MSS. have it, Aor-pata, is the same as [173]Petah Or,
the priest of Orus; or, in a more lax sense, the votaries of that God. They
were [Greek: Androktonoi]; for they sacrificed all strangers, whom fortune
brought upon their coast: so that the whole Euxine sea, upon which they
lived, was rendered infamous from their cruelty: but they did not take
their name from this circumstance.

One of the Egyptian Deities was named Neith, and Neit; and analogous to the
above her priests were styled [174]Pataneit. They were also named Sonchin,
which signifies a priest of the Sun: for Son, San, Zan, are of the same
signification; and Son-Chin is [Greek: Zanos hiereus]. Proclus says, that
it was the title of the priests; and particularly of him, who presided in
the college of Neith at Sais.

BEL and BAAL.

Bel, Bal, or Baal, is a Babylonish title, appropriated to the Sun; and made
use of by the Amonians in other countries; particularly in Syria and
Canaan. It signified [Greek: Kurios], or Lord, and is often compounded with
other terms; as in Bel-Adon, Belorus, Bal-hamon, Belochus, Bel-on; (from
which last came Bellona of the Romans) and also Baal-shamaim, the great
Lord of the Heavens. This was a title given by the Syrians to the Sun:
[175][Greek: Ton Helion Beelsamen kalousin, ho esti para Phoinixi Kurios
Ouranou, Zeus de par' Hellesi.] We may, from hence, decypher the name of
the Sun, as mentioned before by Damascius, who styles that Deity Bolathes:
[176][Greek: Phoinikes kai Suroi ton Kronon El, kai Bel, kai Bolathen
eponomazousi.] What he terms Bolathes is a compound of Bal-Ath, or
Bal-Athis; the same as Atis, and Atish of Lydia, Persis, and other
countries. Philo Biblius interprets it Zeus: Damascius supposed it to mean
Cronus; as did likewise Theophilus: [177][Greek: Enioi men sebontai ton
Kronon, kai touton auton onomazousi Bel, kai Bal, malista hoi oikountes ta
anatolika klimata.] This diversity amounts to little: for I shall hereafter
shew, that all the Grecian names of Deities, however appropriated, were
originally titles of one God, and related to the Sun.

KEREN.

Keren signifies, in its original sense, _a horn_: but was always esteemed
an emblem of power; and made use of as a title of sovereignty and
puissance. Hence, it is common with the sacred writers to say [178]_My horn
shalt thou exalt--[179]his horn shall be exalted with honour--[180]the horn
of Moab is cut off:_ and the Evangelist[181] speaks of Christ as _a hor