repute, which for that Reafon I fhall for bear to mention.

H

CHA P. XII.

Of Theomancy.

AVING given you an account of the most celebrated Oracles in Greece, which make the firft and noblest Species of Natural Divination, I come now to the fecond, call'd in Greek Dequavτed, which is a compound Word, confifting of two Parts, by which it is diftinguifh'd from all other forts of Divination : by the former (viz. Jeds) it is diftinguish'd from Artificial Divination; which, tho it may be said. to be given by the Gods, yet does not immediately proceed from them, being the effect of Experience and Obfervation. By the latter (viz. avrsia) it is oppos'd to Oracular Divination; for tho Marria be a general Name, and fometimes fignifies any fort of Divination, yet it as also us'd in a more strict and limited Senfe, to denote those Predicti ons that are made by Men'; and in this acceptation it is oppos'd to Xenopos, as the Scholiaft upon Sophocles has obferv'd (e).

(a) Cleomene. (b) Paufanias Baotic. (b) Paufanias Baotic. (c) Ithacor, Politeia. (d) Verf. 799 (e) In Oedip. Tyr,

Thus

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