Pilgrimage, Book 3 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
Of Asia propriè dicta: now called Sarcum.
THIS Region (in this strict sense) being a particular prouince of the lesser Asia, aPtol. l.5, c.2, Maginus. Ortelius in Parergo.is bounded on the West with part of Propontis, and Hellespont, the Aegean, Icarian and Myrtoan seas: on the South, with the Rhodian sea, Lycia, and Pamphilia: on the East, with Galatia; on the North with Pontus and Bythinia, and part of Propontis. In which space are contained Phrygia, Caria, and both Mysia's, Aeolis, Ionia, Doris, Lydia. Some bVadian…s.circumcise from hence both Phrygia, and Mysia, alledging the authoritie of cAct.16.6.S. Luke. But in the Apocalypse c. 1. these parts are also added. and 1. Pet. 1. 1.
Phrygia is diuided into the greater, which lyeth Eastward: and the lesse, called also Hellespontiaca & Troas, & of some Epictetus. The greater Phrygia hath not many cities. Here stood Midaium, the royall seate of Mydas, and Apamia the Phrygian Metropolis, dPlin.l.5.c.…9.Phrygia is called of the riuer Phryx, which diuideth it frō Caria. Herodotus telleth eHerodot.l.2.that the Phrygians were accounted the most ancient of all people: for the trial wherof, Psammetichus King of Egipt had shut vp, without societie of any humane creature, two children, causing only Goates to be admitted to suckle them, who after long time pronounced bee which they had learned of the Goates: but because that (with the Phrygians) signified bread, therefore they accounted the Phrygians first authors of mankinde. Before Deucalions floud, Nannacus fSuida….is reported to raigne there, and foreseeing the same to hauehave assembled his people into the Temple, with supplications and prayers. Hence grew the prouerbe to say; A thing was from Nannacus, which was exceeding old. Many antiquities are told of their Gods: whose Theologie thus is recited gEus…de praep… l.2.4.by Eusebius. The Phrygians tell, that Meon was the most ancient King of Phrygia, the father of Cybele, who inuented the pipe called Syrinx, and was named the Mountaine-mother, beloued of Marsyas. But when as Attis had raised her belly, her father slaying him and his fellowes, she, enraged with madnesse, ran vp and downe the countrey. Marsyas romed with her, who after, being ouercome in a Musicall contention of Apollo, was flaied quicke. After these things did Apollo louelove Cybele, with whom she wandered to the Hyperboreans: and by his command the body of Attis was buried, and Cybele obtained diuine honours. Hence it is, that euen to this day the Phrygians bewaile the yong mans death. In Pessinus a Citie of Phrygia (after reckoned to Galatia) they erected a Temple to Attis, and Cybele. After the death of Hyperion, the children of Coelus parted the kingdom amongst them, the most famous of which were Atlas and Saturne: to the first of which befell the parts adioining to the Ocean. He had great skill in Astronomie. Of his seuen daughters were procreated many of the Gods and Heroes: and of Maia the eldest, and Iupiter, was Mercury begotten. Saturne the sonne of Atlas being couetous and wicked, married Cybele his Sister, and had by her Iupiter. They tell of another Iupiter, brother of Coelus, and King of Crete, (but there and here they are so entangled with Fables, that the least inquirie hath most ease and no lesse certaintie.) This Cretan held the Empire of the world, and had ten sonnes, whom they call Curetes: his Sepulchre they shew to this day. Saturne (the brother of Atlas) raigned in Italy and Sicilia, till Iupiter his sonne dispossessed him, who proued a seuere Prince to the wicked, and bountifull to the good. Thus much Eusebius of the Phrygian diuinitie out of their owne Legends, the mysteries whereof he after vnfoldeth. Other tales they had, as, that Minerua killed there a fire-breathing beast; of Philemon and Baucis: and such like, mentioned by the Poets Maeander making warres with the Pessinuntians vowed for sacrifice whatsoeuer he …rst met after he returned with conquest, which he performed on Archelaus his sonne, ouercomming, hGramay.saith one, pietie with pietie. Impious is that pietie which destroyeth humanitie, and diuelish cruelty both in the idoll and idolater: as appeared also in the euent, (if our story be true) the father rewarding such pietie with greater impietie on himselfe, and casting himselfe into the riuer, left his name therevnto. The like is told of the riuers Sagaris and Scamander. Hercules, when hee went with the Argonautes to Colchos, came on shore on Phrygia to amend his oare, and being thirstie sent his sweeting Hylas to the riuer for water, who falling therein was drowned, wherevpon he (leauing his companions) wondered in the woods, bemoning his Hylas.
About these times Tantalus *A mirrour for Misers.liued in these parts, a man besides other vices exceedingly couetous, not sparing the Temples of the Gods. Hence arose the Fable that hee was punished in Hell with perpetuall hunger and thirst, whiles pleasant waters, & dainty fruits did offer themselues to his mouth, but when he would hauehave tasted them, fled from him. So indeed doth Mammon torment his followers, making them to want as well that which they hauehave, as that which they hauehave not, the medicine being the increaser of the disease, as when fire is quenched with Oile: like Gardners Asses laden with good hearbes, a burthen to them, foode for others, themselues glad to feede on Thistles. And how many Tantali doe we daily see induring a hunger and thirst in the middest of their abundance? a monstrous and vnnaturall sicknes, to hunger after that which they hauehave, yet cannot, yet will not feede on; a dropsie-thirst, saue that they dare not drinke that, which they hauehave and thirst for. Vnworthy of that life, which he sacrificeth to that, which neuer had the dignitie to be mortall: vnworthy that body, which he pineth with plentie; or that soule, which he damneth for a fancy of hauing; or that nature of man which he confineth to the Galleys, to the Mines, in the seruice of a peece of earth; vnworthy of the name of christian, whose CHRIST was, to one of his iIndus. Mat. 26.15.forefathers, worth thirty pence, but now this will sell him for three halfe pence, for a peece of bread, yea, like Aesops dog, for the shadow of a peece of bread; vnworthy of any thing, saue that his couetise, to be his tempter, his tormentor, his fury, his diuell: Once, pitty it is, that he priseth a halter so deare, else would he rid the world of a burthen, & himself of his worthlesse life. But whether hath Tantalus carried me? Take heed (reader) he do not carry thee further, or thou him, beyond words: They say he would hauehave sacrificed his son Pephilops, had not diuine power releeued him: thou art like to finde him Tantalus still. What the Poets tell of Ganymedes eueryevery one knowes; of Niobe famous for her sonnes and daughters, which she lost all in one day: of Mydas (another Tantalus) whose couetousnes became a new Alchymie kThe Fable was that Mydas hauing his wish granted, wished all that he touched might become golde: & so his meate was golde and starued him.to turne all into Golde. And how doth this two-fould Alchymie gull the world? the one making with vaine hopes a rich estate become poore, the other with full haps making all Gold but the man; onelyonly the Romane lLa Noue discourse.Alchimist is Maister of that Art, which the former professe, that turnes so easily a little Lead into so much good gold: onelyonly the wise man, wise in the later, to bee Maister of himselfe and his wealth, not a slaue to passion or pelfe. And yet Mydas in a publike calamitie, (happening by an Earthquake, which swallowed vp houses) warned by an Oracle, to cast into those gaping iawes of the Earth that which was most precious: hurled therein much treasure (what could he thinke more precious: and how much more easily would many a Mydas hauehave hurled in himselfe?) But the Earth not yet satisfied would not close vp her mouth, till his sonne Anchurus, (esteeming man to bee most precious) leaped in, and the reconciled Element receiued an Altar in witnesse of his haughtie courage. There were many Phrygian Kings named Mydas.
The Phrygians sacrificed to the Riuers Maeander and Marsias: they placed their Priests after death vponupon stone, ten cubits high. They mStobaeus.did not sweare, or force others to an oath: they were much addicted to diuination by Birds. Macrobius nMacrob.l.I.21.applyeth their tales of Cybele, and Attis to the Sunne. Silenus is reckoned among the Phrygian deities: whom oGoropij, Becces.Goropius fetcheth out of Scythia, and maketh him Mydas his Maister in Geography and Philosophy: The diligent attendance of the Scholler was occasion to that Fable of his long eares: the learning of the Maister gaue him diuine honours.
In Phrygia on the Riuers Sangarius stood Gordie (or as Arrianus pAr.l.2.calleth it, Gordion) of which he reporteth that when Alexander came thither, hee had a great desire to see the tower, in which was the place of Gordius & Midas, that he might behold the shafts or became of Gordius his cart, & the indissoluble knot fastned therto. For great was the fame therof amongst the next adioining people: that Gordius was one of the auncient inhabitants of Phrygia, hauing a little place of ground, and two yokes of Oxen, the one he vsed to the plough, the other to the waine or Cart. And while hee was one day at plough, an Eagle sate vponupon the yoke, and there continued till euening. Gordius, astonished at so ominous a token, went to the Telmissean sooth-sayers (for to the Telmissean both men and women this diuining science seemed haereditary) and there met with a Virgin, whom he acquainted with this accident: she counselled him to returne thither and to sacrifice to Iupiter the King, for the augury was good. Gordius entreated her company with him, that she might instruct him how to sacrifice, which shee granted vntounto him, and afterwards her selfe also in Marriage. These had betwixt them Midas, a proper stripling. Now, a sedition happening among the Phrygians, they consulted with the oracle, which answered that a Cart should bring them a King, that should end that sedition. And whiles they were musing on this answere, Midas came riding in his Cart (with his parents) into the throng, and was by the Phrygians forthwith acknowledged King. The Carre, in memory hereof, was hāged vp to Iupiter in the tower (or temple of Iupiter, gQu. Curt.l.3.so Cursius calleth it) with thanks for that Eagle (Iupiters Bird) sent before to fore-signifie thus much to his Father. The knot fastned vntounto it, was of the barke of the Comell or dogge-tree, wouen with such Arte that a man could neither finde beginning nor ende thereof. Bruted it was amongst the Phrygians, that he which could vntie it should be Lord of all Asia. Alexander turning it to and fro, and with vaine curiositie searching how to loosen it, at last with his Sword chopped it in sunder least he should otherwise leaue some scruple in the hearts of his Souldiours. Thus farre Arrianus.
In the Lesser Phrygia, (of a Hill therein, called Idaea; of a Riuer, Xanthe, of the Kings, Troas, Dardania, &C.) stood that eye of Asia, and starre of the East, called Ilium or Troy. Of which, all that I can say will but obscure the renowne and glory, which all heathen Antiquitie hauehave by an vniuersall consent of poesie, and historie, giuen to it. And what Greeke or Latine Author hath not mentioned her ruines, and done exequies to her funerall? Dardanus is named her founder, after whom, and his succeeding sonne Ericthonius, Tros ruled, who erected the Temple of Pallas, and reedified the Citie, leauing thereto his name. To him succeeded Ilus, and after him his sonne Laomedon, whom Neptune and Apollo helped in repairing the Citie: which Hercules sacked, and Priamus restored, but to a greater losse, by the Graecians ten yeers siege, and one nights spoile. Dares, rDaret. Dictys Homer. E… …ipid. Virg. Ouid. Horat. S… neca. Silius. Statius. Claud. &c.and Dictys, supposed historians of those times, besides Homer, and the Greekes and Latines his followers, hauehave more then enough related the particulars. Hesione, Sister to Priamus, was by Hercules giuen to Telamon for first entring the walles. Her did Priam demaund in vaine by Antenor, and Aeneas his ambassadours. Parts, otherwise called Alexander, one of the fiftie children of Priamus and Hecuba, was sent in the same businesse, and returned with Helena the wife of Menelaus a Lacedemonian Prince: who consulting with the other Graecian Lords for her recouerie, first Diomedes and Vlisses were sent to intreat; after, a thousand saile of ships, to force her restitution: which after a tedious warre, with much losse on the one side, and vtter ruine on the other, was effected. The league of the Greekes was made by Calchas, who diuiding a bore in two parts, caused the Princes with their swords drawne and besprinkled with bloud to passe betweene, swearing destruction to Priamus and the Troians. The like rites of solemne Couenant wee reade obserued by God sGen.15.15.himselfe: and by the tIerem.34.1….Iewes.
The religion of Phrygia and Troy, and all these Graecian parts of Asia were little, (if little) differing from the Greeke superstitions: of which in our Europe-discoueries we are to relate. Therefore adiourning a larger discourse till then, we are a little to mention here their deuotions. In Troy were the Temples of Iupiter Hercens, at whose Altar Priam was slaine; of Iupiter Fulminator, of Iuno, Apollo, Minerua, Mercurie, Neptune; To Neptune they, which sailed, did sacrifice a blacke bull, and oxen, whose hinder parts were burnt, the inwards they tasted; Rams and Hogges were sacrificed also to him. To Mercurie clouen tongues hurled into the fire; To Venus, on the hill Ida; To Scamander, to the Nymphs, in Caues. To the dead also they sacrificed blacke sheepe, ouer a ditch or hole in the ground, with wine, water, & flower, thinking that the soules drank the bloud. They had whole flocks sacred to the Gods, vntouched by men. They obserued Auguries, Thunders, dreames, Oracles of Apollo and other superstitions. But the most famous of all, their fatall Palladium, (a Name giuen to all images which superstition beleeued not made with hands) was said to hauehave fallen from heauen at Pessinus, or (as Apollodorus witnesseth) at Ilium, at the prayer of Ilus when he built it. Some uNat Com:….4.c.5.say Asius a Philosopher made it by Magicall Arte: that it moued vp and downe, holding in the right hand a iauelin; in the left, a Distaffe. It was three cubits long. Apollo's Oracle fore-warned, that that Citie should neuer be taken, in whose walles it was kept. They hid it therefore in a more secret part of the Tower, that it should not bee publikely knowne, making many other like it to deceiue all suture deceiuers. A womanPriest attended the holy things in honour thereof, keeping fire continually burning. It was vnlawfull with common hands or eyes to touch or see it. And therefore when Ilus saued it from flames, the Temple being on fire, hee was for his blinde zeale punished with blindnes; of which, soone after be recouered by diuine indulgence: Ulisses stole it from them. And thus perished that famous Phrygian Citie, if that may be said to perish which still continueth, farre farre more famous by Homers pen, then Priams Scepter or Hectors valour.
The ruines thereof are as yet very apparant (according to Bellonius, xP.Bel.l.2.c.6.an eye-witnes, his report) the wailes of the citie yet standing, the remnants of her decayed buildings still with a kinde of maiestie entertaining the beholder: the walles of large circuite, of great spongie blacke and hard stones, cut foure square. There are yet to be seene the ruinous monuments of the Turrets on the walls. They spent foure houres sometime on horse, and sometime on foote, in compassing the walles. Great Marble Tombes of antient workmanship are seene without the wals made Chest-fashion: and their couers yet whole. There are also extant the ruinous shapes of two great Towers; one in the top of the hill, (On the bending vvhereof the towne stood) the other in the bottome: and of another in the middle. Many great Cisterns made to receiue raine-water are yet whole. There are the ruines also of Churches built there, by the sometimes inhabiting Christians. The soile about it is dry and barren: the rivers (so much chaunted) Xanthus and Simois are small rilles, in Summer quite drie.
This Ilium (whose sepulchre onelyonly Bellonius hath seene) is not in that place vvhere old Ilium stood, but thirty furlongs Eastward, if Strabo yLib.13.be receiued, yea it changed the place and situation often, and here at last abode by warning of the Oracle, vvhichwhich also hath now had his Fates as well as Ilium. A small towne was this later Ilium, hauing in it the Temple of Pallas, which Alexander in his time graced, inriching the Temple with offerings, and the place with name of a Citie, with building and immunitie. After his victory ouer the Persians, he sent them a fauourable Epistle, with promise to build them a sumptuous Temple, and there to institute sacred games, which Lysimachus after his death in great part performed, peopling it from the neighbour Cities. The Romans also planted there a Colony, when as Lysimachus afore had walled it, and built the Temple. Fimbria, in the warres against Mithridates, hauing treacherously slaine the Consul Valerius Flaccus, and seeking to enter, vponupon deniall assailed, it and in the eleuenth day entred by force; glorying that he had done as much in eleuen daies, as Agamemnon with a thousand saile of Greekes, had done in ten yeare; Not so much, replied an Ilian, for Hector was not here to defend the Citie. Caesar, aemulous of Alexanders attempts, and deriuing his pedegree from Iulus, confirmed their former liberty, adding a new region to their territory.
Achilles among the later Ilians enioyed a Temple and a Toombe: Patroclus also and Antiochus had their Tombes: to them all and to Aiax did the Ilians sacrifice; an honour denied to Hercules for sacking their Citie: an vniust quarrell, if this yet may bee a iust excuse of their partiall superstition. Thymbra is a field hard by, through which slideth Thymbraeus, disemboking it selfe into Scamander there, where standeth the Temple of Thymbraean Apollo.
Arrianus zLib.I.reporteth, that Alexander sacrificed to Protefilans, (erecting Altars on his graue) vvho vvas the first of the Graecians that in the Troian warre set foote in Asia; as hee had before in the Straites of Hellespont offered a Bull to Neptune and the Sea-Nimphes, powring a golden. Viall into the Sea: and in the places from vvhence hee set saile, and vvhere hee arriued, hee set vp Altars to Iupiter Descensor, to Pallas, and to Hercules. And being come to Ilion hee sacrificed to Troian Pallas, and fastening the armes, which hee vsed, in her Temple, (a rite which the Philistims aI. Sam.31.10.obserued in Saul their enemie, and Dauid bI. Sam.21.9.with the armour of Goliah) hee tooke thence the armour sacred to the Gooddesse; monuments till that day of the Troian warre, afterward the weapons cArgyraspide.of his gard. He dCurt.l.2.appeased also Priamus his Ghost, performing his exequies at the Altar of Iupiter Hercius, so to reconcile him to Neoptolemus his house. Of which hee, by his mother, descended. He crowned Achilles his Tombe: calling him eO fortunate youngman whose virtue sound So braue a Trumpe thy noble acts to sound. Spenser Ruines of Time:happy, who had Homer to blaze abroad his praises to the world, in which he was greater, then Great Alexander.
Not farre hence is the Citie and Hauen Priapus, so called of the beastly God: like to Orthanes and Conisalus and Tychon, drunken Gods of the Athenians. This God or diuell (of more iniquitie, then antiquitie) was not knowne of Hesiod. This Region was called, Adrastia fStrab.l.13.of King Adrastus, who first built a temple of Nemesis calling is Adrastia. In the country adioining was an Oracle of Apollo Actaus, & Diana: whose oratory being demolished, the stones were carried to Parium, where was built an Altar, famous for fairenesse and greatnes. Of this Adrastia was a temple at Cyzicus.
This Cyzicus was a Citie of Mysia minor; (for there is another Mysia called Maior, according to Ptolomeys gPto l.5.c.2.diuision:(the former is called Olympica, the later by Galen hGal desan.tuenda l.5. Ortel. Thesaur., Hellespontica: there is another Mysia in Europe, which Volateran distinguisheth calling it Maesia. Some ascribe this Cyzicus to Bithynia. Wee list not to vmpire betwixt Geographers, but to relate our Historie, iAppian in Mithridatico. Gramay.which telleth that this Citie was renowned for Antiquitie, giuen by Iupiter in Dowrie to Proserpina; whom therefore the inhabitants worship. The greatnesse, beauty, lawes, and other excellencies of Cyzicus let others shew you: their Temple I cannot but stay to view with wonder, kXiphilinus ex Di…ne apud Gram. Plin.l.36.c.15.whose pillars are measured foure cubites thicke, fiftie high, each of one stone: in which, the whole building was of polished stone, and eueryevery stone was ioined to his fellow with a thread lFilum aureum.or line of golde: the image of Iupiter was of Iuory, crowned with a marble Apollo. Such was the beauty of the worke, and costlinesse of the matter, that the Earth whether with louelove seeking to embrace it, or with iust hatred for the idolatrous curiositie, swallowed vp both it and the Citie in an Earthquake. The like befell to Philadelphia, another Mysian Citie (one of the seuen Churches mApoc.3.7.ro which Iohn writ:) and to Magnesia nPius 2. Asia.in the same Region. Neere to Cyzicus was the hill Dyndima: and thereon Cybeles Temple built by the Argonautes: who had also vsed a certaine stone for an anchor, vvhichwhich they fixed sure at Cyzicus with Lead, because it had often plaid the sugitiue, oPlin.l.36.c.15.called therefore the fugitiue Stone. The Cyzican towers yeelded a seuen fold Eccho.
The Mysians for their great deuotion were called Smoke-climers, a fit name for all superstitious. They had in honour the pPolianus.l.6.ap. Gra.Nymph Brythia: vnderunder colour of religion the Parians cousened the Lampsacens of a great part of their territory. Of this Citie was Priapus aforesaid, a man monstrous in lusts, admirable in his plentifull issue; hated of the men (howsoeuer of the women beloued) and by them exiled to a wilde life in the field, till a greeuous disease, sent amongst them, caused them, by warning of the Dodonaean Oracle to recall him; Fit seruitour for such a God. Hence the tale of his huge Genitalles, and of his Garden-deitie. Offering to rauish a Virgin at the time of her Wedding, hee was scared by the braying of an Asse, a creature for this cause consecrated to his sacrifices. Lettice most sutable to such lips.
A little hence standeth Abydus; (and ouer against the same on Europe side, Sestus) chaunted by the Poets, the gard of the Hellespont, one of the keyes (saith Bellonius) of the Turkish Empire; the Castles beeing for that purpose well furnished, the Straites not aboue seuen furlongs ouer. Here did Xerxes ioine Asia to Europe by a bridge, professing warres not against the Greekes alone, but against the elements. To Mount Athos qHerodot.l.7.did this Mount Atheos write his menacing Letters. To the Hellespont he commanded three hundred stripes to be giuen, and fetters to be cast, in with: reuiling speeches for the breach of his new made bridge, which the vvinde (disdaining the stopping of his passage, and infringing his libertie) had by tempest broken.
In Mysia rStrab.l.13.was that famous Pine-tree, foure and twenty foote in compasse, and growing intire threescore and ten foote from the roote, was diuided into three armes aequally distant, which after gathered themselues close into one top, two hundred foote high, and fifteene cubits. Apollo Cillaus had a Temple dedicated to him at Cilla; another was erected at Chrysa to Apollo Smynthius: and twenty furlongs thence, an other to Diana Astirina, another (with a sacred Caue) at Andira, to the mother of the Gods: this Caue reached vnderunder the Earth to Palea, a hundred and thirty furlongs. Attalus reigned in these parts, who furnished the Librarie of Pergamus nPergamus.with two hundred thousand Volumes, for the writing whereof those parchment-skinnes were inuented, therefore called to this day Pergamenae. Of this name Attalus were three of their Kings; the last of which made the Romanes his heires. Here was that cruell Edict of Mithridates published, to murther the Romanes, whereby many, driuen to seeke helpe of Aesculapius in his Temple at Pergamus, found him either vnmercifull, or vnskilfull to cure them, although his Physicke-shop was in this Citie. Here were inuented (by King Attalus) Tapestrie hangings, called Aulaea of aula his hall which was hanged therewith. Here was also a yearely spectacle of the Cock-fight. The Mysian Priests abstained from flesh and Marriage. They sacrificed a Horse, whose inward parts were eaten before their vowes.
Southwards from hence along the Sea-coast, trendeth Aeolis: whereunto adioineth Lydia, called sOrtel. Thes.aunciently Asia, and the inhabitans, Asiones. It was called Maeonia of Manes their first King, who begate Cotys, and he, Attys and Asius, of whome (some say) Asia taketh name. Cambletes tAthex.l.10.c.1 Ex Xantho Lydo.a Lydian King was so addicted to gourmandise, that in the night hee did teare and eate his Wife, and finding her hand (in the morning) in his mouth, the thing being noised abroad, hee killed himselfe. The same Author telleth uLib.12.c.4.of King Andramytes, that hee made women Eunuches for his attendance: that the Lydians were so effeminate, that they might not endure the Sunne to looke vponupon them, for which cause they had their shady bowers: that in a place, therefore called Impure, they forced women and Maidens to their lust, which Omphale (who had endured this violence, comming after to be their Queene) reuenged by as vniust iustice. For assembling all the seruants or slaues, shee shut vp among them their Masters Daughters, permitting them to their pleasures. She was Daughter of Iardanus of the posteritie of Attys, who set Hercules his taske to spin amongst her Maides. Her husband Tmolus defloured Arriphe in Dianas Temple. Of him haply was named the Hill Tmolus, which yeelded golden sands to the Riuer Pactolus. Halyattis xHerodot.l.1.was after a long succession the Lydian King, father to Cresus, whose Sepulcher was an admirable monument, being at the bottome, stone; elsewhere, earth: built by men and women, slaues, and hired persons. It is sixe furlongs in compesse, and two hundred foote, and a thousand and three hundred foote broad. All the Daughters of the Lydians prostitute themselues, and thereby get their liuing and dowrie. These were the first inuenters of coyning money: the first hucsters and pedlers: the first players at Dice, Balles, Chesse, in the time of Attys the first; driuen to this shift by famine, which when they knewe not otherwise to redresse, they deuised these games, passing the time of eueryevery second day with these pastimes, then beguiling their emptie bellies, and (according to their ominous inuention) now not so much the companions, as the harbengers and forerunners of emptinesse, although some contrarie to their first originall vse them to ease their fulnesse. Thus did the Lydians liue (if Herodotus bee beleeued) two and twentie yeares, eating and playing by course, till they vvere faine to diminish their multitudes by sending Colonies vnderunder Tyrrhenus vntounto that part of Italy, ySilius l.4.which of him receiued that name.
Here on the winding streames of Meander (or nigh thereto) was situate Magnesia (not that by Hermus) whose Inhabitants worshipped the Dindymene Mother of the Gods. But the olde Citie and Temple perishing, and a new builded, the Temple was named of Diana Leucophryna, exceeding that of Ephesus in workemanship, but exceeded in greatnesse and multitude of oblations. And yet this was the greatest in Asia except the Ephesian and Dindymene. Of Tralles a neighbouring Citie was Metrodorus the Priest of Iupiter Laryssaeus. In the way from thence zStrabo lib. 14.to Nyssa, is a village of the Nyssaens named Acharaca. There is the Plutonium (compassed with a groue) and the Temple of Pluto and Iuno, and the Caue Charonium, admirable to the view, ouerhanging the Groue, which it threatneth seeming to deuoure it. They say that sicke men which are deuoted to those Gods, goe thither, and in a street neere the Caue, stay with such as are expert in those mysteries, who sleeping for them, inquire the course to cure them, by dreames. These inuoking diuine remedies many times leade them into the Caue, where abiding many dayes with fastings and sweatings, they sometimes intend to their owne dreames, by the Counsells of the Priests. To others this place is pestilent and inaccessible. Here are yearely festiualles solemnized, and then most of all are these deuotions practised. Youths and striplings naked and annoynted, draw or leade a Bull into the same Caue with great speed, who falls anone dead. Thirty furlongs beyond Nyssa is a festiuall place solemnely frequented by the neighbouring Inhabitants, which is said to hauehave a Caue dedicated to the same Gods, and reaching to Acharaca.
After Omphale, Hercules posterity, which he had by her, raigned; carrying for their royall Ensigne that Battle-axe, which Hercules had taken from Hippolita the Amazon. Candaules weary of the burthen, gaue it to one of his Courtiers to beare, interpreted an ominous presage of that which happened. He thinking it not enough happinesse to enioy the beauties of his wife, vnlesse some other eyes were witnesses of his possession, placed Gyges his friend where he might see vnseene (happily the occasion of that aCic…Off.3.tale of Gyges Ring, wherewith he went inuisible) to take view of his wiues nakednesse. But being perceiued by her at his departure, shee put him soone after to his choice, whether he would enioy what he had seene, and the kingdome for dowrie, without other ioynture then Candaules bloud, or would there himselfe be slaine. Easieto iudge his choice, by which Hercules his race failed. Of him descended Croesus, whose History is knowne. Him did Cyrus ouerthrow, bHerodot.li.1.and had set him on a pile of wood to burne him, who then cried Solon, Solon, Solon: which Cyrus not vnderstanding, caused him to be asked, why hee so called. Hee answered, That sometimes drunken with wealth and pleasure, he thought himselfe happy, but then was taught by Solon, not to iudge any happy till his end; which lesson he now learned to his cost: To his good indeed; For Cyrus for this pardoned his life, now the second time saued: which a little before a souldior in taking the City had bereaued, had not naturall affection in his sonne (before this time dumbe) violently inforced Nature to loosen the instruments, of speach and proclaime, It is the King. Thus had the Oracle prophecied, that the day would be dismall and disastrous to the father, when the son should speake (whereto hee had before in vaine sought helpe of GOD and men) and could speake freely all his life after. And this was all that Croesus by his sumptuous cCroesus had bin exceeding liberall to. Apollo, who deluded his Votarie with riddles, as in our Persian relation you may reade.presents, and superstitious deuotion could get of Apollo, which had foretold him, that he himselfe had no power to auert or alter, not to speake of his enigmaticall answers, snares, not instructions, nocuments, not documents vntounto him.