We are told, says the [200]Scholiast upon Apollonius,
that the Colchians still retain the laws and customs of their forefathers:
and they have pillars of stone, upon which are engraved maps of the
continent, and of the ocean: [Greek: Eisi de, phesi, kai nomoi par' autois
ton Progonon, kai Stelai, en hais ges kai thalasses anagraphai eisi.] The
poet, upon whom the above writer has commented, calls these pillars,
[Greek: kurbeis]: which, we are told, were of a square figure, like
obelisks: and on these, he says, were delineated all the passages of the
sea; and the boundaries of every country upon the earth.

[201][Greek: Hoi de toi graptas pateron hethen eiruontai]
[Greek: Kurbeas, hois eni pasai hodoi, kai peirat' easin]
[Greek: Hugres te, trapheres te, perix epineissomenoisin.]

These delineations had been made of old, and transmitted to the Colchians
by their forefathers; which forefathers were from [202]Egypt.

If then the Colchians had this science, we may presume that their mother
country possessed it in as eminent a degree: and we are assured, that they
were very knowing in this article. Clemens Alexandrinus [203]mentions, that
there were maps of Egypt, and charts of the Nile very early. And we are
moreover told, that Sesostris (by which is meant the Sethosians) drew upon
boards schemes of all the countries, which he had traversed: and copies of
these were given both to [204]the Egyptians, and to the Scythians, who held
them in high estimation. This is a curious account of the first delineation
of countries, and origin of maps; which were first described upon
[205]pillars. We may from hence be enabled to solve the enigma concerning
Atlas, who is said to have supported the heavens upon his shoulders. This
took its rise from some verses in Homer, which have been strangely
misconstrued. The passage is in the Odyssey; where the poet is speaking of
Calypso, who is said to be the daughter of Atlas, [Greek: oloophronos], a
person of deep and recondite knowledge:

[206][Greek: Atlantos thugater oloophronos, hoste thalasses]
[Greek: Pases benthea oiden, echei de te KIONAS autos]
[Greek: Makras, hai Gaian te kai Ouranon amphis echousin.]

It is to be observed, that when the antients speak of the feats of
Hercules, we are to understand the Herculeans; under the name of Cadmus is
meant the Cadmians; under that of Atlas, the Atlantians. With this
allowance how plain are the words of Homer! The [207]Atlantians set