A new system, or, An analysis of ancient mythology : wherein an attempt is made to divest tradition of fable, and to reduce the truth to its original purity ... . om eo,to go. But Eanus was undoubtedly the fame as O/i/a? ofthe Greeks, and the lonas of the eaftern nations : by whichwas Signified a Dove. Hence it was that Janus had the nameof Junonius ; for lona and Juno were the fame. Andhence it was, that the coins of Janus in Sicily had upon thereverfe a Dove furrounded with a chaplet; which feems tobe a chaplet of Olive. The Romans made a diftindion between Janus and Sa-turn ; and fuppofed t
A new system, or, An analysis of ancient mythology : wherein an attempt is made to divest tradition of fable, and to reduce the truth to its original purity ... . om eo,to go. But Eanus was undoubtedly the fame as O/i/a? ofthe Greeks, and the lonas of the eaftern nations : by whichwas Signified a Dove. Hence it was that Janus had the nameof Junonius ; for lona and Juno were the fame. Andhence it was, that the coins of Janus in Sicily had upon thereverfe a Dove furrounded with a chaplet; which feems tobe a chaplet of Olive. The Romans made a diftindion between Janus and Sa-turn ; and fuppofed them to have been names of differentmen : but they were two titles of the fame perfon. Saturnis reprefented as a man of great piety and juflice ; underwhom there was an age of felicity ; when as yet there wereno laws, no fervitude, no feparate property. * Rex Saturnustantas juftitise fuiffe traditiir, ut neque fervierit fub illo quif-quam^ neque quicquam privatae rci haberet: fed omnia ^^ L. I. p. 159. * Cornificius Etymorum libro tertio, Cicero, inquitj nor. Jani:m, kiii. Eanumnonninat. Macrob. Sat. L. 9. p. 158.»4^ Juftin. 1. 43. c. I. com- Plate The Analysis of Ancient Mythology. 261 communia. He is by Lucian made to fay of himfelf, ^ a^sigvit s[JL8 ^hKo; r^v. The Latines in great meafure confine hishiftory to their own country; where, Hke Janus, he is re-prefented as refining and modelHng mankind, and givingthem laws. At other times he is introduced as prior tolaw; which are feeming contrarieties, very eaiy to be recon-ciled. Saturn is by Plato fuppofed to have been the fon ofOceanus : by others he was looked upon as the offspring ofCoelus. The poets fpeak of him as an ancient king, inwhofe time there was no labour, nor feparate property ; theearth producing every thing Ipontaneoufly for the good ofman. He was however at other times defcribed with thatemblem of hufbandry, the * fickle, in his hand : and re-prefented as going over the whole earth, teaching to plant,
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Keywords: ., bo, booksubjecthistoryancient, booksubjectmythology, bookyear1774
