The history of the world

§. VI. Of CHAM, and other wicked ones, whereof some gat, some affected the name of Gods.

OF Iupiter Belus, the sonne of Saturnus Babylonicus, otherwise Nimrod, it seemeth that Cicero had not heard, (at least by that name) who was more ancient than any of the former three by him remembred: for long after these times were the Greekes but Saluages, if they seeke no farther off for their Gods.

But the Aegyptians, euen after the floud, began (somewhat before this Chaldaean Iupiter) to intitle Cham, the parent of their owne Mizraim, Iupiter Chammon, or Hammon. For the Etymologie of this word (Hammon) which the Greekes deduce* 1.1 ab arenis; from the sands, is ridiculous (saith Peucer;) neither yet is his owne much

better, who brings it from Hammath, which signifieth heate: because the said Tem∣ple of Iupiter Hammon was seated in Libya, where the ayre is exceeding hot and scortching. And as for the antiquitie of the latter Iupiter (among the Greekes and Romans the most renowned) it is certaine that he was borne not long before the war of Troy, as by many of his sonnes is made manifest; namely, Castor, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Hercules, Sarpedon, and others, which liued in that age of Priumus, vnder whom, and with whom Troy was destroyed.

Now seeing that mortall men, and the most wicked, were esteemed immortall a∣mong the Heathen; it was not to be wondred at, that Alexander Macedon, Tyberius, Nero, Caligula, and others, sought to be numbred among them, who were as defor∣med [unspec 10] monsters as the rest: For by what reason could the same Deitie be denyed vnto Laurentia and Flora, which was giuen to Venus? seeing they were as notorious and fa∣mous Harlots as shee was.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 de Oracul.