Blair Collection > History of the Celtic language

CELTIC LANGUAGE. 87
five millions ! It is quite possible that this name
may have been imposed upon him subsequent to
that heroic achievement, although anterior to the
date of writing the history. The people of Egypt
worshipped the sun, and, perhaps, the constellation
Leo, through the lion, because of a fancied resem-
blance. Hence, Leo-polls, the city of the lion,
a.ndLeopolita7is, its 'mhahit&.nis (Pa/ khurst, p.352).
For the same reason, the sun himself is named by
us Ld, or Leas, light, day. Part of Gallicia in
Tarrochonensus in Spain, is called Leon, because
in possession of lion-hearted people, the Celts.
" The most renowned nations thereof," says Rollin,
" were the CeltiherUy The classical student will
now easily identify the radix or leading idea of the
names ieocrates, Z/Codocus, Leoriwva., &c. The
lion has more names in Hebrew, all of which must
be received in a metaphorical or symbolical sense.
One of them is Ariel, which embraces the idea of
planet-worship ; and gur, the name for a young
one, applies primarily to the brood of a hen. The
lion thus made the sound or letter L, and, therefore,
to be considered one of the Cabala.
The lion, since the fall, at least, tunes its voice to
a far different key from llo, when making the awful
spring upon its prey. The term roar is by no means
a true echo to it ; no term can express it but the
Celtic heuc. " Blieuc an leomhan," says Amos.
The note of ocean when scourged to madness is