. The daughters of Triopus were
the priestesses of the temple; whose business it was to chant hymns in
memory of the serpent: and what is very remarkable, the festival was
originally observed upon the seventh [426]day.

The Greeks had innumerable monuments of the sort, which I have been
describing. They were taken for the tombs of departed heroes, but were
really consecrated places: and the names by which they were distinguished,
shew plainly their true history. Such was the supposed tomb of [427]Orion
at Tanagra, and of Phoroneus in [428]Argolis; the tomb of [429]Deucalion in
Athens; and of his wife [430]Pyrrha in Locris: of [431]Endymion in Elis: of
Tityus in [432]Panopea: of Asterion in the island [433]Lade: of the
Egyptian [434]Belus in Achaia. To these may be added the tombs of Zeus in
Mount Sipylus, Mount Iasius, and Ida: the tombs of Osiris in various parts:
and those of Isis, which have been enumerated before. Near the AEaceum at
Epidaurus was a hill, reputed to have been the tomb of the hero
[435]Phocus. This AEaceum was an inclosure planted with olive trees of great
antiquity; and at a small degree above the surface of the ground was an
altar sacred to AEacus. To divulge the traditions relative to this altar
would, it seems, be an high profanation. The author, therefore, keeps them
a secret. Just before this sacred septum was the supposed tomb of Phocus,
consisting of a mound of raised earth, fenced round with a border of stone
work: and a large rough stone was placed upon the top of all. Such were the
rude monuments of Greece, which were looked upon as so many receptacles of
the dead: but were high altars, with their sacred [Greek: temene], which
had been erected for divine worship in the most early times. The
Helladians, and the Persians, were of the same [436]family: hence we find
many similar rites subsisting among the two nations. The latter adhered to
the purer Zabaism, which they maintained a long time. They erected the same
sacred Tupha, as the Grecians: and we may be assured of the original
purpose, for which these hills were raised, from the use to which they put
them. They were dedicated to the great fountain of light, called by the
Persians, Anait: and were set apart as Puratheia, for the celebration of
the rites of fire. This people, after they had defeated the Sacae in
Cappadocia, raised an immense Comah in memorial of their victory.
[437]Strabo, who describes it very minutely, tells us, that they