AMMONIUS or HAMMONIUS,
Jupiter Ammon, worship'd in Libya under the figure of a Ram, of which some say this was the Reason; Bacchus having subdu'd Asia, and passing with his Army through the Desarts of Africa, was in great Want of Water, and rea∣dy to perish with Thirst; but Jupiter his Fa∣ther assuming the shape of a Ram, led him to a Fountain where he refresh'd his Army, and in requital of so great a Benefit. Bacchus built him a Temple there, under the Title of Jupiter 〈◊〉〈◊〉, i. e. Sandy, because of the Sands of Africa. Others say he was call'd Ammon from a Shepherd of that Name, who built an Altas to him there.
The Latin Interpreter of Arutus, who is cal∣led Bossus or Germanicus Caesar, writes, That the Rom which shew'd the Fountain to Bacchus, when he conducted his Army thro the Desarts of Li∣bys, was plac'd among the Celestial 〈◊〉〈◊〉; and Bacchus erected a magnificent Temple to Jupiter in the place where he found the Fountain, about nine days Journey from Alexandria, who, from the Sand that was there, was call'd Jupiter Ammon. You may consult upon this Subject Quintus Curtius, lib. 4. Diodorus Siculus, lib. 17. or Arrian, lib. 4. de Expedit. Alenand,
Jupiter was figur'd with a Ram's Head be∣cause his Oracles were always very intricate, if we may credit Servius. But Herodotus gives a better Reason, when he tells us that the Am∣monians borrow'd this Worship of the Egyptians of the City of Thebes, where Jupiter had a Ram's Head.
Strabe relates, with some appearance of Rea∣son, that the Place where Jupiter Ammon's Temple stood, was formerly near the Sea, and that the great Concourse of People, which came to consult this Oracle, is an evident Proof of it; for a place so far distant from the Sea, and standing in such vast Desarts of Sand, could never be so frequented. He speaks else∣where of the Travels of Hercules, Perseus and Alexander to consult this Oracle.
This Relation supposes always, that Jupiter Ammon was King of Aegypt, whose Worship, after his Apotheosis or Deification in Egypt, pass'd into the distant Provinces. Diodorus Si∣culus, describing a Tradition of the Libyans, gives us a Relation that proves the thing, viz. That Jupiter Ammon was a great King, of whom was made a fabulous God, and a fictitious Ora∣cle after his death. This Historian cites ano∣ther more ancient Writer, who says, That Ammon reign'd in Libya, and marryed Rhea the Daughter of Caelus, and Sister of Saturn and the other Titans; that Rhea divorcing herself from Ammon, marryed Saturn, and put him upon mak∣ing War with Ammon, in which he was victo∣rious, and forced Ammon to save himself by Sea, and fly into Crete, where he made himself King.
Arrian says, That Perseus and Hercules ac∣counted themselves the Posterity of Jupiter; and that Alexander being envious of their Glo∣ry, call'd himself also the Son of Ammon, who was the Jupiter of Libya.