The Sun generally worshipp’d by the antient Heathens.
How great a Religion this Sun-worship was antiently amongst the Gentiles, appears from the Writings of several authentick Authors.
The Syrians, whose Idolatry the Israelites learn’d, honor the Sun by the Name of Babal, which signifies Lord.
The Phenicians call’d the Sun Beel-samen, Lord of the Heavens; and the Citizens of Accaron, Baal-zebahim, Lord of the Offerings; but God chang’d the Name to Baal-zebub, or The God of Flyes.
Moloch, or Milcom also signifi’d the Sun amongst the Ammonites; in honor of which Children were carried by their Parents, and set between two great Fires, or else by the Priests, upon pretence of cleansing them; and sometimes parch’d to death in an Image of Moloch, which had seven Cavities heated like Ovens.
Macrobius tells us, That the Assyrians ascrib’d the supream Command to the Sun, under the Name of Adad, and to the Goddess Adargatis, representing the Image of Adad with Beams darting downwards, and Adargatis with those that shot upwards: by the first they express’d, that the celestial Power consisted in Sun-beams, which shooting downwards warm the Earth; and by the second, that all things by those Beams were cherish’d and enliven’d.
The most magnificent Temple which Syria Apamena boasted, was Consecrated to the Sun.
The Arabians Offer’d Myrrhe on the tops of their Houses at the Rising of the Sun; who also was the Chamos and Baal-Peor of the Moabites and Medians.
Near the Red-Sea, lay the City Baisamsa, which signifies The House of the Sun, famous for the many Feasts which were kept there in honor of this Planet.
The Persians accounted this Luminary for the greatest God, and Consecrated to him three several Feasts, looking upon him as the Author of Wisdom, Goodness, and Power, and is express’d by three several Operations, viz. Warmth, Light, and Distinction of Time.