60 Mr. Sankey on the Philological Analysis 



was not originally limited merely to a single individual. 

 Ceres, therefore, analytically and primarily, meant the shearers 

 collectively. So that the terms Ceres, Ksp-w and Core, Kopj, 

 in this respect answer to one another both etymologically and 

 physically, as cause and effect. From this instance we may 

 be led to perceive that much of the Greek mythology, which 

 was almost altogether physical, had its foundation in the 

 radical meaning of the appellative terms therein used. 



Thus the origin of the numerous fables spread about Pro- 

 teus is at once explained on attending to the real import of 

 the Greek name TIpcJlsios, which being derived from irpaflos, 

 meant the first element ; this, many amongst the Greeks con- 

 sidered to be simple. Out of it, therefore, every thing mate- 

 rial being imagined to be produced by variety of combinations, 

 the fable accordingly took its rise, that Proteus, Ttpuleios, was 

 capable of assuming every shape. 



Again, the Curetes, Kovpvflef, originally signified the winds, 

 being derived from %opw, verro, to sweep along. 



In a double meaning of words, and the ambiguity thence 

 arising, originated the fable of Cadmus and the offspring of 

 the dragon's teeth. The history, as deduced from the fable, 

 seems to have been simply this : Cadmus brought with him 

 into Greece many of those improvements which Asia, as ear- 

 lier inhabited, had already made in agriculture and the arts 

 of life. Amongst others he introduced the culture of the 

 avapTov, genista, broom, whose twigs were manufactured into 

 a species of cordage. This plant is of a deep copper or 

 serpent colour. Now, it is remarkable, that the same word 

 Briti in the Hebrew and Syriac or Phoenician languages, signi- 

 fies both a serpent and brass or copper, owing, no doubt, to 

 the similarity in the colour of these objects. Hence, there- 

 fore, it is likely, originated the mistake which gave rise to the 

 fable. For this word ttrnj, having probably been used by 

 Cadmus and his Phoenician followers, in reference to the colour 

 of the broom, it was erroneously interpreted, according to its 

 ambiguous meaning, as denoting a serpent. Hence, the seeds 

 of the broom were called serpents' teeth, which they might 

 themselves also be fancied somewhat to resemble in size, &c. ; 

 and so they were fabled to be particularly the teeth of one of 



