another place he renders, εν όρες Λουβαν της Αρμενιας. By these, I make no doubt, was meant the mountain of Lunus Architis. The term was sometimes expressed Labar; and from hence the Roman ensigns were styled Labara, quasi Insignia Lunaria. This is evident from the Lunette, which is continually to be found upon them. They seem to have generally consisted of a crescent, of a disk of metal, and a chaplet of olive, or laurel. The name Labarum, however, was not properly Roman; but was adopted by the later emperors, especially by those of Constantinople. They borrowed it from some of the conquered nations, who had the same kind of military standard. This will appear from various coins, where it is seen among the trophies won from the Pannonians, Dacians, and other captive people. It is to be found likewise upon many coins of 2 Cities in the east. Sometimes two, sometimes three, lunettes are to be seen upon the same standard; whence it is plain, that they were the principal part of the Insigne; and we may presume, that from them it had the name of Labarum. I imagine, that the title of Liber, given to Dionusus, was the same as Labar; and conferred upon him 25 See Numism. Apameæ. Vaillant. Pars Sec. p. 38, and p. 155. also coins of Sidon. p. 129. as the Deus Lunus. For the horns of Dionusus, like the horns of Isis, were originally a crescent. He was the saine as Silenus; whose name, however varied by the Grecians, was originally the masculine of Selene. The Roman poets describe Silenus merely as a bestial drunken vagrant, supported by a savage crew of Sileni and Satyrs. But the antient mythologists held him in a different estimation. It is said of him, that he was the father of 27 three sons, who are by Catullus styled 28 Nusigenæ. He is represented as a man of the "earth, who came into life, auroλOXEUTOS, by his own means, without the assistance of his 30 parent. He was esteemed, like Proteus and Nereus, a great prophet; one who transmitted an history of the world, and its origin. He is also said to have discoursed with Midas of Phrygia about another" world. Theopompus described him as a " Dæmon; one who was inferior to the Deity, 32 27 Natalis Comes. 1. 5. p. 250. Zino Tia TEX. Nonnus. Dionys. 1. 29. p. 756. 28 Peleus and Thetis. Nysigenæ Sileni. v. 253. 29 Nonnus. 1. 29. p. 756. 30 Ασποξές, αυτολόχευτος ανέδραμε μητρος αξάρης, Ibid. 31 Elian. Var. Hist. 1. 3. c. 18. Tertullian speaks of Silenus, apud Midam Regem adseveranti de alio orbe. Adversus Hermog. p. 242. 32 Θεα μεν αφανέσερος την ψυχην, ανθρωπε δε Elian. ibid. 1. 3. c. 18. κρείττων και θανατο. but superior to man, and exempted from the common condition of mortality. LAREN, LARIS, LAROS, AITHYA. 33 BOTH Laren and Laris seem to have been antient terms, by which the Ark was represented. To say the truth, they are one and the same term, though varied in some degree by different people, who have at times changed the n final into an s; and from Laren formed Lares, and " Laris. From Laren came the word Larnax, Aagvak, an Ark; also Larnassus, Larina, Laranda, Larunda: the last of which was the name of a Goddess, well known to the Romans. Parnassus was of old called Larnassus, undoubtedly from Laren, the Ark. For the reason of this name being given to the mountain is said to have been in memorial of the Ark of Deucalion. 34 Παρνασσος" εκαλείτο δε προτερον Λαρνασσος δια το την Δευκαλίωνος λαρνακα αυτοθε 33 Apuleius supposes Lar to be the radix; and to signify famiñaris. De Deo Socratis. p. 689. also Florida. c. 14. p. 786. 34 Steph. Byzant. Larnassus seems to be a compound of Laren-Nasos. Nees, moos, vacos, signified of old not only an island, but any hill or promontory. The Acropolis at Thebes in Boeotia was called νησος. #EOσEVEX Onval. We read of a city Larina, in Dau nia; and we may judge whence it was named from the circumstances of its history. Daunia was peopled by a colony of Argives, who came into these parts under the supposed conduct of Perseus and Danaë. It was therefore one of those cities quas dicitur olim Acrisioneis Danaë fundasse Colonis. These Argives were no other than Arkites, as I have shewn: and Larina was a derivative from Laren, The sacred Bulls of Egypt were the fairest to the sight that could be procured; and, as I have shewn, were emblems of the Patriarch, and Ark. Hence probably it was that the Grecians used to style fine looking oxen, CoEs aag; which, in a secondary acceptation, signified oxen, that were in flesh, and well fed. 35 Λαρινοι" βοες ευτραφεις. From this term, expressed Laris, the Greeks denominated many cities, which they expressed Larissa and in the history of all these places there will be found a reference to the same object, whence they are supposed to have received their 35 Hesych. |