[586] 
Prince and Pried: And in Hebrew the fame Word 
Cohen fignifics both Prince and Pried. And what 
confirms this Opinion of its being a fepulchral Mo- 
nument is, that fomc of the antient Popifia families 
hereabouts make ufc of it as a Burial-place to this 
Day. The firft Account we have of this Cudom of 
erecting Stone Pillars on or near the Burying-placc 
of eminent Perfons, is that of Rachel's-, who dying 
in Child-birth of her Son Benjamin , in the Road 
between Bethel and Ephrah, it is laid, that Jacob 
Jet a Rillar upon her Grave (Gen. xxxv. 20.). Of 
the fame kind alfo may we luppofc that Matfebah 
or Pillar to be, which Abfalom eredted for himfelf 
during his Life-time, though better wrought, and 
more ornamental, in the King’s Dale 5 where it is 
more than probable he defigned to have been buried ; 
for it is obferved, that he laid, I have no Son to keep 
my Name in Remembrance , and he called the Rillar 
after his own Name (2 Sam. xviii. 18.). Which 
Cudom, of eroding Pillars over the Burial-places of 
eminent Perfons, was not confined to the Land of 
Judaea'-, but was univerfally pra&iled, as appears from 
a Paflage in Homer , where Minerva exciting Tele- 
machus to go in Queft of Ulyffes , and fuppofing the 
word that could happen, that is, that he fhonld come 
to a certain Knowledge of the Death of his Father, 
fhc directs him then to raiic a Pillar, or Signal, to 
his Memory ; or, as Mr. Rop£ has tranflated it, 
To the pale Shade Funereal Rites ordain : 
Riant the fair Column on the vacant Grave : 
A Hero’s Honours let the Hero have. 
Horn. Odyf. Lib. I. 
And 
