re inscriptions
dedicated [410]Coelo AEterno. The antient Deity Celeus, mentioned by
[411]Athenagoras, and said to have been worshipped at Athens, was the same
as the above.

Many places and regions, held sacred, and called Coel by the Amonians, were
by the Greeks rendered [Greek: koila], cava. Hence we read of [Greek: Koile
Lakedaimon], [Greek: Koile Elis,] and the like. Syria was by them styled
[Greek: Koile], the hollow: but the true name was Coela, the heavenly or
sacred. It was so denominated from the Cuthites, who settled there, on
account of the religion established. Hence it was also named Shem, and
Shama; which are terms of like purport, and signify divine, or heavenly. It
is a name, which it retains at this day; as we are informed by
[412]Abulfeda, and others. Elis Coela was the most sacred part of Greece;
especially the regions of Olympia, Cauconia, and Azania. It was denominated
Elis from [Greek: El], Eel, the Sun: and what the Greeks rendered [Greek:
Koile] of old meant [413]heavenly. Hence Homer styleth it peculiarly
[414][Greek: Elida dian], _Elis the sacred_. As Coele Syria was styled
Sham, and Sama; so we find places, which have a reference to this term, in
Elis. A town of great antiquity was named [415]Samicon, which signifies
Coeli Dominus. Here was also a temple of Poseidon Samius, surrounded with a
grove of olives; and there were festivals observed, which were called
Samia. There was likewise of old a city named Sama, or Samos: which Strabo
imagines, might have been so named from its high situation: _for high
places were called [416]Samia_. It certainly signifies in some degree high;
but the true meaning of Sama was heavenly, similar to Sam, Sham, Shamem, of
the eastern nations. Hence Same, Samos, Samothrace, Samacon, were
denominated on account of their sanctity. Strabo supposes, that the city
Samos in Elis was situated in the Samian plain: it therefore could not well
have this name from its high situation. It is moreover inconsistent to
suppose regions called [Greek: koila], or cava, to have been denominated
from Sama, high. In short both terms have been mistaken: and Coilus in the
original acceptation certainly signified heavenly: whence we read in
Hesychius, as also in Suidas, [Greek: Koioles, ho Hiereus]. By which we
learn, that by Coioles was meant a sacred or heavenly person; in other
words, a priest of Coelus. In Coioles there is but a small variation from
the original term; which was a compo