On the Ancient HELLENES. 313% 
teral tranflation of it. ‘“ But the nation of the Hellenes, fince 
“* ever it exifted, continues, as far as to me appears, to ufe the 
“ fame language; being a branch cut off from the Pelafgic 
“ ftock, and weak and inconfiderable at the firft, in a fhort — 
“* time it increafed into a multitude of people; vaft numbers of 
“© the neighbouring nations in particular, and multitudes of other 
** barbarians in general, having joined it, as I imagine to have 
** been the cafe.’’ According to this detail, the Fellenes were 
fprung from the Pelafgic ftock, and were not fo called from the 
fabulous Hetxcen. Nor is it furprifing that Heropotus 
fhould imagine, that thefe Hellenes were of Pelafgic extration, 
when it is confidered, that they lived among thofe people from 
the time of their firft arrival in thofe parts, and were conftant- 
ly under their patronage and protection. 
Havinc thus endeavoured to prove, that the Hellenes of 
Theflaly were a colony of emigrants from the Helli- or Selli of 
Epire, in the neighbourhood of Dodona, let us try if we can- 
not difcover who thefe people were, and from what country 
they emigrated, when they came to fettle in thofe parts. We 
have already feen, that they were the minifters of the temple of 
Jupiter Dodoneus, and that they were an auftere, afcetic, felf- 
denied race of men. The origin of the temple of Juprrer at 
Dodona is accurately defcribed by Heronotus*. Its vocal 
oaks, prophetic doves, and tinkling kettles, have been minutely 
explained by a great variety of writers, both ancient and mo- 
dern. It was fituated in Chaonia+, a fmall territory of Epi- 
rus, which formerly belonged to Thefprotia, but afterwards to 
the Moloffi. The temple itfelf lay at the foot of a mountain 
called Tomarus or Tmarus, As that mountain rofe from the 
plain, fomewhat refembling a palm-tree, I imagine the name is 
derived from the oriental word Tamar, which actually fignifies 
Vox,- I, Sf a 
* Lib. ii. cap. 54. et feq. + STRABO, p. 328, 3209. 
