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fettled in Greece and the neighbouring countries of Afia Minor, 

 and began to introduce into thofe favage regions fomething 

 like religion and manners. 



In the defcription of the fhield of Achilles there is alfo an 

 inftance where figures of the Gods are mentioned, and that 

 in a manner fomewhat nearer approaching to our idea of divine 

 rcprefentations. In the compartment relating to a befieged city 

 a fally is made headed by Mars and Pallas, which deities are 

 perfoniiied and defcribed in the following beautiful lines : 



.... ripx^ ^' '^P« "■'?"' "-^PV? "*' naXXfljf ASijVtj, 

 "AfjLfpco ^pucriiu, ^pufre/ins Ss 'iijjuocroc 'e(rdijv, 

 KocXu Kdi f/,eyaXu <rvv rev^sirtv, us re $eu Trejj, 

 'A(W(p(f ixpi^iijXa, Aotot a VTroXi^oves titretv. 



Here however we are to obferve that, as the poet fpeaks of a 

 work of divine fabrication, and confequently ideal, he may be 

 allowed to give free fcope to his fancy, and, without incurring 

 the cenfure of anachronifm, to paint his Gods in a ftyle which 

 did not exift in the age of his hero ; neither does he mention 

 thefe two magnificent figures as idols, but complying with 

 the received opinion that the martial deities frequently aflifled 



their 



Cecrops and Danaus from Egypt, and Cadmus from Phoenicia, fettled in Greece, and intro- 

 duced the ufeful arts, together with the worfhip of thofe deities who in their refpe(5live countries 

 prefided oyer them. Thus Cecrops introduced into Attica the cultivation of the olive and the 

 worfliip of Minerva, who was adored in his native city, Sais» as ihe donor and patronefs of 

 that ufeful tree. , 



