A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

ELYSII CAMPI,

The Elysian Fields, so variously spoken of by ancient Writers. Elysium is doubtless an Hebrew or a Phaenician word, which signifies a place of Delight and Joy.

All the Nations have made themselves a Paradice and a Hell; the Phaenicians shew'd example to the Egyptians and the Greeks; and 'tis very likely that the Meadow, mentioned by Diodorus Siculus, in the description he has left us of the Egyptian's Funerals, was the Elysian Field of Egypt, which he placed about Memphis, very near the Acherusian Lake, which is surrounded with most delightful Meadows. Homer says that dead Men inhabit these Mea∣dows, because 'tis the Egyptians Burial place, who carry the Corps of the Dead over the Acherusian Lake. Pratum ficta mortuerum habi∣tatio, est locus propè Memphim juxta Paludem, quam vocant Acherusiam, circa quam sunt prata amaenissima. Appositè autem dicit Homerus mortuos istis in locis Habitare, quoniam maximae Aegyptio∣rum funerationes ibi peraguntur; mortui per lacum & fluvium Acherusiam transfretantur.

Besides these Elysian Fields, Homer speaks of some others, which are in a very remote Country; and if we believe what Strabo says, they are in Spain. And Proteus King and Pro∣phet of Aegypt foretold to Menelaus,

that the Gods will send you to the Elysian Fields, where is Rhadamanihus, and where Men live∣very pleasantly; there falls neither Snow nor Rain, and there is no Winter, but Zephirs cool Men with their sweet breath.

Strabo applies this description to Spain, and affirms that the Fortnnate Islands are so cal∣led, because they are in the Neighbourhood of Spain.

Diodorus Siculus has made a description of them, which is yet extant.

Horace speaks of these Islands, famous for their Riches.

Ereptum Stygiis fluctibus Aeacum Virtus & favor, & lingua potentiam Vatum divitibus consecrat insulis.

Hesiod placed the Heroes in the Isle of the Blessed, which lies in the Ocean; therefore the ancient Geographers have placed an Ely∣sian Field and a River Lethe there.

The Phaenicians found abundance of Riches in Spain, and that it was a very pleasant Country, wherefore they called it a Para∣dice.

But after the Fortunate Islands were disco∣vered, and the Treasures of Spain were almost wasted, there they placed the Elysian Fields, and called those Islands the Isles of the Bles∣sed. Plato gave that name to the Paradice or Dwelling-place of Just Men. Hesychius dis∣covers some other places, that were account∣ed the abode of Felicity, Elysium, Beatorum In∣sula. Some Authors say that this place is in Egypt; others in the Isle of Lesbos, and many others in a place stricken with a Thunderbolt, and inaccessible to Men.

Dionysius, who has made the description of the World, mentions the white Island in the black Sea, called also the Isle of the Heroes, where Achilles and the other Heroes dwell since their death, by the favour of Jupiter, who rewards Virtue.

Italy had also her Elysian Fields, as Virgil relates in the 6th Book of the Aeneid, where he places the Elysian Fields in Italy, and says, that Aeneas went to see them, and there met Anchisos his Father.

Plutarch places the Elysian Fields in the Moon. And when Hesychius said that some Writers thought the Elysian Fields were in a place inaccessible to Men, because of the Thunderbolts and stormy weather, it seems that he makes allusion to the Terrestrial Pa∣radice mentioned in the Holy Scripture, from whence Adam was driven away after his Sin, and the entry whereof was guard∣ed by a Cherubim, armed with a Flaming Sword.

Pindarus makes a very fine description of the Paradice and Happiness of just Men, But he seems to allow two Paradices for just Men; and the most excellent of these Para∣dices is granted to them after they have kept their Innocency during three several Lives, and in three several Bodies.

Statius is also for two Paradices, one in Heaven, and the other in the Elysian Fields upon the Earth.

Lucian has left us a very pleasant descrip∣tion of the Elysian Fields, which may be de∣servedly inserted here.

We were conducted to the City of the Isle of the Blessed, to assist at their Feasts, we were ravished at our entrance to see a City of Gold, and Walls of Emerald, the

Pavement all in-laid work of Ebony and Ivory. The Temples of Rubies and Dia∣monds, with great Altars raised upon one single precious Stone, on which Hecatombs were seen to smoak. They have seven Gates all of Cinnamon, and a Moat of sweet scented Lustral Water, a hundred yards broad, which was only as deep as was necessary to bath in at ones ease. Yet they have publick Baths of admirable Artifice, wherein they burn nothing but Faggots of Cinnamon. The Edifice was of Crystal, and the Basins or Bathing Tubs great Vessels of Porcelain full of Dew. Now the Blessed have no Body, and are inpalpable; yet they drink and eat, and perform the other natu∣ral functions; they never grow old, but remain continually at the Age they dye in, being that old Men there recover their Beauty and Vigour. Of all the Seasons they know none but the Spring, and feel no o∣other Wind but Zephirus, but the Earth is covered with Flowers and Fruits all the Year long, which are gathered every month, and they are said to bear twice in the Month called Minos: Their Ears, instead of Corn, are loaded with little Loaves like Mushrooms. There are three hundred six∣ty five Fountains of fresh Water, and as many of Honey, and four hundred of sweet Oyntment, but smaller than the others, with several Rivers of Milk and Wine. They keep their Feasts without the City in the Elysian Fields under the shade of a Wood, which surrounded it, there they sat upon Beds of Flowers, and have their Meat brought by the Winds. They are at no pains to make Garlands, for the little Birds, which hop round singing, scatter Flowers upon them, which, they have pillaged in the neighbouring Meadows; they never cease singing during the Meal, and rehear∣sing curious fine Verses. Their Dances are compos'd of Boys and Virgins, and their Musick-Masters are Eunomus, Arion, Anaereon, and Stesichorus. When they have finished their Songs, appears a second Quire of Mu∣sicians, composed of Swans and Nightin∣gales, which with the Zephirs make up a most pleasant Consort. But what furnishes most to the felicity of the Blessed is, that there are two Springs, the one of Laughter and the other of Joy, of which each Man drinks a whetting Brusher, before he sets down to Table, which renders him gay and chearful all the rest of the day.