Part 10

They represent two great, rough stones, call’d _petræ ambrosiæ_, with an altar before them, and an olive tree; _Hercules_ the hero of _Tyre_, the famous Navigator of antiquity, their founder, sacrificing. On some of the coins _petræ ambrosiæ_ wrote in _Greek_. He is represented indeed like the _Greek Hercules_, but in the latter times of the _Roman_ empire, when these coins were struck, they at _Tyre_ were as far to seek about the true meaning and origin of their first antiquities, as we of ours. And what knowledge they had of them, was from legendary reports of the _Greeks_, who chiefly, among the heathens, had the knack of writing. These reports, as we may find in _Nonnus_ his _Dionysiacs_, 40. and 41. acquaint us, that _Hercules_ invented shipping, as a latin poet too intimates, _Tibullus_.

_Prima ratem ventis credere docta Tyrus._

They acquaint us that he ordered _Tyre_ to be built, where the _petræ ambrosiæ_ stood, which were two moveable rocks, standing by an olive tree. He was to sacrifice on them, and they should become fixt and stable: rather, the City should be built with happy auspice, and become permanent.

Here are our _Main Ambres_, made artfully moveable, a kind of altars, or pillars, the same as the pillars of _Hercules_ so fam’d, and as little understood. They were the original patriarchal altars, for libations and sacrifices, and mean, in general, their Altars, whether moveable or immoveable: or as we may speak, their temples, which imply an altar properly, inclosed with stones and a ditch, or ground dedicated and set apart for public celebration of religious rites. For the word _Ambrosius_ means in general, consecrated, dedicated to religious use.

Beside the _petræ ambrosiæ_ of _Tyre_, and our _main ambres_ of _Britain_ and _Ireland_, we meet with another in _Hephæstion_’s History III. 3. “Speaking of _Hercules_, he mentions the _Gygonian_ stone, as he calls it, near the ocean, which may be mov’d with the stalk of an _asphodel_, but can’t be remov’d by any force.” It seems this word _Gygonius_ is purely _Celtic_. For _gwingog_ signifies _motitans_, the rocking stone; and _gwgon_ is what the boys with us call a gig, or little top. For these _Gygonian_ stones are of that shape, pyramidal.

No wonder these matters are well nigh lost, in the mist of extreme antiquity, when even the meaning of the word _ambrosius_ was hardly known, either to the antients or moderns, till Mr. _Baxter_ discover’d it, in his glossary. It signifies oil of roses, _rosaceum_: the most antient kind of perfume. In the 4th _Odyssy_, v. 445. _Edothea_ a sea goddess, teaches _Menelaus_ and his companions, to cure the odious smell of the sea calves.

Ἀμβροσίην ὑπὸ ῥῖνα ἑκάστῳ θῆκε φέρουσα Ἡδὺ μάλα πνείουσαν.————————————————

She put _ambrosia_ to their noses, sweetly smelling. Again, in his hymn to _Venus_, the graces washt the goddess, and anointed her with oil ambrosial: such as becomes the immortals.

——————————————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.

The truth is, it was a patriarchal custom to consecrate their altars, pillars, or in a general word temples, by anointing with oil, either simple or perfum’d. Rose oil being the oldest, engross’d the general name of the action; so that a stone anointed with oil of roses, is a _main amber_, or _lapis ambrosius_. The same is an altar, or stone dedicate to religious use. The plural number, _petræ ambrosiæ_, import a church or temple, in our way of speaking.

We have an illustrious instance of this practice in the holy Scriptures, and the earliest. _Gen._ xxviii. This is not commonly understood by writers. ’Tis the moving and memorable history of young _Jacob_, sent away from his father’s house alone, to take a long journey to some unknown relations. He came to a place, call’d afterward _Bethel_, and sleeping with his head on a stone for a pillow, had a celestial vision; and a promise from God, of the highest importance to him and all mankind. Awaking, he thought the place had been holy ground, where, perhaps, his grandfather _Abraham_ had before-time built an altar; an house of God, or gate of heaven, as he elegantly names it. “Therefore he rose up early in the morning, which was one circumstance (in patriarchal times) of the work he was going about, and took the stone that he had put for his pillow, and set it up for a pillar; and poured oil upon the top of it, and called the place _Beth-el_, _i. e._ the house of God. Then he vowed, that if God would please to prosper him in his journey, and bring him back into his own country, he would build a temple there, and consecrate to God the tythe of his substance, as was the manner in those times.”

This is in reality a votive, patriarchal temple, altar or house of God, which he not only vows to build, but at the same time endows it. The stone which _Jacob_ anointed, was not an altar properly, lying on the ground whereon to make a libation, but he set it up as a pillar. It was one of the upright stones, which the scripture calls pillars, as standing of itself; a part of the circle of stones, inclosing the altar. And by the act of anointing, _Jacob_ consecrated it, as the manner then was, destined it for a sacred purpose, as an earnest of his will in good time to fulfil it. And this he did fulfil, _chap._ xxxv. building the celebrated temple of _Bethel_. Here _Jeroboam_ set up one of his golden calves. At last it was destroy’d by _Vespasian_.

In _Exod._ xxiv. 4. “we have an instance of _Moses_ rising up early in the morning and building an altar, and setting up 12 pillars around it.” This was before the tabernacle was made, which introduced the custom of cover’d temples.

But so famous was that patriarchal temple of _Jacob_’s, which he built at _Bethel_; that the heathen called all their temples of that sort, when they were perverted to idolatrous purposes, _Bæthylia_, _lapides Bætyli_, and the like. Which indeed is but another manner of expressing _lapis Ambrosius_, or our _Main Ambre_. And according to custom, the fabulous _Greeks_ having lost the true history of its origin, affix’d many strange stories to it; as of _Saturn_ devouring such a stone, wrapt up in a skin, instead of his Son _Jupiter_: which seems to be form’d from the memory of praying at these places, in the name of the mediatorial deity, as the patriarchs did. And _Sanchoniathon_ tells us, the god _Ouranus_ devised _Bætylia_, or animated stones. He means our rocking stones, _gygonian_ stones. I shall show in my discourse on that subject, that by _Ouranus_, he means righteous _Noah_, who, according to patriarchal usage, builded an altar unto _Jehovah_, _Gen._ viii. 20. meaning one of these patriarchal temples. In time, by the corruption of mankind, these places were desecrated to idolatrous purposes; and writers pervert the intent of them. So that God Almighty, raising up the Mosaic Dispensation, was oblig’d to interdict the very use and practice of these open temples, and introduce the cover’d one of the tabernacle; by way of opposition to heathenism, as well as with other important views.

We find now the meaning of anointed stones in antiquity, and the olive-tree set by the stones on the _Tyrian_ coins. As the very learned Author of _Archæologia Græca_ observes, on the affair of consecration, “they were more or less sumptuous and expensive, as other parts of divine worship, according to the ability of the worshippers.” Young _Jacob_ a traveller us’d plain oil, part of his _viaticum_, others us’d perfum’d oil, or _ambrosia_. That author cites us from _Athenæus_, the method of consecrating _Jupiter Ctesias_’s statue with a libation call’d _ambrosia_: and others by anointing with oil, prayers and libations, _Exodus_ xxx. 22. We have the holy precious ointment made under the _Jewish_ dispensation for the like purpose. And we use such, for inauguration of our kings, to this day.

The _Tyrian Hercules_ who built _Tyre_ and set up the _petræ Ambrosiæ_ in those coins, (if I mistake not) liv’d as early as the time, of _Jacob_’s anointing the stone at _Bethel_. The great _Bochart_, who penetrated very deep into the _Phœnician_ learning, looks upon it as a clear matter, that in _Joshua_’s time, the _Phœnicians_ sent innumerable colonies, into the mediterranean coasts, and even to the ocean. In the preface to his admirable work _Canaan_, he says, “he has a great suspicion, that colonies went abroad this way, before that time. Particularly, he asserts, that _Hercules_, in _Eusebius_ sirnamed _Desanaus_, who was famous in _Phœnicia_ before the _Exodus_, is the same, who conquer’d _Antæus_ in _Africa_: which in _Eusebius_, is set 56 years before. He is call’d _Hercules primus_, and that is 63 years before the _Exodus_, in _Eusebius_’s chronology.” Again, he judges it to be 2000 years distance between the later _Roman_ times and the first _Hercules_. Now from _Constantine_ the great, 2000 years carries us up to _Jacob_’s time. And he proves, from _Aristotle de mirabilibus_, that _Hercules_ built _Utica_ in _Africa_, at that time; wherein _Eusebius_ says he was famous in _Phœnicia_, and this must be when _Hercules_ was old. He having conquer’d _Antæus_ in that country, when he was young.

But I find in the same _Eusebius_, _Prometheus_ is set 111 years still earlier, before the first mention of _Hercules_, this is during the life of the patriarch _Joseph_. _Prometheus_ and _Atlas_ were brothers, and students in Astronomy, with whom the story of _Hercules_ is always conjoin’d. And so high at least, I must place the time of our _Tyrian Hercules_, who is the same as _Desanaus_. But _Marianus_ transcribing _Eusebius_ calls him _Dosenaus_. And _Hesychius_ says _Dorsanes_ is a name of _Hercules_, with the _Indians_. But by the _Indians_, it is likely, the _Phœnicians_ and _Arabians_ are meant; for the ancient _Greeks_ call all the country to the east of the mediterranean sea, _India_. And then we may in some measure understand the report of _Ammianus Marcellinus_, who takes it from _Timagenes_, an old _Greek_ Historian, but a _Syrian_ by nation, speaking concerning the peopling of _Gaul_, “that the more ancient _Hercules_ conducted the _Dorienses_, to the countries bordering on the ocean.” Perhaps the _Dosareni_ are meant, an _Arabian_ nation, mention’d by _Ptolemy_. A Deity of the _Arabians_ was called _Dusaris_ or _Dosaris_, mention’d by _Step. Byzant_, _Suidas_ and _Tertullian_. A difficult word, which _Bochart_ cannot trace from the _Arabian_ language; nor is it easy to say, what Deity he was. No wonder such matters are obscur’d, thro’ so long distance of time. Some think him _Bacchus_, some _Mars_, and why not _Hercules_? for after mankind laps’d into idolatry, these three were much confounded.

I find sufficient testimony, of the _Tyrian Hercules_ coming from _Arabia_, about the red sea, or having companions, that were natives of that country. For this reason they nam’d an island at the city of _Gadis_, which they built, _Erythia_, _Erythræa_; which _Pliny_ IV. 22. says, was so called from the first possessors, the _Tyrians_, who came from the _Erythræan_ sea: which is the red sea. _Solinus_ says the same. That sea had its name from _Erythras_, as the _Greeks_ and the same _Pliny_ write; who is _Edom_ or _Esau_, brother of _Jacob_. The words are synonymous, signifying red. The reports of _Hercules_’s expedition to that island _Erythræa_ now _Cadiz_, is famous in all the old _Greek_ writers.

This relation we have given of the _Tyrian Hercules_, that he lived about the time of _Abraham_, or soon after, according to _Eusebius_’s chronology; that he came from about the red sea, and had companions in his travels, that lived thereabouts, is much confirm’d by what _Josephus_ writes, from _Alexander Polyhistor_; who cites it from a very antient author, called _Cleodemus_, sirnam’d _Malchus_, who wrote a history of the _Jews_, agreeable with the _Mosaic_. He says, _Abraham_ had several Sons by _Keturah_, he names _Apher_, _Suris_ and _Japhra_. That _Apher_ and _Japhra_ were auxiliaries to _Hercules_, when he fought in _Lybia_ against _Antæus_. That from _Apher_ the country was nam’d _Africa_. That _Hercules_ married his daughter, and begat of her _Dodorus_. _Josephus_ in the same _chap._ of the first book of his antiquities, writes, that _Abraham_ had six sons born of _Keturah_: men, heroic and wise. That they and their posterity were settled in _Troglodytis_, in the country of _Arabia fœlix_, reaching to the red sea. He makes _Opher_ or _Apher_ grandson to _Abraham_, by _Midian_ his son. That _Apher_ waged war in _Lybia_ and conquer’d it, and plac’d his sons there, who call’d the Country _Africa_ from their father. So _Schindler_ in his lexicon, _pag._ 1361.

Making proper allowance for relations of such very antient matters, transmitted by historians of different countries, different languages, and so often transcribed and translated, before they come down to us; here is enough to confirm and explain, what we have before advanc’d: both as to time and place, and matter. And we cannot but see what relation our _Main Ambres_ and the _gygonian_ stone by the ocean, have to the _petræ ambrosiæ_, which _Hercules_ set up at _Tyre_: which is the drift of my discourse. That very _gygonian_ stone, for ought I see, may be our rocking-stone near _Pensans_, it stands by the sea-side. Nor do I see any absurdity, if we judge, that it was erected there, by _Hercules_ in person. Near it is that other famous Druid temple call’d _Biscawoon_, consisting of 19 pillars in a circle and a central _kebla_. The entrance is made of 2 somewhat larger stones, than the rest: not improbably one of the _Herculean_ labours. It is affirm’d by the best authors, that our _Tyrian Hercules_, the more ancienter _Hercules_, built the city of _Gadis_, at _Cadiz_ now. And where-ever _Hercules_ came, there we read of his pillars. Thus _Avienus_.

_Hic Gadir urbs est, dicta Tartessus prius, Hic sunt columnæ pertinacis Herculis._

_Arrian_ II. of the life of _Alexander_, remarks, “that _Gadis_ was built by the _Phœnicians_. There was a temple of _Hercules_. The form, the sacrifices and ceremonies there perform’d, are all after the _Phœnician_ manner.” _Strabo_ in his _Lib._ III. says there were two pillars in this temple, dedicate to _Hercules_; which the learned _Tristan_ in his commentaries on medals, p. 384. says, he doubts not, but they were _petræ ambrosiæ_, in imitation of those of the same name, in the temple of _Hercules_ of _Tyre_, which _Herodotus_ in _Euterpe_ speaks of. He appears to have been an extraordinary genius, and a man of great piety withal. Therefore where-ever he came, he made these patriarchal temples, or set up pillars of stone, as antiquity called them. Just as the patriarchal family did in the land of _Canaan_. And _Hercules_ seems to me, to have been a great man, raised up by providence, to carry the reform’d patriarchal religion, to the extremest part of the then known western world. Here, I suppose, the religion of _Abraham_ remain’d pure, for many ages, under the Druids, till perhaps corrupted by incursions from the continent. It is remarkable, that the _Romans_, who were so catholic, (different from those we now absurdly call _Roman_ catholics) as to permit all religions, persecuted only that of the Druids, and the christian: whence we are naturally led to think, there was a good deal of resemblance. Indeed, the Druids are accused of human sacrifices. They crucified a man and burnt him on the altar; which seems to be a most extravagant act of superstition, deriv’d from some extraordinary notices they had of mankind’s redemption: and perhaps from _Abraham_’s example misunderstood. But as to human sacrifices simply considered, the _Romans_ themselves and all other nations upon earth at times, practis’d them.

To this _Hercules_, antiquity affixed very many names, from different notions of him, retain’d in different countries; and after idolatry took root, he was worshipp’d under those names of consecration, according to the old method. For instance, one of his names was _Palæmon_. _Palæmon_, says _Hesychius_, is _Hercules_. The _Greeks_ made him a sea Deity, who had been so great a sea-captain. They call him _Melicerta_, which is his _Phœnician_ name _Melcartus_, king of the city. _Ovid_ tells us the story in _Met._ IV. _Nonnus_ calls him _Astrochiton_ starry-robed, from his being made a constellation in heaven. In the _Gallic_ picture of him, which _Lucian_ saw, he is represented with a sphere in one hand, under the name of _Ogmius_. Mr. _Toland_ in his history of the Druids, shews us the true interpretation of that word, from the _Irish_ language; after the learned had in vain attempted the explication of it. From thence we infer he brought the use of letters hither. _Cæsar_ informs us, the Druids had them. He is called _Assis_, by the easterns, which signifies the valiant: the same as _Hæsus_ of the _Germans_.

Beside the patriarchal custom of building these places of worship, and consecrating them with oil, we find many other footsteps of that most ancient religion, in the history of _Hercules_. _Silius_ speaking of the strange rites used in the _Gaditan_ temple of _Hercules_, says, the priests officiated there barefooted, practis’d chastity, had no statues, us’d white linen surplices. And it is a notorious custom with the ancient _Phœnicians_, to pay tithe. Indeed they paid tythe to _Hercules_. Which only imports, that it was a precept and practice introduc’d by _Hercules_. And after they had deified _Hercules_ they practis’d it toward him. This was a common method, when idolatry began. I shall treat more largely of these affairs; when I discourse expressly of the patriarchal religion. Likewise, I shall prove more fully, from chronological characters, that this _Hercules_ liv’d at the time, we are speaking of, in the _canon Mosaicæ chronologiæ_. What I now recite, concerning these matters, I could not well avoid, as they in my apprehension, relate to the name of _Stonehenge_.

_Pliny Nat. Hist._ VII. 56. gives us a testimony, of our _Hercules_, under the name of _Melcartus_, (as _Bochart_ rightly corrects it) first bringing tin into _Greece_, from the _Cassiterid_ islands. By which the _British_ are meant. The tin of _Tyre_, which the merchants of _Greece_, came to buy, at the fairs of that city, is mention’d _Ezekiel_ xxvii. 12. which, no doubt, came from hence. But it is much earlier mention’d, among lead and other metals, when the _Midianites_ had it in _Moses_’s time, _Numbers_ xxxi. 22. the _Chaldee_ and _Arabic_ version there, use the word _kastira_, the _Hierosolymitan kistara_. No wonder the _Midianites_ should then abound with tin: when we were told by _Josephus_, that _Apher_ son of _Midian_, was one of _Hercules_’s companions. The LXX. in that passage of _Numbers_ call it κασσίτερος. But tin is mention’d earlier still, in _Job_ xix. 24. and _Job_ liv’d in this same country, on the borders of _Arabia_.

It is very evident from _Bochart_, that the _Phœnicians_, had sail’d quite round _Britain_, by what he writes of _Thule_. How then can we doubt but the great island, which they found in the extremest west, was _Britain_? but they kept their gainful navigation hither so secret, for many centuries, that even _Herodotus_ the earliest _Greek_ writer professes he knows not, whence the tin comes. _Britain_ was the only country, where it could come from, in any quantity, as _Pliny_ says. But from this great secrecy of the _Phœnicians_, we have lost the high antiquities of _Britain_, as unknown to the _Greeks_; the only heathen nation that had the address to commit things to writing. Therefore we must be content with what small remains of this kind, can be fish’d out of the wreck of time, by such conjectural methods, as antiquaries cannot avoid insisting on.

In _Devonshire_ is _Hartland_ point so call’d corruptly, as the excellent _Camden_ observes, for _Herculis promontorium_. And upon the _Durham_ sea coast is a town on a promontory call’d _Hartlepool_. A village call’d _Hart_ near it. I take it to have been call’d by the _Greek_ traders here _Heracleopolis_. And hence, probably came that fine old altar in _Greek_, dedicated to the _Tyrian Hercules_, which Mr. _Roger Gale_ and I copied, in _Corbridge_ church-yard.

From these and many other considerations of this kind, which I shall hereafter treat of more largely and professedly: I cannot but join in opinion with _Franc. Philelphus_ in his epistles, and _Lilius Giraldus_ in his _Hercules_ mention’d by Mr. _Camden_, in the last quoted passage, and with many other writers, that the very ancient _Phœnician_ or _Tyrian Hercules_ conducted an eastern colony hither, upon the _aborigines_; with whom came the Druids, the builders of _Stonehenge_ and the like works among us. And let this suffice for what I promis’d upon the first head of this chapter, _viz._ to speak of the antiquity of these works in general. 2. We are to speak of the time of founding _Stonehenge_.

CHAP. XII.

_A conjecture about the time of the founding of_ Stonehenge. _An uniform variation in setting these works, not to be accounted for, but by supposing the_ Druids _us’d a magnetical compass. Their leader, the_ Tyrian Hercules, _was possess’d of a compass-box. The oracle of_ Jupiter Ammon _had a compass-box. The golden fleece at_ Colchis _was a compass-box. Both these temples were founded by_ Apher, Hercules _his companion, and grandson to_ Abraham. Apher, Aphricus, _or_ Phryxus _the same person, seems to have given name to_ Britain. _The_ Druids _set their temples and other works by it. The history of the mariner’s compass, since that time. The history of the variation of the magnetic needle. A conjecture of the time of building_ Stonehenge, _from thence._