se was generally oval; and towards one extremity
of the long diameter, as it were in the focus, were these mounds and towers
erected. As they were generally royal edifices, and at the same time held
sacred; they were termed Tarchon, like Tarchonium in Hetruria: which by a
corruption was in later times rendered Trachon, [Greek: Trachon]. There
were two hills of this denomination near Damascus; from whence undoubtedly
the Regio Trachonitis received its name: [295][Greek: huperkeintai de autes
(Damaskou) duo legomenoi Trachones.] These were hills with towers, and must
have been very fair to see to. Solomon takes notice of a hill of this sort
upon [296]_Lebanon, looking toward Damascus_; which he speaks of as a
beautiful structure. The term Trachon seems to have been still farther
sophisticated by the Greeks, and expressed [Greek: Drakon], Dracon: from
whence in, great measure arose the notion of treasures being guarded by
[297]Dragons. We read of the gardens of the Hesperides being under the
protection of a sleepless serpent: and the golden fleece at Colchis was
entrusted to such another guardian; of which there is a fine description in
Apollonius.

[298][Greek: Purgous eisopsesthe Kutaeos Aietao,]
[Greek: Alsos te skioen Areos, tothi koas ep' akres]
[Greek: Peptamenon phegoio Drakon, teras ainon idesthai,]
[Greek: Amphis opipteuei dedokemenos; oude hoi emar,]
[Greek: Ou knephas hedumos hupnos anaidea damnatai osse.]

Nonnus often introduces a dragon as a protector of virginity; watching
while the damsel slumbered, but sleepless itself: [299][Greek: Hupnalees
agrupnon opipteutera koreies]: and in another place he mentions
[300][Greek: Phrouron echeis apelethron Ophin]. Such an one guarded the
nymph Chalcomeda, [301][Greek: Parthenikes agamoio boethoos.] The Goddess
Proserpine had two [302]dragons to protect her, by the appointment of her
mother Demeter.

Such are the poetical representations: but the history at bottom relates to
sacred towers, dedicated to the symbolical worship of the serpent; where
there was a perpetual watch, and a light ever burning. The Titans, [Greek:
Titanes], were properly Titanians; a people so denominated from their
worship, and from the places where it was celebrated. They are, like Orion
and the Cyclopians, represented as gigantic persons: and they were of the
same race, the children of Anak. The Titanian temples were stately
edifices, erected in Chaldea, as well as in lower Egypt,