tri-formed deity of Fire, and Surya the Sun was another form, and was held to be three bodied. Ravit also another personification of the Sun was esteemed by them one of the Trimurti, or triple forms of their three great divinities into which these are all resolvable. In the vulgar Theology of the Greeks and Romans, the Triad is commonly represented as the three sons of Kronus or the gods respectively of the Air or Heaven, of the Sea, and of Fire or the Infernal regions. In accordance with this, the Triad delivered by Pherecydes Syrus‡ is SPIRIT, WATER, FIRE. These triads differ from all other heathen * Sir W. Jones.-Moor. 27-8. + Wilford, III. As. Res. 359. Damascius, See Anc. Frag. 317. triads by the introduction of Neptune as the second person. In all the others, the principle of Humidity, whether it be of water or of air, is represented by one single personage, Vishnu, the same as Zeus. This anomaly, however, is explained by Herodotus, who states that Neptune was not one of the original gods of the Pelasgi the first inhabitants of Greece, nor of the Egyptian colonists, but was a subsequent importation from Lybia.* And if we examine the more ancient fragments, we shall find in the Greek theology a most exact correspondence with the rest; and as it will in a great measure elucidate the Egyptian, I take it in precedence. The original Pelasgic inhabitants of Greece are stated by Herodotus to have given no names whatever to their Gods. The Greek theology, handed down to us, was derived from Egypt, and was intro *Herod. ii. c. 50. duced by Orpheus. In the Orphic fragments, the generation of the universe and of the gods is by Hesiod,* Orpheus,† Aristophanes, Suidas, || and others described as proceeding from the Ether and Chaos. From these two principles the primeval god and goddess, or rather from the first of them, the ancient Ether, which as Night overhung the Chaotic globe, shot forth the Light, which was Phanes, or Eros, or Pothos, who was the fabricator of the world: though he is sometimes described as proceeding from an egg.¶ In a fragment of the Theology of Orpheus, preserved by Damascius,** this Phanes is represented as a triple divinity with wings, and surrounded by the head of a * Theog. 116. Arg. 12. 49. Hymn to Protogonus-Hermias in Phædon, 141-Procl. in Timæum-Athenagoras. The greater part of these passages are collected and translated in the Ancient Fragments. Aves. 698. Article Chaos. Anc. Frag. p. 294. 298. ** Anc. Frag. 311. Ib. 310. 311. Bull, a Lion, and a Ram, conjoined with a Serpent; and similar fragments are preserved by Proclus. In another fragment of the same, preserved originally by Timotheus, and also quoted with some slight variations by Cedrenus, Suidas, and Malala, the cosmogony is thus distinctly represented.*" From the beginning the Ether was manifested in time, and on every side of the Ether was Chaos: and gloomy Night enveloped and obscured all things, that were under the Ether. The Earth was invisible on account of the darkness: but the light broke through the Ether, and illuminated the Earth, and all the material of the creation and its name is Metis, Phanes, Ericapaus † (signifying Will or Counsel, Light, Life-giver). By this power all things were produced, as well incorporeal principles, as the sun and moon, and their influences, and all the *Anc. Frag. 296. + Ib. 311. stars, and the earth, and the sea, and all things that are visible and invisible in them." We have here the Triad proceeding from the Ether as Phanes in the form of METIS, EROS, which are equivalent to ERICA PEUS, Life, or Lifegiver, ETHER. Acusilaus gives the triad METIS, EROS, or Love, Another Orphic fragment, the Hymn to Protogonus,† when literally translated, runs thus: "I invoke thee, oh Protogonus, two-fold, great, wandering through the Ether. Egg-born, rejoicing in thy golden wings. the far celebrated Ericapaus. * Damascius, Anc. Frag. 316. † Anc. Frag. 294. Qy. Breaking. |