their rites, there was generally some story of a serpent. There
was a legend about a serpent at Colchis, at Thebes, and at Delphi; likewise
in other places. The Greeks called Apollo himself Python, which is the same
as Opis, Oupis, and Oub. The woman at Endor, who had a familiar spirit, is
called [189][Hebrew: AWB], Oub, or Ob; and it is interpreted Pythonissa.
The place where she resided, seems to have been named from the worship
there instituted: for Endor is compounded of En-Ador, and signifies Fons
Pythonis, the fountain of light, the oracle of the God Ador. This oracle
was, probably, founded by the Canaanites; and had never been totally
suppressed. In antient times they had no images in their temples, but, in
lieu of them, used conical stones or pillars, called [Greek: Baitulia];
under which representation this Deity was often worshipped. His pillar was
also called [190]Abaddir, which should be expressed Abadir, being a
compound of Ab, [Hebrew: AWB], and Adir; and means the serpent Deity,
Addir, the same as Adorus. It was also compounded with On, a title of the
same Deity: and Kircher says that Obion is still, among the people of
Egypt, the name of a serpent. [Hebrew: AWB], Ob Mosi, Python, vox ab
AEgyptiis sumpta; quibus Obion hodieque serpentem sonat. Ita [191]Kircher.
The same also occurs in the Coptic lexicon. The worship of the serpent was
very antient among the Greeks, and is said to have been introduced by
Cecrops. [192]Philochorus Saturno, et Opi, primam in Attica statuisse aram
Cecropem dicit. But though some represent Opis as a distinct Deity; yet
[193]others introduce the term rather as a title, and refer it to more
Deities than one: Callimachus, who expresses it Oupis, confers it upon
Diana, and plays upon the sacred term:

[194][Greek: Oupi, anass' euopi].

It is often compounded with Chan; and expressed Canopus, Canophis,
Canuphis, Cnuphis, Cneph: it is also otherwise combined; as in Ophon,
Ophion, Oropus, Orobus, Inopus, Asopus, Elopus, Ophitis, Onuphis, Ophel.
From Caneph the Grecians formed Cyniphius, which they used for an epithet
to Ammon:

[195]Non hic Cyniphius canetur Ammon,
Mitratum caput elevans arenis.

On the subject of serpent worship I shall speak more at large in a
particular treatise.

AIN.

Ain, An, En, for so it is at times expressed, signifies a fountain, and was
prefixed to the names of many places which were situated near fountains,
and were denominated from them. In