G R ^ C I A. 



the traditions of all nations, Greeks and Barbarians. (See 

 Hefiod, Oper. and Di. v, no, 165. Theog. v. 220. 725.) 

 But our author obferves, that the majefty of Jehovah is very 

 feebly reprefentcd by the united power of Homer's divini- 

 ties ; and that tlie mythology of tlie Greeks is of fuch a 

 peculiar texture, that, whencefoever originally derived, it muft 

 have undergone a particular modification in the Grecian foil ; 

 nor (he fays) is it eafy to concur with the opinion of writers 

 who bring it immediately from Egypt, Chaldaea, or Lefler 

 Afia, when we confider that there is not the fmalleft veftige 

 in Homer of the judicial aftrology which prevailed fo much 

 in the two firft countries, (Diod. Sic. 1. ii. Exod. ch. vi. 

 Plin. 1. XXV ), or of the worfhipping of idols, which al- 

 moft univerfally prevailed in the laft. (Old Tellament, paf- 

 fim. ) Dr. Gillies traces the origin of the Grecian faith and 

 worlliip in the natural paflions of the human heart, the hopes, 

 -the fears, the wants, the mifery of man, which have in all 

 .ages rendered him a prey to the terrors of fuperftition. 



The great pillar of fuperllition, raifed by the anxious 

 paflions of men, was fortified in Greece by a peculiar fenfi- 

 bility of cbarafter, which exerts itfelf in the ardour of fo- 

 .cial affeftion, and ftrengthens, by a thoufand affociations, 

 their belief of invifible and intelligent powers. The nature, 

 the characlers, and the occupations of the gods, were fug- 

 gefted by the lively feelings of an ardent, ratlier than by the 

 regular invention of a cultivated mind. Thefe celeilial be- 

 ings were fubjed to the blind paflions which govern unhappy 

 mortals : their wants, and their defires, were fimilar to thofe 

 of man. But what was wanting in the dignity and perfec- 

 tion, was fupplied by the number of the gods. Homer only 

 defcribes the principal and reigning divinities ; but Hefiod, 

 who gives the genealogical hillory of this fanciful hierarchy, 

 makes the whole number amount to 30,000. Every virtue 

 had its proteftor, every quahty of extenilve power in human 

 life had its patron, and every grove, mountain, and river its 

 favourite inhabitants. (See Gons.) The religious creed of 

 the Greeks, compofed of materials, in great meafure created 

 'by fancy, formed by poetry into beauty, and improved into 

 *ife by pohcy, becam* the happieft antidote againft the furi- 

 ous refentment, the favage cruelty, and the fierce fpirit of 

 wild independence, which ufually charafterizes the man- 

 ners of barbarians. Upon the whole, the ancient and vene- 

 rable fuperftition of the Greeks was diftinguiflied above 

 moft other falfe religions, by the uncommon merit of doing 

 much good, without feemingly occafioning any confiderable 

 harm to fociety. The Grecian tenets, while they inculcated 

 profound refpeft to the gods, had no tendency to break the 

 fpirit or to reprcfs the courage of their warlike votaries. 

 In order to avert thj: calamities threatened by the anger of 

 their divinities, they did not recur to the infli&ion of tortures 

 un themfelves, but they repaired the wrongs which they had 

 committed againft their fellow-citizens, or compenfated, by 

 new attentions, for the negleft fliewn to the ceremonies of 

 their national worrtiip. In their eftimation, tlie doing of in- 

 jury to men, and the omiflion of prayer to the gods, were 

 the principal caufes of the divine difpleafure, which they 

 were anxious to avert by a diligent praftice of moral duties. 

 The dangerous power of oracles, the abufed privileges of 

 afylnms, the wild raptures of prophetic enthufiafm, the abo- 

 minable ceremonies of the Bacchanaha, and the horrid prac- 

 tice of human facrifices, all which are circumftances that 

 cover with deferved infamy the latter periods of Paganifm, 

 were unknown to the good fenfe and purity of the heroic 

 ages ; nor is there to be difcovered the fmalleft veftige of any 

 of thefe wild or wicked inventions, either in the writings o. 

 Jtloujer, or of his co'.cmporary Hefiod. Their religious fyf- 



tem communicated its beneficial influence to the civil and. 

 military inftitutions of the Greeks, to the laws of nations,- 

 as well as to the regulations of internal policy, and to the 

 various duties of domeftic as well as of focial life. 



In examining the political ftates of the Greeks, during 

 the heroic age, we fliall find that they deferve the title of 

 republics, rather than that of monarchies. The foldiers of, 

 any warlike tribe fought and conquered, in their attack of 

 a more fertile territory than their own woods and mountains, 

 not for their leaders, but for themfelves : and the land ac-. 

 quired by their united valour was confidered as a common 

 property. No diftinftion was known among them, but that, 

 which was occafioned by the difference of perfonal merit and, 

 abilities. This difference raifed a chief or leader to the head 

 of each fociety ; and his fuperior ufefulnefs in this ftation, 

 was rewarded by the gratitude of his tribe with a valuable 

 portion of ground, feparated from the common property. 

 (U. xii. 310.) This perfon, who commanded in the fields 

 became the arbiter and judge of their civil differences, and, 

 he was inverted with the honourable office of prefiding in 

 their rehgious folemnities. Thefe important funftions of 

 prieft, judge, and general, conferred on the beft and braveft. 

 in each particular tribe, were conferred, upon the union of 

 feveral tribes into one ilate or nation, on the beft and braveft 

 of all the different leaders. The various ftates of Greece 

 formed a general confederacy, in which the council of princes 

 regulated the refolutions of tlie monarch, and the voice of 

 the affembly ruled that of the council ; and fo likewife in 

 each particular kingdom, the decifions of the fenate prevail- 

 ed over the will of the prince, and the acknowledged ma- 

 jefty of the people contreulcd the decifions of the fenate. 

 The fame diflribution of power took place in every particu- 

 lar village. 



The civil rights of the Greeks were maintained by the 

 fame fimplicity which regulated the political fyllem. As 

 the price of fubmitting to tlie reftraints of fociety, a man 

 was fecured in the enjoyment of his life and property : his 

 moveables were equally divided, at his death, among his de- 

 fcendants; and the unnatural right of primogeniture, which, 

 in order to enrich the eldeft fbn, reduces the reft of the fa- 

 mily to want and mifery, was altogether unknown to the 

 equal fpirit of the Grecian inftitutions. Gaufes refpefting 

 property were decided by the firfl magiftratc, or by judges 

 of delegated authority. The profecution of murderers be- 

 longed to the relations of the deceafed, who might accept 

 a compenfation in money for the lofs which the family had 

 fuftained ; but in defedt of this compofition, all the members 

 of the tribe concurred with the aggrieved, in either pvmifli- 

 ing the murderer by death, or compelling him to leave the 

 fociety. 



The hiftory of the heroic ages of Greece prefents the 

 moft interefting pifture of conjugal love, parental affeftion, 

 and filial duty. The inftilution of marriage was afcribed 

 to the gods ; and it was celebrated with alt the pump of 

 religious feftivity. Adultery was held in the grealell dc- 

 teftation, and always mentioned with the fame hon-or as 

 murder. Tlie guilty perfon might purchafe immunity, but 

 more frequently efcaped death by voluntary banifhment. 

 It has been erroncoufly faid, that, in ancient Greece, wives, 

 as well as concubines, were the flaves of their liufbands, 

 and that they were purchafed by them. The attention of 

 women was cliieflv confined to domeftic cr.ie and occupations, 

 which did not require any great degre- of ftrength, cou- 

 r age, or wifdom. Weaving and embroidery, whicli were 

 employments of females, \vere praftifed by ladies of the 

 higheft rank, and even by quj^ens ; and they were alfo cn- 



6 tiufted 



