A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology | Page 5

they distinguished by the title
of Sacred, and consecrated it to some [46]God. This will appear from
words borrowed from Egypt. The Laurel, Laurus, was denominated
from Al-Orus: the berry was termed bacca, from Bacchus; Myrrh,
[Greek: Murrha] was from Ham-Ourah; Casia, from Chus. The
Crocodile was called Caimin and Campsa; the Lion, El-Eon; the Wolf,
El-Uc; the Cat, Al-Ourah: whence the Greeks formed [Greek: leôn,
lukos, ailouros]. The Egyptians styled Myrrh, Baal; balsam, baal-samen;
Camphire, Cham-phour, [Greek: kamphoura] of Greece; Opium,
Ophion. The sweet reed of Egypt was named [47]Canah, and Conah, by
way of eminence; also, [48]Can-Osiris. Cinnamon was denominated
from Chan-Amon; Cinnabar, [Greek: kinnabaris], from Chan-Abor; the
sacred beetle, Cantharus, from Chan-Athur. The harp was styled Cinnor,
and was supposed to have been found out by Cinaras; which terms are
compounded of Chan-Or, and Chan-Arez; and relate to the Sun, or
Apollo, the supposed inventor of the lyre. Priests and magistrates were
particularly honoured with the additional title of Cahen; and many
things held sacred were liable to have it in their composition. Hence
arose the error of Horus Apollo; who, having been informed that the
antient Egyptians distinguished many things which were esteemed holy
by this sacred title, referred the whole to hieroglyphics, and gave out
that they were all represented under the figure of a dog. And it is
possible, that in later times the Grecian artists, and the mixed tribes of
Egypt, may have expressed them in this manner; for they were led by
the ear; and did not inquire into the latent purport of the [49]theology
transmitted to them. From hence we may perceive how little, in later
times, even the native Egyptians knew of their rites and history.

Farther accounts may be produced from the same writer, in
confirmation of what I have been saying. He not only mentions the
great veneration paid by the Egyptians to dogs, but adds, that in many
temples they kept [Greek: kunokephaloi], a kind of baboons, or animals
with heads like those of dogs, which were wonderfully endowed. By
their assistance the Egyptians found out the particular periods of the
Sun and Moon. These did not, like other animals, die at once, but by
piece-meal; so that one half of the animal was oftentimes buried, while
the other half[50] survived. He moreover assures us, that they could
read and write; and whenever one of them was introduced into the
sacred apartments for probation, the priest presented him with a
[51]tablet, and with a pen and ink; and by his writing could
immediately find out if he were of the true intelligent breed. These
animals are said to have been of infinite use to the antient Egyptians in
determining times and seasons; for it seems they were, in some
particular functions, the most accurate and punctual of any creatures
upon earth: [52]Per æquinoctia enim duodecies in die urinam reddere,
et in nocte[53] compertus (Cunocephalus), æquali interstitio servato,
Trismegisto ansam dedit diem dividendi in duodecim partes æquales.
Such is the history of these wonderful [54]animals. That Apes and
Baboons were, among the Egyptians, held in veneration, is very certain.
The Ape was sacred to the God Apis; and by the Greeks was rendered
Capis, and [55]Ceipis. The Baboon was denominated from the
Deity[56] Babon, to whom it was equally sacred. But what have these
to do with the supposed Cunocephalus, which, according to the Grecian
interpretation, is an animal with the head of a dog? This characteristic
does not properly belong to any species of Apes, but seems to have
been unduly appropriated to them. The term Cunocephalus, [Greek:
Kunokephalos], is an Egyptian compound: and this strange history
relates to the priests of the country, styled Cahen; also to the novices in
their temples; and to the examinations, which they were obliged to
undergo, before they could be admitted to the priesthood. To explain
this, I must take notice, that in early times they built their temples upon
eminences, for many reasons; but especially for the sake of celestial
observations. The Egyptians were much addicted to the study of
astronomy: and they used to found their colleges in Upper Egypt upon
rocks and hills, called by them Caph. These, as they were sacred to the

Sun, were farther denominated Caph-El, and sometimes Caph-Aur, and
Caph-Arez. The term Caph-El, which often occurs in history, the
Greeks uniformly changed to [Greek: Kephalê], Cephale: and from
Cahen-Caph-El, the sacred rock of Orus, they formed [Greek:
Kunokephalê], and [Greek: Kunokephalos]; which they supposed to
relate to an animal with the head of a dog. But this Cahen-Caph-El was
certainly some royal seminary in Upper Egypt, whence they drafted
novices to supply their colleges and temples. These young persons
were, before their introduction, examined by some superior priest; and,
accordingly as they answered upon their