eek: beltion], and [Greek: beltistos:
ameinon] is an inflection from Amon. From the God Aloeus came [Greek:
loios, loiteros], and [Greek: loistos]: from [Greek: keren] changed to
[Greek: keras, keratos], were formed [Greek: kresson], [Greek: kreisson],
[Greek: krateros], and [Greek: kratistos].

PHI.

Phi signifies a mouth; also language, and speech. It is used by the
Amonians particularly for the voice and oracle of any God; and subjoined to
the name of that Deity. The chief oracle in the first ages was that of Ham,
who was worshipped as the Sun, and styled El, and Or. Hence these oracles
are in consequence called Amphi, Omphi, Alphi, Elphi, Urphi, Orphi. It is
made to signify, in the book of [344]Genesis, the voice, or command of
Pharaoh. From Phi, in this acceptation, came [Greek: phemi, pheme, phemus,
phasko, phatis], fama, fari,--ita farier infit. I imagine that the term
Pharaoh itself is compounded of Phi-Ourah, Vox Ori, sive Dei. It was no
unusual thing among the antients to call the words of their prince the
voice of God. Josephus informs us, that it signified a king: [345][Greek:
Ho Pharaon par' Aiguptiois basilea semainei]: and Ouro in the Copto-Arabic
Onomasticon is said to signify the same: but I should think, that this was
only a secondary acceptation of the original term.

Phi is also used for any opening or cavity: whence we find the head of a
fountain often denominated from it; at least the place, whence the fountain
issued forth, or where it lost itself. And as all streams were sacred, and
all cavities in the earth looked upon with a religious horror, the Amonians
called them Phi-El, Phi-Ainon, Phi-Anes; rendered by the Greeks Phiale,
Phaenon, Phanes, Phaneas, Paneas. The chief fountain of the river Jordan
lost itself underground, and rose again at some miles distance. It sunk at
Phiale, and rose again at [346]Paneas. Pliny speaks of a place of this sort
at [347]Memphis, called Phiala; and, as he imagines, from its figure: but
it was undoubtedly a covert aquaeduct, by which some branch of the river was
carried. The Nile itself is said to be lost underground, near its
fountains; and that place also was called Phiala. [348]Phialam appellari
fontem ejus, mergique in cuniculos ipsum amnem. There was also a fountain
of this name at [349]Constantinople. Sometimes it occurs without the
aspirate, as in Pella, a city of Palestine, named, undoubtedly, from its
fountains: for Pliny calls it Pellam aquis [350]divi