not taken away: the people
still offered, and burnt incense on the high places_. It is observable,
when the king of Moab wanted to obtain an answer from God, that he took
Balaam the prophet, and brought him to the [718]high places of Baal. And,
finding that he could not obtain his purpose there, he carried him into the
field of Zophim unto the top of Pisgah; and from thence he again removed
him to the top of Peor. In all these places _he erected seven altars, and
offered a bullock and a ram on every[719] altar_. It is said of Orpheus,
that he went with some of his disciples to meet Theiodamas, the son of
Priam, and to partake in a sacrifice which he every year offered upon the
summit of a high[720] mountain. We are told by Strabo, that the Persians
always performed their worship upon hills[721]. [Greek: Persai toinun
agalmata kai bomous ouch hidruontai; Thuousi de en hupseloi topoi, ton
ouranon egoumenoi Dia.]

The people of Cappadocia and Pontus observed the like method of worship:
and, of all sacrifices, wherever exhibited upon high places, none, perhaps,
ever equalled in magnificence that which was offered by Mithridates upon
his war with the Romans. He followed the Persic modes of worship, as well
as the mixed rites of the Chaldeans and Syrians. Hence he chose one of the
highest mountains in his dominions: upon the top of which he reared an
immense pile, equal in size to the summit on which it stood: and there he
sacrificed to the God of armies--[722][Greek: Ethue toi Stratioi Dii
patrion thusian, epi orous hupselou koruphen meizona allen epititheis.] The
pile was raised by his vassal princes: and the offerings, besides those
customary, were wine, honey, oil, and every species of aromatics. The fire
is said to have been perceived at the distance of near a thousand stadia.
The Roman poet makes his hero choose a like situation for a temple which he
erected to Venus; and for the grove which he dedicated to the manes of his
father.

[723]Tum vicina astris Ericino in vertice sedes
Fundatur Veneri Idaliae: tumuloque Sacerdos,
Et lucus, late sacer, additur Anchiseo.

In Japan most of their temples at this day are constructed upon eminences;
and often upon the ascent of high mountains. They are all, [724]says
Kaempfer, most sweetly seated: A curious view of the adjacent country, a
spring and rivulet of clear water, and the neighbourhood of a grove with
pleasant walks, being the necessary qualifications of those spot