——————καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ
Ἀμβρότῳ, οἷα Θεοὺς ἐπενήνοθεν αἰὲν ἐόντας.
Lastly, in Iliad. XXIII. Venus anoints Hector’s body with ambrosial oil of roses,
———ῥοδόεντι δὲ χρῖεν ἐλαίῳ
Ἀμβροσίῳ———————
Which is a tautology. For from length of time, they scarce knew the true meaning of the word in Homer’s age.
Virgil seems to understand but somewhat of the original meaning of the word, speaking of Venus; her hair was anointed with ointment perfum’d.
Ambrosiæq; comæ divinum vertice odorem
Spiravere————————— Æneid.
In Pliny Nat. Hist. XIII. 1. we find the oleum rhodinum most antient, common and simple. And this is the true ambrosia, which from its very antient use in sacred rites, had almost lost its meaning; and was us’d to signify, one while, the food of the gods, another time, immortality; again, whatever is divine, or appropriate to the gods. But simply, it signifies oil of roses, still from its first use, in sacred matters, it imports anointed, in a religious sense; consecrated, dedicated. Then main ambres, ambres, petræ ambrosiæ, signify the stones anointed with holy oil, consecrated; or in a general sense a temple, altar, or place of worship.