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A new edition of Toland's History of the druids: - Free History Ebooks

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—288 NOTES.<strong>of</strong> Grecian, but Celtic origin; and if any thing fur<strong>the</strong>r werewanting to establish this point, it is presumed that Carnea willcompensate <strong>the</strong> deficiency. These Carnea were feasts held inhonour <strong>of</strong> Apollo, over allGreece, but chiefly at Sparta, whereCallimachus (see his hymn to Apollo) says <strong>the</strong>y were first introdured.This festival was celebrated at Sparta in <strong>the</strong> monthCarneus^ and at A<strong>the</strong>ns in <strong>the</strong> month Metageitnion, both cor-TCBponding to our month <strong>of</strong> May. The whole festival wasclearly descriptive <strong>of</strong> a military exp<strong>edition</strong>. Nine tents wereerected, and <strong>the</strong> festival lasted nine days.The chief priest wascalled Jgetes, i. e. general. Out <strong>of</strong> every tribe five ministerswere chosen, named Carneatat\ i. e. Cariumen^ or attendants at<strong>the</strong> Cam. The hymns sung were called Cameioi nomoi^ i. e.Cam tiines^ or hymns. The musicians, on <strong>the</strong>se occasions, contendedfor victory. The first prize was won by Terpander.See Potter's Jntiquilies <strong>of</strong> Greece, vol, 1. p, 374 & 380.With regard to <strong>the</strong> etymon <strong>of</strong> Carneus, and <strong>the</strong> origin <strong>of</strong> thisfestival, <strong>the</strong>re has been much diversity <strong>of</strong> opinion.Dr.Bryant andTytler derive Carneus from <strong>the</strong> Greek /fercw, which Bry^ant renders a Horny and Dr. Tyiler a Stork^ informing us at <strong>the</strong>same time that Clarios is a name <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same import, whereasClarios is evidently derived from C/aros, a city <strong>of</strong> Ionian famousfor an oracle <strong>of</strong> Apollo. See T;yilefs Callimachus, p. 44. & 45,O<strong>the</strong>rs have imagined that Carneus is a corruption <strong>of</strong> Cyreneus^from Gyrene, a town <strong>of</strong> Lybia. This idle idea is sufficientlyconfuted by Callimachus in <strong>the</strong> following lines elegantly translatedby Dr. Tytler :~Some Eocdromius, Clarios some implore,Eut nam'd Carneus on my native siiore.Thee, great Carneus !Sparta first possess'd,Next Thera's isle was with thy presence bless'd,You cross'd <strong>the</strong> swelling main from Thera's bowers.And <strong>the</strong>n resided in Cyrcne's towers, &c.—p. 4'1. & 45.Thus we see that Apollo was named Carneus at Sparta,before he was known at Cyrene.longIt would be almost endless toadvert to all <strong>the</strong> groundless opinions vented on (his head. It is

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