Orang-outang, sive, Homo sylvestris, or, The anatomy of a pygmie compared with that of a monkey, an ape, and a man to which is added, A philological essay concerning the pygmies, the cynocephali, the satyrs and sphinges of the ancients : wherein it will appear that they are all either apes or monkeys, and not men, as formerly pretended / by Edward Tyson ...

Of the SPHINGES of the Ancients.

WE come now in the last place to discourse of the Sphinges of the Ancients, where I shall not relate all that is said of them; nor concern my self with the Mythology or Inter∣pretation of the several Fables that have been invented a∣bout them; but I propose rather to shew, that there were indeed such A∣nimals which the Ancients call'd Sphinges; and that they were not Men, but Brutes; and that they were of the Ape or Monkey-kind.

If we consult the fabulous Descriptions that are given of the Sphinx, we shall find it a very monstrous Composition. Apollodorus (a) 1.1 tells us, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. That Sphinx was the daughter of Echidna and Typho, she had the face of a Woman, the Breast, Feet, and Tail of a Lion, and the Wings of a Bird. And (b) 1.2 Ansonius,

Terruit Aoniam, Volucris, Leo, Virgo triformis Sphinx, volucris pennis, pedibus fera, fronte Puella.

But as their Fansies govern'd them, so they made their description. Clear∣chus (as I find him quoted in (c) 1.3 Natalis Comes) has out-done them all; At Clearchus (saith he) Caput & Manus Puellae, Corpus Canis, vocem Ho∣minis, Candam Draconis, Leonis ungues, Alas Avis, illam habuisse scripsit. Palaephatus (d) 1.4 is somewhat different in his Account, where he tells us, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 i. e. They say that the Cadmean Sphynx was a wild Beast, having the Body of a Dog, the Head and Face of a Virgin, the Wings of a Bird, and the Voice of a Man. But for the most part they make the Sphinx Biformis with a Maiden's Face and Lion's Feet; as the Scholiast upon (e) 1.5 Euripides gives it, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. So the Scholiast upon (f) 1.6 Aristophanes, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 And Euripides himself, as he is quoted by (g) 1.7 AElian, makes her to have the Tail and Feet of a Lion, in that Verse,

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Caudam remulcens ad Leoninos pedes.

Where we may observe that AElian tells us here that the AEgyptian Statua∣ries, and the Theban Fables, made the Sphinx to be only Biformis: Bifor∣mem nobis conantur representare, ipsam ex Corpore Virginis & Leonis cum gra∣vitate compositam architect antes, as Gesner there translates him: But the Greeks represented the Sphynx with wings; for as (h) 1.8 AElian in another place tells

us, Sphingem quicunque vel Picturae vel Plasticae operam dant, fingere alatam solent.

But our chief Business is to enquire, how Nature hath formed them; and not how the Poets, Painters, or Statuaries have, according to the Luxuriancy of their Fancie, feigned or figured them; to shew what they really are in themselves, and not what Hieroglyphically the Ancients might intend or understand by them; and we shall find, that they are only a sort of Ape or Monkey, that is bred in AEthiopia and amongst the Troglo∣dytes, of a comely Face, with long Breasts, thence up to their Neck not so hairy as on the rest of their Body; and are of a mild and gentle Na∣ture. For thus i 1.9 Pliny, Lyncas vulgo frequentes, & Sphinges, fusco Pilo, mammis in Pectore geminis AEthiopia generat. And so (k) 1.10 Solinus, Inter Simias habentur & Sphinges, villosae comis (Salmasius reads it villosae omnes) mammis prominulis ac profundis, dociles ad feritatis obli••••ionem. AElian (l) 1.11 places them amongst the wild Beasts of India, whe•• he tells us, Na∣turali quodam Ingenio & Prudentia valent etiam apud nos Anima••••••, non to∣tidem tamen, quot sunt in India: illic enim hujusmodi sunt, Elephantus, Psittacus, Sphinges & nuncupati Satyri, & Indica Formica. And Artemi∣dorus in (m) 1.12 Strabo tells us, that the Sphinges, Cynocephali and Cepi are bred amongst the Troglodytes. Agatharchides (n) 1.13 confirms the same, and gives us this Account of them; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. i.e. The Sphinges, Cynocephali and Cepi are sent to Alexandria from the Country of the Tro∣glodytes and AEthiopia. The Sphinges are like to what they are painted, only they are all hairy, and mild and gentle in their Nature: they have a great deal of Cunning, and a Method of Learning what they attain to, that one would wonder at their aptness to any thing. Diodorus Siculus (o) 1.14 gives us much the same Relation, and 'tis likely Agatharchides borrowed his from him: for he tells us, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. i. e. Sphinges circa Troglodyticam & AEthiopiam existunt, formâ his non absimiles, quae Arte Pictorum exhibentur, nisi quòd hirsutia tantummodò differunt. Placidi illis sunt Animi, & ver∣suti, artisque quae compendio tradi solet, admodum capaces. But Philostor∣gius (p) 1.15 is so particular in his Description, and he is the more to be cre∣dited, because he declares he had seen them himself, that I think I need

no more Authorities to prove what I have here laid down, that these Sphinges were only a sort of Ape or Monkey. I will therefore give you his own words, which are these; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. i. e. A Sphinx is a sort of Ape (I shall write what I saw my self) all the rest of whose Body is ••air〈…〉〈…〉ike other Apes. But it's Sternum or Breast is smooth without hair up 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the ••hroat. It has Mammae or Breasts like a Woman; little reddish Pi〈…〉〈…〉les like Millet Seeds, running round that part of the Body that is bare; very prettily suiting with the Flesh colour in the middle. It's Face is roundish, and resembles a Woman's. It's Voice is very much like the Humane, only it is not articulate, but praecipitate; and like one that speaks unintelligibly thro' Anger and Indignation. When 'tis incensed, it's Voice is deeper. This Animal is very wild, and crafty, and not easily tamed. And Pierius, as I find him quoted by (q) 1.16 Philip Camerarius, gives us much the same description of one he saw at Verona. Harum ego unam (faith he) Veronae quum effem vidi; Mammis illi & Glabris & Candidis, à Pectore propendentibus. Circumducebat eam circulator quidam Gallus, ex ignotis antea Insulis recens advectam. And a little after adds, Ipsa verò Sphinx toto erat pectore glabello, facie & auribus humanis proprioribus, dorso hispido supra modum, fusco & oblongo Pilo, eoque densissimo.

What has been said, I think fully makes out, that the Sphinx is not a meer Figment of the Poets, but an Animal bred in Africa, of the Ape or Monkey-kind. 'Tis different from our Orang-Outang in the colour of it's Hair; in the roundness and comeliness of it's Face; in it's Breasts, being pendulous and long; and the red Pimples it hath on the naked part of it's Body. Pliny tells us (as I have elsewhere remarked) that the Sphin∣ges have Pouches in their Chops as Satyrs and Monkeys have; and the Poets describing them with a Lion's Tail, make me apt to think, that they are of the Monkey-kind.

FINIS.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Apoll••dori Bibliothec. l. 3. c. 5. § 8. p.m. 170.
• (b) 1.2

  Ausonius in Grypho Ternarij.
• (c) 1.3

  Natalis Comes My∣tholog. l. 9. c. 18.
• (d) 1.4

  Palephatus de incredibilibus Historiis Cap. de Sphinge. p.m. 14.
• (e) 1.5

  Eurip. in Phaenissis.
• (f) 1.6

  Aristophan. in Ra••is.
• (g) 1.7

  AElian. de Animal. l. 12. c. 7.
• (h) 1.8

  AElian. de Animal. l. 12. cap. 38.
• i 1.9

  Plinij Hist. Nat. lib. 8. cap. 21. p.m. 168.
• (k) 1.10

  Solinus Polyhist. cap. 27. p.m. 39.
• (l) 1.11

  AElian. de Ani∣mal. lib. 16. cap. 15.
• (m) 1.12

  Strabo Geograph. lib. 16. p. 533.
• (n) 1.13

  Agatharchides apud Photij Biblioth. p.m. 1362. cap. 38.
• (o) 1.14

  Diodorus Siculus Biblioth. lib. 3. p.m. 167.
• (p) 1.15

  Philostorgius Hist. Ecclesiast. l. 3. c. 11. p. 41.
• (q) 1.16

  Phil. Camerarij Operae subcisivae siv•• Meditat. Hist. Cent. 1. Cap. 71. p. m. 325.