180 Andrew Stuart on the ancient 
tice of this custom of divination at Praneste ; and describes 
the manner, as well as the place ; but gives into the common 
mistake, that the Purim related to Jupiter’s childhood. He 
says, that the place, where the process was carried on, was a 
sacred inclosure, is est hodie locus septus religiose propter 
Jovis Pueri, quilactens cum Junone in gremio Fortunae 
mammam appetens, castissime colitur a Matribus. This man- 
ner of divination was of Chaldaic original, and brought from 
Babylonia to Preneste. It is mentioned in Esther, ec. 3. v. 
7. They cast Pur before Haman, that he might know the 
success of his purposes against the Jews. Wherefore they 
catl those days Purim after the name of Pur. c. 9. ¥. 26. 
The same lots of divination being used at Preneste was the 
occasion of the God being called Jupiter Pur. This in after- 
times was changad to Puer: whence we find inscriptions, 
which mention him under that name ; and at the same time 
take notice of the custom whieh prevailed in his temple. In- 
scriptions Jovi Pnero, and Fortune Primigenie Jovis Pucri 
are to be found in Gruter. One is very particular. 
Fortune Primigenie Jovis Pueri D, D, 
Ex SORTE compos factus 
Nothus Ruficane 
L. P, Plottilla. 
That this word Puer was originally Pur may be proved from 
a well known passage in Lucretius : 
Puri sepe locum propter ac dolia curva 
Somno devincti credunt se attolleré vestem. 
Many instances, were it necessary, might be brought to this 
purpose. It was a name originally given to the priests of the 
Deity who were named from the Chaldaic, Ur: and by the 
ancient Latins were called P’uri. At Prenesté the mame 
was particularly kept up on account of this divination by lots. 
These by the Amonians were slyled Purim, being attended 
with ceremonies by fire ; and supposed to be effected through 
the influence of the Deity. Prenceste seems to be a com- 
pound of Puren Esta, the lots of Lista, the Deity of fire.” 
The 
