[[156]]Θρενους τ' Αιγυπτιον, και Οσιριδος ἱερα χυτλα.
The Canaanites at Byblus, Berytus, Sidon, and afterwards at Tyre, used particularly mournful dirges for the loss of Adonis, or Thamuz; who was the same as Thamas, and Osiris in Egypt. The Cretans had the like mournful hymns, in which they commemorated the grief of Apollo for the loss of Atymnius.
[[157]]Αιλινα μελπειν,
Ὁια παρα Κρητεσσιν αναξ ελιγαινεν Απολλων
Δακρυχεων ερατεινον Ατυμνιον.
The measures and harmony of the Canaanites seem to have been very affecting, and to have made a wonderful impression on the minds of their audience. The infectious mode of worship prevailed so far, that the children of Israel were forbidden to weep, and make lamentation upon a festival: [[158]]Ειναι γαρ ἑορτην, και μη δειν εν αυτῃ κλαιειν, ου γαρ εξειναι. And Nehemiah gives the people a caution to the same purpose: [[159]]This day is holy unto the Lord your God: mourn not, nor weep. And Esdras counsels them in the same manner: [[160]]This day is holy unto the Lord: be not sorrowful. It is likewise in another place mentioned, that [[161]]the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy: neither be ye grieved. Such was the prohibition given to the Israelites: but among the Canaanites this shew of sorrow was encouraged, and made part of their [[162]]rites.
The father of this people is represented in the Mosaic history, according to our version, Canaan: but there is reason to think that by the Egyptians and other neighbouring nations it was expressed Cnaan. This by the Greeks was rendered Χναας, and Χνας; and in later times Χνα, Cna. [[163]]Χνα, ὁυτος ἡ Φοινικη εκαλειτο—το εθνικον Χναος. We are told by Philo from Sanchoniathon, that [[164]]Isiris the Egyptian, who found out three letters, was the brother of Cna: by which is meant, that Mizraïm was the brother of Canaan. I have taken notice more than once of a particular term, Υκ, Uc; which has been passed over unnoticed by most writers: yet is to be found in the composition of many words; especially such as are of Amonian original. The tribe of Cush was styled by Manethon, before the passage was depraved, Υκκουσος. Uch, says this author, in the sacred language of Egypt, signifies a [[165]]king. Hence it was conferred as a title upon the God Sehor, who, as we may infer from Manethon and [[166]]Hellanicus, was called Ucsiris, and Icsiris; but by the later Greeks the name was altered to Isiris and Osiris. And not only the God Sehor, or Sehoris was so expressed; but Cnas, or Canaan, had the same title, and was styled Uc-Cnas, and the Gentile name or possessive was Uc-cnaos, Υκ-κναος: το εθνικον γαρ Χναος, as we learn from Stephanus. The Greeks, whose custom it was to reduce every foreign name to something similar in their own language, changed Υκκναος to Κυκνειος, Uc Cnaus to Cucneus; and from Υκ Κνας formed Κυκνος. Some traces of this word still remain, though almost effaced; and may be observed in the name of the Goddess Ichnaia. Instead of Uc-Cnaan the son of Ham, the Greeks have substituted this personage in the feminine, whom they have represented as the daughter of the Sun. She is mentioned in this light by Lycophron: [[167]]Της Ἡλιου θυγατρος Ιχναιας βραβευς. They likewise changed Thamuz and Thamas of Canaan and Egypt to Themis a feminine; and called her Ichnaia Themis. She is so styled by Homer.
[[168]]Θεαι δ' εσαν ενδοθι πασαι,
Ὁσσαι αρισται εσαν, Διωνη τε, Ῥειη τε,
Ιχναιη τε Θεμις, και αγαστονος Αμφιτριτη.