s were of the same
nature as the [514]birds of Diomedes, and the dogs in the temple of Vulcan:
and these histories relate to Ophite priests, who used to spare their own
people, and sacrifice strangers, a custom which prevailed at one time in
most parts of the world. I have mentioned that the Cuthite priests were
very learned: and as they were Ophites, whoever had the advantage of their
information, was said to have been instructed by serpents. Hence there was
a tradition, that Melampus was rendered prophetic from a communication with
these [515]animals. Something similar is said of Tiresias.

As the worship of the serpent was of old so prevalent, many places, as well
as people from thence, received their names. Those who settled in Campania
were called Opici; which some would have changed to Ophici; because they
were denominated from serpents. [516][Greek: Oi de (phasin) hoti Ophikoi
apo ton ophion.] But they are, in reality, both names of the same purport,
and denote the origin of the people. We meet with places called Opis,
Ophis, Ophitaea, Ophionia, Ophioessa, Ophiodes, and Ophiusa. This last was
an antient name, by which, according to Stephanus, the islands Rhodes,
Cythnus, Besbicus, Tenos, and the whole continent of Africa, were
distinguished. There were also cities so called. Add to these places
denominated Oboth, Obona, and reversed Onoba, from Ob, which was of the
same purport. Clemens Alexandrinus says, that the term Eva signified a
serpent, if pronounced with a proper [517]aspirate. We find that there were
places of this name. There was a city Eva in [518]Arcadia: and another in
[519]Macedonia. There was also a mountain Eva, or Evan, taken notice of by
[520]Pausanias, between which and Ithome lay the city Messene. He mentions
also an Eva in [521]Argolis, and speaks of it as a large town. Another name
for a serpent, of which I have as yet taken no notice, was Patan, or Pitan.
Many places in different parts were denominated from this term. Among
others was a city in [522]Laconia; and another in [523]Mysia, which
Stephanus styles a city of AEolia. They were undoubtedly so named from the
worship of the serpent, Pitan: and had probably Dracontia, where were
figures and devices relative to the religion which prevailed. Ovid mentions
the latter city, and has some allusions to its antient history, when he
describes Medea as flying through the air from Attica to Colchis.

[524]AEoliam Pitanem laeva de parte relinquit,