to the coast of Tyre and Sidon.

If so many instances may be obtained from the west, many more will be
found, as we proceed towards the east; from whence these terms were
originally derived. Almost all the places in Greece were of oriental
etymology; or at least from Egypt. I should suppose that the name of
Methane in the Peloponnesus had some relation to a fountain, being
compounded of Meth-an, the fountain of the Egyptian Deity, Meth, whom the
Greeks called [Greek: Metis], Meetis.

[618][Greek: Kai Metis protos genetor, kai Eros poluterpes.]

We learn from [619]Pausanias, that there was in this place a temple and a
statue of Isis, and a statue also of Hermes in the forum; and that it was
situated near some hot springs. We may from hence form a judgment, why this
name was given, and from what country it was imported. We find this term
sometimes compounded Meth-On, of which name there was a town in
[620]Messenia. Instances to our purpose from Greece will accrue continually
in the course of our work.

One reason for holding waters so sacred arose from a notion, that they were
gifted with supernatural powers. Jamblichus takes notice of many ways, by
which the gift of divination was to be obtained. [621]_Some_, says he,
_procure a prophetic spirit by drinking the sacred water, as is the
practice of Apollo's priest at Colophon. Some by sitting over the mouth of
the cavern, as the women do, who give out oracles at Delphi. Others are
inspired by the vapour, which arises from the waters; as is the case of
those who are priestesses at Branchidae_. He adds,[622] _in respect to the
oracle at Colophon, that the prophetic spirit was supposed to proceed from
the water. The fountain, from whence it flowed, was in an apartment under
ground; and the priest went thither to partake of the emanation_. From this
history of the place we may learn the purport of the name, by which this
oracular place was called. Colophon is Col-Oph On, tumulus Dei Solis
Pythonis, and corresponds with the character given. The river, into which
this fountain ran, was sacred, and named Halesus; it was also called
[623]Anelon: An-El-On, Fons Dei Solis. Halesus is composed of well-known
titles of the same God.

Delos was famed for its oracle; and for a fountain sacred to the prophetic
Deity. It was called [624]Inopus. This is a plain compound of Ain-Opus,
Fons Pythonis. Places named Asopus, Elopus, and like, are of the same
analogy. The God of light, Orus,