Part 12

Those learned commentators upon _Curtius_ abovementioned agree, there was a stone along with the statue of _Ammon_, carried about in the golden ship; and perhaps, hence the antient navigators took the hint of applying the figure of the ram to their compasses, however form’d, and gave it the name of the _ram_, or golden fleece, which the _Greek_ fables, their most antient history, ring of: and hence their ships deriv’d their oracular quality. _Phrixus_’s ship, the golden _ram_, being said to speak on occasion, as well as the ship _argos_. The stupendous properties of this stone, without difficulty, would persuade even those above the vulgar, that there was a divine principle in it, quite metaphysical, consequently oracular. And in the dawnings of idolatry, the evil agent who was vigilant to pervert every thing to his own purpose, would not fail to make great use of the secrets of the magnet. The intire notion of oracles among the heathen, is caused by the devil’s mimickry of God’s transactions among the patriarchs and the _Jews_. But I believe the _Egyptians_ took their notion of carrying a boat in all their religious processions, from this magnetic boat, of which both _Herodotus_ and _Plutarch_ inform us. For they intended it to signify the movement and descent of the divine ideas from the supreme mind; especially the very fountain and principal of those ideas: and it must be own’d to be admirably well chose. Hence the top and the bottom of the verge or _limbus_ of the celebrated _Isiac_ tablet, is adorn’d with a boat. In one a ram, in the other a bull. Meaning the origin of the chain of ideas flowing from the divine mind. ’Tis highly probable, _that_ with the ram is the copy of _Jupiter Ammon_’s boat, mention’d by _Curtius_. And I suppose this is _Herwart_’s opinion, but I have not yet seen his book. Of this I shall discourse larger in my explication of the _Bembin_ table. However _Herodotus_ tells us in his II. book, that the temple of _Jupiter Ammon_ took its rise from _Phœnicia_. I only mention this for the sake of those that are over acting the credit of antiquities in _Egypt_.

We learn in _Plutarch_’s discourse _de Isid. & Osir_, that the ship _argos_ of the _Greeks_, was in reality the ship that our _Hercules_ sail’d round the world in. Further, this oracular ship has its name _argos_, says my friend Mr. _Baxter_, _gloss. ant. rom._ from the _Hebrew_ and _Syrian_ word _argan_, an ark. Which confirms what I said above, concerning the carrying about the ship of _Ammon_ on the shoulders of the priests. _Strabo_ in II. of his geography, mentions the temple of _Leucothea_, built by _Phrixus_ at _Colchos_; that there was an oracle there; and that the sheep was never slain at the place. This shews its relation to that of _Jupiter Ammon_. _Leucothea_ is the name of consecration of _Hercules_ his mother, _Hercules_ himself being call’d _Palæmon_; both made sea deities: from the extraordinary fame of _Hercules_, the first and great sea captain. _Pausanias in Atticis_ says, he was buried in the _Corinthian Isthmus_; where the _Isthmian_ games were kept to his memory. But _Mela_ writes, that his remains were at _Gades_. It’s probable there was only an honorary monument of him at the _Isthmus_, as founder: as the honorary monument of _Jolaus_ mention’d to be among the _Thebans_, by the _Stadium_, p. 42.

Mr. _Baxter_ in _gloss. ant. rom. v. ascania_ makes _Phrixus_ to be _Aphricus_, and the same person as _Jupiter Ammon_, or the founder of the temple of _Jupiter Ammon_; rather, of that prior to _Jupiter Ammon_. We are not to regard the little artifices of the _Greeks_, who draw all celebrated events and persons of antiquity, into their own country. _Aphricus_, no doubt, is the _Aphre_ before-mentioned, son of _Midian_, son of _Abraham_; whom _Cleodemus_ makes an associate of _Hercules_, in his _Lybian_ wars. _Josephus_ makes him the conqueror of _Lybia_, and that he gave name to _Africa_. ’Tis not unlikely but that he is the hero that travell’d over these barren sands by the help of the compass, as his countrymen the _Arabians_ have from times immemorial practised, in travelling over their own desarts. And might probably erect a patriarchal temple there; and in times of his posterity it degenerated into the idolatrous temple of _Jupiter Ammon_. And there the compass box of the hero remain’d, and was converted into part of the heathen sacreds.

’Tis no very strange matter, if they at another time call this same hero _Bacchus_, therein confounding him with the like travels of the _Israelites_, through the _Arabian_ desarts. We are not to expert these histories of old times involv’d in fable, absolutely consistent. But if this account be agreeable to truth or near it; then we may imagine the same _Aphre_, by the _Greeks_ call’d _Phrixus_, according to Mr. _Baxter_, pass’d the _Hellespont_, made the expedition into _Colchis_, and built a like temple there. And a compass box called the golden _ram_, was made alike part of the object of their adoration. This is exceedingly confirm’d by the report of _Herodotus_ and _Diodorus S._ who say, the _Colchi_ practised the rite of circumcision, a matter which the learned cannot account for; but appears plain from hence: these being the descendants of _Abraham_. They say, at the same time, that the _Ethiopians_ practise the like: and that ’tis no recent custom among them, but from the beginning. I apprehend by _Ethiopians_ are meant _Arabians_, who are people descended from _Abraham_. _Herodotus_ says likewise the _Egyptians_ circumcis’d, which must be accounted for in this same manner; some _Arabian_ or _Ethiopian_ nation bringing the custom among them. As a further confirmation of _Phrixus_ being _Aphricus_, _Bochart_ shews the _Colchic_ and _Hebrew_ tongue is much a-kin. And thus we may account for what Mr. _Toland_, p. 133. says, that the idiom of the _Irish_ language (which we suppose the remnant of the most antient oriental,) has a mixture of _Arabic_ in it.

I saw a book in Dr. _Mead_’s library, _Museo de las medallas desconocidas Espanolas_, p. 35. N^o. 82, 83. are two ancient unknown medals, such as they often find in _Spain_. The first a head (not of the best workmanship) on the obverse, young, but heroical enough, a necklace on. Behind it Α Φ Ρ Α in the old _Phœnician_ character, like the _Samaritan_. Reverse a horseman, and under the exergue another word in like _Punic_ character. The other N^o. 83. has the same head in the obverse, but without the necklace: and Α Φ Ρ Α before, in plain _Greek_, behind a dolphin. The reverse as the last. There is another such coin in the same book, no difference, but the name and dolphin transpos’d. I verily believe this is our _Aphra_, or _Apher_ in our _English_ translation call’d _Epher_, _Gen._ xxv. 4. struck by some city in _Spain_, who acknowledged him their founder.

It is remarkable enough, what Mr. _Norden_ writes, in his history of _Cornwall_. The _Cornish_ men universally suppose that the _Jews_ are the people who first work’t in their rocks, for tin: and in old neglected tin-works, they find some of their tools. The workmen call them _attal sarazin_, the _Jews_ cast off works, in their _Hebrew_ speech, says _Norden_. Now I apprehend he means our _Arabians_: and it is a circumstance confirming the former notions. And to it we may refer the origin of the odd reports, of our _Stonehenge_ coming from _Africa_ and the like. By the _Greeks_, _Hercules Melcartus_ or _Melicerta_, and _Phrixus_ or _Apricus_ are made half brothers: by _Josephus_, _Hercules_ is son-in-law to _Aphricus_. The _Phœnicians_ paid tythe. So the _Arabians_, in _Pliny_, the like: being patriarchal customs.

_Aphricus_ or _Phryxus_ we may very well suppose to be father of the _Phrygians_. And his expedition thro’ the _propontis_ to the _Euxine_ sea, the _Greeks_ colour over with their _Helle_ and _Hellespont_. But we cannot entertain too high a respect for him, because I see it no less reasonable, to refer the origin of the _Britons_ to him. I mean that eastern colony that came hither with _Hercules_, upon the old possessors or _aborigines Albionites_, which gave the more famous name of _Britain_ to the island. The _Brigantes_ is the same name, says Mr. _Baxter_ the common and more ancient name of this people: who being driven northwards by inundations of foreigners from the continent in after times, the name became more appropriate to the inhabitants of _Yorkshire_ and the neighbouring counties. In _Tacitus_ the _Brigantes_ are called _maxima Brittanorum natio_. At the same time they forc’d the ancientest possessors, the _Albionites_ or _Albanians_ still more northwards. Likewise many of these _Brigantes_ pass’d into _Ireland_, where they became a famous nation. The _Bryges_, _Phryges_, _Phrixi_, _Brisones_, _Brigantes_, _Britones_ are intirely synonimous words in different dialects. And this assignment of the origin of our ancestors, very well accounts for that notion of their _Phrygian_ or _Trojan_ descent, so riveted in the minds of the old _Britons_. A notion which prevail’d among some of the _Gallic_ nations on the continent, and they had retain’d the memory of it, in the time of _Ammianus Marcellinus_, who mentions it. Likewise in _Cæsar_’s time, some _Gallic_ nations, claimed kindred with the _Romans_; probably upon this very account.

This is, in short, some presumptive evidence we have, of _Hercules_ and _Aphricus_ planting _Britain_, introducing the Druids with the patriarchal religion: and concerning the knowledge they had of the use of the compass. This whole matter will be further considered, when I come to treat of it expressly. At present we will continue the history of the compass, as it became more fully known to the world.

_Martinius_ in his _Atlas_, and _Gilbertus de magnete_, _Lib._ I. 2. show us, the _Chinese_ have us’d the magnetic needle from times immemorial: that they have a trick of telling fortunes with it: as the heathen afore-mentioned made it oracular. The _Arabians_ likewise have us’d it, for travelling over the great and wild desarts, of weeks together, where there is no track to guide them; nor have they any notion of time when they began this practice. _Herwartius_ published _admiranda ethnicæ theologiæ_, wherein he endeavours to prove that the old _Egyptians_ had the use of the magnetic needle, and that the _Bembin_ table contains the doctrine of it, invelop’d in hieroglyphicks. The learned _Fuller_ in his _Miscellanies Lib._ 4. 19. asserts, that the _Phœnicians_ knew the use of it, which they endeavour’d to conceal by all possible means, as they did their trading in general. That it was lost with them, as many other arts, their _ars plumaria_, the dying of purple, (the invention of our _Hercules_ of _Tyre_) the _Hebrew_ poetry, and other curious knowledge, which is perished.

’Tis not unlikely that the lodestone being applied to religious use, was one cause of its being forgot: together with the secrecy of the _Phœnician_ voyages. _Suetonius_ in _Nero_, speaks of a prophetic needle, which the emperor us’d to pay his devotions to. The learned _Burman_ shews, that most, or all of the old MSS. and printed books, read it _acuncula_, _acucula_, or _acungula_; which, in my opinion, the criticks have causelesly corrected into _icuncula_: because they had no notion of the magnetic needle being understood by it.

Monsieur _Fauchet_, a famous _French_ antiquary, in his antiquities of _France_, quotes some verses from a poet in that country, who wrote A. D. 1180, wherein is as plain a description of the mariner’s box, as words can make. The poet mentions it by accident, not as a thing new and strange. _Osorius_ in his discourse of the acts of king _Emanuel_, refers the use of the compass among the _Europeans_, to _Gama_ and the _Portuguese_, who found it among some barbarous pyrates, about the _Cape_ of _Good Hope_; who probably were some remains of the old _Phœnicians_, or _Arabians_, or at least have preserved from them, this practice. About A. D. 1260. _Paulus Venetus_ is said to have brought it from _China_; by the great author on the magnet, our countryman _Gilbert_. _Genebrand_ in his _chron._ says, the use of the lode-stone reviv’d among us about A. D. 1303. by _Fl. Melvius_ a _Neapolitan_, and others attribute it about that time to _John Goia_ a _Neapolitan_. _Joseph de Costa_ says, some _Mahometan_ seamen whom _Vasquez de Gama_ met with near _Mosambick_, who had sail’d those seas by the use thereof, taught it him. I observe our ancient _Britons_, the _Welsh_, call a steers-man or pilot _llywydd_, whence no doubt comes our _English_ word lode-stone, and lode-star, the north-pole. _Llyw_ is the helm of a ship in _British_. _Lodemanage_ in _Skinner_’s _etymology_ an old _English_ word, signifying the price paid to the pilot. Our lords of the _Cinque Ports_ keep a court at _Dover_, by that name. These things seem to indicate some memorial of the magnet left among the _Welsh_, from the oldest times: and of its application to sailing.

Thus have we given a kind of history of this prodigy in nature, the magnetic needle: to confirm, our suspicion, that the _British_ Druids knew the use of it, and used it in these works of theirs, which we have been treating of. We learn in the _Philosophical Transactions_, _Lowthorp_, Vol. II. p. 601. that there are considerable veins of the magnet, in our own country, in _Devonshire_; where the _Phœnicians_ and Druids must needs be very conversant.

We return now to our first subject _Stonehenge_, and apply what has been said, to the observation we there made. It is not to be thought, that the Druids, men who employed themselves in those noble studies, which _Cæsar_ gives us an account of, and who were at the pains of bringing these vast stones together, from such a considerable distance of 16 miles: I say, it is not to be thought, but that they would be nice and exact in placing them. And this, not only particularly, in respect of each other, upon the projected ground-plot: but also in general, in respect of the quarters of the heavens. And this I found to be a just surmise, when I examined their works for several years together, with sufficient accuracy, with a _theodilite_. As I took notice before, the works of one place regarded the cardinal points, but with a certain uniform variation therefrom. Whence I grounded my conjecture, that they were set by a compass, which at that time varied, according to that quantity observ’d. Of which property of variation we may well suppose, the Druids were ignorant. This I now propose for the rule of investigation, of the time when _Stonehenge_ was erected. Hoping the reader will judge as favourably of the attempt, as things of this great antiquity require.

The variation at _Stonehenge_ is about 6 or 7 degrees, from the north eastward. I have in order to form our hypothesis, set down a scheme of the state of the variation in _England_, from the best observations I could meet with. Dr. _Halley_ takes notice, that the variation at _Paris_ is always 2 degrees and a half more easterly than with us. _Orontius Finæus_ in 1550 observ’d it to be there, about 9 degrees, easterly, therefore to reduce it, I have stated it at 11 degrees 30. and from thence continued it, to the present time, as in the ensuing table.

_Anno Dom._ Observation. Variation. deg. min. 1550 By _Finæus_ 11 30 east. 1580 Mr. _Burroughs_ 11 15 east. 1600 8 0 east. 1622 Mr. _Gunter_ 6 0 east. 1634 Mr. _Gellibrand_ 4 5 east. 1642 3 5 east. 1657 Mr. _Bond_ 0 0 1665 Mr. _Bond_ 1 22 west. 1666 Capt. _Sturmy_ 1 27 west. 1667 Capt. _Sturmy_ 1 33 west. 1672 Dr. _Halley_ 2 30 west. 1683 4 30 west. 1685 5 5 west. 1692 6 0 west. 1723 11 0 west. 1733 12 0 west. 1740 15 45 west.

By this table it appears, that in the space of 180 years, the variation of the magnetic needle in _England_, has shifted from 11 degrees and a half eastward, to 11 degrees and a half westward. In 90 years the medium of those extremes, which was 1657, there was no variation at all; the needle pointing due north and south. But alas our observations extend no farther. We know not the bound of the variation, on either hand: nor the quantity of its motion, when thereabouts. Mr. _Geo. Graham_ thinks it is now near the western bound. It is very slow, in all probability, when upon the return, and as it were, stationary: like the sun’s motion at the tropics, when it is returning. So that the nice determination of its circle, and of its motion, is reserved for remote posterity. Dr. _Halley_ conjectures, that the whole period of variation, is perform’d in about 700 years. Upon this supposition, in gross, we may thus found our conjecture, of the time of building of _Stonehenge_.

By what we can find, the variation is about 9 minutes in a year, or a degree and a half in 10 years, at this part of its circle. Now I observ’d at _Stonehenge_, that the eastern wing of the avenue, the _cursus_ and other parts belonging to the temple, abated somewhat in their variation, eastward, being somewhat less than that of the temple itself. It is highly reasonable to believe, that the great work of _Stonehenge_ could not take less than half a score years in building: and that those other works were made in succeeding years, not long after it was finished. From hence I gather, which way the magnetic variation was moving, at the time of founding _Stonehenge_, _viz._ from east toward no variation and so to west. This must be the foundation of our _calculus_.

Therefore at the time of the founding of _Stonehenge_, the variation was about the same quantity and place, as about A. D. 1620. in our preceding table. Supposing with Dr. _Halley_, the revolution of this variation be about 700 years, three intire revolutions thereof, bring us to about the year of the city of _Rome_ 280. which is about 460 years before our Saviour’s time: 420 years before _Cæsar_ invaded _Britain_. About 100 years before our Saviour’s birth, _Divitiacus_ made the _Wansdike_ north of _Stonehenge_, and drove the possessors of this fine country of the _Wiltshire_ downs, northwards. So that the Druids enjoyed their magnificent work of _Stonehenge_, but about 360 years. And the very great number of barrows about it, requires, that we should not much shorten the time. Sir _Isaac Newton_ in his _Chronology_, reckons 19 years for a medium of a king’s reign. So that in that space, there were about 19 kings, in this country. And there seems to be about that number of royal barrows (in my way of conjecturing) about the place.

I observe, this time we have assign’d for the building of _Stonehenge_, is not long after _Cambyses_’s invasion of _Egypt_. When he committed such horrid outrages there, and made such dismal havock, with the priests and inhabitants in general, that they fled the country to all parts of the world. Some went as far as the _East Indies_, and there taught many of the antient _Egyptian_ customs; as is taken notice of by the learned. It is not to be doubted that some of them fled as far westward, into the island of _Britain_, and introduced some of their learning, arts and religion, among the Druids; and perhaps had a hand in this very work of _Stonehenge_: the only one that I know of, where the stones are chizel’d. All other works of theirs, are of rude stones, untouch’d of tool, exactly after the patriarchal and _Jewish_ mode: therefore older.

This was at a time, when the _Phœnician_ trade was at height, the readier a conveyance to _Britain_: it was before the second temple at _Jerusalem_ was built: before the _Grecians_ had any history.

• • • • •

_Directions to the binder._

All the half sheet plates are to be bound up with the book, as single leaves, according to their pages, and without guards, _viz._ Plate, N^o. 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35. Those Plates, N^o. 11, 17, 19, 21, are to be once folded in the middle, and bound up with guards. Those Plates, N^o. 3, 5, 13, 18, 20, 22, are to be folded in three parts, and bound up with guards.

INDEX.

Stonehenge _the latest of the Druid temples_, Page 1, 17, 66

_Older than the time of the_ Saxons _and_ Danes, 1, 2, 3, 7, 47

_Older than the time of the_ Roman Britons, 1, 2, 32

_Older than the time of the_ Belgæ, _who preceded the_ Roman _invasion_, 4, 8, 9, 47

_The history of the_ Belgæ _seated about_ Stonehenge, _in_ Cæsar’_s time_, 4, 8, 47

_Our_ Welsh _the remains of the_ Belgæ, 8

_The_ Cimbrians _the same_, 48

_Of the_ Wansdike: _made by_ Divitiacus, 4, 47

_Of_ Vespasian’_s camp_ Ambresbury, 49

_The stones of_ Stonehenge _are from the gray weathers on_ Marlborough _downs_, 5, 47

_Of their nature, magnitude, weight_, 5, 6

_Of their number_, 30

• • • • •

_Mr._ Webb’_s drawings of_ Stonehenge _false_, 3, 22, 25

_Absurd to compare the work to_ Roman _or_ Grecian _orders_, 6, 10, 16, 20, 21, 28

_The cell not form’d from three equilateral triangles_, 3, 18, 24, 33

_But one entrance into the_ area, 3, 18, 23, 33

_He makes one side of the cell out of a bit of a loose stone_, 29

_He has turn’d the cell a sixth part from its true situation_, 3, 22

_The cell not a hexagon, but an oval_, 20, 22, 29

_Demonstrated by Lord_ Pembroke’_s measure_, 28

_Demonstrated by trigonometry_, 22

_Proved by the surgeons amphitheater,_ London, _being an imitation thereof_, 25

Stonehenge _not made by the_ Roman _foot_, 6

Webb _makes the inner circle, of thirty stones, instead of forty_, 20

_He contracts 119 feet to 43_, 33

_He draws a stone on the_ vallum _120 foot out of its true place_, 14

Stonehenge _not a monument_, 40

• • • • •

_The Druids came with an oriental colony, upon the first_ Celtic _inhabitants_, 62, 63

_Introduc’d here by the_ Tyrian Hercules, 7, 31, 32, 50, 52, 55, 63

_The colony were_ Phœnicians _or_ Arabians, 63, 66

_They found out our tin mines_, 32, 55, 63

_The Druids came hither about_ Abraham’_s time or soon after_, 2, 7, 31, 32, 49, 52

_They were of the patriarchal religion_, 1, 2, 17

_Which was the same as christianity_, 2, 54

Stonehenge _prov’d the work of the Druids from the infinite number of the like, all over the_ Britannic _isles_, 3, 8

_Farther suggestions: because accounted sacred, made by magic, medicinal, came from_ Ireland, Spain, Afric, Egypt. _In some places the name of Druids remaining_, 3, 5, 9, 47, 48

_From the antiquities dug up about them_, 4, 45, 46

Schetland _isles the_ Hyperboreans _of the_ Greeks, _thence_ Abaris _the_ Pythagorean _philosopher_, 40

Stonehenge _not built by the_ Saxons, _deduced from its name_, 7, 47