[[853]]Ut nemo sit nostrum, quin pater optimus Divôm est:
Ut Neptunus pater, Liber, Saturnus pater, Mars,
Janus, Quirinus, pater, omnes dicamur ad unum.
And not only the Gods, but the Hierophantæ, in most temples; and those priests, in particular, who were occupied in the celebration of mysteries, were styled Patres: so that it was undoubtedly a religious term imported from Egypt, the same as Pator, and Patora, before mentioned. I have taken notice, that the Pateræ of Curtius were the priests of Hamon: but that writer was unacquainted with the true meaning of the word, as well as with the pronunciation, which seems to have been penultimâ productâ. The worship of Ham, or the Sun, as it was the most antient, so it was the most universal, of any in the world. It was at first the prevailing religion of Greece, and was propagated over all the sea coast of Europe; whence it extended itself into the inland provinces. It was established in Gaul and Britain; and was the original religion of this island, which the Druids in aftertimes adopted. That it went high in the north is evident from Ausonius, who takes notice of its existing in his time. He had relations, who were priests of this order and denomination; and who are, on that account, complimented by him, in his ode to Attius Patera [[854]]Rhetor.
Tu Boiocassis stirpe Druidarum satus,
Si fama non fallat fidem,
Beleni sacratum ducis e templo genus,
Et inde vobis nomina,
Tibi Pateræ: sic ministros nuncupant
Apollinares Mystici.