A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology

A New System; or, an Analysis of
Antient
by Jacob Bryant

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Title: A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume II.
(of VI.)
Author: Jacob Bryant
Release Date: October 18, 2006 [EBook #19584]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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A
NEW SYSTEM;
OR, AN
ANALYSIS
OF
ANTIENT MYTHOLOGY:
WHEREIN AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO DIVEST TRADITION OF
FABLE; AND TO REDUCE THE TRUTH TO ITS ORIGINAL
PURITY,
BY JACOB BRYANT, ESQ.
THE THIRD EDITION. IN SIX VOLUMES.
WITH A PORTRAIT AND SOME ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR;
A VINDICATION OF THE APAMEAN MEDAL;
Observations and Inquiries relating to various Parts of Antient History;
A COMPLETE INDEX,
AND FORTY-ONE PLATES, NEATLY ENGRAVED.
VOL. II.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR J. WALKER; W.J. AND J. RICHARDSON; R.
FAULDER AND SON; R. LEA; J. NUNN; CUTHELL AND

MARTIN; H.D. SYMONDS; VERNOR, HOOD, AND SHARPE; E.
JEFFERY; LACKINGTON, ALLEN, AND CO.; J. BOOKER;
BLACK, PARRY, AND KINGSBURY; J. ASPERNE; J. MURRAY;
AND J. HARRIS.
1807.
* * * * *
A
NEW SYSTEM
OR AN
ANALYSIS
OF
ANTIENT MYTHOLOGY.
* * * * *
PHOENIX AND PHOENICES.
As there has been much uncertainty about the purport and extent of
these terms; and they are of great consequence in the course of history;
I will endeavour to state their true meaning. Phoinic, or Poinic, was an
Egyptian and Canaanitish term of honour; from whence were formed
[Greek: Phoinix, Phoinikes, Phoinikoeis] of the Greeks, and Phoinic,
Poinicus, Poinicius of the Romans; which were afterwards changed to
Phoenix, Punicus, and [1]Puniceus. It was originally a title, which the
Greeks made use of as a provincial name: but it was never admitted as
such by the people, to whom it was thus appropriated, till the Greeks
were in possession of the country. And even then it was but partially
received: for though mention is made of the coast of Phoenice, yet we
find the natives called Sidonians, Tyrians, and [2]Canaanites, as late as
the days of the Apostles. It was an honorary term, compounded of Anac
with the Egyptian prefix; and rendered at times both Phoinic and Poinic.

It signified a lord or prince: and was particularly assumed by the sons
of Chus and Canaan. The Mysians seem to have kept nearest to the
original pronunciation, who gave this title to the God Dionusus, and
called him Ph'anac.
[3]Ogygia me Bacchum vocat, Osirin Ægyptus putat, Mysi Phanacem.
It was also conferred upon many things, which were esteemed princely
and noble. Hence the red, or scarlet, a colour appropriated to great and
honourable personages, was styled Phoinic. The palm was also styled
Phoinic, [Greek: Phoinix]: and the antients always speak of it as a
stately and noble tree. It was esteemed an emblem of honour; and made
use of as a reward of victory. Plurimarum palmarum homo, was a
proverbial expression among the Romans, for a soldier of merit. Pliny
speaks of the various species of palms; and of the great repute in which
they were held by the Babylonians. He says, that the noblest of them
were styled the royal Palms; and supposes that they were so called from
their being set apart for the king's use. But they were very early an
emblem of royalty: and it is a circumstance included in their original
name. We find from Apuleius, that Mercury, the [4]Hermes of Egypt,
was represented with a palm branch in his hand: and his priests at
Hermopolis used to have them stuck in their [5]sandals, on the outside.
The Goddess [6]Isis was thus represented: and we may infer that
Hermes had the like ornaments; which the Greeks mistook for feathers,
and have in consequence of it added wings to his feet. The Jews used to
carry boughs of the same tree at some of their festivals; and particularly
at the celebration of their nuptials: and it was thought to have an
influence at the birth. Euripides alludes to this in his Ion; where he
makes Latona recline herself against a Palm tree, when she is going to
produce Apollo and Diana.
[7][Greek: Phoinika Par' habrokoman] [Greek: Entha locheumata semn'
elocheusato] [Greek: Latô.]
In how great estimation this tree was held