eek: Thlibomene nepheessi; Giganteiou de karenou]
[Greek: Phrikton aersilophon aion bruchema leonton,]
[Greek: Pontios eiluoenti leon ekalupteto kolpoi. ktl.]

We may perceive, that this is a mixed description, wherein, under the
character of a gigantic personage, a towering edifice is alluded to; which
was situated upon the summit of a mountain, and in the vicinity of the sea.

* * * * *

OB, OUB, PYTHO,

SIVE DE

OPHIOLATRIA.

[Greek: Para panti ton nomizomenon par' humin Theon Ophis sumbolon mega
kai musterion anagraphetai.] Justin. Martyr. Apolog. l. 1. p. 60.

It may seem extraordinary, that the worship of the serpent should have ever
been introduced into the world: and it must appear still more remarkable,
that it should almost universally have prevailed. As mankind are said to
have been ruined through the influence of this being, we could little
expect that it would, of all other objects, have been adopted, as the most
sacred and salutary symbol; and rendered the chief object of
[451]adoration. Yet so we find it to have been. In most of the antient
rites there is some allusion to the [452]serpent. I have taken notice, that
in the Orgies of Bacchus, the persons who partook of the ceremony used to
carry serpents in their hands, and with horrid screams called upon Eva,
Eva. They were often crowned with [453]serpents, and still made the same
frantic exclamation. One part of the mysterious rites of Jupiter Sabazius
was to let a snake slip down the bosom of the person to be initiated, which
was taken out below[454]. These ceremonies, and this symbolic worship,
began among the Magi, who were the sons of Chus: and by them they were
propagated in various parts. Epiphanius thinks, that the invocation, Eva,
Eva, related to the great [455]mother of mankind, who was deceived by the
serpent: and Clemens of Alexandria is of the same opinion. He supposes,
that by this term was meant [456][Greek: Euan ekeinen, di' hen he plane
parekolouthese.] But I should think, that Eva was the same as Eph, Epha,
Opha, which the Greeks rendered [Greek: Ophis], Ophis, and by it denoted a
serpent. Clemens acknowledges, that the term Eva properly aspirated had
such a signification. [457][Greek: To onoma to Euia dasunomenon
hermeneuetai Ophis.] Olympias, the mother of [458]Alexander, was very fond
of these Orgies, in which the serpent was introduced. Plutarch mentions,
that rites of this sort were