These delineations had been made of old, and transmitted to the Colchians by their forefathers; which forefathers were from [[202]]Egypt.
If then the Colchians had this science, we may presume that their mother country possessed it in as eminent a degree: and we are assured, that they were very knowing in this article. Clemens Alexandrinus [[203]]mentions, that there were maps of Egypt, and charts of the Nile very early. And we are moreover told, that Sesostris (by which is meant the Sethosians) drew upon boards schemes of all the countries, which he had traversed: and copies of these were given both to [[204]]the Egyptians, and to the Scythians, who held them in high estimation. This is a curious account of the first delineation of countries, and origin of maps; which were first described upon [[205]]pillars. We may from hence be enabled to solve the enigma concerning Atlas, who is said to have supported the heavens upon his shoulders. This took its rise from some verses in Homer, which have been strangely misconstrued. The passage is in the Odyssey; where the poet is speaking of Calypso, who is said to be the daughter of Atlas, ολοοφρονος, a person of deep and recondite knowledge:
[[206]]Ατλαντος θυγατηρ ολοοφρονος, ὁστε θαλασσης
Πασης βενθεα οιδεν, εχει δε τε ΚΙΟΝΑΣ αυτος
Μακρας, ἁι Γαιαν τε και Ουρανον αμφις εχουσιν.
It is to be observed, that when the antients speak of the feats of Hercules, we are to understand the Herculeans; under the name of Cadmus is meant the Cadmians; under that of Atlas, the Atlantians. With this allowance how plain are the words of Homer! The [[207]]Atlantians settled in Phrygia and Mauritania; and, like the Colchians, were of the family of Ham. They had great experience in sea affairs: and the poet tells us, that they knew all the soundings in the great deep.
Εχει δε τε Κιονας αυτος
Μακρας, ἁι Γαιην τε και Ουρανον αμφις εχουσιν.
They had also long pillars, or obelisks, which referred to the sea; and upon which was delineated the whole system both of heaven and earth; αμφις, all around, both on the front of the obelisk, and on the other sides. Κιονες Κοσμου were certainly maps, and histories of the universe; in the knowledge of which the Atlantians seem to have instructed their brethren the Herculeans. The Grecians, in their accounts, by putting one person for a people, have rendered the history obscure; which otherwise would be very intelligible. There is a passage in Eusebius, which may be rendered very plain, and to the purpose, if we make use of the clue above-mentioned. [[208]]Ἡροδοτος δε λεγει τον Ηρακλεα μαντιν και φυσικον γενομενον παρα Ατλαντος του Βαρβαρου του Φρυγος διαδεχεσθαι τας του Κοσμου Κιονας. This may be paraphrased in the following manner; and with such latitude will be found perfectly consonant to the truth. The Herculeans were a people much given to divination, and to the study of nature. Great part of their knowledge they are thought to have had transmitted to them from those Atlantians, who settled in Phrygia, especially the history of the earth and heavens; for all such knowledge the Atlantians had of old consigned to pillars and obelisks in that country: and from them it was derived to the Herculeans, or Heraclidæ, of Greece. The Atlantians were esteemed by the Grecians as barbarous: but they were in reality of the same family. Their chief ancestor was the father of the Peleiadæ, or Ionim; of whom I shall hereafter have much to say: and was the supposed brother of Saturn. The Hellenes, though they did not always allow it, were undoubtedly of his race. This may be proved from Diodorus Siculus, who gives this curious history of the Peleiadæ, his offspring. [[209]]Ταυτας δε μιγεισας τοις ευφυεστατοις Ἡρωσι και Θεοις αρχηγους καταστηναι του πλειστου γενους τον ανθρωπων, τεκουσας τους δι' αρετην Θεους και Ἡρωας ονομασθεντας.—Παραπλησεως δε και τας αλλας Ατλαντιδας γεννησαι παιδας επιφανεις, ὡν τους μεν εθνων, τους δε πολεων γενεσθαι κτιστας· διοπερ ου μονον παρ' ενιοις των Βαρβαρων, αλλα και παρα τοις Ἑλλησι τους πλειστους των αρχαιοτατων Ἡρωων εις ταυτας αναφερειν το γενος. These daughters of Atlas, by their connections and marriages with the most illustrious heroes, and divinities, may be looked up to as the heads of most families upon earth. And from them proceeded all those, who upon account of their eminence were in aftertimes esteemed Gods and Heroes. And having spoken of Maia, and her offspring, the author proceeds to tell us, that the other Atlantides in like manner gave birth to a most noble race: some of whom were the founders of nations; and others the builders of cities: insomuch that most of the more antient heroes, not only of those abroad, who were esteemed Barbari, but even of the Helladians, claimed their ancestry from them. And they received not only their ancestry, but their knowledge also, του κοσμου κιονας; all the celestial and terrestrial phenomena, which had been entrusted to the sacred pillars of the Atlantes, ἁι γαιην τε και ουρανον αμφις εχουσιν, which contained descriptions both of the heavens, and the earth. From Phrygia they came at last to Hellas, where they were introduced by Anaximander, who is said, [[210]]Εσδουναι πρωτον γεωγραφικον πινακα, to have been the first who introduced a geographical chart: or, as Laertius expresses it, [[211]]Γης και Θαλαττης περιμετρον, the circumference of the terraqueous globe delineated.
Though the origin of maps may be deduced from Egypt, yet they were not the native Egyptians, by whom they were first constructed. Delineations of this nature were the contrivance of the Cuthites, or Shepherds. They were, among other titles, styled Saïtæ; and from them both astronomy and geometry were introduced in those parts. They, with immense labour, drained the lower provinces; erected stupendous buildings; and raised towers at the mouths of the river, which were opportunely situated for navigation. For, though the Mizraim were not addicted to commerce, yet it was followed by other families besides the Cuthites, who occupied the lower provinces towards the sea. The towers which were there raised served for lighthouses, and were, at the same time, temples, denominated from some title of the Deity, such as Canoph, Caneph, Cneph; also Perses, Proteus, Phanes, and Canobus. They were on both accounts much resorted to by mariners, and enriched with offerings. Here were deposited charts of the coast, and of the navigation of the Nile, which were engraved on pillars, and in aftertimes sketched out upon the Nilotic Papyrus. There is likewise reason to think that they were sometimes delineated upon walls. This leads me to take notice of a passage from Pherecydes Syrus, which seems to allude to something of this nature: though, I believe, in his short detail that he has misrepresented the author from whom he copied. He is said, by Theopompus, [[212]]πρωτον περι της φυσεως, και Θεων, Ἑλλησι γραφειν, to have been the first who wrote for the benefit of his countrymen about nature and the Gods. Suidas [[213]]mentions, that he composed a theogony; all which knowledge, we are assured, came from Egypt. It is certain that he studied in that[[214]] country; whence we may conclude, that the following history is Egyptian. He says, that Zas, or Jupiter, composed a large and curious robe, upon which he described the earth, and the ocean, and the habitations upon the ocean. [[215]]Ζας ποιει φαρος μεγα τε, και καλον, και εν αυτῳ ποικιλλει Γην, και Ωγηνον, και τα Ωγηνου δωματα. Now, Zas, or, as it should be rendered, Zan, was the Dorian title of Amon. And Ogenus, the Ocean, was the most antient name of the Nile; whence the Grecians borrowed their Oceanus. [[216]]Ὁι γαρ Αιγυπτιοι νομιζουσιν ωκεανον ειναι τον παρ' αυτοις ποταμον Νειλον. The Egyptians, by the term Oceanus, understand their own river Nilus. The same author, in another place, calls this river Oceames[[217]]. Τον δε ποταμον αρχαιοτατον μεν ονομα σχειν Ωκεαμην, ὁς εστιν Ἑλλενιστι ωκεανος. The former term, Ogenus, whence the Greeks borrowed their Oceanus, was a compound of Oc-Gehon, and Avas originally rendered Ogehonus. It signifies the noble Gehon, and is a name taken from one of the rivers of Paradise. The Nile was sometimes called simply Gehon, as we learn from the author of the Chronicon Paschale. [[218]]Εχει δε (ἡ Αιγυπτος) ποταμον Γηων—Νειλον καλουμενον. It was probably a name given by the Cuthites, from whom, as will be hereafter shewn, the river Indus had the name of Phison. [[219]]Ποταμοι ονομαστοι Ινδος, ὁ και Φεισων, Νειλος, ὁ και Γηων. The two most celebrated rivers are the Indus, the same as the Phison, and the Nile, which is called the Gehon. The river, also, of Colchis, rendered Phasis, and Phasin, was, properly, the Phison. The Nile, being of old styled Oc-Gehon, and having many branches, or arms, gave rise to the fable of the sea monster Ægeon, whom Ovid represents as supporting himself upon the whales of the ocean.