[[291]]Η πολλας ὑπενερθε Σαρωνιδας ὑγρος Ιαων
Ηειρεν.
As oaks were styled Saronides, so likewise were the antient Druids, by whom the oak was held so sacred. Hence Diodorus Siculus, speaking of the priests of Gaul, styles them [[292]]Φιλοσοφοι, θεολογοι—περιττως τιμωμενοι, ὁυς ΣΑΡΩΝΙΔΑΣ ονομαζουσι. This is one proof, out of many, how far the Amonian religion was extended; and how little we know of Druidical worship, either in respect to its essence or its origin.
UCH.
Uch, Υκ, expressed also Ach, Och, Οχα, was a term of honour among the Babylonians, and the rest of the progeny of Chus; and occurs continually in the names of men and places which have any connection with their history. I have shewn, in a former [[293]]treatise, that the shepherds who ruled in Egypt were of that race, and that they came from Babylonia and Chaldea. Eusebius informs us, that their national title was [[294]]Υκουσος; or, as it was undoubtedly expressed by the people themselves, Υκκουσος, Uc-Cusus. It is a term taken notice of by Apion and Manethon, and they speak of it as a word in the sacred language of the country, which signified a king: [[295]]Υκ καθ' ἱεραν γλωσσαν βασιλεα σημαινει. I wonder that this word has been passed over with so little notice; as it is of great antiquity; and, at the same time, of much importance in respect to etymology. Uc-Cusus signified the royal, or noble, Cusean: and, as it was a word in the sacred language of Egypt, we may from hence learn what that language was; and be assured that it was the primitive language of Chus, the same as the antient Chaldaïc. It was introduced among the Mizraïm by the Auritæ, or Cuthites, together with their rites and religion: hence it obtained the name of the sacred language. Diodorus Siculus affords [[296]]evidence to the same purpose: and it is farther proved by Heliodorus; who says that the sacred characters of Egypt and those of the Cuthites in Ethiopia were the [[297]]same. This term occurs very often among the titles of which the Babylonish names arc composed; such as Ochus and Belochus. Among the Egyptians it is to be found in Acherez and Achencherez; which are the names of two very antient princes. Acherez is a compound of Ach-Ares, Magnus Sol; equivalent to Achorus, another name of the same Deity, assumed in like manner by their kings. The latter was sometimes expressed [[298]]Achor, Achoris. Ochuras, Uchoreus; which are all the same name, diversified in different ages and by different writers. As priests took the titles of the Deities whom they served, Lucan has, very properly, introduced a priest of Egypt under the name of Achoreus:
[[299]]quos inter Achoreus,
Jam placidus senio, fractisque modestior annis.
The name of Osiris seems to have been Uc-Sehor, and Uc-Sehoris. According to Hellanicus, if a person had in Egypt made inquiry about the term Osiris, he would not have been understood: for the true name was [[300]]Usiris. Philo Biblius, from Sanchoniathon, calls the same Deity [[301]]Isiris; and adds, that he was the brother of Cna, or Canaan; and the inventor of three letters. Ισιρις, των τριων γραμματων ἑυρετης, αδελφος Χνα του Φοινικος. I take Isiris and Usiris, as well as Osiris, to be all Uc-Sehoris softened, and accommodated to the ears of Greece.
The Sun was styled El-Uc, which the Grecians changed to Λυκος, Lucos; as we learn from [[302]]Macrobius. He was also styled El-Uc-Or, which was changed to Λυκωρευς; and El-Uc-Aon, rendered Lycaon[[303]], Λυκαων. As this personage was the same as El-Uc, Λυκος, it was fabled of him that he was turned into a wolf. The cause of this absurd notion arose from hence: every sacred animal in Egypt was distinguished by some title of the Deity. But the Greeks never considered whether the term was to be taken in its primary, or in its secondary acceptation; whence they referred the history to an animal, when it related to the God from whom the animal was denominated. Λυκος, Lucos, was, as I have shewn, the name of the Sun: hence, wherever this term occurs in composition, there will be commonly found some reference to that Deity, or to his substitute Apollo. We read of [[304]]Λυκιου Απολλωνος ἱερον: of [[305]]Lycorus, a supposed son of Apollo: of [[306]]Lycomedes, another son: of [[307]]Lycosura, the first city which the Sun beheld. The people of Delphi were, of old, called [[308]]Lycorians: and the summit of Parnassus, [[309]]Lycorea. Near it was a [[310]]town of the same name; and both were sacred to the God of light. From Lucos, in this sense, came lux, luceo, lucidus, and Jupiter Lucetius, of the Latines; and λυχνος, λυχνια, λυχνευω, of the Greeks; also Λυκαβας, and αμφιλυκος, though differently expressed. Hence it was that so many places sacred to Apollo were styled Leuce, Leuca, Λυκια, Leucas, Leucate.
Mox et Leucatæ nimbosa cacumina montis,