LETTER XX.

AMMON AND HERCULES EMBLEMS OF

THE SUN.

Amoun, whence the Greeks derived Ammon, and the Latins Jupiter Ammon, particularly adored at Thebes, which is called in Scripture the city of Ammon, and by the Greeks Diofpolis, the city of Jupiter. The ftatue covered by the skin and head of a ram. This Deity, typifying the vernal Sun, uttered oracles, in a temple built in the Lybian deferts. The ftatue of Hercules, worshipped with Ammon, at the vernal equinox, fignified the strength of the Sun at this feafon.

To M. L. M.

Grand Cairo.

THE Egyptians, applying themselves to the study of Aftronomy, perceived the afpect of the Sun varied according to the sign in which he was found, his motions flower at the folftices, quicker at the equinoxes, and

that

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that his influence was more or less according. To these phænomena they affigned various characteristic marks. Having adopted hieroglyphics, which speak by symbols, only, they, by turns, painted the Sun as a child, a man grown, and an old man, fometimes joyful, fometimes fad, or refplendent in light; by which the priests understood his aftronomical aspects, or physical effects. Accustomed to behold these figures on their temples, the vulgar forgot the fymbol, and adored them as Deities. Macrobius, initiated in the myfteries of this antient religion, thus unveils them (r); "To mark the fhortest

day in the year, the Egyptians, at the "winter folftice, take the fymbol of the "Sun from the fanctuary, under the form "of a child; whom, growing rapidly, at the "vernal equinox, they reprefent as a youth; "and, mature at the fummer folftice, they give him a full face with a long beard. "At laft they depict him as an old man, to fignify his decline." Adopted, no doubt, before the invention of writing, thefe emblems, preferved by the pricfts, expreffed

66

66

1

() Macrob. Saturnal. lib. 1.

the

the four ages of the Sun, and feafons of

the year.

Let us examine what the Egyptians meant by the name Ammon, fo famous in antiquity. Amoun, fays Plutarch (s), whence we derive Ammon, is the Egyptian name for Jupiter. This god was particularly adored at Thebes, which the facred books call Hammonno, the poffeffion of Hammon, and the feptuagint (t) the city of Ammon. "The inhabitants of Thebes hold the ram "to be facred, and eat not his flesh; yet, on the annual feftival of Jupiter, they be

head, and skin, the ram, with which they "cover the ftatue of the God (u)." The meaning of this ceremony we are taught by Proclus (x), who fays, the Egyptians held the ram in veneration, and because this fign, the first of the Zodiac, prefaged fruits, Eufebius adds, the fymbol indicated

(s) De Ifide et Ofiride. Herodotus and Diodorus, alfo, give Jupiter the furname of Ammon.

(t) Ezekiel, cap. 30. The Greeks and Romans call it Diopolis, the city of Jupiter.

(u) Herod. lib. 2.

(x) Procius in Timæum.

the conjunction of the Sun and Moon in the ram (y).

You recollect, Sir, what the ceremony was the priests of Ammon obferved when they confulted the oracle. Faithful followers of the opinions of their forefathers, who figured the Sun making a voyage in a ship, they bore, in a boat, the ftatue of the god, formed of precious ftones, and having a ram's head. Authorities and facts, fo numerous, demonstrate that Ammon, among the Egyptian Aftronomers, represented the Sun, in which fense Diodorus might say Ofiris and Ammon are the fame (z). Yet these two names do not denote the fame phænomena; the first fignified the Sun to be the Author of Time, the second announced Spring, and the commencement of the aftronomical year, under the fign of the ram, which was meant by the fymbolical figure of the deity. The word Amoun, formed from Am-ouein (a), refplendent, indicated the defired effects which

(3) Eufeb. de Prep. Evangel. lib. 3.

(z) Lib. 1.

(a) Jablonski, tom. I.

the

the Sun produced when at the Equator; as lengthened days, fuperiour light, and, particularly, the prefage of inundation and plenty.

The priests were accustomed to affociate Hercules in this worship. At the feast of Ammon, after covering the ftatue of Jupiter with the fkin of the ram, they placed near this fymbolical deity the idol of Hercules (b), which, in their language, they called Dfom, or Diom (c), ftrength, which characterifed the power of the Sun when at the equinoctial. According to Plutarch (d), they alfo faid Hercules, placed in the Sun, turned with it; which has not escaped Macrobius (e). "The very name of Hercules (Hans) fhews it meant the Sun.

"Has fignifies air, and Kλ splendor, "for what is the fplendor of the air but "that illumination it receives from the Sun,

by whofe departure it is left in profound "darkness?" Hence the fanciful allegories

(b) Herod. lib. 2.

(c) Jablonski, tom. I.

(d) Plut. de Ifide et Ofiride.

(e) Macrob. Saturnal. lib. 1.

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