On these Hils the Arke rested, whereof we haue spoken in the first booke.
Hai∣thon
(if we beleeue him of his owne Countrey, where he was of royall linage) cal∣leth
this Mountaine Arath, little differing from the Scripture-appellation Ararat, and
addeth, That although, in regard of abundance of Snow, alway possessing the toppe
thereof, none be able to goe vp thither, yet there alway appeareth in the toppe a cer∣taine
blacke thing, which the vulgar people esteeme to be the Arke.
Armenia (as Strabo
affirmeth) receiued the name of one of Iasons Compa∣nions,
which followed him in his Nauigation out of Harmenia, a Citie of Thessa∣lie,
betweene Pherae and Larissa. The wealth of this Region appeared, when Ptolo∣mey
appointed Tigranes to bring in to the Romanes sixe thousand Talents of Siluer,
he added voluntarily, beyond that summe, to euery souldior in the Campe fiftie
drammes of Siluer, to euery Centurion a thousand, to euery Deputie of a Countrey,
and Chiliarche, a Talent.
Their Religion must at first be that which Noah and his Familie professed; after
by time corrupted. Here (
sayth our Berosus) Noah instructed his posteritie in di∣uine
and humane Sciences, and committed many naturall secrets vnto writing, which
the Scythian Armenians commend to their Priests onely; none else being suffered
to see, or reade, or teach them. He left also Rituall Bookes, or Ceremoniall, of the
which he was tearmed Saga, i. Priest, or Bishop. He taught them also Astronomie,
and the distinction of yeares and moneths: For which, they esteemed him partaker
of diuine Nature, and surnamed him Olybama and Arsa, that is, the Heauen and the
Sunne, and dedicated to him many Cities; some (sayth he) remaining at this day,
which beare these names. And when he went from thence to gouerne Cytim, which
now (as he affirmeth) they call Italie, the Armenians were much affected to him, and
after his death accounted him the Soule of the heauenly bodies, and bestowed on him
diuine honours.
Thus Armenia, where he began, and Italie, where he ended, doe worship him, and
ascribe to him Names, Heauen, Sunne, Chaos, the Seede of the World, the Father of
the greater and lesse Gods, the Soule of the World, mouing Heauen, and the Crea∣tures,
and Man; the God of Peace, Iustice, Holinesse, putting away hurtfull things,
and preseruing good. And for this cause both Nations signifie him in their writings
with the course of the Sunne, and motion of the Moone, and a Scepter of Domini∣on,
persecuting and chasing away the wicked from among the societie of men, and
with the chastitie of the bodie, and sanctimonie of the minde, the two keyes of Re∣ligion
and Happinesse. They called also
Tidea, the mother of all, after her death,
Aretia, that is, the Earth, and Esta, i. the Fire, because she had beene Queene of the
Holy Rites, and had taught maidens to keepe the holy euerlasting fire from euer go∣ing
out.
Noah, before he went out of Armenia, had taught men Husbandrie, more ai∣ming
at Religion and Manners then Wealth and Dainties, which prouoke to vnlaw∣full
things, and had lately procured the wrath of GOD. And first of all men hee
found out and planted Vines, and was therefore called Ianus, which to the Aramae∣ans
soundeth as much as the author of Wine. Thus farre Berosus, lib. 3. and in the
fourth booke he addeth, That Nymbrot (the first Saturne of Babylon) with his sonne
Iupiter Belus, stole away those Rituall or Ceremoniall bookes of Iupiter Sagus, and
came with his people into the Land Sennaar, where he appointed a Citie, and layed
the foundation of a great Tower a hundred one and thirtie yeares after the Floud;
but neither finished this, nor founded the other. Olde Ianus when he went hence,
left Scytha, with his mother Araxa, and some inhabitants, to people Armenia,
being the first King thereof; Sabatius Saga being consecrated High Priest, from
Armenia vnto the Bactrians: all which space (sayth hee) in our Age is called
Scythia Saga. In his fifth booke hee reporteth, That Iupiter Belus, possessed
with ambition of subduing the whole World, closely endeauoured to make (or
take) away Sabatius Saga, who, being not able otherwise to escape his trecherie,
sledde away secretly. But Ninus, the sonne of Belus, pursuing his fathers intent