vice: for all these
towers were temples. Those styled Tritonian were oracular; as we may infer
from the application made by the Argonauts. What Homer attributes to
Proteus, Pindar ascribes to Triton. [249][Greek: Manteuetai de hos par'
Omeroi Proteus, kai para Pindaroi Triton tois Argonautais.] Pausanias
mentions a tradition of a [250]Triton near Tanagra, who used to molest
women, when they were bathing in the sea; and who was guilty of other acts
of violence. He was at last found upon the beach overpowered with wine; and
there slain. This Triton was properly a Tritonian, a priest of one of these
temples: for the priests appear to have been great tyrants, and oftentimes
very brutal. This person had used the natives ill; who took advantage of
him, when overpowered with liquor, and put him to death.

The term Tor, in different parts of the world, occurs sometimes a little
varied. Whether this happened through mistake, or was introduced for
facility of utterance, is uncertain. The temple of the Sun, Tor Heres, in
Phenicia was rendered [Greek: Trieres], Trieres; the promontory Tor-Ope-On,
in Caria, Triopon; Tor-Hamath, in Cyprus, Trimathus; Tor-Hanes, in India,
Trinesia; Tor-Chom, or Chomus, in Palestine, Tricomis. In antient times the
title of Anac was often conferred upon the Deities; and their temples were
styled Tor-Anac, and Anac-Tor. The city Miletus was named [251]Anactoria:
and there was an Herouem at Sparta called [Greek: Anaktoron], Anactoron;
where Castor and Pollux had particular honours, who were peculiarly styled
Anactes. It was from Tor-Anac that Sicily was denominated Trinacis and
Trinacia. This, in process of time, was still farther changed to Trinacria;
which name was supposed to refer to the triangular form of the island. But
herein was a great mistake; for, the more antient name was Trinacia, as is
manifest from Homer:

[252][Greek: Hoppote de proton pelaseis euergea nea]
[Greek: Trinakiei nesoi.]

And the name, originally, did not relate to the island in general, but to a
part only, and that a small district near AEtna. This spot had been occupied
by the first inhabitants, the Cyclopians, Lestrygons, and Sicani: and it
had this name from some sacred tower which they built. Callimachus calls
it, mistakenly, Trinacria, but says that it was near AEtna, and a portion of
the antient Sicani.

[253][Greek: Aue d' ar' Aitna,]
[Greek: Aue de Trinakrie Sikanon hedos.]

The island Rhod