Page:Proofs of the Enquiry into Homer's Life and Writings.pdf/75

Rh Of holy Pythos : 'Then the bitter Root Of Woe began to shoot to Greece and Troy. Odyssey.

Ibid. (p) / 187. (r)

'DELPHI, says Strabo, is a rocky Place in the form Theatre, with the Oracle at the Top.'

182. (s) / 188. (w)

'The Oracle itself, they say, is a hollow cave, not sloping, but a direct Precipice down* ward, with a narrow kind of Mouth, out of which there issues an Enthusiastic Gale, or Wind that renders Men prophetical. Strabo.

The GREEKS acknowledge themselves to be indebted to the Curetes and Idean Dactyls for the Introduction of Mechanical Arts :—They were propagated by the way of Crete; from whence also the famous prophetical Establishment at Delphi drew its Founders. The Cretans were a knowing, religious People, and expert Mariners, when the rest of Greece was still uncivilized, and utterly ignorant of Sea-Affairs. Of them says Virgil, speaking of the City Megara not far from Athens,

195 (b)

This Town, great Minos, then renown' d in Arms, Kept still in Terrour of his plund'ring Fleet. Ceiris. Rh