Et formidatus nautis aperitur [[311]]Apollo.
Hence also inscriptions [[312]]DEO LEUCANIÆ: which term seems to denote, Sol-Fons, the fountain of day. The name Lycophron, Λυκοφρων, which some would derive from Λυκος, a wolf, signifies a person of an enlightened mind. Groves were held very sacred: hence lucus, which some would absurdly derive a non lucendo, was so named from the Deity there worshipped: as was Ἁιμος, a word of the same purport among the Greeks.
This people, who received their theology from Egypt and Syria, often suppressed the leading vowel; and thought to atone for it by giving a new termination: though to say the truth, this mode of abbreviation is often to be observed in the original language, from whence these terms are derived. Κυρος, the name of Cyrus, seems to have suffered an abridgment of this nature. It was probably a compound of Uch-Ur, the same as Achor, and Achorus of Egypt, the great luminary, the Sun. In antient times all kings, priests, and people of consequence took to themselves some sacred title. But as Aneith was abbreviated to Neith, Acherez to Cherez; so Achorus was rendered Chorus, Curus. Thus far is manifest, that Curus signified the Sun. [[313]]Ὁ μεν ουν Κυρος απο Κυρου του παλαιου ονομα εσχεν· εκεινῳ δε απο του Ἡλιου γενεσθαι φασι· Κυρον γαρ καλειν Περσας τον Ἡλιον. Ctesias likewise informs us that the name of Cyrus had this signification. [[314]]Και τιθεται το ονομα αυτου απο του Ἡλιου: He was denominated Cyrus from the Sun, which was so called. It was the same as Orus: and according to Strabo it is sometimes so expressed; as we may infer from a river of this name, of which he says, [[315]]Εκαλειτο δε προτερον Κορος. We find it sometimes rendered Κυρις, Curis: but still with a reference to the Sun, the Adonis of the east. Hesychius explains Κυρις, ὁ Αδωνις. In Phocis was [[316]]Κυῤῥα, Currha, where Apollo Κυῤῥαιος was honoured; which names were more commonly expressed Κιῤῥα and Κιῤῥαιος. The people of Cyrene are said by Palæphatus to have been originally Ethiopians or Cuthites. They, as well as the Egyptians, worshipped the Sun under the title of Achur, and Achor: and like them esteemed him the [[317]]Θεος απομυιος. From the God Achur we may infer that their country was at first called Acurana; which is a compound of Achur-Ain, and betokens the great fountain of light. Acurana was abbreviated to Curane and Curene; but was always supposed to relate to the Sun, and Heaven. Hence the Greeks, who out of every obsolete term formed personages, supposed Cyrene to have been the daughter of the supreme Deity. [[318]]Κυρηνη, πολις Λιβυης, απο Κυρηνης της Ὑψεως. The city Cyrene in Libya was denominated from Cyrene, the daughter of the most High. There was a fountain here of great sanctity, which was in like manner denominated from the Sun. It was called [[319]]Κυρη πηγη, which terms are equivalent to Kur-Ain, and Achurain of the Amonians, and signify the fountain of the Sun. Pliny proves, that this was the purport of the terms, when he describes this part of the world. [[320]]Cyrenaïca, eadem Tripolitana regio, illustratur Hammonis oraculo—et Fonte Solis. The like account is to be found in Pomponius Mela[[321]]. Ammonis oraculum, fidei inclytæ; et fons, quem Solis [[322]]appellant. As Achor was a term, which related to the Sun; we find it often compounded with Ων, On, another name of that Deity; from whence was formed Acharon. This was the true name of the city in Palestine, called in Scripture, according to our version, [[323]]Ekron. It was denominated from Achor, the God of flies, worshipped also under the name of Baal-zebub with the same attribute. The Caphtorim brought the worship of this God from Egypt; where was a river called Acharon; so denominated from the Deity of the country. This river, and the rites practised in its vicinity, are mentioned in a beautiful fragment from some Sibylline poetry, but when, or by whom composed, is uncertain. The verses are taken notice of by Clemens Alexandrinus, and what is remarkable, are certainly quoted long before the completion of what is portended. However the purport may perhaps be looked upon rather as a menace, than a prophecy.
[[324]]Ισι, θεα, τριταλαινα, μενεις επι χευμασι Νειλου,
Μουνη, μαινας, αοιδος, επι ψαμαθοις Αχεροντος.
The Deity was likewise called Achad, and Achon: and many cities and countries were hence [[325]]denominated. Acon in Palestine is said to have been so named in honour of Hercules, the chief Deity in those [[326]]parts.
I have mentioned, that Ham, styled also Cham, was looked up to as the Sun, and worshipped by his posterity. Hence both his images and priests were styled Chamin: and many princes assumed this title, just as they did that of Orus, and Arez. His posterity esteemed themselves of the Solar race, by way of eminence: and the great founder of the Persic Monarchy was styled Achamin, rendered by the Greeks Αχαιμενης, Achæmenes: and all of his family afterwards had the title of Αχαιμενιοι, and Αχαιμενιδαι, from the same pretensions. They all of them universally esteemed themselves the children of the Sun; though they were likewise so called from their worship. Hence Lutatius Placidus in his Scholia upon Statius interprets the word Achæmenidæ by [[327]]Solis Cultores. This may serve to authenticate my etymology, and shew, that the term is derived from Cham, the Sun: but the purport of it was generally more limited, and the title confined to the royal race of the Persians, who were looked upon as the offspring of the Sun. The Cuthites of Ethiopia Africana had the same high opinion of themselves: hence Calasiris in Heliodorus invokes the Sun as his great ancestor. [[328]]Επικεκλησθω μαρτυς ὁ Γεναρχης ἡμων Ἡλιος· and Chariclea in another place makes use of a like invocation: [[329]]Ἡλιε, Γεναρχα προγονων ἡμων. O, Sun, the great source of my ancestry. The Amonians, who settled at Rhodes, styled themselves Ἡλιαδαι, the Solar [[330]]race. Those who settled upon the Padus did the [[331]]same. Hyde mentions a people in Diarbeker, called [[332]]Chamsi; and says, that the meaning of the word is Solares; and the same in purport as Shemsi and Shamsi of the Arabians.
The term Υκ, of which I have been treating, was obsolete, and scarce known in the times when Greece most flourished: yet some traces of it may be found, though strangely perverted from its original meaning. For the writers of this nation, not knowing the purport of the words, which they found in their antient hymns, changed them to something similar in sound; and thus retained them with a degree of religious, but blind reverence. I have shewn, that of El-Uc they formed Λυκος, Lucus, which was acknowledged to be the name of the Sun: of El-Uc-Aon, Lycaon: of El-Uc-Or, Lycorus, and Lycoreus:
[[333]]Η κιθαριν, η τοξα Λυκωρεος εντεα Φοιβου.
So from Uc-Ait, another title of the God, they formed Hecatus, and a feminine, Hecate. Hence Nicander speaks of Apollo by this title: