[455] Suidas in Ζάραπις. Ruffinus lib. 2. hist. Eccles. cap. 23. Pier. Hierog. lib. 3. p. 25.
[456] אין לך ישראל פורענות שאין בה אנקיא מעון העגל Moses Gerund, vid. Munst. Exod. 32.
[457] Suid. in voce Ἄπιδες.
CHAP. VI.
Of Astaroth, Ammonia, Juno, the Queen of Heaven, Diana of the Ephesians.
As the Sun was worshipped under many names, so likewise the Moon. Astaroth was the Idol chiefly of the Zidonians, 1 King. 11. 5. 2 King. 23. 13. she had her Temple, called the house of Astaroth, in which the Philistims hanged up Saul’s Armor[458] after his death, 1 Sam. 31. 10. That the Moon was worshipped under these names needs not proof;[459] only some say,[460] that Astarte was Juno: and why may we not say, that Juno was often used to express the Moon? Both the Moon and Juno are often called by the name of Urania.[461] And as the Moon in respect of her light is called Urania; so in regard of the lesser lights in the heaven, she is called Astroarche that is, the Queen of the Planets;[462] or as Horace speaketh of the Moon, Siderum Regina, the Queen of the Stars: Or lastly, as Virgil speaketh of Juno; Divum incedo regina, the Queen of the Gods. It seemeth very probable, that this is that Queen of Heaven, of which the Prophet speaketh, Jer. 7. 18. Jer. 44. 17. Again, unto whom may we imagine those ancient Heathens to have performed that solemn worship, which they did on the Calends, or first day of every month (was it not to the Moon?) And yet notwithstanding it is ascribed to Juno whence she is called Juno Calendaris.[463] Lastly, As Jupiter Ammon was no other than the Sun,[464] and worshipped him in form of a Ram; so for ought I see, the Moon might be called Juno Ammonia, and worshipped in the form of a sheep.[465] Sure I am, that the Hebrew Doctors[466] describe the Images of Astaroth, to have been made in the form of sheep; and the word Astaroth, in the Original, signifieth a flock of sheep, and the Moon might as well be called Ammonia, as the Sun Ammon, both being so called from their heat, which in the Holy Tongue is called Hammah,[467] and from thence likewise those Images (of which we read, Levit. 26. 30. Isa. 17. 8. Isa. 27. 9.) are called Hammianim,[468] because they were certain Idols placed upon the house top, and so alwayes exposed to the Sun. Furthermore, as Jupiter Ammon was painted with horns,[469] so likewise was the Moon:[470] why they should be thus painted, many reasons might be produced, but chiefly three; the first peculiar to the Sun, the other common both to Sun and Moon. First, the Sun was painted with Rams horns, because with the Astronomers the sign Aries in the Zodiack is the beginning of the year.[471] Secondly, because as the strength of horned beasts consists in their horns, so the virtue and influence of the Sun and Moon is derived into sublunary creatures by their beams. Thirdly, because the light of the Sun and Moon makes the reflection cornute, or horn-like. When Moses came down from God, Aaron and the people saw that his face shined, Exod. 34. the Latine reads it, Facies ejus erat cornuta: and hence it is, that Moses is painted with horns, which some of the Rabbines have interpreted[472] horns of magnificence. The errour grew from the doubtful signification of the Hebrew word signifying splendor or brightness and also horns.
[458] Horum Anathematum oblationem primo didicerunt ab Israelitis, Num. 7. 1 Sam. 21.
[459] Ἀστάρτην δὲ ἐγὼ δοκέω σεληναίαν ἔμμεναι. Astarten lunam esse opinor. Lucian. de dea Syria.
[460] August. super. Judic. quæst. 16.