hem
had their name from the worship, and not from the interment of the Deity.
This is plain from the account given of the [Greek: taphos Osiridos], or
high altar of Osiris, by Diodorus; from whom we learn that Busiris and
Osiris were the same. [415]_The Grecians_, says this author, _have a
notion, that Busiris in Egypt used to sacrifice strangers: not that there
was ever such a king as Busiris; but the_ [Greek: taphos], _or altar, of
Osiris had this name in the language of the natives_. In short, Busiris was
only a variation for Osiris: both were compounded of the Egyptian term
[416]Sehor, and related to the God of day. Hence the altars of the same
Deity were called indifferently the altars of Osiris, or Busiris, according
as custom prevailed.

I have in a former chapter taken notice of the Tarchons and Dracontia in
Syria, and other parts: which consisted of sacred ground inclosed with a
wall, and an altar or two at the upper part. Such an inclosure is described
by Pausanias, which must have been of great antiquity: hence the history of
it was very imperfectly known in his time. He is speaking of Nemea in
Argolis; [417]_near which_, says he, _stands the temple of Nemean Jupiter,
a structure truly wonderful, though the roof is now fallen in. Round the
temple is a grove of cypress; in which there is a tradition that Opheltes
was left by his nurse upon the grass, and in her absence killed by a
serpent.--In the same place is the tomb of Opheltes, surrounded with a wall
of stone; and within the inclosure altars. There is also a mound of earth
said to be the tomb of Lycurgus, the father of Opheltes._ Lycurgus is the
same as Lycus, Lycaon, Lycoreus, the Sun: and Opheltes, his supposed
offspring, is of the same purport. To say the truth, [418]Opheltes, or, as
it should be expressed, Ophel-tin is the place; and Ophel the Deity, Sol
Pytho, whose symbol was a serpent. Ophel-tin was a Taphos with a [Greek:
temenos], or sacred inclosure: it was a sacred mound to the Ophite Deity;
like that which was inclosed and fortified by [419]Manasseh king of Judah;
and which had been previously made use of to the same purpose by
[420]Jotham. A history similar to that of Opheltes is given of Archemorus;
who was said to have been left in a garden by his nurse Hypsipyle, and in
her absence slain by a serpent. Each of them had festivals instituted,
together with sacred games, in memorial of their misfortune. They are on
this account by many supposed