Sol Dominus, sive Vulcanus Rex. This we may infer from
a province in Parthia, remarkable for eruptions of fire, which was called
[697]Asta-cana, rendered by the Romans Astacene, the region of the God of
fire. The island Delos was famous for the worship of the sun: and we learn
from Callimachus, that there were traditions of subterraneous fires
bursting forth in many parts of it.

[698][Greek: Phukos hapan katephlexas, epei perikaieo puri].

Upon this account it was called [699]Pirpile; and by the same poet Histia,
and Hestia, similar to the name above. [700][Greek: Istie, o neson
euestie.] The antient Scythae were worshippers of fire: and Herodotus
describes them as devoted to Histia[701]. [Greek: Hilaskontas Histien men
malista]. From hence, I think, we may know for certain the purport of the
term Istachar, which was a name given to the grand Pureion in Chusistan
from the Deity there worshipped. It stands near the bottom of the hills
with the caverns in a widely-extended plain: which I make no doubt is the
celebrated plain of the magi mentioned above by Clemens. We may from these
data venture to correct a mistake in Maximus Tyrius, who in speaking of
fire-worship among the Persians, says, that it was attended with
acclamations, in which they invited the Deity to take his repast[702].
[Greek: Pur, despota, esthie]. What he renders [Greek: esthie], was
undoubtedly [Greek: Hestie], Hestie, the name of the God of fire. The
address was, [Greek: O Pur, despota, Hestie]: O mighty Lord of fire,
Hestius: which is changed to O Fire, come, and feed.

The island Cyprus was of old called [703]Cerastis, and Cerastia; and had a
city of the same name. This city was more known by the name of Amathus: and
mention is made of cruel rites practised in its [704]temple. As long as the
former name prevailed, the inhabitants were styled Cerastae. They were more
particularly the priests who were so denominated; and who were at last
extirpated for their cruelty. The poets imagining that the term Cerastae
related to a horn, fabled that they were turned into bulls.

[705] Atque illos gemino quondam quibus aspera cornu
Frons erat, unde etiam nomen traxere Cerastae.

There was a city of the same name in Euboea, expressed Carystus, where the
stone [706]Asbestus was found. Of this they made a kind of cloth, which was
supposed to be proof against fire, and to be cleansed by that element. The
purport of the name is plain; and the natural histo