very sumptuous Temple at _Memphis_ to _Vulcan_, and
near it a smaller Temple to _Venus Hospita_; not an _Egyptian_ woman but a
foreigner, not _Helena_ but _Vulcan's Venus_: for [299] _Herodotus_ tells
us, that the region round about this Temple was inhabited by _Tyrian
Phoenicians_, and that [300] _Cambyses_ going into this Temple at
_Memphis_, very much derided the statue of _Vulcan_ for its littleness;
_For_, saith he, _this statue is most like those Gods which the
_Phoenicians_ call _Pataeci_, and carry about in the fore part of their
Ships in the form of Pygmies_: and [301] _Bochart_ saith of this _Venus
Hospita_, _Phoeniciam Venerem in AEgypto pro peregrina habitam._

As the _Egyptians_, _Phoenicians_ and _Syrians_ in those days Deified their
Kings and Princes, so upon their coming into _Asia minor_ and _Greece_,
they taught those nations to do the like, as hath been shewed above. In
those days the writing of the _Thebans_ and _Ethiopians_ was in
hieroglyphicks; and this way of writing seems to have spread into the lower
_Egypt_ before the days of _Moses_: for thence came the worship of their
Gods in the various shapes of Birds, Beasts, and Fishes, forbidden in the
second commandment. Now this emblematical way of writing gave occasion to
the _Thebans_ and _Ethiopians_, who in the days of _Samuel_, _David_,
_Solomon_, and _Rehoboam_ conquered _Egypt_, and the nations round about,
and erected a great Empire, to represent and signify their conquering Kings
and Princes, not by writing down their names, but by making various
hieroglyphical figures; as by painting _Ammon_ with Ram's horns, to signify
the King who conquered _Libya_, a country abounding with sheep; his father
_Amosis_ with a Scithe, to signify that King who conquered the lower
_Egypt_, a country abounding with corn; his Son _Osiris_ by an Ox, because
he taught the conquered nations to plow with oxen; _Bacchus_ with Bulls
horns for the same reason, and with Grapes because he taught the nations to
plant vines, and upon a Tiger because he subdued _India_; _Orus_ the son of
_Osiris_ with a Harp, to signify the Prince who was eminently skilled on
that instrument; _Jupiter_ upon an Eagle to signify the sublimity of his
dominion, and with a Thunderbolt to represent him a warrior; _Venus_ in a
Chariot drawn with two Doves, to represent her amorous and lustful;
_Neptune_ with a Trident, to signify the commander of a fleet composed of
three Squadrons; _AEgeon_, a Gian