196 



SEA FABLES EXPLAINED. 



Diodorus Siculus describes (lib. ii.) the same deity, as 

 represented at Ascalbn, as " having the face of a woman, 

 but all the rest of the body a fish's." And this very same 

 image at Ascalon, which Diodorus calls Derceto, or 

 Atergatis, is denominated by Herodotus* "the celestial 

 Aphrodite," who was identical with the Cyprian and Roman 



FIG. 9. VENUS RISING FROM THE SEA, SUPPORTED BY TRITONS. 



After Calmet. 



Venus. Of all the sacred buildings erected to the goddess, 

 this temple was by far the most ancient ; and the Cyprians 

 themselves acknowledged that their temple was built after 

 the model of it by certain Phoenicians who came from 

 that part of Syria. 



Thus the worship of Noah, as the second father of man- 



(<rv\r)aav TTJS Ovpavirjs 'A</Jo8iY;? TO Ipov. Lib. i. cap. CV. 



