him as
a single person; the same as Nilus of Egypt, who was esteemed the father of
the Gods. At other times they introduce a plurality, whom they still
represent as of the highest antiquity, and make the brethren of Cronus:
[550][Greek: Kuklopes--hoi adelphoi esan tou Kronou, tou patros tou Dios.]
Proclus in Photius informs us, that, according to the antient mythology of
the Auctores Cyclici, the giants with an hundred hands, and the Cyclopes,
were the first born of the [551]Earth and Coelus. But in these histories
every degree of relation has been founded upon idle surmises: and is
uniformly to be set aside. The Cyclopian Deity was [552]Ouranus, and the
Cyclopians were his priests and votaries: some of whom had divine honours
paid to them, and were esteemed as Gods. Upon the Isthmus of Corinth was an
antient temple; which seems to have been little more than a [Greek: taphos]
or high altar, where offerings were made to the Cyclopian [553]Deities.
People of this family settled upon the southern coast of Sicily at
Camarina; which some have supposed to have been the Hupereia of Homer,
where the Pheacians once resided.

[554][Greek: Hoi prin men pot' enaion en euruchoroi Hupereiai,]
[Greek: Anchou Kuklopon andron huperenoreonton.]

But there is no reason to think, that the city Hupereia was in Sicily; or
that the Pheacians came from that country. The notion arose from a common
mistake. All the Greek and Roman Poets, and even Strabo, with other
respectable writers, have taken it for granted, that the Cyclopians of
Homer were near AEtna in Sicily. Others except to their being near AEtna; and
insist, that they were in the vicinity of Eryx upon the opposite part of
the island. But Homer does not once mention the island during his whole
account of the Cyclopes: nor does Ulysses arrive in Sicily, till after many
subsequent adventures. That there were Cyclopians near AEtna is certain: but
those mentioned by Homer were of another country, and are represented as
natives of the continent though his account is very indeterminate and
obscure. There were probably people of this family in many parts of Sicily,
especially about the city Camarina. They seem to have been of the Anakim
race, and worshippers of the Sun. Hence they were styled Camarin, and their
chief city Camarina, which was so called from a city of the same name in
[555]Chaldea, the Ur of the Scriptures. Polyphemus is mentioned as a
musician and a shepherd; but of a sav