Another name for those Amonian temples was Campi, of the same analogy, and nearly of the same purport, as Arpi above-mentioned. It was in after times made to signify the parade before the temples, where they wrestled, and otherwise celebrated their sacred games; and was expressed Campus. When chariots came in fashion, these too were admitted within the precincts; and races of this sort introduced. Among the Latines the word Campus came to mean any open and level space; but among the Sicilians the true meaning was in some degree preserved. Καμπος—Ιπποδρομος, Σικυλοι. Hesychius. It was properly a place of exercise in general, and not confined to races. Hence a combatant was styled [[772]]Campio, and the chief persons, who presided, [[773]]Campigeni. The exercise itself was by the Greeks styled αγων, αεθλος, ἁμιλλα; all Amonian terms, taken from the titles of the Deity, in whose honour the games were instituted. These temples partly from their symbols, and partly from their history, being misinterpreted, were by the antient mythologists represented as so many dragons and monsters. Nonnus mentions both Arpe, and Campe in this light, and says that the latter had fifty heads, each of some different beast,
[[774]]Ης απο δειρης
Ηνθεε πεντηκοντα καρηατα ποικιλα θηρων.
But Campe was an oracular temple and inclosure, sacred to Ham or Cham: where people used to exercise. The fifty heads related to the number of the priests, who there resided; and who were esteemed as so many wild beasts for their cruelty. Nonnus makes Jupiter kill Campe: but Diodorus Siculus gives the honour to Dionusus; who is supposed to have slain this monster at Zaborna in Libya; and to have raised over her, χωμα παμμεγεθες, a vast mound of earth. This heap of soil was in reality a high place or altar; which in after times was taken for a place of burial. These inclosures grew by degrees into disrepute; and the history of them obsolete. In consequence of which the ταφοι, or mounds, were supposed to be the tombs of heroes. The Grecians, who took every history to themselves, imagined, that their Jupiter and Dionusus, and their Hercules had slain them. But what they took for tombs of enemies were in reality altars to these very Gods; who were not confined to Greece, nor of Grecian original. The Campanians in Italy were an antient Amonian colony; and they were denominated from Campe or Campus, which was probably the first temple, they erected. Stephanus Byzantinus shews, that there was of old such a place: Καμπος—κτισμα Καμπανου: but would insinuate that it took its name from a person the head of the colony. Eustathius more truly makes it give name to the people: though he is not sufficiently determinate. [[775]]Καμπανοι απο των ὑποκαθημενων εκει Καμπων ωνομασθησαν, η απο Καμπου πολεως. There were many of these Campi in Greece, which are styled by Pausanias ὑπαιθρα, in contradistinction to the temples, which were covered. They are to be found in many parts of the world, where the Amonian religion obtained, which was propagated much farther than we are aware. In our island the exhibition of those manly sports in vogue among country people is called Camping: and the inclosures for that purpose, where they wrestle and contend, are called Camping closes. There are many of them in Cambridgeshire, as well as in other parts of the kingdom. In Germany we meet with the name of Kæmpenfelt; in which word there is no part derived from the Latin language: for the terms would then be synonymous, and one of them redundant. Kæmpenfelt was, I imagine, an antient name for a field of sports, and exercise, like the gymnasium of the Greeks: and a Camping place in Britain is of the like purport.
ANTIENT HEROES.
Καθολου δε φασιν (ὁι Αιγυπτιοι) τους Ἑλληνας εξιδιαζεσθαι τους επιφανεστατους Ἡρωας τε, και Θεους, ετι δε και αποικιας τας παρ' ἑαυτων. Diodorus Sicul. l. 1. p. 21.
It has been my uniform purpose, during the whole process, which I have made in my system, to shew, that the Grecians formed Deities out of titles; and that they often attributed to one person, what belonged to a people. And when they had completed the history, they generally took the merit of it to themselves. By means of this clue we may obtain an insight into some of the most remote, and the most obscure parts of antiquity. For many and great achievements have been attributed to heroes of the first ages, which it was not possible for them singly to have performed. And these actions, though in some degree diversified, and given to different personages, yet upon examination will be found to relate to one people or family; and to be at bottom one and the same history.
OSIRIS.
If we consider the history of Osiris, he will appear a wonderful conqueror, who travelled over the face of the whole [[776]]earth, winning new territories, wherever he came; yet always to the advantage of those whom he subdued. He is said to have been the son of Rhea: and his chief attendants in his peregrinations were Pan, Anubis, Macedo, with Maro, a great planter of vines; also Triptolemus much skilled in husbandry. The people of India claimed Osiris, as their own; and maintained, that he was born at Nusa in their [[777]]country. Others supposed his birth-place to have been at Nusa in [[778]]Arabia, where he first planted the vine. Many make him a native of Egypt: and mention the rout of his travels as commencing from that country through Arabia, and Ethiopia; and then to India, and the regions of the east. When he was arrived at the extremities of the ocean, he turned back, and passed through the upper provinces of Asia, till he came to the Hellespont, which he crossed. He then entered [[779]]Thrace, with the King of which he had a severe encounter: yet he is said to have persevered in his rout westward, till he arrived at the fountains of the Ister. He was also in Italy, and Greece: from the former of which he expelled the giants near Phlegra in Campania. He visited many places upon the ocean: and though he is represented as at the head of an army; and his travels were attended with military operations; yet he is at the same time described with the Muses, and Sciences in his retinue. His march likewise was conducted with songs, and dances, and the sound of every instrument of music. He built cities in various parts; particularly [[780]]Hecatompulos, which he denominated Theba, after the name of his mother. In every region, whither he came, he is said to have instructed the people in [[781]]planting, and sowing, and other useful arts. He particularly introduced the vine: and where that was not adapted to the soil, he taught the natives the use of ferment, and shewed them the way to make [[782]]wine of barley, little inferior to the juice of the grape. He was esteemed a great blessing to the Egyptians both as a [[783]]Lawgiver, and a King. He first built temples to the Gods: and was reputed a general benefactor of [[784]]mankind. After many years travel they represent him as returning to Egypt in great triumph, where after his death he was enshrined as a Deity. His Taphos, or high altar, was shewn in many places: in all which he in aftertimes was supposed to have been buried. The people of Memphis shewed one of them; whereon was a sacred pillar, containing a detail of his life, and great actions, to the following purport. [[785]]My father was Cronus, the youngest of all the Gods. I am the king Osiris, who carried my arms over the face of the whole earth, till I arrived at the uninhabited parts of India. From thence I passed through the regions of the north to the fountain-head of the Ister. I visited also other remote countries; nor stopped till I came to the western ocean. I am the eldest son of Cronus; sprung from the genuine and respectable race of (Σωος) Sous, and am related to the fountain of day. There is not a nation upon earth, where I have not been; and to whose good I have not contributed.