troiai, kai Dii Patroioi, kai tois allois Theois].
But the Persians, from whom this history is presumed to be borrowed, could
not mean by these terms Dii Patrii: for nothing could be more unnecessary
than to say of a Persic prince, that the homage, which he payed, was to
Persic Deities. It is a thing of course, and to be taken for granted,
unless there be particular evidence to the contrary. His vows were made to
Mithras, who was styled by the nations in the east Pator; his temples were
Patra, and Petra, and his festivals Patrica. Nonnus gives a proper account
of the Petra, when he represents it as Omphean, or oracular:

[892][Greek: Omphaiei peri Petrei]
[Greek: Eiseti nepiachoio chorous hidrusato Bakchou].

At Patara, in Lycia, was an oracular temple: and Patrae, in Achaia, had its
name from divination, for which it was famous. Pausanias mentions the
temple, and adds, [893][Greek: Pro de tou Hierou tes Demetros esti
pege--manteion de entautha estin apseudes.] _Before the temple is the
fountain of Demeter--and in the temple an oracle, which never is known to
fail_.

The offerings, which people in antient times used to present to the Gods,
were generally purchased at the entrance of the temple; especially every
species of consecrated bread, which was denominated accordingly. If it was
an oracular temple of Alphi, the loaves and cakes were styled [894]Alphita.
If it was expressed Ampi, or Ompi, the cakes were Ompai[895], [Greek:
Ompai]: at the temple of Adorus[896], Adorea. Those made in honour of
Ham-orus had the name of [897]Homoura, Amora, and Omoritae. Those sacred to
Peon, the God of light, were called [898]Piones. At Cha-on, which signifies
the house of the Sun, [899]Cauones, [Greek: Chauones]. From Pur-Ham, and
Pur-Amon, they were denominated Puramoun, [900][Greek: Puramoun]. From
Ob-El, Pytho Deus, came [901]Obelia. If the place were a Petra or Petora,
they had offerings of the same sort called Petora, by the Greeks expressed
[902][Greek: Pitura], Pitura. One of the titles of the Sun was El-Aphas,
Sol Deus ignis. This El-aphas the Greeks rendered Elaphos, [Greek:
elaphos]; and supposed it to relate to a deer: and the title El-Apha-Baal,
given by the Amonians to the chief Deity, was changed to [Greek:
elaphebolos], a term of a quite different purport. El-aphas, and
El-apha-baal, related to the God Osiris, the Deity of light: and there were
sacred liba made at his temple, similar to those above, an