38 OF THE ORIGIN OF CHEMISTRY. 



thors infift, that is naturally to be inferred from 

 the immenfe wealth and power of the Egypti- 

 ans. So many huge pyramids, obeliiks, col- 

 lofll, extenfive cities, and hanging gardens ; fo 

 many fepulchrcs, labyrinths, fubterraneous ca- 

 verns, and other works of Herculean labour, 

 which were formerly found, and of which part 

 remains yet entire, could never have been erect- 

 ed but nt an incredible expence. 



In Diodorus Siculus we find, that Sefoflris co- 

 vered a (hip of cedar with gold; that on the top 

 of the fepulchreof Ofymandua, there is a circle 

 of gold of 365 cubits; and that, in the time of 

 Ofiris, ftatues, and even entire temples, were 

 made of gold. But we dare not vouch for the 

 truth of thefc relations. However great might 

 be their riches, we arc certain, that they had 

 no gold mines in the time of Hermes; and that 

 thofc which were afterwards difcovered were 

 wrought with great colt and labour, and with 

 very little profit: So that many are of opinion, 

 the Egyptian kings worked thefe mines as a co- 

 lour and pretext for the treaiurcs they had o- 

 therwife amaflcd. Herodotus and Diodorus 

 both make mention of a temple at Memphis 

 that was dedicated to Vulcan; and the latter 

 adds, That the invention of all the operations 

 relating to copper, filvcr, and gold, and of eve- 

 ry other fubflanc'c th.it is prepared by fire, was 

 attributed to this deity*. Under the n:nnc of 



Vulcan 



Eibl. Hift. J. v. !. j. c. 13. 



