e, and the sons of Urius, they must ultimately have
come from Babylonia. Here astronomy, and the other sciences first
commenced; and the worship of the Sun was first instituted: where the
priests, and professors were styled Oritae, and [1228]Orchani. Lucian indeed
says, that astronomy was not derived to the Greeks either from the
Egyptians, or the Ethiopians; but from [1229]Orpheus. This however
intimates, that the Ethiopians, under which name the sons of Chus are
mentioned by the [1230]Greeks, were supposed to have introduced science
into this country; otherwise this caveat had been unnecessary. But we shall
in the end shew, that Orpheus was from the same quarter. And to put the
matter out of all doubt, we find Herodotus maintaining very determinately,
that the knowledge of the heavens, and every thing relating to the
distribution of time, was imported from [1231]Babylonia. As these
Babylonians, these sons of Urius, manifestly came to Greece by the way of
Egypt, it appears pretty evident, that they were the sons of Chus, of the
shepherd race, who so long held the sovereignty in that kingdom. Hence it
is, that throughout the whole mythology of the Grecians there are continual
allusions to shepherds; a title, which we know was peculiar to the Auritae
of Egypt. Nonnus, in his allegorical poem, describes Cadmus in a pastoral
habit, playing upon an instrument, and reclining himself under the shade of
an oak.

[1232][Greek: Klinas geitoni noton hupo drui phorbados hules,]
[Greek: Kai phoreon agraulon aetheos heima Nomeos.]

He gives to him the same powers in harmony which were attributed to
Orpheus. Hence Cadmus is made to say that he could charm the woods upon the
mountains, and sooth the wild beasts of the forest: that he could even calm
the ocean, and stop the course of its turbulent waters.

[1233][Greek: Thelxo dendrea panta, kai ourea, kai phrena theron;]
[Greek: Okeanon speudonta palindineton eruxo.]

Almost all the principal persons, whose names occur in the mythology of
Greece and Italy, are represented as shepherds. Not only the Gods Faunus,
Apollo, Pan, Sylvanus, Pales, Adonis, but Eumelus, Triptolemus,
Ericthonius, Eumolpus, Aristaeus, Battus, Daphnis, Terambus of Egypt, and
Osiris, are represented of that profession. Hence it is, that we find
altars, and inscriptions to the shepherd [1234]Gods. Apollo was styled
[Greek: Nomeus], and [Greek: Poimnios]; and was said to have been educated
in [1235]Arabia