ADDENDA.
OF THE PALM TREE.
Phœnix was a colour among horses. They were styled Phœnices, and [[28]]Phœniciati, from the colour of the Palm tree, which they resembled; and upon the same account had the name of Spadices. This, according to Aulus Gellius, was a term synonymous with the former. [[29]]Rutilus, et Spadix Phœnicii συνωνυμος, exuberantiam splendoremque significant ruboris, quales sunt fructus Palmæ arboris, nondum sole incocti: unde spadicis et Phœnicei nomen est. [[30]]Spadix, σπαδιξ, avulsus est a Palmâ termes cum fructu. Homer, describing the horses of Diomedes, says, that the one was Phœnix, or of a bright Palm colour, with a white spot in his forehead like a moon.
[[31]]Ὁς το μεν αλλο τοσον φοινιξ ην, ενδε μετωπῳ
Λευκον σημ' ετετυκτο περιτροχον ηϋτε μηνη.
Upon this the Scholiast observes, Φοινικες το χρωμα, ητοι πυῤῥος. The horse was of a Palm colour, which is a bright red. We call such horses bays, which probably is a term of the same original. The branch of a Palm tree was called Bai in Egypt; and it had the same name in other places. Baia, Βαια, are used for Palm-branches by St. John. [[32]]Τα βαια των Φοινικων. And it is mentioned by the author of the book of Maccabees, that the Jews, upon a solemn occasion, entered the temple. [[33]]Μετα αινεσεως και βαιων. And Demetrius writes to the high priest, Simon, [[34]]Τον στεφανον τον χρυσουν και την Βαϊνην, ἁ απεστειλατε, κεκομισμεθα. Coronam auream et Bainem, quæ misistis, accepimus. The Greeks formed the word βαϊνη from the Egyptian Bai. The Romans called the same colour Badius. [[35]]Varro, speaking of horses, mentions,
Hic badius, ille gilvus, ille Murinus.
As the Palm tree was supposed to be immortal; or, at least, if it did die, to revive, and enjoy a second life, the Egyptians gave the name of Bai to the soul: [[36]]Εστι μεν γαρ το βαι ψυχη.