Ομβρον αγεις φερεκαρτον, επ' ευωδινι δε γαιῃ
Ηεριης ηωον ερευγεται αρδμον εερσης.——
Βηλος επ Ευφρηταο, Λιβυς κεκλημενος Αμμων,
Απις εφυς Νειλῳος Αραψ Κρονος, Ασσυριος Ζευς.——
Ειτε Σαραπις εφυς Αιγυπτιος, ανεφαλος Ζευς,
Ει Χρονος, ει Φαεθων πολυωνυμος, ειτε συ Μιθρης,
ΗΕΛΙΟΣ ΒΑΒYΛΩΝΟΣ, εν Ἑλλαδι ΔΕΛΦΟΣ ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ.
All the various titles, we find, are at last comprised in Apollo, or the Sun.
It may appear strange, that Hercules, and Jupiter, or whomever we put for the chief Deity, should be of all ages. This must have been the case, if they were the same as the boy of love, and Bacchus ever young; and were also the representatives of Cronus, and Saturn. But the antients went farther; and described the same Deity under the same name in various stages of life: and [[937]]Ulpian speaking of Dionusus, says that he was represented of all ages. Και γαρ παιδα, και πρεσβυτην, και ανδρα γραφουσιν αυτον. But the most extraordinary circumstance was, that they represented the same Deity of different sexes. A bearded Apollo was uncommon; but Venus with a beard must have been very extraordinary. Yet she is said to have been thus exhibited in Cyprus, under the name of Aphroditus, Αφροδιτος: [[938]]πωγωνιαν ανδρος την Θεον εσχηματισθαι εν Κυπρῳ. The same is mentioned by Servius: [[939]]Est etiam in Cypro simulacrum barbatæ Veneris, corpora et veste muliebri, cum sceptro, et naturâ virili, quod Αφροδιτον vocant. She was also looked upon as prior to Zeus, and to most other of the Gods. [[940]]Αφροδιτη ου μονον Αθηνας, και Ἡρας, αλλα και ΔΙΟΣ εστι πρεσβυτερα. The poet Calvus speaks of her as masculine: [[941]]Polientemque Deum Venerem. Valerius Soranus among other titles calls Jupiter the mother of the Gods.
[[942]]Jupiter omnipotens, Regum Rex ipse, Deûmque