[164]. Ab aliquibus Miliaris appellatur. Jonstonus, p. 20.
This Serpent is compared by Nicander to a Lion; either for Cruelty in thirsting after Blood, or for its Courage, which appears in all its Attacks. How furious in all its Wars, offensive and defensive! always fighting, Lion-like, with an erected Tail: Which leads me to a Digression about the Turkish Standard, which is a Horse-Tail erected: The Original of that Custom was this, viz. One of the Turkish Generals having his Standard taken in a Battle with the Christians, and perceiving his Men discouraged by the loss of it, he cut off a Horse-Tail, and fastening it to the top of a Half-pike, advanced it on high, crying out, This is the great Standard, let those that love me follow it: Upon which his Men rallied, fought like Lions, and obtained the Victory[[165]].
[165]. Tavernier.
But to return to the Serpent, which moving in a direct Line, goes fast, but being of great Bulk, can’t suddenly wind about[[166]]: Circumvolution is the way to avoid its Menaces. ’Tis commonly found in the Island of Lemnos (the old Dipolis, and now the Stalimene of the Turks) and also in Samothracia, an Island in the Archipelago, a Province anciently famous for the Dii Cabiri, that is, certain Gods worshipped by the Samothracians and Phenicians, and had in such high Veneration, that it was a Crime to mention Names so sacred among the People[[167]]. Some say they were God’s Ministers, others think they were Devils.
[166]. Et semper recto lapsurus limite cencris. Lucan. Pharsal. p. 269.
[167]. Bochart Geogr. Sacra, lib. i. cap. 12.
XV. The Acontia[[168]], called by the Latins, Serpens Jacularis, and by some, the Flying Serpent, because of the Celerity of its Motion. In Lemnos ’tis call’d Sagittarius, the Bowman or Archer. By the modern Greeks, Saeta, a Dart; for it flies like an Arrow at its Prey[[169]]. A certain Person in Cato’s Army call’d Paulus, was slain, not by the Poison, but the Violence of its Blow[[170]]: Probably on the lateral part of the Scull.
[168]. Απο του ακοντος, quod, jaculi instar, se vibret.
Rumpat & Serpens iter institutum