A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology | Page 3

Phoenix and Cadmus, retiring from Thebes, in
Egypt, towards the coast of Syria, settled at Tyre and Sidon, and
reigned there. It is said, that [26]Belus carried a colony to the same
parts: and from what part of the world [27]Belus must be supposed to
have come, needs not to be explained. Euripides styles Cepheus the
king of Ethiopia, the son of Phoenix: and Apollodorus makes him the
son of Belus: hence we may infer, that Belus and Phoenix were the
same. Not that there were any such persons as Phoenix and Belus, for
they were certainly titles: and, under the characters of those two

personages, Colonies, named Belidæ and Phoenices, went abroad, and
settled in different parts. Their history and appellation may be traced
from Babylonia to Arabia and Egypt; and from thence to Canaan, and
to the regions in the west. It were therefore to be wished, that the terms
Phoenix and Phoenicia had never been used in the common acceptation;
at least when the discourse turns upon the more antient history of
Canaan. When the Greeks got possession of the coast of Tyre, they
called it Phoenicia: and from that time it may be admitted as a
provincial name. In consequence of this, the writers of the New
Testament do not scruple to make use of it, but always with a proper
limitation; for the geography of the Scriptures is wonderfully exact. But
the Greek and Roman writers often speak of it with a greater latitude,
and include Judea and Palestina within its borders; and sometimes add
Syria and Idume. But these countries were all separate and distinct;
among which Phoenicia bore but a small proportion. Yet, small as it
may have been, many learned men have thought, that all the colonies,
which at times settled upon the coast of the Mediterranean, were from
this quarter; and that all science was of Phoenician original. But this is
not true according to their acceptation of the term. Colonies did settle;
and science came from the east: but not merely from the Sidonian. I
shall shew, that it was principally owing to a prior and superior branch
of the family.
* * * * *
ADDENDA.
OF THE PALM TREE.
Phoenix was a colour among horses. They were styled Phoenices, and
[28]Phoeniciati, from the colour of the Palm tree, which they resembled;
and upon the same account had the name of Spadices. This, according
to Aulus Gellius, was a term synonymous with the former. [29]Rutilus,
et Spadix Phoenicii [Greek: sunônumos], exuberantiam splendoremque
significant ruboris, quales sunt fructus Palmæ arboris, nondum sole
incocti: unde spadicis et Phoenicei nomen est. [30]Spadix, [Greek:
spadix], avulsus est a Palmâ termes cum fructu. Homer, describing the
horses of Diomedes, says, that the one was Phoenix, or of a bright Palm

colour, with a white spot in his forehead like a moon.
[31][Greek: Hos to men allo toson phoinix ên, ende metôpôi] [Greek:
Leukon sêm' etetukto peritrochon êüte mênê.]
Upon this the Scholiast observes, [Greek: Phoinikes to chrôma, êtoi
purrhos]. The horse was of a Palm colour, which is a bright red. We
call such horses bays, which probably is a term of the same original.
The branch of a Palm tree was called Bai in Egypt; and it had the same
name in other places. Baia, [Greek: Baia], are used for Palm-branches
by St. John. [32][Greek: Ta baia tôn Phoinikôn]. And it is mentioned
by the author of the book of Maccabees, that the Jews, upon a solemn
occasion, entered the temple. [33][Greek: Meta aineseôs kai baiôn].
And Demetrius writes to the high priest, Simon, [34][Greek: Ton
stephanon ton chrusoun kai tên Baïnên, ha apesteilate, kekomismetha.]
Coronam auream et Bainem, quæ misistis, accepimus. The Greeks
formed the word [Greek: baïnê] from the Egyptian Bai. The Romans
called the same colour Badius. [35]Varro, speaking of horses,
mentions,
Hic badius, ille gilvus, ille Murinus.
As the Palm tree was supposed to be immortal; or, at least, if it did die,
to revive, and enjoy a second life, the Egyptians gave the name of Bai
to the soul: [36][Greek: Esti men gar to bai psuchê.]
* * * * *
OF THE
TERM CAHEN:
THE
COHEN, [Hebrew: KHN], OF THE HEBREWS.
I have before taken notice that the term Cahen denoted a Priest, or
President; and that it was a title often conferred upon princes and kings.

Nor was it confined to men only: we find it frequently annexed to the
names of Deities, to signify their rule and superintendency over the
earth. From them it was derived to their attendants, and to all persons
of a prophetical or sacred character. The meaning of the term was so
obvious, that one would imagine no mistake could have ensued: yet
such is the perverseness of human wit, that we find it