SAN, SON, ZAN, ZAAN.
The most common name for the Sun was San, and Son; expressed also Zan, Zon, and Zaan. Zeus of Crete, who was supposed to have been buried in that Island, is said to have had the following inscription on his tomb:
[[136]]Ὡδε μεγας κειται Ζαν, ὁν Δια κικλησκουσι.
The Ionians expressed it Ζην, and Ζηνα. Hesychius tells us, that the Sun was called Σαως by the Babylonians. It is to be observed that the Grecians in foreign words continually omitted the Nu final, and substituted a Sigma. The true Babylonish name for the Sun was undoubtedly Σαων, oftentimes expressed Σωαν, Soan. It was the same as Zauan of the Sidonians; under which name they worshipped Adonis, or the Sun. Hesychius says, Ζαυανας, θεος τις εν Σιδωνι. Who the Deity was, I think may be plainly seen. It is mentioned by the same writer, that the Indian Hercules, by which is always meant the chief Deity, was styled Dorsanes: Δορσανης ὁ Ἡρακλης παρ' Ινδοις. The name Dorsanes is an abridgment of Ador-San, or Ador-Sanes, that is Ador-Sol, the lord of light. It was a title conferred upon Ham; and also upon others of his family; whom I have before mentioned to have been collectively called the Baalim. Analogous to this they were likewise called the Zaanim, and Zaananim: and a temple was erected to them by the antient Canaanites, which was from them named [[137]]Beth-Zaananim. There was also a place called Sanim in the same country, rendered Sonam[[138]], Σωναμ, by Eusebius; which was undoubtedly named in honour of the same persons: for their posterity looked up to them, as the Heliadæ, or descendants of the Sun, and denominated them from that luminary. According to Hesychius it was a title, of old not unknown in Greece; where princes and rulers were styled Zanides, Ζανιδες, Ἡγεμονες. In [[139]]Diodorus Siculus mention is made of an antient king of Armenia, called Barsanes; which signifies the offspring of the Sun. We find temples erected to the Deity of the same purport; and styled in the singular Beth-San: by which is meant the temple of the Sun. Two places occur in Scripture of this name: the one in the tribe of Manasseh: the other in the land of the Philistines. The latter seems to have been a city; and also a temple, where the body of Saul was exposed after his defeat upon mount Gilboa. For it is said, that the Philistines [[140]]cut off his head, and stripped off his armour—and they put his armour in the house of Ashtoreth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethsan. They seem to have sometimes used this term with a reduplication: for we read of a city in Canaan called [[141]]Sansanah; by which is signified a place sacred to the most illustrious Orb of day. Some antient statues near mount Cronius in Elis were by the natives called Zanes, as we are told by Pausanias: [[142]]Καλουνται δε ὑπο των επιχωριων Ζανες. They were supposed to have been the statues of Zeus: but Zan was more properly the Sun; and they were the statues of persons, who were denominated from him. One of these persons, styled Zanes, and Zanim, was Chus: whose posterity sent out large colonies to various parts of the earth. Some of them settled upon the coast of Ausonia, called in later times Italy; where they worshipped their great ancestor under the name of San-Chus. Silius Italicus speaking of the march of some Sabine troops, says,
[[143]]Pars Sancum voce canebant
Auctorem gentis.
Lactantius takes notice of this Deity. [[144]]Ægyptii Isidem, Mauri Jubam, Macedones Cabirum—Sabini Sancum colunt. He was not unknown at Rome, where they styled him Zeus Pistius, as we learn from Dionysius of Halicarnassus: [[145]]Εν Ἱερῳ Διος Πιστιου, ὁν Ῥωμαιοι Σαγκον καλουσι. There are in Gruter inscriptions, wherein he has the title of Semon prefixed, and is also styled Sanctus.
[[146]]SANCTO. SANCO.
SEMONI. DEO. FIDIO.
SACRUM.
Semon (Sem-On) signifies Cœlestis Sol.
Some of the antients thought that the soul of man was a divine emanation; a portion of light from the Sun. Hence, probably, it was called Zoan from that luminary; for so we find it named in Macrobius. [[147]]Veteres nullum animal sacrum in finibus suis esse patiebantur; sed abigebant ad fines Deorum, quibus sacrum esset: animas vero sacratorum hominum, quos Græci ΖΩΑΝΑΣ vocant Diis debitas æstimabant.