304 APPENDIX. 



EriBhonius, fo as to make it be derived from the Greek 



language, engaged our author to fearch for it in the 



Egyptian, the language of that country whence this 



hero originally came. He flatters himfeif with being 



able to give at leaft a very probable reafon why this 



king was diftinguifhed by this name, whofe derivation, 



he fays, is this. The old Egyptian word is Ericko, whence 



the Greeks formed Erichthonius ; as from Jpol/o, Apollo- .: 



•nius. This name is compofed of £r/, facere ret aliciijus 



auSlorem ejfe ; which fignifies, to become the inventor, 



or author of any thing ; and Cbto, or ichlo, egiius, egui- 



tatus, an Horfe, or Cavalry. Thefe two compounded 



ma.'ke Erichto, that is, the Inventor or Author of Horfes. 



This is the charader and employment which the an- 

 cients unanimoufly gave to Erkhthonhu. Virgil ex- A 

 prefly *: 



Primus Erichthonius currus & quatuor aiifus J- 



Jiingere equos, rapidifque rotis injijiere viBor. 



Firft Erichthonius dar'd with rapid fkill 

 To yoke four Heeds, and guide the vigor's rapid 

 wheel. Warton. 



Servius, Arijiides, and other commentators, confirm this 

 account, arjd afTert that this hero was the firll who drove 



* Georg. iii. verf. 113. 



horfes 



