Learning of the Age he fix'd at Athens probably under the Tuition of his Uncle Fronto who engaged him in the Study of Philology where he soon discover'd his excellent Genius and was reputed the most famous Critick of his time his Judgment of Authors being so much valued that it became the Standard of that learned Age and every Book was either approv'd or condemn'd as Longinus pronounc'd its fate At Athens I conjecture he wrote his admirable accurate Treatise of the Sublime upon the Importunity of his Friend Posthumius Terentianus or as some other Copies read it Sect. 10. Florentianus to whom he dedicates it for speaking of the most celebrated Orator he calls him our Demosthenes and reckons himself among the Greeks At Athens Porphyry became his Scholar Eunap Vit. Porphyrii a Privilege much valued in that Age for Longinus was reputed a living Library his Province engaging him to consider and censure the Writings of the Antients And there Longinus changed his Syrian Name Malchus into that of Porphyrius as Amelius upon the same dislike call'd him Basileus training him up in the Niceties of Gramma◠and Rhetorick and accomplishing his Juvenile Studies and Porphyry who himself was an excellent Critick calls him in gratitude 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Prince of the Criticks and the best Philologer of his Age For if any Man had adventured to correct an ancient Writer his Opinion never found Approbation till it was confirm'd by the judicious Longinus Nor was his whole time spent in Criticism tho' Plotinus toucht with a little Envy for they did not agree in all their Sentiments said he was a good Philologer but not a Philosopher for he profest himself a Platonist and as such celebrated the Festival of Plato probably his Birth-day at Athens Porphyr apud Euseb Prepar l. 10. Porph. Vit. Plotini according to the Custom of those Times with great Solemnity and gave himself up to that Allegorical way of Writing to which that Sect of Philosophers indulged for from him and Numenius as well as from the Books of Plato Origen learn'd his method of Allegorizing the Holy * Porphyr apud Euseb H. E. l. 6 c. 19. Scriptures How long he fill'd the Platonick Chair at Athens or who succeeded him I know not as also whether he ever lived at Magnesia ad Sipylum or not and were the Praetor of that City Successor perhaps to his Uncle Fronto in that Office since I find in the Coins of Valerian V. Hard. Nummi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 h. e. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 another Aurelius Fronto was Praetor of Byzantium under Alexander Severus and in another of Gallienus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nor can I fix the Year when he retired into Syria and setled himself at Palmyra where his Learning and Wisdom rendred him very illustrious and capacitated him to assist Zenobia with his Counsels till his death and to educate her Sons in all good Literature But though he gave himself to the Study and Practice of the Rules of Government while he lived at Palmyra as became a Privy-Counsellor to a great Queen V. Gesn Biblioth and there probably writ his Book of Tacticks for the use of that warlike Empress yet he was far from deserting his other beloved Muses but made diligent Enquiries after the Writings of all the learned Men of that Age Porph. ubi sup especially of Plotinus The Country where he was lay remote from the known Seats of polite Learning the People in an active and contentious Age were more addicted to Arms than Arts And the Language of Palmyrene was so very different from the usual learned Tongues that he look'd about him a long time till he could find a Copyist that understood so much Greek as to enable him to translate the Works of Plotinus but having found a fit Man he confin'd him to that Province as himself relates in his Epistle to Porphyry Such a Value did he put on the Works of that profound Platonist tho' he did not agree entirely with him and took an occasion to write against him and Amelius expressing at the same time a deep Veneration for them both He encouraged Amelius to visit the East and of him purchased all Plotinus's Works And having heard that Porphyry by his Abstinence and other Severities had impair'd his Constitution he invited him also very earnestly to come to Palmyra assuring him that that Air would repair his ruin'd Health and kept up his Correspondence with his old Friends to the day of his death And there also he wrote his Panegyrick upon Odenathus probably upon the Death of that heroick Emperor which Libanius was so fond of but whether he composed any of those Books at Palmyra either in Critick for he censured both Poets and Orators or Philosophy the loss of which the learned World bewails is uncertain This we know that that haughty Epistle which Zenobia sent to Aurelian when he required her to resign her Authority was said to be dictated by this great Man the Resentment of which gave occasion to his death for that severe and proud Emperor hated any thing that seemed to check his Power or ruffle his ambitious Thoughts So fell the admirable Longinus to the grief of all good Men who bemoan his fate and the loss of his excellent Writings most of which in all likelyhood perisht when Palmyra was destroy'd I had some Intentions to have subjoyn'd an Account of his Works but I supersede that Disquisition as foreign to my present Design till some other Occasion offers CHAP. VII A short Commentary on the Inscriptions I Have digested the Inscriptions not as they are set down in the Journal where they are placed as they incidentally fell under the Traveller's Eye but under their several Heads to which they seem reduceable And first I begin with the Sepulchral Inscriptions the Epitaphs inscribed upon the Tombs of the People of Palmyra I. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which may be thus rendred Monumentum sepulchrale propriis sumptibus condidit Septimius Odenathus eminentissimus Senator Aeranis filius Vaballathi nepos Nasori pronepos sibi filces suis nepotibus in perpetuum in honorem sempiternum This Inscription contains an Account That Septimius Odenathus the most excellent Senator had erected that Monument for himself and his Posterity to preserve their Name for ever And he hath hitherto had his Wish the Monument having escap'd the Fury of Time the Rage of the Roman Soldiers and the Madness of the superstitious Arabs who are profest Enemies to all the remains of venerable Antiquity That this Septimius Odenathus was the same illustrious Person who afterward was declar'd Emperor I suppose * P. 27⅔ I have already prov'd to be very probable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 occurs not in the Lexicon but signifies a Place of Burial The Place is the Sepulchre the Epigraphe the Monument says †In 3 Aeneid Servius Operis extructio sepulchrum nomen inscriptum
the Aera of Seleucidae is mistaken in the First Account Agathangelus of Abila Vid. Append the Decapolitan built an Arch or Cupola in the Temple of Jupiter and erected a Bed of State or Pulvinar usually dedicated to the Heathen Deities to Jupiter the Thunderer for the Health of the Emperor Adrian his Lord who languisht a long time before he died Spart Hadr. and suffer'd such Agonies of Pain that he would fain have persuaded his Servant who attended him to have run him through and when that Persuasive would not prevail would either have stabb'd or poyson'd himself So difficult was it for this Great Emperor to breathe his last But when Aurelius Antoninus had prevail'd with the Senate to have him Deify'd and appointed him the Honours properly given to the Gods with a College of Priests and Attendants to do the Service of the Temples erected to him at Puteoli and elsewhere which Societies continued to the Reign of †Gruter CCCCVII 1 2. CIOIX 9. Septimius Severus at Rome but how long in the Cities of the East I know not and had instituted Publick Games in his Name from which Gratitude to his Patron the Historian says Aurelius had the Name of Pius given him The Cities of the East in Imitation of Italy had their Sodales Hadrianales also and Temples questionless erected to his Memory of which Samosata is an undemiable Instance where L. Grut. ubi sup Fabius M. F. Gal. Cilo Praefect of the City was a Fellow of the College of Priests deputed to the Service of the Deisy'd Emperor Adrian particularly Palmyra who gratefully commemorated her Second Founder allowed of his Consecration built him a Temple and devoted some of her Inhabitants to the Service thereof as appears by the Inscription in Gruter Vid. Append and by another among those lately publisht where he is called Adrian the God and I am apt to believe that the little Temple mention'd in the Journal Pag. 104 105. was erected to his Memory as well as to Jupiter Such Societies were erected in most Cities of the Empire to one or other of their deceas'd but deify'd Princes call'd Collegia Sacerdot alia by Lampridius in the Life of Commodus p. 50. and they had according to their Rank and Dignity their several Vexilla or Banners to distinguish them called Vexilla Collegiorum Signa Templorum by Trebellius Pollio in the Life of Gallienus p. 178. For as the Heathen Mock-Deities had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so their Emperors when advanced to that Honour had their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with all the Pomp and Ceremony that accompanied the Service of their Gods Vid. Gruter CHAP. X. THE City having been repair'd we may justly suppose that by the Advantages of its Situation and Trade and the continuance of a long Peace with the Parthians not often interrupted except in the War which Septimius Severus made against them when he took both Ctesiphon and Babylon Zosim l. 1. p. 4. and reduced all Arabia having maâ—cht through that Arabia where the Scenitae pitcht their Tents in which Country Tadmur lay it arrived to its ancient Glory when the Emperor Antoninus Caracalla honour'd it with the Privileges of a * Vlpian l. 1. de Censib Roman Colony Juris Italici for there was a difference between Colonies all were not Juris Italici as Palmyra was Colonia Palmyra it is stiled in the †Goltz Thes pag. 151. Coins of that Emperor a Metropolis and a Colony in the Inscriptions probably in Honour of his Mother whom he afterward made his Wife Julia Domna who was of this Country but whether of Emisa as several Authors affirm or Palnoyra or some third City I am not certain A Native of Syria we know she was for so says * Spartian Septim p. 65. Spartianus and Oppian her Contemporary calls her the (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oppian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 4. Assvrian Venus and a Moon that was never Eclipst or in her Wain The same Poet in the same place mentioning the Destruction of the Parthians and the Taking of Ctesiphon as the Coins do mention the †Mezob p. 295. Victoria Parthica of that Prince as do also the Historians in which Expedition I doubt not but the Palmyrenians in Gratitude Declared for his Interest This Honour and Privilege of a Roman Colony Palmyra kept in the Reign of Alexander Severus for under him the great Lawyer Vlpian flourisht and assisted him with their Forces in his Expedition into the East in the Fisth Year of his Reign of which Undertaking ‖ Vit. Al. Severi pag. 131 133 134. Lampridius gives so august a Character though Herodian upon this as upon all other occasions lessens and would obscure the Atchievements of that excellent Prince In this Expedition * Journal p. 97. Aurelius Zenobius being as I conjecture the Commander of the Forces of the Republick of Palmyra attended and was an unwearied Assistant to Rutilius Crispinus the Roman General Vid. Append and discharg'd the Offices of a Man of Conduct and Courage against the Persians and deserv'd the most ample Testimonials of his Bravery and Prudence But Palmyra never arrived to such an illustrious pitch of Glory as it did under Odenathus and his Sons who establisht it the Seat of the Eastern Empire and beautified and strengthned it accordingly and for a few Years it afforded as remarkable Transactions of War and State as any other part of the World can boast of in so short a space of Time And therefore I shall give my self the liberty to treat more largely of these Affairs and to deduce the Series of the History of the Imperial Family of Palmyra as far as the Antients afford us light and shall leave the judicious Reader to his choice what Memoirs he will give most credit to ϹΕΠΤ ΖΗÎΟΒΙΑ ϹΕΒ L Ε IMP C HERODIANVS AVG SALVS AVGVSTI ΑΥΤ. Κ. ΔΟΜ. ΑΥΡΗΛΙΑÎΟϹ ϹΕΒ. L Î’ ΟΥΑΒΑΜΑΘΟϹ ΑΘΗÎΟΥ ΑΥΤ. ΕΡΜΙΑϹ L Ε ϹΕΠΤΙΜΙΑ ΖΗÎΟΒΙΑ ϹΕΒ L Ε IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG VABALATHVS VCRIM DR ΑΥΤ. Κ.Λ.Δ. ΑΥΡΗΛΙΑÎΟϹ ϹΕΒ. L Α ΟΥΑΒΑΜΑΘΟϹ ΑΘΗÎΟΥ ΑΥΤ. ΕΡΜΙΑϹ L Δ having taken care in every Paragraph to produce my Vouchers while I bemoan heartily the loss of Vranius his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arabick History in the Second of which Books he treated of Palmyra as also of Domninus of Antioch whom Malela commonly follows and of Philostratus of Athens the Historiographer who liv'd under Aurelian and wrote the Transactions of his own Time but particularly I regret the want of that Oration which Longinus made in Praise of Odenathus and called by his Name of which Libanius makes mention in his Epistles which would questionless have given a more ample History of that Illustrious Prince than all the jejune Narratives of the Roman Historians But since we must follow the Light that is given us I shall first begin with Odenathus then treat of Zenobia and their Children CHAP. XI ODENATHVS
always chosen out of the inferior Sacred Orders and in the old Inseriptions is styled Scriba à Libris Pontificalibus who transcribed and preserved all the Ritual and other Books that belong'd to the High Priest's Office and many times he managed the Revenues of the Sacerdotal College being the Treasurer of the Temple So Q. Ingenuus Maximianus was Scriba Publicus Pontif. Grut. 306.7 Curator Aerarii the Keeper of the Records of the Temple and Publick Treaties and Leagues besides the Deeds of private Families were for the most part deposited in Temples And the Treasurer so Nehemiah made Shelemiah the Priest and Zadock the Scribe and the Levite Pedaiah Treasurers of the Temple Nehem. 13.13 And Ingenuus is styled Scriba Publicus because the High Priest had besides him as I conjecture another private Secretary for his own Affairs So Livius Theona is said to be ab Epistolis Graecis Id. 587.6 Scriba à Libris Pontificalibus Such Publick Scribes belonging to the High-Priests were those probably of whom we read in the Sacred Writings the Chief Priests and the Scribes being commonly joined together 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 26.3 Mar. 10.33 a very honourable Station for God is said to imprint Glory on the Face of the Scribe Ecclus 10.5 and they continued in Employment among the Jews when the High-priesthood ceas'd 600 Years after our Saviour's time for when Gregentius introduces the eminent Jews Disput cum Herbano Judg. who attended their Champion Herbanus to the Disputation about Religion at Tephra he reckons up a multitude of Scribes and Pharisees and Lawyers who were present at the Debate of the Controversie they being the most illustrious Persons of the Nation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Among the chief Ministers at Antioch a City with which Palmyra had a great Commerce the Secretary of the Olympick Games was habited Malel l. 12. P. 377. and worshipt as a God for when Commodus the Emperor had confirm'd the Bequest of Sosibius to the People of Antioch that every Fifth Year they might for Forty five Days together celebrate the Olympick Games the next Officer to the Alytarches who was the President of the Assembly and made Laws for the good and decent Management of those Sports was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who represented Apollo he was chosen by the Senate and People clad all the time the Solemnity lasted in a White Garment his Head adorn'd with a Crown of pure Gold shap't like the Leaves of Lawrel and was worshipt as if he had been Apollo This Officer if the Olympick Games were peculiar to Antioch in the East as to Elis in Greece so says the learned Commentator on the Oxford Marbles though the above-cited Inscription in Honour of Paulinus persuades me to believe that the Games were also celebrated at Smyrna was also peculiar to that City But the rest of Asia had their other Games in Honour of the Emperors which were celebrated by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Communities of Asia Galatia Bithynia c. wherein the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had a principal share This Office perhaps was discharged by Malech Agrippa at Palmyra in the Games celebrated in Honour of Alexander the Emperor when he came into that part of Syria in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 general Meeting of the Inhabitants of that Province At Alexandria one Order of their Priests were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and among them probably he who was of more eminent Worth and Station was styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scribarum Primus as among the Lictors the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was Lictorum Princeps of whose extraordinary Sobriety Continency and other Vertues together with their love of Solitude and Abstinences Cheraemon the Stoick who was of the same Order say Theodorit and Tzetzes Ap. Porph 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 4. though Strabo speak slightly of him gives a large Account And St. Clemens of Alexandria describes their Habit * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That the Sacred Scribe had Wings on his Head like a Mercury that he carry'd a Book in his Hand and a Pot or Vessel for so I render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not Regulam as the Interpreter For who carries Ink in a Rule Ink must be carry'd in a Vial or Pot. So Hesych 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lege 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as I would correct the learned Grammarian Id. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in which was Ink and a Pen to write with His Provence was to be acquainted with and to know exactly the Hieroglyphicks of the Egyptians to understand Cosmography and Geography the Motions of the Sun and Moon with the Influences of the Seven Planets the Chorography of Egypt the Description of the River Nilus the Use of the several Vessels and Instruments employed in Holy Offices the state of all Consecrated Places the several kinds of Measures and whatever else was necessary for the accomplishing their Sacred Studies For in Egypt the Priests were obliged to make themselves Masters of the Thirty six Books of Hermes which contain'd their Sacred Philosophy treating of Religion and Nature the other Six Books of his Works being Medicinal among whom the Prophet the Chief Priest or Praefect of the the Temple was bound to learn Ten for his part called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sacerdotal Books wherein Hermes treated of the Laws and the Gods and the whole Discipline of the Priesthood the Chanter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Cheraemon calls them with the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 L. 1. Hieroglyph being obliged to learn the rest And Orus Apollo says that he who would describe an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Hieroglyphick ought to represent him by Ink a Sieve and a Reed Of the Reed the Egyptians made their Pens so that Ink and a Reed denoted his Profession the Sieve which also was made of the Reed or Bulrush his Condition and Quality that he was well provided for and had leisure to study those who want Bread being compell'd to apply themselves to Mechanical Trades And the same Author informs us they were Judges of Life and Death not that they pronounced the Sentence of Condemnation upon Criminals or granted Pardons or Reprieves but that in times of Sickness they determin'd whether the Patient should live or die 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is I doubt not an Egptian word nor does it occur in any Lexicon only in Hesychius I find 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and perhaps 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had a Sacred Book which they called Ambres probably a Medicinal Treatise one of the six Books of Hermes which he wrote upon that Subject by the Inspection of which they judg'd whether the sick Person would either die or recover So much for
and made Provision for the great Crowds who came thither to consult the Oracle or visited the Place out of mistaken Devotion at the solemn times appointed They were the Aeditui Fontium or the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 There were several sorts of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 among the Antients who had their Denomination from their Concerns The Overseer of the Appian way 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 occurs in Gruter P. 495.2 and the People of Spain were for a while very eager Disputants for the Honour of a new Saint whose Tomb they had found call'd St. Viar through their mistake of a broken Inscription of which only these Fragments remained S. VIAR i.e. Curatores Viarum So the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were the Overseers of their Games says Julius Pollux L. 3. c. 30. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Princes are said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Preservers of the Rights of Religion and of their Subjects The Curators of the Imperial Palaces and Revenues were Men of the Senatorian and sometimes of the Consular Dignity Lib. 5. says Agathias 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the Wardens of the Port at Athens are styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Harpocration who inspected the Ships that bought Corn into the Port and took care that the City might not want Bread They were says * Lib. 6. p. 411. Dionysius of Halicarnassus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Assistants to the Demarchus at Athens Copartners with him in his Government and Judges of Causes But now says he from one part of their Business they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Guardians of Holy Places The Trust was thought too great for any single Person At Athens the number was Five Aristot 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Apud Harpocrat the President or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with Four Assessors who were chosen by the People two out of the Citizens in general the third out of the Eumolpidae the fourth out of the Ceryces the Descendants from Eumolpus and Ceryx In the Panathenaea Dionysia their number was encreased to Ten one out of every Tribe but their Business was only the oversight of the Games the Wrestlings Pollux l. 8. c. 9 V. c. 8. Horse-races and Musick And when the greater Mysteries were celebrated Ten inferior Priests 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were added to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Assistants in Sacrificing But though the Number at Athens of their Curators of their Mysteries and Sacred Places were but Four at Nacle its plain they were more from the Inscription Eight at the least and how many more we know not At Ancyra in Galatia the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was a Person of great Honour from whose Office they commonly dated their Inscriptions the Senate and People crecting a Monument to the Honour of Fulvius Rusticus Aemilianus their Benefactor V. Maym. I. in Memor Cosson p. 140. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when Menotesbius Alexander was their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so I am enclined to render it not that he only took care of the Inscription Marm. 3. p. 141. Another Inscription was set up to the Honour of T. Fl. Taeanus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when Agesilaus Secundus was Phylarchus so they call'd the Commander of the Horse of every Tribe who was a Lieutenant-General to the General of the Horse says Harpocration Flavius Asclepius and Aurelius Asclepius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being Curators for there were more than One at Ancyra and sometimes the same Person was both the Phylarchus and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marm. 4. p. 142. Another Inscription to the Honour of the same Taeanus being erected 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when Posthumius and Antonius Antoninus were both 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But this I propose only as a Conjecture and shall be glad to be corrected if mistaken CHAP. IV. Of their Idolatry and Superstition I Shall not undertake to fix the Epocha of the Original of Idolatry nor determine what Creature on this side the Highest Heaven which is the Throne of the Great Creator of the World was the first Object of Superstitious Worship but I have great reason to believe that when Religious Adoration was first transferr'd from the True God it was given to the Heavenly Bodies to the Sun and Moon they being the most illustrious Visible part of the Creation and for ought that any Man the oldest in the World could remember or know further than Revelation gave him infallible Instruction might be as they have continued Unchangeable and Incorruptible in their Nature so Eternal in their Duration they having been made and fix'd in their glorious Spheres before the first Man's Breath was breath'd into his Nostrils from Above Whereas the older Heathens knew the Pedigree and the times of the several Births of their Saturns and Jupiters and the whole Race of Gods derived from them their first Books of Heathen Divinity being written upon the Subject of the Theogony or the Generation of their Gods But besides the Antiquity of their Original their Usefulness and Beneficence to the World was another Encouragement to the Worship of the Sun and Moon and if we examine the late Pretensions of Polytheism we shall find that in a great part it proceeded from this Belief That such and such Persons having been Benefactors to the World in many useful Inventions they were for those Reasons after their deaths Deify'd and ador'd For what greater Blessings were the Heathens sensible of than what the Sun and in a less degree the Moon bestowed who not only distinguisht the Seasons of the Year the variety of which are necessary to the Productions of the Earth and the growth of Animals and regulated the Computations of Time but gave to all Creatures Health and Vigour and the Preservatives of Life Light the first Blessing the World ever saw and the truest Emblem of the Divinity and Heat and genial Warmth to cherish and Promote the Ease of Mankind which also produc'd all things necessary for Life form'd Minerals in the Bowels of the Earth and regulated the Motions of the Sea And when some of the most ancient of the Eastern Sages finding some Discords in Nature which they could not reconcile agreed to assert two First Principles of Good and Evil yet they chose the Sun to represent Both as a common Agent in both their Names because when the Sun was in their Horizon they were Partakers of its Light and its Heat but when it retir'd they were cover'd with Darkness unless supplied by the Moon because his Influences gave Life and promoted the Generation of Animals but his Absence introduced Corruption and Death And to preserve the remembrance since the Sun was not always in view the Orientals maintained an Unexstinguisht Fire to represent it nothing here below comeing so near to the Image of that great Light as Fire Nor did those Sages
being dedicated to their Vrania long before Mahometanism prevail'd among them And lest the Moon should be treated with an inferior Worship and appear without Attendants the Antients offer'd Immortal Fire to Her as well as to the Sun says Julian and gave her a Paredrus or Companion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Hesychius the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sors Lunae says Mr. Selden Satur. l. 1. c. 19. but Macrobius says that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Moon herself And it is to be observ'd that the Antients allow'd not of Sexes among their Gods or rather thought every God of both Hence Orpheus calls the Moon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And so is Bacchus styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Calvus the old Poet in Macrobius Pollentémque Deum Venerem And the Deus Lunus was famous in the East worshipt at Carrae in Mesopotamia on whose Coins a Cock is stampt be-because he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 says * Vit. Pyth. l. 1. c. 18. l. 2. c. 21. Jamblichus in the esteem of the Pythagoreans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sacred to the Sun and Moon at Ancyra in Galatia at Antioch in Pisidia at Nisa in Caria at Gaba in Galilee at Juliopolis in Bithynia at Magnesia in Asia at Saettae in Lydia and at Sibiduda in Phrygia Salutaris as the Coins in F. Harduin expresly declare It is highly probable that the Worship of the Sun was the Religion of the Chaldeans in Abraham's time when God rescued that learned and devout Patriarch from the Prejudices of his Education and the Persecutions of his Adversaries and if the Sacred Rites of the Chaldeans had their Original in Egypt and were thence transplanted into the East the Idolatry begun much earlier But this we are sure of that the first Account that is given us of Idolatry in the oldest Book in the World the oldest at least that is come to the hands of the Men of the later Ages the Book of Job which I may presume was penn'd before the History of the Creation it self is that of the Worship of the Sun and Moon of * Job 31.26 27. worshipping the Sun in his splendour and the Moon walking in her brightness long before any of the Heathen Saturns or Jupiters could enter their claim they all having been born long after Job's time And the Form of Adoration there mention'd is very ancient Kissing the Hand and paying Obeysance which is naturally render'd by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Adoratio among the Greeks and Latins And when the Jews turn'd Idolaters they are said Judg. 10. to worship Baalim and Ashteroth that is in the Punick Language says St. Augustine the Jupiters and Juno's of the Heathen World by which he cannot mean other than the Sun and Moon For Jupiter and Juno in the Age just after Joshua were not then in Embryo and when the Gentiles of succeeding Ages the latter School of the Platenists who were great Admirers of the Orphick and Pythagorean Rites asham'd of the Accounts which the old Poets gave of their Gods turn'd all the Story of Homer and Hesiod into Mythology they still continued the Worship of those glorious Planets With what Pomp and Ceremony of Eloquence doth Julian the Apostate Emperor treat of this Subject in his Hymn written in Praise of the Sun styling him the King of all the World the Most Divine Prince and the Common Father of Mankind Aurelian calls him a Deity that he was sure of Deus certus Sol. and that all things from one end of the World to the other were govern'd by his Providence affirming that for his own part he had from a Youth a great regard for him and that at Constantinople they kept an Annual Feast and offer'd Sacrifices to his Honour Nor does he forget the Moon who was solemnly worshipt at Athens after his time For * N. 11 Marinus in the Life of Proclus informs us that when Lachares and Syrianus upon the first appearance of the Moon did adore the Goddess 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Proclus retiring a little way from them put off his Shoes another Custom and Rite of Religious Worship as old at least as Moses when he convers'd with God in the Bush continued by the Platonists in compliance with the Rule of Pythagoras 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he who would sacrifice ought to discalceate and then saluted i. e. ador'd the Deity 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 L. 4. p. 245. And when Zosimus the Pagan Historian studiously aggravates the Severity of the Edict of Theodosius who destroy'd all the Heathen Temples and Images he subjoins that it was very dangerous for any Man at that time to assert the Rights of Paganism to affirm that the Heathen Deities were Gods or so much as to look up to Heaven and to worship the Sun and the Moon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And at this day among those poor Savages who inhabit the remotest part of Earth in Greenland and other Parts of the North if they have any Religious Ceremonies any Object of Worship they bow down to the Rising-Sun and acknowledge its Divinity As in like manner the old Scythians L. 3. c. 5. with whom one continued Night as in Greenland lasted half the Year worshipt Apollo says Mela. Nor could the Christians easily be wean'd from this Custom at Rome a long time after Christianity had prevailed there for many of them in the days of Pope Leo the Great Ser. 7. de Nativitat Christi when they came into the Church of St. Peter as they went up the Steps that led to the Altar turning themselves about bow'd their Heads and worshipt the Rising-Sun This Worship was objected to the Jews in the days of the first Roman Emperors by Petronius and Juvenal that they worshipt nothing but the Clouds and the Sun for so I render Caeli Numen i. e. in the Sacred Style the Host of Heaven And in the Reign of Honorius and Theodosius the Caelicolae were a new upstart Sect of Superstitious Votaries Nomen inauditum quodammodo novum crimen superstitionis vindicantes Cod. l. 1. tit 9. §. 12. in the words of the Law called Caelicolae says the Collector of the Synopsis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they worshipt the Heavens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who had their separate Places of Meeting their different Rites and distinct Ministers of their Religious Ceremonies But whether they were Jews the remains of the old Essens as some affirm though the Law seems to me plainly to distinguish the Caelicolae from the Jews or some Christian Hereticks the Progenitors of the Euchitae as others affirm though the Law also seems to distinguish them when it makes them liable to the same Penalties with Hereticks or rather some of the Remains of the old Heathens who renounc'd their Saturns and Jupiters whose Divinities they could not vindicate because whatever is God must be Eternal but stuck to the Worship of the Sun and Moon as the later
wise Saying of the Roman Orator That whenever we see such Remains of venerable Antiquity such lasting Records of the names and Atchievements of great Persons we are admonisht to take care so to regulate our Actions that we may convince the World we have settled our prospect upon the Rewards of Future Ages and not on the Flatteries of the Present and to remember that Monuments being erected to the Memory of those who have lived well in this World before they left it put us in mind that there is nothing here permanent and immutable and that 't is the Duty of considering Men to aspire towards Immortality A short Chronicle of Palmyra PAlmyra Anno Per. Jul. 3720 Mund. 3010. built by Solomon after he had finisht the Temple and his own House which were 20 years in building Palmyra destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar P. J. 4125. M. 3415. before he laid Siege to Jerusalem Marc. Antony P. J. 4673. M. 3963. V. C. Varr. 713. ante Christ 41. after the Battel of Philippi went into Asia and sent his Troops to pillage Palmyra Hadrian An. Christi 122. an Imp. 6. went into the East rebuilt probably Palmyra and call'd it Hadrianople when Malech Agrippa was the second time Secretary of that City circ 216 Palmyra made a Roman Colony by the Emperor Caracallus in his Expedition into Parthia The Republick of Palmyra assisted Alexander Severus against Artaxerxes King of Persia Zenobius being their General The Republick assisted Gordian against the Persians Zenobius being their General Valerian was taken Prisoner by Sapores King of Persia Odenathus routed the Persians and was declared Emperor by Gallienus Odenathus with his Son Herodian slain by Maeonius Maeonius the Ephemerous Emperor of Palmyra slain a few days after then Zenobia assumes the Empire in her own name and her Sons Zenobia routed Heraclianus Gallienus 's General Vaballathus took the Empire Gallienus slain Claudius chosen Emperor Zenobia conquer'd Aegypt by her General Zabdas Claudius died Quintillus reigned 16 days Aurelian in the later end of the year was chosen Emperor Palmyra taken and ruin'd by Aurelian and Longinus slain an â…š of Vaballathus Zenobia carried in triumph at Rome Hierocles Governor of Palmyrene under Dioclesian Justinian in the first year of his Reign repaired and fortified Palmyra Palmyra was subjected by the Mahometans Jabala the Son of Al Iham being then Lord of Tadhmur and King of Gassan The Battel of Tadhmur between Dahacus and Adis Saleiman the Pseudo-Caliph beaten by Merwan fled to Tadhmur Benjamin in Tudelensis was at Tadhmur Melhom the Emîr or Prince of Tadhmur when the English Merchants made their first Journey thither Hassine the Emîr when the English Merchants went thither the second time Dôr the Emîr of Tadhmur Additions and Emendations Page 193. add after Sociam Nasorus is the same name with Nasir Abunasir Abdolnasir Nasireddin which frequently occur in the Saraccnick History As does Amrus in the same History and in the Catalogue of the Kings of Gessan in our Learned Pocock Sochaeis the same with Sychaeus the Husband of Dido Sampsus c. p. 240. l. 6. after Harpocration add tho' the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was probably the chief Magistrate or Decurio at Ancyra P. 301. l. 3. after Grammar add perhaps for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we should read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tho' Mr. H. positively avers that it was written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Monument and then Elabelus Mannaeus Sochaeis and Malchus being all the Sons of Vaballathus Grand Sons of Mannaeus Great-grand Sons of Elabelus set up that Monument for themselves and their Children or rather to assert the true reading erected that Tomb 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to their Father Vaballathus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and to themselves and others if there were any his Children This is one of the oldest Inscriptions at Palmyra erected anno Christi 102. the 5th of the Reign of the Emperor Trajan Palma his Governor of Syria having some few years before reduc'd that part of Arabia under the Roman Power says Dio. l. 68 â—hich Age no other Monument exceeds Besides Misaccentings wrong Pointings misplacing of Letters and other little Faults the Reader is desired before he enters upon the Book to correct the following ERRATA PAge 8. l. 17. preserve P. 17. dele 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 20. l. 14. del M. l. 26. r. Nice p. 22. l. 21. when p. 28. l. 6. a State p. 35. l. 12. r. happen'd to fall sick l. 21. 22. r. for in the seventeenth year of his Reign p. 36. l. 3. r. who living some years after languisht p. 48. Marg. Petri. p. 55. l. 15. f. for r. but. p. 58. l. 3. del he p. 59. r. an 264. p. 62. l. 9. enraged p. 72. l. 2. r. after which an 268. p. 73. for probably r. doubtless p. 86. del the Marg. Note and insert it p. 87. p. 118 l. 6. r. Marcellinus l. 8. in the first year p. 121. ch XXVII p. 131. l. 11. r. declar'd his Partner in the Empire p. 139. Caenophrurium p. 140. del in all probability p. 149. l. 5. r. washt p. 166. l. 17. del A. p. 193. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 196. Heraclas 201. Julius 219. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 221. l. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 238. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 l. 12. brought p. 239. l. 14. r. five 248. l. 16. del Jaribolus and. p. 249. l. 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 251. l. 12. r. Xiphiline and del the Marg. Note p. 254. l. 2. the Emp. married Urania to his Country God Elagabalus the Moon being the fittest Wise for the Sun 263. l. 29. Grandmother p. 270. Marg. de Deá Syr. ed. ult 293. l. 6. transcribe 299. l. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 302. l. 13. fifth ib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Pani l. 17. Chr. 138. p. 304. Marg. l. 2. chil 310. l. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 311. calls him 312. r. the same year viz. the 4th of Alex. 313. l. 22. r. 226. p. 317. l. 3. commanding and assisting 325. Emesa 332. l. 2. Person 345. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 348. Sonat ib lotus 350. l. 27. and then 353. l. 7. Anton tertio 360. l. pen. in Gr. 364. l. 15. del and. 365. Tetrarchies ib. Syria ib. fornix p. 366. feci FINIS