The court of the Gentiles: or A discourse touching the original of human literature, both philologie and philosophie, from the Scriptures, and Jewish church in order to a demonstration, of 1. The perfection of Gods vvord, and church light. 2: The imperfection of natures light, and mischief of vain pholosophie. 3. The right use of human learning, and especially sound philosophie. / By T.G.

§. 8. * 1.1 Having discoursed, at large, touching the chief of the Grecian Gods, and their Traduction from the sacred Oracles; we shall briefly touch on sundry of their Goddesses, and their deri∣vation from the same sacred fountain, * 1.2 1. Noah is called Gen. 29.20. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 a husband of the earth, i.e. a husband man. Whence the Mythologists made Saturne, i.e. Noah, the husband of Rhea, i.e. the Earth. Some derive Rea, by an easy anagram∣matisme, from Era. So Sandford Descens. l. 1. §. 26.

The Greeks refer Era. (Heb. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 eres.) i.e. the Earth, unto the number of their Gods: by what ceremonie? Namely accor∣ding to the old Grammarian rule, changing Era into Rea. After the same manner Aer began to be Hera:

for this ori∣gination 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 we have from Plato. I should rather derive 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 from the Chaldee 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Hera, Libera, which was Juno her name; whence also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Cora, or Hora, and Cerea as before, C. 2. §. 1. & C. 5. §. 1. &c.

* 1.3 2. As for Minerva; Vossius (de Idololatr. lib. 1. cap. 17.) makes her to be the same with Naamah, Tubalcains sister, Gen. 4.22. Her name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Stephanus makes to be Phenician; 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: which Bochart derives from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to move war; whence the Oncean Gates at Thebes. The fable of Miner∣va her being borne out of Jupiters head, they generally refer to the generation of Christ, the Divine wisdome.

* 1.4 3. Ceres is by Bochart substituted, and made parallel to Adam, or Cain, the first tillers of ground. * 1.5 4. Niobe is by some made the same with Lots wife, who was turned into a pillar of Salt, i.e. of Sulphureous, bitumenous, and salty matter; wherein she was partaker of Sodoms judgement, which overtook her: whence the fable of Niobe, her being turned into a pillar of stone, &c. * 1.6 5. As for the Sirenes, (which according to the fable were in number three, partly Virgins, partly Birds, whereof one sung with voice, the other by pipe; and tother by Harpe)

Bochart (Can. lib. 1. cap. 28.) makes the name to be purely Phe∣nician, or Hebrew; in which tongue 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Sir, signifies a song, (whence Solomon's Song of songs,) thence 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Siren, a singing monster, &c. 6. As for Juno, & Jana, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, thence also Diana, Astarte, Venus, &c. we have fully handled them before, chap. 2.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Grecian God∣desses of Pheni∣cian and Hebrew extract.
• * 1.2

  1. Rhea from Gen. 29.20.
• * 1.3

  2. Minerva.
• * 1.4

  3. Ceres.
• * 1.5

  4. Niobe.
• * 1.6

  5. Sirenes.