[423] Sueton. in Jul. c. 88. It. Plin. hist. l. 2. c. 25. Horat. l. 1. Od. 12.
The Sun was also worshipped by the house of Judah, under the name Tamuz; for Tamuz, saith Hierom,[424] was Adonis, and Adonis generally interpreted the Sun,[425] from the Hebrew Adon, signifying Dominus, the same as Baal, or Moloch formerly did, namely, the Lord or Prince of the Planets. The month which we call June, was by the Hebrews called Tamuz; and the entrance of the Sun into the sign Cancer was, in the Jews Astronomy, termed Tekuphu Tamuz, the revolution of Tamuz. Concerning Adonis whom sometime ancient Authors called Osiris; there are two things remarkable, ἀφανισμὸς, the death or loss of Adonis and εὕρησις, the finding of him again. As there was great lamentation[426] at his loss, especially amongst the Women;[427] so was there great joy at his finding. By the death or loss of Adonis, we are to understand the departure of the Sun; by his finding again, we are to understand his return. Now he seemeth to depart twice in the year: First, when he is in the Tropick of Cancer, in the farthest degree Northward. Secondly, when he is in the Tropick of Capricorn, in the farthest degree Southward: answerable unto these two departures, which may be termed ἀφανισμοὶ, disparitions, or losses of the Sun, there are two returns immediately succeeding, which may be termed likewise εὑρήσεις, the findings or new appearings of the Sun. Hence we may note, that though the Egyptians celebrated their Adonia in the moneth of November, when the Sun began to be farthest Southward; and the house of Judah theirs, in the month of June, when the Sun was farthest Northward, yet both were for the same reasons, and in substance they agreed. And of this the Prophet Ezekiel is thought to have spoken, Ezek. 8. 14. There sate women weeping for Tamuz.
[424] Hieron. comment. 3 in Ezek.
[425] Pier. Hierogl. l. 9. p. 68.
[426] Nunquamq; satis quæsitus Osiris. Semper enim perdunt, semper & inveniunt. Lucan.
[427] Plutarch. in Alcibiade.
These solemnities were chiefly observed, between the Byblienses and the Alexandrini, the manner was thus:[428] When the Byblienses solemnized the death or loss of Adonis, at that time the Alexandrini wrote a letter, this letter was inclosed in an Ark of Bulrushes, therein they signified, that Adonis, whom they lamented, was found again, this Ark, being after the performance of certain rites and ceremonies, committed to the Sea, forthwith it was carried by the stream to Biblus; upon the receit whereof, the lamentation of the Women was turned into joy. Others say,[429] that this lamentation was performed over an Image in the night season, and when they had sufficiently lamented, a Candle was brought into the room (which Ceremony might mystically signifie the return of the Sun) then the Priest with a soft voice muttered this form of words[430] Trust ye in God, for out of pains salvation is come unto us. There are likewise of the Jews that say[431] their Tamuz was an Image whose eyes they filled with Lead, which Lead being molten by the means of fire under it, the Image it self seemed to weep.
[428] Procopius in Isaiam. ad c. 18. It. Cyrillus l. 2. Tom. 2. in Isaiam.
[429] Julius Maternus Firmicus. l. de errore profan. Religion.
[430] Θαῤῥεῖτε τῷ θεῷ, ἐστὶ γὰρ ἡμῖν ἐκ πόνων σωτηρία. Firmicus ibid.