24 UNIVERSAL ERUDITION-. 



well as among the Orientals : what the days 

 of penitence and iupplication, the feafts of the 

 gods or ledtifternia, their invocations or in- 

 cantations, and exorcifms, the religious cere- 

 monies obferved at laying the foundations of 

 cities, &c. 



, X. Divination, or the prediction of future 

 events, a weaknefs that has at all times pofTefled 

 the human mind, forms alfo an important ar- 

 ticle of pagan theology. It is therefore in this 

 place, that mythology confiders the nature of 

 Oracles > and in particular, i. The oracle of 

 Dodona, the moft ancient of Greece. 2. That 

 of Jupiter Hammon or Ammon, in Lybia. 

 3. That of Jupiter Philius. 4. That of A- 

 pollo, both of Heliopolis. 5. That of Apollo 

 of Delphos. 6. That of Trophonius in Boeo- 

 tia. 7. That of Venus of Aphaca, a country 

 between Byblos and Heliopolis, fituate on a 

 fmall lake , and a great number of other oracles 

 of lefs note, difperfed over Greece and other 

 countries. It alfo examines in what manner 

 thefe oracles gave their anfwers, the ceremonies 

 that were obferved in confulting them, the 

 frantic emotions of the priefteis Pythia on her 

 tripod-, and thofe of other priefts. It then 

 endeavours to determine if there ever were in 

 fact any Sibylr, which, whatever has been faid, 

 is Hill very doubtful ; it draws, however, from 

 all the fources of antiquity, a kind of hitlory 

 f thefe Sibyls and of their prophecies. It 



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