On the Ancient HELLENES, 149 
ed idea of the fuperior dignity and accomplifhments of the Hel- 
lenes could, I think, have induced the circumjacent nations to 
abandon their refpective Gentile denominations, and adopt that 
of an inconfiderable tribe of foreigners, but lately eftablifhed 
among them. This opinion they muft have excited by the 
means enumerated in the preceding pages. 
Tue ancient Egyptians, like the modern Chinefe, were the 
moft vain-glorious nation upon earth. Accordingly, HEropo- 
Tus affures us, that they ftigmatifed all nations with the title of 
barbarians. BueCapous Os reevras Os Aiyurrios xareoucs reg fun oDios 
éuoydwacovs *. The Helladians or Hellenes brought this epithet 
with them into Greece, and, we believe, applied it literally to 
all thofe clanfhips around them which had not entered into al- 
liance with them, or had pot affumed their name. This epi- 
thet was at firft confined to fuch of the nations of Greece as 
were not connected with the body of the Hellenes. In procefs 
of time, however, it became fo widely extended as to produce 
the general divifion of mankind into ‘EAAmes za: Bog€ugos, 
** Greeks and Barbarians.” The influence of this diftinétion 
foon became irrefiftible among a conceited, vain glorious peo- 
ple.) We learn from Heroportuvs, that the Athenians, who, 
according to him, were a Pelafgic tribe, changed both their 
name and language in order to become Hellenes. To Arrizop 
bvG cov Wcharyizov, apo rn wernGorn rn es “EAAnvos, nous THY Yraooay 
perenabe T. 
But nothing contributed fo much to extend the name and 
influence of tlie Hellenes, as ‘the inftitution of the council of 
the Amphictyones. The inftitution of this patriotic and truly 
beneficial diet is generally afcribed to the wifdom and policy of 
one AMPHICTYON, adefcendent of HELLEN, and a King of the- 
Athenians {. That Ampuicryon, if any fuch perfon ever ex- 
aba 1 ifted, 
* Lib. ii. cap. 158. in fine. + Lib. i. 57. 
t{ M. Gepetin, in his Dif. Prelim. fur les Orig. Grecs, has given a very ex- 
a& account of the inftitution of this council. According to him, AmPHicTYoN is- 
any 
