152 On the Ancient HELLENES. 



was called Hellopia. They likewife built the temple and infti- 

 tuted the oracle of Dodona, under the protection of the Pelaf- 

 gi, who had emigrated from the fame quarters, and who at that 

 time were maflers of that region. As thefe Hellenes mult 

 have tranfported themfelve.s to their new fettlements on board 

 Phoenician vefTels, a goodly number of Phoenicians muft have 

 joined them, and mingled with them in Hellopia and its vici- 

 nity. Hence moft. of the names of perfons, offices, places, &c 

 connected witfh the temple are evidently of Phoenician original. 

 In procefs of time, a new colony emigrated from Hellopia into 

 Phthiotis, a fmall diftrict toward the fouth of ThefTaly, where 

 they built the city of Hellas, and where they (till retained their 

 original name. Thefe new colonifts brought along with them 

 all the arts, culture, politenefs, &c. which their anceftors had 

 imported from Egypt and Phoenicia, at that period the moft 

 highly civilized countries upon earth. Thefe new fettlers, in 

 confequence of their fuperiority in arts and arms, and the be- 

 nefits their more eminent accomplifhments enabled them to 

 confer, eafily gained the afcendant among the neighbouring 

 ThefTalians, who were at that time a race of barbarians. The 

 profpect of {haring thefe advantages allured the neighbouring 

 tribes either to join or fubmit to them, and rendered them am- 

 bitious of the honour of being called by their name. The ori- 

 ginal Hellenes had learned from their Egyptian countrymen 

 to brand with the name of barbarians all who did not fpeak the 

 fame language with themfelves. This epithet the vain-glorious 

 Hellenes liberally beftowed upon all the neighbouring nations 

 which were too proud or too obflinate to court their alliance. 

 It appears from the example of the Athenians, that the dread 

 of being branded with this epithet contributed not a little to 

 draw the adjacent people into a confederacy with the Hellenes. 

 The inftitution of the Council of the Amphiclyones under the 

 aufpices of the Hellenes completed their triumph; and the 



dread 



