[[932]]Ζευς εστιν αιθηρ, Ζευς δε γη, Ζευς δ' Ουρανος·
Ζευς τοι τα παντα.
Poseidon, God of the sea, was also reputed the chief God, the Deity of Fire. This we may infer from his priest. He was styled a Purcon, and denominated from him, and served in his oracular temples; as we learn from Pausanias, who says, [[933]]Ποσειδωνι δ' ὑπηρετην ες τα μαντευματα ειναι Πυρκωνα. He mentions a verse to the same purpose. Συν δε τε Πυρκων αμφιπολος κλυτου Εννοσιγαιου. P'urcon is Ignis vel lucis dominus: and we may know the department of the God from the name of the priest. He was no other than the supreme Deity, the Sun: from whom all were supposed to be derived. Hence Poseidon or Neptune, in the Orphic verses, is, like Zeus, styled the father of Gods and men.
[[934]] Κλυθι, Ποσειδαον——
Ουρανιων, Μακαρων τε Θεων πατερ, ηδε και ανδρων.
In the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon the chief deity went by the name of [[935]]Ourchol, the same as Archel and Aides of Egypt, whence came the Ἡρακλης, and Hercules of Greece and Rome. Nonnus, who was deeply read in the mythology of these countries, makes all the various departments of the other Gods, as well as their titles, centre in him. He describes him in some good poetry as the head of all.
[[936]]Αστροχιτων Ἡρακλες, Αναξ πυρος, Ορχαμε κοσμου,
Ὑια Χρονου Λυκαβαντα δυωδεκαμηνον ἑλισσων,
Ἱππευων ἑλικηδον ὁλον πολον αιθοπι δισκῳ,
Κυκλον αγεις μετα κυκλον——