78 
criticises the opinion of Arsanasrus Kircuer (in his works: 
Obeliscus and Oedipus), who contends that the hieroglyphic image 
of an ox, with a bee between its horns, implies an allusion to 
a regal origin. Overbeck remarks that this image may, just 
as well, have symbolized the fecundity of Egypt, ,milk and 
honey“ being a common oriental expression in describing abun- 
dance. Brrnu. Gomez (who is no other than B. G. Mrepis, comp. 
above, p. 27 and 74) is also referred to, but his reasoning about 
the connection between bees and oxen is ridiculed in the re- 
mark that ,our bee-keepers, might, with just as much reason, 
attempt to justify the presence and usefulness of a caste of 
nobility among men by the example of the drones in a bee- 
hive“. 
Overbeck concludes his article by a serio-comical attempt 
at deriving the myth of Aristaeus from the story of Samson. 
I reproduce only the principal portions of his argument. The 
necessary references from the Book of Judges, are supplied 
by me. 
»lt is not easy to explain‘, says Overbeck, ,how it hap- 
pened that Aristaeus has been mixed up with the story of the 
Bugonia; but, as soon as we admit the very plausible theory 
adopted by many learned men (1), that several of the fables 
of Greek poets have no other foundation than the misunder- 
standing of some passages of the Holy Scriptures, which they 
are said to have read, we may also admit the hypothesis that 
under the personage of Aristaeus is hidden the celebrated Sam- 
son of the Bible. Let us attempt a detailed comparison between 
be to deny all that Cardanus affirms, and to affirm all that Cardanus denies.“ 
That Scaliger was, however, an observer of living nature is clear from several 
of his passages; I have found for instance the following, which will be under- 
stood by dipterologists: ,,T'yro cum essem, e grandioribus muscis unam albis 
pictam lineis specie illectus cepi. Et in volé manus aliquandiu retenta pluscuios 
edidit vermiculos candidos, mobilitate propria insignes“ (Exert. 191, 2). This is 
a correct observation on the viviparous fly Sarcophaga. 
(1) Overbeck refers here principally to DOM AUGUSTIN CALMET’S 
Biblical researches, to PIERRE DANIEL HUET’S: Demonstratio evangelica 
(1679), and also to our friend SAMUEL BOCHART. 
