Chap. 57.] THE IITV^ENTOES OF VARIOUS THINGS. 223 



copper-mines,^ both of them in the island of Cyprus ; he also 

 invented the tongs, the hammer, the lever, and the anvil. 

 "Wells were invented by Danaus,^^ who came firom Egypt into 

 that part of Greece which had been previously known as Argos 

 Dipsion. 



The first stone-quarries were opened by Cadmus at Thebes, 

 or else, according to Theophrastus, in Phoenicia. "Walls were 

 first built by Thrason;^- according to Aristotle, towers were 

 first erected by the Cyclopes,^^ but according to Theophrastus, 

 by the Tirynthii. The Egyptians invented weaving ;^^ the 



necessary implements, had changed the name into Agriopa, derived from 

 two Greek words, signifying "a man in the savage state, who is only 

 capable of uttering inarticulate sounds." This method of solving the 

 difficulty will probably appear fanciful and too refined, but it is the only- 

 one which has been proposed. — B. 



6^ The copper-mines of Temesa, supposed to have been in Cyprus, are 

 mentioned by Homer. There was another place of that name in Brut- 

 tium, and another in India, both equally famous for their copper. 



^^ Danaus is said to have migrated from Egypt into Greece about 1485 

 B.C. He may have introduced weUs into Greece, but they had, long before 

 his time, been employed in Egypt and in other countries. The term 

 " Dipsion," " thirsting," w^hich it appears had been applied to the district of 

 Argos, may seem to render it probable, that, before the arrival of Danaus, 

 the inhabitants had not adopted any artificial means of supplying them- 

 selves with water. — B. .But this country, we are told, is naturally well 

 supplied with water. 



^2 Nothing is known respecting this individual ; it does not appear that 

 he is mentioned by any other of the ancients. — B. 



^^ There is so much fable mixed up with the account of the Cyclopes, 

 that it is difficult to ascertain their real history. It seems probable, that 

 there was a people of high antiquity, who were particularly skilful in the 

 erection of stone edifices of various kinds, and more especially of those 

 which served for the defence of cities. The remains of walls and other 

 structures, which have obtained the name of Cyclopian, are found in va- 

 rious parts of Greece, Italy, and Sicily, and may be regarded as among 

 the oldest works of man in existence, although they are probably of less 

 antiquity than those of Egypt and of some parts of Asia. — B. 



^^ We have sufficient evidence of the early period at which the art of 

 weaving was practised in Egypt, fi'om the figures to be found on their 

 monuments, and from the specimens of their manufactures, some of very 

 delicate texture, which have been found in the most ancient of their tombs. 

 It was doubted, at one time, whether these fine stuffs were formed from 

 the fibres of flax or of cotton, or, in other words, whether they were 

 cambric or muslin ; but it is now generally admitted that they are made 

 of flax. "We have frequent mention of the products of the loom in the 

 Pentateuch; we may select the 13th chapter of Leviticus, where linen 

 and woollen stuff's are especially mentioned, and distinguished from each 

 other. — B. 



