ed charts of the coast, and of the navigation
of the Nile, which were engraved on pillars, and in aftertimes sketched out
upon the Nilotic Papyrus. There is likewise reason to think that they were
sometimes delineated upon walls. This leads me to take notice of a passage
from Pherecydes Syrus, which seems to allude to something of this nature:
though, I believe, in his short detail that he has misrepresented the
author from whom he copied. He is said, by Theopompus, [212][Greek: proton
peri tes phuseos, kai Theon, Hellesi graphein], _to have been the first who
wrote for the benefit of his countrymen about nature and the Gods_. Suidas
[213]mentions, that he composed a theogony; all which knowledge, we are
assured, came from Egypt. It is certain that he studied in that[214]
country; whence we may conclude, that the following history is Egyptian. He
says, that Zas, or Jupiter, composed a large and curious robe, upon which
he described the earth, and the ocean, and the habitations upon the ocean.
[215][Greek: Zas poiei pharos mega te, kai kalon, kai en autoi poikillei
Gen, kai Ogenon, kai ta Ogenou domata.] Now, Zas, or, as it should be
rendered, Zan, was the Dorian title of Amon. And Ogenus, the Ocean, was the
most antient name of the Nile; whence the Grecians borrowed their Oceanus.
[216][Greek: Hoi gar Aiguptioi nomizousin okeanon einai ton par' autois
potamon Neilon.] _The Egyptians, by the term Oceanus, understand their own
river Nilus_. The same author, in another place, calls this river
Oceames[217]. [Greek: Ton de potamon archaiotaton men onoma schein Okeamen,
hos estin Hellenisti okeanos.] The former term, Ogenus, whence the Greeks
borrowed their Oceanus, was a compound of Oc-Gehon, and Avas originally
rendered Ogehonus. It signifies the noble Gehon, and is a name taken from
one of the rivers of Paradise. The Nile was sometimes called simply Gehon,
as we learn from the author of the Chronicon Paschale. [218][Greek: Echei
de (he Aiguptos) potamon Geon--Neilon kaloumenon.] It was probably a name
given by the Cuthites, from whom, as will be hereafter shewn, the river
Indus had the name of Phison. [219][Greek: Potamoi onomastoi Indos, ho kai
Pheison, Neilos, ho kai Geon.] _The two most celebrated rivers are the
Indus, the same as the Phison, and the Nile, which is called the Gehon._
The river, also, of Colchis, rendered Phasis, and Phasin, was, properly,
the Phison. The Nile, being of old styled Oc-Gehon, and having many