CHAP. XXIII.
Of divers Gods in divers Countries.
THe Aegyptians were yet more foolish in this behalf than the Romans (I mean the Heathenish Romans that then were, and not the Popish Ro∣mans that now are, for no Nation approacheth near to these in any kind of Idolatry.) The Aegyptians worshipped Anubis in the likeness of a Dog, be∣cause he loved Dogs and hunting.* 1.1 Yea they worshipped all living creatures, as namely of Beasts, a Bullock, a Dog, and a Cat; of flying Fowls, Ibis (which is a Bird with a long bill, naturally devouring up venemous things and noisome Serpents) and a Sparrow-hawk: of fishes they had two gods; to wit, Lepidotus piscis, and Oxyrinchus. The Saitans and Thebans had to their god a Sheep. In the City Lycopolis they worshipped a Woolf; in Herinopolis, the Cynocephalus; the Leopolitans, a Lyon; in Laetopolis, a Fish, in Nilus called Latus. In the City Cyno∣polis, they worshipped Anubis. At Babylon, besides Memphis, they made an Oni∣on their god; the Thebans, an Eagle, the Mendeseans, a Goat; the Persians, a Fire called Orimasda; the Arabians, Bacchus, Venus, and Diasaren; the Boeoti∣ans, Amphyaraus; the Africans, Mopsus; the Scythians, Minerva; the Naucra∣tits, Serapis, which is a Serpent; Astartes (being as Cicero writeth the fourth Ve∣nus, who was she, as others affirm, whom Solomon worshipped at his Concubines request) was the goddess of the Assyrians. At Noricum, being a part of Bavaria, they worship Tibilenus; the Moores worship Juba; the Macedonians, Gabirus; the Poenians, Uranius; at Samos, Juno was their god; at Paphos, Venus; at Lem∣nos, Vulcan; at Naxos, Liberus; at Lampsack, Priapus with the great genitals; who was set up at Hellespont to be adored. In the Isle Diomedea, Diomedes; at Delphos, Apollo; at Ephesus, Diana was worshipped. And because they would play small game rather than sit out, they had Acharus Cyrenaicus, to keep them from Flies and flie-blows; Hercules Canopius, to keep them from Fleas; Apollo Parnopejus,* 1.2 to keep their cheeses from being Mouseaten. The Greeks were the first, that I can learn to have assigned to the gods their principal Kingdoms and Offices: as Jupiter to rule in Heaven, Pluto in Hell, Neptune in the Sea, &c. To these they joyned, as assistants, divers Commissioners; as to Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Minerva: to Neptune, N••reus, &c. Tutilina was on∣ly a mediatrix to Jupiter, not to destroy Corn with Thunder or Tempests, before whom they usually lighted Candles in the Temple, to appease the same, accor∣ding to Popish custom in these dayes.* 1.3 But I may not repeat them all by name, for the gods of the Gentiles were by good record, as Varro and others report, to the number of thirt thousand, and upward. Whereby the reasonable Rea∣der may judge their superstitious blindness.