the original of the name given
to islands which were styled [Greek: Makaron nesoi]. They were to be found
in the Pontus Euxinus, as well as in the Atlantic. The Acropolis of Thebes
in Boeotia was, in like manner, called [258][Greek: Makaron nesos]. It was
certainly an Amonian sacred term. The inland city, Oaesis, stood in an
Egyptian province, which had the [259]same name: so that the meaning must
not be sought for in Greece. This term was sometimes expressed as a
feminine, Macris, and Macra: and by the Grecians was interpreted _longa_;
as if it related to extent. It was certainly an antient word, and related
to their theology; but was grown so obsolete that the original purport
could not be retrieved. I think we may be assured that it had no relation
to length. Euboea was, of old, called Macris; and may be looked upon as
comparatively long: but Icarus, Rhodes, and Chios, were likewise called so;
and they did not project in length more than the islands in their
[260]neighbourhood. They were, therefore, not denominated from their
figure. There was a cavern in the Acropolis of Athens, which was called
Macrai, according to Euripides.

[261][Greek: Prosborrhon antron, has Makras kikleskomen].

The same author shews, manifestly, that it was a proper name; and that the
place itself was styled Macrai. This was a contraction for Macar-Ai, or the
place of Macar:

[262][Greek: Makrai de choros est' ekei keklemenos].

All these places were, for a religious reason, so denominated from Macar, a
title of the Deity.

MELECH.

Melech, or, as it is sometimes expressed, Malech, and Moloch, betokens a
king; as does Malecha a queen. It was a title, of old, given to many
Deities in Greece; but, in after times, grew obsolete and misunderstood:
whence it was often changed to [Greek: meilichos], and [Greek: meilichios],
which signified the gentle, sweet, and benign Deity. Pausanias tells us
that Jupiter was styled [Greek: Meilichios], both in [263]Attica and at
[264]Argos: and, in another part of his work, he speaks of this Deity under
the same title, in company with Artemis at Sicyon. [265][Greek: Esti de
Zeus Meilichios, kai Artemis onomazomene Patroia]. He mentions that they
were both of great antiquity, placed in the temple before the introduction
of images: for, the one was represented by a pyramid, and the other by a
bare pillar: [Greek: Puramidi de ho Meilichios, hede kioni estin
eikasmene]. He also speaks of some unknown Gods