Blair Collection > Celtic researches, on the origin, traditions & language, of the ancient Britons

no
nucì sciences; for from licnccfortli λνο find Thotli ready upon
all occasions, in all places and in successive ages, delivering
his advice, making inventions and committing them to
Λvriting.
lie imitated [made a drawing of] the Heavens [distinguislied
and described the constellations,] He drew the portraits of
the Gods [a series of mystical symbols] of which he formed
the sacred charaéters of the letters. And all this happened
before the Second Cronus (Noah) came into the Southern
regions (Shinar) and bestowed the kingdom of Egypt upon
Thoth.
The author havitig recited his allegory, uhich contains
much important but mysterious inatter, proceeds to give us
an account of it, in plain historical language.
'' The Cabiri, or the seven sons of Sydic (ply, the Jii^t one)
and Asclepius their eighth brother were the first, \vho, by the
coimnand of ThotJ), transmitted the memory of all these
things by their writings.
" The son of Thabion, the first hierophant (Τλ,κ Λπ aiw^o;
yiyo'joTuv Φοίηχων) of the Tiiost rcmotc ancestors of the Phami-
cians, converted these memoriah into allegories, and blending
them with natural phienomena, delivered them to those avIio
celebrate the orgies, and to the prophets who preside üv<.t the
sacred mysteries.
" These men studying to promote {Ύν<ρη) blind admiration,
handed them down in this form to their successors, and to
those who were initiated. One of these (initiates) Avas Isiris,
the niventor of three letters, and the brother of Chna (Canaan)
the first who had the name of Pha*nician."