of the Fabulous History of Greece. 63 



fate of Absyrtus, they were naturally filled with the most 

 alarming terrors for their situation. 



Another instance in which the application of true principles 

 of etymology will be found to afford us much assistance in 

 elucidating history, where it has been obscured by fable, is 

 that which relates to one of the most remarkable of the adven- 

 tures attributed to Perseus. I allude to that which refers to 

 his obtaining, as it was fabled, the Gorgon's head; an adven- 

 ture, as generally narrated, altogether incredible, but which, 

 when properly understood, is highly interesting, as giving us 

 an account of perhaps the earliest introduction, as it would 

 appear, of the coral into Greece, at least of that species which 

 is called the Medusa's head. It is probable, indeed, that the 

 Tyrians, in their commerce with the Greeks, had brought 

 them specimens of the madrepore, and other coralline produc- 

 tions, at the same time describing the Medusa's head as being 

 of a rarer kind and more difficult to be obtained. A desire, 

 therefore, of obtaining this species, as well as of satisfying an 

 excited curiosity in visiting and exploring strange countries, 

 combined, it is likely, with general objects of a commercial 

 character, impelled Perseus to undertake what may be truly 

 called a voyage of discovery. That he indeed was considered 

 by the Greeks as having first made known to them the coral, 

 and that as one of the fruits of this expedition, is evidently to 

 be inferred from the epithet given to this natural production, the 

 coral) in that line of the poet, where the author expressly de- 

 nominates it, clearly in reference to this very fact, Persean, 



Ilioff'/iioao filivo; (Aiyct, xoupuXioia. 

 The great strength of the Persean coral. 



It is remarkable, also, that this author, after describing the 

 coral as being originally a vegetable production growing in the 

 depths of the sea, the saltness of whose waters withered its 

 leaves, and so left it, with its branches denuded and bare, to 

 float the sport of every wave, till, thrown at length upon the 

 shore, it indurated on being exposed to the air ; it is re- 

 markable, I say, that he connects the coral with the Gor- 

 gon's head, fabulously ascribing the deep colour of the red 

 coral to the effect of its being tinged with Medusa's blood. 



