Chap. 57.] 
THE INVENTOES OF VARIOUS THINGS. 
223 
copper-mines,^ both of them in the island of Cyprus ; he also 
invented the tongs, the hammer, the lever, and the anvil. 
Wells were invented by Danaus,^^ who came from Egypt into 
that part of Greece which had been previously known as Argos 
Dipsion, 
The first stone-quarries were opened by Cadmus at Thebes, 
or else, according to Theophrastus, in Phoenicia. Walls were 
first built by Thrason;®^ according to Aristotle, towers were 
first erected by the Cyclopes,^ but according to Theophrastus, 
by the Tirynthii. The Egyptians invented weaving;^* the 
necessary implements, had changed the name into Agriopa, derived from 
two Greek words, signifying a man in the savage state, who is only 
capable of uttering inarticulate sounds." This method of solving the 
difficulty will probably appear fanciful and too refined, but it is the only 
one which has been proposed, — B. 
^0 The copper-mines of Temesa, supposed to have been in Cyprus, are 
mentioned by Homer. There was another place of that name in Brut- 
tium, and another in India, both equally famous for their copper. 
Danaus is said to have migrated from Egypt into Greece about 1485 
B.C. He may have introduced wells into Greece, but they had, long before 
his time, been employed in Egypt and in other countries. The term 
" Dipsion," " thirsting," which it appears had been applied to the district of 
Argos, may seem to render it probable, that, before the arrival of Danaus, 
the inhabitants had not adopted any artificial means of supplying them- 
selves with water. — B. But this country, we are told, is naturally well 
supplied with water. 
^2 Nothing is known respecting this individual ; it does not appear that 
he is mentioned by any other of the ancients. — B. 
There is so much fable mixed up with the account of the Cyclopes, 
that it is difficult to ascertain their real history. It seems probable, that 
there was a people of high antiquity, who were particularly skilful in the 
erection of stone edifices of various kinds, and more especially of those 
which served for the defence of cities. The remains of walls and other 
structures, which have obtained the name of Cyclopian, are found in va- 
rious parts of Greece, Italy, and Sicily, and may be regarded as among 
the oldest works of man in existence, although they are probably of less 
antiquity than those of Egypt and of some parts of Asia. — B. 
"We have sufficient evidence of the early period at which the art of 
weaving was practised in Egypt, from the figures to be found on their 
monuments, and from the specimens of their manufactures, some of very 
delicate texture, which have been found in the most ancient of their tombs. 
It was doubted, at one time, whether these fine stuff's were formed from 
the fibres of flax or of cotton, or, in other words, whether they were 
cambric or muslin ; but it is now generally admitted that they are made 
of flax. We have frequent mention of the products of the loom in the 
Pentateuch ; we may select the 13th chapter of Leviticus, where linen 
and woollen stuS^s are especially mentioned, and distinguished from each 
other, — B. 
