Th AMPHICTYONES. 155 
fubjects could ever hope to derive the fmalleft advantage. The 
opinion which attributes this eftablifhment to the wifdom and 
penetration of the Argive Prince, is therefore, in all refpects, 
bafelefs and nugatory. 
ANDROTION, quoted by PausAanias *, appears to me to 
have given the genuine account of the inftitution of this cele- 
brated council : Awewrsiay Oe ev 77 Arbid:, eQn, ouvyendy, x. T. A. 
** But ANnDRoTION, in his Hiftory of Attica, tells us, that 
“ from the moft early period, deputies from the neighbouring 
“ {tates allembled at Delphi, and that thefe deputies were, 
“ from that circumfiance called Amphictyones, and that confe- 
“* quently, in procefs of time, this became the prevailing de- 
‘* nomination of that high court.”” However this author may 
be miftaken in his etymology, he is certainly orthodox. in 
his opinion relating to the original of this renowned affembly. 
It was an original inftitution. It did not derive its primary 
exiftence, either from AMPnHICcTYON or Acrisius, or indeed 
from any particular perfon. It was a convention ro cé wernse 
It exifted from the earlieft ages of antiquity.—Let us now fee 
whether it is not poflible to give at leaft fome probable account 
of its primary erection. 
As the Hellenes had founded the oracle of Dodona, fo the 
fame people, in all probability, eftablifhed the oracle of Del- 
phi. They had feen the amazing credit and fuccefs of the 
former, and expected the like reputation and aggrandizement of 
the latter. The event proved, that the conjecture was founded. 
in reafon and fagacity. The renown of the Delphic ereCion 
in a fhort time eclipfed that of the fane of Dodona. The 
Greeks, who have ever been diftinguifhed by their itch for no- 
velty, quickly reforted in crowds to this newly ereGted office. 
In a few years, the temple became flourifhing and opulent. 
The Delphic Pythonefs, tutored by the Hellenes, uttered her 
myfterious predictions with fuch fuperior fagacity, that the 
events, in many inftances, verified their divine original, or at 
“2 leaf 
* Lib. x. cap.8. p. 815. 
