Part 11

In my Enquiries into these works of the antient _Druids_ in our island, I observed a greater exactness in placing them, with regard to the quarters of the heavens, than one would expect, in works seemingly so rude; and in so remote an age, to which we must necessarily refer them. What more particularly mov’d my attention, was a certain variation from cardinal points, which I observed regular and uniform, in the works of one place. And that variation was different, in works of another place; yet equally regular and uniform in that place. Suppose (for instance) the works about _Abury_ in _Wiltshire_ generally vary 9 or 10 degrees to the left hand, from cardinal points: _i. e._ westward from the north. And the works at _Stonehenge_ generally vary to the right hand, from cardinal points, and that to the quantity of 6 or 7 degrees. The principal diameter or groundline of _Stonehenge_, leading from the entrance, up the middle of the temple, to the high altar, (from which line the whole work is form’d) varies about that quantity southward of the north east point. The intent of the founders of _Stonehenge_, was to set the entrance full north east, being the point where the sun rises, or nearly, at the summer solstice. As well because _that_ is the farthest elongation of the great celestial luminary, northward; the complement of our earthly felicity, in ripening the fruits of the earth: as because _then_ they celebrated one of their principal religious meetings or festivals, with sacrifices, publick games, and the like. Such was the custom of all the antient nations. The _Isthmian_, _Nemæan_, _Olympian_, _Pythian_ games, famous in the works of the learned nations: those of _Tyre_ II. _Maccabees_ iv. 18. dedicated to their and our founder, the antient _Tyrian Hercules_, who, I suppose, conducted the first _Phœnician_ colony, with our _Druids_, into _Britain_: these were all held at this time of the year. A custom continu’d from patriarchal times.

This exactness with which the _Druids_ set their works, and the uniformity of their variation, make me believe, this variation was not the effect of chance or negligence.

By a superficial reflexion upon it, we should be apt to suspect, it was owing to their observing the sun’s rising on the longest day of the year, or summer solstice, and setting their line by it. For this is supposed to be a method by which they formerly set our Churches: marking the sun’s rising at the equinox. But the _Druids_ were too good astronomers and mathematicians to need so mean an artifice: nor does it correspond to the quantity precisely enough. Besides, this same variation appears where it cannot possibly regard the sun’s rising at that time.

For, I observ’d the like variation, or very near, in all the other parts relating to this temple before taken notice of; beside the avenue leading up to the temple from the north east, in a strait line; which has the before-mention’d variation all the way. At the bottom of the hill, this avenue divides into two wings, each going off from the last mention’d part, with a decent sweep; the one to the left hand, westward, the other to the right hand, eastward. They go off with a like angle, and that angle varies the like quantity. The western wing goes to the _cursus_, before observ’d, the place upon the downs, half a mile off _Stonehenge_, made for races with chariots and horses. The right hand wing of the avenue runs directly eastward for a mile together, pointing to a place on an angle of the river, called _Radfin_. This part of the avenue, which was intended by the founders, to have been drawn precisely east and west, varies about 5 or 6 degrees to the south.

Likewise, that great work of the _cursus_ itself, which stretches its length across the downs, from east to west, like a line of latitude upon the globe, varies such a like quantity, from true east and west, the same way. The meridian line of _Stonehenge_ passes exactly through the middle of this _cursus_.

Further, at the east end of this _cursus_, the huge bank of earth, above 200 foot long, made across the end of the _cursus_, as a _meta_, and whereon sat the princes and judges of the prizes: This bank of earth is drawn exactly at a right angle with the _cursus_, consequently due north and south, but with the variation before spoken of. These, and other like observations here, as well as in other _Druid_ Works, appear’d to me no otherwise to be accounted for, but that the _Druids_ us’d a magnetical compass, in laying down the works: and that the needle vary’d so much, at that time, from the true meridian line.

I remember I open’d this affair, near 20 Years ago, to Dr. _Halley_, who was of the same sentiment. Nor am I the first who suspected the _Phœnicians_ of old were possessed of this great secret, as well as the _Chinese_, from times immemorial. I am not moved to think otherwise by what _Bochart_ writes against it. The very name of the magnet _lapis Heraclius_ strongly suggests, the _Tyrian_ navigator before-mention’d knew it, as is well argued by _Fuller_ in his Miscellanies, IV. 19. And many things occur, in the mythology of the antients, wherein (if I mistake not) I discern most evident traces of this knowledge of the directive power of the magnet. We are not to despise the fables of the antients, but to make the best use of them, and search out for their latent truths. My predecessor _Cumberland_, observes in _Sanchoniathon_, p. 325. “that _Apollodorus_ (for instance) hath many truths in his mythic history, deriv’d from the tradition of _Phœnicians_ and _Egyptians_, planting _Athens_.” And the _Greeks_, those happy practitioners in writing, as well as other arts, took the unlucky turn of the _marvellous_, to so exorbitant a degree, as to write nothing without it. In _Apollodorus_, put out by the learned Dr. _Gale_, p. 114. we have an account of the 10th labour of _Hercules_, his conquest of _Cadiz_, or _Gadira_, as then call’d, or _Erythea_. We are told, the hero set up the 2 pillars at the Streights mouth, at _Gibralter_, or then _Tartessus_; which we may reasonably suppose some temple made of these rough stones, or some _main ambres_, like those we mention’d before, the _petræ ambrosiæ_ in the _Tyrian_ coins. Then, says our author, going on his journey, “the rays of the sun were so vehement upon him, that he had the boldness to draw his bow against him. The god admiring the intrepidity of the man, gave him a golden cup with which he sail’d over the ocean.” _Pisander_ in his IId. book, (in _Atheneus Deipnos._ XI.) writes the same, only that _Oceanus_ lent him the cup. _Panyasis_ in his I. of the history of _Hercules_, says, he begg’d it of _Nereus_, son of _Sol_, and with it sail’d to _Erythea_. (Macrob. _Saturn._ XXI. 5.) _Theoclytus_, in _Atheneus_ aforesaid, in his II. _de tempest._ mentions the same thing. He said it before in his _Titanomachia_. _Pherecydes_, in his III. of history, quoted both in _Atheneus_ and _Macrobius_, tells a story somewhat like that of _Apollodorus_, but more particular. _Servius_ Æn. VII. mentions it, but as some of the former, makes the cup of brass, instead of gold. _Alexander Ephesius_ the like. All very ancient writers. _Lucian_ says, that _Hercules_ sail’d in a sea-conch shell. What can we understand by all this, mention’d by so many grave authors, but a compass-box, which enabled him to sail the great ocean, and penetrate to our northern island, less obnoxious to the suns vehement heat? Add to this, in the same place, _Apollodorus_ speaks of his fighting _Albion_ and _Dercynus_, by _Mela_, called _Bergion_, Sons of _Neptune_; which were the most antient names of the _Britannic_ Isles, before the name of _Britain_. _Diodorus Siculus_, in his IV. book delivers a like account of this 10th labour of _Hercules_, but in a mere historical manner. And adds, that when he return’d by _Sicily_, he dedicated a grove to _Geryon_ the hero, where, to his time, the people did religious rites. For this affair of sacred groves, we know our _Druids_ were famous. He built a temple likewise at _Gades_. We are not to suppose it a cover’d edifice, like what posterity call’d a temple, but an open one, according to the mode of those days. Cover’d temples, at that time, being a thing unknown in the world. Afterward, a magnificent temple, properly, was there built to him. _Mela_ witnesses, that it was our _Egyptian Hercules_, who was there worshipped. For I suppose our _Egyptian_ and the _Tyrian Hercules_ to be all one. The same mention’d by the name of _Assis_, in _Manethons_ XVII. _Dynasty_, in _Josephus_ c. App. in _Africanus_, _Eusebius_, and _Syncellus_. _Apollonius_ II. 14. writes, it was not the _Theban_ but the _Egyptian Hercules_ that came to _Gades_: which is confirm’d by _Hecateus_. And _Herodotus_, in _Euterpe_ says, _Hercules_ is a very antient deity among the _Egyptians_, not so, among the _Greeks_. And I suppose this hero lived at, or very near the time of the patriarch _Abraham_.

These were the times about the beginning of idolatry. And _Hercules_ was far from being an idolater himself, though worshipp’d afterwards, for his great exploits, and perhaps on this very account of his inventing or knowing the use of the compass. This is the _Hercules_ kneeling on one knee, a constellation in heaven, taken notice of by _Dionysius Halycarn._ by _Tzetzes_, _Hyginus_, _Æschylus_ and others. It seems to indicate his piety; for which the astronomers his disciples plac’d him in the heavens. He kneels upon the arctic circle, and supports the zodiac on his shoulders; tho’ this is not understood by the painting on our modern globes. The _Phœnicians_, his successors in the tin trade of _Britain_, kept the trade and the very name of the Island as a great secret; as well as the use of the compass, till it was lost with them. But it seems highly probable, because _Lucian_ describes _Hercules_ with a sphere in his hand, that he affixed the present Asterisms of the zodiac: and his successors, the _Phœnicians_, propagated them.

’Tis next to our present purpose, to consider that famous oracle of _Jupiter Ammon_ in _Africa_, to be referr’d to the most early times of idolatry: render’d illustrious by _Alexander_ the Great taking a journey to it. Which gives us the opportunity of knowing somewhat of it.

_Quamvis Æthiopum populis, Arabumq; beatis Gentibus, ac Indis, unus sit Jupiter Ammon._ Lucan.

All these nations, with _Egypt_ and _Africa_, were peopled by the posterity chiefly of _Ham_. They were the first that fell into idolatry, and worshipped their common progenitor, call’d _Amynus_, in _Sanchoniathon_. _Hecateus_ says, _Amoûn_, as the _Egyptians_ write it, is the word of those that invoke god, and that they meant somewhat very mysterious by it. The history of its origin is this. _Bacchus_, the hero, or demigod, travelling through the sandy desarts of _Africa_, with a great army, was perishing with thirst; he pray’d to his father _Jupiter_ for relief, who sent a _ram_ that show’d him a spring, sav’d him and his host. Out of gratitude, the hero builds a temple there, to the deity who thus aided him under the form of a _ram_. There is no room to doubt, that this is in part copied from the transaction of the children of _Israel_, in the _Arabian_ wilderness. They have added to it, a name and notion borrowed from patriarchal tradition, of a divine person, symboliz’d by a ram; horned, anointed, which is all one. We christians mean _Messiah_. Innumerable passages in old authors, which I might cite, innumerable monuments of antiquity in sculpture, shew, that _Jupiter Ammon_ was figur’d as a ram, with a ram’s head, with rams horns. They applied the patriarchal notion of the _Messiah_, to their progenitor _Ham_, in an idolatrous way: and deified him under that character. There is a very remarkable passage in _Herodotus_, which, it is worth our while, to transcribe.

In _Euterpe_ cap. 42. that author tells us, why the _Theban Egyptians_ pay so great a regard to the sheep. “_Hercules_ on his importunity to _Jupiter_, that he might have the honour personally to see him, at length prevail’d. And the god consented to exhibit himself to his view, under this device. _viz._ _Jupiter_ cut off a ram’s head, put the skin over his own head, and thus appear’d to _Hercules_. Whence the _Egyptians_ made the statue of _Jupiter_, with a ram’s head, and call _Jupiter Ammôun_. Whence they hold sheep for sacred animals, never kill them but once a year, upon the festival day of _Jupiter_, when only one ram is sacrificed, and his head put upon the statue of _Jupiter_; all that are there present, beat the ram, and at last he is buried in a sacred urn.”

It is impossible not to see, that this is derived from that history recorded, _Exodus_ xxxiii. _Moses_ desires of _Jehovah_ repeatedly, that he might see him. He calls it seeing his glory. He is answer’d at length. “I will make all my _goodness_ pass before thee, and I will proclaim the _name_ of _Jehovah_ before thee. Thou canst not see my face, but I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and cover thee with my hand, whilst I pass by. Thou shalt see my back parts only.” Here he notoriously promises _Moses_, that he shall see him, in a symbolical form. In the next chapter, _Jehovah_ descended in the luminous cloud, or _Shechinah_, and proclaimed the _name_ of _Jehovah_; recites those attributes that relate to his dealings with mankind, in the strongest point of light; “his goodness and mercy, and long-suffering, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin: but adds, he will by no means clear the guilty, but visit the fathers iniquity upon the children.” Wherein our original and fatal transgression is sufficiently intimated, and that God’s justice is equal to his mercy; and the necessity of a divine redemption by sacrifice, which in scripture language is call’d, “the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

All this the most ancient nations had a knowledge of, from patriarchal tradition. When they laps’d into idolatry, they applied these good notions to their new idolatry, and made statues from the symbolical and figurative forms of speech, us’d in true religion. Their sacrificing the ram on the festival day of _Jupiter_, their beating the ram, putting his head on the statue of their deity, burying him in a sacred urn: all most evidently pointing out the notions they had, in the most early times, of the suffering state of the _Messiah_. And such was the origin, in short, of _Jupiter Ammon_. But it appears, by what learned authors write, on _Curtius_’s description of his statue, that a magnetical compass box made one considerable part of his sacreds. This we read in _Hyde_ Pers. relig. p. 495. in _Curtius_ publish’d by _Pitiscus_, and by _Rader_ the jesuite, and _Schottus_ in _Ortelius_, by _Fuller_, _Herwart_ and others. “This compass box with the statue of the deity, was set in a golden ship (the golden cup of _Hercules_) and carried in procession on the shoulders of the priests, accompanied by women singing an hymn in their own language.” I doubt not, but the circumstance of carrying this golden ship, on the shoulders of the priests, is an imitation of the _Mosaic_ ark in the march of the _Israelites_, thro’ the wilderness, during their forty years pilgrimage. Tho’ they mistook the reason of the thing; the _Jewish_ church then being in a military and travelling state. But where the camp rested, the ark was reposited, in the _adytum_ of the tabernacle: so likewise when in possession of the land of _Canaan_. This is sufficient proof, that the _Lybians_ herein, copied after the _Israelites_, not _vice versa_, as our moderns are willing to think, in these cases.

_Curtius_ tells us, the habit of _Ammon_’s statue was made of _Smaragd_ and other precious stones, wrought in _Mosaic_ work. Which I take to be too, in imitation of the pontifical attire, under _Moses_’s administration: particularly of the sacred, oracular pectoral, made of _Mosaic_ work, with gems. I apprehend, that beside the statue of _Ammon_, there was a figure of (the upper part at least of) a _ram_, on the compass box: which was the oracle. And it is easy to guess how this may be managed for the purpose; even beyond the trick of _Januarius_’s blood, and other _Popish_ devices.

Hence we may better understand the famous golden fleece, which occasioned the _Argonautic_ expedition, one of the earliest and most memorable _Æra’s_ of the _Grecian_ history. If we suppose this golden fleece to be a compass box, we see the reason why the choice youth of _Greece_ set out upon that voyage: which, as all other matters of ancient history, among the _Greeks_, is so unaccountably puft up with the leaven of fable. It became navigators to run any hazard for such a treasure. If we enquire into its origin, it is thus. _Phrixus_ son of _Athamas_ and _Nepheles_ (according to the _Greeks_) had a ship given him by his mother. The ship is call’d in the fable a golden _ram_, or the ram with a golden fleece (the same thing as _Hercules_’s golden cup.) In this, he and his sister _Helle_, flying the ill-usage of their mother-in-law _Ino_, sail away by sea. _Helle_ affrighted in the voyage, falls overboard and gives name to the _Hellespont_. _Phrixus_ continues the voyage, and goes to _Æetes_ king of _Colchis_, where he hangs up his golden _ram_ in the temple, to _Jupiter Phyxius_, (one would be apt to imagine they meant _Pyxius_, alluding to the box.) _Jason_ made his far-fam’d expedition thither afterward, and stole it. But the ram was placed in the heavens, among the constellations, as a memorial; the first sign in the _Zodiac_: which shews the high antiquity of the story.

This account manifestly pretends very great antiquity, and some signal event. I observe this _Ino_ their mother-in-law, is said to be the nurse of _Bacchus_, and throwing herself with her son _Melicerte_ into the sea, became a goddess, under the name of _Leucothea_. Her son became a god, under the name of _Palæmon_. This _Melicerte_ is allowed by all the learned, to be no other than our _Melcartus_ above-mention’d. _Palæmon_ is _Hercules_, says _Hesychius_. _Palæmon_ is his name of deification. _Pausanias_ in the beginning of his _corinthiaca_ informs us, this _apotheosis_ of _Ino_ and _Melicerta_ was the occasion of founding the famous _Isthmian_ games. _Plutarch_ says the same, and _Phavorinus_. Again, I observe, _Phrixus_ is said to be son of _Nephele_ (a cloud) whence call’d _nubigena_ by _Columella_. We must hence expect somewhat very secret and obscure. Further, all writers say openly this _ram_ or ship of _Phrixus_ was oracular and could speak upon occasion. So all the writers of the _Argonautics_ too will have the ship _Argos_ to be loquacious and oracular. _Magnes_ another name of the load-stone is often call’d _Adamas_, which seems to be no other than _Athamas_. _Apollodorus_ makes _Magnes_ the son of _Æolus_, who marrying _Nais_, inhabited the isle _Seriphus_. _Æolus_ was a great sailor, invented sails, and studied the winds, therefore deified and made the god of the winds. I suppose it all ends in the mysterious invelopement of the knowledge of the magnetic compass.

I hope for the readers candour, in reciting thus much from antient fable, which I did as concisely as possible. But in matters of obscure antiquity, we must make use of all helps. And in heathen antiquity we have no other. A strictly historical way of writing in former times, is only to be expected in the sacred canon of the _Jews_. And what is remarkable, after God’s holy spirit had deserted _them_, their writers became the greatest fablers in the world, and, if possible, out-did the _Greeks_, in that way.

One would imagine, the fashion of these most antient charts, was to divide the circle into 12 parts, and affix the celestial signs of the zodiac to them; beginning with the east at _aries_, where the sun rises at the equinoxes; and thence they might call the box by the name of _aries_, as shewing the east where _aries_ is plac’d. As now the _Turks_ and _Arabians_ call it _kibla noma_, _i. e._ shewing the _kibla_, or south point, the way toward which they turn their faces in devotion. So we only enquire for the north point; and call it the lode-stone, because it shews the lode-star or north pole. But ’tis all one; any one point in a circle being found, the rest are found too.

From what has been said, it seems probable, that the fable of the hero finding out the spring in the sandy desarts of _Africa_, by the help of a ram sent from _Jupiter_, means the travelling over those immense plains by the help of a compass, which they call’d by the name of a _ram_, or a golden ram. And that the possessors of the antient oracle of _Ammon_ had such a secret, which they cunningly applied to the sacreds of their deity. Probably, in that most early age, they had not improv’d the use of it to the pitch and manner that we enjoy, with a needle; and _that_ set upon a central pin: but having found out the veracity of the magnet, they put it into a boat, which was to swim on water, and therein it would have liberty to turn itself to its proper direction. And this is the sentiment of the learned Dr. _Wallis_, in the _Philosophical Transactions_, N^o. 278. This boat was the better a handle for the mythologists to call _Hercules_’s vessel a golden cup, because cups were made in the shape of a boat, and had the same denomination, _cymbium_.