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MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER The flowers of history, especially such as relate to the affairs of Britain. Vol. I. B.C. 4004 to A.D. 1066.

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MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER
The flowers of history, especially such as relate to the affairs of Britain. Vol. I. B.C. 4004 to A.D. 1066.
page 28



CH. Χ.—The founding of Athens—Cecrops—Atlas—Mercury. BUT Moses led this people out of Egypt, in the latter days of the life of Cecrops, king of the Athenians, who founded the city of the Athenians, in honour of Minerva, and called the Attics Athenians, from her name.5 For Minerva is called in Greek 'Aôavarri Παρύίνη, that is to say, ' Immortal Virgin,' since Wisdom, of which she is the goddess, can neither die nor be seduced. She is said to have appeared of the age of puberty in the times of Ogygius, at the lake which is called Imtonis. Owing to which circumstance she was thought a goddess, the more easily in proportion as her real origin was less known. The Athenians are reported to have been the first to teach the neighbouring nations the art of spinning wool, and the use of oil and wine. It is also related of Cecrops, that he was the first person who sacrificed an ox to Jupiter. Moreover, at this time they say that he formed men out of clay, because he was a most excellent teacher of wisdom. His brother was Atlas,6 who was himself also a consummate astronomer. At this time also, Mercury, the grandson of Atlas by his daughter Maia, is said to have lived, a man who was an inventor of many arts. Cecrops was succeeded by Carnao, in whose time the deluge of Deucalion took place. To this time is also ascribed the fabulous conflagration of Phsethon. CH. XI.—The numbers of the Tribes of Israel. WHILE the children of Israel remained in the desert, the Lord ordered Moses and Aaron to number them by pedigrees, and houses, and families, and to count the names of each person of twenty years of age and upwards, of the male sex, who was able to go out to war. And there were found to be of the tribe of Reuben, the first-born son of Israel, forty-six thousand four hundred men. * The Greek name of Minerva is Άθήνη. • This does not agree with any account that has come down to us. There is no mention made of any parent of Cecrops, who is represented as earthborn ; while Atlas, according to Hesiod (Theog. 507)» was son of Tarpetus and Clymene. f


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