Gleanings of antiquities / By John Beaumont, Gent.

  • Beaumont, John, -1731.
Date:
1724
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Gleanings of antiquities / By John Beaumont, Gent. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    132/226 (page 120)
    thus : The Proverb Dodonaan Brafs had hence its Rife ; there was a Bafon in the Temple, over which the Statua of a little Man hung, holding in his Hand a Brafs Whip which confided of a triple Chain, hav¬ ing Knobs hanging to it, which continually ftriking the Brafs Veffel, as it was blown up by the Wind, made great Sounds. Suidas fays, that Damon tells us the Oracle ot fupiter Dodonaus was compaffed all round with Bafons; one of which being ftruck, all refounded one after the other, fo that the Circuit of that Sound laded a long time. The fame Suidas fays at the fame place, a Statua flood there placed on high, holding a Rod in his Hand; and near the Statua was a Bafon, whence a certain harmonious, pleafant, and fweet Sound proceeded. Arijlotle, ac¬ cording to Suidas, defcribes this Oracle otherwife > he fays there were two Columns, on one there was a Bafon, and on the other flood a Body with a Whip in his Hand, whofe Cords were made of Brafs,* when they were moved by the Wind, they flruck againfl the Bafon, and fo gave a Sound. I have given thefe Inflances, as looking on thofe Statua’s ftriking on the Bafons, to be only Types of what the Genii per¬ form to thofe who lie under a certain Operation for initiating them in the Myderies of the Ancients. Ay- chemachus the Euboean fays the Curetes inhabited Chab m, and were called Chalcideans from their Brafs Arms : and Brafs is thought very proper in Religion and Sacred Rites. So fheocritus, Idyll. 2. according to Mr* Creech’s apt TranOation, Bark, Thedilis! our Dogs begin to hotel, The Goddefs comes, go beat the brafen Bowl. W here the Scholiafl notes, a Noife was made by beating on Brafs when the Moon was in an Eclipfe, and at the Deaths of People; for Brafs was thought to be pure and good for cleanflng Pollutions : where¬ fore