rd, supposed to have been
there slain. I have mentioned from Herodotus, that the Cadmians built the
temple of [1248]Damater, or Ceres, in Attica, where they introduced her
worship. And there is a remarkable circumstance mentioned in consequence of
this by Hesychius, who tells us, that the priests of this Goddess were of a
particular family, called [Greek: Poimenidai], or _the Shepherd race_.
[Greek: Poimenidai, genos, ex hou ho Demetros hiereus.] The Cadmians
therefore, from whom this priesthood came, must have been in a peculiar
manner shepherds. The mountain Apaesantus in Argolis is said to have been
named from [1249]Apaesantus, a shepherd. The Cuthites settled in Thrace near
Haemus, in Sethonia; of whom Stephanus gives this short but remarkable
history: [Greek: ekalounto proteron Nomaioi]. The author does not say, that
they _were_ shepherds; but that they antiently were so called: so that it
was not so much the profession, as the title of the people. They settled in
Hetruria, and Latium; in which last province stood the city Praeneste, of
which I have before spoken. It was said to have been of high antiquity, and
was founded by Coeculus,

[1250]Vulcano genitum pecora inter agrestia Regem,
Inventumque focis, omnis quem credidit aetas.

We find here, that the founder of this city was a shepherd, and a king, and
the reputed son of Vulcan, the same as Urius. It is said of him, that he
was, inventum focis, because he was ab origine from the land of fire; by
which is meant Ur of Chaldea. So the personage, represented under the
character of Cacus upon Mount Aventine, is by Livy said to have been a
shepherd. [1251]Pastor accola ejus loci, nomine Cacus, ferox viribus. He
likewise is said to have been the son of the God of Fire: [1252]Huic
monstro Vulcanus erat pater. The first city which the Cadmians built in
Boeotia was named [1253]Poimandris; or as Eustathius renders it Poimandria,
[1254][Greek: Poimandria]; the same which was afterwards called Tanagra. It
is said to have been so denominated from one Poimander. This name is by
interpretation a shepherd, or rather a shepherd of men. It answers to the
title of [Greek: Poimen laou], so frequently to be met with in Homer. That
excellent Poet was wonderfully fond of every thing, which savoured of
antiquity: and has continual references to the antient history of Egypt,
and to the rites of that country. He sometimes seems to adhere
superstitiously to obsolete terms, thinking p