THE EASTERN ORIGIN OF THE CELTS. 



327 



ITT I have already (note 158) mentioned the word amber in its connection with Zimran, the 

 Cymri and sacred stones. The word amber is Celtic, and appears in most modern languages. 

 Had we any doubt that Zimran is its original, it would be removed by the Greek word Electron. 

 Electra I hold to be the name of Keturah, with the prefix of the Arabic article. An Electra is 

 made the mother of Medon, a Midian. Electra in Messenia connects with the story of Thamyris, 

 and Ithome near recalls Etam. Pans. iv. 33. Electryone was the sister of the Rhodian Heliades, 

 among whom Ochime, Cercaphus and Camirus appear. The name Keturah, as denoting incense, 

 may easily be associated with amber or ambergris. The Sclavonic languages probably retained 

 her name as tlie term for this substance in jantar, gintaras and sihters, all of which may be 

 corruptions of Keturah. I have, however, proved pretty definitely the connection of Keturah 

 with Eshcol and Mamre. Sacal is the Egyptian word for amber, and is doubtless tlie same as 

 Eshcol. When we pass beyond the region of the language of necessity into that of luxury, art 

 and science, historical etymology must be our guide. As tantalize, damask and cabal carry us 

 into mythology, geography and history respectively, so we shall find that a large proportion of 

 the words of any language can only be explained by searching for them in similar fields. 

 Mythology is not so much a disease of language as language is an embodiment of ancient facts 

 of which what we are pleased to call mythology retains the only memorial. I do rot know 

 precisely why Liguria, a western Locris and early home of the Celtic Lcegrians, should give a 

 name to amber. It was however a Zimrite region. 



ITS It is more probable that Cyracus denotes Zerach the second husband of Keturah, who is 

 referred to in note 9S. He is, as I have there stated, Zerach sou of Aehumai, Harka of Khem, 

 Cherunheres of Amenemes and Cercestes of ^Sigyptus, who derived his name from Chemi or 

 Coptos. He is also Cercyon the son of Agamedes. It seems that he married before Keturah a 

 daughter of Chareph, the son of Ashtari or the great Sesostris, Xisuthrus, &c., and by this 

 marriage had two sous, Ethan and Jobab. This explains the association of Cerberus and 

 Cercyon ; of Agamedes, his father, and Trophonius ; of the union of Cercaphus with Cyrbie, 

 Crius with Eurybia, Charaxus with Khodope, Khem and Harka witli Thriphis ; and the descent 

 of Cherucheres from Usecheres II. Triopas and other similar names associated with unmis- 

 takable traces of Zerach, set forth the same fact. I am thus able to add to previous genealogies 

 the tollowing : 



Shobal 



I 

 Manahath Ashchur 



I I 



daughter= Ashtari 



Reaiah 

 Jachath 



Charepi 



I 

 dauEfhter 



Aehumai 



I 

 Zerach 



Keturah= Abraham 



Azariah 



Month Usecheres 



„ I I 



Ritho = Sesostris 



Harphre or Cerpheres 



Jobab 



who ruled 

 in Edom 

 Or, 

 Seb 

 I 



I 

 Ra 



I 

 Achthoes 



I 

 Khem or Amenemes 



Zimran, &c. 



Thriphis = Cherucheres = Atari 



Cercasorus, opposite the Athribite nome, is a record of Zerach ia connection with his wife 

 Thriphis. His family is Sabellian, Hellenic, Dorian, Achsemenian. Edomite monarchy, or 

 rather the monarchy which arose upon the borders of Palestine, Arabia and Egypt, dates from 

 but one generation before the time of Zerach's son Jobab, Bela the son of Beor being his pre- 

 decessor and its founder. This Bela was in all probability the King of Zoar in the days of 

 Abraham, and the Egyptian Belus who is said to have fled from Salatis into Arabia. Herophile, 

 whom I have already identified with Eriphyle, is made a daughter of Lamia (Lechem), and is 

 said to have beeu born at Corycus (Zerach). Paus. x. 12. 



