, both their temples, and cities,
also the hills, and rivers, where they settled, were often denominated from
this circumstance. We read of Anopus Asopus, Oropus, Europus, Charopus,
Ellopis, Ellopia; all nearly of the same purport, and named from the same
object of worship. Europa was a [1153]Deity: and the name is a compound
Eur-Ope, analogous to Canope, Canophis, and Cnuphis of Egypt; and signifies
Orus Pytho. It is rendered by the Greeks as a feminine, upon a supposition,
that it was the name of a woman; but it related properly to a country; and
we find many places of the like etymology in Media, Syria, and Babylonia:
which were expressed in the masculine Europos, and Oropus. The same also is
observable in Greece.

I have shewn, that Cadmus was Taut, or Thoth; the Taautes of Sanchoniathon.
It is said of this person, that he first introduced the worship of the
serpent: and this so early, that not only the Tyrians and Sidonians, but
the Egyptians received it from him. From hence we may infer, that it came
from [1154]Babylonia, [1155][Greek: Ten men oun tou Drakontos phusin, kai
ton opheon, autos exetheiasen ho Taautos, kai met' auton authis Phoinikes
te, kai Aiguptioi].

The learned writers, who have treated of the Cadmians, have failed in
nothing more, than in not considering, that they were a twofold colony,
which came both from Egypt, and Syria: from Egypt first; and then from
Syria, and Canaan. In their progress westward they settled in Cyprus,
Crete, Rhodes, Samos, Lesbos, Thrace: also in Euboea, Attica, and Boeotia.
In process of time they were enabled to make settlements in other parts,
particularly in Epirus and Illyria: and to occupy some considerable
provinces in Italy as high up as the Padus. Wherever they passed they left
behind them numberless memorials: but they are to be traced by none more
plainly than by their rites, and worship. As they occupied the greatest
part of Syria, that country was particularly addicted to this species of
idolatry. Many temples were erected to the Ophite God: and many cities were
denominated from him. Both [1156]Appian and Stephanus Byzantinus mention
places in Syrophenicia called Oropus. Upon the Euphrates also in
Mesopotamia were the cities [1157]Amphipolis, and [1158]Dura, both called
of old Oropus. The chief Syrian God had the title of Bel, Baal, and Belial:
which last the Greeks rendered [Greek: Beliar]. Hence Clemens instead of
saying, what agreement can there be between