TWO ESSAYS ON THE WORSHIP OF PRIAPUS

RICHARD PAYNE KNIGHT

AND THOMAS WRIGHT

CELEPHAÏS PRESS
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 A

Diƒcourse on the Worƒhip of Priapus,

AND ITS CONNECTION WITH THE MYSTIC

THEOLOGY OF THE ANCIENTS

BY RICHARD PAYNE KNIGHT, ESQ.

(A NEW EDITION)

TO WHICH IS ADDED AN

ESSAY ON THE WORSHIP OF THE GENERATIVE

POWERS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES

OF WESTERN EUROPE

LONDON
PRIVATELY PRINTED
1865

(Reprinted 1894)
“An account of the Remains of the Worſhip of Priapus” and “A
diſcourſe on the Worſhip of Priapus” privately publiſhed
in London, 1786. New edition, with the addition of
“An Eſſay on the Worſhip of the Generative
Powers”, London: privately printed (London:
J. C. Hotten), 1865; reprinted again, with a
new preface and ſome corrections,
London, 1894.

F!
This electronic edition iſſued by Celephaïs Preſs,
ſomewhere beyond the Tanarian Hills (i.e.,
Leeds, England) October, 2003.
This document is in the
public domain.

k!
Reviſion 1.22a: March 2004.
 PREFACE TO THIS EDITION

r
ICHARD PAYNE KNIGHT, one of the moſt
diſtinguiſhed patrons of art and learning in Eng-
land during his time, a ſcholar of great attainments,
an eminent antiquarian, member of the Radical
party in Parliament, and a writer of great
ability, was born at Wormeſley Grange, in Herefordſhire,
in 1750. From an early age he devoted himſelf to the ſtudy of
ancient literature, antiquities, and mythology. A large portion
of his inherited fortune was expended in the collection of antiq-
uities, eſpecially, ancient coins, models, and bronzes. His col-
lection, which was continued until his death in 1820, was be-
queathed to the Britiſh Muſeum, and accepted for that inſtitution
by a ſpecial act of Parliament. Its value was eſtimated at £50,000.
Among his works are an Inquiry into the Priniples of Taſte;
Analytical Eſſay on the Greek Alphabet; The Symbolical
Language of Ancient Art; and three poems, The Landſcape, the
Progreſs of Civil Society, and The Romance of Alfred.
The Worſhip of Priapus was printed in 1786, for diſtribution
by the Dilettanti Society, with which body the author was
ii PREFACE TO THIS EDITION

actively identified. This ſociety embraced in its memberſhip

ſome of the moſt diſtinguiſhed ſcholars in England, among others
the Duke of Norfolk, Sir Joſeph Banks, Sir William Hamilton,
Sir George Beaumont, the Marquis of Abercorn, Lord Charle-
mont, Lord Dundas, Horace Walpole, and men of equal prom-
inence.
The bold utterances of Mr. Knight on a ſubject which until
that time had been entirely tabooed, or had been treated in a
way to hide rather than to diſcover the truth, ſhocked the ſenſi-
bilities of the higher claſſes of Engliſh ſociety, and the miniſters
and members of the various denominations of the Chriſtian
world. Rather than endure the ſtorm of criticiſm, arouſed by the
publication, he ſuppreſſed during his lifetime all the copies of
the book he could recall, conſequently it became very ſcarce, and
continued ſo for nearly a hundred years.
In 1865 the work was reprinted, with an eſſay added, carrying
the inveſtigation further, ſhowing the prevalence during the mid-
dle ages of beliefs and practices ſimilar to thoſe deſcribed in
Knight’s eſſay, only modified by the changed conditions of ſociety.
The ſupplementary eſſay is now generally conceded to have been
the work of the eminent author and antiquarian, Thomas Wright;1
aſſiſted by John Camden Hotten, the publiſher of the 1865
edition. In their work they had the benefit of the real additions
made during this century to the literature of the ſubject, and of

1
Perhaps no Engliſhmen of modern times, or of any time, has intelligently
treated ſo many different departments of literary reſearch : Archæology, Art,
Bibliography, Chriſtianity, Cuſtoms, Heraldry, Literary Hiſtory, Philology,
Topography, and Travels, are among the topics illuſtrated by the learning, zeal and
induſtry of Mr. Thomas Wright.—S. AUSTEN ALLIBONE.
 PREFACE TO THIS EDITION iii

the diſcoveries of objects of antiquity at Herculaneum and Pom-

peii, alſo in France, Germany, Belguim, England, Ireland, and
in fact in nearly every country in Europe, illuſtrating the ſubject
they were conſidering.
The numerous illuſtrations are engraved from antique coins,
medals, ſtone carvings, etc., preſerved in the Payne Knight col-
lection in the Britiſh Muſeum, and from other objects diſcovered
in England and on the continent, ſince the firſt eſſay was written.
Theſe are only to be found in muſeums and private collections
ſcattered over Europe, and are practically inacceſſible to the ſtudent;
they are here engraved and fully deſcribed.
The edition of 1865 was of a limited number of copies, and
was ſoon exhauſted. When a copy occaſionally appears in the
auction room, or in the hands of a bookſeller, it brings a large
advance on the original high publiſhed price. The preſent
edition, an exact reproduction of that of 1865, but correcting ſome
manifeſt miſprints, is publiſhed in the intereſts of ſcience and
ſcholarſhip. At a time when ſo many learned inveſtigators are
endeavoring to trace back religious beliefs and practices to their
origin, it would ſeem that this is a branch of the ſubject which
ſhould not be ignored. The hiſtory of religions has been ſtudied
with more zeal and ſucceſs during the nineteenth century, than
in all the ages which preceded it, and this book has now an
intereſt fifty fold greater than when originally publiſhed.
October, 1894.
 PREFACE

t
HE following pages are offered ſimply as a con-
tribution to ſcience. The progreſs of human ſociety
has, in different ages, preſented abundance of hor-
rors and abundance of vices, which, in treating
hiſtory popularly, we are obliged to paſs over gently, and often
to conceal; but, nevertheleſs, if we neglect or ſuppreſs theſe facts
altogether, we injure the truth of hiſtory itſelf, almoſt in the ſame
manner as we ſhould injure a man’s health by deſtroying ſome of
the nerves or muſcles of his body. The ſuperſtitions which are
treated in the two eſſays which form the preſent volume, formed
a very important element in the working of the ſocial frame in
former ages,—in fact, during a very great part of the exiſtence
of man in this world, they have had much influence inwardly and
outwardly on the character and ſpirit of ſociety itſelf, and there-
fore it is neceſſary for the hiſtorian to underſtand them, and a
part of the duties of the archæologiſt to inveſtigate them. The
Diſſertation by Richard Payne Knight is tolerably well known—
vi CONTENTS.

at leaſt by name—to bibliographers and antiquaries, as a book

of very conſiderable learning, and at the ſame time, as one which
has become extremely rare, and which, therefore, can only be
obtained occaſionally at a very high price. It happened that, in
a time when the violence of political feelings ran very high, the
author, who was a member of the Houſe of Commons, belonged
to the liberal party, and his book was ſpitefully miſrepreſented,
with the deſign of injuring his character. We know the unjuſt
abuſe which was laviſhed upon him by Mathias, in his now little-
read ſatire, the “Purſuits of Literature.” Some of the Conti-
netnal archæologiſts had written on kindred ſubjects long before
the time of Payne Knight.
It was thought, therefore, that a new edition of this book,
pro-duced in a manner to make it more acceſſible to ſcholars,
would not be unacceptable. Payne Knight’s deſign was only to
inveſtigate the origin and meaning of a once extenſively popular
worſhip. The hiſtory of it is, indeed, a wide ſubject, and muſt
include all branches of the human race, in a majority of which it
is in full force at the preſent day, and even in our own more
highly civilized branch it has continued to exiſt to a far more
recent period than we might be inclined to ſuppoſe. It is the
object of the Eſſay which has been written for the preſent
volume—of which it forms more than one half—to inveſtigate
the exiſtence of theſe ſuperſtitions among ourſelves, to trace
them, in fact, through the middle ages of Weſtern Euroipe, and
their influence on the hiſtory of mediæval and on the formation
of modern ſociety, and to place in the hands of hiſtorical ſcholars
 PREFACE vii

ſuch of their monuments as we have been able to collect. It is

hoped that, thus compoſed, the preſent volume will prove
acceptable to the claſs of readers to whom it ſpecially addreſſes
itſelf.
It muſt not be ſuppoſed or expected that this Eſſay on the
mediæval part of the ſubject can be perfect. A large majority of
the facts and monuments of mediæval phallic worſhip have
long periſhed, but many, hitherto unknown, remain ſtill to be col-
lected, and it may be hopes that the preſent Eſſay will lead
eventually to much more complete reſearches as to the exiſtence
and influence of this Worſhip in Weſtern Europe during mediæval
times. Notes of ſuch ſuperſtitions are continually turning up
unexpectedly; and we may mention as an example that a copy
of Payne Knight’s treatiſe now before us contains a marginal
note in pencil by a former poſſeſſor, Richard Turner, a collector
of curious books formerly reſiding at Grantham in Lincolnſhire,
in the following words:—“In 1850, I met with a Zingari, or
Gypſy, who had an amulet beautifully carved in ivory, which ſhe
wore round her neck; ſhe ſaid it was worth 30l, and ſhe would
not part with it on any amount. She came from Florence. It
was the Lingham and the Yoni united.” This is curious as
furniſhing apparent evidence of the relationſhip between the
gipſies of Weſtern Europe and India.

London, September, 1865.

 CONTENTS
Page.

p
REFACE to this Edition . . . . . . . i
Preface to the Edition of 1865 . . . . . . v
Contents . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Liſt of Plates, with references to explanatory text . . xiii

ACCOUNT OF THE REMAINS OF THE WORSHIP OF PRIAPUS

Letter from Sir William Hamilton . . . . . . . . . 3
Lettera da Iſernia, 1780 . . . . . . . . . . . 9
On the Worſhip of Priapus, by R. Payne Knight . . . 13—113

ON THE WORSHIP OF THE GENERATIVE POWERS IN THE MIDDLE AGES OF

WESTERN EUROPE.
Abundant evidence of Phallic worſhip in the Roman colonies . . 117
Aix, in Provence . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Nimes, and its Roman Amphitheatre . . . . . . . . 120
Xanten, in Heſſe, and Antwerp. . . . . . . . . 121
Britain, and its Priapic remains . . . . . . . . . 122
The Teutonic Venus, Friga . . . . . . . . . . 126
Faſcinum, and its magical influences . . . . . . . . 128
Scotland, and its Phallic celebrations . . . . . . . . 130
Phallic figures on public buildings . . . . . . . . . 131
Ireland, and its Shelah-na-Gig . . . . . . . . . . 132
Repreſentation of the female organ exhibited in various countries. 134
Horſeſhoes nailed to ſtable-doors, a remain of the the Shelah-na-Gig
exhibition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
The ancient god Priapus becomes a ſaint in the Middle Ages . . . 139
x CONTENTS.

Page.
Marriage offerings to Priapus . . . . . . . . . . 141
Antwerp, and its patron ſaint Ters . . . . . . . . . 144
M. Forgeais’ collection of phallic amulets . . . . . . . 146
The “Fig,” and its meanings . . . . . . . . . . 148
The German Scrat, and the Gauliſh Duſii . . . . . . . 152
Robin Goodfellow. . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Liberalia and Floralia feſtivities . . . . . . . . . 154
Eaſter, and hot-croſs-buns . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Heaving and lifting cuſtoms at Eaſter . . . . . . . . 160
May-day feſtivities . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Bonfires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
St. John’s, or Midſummer-eve . . . . . . . . . . 164
Mother Bunch’s inſtruction to maidens . . . . . . . . 166
Plants and flowers connected with phallic worſhip. . . . . 167
The mandrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Lady Godiva, the Shrewſbury ſhow, and the Guild feſtival at Preſton. 170
Pagan rites of the early Chriſtians . . . . . . . . . 171
Gnoſtics, Manichæans, Nicolaitæ, followers of Florian, &c. . . . 173
The Bulgarians, and their practices . . . . . . . . . 176
Walter Mape’s account of the Patarini, and their ſecret rites. . . 176
The Waldenſes and Cathari . . . . . . . . . . 178
Popular oaths and phallic worſhip . . . . . . . . . 181
Secret ſociety in Orleans for celebrating obſcene rites . . . . . 182
The Stedingers of Germany, and their ſecret ceremonies . . . . 184
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
Charges brought againſt them . . . . . . . . . . 185
Spitting on the Croſs, and the denial of Chriſt . . . . . . . 188
The Kiſs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Intercourſe with women prohibited . . . . . . . . . 190
The Cat and Idol worſhip . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Baffomet, or Baphomet . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Von Hammer’s deſcription of the Templars’ images or “idol” . . . 199
THE WITCHES’ SABBATH
The laſt form which the Priapeia and Liberalia aſſumed in Weſtern Europe 206
 CONTENTS. xi

Page.
Trial of witches at Arras, in France. . . . . . . . . 207
Sprenger and others on witchcraft in the fifteenth century . . . 209
Bodin’s deſcription of the Sabbath ceremonies . . . . . . 210
Pierre de Lancre’s full account of the Witches’ Sabbath . . . . 212
Pictorial repreſentation of the ceremonies . . . . . . . 245
Similarity of the proceeding of the Sabbath to thoſe of the Templars . 246
Intermixture of Priapic orgies with Chriſtian rites and ceremonies . 247
Traces of phallic worſhip ſtill exiſting on the weſtern ſhores of Ireland 248

INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
NOTE.—As frequent references are made to ſome of the engraved figures in different
parts of the work, it was found impoſſible to inſert the illuſtrations always oppo-
ſite the explanatory text. The plates, therefore, have been placed, independently
of the text, but in regular order. The following liſt, however, will refer the
reader to thoſe pages which explain the objects drawn:—
Plate Deſcribed on Page
I. EX VOTI OF WAX, FROM ISERNIA . . . . . . . . 3, 7
II. ANCIENT AND MODERN AMULETS:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 28, 90
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 28, 88
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
III. ANTIQUE GEMS AND GREEK MEDALS.:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 90
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 46
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 85
6, 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
IV. MEDALS POSSESSED BY PAYNE KNIGHT:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 33
2 . . . . . . . . . . 33, 34, 34, 89
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 36
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
V. FIGURES OF PAN, GEMS, &c.:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . 37, 42, 54
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
VI. THE TAURIC DIANA . . . . . . . . . . . 77
xiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Plate Deſcribed on Page

VII. GOAT AND SATYR, GREEK SCULPTURE . . . . . . . 33
VIII. BROKEN STATUE OF CERES . . . . . . . . 72
IX. COINS AND MEDALS:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
6 . . . . . . . . . . . . 80, 81
7 . . . . . . . . . . . . 81, 83
8 . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
9 . . . . . . . . . . . . 79, 88
10 . . . . . . . . . . . . 91, 93
11 . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, 79
12 . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
13 . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
X. SISTRUM, WITH VARIOUS MEDALS:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
2 . . . . . . . . . . . 78, 79, 80
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
6 . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
7 . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
8 . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
XI. SCULPTURES FROM ELEPHANTA . . . . . . . . 47, 48
XII. INDIAN TEMPLE, SHOWING THE LINGAM . . . . . 49, 56, 61
XIII. CELTIC TEMPLE, GREEK MEDAL, &c.:
Figure 1, 2, 3 . . . . . . . . . . . 55
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 61
6, 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
8 . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
9, 10 . . . . . . . . . . . 59
11 . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
XIV. PORTABLE TEMPLE DEDICATED TO PRIAPUS OR THE “LINGAM” . 55
XV. TEMPLE DEDICATED TO BACCHUS, AT PUZZUOLI:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 64, 65
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 64, 66
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. xv

Plate Deſcribed on Page

XVI. ORNAMENT FROM PUZZUOLI TEMPLE:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
XVII. ORNAMENT FROM PUZZUOLI TEMPLE: . . . . . . 65
XVIII. EGYPTIAN FIGURES AND ORNAMANETS:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . 51, 87, 89
2 . . . . . . . . . . . 50, 87, 89
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
XIX. EGYPTIAN FIGURES AND ORNAMANETS:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 87, 88
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . 34, 89
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . 87, 89
6, 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
XX. THE LOTUS, WITH MEDALS OF MELITA, &c.:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
XXI. BACCHUS, MEDALS OF CAMARINA, SYRACUSE, &c.
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
2, 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
4, 5, 6 . . . . . . . . . . . 90
7 . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
XXII. STATUE OF A BULL AT TANJORE . . . . . . . 34
XXIII. TIGER AT THE BREAST OF A NYMPH . . . . . . 74
XXIV. SCULPTURE FROM ELEPHANT. (See Plate XI.) . . . . 47, 48
XXV. ROMAN SCULPTURES FROM NÎMES:
Figure 1, 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
4 . . . . . . . . . . . 122, 136
XXVI. MONUMENT FOUND AT NÎMES IN 1825. . . . . . 119, 121
XXVII. PHALLIC FIGURES, &c., FOUND IN ENGLAND:
Figure 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . . . . . . . . . 123
XXVIII. PHALLIC MONUMENTS FOUND IN SCOTLAND, &c.
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
2, 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
xvi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Plate Deſcribed on Page

XXIX. SHELAH-NA-GIG MONUMENTS
Figure 1, 2, 3, 4 . . . . . . . . . . 133 to 139
XXX. SHELAH-NA-GIG MONUMENTS
Figure 1, 2, 3 . . . . . . . . . . 133 to 139
XXXI. VENUS OF THE VANDALS, BRONZE IMAGES, &c.:
Figure 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . . . . . . . . . 136 to 138
6 . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
XXXII. ORNAMENTS FROM THE CHURCH OF SAN FEDELE
Figure 1, 2, 3 . . . . . . . . . 137 to 138
XXXIII. PHALLIC LEADEN TOKENS FROM THE SEINE . . . . 147, 170
XXXIV. LEADEN ORNAMENTS FROM THE SEINE:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
2, 3, 4, 5 . . . . . . . . . . . 147
XXXV. AMULETS, &c., OF GOLD AND LEAD:
Figure 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . . . . . . . . . . 147
XXXVI. ROBIN GOODFELLOW, PHALLIC AMULETS, &c.:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
4 . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
5 . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
XXXVII. PRIAPIC ILLUSTRATIONS FROM OLD BALLADS:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
XXXVIII. “IDOLS” OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLARS . . . . . . 199
XXXIX. SCUPLTURES OF THE TEMPLARS’ MYSTERIES:
Figure 1 . . . . . . . . . . . 199 to 203
2 . . . . . . . . . . . 200 to 203
3 . . . . . . . . . . . 200 to 204
4 . . . . . . . . . . . 199 to 204
XL. THE WITCHES’ SABBATH, FROM DE LANCRE, 1613 . . 241, 246
 AN
ACCOUNT OF THE REMAINS
OF THE

WORSHIP
OF

PRIAPUS,
LATELY EXISTING AT
ISERNIA, in the Kingdom of NAPLES:

IN TWO LETTERS:
One from Sir WILLIAM HAMILTON, K.B., His Majesty’s Miniſter
at the court of Naples, to Sir JOSEPH BANKS, Bart., Preſident
of the Royal Socieity.

And the other from a Perſon reſiding at Iſernia:

TO WHICH IS ADDED

A DISCOURSE ON THE WORSHIP OF PRIAPUS

And its Connexion with the myſtic Theology of the Ancients.

By R. P. KNIGHT, Eſq.
LONDON:
Printed by T. SPILSBURY, Snowhill.
M.DCC.LXXXVI.
 A LETTER FROM SIR WILLIAM
HAMILTON, ETC.
Naples, Dec. 30, 1781.
SIR,

h
AVING laſt year made a curious diſcovery, that in a
Province of this Kingdom, and not fifty miles from
its Capital, a ſort of devotion is ſtill paid to PRIA-
PUS, the obſcene Divinity of the Ancients (though
under another denomination), I thought it a circum-
ſtance worth recording; particularly, as it offers a freſh proof of the
ſimilitude of the Popiſh and Pagan Religion, ſo well obſerved by
Dr. Middleton, in his celebrated Letter from Rome: and there-
fore I mean to depoſit the authentic1 proofs of this aſſertion in the
Britiſh Muſeum, when a proper opportunity ſhall offer. In the
meantime I ſend you the following account, which, I flatter
myſelf, will amuſe you for the preſent, and may in future ſerve to
illuſtrate thoſe proofs.
I had long ago diſcovered, that the women and children of the
lower claſs, at Naples, and in its neighbourhood, frequently wore,

1
A ſpecimen of each of the ex-voti of wax, with the original letter from Iſernia.
See the Ex-voti, Plate I.
4 LETTER FROM

as an ornament of dreſs, a ſort of Amulets, (which they imagine to

be a preſervative from the mal occhii, evil eyes, or enchantment)
exactly ſimilar to thoſe which were worn by the ancient Inhabitants
of this Country for the very ſame purpoſe, as likewiſe for their
ſuppoſed invigorating influence; and all of which have evidently a
relation to the Cult of Priapus. Struck with this conformity in
ancient and modern ſuperſtition, I made a collection of both the
ancient and modern Amulets of this ſort, and placed them together
in the Britiſh Muſeum, where they remain. The modern
Amulet moſt in vogue repreſents a hand clinched, with the point
of the thumb thruſt betwixt the index and middle1 finger; the
next is a ſhell; and the third is a half-moon. Theſe Amulets
(except the ſhell, which is uſually worn in its natural ſtate) are moſt
commonly made of ſilver, but ſometimes of ivory, coral, amber,
cryſtal, or ſome curious gem, or pebble. We have a proof of the
hand above deſcribed having a connection with Priapus, in a moſt
elegant ſmall idol of bronze of that Divinity, now in the Royal
Muſeum of Portici, and which was found in the ruins of Her-
culaneum: it has an enormous Phallus, and, with an arch look
and geſture, ſtretches out its right hand in the form above men-
tioned;2 and which probably was an emblem of conſummation:
and as a further proof of it, the Amulet which occurs moſt fre-
quently amongſt thoſe of the Ancients (next to that which repreſents
the ſimple Priapus), is ſuch a hand united with the Phallus; of
which you may ſee ſeveral ſpecimens in my collection in the
Britiſh Muſeum. One in particular, I recollect, has alſo the half-
moon joined to the hand and Phallus; which half-moon is ſuppoſed
to have an alluſion to the female menſes. The ſhell, or concha veneris,
1
See Plate II., Fig. 1.
2
This elegant little figure is engraved in the firſt volume of the Bronzes of the
Herculaneum.
 SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON 5

is evidently an emblem of the female part of generation. It is very

natural then to ſuppoſe, that the Amulets repreſenting the Phallus
alone, ſo viſibly indecent, may have been long out of uſe in this
civilized capital; but I have been aſſured, that it is but very lately
that the Prieſts have put an end to the wearing of ſuch Amulets in
Calabria, and other diſtant Provinces of this Kingdom.
A new road having been made laſt year from this Capital to the
Province of Abruzzo, paſſing through the City of Iſernia (an-
ciently belonging to the Samnites, and very populouſ1), a perſon of
liberal education, employed in that work, chanced to be at Iſernia
juſt at the time of the celebration of the Feaſt of the modern
Priapus, St. Coſmo; and having been ſtruck with the ſingularity
of the ceremony, ſo very ſimilar to that which attended the ancient
Cult of the God of the Gardens, and knowing my taſte for anti-
quities, told me of it. From this Gentleman’s report, and from
what I learnt on the ſpot from the Governor of Iſernia himſelf,
having gone to that city on purpoſe in the month of February laſt, I
have drawn up the following account, which I have reaſon to believe
is ſtrictly true. I did intend to have been preſent at the Feaſt of
St. Coſmo this year; but the indecency of this ceremony having
probably tranſpired, from the country’s having been more frequented
ſince the new road was made, orders have been given, that the
Great Toe2 of the Saint ſhould no longer be expoſed. The fol-
lowing is the account of the Fête of St. Coſmo and Damiano, as
it actually was celebrated at Iſernia, on the confines of Abruzzo,
in the Kingdom of Naples, ſo late as in the year of our Lord
1780.
On the 27th of September, at Iſernia, one of the moſt ancient
1
The actual population of Iſernia, according to the Governer’s account, is 5156.
2
See the Italian letter, printed at the end of this, from which it appears the
modern Priapi were ſo called at Iſernia.
6 LETTER FROM

cities of the Kingdom of Naples, ſituated in the Province called

the Contado di Moliſe, and adjoining to Abruzzo, an annual Fair
is held, which laſts three days. The ſituation of this Fair is on a
riſing ground, between two rivers, about half a mile from the town
of Iſernia; on the moſt elevated part of which there is an ancient
church, with a veſtibule. The architecture is of the ſtyle of the
lower ages; and it is ſaid to have been a church and convent be-
longing to the Benedictine Monks in the time of their poverty.
This church is dedicated to St. Coſmus and Damianus. One of
the days of the Fair, the relicks of the Saints are expoſed, and
afterwards carried in proceſſion from the cathedral of the city to
this church, attended by a prodigious concourſe of people. In the
city, and at the fair, ex-voti of wax, repreſenting the male parts of
generation, of various dimenſions, ſome even of the length of the
palm, are publickly offered to ſale. There are alſo waxen vows,
that repreſent other parts of the body mixed with them; but of
theſe there are few in compariſon of the number of the Priapi.
The devout diſtributers of theſe vows carry a baſket full of them
in one hand, and hold a plate in the other to receive the money,
crying aloud, “St. Coſmo and Damiano!” If you aſk the price
of one, the anſwer is, più ci metti, più meriti: “The more you
give, the more's the merit.” In the veſtibule are two tables, at
each of which one of the canons of the church preſides, this crying
out, Qui ſi riceveno le Miſſe, e Litanie: “Here Maſſes and Lita-
nies are received;" and the other, Qui ſi riceveno li Voti: “Here
the Vows are received.” The price of a Maſs is fifteen Neapolitan
grains, and of a Litany five grains. On each table is a large baſon
for the reception of the different offerings. The Vows are chiefly
preſented by the female ſex; and they are ſeldom ſuch as repreſent
legs, arms, &c., but moſt commonly the male parts of generation.
The perſon who was at this fete in the year 1780, and who gave
me this account (the authenticity of every article of which has ſince
 SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON 7

been fully confirmed to me by the Governor of Iſernia), told me

alſo, that he heard a woman ſay, at the time ſhe preſented a Vow,
like that which is preſented in Plate I, Fig. i., Santo Coſimo bene-
detto, coſi lo voglio: “Bleſſed St. Coſmo, let it be like this;” another,
St. Coſimo, a te mi raccommendo: “St. Coſmo, I recommend myſelf
to you;” and a third, St. Coſimo, ti ringrazio: “St. Coſmo, I thank
you.” The Vow is never preſented without being accompanied by
a piece of money, and is always kiſſed by the devotee at the moment
of preſentation.
At the great altar in the church, another of its canons attends to
give the holy unction, with the oil of St. Coſmo;1 which is pre-
pared by the ſame receipt as that of the Roman Ritual, with the
addition only of the prayer of the Holy Martyrs, St. Coſmus and
Damianus. Thoſe who have an infirmity in any of their members,
preſent themſelves at the great altar, and uncover the member
affected (not even excepting that which is moſt frequently repre-
ſented by the ex-voti); and the reverend canon anoints it, ſaying,
Per interceſſionem beati Coſmi, liberet te ab omni malo. Amen.
The ceremony finiſhes by the canons of the church dividing the
ſpoils, both money and wax, which muſt be to a very conſiderable
amount, as the concourſe at this fete is ſaid to be prodigiouſly
numerous.
The oil of St. Coſmo is in high repute for its invigorating
quality, when the loins, and parts adjacent, are anointed with it.
No leſs than 1400 flaſks of that oil were either expended at the
altar in unctions, or charitably diſtributed, during this fête in the
year 1780; and as it is uſual for every one, who either makes uſe

1
The cure of diſeaſes by oil is likewiſe of ancient date; for Tertullian tells us, that
a Chriſtian, called Proculus, cured the Emperor Severus of a certain diſtemper by the
uſe of oil; for which ſervice the Emperor kept Proculus, as long as he lived,
in his palace.
8 LETTER FROM SIR W. HAMILTON

of the oil at the altar, or carries off a flaſk of it, to leave an alms
for St. Coſmo, the ceremony of the oil becomes likewiſe a very
lucrative one to the canons of the church.
I am, Sir,
With great truth and regard,
Your moſt obedient humble Servant,
WILLIAM HAMILTON.
 LETTERA DA ISERNIA

NELL’ ANNO, 1780.

N Iſernia Città Sannitica, oggi della Provincia del

i Contado di Moliſe, ogni Anno li 27 Settembre

vi è una Fiera della claſſe delle perdonanze (coſi
dette negl’Abruzzi li gran mercati, e fiere non di
liſta): Queſta fiera ſi fa ſopra d'una Collinetta, che
ſtà in mezzo a due fiumi; diſtante mezzo miglio da Iſernia, dove
nella parte piu elevata vi è un antica Chieſa con un veſtibulo, archi-
tettura de’ baſſi tempi, e che ſi dice eſſer ſtata Chieſa, e Moniſtero de
P. P. Benedettini, quando erano poveri? La Chieſa è dedicata ai
Santi COSMO e DAMIANO, ed è Grancia del Reverendiſſimo Capi-
tolo. La Fiera è di 50 baracche a fabrica, ed i Canonici affittano le
baracche, alcune 10, altre 15, al piu 20, carlini l'una; affittano
ancora per tre giorni l'oſteria fatta di fabbrica docati 20 ed i
comeſtibili ſolo benedetti. Vi è un Eremita della ſteſſa umanità del
fu F. Gland guardiano del Monte Veſuvio, cittato con riſpetto dall’
Ab. Richard. La fiera dura tre giorni. Il Maeſtro di fiera è il
Capitolo, ma commette al Governatore Regio; e queſta alza bandiera
con l’impreſa della Citta, che è la ſteſſa impreſa de P. P. Celeſtini.
Si fa una Proceſſione con le Reliquie dei Santi, ed eſce dalla Catte-
drale, e và alla Chieſa ſudetta; ma è poco devota. Il giorno della feſta,
ſì per la Città, come nella collinetta vi è un gran concorſo d’Abitatori
10 LETTERA DA ISERNIA

del Moteſe, Mainarde, ed altri Monti vicini, che la ſtranezza delli

veſtimenti delle Donne, ſembra, a chi non ha gl’occhi avvezzi ave-
derle, il pui bel ridotto di maſcherate. Le Donne della Terra del
Gallo ſono vere figlie dell'Ordine Serafico Cappuccino, veſtendo
come li Zoccolanti in materia, e forma. Puelle di Scanno Sembrano
Greche di Scio. Puelle di Carovilli Armene. Puelle delle Peſche,
e Carpinone tengono ſul capo alcuni panni roſſi con ricamo di filo
bianco, diſegno ſul guſto Etruſco, che a pochi paſſi ſembra merletto
d’Inghilterra. Vi è fra queſte Donne vera belezza, e diverſità
grande nel veſtire, anche fra due popolazioni viciniſſime, ed un
attaccamento particolare di certe popolazioni ad un colore, ed altre
ad altro. L’abito è diſtinto nelle Zitelle, Maritate, Vedove, è Donne
di piacere?
Nella fiera ed in Città vi ſono molti divoti, che vendono mem-
bri virili di cera di diverſe forme, e di tutte le grandezze, fino ad
un palmo; e miſchiate vi ſono ancora gambe, braccia, e faccie; ma
poche ſono queſte. Quei li vendono tengono un ceſto, ed un
piatto; li membri rotti ſono nel ceſto, ed il piatto ſerve per racco-
gliere il danaro d’elemoſina. Gridano S. COSMO e DAMIANO. Chi
è ſprattico domanda, quanto un vale? Riſpondono più ci metti, più
meriti. Avanti la Chieſa nel veſtibolo del Tempio vi ſono due
tavole, ciaſcuna con ſedia, dove preſiede un Canonico, e ſuol’eſſere
uno il Primicerio, e l’altro Arciprete; grida uno qui ſi ricevono le
Meſſe, e Litanie: l’altro, qui ſi ricevono li voti; ſopra delle tavole
in ogn’una vi è un bacile, che ſerve per raccogliere li membri di
cera, che mai ſi preſentano ſoli, ma con denaro, come ſi è pratticato
ſempre in tutte le preſentazioni di membri, ad eccezzione di quelli
dell’Iſola di Ottaiti. Queſta divozione è tutta quaſi delle Donne, e
ſono pochiſſmi quelli, o quelle che preſentano gambe, e braccia,
mentre tutta la gran feſta s’aggira a profitto de membri della gene-
razione. In ho inteſo dire ad una donna. Santo Coſimo benedetto,
coſi lo voglio. Altre dicevano, Santo Coſimo a te mi raccommando:
 LETTERA DA ISERNIA 11

altre, Santo Coſimo ringrazio; e queſto è quello oſſervai, e ſi prat-

tica nel veſtibulo, baciando ogn’una il voto che preſente.
Dentro la chieſa nell'altare maggiore un canonico fa le ſante
unzioni con l’olio di S. Coſimo. La ricetta di queſt'olio è la ſteſſa
del Rituale Romano, con l’aggiunta dell’orazione delli SS. Martiri,
Coſimo e Damiano. Si preſentano all’Altare gl’Infermi d’ogni
male, ſnundano la parte offeſa, anche l'originale della copia di cera,
ed il Canonico ungendoli dice, Per interceſſionem beati Coſmi,
liberet te ab omni malo. Amen.
Finiſce la feſta con dividerſi li Canonici la cera, ed il denaro, e
con ritornar gravide molte Donne ſterili maritate, a profitto della
popolazione delle Provincie; e ſpeſſo la grazia ſ'entende ſenza
meraviglia, alle Zitelle, e Vedove, che per due notti hanno dormito,
alcune nella Chieſa de’ P.P. Zoccolanti, ed altre delli Capuccini, non
eſſendoci in Iſernia Caſe locande per alloggiare tutto il numero di
gente, che concorre: onde li Frati, ajutando ai Preti, danno le
Chieſe alle Donne, ed i Portici agl’Uomini; e coſi Diviſi ſucce-
dendo gravidanze non deve dubitar ſi, che ſia opera tutto miraco-
loſa, e di divozione.

NOTA I.
L’olio non ſolo ſerve per l'unzione che fà Canonico, ma anche
ſi diſpenſa in piccioliſſime caraffine, e ſerve per ungerſi li lombo
a chi ha male a queſta parte. In queſt'anno 1780. ſi ſono date par
divozione 1400 caraffine, e ſi è conſumato mezzo Stajo d’olio.
Chi prende una caraffina da l'olemoſina.

NOTA II.
Li Canonici che ſiedono nel Veſtibulo prendono denaro d’Ele-
moſina per Meſſe, e per Litanie. Le Meſſea grana 15. e le Litanie a
grana 5.
12 LETTERA DA ISERNIA

NOTA III.
Li foreſtieria alloggiano non ſola frà li Cappuccini e Zoccolanti,
ma anche nell’Eramo di S. Coſmo. Le Donne che dormono nelle
chieſe de’ P. P. Sudetti ſono guardate dalli Guardiani, Vicari e
Padri piu di merito, e quelli dell’ Eremo ſono in cura dell’ Eremita,
diviſe anche dai Propri Mariti, e ſi ſanno ſpeſſo miracoli ſenza
incomodo delli ſanti.

Le non le guſta, quando l’avrà letta

Tornerà bene farne una baldoria:
Che le daranno almen qualche diletto
Le Monachine quando vanno a letto.
 ON THE WORSHIP OF PRIAPUS.
EN, conſidered collectively, are at all times the ſame

m animals, employing the ſame organs, and endowed

with the ſame faculties: their paſſions, prejudices,
and conceptions, will of courſe be formed upon the
ſame internal principles, although directed to various
ends, and modified in various ways, by the variety of external cir-
cumſtances operating upon them. Education and ſcience may cor-
rect, reſtrain, and extend; but neither can annihilate or create: they
may turn and embelliſh the currents; but can neither ſtop nor enlarge
the ſprings, which, continuing to flow with a perpetual and equal
tide, return to their ancient channels, when the cauſes that perverted
them are withdrawn.
The firſt principles of the human mind will be more directly
brought into action, in proportion to the earneſtneſs and affection
with which it contemplates its object; and paſſion and prejudice will
acquire dominion over it, in proportion as its firſt principles are more
directly brought into action. On all common ſubjects, this dominion
of paſſion and prejudice is reſtrained by the evidence of ſenſe and
perception; but, when the mind is led to the contemplation of things
beyond its comprehenſion, all ſuch reſtraints vaniſh: reaſon has then
14 ON THE WORSHIP

nothing to oppoſe to the phantoms of imagination, which acquire

terrors from their obſcurity, and dictate uncontrolled, becauſe un-
known. Such is the caſe in all religious ſubjects, which, being
beyond the reach of ſenſe or reaſon, are always embraced or rejected
with violence and heat. Men think they know, becauſe they are
ſure they feel; and are firmly convinced, becauſe ſtrongly agitated.
Hence proceed that haſte and violence with which devout perſons
of all religions condemn the rites and doctrines of others, and the
furious zeal and bigotry with which they maintain their own; while
perhaps, if both were equally well underſtood, both would be found
to have the ſame meaning, and only to differ in the modes of con-
veying it.
Of all the profane rites which belonged to the ancient poly-
theiſm, none were more furiouſly inveighed againſt by the zealous
propagators of the Chriſtian faith, than the obſcene ceremonies per-
formed in the worſhip of Priapus; which appeared not only contrary
to the gravity and ſanctity of religion, but ſubverſive of the firſt
principles of decency and good order in ſociety. Even the form
itſelf, under which the god was repreſented, appeared to them a
mockery of all piety and devotion, and more fit to be placed in a
brothel than a temple. But the forms and ceremonials of a religion
are not always to be underſtood in their direct and obvious ſenſe;
but are to be conſidered as ſymbolical repreſentations of ſome hidden
meaning, which may be extremely wiſe and juſt, though the ſymbols
themſelves, to thoſe who know not their true ſignification, may
appear in the higheſt degree abſurd and extravagant. It has often
happened, that avarice and ſuperſtition have continued theſe ſym-
bolical repreſentations for ages after their original meaning has
been loſt and forgotten; when they muſt of courſe appear non-
ſenſical and ridiculous, if not impious and extravagant.
Such is the caſe with the rite now under conſideration, than which
 OF PRIAPUS 15

nothing can be more monſtrous and indecent, if conſidered in its

plain and obvious meaning, or as a part of the Chriſtian worſhip;
but which will be found to be a very natural ſymbol of a very
natural and philoſophical ſyſtem of religion, if conſidered
according to its original uſe and intention.
What this was, I ſhall endeavour in the following ſheets to explain
as conciſely and clearly as poſſible. Thoſe who wiſh to know how
generally the ſymbol, and the religion which it repreſented, once
prevailed, will conſult the great and elaborate work of Mr. D’Han-
carville, who, with infinite learning and ingenuity, has traced its
progreſs over the whole earth. My endeavour will be merely to
ſhow, from what original principles in the human mind it was firſt
adopted, and how it was connected with the ancient theology: mat-
ters of very curious inquiry, which will ſerve, better perhaps than
any others, to illuſtrate that truth, which ought to be preſent in every
man’s mind when be judges of the actions of others, that in morals,
as well as phyſics, there is no effect without an adequate cauſe. If in
doing this, I frequently find it neceſſary to differ in opinion with
the learned author above-mentioned, it will be always with the ut-
moſt deference and reſpect; as it is to him that we are indebted for
the only reaſonable method of explaining the emblematical works of
the ancient artiſts.
Whatever the Greeks and Egyptians meant by the ſymbol in
queſtion, it was certainly nothing ludicrous or licentious; of which
we need no other proof, than its having been carried in ſolemn
proceſſion at the celebration of thoſe myſteries in which the firſt
principles of their religion, the knowledge of the God of Nature, the
Firſt, the Supreme, the Intellectual,1 were preſerved free from the
vulgar ſuperſtitions, and communicated, under the ſtricteſt oaths of

1
Plut. de Is. et Oſir.
16 ON THE WORSHIP

ſecrecy, to the iniated (initiated); who were obliged to purify them-

ſelves, prior to their initiation, by abſtaining from venery, and all
impure food.1 We may therefore be aſſured, that no impure mean-
ing could be conveyed by this ſymbol; but that it repreſented ſome
fundamental principle of their faith. What this was, it is difficult
to obtain any direct information, on account of the ſecrecy under
which this part of their religion was guarded. Plutarch tells us,
that the Egyptians repreſented Oſiris with the organ of generation
erect, to ſhow his generative and prolific power: he alſo tells us,
that Oſiris was the ſame Deity as the Bacchus of the Greek Mytho-
logy; who was alſo the ſame as the firſt begotten Love (Erwj
prwtogonoj) of Orpheus and Heſiod.2 This deity is celebrated by
the ancient poets as the creator of all things, the father of gods
and men;3 and it appears, by the paſſage above referred to, that
the organ of generation was the ſymbol of his great characteriſtic
attribute. This is perfectly conſiſtent with the general practice of
the Greek artiſts, who (as will be made appear hereafter) uniformly
repreſented the attributes of the deity by the correſponding pro-
perties obſerved in the objects of ſight. They thus perſonified the
epithets and titles applied to him in the hymns and litanies, and
conveyed their ideas of him by forms, only intelligible to the ini-
tiated, inſtead of ſounds, which were intelligible to all. The organ
of generation repreſented the generative or creative attribute, and in
the language of painting and ſculpture, ſignified the ſame as the
epithet paggentwr, in the Orphic litanies.
This interpretation will perhaps ſurpriſe thoſe who have not
been accuſtomed to diveſt their minds of the prejudices of education
and faſhion; but I doubt not, but it will appear juſt and reaſonable
to thoſe who conſider manners and cuſtoms as relative to the natural

1 2 3
Plut. de Is. et Os. Ibid. Orph. Argon. 422.
 OF PRIAPUS 17

cauſes which produced them, rather than to the artificial opinions

and prejudices of any particular age or country. There is naturally
no impurity or licentiouſneſs in the moderate and regular gratifica-
tion of any natural appetite; the turpitude conſiſting wholly in the
exceſs or perverſion. Neither are organs of one ſpecies of enjoy-
ment naturally to be conſidered as ſubjects of ſhame and conceal-
ment more than thoſe of another; every refinement of modern
manners on this head being derived from acquired habit, not from
nature: habit, indeed, long eſtabliſhed; for it ſeems to have been
as general in Homer’s days as at preſent; but which certainly did
not exiſt when the myſtic ſymbols of the ancient worſhip were firſt
adopted. As theſe ſymbols were intended to expreſs abſtract ideas
by objects of ſight, the contrivers of them naturally ſelected thoſe
objects whoſe characteriſtic properties ſeemed to have the greateſt
analogy with the Divine attributes which they wiſhed to repreſent.
In an age, therefore, when no prejudices of artificial decency exiſted,
what more juſt and natural image could they find, by which to
expreſs their idea of the beneficent power of the great Creator,
than that organ which endowed them with the power of procreation,
and made them partakers, not only of the felicity of the Deity, but
of his great characteriſtic attribute, that of multiplying his own
image, communicating his bleſſings, and extending them to genera-
tions yet unborn?
In the ancient theology of Greece, preſerved in the Orphic
Fragments, this Deity, the Erwj prwtogonoj, or firſt-begotten Love,
is ſaid to have been produced, together with Æther, by Time, or
Eternity (Kronoj), and Neceſſity (Anagkh), operating upon inert
matter (Caoj). He is deſcribed as eternally begetting (aeignhthj);
the Father of Night, called in later times, the lucid or ſplendid,
(fanhj), becauſe he firſt appeared in ſplendour; of a double
nature, (difuhj), as poſſeſſing the general power of creation and
18 ON THE WORSHIP

generation, both active and paſſive, both male and female.1

Light is his neceſſary and primary attribute, co-eternal with him-

1
Orph. Argon., ver. 12. This poem of the Argonautic Expedition is not of the
ancient Orpheus, but written in his name by ſome poet poſterior to Homer; as
appears by the alluſion to Orpheus’s deſcent into hell; a fable invented after the
Homeric times. It is, however, of very great antiquity, as both the ſtyle and manner
ſufficiently prove; and, I think, cannot be later than the age of Piſiſtratus, to which
it has been generally attributed. The paſſage here referred to is cited from another
poem, which, at the time this was written, paſſed for a genuine work of the
Thracian bard: whether juſtly or not, matters little; for its being thought ſo at that
time proves it to be of the remoteſt antiquity. The other Orphic poems cited in this
diſcourſe are the Hymns, or Litanies, which are attributed by the early Chriſtian and
later Platonic writers to Onomacritus, a poet of the age of Piſiſtratus; but which
are probably of various authors (See Brucker. Hiſt. Crit. Philos., vol. I., part 2,
lib., c. i.) They contain, however, nothing which proves them to he later than
the Trojan times; and if Onomacritus, or any later author, had anything to do with
them, it ſeems to have been only in new-verſifying them, and changing the dialect
(See Geſner. Proleg. Orphica, p. 26). Had he forged them, and attempted to
impoſe them upon the world, as the genuine compoſitions of an ancient bard, there
can be no doubt but that he would have ſtuffed them with antiquated words and
obſolete phraſes; which is by no means the caſe, the language being pure and worthy
the age of Piſiſtratus. Theſe Poems are not properly hymns, for the hymns of the
Greeks contained the nativities and actions of the gods, like thoſe of Homer and
Callimachus; but theſe are compoſitions of a different kind, and are properly
invocations or prayers uſed in the Orphic myſteries, and ſeem nearly of the ſame
claſs as the Pſalms of the Hebrews. The reaſon why they are ſo ſeldom mentioned by
any of the early writers, and ſo perpetually referred to by the later, is that they
belonged to the myſtic worſhip, where everything was kept concealed under the
ſtricteſt oaths of ſecrecy. But after the riſe of Chriſtianity, this ſacred ſilence was
broken by the Greek converts who revealed everything which they thought would
depreciate the old religion or recommend the now; whilſt the heathen prieſts revealed
whatever they thought would have contrary tendency; and endeavoured to ſhow, by
publiſhing the real myſtic creed of their religion, that the principles of it were not ſo
abſurd as its outward ſtructure ſeemed to infer; but that, when ſtripped of poetical
allegory and vulgar fable, their theology was pure, reaſonable, and ſublime (Geſner.
Proleg. Orphica). The collection of theſe poems now extant, being pro-bably
compiled and verſified by ſeveral hands, with ſome forged, and other interpo-lated
and altered, muſt be read with great caution; more eſpecially the Fragments
 OF PRIAPUS 19

ſelf, and with him brought forth from inert matter by neceſſity.
Hence the purity and ſanctity always attributed to light by the

preſerved by the Fathers of the Church and Ammonian Platonics; for theſe writers
made no ſcruple of forging any monuments of antiquity which ſuited their purpoſes;
particularly the former, who, in addition to their natural zeal, having the intereſts of a
confederate body to ſupport, thought every means by which they could benefit
that body, by extending the lights of revelation, and gaining proſelytes to the true
faith, not only allowable, but meritorious (See Clementina, Hom. vii., ſee. 10.
Recogn. lib. i., ſec. 65. Origen, apud Hieronom. Apolog. i., contra Ruf. et
Chryſoſtom. de Sacerdot., lib. i. Chryſoſtom, in particular, not only juſtifies, but
warmly commends, any frauds that can be practiced for the advantage of the Church
of Chriſt). Pauſanias ſays (lib. ix.), that the Hymns of Orpheus were few and ſhort;
but next in poetical merit to thoſe of Homer, and ſuperior to them in ſanctity
(qeologikwteroi). Theſe are probably the ſame as the genuine part of the collection
now extant; but they are ſo intermixed, that it is difficult to ſay which are genuine
and which are not. Perhaps there is no ſurer rule for judging than to compare the
epithets and allegories with the ſymbols and monograms on the Greek medals, and to
make their agreement the teſt of authenticity. The medals were the public acts and
records of the State, made under the direction of the magiſtrates, who were gene-rally
initiated into the myſteries. We may therefore be aſſured, that whatever theological
and mythological alluſions are found upon them were part of the ancient religion of
Greece. It is from theſe that many of the Orphic Hymns and Fragments are proved to
contain the pure theology or myſtic faith of the ancients, which is called Orphic by
Pauſanias (lib. i., c. 39), and which is ſo unlike the vulgar religion, or poetical
mythology, that one can ſcarcely Imagine at firſt ſight that it belonged to the ſame
people; but which will nevertheleſs appear, upon accurate inveſtigation, to be the
ſource from whence it flowed, and the cauſe of all its extravagance.
The hiſtory of Orpheus himſelf is ſo confuſed and obſcured by fable, that it is
impoſſible to obtain any certain information concerning him. According to general
tradition, he was a Thracian, and introduced the myſteries, in which a more pure
ſyſtem of religion was taught, into Greece (Brucker, vol. i., part 2, lib. i., c. i.)
He is alſo ſaid to have travelled into Egypt (Diodor. Sic. lib. i., p. 80); but as the
Egyptians pretended that all foreigners received their ſciences from them, at a time
when all foreigners who entered the country were put to death or enſlaved (Diodor.
Sic. lib. i., pp. 78 et 107), this account may be rejected, with many others of the
ſame kind. The Egyptians certainly could not have taught Orpheus the plurality
of worlds, and true ſolar ſyſtem, which appear to have been the fundamental
principles of his philoſophy and religion (Plutarch. de Placit. Philos., lib. ii., c. 13.
20 ON THE WORSHIP

Greeks.1 He is called the Father of Night, becauſe by attracting the

light to himſelf, and becoming the fountain which diſtributed it to
the world, he produced night, which is called eternally-begotten,
becauſe it had eternally exiſted, although mixed and loſt in the
general maſs. He is ſaid to pervade the world with the motion of his
wings, bringing pure light; and thence to be called the ſplendid,
the ruling Priapus, and Self-illumined (autaughk2). It is to be obſerved
that the word Prihpoj, afterwards the name of a ſubordinate deity,
is here uſed as a title relating to one of his attributes; the reaſons
for which I ſhall endeavour to explain hereafter. Wings are figura-
tively attributed to him as being the emblems of ſwiftneſs and incu-
bation; by the firſt of which he pervaded matter, and by the ſecond
fructified the egg of Chaos. The egg was carried in proceſſion at
the celebration of the myſteries, becauſe, as Plutarch ſays, it was
the material of generation (Ølh thj genesewj3) containing the ſeeds
and germs of life and motion, without being actually poſſeſſed of
either. For this reaſon, it was a very proper ſymbol of Chaos, con-
taining the ſeeds and materials of all things, which, however, were
barren and uſeleſs, until the Creator fructified them by the incuba-
tion of his vital ſpirit, and releaſed them from the reſtraints of inert

Brucker in loc. citat.) Nor could he have gained this knowledge from any people
which hiſtory has preſerved any memorials; for we know of none among whom
ſcience had made ſuch a progreſs, that a truth ſo remote from common obſervation,
and ſo contradictory to the evidence of unimproved ſenſe, would not have been
rejected, as it was by all the ſects of Greek philoſophy except the Pythagoreans, who
rather revered it as an article of faith, than underſtood it as a diſcovery of ſcience.
Thrace was certainly inhabited by a civilized nation at ſome remote period; for,
when Philip of Macedon opened the gold mines in that country, he found that they
had been worked before with great expenſe and ingenuity, by a people well verſed in
mechanics, of whom no memorials whatever were then extant. Of theſe, pro-bably,
was Orpheus, as well as Thamyris, both of whoſe poems, Plato ſays, could
be read with pleaſure in his time.
1 3
See Sophocl. Œdip. Tyr., ver. 1436. 2 Orph. Hym. 5. Symph. I. 2.
 OF PRIAPUS 21

matter, by the efforts of his divine ſtrength. The incubation of the

vital ſpirit is repreſented on the colonial medals of Tyre, by a ſer-
pent wreathed around an egg;1 for the ſerpent, having the power
of caſting his ſkin, and apparently renewing his youth, became the
ſymbol of life and vigour, and as ſuch is always made an
attendant on the mythological deities preſiding over health.2 It is
alſo obſerved, that animals of the ſerpent kind retain life more
pertinaciouſly than any others except the Polypus, which is
ſometimes repreſented upon the Greek Medals,3 probably in its
ſtead. I have myſelf ſeen the heart of an adder continue its vital
motions for many minutes after it has been taken from the body,
and even renew them, after it has been cold, upon being
moiſtened with warm water, and touched with a ſtimulus.
The Creator, delivering the fructified ſeeds of things from the
reſtraints of inert matter by his divine ſtrength, is repreſented on
innumerable Greek medals by the Urus, or wild Bull, in the act of
butting againſt the Egg of Chaos, and breaking it with his horns.4
It is true, that the egg is not repreſented with the bull on any of
thoſe which I have ſeen; but Mr. D’Hancarville5 has brought
examples from other countries, where the ſame ſyſtem prevailed,
which, as well as the general analogy of the Greek theology prove
that the egg muſt have been underſtood, and that the attitude of the
bull could have no other meaning. I ſhall alſo have occaſion here-
after to ſhow by other examples, that it was no uncommon practice,
in theſe myſtic monuments, to make a part of a group repreſent
the whole. It was from this horned ſymbol of the power of the
1 2
See Plate XXI. Fig. 1. Macrob. Sat. i. c. 20.
3
See Goltz, Tab. ii. Figs. 7 and 8.
4
See Plate IV. Fig. 1, and Recherches ſur les Arts, vol. i. Pl. VIII. The Hebrew
word Chroub, or Cherub, ſignified originally ſtrong or robuſt; but is uſually employed
metaphorically, ſignifying a Bull. See Cleric. in Exod. c. XXV.
5
Recherches ſur les Arts, lib. 1.
22 ON THE WORSHIP

Deity that horns were placed in the portraits of kings to ſhow that
their power was derived from Heaven, and acknowledged no earthly
ſuperior. The moderns have indeed changed the meaning of this
ſymbol, and given it a ſenſe of which, perhaps, it would be difficult
to find the origin, though I have often wondered that it has never
exerciſed the ſagacity of thoſe learned gentlemen who make Britiſh
antiquities the ſubjects of their laborious inquiries. At preſent, it
certainly does not bear any character of dignity or power; nor does
it ever imply that thoſe to whom it is attributed have been parti-
cularly favoured by the generative or creative powers. But this is
a ſubject much too important to be diſcuſſed in a digreſſion; I ſhall
therefore leave it to thoſe learned antiquarians who have done
themſelves ſo much honour, and the public ſo much ſervice, by
their ſucceſsful inquiries into cuſtoms of the ſame kind. To their
indefatigable induſtry and exquiſite ingenuity I earneſtly recommend
it, only obſerving that this modern acceptation of the ſymbol is of
conſiderable antiquity, for it is mentioned as proverbial in the
Oneirocritics of Artemidorus;1 and that it is not now confined to
Great Britain, but prevails in moſt parts of Chriſtendom, as the
ancient acceptation of it did formerly in moſt parts of the world,
even among that people from whoſe religion Chriſtianity is derived;
for it is a common mode of expreſſion in the Old Teſtament, to
ſay that the horns of any one ſhall be exalted, in order to ſignify
that he ſhall be raiſed into power or pre-eminence; and when Moſes
deſcended from the Mount with the ſpirit of God ſtill upon him, his
head appeared horned.2
To the head of the bull was ſometimes joined the organ of
generation, which repreſented not only the ſtrength of the Creator,

1
Lib. i. c. 12.
2
Exod. c. XXXIV. v. 35, ed. Vulgat. Other tranſlators underſtand the expreſſion
metaphorically, and ſuppoſe it to mean radiated, or luminous.
 OF PRIAPUS 23

but the peculiar direction of it to the moſt beneficial purpoſe, the

propagation of ſenſitive beings. Of this there is a ſmall bronze in
the Muſeum of Mr. Townley, of which an engraving is given in
Plate III. Fig. 2.1
Sometimes this generative attribute is repreſented by the ſymbol
of the goat, ſuppoſed to be the moſt ſalacious of animals, and there-
fore adopted upon the ſame principles as the bull and the ſerpent.2
The choral odes, ſung in honour of the generator Bacchus, were
hence called tragwdiai, or ſongs of the goat; a title which is now
applied to the dramatic dialogues anciently inſerted in theſe odes,
to break their uniformity. On a medal, ſtruck in honour of
Auguſtus, the goat terminates in the tail of a fiſh, to ſhow the
generative power incorporated with water. Under his feet is the
globe of the earth, ſuppoſed to be fertiliſed by this union; and upon
his back, the cornucopia, repreſenting the reſult of this fertility.3
Mr. D’Hancarville attributes the origin of all theſe ſymbols
to the ambiguity of words; the ſame term being employed in the
primitive language to ſignify God and a Bull, the Univerſe and
a Goat, Life and a Serpent. But words are only the types and
ſymbols of ideas, and therefore muſt be poſterior to them, in the
ſame manner as ideas are to their objects. The words of a primitive
language, being imitative of the ideas from which they ſprung,
and of the objects they meant to expreſs, as far as the imperfections
of the organs of ſpeech will admit, there muſt neceſſarily be the ſame
kind of analogy between them as between the ideas and objects
themſelves. It is impoſſible, therefore, that in ſuch a language any
ambiguity of this ſort could exiſt, as it does in ſecondary

1
See Plate III.
2
Ton de tragon aîeqewsan (Òi Aiguîer) kai îara toij Ellhsi tetimhsqai
legousi ton Priaîon, dia to gennhtik morion. DIODOR. lib. i. p. 78.
3
Plate X. Fig. 3.
24 ON THE WORSHIP

languages; the words of which, being collected from various

ſources, and blended together without having any natural connection,
become arbitrary ſigns of convention, inſtead of imitative repreſen-
tations of ideas. In this caſe it often happens, that words, ſimilar
in form, but different in meaning, have been adopted from different
ſources, which, being blended together, loſe their little difference
of form, and retain their entire difference of meaning. Hence
ambiguities ariſe, ſuch as thoſe above mentioned, which could not
poſſibly exiſt in an original tongue.
The Greek poets and artiſts frequently give the perſonification
of a particular attribute for the Deity himſelf; hence he is called
Taurozoaj, Taurwpoj, Tauromorfoj,1 &c., and hence the initials and
monograms of the Orphic epithets applied to the Creator, are found
with the bull, and other ſymbols, on the Greek medals.2 It muſt
not be imagined from hence, that the ancients ſuppoſed the Deity
to exiſt under the form of a bull, a goat, or a ſerpent: on the
contrary, he is always deſcribed in the Orphic theology as a
general pervading Spirit, without form, or diſtinct locality of any
kind; and appears, by a curious fragment preſerved by Proclus,3
to have been no other than attraction perſonified. The ſelf-created
mind (nooj autogeneqloj) of the Eternal Father is ſaid to have ſpread
the heavy bond of love through all things (pasin enespeiren desmon
peribriqh Erwtoj), in order that they might endure for ever. This
Eternal Father is Kronoj, time or eternity, perſonified; and ſo taken
for the unknown Being that fills eternity and infinity. The ancient
theologiſts knew that we could form no poſitive idea of infinity,
whether of power, ſpace, or time; it being fleeting and fugitive,
and eluding the underſtanding by a continued and boundleſs pro-
1
Orph. Hymn v. et xxxix.
2
Numm. Vet. Pop. et Urb. Tab. xxxix. Figs 19 et 20. They are on moſt of the
medals of Marſeilles, Naples, Thurium and many other cities.
3
In Tim, III., et Frag. Orphic., ed Geſner.
 OF PRIAPUS 25

greſſion. The only notion we have of it is from the addition or

diviſion of finite things, which ſuggeſt the idea of infinite, only
from a power we feel in ourſelves of ſtill multiplying and dividing
without end. The Schoolmen indeed were bolder, and, by a ſum-
mary mode of reaſoning, in which they were very expert, proved
that they had as clear and adequate an idea of infinity, as of any
finite ſubſtance whatever. Infinity, ſaid they, is that which has no
bounds. This negation, being a poſitive aſſertion, muſt be founded
on a poſitive idea. We have therefore a poſitive idea of infinity.
The Eclectic Jews, and their followers, the Ammonian and Chriſtian
Platonics, who endeavoured to make their own philoſophy and religion
conform to the ancient theology, held infinity of ſpace to be only
the immenſity of the divine preſence. `O Qepk ˜auto topoj esti1 was
their dogma, which is now inſerted into the Confeſſional of the
Greek Church.2 This infinity was diſtinguiſhed by them from
common ſpace, as time was from eternity. Whatever is eternal or
infinite, ſaid they, muſt be abſolutely indiviſible; becauſe diviſion
is in itſelf inconſiſtent with infinite continuity and duration: there-
fore ſpace and time are diſtinct from infinity and eternity, which are
void of all parts and gradations whatever. Time is meaſured by
years, days, hours, &c., and diſtinguiſhed by paſt, preſent, and
future; but theſe, being diviſions, are excluded from eternity, as
locality is from infinity, and as both are from the Being who fills
both; who can therefore feel no ſucceſſion of events, nor know any
gradation of diſtance; but muſt comprehend infinite duration as if
it were one moment, and infinite extent as if it were but a ſingle
point.3 Hence the Ammonian Platonics ſpeak of him as concen-
tered in his own unity, and extended through all things, but par-

1
Philo. de Leg. Alleg. lib. i. Jo. Damaſc. de Orth. Fid.
2
Moſheim. Note in Sec. xxiv. Cdw. Syſt. Intellect.
3
See Boeth. de Conſol. Philos. lib. iv. prof. 6.
26 ON THE WORSHIP

ticipated of by none. Being of a nature more refined and elevated

than intelligence itſelf, he could not be known by ſenſe, perception,
or reaſon; and being the cauſe of all, he muſt be anterior to all,
even to eternity itſelf, if conſidered as eternity of time, and not as
the intellectual unity, which is the Deity himſelf, by whoſe emana-
tions all things exiſt, and to whoſe proximity or diſtances they owe
their degrees of excellence or baſeneſs. Being itſelf, in its moſt abſtract
ſenſe, is derived from him; for that which is the cauſe and begin-
ning of all Being, cannot be a part of that All which ſprung from
himſelf: therefore he is not Being, nor is Being his Attribute; for
that which has an attribute cannot have the abſtract ſimplicity of
pure unity. All Being is in its nature finite; for, if it was other-
wiſe, it muſt be without bounds every way; and therefore could
have no gradation of proximity to the firſt cauſe, or conſequent
pre-eminence of one part over another: for, as all diſtinctions of
time are excluded from infinite duration, and all diviſions of locality
from infinite extent, ſo are all degrees of priority from infinite
progreſſion. The mind is and acts in itſelf; but the abſtract unity of
the firſt cauſe is neither in itſelf, nor in another;—not in itſelf, be-
cauſe that would imply modification, from which abſtract ſimplicity
is neceſſarily exempt; nor in another, becauſe then there would be
an hypoſtatical duality, inſtead of abſolute unity. In both caſes
there would be a locality of hypoſtaſis, inconſiſtent with intellectual
infinity. As all phyſical attributes were excluded from this meta-
phyſical abſtraction, which they called their firſt cauſe, he muſt of
courſe be deſtitute of all moral ones, which are only generalized
modes of action of the former. Even ſimple abſtract truth was
denied him; for truth, as Proclus ſays, is merely the relative to
falſehood; and no relative can exiſt without a poſitive or correlative.
The Deity therefore who has no falſehood, can have no truth, in
our ſenſe of the word.1
1
Proclus in Theolog. Platon. lib. i. et ii.
 OF PRIAPUS 27

As metaphyſical theology is a ſtudy very generally, and very

deſervedly, neglected at preſent, I thought this little ſpecimen of
it might be entertaining, from its novelty, to moſt readers;
eſpecially as it is intimately connected with the ancient ſyſtem,
which I have here undertaken to examine. Thoſe, who wiſh to
know more of it, may conſult Proclus on the Theology of Plato,
where they will find the moſt exquiſite ingenuity moſt wantonly
waſted. No perſons ever ſhowed greater acuteneſs or ſtrength of
reaſoning than the Platonics and Scholaſtics; but having quitted
common ſenſe, and attempted to mount into the intellectual
world, they expended it all in abortive efforts which may amuſe
the imagination, but cannot ſatisfy the underſtanding.
The ancient Theologiſts ſhowed more diſcretion; for, finding
that they could conceive no idea of infinity, they were content to
revere the Infinite Being in the moſt general and efficient exertion
of his power, attraction; whoſe agency is perceptible through all
matter, and to which all motion may, perhaps, be ultimately traced.
This power, being perſonified, became the ſecondary Deity, to whom
all adoration and worſhip were directed, and who is therefore fre-
quently conſidered as the ſole and ſupreme cauſe of all things. His
agency being ſuppoſed to extend through the whole material world,
and to produce all the various revolutions by which its ſyſtem is
ſuſtained, his attributes were of courſe extremely numerous and
varied. Theſe were expreſſed by various titles and epithets in the
myſtic hymns and litanies, which the artiſts endeavoured to repreſent
by various forms and characters of men and animals. The great
characteriſtic attribute was repreſented by the organ of generation in
that ſtate of tenſion and rigidity which is neceſſary to the due per-
formance of its functions. Many ſmall images of this kind have
been found among the ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii, attached
to the bracelets, which the chaſte and pious matrons of antiquity
wore round their necks and arms. In theſe, the organ of generation
28 ON THE WORSHIP

appears alone, or only accompanied with the wings of incubation,1

in order to ſhow that the devout wearer devoted herſelf wholly
and ſolely to procreation, the great end for which ſhe was
ordained. So expreſſive a ſymbol, being conſtantly in her view,
muſt keep her attention fixed on its natural object, and
continually remind her of the gratitude ſhe owed the Creator, for
having taken her into his ſervice, made her a partaker of his moſt
valuable bleſſings, and employed her as the paſſive inſtrument in
the exertion of his moſt beneficial power.
The female organs of generation were revered2 as ſymbols of the
generative powers of nature or matter, as the male were of the gene-
rative powers of God. They are uſually repreſented emblematically,
by the Shell, or Concha Veneris, which was therefore worn by devout
perſons of antiquity, as it ſtill continues to be by pilgrims, and many
of the common women of Italy. The union of both was expreſſed
by the hand mentioned in Sir William Hamilton's letter;3 which
being a leſs explicit ſymbol, has eſcaped the attention of the reformers,
and is ſtill worn, as well as the ſhell, by the women of Italy, though
without being underſtood. It repreſented the act of generation,
which was conſidered as a ſolemn ſacrament, in honour of the Crea-
tor, as will be more fully ſhown hereafter.
The male organs of generation are ſometimes found repreſented
by ſigns of the ſame ſort, which might properly be called the ſym-
bols of ſymbols. One of the moſt remarkable of theſe is a croſs, in the
form of the letter T,4 which thus ſerved as the emblem of creation
and generation, before the church adopted it as the ſign of ſalvation; a
lucky coincidence of ideas, which, without doubt, facilitated the

1
Plate II. Fig. 2, engraved from one in the Britiſh Muſeum.
2
Auguſt. de Civ. Dei, Lib. VI. c. 9.
3
See Plate II, Fig. 1, from one in the Britiſh Muſeum, in which both ſymbols are
united.
4
Recherches ſur les Arts, lib. i. c. 3.
 OF PRIAPUS 29

reception of it among the faithful. To the repreſentative of the male

organs was ſometimes added a human head, which gives it the exact
appearance of a crucifix; as it has on a medal of Cyzicus, publiſhed
by M. Pellerin.1 On an ancient medal, found in Cyprus, which,
from the ſtyle of workmanſhip, is certainly anterior to the Mace-
donian conqueſt, it appears with the chaplet or roſary, ſuch as is
now uſed in the Romiſh churches;2 the beads of which were uſed,
anciently, to reckon time.3 Their being placed in a circle, marked
its progreſſive continuity; while their ſeparation from each other
marked the diviſions, by which it is made to return on itſelf, and
thus produce years, months, and days. The ſymbol of the creative
power is placed upon them, becauſe theſe diviſions were particularly
under his influence and protection; the ſun being his viſible image,
and the centre of his power, from which his emanations extended
through the univerſe. Hence the Egyptians, in their ſacred hymns,
called upon Oſiris, as the being who dwelt concealed in the
embraces of the ſun;4 and hence the great luminary itſelf is called
Kosmokratwr (Ruler of the World) in the Orphic Hymns.5
This general emanation of the pervading Spirit of God, by
which all things are generated and maintained, is beautifully
deſcribed by Virgil, in the following lines:
Deum namque ire per omneſ
Terraſque, tractuſque maris, cœlumque profundum.
Hinc pecudes, armenta, viros, genus omne ferarum,
Quemque ſibi tenues naſcentum arceſſere vitas.
Scilicet huc reddi deinde, ac reſoluta referri
Omnia: nec morti eſſe locum, ſed viva volare
Sideris in numerum, atque alto ſuccedere cœlo.6
1
See Plate IX. Fig. 1.
2
Plate IX. Fig. 2, from Pellerin. Similar medals are in the Hunter collection,
and are evidently of Phœnician work.
3 4
Recherches ſur les Arts, lib. i. c. 3. Plutarch, de Is. et Oſir.
5 6
See Hymn VII. Georgic. lib. iv. ver 221.
30 ON THE WORSHIP

The Ethereal Spirit is here deſcribed as expanding itſelf through

the univerſe, and giving life and motion to the inhabitants of earth,
water, and air, by a participation of its own eſſence, each particle
of which returned to its native ſource, at the diſſolution of the
body which it animated. Hence, not only men, but all animals,
and even vegetables, were ſuppoſed to be impregnated with ſome
particles of the Divine Nature infuſed into them, from which their
various qualities and diſpoſitions, as well as their powers of propaga-
tion, were ſuppoſed to be derived. Theſe appeared to be ſo many
emanations of the Divine attributes, operating in different modes and
degrees, according to the nature of the beings to which they
belonged. Hence the characteriſtic properties of animals and plants
were not only regarded as repreſentations, but as actual emanations
of the Divine Power, conſubſtantial with his own eſſence.1 For
this reaſon, the ſymbols were treated with greater reſpect and
veneration than if they had been merely ſigns and characters of
convention. Plutarch ſays, that moſt of the Egyptian prieſts held
the bull Apis, who was worſhipped with ſo much ceremony, to be
only an image of the Spirit of Oſiris.2 This I take to have been the
real meaning of all the animal worſhip of the Egyptians, about
which ſo much has been written, and ſo little diſcovered. Thoſe
animals or plants, in which any particular attribute of the Deity
ſeemed to predominate, became the ſymbols of that attribute, and
were accordingly worſhipped as the images of Divine Providence,
acting in that particular direction. Like many other cuſtoms, both
of ancient and modern worſhip, the practice, probably, continued
long after the reaſons upon which it was founded were either wholly
loſt, or only partially preſerved, in vague traditions. This was the
caſe in Egypt; for, though many of the prieſts knew or conjectured
the origin of the worſhip of the bull, they could give no rational
1 2
Proclus in Theol. Plat. lib. i. pp. 56, 57. De Is. et. Oſir.
 OF PRIAPUS 31

account why the crocodile, the ichneumon, and the ibis, received
ſimilar honours. The ſymbolical characters, called hieroglyphics,
continued to be eſteemed by them as more holy and venerable than
the conventional repreſentations of ſounds, notwithſtanding their
manifeſt inferiority; yet it does not appear, from any accounts
extant, that they were able to aſſign any reaſon for this preference.
On the contrary, Strabo tells us that the Egyptians of his time were
wholly ignorant of their ancient learning and religion,1 though
impoſtors continually pretended to explain it. Their ignorance in
theſe points is not to be wondered at, conſidering that the moſt
ancient Egyptians, of whom we have any authentic accounts, lived
after the ſubverſion of their monarchy and deſtruction of their
temples by the Perſians, who uſed every endeavour to annihilate
their religion; firſt, by command of Cambyſes,2 and then of
Ochus.3 What they were before this calamity, we have no direct
information; for Herodotus is the earlieſt traveller, and he viſited
this country when in ruins.
It is obſervable in all modern religions, that men are ſuper-
ſtitious in proportion as they are ignorant, and that thoſe who know
leaſt of the principles of religion are the moſt earneſt and fervent
in the practice of its exterior rites and ceremonies. We may
ſuppoſe from analogy, that this was the caſe with the Egyptians.
The learned and rational merely reſpected and revered the ſacred
animals, whilſt the vulgar worſhipped and adored them. The
greateſt part of the former being, as is natural to ſuppoſe, deſtroyed
by the perſecution of the Perſians, this worſhip and adoration be-
came general; different cities adopting different animals as their
tutelar deities, in the ſame manner as the Catholics now put them-
ſelves under the protection of different ſaints and martyrs. Like
1 2
Lib. xvii. Herodot. lib. iii. Strabo, lib. xvii.
3
Plutarch, de Is. et Oſir.
32 ON THE WORSHIP

them, too, in the fervency of their devotion for the imaginary

agent, they forgot the original cauſe.
The cuſtom of keeping ſacred animals as images of the Divine
attributes, ſeems once to have prevailed in Greece as well as Egypt;
for the God of Health was repreſented by a living ſerpent at Epi-
daurus, even in the laſt ſtage of their religion.1 In general, how-
ever, they preferred wrought images, not from their ſuperiority in
art, which they did not acquire until after the time of Homer,2 when
their theology was entirely corrupted; but becauſe they had thus
the means of expreſſing their ideas more fully, by combining ſeveral
forms together, and ſhowing, not only the Divine attribute, but the
mode and purpoſe of its operation. For inſtance; the celebrated
bronze in the Vatican has the male organs of generation placed
upon the head of a cock, the emblem of the ſun, ſupported by the
neck and ſhoulders of a man. In this compoſition they repreſented
the generative power of the Erwj, the Oſiris, Mithras, or Bacchus,
whoſe centre is the ſun, incarnate with man. By the inſcription on
the pedeſtal, the attribute this perſonified, is ſtyled The Saviour of
the World (Swthr kosmou); a title always venerable, under
whatever image it be repreſented.3
The Egyptians ſhowed this incarnation of the Deity by a leſs
permanent, though equally expreſſive ſymbol. At Mendes a living
goat was kept as the image of the generative power, to whom the
women preſented themſelves naked, and had the honour of being
publicly enjoyed by him. Herodotus ſaw the act openly per-
formed (ej epideixin anqrwpwn), and calls it a prodigy (teraj). But
the Egyptians had no ſuch horror of it; for it was to them a repre-
ſentation of the incarnation of the Deity, and the communication of

1
Liv. Hiſt. Epſiom. lib. xi.
2
When Homer praiſes any work of art, he calls it the work of Sidonians.
3
See Plate II. Fig. 3.
 OF PRIAPUS 33

his creative ſpirit to man. It was one of the ſacraments of that

ancient church, and was, without doubt, beheld with that pious awe
and reverence with which devout perſons always contemplate the
myſteries of their faith, whatever they happen to be; for, as the
learned and orthodox Biſhop Warburton, whoſe authority it is not
for me to diſpute, ſays, from the nature of any action morality cannot
ariſe, nor from its effects;1 therefore, for aught we can tell, this
ceremony, however ſhocking it may appear to modern manners and
opinions, might have been intrinſically meritorious at the time of its
celebration, and afforded a truly edifying ſpectacle to the ſaints
of ancient Egypt. Indeed, the Greeks do not ſeem to have felt
much horror or diſguſt at the imitative repreſentation of it, what-
ever the hiſtorian might have thought proper to expreſs at the real
celebration. Several ſpecimens of their ſculpture in this way
have eſcaped the fury of the reformers, and remained for the in-
ſtruction of later times. One of theſe, found among the ruins of
Herculaneum, and kept concealed in the Royal Muſeum of Portici,
is well known. Another exiſts in the collection of Mr. Townley,
which I have thought proper to have engraved for the benefit of
the learned.2 It may be remarked, that in theſe monuments the
goat is paſſive inſtead of active; and that the human ſymbol is repre-
ſented as incarnate with the divine, inſtead of the divine with the
human: but this is in fact no difference; for the Creator, being of
both ſexes, is repreſented indifferently of either. In the other
ſymbol of the bull, the ſex is equally varied; the Greek medals
having ſometimes a bull, and ſometimes a cow,3 which, Strabo tells
us, was employed as the ſymbol of Venus, the paſſive generative
power, at Momemphis, in Egypt.4 Both the bull and the cow are
1 2
Div. Leg. book i. c. 4. See Plate VII.
3
See Plate IV, Fig. 1, 2, 3, and Plate III, fig 4, engraved from medals belonging
to me.
4
Lib. xvii.
34 ON THE WORSHIP

alſo worſhipped at preſent by the Hindoos, as ſymbols of the male

and female, or generative and nutritive, powers of the Deity. The
cow is in almoſt all their pagodas; but the bull is revered with
ſuperior ſolemnity and devotion. At Tanjour is a monument of
their piety to him, which even the inflexible perſeverance, and
habitual induſtry of the natives of that country, could ſcarcely
have erected without greater knowledge in practical mechanics than
they now poſſeſs. It is a ſtatue of a bull lying down, hewn, with
great accuracy, out of a ſingle piece of hard granite, which has been
conveyed by land from the diſtance of one hundred miles, although
its weight, in its preſent reduced ſtate, muſt be at leaſt one hundred
tons.1 The Greeks ſometimes made their Taurine Bacchus, or
bull, with a human face, to expreſs both ſexes, which they ſignified
by the initial of the epithet Difuej placed under him.2 Over him
they frequently put the radiated aſteriſk, which repreſents the ſun,
to ſhow the Deity, whoſe attribute he was intended to expreſs.3
Hence we may perceive the reaſon why the Germans, who, accord-
ing to Cæſar,4 worſhipped the ſun, carried a brazen bull, as the
image of their God, when they invaded the Roman dominions in
the time of Marius;5 and even the choſen people of Providence,
when they made unto themſelves an image of the God who was
to conduct them through the deſert, and caſt out the un-
godly, from before them, made it in the ſhape of a young bull, or
calf.6
The Greeks, as they advanced in the cultivation of the imitative

1
See Plate XXII. with the meaſurements, as made by Capt. Patterſon on the
ſpot.
2
See Plate IV, Fig. 2, from a medal of Naples in the Hunter collection.
3
See Plate IV, Fig. 2, and Plate XIX. Fig 4, from a medal of Cales, belonging
to me.
4 5
De B. G., lib. vi. Plut. in Mario.
6
Exod. c. xxxii., with Patrick’s Commentary.
 OF PRIAPUS 35

arts, gradually changed the animal for the human form, preſerving
ſtill the original character. The human head was at firſt added to
the body of the bull;1 but afterwards the whole figure was made
human, with ſome of the features, and general character of the
animal, blended with it.2 Oftentimes, however, theſe mixed figures
had a peculiar and proper meaning, like that of the Vatican
Bronze; and were not intended as mere refinements of art. Such
are the fawns and ſatyrs, who repreſent the emanations of the
Creator, incarnate with man, acting as his angels and miniſters in
the work of univerſal generation. In copulation with the goat,
they repreſent the reciprocal incarnation of man with the deity,
when incorporated with univerſal matter: for Deity, being both
male and female, was both act and paſſive in procreation; firſt
animat-ing man by an emanation from his own eſſence, and then
employing that emanation to reproduce, in conjunction with the
common pro-ductive powers of nature, which are no other than
his own prolific ſpirit transfuſed through matter.
Theſe mixed beings are derived from Pan, the principle of uni-
verſal order; of whoſe perſonified image they partake. Pan is
addreſſed in the Orphic Litanies as the firſt-begotten love, or creator
incorporated in univerſal matter, and ſo forming the world.3 The
heaven, the earth, water, and fire are ſaid to be members of him; and
he is deſcribed as the origin and ſource of all things (pantofuhj
genetwr pantwn), as repreſenting matter animated by the Divine Spirit.
Lycæan Pan was the moſt ancient and revered God of the Arcadians,4
the moſt ancient people of Greece. The epithet Lycæan (Lukaioj),
is uſually derived from lukoj, a wolf; though it is impoſſible to

1
See the medals of Naples, Gela, &c . Plate IV. Fig 2 and Plate IX. Fig 11, are
ſpecimens; but the coins are in all collections.
2 3
See Bronzi d’Herculano, tom. v. Plate v. Hymn. x.
4
Dionys. Antiq. Rom. lib. i, c. 32.
36 ON THE WORSHIP

find any relation which this etymology can have with the deities to
which it is applied; for the epithet Lukaioj, or Lukeioj (which is only
the different pronunciation of a different dialect), is occaſionally
applied to almoſt all the gods. I have therefore no doubt, but that it
ought to be derived from the old word lukoj,or lukh,light; from which
came the Latin word lux.1 In this ſenſe it is a very proper epithet for
the Divine Nature, of whoſe eſſence light was ſuppoſed to be. I am
confirmed in this conjecture by a word in the Electra of Sophocles,
which ſeems hitherto to have been miſunderſtood. At the opening of
the play, the old tutor of Oreſtes, entering Argos with his young
pupil, points out to him the moſt celebrated public buildings, and
amongſt them the Lycæan Forum, tou lukoktonou Qeou, which the
ſcholiaſt and tranſlators interpret, of the wolf-killing God, though
there is no reaſon whatever why this epithet ſhould be applied to
Apollo. But, if we derive the compound from lukoj, light, and
ekteinein, to extend, inſtead of kteinein, to kill, the meaning will be
perfectly juſt and natural; for light-extending, is of all others the
propereſt epithet for the ſun. Sophocles, as well as Virgil, is known
to have been an admirer of ancient expreſſions, and to have imitated
Homer more than any other Attic Poet; therefore, his employing
an obſolete word is not to be wondered at. Taking this etymology
as the true one, the Lycæan Pan of Arcadia is Pan the luminous;
that is, the divine eſſence of light incorporated in univerſal matter.
The Arcadians called him ton thj Ølhj Kurion, the lord of matter as
Macrobius rightly tranſlates it.2 He was hence called Sylvanus by
the Latins; Sylvus being, in the ancient Pelaſgian and Æolian
Greek, from which the Latin is derived, the ſame as Ølh for it is
well known to all who have compared the two languages attentively,
that the Sigma and Vau are letters, the one of which was partially,
and the other generally omitted by the Greeks, in the refinement of

1 2
Macrob. Sat. xvii. Sat. i. c. 22.
 OF PRIAPUS 37

their pronunciation and orthography which took place after the

emigration of the Latian and Etruſcan colonies. The Chorus in the
Ajax of Sophocles addreſs Pan by the title of ‘Aliplagktoj,1 probably
becauſe he was worſhipped on the ſhores of the ſea; water being
reckoned the beſt and moſt prolific of the ſubordinate elements,2
upon which the Spirit of God, according to Moſes, or the Plaſtic
Nature, according to the Platonics, operating, produced life and
motion on earth. Hence the ocean is ſaid by Homer to be the
ſource of all things;3 and hence the uſe of water in baptiſm, which
was to regenerate, and, in a manner, new create the perſon
baptiſed; for the ſoul, ſuppoſed by many of the primitive Chriſ-
tians to be naturally mortal, was then ſuppoſed to become im-
mortal.4 Upon the ſame principle, the figure of Pan,5 is repreſented
pouring water upon the organ of generation; that is, invigorating
the active creative power by the prolific element upon which it
acted; for water was conſidered as the eſſence of the paſſive prin-
ciple, as fire was of the active; the one being of terreſtrial, and
the other of æthereal origin. Hence, St. John the Baptiſt, who might
have acquired ſome knowledge of the ancient theology, through its
revivers, the Eclectic Jews, ſays: I, indeed, baptiſe you in water to
repentance; but he that cometh after me, who is more powerful
than I am, ſhall baptiſe you in Holy Spirit, and in fire:6 that is, I only
purify and refreſh the ſoul, by a communion with the terreſtrial
principle of life; but he that cometh after me, will regenerate and
reſtore it, by a communion with the æthereal principle.7 Pan is
1 2
Ver. 703. Pindar, Olymp. i. ver. 1. Diodor, Sic. lib. i. p. 11.
3
Il. x, ver 246, and f, ver. 196.
4
Clementina, Hom. xii. Arnob. adv. Gentes, lib. ii.
5
See Plate V. Fig 1. The original is among the antiquities found in Hercu-
laneum, now in the Muſeum of Portici.
6
Matth. c. iii.
7
It is the avowed intention of the learned and excellent work of Grotius, to prove
that there is nothing new in Chriſtianity. What I have here adduced, may ſerve to
38 ON THE WORSHIP

again addreſſed in Salaminian Chorus of the ſame tragedy of

Sophocles, by the titles of author and director of the dances of the
gods (Qewn coropoi' anax), as being the author and diſpoſer of the
regular motions of the univerſe, of which theſe divine dances were
ſymbols, which are ſaid in the ſame paſſage to be (autodah) ſelf-
taught to him. Both the Gnoſſian and Nyſian dances are here
included,1 the former ſacred to Jupiter, and the latter to Bacchus;
for Pan, being the principle of univerſal order, partook of the
nature of all the other gods. They were perſonifications of parti-
cular modes of acting of the great all-ruling principle; and he, of
his general law and pre-eſtabliſhed harmony by which he governs
the univerſe. Hence he is often repreſented playing on a pipe; muſic
being the natural emblem of this phyſical harmony. According to
Plutarch, the Jupiter Ammon of the Africans was the ſame as the
Pan of the Greeks.2 This explains the reaſon why the Macedonian
kings aſſumed the horns of that god; for, though Alexander pre-
tended to be his ſon, his ſucceſſors never pretended to any ſuch
honour; and yet they equally aſſumed the ſymbols, as appears from
their medals.3 The caſe is, that Pan, or Ammon, being the univerſe,
and Jupiter a title of the Supreme God (as will be ſhown hereafter), the
horns, the emblems of his power, ſeemed the propereſt ſymbols of
that ſupreme and univerſal dominion to which they all, as well as
Alexander, had the ambition to aſpire. The figure of Ammon
was compounded of the forms of the ram, as that of Pan was of the
goat; the reaſon of which is difficult to aſcertain, unleſs we ſuppoſe

confirm and illuſtrate the diſcoveries of that great and good man. See de Veritate
Relig. Chriſt. lib. iv, c. 12.
1 2
Ver. 708. De Is. et Oſir.
3
See Plate IV, Fig 4, engraved from one of Lyſimachus, of exquiſite beauty,
beloning to me. Antigonus put the head of Pan upon his coins, which are not
uncommon.
 OF PRIAPUS 39

that goats were unknown in the country where his worſhip aroſe,
and that the ram expreſſed the ſame attribute.1 In a gem in the
Muſeum of Charles Townley, Eſq., the head of the Greek Pan is
joined to that of a ram, on the body of a cock, over whoſe head is
the aſteriſk of the ſun, and below it the head of an aquatic fowl,
attached to the ſame body.2 The cock is the ſymbol of the ſun,
probably from proclaiming his approach in the morning; and the
aquatic fowl is the emblem of water; ſo that this compoſition,
apparently ſo whimſical, repreſents the univerſe between the two great
prolific elements, the one the active, and the other the paſſive cauſe
of all things.
The Creator being both male and female, the emanations of his
creative ſpirit, operating upon univerſal matter, produced ſubordi-
nate miniſters of both ſexes, and gave, as companions to the fauns
and ſatyrs, the nymphs of the waters, the mountains and the woods,
ſignifying the paſſive productive powers of each, ſubdivided and
diffuſed. Of the ſame claſs are the Genetullidej, mentioned by Pau-
ſanias as companions to Venus,3 who, as well as Ceres, Juno, Diana,
Iſis, &c., was only a perſonification of nature, or the paſſive principle
of generation, operating in various modes. Apuleius invokes Iſis
by the names of the Eleuſinian Ceres, Celeſtial Venus, and Proſer-
pine; and, when the Goddeſs anſwers him, ſhe deſcribes herſelf as
follows: “I am,” ſays ſhe, “nature, the parent of things, the ſove-
reign of the elements, the primary progeny of time, the moſt exalted
of the deities, the firſt of the heavenly Gods and Goddeſſes, the queen
of the ſhades, the uniform countenance; who diſpoſe, with my nod,
the luminous heights of heaven, the ſalubrious breezes of the ſea,
and the mournful ſilence of the dead; whoſe ſingle Deity the whole

1
Pauſanias (lib. ii.) ſays he knew the meaning of this ſymbol, but did not chooſe
to reveal it, it being a part of the myſtic worſhip.
2 3
Plate III, Fig. 1. Lib. i.
40 ON THE WORSHIP

world venerates, in many forms, with various rites, and various

names. The Egyptians, ſkilled in ancient learning, worſhip me
with proper ceremonies, and call me by my true name, Queen Iſis.”1
According to the Egyptians, Iſis copulated with her brother
Oſiris in the womb of their mother; from whence ſprung Arueris,
or Orus, the Apollo of the Greeks.2 This allegory means no more
than that the active and paſſive powers of creation united in the
womb of night; where they had been implanted by the unknown
father, Kronoj, or time, and by their union produced the ſeparation
or delivery of the elements from each other; for the name Apollo is
only a title derived from apoluw, to deliver from.3 They made the robes
of Iſis various in their colours and complicated in their folds, becauſe
the paſſive or material power appeared in various ſhapes and modes,
as accommodating itſelf to the active; but the dreſs of Oſiris was
ſimple, and of one luminous colour, to ſhow the unity of his eſſence,
and univerſality of his power; equally the ſame through all things.4
The luminous, or flame colour, repreſented the ſun, who, in the
language of the theologiſts, was the ſubſtance of his ſacred power,
and the viſible image of his intellectual being.5 He is called, in the
Orphic Litanies, the chain which connects all things together (Ð d’
anedrame desmoj ¡pantwn),5 as being the principle of attraction; and
the deliverer (lusioj),7 as giving liberty to the innate powers of
nature, and thus fertiliſing matter. Theſe epithets not only expreſs
the theological, but alſo the phyſical ſyſtem of the Orphic ſchool;
according to which the ſun, being placed in the centre of the
1
Metamorph. lib. xi. 2 Plutarch, de Is. et Oſir. 3 Damm. Lex. Etym.
4 4 5
Plutarch, de Is. et. Oſir. Ibid. Hymn xlvi.
7
Hymn. xlix. the initials of this epithet are with the bull on a medal of Naples
belonging to me The bull has a human countenance, and has therefore been called
a minotaur by antiquarians; notwithſtanding he is to be found on different medals,
accompanied with all the ſymbols both of Bacchus and Apollo, and with the initials
of moſt of the epithets to be found in the Orphic Litanies.
 OF PRIAPUS 41

univerſe, with the planets moving round, was, by his attractive

force, the cauſe of all union and harmony in the whole; and, by the
emanation of his beams, the cauſe of all motion and activity in the
parts. This ſyſtem is alluded to by Homer in the allegory of the
golden chain, by which Jupiter ſuſpends all things;1 though there
is every reaſon to believe that the poet himſelf was ignorant of its
meaning, and only related it as he had heard it. The Ammonian
Platonics adopted the ſame ſyſtem of attraction, but changed its
centre from the ſun to their metaphyſical abſtraction or incompre-
henſible unity, whoſe emanations pervaded all things, and held all
things together.2
Beſides the Fauns, Satyrs, and Nymphs, the incarnate emana-
tions of the active and paſſive powers of the Creator, we often find
in the ancient ſculptures certain androgynous beings poſſeſſed of the
characteriſtic organs of both ſexes, which I take to repreſent
organized matter in its firſt ſtage; that is, immediately after it was
releaſed from chaos, and before it was animated by a participation
of the ethereal eſſence of the Creator. In a beautiful gem belonging
to R. Wilbraham, Eſq.,3 one of theſe androgynous figures is repre-
ſented ſleeping, with the organs of generation covered, and the egg
of chaos broken under it. On the other ſide is Bacchus, the Crea-
tor, bearing a torch, the emblem of ethereal fire, and extending it
towards the ſleeping figure; whilſt one of his agents ſeems only to
wait his permiſſion to begin the execution of that office, which,
according to every outward and viſible ſign, he appears able to
diſcharge with energy and effect. The Creator himſelf leans upon
one of thoſe figures commonly called Sileni; but which, from their
heavy unwieldy forms, were probably intended as perſonifications
of brute inert matter, from which all things are formed, but which,
1 2
Il. Q, ver. xix. Proclus in Theol. Plat. lib. i. c. 21.
3
See Plate V. Fig. 3.
42 ON THE WORSHIP

being incapable of producing anything of itſelf, is properly repre-

ſented as the ſupport of the creative power, though not actively
inſtrumental in his work. The total baldneſs of this figure repre-
ſents the exhauſted, unproductive ſtate of matter, when the genera-
tive powers were ſeparated from it; for it was an opinion of the
ancients, which I remember to have met with in ſome part of the
works of Ariſtotle, to which I cannot at preſent refer, that every
act of coition produced a tranſient chill in the brain, by which ſome
of the roots of the hair were looſened; ſo that baldneſs was a mark
of ſterility acquired by exceſſive exertion. The figures of Pan have
nearly the ſame forms with that which I have here ſuppoſed to
repreſent inert matter; only that they are compounded with thoſe
of the goat, the ſymbol of the creative power, by which matter was
fructified and regulated. To this is ſometimes added the organ of
generation, of an enormous magnitude, to ſignify the application of
this power to its nobleſt end, the procreation of ſenſitive and
rational beings. This compoſition forms the common Priapus of
the Roman poets, who was worſhipped among the other perſonages
of the heathen mythology, but underſtood by few of his ancient
votaries any better than by the good women of Iſernia. His charac-
teriſtic organ is ſometimes repreſented by the artiſts in that ſtate of
tenſion and rigidity, which it aſſumes when about to diſcharge its
functions,1 and at other times in that ſtate of tumid languor,
which immediately ſucceeds the performance.2 In the latter caſe he
appears loaded with the productions of nature, the reſult of thoſe
prolific efforts, which in the former caſe he appeared ſo well
qualified to exert. I have in Plate V. given a figure of him in each
ſituation, one taken from a bronze in the Royal Muſeum of Portici,
and the other from one in that of Charles Townley, Eſq. It may

1
Plate V. Fig. 1, from a bronze in the Muſeum at Portici.
 OF PRIAPUS 43

be obſerved, that in the former the muſcles of the face are all
ſtrained and contracted, ſo that every nerve ſeems to be in a ſtate
of tenſion; whereas in the latter the features are all dilated and
fallen, the chin repoſed on the breaſt, and the whole figure
expreſſive of languor and fatigue.
If the explanation which I have given of theſe androgynous
figures be the true one, the fauns and ſatyrs, which uſually accompany
them, muſt repreſent abſtract emanations, and not incarnations of the
creative ſpirit, as when in copulation with the goat. The Creator
himſelf is frequently repreſented in a human form; and it is natural
that his emanations ſhould partake of the ſame, though without
having any thing really human in their compoſition. It ſeems,
however, to have been the opinion in ſome parts of Aſia, that the
Creator was really of a human form. The Jewiſh legiſlator ſays
expreſſly, that God made man in his own image, and, prior to the
creation of woman, created him male and female,1 as he himſelf con-
ſequently was.2 Hence an ingenious author has ſuppoſed that theſe
androgynous figures repreſented the firſt individuals of the human
race, who, poſſeſſing the organs of both ſexes, produced children of
each. This ſeems to be the ſenſe in which they were repreſented
by ſome of the ancient artiſts; but I have never met with any trace
of it in any Greek author, except Philo the Jew; nor have I ever
ſeen any monument of ancient art, in which the Bacchus, or Creator
in a human form, was repreſented with the generative organs of
both ſexes. In the ſymbolical images, the double nature is fre-
quently expreſſed by ſome androgynous inſect, ſuch as the ſnail,
which is endowed with the organs of both ſexes, and can copulate
reciprocally with either: but when the refinement of art adopted
the human form, it was repreſented by mixing the characters of the

1 2
Genes, c. i. Philo, de Leg. Alleg. lib. ii.
44 ON THE WORSHIP

male and female bodies in every part, preſerving ſtill the diſtinctive
organs of the male. Hence Euripides calls Bacchus qhlummorfoj,1
and the Chorus of Bachannals in the ſame tragedy addreſs him by
maſculine and feminine epithets.2 Ovid alſo ſays to him,
——Tibi, cum ſine cornibus adſtas,
Virgineum caput eſt. 3
alluding in the firſt line to his taurine, and in the ſecond to his
androgynous figure.
The ancient theologiſts were, like the modern, divided into ſects;
but, as theſe never diſturbed the peace of ſociety, they have been
very little noticed. I have followed what I conceive to be the true
Orphic ſyſtem, in the little analyſis which I have here endeavoured
to give. This was probably the true catholic faith, though it differs
conſiderably from another ancient ſyſtem, deſcribed by Ariſtophanes;4
which is more poetical, but leſs philoſophical. According to this,
Chaos, Night, Erebus, and Tartarus, were the primitive beings. Night,
in the infinite breaſt of Erebus, brought forth an egg, from which
ſprung Love, who mixed all things together; and from thence ſprung
the heaven, the ocean, the earth, and the gods. This ſyſtem is
alluded to by the epithet Wogenoj, applied to the Creator in one of the
Orphic Litanies:5 but this could never have been a part of the
orthodox faith; for the Creator is uſually repreſented as breaking
the egg of chaos, and therefore could not have ſprung from it. In
the confuſed medleys of allegories and traditions contained in the
Theogony attributed to Heſiod, Love is placed after Chaos and the
Earth, but anterior to every thing elſe. Theſe differences are not
to be wondered at; for Ariſtophanes, ſuppoſing that he underſtood
the true ſyſtem, could not with ſafety have revealed it, or even
mentioned it any otherwiſe than under the uſual garb of fiction and
1 2
Bach. v. 358. W Bromie, Pedwn cqonoj enosi potnia. Vers. 504.
3 4 5
Metam. lib. iv, v. 18. Orniq. Vers. 693. Hymn v.
 OF PRIAPUS 45

allegory; and as for the author of the Theogony, it is evident,

from the ſtrange jumble of incoherent fables which he has put
together, that he knew very little of it. The ſyſtem alluded to in
the Orphic verſes quoted in the Argonautics, is in all probability
the true one; for it is not only conſiſtent in all its parts, but
contains a phyſical truth, which the greateſt of the modern
diſcoveries has only con-firmed and explained. The others ſeem
to have been only poetical corruptions of it, which, extending by
degrees, produced that un-wieldly ſyſtem of poetical mythology,
which conſtituted the vulgar religion of Greece.
The fauns and ſatyrs, which accompany the androgynous figures
on the ancient ſculptures, are uſually repreſented as miniſtering to
the Creator by exerting their characteriſtic attributes upon them, as
well as upon the nymphs, the paſſive agents of procreation: but
what has puzzled the learned in theſe monuments, and ſeems a
contradiction to the general ſyſtem of ancient religion, is that many
of theſe groups are in attitudes which are rather adapted to the grati-
fication of diſordered and unnatural appetites, than to extend pro-
creation. But a learned author, who has thrown infinite light upon
theſe ſubjects, has effectually cleared them from this ſuſpicion, by
ſhowing that they only took the moſt convenient way to get at the
female organs of generation, in thoſe mixed beings who poſſeſſed
both.1 This is confirmed by Lucretius, who aſſerts, that this attitude
is better adapted to the purpoſes of generation than any other.2 We
may therefore conclude, that inſtead of repreſenting them in the
act of gratifying any diſorderly appetites, the artiſts meant to
ſhow their modeſty in not indulging their concupiſcence, but in
doing their duty in the way beſt adapted to anſwer the ends
propoſed by the Creator.
On the Greek medals, where the cow is the ſymbol of the deity,
1 2
Recherches ſur les Arts, liv. i. c. 3. Lib. iv, v. 1260
46 ON THE WORSHIP

ſhe is frequently repreſented licking a calf, which is ſucking her.1

This is probably meant to ſhow that the creative power cheriſhes
and nouriſhes, as well as generates; for, as all quadrupeds lick their
young, to refreſh and invigorate them immediately after birth, it is
natural to ſuppoſe, according to the general ſyſtem of ſymbolical
writing, that this action ſhould be taken as an emblem of the effect
it was thought to produce. On other medals the bull or cow is
repreſented licking itſelf;2 which, upon the ſame principle, muſt
repreſent the ſtrength of the deity refreſhed and invigorated by the
exertion of its own nutritive and plaſtic power upon its own being.
On others again is a human head of an androgynous character, like
that of the Bacchus difuej, with the tongue extended over the lower
lip, as if to lick ſomething.3 This was probably the ſame ſymbol,
expreſſed in a leſs explicit manner; it being the common practice
of the Greek artiſts to make a part of a compoſition ſignify the
whole, of which I ſhall ſoon have occaſion to give ſome inconteſtable
examples. On a Parian medal publiſhed by Goltzius, the bull lick-
ing himſelf is repreſented on one ſide, accompanied by the aſteriſk
of the ſun, and on the other, the head with the tongue extended,
having ſerpents, the emblems of life, for hair.4 The ſame medal is
in my collection, except that the ſerpents are not attached to the
head, but placed by it as diſtinct ſymbols, and that the animal lick-
ing itſelf is a female accompanied by the initial of the word qeoj,
inſtead of the aſteriſk of the ſun. Antiquarians have called this head a
Meduſa; but, had they examined it attentively on any well-
preſerved coin, they would have found that the expreſſion of the
features means luſt, and not rage or horror.5 The caſe is, that
1
See Plate IV, Fig. 3. from a medal of Dyrrachium, belonging to me.
2
See Plate III. Fig. 5, from one of Gortyna, in the Hunter Collection; and
Plate III. Fig. 4, from one of Parium, belonging to me.
3
See Plate III, Fig 4, and Plate III, Fig 6, from Pellerin.
4 5
Goltz, Inſul. Tab. xix, Fig 8. See Plate III, Fig. 4.
 OF PRIAPUS 47

antiquarians have been continually led into error, by ſeeking for

explanations of the devices on the Greek medals in the wild and
capricious ſtories of Ovid’s Metamorphoſes, inſtead of
examining the firſt principles of ancient religion contained in the
Orphic Fragments, the writings of Plutarch, Macrobius, and
Apuleius, and the Choral Odes of the Greek tragedies. Theſe
principles were the ſubjects of the ancient myſteries, and it is to
theſe that the ſymbols on the medals always relate; for they were
the public acts of the ſtates, and therefore contain the ſenſe of
nations, and not the caprices of individuals.
As M. D’Hancarville found a complete repreſentation of the bull
breaking the egg of chaos in the ſculptures of the Japaneſe, when
only a part of it appears on the Greek monuments; ſo we may find
in a curious Oriental fragment, lately brought from the ſacred
caverns of Elephanta, near Bombay, a complete repreſentation of
the ſymbol ſo enigmatically expreſſed by the head above mentioned.
Theſe caverns are ancient places of worſhip, hewn in the ſolid rock
with immenſe labour and difficulty. That from which the fragment
in queſtion was brought, is 130 feet long by 110 wide, adorned
with columns and ſculptures finiſhed in a ſtyle very different from
that of the Indian artiſts.1 It is now neglected; but others of the
ſame kind are ſtill uſed as places of worſhip by the Hindoos, who
can give no account of the antiquity of them, which muſt neceſſarily
be very remote, for the Hindoos are a very ancient people; and yet
the ſculptures repreſent a race of men very unlike them, or any of
the preſent inhabitants of India. A ſpecimen of theſe was brought
from the iſland of Elephanta, in the Cumberland man-of-war, and
now belongs to the muſeum of Mr. Townley. It contains ſeveral
figures, in very high relief; the principal of which are a man and
woman, in an attitude which I ſhall not venture to deſcribe, but only
1
Archæol. vol. viii. p. 189.
48 ON THE WORSHIP

obſerve, that the action, which I have ſuppoſed to be a ſymbol of

refreſhment and invigoration, is mutually applied by both to their
reſpective organs of generation,1 the emblems of the active and
paſſive powers of procreation, which mutually cheriſh and invigorate
each other.
The Hindoos ſtill repreſent the creative powers of the deity by
theſe ancient ſymbols, the male and female organs of generation;
and worſhip them with the ſame pious reverence as the Greeks and
Egyptians did.2 Like them too they have buried the original prin-
ciples of their theology under a maſs of poetical mythology, ſo that
few of them can give any more perfect account of their faith, than
that they mean to worſhip one firſt cauſe, to whom the ſubordinate
deities are merely agents, or more properly perſonified modes of action.3
This is the doctrine inculcated, and very fully explained, in the
Bagvat Geeta; a moral and metaphyſical work lately tranſlated from
the Sanſcrit language, and ſaid to have been written upwards of
four thouſand years ago. Kreſhna, or the deity become incarnate
in the ſhape of man, in order to inſtruct all mankind, is introduced,
revealing to his diſciples the fundamental principles of true faith,
religion, and wiſdom; which are the exact counterpart of the ſyſtem
of emanations, ſo beautifully deſcribed in the lines of Virgil before
cited. We here find, though in a more myſtic garb, the ſame one
principle of life univerſally emanated and expanded, and ever par-
tially returning to be again abſorbed in the infinite abyſs of intellectual
being. This reabſorption, which is throughout recommended as
the ultimate end of human perfection, can only be obtained by a
life of inward meditation and abſtract thought, too ſteady to be
interrupted by any worldly incidents, or diſturbed by any tranſitory
affections, whether of mind or body. But as ſuch a life is not in the
1
See Plate XI. [and XXIV] 2 Sonnerat, Voyage aux Indes, T. 1 p. 180.
3
Niebuhr, Voyages, vol. II. p. 17.
 OF PRIAPUS 49

power of any but a Brahman, inferior rewards, conſiſting of gradual

advancements during the tranſmigrations of the ſoul, are held out
to the ſoldier, the huſbandman, and mechanic, accordingly as they
fulfill the duties of their ſeveral ſtations. Even thoſe who ſerve
other gods are not excluded from the benefits awarded to every
moral virtue; for, as the divine Teacher ſays, If they do it with a
firm belief, in ſo doing they involuntarily worſhip even me. I am he
who partaketh of all worſhip, and I am their reward.1 This uni-
verſal deity, being the cauſe of all motion, is alike the cauſe of
creation, preſervation, and deſtruction; which three attributes are
all expreſſed in the myſtic ſyllable om. To repeat this in ſilence,
with firm devotion, and immoveable attention, is the ſureſt means
of perfection,2 and conſequent reabſorption, ſince it leads to the
contemplation of the Deity, in his three great characteriſtic attributes.
The firſt and greateſt of theſe, the creative or generative attribute,
ſeems to have been originally repreſented by the union of the male
and female organs of generation, which, under the title of the Lingam,
ſtill occupies the central and moſt interior receſſes of their temples
or pagodas; and is alſo worn, attached to bracelets, round their
necks and arms.3 In a little portable temple brought from the
Rohilla country during the late war, and now in the Britiſh Muſeum,
this compoſition appears mounted on a pedeſtal, in the midſt of a
ſquare area, ſunk in a block of white alabaſter.4 Round the pedeſtal
is a ſerpent, the emblem of life, with his head reſted upon his tail,
to denote eternity, or the conſtant return of time upon itſelf, whilſt
it flows through perpetual duration, in regular revolutions and
ſtated periods. From under the body of the ſerpent ſprings the
lotus or water lily, the Nelumbo of Linnæus, which overſpreads
the whole of the area not occupied by the figures at the corners.

1 2
Bagvat Geeta, p. 81. Ibid. p. 74.
3 4
Sonnerat, Voyage aux Indes, liv. ii. p. 180. See Plate XII.
50 ON THE WORSHIP

This plant grows in the water, and, amongſt its broad leaves, puts
forth a flower, in the center of which is formed the ſeed-veſſel,
ſhaped like a bell or inverted cone, and punctuated on the top with
little cavities or cells, in which the ſeeds grow.1 The orifices of
theſe cells being too ſmall to let the ſeeds drop out when ripe, they
ſhoot forth into new plants, in the places where they were formed;
the bulb of the veſſel ſerving as a matrice to nouriſh them, until
they acquire ſuch a degree of magnitude as to burſt it open and
releaſe themſelves; after which, like other aquatic weeds, they take
root wherever the current depoſits them. This plant therefore,
being thus productive of itſelf, and vegetating from its own matrice,
without being foſtered in the earth, was naturally adopted as the
ſymbol of the productive power of the waters, upon which the
active ſpirit of the creator operated in giving life and vegetation
to matter. We accordingly find it employed in every part of the
northern hemiſphere, where the ſymbolical religion, improperly
called idolatry, does or ever did prevail. The ſacred images of
the Tartars, Japoneſe, and Indians, are almoſt all placed upon it;
of which numerous inſtances occur in the publications of Kæmpfer,
Chappe D’Auteroche, and Sonnerat. The upper part of the baſe
of the Lingam alſo conſiſts of this flower, blended and compoſed
with the female organ of generation which it ſupports: and the
ancient author of the Bagvat Geeta ſpeaks of the creator Brahma
as ſitting upon his lotus throne.2 The figures of Iſis, upon the
Iſiac Table, hold the ſtem of this plant, ſurmounted by the ſeed-
veſſel in one hand, and the croſs,3 repreſenting the male organs of
generation, in the other; thus ſignifying the univerſal power, both
active and paſſive, attributed to that goddeſs. On the ſame Iſiac
Table is alſo the repreſentation of an Egyptian temple, the columns
of which are exactly like the plant which Iſis holds in her hand,
1 2
See Plate XX. Fig 1. Page 91.
3
See Plate XVIII. Fig. 2, from Pignorius.
 OF PRIAPUS 51

except that the ſtem is made larger, in order to give it that ſtability
which is neceſſary to ſupport a roof and entablature.1 Columns
and capitals of the ſame kind are ſtill exiſting, in great numbers,
among the ruins of Thebes, in Egypt; and more particularly upon
thoſe very curious ones in the iſland of Philæ, on the borders of
Ethiopia, which are, probably, the moſt ancient monuments of art
now extant; at leaſt, if we except the neighbouring temples of
Thebes. Both were certainly built when that city was the ſeat of
wealth and empire, which it was, even to a proverb, during the
Trojan war.2 How long it had then been ſo, we can form no con-
jecture; but that it ſoon after declined, there can be little doubt;
for, when the Greeks, in the reign of Pſammeticus (generally
computed to have been about 530 years after the Siege of Troy),
firſt became perſonally acquainted with the interior parts of that
country, Memphis had been for many ages its capital, and Thebes
was in a manner deſerted. Homer makes Achilles ſpeak of its
immenſe wealth and grandeur, as a matter generally known and
acknowledged; ſo that it muſt have been of long eſtabliſhed fame,
even in that remote age. We may therefore fairly conclude, that
the greateſt part of the ſuperb edifices now remaining, were executed,
or at leaſt begun, before that time; many of them being ſuch as
could not have been finiſhed, but in a long term of years, even if
we ſuppoſe the wealth and power of the ancient kings of Egypt to
have equalled that of the greateſt of the Roman emperors.
The finiſhing of Trajan's column in three years, has been juſtly
thought a very extraordinary effort; for there muſt have been, at
leaſt, three hundred good ſculptors employed upon it: and yet, in
the neighbourhood of Thebes, we find whole temples of enormous
magnitude, covered with igures carved in the hard and brittle
granite of the Libyan mountains, inſtead of the ſoft marbles of

1 2
See Plate XVIII, Fig 1, from Pignorius. Hom. Iliad i, ver. 381.
52 ON THE WORSHIP

Paros and Carrara. Travellers, who have viſited that country have
given us imperfect accounts of the manner in which they are
finiſhed; but, if one may judge by thoſe upon the obeliſc of Ram-
eſes, now lying in fragments at Rome, they are infinitely more
laboured than thoſe of Trajan's Column. An eminent ſculptor,
with whom I examined that obeliſc, was decidedly of opinion, that
they muſt have been finiſhed in the manner of gems, with a grav-
ing tool; it appearing impoſſible for a chiſel to cut red granite with
ſo much neatneſs and preciſion. The age of Rameſes is uncertain;
but the generality of modern chronologers ſuppoſe that he was the
ſame perſon as Seſoſtris, and reigned at Thebes about 1500 years
before the Chriſtian æra, and about 300 before the Siege of Troy.
Their dates are however merely conjectural, when applied to events
of this remote antiquity. The Egyptian prieſts of the Auguſtan
age had a tradition, which they pretended to confirm by records,
written in hieroglyphics, that their country had once poſſeſt the
dominion of all Aſia and Ethiopia, which their king Ramſes, or
Rameſes, had conquered.1 Though this account may be exagge-
rated, there can be no doubt, from the buildings ſtill remaining,
but that they were once at the head of a great empire; for all hiſ-
torians agree that they abhorred navigation, had no ſea-port, and
never enjoyed the benefits of foreign commerce, without which,
Egypt could have no means of acquiring a ſufficient quantity of
ſuperfluous wealth to erect ſuch expenſive monuments, unleſs from
tributary provinces; eſpecially if all the lower part of it was an
uncultivated bog, as Herodotus, with great appearance of prob-
ability, tells us it anciently was. Yet Homer, who appears to have
known all that could be known in his age, and tranſmitted to poſ-
terity all he knew, ſeems to have heard nothing of their empire or
conqueſts. Theſe were obliterated and forgotten by the riſe of

1
Tacit. Ann. lib. ii, c. 60.
 OF PRIAPUS 53

new empires; but the renown of their ancient wealth ſtill con-
tinued, and afforded a familiar object of compariſon, as that of the
Mogul does at this day, though he is become one of the pooreſt
ſovereigns in the world.
But far as theſe Egyptian remains lead us into unknown ages,
the ſymbols they contain appear not to have been invented in that
country, but to have been copied from thoſe of ſome other people,
ſtill anterior, who dwelt on the other ſide of the Erythræan ocean.
One of the moſt obvious of them is the hooded ſnake, which is a
reptile peculiar to the ſouth-eaſtern parts of Aſia, but which I
found repreſented, with great accuracy, upon the obeliſc of Rameſes,
and have alſo obſerved frequently repeated on the Iſiac Table, and
other ſymbolical works of the Egyptians. It is alſo diſtinguiſhable
among the ſculptures in the ſacred caverns of the iſland of Ele-
phanta;1 and appears frequently added, as a characteriſtic ſymbol,
to many of the idols of the modern Hindoos, whoſe abſurd tales
concerning its meaning are related at length by M. Sonnerat; but
they are not worth repeating. Probably we ſhould be able to trace
the connexion through many more inſtances, could we obtain accu-
rate drawings of the ruins of Upper Egypt.
By comparing the columns which the Egyptians formed in
imitation of the Nelumbo plant, with each other, and obſerving
their different modes of decorating them, we may diſcover the
origin of that order of architecture which the Greeks called Corint-
hian, from the place of its ſuppoſed invention. We firſt find the
plain bell, or ſeed-veſſel, uſed as a capital, without any further alter-
ation than being a little expanded at bottom, to give it ſtability.2
In the next inſtance, the ſame ſeed-veſſel is ſurrounded by the leaves
of ſome other plant;3 which is varied in different capitals according

1 2
Nieburhr, Voyage, vol. ii. See Plate XIX, Fig 6, from Norden.
3
See Plate XIX, Fig 7, from Norden.
54 ON THE WORSHIP

to the different meanings intended to be expreſſed by theſe addi-

tional ſymbols. The Greeks decorated it in the ſame manner, with
the leaves of the acanthus, and other ſorts of foliage; whilſt various
other ſymbols of their religion were introduced as ornaments on the
entablature, inſtead of being carved upon the walls of the cell, or
ſhafts of the columns. One of theſe, which occurs moſt frequently,
is that which the architects call the honeyſuckle, but which, as Sir
Joſeph Banks (to whom I am indebted for all that I have ſaid con-
cerning the Lotus) clearly ſhowed me, muſt be meant for the young
ſhoots of this plant, viewed horizontally, juſt when they have burſt
the ſeed-veſſel, and are upon the point of falling out of it. The
ornament is variouſly compoſed on different buildings; it being the
practice of the Greeks to make vegetable, as well as animal mon-
ſters, by combining different ſymbolical plants together, and blend-
ing them into one; whence they are often extremely difficult to be
diſcovered. But the ſpecimen I have given, is ſo ſtrongly character-
iſed, that it cannot eaſily be miſtaken.1 It appears on many Greek
medals with the animal ſymbols and perſonified attributes of the
Deity; which firſt led me to imagine that it was not a mere orna-
ment, but had ſome myſtic meaning, as almoſt every decoration
employed upon their ſacred edifices indiſputably had.
The ſquare area, over which the Lotus is ſpread, in the Indian
monument before mentioned, was occaſionally floated with water;
which, by means of a forcing machine, was firſt thrown in a ſpout
upon the Lingam. The pouring of water upon the ſacred ſymbols,
is a mode of worſhip very much practiſed by the Hindoos, par-
ticularly in their devotions to the Bull and the Lingam. Its mean-
ing has been already explained, in the inſtance of the Greek figure
of Pan, repreſented in the act of paying the ſame kind of worſhip
to the ſymbol of his own procreative power.2 The areas of the
1
Plate XIX, Fig 3, from the Ionian Antiquities, Ch. ii. Pl. XIII.
2
See Plate V, Fig. 1.
 OF PRIAPUS 55

Greek temples were, in like manner, in ſome inſtances, floated with

water; of which I ſhall ſoon give an example. We alſo find, not
unfrequently, little portable temples, nearly of the ſame form, and
of Greek workmanſhip: the areas of which were equally floated
by means of a fountain in the middle, and which, by the figures in
relief that adorn the ſides, appear evidently to have been dedicated
to the ſame worſhip of Priapus, or the Lingam.1 The ſquare area
is likewiſe impreſſed upon many ancient Greek medals, ſometimes
divided into four, and ſometimes into a greater number of com-
partments.2 Antiquarians have ſuppoſed this to be merely the im-
preſſion of ſomething put under the coin, to make it receive the
ſtroke of the die more ſteadily; but, beſides that it is very ill
adapted to this purpoſe, we find many coins which appear, evidently,
to have received the ſtroke of the hammer (for ſtriking with a
balance is of late date) on the ſide marked with this ſquare. But
what puts the queſtion out of all doubt, is, that impreſſions of
exactly the ſame kind are found upon the little Taliſmans, or
myſtic paſtes, taken out of the Egyptian Mummies, which have
no impreſſion whatever on the reverſe.3 On a little braſs medal of
Syracuſe, we alſo find the aſteriſc of the Sun placed in the centre
of the ſquare, in the ſame manner as the Lingam is on the Indian
monument.4 Why this quadrangular form was adopted, in prefer-
ence to any other, we have no means of diſcovering, from any
known Greek or Egyptian ſculptures; but from this little Indian
temple, we find that the four corners were adapted to four of the
1
See Plate XIV, from one in the collection of Mr. Townley.
2
See Plate XIII, Fig. 1, from one of Selinus, and Fig. 3, from one of Syracuſe,
belonging to me.
3
See Plate XIII, Fig. 2, from one in the collection of Mr. Townley.
4
See Plate XIII, Fig. 3. The medal is extremely common, and the quadrangular
Impreſſion is obſervable upon a great number of the more ancient Greek medals,
generally with ſome ſymbol of the Deity in the centre. See thoſe of Athens, Lyttus,
Maronea, &c.
56 ON THE WORSHIP

ſubordinate deities, or perſonified modes of action of the great

univerſal Generator, repreſented by the ſymbol in the middle, to
which the others are repreſented as paying their adorations, with
geſtures of humility and reſpect.1
What is the preciſe meaning of theſe four ſymbolical figures, it
is ſcarcely poſſible for us to diſcover, from the ſmall fragments of
the myſtic learning of the ancients which are now extant. That
they were however intended as perſonified attributes, we can have
no doubt; for we are taught by the venerable authority of the
Bagvat Geeta, that all the ſubordinate deities were ſuch, or elſe
canoniſed men, which theſe figures evidently are not. As for the
mythological tales now current in India, they throw the ſame degree
of light upon the ſubject, as Ovid’s Metamorphoſes do on the
ancient theology of Greece; that is, juſt enough to bewilder and
perplex thoſe who give up their attention to it. The ancient author
before cited is deſerving of more credit; but he has ſaid very little
upon the ſymbolical worſhip. His work, nevertheleſs, clearly
proves that its principles were preciſely the ſame as thoſe of the
Greeks and Egyptians, among whoſe remains of art or literature,
we may, perhaps, find ſome probable analogies to aid conjecture.
The elephant is, however, a new ſymbol in the weſt; the Greeks
never having ſeen one of thoſe animals before the expedition of
Alexander,2 although the uſe of ivory was familiar among them
even in the days of Homer. Upon this Indian monument the head
of the elephant is placed upon the body of a man with four
hands, two of which are held up as prepared to ſtrike with the in-
ſtruments they bold, and the other two pointed down as in adora-
tion of the Lingam. This figure is called Gonnis and Pollear by
the modern Hindoos; but neither of theſe names is to be found in
the Geeta, where the deity only ſays, that the learned behold him
1
See Plate XII. 2 Pauſan. lib. i. c. 12.
 OF PRIAPUS 57

alike in the reverend Brahman perfected in knowledge, in the ox,

and in the elephant. What peculiar attributes the elephant was
meant to expreſs, the ancient writer has not told us; but, as the
characteriſtic properties of this animal are ſtrength and ſagacity, we
may conclude that his image was intended to repreſent ideas
ſomewhat ſimilar to thoſe which the Greeks repreſented by that
of Minerva, who was worſhipped as the goddeſs of force
and wiſdom, of war and counſel. The Indian Gonnis is indeed
male, and Minerva female; but this difference of ſexes, however
important it may be in a phyſical, is of very little conſequence in
metaphyſical beings, Minerva being, like the other Greek deities,
either male or female, or both.1 On the medals of the Ptolemies,
under whom the Indian ſymbols became familiar to the Greeks
through the commerce of Alexandria, we find her repeatedly repre-
ſented with the elephant’s ſkin upon her head, inſtead of a helmet;
and with a countenance between male and female, ſuch as the artiſt
would naturally give her, when he endeavoured to blend the Greek
and Indian ſymbols, and mould them into one.2 Minerva is ſaid
by the Greek mythologiſts to have been born without a mother
from the head of Jupiter, who was delivered of her by the aſſiſtance
of Vulcan. This, in plain language, means no more than that ſhe
was a pure emanation of the divine mind, operating by means of
the univerſal agent fire, and not, like others of the allegorical per-
ſonages, ſprung from any of the particular operations of the deity
upon external matter. Hence ſhe is ſaid to be next in dignity to
her father, and to be endowed with all his attributes;3 for, as wiſdom
is the moſt exalted quality of the mind, and the divine mind the
perfection of wiſdom, all its attributes are the attributes of wiſdom,
1
Arsin kai qeluj efuj. Orph. eij Aqen.
2
See Plate XIII, Fig. 5, engraved from one belonging to me.
3
Hoe. lib. i. Od. 12. Callimach, eij Aqen.
58 ON THE WORSHIP

under whoſe direction its power is always exerted. Strength and

wiſdom therefore, when conſidered as attributes of the deity, are
in fact one and the ſame. The Greek Minerva is uſually repre-
ſented with the ſpear uplifted in her hand, in the ſame manner as
the Indian Gonnis holds the battle-axe.1 Both are given to denote
the deſtroying power equally belonging to divine wiſdom, as the
creative or preſerving. The ſtatue of Jupiter at Labranda in Caria
held in his hand the battle-axe, inſtead of thunder; and on the
medals of Tenedos and Thyatira, we find it repreſented alone as
the ſymbol of the deity, in the ſame manner as the thunder is
upon a great variety of other medals. I am the thunderbolt, ſays
the deity in the Bagvat Geeta;2 and when we find this ſuppoſed
engine of divine vengeance upon the medals, we muſt not imagine
that it is meant for the weapon of the ſupreme god, but for the
ſymbol of his deſtroying attribute. What inſtrument the Gonnis
holds in his other hand, is not eaſily aſcertained, it being a little
injured by the carriage. In one of thoſe pointed downwards he
holds the Lotus flower, to denote that he has the direction of the
paſſive powers of production; and in the other, a golden ring or diſc,
which, I ſhall ſoon ſhow, was the ſymbol by which many nations
of the Eaſt repreſented the ſun. His head is drawn into a conical,
or pyramidal form, and ſurrounded by an ornament which evidently
repreſents flames; the Indians, as well as the Greeks, looking
upon fire as the eſſence of all active power; whence perpetual lamps
are kept burning in the holy of holies of all the great pagodas in
India, as they were anciently in the temple of Jupiter Ammon,
and many others both Greek and Barbarian;3 and the incarnate
god in the Bagvat Geeta ſays, I am the fire reſiding in the bodies of
all things which have life.4 Upon the forehead of the Gonnis is a
1
See Plate XIII, Fig. 11, from a medla of Seleucus I. beloning to me.
2 3 4
Page 26. See Plut. de Orac. defect. Page 113.
 OF PRIAPUS 59

creſcent repreſenting the moon, whoſe power over the waters of the
ocean cauſed her to be regarded as the ſovereign of the great
nutritive element, and whoſe mild rays, being accompanied by the
refreſhing dews and cooling breezes of the night, made her natu-
rally appear to the inhabitants of hot countries as the comforter and
reſtorer of the earth. I am the moon (ſays the deity in the Bagvat
Geeta) whoſe nature it is to give the quality of taſte and reliſh,
and to cheriſh the herbs and plants of the field.1 The light of the
ſun, moon, and fire, were however all but one, and equally emana-
tions of the ſupreme being. Know, ſays the deity in the ſame
ancient dialogue, that the light which proceedeth from the ſun, and
illuminateth the world, and the light which is in the moon and in the
fire, are mine. I pervade all things in nature, and guard them with
my beams.2 In the figure now under conſideration a kind of pre-
eminence ſeems to be given to the moon over the ſun; proceeding
probably from the Hindoos not poſſeſſing the true ſolar ſyſtem,
which muſt however have been known to the people from whom
they learnt to calculate eclipſes, which they ſtill continue to do,
though upon principles not underſtood by themſelves. They now
place the earth in the centre of the univerſe, as the later Greeks
did, among whom we alſo find the ſame preference given to the
lunar ſymbol; Jupiter being repreſented, on a medal of Antiochus
VIII., with the creſcent upon his head, and the aſteriſc of the ſun
in his hand.3 In a paſſage of the Bagvat Geeta already cited we
find the elephant and bull mentioned together as ſymbols of the
ſame kind; and on a medal of Seleucus Nicator we find them
united by the horns of the one being placed on the head of the
other.4 The later Greek alſo ſometimes employed the elephant as
the univerſal ſymbol of the deity; in which ſenſe he is repreſented
1
Page 113. 2 Ibid. 3 Plate XIII Fig. 10, from one belonging to me.
4
See Plate XIII. Fig. 9, and Geſner, Num. Reg. Syr. Tab. VIII. Fig. 23.
60 ON THE WORSHIP

on a medal of Antiochus VI. bearing the torch, the emblem of the

univerſal agent, fire, in his proboſcis, and the cornucopia, the
reſult of its exertion, in his tail.1
On another corner of the little Indian pagoda, is a figure with
four heads, all of the ſame pointed form as that of the Gonnis. This
I take to repreſent Brahma, to whom the Hindoos attribute four
mouths, and ſay that with them he dictated the four Beads, or
Veads, the myſtic volumes of their religion.2 The four heads are
turned different ways, but exactly reſemble each other. The
beards have been painted black, and are ſharp and pointed, like
thoſe of goats, which the Greeks gave to Pan, and his ſubordinate
emanations, the Fauns and Satyrs. Hence I am inclined to believe,
that the Brahma of the Indians is the ſame as the Pan of the
Greeks; that is, the creative ſpirit of the deity transfuſed through
matter, and acting in the four elements repreſented by the four
heads. The Indians indeed admit of a fifth element, as the Greeks
did likewiſe; but this is never claſſed with the reſt, being of an
ætherial and more exalted nature, and belonging peculiarly to the
deity. Some call it heaven, ſome light, and ſome æther, ſays
Plutarch.3 The Hindoos now call it Occus, by which they ſeem
to mean pure ætherial light or fire.
This mode of repreſenting the allegorical perſonages of religion
with many heads and limbs to expreſs their various attributes,
and extenſive operation, is now univerſal in the Eaſt,4 and ſeems
anciently not to have been unknown to the Greeks, at leaſt if we
may judge by the epithets uſed by Pindar and other early poets.5
The union of two ſymbolical heads is common among the ſpeci-
mens of their art now extant, as may be ſeen upon the medals of
1
See Plate XIII. Fig. 8, and Geſner, Num. Reg. Syr. Tab. VIII. Fig. 1.
2
Bagavat Geeta, Note 41. 3 Ei apud Delph.
4
See Kæmpfer, Chappe d’Auteroche, Sonnerat, &c,
5
Such as ˜katogkefaloj, ˜katontakoranoj, ˜katogxeiroj, &c.
 OF PRIAPUS 61

Syracuſe, Marſeilles, and many other cities. Upon a gem of this

ſort in the collection of Mr. Townley, the ſame ideas which are
expreſſed on the Indian pagoda by the diſtinct figures Brahma and
Gonnis, are expreſſed by the united heads of Ammon and Minerva.
Ammon, as before obſerved, was the Pan of the Greeks, and
Minerva is here evidently the ſame as the Gonnis, being repre-
ſented after the Indian manner, with the elephant's ſkin on her
head, inſtead of a helmet.1 Both theſe heads appear ſeparate upon
different medals of the Ptolemies,2 under one of whom
this gem was probably engraved, Alexandria having been for a
long time the great centre of religions, as well as of trade and
ſcience.
Next to the figure of Brahma on the pagoda is the cow of
plenty, or the female emblem of the generative or nutritive power
of the earth; and at the other corner, next to the Gonnis, is the
figure of a woman, with a head of the ſame conic or pyramidal
form, and upon the front of it a flame of fire, from which hangs
a creſcent.3 This ſeems to be the female perſonification of the
divine attributes repreſented by the Gonnis or Pollear; for the
Hindoos, like the Greeks, worſhip the deity under both ſexes,
though they do not attempt to unite both in one figure. I am
the father and the mother of the world, ſays the incarnate god in
the Bagvat Geeta.4 Amongſt cattle, adds he in a ſubſequent part,
I am the cow Kamadhook. I am the prolific Kandarp, the god of
love.5 Theſe two ſentences, by being placed together, ſeem to
imply ſome relation between this god of love and the cow Kamad-
hook; and, were we to read the words without punctuation, as they
are in all ancient orthography, we ſhould think the author placed
the god of love amongſt the cattle; which he would naturally do,
1 2
See Plate XIII, Fig. 7. See Plate XIII, Fig. 5 and 6.
3 4 5
See Plate XII. Page 80. Page 86.
62 ON THE WORSHIP

if it were the cuſtom of his religion to repreſent him by an animal

ſymbol. Among the Egyptians, as before obſerved, the cow was
the ſymbol of Venus, the goddeſs of love, and paſſive generative
power of nature. On the capitals of one of the temples of Philæ
we ſtill find the heads of this goddeſs repreſented of a mixed
form; the horns and ears of the cow being joined to the beautiful
features of a woman in the prime of life;1 ſuch as the Greeks
attributed to that Venus, whom they worſhipped as the mother of
the prolific god of love, Cupid, who was the perſonification of
animal deſire or concupiſcence, as the Orphic love, the father of
gods and men, was of univerſal attraction. The Greeks, who
repreſented the mother under the form of a beautiful woman,
naturally repreſented the ſon under the form of a beautiful boy;
but a people who repreſented the mother under the form of a
cow, would as naturally repreſent the ſon under the form of a
calf. This ſeems to be the caſe with the Hindoos, as well as with
the Egyptians; wherefore Kandarp may be very properly placed
among the cattle.
By following this analogy, we may come to the true meaning of
a much-celebrated object of devotion, recorded by another ancient
writer, of a more venerable character. When the Iſraelites grew
clamorous on account of the abſence of Moſes, and called upon
Aaron to make them a god to go before them, he ſet up a golden
calf; to which the people ſacrificed and feaſted, and then roſe up
(as the tranſlator ſays) to play; but in the original the term is more
ſpecific, and means, in its plain direct ſenſe, that particular ſort of
play which requires the concurrence of both ſexes,2 and which was
therefore a very proper concluſion of a ſacrifice to Cupid, though
highly diſpleaſing to the god who had brought them out of
Egypt. The Egyptian mythologiſts, who appeared to have in-
1
See Plate XVIII, Fig. 3. 2 Exod. xxxii.
 OF PRIAPUS 63

vented this ſecondary deity of love, were probably the inventors

likewiſe of a ſecondary Priapus, who was the perſonification of that
particular generative faculty, which ſprings from animal deſire, as
the primary Priapus was of the great generative principle of the
univerſe. Hence, in the allegories of the poets, this deity is ſaid
to be a ſon of Bacchus and Venus; that is, the reſult of the active
and paſſive generative powers of nature. The ſtory of his being
the ſon of a Grecian conqueror, and born at Lampſacus, ſeems to
be a corruption of this allegory.
Of all the nations of antiquity the Perſians were the moſt ſimple
and direct in the worſhip of the creator. They were the puritans of
the heathen world, and not only rejected all images of god or his
agents, but alſo temples and altars, according to Herodotus,1
whoſe authority I prefer to any other, becauſe he had an opportunity of
converſing with them before they had adopted any foreign ſuper-
ſtitions.2 As they worſhipped the ætherial fire without any medium
of perſonification or allegory, they thought it unworthy of the
dignity of the god to be repreſented by any definite form, or cir-
cumſcribed to any particular place. The univerſe was his temple,
and the all-pervading element of fire his only ſymbol. The Greeks
appear originally to have held ſimilar opinions; for they were long
without ſtatues;3 and Pauſanias ſpeaks of a temple at Sicyon, built
by Adraſtus,4 who lived an age before the Trojan war; which con-
ſiſted of columns only, without wall or roof, like the Celtic temples
of our Northern anceſtors, or the Pyrætheia of the Perſians, which
were circles of ſtones, in the centre of which was kindled the ſacred
fire,5 the ſymbol of the god. Homer frequently ſpeaks of places
of worſhip conſiſting of an area and altar only (tenemoj bwmoj te),
1
Lib. i.
2
Hyde, Anquetil, and other modern writers, have given us the operoſe ſuper-
ſtitions of the preſent Parſees for the ſimple theiſm of the ancient Perſians.
3 4 5
Pauſan. lib. vii. and ix. Lib. ii. Strab. lib. xv.
64 ON THE WORSHIP

which were probably incloſures like theſe of the Perſians, with an

altar in the centre. The temples dedicated to the creator Bacchus,
which the Greek architects called hypæthral, ſeem to have been
anciently of the ſame kind; whence probably came the title perikionion
(ſurrounded with columns) attributed to that god in the Orphic
litanies.1 The remains of one of theſe are ſtill extant at Puzzuoli
near Naples, which the inhabitants call the Temple of Serapis:
but the ornaments of grapes, vaſes, &c. found among the ruins,
prove it to have been of Bacchus. Serapis was indeed the ſame
deity worſhipped under another form, being equally a perſonifica-
tion of the ſun.2 The architecture is of the Roman times; but the
ground plan is probably that of a very ancient one, which this was
made to replace; for it exactly reſembles that of a Celtic temple in
Zeeland, publiſhed in Stukeley's itinerary.3 The ranges of ſquare
buildings which incloſe it are not properly parts of the temple,
but apartments of the prieſts, places for victims and ſacred utenſils,
and chapels dedicated to ſubordinate deities introduced by a more
complicated and corrupt worſhip, and probably unknown to the
founders of the original edifice.4 The portico, which runs parallel
with theſe buildings5 incloſed the temenos, or area of ſacred ground,
which in the pyræthia of the Perſians was circular, but is here
quadrangular, as in the Celtic temple in Zeeland, and the Indian
pagoda before deſcribed. In the centre was the holy of holies, the
ſeat of the god, conſiſting of a circle of columns raiſed upon a baſe-
ment, without roof or walls, in the middle of which was probably
the ſacred fire, or ſome other ſymbol of the deity.6 The ſquare
area in which it ſtood, was ſunk below the natural level of the
ground,7 and, like that of the little Indian pagoda, appears to have
1 2
Hymn. 46. Diodor. Sic. lib. 1. Macrob. Sat. lib. i. c. 20.
3
See Plate XV. Fig 1 and 2, and Plate XIII, Fig 4.
4 5
Plate XV, Fig. 2, a—a,. Plate XV, Fig. 2, b—b,.
6
See Plate XV, Fig. 1, a, and Fig 2, c. 7 See Plate XV, Fig. 1, b—b.
 OF PRIAPUS 65

been occaſionally floated with water, the drains and conduits being
ſtill to be ſeen,1 as alſo ſeveral fragments of ſculpture repreſenting
waves, ſerpents, and various aquatic animals, which once adorned
the baſement.2 The Bacchus perikionioj here worſhipped, was, as
we learn from the Orphic hymn above cited, the ſun in his
character of extinguiſher of the fires which once pervaded the earth.
This he was ſuppoſed to have done by exhaling the waters of the
ocean, and ſcattering them over the land, which was thus ſuppoſed
to have acquired its proper temperature and fertility. For this
reaſon the ſacred fire, the eſſential image of the god, was ſurrounded
by the element which was principally employed in giving effect to
the beneficial exertions of his great attribute.
Theſe Orphic temples were, without doubt, emblems of that
fundamental principle of the myſtic faith of the ancients, the ſolar
ſyſtem; fire, the eſſence of the deity, occupying the place of the
ſun, and the columns ſurrounding it as the ſubordinate parts of the
univerſe. Remains of the worſhip of fire continued among the
Greeks even to the laſt, as appears from the ſacred fires kept in the
interior apartment, or holy of holies, of almoſt all their temples,
and places of worſhip: and, though the Ammonian Platonics, the
laſt profeſſors of the ancient religion, endeavoured to conceive ſome-
thing beyond the reach of ſenſe and perception, as the eſſence of
their ſupreme god; yet, when they wanted to illuſtrate and explain
the modes of action of this metaphyſical abſtraction, who was more
ſubtle than intelligence itſelf, they do it by images and compa-
riſons of light and fire.3
From a paſſage of Hecatæus, preſerved by Diodorus Siculus, I
think it is evident that Stonehenge, and all the other monuments of
the ſame kind found in the North, belonged to the ſame religion,
1 2
See Plate XV. Fig 1, c—c. See Plate XVII, Fig. 1.
3
See Proclus in Theol. Platon. lib. i. c. 19.
66 ON THE WORSHIP

which appears, at ſome remote period, to have prevailed over the

whole northern hemiſphere. According to that ancient hiſtorian,
the Hyperboreans inhabited an iſland beyond Gaul, as large as Sicily,
in which Apollo was worſhipped in a circular temple conſiderable for
its ſize and riches.1 Apollo, we know, in the language of the Greeks
of that age, can mean no other than the ſun, which, according to
Cæſar, was worſhipped by the Germans, when they knew of no
other deities except fire and the moon.2 The iſland I think can be
no other than Britain, which at that time was only known to the
Greeks by the vague reports of Phœnician mariners, ſo uncertain
and obſcure, that Herodotus, the moſt inquiſitive and credulous of
hiſtorians, doubts of its exiſtence.4 The circular temple of the ſun
being noticed in ſuch ſlight and imperfect accounts, proves that it
muſt have been ſomething ſingular and important; for, if had been
an inconſiderable ſtructure, it would not have been mentioned at all;
and, if there had been many ſuch in the country, the hiſtorian would
not have employed the ſingular number. Stonehenge has
certainly been a circular temple, nearly the ſame as that already
deſcribed of the Bacchus perikionioj at Puzzuoli, except that in the
latter the nice execution, and beautiful ſymmetry of the parts, are
in every reſpect the reverſe of the rude but majeſtic ſimplicity of
the former; in the original deſign they differ but in the form of
the area.5 It may therefore be reaſonably ſuppoſed, that we have
1
Naon exiologon, anaqhmasi polloij kekosmhmenon, sfairoeidh tJschmati,
Diod. Sic. lib. ii.
2 3
De B. Gal. lib. vi. Lib. iii. c. 15.
5
See Plate XV. Fig. 2 and 3. I have preferred Webb’s plan of Stonehenge to
Stukeley’s and Smith’s, after comparing each with the ruins now exiſting. They
differ materially only in the cell, which Webb ſuppoſes to have been a hexagon, and
Stukeley a ſection of an ellipſis. The poſition of the altar is merely conjectural;
wherefore I have omitted it; and I much doubt whether either be right in their
plans of the cell, which ſeems, as in other Druidical temples, to have been meant for
a circle, but incorrectly executed.
 OF PRIAPUS 67

ſtill the ruins of the identical temple deſcribed by Hecatæus, who,

being an Aſiatic Greek, might have received his information from
ſome Phœnician merchant, who had viſited the interior parts of
Britain when trading there for tin. Macrobius mentions a temple
of the ſame kind and form upon Mount Zilmiſſus in Thrace, de-
dicated to the ſun under the title of Bacchus Sebazius.1 The large
obeliſcs of ſtone found in many parts of the North, ſuch as thoſe
at Rudſtone,2 and near Boroughbridge in Yorkſhire,3 belong to the
ſame religion; obeliſcs being, as Pliny obſerves, ſacred to the ſun,
whoſe rays they repreſented both by their form and name.4 An
ancient medal of Apollonia in Illyria, belonging to the Muſeum of
the late Dr. Hunter, has the head of Apollo crowned with laurel
on one ſide, and on the other an obeliſc terminating in a croſs, the
leaſt explicit repreſentation of the male organs of generation.5
This has exactly the appearance of one of thoſe croſſes, which
were erected in church-yards and croſs roads for the adoration of
devout perſons, when devotion was more prevalent than at preſent.
Many of theſe were undoubtedly erected before the eſtabliſhment
of Chriſtianity, and converted, together with their worſhippers, to
the true faith. Anciently they repreſented the generative power of
light, the eſſence of God; for God is light, and never but in un-
approached light dwelt from eternity, ſays Milton, who in this, as
well as many other inſtances, has followed the Ammonian Platonics,
who were both the reſtorers and corrupters of the ancient theology.
They reſtored it from the maſs of poetical mythology, under which
it was buried, but refined and ſublimated it with abſtract meta-
phyſics, which ſoared as far above human reaſon as the poetical

1 2
Sat. lib. i. c. 18. Archæologia, vol. v.
3
Now called the Devil’s Arrows. See Stukely’s Itin. vol. i. Table xc.
4
Hiſt. Nat. lib. xxxvi. ſec. 14.
5
Plate X, Fig. 1, and Nummi Pop. & Urb. Table x. Fig. 7.
68 ON THE WORSHIP

mythology ſunk below it. From the ancient ſolar obeliſcs came
the ſpires and pinnacles with which our churches are ſtill decorated,
ſo many ages after their myſtic meaning has been forgotten.
Happily for the beauty of theſe edifices, it was forgotten; other-
wiſe the reformers of the laſt century would have deſtroyed them,
as they did the croſſes and images; for they might with equal
propriety have been pronounced heatheniſh and prophane.
As the obeliſc was the ſymbol of light, ſo was the pyramid of
fire, deemed to be eſſentially the ſame. The Egyptians, among
whom theſe forms are the moſt frequent, held that there were two
oppoſite powers in the world, perpetually acting contrary to each
other, the one creating, and the other deſtroying the former they
called Oſiris, and the latter Typhon.1 By the contention of theſe
two, that mixture of good and evil, which, according to ſome
verſes of Euripides quoted by Plutarch,2 conſtituted the harmony
of the world, was ſuppoſed to be produced. This opinion of the
neceſſary mixture of good and evil was, according to Plutarch, of
immemorial antiquity, derived from the oldeſt theologiſts and
legiſlators, not only in traditions and reports, but in myſteries and
ſacrifices, both Greek and barbarian.3 Fire was the efficient
principle of both, and, according to ſome of the Egyptians, that
ætherial fire which concentred in the ſun. This opinion Plutarch
controverts, ſaying that Typhon, the evil or deſtroying power,
was a terreſtrial or material fire, eſſentially different from the
ætherial. But Plutarch here argues from his own prejudices,
rather than from the evidence of the caſe; for he believed in an
original evil principle coeternal with the good, and acting in per-
petual oppoſition to it; an error into which men have been led by
forming falſe notions of good and evil, and conſidering them as
1 2
Plutarch, de Is. & Oſir. Ibid., p. 455, Ed. Reiſkii.
3
Ibid., Ed. Reiſkii.
 OF PRIAPUS 69

ſelf-exiſting inherent properties, inſtead of accidental modifications,

variable with every circumſtance with which cauſes and events are
connected. This error, though adopted by individuals, never
formed a part either of the theology or mythology of Greece.
Homer, in the beautiful allegory of the two caſks, makes Jupiter,
the ſupreme god, the diſtributor of both good and evil.1 The
name of Jupiter, Zeuj, was originally one of the titles or Epithets of
the ſun, ſignifying, according to its etymology, aweful or terrible;2
in which ſenſe it is uſed in the Orphic litanies.3 Pan, the univerſal
ſubſtance, is called the horned Jupiter (Zeuj Ð kerasthj); and in an
Orphic fragment preſerved by Macrobius4 the names of Jupiter
and Bacchus appear to be only titles of the all-creating power of
the ſun.
Aglae Zeu, Dionse, pater pontou, pater aihj,
`Hlie paggentor.
In another fragment preſerved by the ſame author,5 the name of
Pluto, Aidhj, is uſed as a title of the ſame deity; who appears
therefore to have preſided over the dead as well as over the living,
and to have been the lord of deſtruction as well as creation and
preſervation. We accordingly find that in one of the Orphic
litanies now extant, he is expreſſly called the giver of life, and
the deſtroyer.6
The Egyptians repreſented Typhon, the deſtroying power,
under the figure of the hippopotamus or river-horſe, the moſt
fierce and deſtructive animal they knew;7 and the Chorus in the
Bacchae of Euripides invoke their inſpirer Bacchus to appear under
the form of a bull, a many-headed ſerpent, or flaming lion;8 which
ſhows that the moſt bloody and deſtructive, as well as the moſt
1 2 3
Il, w, v. 527. Damm. Lex. Etymol. Hymn. x, v. 13.
4 5 6
Sat. lib. i. c. 23. Sat. lib. i. c. 3. Hymn lxxii, Ed. Geſn.
7 8
Plutarch, de Is. & Os. V. 1015.
70 ON THE WORSHIP

uſeful of animals, was employed by the Greeks to repreſent ſome

perſonified attribute of the god. M. D’Hancarville has alſo
obſerved, that the lion is frequently employed by the ancient artiſts
as a ſymbol of the ſun;1 and I am inclined to believe that it was to
expreſs this deſtroying power, no leſs requiſite to preſerve the
harmony of the univerſe than the generating. In moſt of the
monuments of ancient art where the lion is repreſented, he appears
with expreſſions of rage and violence, and often in the act of
killing and devouring ſome other animal. On an ancient ſarco-
phagus found in Sicily he is repreſented devouring a horſe,2 and on
the medals of Velia in Italy, devouring a deer;3 the former, as
ſacred to Neptune, repreſented the ſea; and the latter, as ſacred to
Diana, the produce of the earth; for Diana was the fertility of the
earth perſonified, and therefore is ſaid to have received her nymphs
or productive miniſters from the ocean, the ſource of fecundity.4
The lion, therefore, in the former inſtance, appears as a ſymbol of
the ſun exhaling the waters; and in the latter, as whithering and
putrifying the produce of the earth. On the frieze of the Temple
of Apollo Didymæus, near Miletus, are monſters compoſed of the
mixt forms of the goat and lion, reſting their fore feet upon the
lyre of the god, which ſtands between them.5 The goat, as I have
already ſhown, repreſented the creative attribute, and the lyre,
harmony and order; therefore, if we admit that the lion repreſented
the deſtroying attribute, this compoſition will ſignify, in the
ſymbolical language of ſculpture, the harmony and order of the
univerſe preſerved by the regular and periodical operations of the
1
Recherces ſur les Arts. See alſo Macrob, Sat. i, c. 21.
2
Houel, Voyage de la Sicile, Plate XXXVI.
3
Plate IX, Fig. 5, engraved from one belonging to me.
4
Calliamch, Hymn. adDian. v. 13. Geniter Nympharum Oceanus. Catullus in
Gell. v. 84
5
Ionian Antiquities, vol. i, c. 3, Plate IX.
 OF PRIAPUS 71

creative and deſtructive powers. This is a notion to which men

would be naturally led by obſerving the common order and pro-
greſſion of things. The ſame heat of the ſun, which ſcorched and
withered the graſs in ſummer, ripened the fruits in autumn, and
cloathed the earth with verdure in the ſpring. In one ſeaſon it
dried up the waters from the earth, and in another returned them
in rain. It cauſed fermentation and putrefaction, which deſtroy
one generation of plants and animals, and produce another in
conſtant and regular ſucceſſion. This contention between the
powers of creation and deſtruction is repreſented on an ancient
medal of Acanthus, in the muſeum of the late Dr. Hunter, by a
combat between the bull and lion.1 The bull alone is repreſented
on other medals in exactly the ſame attitude and geſture as when
fighting with the lion;2 whence I conclude that the lion is there
underſtood. On the medals of Celenderis, the goat appears inſtead
of the bull in exactly the ſame attitude of ſtruggle and contention,
but without the lion;3 and in a curious one of very ancient but
excellent workmanſhip, belonging to me, the ivy of Bacchus is
placed over the back of the goat, to denote the power which he
repreſents.4
The mutual operation which was the reſult of this contention
was ſignified, in the mythological tales of the poets, by the loves
of Mars and Venus, the one the active power of deſtruction, and
the other the paſſive power of generation. From their union is
ſaid to have ſprung the goddeſs Harmony, who was the phyſical
order of the univerſe perſonified. The fable of Ceres and Proſer-
pine is the ſame allegory inverted; Ceres being the prolific power
1
Plate IX, Fig. 4, & Nummi Vet. Pop. & Urb. Table I, Fig. 16.
2
Plate IX. Fig. 12, from one of Aſpendus in the ſame Collection. See Nummi Vet.
Pop. & Urb. Table VIII. Fig. 20.
3
Nummi Vet. Pop. & Urb. Table XVI, Fig. 13.
4
Plate IX, Fig. 13.
72 ON THE WORSHIP

of the earth perſonified, and hence called by the Greeks Mother

Earth (Gh or Dh-mhtur). The Latin name Ceres alſo ſignifying
Earth, the Roman C being the ſame originally, both in figure and
power as the Greek G,1 which Homer often uſes as a mere guttural
aſpirate, and adds it arbitrarily to his words, to make them more
ſolemn and ſonorous.2 The guttural aſpirates and hiſſing termina-
tions more particularly belonged to the Æolic dialect, from which
the Latin was derived; wherefore we need not wonder that the
ſame word, which by the Dorians and Ionians was written Era and
Eri, ſhould by the Æolians be written Gerej or Ceres, the Greeks
always accommodating their orthography to their pronunciation.
In an ancient bronze at Strawberry Hill this goddeſs is repreſented
ſitting, with a cup in one hand, and various ſorts of fruits in the
other; and the bull, the emblem of the power of the Creator, in
her lap.3 This compoſition ſhows the fructification of the earth
by the deſcent of the creative ſpirit in the ſame manner as deſcribed
by Virgil:—
Vere tument terræ, et genitalia ſemina poſeunt;
Tum pater omnipotens fœcundis imbribus æther
Conjugis in gremium lætæ deſcendit, & omneſ
Magnus alit, magno commixtus corpore, fœtus.4
Æther and water are here introduced by the poet as the two pro-
lific elements which fertilize the earth, according to the ancient
ſyſtem of Orphic philoſophy, upon which the myſtic theology
was founded. Proſerpine, or Perstfonieia, the daughter of Ceres,
was, as her Greek name indicates, the goddeſs of deſtruction, in
which character ſhe is invoked by Althaea in the ninth Iliad; but
nevertheleſs we often find her on the Greek medals crowned with

1
See S. C. Marcian, and the medals of Gela and Agrigentum.
2
As in the word epidoutoj, uſually written by him epigdoutoj.
3 4
See Plate VIII. Georgic. lib. ii, v. 324.
 OF PRIAPUS 73

ears of corn, as being the goddeſs of fertility as well as deſtruc-

tion.1 She is, in fact, a perſonification of the heat or fire that
pervades the earth, which is at once the cauſe and effect of fertility
and deſtruction, for it is at once the cauſe and effect of fermentation,
from which both proceed. The Libitina, or goddeſs of death of
the Romans, was the ſame as the Perſiphoneia of the Greeks; and
yet, as Plutarch obſerves, the moſt learned of that people allowed
her to be the ſame as Venus, the goddeſs of generation.2
In the Gallery at Florence is a colloſſal image of the organ of
generation, mounted on the back parts of a lion, and hung round
with various animals. By this is repreſented the co-operation of
the creating and deſtroying powers, which are both blended and
united in one figure, becauſe both are derived from one cauſe.
The animals hung round ſhow likewiſe that both act to the ſame
purpoſe, that of repleniſhing the earth, and peopling it with ſtill
riſing generations of ſenſitive beings. The Chimæra of Homer, of
which the commentators have given ſo many whimſical interpreta-
tions, was a ſymbol of the ſame kind, which the poet probably,
having ſeen in Aſia, and not knowing its meaning (which was only
revealed to the initiated) ſuppoſed to be a monſter that had once
infeſted the country. He deſcribes it as compoſed of the forms of
the goat, the lion, and the ſerpent, and breathing fire from its
mouth.3 Theſe are the ſymbols of the creator, the deſtroyer, and
the preſerver, united and animated by fire, the divine eſſence of all
three.4 On a gem, publiſhed in the Memoirs of the Academy of
Cortona,5 this union of the deſtroying and preſerving attributes is
1
Plate IV, Fig. 5, from a medal of Agathocles, belonging to me. The ſame head
is upon many others, of Syracuſe, Metapontum, &c.
2
In Nums. 3 Il. z, v. 223.
4
For the natural properties attributed by the ancients to fire, ſee Plutarch, in
Camiilo, Plin. Hiſt. Nat. lib. XXXVI, c. 58.
5
Vol. iv. p. 32. See alſo Plate V. Fig 4, copied from it.
74 ON THE WORSHIP

repreſented by the united forms of the lion and ſerpent crowned

with rays, the emblems of the cauſe from which both proceed.
This compoſition forms the Chnoubis of the Egyptians.
Bacchus is frequently repreſented by the ancient artiſts accom-
panied by tigers, which appear, in ſome inſtances, devouring cluſ-
ters of grapes, the fruit peculiarly conſecrated to the god, and in
others drinking the liquor preſſed from them. The author of the
Recherches ſur les Arts has in this inſtance followed the common
accounts of the Mythologiſts, and aſſerted that tigers are really fond
of grapes;1 which is ſo far from being true, that they are incapable
of feeding upon them, or upon any fruit whatever, being both
externally and internally formed to feed upon fleſh only, and to
procure their food by deſtroying other animals. Hence I am
perſuaded, that in the ancient ſymbols, tigers, as well as lions,
repreſent the deſtroying power of the god. Sometimes his chariot
appears drawn by them; and then they repreſent the powers of
deſtruction preceding the powers of generation, and extending
their operation, as putrefaction precedes, and increaſes vegetation.
On a medal of Maronea, publiſhed by Geſner,2 a goat is coupled
with the tiger in drawing his chariot; by which compoſition the
artiſt has ſhown the general active power of the deity, conducted
by his two great attributes of creation and deſtruction. On the
Choragic monument of Lyſicrates at Athens, Bacchus is repreſented
feeding a tiger; which ſhows the active power of generation
feeding and nouriſhing the active power of deſtruction.3 On a
beautiful cameo in the collection of the Duke of Marlborough,
the tiger is ſucking the breaſt of a nymph; which repreſents the
ſame power of deſtruction, nouriſhed by the paſſive power of gene-
ration.4 In the muſeum of Charles Townley, Eſq., is a group, in
1 2 3
Liv. i, c. 3. Table xliii, Fig. 26. Stuart’s Athens, vol. i, c. 4, Plate X.
4
See Plate XVIII, engraved merely to ſhow the compoſition, it not being per-
mitted to make an exact drawing of it.
 OF PRIAPUS 75

marble, of three figures;1 the middle one of which grows out of a

vine in a human form, with leaves and cluſters of grapes ſpringing
out of its body. On one ſide is the Bacchus difuhj, or creator of
both ſexes, known by the effeminate mold of his limbs and coun-
tenance; and on the other, a tiger, leaping up, and devouring the
grapes which ſpring from the body of the perſonified vine, the
hands of which are employed in receiving another cluſter from the
Bacchus. This compoſition repreſents the vine between the crea-
ting and deſtroying attributes of god; the one giving it fruit, and
the other devouring it when given. The tiger has a garland of ivy
round his neck, to ſhow that the deſtroyer was co-eſſential with
the creator, of whom ivy, as well as all other ever-greens, was an
emblem repreſenting his perpetual youth and viridity.2
The mutual and alternate operation of the two great attributes
of creation and deſtruction, was not confined by the ancients to
plants and animals, and ſuch tranſitory productions, but extended
to the univerſe itſelf. Fire being the eſſential cauſe of both, they
believed that the conflagration and renovation of the world were
periodical and regular, proceeding from each other by the laws of
its own conſtitution, implanted in it by the creator, who was alſo
the deſtroyer and renovator;3 for, as Plato ſays, all things ariſe from
one, and into one are all things reſolved.4 It muſt be obſerved,
that, when the ancients ſpeak of creation and deſtruction, they mean
only formation and diſſolution; it being univerſally allowed, through
all ſyſtems of religion, or ſects of philoſophy, that nothing could
come from nothing, and that no power whatever could annihilate that
1 2
See Plate XXI, Fig. 7. Strabo, lib. xv, p. 712.
3
Brucker, Hiſt. Crit. Philos. vol. i, part 2, lib. i. Plutarch, de Placis. Philos.
lib. ii, c. 18. Lucretius, lib. v. ver. 91. Cic. de Nat. Deor. lib. ii.
4
Ex ˜noj ta panta genesqai, kai eij t' ¢uton analuesai, in Phæd. The ſame
dogma is ſtill more plainly inculcated by the ancient Indian author before cited, ſe
Bagavat Geeta, Lect. ix.
76 ON THE WORSHIP

which really exiſted. The bold and magnificent idea of a creation

from nothing was reſerved for the more vigorous faith, and more
enlightened minds of the moderns,1 who need ſeek no authority to
confirm their belief; for, as that which is ſelf-evident admits of no
proof, ſo that which is in itſelf impoſſible admits of no refutation.
The fable of the ſerpent Pytho being deſtroyed by Apollo,
probably aroſe from an emblematical compoſition, in which that
god was repreſented as the deſtroyer of life, of which the ſerpent
was a ſymbol. Pliny mentions a ſtatue of him by Praxiteles,
which was much celebrated in his time, called Sauroktwn (the
Lizard-killer).2 The lizard, being ſuppoſed to live upon the dews
and moiſture of the earth, is employed as the ſymbol of humidity
in general; ſo that the god deſtroying it, ſignifies the ſame as the
lion devouring the horſe. The title Apollo, I am inclined to
believe, meant originally the Deſtroyer, as well as the Deliverer;
for, as the ancients ſuppoſed deſtruction to be merely diſſolution,
the power which delivered the particles of matter from the bonds
of attraction, and broke the desmon peribriqj erowtoj, was in fact the
deſtroyer.3 It is, probably, for this reaſon, that ſudden death,
plagues, and epidemic diſeaſes, are ſaid by the poets to be ſent by
this god; who is, at the ſame time, deſcribed as the author of
medicine, and all the arts employed to preſerve life. Theſe attri-
butes are not joined merely becauſe the deſtroyer and preſerver
were eſſentially the ſame; but becauſe diſeaſe neceſſarily precedes

1
The word in Geneſis upon which it is founded, conveyed no ſuch ſenſe to the
ancients; for the Seventy tranſlated it epoihse, which ſignifies formed, or faſhioned.
2
Hiſt. Nat. lib. xxxiv. c. 8. Many copies of it are ſtill extant. Winkleman
has publiſhed one from a bronze of Cardinal Albani's. Monum. Antichi. inediti,
Plate XL.
3
The verb luw, from which Apollo is derived, ſignifies in Homer both to free
and to diſſolve or deſtroy, Il a, ver. 20; Il. i, ver. 25. Macrobius derives the
title from apollumi, to deſtroy; but this word is derived from luw Sat. lib. i, c. 17.
 OF PRIAPUS 77

cure, and is the cauſe of its being invented. The God of Health
is ſaid to be his ſon, becauſe the health and vigour of one being
are ſupported by the decay and diſſolution of others which are ap-
propriated to its nouriſhment. The bow and arrows are given to
him as ſymbols of his characteriſtic attributes, as they are to Diana,
who was the female perſonification of the deſtructive, as well as the
productive and preſerving powers. Diana is hence called the triple
Hecate, and repreſented by three female bodies joined together.
Her attributes were however worſhipped ſeparately; and ſome
nations revered her under one character, and others under another.
Diana of Epheſus was the productive and nutritive power, as the
many breaſts and other ſymbols on her ſtatues imply;1 whilſt Brimw,
the Tauric or Scythic Diana, appears to have been the deſtructive,
and therefore was appeaſed with human ſacrifices, and other bloody
rites.2 She is repreſented ſometimes ſtanding on the back of a
bull,3 and ſometimes in a chariot drawn by bulls;4 whence ſhe is
called by the poets Tauropola5 and Bown elateira.6 Both
compoſitions ſhow the paſſive power of nature, whether creative
or deſtructive, ſuſtained and guided by the general active power
of the creator, of which the ſun was the centre, and the bull the
ſymbol.
It was obſerved by the ancients, that the deſtructive power of
the ſun was exerted moſt by day, and the creative by night: for it
was in the former ſeaſon that he dried up the waters, withered the
herbs, and produced diſeaſe and putrefaction; and in the latter,
1 2
Hieron. Comment. in Paul Epiſt. ad Ephes. Pauſan. lib. iii, c. 16.
3
See a medal of Auguſtus, publiſhed by Spanheim. Not. in Callim, Hymn. ad
Dian. ver. 113.
4
Plate VI, from a bronze in the muſeum of C. Townley, Eſq.
5
Sophoclis Ajax, ver. 172.
6
Nonni Dionys, lib. i. the title Tauropoloj was ſometimes given to Apollo,
Euſtath. Schol in Dionys.Perihghs.,. ver. 609.
78 ON THE WORSHIP

that he returned the exhalations in dews, tempered with the genial

heat which he had transfuſed into the atmoſphere, to reſtore and
repleniſh the waſte of the day. Hence, when they perſonified the
attributes, they revered the one as the diurnal, and the other as
the nocturnal ſun, and in their myſtic worſhip, as Macrobius
ſays,1 called the former Apollo, and the latter Dionyſus or Bacchus.
The mythological perſonages of Caſtor and Pollux, who lived and
died alternately, were allegories of the ſame dogma; hence the two
aſteriſcs, by which they are diſtinguiſhed on the medals of Locri,
Argos, and other cities.
The pæans, or war-ſongs, which the Greeks chanted at the on-
ſet of their battles2 were originally ſung to Apollo,3 who was called
Pæon; and Macrobius tells us,4 that in Spain, the ſun was wor-
ſhipped as Mars, the god of war and deſtruction, whoſe ſtatue they
adorned with rays, like that of the Greek Apollo. On a Celtiberian
or Runic medal found in Spain, of barbarous workmanſhip, is a
head ſurrounded by obeliſcs or rays, which I take to be of this
deity.5 The hairs appear erect, to imitate flames, as they do on
many of the Greek medals; and on the reverſe is a bearded head,
with a ſort of pyramidal cap on, exactly reſembling that by which
the Romans conferred freedom on their ſlaves, and which was
therefore called the cap of liberty.6 On other Celtiberian medals
is a figure on horſeback, carrying a ſpear in his hand, and having
the ſame ſort of cap on his head, with the word Helman written

1 2
Sat. lib. i, c. 18. Thucyd. lib. vii.
3 4
Homer, Il. s, v. 472. Sat. lib. i, c. 19.
5
Plate X Fig. 2, engraven from one belonging to me. I have ſince been confirmed
in this conjecture by obſerving the characters of Mars and Apollo mixt on Greek
coins. On a Mamertine one belonging to me is the head with the youthful features
and laurel crown of Apollo; but the hair is ſhort, and the inſcription on the exergue
denotes it to be Mars. See Plate XVI. Fig 2.
6
It may be ſeen with th edagger on the medals of Brutus.
 OF PRIAPUS 79

under him,1 in characters which are ſomething between the old

Runic and Pelaſgian; but ſo near to the latter, that they are eaſily
underſtood.2 This figure ſeems to be of the ſame perſon as is
repreſented by the head with the cap on the preceding medal, who
can be no other than the angel or miniſter of the deity of death, as
the name implies; for Hela or Hel, was, among the Northern
nations, the goddeſs of death,3 in the ſame manner as Perſiphoneia
or Brimo was among the Greeks. The ſame figure appears on
many ancient Britiſh medals, and alſo on thoſe of ſeveral Greek
cities, particularly thoſe of Gela, which have the Taurine Bacchus
or Creator on the reverſe.4 The head which I have ſuppoſed to be
the Celtiberian Mars, or deſtructive power of the diurnal ſun, is
beardleſs like the Apollo of the Greeks, and, as far as can be diſ-
covered in ſuch barbarous ſculpture, has the ſame androgynous
features.5 We may therefore reaſonably ſuppoſe, that, like the
Greeks, the Celtiberians perſonified the deſtructive attribute under
the different genders, accordingly as they applied it to the ſun, or
ſubordinate elements; and then united them, to ſignify that both
were eſſentially the ſame. The Helman therefore, who was the
ſame as the Moiraghthj or Diaktwr of the Greeks, may with equal
propriety be called the miniſter of both or either. The ſpear in his
hand is not to be conſidered merely as the implement of deſtruction,
but as the ſymbol of power and command, which it was in Greece
and Italy, as well as all over the North. Hence euqunein dori, was

1
See Plate IX, Fig. 9, from one belonging to me.
2
The firſt to a mixture of the Runic Hagle and Greek H. The ſecond is the
Runic Laugur, which is alſo the old Greek L, as it appears on the vaſe of the
Calydonian Boar in the Britiſh Muſeum. The other three differ little from the
common Greek.
3
Edd. Fab. XVI. D’Hancarville, Recherches ſur les Arts, liv. ii, c. 1.
4
See Plate IX, Fig. 11, from one beloning to me.
5
See Plate X, Fig. 2.
80 ON THE WORSHIP

to govern,1 and venire ſub haſtâ,—to be ſold as a ſlave. The ancient

Celtes and Scythians paid divine honors to the ſword, the battle-
axe, and the ſpear; the firſt of which was the ſymbol by which
they repreſented the ſupreme god: hence to ſwear by the edge
of the ſword was the moſt ſacred and inviolable of oaths.2 Euri-
pides alludes to this ancient religion when he calls a ſword Ðrkion
xifoj; and Æſchylus ſhows clearly, that it once prevailed in
Greece, when he makes the heroes of the Thebaid ſwear by the
point of the ſpear (omnusi d'aicmhn3). Homer ſometimes uſes the
word arhj to ſignify the God of War, and ſometimes a weapon:
and we have ſufficient proof of this word’s being of Celtic origin in
its affinity with our Northern word War; for, if we write it in the
ancient manner, with the Pelaſgian Vau, or Æolian Digamma, #arhj
(Warés), it ſcarcely differs at all.
Behind the bearded head, on the firſt-mentioned Celtiberian
medal is an inſtrument like a pair of firetongs, or blackſmith's
pincers;4 from which it ſeems that the perſonage here repreſented
is the ſame as the `Hfaistoj or Vulcan of the Greek and Roman
mythology. The ſame ideas are expreſſed ſomewhat more plainly
on the medals of Æſernia in Italy, which are executed with all the
refinement and elegance of Grecian art.5 On one ſide is Apollo, the
diurnal ſun, mounting in his chariot; and on the other a beardleſs
head, with the ſame cap on, and the ſame inſtrument behind it,
but with the youthful features and elegant character of countenance
uſually attributed to Mercury, who, as well as Vulcan, was the
God of Art and Mechaniſm; and whoſe peculiar office it alſo was
to conduct the ſouls of the deceaſed to their eternal manſions, from
whence came the epithet Diaktwr, applied to him by Homer. He
was, therefore, in this reſpect, the ſame as the Helman of the
1 2
Eurip. Hecuba. Malles, Introd. à ;’Hiſt. de Danemarc, c. 9.
3 4
`Epta epi Qhbaj, v. 535. Plate X. Fig 2.
5
See Plate X, Fig. 6, from one belonging to me.
 OF PRIAPUS 81

Celtes and Scythians, who was ſuppoſed to conduct the ſouls of all
who died a violent death (which alone was accounted truly happy)
to the palace of Valhala.1 It ſeems that the attributes of the deity
which the Greeks repreſented by the mythological perſonages of
Vulcan and Mercury, were united in the Celtic mythology. Cæſar
tells us that the Germans worſhipped Vulcan, or fire, with the ſun
and moon; and I ſhall ſoon have occaſion to ſhow that the Greeks
held fire to be the real conductor of the dead, and emanci-pator of
the ſoul. The Æſernians, bordering upon the Samnites, a Celtic
nation, might naturally be ſuppoſed to have adopted the notions
of their neighbours, or, what is more probable, preſerved the
religion of their anceſtors more pure than the Hellenic Greeks.
Hence they repreſented Vulcan, who, from the inſcription on the
exergue of their coins, appears to have been their tutelar god,
with the characteriſtic features of Mercury, who was only a
different perſonification of the ſame deity.
At Lycopolis in Egypt the deſtroying power of the ſun was repre-
ſented by a wolf; which, as Macrobius ſays, was worſhipped there as
Apollo.2 The wolf appears devouring grapes in the ornaments of
the temple of Bacchus perikionoj at Puzzuoli;3 and on the medals
of Cartha he is ſurrounded with rays, which plainly proves that he
is there meant as a ſymbol of the ſun.4 He is alſo repreſented on
moſt of the coins of Argos,5 where I have already ſhown that the
diurnal ſun Apollo, the light-extending god, was peculiarly wor-
ſhipped. We may therefore conclude, that this animal is meant
for one of the myſtic ſymbols of the primitive worſhip, and not,
as ſome antiquarians have ſuppoſed, to commemorate the mytho-
logical tales of Danaus or Lycaon, which were probably invented,

1 2
Malles, Hiſt. de Danemarc, Introd. c. 9. Sat. lib. i, c. 27.
3 4
Plate XVI, Fig. 1. Plate X, Fig. 8, from one beloning to me.
5
Plate IX, Fig. 7, from one beloning to me.
82 ON THE WORSHIP

like many others of the ſame kind, to ſatisfy the inquiſitive igno-
rance of the vulgar, from whom the meaning of the myſtic ſymbols,
the uſual devices on the medals, was ſtrictly concealed. In the
Celtic mythology, the ſame ſymbol was employed, apparently in
the ſame ſenſe, Lok, the great deſtroying power of the univerſe,
being repreſented under the form of a wolf.1
The Apollo Didymæus, or double Apollo, was probably the two
perſonifications, that of the deſtroying, and that of the creating
power, united; whence we may perceive the reaſon why the orna-
ments before deſcribed ſhould be upon his temple.2 On the medals
of Antigonus, king of Aſia, is a figure with his hair hanging in
artificial ringlets over his ſhoulders, like that of a woman, and the
whole compoſition, both of his limbs and countenance, remarkable
for extreme delicacy, and feminine elegance.3 He is ſitting on
the prow of a ſhip, as god of the waters; and we ſhould, without
heſitation, pronounce him to be the Bacchus difuhj, were it not for
the bow that he carries in his hand, which evidently ſhows him
to be Apollo. This I take to be the figure under which the
refinement of art (and more was never ſhown than in this medal)
repreſented the Apollo Didymæus, or union of the creative and
deſtructive powers of both ſexes in one body.
As fire was the primary eſſence of the active or male powers
of creation and generation, ſo was water of the paſſive or female.
Appian ſays, that the goddeſs worſhipped at Hierapolis in Syria
was called by ſome Venus, by others Juno, and by others held to be
the cauſe which produced the beginning and ſeeds of things from
humidity.4 Plutarch deſcribes her nearly in the ſame words;5 and

1
Malles, Introd. à l’Hiſt. de Danemarc.
2
See Ionian Antiq. vol. i, c. 3, Pl. IX.
3
See Plate X, Fig. 7, from one belonging to me. Similar figures are on the coins
4 5
of moſt of the Seleucidæ. De Bello Parthico. In Craſſo.
 OF PRIAPUS 83

the author of the treatiſe attributed to Lucian1 ſays, ſhe was Nature,
the parent of things, or the creatreſs. She was therefore the ſame
as Iſis, who was the prolific material upon which both the creative
and deſtructive attributes operated.2 As water was her terreſtrial
eſſence, ſo was the moon her celeſtial image, whoſe attractive power,
heaving the waters of the ocean, naturally led men to aſſociate
them. The moon was alſo ſuppoſed to return the dews which the
ſun exhaled from the earth; and hence her warmth was reckoned
to be moiſtening, as that of the ſun was drying.3 The Egyptians
called her the Mother of the World, becauſe ſhe ſowed and ſcattered
into the air the prolific principles with which ſhe had been impreg-
nated by the ſun.4 Theſe principles, as well as the light by which
ſhe was illumined, being ſuppoſed to emanate from the great foun-
tain of all life and motion, partook of the nature of the being
from which they were derived. Hence the Egyptians attributed to
the moon, as well is to the ſun, the active and paſſive powers of
generation,5 which were both, to uſe the language of the ſcholaſtics,
eſſentially the ſame, though formally different. This union is repre-
ſented on a medal of Demetrius the ſecond, king of Syria,6 where
the goddeſs of Hierapolis appears with the male organs of genera-
tion ſticking out of her robe, and holding the thyrſus of Bacchus,
the emblem of fire, in one hand, and the terreſtrial globe, repre-
ſenting the ſubordinate elements, in the other. Her head is
crowned with various plants, and on each ſide is in aſteriſc repre-
ſenting (probably) the diurnal and nocturnal ſun, in the ſame
manner as when placed over the caps of Caſtor and Pollux.7 This
is not the form under which ſhe was repreſented in the temple at
1 2
De Dea Syriâ. Plutarch, de Is. & Oſir.
3
Caler felis arefacit, lunaris humectat. Macrob. Sat. VII, c. 10.
4 5
Plutarch, de Is. & Oſir. Ibid.
6
Plate X, Fig 5, from Haym, Tes. Brit. p. 70.
7
Se Plate IX, Fig. 7.
84 ON THE WORSHIP

Hierapolis, when the author of the account attributed to Lucian

viſited it; which is not to be wondered at, for the figures of this
univerſal goddeſs, being merely emblematical, were compoſed accord-
ing to the attributes which the artiſts meant particularly to expreſs.
She is probably repreſented here in the form under which ſhe was
worſhipped in the neighbourhood of Cyzicus, where ſhe was called
Artemij Priapivh, the Priapic Diana.1 In the temple at Hierapolis
the active powers imparted to her by the Creator were repreſented
by immenſe images of the male organs of generation placed on
each ſide of the door. The meaſures of theſe muſt neceſſarily be
corrupt in the preſent text of Lucian; but that they were of an
enormous ſize we may conclude from what is related of a man's
going to the top of one of them every year, and reſiding there
ſeven days, in order to have a more intimate communication with
the deity, while praying for the proſperity of Syria.2 Athenæus
relates, that Ptolemy Philadelphus had one of 120 cubits long
carried in proceſſion at Alexandria,3 of which the poet might juſtly
have ſaid—
Horrendum protendit Mentula contum
Quanta queat vaſtos Thetidis ſpumantis hiatus;
Quanta queat priſcamque Rheam, magnamque parentem
Naturam, ſolidis naturam implere medullis,
Si foret immenſos, quot ad aſtra volantia currunt,
Conceptura globos, et tela triſulca tonantis,
Et vaga concuſſum motura tonitrua mundum.
This was the real meaning of the enormous figures at Hierapolis:
—they were the generative organs of the creator perſonified, with
which he was ſuppoſed to have impregnated the heavens, the earth,
and the waters. Within the temple were many ſmall ſtatues of
men with theſe organs diſproportionably large. Theſe were the
angels or attendants of the goddeſs, who acted as her miniſters of
1 2 3
Plutarch, in Lucullo. Lucian, de Dea Syriâ. Deipnos. lib.
 OF PRIAPUS 85

creation in peopling and fructifying the earth. The ſtatue of the

goddeſs herſelf was in the ſanctuary of the temple; and near it
was the ſtatue of the creator, whom the author calls Jupiter, as he
does the goddeſs, Juno; by which he only means that they were
the ſupreme deities of the country where worſhipped. She was
borne by lions, and he by bulls, to ſhow that nature, the paſſive
productive power of matter, was ſuſtained by anterior deſtruction,
whilſt the ætherial ſpirit, or active productive power, was ſuſtained
by his own ſtrength only, of which the bulls were ſymbols.1 Be-
tween both was a third figure, with a dove on his head, which ſome
thought to be Bacchus.2 This was the Holy Spirit, the firſt-
begotten love, or plaſtic nature, (of which the dove was the image
when it really deigned to deſcend upon man,3) proceeding from,
and conſubſtantial with both; for all three were but perſonifications
of one. The dove, or ſome fowl like it, appears on the medals of
Gortyna in Crete, acting the ſame part with Dictynna, the Cretan
Diana, as the ſwan is uſually repreſented acting with Leda.4 This
compoſition has nearly the ſame ſignification as that before deſcribed
of the bull in the lap of Ceres, Diana being equally a perſonification
of the productive power of the earth. It may ſeem extraordinary,
that after this adventure with the dove, ſhe ſhould ſtill remain a
virgin; but myſteries of this kind are to be found in all religions.
Juno is ſaid to have renewed her virginity every year by bathing
in a certain fountain;5 a miracle which I believe even modern
legends cannot parallel.
1
The active and paſſive powers of creation are called male and female by the
Ammonian Platoniſts. See Proclus in Theol. Platon. lib. i, c. 28.
2 3
Lucian, de Dea Syriâ. Matth. ch. iii, ver. 17.
4
See Plate III, Fig. 5. Kalousi de thn Artemin Qrakej Bendeian, Krhtej de
Diktunnan. Palæph. de Incred. Tab. XXXI. See alſo Diodor. Sic. lib. v. & Euripid.
Hippol. v. 145.
5
Pauſan. lib. ii, c. 38.
86 ON THE WORSHIP

In the viſion of Ezekiel, God is deſcribed as deſcending upon

the combined forms of the eagle, the bull, and the lion,1 the
emblems of the ætherial ſpirit, the creative and deſtructive powers,
which were all united in the true God, though hypoſtatically
divided in the Syrian trinity. Man was compounded with them,
as repreſenting the real image of God, according to the Jewiſh
theology. The cherubim on the ark of the covenant, between
which God dwelt,2 were alſo compounded of the ſame form,3 ſo
that the idea of them muſt have been preſent to the prophet’s mind,
previous to the apparition which furniſhed him with the deſcription.
Even thoſe on the ark of the covenant, though made at the expreſs
command of God, do not appear to have been original; for a
figure exactly anſwering to the deſcription of them appears among
thoſe curious ruins exiſting at Chilminar, in Perſia, which have
been ſuppoſed to be thoſe of the palace of Perſepolis, burnt by
Alexander; but for what reaſon, it is not eaſy to conjecture. They
do not, certainly, anſwer to any ancient deſcription extant of that
celebrated palace; but, as far as we can judge of them in their
preſent ſtate, appear evidently to have been a temple.4 But the
Perſians, as before obſerved, had no incloſed temples or ſtatues,
which they held in ſuch abhorrence, that they tried every means
poſſible to deſtroy thoſe of the Egyptians; thinking it unworthy
of the majeſty of the deity to have his all-pervading preſence
limited to the boundary of an edifice, or likened to an image of
ſtone or metal. Yet, among the ruins at Chilminar, we not only
find many ſtatues, which are evidently of ideal beings,5 but alſo that
remarkable emblem of the deity, which diſtinguiſhes almoſt all the
1
Ezek. ch. i, ver. 10, with Lowth’s Comm.
2
Exod. ch. xxv. ver. 22.
3
Spencer de Leg. Ritual Vet. Hebræor. lib. iii. diſſert. 5.
4
See Le Bruyn, Voyage en Perſe, Planche cxxiii.
5
See Le Bruyn and Niebuhr.
 OF PRIAPUS 87

Egyptian temples now extant.1 The portals are alſo of the ſame
form as thoſe at Thebes and Philæ; and, except the hieroglyphics
which diſtinguiſh the latter, are finiſhed and ornamented nearly in
the ſame manner. Unleſs, therefore, we ſuppoſe the Perſians to
have been ſo inconſiſtent as to erect temples in direct contradiction
to the firſt principles of their own religion, and decorate them with
ſymbols and images, which they held to be impious and abominable,
we cannot ſuppoſe them to be the authors of theſe buildings.
Neither can we ſuppoſe the Parthians, or later Perſians, to have
been the builders of them; for both the ſtyle of workmanſhip in
the figures, and the forms of the letters in the inſcriptions, denote
a much higher antiquity, as will appear evidently to any one who
will take the trouble of comparing the drawings publiſhed by
Le Bruyn and Niebuhr with the coins of the Arſacidæ and
Saſſanidæ. Almoſt all the ſymbolical figures are to be found re-
peated upon different Phœnician coins; but the letters of the Phœni-
cians, which are ſaid to have come to them from the Aſſyrians,
are much leſs ſimple, and evidently belong to an alphabet
much further advanced in improvement. Some of the figures are
alſo obſervable upon the Greek coins, particularly the bull and lion
fighting, and the myſtic flower, which is the conſtant device of
the Rhodians. The ſtyle of workmanſhip is alſo exactly the ſame as
that of the very ancient Greek coins of Acanthus, Celendaris, and
Leſbos; the lines being very ſtrongly marked, and the hair expreſſed
by round knobs. The wings likewiſe of the figure, which reſembles
the Jewiſh cherubim, are the ſame as thoſe upon ſeveral Greek
ſculptures now extant; ſuch as the little images of Priapus attached
to the ancient bracelets, the compound figures of the goat and lion
1
See Plate XVIII. Fig. 1 from the Iſiac Table, and Plate XIX. Fig 5 from Niebuhr's
prints of Chilminar. See alſo Plate XVIII. Fig. 2 and Plate XIX. Fig. 1 from the Iſiac
Tables and the Egyptian Portals publiſhed by Norden and Pococke, on every one of
which this ſingular emblem occurs.
88 ON THE WORSHIP

upon the frieze of the Temple of Apollo Didymæus, &c. &c.1

They are likewiſe joined to the human figure on the medals of
Melita and Camarina,2 as well as upon many ancient ſculptures in
relief found in Perſia.3 The feathers in theſe wings are turned up-
wards like thoſe of an oſtrich,4 to which however they have no
reſemblance in form, but ſeem rather like thoſe of a fowl brooding,
though more diſtorted than any I ever obſerved in nature. Whether
this diſtortion was meant to expreſs luſt or incubation, I cannot
determine; but the compoſitions, to which the wings are added,
leave little doubt, that it was meant for the one or the other. I
am inclined to believe that it was for the latter, as we find on the
medals of Melita a figure with four of theſe wings, who ſeems by his
attitude to be brooding over ſomething.5 On his head is the cap of
liberty, whilſt in his right hand he holds the hook or attractor, and
in his left the winnow or ſeparator; ſo that he probably repreſents
the Erwj, or generative ſpirit brooding over matter, and giving
liberty to its productive powers by the exertion of his own attri-
butes, attraction and ſeparation. On a very ancient Phœnician
medal brought from Aſia by Mr. Pullinger, and publiſhed very
incorrectly by Mr. Swinton in the Philoſophical Tranſactions of
1760, is a diſc or ring ſurrounded by wings of different forms, of
which ſome of the feathers are diſtorted in the ſame manner.6 The
ſame diſc, ſurrounded by the ſame kind of wings, incloſes the
aſteriſc of the ſun over the bull Apis, or Mnevis, on the Iſiac
Table,7 where it alſo appears with many of the other Egyptian
1
See Le Bruyn, Planche cxxiii. Ionian Antiquities, vol. i. c. 3. Plate IX., and Plate
II. Fig. 2.
2
See Plate XX, Fig. 2, from one of Melita, belonging to me.
3
See Le Bruyn, Planche cxxi.
4
As thoſe on the Figures deſcribed by Ezekiel were. See c. i, v. 11.
5
See Plate XX, Fig. 2, engraved from one belonging to me.
6
See Plate IX, Fig. 9, engraed from the original medal, now belonging to me.
7
See Plate XIX, Fig. 1, from Pignorius.
 OF PRIAPUS 89

ſymbols, particularly over the heads of Iſis and Oſiris.1 It is alſo

placed over the entrances of moſt of the Egyptian temples deſcribed
by Pococke and Norden as well as on that repreſented on the Iſiac
Table,2 though with ſeveral variations, and without the aſteriſc.
We find it equally without the aſteriſc, but with little or no varia-
tion, on the ruins at Chilmenar, and other ſuppoſed Perſian
antiquities in that neighbourhood:3 but upon ſome of the Greek
medals the aſteriſc alone is placed over the bull with the human
face,4 who is then the ſame as the Apis or Mnevis of the Egyptians;
that is, the image of the generative power of the ſun, which is ſig-
nified by the aſteriſc on the Greek medals, and by the kneph, or
winged diſc, on the Oriental monuments. The Greeks however
ſometimes employed this latter ſymbol, but contrived, according to
their uſual practice, to join it to the human figure, as may be ſeen
on a medal of Camarina, publiſhed by Prince Torremmuzzi.5 On
other medals of this city the ſame idea is expreſſed, without the
diſc or aſteriſc, by a winged figure, which appears hovering over a
ſwan, the emblem of the waters, to ſhow the generative power of
the ſun fructifying that element, or adding the active to the paſſive
powers of production.6 On the medals of Naples, a winged figure
of the ſame kind is repreſented crowning the Taurine Bacchus
with a wreath of laurel.7 This antiquarians have called a Victory
crowning the Minotaur; but the fabulous monſter called the Mi-
notaur was never ſaid to have been victorious, even by the poets

1
See Plate XVIII, Fig. 2, from Pignorius.
2
See Plate XVIII, Fig. 1, from Pignorius.
3
See Niebuhr and Le Bruyn, and Plate XIX, Fig. 2, from the former.
4
See Plate IV. Fig. 2, and Plate XIX. Fig. 4, from a medal of Cales, belonging
to me.
5
See Plate XXI, Fig. 2, copied from it.
6
See Plate XXI, Fig. 3, from one belonging to me.
7
See Plate XIX, Fig. 5. The coins are common in all collections.
90 ON THE WORSHIP

who invented it; and whenever the ſculptors and painters repre-
ſented it, they joined the head of a bull to a human body, as may
be ſeen in the celebrated picture of Theſeus, publiſhed among the
antiquities of Herculaneum, and on the medals of Athens, ſtruck
about the time of Severus, when the ſtyle of art was totally changed,
and the myſtic theology extinct. The winged figure, which has
been called a Victory, appears mounting in the chariot of the ſun,
on the medals of queen Philiſtis,1 and, on ſome of thoſe of Syra-
cuſe, flying before it in the place where the aſteriſc appears on others
of the ſame city.2 I am therefore perſuaded, that theſe are only
different modes of repreſenting one idea, and that the winged figure
means the ſame, when placed over the Taurine Bacchus of the
Greeks, as the winged diſc over the Apis or Mnevis of the Egyp-
tians. The Ægis, or ſnaky breaſtplate, and the Meduſa’s head, are
alſo, as Dr. Stukeley juſtly obſerved,3 Greek modes of repre-
ſenting this winged diſc joined with the ſerpents, as it frequently is,
both in the Egyptian ſculptures, and thoſe of Chilmenar in Perſia.
The expreſſions of rage and violence, which uſually characteriſe the
countenance of Meduſa, ſignify the deſtroying attribute joined with
the generative, as both were equally under the direction of Minerva,
or divine wiſdom. I am inclined to believe, that the large rings,
to which the little figures of Priapus are attached,4 had alſo the
ſame meaning as the diſc; for, if intended merely to ſuſpend them
by, they are of an extravagant magnitude, and would not anſwer
their purpoſe ſo well as a common loop.
On the Phœnician coin above mentioned, this ſymbol, the
winged diſc, is placed over a figure ſitting, who holds in his hands
an arrow, whilſt a bow, ready bent, of the ancient Scythian form,

1
See Plate XXI, Fig. 4, from one belonging to me.
2
See Plate XXI, Fig. 5 and 6, from coins belonging to me.
3 4
Abury, p. 93. See Plate II. Fig. 1, and Plate III. Fig. 2.
 OF PRIAPUS 91

lies by him.1 On his head is a large looſe cap, tied under his chin,
which I take to be the lion's ſkin, worn in the ſame manner as on
the heads of Hercules, upon the medals of Alexander; but the
work is ſo ſmall, though executed with extreme nicety and preciſion,
and perfectly preſerved, that it is difficult to decide with certainty
what it repreſents, in parts of ſuch minuteneſs. The bow and
arrows, we know, were the ancient arms of Hercules;2 and con-
tinued ſo, until the Greek poets thought proper to give him the
club.3 He was particularly worſhipped at Tyre, the metropolis
of Phœnicia;4 and his head appears in the uſual form, on many of
the coins of that people. We may hence conclude that he is the
perſon here repreſented, notwithſtanding the difference in the ſtyle
and compoſition of the figure, which may be accounted for by the
difference of art. The Greeks, animated by the ſpirit of their
ancient poets, and the glowing melody of their language, were
grand and poetical in all their compoſitions; whilſt the Phœnicians,
who ſpoke a harſh and untuneable dialect, were unacquainted with
fine poetry, and conſequently with poetical ideas; for words being
the types of ideas, and the ſigns or marks by which men not only
communicate them to each other, but arrange and regulate them in
their own minds, the genius of a language goes a great way towards
forming the character of the people who uſe it. Poverty of ex-
preſſion will produce poverty of conception; for men will never be
able to form ſublime ideas, when the language in which they think
(for men always think as well as ſpeak in ſome language) is inca-
pable of expreſſing them. This may be one reaſon why the Phœ-
nicians never rivalled the Greeks in the perfection of art, although
they attained a degree of excellence long before them; for Homer,
whenever he has occaſion to ſpeak of any fine piece of art, takes

1 2
See Plate IX, Fig. 10 b. Homer’s Odyſs. L, ver. 606.
3 4
Strabo, lib. xiv. Macrob. Sat. lib. i, c. 20.
92 ON THE WORSHIP

care to inform us that it was the work of Sidonians. He alſo

mentions the Phœnician merchants bringing toys and ornaments
of dreſs to ſell to the Greeks, and practicing thoſe frauds which
merchants and factors are apt to practice upon ignorant people.1
It is probable that their progreſs in the fine arts, like that of the
Dutch (who are the Phœnicians of modern hiſtory), never went
beyond a ſtrict imitation of nature; which, compared to the more
elevated graces of ideal compoſition, is like a newſpaper narrative
compared with one of Homer’s battles. A figure of Hercules,
therefore, executed by a Phœnician artiſt, if compared to one by
Phidias or Lyſippus, would be like a picture of Moſes or David,
painted by Teniers, or Gerard Dow, compared to one of the ſame,
painted by Raphael or Annibal Caracci. This is exactly the differ-
ence between the figures on the medal now under conſideration, and
thoſe on the coins of Gelo or Alexander. Of all the perſonages of
the ancient mythology, Hercules is perhaps the moſt difficult to
explain; for phyſical allegory and fabulous hiſtory are ſo entangled
in the accounts we have of him, that it is ſcarcely poſſible to ſepa-
rate them. He appears however, like all the other gods, to have
been originally a perſonified attribute of the ſun. The eleventh of
the Orphic Hymns2 is addreſſed to him as the ſtrength and power
of the ſun; and Macrobius ſays that he was thought to be the
ſtrength and virtue of the gods, by which they deſtroyed the
giants; and that, according to Varro, the Mars and Hercules of
the Romans were the ſame deity, and worſhipped with the ſame
rites.3 According to Varro then, whoſe authority is perhaps the
greateſt that can be cited, Hercules was the deſtroying attribute
repreſented in a human form, inſtead of that of a lion, tiger, or
hippopotamus. Hence the terrible picture drawn of him by
Homer, which always appeared to me to have been taken from
1 2 3
Homer, Odyſs. o, ver. 414. Ed. Geſner. Sat. lib. i, c. 20.
 OF PRIAPUS 93

ſome ſymbolical ſtatue, which the poet not underſtanding, ſuppoſed to

be of the Theban hero, who had aſſumed the title of the deity, and
whoſe fabulous hiſtory he was well acquainted with. The
deſcription however applies in every particular to the allegorical
perſonage. His attitude, ever fixed in the act of letting fly his
arrow,1 with the figures of lions and bears, battles and murders,
which adorn his belt, all unite in repreſenting him as the deſtructive
attribute perſonified. But how happens it then that he is ſo fre-
quently repreſented ſtrangling the lion, the natural emblem of this
power? Is this an hiſtorical fable belonging to the Theban hero,
or a phyſical allegory of the deſtructive power deſtroying its own
force by its own exertions? Or is the ſingle attribute perſonified
taken for the whole power of the deity in this, as in other inſtances
already mentioned? The Orphic Hymn above cited ſeems to
favour this laſt conjecture; for he is there addreſſed both as the
devourer and generator of all (Pamfage, paggentwr). However
this may be, we may ſafely conclude that the Hercules armed with
the bow and arrow, as he appears on the preſent medal, is like the
Apollo, the deſtroying power of the diurnal ſun.
On the other ſide of the medal3 is a figure, ſomewhat like the
Jupiter on the medals of Alexander and Antiochus, ſitting with a
beaded ſceptre in his right hand, which he reſts upon the head of
a bull, that projects from the ſide of the chair. Above, on his
right ſhoulder, is a bird, probably a dove, the ſymbol of the Holy
Spirit, deſcending from the ſun, but, as this part of the medal is
leſs perfect than the reſt, the ſpecies cannot be clearly diſcovered.
In his left hand be holds a ſhort ſtaff, from the upper ſide of which
ſprings an ear of corn, and from the lower a bunch of grapes,
which being the two moſt eſteemed productions of the earth, were
the natural emblems of general fertilization. This figure is there-
1 2
Aiei Baleonti ˜oikwj. Odyſs. l, ver. 607. See Plate IX, Fig. 10 a.
94 ON THE WORSHIP

fore the generator, as that on the other ſide is the deſtroyer, whilſt
the ſun, of whoſe attributes both are perſonifications, is placed be-
tween them. The letters on the ſide of the generator are quite
entire, and, according to the Phœnician alphabet publiſhed by Mr.
Dutens, are equivalent to the Roman ones which compoſe the
words Baal Thrz, of which Mr. Swinton makes Baal Tarz, and
tranſlates Jupiter of Tarſus; whence he concludes that this coin
was ſtruck at that city. But the firſt letter of the laſt word is not
a Teth, but a Thau, or aſpirated T; and, as the Phœnicians had a
vowel anſwering to the Roman A, it is probable they would have
inſerted it, had they intended it to be ſounded: but we have no
reaſon to believe that they had any to expreſs the U or Y, which
muſt therefore be comprehended in the preceding conſonant when-
ever the ſound is expreſſed. Hence I conclude that the word here
meant is Thyrz or Thurz, the Thor or Thur of the Celtes and
Sarmatians, the Thurra of the Aſſyrians, the Turan of the Tyr-
rhenians or Etruſcans, the Taurine Bacchus of the Greeks, and the
deity whom the Germans carried with them in the ſhape of a bull,
when they invaded Italy; from whom the city of Tyre, as well as
Tyrrhenia, or Tuſcany, probably took its name. His ſymbol the
bull, to which the name alludes, is repreſented on the chair or
throne in which he ſits; and his ſceptre, the emblem of his autho-
rity, reſts upon it. The other word, Baal, was merely a title in the
Phœnician language, ſignifying God, or Lord;1 and uſed as an
epithet of the ſun, as we learn from the name Baal-bec (the city of
Baal), which the Greeks rendered Heliopolis (the city of the ſun).
Thus does this ſingular medal ſhow the fundamental principles
of the ancient Phœnician religion to be the ſame as thoſe which
appear to have prevailed through all the other nations of the
northern hemiſphere. Fragments of the ſame ſyſtem every where
1
Cleric. Comm. in. 2 Reg. c. i, ver. 2.
 OF PRIAPUS 95

occur, variouſly expreſſed as they were variouſly underſtood, and

oftentimes merely preſerved without being underſtood at all; the
ancient reverence being continued to the ſymbols, when their
meaning was wholly forgotten. The hypoſtatical diviſion and
eſſential unity of the deity is one of the moſt remarkable parts of
this ſyſtem, and the fartheſt removed from common ſenſe and reaſon;
and yet this is perfectly reaſonable and conſiſtent, if conſidered
together with the reſt of it: for the emanations and perſonifications
were only figurative abſtractions of particular modes of action and
exiſtence, of which the primary cauſe and original eſſence ſtill con-
tinued one and the ſame.
The three hypoſtaſes being thus only one being, each hypoſtaſis
is occaſionally taken for all; as is the caſe in the paſſage of
Apuleius before cited, where Iſis deſcribes herſelf as the univerſal
deity. In this character ſhe is repreſented by a ſmall baſaltine
figure, of Egyptian ſculpture, at Strawberry Hill, which is covered
over with ſymbols of various kinds from top to bottom.1 That of
the bull is placed loweſt, to ſhow that the ſtrength or power of the
creator is the foundation and ſupport of every other attribute. On
her head are towers, to denote the earth; and round her neck is
hung a crab-fiſh, which, from its power of ſpontaneouſly de-
taching from its body, and naturally reproducing, any limbs that
are hurt or mutilated, became the ſymbol of the productive power
of the waters; in which ſenſe it appears on great numbers of
ancient medals of various cities.2 The nutritive power is ſignified
1
A print of one exactly the ſame Is publiſhed by Montfaucon, Antiq. expliq. vol.
i. Plate XCIII. Fig. i.
2
See thoſe of Agrigentum, Himera, and Cyrene. On a ſmall one of the firſt-
mentioned city, belonging to me, a croſs, the abbreviated ſymbol of the male powers
of generation, approaches the mouth of the crab, while the cornucopia iſſues from It
(ſee Plate XX. Fig. 3): the one repreſents the cauſe, and the other the effect of
fertilization.
96 ON THE WORSHIP

by her many breaſts, and the deſtructive by the lions which ſhe
bears on her arms. Other attributes are expreſſed by various other
animal ſymbols, the preciſe meaning of which I have not ſagacity
ſufficient to diſcover.
This univerſality of the goddeſs was more conciſely repreſented
in other figures of her, by the myſtic inſtrument called a Syſtrum,
which ſhe carried in her hand. Plutarch has given an explanation
of it,1 which may ſerve to ſhow that the mode here adopted of
explaining the ancient ſymbols is not founded merely upon con-
jecture and analogy, but alſo upon the authority of one of the moſt
grave and learned of the Greeks. The curved top, he ſays, repre-
ſented the lunar orbit, within which the creative attributes of the
deity were exerted, in giving motion to the four elements, ſignified
by the four rattles below.2 On the centre of the curve was a cat,
the emblem of the moon; who, from her influence on the con-
ſtitutions of women, was ſuppoſed to preſide particularly over the
paſſive powers of generation;3 and below, upon the baſe, a head
of Iſis or Nepthus; inſtead of which, upon that which I have had
engraved, as well as upon many others now extant, are the male
organs of generation, repreſenting the active powers of the creator,
attributed to Iſis with the paſſive. The clattering noiſe, and
various motions of the rattles being adopted as the ſymbols of the
movement and mixture of the elements from which all things are
produced; the ſound of metals in general became an emblem of
the ſame kind. Hence, the ringing of bells, and clattering of
plates of metal, were uſed in all luſtrations, ſacrifices, &c.4 The
title Priapus, applied to the characteriſtic attribute of the creator,

1
De Is. & Oſir.
2
See Plate X, Fig. 4, engraved from one in the collection of R. Wilbbramha, Eſq.
3
Cic. de Nat.Deor. lib. ii, c. 46.
4
Clem. Alex. Protr. p. 9. Schol. in Theocrit. Idyll. II, ver. 16.
 OF PRIAPUS 97

and ſometimes to the Creator himſelf, is probably a corruption of

Briapoj (clamorous or loud); for the B and P being both labials,
the change of the one for the other is common in the Greek
language. We ſtill find many ancient images of this ſymbol, with
bells attached to them,1 as they were to the ſacred robe of the
high prieſt of the Jews, in which he adminiſtered to the Creator.2
The bells in both were of a pyramidal form,3 to ſhow the ætherial
igneous eſſence of the god. This form is ſtill retained in thoſe
uſed in our churches, as well as in the little ones rung by the
Catholic prieſts at the elevation of the hoſt. The uſe of them was
early adopted by the Chriſtians, in the ſame ſenſe as they were
employed by the later heathens; that is, as a charm againſt evil
dæmons;4 for, being ſymbols of the active exertions of the creative
attributes, they were properly oppoſed to the emanations of the
deſtructive. The Lacedemonians uſed to beat a pan or kettle-drum
at the death of their king,5 to aſſiſt in the emancipation of his ſoul
at the diſſolution of the body. We have a ſimilar cuſtom of
tolling a bell on ſuch occaſions, which is very generally prac-
tiſed, though the meaning of it has been long forgotten. This
emancipation of the ſoul was ſuppoſed to be finally performed by
fire; which, being the viſible image and active eſſence of both the
creative and deſtructive powers, was very naturally thought to be
the medium through which men paſſed from the preſent to a
future life. The Greeks, and all the Celtic nations, accordingly,
burned the bodies of the dead, as the Gentoos do at this day;
while the Egyptians, among whom fuel was extremely ſcarce,
1
Bronzi dell’ Hercol. Tom. vi. Plate XCVIII.
2
Exod. ch. xxviii.
3
Bronzi dell’ Hercol. Tom. vi. Plate XCVIII. Maimonides in Patrick’s Com-
mentary on Exodus, ch. xxviii.
4
Ovid. Faſt. lib. v, ver. 441. Schol. in Theocrit. Idyll. ii, ver. 36.
5
Schol. in Theocrit. Idyll. ii. ver. 36.
98 ON THE WORSHIP

placed them in pyramidal monuments, which were the ſymbols of

fire; hence come thoſe prodigious ſtructures which ſtill adorn that
country. The ſoul which was to be emancipated was the divine
emanation, the vital ſpark of heavenly flame, the principle of reaſon
and perception, which was perſonified into the familiar dæmon, or
genius, ſuppoſed to have the direction of each individual, and to
diſpoſe him to good or evil, wiſdom or folly, and all their con-
ſequences of proſperity and adverſity.1 Hence proceeded the
doctrines, ſo uniformly inculcated by Homer and Pindar,2 of all
human actions depending immediately upon the gods; which were
adopted, with ſcarcely any variations, by ſome of the Chriſtian
divines of the apoſtolic age. In the Paſtor of Hermas, and
Recognitions of Clemens, we find the angels of juſtice, penitence,
and ſorrow, inſtead of the genii, or dæmons, which the ancients
ſuppoſed to direct men's minds and inſpire them with thoſe parti-
cular ſentiments. St. Paul adopted the ſtill more comfortable
doctrine of grace, which ſerved full as well to emancipate the
conſciences of the faithful from the ſhackles of practical morality.
The familiar dæmons, or divine emanations, were ſuppoſed to
reſide in the blood; which was thought to contain the principles of
vital heat, and was therefore forbidden by Moſes.3 Homer, who
ſeems to have collected little fragments of the ancient theology, and
introduced them here and there, amidſt the wild profuſion of his
poetical fables, repreſents the ſhades of the deceaſed as void of
perception, until they had taſted of the blood of the victims offered

1
Pindar. Pyth. v. ver. 164. Sophocl. Trachin. ver. 922. Hor. lib. ii. epiſt. ii.
ver. 187.
2
Ek Qewn machanai pasai broteaij, kai sofoi, kai cersi biatai,
pweiflqaaoi t' efun. Pindar, Pyth. i. ver. 79. Pſſages to the ſame purpoſe occur
in almoſt every page of the Iliad and Odyſſey.
3
Levit. ch. xvii. ver. 11 & 14.
 OF PRIAPUS 99

by Ulyſſes;1 by which their faculties were renewed by a reunion

with the divine emanation, from which they had been ſeparated.
The ſoul of Tireſias is ſaid to be entire in hell, and to poſſeſs alone
the power of perception, becauſe with him this divine emanation
ſtill remained. The ſhade of Hercules is deſcribed among the
other ghoſts, though he himſelf, as the poet ſays, was then in
heaven; that is, the active principle of thought and perception
returned to its native heaven, whilſt the paſſive, or merely ſenſitive,
remained on earth, from whence it ſprung.2 The final ſeparation
of theſe two did not take place till the body was conſumed by fire,
as appears from the ghoſt of Elpenor, whoſe body being ſtill
entire, he retained both, and knew Ulyſſes before he had taſted of
the blood. It was from producing this ſeparation, that the univerſal
Bacchus, or double Apollo, the creator and deſtroyer, whoſe
eſſence was fire, was alſo called Liknithj, the purifier,3 by a metaphor
taken from the winnow, which purified the corn from the duſt and
chaff, as fire purified the ſoul from its terreſtrial pollutions. Hence
this inſtrument is called by Virgil the myſtic winnow of Bacchus.4
The Ammonian Platonics and Gnoſtic Chriſtians thought that this
ſeparation, or purification, might be effected in a degree even
before death. It was for this purpoſe that they practiſed ſuch rigid
temperance, and gave themſelves up to ſuch intenſe ſtudy; for, by
ſubduing and extenuating the terreſtrial principle, they hoped to
give liberty and vigour to the celeſtial, ſo that it might be enabled
to aſcend directly to the intellectual world, pure and unincumbered.5
1
Odyſs. l, ver. 152.
2
Thoſe who wiſh to ſee the difference between ſenſation and perception clearly
and fully explained, may be ſatisfied by reading the Eſſai analytique ſur l’Ame, by
Mr. Bonnet.
3 4
Orph. Hymn. 45. Myſtica vannui Iacchi. Georg. i, ver. 166.
5
Plot. Ennead. vi, lib. iv, ch. 16. Moſheim, Not. y in Cudw. Syſt. Intell.
ch. v. ſect. 20.
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The clergy afterwards introduced Purgatory, inſtead of abſtract

meditation and ſtudy; which was the ancient mode of ſeparation
by fire, removed into an unknown country, where it was ſaleable
to all ſuch of the inhabitants of this world as had ſufficient wealth
and credulity.
It was the celeſtial or ætherial principle of the human mind,
which the ancient artiſts repreſented under the ſymbol of the
butterfly, which may be conſidered as one of the moſt elegant alle-
gories of their elegant religion. This inſect, when hatched from
the egg, appears in the ſhape of a grub, crawling upon the earth,
and feeding upon the leaves of plants. In this ſtate, it was aptly
made the emblem of man, in his earthly form, in which the ætherial
vigour and activity of the celeſtial ſoul, the divinæ particula mentis,
was ſuppoſed to be clogged and incumbered with the material body.
When the grub was changed to a chryſalis, its ſtillneſs, torpor, and
inſenſibility ſeemed to preſent a natural image of death, or the inter-
mediate ſtate between the ceſſation of the vital functions of the
body and the final releaſement of the ſoul by the fire, in which the
body was conſumed. The butterfly breaking from the torpid
chryſalis, and mounting in the air, was no leſs natural an image of
the celeſtial ſoul burſting from the reſtraints of matter, and mixing
again with its native æther. The Greek artiſts, always ſtudious of
elegance, changed this, as well as other animal ſymbols, into a
human form, retaining the wings as the characteriſtic members, by
which the meaning might be known. The human body, which
they added to them, is that of a beautiful girl, ſometimes in the age
of infancy, and ſometimes of approaching maturity. So beautiful
an allegory as this would naturally be a favourite ſubject of art
among a people whoſe taſte had attained the utmoſt pitch of refine-
ment. We accordingly find that it has been more frequently and
more variouſly repeated than any other which the ſyſtem of emana-
tions, ſo favourable to art, could afford.
 OF PRIAPUS 101

Although all men were ſuppoſed to partake of the divine

emanation in a degree, it was not ſuppoſed that they all partook
of it in an equal degree. Thoſe who ſhowed ſuperior abilities, and
diſtinguiſhed themſelves by their ſplendid actions, were ſuppoſed to
have a larger ſhare of the divine eſſence, and were therefore adored
as gods, and honoured with divine titles, expreſſive of that parti-
cular attribute of the deity with which they ſeemed to be moſt
favoured. New perſonages were thus enrolled among the alle-
gorical deities; and the perſonified attributes of the ſun were con-
founded with a Cretan and Theſſalian king, an Aſiatic conqueror,
and a Theban robber. Hence Pindar, who appears to have been
a very orthodox heathen, ſays, that the race of men and gods is
one, that both breathe from one mother, and only differ in power.1
This confuſion of epithets and titles contributed, as much as any
thing, to raiſe that vaſt and extravagant fabric of poetical mytho-
logy, which, in a manner, overwhelmed the ancient theology,
which was too pure and philoſophical to continue long a popular
religion. The grand and exalted ſyſtem of a general firſt cauſe,
univerſally expanded, did not ſuit the groſs conceptions of the
multitude; who had no other way of conceiving the idea of an
omnipotent god, but by forming an exaggerated image of their
own deſpot, and ſuppoſing his power to conſiſt in an unlimited
gratification of his paſſions and appetites. Hence the univerſal
Jupiter, the aweful and venerable, the general principle of life
and motion, was transformed into the god who thundered from
Mount Ida, and was lulled to ſleep in the embraces of his wife;
and hence the god whoſe ſpirit moved2 upon the face of the waters,

1
Nem. v, ver. 1.
2
So the tranſlators have rendered the expreſſion of the original, which literally
means brooding as a fowl on its eggs, and alludes to the ſymbols of the ancient
theology, which I have before obſerved upon. See Patrick’s Commentary.
102 ON THE WORSHIP

and impregnated them with the powers of generation, became a

great king above all gods, who led forth his people to ſmite the
ungodly, and rooted out their enemies from before them.
Another great means of corrupting the ancient theology, and
eſtabliſhing the poetical mythology, was the practice of the artiſts in
repreſenting the various attributes of the creator under human
forms of various character and expreſſion. Theſe figures, being
diſtinguiſhed by the titles of the deity which they were meant to
repreſent, became in time to be conſidered as diſtinct perſonages,
and worſhipped as ſeparate ſubordinate deities. Hence the many-
ſhaped god, the polumorfoj and muriomorfos of the ancient theo-
logiſts, became divided into many gods and goddeſſes, often de-
ſcribed by the poets as at variance with each other and wrangling
about the little intrigues and paſſions of men. Hence too, as the
ſymbols were multiplied, particular ones loſt their dignity; and that
venerable one which is the ſubject of this diſcourſe, became degraded
from the repreſentative of the god of nature to a ſubordinate rural
deity, a ſuppoſed ſon of the Aſiatic conqueror Bacchus, ſtanding
among the nymphs by a fountain,1 and expreſſing the fertility of
a garden, inſtead of the general creative power of the great active
principle of the univerſe. His degradation did not ſtop even here;
for we find him, in times ſtill more prophane and corrupt, made a
ſubject of raillery and inſult, as anſwering no better purpoſe than
holding up his rubicund ſnout to frighten the birds and thieves.2
His talents were alſo perverted from their natural ends, and employed
in baſe and abortive efforts in conformity to the taſte of the times;
for men naturally attribute their own paſſions and inclinations to
the objects of their adoration; and as God made man in his own
image, ſo man returns the favour, and makes God in his. Hence
we find the higheſt attribute of the all-pervading ſpirit and firſt-
1 2
Theocrit. Idyll. i, ver. 21. Horat. lib. i, Sat. viii. Virg. Georg. iv.
 OF PRIAPUS 103

begotten love foully proſtituted to promiſcuous vice, and calling

out, Hæc cunnum, caput hic, præbeat ille nates.1
He continued however ſtill to have his temple, prieſteſs and
ſacred geeſe,2 and offerings of the moſt exquiſite kind were made to
him:
Criſſabitque tibi excuſſis pulcherrima Iumbiſ
Hoc anno primum experta puella virum.
Sometimes, however, they were not ſo ſcrupulous in the ſelection
of their victims, but ſuffered frugality to reſtrain their devotion:
Cum ſacrum fieret Deo ſalaci
Conducta eſt pretio puella parvo.3
The bride was uſually placed upon him immediately before mar-
riage; not, as Lactantius ſays, ut ejus pudicitiam prior Deus præ-
libaſſe videatur, but that ſhe might be rendered fruitful by her
communion with the divine nature, and capable of fulfilling the
duties of her ſtation. In an ancient poem4 we find a lady of the
name of Lalage preſenting the pictures of the “Elephantiſ” to him,
and gravely requeſting that ſhe might enjoy the pleaſures over
which he particularly preſided, in all the attitudes deſcribed in that
celebrated treatiſe.5 Whether or not ſhe ſucceeded, the poet has
not informed us; but we may ſafely conclude that ſhe did not truſt
wholly to faith and prayer, but, contrary to the uſual practice of
modern devotees, accompanied her devotion with ſuch good
works as were likely to contribute to the end propoſed by it.
When a lady had ſerved as the victim in a ſacrifice to this god,
ſhe expreſſed her gratitude for the benefits received, by offering
upon his altar certain ſmall images repreſenting his characteriſtic
1 2
Priap. Carm. 21. Pertron. Satyric.
3 4
Priap. Carm. 34. Priap. Carm. 3.
5
The Elephantis was written by one Philænis, and ſeems to have been of the
ſame kind with the Puttana errante of Aretin.
104 ON THE WORSHIP

attribute, the number of which was equal to the number of men

who had acted as prieſts upon the occaſion.1 On an antique gem,
in the collection of Mr. Townley, is one of theſe fair victims, who
appears juſt returned from a ſacrifice of this kind, and devoutly
returning her thanks by offering upon an altar ſome of theſe
images, from the number of which one may obſerve that ſhe has
not been neglected.2 This offering of thanks had alſo its myſtic
and allegorical meaning; for fire being the energetic principle
and eſſential force of the Creator, and the ſymbol above mentioned the
viſible image of his characteriſtic attribute, the uniting them was
uniting the material with the eſſential cauſe, from whoſe joint
operation all things were ſuppoſed to proceed.
Theſe ſacrifices, as well as all thoſe to the deities preſiding over
generation, were performed by night: hence Hippolytus, in Euri-
pides, ſays, to expreſs his love of chaſtity, that he likes none of the
gods revered by night.3 Theſe acts of devotion were indeed
attended with ſuch rites as muſt naturally ſhock the prejudices of a
chaſte and temperate mind, not liable to be warmed by that ecſtatic
enthuſiaſm which is peculiar to devout perſons when their attention
is abſorbed in the contemplation of the beneficent powers of the
Creator, and all their faculties directed to imitate him in the
exertion of his great characteriſtic attribute. To heighten this
enthuſiaſm, the male and female ſaints of antiquity uſed to lie pro-
miſcuouſly together in the temples, and honour God by a liberal
diſplay and general communication of his bounties.4 Herodotus,
indeed, excepts the Greeks and Egyptians, and Dionyſius of Hali-
carnaſſus, the Romans, from this general cuſtom of other nations;
but to the teſtimony of the former we may oppoſe the thouſand
ſacred proſtitutes kept at each of the temples of Corinth and

1 2
Priap. Carm. 34. Ed Sciappii. See Plate III, Fig. 3.
3 4
Ver. 613. Herodot. lib. ii.
 OF PRIAPUS 105

Eryx;1 and to that of the latter the expreſs words of Juvenal,

who, though he lived an age, later, lived when the ſame religion,
and nearly the ſame manners, prevailed.2 Diodorus Siculus alſo
tells us, that when the Roman prætors viſited Eryx, they laid
aſide their magiſterial ſeverity, and honoured the goddeſs by mix-
ing with her votaries, and indulging themſelves in the pleaſures
over which ſhe preſided.3 It appears, too, that the act of genera-
tion was a ſort of ſacrament in the iſland of Leſbos; for the device
on its medals (which in the Greek republics had always ſome
relation to religion) is as explicit as forms can make it.4 The
figures appear indeed to be myſtic and allegorical, the male having
evidently a mixture of the goat in his beard and features, and there-
fore probably repreſents Pan, the generative power of the univerſe
incorporated in univerſal matter. The female has all that breadth
and fulneſs which characteriſe the perſonification of the paſſive
power, known by the titles of Rhea, Juno, Ceres, &e.
When there were ſuch ſeminaries for female education as thoſe
of Eryx and Corinth, we need not wonder that the ladies of anti-
quity ſhould be extremely well inſtructed in all the practical duties
of their religion. The ſtories told of Julia and Meſſalina ſhow us
that the Roman ladies were no ways deficient; and yet they were
as remarkable for their gravity and decency as the Corinthians
were for their ſkill and dexterity in adapting themſelves to all the
modes and attitudes which the luxuriant imaginations of expe-
rienced votaries have contrived for performing the rites of their
tutelar goddeſs.5
The reaſon why theſe rites were always performed by night
was the peculiar ſanctity attributed to it by the ancients, becauſe
dreams were then ſuppoſed to deſcend from heaven to inſtruct and
1 2
Strab. lib. viii. Sat. ix, ver. 24.
4
See Plate IX, Fig. 8, from one belonging to me.
5
Philodemi Epigri. Brunk. Analect. vol. ii, p. 85.
106 ON THE WORSHIP

forewarn men. The nights, ſays Heſiod, belong to the bleſſed

gods;1 and the Orphic poet calls night the ſource of all things
(pantwn genesij) to denote that productive power, which, as I have
been told, it really poſſeſſes; it being obſerved that plants and
animals grow more by night than by day. The ancients extended
this power much further, and ſuppoſed that not only the pro-
ductions of the earth, but the luminaries of heaven, were nouriſhed
and ſuſtained by the benign influence of the night. Hence that
beautiful apoſtrophe in the “Electra” of Euripides, W nux melaina,
chusewn astrwn trofe, &c.
Not only the ſacrifices to the generative deities, but in general
all the religious rites of the Greeks, were of the feſtive kind. To
imitate the gods, was, in their opinion, to feaſt and rejoice, and to
cultivate the uſeful and elegant arts, by which we are made
partakers of their felicity.2 This was the caſe with almoſt all the
nations of antiquity, except the3 Egyptians and their reformed
imitators the Jews,4 who being governed by a hierarchy, endea-
voured to make it awful and venerable to the people by an appear-
ance of rigour and auſterity. The people, however, ſometimes
broke through this reſtraint, and indulged themſelves in the more
pleaſing worſhip of their neighbours, as when they danced and
feaſted before the golden calf which Aaron erected,5 and devoted
themſelves to the worſhip of obſcene idols, generally ſuppoſed to be
of Priapus, under the reign of Abijam.6
The Chriſtian religion, being a reformation of the Jewiſh, rather
increaſed than diminiſhed the auſterity of its original. On particular
occaſions however it equally abated its rigour, and gave way to
feſtivity and mirth, though always with an air of ſanctity and

1 2 3
Erg. ver. 730. Strabo, lib. x. Herodot. lib. ii.
4 5
See Spences de Leg. Rit. Vet. Hebræor. Exod. ch. xxxii.
6
Reg. c. xv, ver. 13. Ed. Cleric.
 OF PRIAPUS 107

ſolemnity. Such were originally the feaſts of the Euchariſt,

which, as the word expreſſes, were meetings of joy and gratulation;
though, as divines tell us, all of the ſpiritual kind: but the parti-
cular manner in which St. Auguſtine commands the ladies who
attended them to wear clean linen,1 ſeems to infer, that perſonal as
well as ſpiritual matters were thought worthy of attention. To
thoſe who adminiſter the ſacrament in the modern way, it may
appear of little conſequence whether the women received it in clean
linen or not; but to the good biſhop, who was to adminiſter the
holy kiſs, it certainly was of ſome importance. The holy kiſs was
not only applied as a part of the ceremonial of the Euchariſt, but
alſo of prayer, at the concluſion of which they welcomed each other
with this natural ſign of love and benevolence.2 It was upon theſe
occaſions that they worked themſelves up to thoſe fits of rapture
and enthuſiaſm, which made them eagerly ruſh upon deſtruction in
the fury of their zeal to obtain the crown of martyrdom.3 En-
thuſiaſm on one ſubject naturally produces enthuſiaſm on another;
for the human paſſions, like the ſtrings of an inſtrument, vibrate to
the motions of each other: hence paroxyſms of love and devotion
have oftentimes ſo exactly accorded, as not to have been diſtinguiſhed
by the very perſons whom they agitated.4 This was too often the
caſe in theſe meetings of the primitive Chriſtians. The feaſts of
gratulation and love, the agapai and nocturnal vigils, gave too
flattering opportunities to the paſſions and appetites of men, to
continue long, what we are told they were at firſt, pure exerciſes of
devotion. The ſpiritual raptures and divine ecſtaſies encouraged
on theſe occaſions, were often ecſtaſies of a very different kind, con-
cealed under the garb of devotion; whence the greateſt irregularities
enſued; and it became neceſſary for the reputation of the church,
1 2
Aug. Serm. clii. Juſtin Martyr, Apolog.
3 4
Martini Kempii de Oſculis Diſſert. viii. See Procèc de la Cadière.
108 ON THE WORSHIP

that they ſhould be ſuppreſſed, as they afterwards were by the

decrees of ſeveral councils. Their ſuppreſſion may be conſidered
as the final ſubverſion of that part of the ancient religion which I
have here undertaken to examine; for ſo long as thoſe nocturnal
meetings were preſerved, it certainly exiſted, though under other
names, and in a more ſolemn dreſs. The ſmall remain of it preſerved
at Iſernia, of which an account has here been given, can ſcarcely be
deemed an exception; for its meaning was unknown to thoſe who
celebrated it; and the obſcurity of the place, added to the vener-
able names of S. Coſimo and Damiano, was all that prevented it
from being ſuppreſſed long ago, as it has been lately, to the great
diſmay of the chaſte matrons and pious monks of Iſernia. Traces
and memorials of it ſeem however to have been preſerved, in
many parts of Chriſtendom, long after the actual celebration of its
rites ceaſed. Hence the obſcene figures obſervable upon many of
our Gothic Cathedrals, and particularly upon the ancient braſs
doors of St. Peter's at Rome, where there are ſome groups which
rival the devices on the Leſbian medals.
It is curious, in looking back through the annals of ſuperſtition,
ſo degrading to the pride of man, to trace the progreſs of the
human mind in different ages, climates, and circumſtances, uni-
formly acting upon the ſame principles, and to the ſame ends. The
ſketch here given of the corruptions of the religion of Greece, is an
exact counterpart of the hiſtory of the corruptions of Chriſtianity,
which began in the pure theiſm of the eclectic Jews,1 and by the help
of inſpirations, emanations, and canonizations, expanded itſelf, by
degrees, to the vaſt and unwieldly ſyſtem which now fills the creed
of what is commonly called the Catholic Church. In the ancient
religion, however, the emanations aſſumed the appearance of moral
1
Compare the doctrines of Philo with thoſe taught in the Goſpel of St. John, and
Epiſtles of St. Paul.
 OF PRIAPUS 109

virtues and phyſical attributes, inſtead of miniſtering ſpirits and

guardian angels; and the canonizations or deifications were beſtowed
upon heroes, legiſlators, and monarchs, inſtead of prieſts, monks,
and martyrs. There is alſo this further difference, that among the
moderns philoſophy has improved, as religion has been corrupted;
whereas, among the ancients, religion and philoſophy declined to-
gether. The true ſolar ſyſtem was taught in the Orphic ſchool, and
adopted by the Pythagoreans, the next regularly-eſtabliſhed ſect.
The Stoics corrupted it a little, by placing the earth in the centre
of the univerſe, though they ſtill allowed the ſun its ſuperior
magnitude.1 At length aroſe the Epicureans, who confounded it
entirely, maintaining that the ſun was only a ſmall globe of fire, a
few inches in diameter, and the ſtars little tranſitory lights,
whirled about in the atmoſphere of the earth.2
How ill ſoever adapted the ancient ſyſtem of emanations was
to procure eternal happineſs, it was certainly extremely well calcu-
lated to produce temporal good; for, by the endleſs multiplication
of ſubordinate deities, it effectually excluded two of the greateſt
curſes that ever afflicted the human race, dogmatical theology, and
its conſequent religious perſecution. Far from ſuppoſing that the
gods known in their own country were the only ones exiſting, the
Greeks thought that innumerable emanations of the divine mind
were diffuſed through every part of the univerſe; ſo that new
objects of devotion preſented themſelves wherever they went.
Every mountain, ſpring, and river, had its tutelary deity, beſides
the numbers of immortal ſpirits that were ſuppoſed to wander in
the air, ſcattering dreams and viſions, and ſuperintending the
affairs of men.

1
Brucker, Hiſt. Crit. Philos. p. ii, lib. ii, c. 9, f. i.
2
Lucret. lib. v, ver. 565, & ſeq.
110 ON THE WORSHIP

Trij gar murioi eisin epi ctoni pouluboteirh

Aqanatoi Zenous, fulakej qnhtwn anqrwtwn.1
An adequate knowledge of theſe they never preſumed to think
attainable, but modeſtly contented themſelves with revering and
invoking them whenever they felt or wanted their aſſiſtance.
When a ſhipwrecked mariner was caſt upon an unknown coaſt, he
immediately offered up his prayers to the gods of the country,
whoever they were; and joined the inhabitants in whatever rites
they thought proper to propitiate them with.2 Impious or pro-
phane rites he never imagined could exiſt, concluding that all
expreſſions of gratitude and ſubmiſſion muſt be pleaſing to the
gods. Atheiſm was, indeed, puniſhed at Athens, as the obſcene
ceremonies of the Bacchanalians were at Rome; but both as civil
crimes againſt the ſtate; the one tending to weaken the bands of
ſociety by deſtroying the ſanctity of oaths, and the other to ſubvert
that decency and gravity of manners, upon which the Romans ſo
much prided themſelves. The introduction of ſtrange gods, with-
out permiſſion from the magiſtrate, was alſo prohibited in both
cities; but the reſtriction extended no farther than the walls, there
being no other parts of the Roman empire, except Judea, in which
any kind of impiety or extravagance might not have been main-
tained with impunity, provided it was maintained merely as a ſpecu-
lative opinion, and not employed as an engine of faction, ambition,
or oppreſſion. The Romans even carried their condeſcenſion ſo
far as to enforce the obſervance of a dogmatical religion, where
they found it before eſtabliſhed; as appears from the conduct of
their magiſtrates in Judea, relative to Chriſt and his apoſtles; and

1
Heſiod. Erga kai 'Hmer, ver. 252. murioi, &c., are always uſed as indefinites
by the ancient Greek poets.
2
See Homer, Odyſs. e, ver. 445, & ſeq. The Greeks ſeem to have adopted by
degrees into their own ritual all the rites practiſed in the neighbouring countries.
 OF PRIAPUS 111

from what Joſephus has related, of a Roman ſoldier’s being puniſhed

with death by his commander for inſulting the Books of Moſes.
Upon what principle then did they act, when they afterwards per-
ſecuted the Chriſtians with ſo much rancour and cruelty? Perhaps
it may ſurpriſe perſons not uſed to the ſtudy of eccleſiaſtical
antiquities, to be told (what is nevertheleſs indiſputably true) that
the Chriſtians were never perſecuted on account of the ſpeculative
opinions of individuals, but either for civil crimes laid to their
charge, or for withdrawing their allegiance from the ſtate, and
joining in a federative union dangerous by its conſtitution, and
rendered ſtill more dangerous by the intolerant principles of its
members, who often tumultuouſly interrupted the public worſhip,
and continually railed againſt the national religion (with which
both the civil government and military diſcipline of the Romans
were inſeparably connected), as the certain means of eternal damna-
tion. To break this union, was the great object of Roman policy
during a long courſe of years; but the violent means employed
only tended to cement it cloſer. Some of the Chriſtians themſelves
indeed, who were addicted to Platoniſm, took a ſafer method to
diſſolve it; but they were too few in number to ſucceed. This was
by trying to moderate the furious zeal which gave life and vigour
to the confederacy, and to blend and ſoften the unyielding temper
of religion with the mild ſpirit of philoſophy. “We all,”
ſaid they, “agree in worſhipping one ſupreme God, the Father
and Preſerver of all. While we approach him with purity of
mind, ſincerity of heart, and innocence of manners, forms and
ceremonies of worſhip are indifferent; and not leſs worthy of his
greatneſs, for being varied and diverſified according to the various
cuſtoms and opinions of men. Had it been his will that all ſhould
have worſhipped him in the ſame mode, he would have given to
all the ſame inclinations and conceptions: but he has wiſely ordered
it otherwiſe, that piety and virtue might increaſe by an honeſt
112 ON THE WORSHIP

emulation of religions, as induſtry in trade, or activity in a race,

from the mutual emulation of the candidates for wealth and
honour.”1 This was too liberal and extenſive a plan, to meet the
approbation of a greedy and ambitious clergy, whoſe object was
to eſtabliſh a hierarchy for themſelves, rather than to procure
happineſs for others. It was accordingly condemned with vehe-
mence and ſucceſs by Ambroſius, Prudentius, and other orthodox
leaders of the age.
It was from the ancient ſyſtem of emanations, that the general
hoſpitality which characteriſed the manners of the heroic ages, and
which is ſo beautifully repreſented in the Odyſſey of Homer, in a
great meaſure aroſe. The poor, and the ſtranger who wandered in
the ſtreet and begged at the door, were ſuppoſed to be animated
by a portion of the ſame divine ſpirit which ſuſtained the great
and powerful. They are all from Jupiter, ſays Homer, and a ſmall
gift is acceptable.2 This benevolent ſentiment has been compared
by the Engliſh commentators to that of the Jewiſh moraliſt,
who ſays, that he who giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord, who
will repay him tenfold.3 But it is ſcarcely poſſible for anything to be
more different: Homer promiſes no other reward for charity than
the benevolence of the action itſelf; but the Iſraelite holds out that
which has always been the great motive for charity among his
countrymen—the proſpect of being repaid ten-fold. They are
always ready to ſhow their bounty upon ſuch incentives, if they
can be perſuaded that they are founded upon good ſecurity. It
was the opinion, however, of many of the moſt learned among the
ancients, that the principles of the Jewiſh religion were originally
the ſame as thoſe of the Greek, and that their God was no other
than the creator and generator Bacchus,4 who, being viewed
1
Symmach. Ep. 10 & 61. Themiſt. Orat. ad Imperat.
2 3 4
Odyſs. z, ver. 207. See Pope’s Odyſſey. Tacit. Hiſtor. lib. v.
 OF PRIAPUS 113

through the gloomy medium of the hierarchy, appeared to them a

jealous and iraſcible God; and ſo gave a more auſtere and
unſociable form to their devotion. The golden vine preſerved in
the temple at Jeruſalem,1 and the taurine forms of the cherubs,
between which the Deity was ſuppoſed to reſide, were ſymbols ſo
exactly ſimilar to their own, that they naturally concluded them
meant to expreſs the ſame ideas; eſpecially as there was nothing
in the avowed principles of the Jewiſh worſhip to which they could
be applied. The ineffable name alſo, which, according to the
Maſſorethic punctuation, is pronounced Jehovah, was anciently
pronounced Jaho, Iaw, or Ieuw,2 which was a title of Bacchus, the
nocturnal ſun;3 as was alſo Sabazius, or Sabadius,4 which is the
ſame word as Sabbaoth, one of the ſcriptural titles of the true God,
only adapted to the pronunciation of a more poliſhed language.
The Latin name for the Supreme God belongs alſo to the ſame
root; Iu-pathr, Jupiter, ſignifying Father Ieu, though written after
the ancient manner, without the dipthong, which was not in uſe
for many ages after the Greek colonies ſettled in Latium, and intro-
duced the Arcadian alphabet. We find St. Paul likewiſe acknow-
ledging, that the Jupiter of the poet Aratus was the God whom he
adored;5 and Clemens of Alexandria explains St. Peter’s pro-
hibition of worſhipping after the manner of the Greeks, not to
mean a prohibition of worſhipping the ſame God, but merely of
the corrupt mode in which he was then worſhipped.6

1
The vine and goblet of Bacchus are alſo the uſual devices upon the Jewiſh and
Samaritan coins, which were ſtruck under the Aſmonean kings.
2
Hieron. Comm. in Pſalm. viii. Diodor. Sic. lib. i. Philo-Bybl. ap. Euſeb. Prep.
Evang. lib. 1, c. ix.
3
Macrob. Sat. lib. 1, c. xviii. 4 Ibid. 5
Act. Apoſt. c. xvii, ver. 28.
6
Stromat. lib. v.

FINIS.
ON THE WORSHIP OF THE GENERATIVE

POWERS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES

OF WESTERN EUROPE

B!
 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE GENERATIVE

POWERS DURING THE MIDDLE AGES

OF WESTERN EUROPE

ICHARD PAYNE KNIGHT, has written with great

r learning on the origin and hiſtory of the worſhip of

Priapus among the ancients. This worſhip, which
was but a part of that of the generative powers,
appears to have been the moſt ancient of the ſuper-
ſtitions of the human race,1 has prevailed more or leſs among
all known peoples before the introduction of Chriſtianity, and,
ſingularly enough, ſo deeply it ſeems to have been implanted in
human nature, that even the promulgation of the Goſpel did not
aboliſh it, for it continued to exiſt, accepted and often encouraged
by the mediæval clergy. The occaſion of Payne Knight’s work
1
There appears to be a chance of this worſhip being claimed for a very early
period in the hiſtory of the human race. It has been recently ſtated in the “Moni-
teur,” that, in the province of Venice, in Italy, excavations in a bone-cave have
brought to light, beneath ten feet of ſtalagmite, bones of animals, moſtly poſt-tertiary,
of the uſual deſcription found in ſuch places, flint implements, with a needle of bone
having an eye and point, and a plate of an argillaceous compound, on which was
ſcratched a rude drawing of a phallus.—Moniteur, Jan. 1865.
118 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

was the diſcovery that this worſhip continued to prevail in his time,
in a very remarkable form, at Iſernia in the kingdom of Naples, a
full deſcription of which will be found in his work. The town of
Iſernia was deſtroyed, with a great portion of its inhabitants, in the
terrible earthquake which ſo fearfully deſtroyed the kingdom of
Naples on the 26th of July, 1805, nineteen years after the appear-
ance of the book alluded to. Perhaps with it periſhed the laſt trace
of the worſhip of Priapus in this particular form; but Payne Knight
was not acquainted with the fact that this ſuperſtition, in a variety
of forms, prevailed throughout Southern and Weſtern Europe
largely during the Middle Ages, and that in ſome parts it is hardly
extinct at the preſent day; and, as its effects were felt to a more
conſiderable extent than people in general ſuppoſe in the moſt
intimate and important relations of ſociety, whatever we can do to
thrown light upon its mediæval exiſtence, though not an agreeable
ſubject, cannot but form an important and valuable contribution to
the better knowledge of mediæval hiſtory. Many intereſting facts
relating to this ſubject were brought together in a volume publiſhed
in Paris by Monſieur J.A. Dulaure, under the title, Des Divin-ities
Génératrices chez les Anciens et les Modernes, forming part of an
Hiſtoire Abrigée des diffèrns Cultes, by the ſame author.1 This
book, however, is ſtill very imperfect; and it is the deſign of the
following pages to give, with the moſt intereſting of the facts
already collected by Dulaure, other facts and a deſcription and
explanation of monuments, which tend to throw a greater and
more general light on this curious ſubject.
The mediæval worſhip of the generative powers, repreſented by
the generative organs, was derived from two diſtinct ſources. In
the firſt place, Rome invariably carried into the provinces ſhe had
1
The ſecond edition of this work, publiſhed in 1825, is by much the beſt, and is
conſiderably enlarged from the firſt.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 119

conquered her own inſtitutions and forms of worſhip, and eſtabliſhed

them permanently. In exploring the antiquities of theſe provinces,
we are aſtoniſhed at the abundant monuments of the worſhip of
Priapus in all the ſhapes and with all the attributes and accompani-
ments, with which we are already ſo well acquainted in Rome and
Italy. Among the remains of Roman civilization in Gaul, we
find ſtatues or ſtatuettes of Priapus, altars dedicated to him, the
gardens and fields entruſted to his care, and the phallus, or male
member, figured in a variety of ſhapes as a protecting power againſt
evil influences of various kinds. With this idea the well-known
figure was ſculptured on the walls of public buildings, placed in
conſpicuous places in the interior of the houſe, worn as an orna-
ment by women, and ſuſpended as an amulet to the necks of chil-
dren. Erotic ſcenes of the moſt extravagant deſcription covered
veſſels of metal, earthenware, and glaſs, intended, on doubt, for
feſtivals and uſages more or leſs connected with the worſhip of the
principle of fecundity.
At Aix in Provence there was found, on or near the ſite of the
ancient baths, to which it had no doubt ſome relation, an enormous
phallus, encircled with garlands, ſculptured in white marble. At
Le Chatelet, in Champagne, on the ſite of a Roman town, a coloſſal
phallus was alſo found. Similar objects in bronze, and of ſmaller
dimenſions, are ſo common, that explorations are ſeldom carried on
upon a Roman ſite in which they are not found, and examples of
ſuch objects abound in the muſeums, public or private, of Roman
antiquities. The phallic worſhip appears to have flouriſhed eſpecially
at Nemauſus, now repreſented by the city of Nîmes in the ſouth of
France, where the ſymbol of this worſhip appeared in ſculpture on
the walls of its amphitheatre and on other buildings, in forms ſome
of which we can hardly help regarding as fanciful, or even playful.
Some of the more remarkable of theſe are figured in our plates,
XXV and XXVI.
120 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

The firſt of theſe,1 is the figure of a double phallus. It is ſculp-

tured on the lintel of one of the vomitories, or iſſues, of the ſecond
range of ſeats of the Roman amphitheatre, near the entrance-gate
which looks to the ſouth. The double and the triple phallus are
very common among the ſmall Roman bronzes, which appear to
have ſerved as amulets and for other ſimilar purpoſes. In the latter,
one phallus uſually ſerves as the body, and is furniſhed with legs,
generally thoſe of the goat; a ſecond occupies the uſual place of
this organ; and a third appears in that of a tail. On a pilaſter of
the amphitheatre of Nîmes we ſee a triple phallus of this deſcrip-
tion,2 with goat’s legs and feet. A ſmall bell is ſuſpended to the
ſmaller phallus in front; and the larger organ which forms the
body is furniſhed with wings. The picture is completed by the
introduction of three birds, two of which are pecking the
unveiled head of the principal phallus, while the third is holding
down the tail with its foot.
Several examples of theſe triple phalli occur in the Muſée Secret
of the antiquities of Herculaneum and Pompeii. In the examples
figured in that work,the hind part of the main phallus aſſumes clearly
the form of a dog;3 and to moſt of them are attached ſmall bells, the
explanation of which appears as yet to be very unſatisfactory. The
wings alſo are common attributes of the phallus in theſe monuments.
Plutarch is quoted as an authority for the explanation of the triple
phallus as intended to ſignify multiplication of its productive
faculty.4
On the top of another pilaſter of the amphitheatre at Nîmes, to
the right of the principal weſtern entrance, was a bas-relief, alſo
1 2
Plate XXV, Fig. 1. See our Plate XXV, Fig. 2.
3
The writer of the text to the Muſée Secret ſuppoſes that this circumſtance has
ſome reference to the double meaning given to the Greek word kÚwn, which was uſed
for the generative organ.
4
See Auguſte Pelet, Catalogue de Muſée de Nimes.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 121

repreſenting a triple phallus, with legs of dog, and winged, but

with a further accompaniment.1 A female, dreſſed in the Roman
ſtola, ſtands upon the phallus forming the tail, and holds both it
and the one forming the body with a bridle.2 This bas-relief was
taken down in 1829, and is now preſerved in the muſeum of Nîmes.
A ſtill more remarkable monument of this claſs was found in
the courſe of excavations made at Nîmes in 1825. It is en-
graved in our plate XXVI, and repreſents a bird, apparently in-
tended for a vulture, with ſpread wings and phallic tail, ſitting on
four eggs, each of which is deſigned, no doubt, to repreſent the
female organ. The local antiquarians give to this, as to the other
ſimilar objects, an emblematical ſignification; but it may perhaps
be more rightly regarded as a playful conception of the imagina-
tion. A ſimilar deſign, with ſome modifications, occurs not
unfrequently among Gallo-Roman antiquities. We have engraved
a figure of the triple phallus governed, or guided, by the female,3
from a ſmall bronze plate, on which it appears in bas-relief;
it is now preſerved in a private collection in London, with a
duplicate, which appears to have been caſt from the ſame
mould, though the plate is cut through, and they were evidently
intended for ſuſpenſion from the neck. Both came from the col-
lection of M. Baudot of Dijon. The lady here bridles only the
principal phallus; the legs are, as in the monument laſt deſcribed,
thoſe of a bird, and it is ſtanding upon three eggs, apple-formed,
and repreſenting the organ of the other ſex.
1
Plate XXV, Fig. 3.
2
A French antiquary has given an emblematical interpretation of this figure.
“Perhaps,” he ſays, “it ſignifies the empire of woman extending over the three ages
of man; on youth, characterized by the bell; on the age of vigour, the ardour of
which ſhe reſtrains; and on old age, which ſhe ſuſtains.” This is perhaps more
ingenious than convincing.
3
See our Plate XXXVI, Fig 3.
122 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

In regard to this laſt-mentioned object, another very remarkable

monument of what appears at Nîmes to have been by no means a
ſecret worſhip, was found there during ſome excavations on the
ſite of the Roman baths. It is a ſquared maſs of ſtone, the four
ſides of which, like the one repreſented in our engraving, are
covered with ſimilar figures of the ſexual characteriſtics of the
female, arranged in rows.1 It has evidently ſerved as a baſe, pro-
bably to a ſtatue, or poſſibly to an altar. This curious monument
is now preſerved in the muſeum at Nîmes.
As Nîmes was evidently a centre of this Priapic worſhip in the
ſouth of Gaul, ſo there appear to have been, perhaps leſſer, centres in
other parts, and we may trace it to the northern extremities of the
Roman province, even to the other ſide of the Rhine. On the ſite
of Roman ſettlements near Xanten, in lower Heſſe, a large quantity
of pottery and other objects have been found, of a character to
leave no doubt as to the prevalence of this worſhip in that quarter.2
But the Roman ſettlement which occupied the ſite of the modern
city of Antwerp appears to have been one of the moſt remarkable
ſeats of the worſhip of Priapus in the north of Gaul, and it
continued to exiſt there till a comparatively modern period.
When we croſs over to Britain we find this worſhip eſtabliſhed
no leſs firmly and extenſively in that iſland. Statuettes of Priapus,
phallic bronzes, pottery covered with obſcene pictures, are found
wherever there are any extenſive remains of Roman occupation, as
our antiquaries know well. The numerous phallic figures in bronze,
found in England, are perfectly identical in character with thoſe
1
See Plate XXV, Fig. 4.
2
Two Roman towns, Caſtra Vetera and Colonia Trajana, ſtood within no great
diſtance of Xanten, and Ph. Houben, a “notariuſ” of this town, formed a private
muſeum of antiquities found there, and in 1839, publiſhed engravings of them, with a
text by Dr. Franz Fiedler. The erotic objects form a ſeparate work under the title,
Antike erotiſche Bildwerke in Houbens Antiquarium zu Xanten.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 123

which occur in France and Italy. In illuſtration of this fact, we

give two examples of the triple phallus, which appears to have
been, perhaps in accordance with the explanation given by Plu-
tarch, an amulet in great favour. The firſt was found in London in
1842.1 As in the examples found on the continent, a principal
phallus forms the body, having the hinder parts of apparently a
dog, with wings of a peculiar form, perhaps intended for thoſe of
a dragon. Several ſmall rings are attached, no doubt for the pur-
poſe of ſuſpending bells. Our ſecond example2 was found at York in
1844. It diſplays a peculiarity of action which, in this caſe at leaſt,
leaves no doubt that the hinder parts were intended to be thoſe of
a dog. All antiquaries of any experience know the great number
of obſcene ſubjects which are met with among the fine red pottery
which is termed Samian ware, found ſo abundantly in all Roman
ſites in our iſland. They repreſent erotic ſcenes in every ſenſe of
the word, promiſcuous intercourſe between the ſexes, even vices
contrary to nature, with figures of Priapus, and phallic emblems.
We give as an example one of the leſs exceptional ſcenes of this
deſcription, copied from a Samian bowl found in Cannon Street,
London, in 1838.3 The lamps, chiefly of earthenware, form ano-
ther claſs of objects on which ſuch ſcenes are frequently
portrayed, and to which broadly phallic forms are ſometimes
given. One of theſe phallic lamps is here repreſented, on the
ſame plate with the bowl of Samian ware juſt deſcribed.4 It is
hardly neceſſary to explain the ſubject repreſented by this lamp,
which was found in London a few years ago.
All this obſcene pottery muſt be regarded, no doubt, as a proof
of a great amount of diſſoluteneſs in the morals of Roman ſociety
in Britain, but it is evidence of ſomething more. It is hardly likely
1 2
See Plate XXVII, Fig. 3. Plate XXVII, Fig. 4.
3 4
Plate XXVII, Fig. 1. Plate XXVII, Fig. 2.
124 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

that ſuch objects could be in common uſe at the family table; and
we are led to ſuppoſe that they were employed on ſpecial
occaſions, feſtivals, perhaps, connected with the licentious
worſhip of which we are ſpeaking, and ſuch as thoſe deſcribed in
ſuch ſtrong terms in the ſatires of Juvenal. But monuments are
found in this iſland which bear ſtill more direct evidence to the
exiſtence of the worſhip of Priapus during the Roman period.
In the pariſh of Adel, in Yorkſhire, are conſiderable traces of a
Roman ſtation, which appears to have been a place of ſome import-
ance, and which certainly poſſeſſed temples. On the ſite of theſe
were found altars, and other ſtones with inſcriptions, which, after
being long preſerved in an outhouſe of the rectory at Adel, are now
depoſited in the muſeum of the Philoſophical Society at Leeds. One
of the moſt curious of theſe, which we have here engraved for the
firſt time,1 appears to be a votive offering to Priapus, who ſeems to
be addreſſed under the name of Mentula. It is a rough, unſquared
ſtone, which has been ſelected for poſſeſſing a tolerably flat and
ſmooth ſurface; and the figure and letters were made with a rude
implement, and by an unſkilled workman, who was evidently
unable to cut a continuous ſmooth line. The middle of the ſtone
is occupied by the figure of a phallus, and round it we read very
diſtinctly the words:—

PRIMINVS MENTLA.

The author of the inſcription may have been an ignorant Latiniſt

as well as unſkilful ſculptor, and perhaps miſtook the ligulated
letters, overlooking the limb which would make the L ſtand for
VL, and giving A for AE. It would then read Priminus Mentulæ,
Priminus to Mentula (the object perſonified), and it may have
1
Plate XXVIII, Fig 1.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 125

been a votive offering from ſome individual named Priminus, who

was in want of an heir, or laboured under ſome ſexual infirmity, to
Priapus, whoſe aſſiſtance he ſought. Another interpretation has
been ſuggeſted, on the ſuppoſition that Mentla, or perhaps (the L
being deſigned for IL ligulated) Mentila or Mentilla, might be the
name of a female joined with her huſband in this offering for their
common good. The former of theſe interpretations ſeems, how-
ever, to be the moſt probable. This monument belongs probably
to rather a late date in the Roman period. Another ex voto of the
ſame claſs was found at Weſterwood Fort in Scotland, one of the
Roman fortreſſes on the wall of Antoninus. This monument1
conſiſted of a ſquare ſlab of ſtone, in the middle of which was a
phallus, and under it the words EX : VOTO. Above were the
letters XAN, meaning, perhaps, that the offerer had laboured ten
years under the grievance of which he ſought redreſs from Pri-
apus. We may point alſo to a phallic monument of another kind,
which reminds us in ſome degree of the finer ſculptures at Nîmes.
At Houſeſteads, in Northumberland, are ſeen the extenſive and
impoſing remains of one of the Roman ſtations on the Wall of
Hadrian named Borcovicus. The walls of the entrance gateways
are eſpecially well preſerved, and on that of the guard-houſe
attached to one of them, is a ſlab of ſtone preſenting the figure
given in our plate XXVIII, fig. 3. It is a rude delineation of a
phallus with the legs of a fowl, and reminds us of ſome of the
monuments in France and Italy previouſly deſcribed. Theſe phal-
lic images were no doubt expoſed in ſuch ſituations becauſe they
were ſuppoſed to exerciſe a protective influence over the locality, or

1
See Plate XXVIII, Fig. 1. Horſeley, who engraved this monument in his
Brittania Romana, Scotland, fig. xix. has inſerted a fig-leaf in place of the phallus,
but with ſlight indications of the form of the object it was intended to conceal. We
are not aware if this monument is ſtill in exiſtence.
126 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

over the building, and the individual who looked upon the figure
believed himſelf ſafe, during that day at leaſt, from evil
influences of various deſcriptions. They are found, we believe, in
ſome other Roman ſtations, in a ſimilar poſition to that of the
phallus at Houſeſteads.
Although the worſhip of which we are treating prevailed ſo exten-
ſively among the Romans and throughout the Roman provinces, it
was far from being peculiar to them, for the ſame ſuperſtition formed
part of the religion of the Teutonic race, and was carried with that
race wherever it ſettled. The Teutonic god, who anſwered to the
Roman Priapus, was called, in Anglo-Saxon, Fréa, in Old Norſe,
Freyr, and, in Old German, Fro. Among the Swedes, the princi-
pal ſeat of his worſhip was at Upſala, and Adam of Bremen, who
lived in the eleventh century, when paganiſm ſtill retained its hold
on the north, in deſcribing the forms under which the gods were
there repreſented, tells us that “the third of the gods at Upſala
was Fricco [another form of the name], who beſtowed on mortals
peace and pleaſure, and who was repreſented with an immenſe pri-
apus,” and he adds that, at the celebration of marriages, they offered
ſacrifice to Fricco.1 This god, indeed, like the Priapus of the
Romans, preſided over generation and fertility, either of animal
life or of the produce of the earth, and was invoked accordingly.
Ihre, in his Gloſſarium Sueco-Gothicum, mentions objects of antiquity
dug up in the north of Europe, which clearly prove the prevalence
of phallic rites. To this deity, or to his female repreſentative of
the ſame name, the Teutonic Venus, Friga, the fifth day of the week
was dedicated, and on that account received its name, in Anglo-
Saxon, Frige-dæg, and in modern Engliſh, Friday. Frigedæg appears
1
“Tertius eſt Fricco, pacem voluptatemque larigens mortalibus, cuius etiam ſimu-
lachrum fingunt ingenti priopo; ſi nuptiæ celebrandæ ſunt, Friccioni [ſacrificia offe-
runt.]” —Adam Bremena, De Situ Daniæ, p. 23, ed. 1629.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 127

to have been a name ſometimes given in Anglo-Saxon to Frea him-

ſelf; in a charter of the date of 959, printed in Kemble's Codex Diplo-
maticus, one of the marks on a boundary-line of land is Frigedæges-
Tréow, meaning apparently Frea’s tree, which was probably a tree
dedicated to that god, and the ſcene of Priapic rites. There is a
place called Fridaythorpe in Yorkſhire, and Friſton, a name which
occurs in ſeveral parts of England, means, probably, the ſtone of
Frea or of Friga; and we ſeem juſtified in ſuppoſing that this and
other names commencing with the ſyllable Fri or Fry, are ſo many
monuments of the exiſtence of the phallic worſhip among our
Anglo-Saxon forefathers. Two cuſtoms cheriſhed among our old
Engliſh popular ſuperſtitions are believed to have been derived
from this worſhip, the need-fires, and the proceſſion of the boar’s
head at the Chriſtmas feſtivities. The former were fires kindled
at the period of the ſummer ſolſtice, and were certainly in their
origin religious obſervances. The boar was intimately connected
with the worſhip of Frea.1
From our want of a more intimate knowledge of this part of Teu-
tonic paganiſm, we are unable to decide whether ſome of the ſuperſti-
tious practices of the middle ages were derived from the Romans or
from the peoples who eſtabliſhed themſelves in the provinces after the
overthrow of the weſtern empire; but in Italy and in Gaul (the
ſouthern parts eſpecially), where the Roman inſtitutions and ſenti-
ments continued with more perſiſtence to hold their influence, it
was the phallic worſhip of the Romans which, gradually modified
in its forms, was thus preſerved, and, though the records of ſuch a
worſhip are naturally accidental and imperfect, yet we can diſtinctly
trace its exiſtence to a very late period. Thus, we have clear evi-
dence that the phallus, in its ſimple form, was worſhipped by
the mediæval Chriſtians, and that the forms of Chriſtian prayer
1
See Grimm’s Deutſche Mythologie, p. 139, firſt edition.
128 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

and invocation were actually addreſſed to it. One name of the

male organ among the Romans was faſcinum; it was under this
name that it was ſuſpended round the necks of women and
children, and under this name eſpecially it was ſuppoſed to poſſeſs
magical influences which not only acted upon others, but de-
fended thoſe who were under its protection from magical or other
evil influences from without. Hence are derived the words to faſ-
cinate and faſcination. The word is uſed by Horace, and eſpecially
in the epigrams of the Priapeia, which may be conſidered in ſome
degree as the exponents of the popular creed in theſe matters.
Thus we have in one of theſe epigrams the lines,—
“ Placet, Priape? qui ſub arboris coma
Soles, ſacrum revincte pampino caput,
Ruber ſedere cum rebente faſcino.”
Priap. Carm. lxxxiv.

It ſeems probable that this had become the popular, or vulgar, word
for the phallus, at leaſt taken in this point of view, at the cloſe of
the Roman power, for the firſt very diſtinct traces of its worſhip
which we find afterwards introduce it under this name, which ſub-
ſequently took in French the form feſne. The mediæval worſhip of
the faſcinum is firſt ſpoken of in the eighth century. An eccleſiaſ-
tical tract entitled Judicia Sacerdotalia de Criminibus,1 which is
aſcribed to the end of that century, directs that “if any one has per-
formed incantation to the faſcinum, or any incantation whatever,
except any one who chaunts the Creed or the Lord’s Prayer, let him
do penance on bread and water during three lents.” An act of the

1
Martène and Durand, Veterum Scriptorum Ampliſſima Collectio, tom. vii, p. 35.
Si quis præcantaverit ad faſcinum, vel qualeſcumque præcantiones except ſymbolum
ſunctum aut orationum domincam qui cantat et cui cantatur, tres quadrigeſimas in
pane et aqua pœniteat.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 129

council of Châlons, held in the ninth century, prohibits the ſame

practice almoſt in the ſame words; and Burchardus repeats it
again in the twelfth century,1 a proof of the continued exiſtence
of this worſhip. That it was in full force long after this is proved
by the ſtatutes of the ſynod of Mans, held in 1247, which enjoin
ſimilarly the puniſhment for him “who has ſinned to the faſcinum,
or has performed any incantations, except the creed, the pater
noſter, or other canonical prayer.”2 This ſame proviſion was
adopted and renewed in the ſtatutes of the ſynod of Tours, held in
1396, in which, as they were publiſhed in French, the Latin
faſcinum is repreſented by the French feſne. The faſcinum to
which ſuch worſhip was directed muſt have been ſomething more
than a ſmall amulet.
This brings us to the cloſe of the fourteenth century, and ſhows
us how long the outward worſhip of the generative powers, repre-
ſented by their organs, continued to exiſt in Weſtern Europe to
ſuch a point as to engage the attention of eccleſiaſtical ſynods.
During the previous century facts occurred in our own iſland illuſ-
trating ſtill more curiouſly the continuous exiſtence of the worſhip
of Priapus, and that under circumſtances which remind us altoge-
ther of the details of the phallic worſhip under the Romans. It
will be remembered that one great object of this worſhip was to
obtain fertility either in animals or in the ground, for Priapus was
the god of the horticulturiſt and the agriculturiſt. St. Auguſtine,
declaiming againſt the open obſcenities of the Roman feſtival of the
Liberalia, informs us that an enormous phallus was carried in a

1
D. Burchardi Decreturum libri, lib. X. c. 49.
2
Martene et Durand, Ampliſſima Collectio Veterum Scriptorum, tom. vii. col. 1377.
Si peccaverit ad faſcinum, vel qualeſcumque præcantiones fecerit, excepto ſymbolo
et oratione dominica, vel alia oratione canonica, et qui cantat, et cui cantatur, tres
quadrageſimas pœniteat.
130 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

magnificent chariot into the middle of the public place of the

town with great ceremony, where the moſt reſpectable matron ad-
vanced and placed a garland of flowers “on this obſcene figure;”
and this, he ſays: was done to appeaſe the god, and “to obtain an
abundant harveſt, and remove enchantments from the land.”1 We
learn from the Chronicle of Lanercoſt that, in the year 1268, a
peſtilence prevailed in the Scottiſh diſtrict of Lothian, which was
very fatal to the cattle, to counteract which ſome of the clergy
—beſtiales, habitu clauſtrales, non animo—taught the peaſantry
to make a fire by the rubbing together of wood (this was the need-
fire), and to raiſe up the image of Priapus, as a means of ſaving
their cattle. “When a lay member of the Ciſtercian order at
Fenton had done this before the door of the hall, and had ſprinkled
the cattle with a dog’s teſticles dipped in holy water, and complaint
had been made of this crime of idolatry againſt the lord of the
manor, the latter pleaded in his defence that all this was done with-
out his knowledge and in his abſence, but added, ‘while until the
preſent month of June other people’s cattle fell ill and died, mine
were always ſound, but now every day two or three of mine die,
ſo that I have few left for the labours of the field.’”2 Fourteen
years after this, in 1282, an event of the ſame kind occurred at Inver-
1
S. Auguſtini De Civit. Dei, lib. vii, c. 21.
2
Pro fidei divinæ integritate ſervanda recolat lector quo, cum hoc anno in
Laodonia peſtis graſſaretur in pecudes armenti, quam vocant uſitare lungeſſouth, qui-
dam beſtiales, habitu clauſtrales non animo, docebant idiotas patriæ ignem conſtric-
tione de lignis educere, et ſimulacrum Priapi ſtatuere, et per hæc beſtiis ſuccurrere.
Quod cum unus laicus Ciſtercienſis apus Fontone feciſſet ante atrium aulæ. ac in-
tinctic teſticulis canis in aquam benedictam ſuper animalia ſparſiſſet; ac pro invento
facinore idolatriæ dominus villæ a quodam fideli argueretur, ille pro ſua innocentia
obtendebat, quo iſo neſciente et abſente fuerant hæc omnia perpetrata, et adjecit, “et
cum ad uſque hunc menſum Junius aliorum animalia languerent et deficerent, mea
ſemper ſana erant, nunc vero quotidie mihi moriuntar duo vel tria, ita quod agriculmi
pauca ſuperſunt.”—Chron. de Lanercoſt. ed. Stevenſon, p. 85.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 131

keithing, in the preſent county of Fife in Scotland. The cauſe of

the following proceedings is not ſtated, but it was probably the
ſame as that for which the ciſtercian of Lothian had recourſe to the
worſhip of Priapus. In the Eaſter week of the year juſt ſtated
(March 29-April 5), a pariſh prieſt of Inverkeithing, named John,
performed the rites of Priapus, by collecting the young girls of
the town, and making them dance round the figure of this god;
without any regard for the ſex of theſe worſhippers, he carried a
wooden image of the male members of generation before them in
the dance, and himſelf dancing with them, he accompanied their ſongs
with movements in accordance, and urged them to licentious actions
by his no leſs licentious language. The more modeſt part of thoſe
who were preſent felt ſcandalized by theſe proceedings, and expoſ-
tulated with the prieſt, but he treated their words with contempt,
and only gave utterance to coarſer obſcenities. He was cited before
his biſhop, defended himſelf upon the common uſage of the coun-
try, and was allowed to retain his benefice; but he muſt have
been rather a worldly prieſt, after the ſtyle of the middle ages, for
a year afterwards he was killed in a vulgar brawl.1
The practice of placing the figure of a phallus on the walls of
buildings, derived, as we have ſeen, from the Romans, prevailed
alſo in the middle ages, and the buildings eſpecially placed under
the influence of this ſymbol were churches. It was believed to be

1
Inſuper hoc tempore apud Inverchethin, in hebdomeda paſchæ (March 29—
April 5)m ſacerdos parochialis, nomine Johannes, Priapi prophana parans, congre-
gatis ex villa puellulis, cogebat eas, choreis factis, Libero patri circuire; ut ille
feminas in exercitu habuit, ſic iſte, procacitatis cauſa, membra humana virtuti femi-
nariæ ſervientia ſuper afferem artificiata ante talem choream præferebat, et ipſe
luxuriam incitabat. Hi qui honeſto matrimonio honorem deferebant, iam inſolenti
officio, licet reverentur perſonam, ſcandalizabantur propter gradus eminentiam. Si
quis ei ſeorſum ex amore correptionis ſermonem inferres, fiabat deterior, et convictis
eos impetebat.—Chron. de Lancercoſt, ed. Stevenſon, p. 109.
132 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

a protection againſt enchantments of all kinds, of which the people

of thoſe times lived in conſtant terror, and this protection extended
over the place and over thoſe who frequented it, provided they caſt
a confiding look upon the image. Such images were ſeen, uſually
upon the portals, on the cathedral church of Toulouſe, on more
than one church in Bourdeaux, and on various other churches in
France, but, at the time of the revolution, they were often deſtroyed
as marks only of the depravity of the clergy. Dulaure tells us that
an artiſt, whom he knew, but whoſe name he has not given, had
made drawings of a number of theſe figures which he had met
with in ſuch ſituations.1 A Chriſtian ſaint exerciſed ſome of the
qualities thus deputed to Priapus; the image of St. Nicholas was
uſually painted in a conſpicuous poſition in the church, for it was
believed that whoever had looked upon it was protected againſt
enchantments, and eſpecially againſt that great object of popular
terror, the evil eye, during the reſt of the day.
It is a ſingular fact that in Ireland it was the female organ which
was ſhown in this poſition of protector upon the churches, and the
elaborate though rude manner in which theſe figures were ſculp-
tured, ſhow that they were conſidered as objects of great im-
portance. They repreſented a female expoſing herſelf to view in
the moſt unequivocal manner, and are carved on a block which appears
to have ſerved as the key-ſtone to the arch of the door-way of the
church, where they were preſented to the gaze of all who entered.
They appear to have been found principally in the very old
churches, and have been moſtly taken down, ſo that they are only
found among the ruins. People have given them the name of

1
He adds in a note: — “Les deſſins de cet artiſte, deſtinés à l’Académie des
Belles Lettres, ſont paſſés, on ne fait comment, entre les mains d’un particulier qui
en prive le public.”—J A. Duaure, Hiſtoire de différens Cultes, tom. ii. p. 251,
8vo, 1825.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 133

Shelah-na-Gig, which, we are told, means in Iriſh Julian the Giddy,

and is ſimply a term for an immodeſt woman; but it is well under-
ſtood that they were intended as protecting charms againſt the faſ-
cination of the evil eye. We have given copies of all the examples
yet known in our plates XXIX and XXX. The firſt of theſe1 was
found in an old church at Rocheſtown, in the county of Tipperary,
where it had long been known among the people of the neighbour-
hood by the name given above. It was placed in the arch over the
doorway, but has ſince been taken away. Our ſecond example of
the Shelah-na-Gig2 was taken from an old church lately pulled
down in the county Cavan, and is now preſerved in the muſeum
of the Society of Antiquaries of Dublin. The third3 was found
at Ballinahend Caſtle, alſo in the county of Tipperary; and the
fourth4 is preſerved in the muſeum at Dublin, but we are not in-
formed from whence it was obtained. The next,5 which is alſo now
preſerved in the Dublin Muſeum, was taken from the old church on
the White Iſland, in Lough Erne, county Fermanagh. This church
is ſuppoſed by the Iriſh antiquaries to be a ſtructure of very great
antiquity, for ſome of them would carry its date as far back as the
ſeventh century, but this is probably an exaggeration. The one
which follows6 was furniſhed by an old church pulled down by order
of the eccleſiaſtical commiſſioners, and it was preſented to the muſeum
at Dublin, by the late Dean Dawſon. Our laſt example7 was for-
merly in the poſſeſſion of Sir Benjamin Chapman, Bart., of Killoa
Caſtle, Weſtmeath, and is now in a private collection in London.
It was found in 1859 at Chloran, in a field on Sir Benjamin's eſtate
known by the name of the “Old Town,” from whence ſtones had

1 2
Plate XXIX, Fig. 1. Plate XXIX, Fig. 2.
3 4
Plate XXIX, Fig. 3. Plate XXIX, Fig. 4.
5 6
Plate XXX, Fig. 1. Plate XXX, Fig. 2.
7
Plate XXX, Fig. 3.
134 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

been removed at previous periods, though there are now very ſmall
remains of building. This ſtone was found at a depth of about
five feet from the ſurface, which ſhows that the building, a church
no doubt, muſt have fallen into ruin a long time ago. Contiguous
to this field, and at a diſtance of about two hundred yards from the
ſpot where the Shelah-na-Gig was found, there is an abandoned
churchyard, ſeparated from the Old Town field only by a looſe
ſtone wall.
The belief in the ſalutary power of this image appears to be a
ſuperſtition of great antiquity, and to exiſt ſtill among all peoples
who have not reached a certain degree of civilization. The univer-
ſality of this ſuperſtition leads us to think that Herodotus may
have erred in the explanation he has given of certain rather re-
markable monuments of a remote antiquity. He tells us that
Seſoſtris, king of Egypt, raiſed columns in ſome of the countries
he conquered, on which he cauſed to be figured the female organ of
generation as a mark of contempt for thoſe who had ſubmitted
eaſily.1 May not theſe columns have been intended, if we knew
the truth, as protections for the people of the diſtrict in which
they ſtood, and placed in the poſition where they could moſt con-
veniently been ſeen? This ſuperſtitious ſentiment may alſo offer
the true explanation of an incident which is ſaid to have been
repreſented in the myſteries of Eleuſis. Ceres, wandering over the
earth in ſearch of her daughter Proſerpine, and overcome with
grief for her loſs, arrived at the hut of an Athenian peaſant
woman named Baubo, who received her hoſpitably, and offered
her to drink the refreſhing mixture which the Greeks call Cyceon
(kukewn). The goddeſs rejected the offered kindneſs, and refuſed
1
Herodotus, Euterpe, cap. 102. Diodorus Siculus adds to the account given by
Herodotus, that Seſoſtris alſo erected columns bearing the male generative organ as a
compliment to the peoples who had defended themſelves bravely.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 135

all conſolation. Baubo, in her diſtreſs, bethought her of another

expedient to allay the grief of her gueſt. She relieved her ſexual
organs of that outward ſign which is the evidence of puberty, and
then preſented them to the view of Ceres, who, at the ſight,
laughed, forgot her ſorrows, and drank the cyceon.1 The prevail-
ing belief in the beneficial influence of this ſight, rather than a
mere pleaſantry, ſeems to afford the beſt explanation of this ſtory;
and the ſame ſuperſtition is no doubt embodied in an old
mediæval ſtory which we give in a note as it is told in that
celebrated book of the ſixteenth century Le Moyen de Parvenir.2
This ſuperſtition which, as ſhown by the Shelah-na-Gigs of the
Iriſh churches, prevailed largely in the middle ages, explains ano-
ther claſs of antiquities which are not uncommon. Theſe are ſmall
figures of nude females expoſing themſelves in exactly the ſame
manner as in the ſculptures on the churches in Ireland juſt alluded
to. Such figures are found not only among Roman, Greek, and
Egyptian antiquities, but among every people who had any know-
ledge of art, from the aborigines of America to the far more civi-
1
This ſtory is told by the two Chriſtian Fathers, Arnobius, Adverſus Gentes, lib.
v. c. 5, and Clemens Alexandrinus Protrepticus, p. 17, ed. Oxon. 1715. The latter
writer merely ſtates that Baubo expoſed her parts to the view of the goddeſs, without
the incident of preparation mentioned by Arnobius.
2
“Hermès. On nomme ainſi ceux qui n’ont point vu le con de leur femme ou
de leur garce. Le pauvre valet de chez nous n’étoit donc pas coquebin; il eut beau
le voir.—Varro. Quand?—Hermès. Attendez, étant en fiançailles, il vouloit prendre
le cas de ſa fiancée; elle ne le vouloit pas; il faſoit le malade, et elle lui demandoit;
‘Qu’y a-t-il, mon ami?’ ‘Hélas, ma mie, je ſuis ſi malade, que je n’en puis plus;
je mourrai ſi je ne vois ton cas.’ ‘Vraiment voire?’ dit-elle. ‘Hélas! oui, ſi je
l’avois vu, je guérirois.’ Elle ne lui voulut point montrer; à la fin, ils furent
mariés. Il advint, trois ou quatre mois après, qu’il fut fort malade; et il envoya ſa
femme au médicin pour porter do ſon eau. En allant, elle ſ’aviſa de ce qu’il lui
avoit dit en fiançailles. Elle retourna vitement, et ſe vint mettre ſur le lit; puis, levant
cotte et chemiſe, lui préſenta ſon cela en belle vue, et lui diſoit:’Jean,
regarde le con, et te guéris.’”—Le Moyen de Parvenir, c. xxviii.
136 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

lized natives of Japan; and it would be eaſy to give examples from

almoſt every country we know, but we confine ourſelves to our
more ſpecial part of the ſubject. In the laſt century, a number of
ſmall ſtatuettes in metal, in a rude but very peculiar ſtyle of art,
were found in the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, in a part of
Germany formerly occupied by the Vandals, and by the tribe of
the Obotrites, conſidered as a diviſion of the Vendes. They
appeared to be intended to repreſent ſome of the deities worſhipped
by the people who made them; and ſome of them bore in-
ſcriptions, one of which was in Runic characters. From this cir-
cumſtance we ſhould preſume that they belonged to a period not
much, if any, older than the fall of the Weſtern Empire. Some time
afterwards, a few ſtatuettes in metal were found in the iſland of Sar-
dinia, ſo exactly ſimilar to thoſe juſt mentioned, that D’Hancarville,
who publiſhed an account of them with engravings, conſidered himſelf
juſtified in aſcribing them to the Vandals, who occupied that iſland,
as well as the tract of Germany alluded to.1 One of theſe images,
which D’Hancarville conſiders to be the Venus of the Vandal my-
thology, repreſents a female in a reclining poſition, with the wings
and claws of a bird, holding to view a pomegranate, open, which,
as D’Hancarville remarks, was conſidered as a ſign repreſenting
the female ſexual organ. In fact, it was a form and idea more
unequivocally repreſented in the Roman figures which we have
already deſcribed,2 but which continued through the middle ages,
and was preſerved in a popular name for that organ, abricot, or
expreſſed more energetically, abricot fendu, uſed by Rabelais, and
we believe ſtill preſerved in France. This curious image is repre-
ſented, after D’Hancarville, in three different points of view in our

1
D’Haancarville, Antiquités Etruſques, Grecques, et Romaines, Paris, 1785, tom.
v. p. 61.
2
See our Plates XXV, Fig. 4, XXVI, and Plate XXXVI, Fig. 3.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 137

plate.1 Several figures of a ſimilar deſcription, but repreſenting

the ſubject in a more matter-of-fact ſhape, were brought from
Egypt by a Frenchman who held an official ſituation in that
country, and three of them are now in a private collection in
London. We have engraved one of theſe ſmall bronzes,2 which,
as will be ſeen, preſents in exact counterpart of the Shelah-na-Gig.
Theſe Egyptian images belonged no doubt to the Roman period.
Another ſimilar figure,3 made of lead, and apparently mediæval,
was found at Avignon, and is preſerved in the ſame private col-
lection juſt alluded to; and a third,4 was dug up, about ten years
ago, at Kingſton-on-Thames. The form of theſe ſtatuettes ſeems
to ſhow that they were intended as portable images, for the ſame
purpoſe as the Shelahs, which people might have ready at hand to
look upon for protection whenever they were under fear of the
influence of the evil eye, or of any other ſort of enchantment.
We have not as yet any clear evidence of the exiſtence of the
Shelah-na-Gig in churches out of Ireland. We have been informed
that an example has been found in one of the little churches on
the coaſt of Devon; and there are curious ſculptures, which
appear to be of the ſame character, among the architectural
ornamentation of the very early church of San Fedele at Como in
Italy. Three of theſe are engraved in our plate XXXII. On the
top of the right hand jamb of the door5 is a naked male figure,
and in the ſame poſition on the other ſide a female,6 which are
deſcribed to us as repreſenting Adam and Eve, and our informant,
to whom we owe the drawings deſcribes that at the apex7 merely
as “the figure of a woman holding her legs apart.” We under-
ſtand that the ſurface of the ſtone in theſe ſculptures is ſo much
1 2
Plate XXXI, Figs. 1, 2, 3. Plate XXXI, Fig. 4.
3 4
Plate XXVI, Fig. 5. Plate XXXVI, Fig. 4.
5 6
Plate XXXII, Fig. 1. Plate XXXII, Fig. 2.
7
Plate XXXII, Fig. 3.
138 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

worn that it is quite uncertain whether the ſexual parts were ever
diſtinctly marked, but from the poſtures and poſitions of the hands,
and the ſituation in which theſe figures are placed, they ſeem to
reſemble cloſely, except in their ſuperior ſtyle of art, the Shelah-
na-Gigs of Ireland. There can be little doubt that the ſuperſtition
to which theſe objects belonged gave riſe to much of the indecent
ſculpture which is ſo often found upon mediæval eccleſiaſtical
buildings. The late Baron von Hammer-Pürgſtall publiſhed a very
learned paper upon monuments of various kinds which he conſidered
as illuſtrating the ſecret hiſtory of the order of the Templars, from
which we learn that there was in his time a ſeries of moſt extraordi-
nary obſcene ſculptures in the church of Schoengraber in Auſtria, of
which he intended to give engravings, but the drawings had not
arrived in time for his book;1 but he has engraved the capital of a
column in the church of Egra, a town of Bohemia, of which we
give a copy,2 in which the two ſexes are diſplaying to view the
members, which were believed to be ſo efficatious againſt the
power of faſcination.
The figure of the female organ, as well as the male, appears to have
been employed during the middle ages of Weſtern Europe far more
generally than we might ſuppoſe, placed upon buildings as a taliſman
againſt evil influences, and eſpecially againſt witchcraft and the
evil eye, and it was uſed for this purpoſe in many other parts of the
world. It was the univerſal practice among the Arabs of Northern
Africa to ſtick up over the door of the houſe or tent, or put up
nailed on a board in ſome other way, the generative organ of a
cow, mare, or female camel, as a taliſman to avert the influence of
the evil eye. It is evident that the figure of this member was far

1
See Von Hammer-Pürgſtall, Fundgruben des Orients, vol. vi, p. 26.
2
Von Hammer-Pürgſtall, Fundgruben des Orients, vol. vi, p. 35, and Plate iv,
Fig. 31.—See our Plate XXXI, Fig. 6.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 139

more liable to degradation in form than that of the male, becauſe

it was much leſs eaſy, in the hands of rude draughtſmen, to delineate
in an intelligible form, and hence it ſoon aſſumed ſhapes which
though intended to repreſent it, we might rather call ſymbolical
of it, though no ſymboliſm was intended. Thus the figure of the
female organ eaſily aſſumed the rude form of a horſeſhoe, and as
the original meaning was forgotten, would be readily taken for that
object, and a real horſeſhoe nailed up for the ſame purpoſe. In this
way originated, apparently, from the popular worſhip of the
generative powers, the vulgar practice of nailing a horſeſhoe upon
buildings to protect them and all they contain againſt the power of
witchcraft, a practice which continues to exiſt among the peaſantry
in ſome parts of England at the preſent day. Other marks are found,
ſometimes among the architectural ornaments, ſuch as certain tri-
angles and triple loops, which are perhaps typical forms of the ſame
object. We have been informed that there is an old church in Ireland
where the male organ is drawn on one ſide of the door, and the
Shelah-na-Gig on the other, and that, though perhaps comparatively
modern, their import as protective charms are well underſtood. We
can eaſily imagine men, under the influence of theſe ſuperſtitions,
when they were obliged to halt for a moment by the ſide of a
building, drawing upon it ſuch a figure, with the deſign that it ſhould
be a protection to themſelves, and thus probably we derive from
ſuperſtitious feelings the common propenſity to draw phallic figures
on the ſides of vacant walls and in other places.
Antiquity had made Priapus a god, the middle ages raiſed him
into a ſaint, and that under ſeveral names. In the ſouth of France,
Provence, Languedoc, and the Lyonnais, he was worſhipped under
the title of St. Foutin.1 This name is ſaid to be a mere corruption
1
Our material for the account of theſe phallic ſaints is taken moſt from the work
of M. Dulaure.
140 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

of Fotinus or Photinus, the firſt biſhop of Lyons, to whom, perhaps

through giving a vulgar interpretation to the name, people had
transferred the diſtinguiſhing attribute of Priapus. This was a
large phallus of wood, which was an object of reverence to the
women, eſpecially to thoſe who were barren, who ſcraped the
wooden member, and, having ſteeped the ſcrapings in water, they
drank the latter as a remedy againſt their barrenneſs, or adminiſtered
it to their huſbands in the belief that it would make them vigorous.
The worſhip of this ſaint, as it was practiced in various places in
France at the commencement of the ſeventeenth century, is de-
ſcribed in that ſingular book, the Confeſſion de Sancy.1 We there
learn that at Varailles in Provence, waxen images of the members of
both ſexes were offered to St. Foutin, and ſuſpended to the ceiling
of his chapel, and the writer remarks that, as the ceiling was
covered with them, when the wind blew them about, it produced
an effect which was calculated to diſturb very much the devotions
of the worſhippers.2 We hardly need remark that this is juſt the
ſame kind of worſhip which exiſted at Iſernia, in the kingdom of
Naples, where it was preſented in the ſame ſhape. At Embrun, in
the department of the Upper Alps, the phallus of St. Foutin was
worſhipped in a different form; the women poured a libation of
wine upon the head of the phallus, which was collected in a
veſſel, in which it was left till it became ſour; it was then called
the “ſainte vinaigre,” and the women employed it for a purpoſe
which is only obſcurely hinted at. When the Proteſtants took
Embrun in 1585, they found this phallus laid up carefully

1
La Confeſſion de Sancy forms the fifth voluime of the Journal d’Henri III, by
Pierre de L’Eſtoile, ed. Duchat. See pp. 383, 391, of that volume.
2
“Témoin Saint Foutin de Varailles en Provence, auquel ſont dédiées les parties
honteuſes de l’un et de l’autre ſexe, formées en cire: le plancher de la chapelle en eſt
fort garni, et, quand le vent les fait entrebattre, cela débaicje im [ei ;es dévotions à
l’honneur de ce Saint.”
 GENERATIVE POWERS 141

among the relics in the principal church, its head red with the
wine which had been poured upon it. A much larger phallus of
wood, covered with leather, was an object of worſhip in the
church of St. Eutropius at Orange, but it was ſeized by the Pro-
teſtants and burnt publicly in 1562. St. Foutin was ſimilarly an
object of worſhip at Porigny, at Cives in the dioceſe of Viviers, at
Vendre in the Bourbonnais, at Auxerre, at Puy-en-Velay, in the
convent of Girouet near Sampigny, and in other places. At a
diſtance of about four leagues from Clermont in Auvergne, there
is (or was) an iſolated rock, which preſents the form of an immenſe
phallus, and which is popularly called St. Foutin. Similar phallic
ſaints were worſhipped under the names of St. Guerlichon, or Gre-
luchon, at Bourg-Dieu in the dioceſe of Bourges, of St. Gilles in the
Cotentin in Britany, of St. Rene in Anjou, of St. Regnaud in Bur-
gundy, of St. Arnaud, and above all of St. Guignolé near Breſt
and at the village of La Chatelette in Berri. Many of theſe were
ſtill in exiſtence and their worſhip in full practice in the laſt cen-
tury; in ſome of them, the wooden phallus is deſcribed as being
much worn down by the continual proceſs of ſcraping, while in
others the loſs ſuſtained by ſcraping was always reſtored by a
miracle. This miracle, however, was a very clumſy one, for the
phallus conſiſted of a long ſtaff of wood paſſed through a hole in
the middle of the body, and as the phallic end in front became
ſhortened, a blow of a mallet from behind thruſt it forward, ſo
that it was reſtored to its original length.
It appears that it was alſo the practice to worſhip theſe ſaints in
another manner, which alſo was derived from the forms of the
worſhip of Priapus among the ancients, with whom it was the
cuſtom, in the nuptial ceremonies, for the bride to offer up her
virginity to Priapus, and this was done by placing her ſexual parts
againſt the end of the phallus, and ſometimes introducing the latter,
and even completing the ſacrifice. This ceremony is repreſented in
142 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

a bas-relief in marble, an engraving of which is given in the Muſée

Secret of the antiquities of Herculaneum and Pompeii; its object
was to conciliate the favour of the god, and to avert ſterility.
It is deſcribed by the early Chriſtian writers, ſuch as Lactantius and
Arnobius, as a very common practice among the Romans; and it
ſtill prevails to a great extent over moſt part of the Eaſt, from India
to Japan and the iſlands of the Pacific. In a public ſquare in
Batavia, there is a cannon taken from the natives and placed there
as a trophy by the Dutch government. It preſents the peculiarity
that the touch-hole is made on a phallic hand, the thumb placed in
the poſition which is called the “fig,” and which we ſhall have to
deſcribe a little further on. At night, the fertile Malay women go
to this cannon and ſit upon the thumb, and rub their parts with it
to produce fruitfulneſs. When leaving, they make an offering of
a bouquet of flowers to the “fig.” It is always the ſame idea of
reverence to the fertilizing powers of nature, of which the garland
or the bunch of flowers was an appropriate emblem. There are
traces of the exiſtence of this practice in the middle ages. In the
caſe of ſome of the priapic ſaints mentioned above, women
ſought a remedy for barrenneſs by kiſſing the end of the phallus;
ſometimes they appear to have placed a part of their body naked
againſt the image of the ſaint, or to have ſat upon it. This latter
trait was perhaps too bold an adoption of the indecencies of pagan
worſhip to laſt long, or to be practiced openly; but it appears to
have been more innocently repreſented by lying upon the body of
the ſaint, or ſitting upon a ſtone, underſtood to repreſent him
without the preſence of the energetic member. In a corner in
the church of the village of St. Fiacre, near Mouceaux in France,
there is a ſtone called the chair of St. Fiacre, which confers fe-
cundity upon women who ſit upon it; but it is neceſſary that
nothing ſhould intervene between their bare ſkin and the ſtone. In
the church of Orcival in Auvergne, there was a pillar which
 GENERATIVE POWERS 143

barren women kiſſed for the ſame purpoſe, and which had perhaps
replaced ſome leſs equivocal object.1 Traditions, at leaſt, of
ſimilar practices were connected with St. Foutin, for it appears to
have been the cuſtom for girls on the point of marriage to
offer their laſt maiden robe to that ſaint. This ſuperſtition
prevailed to ſuch an extent that it became proverbial. A ſtory
is told of a young bride who, on the wedding night, ſought
to deceive her huſband on the queſtion of her previous chaſtity,
although, as the writer expreſſes it, “ſhe had long ago depoſited
the robe of her virginity on the altar of St. Foutin.”2 From this
form of ſuperſtition is ſaid to have ariſen a vice which is under-
ſtood to prevail eſpecially in nunneries—the uſe by women of
artificial phalli, which appears in its origin to have been a religious
ceremony. It certainly exiſted at a very remote period, for it is
diſtinctly alluded to in the Scriptures,3 where it is evidently con-
ſidered as a part of pagan worſhip. It is found at an early period
of the middle ages, deſcribed in the Eccleſiaſtical Penitentials, with
its appropriate amount of penitence. One of theſe penitential
canons of the eighth century ſpeaks of “a woman who, by herſelf
or with the help of another woman, commits uncleanneſs,” for
which ſhe was to do penance for three years, one on bread and water;
and if this uncleanneſs was committed with a nun, the penance
was increaſed to ſeven years, two only on bread and water.4

1
Dulaure relates that one day a villager's wife entering this church, and finding
only a burly canon in it, aſked him earneſtly, “Where is the pillar which makes
women fruitful?” “I,” ſaid the canon, “I am the pillar.”
2
“Sponſa quædam ruſtica quæ iam in finu Divi Futini virginitatis ſuæ prætextam
epoſuerat.” Facetiæ Facetiarum, p. 277. Theſes inaugurales de Virginibus.
3
Ezekiel, XVI, 17. Within a few years there has been a conſiderable manufacture
of thieſe objects in Paris, and it was underſtood that they were chiefly exported to
Italy, where they were ſold in the nunneries.
4
Mulier qualicumque molimine aut per ſeipſan aut cum altera fornicans tres
144 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

Another Penitential of an early date provides for the caſe in which

both the women who participated in this act ſhould be nuns;1 and
Burchardus, biſhop of Worms, one of the moſt celebrated autho-
rities on ſuch ſubjects, deſcribes the inſtrument and uſe of it in
greater detail.2 The practice had evidently loſt its religious cha-
racter and degenerated into a mere indulgence of the paſſions.
Antwerp has been deſcribed as the Lampſacus of Belgium, and
Priapus was, down to a comparatively modern period, its patron
ſaint, under the name of Ters, a word the deriviation of which ap-
pears to be unknown, but which was identical in meaning with the
Greek phallus and the Latin faſcinum. John Goropius Becan, who
publiſhed a learned treatiſe on the antiquities of Antwerp in the
middle of the ſixteenth century, informs us how much this Ters was
reverenced in his time by the Antwerpians, eſpecially by the women,
who invoked it on every occaſion when they were taken by ſur-
priſe or ſudden fear.3 He ſtates that “if they let fall by accident a
veſſel of earthenware, or ſtumbled, or if any unexpected accident
cauſed them vexation, even the moſt reſpectable women called aloud

annos pœnitat, unum ex his pane et aqua. Cum ſanctimoniali per machinam
fornicans, annos ſeptem pœnitat, duos ex his in pane et aqua. Collectio Antiqu.
Canon. Pœnit. ap. Martene et Durand, Theſaurus Anecdotorum, iv, 52.
1
Mulier qualicumque molimine aut ſeipſam polluens, aut cum altera fornicans
quatuor annos. Sanctimonialis fœmina cum ſanctimoniali mer machinamentum pol-
luta, ſeptem annos. MS. Pœnitent. quoted in Ducange, ſub. .v Machinamentum.
2
Feciſti quod quædam mulieres facere ſolent, ut faceres quoddam molimen aut
machinamentum in modum virilis membri, ad menſuram tuæ voluntaris, et illud
loco verendorum tuorum, aut alterius, cum aliquibus ligaturis colligares, et fornica-
tionem faceres cum aliis mulierculis, vel aliæ eodem inſtrumento ſive alio ſecum? Si
feciſti, quinque annos per legitimas ferias pœniteas.——Feciſti quod quædam
mulieres facere ſolent, ut iam ſupradicto molimine, vel alio aliquo machinamento, tu
ipſa in te ſolam faceres fornicationem? Si feciſti, unum annum per legitimas ferias
pœnitaeas. Burchardi Pœnit. lib. XIX, p. 277, 8vo ed. The holy biſhop appears
to have been very intimately acquainted with the whole proceeding.
3
Johannis Goropii Becani Origines Antwerpianae, 1569, lib. i, pp. 26, 101.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 145

for the protection of Priapus under this obſcene name.” Goropius

Becanus adds that there was in his time, over the door of a
houſe adjoining the priſon, a ſtatue which had been furniſhed
with a large phallus, then worn away or broken off. Among
other writers who mention this ſtatue is Abraham Golnitz, who pub-
liſhed an account of his travels in France and Belgium, in 1631,1
and he informs us that it was a carving in ſtone, about a foot high,
with its arms raiſed up, and its legs ſpread out, and that the phallus
had been entirely worn out by the women, who had been in the
habit of ſcraping it and making a potion of the duſt which they
drank as a preſervative againſt barrenneſs. Golnitz further tells
us that a figure of Priapus was placed over the entrance gate to the
encloſure of the temple of St. Walburgis at Antwerp, which ſome
antiquaries imagined to have been built on the ſite of a temple
dedicated to that deity. It appears from theſe writers that, at
certain times, the women of Antwerp decorated the phalli of theſe
figures with garlands.
The uſe of priapic figures as amulets, to be carried on the perſon
as preſervatives againſt the evil eye and other noxious influences,
which we have ſpoken of as ſo common among the Romans, was
certainly continued through the middle ages, and, as we ſhall ſee
preſently, has not entirely diſappeared. It was natural enough to
believe that if this figure were ſalutary when merely looked upon, it
muſt be much more ſo when carried conſtantly on the perſon. The
Romans gave the name faſcinum, in old French feſne, to the phallic
amulet, as well as to the ſame figure under other circumſtances. It
is an object of which we could hardly expect to find direct mention
in mediæval writers, but we meet with examples of the object itſelf,
uſually made of lead (a proof of its popular character), and ranging
in date perhaps from the fourteenth to the earlier part of the
1
Golnitzii Itinerarium Belgico-Gallicum, p. 52.
146 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

ſixteenth century. As we owe our knowledge of theſe phallic

amulets almoſt entirely to one collector, M. Forgeais of Paris, who
obtained them chiefly from one ſource—the river Seine, our preſent
acquaintance with them may be conſidered as very limited, and
we have every reaſon for believing that they had been in uſe
during the earlier period. We can only illuſtrate this part of the
ſubject by deſcribing a few of theſe mediæval phallic amulets,
which are preſerved in ſome private collections; and we will firſt
call attention to a ſeries of objects, the real purpoſe of which
appears to be very obſcure. They are ſmall leaden tokens or
medalets, bearing on the obverſe the figure of the male or female
organ, and on the reverſe a croſs, a curious intimation of the
adoption of the worſhip of the generative powers among Chriſtians.
Theſe leaden tokens, found in the river Seine, were firſt collected
and made known to antiquaries by M. Forgeais, who publiſhed
examples of them in his work on the leaden figures found in that
river.1 We give five examples of the medals of each ſex, obverſe
and reverſe.2 It will be ſeen that the phalli on theſe tokens are
nearly all furniſhed with wings; one has a bird’s legs and claws;
and on another there is an evident intention to repreſent a bell
ſuſpended to the neck. Theſe characteriſtics ſhow either a very
diſtinct tradition of the forms of the Roman phallic ornament, or
an imitation of examples of Roman phalli then exiſting--poſſibly
the latter. But this is not neceſſary, for the bells borne by two
examples, given in our next plate, and alſo taken from the collection
of M. Forgeais are mediæval, and not Roman bells, though theſe
alſo repreſent well-known ancient forms of treating the ſubject. In
the firſt,3 a female is riding upon the phallus, which has men’s legs,

1
Notice ſur des Plombs Hiſtoriés trouvés dans la Seine, et recueillis par Arthur
Forgeais. 8vo. Paris, 1858.
2 3
See our Plate XXXVIII. Plate XXXIV., Fig. 1.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 147

and is held by a bridle. This figure was evidently intended to be

attached to the dreſs as a brooch, for the pin which fixed it ſtill
remains on the back. Two other examples1 preſent figures of winged
phalli, one with a bell, and the other with the ring remaining from
which the bell has no doubt been broken. One of theſe has the dog’s
legs. A fourth example2 repreſents an enormous phallus attached to
the middle of a ſmall man. In another,3 which was evidently intended
for ſuſpenſion, probably at the neck, the organs of the two ſexes
are joined together. Three other leaden figures,4 apparently amulets,
which were in the Forgeais collection, offer a very peculiar variety
of form, repreſenting a figure, which we might ſuppoſe to be a male
by its attributes, though it has a very feminine look, and wears
the robe and hood of a woman. Its peculiarity conſiſts in having a
phallus before and behind. We have on the ſame plate5 a ſtill more
remarkable example of the combination of the croſs with the emblems
of the worſhip of which we are treating, in an object found at San
Agati di Goti, near Naples, which was formerly in the Bereſ-
ford Fletcher collection, and is now in that of Ambroſe Ruſchen-
berger, Eſq., of Boſton, U. S. It is a crux anſata, formed by four
phalli, with a circle of female organs round the centre; and appears
by the loop to have been intended for ſuſpenſion. As this croſs is
of gold, it had no doubt been made for ſome perſonage of rank,
poſſibly an eccleſiaſtic; and we can hardly help ſuſpecting that it
had ſome connection with priapic ceremonies or feſtivities. The
laſt figure on the ſame plate is alſo taken from the collection of M.
Forgeais.6 From the monkiſh cowl and the cord round the body,
we may perhaps take it for a ſatire upon the friars, ſome of whom
wore no breeches, and they were all charged with being great cor-
ruptors of female morals.
1 2
Plate XXXIV, Figs. 2 and 3. Plate XXXIV, Fig 4.
3 4
Plate XXXIV, Fig. 5. Plate XXXV, Figs. 1, 2, and 3.
5 6
Plate XXXV, Fig. 4. Plate XXXV, Fig. 5.
148 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

In Italy we can trace the continuous uſe of theſe phallic amulets

down to the preſent time much more diſtinctly than in our more
Weſtern countries. There they are ſtill in very common uſe, and
we give two examples1 of bronze amulets of this deſcription, which
are commonly ſold in Naples at the preſent day for a carlo, equiva-
lent to fourpence in Engliſh money, each. One of them, it will be
ſeen, is encircled by a ſerpent. So important are theſe amulets
conſidered for the perſonal ſafety of thoſe who poſſeſs them, that
there is hardly a peaſant who is without one, which he uſually
carries in his waiſtcoat pocket.
There was another, and leſs openly apparent, form of the phallus,
which has laſted as an amulet during almoſt innumerable ages.
The ancients had two forms of what antiquaries have named the
phallic hand, one in which the middle finger was extended at
length, and the thumb and other fingers doubled up, while in the
other the whole hand was cloſed, but the thumb was paſſed between
the firſt and middle fingers. The firſt of theſe forms appears to
have been the more ancient, and is underſtood to have been in-
tended to repreſent, by the extended middle finger, the membrum
virile, and by the bent fingers on each ſide the teſticles. Hence
the middle finger of the hand was called by the Romans, digitus
impudicus, or infamis. It was called by the Greeks katapÚgwn,
which had ſomewhat the ſame meaning as the Latin word, except
that it had reference eſpecially to degrading practices, which were
then leſs concealed than in modern times. To ſhow the hand in
this form was expreſſed in Greek by the word skimal…zein, and
was conſidered as a moſt contemptuous inſult, becauſe it was under-
ſtood to intimate that the perſon to whom it was addreſſed was
addicted to unnatural vice. This was the meaning alſo given to it

1
Plate XXXVI, Figs. 1 and 2.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 149

by the Romans, as we learn from the firſt lines of an epigram of

Martial:—
“Rideto, multum, qui te, Sextille, cinædum
Dixerit, et digitum porrigito medium.”
Martial, Ep. ii, 28.
Nevertheleſs, this geſture of the hand was looked upon at an early
period as an amulet againſt magical influences, and, formed of
different materials, it was carried on the perſon in the ſame manner
as the phallus. It is not an uncommon object among Roman an-
tiquities, and was adopted by the Gnoſtics as one of their ſymbolical
images. The ſecond of theſe forms of the phallic hand, the inten-
tion of which is eaſily ſeen (the thumb forming the phallus), was
alſo well known among the Romans, and is found made of various
material, ſuch as bronze, coral, lapis lazuli, and chryſtal, of a ſize
which was evidently intended to be ſuſpended to the neck or to
ſome other part of the perſon. In the Muſée Secret at Naples, there
are examples of ſuch amulets, in the ſhape of two arms joined at the
elbow, one terminating in the head of a phallus, the other having
a hand arranged in the form juſt deſcribed, which ſeem to have
been intended for pendents to ladies’ ears. This geſture of the
hand appears to have been called at a later period of Latin,
though we have no knowledge of the date at which this uſe of the
word began, ficus, a fig. Ficus being a word in the feminine gen-
der, appears to have fallen in the popular language into the more
common form of feminine nouns, fica, out of which aroſe the Italian
fica (now replaced by fico), the Spaniſh higa, and the French figue.
Florio, who gives the word fica, a fig, ſays that it was alſo uſed in the
ſenſe of “a woman's quaint,” ſo that it may perhaps be claſſed with
one or two other fruits, ſuch as the pomegranate and the apricot,
to which a ſimilar erotic meaning was given.1 The form, under
1
See before, page 136. Among the Romans, the fig was conſidered as a fruit
conſecrated to Priapus, on account, it is ſaid, of its productiveneſs.
150 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

this name, was preſerved through the middle ages, eſpecially in the
South of Europe, where Roman traditions were ſtrongeſt, both as an
amulet and as an inſulting geſture. The Italian called this geſture
fare la fica, to make or do the fig to any one; the Spaniard, dar
una higa, to give a fig; and the Frenchman, like the Italian, faire
la figue. We can trace this phraſe back to the thirteenth century
at leaſt. In the judicial proceedings againſt the Templars in Paris
in 1309, one of the brethren of the Order was aſked, jokingly, in
his examination, becauſe he was rather looſe and flippant in his
replies, “if he bad been ordered by the ſaid receptor (the officer of
the Templars who admitted the new candidate) to make with his
fingers the fig at the crucifix.”1 Here the word uſed is the correct
Latin ficus; and it is the ſame in the plural, in a document of the
year 1449, in which an individual is ſaid to have made figs with both
hands at another.2 This phraſe appears to have been introduced
into the Engliſh language in the time of Elizabeth and to have
been taken from the Spaniards, with whom our relations were then
intimate. This we aſſume from the circumſtance that the Engliſh
phraſe was “to give the fig” (dar la higa),3 and that the writers of
the Elizabethan age call it "the fig of Spain.” Thus, “ancient”
Piſtol, in Shakeſpeare:—
——“A figo for thy friendſhip! —
The fig of Spain.” Henry V, iii. 6.

1
Item, cum prædictus teſtis videretur eſſe valde facilis et procax ad loquendum,
et in pluribus dictis ſuis non eſſet ſtabilis, ſed quaſi varians et vacillan, fuit interro-
gatus ſi fuit ei præceptum a dicto receptore quod cum digits manus ſuæ faceret ficum
Crucifixo, quando ipſum videret, et ſi fuit ei dictum quod hoc eſſet de punctis
ordinis, reſpondit quod numquam audivit loqui de hoc. Michelt, Procès de
Templiers, Tome i, p. 255, 4to. Paris, 1841.
2
Ambabus manibus fecit ficus dicto Serme. MS. quoted in Ducange, ſub v.
Ficha.
3
“Behold next I ſee contempt, giving me the fico.” Wit’s Miſery, quoted in
Nares, v. Fico.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 151

The phraſe has been preſerved in all theſe countries down to modern
times and we ſtill ſay in Engliſh, “a fig for anybody,” or “for any-
thing,” not meaning that we eſtimate them at no more than the
value of a fig, but that we throw at them that contempt which was
intimated by ſhowing them the phallic hand, and which the Greeks,
as ſtated above, called skimal…zein. The form of ſhowing con-
tempt which was called the fig is ſtill well known among the lower
claſſes of ſociety in England, and it is preſerved in moſt of the
countries of Weſtern Europe. In Baretti's Spaniſh Dictionary,
which belongs to the commencement of the preſent century, we
find the word higa interpreted as “A manner of ſcoffing at people,
which conſiſts in ſhowing the thumb between the firſt and ſecond
finger, cloſing the firſt, and pointing at the perſon to whom we
want to give this hateful mark of contempt.” Baretti alſo gives as
ſtill in uſe the original meaning of the word, “Higa, a little hand
made of jet, which they hang about children to keep them from
evil eyes; a ſuperſtitious cuſtom.” The uſe of this amulet is ſtill
common in Italy, and eſpecially in Naples and Sicily; it has
an advantage over the mere form of the phallus, that when the
artificial fica is not preſent, an individual, who finds or believes
himſelf in ſudden danger, can make the amulet with his own fingers.
So profound is the belief of its efficacy in Italy, that it is com-
monly believed and reported there that, at the battle of Solferino,
the king of Italy held his hand in his pocket with this arrange-
ment of the fingers as a protection againſt the ſhots of the enemy.
There were perſonages connected with the worſhip of Priapus
who appear to have been common to the Romans under and
before the empire, and to the foreign races who ſettled upon its
ruins. The Teutonic race believed in a ſpiritual being who in-
habited the woods, and who was called in old German ſcrat. His
character was more general than that of a mere habitant of the
woods, for it anſwered to the Engliſh hobgoblin, or to the Iriſh
152 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

cluricaune. The ſcrat was the ſpirit of the woods, under which
character he was ſometimes called a waltſcrat, and of the fields,
and alſo of the houſehold, the domeſtic ſpirit, the ghoſt haunting
the houſe. His image was probably looked upon as an amulet, a
protection to the houſe, as an old German vocabulary of the year
1482, explains ſchrætlin, little ſcrats, by the Latin word penates.
The laſcivious character of this ſpirit, if it wanted more direct
evidence, is implied by the fact that ſcritta, in Anglo-Saxon, and
ſcrat, in old Engliſh, meant a hermaphrodite. Accordingly, the
mediæval vocabularies explain ſcrat by Latin equivalents, which all
indicate companions or emanations of Priapus, and in fact, Priapus
himſelf. Iſidore gives the name of Piloſi, or hairy men, and tells
us that they were called in Greek, Panitæ (apparently an error for
Ephialtæ), and in Latin, Incubi and Inibi, the latter word derived
from the verb inire, and applied to them on account of their inter-
courſe with animals.1 They were in fact the fauns and ſatyrs of
antiquity, haunted like them the wild woods, and were characterized
by the ſame petulance towards the other ſex.2 Woe to the modeſty
of maiden or woman who ventured incautiouſly into their haunts.
As Incubi, they viſited the houſe by night, and violated the
perſons of the females, and ſome of the moſt celebrated heroes of
early mediæval romances, ſuch as Merlin, were thus the children
of incubi. They were known at an early period in Gaul by the
name of Duſii,3 from which, as the church taught that all theſe

1
Piloſi, qui Græce Panitæ, Latine Incubi, appelantur, ſive Inivi, ab ineundo
paſſim cum animalibus; unde et Incubi dicuntur ab incumbendo, hoc eſt, ſtuprando.
Iſidori Etymol., lib. viii, c. 9.
2
Sæpe etiam improbi exiſtent, etiam mulieribus, et earum peragunt concubitum.
Iſidor. ib.
3
Et quoſdam dæmones quos Duſios Galli nuncupant, hanc aſſidue immunditiam
et tentare et officere plures taleſque aſſeverant, ut hoc negare impudentiæ videatur.
Auguſtin. De Civitate Dei, lib. xv, c. 23. Cf. Iſidor., loc. cit.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 153

mythic perſonages were devils, we derive our modern word

Deuce, uſed in ſuch phraſes as “the Deuce take you!” The term
ficarii was alſo applied to them in mediæval Latin, either from
the meaning of the word ficus, mentioned before,1 or becauſe
they were fond of figs. Moſt of theſe Latin ſynonyms are given
in the Anglo-Saxon vocabulary of Alfric, and are interpreted as
meaning “evil men, ſpirits of the woods, evil beings.”2 One of the
old commentators on the Scriptures deſcribes theſe ſpirits of the
woods as “monſters in the ſemblance of men, whoſe form begins
with the human ſhape and ends in the extremity of a beaſt.”3 They
were, in fact, half man, half goat, and were identical with a claſs of
hobgoblins, who at a rather later period were well known in England
by the popular name of Robin Goodfellows, whoſe Priapic cha-
racter is ſufficiently proved by the pictures of them attached to
ſome of our early printed ballads, of which we give facſimiles. The
firſt4 is a figure of Robin Goodfellow, which forms the illuſtration
to a very popular ballad of the earlier part of the ſeventeenth cen-
tury, entitled “The mad merry Pranks of Robin Goodfellow;” he
is repreſented party-coloured, and with the priapic attribute. The
next5 is a ſecond illuſtration of the ſame ballad, in which Robin
Goodfellow is repreſented as Priapus, goat-ſhaped, with his attributes
ſtill more ſtrongly pronounced, and ſurrounded by a circle of his
worſhippers dancing about him. He appears here in the character
1
See before, p. 149.
2
Satiri, vel fauni, vel ſehni (for obſcœni), vel fauni ſicarii, unſæle men, wude-
waſan, unſæle wihta. Wright’s Volume of Vocubalires, p. 17. See, for further
illuſtrations of this ſubject, Grimm’s Deutſche Mythologie, p. 272 et ſeq.
3
Piloſo, monſtra ſunt ad ſimilitudinem hominum, quorum forma ab humana
effigies incipit, ſed beſtiali extremitate terminatur, vel ſunt dæmones incubones, vel
ſatyri, vel homines ſilveſtres. Mamotrectus in Iſaiam, xiii, 21.
4
See Plate XXXVI, Fig 5. From a copy of the black-letter ballad in the libray of
the Britiſh Muſeum,
5
Plate XXXVII, Fig. 2. From the ſame ballad.
154 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

aſſumed by the demon at the ſabbath of the witches, of which we

ſhall have to ſpeak a little further on. The Romiſh Church created
great confuſion in all theſe popular ſuperſtitions by conſidering the
mythic perſons with whom they were connected as ſo many devils;
and one of theſe Priapic demons is figured in a cut which ſeems to
have been a favorite one, and is often repeated as an illuſtration
of the broadſide ballads of the age of James I. and Charles I. 1 It is
Priapus reduced to his loweſt ſtep of degradation.
Beſides the invocations addreſſed principally to Priapus, or to
the generative powers, the ancients had eſtabliſhed great feſtivals
in their honour, which were remarkable for their licentious gaiety,
and in which the image of the phallus was carried openly and in
triumph. Theſe feſtivities were eſpecially celebrated among the
rural population, and they were held chiefly during the ſummer
months. The preparatory labours of the agriculturiſt were over,
and people had leiſure to welcome with joyfulneſs the activity of
nature’s reproductive powers, which was in due time to bring their
fruits. Among the moſt celebrated of theſe feſtivals were the
Liberalia, which were held on the 17th of March. A monſtrous
phallus was carried in proceſſion in a car, and its worſhippers
indulged loudly and openly in obſcene ſongs, converſation, and
attitudes, and when it halted, the moſt reſpectable of the matrons
ceremoniouſly crowned the head of the phallus with a garland.
The Bacchanalia, repreſenting the Dionyſia of the Greeks, were
celebrated in the latter part of October, when the harveſt was
completed, and were attended with much the ſame ceremonies as
the Liberalia. The phallus was ſimilarly carried in proceſſion, and
crowned, and, as in the Liberalia, the feſtivities being carried on
into the night, as the celebrators became heated with wine, they
degenerated into the extreme of licentiouſneſs, in which people
1
Plate XXXVII, Fig. 1. From two black-letter ballads in the Britiſh Muſeum,
one entitled “A warning for all Lewd Livers,” the other, “A ſtrange and true
News from Weſtmoreland.”
 GENERATIVE POWERS 155

indulged without a bluſh in the moſt infamous vices. The feſtival

of Venus was celebrated towards the beginning of April, and in it
the phallus was again carried in its car, and led in proceſſion by
the Roman ladies to the temple of Venus outſide the Colline gate,
and there preſented by them to the ſexual parts of the goddeſs.
This part of the ſcene is repreſented in a well-known intaglio, which
has been publiſhed in ſeveral works on antiquities. At the cloſe
of the month laſt mentioned came the Floralia, which, if poſſible,
excelled all the others in licence. Auſonius, in whoſe time (the
latter half of the fourth century) the Floralia were ſtill in full
force, ſpeaks of their laſciviouſneſs:—
Nee non laſcivi Floralia læta theatri,
Quæ ſpectare volunt qui voluiſſe negant.
Auſonii Eclog. de Feriis Romanis.
The looſe women of the town and its neighbourhood, called together
by the ſounding of horns, mixed with the multitude in perfect naked-
neſs, and excited their paſſions with obſcene motions and language,
until the feſtival ended in a ſcene of mad revelry, in which all
reſtraint was laid aſide. Juvenal deſcribes a Roman dame of very
depraved manners as—
. . . . Digniſſima prorſuſ
Florali matrona tuba.
Juvenalis Sat. vi, I. 249.
Theſe ſcenes of unbounded licence and depravity, deeply rooted in
people’s minds by long eſtabliſhed cuſtoms, cauſed ſo little public
ſcandal, that it is related of Cato the younger that, when he was
preſent at the celebration of the Floralia, inſtead of ſhowing any
diſapproval of them, he retired, that his well-known gravity might
be no reſtraint upon them, becauſe the multitude manifeſted ſome
heſitation in ſtripping the women naked in the preſence of a man
ſo celebrated for his modeſty.1 The feſtivals more ſpecially dedi-
1
Catonem, inquam, illum, quo ſedente populus negatur permiſiſſe ſib poſtulare
Florales jocos nudandarum meretricum. Senecæ Epiſt. xcvii.
156 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

cated to Priapus, the Priapeia, were attended with ſimilar cere-

monies and ſimilarly licentious orgies. Their forms and charac-
teriſtics are better known, becauſe they are ſo frequently repre-
ſented to us as the ſubjects of works of Roman art. The Romans
had other feſtivals of ſimilar character, but of leſs importance,
ſome of which were of a more private character, and ſome were
celebrated in ſtrict privacy. Such were the rites of the Bona Dea,
eſtabliſhed among the Roman matrons in the time of the re-
public, the diſorders of which are deſcribed in ſuch glowing lan-
guage by the ſatiriſt Juvenal, in his enumeration of the vices of
the Roman women:—
Nota Bonæ ſecreta Deæ, quum tibia lumbos
Incitat, et cornu pariter vinoque feruntur
Attonitæ, crinemque rotant, ululantque Priapi
Mænades. O quantus tunc illis mentibus ardor
Concubitus! quæ vox ſaltante libidine! quantus
Ille meri veteris per crura madentia torrens!
Lenonum ancillas poſita Saufeia corona
Provocat, et tollit pendentis præmia coxæ.
Ipſa Medullinæ fluctum criſſantis adorat.
Palmam inter dominas virtus natalibus æquat.
Nil ibi per ludum ſimulabitur: omnia fient
Ad verum, quibus incendi jam frigidus ævo
Laomedontiades et Neſtoris hernia poſſit.
Tunc prurigo moræ impatiens, tunc femina ſimplex,
Et toto pariter repetitus clamor ab antro:
Jam fas eſt: admitte viros!
Juvenalis Sat. vi, l. 314.
Among the Teutonic, as well as among moſt other peoples,
ſimilar feſtivals appear to have been celebrated during the ſummer
months; and, as they aroſe out of the ſame feelings, they no doubt
preſented the ſame general forms. The principal popular feſtivals
of the ſummer during the middle ages occurred in the months of
April, May, and June, and compriſed Eaſter, May-day, and the
feaſt of the ſummer ſolſtice. All theſe appear to have been
 GENERATIVE POWERS 157

originally accompanied with the ſame phallic worſhip which

formed the principal characteriſtic of the great Roman feſtivals;
and, in fact, theſe are exactly thoſe popular inſtitutions and traits
of popular manners which were moſt likely to outlive, alſo
without any material change, the overthrow of the Roman empire
by the barbarians. Although, at the time when we become
intimately acquainted with theſe feſtivals, moſt of the prominent
marks of their phallic character had been abandoned and
forgotten, yet we meet during the interval with ſcattered
indications which leave no room to doubt of their former
exiſtence. It will be intereſting to examine into ſome of theſe
points, and to ſhow the influence they exerted on mediæval
ſociety.
The firſt of the three great feſtivals juſt mentioned was purely
Anglo-Saxon and Teutonic; but it appears in the firſt place to have
been identified with the Roman Liberalia, and it was further tranſ-
formed by the Catholic church into one of the great Chriſtian reli-
gious feaſts. In the primitive Teutonic mythology there was a
female deity named, in Old German, Oſtara, and, in Anglo-Saxon,
Eaſtre, or Eoſtre, but all we know of her is the ſimple ſtatement of
our father of hiſtory, Bede, that her feſtival was celebrated by the
ancient Saxons in the month of April, from which circumſtance,
that month was named by the Anglo-Saxons Eaſter-monath, or
Eoſter-monath, and that the name of the goddeſs had been ſubſe-
quently given to the Paſchal time, with which it was identical.1
The name of this goddeſs was given to the ſame month by the old
Germans and by the Franks, ſo that ſhe muſt have been one of the
moſt highly honoured of the Teutonic deities, and her feſtival muſt
1
Antiqui autem Anglroum populi . . . Eoſturmonath, qui nunc paſchalis menſis
interpretatur, quondam a dea illorum quæ Eoſtre vocabatur, et cui in illo faſta cele-
brabant, nomen habuit; a cujus nomine nunc paſchale tempus cognominant, conſueto
antique obſervationis vocabulo gaudi novæ ſolennitatis vocantes. Bedæ De Tem-
porum Rationes, cap. xv.
158 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

have been a very important one, and deeply implanted in the

popular feelings, or the church would not have ſought to identify
it with one of the greateſt Chriſtian feſtivals of the year. It is
underſtood that the Romans conſidered this month as dedicated
to Venus, no doubt becauſe it was that in which the productive
power of nature began to be viſibly developed. When the Pagan
feſtival was adopted by the church, it became a moveable feaſt
inſtead of being fixed to the month of April. Among other
objects offered to the goddeſs at this time were cakes, made no
doubt of fine flour, but of their form we are ignorant. The Chriſ-
tians, when they ſeized upon the Eaſter feſtival, gave them the form of
a bun, which, indeed, was at that time the ordinary form of bread;
and to protect themſelves, and thoſe who eat them, from any enchant-
ment, or other evil influences which might ariſe from their former
heathen character, they marked them with the Chriſtian ſymbol—
the croſs. Hence were derived the cakes we ſtill eat at Eaſter under
the name of hot-croſs-buns, and the ſuperſtitious feelings attached
to them, for multitudes of people ſtill believe that if they failed to
eat a hot-croſs-bun on Good-Friday they would be unlucky all
the reſt of the year. But there is ſome reaſon for believing that, at
leaſt in ſome parts, the Eaſter-cakes had originally a different
form—that of the phallus. Such at leaſt appears to have been the
caſe in France, where the cuſtom ſtill exiſts. In Saintonge, in the
neighbourhood of La Rochelle, ſmall cakes, baked in the form of a
phallus, are made as offerings at Eaſter, and are carried and pre-
ſented from houſe to houſe; and we have been informed that ſimilar
practices exiſt in ſome other places. When Dulaure wrote, the
feſtival of Palm Sunday, in the town of Saintes, was called the fête
des pinnes, pinne being a popular and vulgar word for the
membrum virile. At this fête the women and children carried in
the proceſſion, at the end of their palm branches, a phallus made of
bread, which they called undiſguiſedly a pinne, and which, having
 GENERATIVE POWERS 159

been bleſt by the prieſt, the women carefully preſerved during the
following year as an amulet. A ſimilar practice exiſted at St. Jean-
d'Angély, where ſmall cakes, made in the form of the phallus, and
named fateux, were carried in the proceſſion of the Fête-Dieu, or
Corpus Chriſti.1 Shortly before the time when Dulaure wrote, this
practice was ſuppreſſed by a new ſous-préfet, M. Maillard. The
cuſtom of making cakes in the form of the ſexual members, male
and female, dates from a remote antiquity and was common among
the Romans. Martial made a phallus of bread (Priapus ſiligineus)
the ſubject of an epigram of two lines:—
Si vis eſſe ſatur, noſtrum potes eſſe priapum
Ipſe licet rodas inguina, purus eris.
Martial, lib. xiv, ep. 69.
The ſame writer ſpeaks of the image of a female organ made of
the ſame material in another of his epigrams, to explain which, it is
only neceſſary to ſtate that theſe images were compoſed of the fineſt
wheaten flour (ſiligo):—
Pauper amicitiæ cum ſis, Lupe, non es amicæ;
Et queritur de te mentula ſola nihil.
Illa ſiligineis pingueſcit adultera cunnis;
Convivam paſcit nigra farina tuum.
Martial, lib. ix, ep. 3.
This cuſtom appears to have been preſerved from the Romans
through the middle ages, and may be traced diſtinctly as far back
as the fourteenth or fifteenth century. We are informed that in
ſome of the earlier inedited French books on cookery, receipts are
given for making cakes in theſe obſcene forms, which are named
without any concealment; and the writer on this ſubject, who wrote
in the ſixteenth century, Johannes Bruerinus Campegius, deſcribing
the different forms in which cakes were then made, enumerates thoſe
1
Delaure, Hiſtoire Abrèges des Diffèrens Cultes, vol. ii, p. 285. Second Edition.
It was printed in 1825.
160 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

of the ſecret members of both ſexes, a proof, he ſays of “the de-

generacy of manners, when Chriſtians themſelves can delight in
obſcenities and immodeſt things even among their articles of food.”
He adds that ſome of theſe were commonly ſpoken of by a groſs
name, des cons ſucrés.1 When Dulaure wrote, that is juſt forty
years ago, cakes of theſe forms continued to be made in various
parts of France, and he informs us that thoſe repreſenting the male
organ were made in the Lower Limouſin, and eſpecially at Brives,
while ſimilar images of the female organ were made at Clermont in
Auvergne, and in other places. They were popularly called miches.2
There is another cuſtom attached to Eaſter, which has probably
ſome relation to the worſhip of which we are treating, and which
ſeems once to have prevailed throughout England, though we
believe it is now confined to Shropſhire and Cheſhire. In the
former county it is called heaving, in the latter lifting. On Eaſter
Monday the men go about with chairs, ſeize the women they meet,
and, placing them in the chairs, raiſe them up, turn them round
two or three times, and then claim the right of kiſſing them. On
Eaſter Tueſday, the ſame thing is done by the women to the men.
This, of courſe, is only practiced now among the lower claſſes,
except ſometimes as a frolic among intimate friends. The chair
appears to have been a comparatively modern addition, ſince ſuch
articles have become more abundant. In the laſt century four or
five of the one ſex took the victim of the other ſex by the arms and
legs, and lifted her or him in that manner, and the operation was

1
Alias fingunt oblonga figura, alias ſphærica, et orbiculari, alias triangula, quad-
rangulaque; quædam ventricoſæ ſunt; quædam pudenda muliebria, aliæ virilia (ſi diis
placet) repræſentant; adeo degeneravere bonos mores, ut etiam Chriſtianis obſcœna
et pudenda in cibis placeant. Sunt etenim quo cunnos ſaccharatos epp-litent. Jo.
Bruerini Campegii De Re Cibaria, lib. vi, c. 7.—Cf. Le Grande d’Auſſi, Hiſtoire de
la Vie Privée des Français, vol. II, p. 309.
2
Dulaure, vol. ii, pp. 255-257.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 161

attended, at all events on the part of the men, with much inde-
cency. The women uſually expect a ſmall contribution of money
from the men they have lifted. More anciently, in the time of
Durandus, that is, in the thirteenth century, a ſtill more ſingular
cuſtom prevailed on theſe two days. He tells us that in many
countries, on the Eaſter Monday, it was the rule for the wives to
beat their huſbands, and that on the Tueſday the huſbands beat
their wives.1 Brand, in his Popular Antiquities, tells us that in
the city of Durham, in his time, it was the cuſtom for the men, on
the one day, to take off the women's ſhoes, which the latter were
obliged to purchaſe back, and that on the other day the women
did the ſame to the men.
In mediæval poetry and romance, the month of May was cele-
brated above all others as that conſecrated to Love, which ſeemed
to pervade all nature, and to invite mankind to partake in the
general enjoyment. Hence, among nearly all peoples, its approach
was celebrated with feſtivities, in which, under various forms, wor-
ſhip was paid to Nature's reproductiveneſs. The Romans wel-
comed the approach of May with their Floralia, a feſtival we have
already deſcribed as remarkable for licentiouſneſs; and there can-
not be a doubt that our Teutonic forefathers had alſo their feſtival
of the ſeaſon long before they became acquainted with the Romans.
Yet much of the mediæval celebration of May-day, eſpecially in the
South, appears to have been derived from the Floralia of the latter
people. As in the Floralia, the arrival of the feſtival was announced
by the ſounding of horns during the preceding night, and no ſooner
had midnight arrived than the youth of both ſexes proceeded in
couples to the woods to gather branches and make garlands, with
which they were to return juſt at ſunriſe for the purpoſe of decora-
1
Is pleriſque etiam regionibus mulieres ſecunda die poſt Paſcham verberant
maritos, die vero tertia uxores ſuas. Durandus, Rationale, lib. vi, c. 86—89, By
ſecunda die poſt Paſcham, he no doubt means Eaſter Monday.
162 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

ting the doors of their houſes. In England the grand feature of

the day was the Maypole. This maypole was the ſtem of a tall
young tree cut down for the occaſion, painted of various colours,
and carried in joyous proceſſion, with minſtrels playing before,
until it reached the village green, or the open ſpace in the middle
of a town, where it was uſually ſet up. It was there decked with
garlands and flowers, the lads and girls danced round it, and people
indulged in all ſorts of riotous enjoyments. All this is well de-
ſcribed by a Puritan writer of the reign of Queen Elizabeth—Philip
Stubbes—who ſays that, “againſt Maie,” “every pariſhe, towne,
and village aſſemble themſelves together, bothe men, women, and
children, olde and yong, even all indifferently; and either goyng
all together, or devidyng themſelves into companies, they goe ſome
to the woodes and groves, ſome to the hilles and mountaines, ſome to
one place, ſome to another, where they ſpend all the night in pleaſant
paſtymes, and in the mornyng thei returne, bryngyng with them
birch bowes and braunches of trees to deck their aſſemblies withall,
. . . . But their cheereſt jewell thei bryng from thence is their
Maie pole, whiche thei bryng home with greate veneration, as thus:
Thei have twentie or fourtie yoke of oxen, every oxe havyng a
ſweete noſegaie of flowers placed on the tippe of his hornes, and
theſe oxen drawe home this Maie poole (this ſtinckyng idoll
rather), whiche is covered all over with flowers and hearbes, bound
rounde about with ſtrynges, from the top to the bottome, and
ſometyme painted with variable colours, with twoo or three hundred
men, women, and children following it, with greate devotion.
And thus beyng reared up, with handekerchiefes and flagges ſtream-
yng on the toppe, thei ſtrawe the grounde aboute, binde greene
boughes about it, ſett up ſommer haules, bowers, and arbours hard
by it. And then fall thei to banquet and feaſt, to leape and
daunce aboute it, as the heathen people did, at the dedication of
 GENERATIVE POWERS 163

their idolles, whereof this is a perfect patterne, or rather the thyng

itſelf.”1
The Puritans were deeply impreſſed with the belief that the
maypole was a ſubſtantial relic of Paganiſm; and they were no
doubt right. There appears to be reaſon ſufficient for ſuppoſing
that, at a period which cannot now be aſcertained, the maypole
had taken the place of the phallus. The ceremonies attending the
elevation of the two objects were identical. The ſame joyous pro-
ceſſion in the Roman feſtivals, deſcribed above, conducted the
phallus into the midſt of the town or village, where in the ſame
manner it was decked with garlands, and the worſhip partook of
the ſame character. We may add, too, that both feſtivals were
attended with the ſame licentiouſneſs. “I have heard it credibly
reported,” ſays the Puritan Stubbes, “and that viva voce by menne
of greate gravitie and reputation, that of fourtie, three ſcore, or a
hundred maides goyng to the woode over night, there have ſcarcely
the third part returned home again undefiled.”
The day generally concluded with bonfires. Theſe repreſented
the need-fire, which was intimately connected with the ancient priapic
rites. Fire itſelf was an object of worſhip, as the moſt powerful of
the elements; but it was ſuppoſed to loſe its purity and ſacred
character in being propagated from one material to another, and
the worſhippers ſought on theſe ſolemn occaſions to produce it in
its primitive and pureſt form. This was done by the rapid friction of
two pieces of wood, attended with ſuperſtitious ceremonies; the
pure element of fire was believed to exiſt in the wood, and to be
thus forced out of it, and hence it was called need-fire (in Old
German not-feur, and in Anglo-Saxon, neod-fyr), meaning literally
a forced fire, or fire extracted by force. Before the proceſs of thus

1
Stubbes, Anatomie of Abuſes, fol. 94, 8vo. London, 1583.
164 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

extracting the fire from the wood, it was neceſſary that all the fires
previouſly exiſting in the village ſhould be extinguiſhed, and they
were afterwards revived from the bonfire which had been lit from the
need-fire. The whole ſyſtem of bonfires originated from this ſuper-
ſtition; they had been adopted generally on occaſions of popular re-
joicing, and the bonfires commemorating the celebrated gunpowder
plot are only particular applications of the general practice to an
accidental caſe. The ſuperſtition of the need-fire belongs to a
very remote antiquity in the Teutonic race, and exiſted equally in
ancient Greece. It is proſcribed in the early capitularies of the
Frankiſh emperors of the Carlovingian dynaſty.1 The univerſality
of this ſuperſtition is proved by the circumſtance that it ſtill exiſts
in the Highlands of Scotland, eſpecially in Caithneſs, where it is
adopted as a protection for the cattle when attacked by diſeaſe
which the Highlanders attribute to witchcraft.2 It was from the
remoteſt ages the cuſtom to cauſe cattle, and even children, to paſs
acroſs the need-fire, as a protection to them for the reſt of their
lives. The need-fire was kindled at Eaſter, on May-day, and eſpe-
cially at the ſummer ſolſtice, on the eve of the feaſt of St. John the
Baptiſt, or of Midſummer-day.3
The eve of St. John was in popular ſuperſtition one of the moſt
important days of the mediæval year. The need-fire—or the St.
John’s fire, as it was called—was kindled juſt at midnight, the
moment when the ſolſtice was ſuppoſed to take place, and the
young people of both ſexes danced round it, and, above all things,
1
Sive illos ſacrilegos ignes quos nedfrates (I. nedfyres) vocant, ſive omnes quæ-
cumque ſunt paganorum obſervationes diligenter prohibeant. Karlomanni Capitulare
Primum, A.D. 742, in Baluzii Capitularia Regum Francorum, col. 148. Repeated in
the Captiularum Caroli Magni et Ludovici Pii, compiled A.D. 827. See Baluz., ib.,
col. 825.
2
Logan, The Scottiſh Gael, vol. ii, p. 64, and Jamieſon’s Scottiſh Dictionary,
Suppl. ſub. v. Neidfyre.
3
See Grimm, Deutſche Mythologie, pp. 341—349.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 165

leaped over it, or ruſhed through it, which was looked upon not
only as a purification, but as a protection againſt evil influences.
It was the night when ghoſts and other beings of the ſpiritual world
were abroad, and when witches had moſt power. It was believed,
even, that during this night people's ſouls left the body in ſleep,
and wandered over the world, ſeparated from it. It was a night
of the great meetings of the witches, and it was that in which they
mixed their moſt deadly poiſons, and performed their moſt effective
charms. It was a night eſpecially favourable to divination in every
form, and in which maidens ſought to know their future ſweet-
hearts and huſbands. It was during this night, alſo, that plants
poſſeſſed their greateſt powers either for good or for evil, and that
they were dug up with all due ceremonies and cautions. The more
hidden virtues of plants, indeed, depended much on the time at
which, and the ceremonies with which, they were gathered, and
theſe latter were extremely ſuperſtitious, no doubt derived from the
remote ages of paganiſm. As uſual, the clergy applied a half-
remedy to the evil; they forebade any rites or incantations in the
gathering of medicinal herbs except by repeating the creed and the
Lord’s prayer.1
As already ſtated, the night of St. John’s, or Midſummer-eve,
was that when ghoſts and ſpirits of all deſcriptions were abroad,
and when witches aſſembled, and their potions, for good or for
evil, and charms were made with moſt effect. It was the night for
popular divination, eſpecially among the young maidens, who
ſought to know who were deſtined to be their huſbands, what
would be their characters, and what their future conduct. The
medicinal virtues of many plants gathered on St. John’s eve, and
with the due ceremonies, were far more powerful than if gathered
1
Non licet in collectione herbarum medicinalium aliquas obſervationes vel incan-
tationes attendere, niſi tantum cum ſymbol divino et oratione dominica, ut Deus et
Dominus noſter honoretur. Burchardi Decretorum Libri, x, 20.
166 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

at other times. The moſt ſecret practices of the old popular ſuper-
ſtitions are now moſtly forgotten, but when, here and there, we
meet with a few traces of them, they are of a character which leads
us to believe that they belonged to a great extent to that ſame
worſhip of the generative powers which prevailed ſo generally
among all peoples. We remember that, we believe in one of the
earlier editions of Mother Bunch, maidens who wiſhed to know if
their lovers were conſtant or not were directed to go out exactly at
midnight on St. John’s eve, to ſtrip themſelves entirely naked, and
in that condition to proceed to a plant or ſhrub, the name of which
was given, and round it they were to form a circle and dance,
repeating at the ſame time certain words which they had been
taught by their inſtructreſs. Having completed this ceremony,
they were to gather leaves of the plant round which they had
danced, which they were to carry home and place under their
pillows, and what they wiſhed to know would be revealed to them
in their dreams. We have ſeen in ſome of the mediæval treatiſes
on the virtue of plants directions for gathering ſome plants of eſpe-
cial importance, in which it was required that this ſhould be per-
formed by young girls in a ſimilar ſtate of complete nakedneſs.
Plants and flowers were, indeed, intimately connected with this
worſhip. We have ſeen how conſtantly they are introduced in the
form of garlands, and they were always among the offerings to
Priapus. It was the univerſal practice, in dancing round the fire
on St. John’s eve, to conclude by throwing various kinds of flowers
and plants into it, which were conſidered to be propitiatory, to avert
certain evils to which people were liable during the following year.
Among the plants they offered are mentioned mother-wort, vervain,
and violets. It is perhaps to this connection of plants with the old
priapic worſhip that we owe the popular tendency to give them names
which were more or leſs obſcene, moſt of which are now loſt, or
are ſo far modified as to preſent no longer the ſame idea. Thus
 GENERATIVE POWERS 167

the well-known arum of our hedge-bottoms received the names,

no doubt ſuggeſted by its form, of cuckoo’s pintle, or prieſt’s
pintle, or dog's pintle; and, in French, thoſe of vit de chien and vit
de preſtre; in Engliſh it is now abbreviated into cuckoo-pint, or,
ſometimes, cuckoo-point. The whole family of the orchides was
diſtinguiſhed by a correſponding word, accompanied with various
qualifications. We have in William Coles’s Adam in Eden, (fol.
1659) the different names, for different varieties, of doggs-ſtones,
fool-ſtones, fox-ſtones; in the older Herbal of Gerard (fol. 1597)
triple ballockes, ſweet ballockes, ſweet cods, goat’s-ſtones,
hare’s-ſtones, &c.; in French, couillon de bouc (the goat was eſpe-
cially connected with the priapic myſteries) and couille, or couillon
de chien. In French, too, as we learn from Cotgrave and the
herbals, “a kind of ſallet hearbe” was called couille à l’évêque; the
greater ſtone-crop was named couille au loup; and the ſpindle-tree
was known by the name of couillon de prêtre. There are ſeveral
plants which poſſeſs ſomewhat the appearance of a rough buſh of
hair. One of theſe, a ſpecies of adiantum, was known even in
Roman times by the name of Capillus Veneris, and in more modern
times it has been called maiden-hair, and our lady's hair. Another
plant, the aſplenium trichomanes, was and is alſo called popularly
maiden-hair, or maiden's-hair; and we believe that the ſame name
has been given to one or two other plants. There is reaſon for
believing that the hair implied in theſe names was that of the
pubes.1 We might collect a number of other old popular names of
plants of a ſimilar character with theſe juſt enumerated.
In an old calendar of the Romiſh church, which is often quoted

1
Fumitory was another of theſe plants, and in a vocabulary of plants in a
MS. of the middle of the thirteenth century, we find its names in Latin, French and
Engliſh given as follows, “Fumus terræ, fumeterre, cuntehoare.” See Wright’s
Volume of Vocabularies, p. 17.
168 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

in Brand’s Popular Antiquities, the ſeeking of plants for their

hidden virtues and magical properties is eſpecially noted as part
of the practices on the eve of St. John (herbæ diverſi generis
quærantur); and one plant is eſpecially ſpecified in terms too
myſterious to be eaſily underſtood.1 Fern-ſeed, alſo, was a
great object of ſearch on this night; for, if found and properly
gathered, it was believed to poſſeſs powerful magical proper-ties,
and eſpecially that of rendering inviſible the individual who
carried it upon his perſon. But the moſt remarkable of all the
plants connected with theſe ancient priapic ſuperſtitions was the
mandrake (mandragora), a plant which has been looked upon with
a ſort of feeling of reverential fear at all periods, and almoſt in all
parts. Its Teutonic name, alrun, or, in its more modern form,
alraun, ſpeaks at once of the belief in its magical qualities among
that race. People looked upon it as poſſeſſing ſome degree of
animal life, and it was generally believed that, when it was drawn
out of the earth, it uttered a cry, and that this cry carried certain
death or madneſs to the perſon who extracted it. To eſcape this
danger, the remedy was to tie a ſtring round it, which was to be
attached to a dog, and the latter, being driven away, dragged up
the root in its attempt to run off, and experienced the fatal conſe-
quences. The root was the important part of the plant; it has
ſomewhat the form of a forked radiſh, and was believed to repre-
ſent exactly the human form below the waiſt, with, in the male
and female plants, the human organs of generation diſtinctly devel-
oped. The mandrake, when it could be obtained, was uſed in the
middle ages in the place of the phallic amulet, and was carefully
carried on the perſon, or preſerved in the houſe. It conferred fer-
tility in more ſenſes than one, for it was believed that as long as
you kept it locked up with your money, the latter would become
1
Carduus puellarum legitur et ab eiſdem centum cruces.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 169

doubled in quantity every year; and it had at the ſame time all the
protective qualities of the phallus. The Templars were accuſed of
worſhipping the mandrake, or mandragora, which became an
object of great celebrity in France during the reigns of the weak
monarchs Charles VI. and Charles VII. In 1429 one Friar
Richard, of the order of the Cordeliers, preached a fierce ſermon
againſt the uſe of this amulet, the temporary effect of which was
ſo great, that a certain number of his congregation delivered up
their “mandragoires” to the preacher to be burnt.1
It appears that the people who dealt in theſe amulets helped
nature to a rather conſiderable extent by the means of art, and
that there was a regular proceſs of cooking them up. They were
neceſſarily aware that the roots themſelves, in their natural ſtate,
preſented, to ſay the leaſt, very imperfectly the form which men’s
imagination had given to them, ſo they obtained the fineſt roots
they could, which, when freſh from the ground, were plump and
ſoft, and readily took any impreſſion which might be given to
them. They then ſtuck grains of millet or barley into the parts
where they wiſhed to have hair, and again put it into a hole in the
earth, until theſe grains had germinated and formed their roots.
This proceſs, it was ſaid, was perfected within twenty days. They
then took up the mandrake again, trimmed the fibrous roots of
millet or barley which ſerved for hair, retouched the parts them-
ſelves ſo as to give them their form more perfectly and more per-
manently, and then ſold it.2
Beſides theſe great and general priapic feſtivals, there were
doubtleſs others of leſs importance, or more local in their character,
which degenerated in aftertimes into mere local ceremonies and

1
Journal d’un Bourgeois de Paris, under the year 1429.
2
See the authorities for theſe ſtatements in Dulaure, pp. 254—256.
170 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

feſtivities. This would be the caſe eſpecially in cities and corporate

towns, where the guilds came in, to perpetuate the inſtitution, and
to give it gradually a modified form. Moſt towns in England had
once feſtivals of this character, and at leaſt three repreſentatives of
them are ſtill kept up, the proceſſion of Lady Godiva at Coventry,
the Shrewſbury ſhow, and the guild feſtival at Preſton in Lanca-
ſhire. In the firſt of theſe, the lady who is ſuppoſed to ride naked
in the proceſſion probably repreſents ſome feature in the ancient
priapic celebration; and the ſtory of the manner in which the Lady
Godiva averted the anger of her huſband from the townſmen, which
is certainly a mere fable, was no doubt invented to explain a fea-
ture of the celebration, the real meaning of which had in courſe
of time been forgotten. The pageantry of the Shrewſbury ſhow
appears to be ſimilarly the unmeaning reflection of forms
belonging to older and forgotten practices and principles. On the
Continent there were many ſuch local feſtivals, ſuch as the feaſt
of fools, the feaſt of aſſes (the aſs was an animal ſacred to
Priapus), and others, all which were adapted by the mediæval
church exactly as the clergy had taken advantage of the profit to
be derived from the phallic worſhip in other forms.
The leaden tokens, or medalets, which we have already deſcribed,1
ſeem to point evidently to the exiſtence in the middle ages of
ſecret ſocieties or clubs connected with this obſcene worſhip, be-
ſides the public feſtivals. Of theſe it can hardly be expected
that any deſcription would ſurvive, but, if not the fact, the belief
in it is clearly eſtabliſhed by the eagerneſs with which ſuch
obſcene rites were laid to the charge of moſt of the mediæval ſecret
ſocieties, whether lay clubs or religious ſects, and we know that
ſecret ſocieties abounded in the middle ages. However willing the
Romiſh clergy were to make profit out of the popular phallic wor-

1
See before, p. 146, and Plate XXXIII.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 171

ſhip, they were equally ready to uſe the belief in it as a means of

exciting prejudice againſt any ſects which the church choſe to
regard as religious or political heretics.
It is very evident that, in the earlier ages of the church, the
converſion of the Pagans to Chriſtianity was in a vaſt number of
caſes leſs than a half-converſion, and that the preachers of the
goſpel were ſatisfied by people aſſuming the name of Chriſtians,
without inquiring too cloſely into the ſincerity of their change, or
into their practice. We can trace in the expreſſions of diſapproval
in the writings of ſome of the more zealous of the eccleſiaſtical
writers, and in the canons of the earlier councils, the alarm created
by the prevalence among Chriſtians of the old popular feſtivals of
paganiſm; and the revival of thoſe particular canons and depreca-
tory remarks in the eccleſiaſtical councils and writings of a later
period of the middle ages, ſhows that the exiſtence of the evil had
continued unabated. There was an African council in the year
381, from which Burchardus, who compiled his condenſation of
eccleſiaſtical decrees for the uſe of his own time, profeſſes to derive
his proviſions againſt “the feſtivals which were held with Pagan
ceremonies.” We are there told that, even on the moſt ſacred of
the Chriſtian commemoration days, theſe rites derived from the
Pagans were introduced, and that dancing was practiced in the open
ſtreet of ſo infamous a character, and accompanied with ſuch
laſcivious language and geſtures, that the modeſty of reſpectable
females was ſhocked to a degree that prevented their attendance
at the ſervice in the churches on thoſe days.1 It is added that
1
Illud etiam petendum, ut quoniam contra præcepta divina conviva multis in
locis exercentur, quæ ab errore gentili attracta ſunt, ita ut nunc a paganis ad hæc
celebranda cogantur, ex qua re temporibus Chriſtianorum imperatorum perſecutio
altera fiera occulta videatur, vetari talia jubeant, et de civitatibus et poſſeſſionibus
impoſita pœna prohiberi, maxime cum etiam in natalibus beatiſſimorum martyrum
per nonnullas civitates et in ipſis locis ſacris talia committere non reformident, quibus
172 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

theſe Pagan ceremonies were even carried into the churches, and
that many of the clergy took part in them.
It is probable, too, that when Paganiſm itſelf had become an
offence againſt the ſtate, and thoſe who continued attached to it
were expoſed to perſecution, they embraced the name of Chriſtians
as a cover for the groſſeſt ſuperſtitions, and formed ſects who prac-
tiſed the rites of Paganiſm in their ſecret conventicles, but were
placed by the church among the Chriſtian hereſies. In ſome of
theſe, eſpecially among thoſe of an early date, the obſcene rites and
principles of the phallic worſhip ſeem to have entered largely,
for, though their opponents probably exaggerated the actual vice
car-ried on under their name, yet much of it muſt have had an exiſt-
ence in truth. It was a mixture of the licence of the vulgar
Paganiſm of antiquity with the wild doctrines of the latter eaſtern
philoſophers. The older orthodox writers dwell on the details of
theſe libidinous rites. Among the earlieſt in date were the Adam-
iani, or Adamites, who proſcribed marriage, and held that the moſt
perfect innocence was conſiſtent only with the community of women.
They choſe latibula, or caverns, for their conventicles, at which both
ſexes aſſembled together in perfect nakedneſs.1 This ſect perhaps
continued to exiſt under different forms, but it was revived among
the intellectual vagaries of the fifteenth century, and continued at
leaſt to be much talked of till the ſeventeenth. The doctrine of the
community of women, and the practice of promiſcuous ſexual
intercourſe in their meetings, were aſcribed by the early Chriſtian

diebus etiam, quod pudoris eſt dicere, ſaltationes ſceleratiſſimas per vicos atque plateas
exerceant, ut matronalia honor, et innumerabilium fœminarum pudor, devote veni-
entium ad facratiſſimum diem, injuris laſcivientium appetatur, ut etiam ipſius ſanctæ
religionis pæne fugiatur acceſſus. Burchard, Decret., lib. x, c. 20, De conviviis
quæ fiunt ritu paganorum, ex Concil. Africano, cap. 27. See Labbæs, Concil.,
tom. ii, col. 1085.
1
Epiphanii Epiſc. Conſtant. Panarium verſus Hæres., vol. i, p. 459, ed. Petav.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 173

controverſialiſts to ſeveral ſects, ſuch as the followers of Florian, and of

Carpocratian, who were accuſed of putting out the lamps in their
churches at the end of the evening ſervice, and indulging in ſexual
intercourſe indiſcriminately;1 the Nicolaitæ, who held their wives
in common; the Ebionei; and eſpecially the Gnoſtics, or followers
of Baſilides, and the Manichæans. The Nicolaites held that the
only way to ſalvation lay through frequent intercourſe between the
ſexes.2 Epiphanius ſpeaks of a ſect who ſacrificed a child in their
ſecret rites by pricking it with brazen pins, and then offering its
blood. 3 The Gnoſtics were accuſed of eating human fleſh as well
as of laſciviouſneſs, and they alſo are ſaid to have held their women
in common, and taught that it was a duty to proſtitute their wives
to their gueſts.4 They knew their fellow ſectarians by a
ſecret ſign, which conſiſted in tickling the palm of the hand with
the finger in a peculiar manner. The ſign having been recog-
nized, mutual confidence was eſtabliſhed, and the ſtranger was
invited to ſupper; after they had eaten their fill, the huſband
removed from the ſide of his wife, and ſaid to her, “Go, exhibit
charity to our gueſt,” which was the ſignal for thoſe further ſcenes
of hoſpitality.5 This account is given us by St. Epiphanius,
biſhop of Conſtantia. We are told further of rites practiced by
the Gnoſtics, which were ſtill more diſguſting, for they were ſaid,
after theſe libidinous ſcenes, to offer and adminiſter the ſemen virile
1
In eccleſia ſua poſt occaſum ſolis lucernis extinctis mſceri cum mulierculis.
Philaſtri de Hæreſibus Liber, c. 57.
2
Epiphanii Panarion, vol. I, p. 72.
3
Epihphanius, vol. i, p. 416.
4
On the ſecret worſhip and the character of the Gnoſtics ſee Epihanii Panarion,
vol. i. pp. 84—102.
5
™k toÝto d sumposi£santej, kaˆ èj œpoj eˆpe‹n, t¦j flšbaj toà kÕrou
™mpl»santej ˜autîn, e„j osron tršpontai. kaˆ Ð mn ¢n¾r tÁj gunaikÕj
Øpocwr¾saj f£skei legwn tÍ ˜atoà gunaikˆ Óti ¢n£sta lšgwn, po…hson
t»n ¢g£phn met¦ toà ¢delfoà. oƒ d t£lanej migšntej ¢ll»loij. Epihan.
Panarion, vol. i, p. 86.
174 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

as their ſacrament.1 A ſimilar practice is deſcribed as exiſting

among women in the middle ages for the purpoſe of ſecuring the
love of their huſbands, and was perhaps derived from the Gnoſtics
and Manichæans, whoſe doctrines, brought from the Eaſt, appear
to have ſpread themſelves extenſively into Weſtern Europe.2
Of theſe doctrines, however, we have no traces at leaſt until
the eleventh century, when a great intellectual agitation began in
Weſtern Europe, which brought to the ſurface of ſociety a multi-
tude of ſtrange creeds and ſtrange theories. The popular worſhip
diſplayed in the great annual feſtivals, and the equally popular
local fêtes, urban or rural, were hardly interfered with, or any
ſecret ſocieties belonging to the old worſhip; the mediæval church
did not conſider them as hereſies, and let them alone. Thus,
except now and then a proviſion of ſome eccleſiaſtical council
expreſſed in general terms againſt ſuperſtitions, which was hardly
heard at the time and not liſtened to, they are paſſed over in ſilence.
But the moment anything under the name of hereſy raiſed its head,
the alarm was great. Gnoſticiſm and Manichæiſm, which had
indeed been identical, were the hereſies moſt hated in the Eaſtern
empire, and, as may be ſuppoſed, moſt perſecuted; and this perſe-
cution was deſtined to drive them weſtward. In the ſeventh cen-
1
See details on this ſubject in Epiphanii Panarion, ib. Conf. Præeſtinati
Adverſus Hæres, lib. i, c. 46, where the ſame thing is ſaid of the Manichæans.
2
Guſtati de ſemine viri tui, ut, propter tua diabolica facta, plus in amorem
tuum exardeſceret? Si feciſti, ſeptem annos per legitimas ferias pœnitere debes.
Burchardi Decretorum lib. xix. The ſame practices appear to have exiſted among the
Anglo-Saxons. Thus, one of the caſes in Theodori Liber Pœnitentialis. (in Thorpe’s
Ancient Laws and Inſtitutes,) is,—Mulier quæ ſemen viri ſui in cibum miſerit, ut inde
amoris ejus plus accipiat, vii. annos pœnitat. Theod. Lib. Pœn.
xvi. 30. And again, Mulier quæ ſemen viri cum cibo ſuo miſcuerit, et id ſumperit, ut
maſculo carior ſit, iii. annos jejunet. Ecgberti Confeſſionale, ſec. 29. Sprenger,
Malleus Maleficarum, quæſt. vii, tells us of witches who made men eat bien autre
choſe to ſecure their love.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 175

tury they became modified into a ſect which took the name of
Paulicians, it is ſaid, from an Armenian enthuſiaſt named Paulus,
and they ſeem to have ſtill further provoked the hatred of the
church by making themſelves, in their own intereſts, the advocates
of freedom of thought and of eccleſiaſtical reform. If hiſtory be to
be believed, their Chriſtian feelings cannot have been very ſtrong,
for, unable to reſiſt perſecution within the empire, they retired into
the territory held by the Saracens, and united with the enemies of
the Croſs in making war upon the Chriſtian Greeks. Others
ſought refuge in the country of the Bulgarians, who had very
generally embraced their doctrines, which ſoon ſpread thence weſt-
ward. In their progreſs through Germany to France they were
known beſt as Bulgarians, from the name of the country whence
they came; in their way through Italy they retained their name of
Paulicians, corrupted in the Latin of that period of the middle ages
into Populicani, Poplicani, Publicani, &c; and, in French, into
Popelican, Poblican, Policien, and various other forms which it is
unneceſſary to enumerate. They began to cauſe alarm in France
at the beginning of the eleventh century, in the reign of king
Robert, when, under the name of Popelicans, they had eſtab-
liſhed themſelves in the dioceſe of Orleans, in which city a council
was held againſt them in 1022, and thirteen individuals were
condemned to be burnt. The name appears to have laſted into
the thirteenth century, but the name of Bulgarians became more
permanent, and, in its French form of Bolgres, Bougres, or
Bogres, became the popular name for heretics in general. With
theſe hereſies, through the more ſenſual parts of Gnoſticiſm and
Manichæiſm, there appears to be left hardly room for doubt that
the ancient phallic worſhip, probably ſomewhat modified, and under
the ſhadow of ſecret rites, was imported into Weſtern Europe; for,
if we make allowance for the willing exaggerations of religious
hatred, and conſequent popular prejudice, the general conviction
176 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

that theſe ſectarians had rites and practices of a licentious character

appears too ſtrong to be entirely diſregarded, nor does it preſent
anything contrary to what we know of the ſtate of mediæval
ſociety, or to the facts which have already been brought forward
in the preſent eſſay. Theſe early ſects appear to have profeſſed
doctrines rather cloſely reſembling modern communiſm, including,
like thoſe of their earlier ſectarian predeceſſors, the community of
women; and this community naturally implies the abolition of
diſtinctive affinities. One of the writers againſt the mediæval
heretics aſſures us that there were “many profeſſed Chriſtians, both
men and women, who feared no more to go to their ſiſter, or ſon
or daughter, or brother, or nephew or niece, or kin or relation,
than to their own wife or huſband.”1 They were accuſed, beyond
this, of indulging in unnatural vices, and this charge was ſo
generally believed, that the name of Bulgarus, or heretic, became
equivalent with Sodomite, and hence came the modern French
word bougre, and its Engliſh repreſentatives.
In the courſe of the eleventh century the ſectarians appeared in
Italy under the name of Patarini, Paterini, or Patrini, which is ſaid
to have been taken from an old quarter of the city of Milan named
Pataria, in which they firſt held their aſſemblies. A contemporary
Engliſhman, Walter Mapes, gives us a ſingular account of the
Paterini and their ſecret rites. Some apoſtates from this hereſy,
he tells us, had related that, at the firſt watch of night, they
met in their ſynagogues, cloſed carefully the doors and windows,
and waited in ſilence, until a black cat of extraordinary bigneſs
deſcended among them by a rope, and that, as ſoon as they ſaw
1
Et hæc eſt cauſa quare multi credentes, tam viri quam mulieres, non timent
magis ad ſororem ſuam, et filium ſive filiam, fratrem, neptem, conſanguineam, et
cognatam accedere, quam ad uxorem et virum prorium. Reinerus, Contra
Waldenſes, in Gretſerus, Scriptores contra Sectam Waldenſium, Gretſeri Opera, tom.
xii, p. 33.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 177

this ſtrange animal, they put out the lights, and muttering through
their teeth inſtead of ſinging their hymns, felt their way to this
object of their worſhip, and kiſſed it, according to their feelings of
humility or pride, ſome on the feet, ſome under the tail, and others
on the genitals, after which each ſeized upon the neareſt perſon of a
different ſex, and had carnal intercourſe as long as he was able.
Their leaders taught them that the moſt perfect degree of charity was
“to do or ſuffer in this manner whatever a brother or ſiſter might
deſire and aſk,” and hence, ſays Mapes, they were called Paterini,
a patiendo.1 Other writers have ſuggeſted a different derivation,
but the one firſt given appears to be that moſt generally accepted.
The different ſects or congregations in Italy and the ſouth, indeed,
appear generally to have taken their names from the towns in
which they had their ſeats or head-quarters. Thus, thoſe who
were ſeated at Bagnols, in the department of the Gard, in the
ſouth of France, were called by the Latin writers Bagnolenſes; the
ſame writers give the name of Concordenſes, or Concorezenſes,
to the heretics of Concordia in Lombardy; and the city of Albi,
now the capital of the department of the Tarn, gave its name
to the ſect of the Albigenſes, or Albigeois, the moſt extenſive

1
Reſipuerunt autem multi, reverſique ad fidem enarrant quod circa primum
noctis vigiliam, clauſis eorum januis, hoſtiis, et feneſtris, expectantes in ſingulis
ſinagogis ſuis ſingulæ ſedeant in ſilentio familiæ, deſcenditque per funem appenſum in
medio miræ magnitudinis murelegus niger, quem cum vidernet, luminibus extinctis,
hymnos non decantant, non diſtincte dicunt, ſed ruminant affertis dentibus, acce-
duntque ubi dominum ſuum viderint palpantes, inventumque deoſculantur quiſque
ſecundum quod ampliore ſervet inſania humilius, quidam pedes, plurimi ſub cauda,
plerique pudenda, et quaſi a loco fœtoris accepta licentia pruriginis, quiſque ſibi
proximum aut proximam arripit, commiſcenturque quantum quiſque lubidrium
extendere prævalet. Dicunt etiam magiſtri docentque novitios caritatem eſſe per-
fectam agere vel pati quod deſideraverit et petierit frater aut ſoror, extinguere ſcilicet
inviciem ardentes, et a patiendo Paterini dicuntur. Mapes, De Nugis Curialium,
p. 61.
178 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

of them all, which ſpread over the whole of the ſouth of France. A
rich enthuſiaſt of the city of Lyons, named Waldo, who had collected
his wealth by mercantile purſuits, and who lived in the twelfth cen-
tury, ſold his property and diſtributed it among the poor, and he
became the head of a ſect which profeſſed poverty as one of its
tenets, and received from the name of its founder that of Waldenſes
or Vaudois. From their poſſeſſion of voluntary poverty they are
ſometimes ſpoken of by the name of Pauperes de Lugduno, the
paupers of Lyons. Contemporaries ſpeak of the Waldenſes as
being generally poor ignorant people; yet they ſpread widely
over that part of France and into the valleys of Switzerland, and
became ſo celebrated, that at laſt nearly all the mediæval heretics
were uſually claſſed under the head of Waldenſes. Another ſect,
uſually claſſed with the Waldenſes, were called Cathari. The Nova-
tians, a ſect which ſprang up in the church in the third century,
aſſumed alſo the name of Cathari, as laying claim to extraordinary
purity (kaqaroˆ), but there is no reaſon for believing that the ancient
ſect was revived in the Cathari of the later period, or even that
the two words are identical. The name of the latter ſect is
often ſpelt Gazari, Gazeri, Gaçari, and Chazari; and, as they were
more eſpecially a German ſect, it is ſuppoſed to have been the
origin of the German words Ketzer and Ketzerie, which became
the common German terms for a heretic and hereſy. It was
ſuggeſted by Henſchenius that this name was derived from the
German Katze or Ketze, a cat, in alluſion to the common report
that they aſſembled at night like cats, or ghoſts;1 or the
cat may have been an alluſion to the belief that in their ſecret
meetings they worſhipped that animal. This ſect muſt have been
very ignorant and ſuperſtitious if it be true which ſome old writers
1
Propter nocturnas coitiones, a voce Germanica caters, id eſt, feles ſeu lemures.
See Ducagne, ſub v. Cathari.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 179

tell us, that they believed that the ſun was a demon, and the moon
a female called Heva,1 and that theſe two had ſexual intercourſe
every month. Like the other heretical ſects, theſe Cathari were
accuſed of indulging in unnatural vices, and the German words
Ketzerie and Ketzer were eventually uſed to ſignify ſodomy and
a ſodomite, as well as hereſy and a heretic.
The Waldenſes generally, taking all the ſects which people claſs
under this name, including alſo the older Bulgari and Publicani,
were charged with holding ſecret meetings, at which the devil
appeared to them in the ſhape, according to ſome, of a goat, whom
they worſhipped by offering the kiſs in ano, after which they
indulged in promiſcuous ſexual intercourſe. Some believed that
they were conveyed to theſe meetings by unearthly means. The
Engliſh chronicler, Ralph de Coggeſhall, tells a ſtrange ſtory of
the means of locomotion poſſeſſed by theſe heretics. In the city
of Rheims, in France, in the time of St. Louis, a handſome young
woman was charged with hereſy, and carried before the archbiſhop,
in whoſe preſence ſhe avowed her opinions, and confeſſed that ſhe
had received them from a certain old woman of that city. The old
woman was then arreſted, convicted of being an obſtinate heretic,
and condemned to the ſtake. When they were preparing to carry
her out to the fire, ſhe ſuddenly turned to the judges and ſaid, “Do
you think that you are able to burn me in your fire? I care neither
for it nor for you!” And taking a ball of thread, ſhe threw it out at
a large window by which ſhe was ſtanding, holding the end of the
thread in her hands, and exclaiming, “Take it!” (recipe). In an
inſtant, in the ſight of all who were there, the old woman was
lifted from the ground, and, following the ball of thread, was car-
ried into the air nobody knew where; and the archbiſhop’s officers
1
Bonacurſus, Vita Hæreticorum, in D’Achery, Spicilegium, tom. i, p. 209. This
book is conſidered to have been written about the year 1190.
180 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

burnt the young woman in her place.1 It was the belief of moſt of
the old ſects of this claſs, as well as of the more ancient Pagans
from whom they were derived, that thoſe who were fully initiated
into their moſt ſecret myſteries became endowed with powers and
faculties above thoſe poſſeſſed by ordinary individuals. A liſt of
the errors of the Waldenſes, printed in the Reliquiæ Antiquæ, from
an Engliſh manuſcript, enumerates among them that they met to
indulge in promiſcuous ſexual intercourſe, and held perverſe
doctrines in accordance with it; that, in ſome parts, the devil
appeared to them in the form of a cat, and that each kiſſed him
under the tail; and that in other parts they rode to the place of
meeting upon a ſtaff anointed with a certain unguent, and were
conveyed thither in a moment of time. The writer adds that,
in the parts where he lived, theſe practices had not been known to
exiſt for a long time.2
Our old chroniclers exult over the ſmall ſucceſs which attended
the efforts of theſe heretics from France and the South to introduce
themſelves into our iſland.3 Theſe ſects, with ſecret and obſcene
1
Radulphus Cogeſhalenfis, In the Ampliſſima Collectio of Martene and Durand.
On the offences with which the different ſects compriſed under the name of
Waldenſes were charged, ſee Gretſer's Scriptores contra Sectam Waldenſium, which
will be found in the twelfth volume of his works, Bonacurſus, Vita Haereticorum, in
the firſt volume of D'Achery's Spicilegium, and the work of a Carthuſian monk in
Martene and Durand, Ampliſſima Collectio, vol. vi, col. 57 et ſeq.
2
Wright and Halliwell, Reliquæ Antiquæ, vol. i, p. 247.
Item, habent inter ſe mixtum abominabile, et perverſa dogmata ad hoc apta, ſed
non reperitur quod abutantur in partibus iſtis a multis temporibis.
Item, in aliquibus aliis partibus apparet eis dæmon ſub ſpecie et figura cati, quem
ſub cauda ſigillatim oſculantur.
Item, in aliis partibus ſuper unum baculum certo unguento perunctum equitant, et
ad local aſſignata ubi voluerint congregatur in momento dum volunt. Sed
iſta in iſtis partibus non inveniuntur.
3
See, for example, Guil. Neubrigenſis, De Rebus Anglicis, lib. ii, c. 13, and
Walter Mapes, de Nugis Curialium, p. 62.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 181

rites, appear, indeed, to have found moſt favour among the peoples
who ſpoke a dialect derived from the Latin, and this we might
naturally be led to expect, for the fact of the preſervation of the
Latin tongue is itſelf a proof of the greater force of the Roman
element in the ſociety, that from which theſe ſecret rites appear to
have been chiefly derived. It is a curious circumſtance, in connec-
tion with this ſubject, that the popular oaths and exclamations
among the people ſpeaking the languages derived from the Romans
are almoſt all compoſed of the names of the objects of this phallic
worſhip, an entire contraſt to the practice of the Teutonic tribes—
the vulgar oaths of the people ſpeaking Neo-Latin dialects are
obſcene, thoſe of the German race are profane. We have ſeen
how the women of Antwerp, who, though perhaps they did not
ſpeak the Roman dialect, appear to have been much influenced by
Roman ſentiments, made their appeal to their genius Ters. When
a Spaniard is irritated or ſuddenly excited, he exclaims, Carajo!
(the virile member) or Cojones! (the teſticles). An Italian, under
ſimilar circumſtances, uſes the exclamation Cazzo! (the virile
member). The Frenchman apoſtrophizes the act, Foutre! The
female member, cono with the Spaniard, conno with the Italian, and
con with the Frenchman, was and is uſed more generally as an ex-
preſſion of contempt, which is alſo the caſe with the teſticles, couil-
lons, in French—thoſe who have had experience in the old days of
“diligence” travelling will remember how uſual it was for the
driver, when the horſes would not go quick enough, to addreſs the
leader in ſuch terms as, “Va, donc, vieux con!” We have no ſuch
words uſed in this manner in the Germanic languages, with the
exception, perhaps, of the German Potz! and Potztauſend! and
the Engliſh equivalent, Pox! which laſt is gone quite out of uſe.
There was an attempt among the faſhionables of our Elizabethan
age of literature, to introduce the Italian cazzo under the form of
catſo, and the French foutre under that of foutra, but theſe were
182 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

mere affectations of a moment, and were ſo little in accord with

our national ſentiments that they ſoon diſappeared.
The earlieſt accounts of a ſect which held ſecret meetings for
celebrating obſcene rites is found in France. It appears that, early
in the eleventh century, there was in the city of Orleans a ſociety
conſiſting of members of both ſexes, who aſſembled at certain
times in a houſe there, for the purpoſes which are deſcribed rather
fully in a document found in the cartulary of the abbey of St.
Père at Chartres. As there ſtated, they went to the meeting,
each carrying in the hand a lighted lamp, and they began by
chaunting the names of demons in the manner of a litany, until a
demon ſuddenly deſcended among them in the form of an animal.
This was no ſooner ſeen, than they all extinguiſhed their lamps,
and each man took the firſt female he put his hand upon, and had
ſexual intercourſe with her, without regard if ſhe were his mother,
or his ſiſter, or a conſecrated nun; and this intercourſe, we are
told, was looked upon by them as an act of holineſs and religion.
The child which was the fruit of this intercourſe was taken on the
eighth day and purified by fire, “in the manner of the ancient
Pagans,”—ſo ſays the contemporary writer of this document,—it
was burnt to aſhes in a large fire made for that purpoſe. The
aſhes were collected with great reverence, and preſerved, to be
adminiſtered to members of the ſociety who were dying, juſt as
good Chriſtians received the viaticum. It is added that there was
ſuch a virtue in theſe aſhes, that an individual who had once taſted
them would hardly ever after be able to turn his mind from that
hereſy and take the path of truth.1
1
Congregabantur ſiquidem certis noctibus in domo denominata, ſinguli lucernas
tenentes in manibus, et, ad inſtar letaniæ, dæmonum nomina declamabant, donec
ſubito dæmonum in ſimilitudine cuiuſlibet beſtiolæ inter eos viderent deſcendere.
Qui, ſtatim ut viſibilis illa videbatur viſio, omnibus extinctis luminaribus, quam-
primum quiſque poterat, mulierum quæ ad manum ſibi veniebat ad abuntendum arri-
 GENERATIVE POWERS 183

Whatever degree of truth there may have been in this ſtory, it

muſt have been greatly exaggerated; but the conviction of the
exiſtence of ſecret ſocieties of this character during the middle
ages appears to have been ſo ſtrong and ſo generally held, that we
muſt heſitate in rejecting it. Perhaps we may take the leaden
tokens already deſcribed, and repreſented in one of our plates,1 as
evidence of the exiſtence of ſuch ſocieties, for theſe curious objects
appear to admit of no other ſatisfactory explanation than that of
having been in uſe in ſecret clubs of a very impure character.
It has been already remarked that people ſoon ſeized upon accu-
ſations of this kind as excuſes for perſecution, religious and poli-
tical, and we meet with a curious example in the earlier half of the
thirteenth century. The diſtrict of Steding, in the north of
Germany, now known as Oldenburg, was at the beginning of the
thirteenth century inhabited by a people who lived in ſturdy inde-
pendence, but the archbiſhops of Bremen ſeem to have claimed
ſome ſort of feudal ſuperiority over them, which they reſiſted by
force. The archbiſhop, in revenge, declared them heretics, and
proclaimed a cruſade againſt them. Cruſades againſt heretics were
then in faſhion, for it was juſt at the time of the great war againſt the
Albigeois. The Stedingers maintained their independence ſuc-
ceſsfully for ſome years. In 1232 and 1233, the pope iſſued two

piebat, ſine peccati reſpectu et utrum mater aut ſoror aut monacha haberetur, pro
ſanctitate ac religione ejus concubitus ab illis æſtimabatur. Ex quo ſpurciſſimo concu-
bity infans generatus octava die in medio eorum copioſo igne accenſo piabatur per
ignem, more antiquorum paganorum, et ſic in igne cremabatur. Cujus cinis tanta
veneratione colligebatur atque cuſtodiebatur, ut Chriſtiana religioſitas corpus Chriſti
cuſtodiri ſolet, ægris dandum de hoc ſeculo exituris ad viaticum. Inerat enim tanta
vis diabolicæ fraudis in ipſo cinere, ut quicumque de præfata hæreſi imbutus fuiſſet, et
de eodem cinere quamvis ſumendo parum prælibaviſſet, vix unquam poſtea de eadem
hæreſi greſſum mentis ad viam veritatis dirigere valeret. Guérard, Cartulaire de
l’Abbate de Saint-Père de Chartres, vol. i, p. 112.
1
See before, p. 146, and Plate XXXIII.
184 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

bulls againſt the offending Stedingers, in both of which he charges

them with various heathen and magical practices, but in the ſecond
be enters more fully into details. Theſe Stedingers, the pope
(Gregory IX.) tells us, performed the following ceremonies at the
initiation of a new convert into their ſect. When the novice was
introduced, a toad preſented itſelf, which all who were preſent kiſſed,
ſome on the poſteriors, and others on the mouth, when they drew
its tongue and ſpittle into their own mouths. Sometimes this toad
appeared of only the natural ſize, but ſometimes it was as big as a
gooſe or duck, and often its ſize was that of an oven. As the novice
proceeded, he encountered a man who was extraordinarily pale, with
large black eyes, and whoſe body was ſo waſted that his fleſh ſeemed
to be all gone, leaving nothing but the ſkin hanging on his bones.
The novice kiſſed this perſonage, and found him as cold as ice;
and after this kiſs all traces of the Catholic faith vaniſhed from his
heart. Then they all ſat down to a banquet; and when this was
over, there ſtepped out of a ſtatue, which ſtood in their place of
meeting, a black cat, as large as a moderate ſized dog, which
advanced backwards to them, with its tail turned up. The novice
firſt, then the maſter, and then all the others in their turns, kiſſed
the cat under the tail, and then returned to their places, where
they remained in ſilence, with their heads inclined towards the cat.
Then the maſter ſuddenly pronounced the words “Spare us!”
which he addreſſed to the next in order; and the third anſwered,
“We know it, lord;” and a fourth added, “We ought to obey.” At
the cloſe of this ceremony the lights were extinguiſhed, and each
man took the firſt woman who came to hand, and had carnal
intercourſe with her. When this was over, the candles were again
lighted, and the performers reſumed their places. Then out of a
dark corner of the room came a man, the upper part of whom,
above the loins, was bright and radiant as the ſun, and illuminated
the whole room, while his lower parts were rough and hairy like a
 GENERATIVE POWERS 185

cat. The maſter then tore off a bit of the garment of the novice,
and ſaid to the ſhining perſonage, “Maſter, this is given to me,
and I give it again to thee.” The maſter replied, “Thou haſt
ſerved me well, and thou wilt ſerve me more and better; what
thou haſt given me I give unto thy keeping.” When he had ſaid
this, the ſhining man vaniſhed, and the meeting broke up. Such
were the ſecret ceremonies of the Stedingers, according to the deli-
berate ſtatement of Pope Gregory IX, who alſo charges them with
offering direct worſhip to Lucifer.1
But the moſt remarkable, and at the ſame time the moſt cele-
brated, affair in which theſe accuſations of ſecret and obſcene cere-
monies were brought to bear, was that of the trial and diſſolution
of the order of the knights templars. The charges againſt the
knights templars were not heard of for the firſt time at the period
of their diſſolution, but for many years it had been whiſpered abroad
that they had ſecret opinions and practices of an objectionable
character. At length the wealth of the order, which was very
great in France, excited the cupidity of King Philippe IV, and it
was reſolved to proceed againſt them, and deſpoil them of their
poſſeſſions. The grounds for theſe proceedings were furniſhed by
two templars, one a Gaſcon, the other an Italian, who were evi-
dently men of bad character, and who, having been impriſoned for
ſome offence or offences, made a confeſſion of the ſecret practices
of their order, and upon theſe confeſſions certain articles of accu-
ſation were drawn up. Theſe appear to have been enlarged
afterwards. In 1307, Jacques de Molay, the grand maſter of the
order, was treacherouſly allured to Paris by the king, and there
ſeized and thrown into priſon. Others, ſimilarly committed to
priſon in all parts of the kingdom, were examined individually on
1
Baronius, Annales Eccleſiaſtici, tom. xxi, p. 89, where the two bulls are printed,
and where the details of the hiſtory of the Stedingers will be found.
186 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

the charges urged againſt them, and many confeſſed, while others
obſtinately denied the whole. Amongſt theſe charges were the
following: 1. That on the admiſſion of a new member of the
order, after having taken the oath of obedience, he was obliged to
deny Chriſt, and to ſpit, and ſometimes alſo to trample, upon the
croſs; 2. That they then received the kiſs of the templar, who
officiated as receiver, on the mouth, and afterwards were obliged to
kiſs him in ano, on the navel, and ſometimes on the generative
member; 3. That, in deſpite of the Saviour, they ſometimes wor-
ſhipped a cat, which appeared amongſt them in their ſecret conclave;
4. That they practiſed unnatural vice together; 5. That they
had idols in their different provinces; in the form of a head, having
ſometimes three faces, ſometimes two, or only one, and ſometimes
a bare ſkull, which they called their ſaviour, and believed its in-
fluence to be exerted in making them rich, and in making flowers
grow and the earth germinate; and 6. That they always wore about
their bodies a cord which had been rubbed againſt the head, and
which ſerved for their protection.1
The ceremonies attending the reception into the order were ſo
univerſally acknowledged, and are deſcribed in terms which have ſo
much the appearance of truthfulneſs, that we can hardly altogether
diſbelieve in them. The denial was to be repeated thrice, no doubt in
imitation of St. Peter. It appears to have been conſidered as a trial of
the ſtrength of the obedience they had juſt ſworn to the order, and
they all pleaded that they had obeyed with reluctance, that they had
denied with the mouth but not with the heart; and that they had
intentionally ſpit beſide the croſs and not upon it. In one inſtance
the croſs was of ſilver, but it was more commonly of braſs, and ſtill
more frequently of wood; on one occaſion the croſs painted in a
miſſal was uſed, and the croſs on the templar’s mantle often ſerved
1
Procès des Templiers, edited by M. Michelet, vol. i, pp. 90-92.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 187

the purpoſe. When one Nicholas de Compiegne proteſted againſt

theſe two acts, all the templars who were preſent told him that he
muſt do them, for it was the cuſtom of the order.1 Baldwin de St.
Juſt at firſt refuſed, but the receptor warned him that if he perſiſted
in his refuſal, it would be the worſe for him (aliter male accideret
ſibi), and then “he was ſo much alarmed that his hair ſtood on end.” 2
Jacques de Trecis ſaid that he did it under fear, becauſe his receptor
ſtood by with a great naked ſword in his hand.3 Another, Geoffrey
de Thatan, having ſimilarly refuſed, his receptor told him that they
were “points of the order,” and that if he did not comply, “he
ſhould be put in ſuch a place that he would never ſee his own feet.”4
And another who refuſed to utter the words of denial was thrown
into priſon and kept there until veſpers, and when he ſaw that he
was in peril of death, he yielded, and did whatever the receptor
required of him, but he adds that he was ſo troubled and frightened
that he had forgotten whether he ſpat on the croſs or not.5 Gui de
la Roche, a preſbyter of the dioceſe of Limoges, ſaid that he
uttered the denial with great weeping.6 Another, when he denied
Chriſt, “was all ſtupified and troubled, and it ſeemed as if he
were enchanted, not knowing what counſel to take, as they
threatened him heavily if he did not do it.”7 When Etienne de
1
Procès des Templiers, ii, 418.
2
Et tunc ipſe teſtis fuit magis attonitus, et orripilvait, id eſt eriguere pili ſui.
Procès, i, 242.
3
Procès, i, 254.
4
Subjunxit idem receptor quod iſta erant de punctis ordinis . . . . ſubjiciens
dictum præceptorem ſibi dixiſſe quod, niſi prædicta faceret, poneretur in tali loco
quod nunquam videret pedes ſuos. Procès, i, pp. 222, 223. See alſo, i, 321.
5
Et tunc dictus recipiens poſuit eum in quodam carcere, in quo ſtetit uſque ad
veſperas; et cum vidiſſet quo eſſet in periculo mortis, petivit quod exiret, et faceret
voluntatem ejus. Procès, ii, 284.
6
Cum magno fletu. Procès, ii, 219.
7
It ipſe fuit totus ſtupefactus et turbatus, et videbatur ſibi quaſi quod eſſet in-
188 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

Dijon ſimilarly refuſed to deny his Saviour, the preceptor told him
that he muſt do it becauſe he had ſworn to obey his orders, and
then “he denied with his mouth,” he ſaid, “but not with his heart;
and he did this with great grief,” and he adds that when it was
done, he was ſo conſcience-ſtruck that “he wiſhed he had been
outſide at his liberty, even though it had been with the loſs of one
of his arms.”1 When Odo de Dompierre, with great reluctance, at
length ſpat on the croſs, he ſaid that he did it with ſuch bitter-neſs of
heart that he would rather have had his two thighs broken.2
Michelet, in the account of the proceedings againſt the templars in
his “Hiſtory of France,” offers an ingenious explanation of theſe
ceremonies of initiation which gives them a typical meaning. He
imagines that they were borrowed from the figurative myſteries and
rites of the early Church, and ſuppoſes that, in this ſpirit, the can-
didate for admiſſion into the order was firſt preſented as a ſinner
and renegade, in which character, after the example of Peter, he
was made to deny Chriſt. This denial, he ſuggeſts, was a ſort of
pantomime in which the novice expreſſed his reprobate ſtate by
ſpitting on the croſs; after which he was ſtripped of his profane
clothing, received, through the kiſs of the order, into a higher ſtate
of faith, and clothed with the garb of its holineſs. If this were the
caſe, the true meaning of the performance muſt have been very
ſoon forgotten.
This was eſpecially the caſe with the kiſs. According to the

cantatus, neſciens ſibi ipſi conſulere, cum comminarentur eidem graviter niſi noc
faceret. Procès, i, 291.
1
Preceptor reſpondit ei quod oportebat eum abnegare, quia juraverat obedire
præceptis ſuis; et teſtis abnegavit ore, ſicut dixit, et non corde; et hoc fecit cum
magno dolore, et voluiſſet, ſicut dixit, tunc fuiſſe extra in libertate ſua cum uno ſolo
brachio, quia faciebat contra conſcientiam ſuam.
2
Adjiciens ſe cum magna cordis amaritudine hoc feciſſe, et quod tunc magic vo-
luiſſet habuiſſe crura fracta, quam facere prædicta, et fuit per aliquod ſpatium, ſicut
dixit, reluctans priuſquam hoc faceret. Prèces, i, 307.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 189

articles of accuſation, one of the ceremonies of initiation required

the novice to kiſs the receiver on the mouth, on the anus, or the
end of the ſpine, on the navel, and on the virga virilis.1 The laſt
is not mentioned in the examinations, but the others are deſcribed
by ſo many of the witneſſes that we cannot doubt of their truth.
From the depoſitions of many of the templars examined, it would
appear that the uſual order was to kiſs the receptor firſt in ano,
next on the navel, and then on the mouth.2 The firſt of theſe was an
act which would, of courſe, be repulſive to moſt people, and the
practice aroſe gradually of only kiſſing the end of the ſpine, or, as
it was called in mediæval Latin, in anca. Bertrand de Somorens,
of the dioceſe of Amiens, deſcribing a reception at which more than
one new member was admitted, ſays that the receiver next told
them that they muſt kiſs him in ano; but, inſtead of kiſſing him
there, they lifted up his clothes and kiſſed him on the ſpine.3 The
receptor, it appears, had the power of remitting this kiſs when he
judged there was a ſufficient reaſon. Etienne de Dijon, a preſbyter
of the dioceſe of Langres, ſaid that, when he was admitted into
the order, the preceptor told him that he ought, “according to the
obſervances of the order,” to kiſs his receiver in ano, but that in
conſideration of his being a preſbyter, he would ſpare him and
remit this kiſs.4 Pierre de Grumenil, alſo a preſbyter, when called

1
Item, quod in receptione fratrum dicti ordinis, vel circa, interdum recipiens et
receptus aliquando ſe deoſculabantur in ore, in umbiloco ſeu in ventre nudo, et in ano
ſeu ſpina dorſi . . . . aliquando in virga virili. Procès, i, 91.
2
See the Procès, ii, 286, 362, 364.
3
Deinde præcepit eis quod oſcularentur eum in ano; ipſi tamen non fuerunt eum
inibi oſculati, ſed, elevatis pannis, prædictum receptorem fuerunt oſculati in ſpinda
dorſi nuda, et hoc fecerunt, quia dixit eis quod erat de punctis ordinis. Procès, ii,
60. Another ſaid, on another occaſion, Præcepit etiam dictus receptor eis, quod
oſcularentur eum in ano et in umbilico, et ipſi oſculati fuerunt in anca et umbilico
ſuper carnem nudam. Ib. ii, 159.
4
Item dixit quod, prædictis peractis, dictus præceptor dixit ei quod ſecundam ob-
190 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

upon to perform this act, refuſed, and was allowed to kiſs his re-
ceiver on the navel only.1 A preſbyter named Ado de Dompierre
was excuſed for the ſame reaſon,2 as well as many others. Another
templar, named Pierre de Lanhiac, ſaid that, at his reception into
the order, his receptor told him that he muſt kiſs him in ano,
becauſe that was one of the points of the order, but that, at the
earneſt ſupplication of his uncle, who was preſent, and muſt there-
fore have been a knight of the order, he obtained a remiſſion of
this kiſs.3
Another charge againſt the templars was ſtill more diſguſting.
It was ſaid that they proſcribed all intercourſe with women, and
one of the men examined ſtated, which was alſo confeſſed by others,
that his receptor told him that, from that hour, he was never to
enter a houſe in which a woman lay in labour, nor to take part as
godfather at the baptiſm of any child,4 but he added that he had
broken his oath, for he had aſſiſted at the baptiſm of ſeveral chil-
dren while ſtill in the order, which he had left about a year before
the ſeizure of the templars, for the love of a woman of whom he
had become enamoured. On the other hand, thoſe who replied to
the interrogatory of the king's officers in this proceſs, were all but
unanimous in the avowal that on entering the order they received

ſervantias ordinis eorum recepti debebant oſcurali in ano receptores, quia tamen idem
teſtis erat preſbyter, parcebat ei et remittebat ſibi dictum oſculum. Procès, i, 302.
1
Deinde præcepit quod oſcularetur eum in ano, et cum ipſe teſtis nollet hoc facere,
præcepit quod oſcularetur eum ſaltem in umbilico ſuper carnem, nudam, et fuit eum
ibi oſculatus. Procès, ii, 24.
2
Procès, i, 307.
3
Poſt quæ dixit eidem quod ſecundum dicta puncta debebat eum oſculari in ano,
et præcepit quod ibi oſcularetur eum, ſed, avunculo ipſius teſtis flexis genibus inſtatne,
remiſit ei oſculum memoratum. Procès, ii, 2.
4
Dixit etiam quod ab illa hora in antea non intraret domum in qua aliqua mulier
jaceret in puerperio, nec ſuſciperet aliquem nec teneret in ſacro fonte. Procès, i,
255.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 191

the permiſſion to commit ſodomy amongſt themſelves. Two or

three profeſſed not to have underſtood this injunction in a bad
ſenſe, but to have ſuppoſed that it only meant that, when the
brethren were ſhort of beds, each was to be ready to lend half of his
bed to his fellow.1 One of them, named Gillet de Encraye, ſaid
that he at firſt ſuppoſed it to be meant innocently, but that his re-
ceptor immediately undeceived him, by repeating it in leſs covert
terms, at which he was himſelf ſo horrified that he wiſhed himſelf
far away from the chapel in which the ceremony took place.2 A
great number of templars ſtated that, after the kiſſes of initiation,
they were informed that if they felt moved by natural heat, they
might call any one of the brethren to their relief, and that they ought
to relieve their brethren when appealed to under the ſame circum-
ſtances.3 This appears to have been the moſt common form of
the injunction. In one or two inſtances the receiver is deſcribed as
adding that this was an act of contempt towards the other ſex,
which may perhaps be conſidered as ſhowing that the ceremony
was derived from ſome of the myſteries of the ſtrange ſects which
appeared in the earlier ages of Chriſtianity. Jean de St. Loup,
who held the office of maſter of the houſe of templars at Soiſiac,
ſaid that, on his reception into the order, he received the injunction
1
Poſt quæ immediates præcepit idem frater P. ipſi teſti quod ſi aliquis frater dicti
ordinis vellet jacere ſecum, non deberet recuſare. Ipſe tamen teſtis, ut dixit, non
intellexit quod hoc diceret ut jacentes inſimul aliquod peccatum committerentur, ſed,
ſi deficeret lectus alteri, quod reciperet eum in lecto ſuo honeſto. Procès, i, 262. See
again, i. 568.
2
Sed dictus frater Johannes ſubjunxit et declaravit quod carnaliter poterant com-
miſceri, de quo ipſe teſtis fuit multum turbatus, ut dixit, et multum deſideravit, ut
dixit, quod tunc eſſet extra portam dictæ capellæ. Procès, i, 250.
3
Quo facto, dixit ſibi recipiens quod ſi aliquis calor naturalis moveret eum ad libi-
dinem exercendam, faceret ſecum jacere unum de fratribus ſuis et haberet rem cum
eo, et permitteret hoc idem ſimiliter ſibi fieri ab aliis fratribus. Procès, ii, 284. Cf.
pp. 287, 288.
192 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

not to have intercourſe with women, but, if he could not perſevere

in continence, he might have the ſame intercourſe with men;1 and
others were told that it would “be better to ſatisfy their luſt among
themſelves, whereby the order would eſcape evil report, than if they
went to women.”2 But although the almoſt unanimity of the confeſ-
ſions leave hardly room for a doubt that ſuch injunctions were given,
yet on the other hand they are equally unanimous in denying that
theſe injunctions were carried into practice. Almoſt every templar,
as the queſtions were put to him, after admitting that he was told
that he might indulge in ſuch vice with the other brethren, aſſerted
that he had never done this, and that he had never been aſked to do ſo
by any of them. Theobald de Taverniac, whoſe name tells us that
he came from the ſouth, denied indignantly the exiſtence of ſuch a
vice among their order but in terms which themſelves told not
very much in favour of the morality of the templars in other
reſpects. He ſaid that, “as to the crime of ſodomy,” he believed
the charge to be totally untrue, “becauſe they could have very
handſome and elegant women when they liked, and that they did
have them frequently when they were rich and powerful enough
to afford it, and that on this account he and other brothers of the
order were removed from their houſes, as he ſaid.”3 We have an
implied acknowledgment that the templars did not entirely
1
Dixit etiam per juramentum ſuum quod fuit ſibi injunctum per eos quod non
heberet rem cum mulieribus, ſed, ſi continere non poſſet, commiſceret ſe carnaliter
cum hominibus. Procès, 287. Cf. ii, 288, 294, etc.
2
Poſtea unus prædictorum ſervientium dixit eis quod, ſi haberent calorem et motus
carnales, poterant ad invicem carnaliter commiſceri, ſi volebant, quia melius erat
quod hoc facerent inter ſe, ne ordo vituperaretur, quam ſi accederent ad mulieres.
Procès, i, 386.
3
De crimine ſodomitico, reſpondit ſe nihil ſcire, nec credere contenta in ipſis arti-
culis eſſe vera, quia poterant habere mulieres pulchras et bene comptas, et frequenter
eas habebant, cum eſſent divites et potentes, et ex hoc ipſe et alii fratres ipſius ordinis
amoti fuerant a ſuis domibus, ut dixit. Procès, i, 326.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 193

neglect the other ſex in a ſtatement quoted by Du Puy that, if a

child were born from the intercourſe between a templar and a virgin,
they roaſted it, and made an unguent of its fat, with which they
anointed their idol.1 Thoſe who confeſſed to the exiſtence of the
vice were ſo few, and their evidence ſo indefinite or indirect,
that they are deſerving of no conſideration. One had heard
that ſome brethren beyond the ſea had committed unnatural
vices.2 Another, Hugh de Faure, had heard ſay that two
brothers of the order, dwelling in the Chateau Pelerin, had
been charged with ſodomy; that, when this reached the ears of
the maſter, he gave orders for their arreſt, and that one had been
killed in the attempt to eſcape, while the other was taken and im-
priſoned for life.3 Peter Brocart, a templar of Paris, declared that
one of the order, one night, called him and committed ſodomy
with him; adding that he had not refuſed, becauſe he conſidered
himſelf bound to obedience by the rules of the order.4 The evi-
dence is decidedly ſtrong againſt the prevalence of ſuch a vice
among the templars, and the alleged permiſſion was perhaps a mere
form of words, which concealed ſome occult meaning unknown to
the maſs of the templars themſelves. We are not inclined to reject
altogether the theory of the baron von Hammer-Pürgſtall, that
the templars had adopted ſome of the myſterious tenets of the
eaſtern Gnoſtics.
1
Præterea, ſi ex templarii coitu infans ex puella virgine naſcebatur, hunc igni
torrebant; exque eliquata inde pinguedine ſuum ſimulachrum decoris gratia unge-
bant. Robert Gaguin, ap. Du Puy, Hiſtoire de l’Ordre Militaire des Templiers,
p. 24.
2
Procès, ii, 213.
3
Audivit dici quod duo fratres ordinis, commorantes in Caſtro Peregrini, erant
de crimine ſodomitico diſſamati; et cum hoc perveniſſet ad magiſtrum, mandavit eos
capi, et unus illorum fuit interfectus cum fugeret, et alter fuit perpetuo carcari man-
cipatus. Procès, ii, 223.
4
Procès, ii, 294.
194 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

In regard to the ſecret idolatry with which the templars were

charged, it is a ſubject involved in great obſcurity. The cat is but
little ſpoken of in the depoſitions. Some Italian knights confeſſed
that they had been preſent at a ſecret chapter of twelve knights
held at Brindiſi, when a grey cat ſuddenly appeared amongſt them,
and they worſhipped it. At Niſmes, ſome templars declared that
they had been preſent at a chapter at Montpellier, when the demon
appeared to them in the form of a cat, and promiſed them worldly
proſperity, but they appear to have been viſionaries not to be
truſted, for they ſtated that at the ſame time devils appeared in the
ſhape of women. An Engliſh templar, examined in London, de-
poſed that in England they did not adore the cat, or the idol, but
that he had heard it poſitively ſtated that the cat and the idol were
worſhipped by the templars in parts beyond ſea.1 A ſolitary
Frenchhman, examined in Paris, Gillet de Encreyo, ſpoke of the
cat, and ſaid that he had heard, but had forgotten who were his
informants, and did not believe them, that beyond ſea a certain cat
had appeared to the templars in their battles.2 The cat belongs to
a lower claſs of popular ſuperſtitions, perhaps, than that of the
templars.
This, however, was not the caſe with the idol, which was gene-
rally deſcribed as the figure of a human head, and appears only to
have been ſhown in the more ſecret chapter meetings on parti-
cular occaſions. Many of the templars examined before the com-
miſſioners, ſaid that they had heard this idol head ſpoken of as
exiſting in the order, and others depoſed to having ſeen it. It was
generally deſcribed as being about the natural ſize of a man’s head,
1
Reſpondit quod in Anglia non adorant catum nec idolum, quod ipſe ſciat; ſed
audviit bene dici, quod adorant catum et idolum in partibus tranſmarinis. Wilkins,
Concilla, vol. ii, p. 384.
2
Audivit tamen ab aliquibus dici, de quibus non recordatur, quod quidam catus
apparebat ultar mare in præliis eorum, quod tamen non credit. Procès, i, 251.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 195

with a very fierce-looking face and a beard, the latter ſometimes

white. Different witneſſes varied as to the material of which it was
made, and, indeed, in various other particulars, which lead us to
ſuppoſe that each houſe of the templars, where the idol exiſted, had
its own head, and that they varied in form. They agreed generally
that this head was an object of worſhip. One templar depoſed that
he was preſent at a chapter of the order in Paris, when the head
was brought in, but he was unable to deſcribe it at all, for, when
he ſaw it, he was ſo ſtruck with terror that he hardly knew where
he was.1 Another, Ralph de Gyſi, who held the office of receptor
for the province of Champagne, ſaid that he had ſeen the head in
many chapters; that, when it was introduced, all preſent threw
themſelves on the ground and adored it: and when aſked to de-
ſcribe it, he ſaid, on his oath, that its countenance was ſo terrible,
that it ſeemed to him to be the figure of a demon—uſing the French
word un maufé, and that as often as he ſaw it, ſo great a fear took
poſſeſſion of him, that he could hardly look upon it without fear
and trembling.2 Jean Taylafer ſaid that, at his reception into the
order, his attention was directed to a head upon the altar in the
chapel, which he was told he muſt worſhip; he deſcribed it as of
the natural ſize of a mans head, but could not deſcribe it more
particularly, except that he thought it was of a reddiſh colour.3
Raynerus de Larchent ſaw the head twice in a chapter, eſpecially
once in Paris, where it had a beard, and they adored and kiſſed it,

1
Ipſe teſtis, viſo dicto capite, fuit adeo perterritus quod quaſi neſciret ubi eſſet.
Procès, i, 399.
2
Interrogatus cujus figræ eſt, dixit per juramentum ſuum quod ita eſti terriblis
figuræ et aſpectus quod videbatur ſibi quod eſſet figura cujuſdam dæmonis, dicens
Gallice d’un mauſé, et quod quocienſcunque videbat eum tantus timor eum invade-
bat, quod vix poterat illud reſpicere niſi cum maximo timore et tremore. Procès,
ii, 364.
3
Procès, i, 190.
196 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

and called it their ſaviour.1 Guillermus de Herbaleyo ſaw the

head with its beard, at two chapters. He thought it was of ſilver
gilt, and wood inſide. He “ſaw the brethren adore it, and he went
through the form of adoring it himſelf, but he did it not in his
heart.”2 According to one witneſs, Deodatus Jaffet, a knight
from the ſouth of France who had been received at Pedenat,
the receptor ſhowed him a head, or idol, which appeared to
have three faces, and ſaid to him, “You muſt adore this as your
ſaviour, and the ſaviour of the order of the temple,” and he added
that he was made to worſhip the idol, ſaying, “Bleſſed be he
who ſhall ſave my ſoul!” Another deponent gave a very ſimilar
account. Another knight of the order, Hugo de Paraudo, ſaid
that, in a chapter at Montpellier, he had both ſeen, held, and felt,
the idol or head, and that he and the other brothers adored it but
he, like the others, pleaded that he did not adore it in his heart.
He deſcribed it as ſupported on four feet, two before and two
behind.3 Guillaume de Arrablay, the king’s almoner (eleemoſynarius
regius), ſaid that in the chapter at which he was received, a head
made of ſilver was placed on the altar, and adored by thoſe who
formed the chapter; he was told that it was the head of one of the
eleven thouſand virgins, and had always believed this to be the
caſe, until after the arreſt of the order, when, hearing all that was
ſaid on the matter, he “ſuſpected” that it was the idol; and he adds
in his depoſition that it ſeemed to him to have two faces, a terrible
look, and a ſilver beard.4 It does not appear very clear why he
ſhould have taken a head with two faces, a fierce look, and a beard,
1
Quod adorant, oſculantur, et vocant ſalvatorem ſuum. Procès, ii, 279.
2
Et vidit fratres adorare illud; et ipſe fingebat illud adorare, ſed numquam fecit
corde, ut dixit. Procès, ii, 300.
3
Procès, ii, 363.
4
Videtur ſibi quod haberet duas facies, et quod eſſet terribilis aſpectu, et quod ha-
beret barbam argenteam. Procès, i, 502.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 197

for one of the eleven thouſand virgins, but this is, perhaps, partly
explained by the depoſition of another witneſs, Guillaume Pidoye,
who had the charge of the relics, &c., belonging to the Temple in
Paris, and who produced a head of ſilver gilt, having a woman's
face, and a ſmall ſkull, reſembling that of a woman, inſide, which
was ſaid to be that of one of the eleven thouſand virgins. At the
ſame time another head was brought forward, having a beard, and
ſuppoſed to be that of the idol.1 Both theſe witneſſes had no
doubt confounded two things. Pierre Garald, of Murſac, another
witneſs, ſaid that after he had denied Chriſt and ſpitten on the croſs,
the receptor drew from his boſom a certain ſmall image of braſs
or gold, which appeared to repreſent the figure of a woman, and told
him that “he muſt believe in it, and have faith in it, and that it
would be well for him.”2 Here the idol appears in the form of
a ſtatuette. There was alſo another account of the idol, which
perhaps refers to ſome further object of ſuperſtition among the
templars. According to one deponent, it was an old ſkin embalmed,
with bright carbuncles for eyes, which ſhone like the light of
heaven. Others ſaid that it was the ſkin of a man, but agreed with
the others in regard to the carbuncles.3 In England a minorite
friar depoſed that an Engliſh knight of the Temple had aſſured
him that the templars had four principal idols in this country, one
in the ſacriſty of the Temple in London, another at Briſtelham, a
third at Brueria (Bruern in Lincolnſhire), and the fourth at ſome
place beyond the Humber.4
1
Procès, ii, 218.
2
Item, dixit quod poſt prædicta dictus receptor, extrahens de fino ſuo quamdam
parvam imaginem de leone (apparently a miſreading) vel de auro, quæ vibebatur
habere effigiem muliebrem, dixit ei quod crederet in eam, et haberet in ea fiduciam,
et bene ſibi eſſet. Procès, ii, 212.
3
Du Puy, Hiſt. des Templ., pp. 22, 24.
4
Wilkins, Concil., vol. ii, p. 363.
198 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

Another piece of information relating to this “idol,” which has

been the ſubject of conſiderable diſcuſſion among modern writers,
was elicited from the examination of ſome knights from the ſouth.
Gauſerand de Montpeſant, a knight of Provence, ſaid that their
ſuperior ſhowed him an idol made in the form of Baffomet;1 ano-
ther, named Raymond Rubei, deſcribed it as a wooden head, on
which the figure of Baphomet was painted, and adds, “that he
worſhipped it by kiſſing its feet, and exclaiming, ‘Yalla,’ which was,”
he ſays, “verbum Saracenorum,” a word taken from the Saracens.2
A templar of Florence declared that, in the ſecret chapters of the
order, one brother ſaid to the other, ſhowing the idol, “Adore this
head—this head is your god and your Mahomet.” The word
Mahomet was uſed commonly in the middle ages as a general term
for an idol or falſe god; but ſome writers have ſuggeſted that Ba-
phomet is itſelf a mere corruption of Mahomet, and ſuppoſe that
the templars had ſecretly embraced Mahometaniſm. A much more
remarkable explanation of this word has, however, been propoſed,
which is, at the leaſt, worthy of very great conſideration, eſpecially
as it comes from ſo diſtinguiſhed an orientaliſt and ſcholar as the
late baron Joſeph von Hammer-Pürgſtall. It aroſe partly from the
compariſon of a number of objects of art, ornamented with
figures, and belonging apparently to the thirteenth century. Theſe
objects conſiſt chiefly of ſmall images, or ſtatuettes, coffers, and
cups.3
1
Que leur ſupérieur lui monſtra une idole barbue faite in figuram Baffometi.
Du Puy, Hiſt. des Templiers, p. 216.
2
Du Puy, Hiſt. des Templiers, p. 21.
3
Von Hammer publiſhed his diſcoveries and opinions in 1816, in an elaborate
eſſay in the ſixth volume of the Fundgruben des Orients, entitled, Myſterium Ba-
phometis revelatum, ſeu fratres militiæ Templi, quo gnoſtici et quidam ophiani apo-
ſtaſiæ, idoloduliæ et impuritatis convicti per ipſa eorum monumenta. In 1832, he
publiſhed a ſupplmentary eſſay under the title Mémoire ſur deux coffrets gnoſtiques
du Moyen Age, du Cabinet de M. le Duc de Blacas, par M. Joſeph de Hammer.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 199

Von Hammer has deſcribed, and given engravings of, twenty-

four ſuch images, which it muſt be acknowledged anſwer very well
to the deſcriptions of their "idol" given by the templars in their
examinations, except only that the templars uſually ſpeak of them as
of the ſize of life, and as being merely heads. Moſt of them have
beards, and tolerably fierce countenances. Among thoſe given by
Von Hammer are ſeven which preſent only a head, and two with
two faces, backwards and forwards, as deſcribed in ſome of the de-
poſitions. Theſe two appear to be intended for female heads.
Altogether Von Hammer has deſcribed fifteen cups and goblets,
but a much ſmaller number of coffers. Both cups and coffers are
ornamented with extremely curious figures, repreſenting a continu-
ous ſcene, apparently religious ceremonies of ſome kind or other,
but certainly of an obſcene character, all the perſons engaged in
which are repreſented naked. It is not a part of our ſubject to
enter into a detailed examination of theſe myſteries. The moſt in-
tereſting of the coffers deſcribed by Von Hammer, which was pre-
ſerved in the private muſeum of the duc de Blacas, is of calcarous
ſtone, nine inches long by ſeven broad, and four and a half deep,
with a lid about two inches thick. It was found in Burgundy.
On the lid is ſculptured a figure, naked, with a head-dreſs reſemb-
ling that given to Cybele in ancient monuments, holding up a chain
with each hand, and ſurrounded with various ſymbols, the ſun and
moon above, the ſtar and the pentacle below, and under the feet a
human ſkull.1 The chains are explained by Von Hammer as repre-
ſenting the chains of æons of the Gnoſtics. On the four ſides of
the coffer we ſee a ſeries of figures engaged in the performance of
various ceremonies, which are not eaſily explained, but which Von
Hammer conſiders as belonging to the rites of the Gnoſtics and
Ophians. The offering of a calf figures prominently among theſe

1
See our plate XXXVIII.
200 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

rites, a worſhip which is ſaid ſtill to exiſt among the Noſſarii, or

Neſſarenes, the Druſes, and other ſects in the Eaſt. In the middle
of the ſcene on one ſide, a human ſkull is ſeen, raiſed upon a pole.
On another ſide an androgynous figure is repreſented as the object of
worſhip of two candidates for initiation, who wear maſks apparently
of a cat, and whoſe form of adoration reminds us of the kiſs enacted
at the initiation of the templars.1 This group reminds us, too, of the
pictures of the orgies in the worſhip of Priapus, as repreſented on
Roman monuments. The ſecond of the coffers in the cabinet of
the duc de Blacas was found in Tuſcany, and is rather larger than
the one juſt deſcribed, but made of the ſame material, though of a
finer grain. The lid of this coffer is loſt, but the ſides are covered
with ſculpture of a ſimilar character. A large goblet, or bowl, of
marble, in the imperial muſeum at Vienna, is ſurrounded by a
ſeries of figures of ſimilar character, which are engraved by Von
Hammer, who ſees in one group of men (who are furniſhed in the
original with prominent phalli) and ſerpents, a direct alluſion to
Ophite rites. Next after theſe comes a group which we have
reproduced in our plate,2 repreſenting a ſtrange figure ſeated upon
an eagle, and accompanied with two of the ſymbols repreſented on
the coffer found in Burgundy, the ſun and moon. The two
ſymbols below are conſidered by Von Hammer to repreſent, ac-
cording to the rude mediæval notions of its form, the womb, or
matrix; the fecundating organ is penetrating the one, while the
infant is emerging from the other. The laſt figure in this ſeries,
which we have alſo copied,3 is identical with that on the lid of the
coffer found in Burgundy, but it is diſtinctly repreſented as andro-
gynous. We have exactly the ſame figure on another coffer, in the
Vienna muſeum,4 with ſome of the ſame ſymbols, the ſtar, pentacle,

1 2 3
Plate XXXIX, Fig. 1. Plate XXXIX, Fig. 2. Plate XXXIX, Fig. 3.
4
Plate XXXIX, Fig. 4.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 201

and human ſkull. Perhaps, in this laſt, the beard is intended to

ſhow that the figure muſt be taken as androgynous.
On an impartial compariſon we can hardly doubt that theſe
curious objects,—images, coffers, cups, and bowls,—have been
intended for uſe in ſome ſecret and myſterious rites, and the
arguments by which Von Hammer attempts to ſhow that they
belonged to the templars ſeem at leaſt to be very plauſible.
Several of the objects repreſented upon them, even the ſkull, are
alluded to in ſome of the confeſſions of the templars, and theſe
evidently only confeſſed a part of what they knew, or otherwiſe
they were very imperfectly acquainted with the ſecrets of their
order. Perhaps the moſt ſecret doctrines and rites were only com-
municated fully to a ſmall number. There is, however, another
circumſtance connected with theſe objects which appears to furniſh
an almoſt irreſiſtible confirmation of Von Hammer's theory. Moſt
of them bear inſcriptions, written in Arabic, Greek, and Roman
characters. The inſcriptions on the images appear to be merely
proper names, probably thoſe of their poſſeſſors. But with the
coffers and bowls the caſe is different, for they contain a nearly
uniform inſcription in Arabic characters, which, according to the inter-
pretation given by Von Hammer, contains a religious formula. The
Arabic characters, he ſays, have been copied by a European, and
not very ſkilful, carver, who did not underſtand them, from an Eaſtern
original, and the inſcriptions contain corruptions and errors which
either aroſe from this circumſtance, or, as Von Hammer ſuggeſts,
may have been introduced deſignedly, for the purpoſe of concealing
the meaning from the uninitiated. A good example of this inſcrip-
tion ſurrounds the lid of the coffer found in Burgundy, and is
interpreted as follows by Von Hammer, who regards it as a ſort of
parody on the Cantate laudes Domini. In fact, the word under the
feet of the figure, between them and the ſkull, is nothing more
than the Latin cantate expreſſed in Arabic letters. The words with
202 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

which this Cantate begins are written above the head of the figure,
and are read by Von Hammer as Fah la Sidna, which is more cor-
rectly Fella Sidna, i. e. O God, our Lord! The formula itſelf, to
which this is an introduction, commences on the right ſide, and the
firſt part of it reads Houvè Mete Zonar feſeba (or ſebaa) B. Mounkir
teaala tiz. There is no ſuch word in Arabic as mete, and Von
Hammer conſiders it to be ſimply the Greek word mtiÁj, wiſdom, a
perſonification in what we may perhaps call the Gnoſtic mytho-
logy anſwering to the Sophia of the Ophianites. He conſiders
that the name Baphomet is derived from the Greek words Baf¾
m»teoj, i. e. the baptiſm of Metis, and that in its application it is
equivalent with the name Mete itſelf. He has further ſhown, we
think concluſively, that Baphomet, inſtead of being a corruption
of Mahomet, was a name known among the Gnoſtic ſects in the
Eaſt. Zonar is not an Arabic word, and is perhaps only a
corruption or error of the ſculptor, but Von Hammer thought it
meant a girdle, and that it alluded to the myſterious girdle of the
templars, of which ſo much is ſaid in their examinations. The
letter B is ſuppoſed by Von Hammer to ſtand here for the name
Baphomet, or for that of Barbalo, one of the moſt important per-
ſonages in the Gnoſtic mythology. Mounkir is the Arabic word for
a perſon who denies the orthodox faith. The reſt of the formula
is given on the other ſide of the figure, but as the inſcription here
preſents ſeveral corruptions, we will give Von Hammer's tranſla-
tion (in Latin) of the more correct copy of the formula inſcribed
on the bowl or goblet preſerved in the muſeum at Vienna. In the
Vienna bowl, the formula of faith is written on a ſort of large
placard, which is held up to view by a figure apparently intended
for another repreſentation of Mete or Baphomet. Von Hammer
tranſlates it:--
“Exaltetur Mete germinans, ſtirps noſtra ego et ſeptem fuere, tu renegans reditus
èrwktÕj fis.”
 GENERATIVE POWERS 203

This ſtill is, it muſt be confeſſed, rather myſterious, and, in fact,

moſt of theſe copies of the formula of faith are more or leſs de-
fective, but, from a compariſon of them, the general form and
meaning of the whole is made perfectly clear. This may be
tranſlated, “Let Mete be exalted, who cauſes things to bud and
bloſſom! he is our root; it (the root) is one and ſeven; abjure
(the faith), and abandon thyſelf to all pleaſures.” The number
ſeven is ſaid to refer to the ſeven archons of the Gnoſtic creed.
There are certainly ſeveral points in this formula which preſent
at leaſt a ſingular coincidence with the ſtatements made in the exa-
minations of the templars. In the firſt place the invocation which
precedes the formula, Yalla (Jah la), agrees exactly with the ſtate-
ment of Raymond Rubei, one of the Provencal templars that when
the ſuperior exhibited the idol, or figure of Baphomet, he kiſſed it
and exclaimed “Yalla!” which he calls “a word of the Saracens,”
i. e. Arabic.1 It is evident that, in this caſe, the witneſs not only knew
the word, but that he knew to what language it belonged. Again,
the epithet germinans, applied to Mete, or Baphomet, is in accord
with the ſtatement in the formal liſt of articles of accuſation againſt
the templars, that they worſhipped their idol becauſe “it made the
trees to flouriſh and the earth to germinate.”2 The abjuration of
the formula on the monuments ſeems to be identical with the denial
in the initiation of novices to the order of the Temple; and it may
be added, that the cloſing words of the formula involve in the
original an idea more obſcene than is expreſſed in the tranſlation,
an alluſion to the unnatural vice in which the templars are ſtated
to have received permiſſion to indulge. There is another curious
ſtatement in the examinations which ſeems to point directly to our
1
Du Puy, Hiſt. des Templiers, p. 94.
2
Item, quod facit arbores florere. Item, quod terram germinare. Michelet,
Procès des Templiers, i, 92.
204 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

images and coffers—one of the Engliſh witneſſes under exami-

nation, named John de Donington, who had left the order and
become a friar at Saliſbury, ſaid that an old templar had aſſured him
that “ſome templars carried ſuch idols in their coffers.”1 They
ſeem to have been treaſured up for the ſame reaſon as the mandrake,
for one article in the articles againſt the templars is that they wor-
ſhipped their idol becauſe “it could make them rich, and that it
had brought all their great wealth to the order.”2
The two other claſſes of what the Baron Von Hammer ſuppoſed
to be relics of the ſecret worſhip of the templars, appear to us to
be much leſs ſatisfactorily explained. Theſe are ſculptures on old
churches, and coins or medals. Such ſculptures are found, accord-
ing to Von Hammer, on the churches of Schöngraber, Waltendorf,
and Bercktoldorf, in Auſtria; in that of Deutſchaltenburg, and
in the ruins of that of Poſtyén, in Hungary; and in thoſe of
Murau, Prague, and Egra, in Bohemia. To theſe examples we are
to add the ſculptures of the church of Montmorillon, in Poitou,
ſome of which have been engraved by Montfaucon,3 and thoſe of
the church of Ste. Croix, in Bordeaux. We have already4
remarked the rather frequent prevalence of ſubjects more or leſs
obſcene in the ſculptures which ornament early churches, and ſug-
geſted that they may be explained in ſome degree by the tone given
to ſociety by the exiſtence of this priapic worſhip; but we are not
inclined to agree with Von Hammer's explanation of them, or to
think that they have any connection with the templars. We can
eaſily underſtand the exiſtence of ſuch direct alluſions on coffers or
1
Item dixit idem veteranus eidem fratri jurato, quod aliqui templarii portant
talia idola in coffris ſuis. Wilkins, Concilia, ii, 363.
2
Item, quod divites facere. Item, quod omnes divitias ordinis dabat eis.
Michelet, Procès, i. 92,
3
Montfaucon, Antiquité Expliquées, Suppl. tom. ii, plate 59.
4
See before, p. 198. [prob. error for 138 – T.S.]
 GENERATIVE POWERS 205

other objects intended to be concealed, or at leaſt kept in private;

but it is hardly probable that men who held opinions and practiſed
rites the very rumour of which was then ſo full of danger, would
proclaim them publicly on the walls of their buildings, for the wall
of a church was then, perhaps, the moſt effectual medium of publi-
cation. The queſtion of the ſuppoſed templar medals is very
obſcure. Von Hammer has engraved a certain number of theſe
objects, which preſent various ſingular ſubjects on the obverſe,
ſometimes with a croſs on the reverſe, and ſometimes bracteate.
Antiquaries have given the name of abbey tokens to a rather
numerous claſs of ſuch medals, the uſe of which is ſtill very uncer-
tain, although there appears to be little doubt of its being of a
religious character. Some have ſuppoſed that they were diſtributed
to thoſe who attended at certain ſacraments or rites of the Church,
who could thus, when called up, prove by the number of their
tokens, the greater or leſs regularity of their attendance. Whether
this were the caſe or not, it is certain that the burleſque and other
ſocieties of the middle ages, ſuch as the feaſt of fools, parodied
theſe “tokens,” and had burleſque medals, in lead and ſometimes
in other metals, which were perhaps uſed for a ſimilar purpoſe.
We have already ſpoken more than once of obſcene medals, and
have engraved ſpecimens of them, which were perhaps uſed in
ſecret ſocieties derived from, or founded upon, the ancient phallic
worſhip. It is not at all improbable that the templars may have
employed ſimilar medals, and that thoſe would contain alluſions
to the rites in which they were employed. The medals publiſhed
by Von Hammer are ſaid to have been found chiefly on the ſites
of ſettlements of the order of the Temple. However, the com-
pariſon of facts ſtated in the confeſſions of many of the templars,
as preſerved in the official reports, with the images and ſculptured
cups and coffers given by Von Hammer-Pürgſtall, lead to the
concluſion that there is truth in the explanation he gives of the
206 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

latter, and that the templars, or at leaſt ſome of them, had ſecretly
adopted a form of the rites of Gnoſticiſm, which was itſelf
founded upon the phallic worſhip of the ancients. An Engliſh
templar, Stephen de Staplebridge, acknowledged that “there were
two ‘profeſſions’ in the order of the Temple, the firſt lawful and
good, the ſecond contrary to the faith.”1 He had been admitted to
the firſt of theſe when he firſt entered the order, eleven years
before the time of his examination, but he was only initiated into
the ſecond or inner myſteries about a year afterwards; and he
gives almoſt a pictureſque deſcription of this ſecond initiation,
which occurred in a chapter held at “Dineſlee” in Herefordſhire.
Another Engliſh templar, Thomas de Tocci, ſaid that the errors
had been brought into England by a French knight of high
poſition in the order.2
We have thus ſeen in how many various forms the old phallic,
or priapic, worſhip preſented itſelf in the middle ages, and how
pertinaciouſly it held its ground through all the changes and de-
velopments of ſociety, until at length we find all the circumſtances
of the ancient priapic orgies, as well as the mediæval additions,
combined in that great and extenſive ſuperſtition—witchcraft. At
all times the initiated were believed to have obtained thereby powers
which were not poſſeſſed by the uninitiated, and they only were
ſuppoſed to know the proper forms of invocation of the deities
who were the objects of their worſhip, which deities the Chriſtian
teachers invariably transformed into devils. The vows which the
people of antiquity addreſſed to Priapus, thoſe of the middle ages
addreſſed to Satan. The witches’ “Sabbath” was ſimply the laſt form
which the Priapeia and Liberalia aſſumed in Weſtern Europe, and

1
Quod duæ ſunt profeſſiones in ordine templi, prima licita et bona, et ſecunda eſt
contra fidem. Wilkins, Concilia, ii, 383.
2
Wilkins, Concil, ii, 387.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 207

in its various details all the incidents of thoſe great and licentious
orgies of the Romans were reproduced. The Sabbath of the
witches does not appear to have formed a part of the Teutonic
mythology, but we can trace it from the South through the coun-
tries in which the Roman element of ſociety predominated. The
incidents of the Sabbath are diſtinctly traced in Italy as early as the
beginning of the fifteenth century, and ſoon afterwards they are
found in the ſouth of France. Towards the middle of that century
an individual named Robinet de Vaulx, who had lived the life of a
hermit in Burgundy, was arreſted, brought to a trial at Langres,
and burnt. This man was a native of Artois; he ſtated that to his
knowledge there were a great number of witches in that pro-
vince, and he not only confeſſed that he had attended theſe nocturnal
aſſemblies of the witches, but he gave the names of ſome inhabitants
of Arras whom he had met there. At this time—it was in the year
1459—the chapter general of the Jacobins, or friars preachers,
was held at Langres, and among thoſe who attended it was a Jaco-
bin friar named Pierre de Brouſſart, who held the office of inquiſitor
of the faith in the city of Arras, and who eagerly liſtened to the
circumſtances of Robinet’s confeſſion. Among the names men-
tioned by him as having been preſent at the witches’ meetings, were
thoſe of a proſtitute named Demiſelle, then living at Douai, and a
man named Jehan Levite, but who was better known by the nick-
name of Abbé de peu de ſens (the abbot of little ſenſe). On Brouſ-
ſart's return to Arras, he cauſed both theſe perſons to be arreſted
and brought to that city, where they were thrown into priſon. The
latter, who was a painter, and a compoſer and ſinger of popular
ſongs, had left Arras before Robinet de Vaulx had made his con-
feſſion, but he was traced to Abbeville, in Ponthieu, and captured
there. Confeſſions were extorted from theſe perſons which compro-
miſed others, and a number of individuals were committed to priſon
in conſequence. In the ſequel a certain number of them were burnt,
208 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

after they had been induced to unite in a ſtatement to the following

effect. At this time, in this part of France at leaſt, the term
Vauderie, or, as it was then written, Vaulderie, was applied to
the practice or profeſſion of witchcraft. They ſaid that the place
of meeting was commonly a fountain in the wood of Mofflaines,
about a league diſtant from Arras, and that they ſometimes went
thither on foot. The more uſual way of proceeding, however,
according to their own account, was this—they took an ointment
given to them by the devil, with which they annointed a wooden
rod, at the ſame time rubbing the palms of their hands with it,
and then, placing the rod between their legs, they were ſuddenly
carried through the air to the place of aſſembly. They found
there a multitude of people, of both ſexes, and of all eſtates
and ranks, even wealthy burghers and nobles—and one of the
perſons examined declared that he had ſeen there not only ordi-
nary eccleſiaſtics, but biſhops and even cardinals. They found tables
already ſpread, covered with all ſorts of meats, and abundance of
wines. A devil preſided, uſually in the form of a goat, with the
tail of an ape, and a human countenance. Each firſt did oblation
and homage to him by offering him his or her ſoul, or, at leaſt
ſome part of their body, and then, as a mark of adoration, kiſſed
him on the poſteriors. All this time the worſhippers held burning
torches in their hands. The abbot of little ſenſe, already men-
tioned, held the office of maſter of the ceremonies at theſe meetings,
and it was his duty to ſee that the new-comers duly performed
their homage. After this they trampled on the croſs, and ſpit
upon it, in deſpite of Jeſus and of the Holy Trinity, and per-
formed other profane acts. They then ſeated themſelves at the
tables, and after they had eaten and drunk ſufficiently, they roſe
and joined in a ſcene of promiſcuous intercourſe between the ſexes,
in which the demon took part, aſſuming alternately the form of
either ſex, according to that of his temporary partner. Other
 GENERATIVE POWERS 209

wicked acts followed, and then the devil preached to them, and en-
joined them eſpecially not to go to church, or hear maſs, or touch
holy water, or perform any other of the duties of good Chriſtians.
After this ſermon was ended, the meeting was diſſolved, and they
ſeparated and returned to their ſeveral homes.1
The violence of theſe witch perſecutions at Arras led to a reac-
tion, which, however, was not laſting, and from this time to the end
of the century, the fear of witchcraft ſpread over Italy, France,
and Germany, and went on increaſing in intenſity. It was during
this period that witchcraft, in the hands of the more zealous inqui-
ſitors, was gradually worked up into a great ſyſtem, and books of
conſiderable extent were compiled, containing accounts of the
various practices of the witches, and directions for proceeding
againſt them. One of the earlieſt of theſe writers was a Swiſs
friar, named John Nider, who held the office of inquiſitor in Swit-
zerland, and has devoted one book of his Formicarium to witch-
craft as it exiſted in that country. He makes no alluſion to the
witches’ Sabbath, which, therefore, appears then not to have been
known among the Swiſs. Early in 1489, Ulric Molitor publiſhed a
treatiſe on the ſame ſubject, under the title of De Pythonicis
Mulieribus, and in the ſame year, 1489, appeared the celebrated
book, the Malleus Maleficarum, or Hammer of Witches, the work
of the three inquiſitors for Germany, the chief of whom was Jacob
Sprenger. This work gives us a complete and very intereſting
account of witchcraft as it then exiſted as an article of belief in
Germany. The authors diſcuſs various queſtions connected with it,
ſuch as that of the myſterious tranſport of witches from one place
to another, and they decide that this tranſport was real, and that
they were carried bodily through the air. It is remarkable, how-
1
The account of the witch-trials at Arras was publiſhed in the ſupplementary
additions to Moſtrelet; but the original records of the proceedings have ſince been
found and printed.
210 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

ever, that even the Malleus Maleficarum contains no direct alluſion

to the Sabbath, and we may conclude that even then this great
priapic orgie did not form a part of the Germanic creed; it was
no doubt brought in there amid the witchcraft mania of the ſix-
teenth century. From the time of the publication of the Malleus
Maleficarum until the beginning of the ſeventeenth century, through
all parts of Weſtern Europe, the number of books upon ſorcery
which iſſued from the preſs was immenſe; and we muſt not forget
that a monarch of our own, King James I, ſhone among the writers
on witchcraft.
Three quarters of a century nearly had paſſed ſince the time of
the Malleus, when a Frenchman named Bodin, Latiniſed into
Bodinus, publiſhed a rather bulky treatiſe which became from that
time the text-book on witchcraft. The Sabbath is deſcribed in
this book in all its completeneſs. It was uſually held in a lonely
place, and when poſſible on the ſummits of mountains or in the
ſolitude of foreſts. When the witch prepared to attend it, ſhe went
to her bedroom, ſtripped herſelf naked, and anointed her body with
an ointment made for that purpoſe. She next took a ſtaff, which
alſo in many caſes ſhe anointed, and placing it between her legs
and uttering a charm, ſhe was carried through the air, in an in-
credibly ſhort ſpace of time, to the place of meeting. Bodin diſ-
cuſſes learnedly the queſtion whether the witches were really carried
through the air corporeally or not, he decides it in the affirma-
tive. The Sabbath itſelf was a great aſſemblage of witches, of
both ſexes, and of demons. It was a point of emulation with
the viſitors to bring new converts with them, and on their arrival
they preſented theſe to the demon who preſided, and to whom they
offered their adoration by the unclean kiſs upon his poſteriors.
They next rendered an account of all the miſchief they had perpe-
trated ſince the previous meeting, and received reward or reproof
according to its amount. The devil, who uſually took the form
 GENERATIVE POWERS 211

of a goat, next diſtributed among them powders, unguents, and

other articles to be employed in ſimilar evil doings in future. The
worſhippers now made offerings to the devil, conſiſting of ſheep,
or other articles, or, in ſome caſes, of a little bird only, or of a lock
of the witcheſ' hair, or of ſome other equally trifling object. They
were then obliged to ſeal their denial of the Chriſtian faith by
trampling on the croſs and blaſpheming the ſaints. The devil
then, or in the courſe of the meeting, had ſexual intercourſe with
the new witch, placed his mark upon ſome concealed part of her
body, very commonly in her ſexual parts, and gave her a familiar
or imp, who was to be at her bidding and aſſiſt in the perpetration
of evil. All this was what may be called the buſineſs of the meet-
ing, and when it was over, they all went to a great banquet, which
was ſet out on tables, and which ſometimes conſiſted of ſumptuous
viands, but more frequently of loathſome or unſubſtantial food, ſo
that the gueſts often left the meeting as hungry as though they
had taſted nothing. After the feaſt they all roſe from the table to
dance, and a ſcene of wild and uproarious revelry followed. The
uſual dance on this occaſion appears to have been the carole of the
middle ages, which was no doubt the common dance of the pea-
ſantry; a party, alternately a male and a female, held each other’s
hands in a circle, with this peculiarity that, whereas in ordinary
life the dancers turned their faces inward into the circle, here they
turned them outwards, ſo that their backs were towards the interior
of the circle. It was pretended that this arrangement was deſigned
to prevent them from ſeeing and recognizing each other; but
others ſuppoſed that it was a mere caprice of the evil one, who
wiſhed to do everything in a form contrary to that in which it was
uſually done by Chriſtians. Other dances were introduced, of a
more violent, and ſome of them of an obſcene, character. The
ſongs, too, which were ſung in this orgie were either obſcene or
vulgarly ridiculous. The muſic was often drawn from burleſque
212 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

inſtruments, ſuch as a ſtick or a bone for a flute, a horſe's ſkull for a

lyre, the trunk of a tree for a drum, and a branch for a trumpet. As
they became excited, they became more licentious, and at
laſt they abandoned themſelves to indiſcriminate ſexual inter-
courſe, in which the demons played a very active part. The meet-
ing ſeparated in time to allow the witches, by the ſame expeditious
conveyance which brought them, to reach their homes before the
cock crowed.1
Such is the account of the Sabbath, as deſcribed by Bodin; but we
have reviewed it briefly in order to deſcribe this ſtrange ſcene from
the much fuller and more curious narrative of another Frenchman,
Pierre de Lancre. This man was a conſeiller du roi, or judge in
the parliament of Bordeaux, and was joined in 1609 with one of
his colleagues in a commiſſion to proceed againſt perſons accuſed of
ſorcery in Labourd, a diſtrict in the Baſque provinces, then cele-
brated for its witches, and apparently for the low ſtate of morality
among its inhabitants. It is a wild, and, in many parts, deſolate
region, the inhabitants of which held to their ancient ſuperſtitions
with great tenacity. De Lancre, after arguing learnedly on the
nature and character of demons, diſcuſſes the queſtion why there
were ſo many of them in the country of Labourd, and why the
inhabitants of that diſtrict were ſo much addicted to ſorcery. The
women of the country, he ſays, were naturally of a laſcivious tem-
perament, which was ſhown even in their manner of dreſſing, for
he deſcribes their headdreſs as being ſingularly indecent, and de-
ſcribes them as commonly expoſing their perſon very immodeſtly.2
He adds, that the principal produce of this country conſiſted of
1
The firſt edition of the work of Bodin, De la Dèmonomaine des Sorciers, was
publiſhed at Paris, in 4to, in 1580. It went through many editions, and was tranſ-lated
into Latin and other languages.
2
Et pour le commun des femmes, en quelques lieux, voulant faire les martiales,
elles portent certains tourions ou morrions indécens, et d’une forme ſi peu ſéante,
 GENERATIVE POWERS 213

apples, and argues thence, it is not very apparent why, that the
women partook of the character of Eve, and yielded more eaſily
to temptation than thoſe of other countries. After having ſpent
four months in dealing out rather ſeverely what was then called
“juſtice” to theſe ignorant people, the two commiſſioners returned
to Bordeaux, and there De Lancre, deeply ſtruck with what he
had ſeen and heard, betook himſelf to the ſtudy of witchcraft, and in
due time produced his great work on the ſubject, to which he gave
the title of Tableau de l’Inconſtance des Mauvais Anges et Démons.1
Pierre de Lancre writes honeſtly and conſcientiouſly, and he evidently
believes everything he has written. His book is valuable for the
great amount of new information it contains, derived from the
confeſſions of the witches, and given apparently in their own
words. The ſecond book is devoted entirely to the details of the
Sabbath.
It was ſtated by the witches in their examinations that, in times
back, they had appointed Monday to be the day, or rather night,
of aſſembly, but that in their time they had two nights of meeting
in the week, thoſe of Wedneſday and Friday. Although ſome
ſtated that they had been carried to the place of meeting in the
middle of the day, they moſtly agreed in ſaying that the hour at
which they were carried to the Sabbath was midnight. The place
of aſſembly was uſually choſen at a ſpot where roads croſſed, but
this was not always the caſe, for De Lancre2 tells us that they were

qu’on diroit que c’eſt pluſtoſt l’armet de Priape que celuy du dieu Mars; leur
coeffre ſemble teſmoigner leur déſir, car les veuſves porent le morrion ſan creſte pour
marquer que le maſle leur deffault. Et en Labourt les femmes monſtrent leur derrière
tellement que tout l’ornement de leur cotillons pliſſez eſt derrière, et afin qu’il foit
veu elles retrouſſent leur robbe et la mettent fur la teſte et ſe couvrent juſ-qu’aux
yeux. De Lancre, Inconſtance des Démons, p. 40.
1
4to. Paris, 1612. A new and improved edition appeared in 1613.
2
Il a auſſi accouſtumé les tenir en quelque lieu déſert et ſauvage, comme au mileu
214 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

accuſtomed to hold their Sabbath in ſome lonely and wild locality, as

in the middle of a heath, which was ſelected eſpecially for being far
from the haunts or habitations of man. To this place, he ſays,
they gave the name of Aquelarre, which he interprets as meaning
Lane de Bouc, that is, the heath of the goat, meaning that it was
the place where the goat, the uſual form aſſumed by Satan, con-
voked his aſſemblies. And he goes on to expreſs his opinion that
theſe wild places were the original ſcenes of the Sabbath, though
ſubſequently other places had been often adopted. “For we have
heard more than fifty witneſſes who aſſured us that they had been
at the Goat’s Heath to the Sabbath held on the mountain
of La Rhune, ſometimes on the open mountain, ſometimes in the
chapel of the St. Eſprit, which is on the top of it, and ſome-
times in the church of Dordach, which is on the borders of La-
bourd. At times they held it in private houſes, as when we held
the trial, in the pariſh of St. Pé, the Sabbath was held one night
in our hotel, called Barbare-nena, and in that of Maſter ——
de Segure, aſſeſſor-criminal at Bayonne, who, at the ſame time

d’une land; et encore en lieu du tout hors de paſſage, de voiſingage, d’habitation, et de

recontre: et communement ils l’appellent Aquelarre, qui ſignfie Lane de Bouc,
comme qui dirait la lane ou lande oú le Boue convoque ſes aſſemblées. Et de ſaict
les ſorciers qui confeſſent, nomment le lieu pour la choſe, et la choſe ou l’aſſemblée pour le
lieu: tellement qu’encore que proprement Lane de Bouc, ſoit le Sabbat qui ſe tient ès
landes, ſi eſt-ce qu’ils appellent auſſi bien Lane de Bouc le Sabbath qui ſe tient
ès egliſes et ès places des villes, parroiſſes, maiſons, et autres lieux: parce qu’à mon
advis les premiers lieux qui furent deſcouverts, oú les dictes aſſemblées ſe faiſoyent,
furent ès lands, pour la commodité du lieu. Et d’autant qu’on y voit le plus de ces
boues, chèvres, et autres animaux ſemblables. Car nous avons ouy plus de cinquante
tſmoins qui nous ont aſſeuré avoir eſté à la Lane de Bouc. au Sabbat ſur la montagne
de la Rhune, parfois a l’entour, parfois dans la chapelle meſme du S. Eſprit qui eſt au
deſſus, et parfois dans l’égliſe de Dordach, qui eſt ſur les liſières
de Labourt: parfois ès maiſons particulières, comme quand nous leur ſaiſons
le procès en la parroiſſe de Sainct-Pé, le Sabbat ſe tint une nuict dans noſtre
hoſtel, appellé de Barbare-nena, et en celuy de Maiſtre —— de Seguare, aſſeſſeur
 GENERATIVE POWERS 215

when we were there, made a more ample inquiſition againſt

certain witches, by an authority of an arreſt of the parliament of
Bordeaux. Then they went the ſame night to hold it at the
reſidence of the lord of the place, who is Sieur d'Amou, and in
his caſtle of St. Pé. But we have not found in the whole country
of Labourd any other pariſh but that of St. Pé where the devil
held the Sabbath in private houſes.”
The devil is further deſcribed as ſeeking for his places of meeting,
beſides the heaths, old decayed houſes, and ruins of old caſtles,
eſpecially when they were ſituated on the ſummits of mountains.
An old cemetery was ſometimes ſelected, where, as De Lancre
quaintly obſerves, there were “no houſes but the houſes of the
dead,” eſpecially if it were in a ſolitary ſituation, as when attached to
ſolitary churches and chapels, in the middle of the heaths, or on
the tops of cliffs on the ſea ſhore, ſuch as the chapel of the Portu-
gueſe at St. Jean de Luz, called St. Barbe, ſituated ſo high that it
ſerves as a landmark to the ſhips approaching the coaſt, or on a
high mountain, as La Rhune in Labourd, and the Puy de Dome
in Perigord, and other ſuch places.
criminel à Bayonne, lequel faiſoit en meſme tempes que nous y eſtions une plus ample
inquiſition contre certains ſorcières, en vertu d’un arreſt de la Cour de Parlement
de Bourdeaux. Puis ſ’en allerent en meſme nuict le tenir chez le feigneur du
lieu, qui eſt le Sr. d’Amou, et en fon chaſteau de Sainct-Pé. Et n’avons trouvé en tout
le pays de Labourt aucune autre parroiſſe que celle de Sainct-Pém oú le Diable
tint le Sabbat ès maiſons particulières.
Il cherche auſſi parfois, outres les landes, de vieilles mazures et ruines de vieux
chaſteaux, aſſiz ſur les coupeaux des montagnes; parfois d’autres lieux ſolitaires, oú,
pour toutes maiſons, il n’y a que des maiſons des morts, qui ſont les cimetières, et
encore les plus eſcartez, comme près des égliſes ou chappelles ſeules, ou plantées au
milieu d’une lande ou déſert, ou ſur une haute coſte de la mer, comme le chappelle
des Portugais à Sainct Jean de Luz appellée de Sainct Barbe, ſi haut montée qu’elle fert
d’échaugete ou de phare pour les vaiſſeaux qui ſ’en approchent, ou ſur une haute
montagne, comme la Rhune en Labourt et le Puy de Dome en Perigort, et autres
lieux ſemblables. Tableau de l’Inconſtance, p. 65.
216 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

At theſe meetings, ſometimes, but rarely, Satan was abſent, in

which caſe a little devil took his place. De Lancre1 enumerates
the various forms which the devil uſually aſſumed on theſe occa-
ſions, with the remark that theſe forms were as numerous as “his
movements were inconſtant, full of uncertainty, illuſion, deception,
and impoſture.” Some of the witches he examined, among whom
was a girl of thirteen years of age, named Marie d’Aguerre, ſaid
that at theſe aſſemblies there appeared a great pitcher or jug in
the middle of the Sabbath, and that out of it the devil iſſued in the
form of a goat, which ſuddenly became ſo large that it was
“frightful,” and that at the end of the Sabbath he returned into the
pitcher. Others deſcribed him as being like the great trunk of a
tree, without arms or feet, ſeated in a chair, with the face of a
great and frightful looking man. Others ſpoke of him as re-
ſembling a great goat, with two horns before and two behind, thoſe
before turned up in the ſemblance of a woman's perruque. Ac-
cording to the moſt common account, De Lancre ſays he had
three horns, the one in the middle giving out a flame, with
which he uſed at the Sabbath to give both light and fire to the
1
Reſte maintenant, puis qu’il a comparu, d’en ſçavoir la forme, et en quel eſtat il a
accouſtumé de ſe repréſenter et faire voire eſdictes aſſemblées. Il n’a point de forme
conſtante, toutes ſes actions n’eſtans que mouvements inconſtans plien d’incertitude,
d’illuſion, de déception, et d’impoſture.
Marie d’Aguerre aagée de treize ans, et quelques autres, dépoſoient, qu’eſdictes
aſſemblées il y a une grande cruche au milieu du Sabbat d’où fort le Diable en
forme de boue: qu’eſtant ſorty il devient ſi grand qu’il ſe rend eſpouvantable: et
que le Sabbat finy il rentre dans la cruche.
D’autres diſent qu’il eſt comme un grand tronc d’arbre obſeur ſans bras et ſans
pieds, aſſis dans une chaire, ayant quelque forme de viſage d’homme, grand et affreux.
D’autres qu’il eſt comme un grand boue, ayant deux cornes devant et deux en
derrière: que celle de devant ſe rebraſſent en haut comme la perruque d’une femme.
Mais le commun eſt qu’il a ſeulment trois cornes, et qu’il a quelque eſpèce de
lumière en celle du milieu, de laquelle il a accouſtemé au Sabbat d’eſclairer et donner
du feu et de la lumière, meſme à ces ſorcières, qui tiennent quelques chandelles
 GENERATIVE POWERS 217

witches, ſome of whom who had candles lit them at his horn, in
order to hold them at a mock ſervice of the maſs, which was one of
the devil’s ceremonies. He had alſo, ſometimes, a kind of cap or
hat over his horns. “He has before him his member hanging
out, which he exhibits always a cubit in length; and he has a
great tail behind, with a form of a face under it, with which face he
does not utter a word, but it ſerves only to offer to kiſs to thoſe he
likes, honouring certain witches of either ſex more than the others.”
The devil, it will be obſerved, is here repreſented with the ſymbol
of Priapus. Marie d’Aſpilecute, aged nineteen years, who lived at
Handaye, depoſed that the firſt time ſhe was preſented to the devil
ſhe kiſſed him on this face behind, beneath a great tail, and that
ſhe repeated the kiſs three times, adding that this face was made
like the muzzle of a goat. Others ſaid that he was ſhaped like a
great man, “enveloped in a cloudineſs, becauſe he would not be
ſeen clearly,” and that he was all “flamboyant,” and had a face red
like an iron coming out of the furnace. Corneille Brolic, a lad of
twelve years of age, ſaid that when he was firſt introduced to him
he had the human form, with four horns on his head, and without

alumées aux cérémonies de la meſſe qu’ils voulent contrefaire. On luy voit auſſi
quelque eſpèce de bonet ou chapeau au deſſus de ſes cornes. Il a au devant ſon
membre tiré et pendant, et le monſtre touſjours long d’une coudée, et une grande
queuë au derrière. et une forme de viſage au deſſoubs: duquel viſage il ne profere au-
cune parole, ains luy fert pour le donner à baiſer à ceux que bon luy ſemble, honrant
certains ſorciers ou ſorcières plus les uns que les autres.
Marie d’Aſpilecute, habitante de Handaye, aagée de 19 ans, dépoſe, Que la pre-
mière fpos qu’elle luy ſut préſentée elle le baiſa à ce viſage de derrière au deſſoubs
d’une grande queuë: qu’elle l’y a baiſé par trois fois, et qu’il avoit auſſi ce viſage
faict comme le muſeau d’un boue.
D’autres diſent qu’il eſt en forme d’un grand homme veſtu ténébreuſement, et qui
ne veut eſtre veu clairement, ſi bien qu’ils diſent qu’il eſt tout flamboyant, et le viſage
rouge comme un fer ſortant de la fournaiſe.
Corneille Brolic aagé de 12 ans, dict, Que lorſqu’il luy ſut préſenté il eſtoit en forme
d’homme, ayant quatre cornes en la teſte, et ſans bras, at aſſis dans une chaire, avec
218 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

arms. He was ſeated in a pulpit, with ſome of the women, who

were his favourites, always near him. “And they are all agreed
that it is a great pulpit, which ſeems to be gilt and very pompous.”
Janette d’Abadie, of Siboro, ſixteen years old, ſaid that Satan had a
face before and another behind his head, as they repreſent the god
Janus. De Lancre had alſo heard him deſcribed as a great black
dog, as a large ox of braſs lying down, and as a natural ox in
repoſe.
Although it was ſtated that in former times the devil had uſually
appeared in the form of a ſerpent,—another coincidence with the
priapic worſhip,—it appears certain that in the time of De Lanere
his favourite form of ſhowing himſelf was that of a goat. At the
opening of the Sabbath the witches, male or female, preſented for-
mally to the devil thoſe who had never been at the Sabbath before,
and the women eſpecially brought to him the children whom they
allured to him. The new converts, the novices, were made to re-
nounce Chriſt, the Virgin Mary, and the ſaints, and they were then
re-baptized with mock ceremonies. They next performed their
worſhip to the devil by kiſſing him on the face under the tail, or
otherwiſe. The young children were taken to the edge of a ſtream
—for the ſcene was generally choſen on the banks of a ſtream—
and white wands were placed in their hands, and they were entruſted
with the care of the toads which were kept there, and which were
of importance in the ſubſequent operations of the witches. The re-
nunciation was frequently renewed, and in ſome caſes it was required

quelques femmes de ſes favorites touſjours près de luy. Et tous ſont d’accord que c’eſt
une grande chaire qui ſemble dorée et fort pompeuſe.
Janette d’Abadie de Siboro, aagée de 16 ans, dit qu’il avoit un viſage devant, et un
viſage derrière la teſte, comme on peint le dieu Janus.
J’ai veu quelque procédure, eſtant à la Tournelle, qui le peignoit au Sabbat comme
un grand levrier noir: parfois comme un grand boeuf d’airain couché à terre, comme
un boeuf naturel qui ſe repoſe. Tableau de l’Inconſtance, p. 67.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 219

every time the witch attended the Sabbath. Janette d’Abadie, a

girl of ſixteen, ſaid that he made her repeatedly go through the
ceremony of kiſſing him on the face, and afterwards on the navel,
then on the virile member, and then on the poſteriors.1 After re-
baptiſm, he put his mark on the body of his victim, in ſome covered
part where it was not likely to be ſeen. In women it was often
placed on or within the ſexual parts.
De Lancre’s account of the proceedings at the Sabbath is very full
and curious.2 He ſays that it “reſembled a fair of merchants mingled
together, furious and in tranſports, arriving from all parts—a meeting
and mingling of a hundred thouſand ſubjects, ſudden and tranſitory,
novel, it is true, but of a frightful novelty, which offends the eye
and ſickens you. Among theſe ſame ſubjects ſome are real, and
others deceitful and illuſory. Some are pleaſing (but very little),
as are the little bells and melodious inſtruments of all ſorts, which
only tickle the ear and do not touch the heart at all, conſiſting more
in noiſe which amazes and ſtuns than in harmony which pleaſes and
rejoices, the others diſpleaſing, full of deformity and horror, tending
only to deſolation, privation, ruin, and deſtruction, where the
perſons become brutiſh and transformed to beaſts, loſing their ſpeech
while they are in this condition, and the beaſts, on the contrary, talk,
1
Sur qouy elle adjouſte une choſe notable, que bien ſouvent il luy faiſoit baiſer
ſon viſage, puis le nombril, puis le membre viril, puis ſon derrière. De Lancre, De
l’Inconſtance, p. 72.
2
Le Sabbat eſt comme une foire de marchands meſlez, furieux et tranſportez, qui
arrivent de toutes partes, un rencontre et meſlange de cent mille ſubjects ſoudains et
tranſitoires, nouveaux à la vérité, mais d#une nouveauté effroyable qui offence l’oeil
et ſoubſleve le coeur. Parmy ces meſmes ſubjects il ſ’en voit de réels, et d’autres
preſtigieux et illuſiores: aucuns plaiſans (mais fort peu), comme ſont les clochettes et
inſtrumens mélodieux qu’on y entend de toutes ſortes, qui ne chatouillent que l’oreille,
et ne touchent rien au coeur; conſiſtant plus en bruit qui eſtourdit et eſtonne, qu’en
harmoine qui plaiſe et qui reſjouiſſe; les autres déplainans, pleins de difformité et
d’horreur, ne tendant qu’à diſſolution, privation, ruine, et deſtruction, où les per-
220 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

and ſeem to have more reaſon than the perſons, each being drawn
out of his natural character.”
The women, according to De Lancre, were the active agents in
all this confuſion, and had more employment than the men. They
ruſhed about with their hair hanging looſe, and their bodies naked;
ſome rubbed with the magical ointment, others not. They arrived
at the Sabbath, or went from it, on their errands of miſchief, perched
on a ſtick or beſom, or carried upon a goat or other animal, with
an infant or two behind, and guided or driven on by the devil him-
ſelf. “And when Satan will tranſport them into the air (which is
an indulgence only to the moſt ſuperior), he ſets them off and
launches them up like fired rockets, and they repair to and dart
down upon the ſaid place a hundred times more rapidly than an
eagle or a kite could dart upon its prey.”
Theſe women, on their arrival, reported to Satan all the miſchief
they had perpetrated. Poiſon, of all kinds and for all purpoſes, was
there the article moſt in vogue. Toads were ſaid to form one of its
ingredients, and the charge of theſe animals, while alive, was

ſonnes ſ’y abbrutiſſent et transforment en beſtes, perdant la parole tant qu’elle ſont
ainſi. Et les beſtes au contraite y parlent, et ſemblent avoir plus de raiſon que les
perſonnes, chacun eſtant tiré hors ſon naturel.
Les courriers ordinaires du ſabbat ſont les femmes, les myſtères duquel paſſent par
leurs mains, [pluſ] que par celle des hommes. Or elles volent et courent eſchevelées
comme furies à la mode du pays, ayant la teſte ſi legère, qu’elles n’y peuvent ſouffrir
couverture. On les y voit nues, ore graiſſées, ores non. Elles arrivent ou partent
(car chacune a quelque inſaute et meſchante commiſſion) perchées ſur un baſton ou
balay, ou portées ſur un boue ou autre animal, un pauvre enfant ou deux en croupe,
ayant le diable ores au devant pour guide, ores en derrière et en queue comme un
rude foüteur. Et lorſque Sathan les veut tranſporter en l’air (ce qui n’eſt encor
donné qu’aux plus ſuffiſantes), il les effore et eſlance comme fuſées bruiantes, et en la
deſcente elles ſe rendent audit lieu et fondent bas, cent fois plus voſte qu’un aigle ou
un milan ne ſçauroit fondre ſur ſa proye.
Ces furieuſes courrières ne portent jamais qui finiſtres nouvelles, mais vrayes, car
elles ne contiennent que l’histoire vérotable des maux qu’elles ont faict. Le poiſon,
 GENERATIVE POWERS 221

given to the children whom the witches brought with them to the
Sabbath, and to whom, as a ſort of enſign of office, little white rods
were given, “juſt ſuch as they give to perſons infected with the
plague as a mark of their contagion.”
The devil was the ſovereign maſter of the aſſembly, and appeared
at it ſometimes in the form of a ſtinking and bearded goat, as one,
De Lancre ſays, which was eſpecially repulſive to mankind. The
goat, we know, was dedicated to Priapus. Sometimes he aſſumed
a form, if we clearly underſtand De Lancre, which preſented a con-
fuſed idea of ſomething between a tree and a man, which is com-
pared, for he becomes rather poetical, to the old decayed cypreſſes
on the ſummit of a high mountain, or to aged oaks whoſe heads
already bear the marks of approaching decay.
When the devil appeared in human form, that form was horribly
ugly and repulſive, with a hoarſe voice and an imperious manner.
He was ſeated in a pulpit, which glittered like gold; and at his

de toutes ſortes et à toutes uſages, eſt la plus précieuſe denrée de ce lieu. Les enfans
ſont les bergers, qui gardent chacun la bergerie des crapaux, que chaque ſorcière qui
les mene au ſabbat leur baillé à garder, ayant chacun une gaule blance en main;
telle qu’on baille aux peſtiferez pour marque de leur contagion.
Le diable, maiſtre ſouverain de l’aſſemblée, ſ’y repréſente parfois en bouc puant
et barbu: la plus horrible et orde figure qu’il a peu emprunter parmy tous animaux,
et celuy avec lequel l’homme a le moins de commerce. Il s’y trouve et s’y void
comme ſont ces vieux cyprès ſurannez à la cime d’une haute montagne, ou ces
cheſnes chauves que la vieilleſſe faict commencer à ſecher par la teſte, vrayment trone,
car il y paroiſt eſcartellé, et comme eſtropiat, et ſans bras, et en figure d’un géant
ténébreux et object fort reculé.
Que s’il y paroiſt en homme, c’eſt en homme gehenné, tourmenté, rouge et
flamboyant comme un feu qui ſort d’une fournaiſe ardente. Homme effacé, duquel
la forme ne paroiſt qu’a demy, avec une voice caſſé, morſondue, et non articulée,
mais impérieuſe, bruiante, et effroyable. Si bien qu’on ne ſçauroit bonnement dire
à le voir s’il eſt homme, trone, ou beſte. Il eſt aſſis dans une chaire, dorée en appa-
rence, mais flamboiante: la royne du ſabbat à ſon coſté, qui eſt quelque ſorcière qu’il
222 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

ſide ſat the queen of the Sabbath, one of the witches whom
he had debauched, to whom he choſe to give greater honour
than to the others, and whom he decked in gay robes, with a crown
on her head, to ſerve as a bait to the ambition of the reſt. Candles
of pitch, or torches, yielded a falſe light, which gave people in ap-
pearance monſtrous forms and frightful faces.
Here you ſee falſe fires, through which ſome of the demons were
firſt paſſed, and afterwards the witches, without ſuffering any pain,
which, as explained by De Lancre, was intended to teach them not
to fear the fire of hell. But we ſee in theſe the need-fires, which
formed a part of the priapic orgies, and of which we have ſpoken
before (p. 163). There women are preſenting to him children,
whom they have initiated in ſorcery, and he ſhows them a deep
pit, into which he threatens to throw them if they refuſe to renounce
God and to adore Satan.
In other parts are ſeen great cauldrons, full of toads and vipers,
hearts of unbaptized children, fleſh of criminals who bad been
hanged, and other diſguſting ingredients, of which they make pots
of ointments, &c. and poiſons, the ordinary articles of commerce

a debauchée, laquelle il ſaict paroiſtre pompeuſe, ornée de pluſiers faux affiquets, et

couronée en royne, pour amorcer les autres. Donnant auſſi une forme affreuſe,
preſque à tous ceux qui sont en cette aſſemblée maudite, les viſages deſquels, à la fauce
lumière de ces chandeles de poix qui s’y voyant, paroiſſet ténébreux, farouches, ou
voilez: et les perſonnes de taille et hautur monſtrueuſe, ou de baſſeſſe extraordinaire
et deffectueuſe.
On y voit de faux feux, au travers deſquels il faict paſſer quelques démons, puis
des ſorcières. d’où il les tire ſans douleur pour les apprivoiſer à ne craindre les feux
de notre juſtice en ce monde, n’y les feux éternals de la juſtice divine en l’autre.
On luy offre des enfans innocens enſorcellez par de méchants femmes, auſquels il
repreſente des abyſmes dans leſquels il faict ſemblant de les précipiter, s’ils ſont tant
ſoit peu les reſtifs à renoncer Dieu et à l’adorer.
On y voit de grandes chaudières pleines de crapaux et vipères, coeurs d’enfans non
baptiſez, chair de pendus, et autres horribles charognes, et des eaux puantes, pots de
graiſſe et de poiſon qui ſe preſte et ſe debite à cette foire, comme eſtant la plus pré-
 GENERATIVE POWERS 223

in this “fair.” Of ſuch objects, alſo, were compoſed the diſhes

ſerved at the Sabbath tables, at which no ſalt was allowed, becauſe
Satan wiſhed everything to be inſipid, muſty, and bad-taſted.
Here ſee people “dancing, either ‘in long,’ in couples, turned
back to back, or ſometimes ‘in round,’ till turning their backs
towards the centre of the dance, the girls and women each holding
by the hand their demons, who teach them movements and geſtures
ſo laſcivious and indecent that they would horrify the moſt ſhame-
leſs woman in the world; with ſongs of a compoſition ſo brutal, and
in terms and words of ſuch licenſe and lubricity, that the eyes be-
come troubled, the ears confounded, and the underſtanding be-
witched, at the appearance of ſo many monſtrous things ill crowded
together.”
“The women and girls with whom the demons chooſe to have
connection are covered with a cloud, to conceal the execrations and
ordures attached to theſe ſcenes, and to prevent the compaſſion
which others might have on the ſcreams and ſufferings of theſe poor
wretches.” In order to “mix impiety with the other abomina-
tions,” they pretended to perform religious rites, which were a wild

cieuſe et commune marchandiſe qui ſ’y trouve. Et néantmoins ce ſont les meilleures
viandes qu’on recontre en leurs feſtins, deſquels ils ont banni le ſel, parceque Sathan
veut que tout y ſoit inſipide, relant, et de gouſt depravé.
On y dance en long, deux à deux, et dos à dos, et parfois en rond, tous le dos
tourné vers le centre de la dances, le filles et femmes tenant chacune leurs démons
par la main, leſquels leur apprennant des traicts et geſtes ſi laſcifs et indécens, qu’ils
feroyent horreur à la plus effrontée femme du monde; avec des chanſons d’une
compoſition ſi brutale, et en termes et mots ſi licencieux et lubriques, que les yeux ſe
troublent, les oreilles ſ’eſtourdiſſent, et l’entendement ſ’enchante, de voir tant de
choſes monſtreuſes qui ſ’y rencontrent à la fois.
Les femmes et filles avec leſquelles il ſe veut accoupler, ſont couvertes d’une
nuée, pour cacher les exécrations et ordures qui ſ’y trouvent, et pour oſter la com-
paſſion qu’on pourroit avoir des cris et douleurs de ces pauvres miſérables. Et
voulant meſler l’impiété avec l’abomination du ſortilège, pour leur faire paroiſtre
qu’il veut qu’elles vivent avec quelque forme de religion, le ſervice ou culte divin,
224 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

and contemptuous parody on the catholic maſs. An altar was

raiſed, and a prieſt conſecrated and adminiſtered the hoſt, but it was
made of ſome diſguſting ſubſtance, and the prieſt ſtood with his head
downwards and his legs in the air, and with his back turned to the
altar. Thus all things were performed in monſtrous or diſguſting
forms, ſo that Satan himſelf appeared almoſt aſhamed of them.
De Lancre acknowledges that there was ſome diverſity in the
manner of the proceedings of the Sabbath in different countries,
ariſing from difference in the character of the locality, in the
“maſter” who preſided, and in the various humours of thoſe who
attended. “But all well conſidered, there is a general agreement
on the principal and moſt important of the more ſerious ceremonies.
Wherefore, I will relate what we have learnt by our trials, and I will
ſimply repeat what ſome notable witches depoſed before us, as well
as to the formalities of the Sabbath, as to all that was uſually ſeen

qu’il ſ’eſſaye de contrefaire ou repréſenter, eſt ſi ſauvage et déréglé, et hors de tout

ſens commun, que le faux ſacrificateur ayant dreſſé quelque autel, faict ſemblant d’y
dire quelque forme de meſſe, pour ſe moquer des chreſtiens: Et y faict paroiſtre
quelque hoſtie, facte de quelque puante matière noire et enfumée, où il eſt peint en
boue. Ce faux preſtre a la teſte en bas, et les pieds contremont, et le dos ignomini-
euſement tourné vers l’autel. Enfin on y voit en chaque choſe ou action des repré-
ſentations ſi formidables, tant d’abominables objects, et tant de forfaicts et crimes
exécrable, que l’air ſ’infecteroit ſi je les vouloy exprimer plus au long; Et peut on
dire ſans mentir, que Satan meſme a quelque horreur de les commettre. Car outre la
nuée de la quelle il voile ſes accouplemens, il tient les enfans eſloignez, de peur de
les rebutter pour jamais par l’horrible veuë de tant de choſes. Et pluſiers per-
ſonnes voilées, pour tenir mine de grandeur, aſin qu’on ne les voye rougir nin paſlir de
la grandeur de cent mille maux, qu’on y voit commettre à tous momens.
A la vérité la deſcription du ſabbat qui ſe faict en diverſes contrées ſemble eſtre un
peu diverſe. La diverſité des lieux où il ſe tient, du maiſtre qui y préſide, tout divers
et tout variable, et les diverſes humeurs de ceux qui y ſont appellez, ſont la diverſité.
Mais tout bien conſidéré on eſt d’accord pour le principal et pour le plus important
des cérémonies plus ſérieuſes. C’eſt pourquoy je raporteray ce que nous avons
apprins par nos procédures, et diray ſimplement ce que quelques notables ſorcières en
ont dépoſés devant nous, tant ſur la forme du ſabbat que ſur tout ce qu’on a accouſ-
 GENERATIVE POWERS 225

there, without changing or altering anything in what they depoſed,

in order that every one may ſelect what he likes.”
The firſt witneſs adduced by De Lancre is not one belonging to
his own time, but dating back as far as the 18th of December, 1567,
and he had obtained a copy of the confeſſion. Eſtébene de Cambrue,
of the pariſh of Amou, a woman twenty-five years of age, ſaid that
the great Sabbath was held four times a year, in deriſion of the four
annual feſtivals of the Church. The little aſſemblies, which were
held in the neighbourhood of the towns or pariſhes, were attended
only by thoſe of the locality; they were called “paſtimes,” and were
held ſometimes in one place and ſometimes in another, and there
they only danced and frolicked, for the devil did not come there in all
his ſtate as at the great aſſemblies. They were, in fact, the greater
and leſſer Priapeia. She ſaid that the place of the grand convoca-
tion was generally called the “Lanne de Bouc” (the goat’s heath),
where they danced round a ſtone, which was planted in the ſaid
place, (perhaps one of the ſo-called Druidical monuments,) upon
which was ſeated a great black man, whom they called “Mon-
ſieur.” Each perſon preſent kiſſed this black man on the poſteriors.

tumé d’y voir, ſans rien changer n’y alterer de leur dépoſition, aſin que chacun en
prenne ce qu’il luy plaira.
Je commenceray par une fort ancienne dépoſition que j’ay trouvée puis peu de
jours, d’une Eſtébene de Cambrue, aagée de 25 ans, de la paroiſſe d’Amou, du 18
Décembre 1567, qui marque que deſlors cette pauvre parroiſſe en eſtoit déjà
infectée: qui dict que les ſorcières n’alloient en la grand aſſemblé et au grand
Sabbat que quatre fois l’année, en dériſion des cérémonies que l’église célèbre les
quatres festes annuelles. Car les petites aſſemblées qui se ſont près des villes
ou parroisse, où n’y va que ceux du lieu, ils les appellent les esbats, et ſe ſont
ores en un lieu de ladite parroisse, ores en un autre, où on ne faict que ſauter et
ſolaſtrer, le diable n’y eſtant avec tout ſon grand arroy, comme aux grandes aſſem-
blées. Que le lieu de ceſte grande convocation s’appelle généralement par tout
le pays la Lanne du Bouc. Où ils ſe mettent à dancer à l’entour d’une pierre,
qui eſt plantée audit lieu, sur laquelle est aſſis un grand hoome noir, qu’elles
226 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

She ſaid that they were carried to that place on an animal which
ſometimes reſembled a horſe and at others a man, and they never
rode on the animal more than four at a time. When arrived at
the Sabbath, they denied God, the Virgin, “and the reſt,” and
took Satan for their father and protector, and the ſhe-devil for
their mother. This witneſs deſcribed the making and ſale of
poiſons. She ſaid that ſhe had ſeen at the Sabbath a notary, whoſe
name ſhe gave, whoſe buſineſs it was to denounce thoſe who failed
in attendance. When on their way to the Sabbath, however hard
it might rain, they were never wet, provided they uttered the words,
Haut la coude, Quillet, becauſe then the tail of the beaſt on which
they were mounted covered them ſo well that they were ſheltered
from the rain. When they had to make a long journey they ſaid
theſe words: Pic ſuber hoeilhe, en ta la lane de bouc bien
m’arrecoueille.
A man ſeventy-three years of age, named Petri Daguerre, was
brought before De Lancre and his fellow commiſſioners at Uſtarits;
two witneſſes aſſerted that he held the office of maſter of cere-

appellant Monſieur, et chacun de l’aſſemblée luy va baiſer le deirrière. Et ſe ſont

porter juſqu’audit lieu, ſur une beſte, qui ſemble parfois un cheval, et parfoys
un homme; et ne montent jamais plus haut de quatre ſur ces mountures qui
portent ainſi au Sabbat. Là ils renient Dieu, la Vierge, et le reſte, et prennant
Satan pour leur père et protecteur, et la diableſſe pour leur mère. Qu’aucuns ſont là
du poison, desquels les autres le vont acheter, lequel est faict de crapaux, avec une
langue de boeuf ou vache, et une chèvre et des oeufs couvez et pourris, et de la
cervelle d’enfant, et le mettent cuire dans un pot. Dict qu’elle a veu au Sabbat un
notaire qu’elle nomme, lequel a accoustamé de lever les defauts de celles qui ont
manqué de ſe trouver au Sabbat, et dict qu’encore qu’il pleuſt à pleins ſeaux, lorſqu’on
eſt en chemin pour y aller, on ne ſe moüile point, pourveu qu’on die ces mots,
Haut la coude, Quillet, parce qu’alors la queuë de la beste sur laquelle ils vont au
Sabbat les courvre si bien, qu’ils ne se moüillent point. Et quand ils ſont un long
chemin, ils diſent tels mots: Pic ſuber hoeilhe, en ta la lane de bouc bien m’arrecoueille.
En la procédure d’Uſtarits, qui eſt le ſiège de la juſtice de Labourt, faiſent le procez à
Petri Daguerre, aagé de ſeptante trois ans, lequel depuis a eſté exécuté à mort
 GENERATIVE POWERS 227

monies and governor of the Sabbath, and that the devil gave him
a gilt ſtaff, which he carried in his hand as a mark of authority,
and arranged and directed the proceedings. He returned the ſtaff
to Satan at the cloſe of the meeting.
One Leger Rivaſſeau confeſſed that he had been at the Sabbath
twice without adoring the devil, or doing any of the things
required from the others, becauſe it was part of his bargain, for he
had given the half of his left foot for the faculty of curing, and the
right of being preſent at the Sabbath without further obligation. He
ſaid “that the Sabbath was held about midnight, at a meeting of
croſs roads, moſt frequently on the nights of Wedneſday and
Friday; that the devil choſe in preference the ſtormieſt nights, in
order that the winds and troubled elements might carry their
powders farther and more impetuouſly; that two notable devils
preſided at their Sabbaths, the great negro, whom they called
maſter Leonard, and another little devil, whom maſter Leonard at
times ſubſtituted in his place, and whom they called Maſter Jean
Mullin; that they adored the grand maſter, and that, after having

comme inſigne ſorcier, deux teſmoins luy maintindrent qu’il eſtoit le maiſtre des céré-
monies et gouverneur du Sabbat. Que le Diable luy mettoit en main un baſton tout
doré, avec lequel, comme un maſtre de camp, il rengeoit et les perſonne et toutes
choſes au Sabbat: et qu’iceluy finy il dendoit ce baſton au grand maiſtre de l’aſ-
ſemblée.
Leger Rivaſſeau confeſſa en la Cour qu’il avoit eſté au Sabbat par deux fois, ſans
adorer le Diable ny faire comme les autres, parcequ’il avoit ainſi faict ſon pacte avec
luy, et baillé la moitié de ſon pied gauche pour avoir la faculté de guérir, et la liberté
de voir le Sabbat ſimplement ſans eſtre obligé à autre choſe. Et diſoit que le Sabbot
ſe faiſoit preſque touſjours environ la minuit, à un carrefour, le plus ſouvent la nuict
du Mercredy et du Vendredy: que le diable cherchoit la nuict la plus orageuſe qu’il
pouvoit, aſin que les vents et les orages portaſſent plus loing et plus impètueuſement leurs
poudres; que deux diables notables préſidoient en ces Sabbats, le grand Negre qu’on
appelloit maiſtre Leonard, et un autre petit diable que maiſtre Leonard ſubrogeoit quel-
quefois en ſa place, qu’ils appellent Jean Mullin; qu’on adorait le grand maiſtre,
228 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

kiſſed his poſteriors, there were about ſixty of them dancing without
dreſs, back to back, each with a great cat attached to the tail of
his or her ſhirt, and that afterwards they danced naked; that this
Maſter Leonard, taking the form of a black fox, hummed at the
beginning a word ill articulated, after which they were all ſilent.”
Some of the witches examined ſpoke of the delight with which
they attended the Sabbath. Jeanne Dibaſſon, a woman twenty-
nine years old, ſaid that the Sabbath was the true Paradiſe, where
there was far more pleaſure than can be expreſſed; that thoſe who
went there found the time ſo ſhort by reaſon of the pleaſure and
enjoyment, that they never left it without marvelous regret, ſo
that they looked forward with infinite impatience to the next
meeting.
Marie de la Ralde, “a very handſome woman twenty-eight years
of age,” who had then abandoned her connection with the devil five
or ſix years, gave a full account of her experience of the Sabbath.
She ſaid ſhe had frequented the Sabbaths from the time ſhe was ten
years old, having been firſt taken there by Mariſſans, the wife of
Sarrauch, and after her death the devil took her there himſelf.

et qu’après qu’on luy avoit baiſé le derrière, ils eſtoient environ ſoixante qui dançoient
ſans habits, doſ-à-dos, chacun un grand chat attaché à la queuë de la chemiſe, puis ils
dançoient tous nuds: que ce maiſtre Leonard prenant la forme d’un renard noir
bourdonnoitau commencent uſe parole mal articulée, et qu’après cela tout le monde
eſtoit en ſilence. . . . .
Jeanne Dibaſſon, aagée de vingt neuf ans, nous dict que le Sabbat eſtoit le vray
Paradis, où il y a beacoup plus de plaiſir qu’on n’en peut exprimer: que ceux qui
y vont trouvent le temps ſi court, à force de plaiſir et de contentment, qu’ils n’en
peuvent ſortir ſans un merveilleux regret, de manière qu’il leur tarde infiniment qu’ils
n’y reviennent.
Marie de la Ralde, aagée de vingt huict ans, trèſ-belle femme, laquelle a quitté cette
abomination puis cinq ou ſix ans, dépoſe qu’elle a eſté ſorcière et fréquené les Sabbats
puis l’aage de dix ans, y ayant eſté menée la première fois par Mariſſans femme de
Sarrauch, et après ſon decez le Diable l’y menoit luy meſme. Que la première fois
 GENERATIVE POWERS 229

That the firſt time ſhe was there ſhe ſaw the devil in the ſhape of a
trunk of a tree, without feet, but apparently ſitting in a pulpit,
with ſome form of a human face, very obſcure; but ſince ſhe had
often ſeen him in man's form, ſometimes red, ſometimes black.
That ſhe had often ſeen him approach a hot iron to the children
which were preſented to him, but ſhe did not know if he marked
them with it. That ſhe had never kiſſed him ſince ſhe had arrived
at the age of knowledge, and does not know whether ſhe had
kiſſed him before or not; but ſhe had ſeen how, when one went to
adore him, he preſented ſometimes his face to kiſs, ſometimes his
poſteriors, as it pleaſed him, and at his diſcretion. That ſhe had a
ſingular pleaſure in going to the Sabbath, ſo that every time ſhe
was ſummoned to go there, ſhe went as though it were to a wed-
ding feaſt; not ſo much for the liberty and licenſe they had there
to have connection with each other (which out of modeſty ſhe ſaid
ſhe had never done or ſeen done), but becauſe the devil had ſo
ſtrong a hold on their hearts and wills that it hardly allowed any
other deſire to enter. Beſides that the witches believe they are
going to a place where there are a hundred thouſand wonders
and novelties to ſee, and where they hear ſo great a diverſity

qu’elle y fut, elle y vit le Diable en forme de tronc d’arbre, ſans pieds, qui ſembloit
eſtre dans une chaire, avec quélque forme de face humaine fort ténébreuſe, mais depuis
elle l’a veu ſouvent en forme d’homme, tantot rouge, tantot noir: qu’elle la veu
ſouvent approcher un fer chaud près des enfants qu’on luy préſentoit, mais qu’elle ne
ſçait ſ’il les marquoit avec cela. Qu’elle ne l’a jamais baſié puis qu’elle eſt en aage
de cognoiſſance, et ne ſçait ſi auparavant elle l’avoit baiſé: bien a veu que comme on
la va adorer, ores il leur préſemte le viſage à baiſer, ores le derrière, comme il luy
plaiſt, et à ſa diſcretion. Qu’elle avoit un ſingulier plaiſir d’aller au Sabbat, ſi bien
que quand on la venoit ſemondre d’y aller, elle y alloit comme à nopces: non pas
tant pour la liberté et licence qu’on a de ſ’accointer enſemble (ce que par modeſtie elle
dict n’avoir jamais fait ny veu faire), mais parce que le Diable tenoit tellement liés leurs
coeurs et leurs volontez qu’à peine y laiſſoit il entrer nul autre déſir: Outre que les
ſorcières croyent aller en quelque lieu où il y a cent mille choſes entranges et nouvelles
230 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

of melodious inſtruments that they are raviſhed, and believe them-

ſelves to be in ſome terreſtrial paradiſe. Moreover the devil per-
ſuades them that the fear of hell, which is ſo much apprehended,
is a piece of folly, and gives them to underſtand that the eternal
puniſhments will hurt them no more than a certain artificial fire
which he cauſes them craftily to light, and then makes them paſs
through it and repaſs without hurt. And more, that they ſee there
ſo many prieſts, their paſtors, curés, vicars, and confeſſors, and
other people of quality of all ſorts, ſo many heads of families, and
ſo many miſtreſſes of the principal houſes in the ſaid country, ſo
many people veiled, whom they conſidered to be grandees, becauſe
they concealed themſelves and wiſhed to be unknown, that they
believed and took it for a very great honour and good fortune to
be received there.
Marie d’Aſpilcouëtte, a girl nineteen years old, who lived at
Handaye, ſaid that ſhe had frequented the Sabbath ever ſince the age
of ſeven, and that ſhe was taken there the firſt time by Catherine de
Moleres, who had ſince been executed to death for having cauſed
a man’s death by ſorcery. She ſaid that it was now two years ſince

à voir, et y entendant tant de divers et mélodieux inſtruments qu’elle ſont ravies, et

croyent eſtre dans quelque Paradis terreſtre. D’ailleurs que le Diable leur perſuade
que la crainte de l’Enfer, qu’on appréhende ſi fort, eſt une niayſerie, et leur donne à
entrendre que les peines éternelles ne les tourmenteront pas davantage, que certain feu
artificiel qu’il leur fact cauteleuſement allumer, par lequel il les faict paſſer et repaſſer
ſans ſouffrir aucun mal. D’avantage qu’elle y voyent tant de preſtres, leur paſteurs,
curez, vicaires, et confeſſeurs, et autres gens de qualité de toute ſortes, tant de chefs
de famille et tant de maiſtreſſes des maiſons principales dudict païs, tant de gens
voilez, qu’elle préſuppoſent grans parcequ’ils ſe cachent et veulent eſtre incognus,
qu’elle croyent et prennent à très grand honneur et à tiltre de bonne fortune d’y eſtre
receuës. . . . .
Marie d’Aſpilcouëtte, habitante de Handaya, aagée de dix neuf ans, dict
qu’elle a fréquenté les Sabbats puis l’aage de ſept ans, et qu’elle y ſut conduitte la
première fois par Catherine de Moleres qui a depuis eſté exécutée à mort, luy ayant
eſté maintenu, qu’elle avoit chargé le haut mal par ſon ſeul attouchment à un fort
 GENERATIVE POWERS 231

ſhe had withdrawn from her relations with Satan. That the devil
appeared in the form of a goat, having a tail and under it the face of
a black man, which ſhe was compelled to kiſs, and that this poſterior
face has not the power of ſpeech, but they were obliged to adore
and kiſs it. Afterwards the ſaid Moleres gave her ſeven toads to
keep. That the ſaid Moleres tranſported her through the air to the
Sabbath, where ſhe ſaw people dancing, with violins, trumpets, and
tabors, which made a very great harmony. That in the ſaid
aſſemblies there was an extreme pleaſure and enjoyment. That
they made love in full liberty before all the world. That ſome
were employed in cutting off the heads of toads, while others made
poiſon of them; and that they made the poiſon at home as well as
at the Sabbath.
After deſcribing the different ſorts of poiſons prepared on theſe
occaſions, De Lancre proceeds to report the teſtimony of other
witneſſes to the details of the Sabbath.1 Jeannette de Belloc,
called Atſoua, a damſel of twenty-four years of age, ſaid that ſhe
had been made a witch in her childhood by a woman named Oylar-
chahar, who took her for the firſt time to the Sabbath, and there
preſented her to the devil; and after her death, Mary Martin,

honneſte homme: que néantmoins il y a deux ans qu’elle ſ’eſt retirée des liens de
Satan, et qu’elle en a ſecoüé le joug. Que le Diable eſtoit en forme de bouc, ayant
une queuë et au deſſoubs un viſage d’homme noir, où elle ſut contrainte le baiſer, et
n’a parole par ce viſage de derrière, qu’on luy ſit adorer et baiſer: puis ladicte
Moleres luy donna ſept crapaux à garder. Que la dicte Moleres la tranſportoit au
Sabbat par l’air, où elle voyoit dancer avec violons, trompettes, ou tabourins, qui
rendoyent une trèſgrande harmonie. Qu’eſdictes aſſemblées y a un extrême plaiſir et
rejouiſſance. Qu’on y faict l’amour en toute liberté devant tout le monde. Que
pluſiers ſ’emploient à couper la teſte à des crapaix. et les autres à en faire du poiſon;
qu’on en faict au logis auſſi bien qu’au Sabbat. Tableau l’Inconſtance, pp. 119 et
ſeqq.
1
Jeannette de Belloc dicte Atſoua, fille de 24 ans, nous dict que puis ſon bas aage
elle avoit eſté faicte ſorciére par une femme nommé Oylarchahar, laquelle la mena
au Sabbat la première fois, et la préſenta au Diable, et après ſon decez, Marie Martin,
232 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

lady of the houſe of Adamechorena, took her place. About the

month of February, 1609, Jeannette confeſſed to a prieſt who was
the nephew of Madame Martin, who went to his aunt and merely
enjoined her not to take the girl to the Sabbath any more. Jean-
nette ſaid that at the ſolemn feſtivals all kiſſed the devil’s poſteriors
except the notable witches, who kiſſed him in the face. According
to her account, the children, at the age of two or three years, or as
ſoon as they could ſpeak, were made to renounce Jeſus Chriſt, the
Virgin Mary, their baptiſm, &c. and from that moment they were
taught to worſhip the devil. She deſcribed the Sabbath as reſemb-
ling a fair, well ſupplied with all ſorts of objects, in which ſome
walked about in their own form, and others were transformed, ſhe
knew not how, into dogs, cats, aſſes, horſes, pigs, and other ani-
mals. The little boys and girls kept the herds of the Sabbath, con-
ſiſting of a world of toads near a ſtream, with ſmall white rods,
and were not allowed to approach the great maſs of the witches;
while others, of more advanced age, who were not objects of ſuffi-
cient reſpect, were kept apart in a ſort of apprenticeſhip, during

dame de la maiſon d’Adamechorena, print ſa place. Et d’autant qu’environ le mois

de Febvrier 1609, elle ſ’alla confeſſer à maiſtre Jean de Horrouſteguy, prieur de
Soubernoue, nepveu de ladicte Martin, il enjoignit à ſa tante de la laiſſer en paix et ne
la mener plus au Sabbat. Qu’ès feſtes ſolemnelles on baiſoit le Diable au derrière,
mais les notables ſorcières le baiſoient au viſage. Que les enfans environ l’aage de
deux ou trois ans, et puis qu’ls ſçavent parler, ſont la rénonciation à Jéſuſ-Chriſt, à la
Saincte Vierge, à leur Bapteſme, et à toute le reſte, et commencent dès lors à prendre
habitude à recognoiſtre et adorer le Diable. Dict que le Sabbat eſt comme une foire
célèbre de toutes ſortes de choſes, en laquelle aucuns ſe promenent en leur propre
forme, et d’autres ſont transformez, ne ſçayt pourquoy, en chiens, en chats, aſnes,
chevaux, pourceaux, et autres animaux: les petits enfans et filles gardent
les troupeaux du Sabbat, qui ſont un mode de crapaux, près d’un ruiſſeau avec
des petites gaules blanches qu’on leur donne. ſans les laiſſer approcher du gros
des autres ſorciers: les médiocres et ceux qui ſont de bon aage parmy eux, on
leur permet ſimplement de voir, et leur en donne-on le plaiſir et l’eſtonnement, les
tenant comme en apprentiſſage. Pour les autres il y en a de deux ſortes; aucunſ
 GENERATIVE POWERS 233

which they were only allowed to look on at the proceedings of the

others. Of theſe there were two ſorts; ſome were veiled, to make
the poorer claſſes believe that they were people of rank and diſ-
tinction, and that they did not wiſh themſelves to be known in ſuch
a place; others were uncovered, and openly danced, had ſexual
intercourſe, made the poiſons, and performed their other diabolical
functions; and theſe were not allowed to approach ſo near “the
maſter” as thoſe who were veiled. The holy water uſed at the
Sabbath was the devil’s urine. She pointed out two of the accuſed
whom ſhe had ſeen at the Sabbath playing upon the tabor and
the violin. She ſpoke of the numbers who were ſeen arriving
and departing continually, the latter to do evil, the former to
report what they had done. They went out at ſea, even as far as
Newfoundland, where their huſbands and ſons went to fiſh, in
order to raiſe ſtorms, and endanger their ſhips. This deponent
ſpoke alſo of the fires at the Sabbath, into which the witches were

ſont voilez pour donner opinion aux pauvres que ce ſont des princes et grans
ſeigneurs, et qu’aucun d’eux n’ayt horreur d’y eſtre et faire ce qu’ils ſont en adorant
le diable. . . Les autres ſont decouverts et tout ouvertement dancent, ſ’accouplent,
font du poiſon, et autres fonctions diaboliques, et ceux cy ne ſont ſi près du maiſtre, ſi
favoris, ne ſi employez. Ils baillent l’aſperges de l’urnine du Diable. Ils y vont à
l’offrande, et y a veu tenir le baſſin à un Eſteben Detzail, lors priſonnier: et diſoit-on
qu’il ſ’en eſtoit enrichy. Qu’elle y a veu jouer du tabourin à Anſugarlo de Han-daye,
lequel a depuis eſté exécuté à mort comme inſigne ſorcier, et du violon à Gaſtelloue.
Elle nous diſoit qu’on euſt veu deſloger du Sabbat et voler l’une en l’air, l’autre
monter plus haut vers le ciel, l’autre deſcendre vers la terre, et l’autre parfois ſe
précipiter dans les grands feux allumez audit lieu, comme fuzées qui ſont jettées par
pluſieurs, ou comme eſclairs: l’une arrive, l’autre part, et tout à un coup pluſiers
partent, pluſiers arrivent, chacune rendant comte de vents et orages qu’elle
a excité, des navires et vaiſſeaux qu’elle a fait perdre: et ſ’en vont de Labourt,
Siboro, et S. Jean de Luz, juſques à Arcachon, qui eſt une des teſtes de l’Ocean, auſſi
l’appellent ils la teſte de Buch, aſſés près de Bourdeaux, et en Terre-neuve, parce-
qu’elles y voyent leur pères, leurs maris, leurs enfans, et d’autres parens, et que c’eſt
leur voyage ordinaire, meſme en a veu pluſiers qui notoirement ſont en Terre-neuve
234 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

thrown without ſuſtaining any hurt. She had ſeen the frequenters
of the Sabbath make themſelves appear as big as houſes, but ſhe had
never ſeen them transform themſelves into animals, although there
were animals of different kinds running about at the Sabbath.
Jeanette d’Abadie, an inhabitant of Siboro, of the age of ſix-
teen, ſaid that ſhe was taken for the firſt time to the Sabbath by a
woman named Gratianne; that for the laſt nine months ſhe had
watched and done all ſhe could to withdraw herſelf from this evil
influence; that during the firſt three of theſe months, becauſe ſhe
had watched at home by night, the devil carried her away to the
Sabbath in open day; and during the other ſix, until the 16th of
September, 1609, ſhe had only gone to them twice, becauſe ſhe
had watched, and ſtill watches in the church; and that the laſt time
ſhe was there was the 13th of September, 1609, which ſhe narrated
in a “bizarre and very terrible manner.” It appears that, having
watched in the church of Siboro during the night between Saturday
and Sunday, at daybreak ſhe went to ſleep at home, and, during
the time of the grand maſs, the devil came to her and ſnatched

qu’elles menoyent au Sabbat. . . . . Quant à la transformations, dict qu’encore que

parfois elles ſi faſſent voir hautes comme une maiſon, pourtant elle n’a jamais veu
aucune d’elle ſe transformer en beſte en ſa préſence, mais ſeulement certaines beſtes
courier par le Sabbat, et devenir grandes et petites, mais ſi ſoudainement qu’elle n’en
a jamais pu decouvrir la façon. En voycy une plus ſçavante.
Jeannette d’Abadie, habitante de Siboro, aagée de ſeize ans, dépoſe qu’elle fut menée
la première fois au Sabbat par une nommée Gratianne: qu’il y a environ neuf mois
qu’elle veille et faict tout ce qu’elle peut pour ſe remédier: que puis les trois premiers
mois deſdicts neuf, parce qu’elle veilloit la nuit chez elle, le Diable la menoit toujours au
Sabbat de plain jour: et les ſix mois reſtans juſque au 16 Septembre 1609, elle n’y eſt allée
que deux fois, parce qu’elle a veillé et veille encore dans l’égliſe: et la dernière fois
qu’elle y a eſté, ce fut le 13 de Septembre 1609, ce qu’elle conte d’une bizarre et bien
terrible façon. Car elle dict qu’ayant veillé dans l’égliſe de Siboro, la nuict du Samedy
venant au Dimanche, le jour venu, elle ſ’en alla dormir chez elle, et pendant qu’on
diſoit la grande Meſle, le Diable lui vint arracher un Higo de cuir qu’elle portoit au
col, comme ſont uue infinité d’autres; qui eſt une forme de main au point ſerré, le
 GENERATIVE POWERS 235

from her neck a “fig of leather which ſhe wore there, as an

infinity of other people did;” this higo, or fig, ſhe deſcribed as
“a form of hand, with the fiſt cloſed, and the thumb paſſed
between the two fingers, which they believe to be, and wear as, a
remedy againſt all enchantment and witchcraft; and, becauſe the
devil cannot bear this fiſt, ſhe ſaid that he did not dare to carry it
away, but left it at the threſhold of the door of the room in which
ſhe was ſleeping.” This Jeanette ſaid, that the firſt time ſhe went
to the Sabbath ſhe ſaw there the devil in the form of a man, black
and hideous, with ſix horns on his head, and ſometimes eight,
and a great tail behind, one face in front and another at the back
of the head, as they paint the god Janus. Gratianne, on preſenting
her, received as her reward a handful of gold; and then the child-
victim was made to renounce her Creator, the Virgin, the
baptiſm, father, mother, relatives, heaven, earth, and all that was
in the world, and then ſhe was required to kiſs the fiend on the
poſteriors. The renunciation ſhe was obliged to repeat every time
ſhe went to the Sabbath. She added that the devil often made her
kiſs his face, his navel, his member, and his poſteriors. She had
often ſeen the children of witches baptized at the Sabbath.

poulce paſſé entre les deux doigts, qu’elle croyent et portent comme remède à toute
faſcination et ſortilège: et parce que le Diable ne peut ſouffrir ce poignet, elle dict
qu’il ne l’oſa emporter, ains le laiſſa près de la porte de la chambre dans la-
quelle elle dormoit. En revenant au commencement et à la première entrée qu’elle
ſut au Sabbat, elle dit qu’eel y vid le Diable en forme d’homme noir et hideux, avec
ſix cornes en la teſte, parfois huict, et une grande queuë derrière, un viſage devant et
un autre derrière la teſte, comme on peint le dieu Janus: que la dicte Gratianne,
l’ayant préſentée, recuet une poignée d’or en récompenſe, puis la fit renoncer et renier
ſon Créateur, la Saincte Vierge, les Saincts, le Bapteſme, père, mère, parens, le ciel,
la terre, et tout ce qui eſt au monde, laquelle renonciation il luy faiſoit renouveller
toutes les fois qu’elle alloit au Sabbat, puis elle l’alloit baiſer au derrière. Que le
Diable luy faiſoit baiſer ſouvent ſon viſage, puis ſon nombril, puis ſon membre, puis ſon
derrière. Qu’elle a veu ſouvent baptiſer des enfans au Sabbat, qu’elle nous expli-
236 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

Another ceremony was that of baptizing toads. Theſe animals

perform a great part in theſe old popular orgies. At one of the
Sabbaths, a lady danced with four toads on her perſon, one on each
ſhoulder, and one on each wriſt, the latter perched like hawks.
Jeanette d’Abadie went on further in her revelations in regard to
ſtill more objectionable parts of the proceedings. She ſaid that,1
with regard to their libidinous acts, ſhe had ſeen the aſſembly inter-
mix inceſtuouſly, and contrary to all order of nature, accuſing even
herſelf of having been robbed of her maidenhead by Satan, and of
having been known an infinite number of times by a relation of
hers, and by others, whoever would aſk her. She always fought to
avoid the embraces of the devil, becauſe it cauſed her an extreme
pain, and ſhe added that what came from him was cold, and never
produced pregnancy. Nobody ever became pregnant at the Sab-
bath. Away from the Sabbath, ſhe never committed a fault, but
in the Sabbath ſhe took a marvellous pleaſure in theſe acts of
ſexual intercourſe, which ſhe diſplayed by dwelling on the deſcrip-
tion of them with a minuteneſs of detail, and language of ſuch
obſcenity, as would have drawn a bluſh from the moſt depraved
woman in the world. She deſcribed alſo the tables covered in

qua eſtre des enfans des ſorcières et non autres, leſquelles ont accouſtumé fair pluſtot
baptiſer leurs enfans au Sabbat, qu’en l’égliſe, et les préſenter au Diable pluſtot qu’à
Dieu. De l’Inconſtance des Mauvais Anges, p. 128.
1
Pour l’accouplement, qu’elle a veu tout le monde ſe mſler inceſtueuſement et contre
tout ordre de nature, comme nous avons dict cy devant, ſ’accuſant elle meſme d’avoir
eſté dépucellée par Satan et cognue une infinité de fois par un fien parent et autres
qui ‘en daignoient ſemondre: qu’elle ſuyoit l’accouplement du Diable, à cauſe
qu’ayant ſon membre faict en aſcailles, il fait ſouffrir une extreſme douleur; outre que
la ſemence eſt extrêmement froide, ſi bien qu’elle n’engroſſe jamais, ni celle des
autres hommes au Sabbat, bien qu’elle ſoit naturelle: Que hors du Sabbat elle ne ſit
jamais faute, mais que dans le Sabbat elle avoit un merveilleux plaiſir en ces accou-
plemens autres que celui de Sathan, qu’elle diſoit eſtre horrible, voire elle nous
teſmoignoit un merveilleux plaiſir à le dire, et le conter, nommant toutes choſes par
 GENERATIVE POWERS 237

appearance with proviſions, which, however, proved either unſub-

ſtantial or of a diſguſting nature.
This witneſs further declared that ſhe had ſeen at the Sabbath a
number of little demons without arms, who were employed in
kindling a great fire, into which they threw the witches, who came
out without being burnt; and ſhe had alſo ſeen the grand maſter of
the aſſembly throw himſelf into a fire, and remain there until he was
burnt to powder, which powder was uſed by the witches to
bewitch young children, and cauſe them to go willingly to the
Sabbath. She had ſeen prieſts who were well-known, and gave the
names of ſome of them, performing the ſervice of the maſs at the
Sabbath, while the demons took their places on the altar in the
forms of ſaints. Sometimes the devil pierced the left foot of a
ſorcerer under the little toe, and drew blood, which he ſucked, and

leur nom plus librement et effrontémont que nous ne luy oſions faire demander,
choſe qui confirme merveilleuſement la réalité du Sabbat. Car il eſt plus vray-
ſemblable qu’elle ſe ſoit accouplée au Sabbat avec des gens qu’elle nommoit, que non,
que Satan les y ait faict voir dans ſon lict par illuſion, ou qu’il les luy ait portez cor-
porellement: n’ayant peu ſentir cent fois (comme elle dict) cette femence naturelle que
ſ’accouplant corporellement et réellemenent avec un homme naturel qu’elle nous a nommé
qui eſt encore vivant. Qu’elle y a veu des tables dreſſées avec ſorces vivres, mais
quad on en vouloit preadre on ne trouvait rien ſoubs la main, ſauf quand on y avoit
porté des enfans baptiſes ou non baptiſes, car de ces deux elle en avoit veu fort ſauvent
ſervir et manger: meſme un qu’on tenait eſtre fils de maiſtre de Laffe. Qu’on les
compe à quartiers au Sabbat pour en faire part à pluſieurs parroiſſes.
D’avantage dict qu’elle a veu pluſieurs petits démons ſans bras, allumer un grand feu,
jette des ſorcières du ſabbat là dedans, et, les retirant ſans douleur, le Diable leur dire
qu’elles n’auroient non plus de mal du feu d’Enfer. Qu’elle a veu le grand maiſtres de
l’aſſemblée ſe jetter dans les flammes au Sabbat, ſe faire bruſler juſques à ce qu’il eſtoit
reduit en poudre, et les grandes et inſignes ſorcières prendre les dites poudres pour
enſorceler les petits enfants et les mener au Sabbat, et en prenoient auſſi dans la
bouche pour ne reveler jamais; et a veu pareillement ce mauvais démon au Sabbat
ſe rédaire tout en menus vers. Qu’elle a ony dire ſouvent meſſe à quelques preſtres et
entre autres à Migualena et Bocal, veſtas de rouge et de blanc: que le maiſtre de
l’aſſemblée et autres petits démons eſſoint ſur l’autel en forme de ſaincts: que pour
238 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

after this that individual could never be drawn to make a confeſ-

ſion; and ſhe named, as an example, a prieſt named Francois de
Bideguaray, of Bordegaina, who, in fact, could not be made to
confeſs. She named many other perſons whom ſhe had ſeen at the
Sabbaths, and eſpecially one named Anduitze, whoſe office it was
to ſummon the witches and ſorcerers to the meeting.
De Lancre ſays that many others, in their depoſitions, ſpoke of
the extreme pleaſures and enjoyments experienced in theſe Sab-
baths, which made men and women repair to them with the greateſt
eagerneſs. “The woman indulged before the face of her huſband
without ſuſpicion or jealouſy, he even frequently acted the part of
procurer; the father deprived his daughter of her virginity without
ſhame; the mother acted the ſame part towards her ſon; the brother
towards his ſiſter; fathers and mothers carried thither and pre-
ſented their children.”

aller au Sabbat elle ne laiſſoit d’aller à l’égliſe, mais elle trembloit quand elle y
voiyoit faire l’eſlevation, et tremble encoure toutes les fois qu’elle la voit. Et quand
elle ſe veut approcher du crucifix, pour luy baiſer les pieds, elle devient tous eſperdue
et troublée, ſans ſçavoir quelle prière elle fait, parcequ’elle voit en meſme inſtant
comme un perſonne noire et hideuſe qui eſt tout au bas et au deſſoubs des pieds
dudict crucifix, qui faict contenance de l’en empeſcher. Quant aux ſorciers qui
ne confeſſent ny à la torture ny au ſupplice, elle dict avoir veu que le Diable leur perce
le pied gauche avec un poinçon et leur tire un peu de ſang au deſſoubs du petit doigt
dudict pied gauche, lequel ſang il ſucce, et celuy là ne confeſſe jamais choſe qui con-
cerne le ſortilège: ce qu’elle a veu pratiquer en la perſonne de maiſtre François de
Bideguarnay, preſtre au lieu appellé à Bordegaina, où le Sabbat a accouſtumé ſe tenir,
ſi bien qu’elle nous a dict qu’il ne confeſſeroit jamais. Qu’elle a veu au Sabbat entre
une infinité qu’elle nomme et cognoiſt, un nommé Anduitze, qui eſt celuy qui va
donner les aſſignations aux ſorcières pour ſe trouver au Sabbat. . . .
Et pluſieurs autres nous ont dict que les plaiſirs et la joye y ſont ſi grands et de
tant de ſortes, qu’il n’y a homme ny femme qui n’y coure trèſ-volontiers. . . . . La
femme ſe joue en préſence de ſon mary ſans ſoupçon ni jalouſies, voire il en eſt ſouvent le
proxenete: le père dépucelle ſa fille ſans vergogne: la mère arrache le pucelage de
fils ſans cruinte: le frère de la ſoeur; on y voit les pères et mères porter et préſenter
leurs enfans. De l’Inconſtance, p. 132.
 GENERATIVE POWERS 239

The dances at the Sabbath were moſtly indecent, including the

well-known Sarabande, and the women danced in them ſometimes
in chemiſe, but much more frequently quite naked. They con-
ſiſted eſpecially in violent movements; and the devil often joined
in them, taking the handſomeſt woman or girl for his partner. De
Lancre's account of theſe dances is ſo minute and curious that it
may be given in his own words.1 “If the ſaying is true that never
woman or girl returned from the ball as chaſte as ſhe went there,
how unclean muſt ſhe return who has abandoned herſelf to the un-
fortunate deſign of going to the ball of the demons and evil ſpirits,
who has danced in hand with them, who has kiſſed them obſcenely,
who has yielded herſelf to them as a prey, has adored them, and
has even copulated with them? It is to be, in good earneſt, incon-
ſtant and fickle; it is to be not only lewd, or even a ſhameleſs
whore, but to be ſtark-mad, unworthy of the favours with which
God loads her in bringing her into the world, and cauſing her to
be born a Chriſtian. We cauſed in ſeveral places the boys and
girls to dance in the ſame faſhion as they danced at the Sabbath,
as much to deter them from ſuch uncleanneſs, by convincing them
to what a degree the moſt modeſt of theſe movements was filthy,
vile, and unbecoming in a virtuous girl, as alſo becauſe, when
1
Et ſ’il eſt vray ce qu’on dit que jamais femme ny fille ne revint du bal ſi chaſte
comme elle y eſt allée, combien immonde revient celle qui ſ’eſt abandonnée, et a prins
ce mal-heureux deſſain d’aller au bal des démons et mauvais eſprits, qui a dancé à
leur main, qui les a ſi ſalement baiſez, qui ſ’eſt donnée à eux en proye, les a adorez, et
ſ’eſt meſme accouplée avec eux? C’eſt eſtre à bon eſcient inconſtante et volage: c’eſt
eſtre non ſeulment impudique, voire putain effrontée, mais bien folle enragée, inbigne
des graces que Dieu luy avoit faict et verſé ſur elle, lor qu’il la mit au monde, et la
ſiſt naiſtre chreſtienne. Nous ſiſmes en pluſieurs lieux dancer les enfans et filles en la
meſme façon qu’elle dançoient au Sabbat, tant pour les déterrer d’une telle faleté,
leur faiſant recognoiſtre combien le plus modeſte mouvement eſtoit ſale, vilain, et
malſéant à une honneſte fille, qu’aiſſa par-ce qu’au confrontement la plus part des
ſorcières accuſées d’avoir entre autres choſes dancée à la main du Diable, et parfois
240 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

accuſed, the greater part of the witches, charged with having among
other things danced in hand with the devil, and ſometimes led the
dance, denied it all, and ſaid that the girls were deceived, and that
they could not have known how to expreſs the forms of dance
which they ſaid they had ſeen at the Sabbath. They were boys
and girls of a fair age, who had already been in the way of
ſalvation before our commiſſion. In truth ſome of them were
already quite out of it, and had gone no more to the Sabbath for
ſome time; others were ſtill ſtruggling to eſcape, and, held ſtill by
one foot, ſlept in the church, confeſſed and communicated, in order
to withdraw themſelves entirely from Satan's claws. Now it is
ſaid that they dance always with their backs turned to the centre of
the dance, which is the cauſe that the girls are ſo accuſtomed to
carry their hands behind them in this round dance, that they draw
into it the whole body, and give it a bend curved backwards,
having their arms half turned; ſo that moſt of them have the belly
commonly great, puſhed forward, and ſwollen, and a little inclining
in front. I know not whether this be cauſed by the dance or by the
ordure and wretched proviſions they are made to eat. But the
fact is, they dance very ſeldom one by one, that is one man alone

mené la dance, nioyent tout, et diſoient que les filles eſtoient abuſées, et qu’elles
n’euſſent ſceu exprimer les formes de dance qu’elle diſoient avoir veu au Sabbat.
C’eſtoient des endans et filles de bon aage, et qui eſtoient deſjà en voye de ſalut avant
noſtre commiſſion. A la vérité aucunes en eſtoient dehors tout à faict,. et n’alloy-ent
plus au Sabbat il y avoit quelque temps: les autres eſtoient encore à ſe débatre ſur la
perche, et attachez par un pied, dormoient dans les égliſes, ſe confeſſoient et
communioient, pour ſ’oſter du tout des pattes de Satan. Or on dict qu’on y dance
touſjours le dos tourné au centre de la dance, qui faict que les filles ſont ſi accuſ-
tumées à porter les mains en arrière en ceſte dance ronde, qu’elles y trainent tout le
corps, et luy donnent un ply courbé en arrière, ayant les bras à demy tournez: ſi
bien que la plus part ont le ventre communement grand, enflé et avancé, et un peu
penchant ſur le devant. Je ne ſçay ſi la dance leur cauſe cela ou l’ordure et meſ-
chantes viandes qu’on leur fait manger. Au reſte on y dance fort peu ſouvent un à
 GENERATIVE POWERS 241

with one woman or girl, as we do in our galliards; ſo they have told

and aſſured us, that they only danced there three ſorts of branles,
or brawls, uſually turning their ſhoulders to one another, and the
back of each looking towards the round of the dance, and the face
turned outwards. The firſt is the Bohemian dance, for the wan-
dering Bohemians are alſo half devils; I mean thoſe long-haired
people without country, who are neither Egyptians (gipſies), nor
of the kingdom of Bohemia, but are born everywhere, as they
purſue their route, and paſs countries, in the fields, and under the
trees, and they go about dancing and playing conjuring tricks, as
at the Sabbath. So they are numerous in the country of Labourd, on
account of the eaſy paſſage from Navarre and Spain.
“The ſecond is with jumping, as our working men practiſe in
towns and villages, along the ſtreets and fields; and theſe two are
in round. The third is alſo with the back turned, but all holding
together in length, and, without diſengaging hands, they approach
ſo near as to touch, and meet back to back, a man with a woman;
and at a certain cadence they puſh and ſtrike together immodeſtly
their two poſteriors. And it was alſo told us that the devil, in his

un, c’eſt à dire un homme ſeul avec une femme ou fille, comme nous faiſons en nos
gaillardes: ains elles nous ont dict et aſſuré, qu’on n’y dançoit que trois fortes de
branſles, communement ſe tournant les eſpaules l’un l’autre, et le does d’un chaſcun
viſant dans le rond de la dance, et le viſage en dehors. La première c’eſt à la Bohé-
mienne, car auſſi les Bohèmes coureurs ſont à demy diables: je dy ces long poils ſans
patrie, qui ne ſont ny Ægyptiens, ny du royaume de Bohème, ains ils naiſſent par tout
en chemin faiſant et paſſant païs, et dans les champs, et ſoubs les arbres, et font les
dances et baſtelages à demy comme au Sabbat. Auſſi ſont ils fréquens au païs de
Labourt, pour l’aiſance du paſſage de Navarre et de l’Eſpange.
La ſeconde c’eſt à ſauts, comme noz artiſans font ès villes et villages, par les rues et
par les champs: et ces deux ſont en rond. Et la troiſieſme eſt auſſi le dos tourné, mais ſe
tenant tous en long, et, ſans ſe deprendre des mains, ils ſ’approchent de ſi près qu’ils
ſe touchent, et ſe rencontrent dos à dos, un homme avec une femme: et à certaine
cadence ils ſe choquent et frapent inpudemment cul contre cul. Mais auſſi il nous fut
dit que le Diable bizarre ne les faſoit pas tous mettre rangément le dos tourné vers la
242 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

ſtrange humours, did not cauſe them all to be placed in order, with
their backs turned towards the crown of the dance, as is commonly
ſaid by everybody; but one having the back turned, and the other
not, and ſo on to the end of the dance. . . . They dance to the
ſound of the tabor and flute, and ſometimes with the long inſtrument
they carry at the neck, and thence ſtretching to near the girdle,
which they beat with a little ſtick; ſometimes with a violin (fiddle).
But theſe are not the only inſtruments of the Sabbath, for we have
learnt from many of them that all ſorts of inſtruments are ſeen
there, with ſuch harmony that there is no concert in the world to be
compared to it.”
Nothing is more remarkable than the ſort of prurient curioſity
with which theſe honeſt commiſſioners interrogated the witneſſes as
to the ſexual peculiarities and capabilities of the demon, and the
ſort of ſatisfaction with which De Lancre reduces all this to writing.1
They all tend to ſhow the identity of theſe orgies with thoſe of the
ancient worſhip of Priapus, who is undoubtedly figured in the Satan
of the Sabbath. The young witch, Jeannette d’Abadie, told how
ſhe had ſeen at the Sabbath men and women in promiſcuous inter-
courſe, and how the devil arranged them in couples, in the moſt
unnatural conjunctions—the daughter with the father, the mother
with her ſon, the ſiſter with the brother, the daughter-in-law with

couronne de la dance, comme communement dict tout le monde: ains l’un aytant le
dos tourné, et l’autre non: et ainſi tout à ſuite juſqu’à la fin de la dance.
. . . . Or elles dancent au ſon du petit tabourin et de la flute, et parfois avec ce long
inſtrument qu’ils portent ſur le col, puis ſ’aalongeant juſqu’auprès de la ceinture, ils
le batent avec un petit baſton: parfois avec un violon. Mais ce ne ſont les ſeuls
inſtrumens du Sabbat, car nous avons apprins de pluſieurs qu’on y oyt toute ſorte
d’inſtrumens, avec une telle harmonie qu’il n’y a concert au monde qui le puiſee
eſgalar. De l’Inconſtance, &c., p. 209.
1
Jeannette d’Abadie, aagée de ſeize ans, dict, qu’elle a veu hommes et femmes ſe
meſler promuſcuement au Sabbat: que le Diable leur commandoit de ‘accoupler et ſe
joindre, leur baillant à chacun tout ce que la nature abhorre le plus, ſçavoir la fille au
 GENERATIVE POWERS 243

the father-in-law, the penitent with her confeſſor, without diſtinction

of age, quality, or relationſhip, ſo that ſhe confeſſed to having been
known an infinity of times at the Sabbath by a couſin-german of
her mother, and by an infinite number of others. After repeating
much that ſhe had ſaid before relating to the impudicity of the Sab-
bath, this girl ſaid that ſhe had been deflowered by the devil at
the age of thirteen—twelve was the common age for this—that they
never became pregnant, either by him or by any of the wizards of the
Sabbath; that ſhe had never felt anything come from the devil
except the firſt time, when it was very cold, but that with the ſor-
cerers it was as with other men. That the devil choſe the hand-
ſomeſt of the women and girls for himſelf, and one he uſually made
his queen for the meeting. That they ſuffered extremely when he
had intercourſe with them, in conſequence of his member being
covered with ſcales like thoſe of a fiſh. That when extended it was

père, le fils à la mère, la ſoeur au frère, la filleulle au parrain, la pénitente à ſon

confeſſeur, ſans diſtinction d’aage, de qualité, ni de parentelle: de forte qu’elle con-
feſſoit librement avoir eſté connue une infinité de fois au Sabbat, par un couſin ger-
main de ſa mère et par une infinité d’autres: que c’eſt une perpétuelle ordure, en
laquelle tout le monde ſ’eſgayoit comme elle: que hors du Sabbat elle ne fit jamais
de faute: qu’elle le faiſoit tout autant de fois que le Diable le luy commandoit, et
indifféremment avec toute ſorte de gens: ayant eſté dépucellée au Sabbat puis l’aage
de treize ans: que le Diable les conviant et forçant de faire ceſte faute, ſoit avec luy,
ſoit avec des gens de rencontre en ces aſſemblées, la faute n’eſtoit ſienne: que de ces
accouplemens on ne ſ’engroſſoit jamais, ſoit qu’ils fuſſent avec le maiſtre, ſoit avec
d’autres ſorciers: ce que pourtant pluſiers exemples dans nos hiſtoires rendent ex-
trêmement incertain et douteux: qu’on n’y ſent que déplaiſir: qu’elle n’a jamias
ſentyy qu’il euſt aucune ſemence, ſauf quand il la dépucella qu’elle la ſentit froide,
mais que celles des autres hommes qui l’ont cognuë eſt naturelle: qu’il ſe choiſit et trie
les plus belles; et de vray toutes celles que nous avons veu qualifiées de ce tiltre de
roynes eſtoient doüées de quelque beauté plus ſingulière que les autres. Si bien que
celle Detſail à Urrogne, lorſqu’elle fut exécutée à mort, mourut ſi deſdaigneuſement
que le bourreau de Bayonne, jeune et de belle forme, voulant extorquer d’elle, comme
c’eſt la couſtume, le baiſer du pardon, elle ne voulut jamais profaner ſa belle bouche
qui avoit accouſtumée d’eſtre colée au derrière de Diable. Dict d’avantage que, lors
244 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

a yard long, but that it was uſually twiſted. Marie d’Aſpilcuette,

a girl between nineteen and twenty years of age, who alſo confeſſed
to having had frequent connection with Satan, deſcribed his member
as about half a yard long, and moderately large. Marguerite, a
girl of Sare, between ſixteen and ſeventeen, deſcribed it as reſem-
bling that of a mule, and as being as long and thick as one’s arm.
More on this ſubject the reader will find in De Lancre's own text,
given in the note below. The devil, we are further told, preferred

que le Diable les cognoiſt charnellement, elles ſouffrant une extrême douleur, les ayant
ouyes crier, et, au ſortir de l’acte, les ayant veües revenir au Sabbat toutes ſanglantes ſe
plaignant de douleur, laquelle vient de ce que le membre du Démon eſtant faict
à eſcaille comme un poiſſon, elles ſe referrent en entrant, et ſe levent et piquent en
ſortant: c’eſt pour quoy elles fuyent ſemblables rencontres.
Que le membres du Diable, ſ’il eſtoit eſtendu, eſt long environ d’ule aulne, mais il
le tient entortillé et ſinüeux en forme de ſerpent: que ſouvent il interpoſe quelque
nuée quand il veut ſe joindre à quelque femme ou fille. Qu’elle a veu le Diable avec
pluſieurs perſonnes au Sabbat qu’elle nous a nommé, et que ſi veux taire pour cer-
tain raiſon. Et en fin qu’elle avoit auſſi eſté dépucellée par luy des l’aage de treize ans, et
depuis cognue pluſieurs fois en forme d’homme, et en meſme façon que les autres
hommes ont accouſtumé de coignoiſtre leurs eſpouſes, mais avec une extreſme douleur,
par les raiſons cy deſſus deduictes: qu’elle a veu faire tous ces accouplements une in-
finité de fois, par ce que celle qui le mauvais Démon a cognües voyent fort bien
quand le Diable en cognoiſt d’autres. Mais il a quelque vergogne de faire voir
cette vilennie à celles avec leſquelles il n’a encore eu acointance: qui eſt cauſe qu’il
leur met au devant cette nuée.
Marie d’Aſpilcuette, fille de dix-neuf à vignt ans, diſoit le meſme, pour ce qui eſt du
membre en eſcailles, mais elle dépoſoit que lors qu’il les vouloit cognoiſtre, il quitoit la
forme de bouc et prenoit celle d’homme. Que les ſorciers au Sabbat prenoient qu’on
n’y eſt jamais refuſé, et que les maris ſouffrent que le Diable, ou qui que ce foit avec ſa
femme: que le membre du Diable eſt long environ la moitié d’une aulne, de
médiocre groſſeur, rouge, obſcur, et tortu, fort rude et comme piquant.
En voicy d’une autre ſorte. Marguerite, fille de Sare, aagée de ſeize à dixſept
ans, dépoſe que le Diable, ſoit qu’il ayt la forme d’homme, ou qu’il ſoit en forme
de bouc, a toujours un membre de mulet, ayant choiſi en imitation celuy de cet
 GENERATIVE POWERS 245

married women to girls, becauſe there was more ſin in the connec-
tion, adultery being a greater crime than ſimple fornication.
In order to give ſtill more truthfulneſs to his account of the Sab-
bath, De Lancre cauſed all the facts gathered from the confeſſions
of his victims to be embodied in a picture which illuſtrates the ſecond
edition of his book, and which places the whole ſcene before us ſo
vividly that we have had it re-engraved in facſimile as an illuſtra-
tion to the preſent eſſay.1 The different groups are, as will be
ſeen, indicated by capital letters. At A we have Satan in his gilt
pulpit, with five horns, the one in the middle lighted, for the pur-
poſe of giving light to all the candles and fires at the Sabbath. B
is the queen of the Sabbath, ſeated at his right hand, while another
favorite, though in leſs degree, ſits on the other ſide. C, a witch
preſenting a child which ſhe has ſeduced. D, the witches, each
with her demon, ſeated at table. E, a party of four witches and
ſorcerers, who are only admitted as ſpectators, and are not allowed

animal comme le mieux pourveu: qu’il l’a long et gros comme le bras: que quand
il veut cognoiſtre quelque fille ou femme au Sabbat, comme il faict preſque à
chaſque aſſemblée, il faict paroiſtre quelque forme de lict de ſoye, ſur lequel il
faict ſemblant de les coucher, qu’elles n’y prennent point de déplaiſir, comme
ont dicts ces premières: et que jamais il ne paroiſt au Sabbat en quelque action que ſe
ſoit, qu’il n’ait touſjours ſon inſtrument dehors, de cette belle forme et méfure: tout à
rebouirs de ce que dit Boguet, que celles de ſon païs ne luy ont veu guière plus long
que le doigt et gros ſimplement à proportion: ſi bien que les ſorcières de Labourt ſont
mieux ſervies de Satan que celles de la Franche-Conté.
Marie de Marigrane, fille de Biarrix, aagée de quinze ans, dit, Qu’il ſembe que ce
mauvais Démon ait ſon membre my parti moitié de fer, moitié de chair, tout de
ſon long, et de meſme les genitoires, et dépoſe l’avoir veu en cette forme pluſiers fois
au Sabbat: et outre ce l’avoit ouy dire à des femmes que Satan avoit cognues: qu’il
les fait crier comme des femmes qui ſont en mal d’enfant: et qu’il tient touſjours ſon
membre dehors.
Petry de Linarre dict que le Diable a le membre faict de corne, ou pour le moins
il en a l’apparence, c’eſt pourqouy il faict tant crier les femmes. De l’Inconſtance,
p. 223.
1
See our Plate XL.
246 ON THE WORSHIP OF THE

to approach the great ceremonies. F, “according to the old

proverb, Après la pance, vient la dance,” the witches and their
demons have riſen from table, and are here engaged in one of the
deſcriptions of dances mentioned above. G, the players on inſtru-
ments, who furniſh the muſic to which the witches dance. H, a
troop of women and girls, who dance with their faces turned out-
wards from the round of the dance. I, the cauldron on the fire, to
make all ſorts of poiſons and noxious compounds. K, during theſe
proceedings, many witches are ſeen arriving at the Sabbath on
ſtaffs and broomſticks, and others on goats, bringing with them
children to offer to Satan; others are departing from the Sabbath,
carried through the air to the ſea and diſtant parts, where they
will raiſe ſtorms and tempeſts. L, “the great lords and ladies and
other rich and powerful people, who treat on the grand affairs of
the Sabbath, where they appear veiled, and the women with maſks,
that they may remain always concealed and unknown.” Laſtly,
at M, we ſee the young children, at ſome diſtance from the buſy
part of the ceremonies, taking charge of the toads.
In reviewing the extraordinary ſcenes which are developed in
theſe witch-depoſitions, we are ſtruck not only with their general
reſemblance among themſelves, although told in different countries,
but alſo with the ſtriking points of identity between the proceed-
ings of the Sabbath and the ſecret aſſemblies with which the
Templars were charged. We have in both the initiatory preſenta-
tion, the denial of Chriſt, and the homage to the new maſter, ſealed
by the obſcene kiſs. This is juſt what might be expected. In
preſerving ſecretly a religious worſhip after the open practice of it
had been proſcribed, it would be natural, if not neceſſary, to require
of the initiated a ſtrong denial of the new and intruſive faith, with
acts as well as words which compromiſed him entirely in what he
was doing. The maſs and weight of the evidence certainly goes
to prove that ſuch ſecret rites did prevail among the Templars,
 GENERATIVE POWERS 247

though it is not equally evident that they prevailed throughout

the order; and the ſimilarity of the revelations of the witch-con-
feſſions, in all countries where they were taken, ſeems to ſhow that
there was in them alſo a foundation in truth. We look upon it as
not admitting of doubt, that the Priapic orgies and the other
periodical aſſemblies for worſhip of this deſcription, which we have
deſcribed in an earlier part of this eſſay, were continued long after
the fall of the Roman power and the introduction of the Chriſtian
religion. The ruſtic population, moſtly ſervile, whoſe morals or
private practices were little heeded by the other claſſes of ſociety,
might, in a country ſo thinly peopled, aſſemble by night in retired
places without any fear of obſervation. There they perhaps indulged
in Priapic rites, followed by the old Priapic orgies, which would
become more and more debaſed in form, but through the effects
of exciting potions, as deſcribed by Michelet,1 would have become
wilder than ever. They became, as Michelet deſcribes them, the
Saturnalia of the ſerf. The ſtate of mind produced by theſe
excitements would lead thoſe who partook in them to believe eaſily
in the actual preſence of the beings they worſhipped, who, according
to the Church doctrines, were only ſo many devils. Hence aroſe
the diabolical agency in the ſcene. Thus we eaſily obtain all the
materials and all the incidents of the witches’ Sabbath. Where this
older worſhip was preſerved among the middle or more elevated
claſſes of ſociety, who had other means of ſecrecy at their command, it
would take a leſs vulgar form, and would ſhow itſelf in the
formation of concealed ſects and ſocieties, ſuch as thoſe of the dif-
ferent forms of Gnoſticiſm, of the Stadingers, of the Templars,
and of other leſs important ſecret clubs, of a more or leſs immoral
character, which continued no doubt to exiſt long after what we

1
See Michelet, La Sorcière, liv. i, c. 9, on the uſe and the effects of the Solaneæ,
to which he attributes much of the deluſions of the Sabbath.
248 ON THE GENERATIVE POWERS

call the middle ages had paſſed away. As we have before inti-
mated, theſe mediæval practices prevailed moſt in Gaul and the
South, where the influence of Roman manners and ſuperſtitions
was greateſt.
The worſhip of the reproductive organs as repreſenting the
fertilizing, protecting, and ſaving powers of nature, apart from
theſe ſecret rites, prevailed univerſally, as we have traced it fully
in the preceding pages, and we only recur to that part of the
ſubject to ſtate that perhaps the laſt traces of it now to be found in
our iſlands is met with on the weſtern ſhores of Ireland. Off the
coaſt of Mayo, there is a ſmall iſland named Inniſkea, the in-
habitants of which are a very primitive and uncultivated race, and
which, although it takes its name from a female ſaint (it is the
inſular ſanctæ Geidhe of the Hibernian hagiographers), does not
contain a ſingle Catholic prieſt. Its inhabitants, indeed, as we learn
from an intereſting communication to Notes and Queries by Sir
J. Emerſon Tennent,1 are mere idolaters, and their idol, no doubt
the repreſentative of Priapus, is a long cylindrical ſtone, which they
call Neevougee. This idol is kept wrapped in flannel, and is
entruſted to the care of an old woman, who acts as the prieſteſs. It
is brought out and worſhipped at certain periods, when ſtorms
diſturb the fiſhing, by which chiefly the population of the iſland
obtain a living, or at other times it is expoſed for the purpoſe of
raiſing ſtorms which may cauſe wrecks to be thrown on the coaſt
of the iſland. I am informed that the Name Neevougee is merely
the plural of a word ſignifying a canoe, and it may perhaps have
ſome reference to the calling of fiſhermen.

1
Notes and Queries, for 1852, vol. v., p. 121.
 INDEX.
CANTUS, model of, 71. Artemidorus, mention of ſymbolical

A Adamiana or Adamites, horns, 22.

mediæval ſect, and their Arueris or Orus, Greek Apollo, paren-
practices, 174. tage of, 40.
Adel in Yorkſhire, objects Athenæus, mention of a phallus, 120
with Priapic emblems found there, cubits long, 84.
124. Auſonius, mention of the Floralia, 155.
Æſchylus, 80. Bacchanalia, 154.
Æſernia, medals of, 80. Bacchus, ancient repreſentations of, 74.
Agricultural feſtivals, 154. Bagvat Geeta, expoſition of Hindu theo-
Aix, phallus found there. 119. logy, 48—50, 56, 58, 59, 61.
Albigenſes, early Chriſtian ſect, 177. Baphomet, idol of the Knights Tem-
Ammon, Pan of the Greeks, 38, 61. plars, 198.
Amulets, Priapic, worn by Italians, 4, Barrenneſs in women, Priapic ſymbols
148; worn in the middle ages, 145; for the cure of, 142.
leaden, with Priapic ſymbols, found Becan, account of antiquities of Ant-
in the Seine, 146, 170. werp, 144.
Androgynous figures in ancient ſculp- Bell tolling, origin of, 97.
tures, 41—43. Bodinus, account of the witches’ Sab-
Animal worſhip, 30, 32, 33, 34. bath, 210.
Antwerp, Priapus, under the name of Bona Dea, Priapic rites, 156.
Ters, its patron ſaint, 144. Brahma, Hindoo deity, 60.
Apis, Egyptian ſacred bull, 30. Brand’s Popular Antiquities, 161, 168.
Apollo, 76. Britain, remains of Priapic worſhip
Apollo, Didymæus, 82. found in, 122—126.
Appian, 82. Bulgarians, ſect of Gnoſtics, 175, 176.
Apuleius, 39, 95. Bull, Indian worſhip of, 34.
Ariſtophanes, ancient ſyſtem of theo- Burchardus, 129, 144, 171.
logy, 44. Butterfly, ancient religious allegory, 100.
Ariſtotle, 42. Cæſar, 81.
Arras, perſecutions againſt witchcraft Cakes in form of phallus made at
there, 207, et ſeq. Eaſter, 158.
250 INDEX
Campegius,mention of phallic cakes,159. Egypt, phallic images brought thence,
Cat, alleged worſhip of by the Templars, 137.
194. Elephant, repreſented in ancient Indian
Cathari, mediæval ſect, 178. monuments, 56, 57; Greek, 59.
Cato the younger, anecdote of, 155. Elephanta, ſculptures from the caverns
Celenderis, medal of, 71. of, 47, 53.
Celtic temple at Zeeland, 64. Elephantis, ancient erotic work, 103.
Ceres and Baubo, ſtory of, 134. Embrun, phallus of St. Foutin wor-
Ceres and Proſerpine, 71, 134. ſhipped there, 140.
Châlons, council of, act of, 129. Eryx, temple at, 105.
Chilminar, ancient ruins at, 86. Euripides, 44, 69, 80, 104, 106.
Chriſtian (early) ſects, 172, et ſeq. Faſcinum, Roman name for male organ,
Chriſtian feſtivals, exceſſes at, 107. mediæval worſhip of, 128, 145.
Chyſoſtom, 19, note. Fateux, cakes made in form of phallus,
Churches, ſculptures of phallic 159.
emblems on, 131, et ſeq., 204. Fauns and ſatyrs, 35, 43, 45.
Coggeſhall (Ralph de), old Engliſh chro- Feſtivals of Priapus, 154, et ſeq.
nicler, account of the Waldenſes, 179. Fig, obſcene geſture, called “to make the
Coles’ (W.) Adam in Eden, obſcene fig,” a Priapic emblem, 150; referred
names of plants, 167. to in a trial of witches, 235.
Como, ſculptures on the church of San Fire, worſhip of, 65.
Fedele, 137. Floralia, Priapic feſtival, 155, 161.
Corinth, temple at, 104, 105. Forgeias (M.), phallic amulets found
Corinthian order of architecture, origin by him the Seine, 146.
of, 53. Frea, Anglo-Saxon Priapus, 126.
Cow, ſymbol of Venus in Egypt, 33, 62. Fridaythorpe, Yorkſhire, and Friſton,
Cyzicus, ancient medal of, 29; worſhip probably derivation of the names,
of Venus there, 84. 127.
D’Harcanville, references to his work, Gems, ancient, illuſtrative of the ſub-
“Récherches ſur les Arts,” 15, 21, 23, ject, 39, 41, 61, 104, 155.
28, 45, 47, 70, 74, 136. Generative powers, worſhip of during
De Lancre, account of witchcraft in the middle ages of Weſtern Europe,
France, A.D. 1612, 212, et ſeq. 117, et ſeq.
Diana, the female deſtructive power, 77. Gerard’s Herbal, obſcene names of
Diodorus Siculus, 19, note, 65, 105. plants, 167.
Dionyſus of Halicarnaſſus, 104. German witchcraft in the fifteenth cen-
Dulaure, reſearches on modern Priapic tury, 209.
worſhip, 118. German worſhip of the ſun, 34, 81.
Durandus, mention of ſingular Eaſter Geſner, medals publiſhed by, 74.
cuſtom, 161. Gnoſtics, their practices of hoſpitality,
Duſii, Gallic name for Incubi, 152. &c., 99, 173.
Eaſter, Teutonic feſtival with Priapic Goat, ſymbol of the generative attribute,
obſervances, 157. 23; living goat worſhip of ancient
Egyptian religious rites, 16, 30, 31, 32, Egyptians.
83 ; ancient Egyptian monuments, Godiva’s (Lady) proceſſion, a relic of
51, 52. Priapic celebration, 170.
 INDEX 251
Golnitz, account of a ſtatue at Antwerp, of Ireland, laſt trace of Priapic worſhip
145. found there, 248.
Goltizus, medals publiſhed by, 46. Ireland, Shelah-na-gig, repreſentations of
Gonnis, Hindoo deity, 56, 57, 58, 61. the female organ found there, 132—
Greece, ancient theology of, 17, 32, 34. 134.
Grecian repreſentations of attributes Iſernia, 5, 118.
of the deity, 16, 45, 60. Iſis, ancient deity, 39, 40, 50, 83, 95.
Greek temples, 55. Italian Chriſtian ſects, names of, 177.
Gregory IX., account of ſecret rites of James I, on witchcraft, 210.
the Stendingers, 183—185. Japaneſe ſculptures, 47.
Grotius, 37, note. Jewiſh religion, identity of its ſymbols
Hammer (Baron von), deſcription of with thoſe of the heathen, 112, 113.
idols of the Knights Templars, 138, Joſephus, 111.
199, et ſeq. Jupiter, father of Minerva, 57, 58, 69,
Harmony, daughter of Mars and Venus, 85, 93, 101, 113.
71. Jupiter Ammon, identical with Pan, 38.
Heaving and lifting, Engliſh cuſtoms at Juvenal, 105, 124, 155, 156.
Eaſter, 160. Kandarp, Hindoo god of love, 61, 62.
Helman, god of deſtruction, 78, 79, 80. Ketzer, German name of the Cathari,
Herculaeum and Pompeii, relics of 178.
Priapic worſhip and attributes found Kreſhna, Hindoo deity, 48.
there, 4, 27, 33, 37, 120. Labourd, proceedings againſt witchcraft
Hercules, attributes of, 91, 92. there, A.D. 1609, 212, et ſeq.
Hermaphrodite, ancient figures of, 41, 43. Lactantius, 103.
Herodotus, 31, 32, 53, 63, 66, 104, 134. Lancercoſt, chronicle of, 129.
Heſiod, 16, 44, 106. Leaden tokens with phallic emblems,
Hierapolis, goddeſs of, the Priapic 146, 170, 183.
Diana, 83. Le Chatelet, phallus found there, 119.
Hierapolis, temple at, 84. Leſbos, ancient rites in the iſland of, 105.
Hindoo animal worſhip, 34; ſymbols of Liberalia, Priapic feſtival, 154.
generative organs on ancient Indian Libitina, Roman Goddeſs of death, 73.
ſculptures, 47, 48; ancient Hindoo Lingam, Indian repreſentation of the
theology, 56, et ſeq. generative attribute, 49, 54.
Homer, 17, 32, 41, 51, 63, 69, 72, 73, Lion, ancient ſymbol of the ſun, 70.
80, 91, 98, 112. Lotus, ſacred plant of the Hindoos, 49,
Horace, 128. 50, 54, 58.
Horns, ancient ſymbol of power, 22. Lucian, 83, 84.
Horſeſhoe, modern form of ancient Lucretius, 45.
drawings of the female organ, uſed Lycæan Pan, god of the Arcadians, 35.
as a taliſman, 139. Lycopolis, ſun worſhip there, 81.
Houſeſteads in Northumberland, Macrobius, mention of a temple in
ſculpture found there, 125. Thrace, 67, 78, 81.
Idolatry among the Knights Templars, Malleus Maleficarum, celebrated work
194, et ſeq. againſt witchcrft, 209.
Incubi, ſpirits of the woods, 152. Mandrake, ancient Priapic ſuperſtitions
Inniſkea, an iſland on the weſtern ſhores regarding, 168.
252 INDEX
Manichæans, early Chriſtian ſect, 173, Occus, Hindoo deity, 60.
174. Onomacritus, early poet, 18, note.
Mapes (Walter), account of the ſecret Orleans, a ſecret ſociety with obſcene
rites of the Paterini in the eleventh rites there, in the eleventh century,
century, 176. 182.
Mars, god of deſtruction, 78. Orpheus, Argonauticon, account of,
Mars and Venus, 71. 18, note.
Martial, epigrams, 149, 159. Orpheus, hymns of, 19, note, 20, 24,
May Day, mediæval celebration of, 29, 40, 44, 65, 69, 92, 93.
identical with the Roman Floralia, Orphic ſyſtem of theology, 17, et ſeq.
161; Elizabethan cuſtom on May Oſiris, ancient deity, 16, 29, 40, 68.
Day, 162, 163. Ovid, 44.
Mecklenburg Strelitz, ſtatuettes found Pæon, Greek name of Apollo, 78.
there, 136. Pagan rites introduced into the worſhip
Medallic repreſentations of the gener- of the early Chriſtians, 171, et ſeq.
ative organs, 29. Pan, attributes of, 35—38, 69.
Medals with phallic emblems, uſed by Paterini, Italian ſectarians, and their
ſecret ſocieties of the middle ages, 205. ſecret rites, 176.
Meduſa’s head, 90. Paulicians, ſect of Gnoſtics, introducers
Miches, cakes made in the form of the of phallic worſhip into Weſtern Eu-
male organ in France, 160. rope, 175.
Michelet, account of proceedings againſt Pauſanius, 19, note, 39, 63.
the Templars, 188, 247. Pellerin, medal publiſhed by him, 29.
Middleton (Dr.) Letter from Rome, 3. Perſian worſhip, 63, 86.
Minerva, Greek deity, ſimilar to the Philippe IV, proceedings againſt the
Hindoo Gonnis, her attributes, birth, Knights Templars, 165.
&c., 57, 58, 61. Philo ſuppoſed firſt individuals of the
Minotaur, fabulous monſter, 89, 90. human race to be androgynous, 43.
Molay (Jaques de) grand maſter of the Phœnician medals, 87, 88, 90.
Templars, proceedings againſt him, 185. Phœnician religion, ancient, 94.
Monitor (Ulric), work on witchcraft, Piloſi, ſpirits of the woods, 152.
A.D. 1489, 209. Pindar, 60, 98, 101.
Moon, ancient attributes of, 59, 83. Plants connected with Priapic worſhip,
Muſée Secret, repreſentations of phalli, obſcene names of, &c., 166, et ſeq.
120, 149. Plato, 74.
Naples, Sir W. Hamilton’s account of Platonic religion, 25, 37, 65, 67, 89.
Priapic worſhip there, 3. Pliny, 76.
Needfire, 127, 163—166; introduced in Plutarch, 15, 16, 19, note, 20, 30, 38,
the witches’ Sabbath, 222. 60, 68, 82, 96, 120.
Nicolaitæ, early Chriſtian ſect, 178. Pluto, 69.
Nider (John), work on witchcraft, 209. Pollear, Hindoo deity, 56, 61.
Nîmes, Roman amphitheatre at, ſculp- Polypus repreſented on Greek medals, 21.
tures of phalli, 119—122. Popular oaths and exclamations derived
Novatians, early Chriſtian ſect, 178. from phallic worſhip, 181.
Nymphs, companions of fauns and Priapeia, feſtival of Priapus, 156.
ſatyrs, 39. Priapus, original intention in the worſhip
 INDEX 253
of, 15 as repreſented by Roman Shela-na-gig, repreſentation of the fe-
artiſts, 42; degradation of, 102; ſacri- male organ found in Ireland under
fices to, 104; ſanctified in the middle that name, 132—134.
ages, 139, et ſeq. Shrewſbury ſhow, a relic of Priapic
Proclus, on truth, 26; on the Platonic celebration, 170.
theology, 27, 30, 41. Sicyon, temple at, mentioned by Pauſa-
Proſerpine, 72. nias, 63.
Ptolmies, medals of, 57, 61. Sileni, attendants on Bacchus, 41.
Ptolemy Philadelphus, 84. Snake, hooded, ſymbol of the Egyptians,
Purgatory, modern form of purification 53.
by fire, 100. Societies, ſecret, in the middle ages,
Puzzuoli, temple of Serapis there, 64, 66. for Priapic worſhip, 170.
Pytho, the ſerpent deſtroyed by Apollo, Sodomy practiced by ancient ſects, Bul-
76. garians, 176; Cathari, 179; Knights
Robin Goodfellow, 153. Templar, 190—193.
Roman worſhip of Priapus, 118. Solar ſyſtem, 109.
Sabbath of the witches, modern form of Sonnerat, account of Hindoo antiquities,
Priapic feſtivals, 206, et ſeq.; ſecret 48, 53.
practices at, deſcribed by Bodinus, Sophocles, 36, 37, 38.
210—212; deſcribed by De Lancre, Soul, ancient ideas of the emancipation
216, et ſeq.; identity with rites of the of, from the body, 97—100.
Knights Templars, 246. Sprenger (Jacob), work on witchcraft,
St. Auguſtine, commands to ladies atten- 109.
ding Chriſitan feſtivals, 107; on the Stedingers, alleged ſecret rites of, and
Liberalia, 129. cruſade againſt, 183—185.
St. Coſmo, modern Italian Priapus, ac- Stonehenge, temple for worſhip of
count of the feaſt of, at Iſernia, 5, 9. Apollo, 65.
St. Epiphanius, account of the Gnoſtics, Strabo, 31, 33.
173. Stubbes’ (P.) deſcription of May-day
St. Fiacre, chair of, 142. ceremonies, 162.
St. Foutin, French Priapus of the middle Sun worſhip, 66, 77—82.
ages, 139, 143. Sweden, worſhip of the god Fricco, 126.
St. John’s eve, cuſtoms on, 164—166, Sylvanas, Pan ſo called by the Latins,
168. 36.
St. Nicholas, ſuperſtition regarding, 132. Symbols, explanation of the Priapic, 17;
Saints, names of ſeveral phallic, 141. ancient ſymbols, 20, et ſeq.; 45—47,
Scottiſh worſhip of Priapus in the 13th 55, 67, et ſeq.; ſun worſhip, 78—82;
century, 130, 131. 87, 88, 89; on ſtatue of Iſis, 96;
Scrat, German ſpirit of the woods, 151. butterfly, ancient ſymbol of the ſoul,
Scriptural emblems, 86. 100.
Sects of the middle ages, 172, et ſeq. Syracuſe, medal of, 55.
Serapis, temple of, 64. Syſtrum, myſtic inſtrument of the god-
Serpent, ſymbol of life and vigour, 21; deſs Iſis, 96.
worſhipped by Egyptians, 32. Temples for heathen worſhip, 63, et ſeq.
Shakeſpeare, uſe of the phraſe “the fig Templars, Knights, ſecret practices, trial
of Spain,” 150. and diſſolution of their order, 150,
254 INDEX
169, 185, et ſeq.; identity of their Vauderie, French practice of witchcraft,
proceedings with thoſe of the witches’ 208.
Sabbath, 245. Venus, 82; feſtival of, 155.
Ters, i.e. Priapus, the patron ſaint of Virgil, deſcription of the emanation of the
Antwerp, 144. pervading Spirit of God, 29, 72, 99.
Thebes, ancient temples at, 51. Vulcan, 57, 80.
Theology, Ancient, attributes of a Di- Waldenſes, origin of the ſect, 178; their
vine Being, 24—26. ſecret rites, 170.
Tiger attendant on Bacchus, 74. Warbuton (Biſhop), 33.
Toads attendant at witches’ Sabbath, Water, worſhip of, 82, et ſeq.
232, 236. Witchcraft, the laſt form of Priapic wor-
Trajan’s column, 51, 52. ſhip, 206, et ſeq.; ſecret rites of the
Typhon, the deſtroying power, 68, 69. Vauderie, 208.
Urus, or wild bull, Greek ſymbol of the Xanten, pottery with Priapic emblems
Creator, 21. found there, 122.

THE END.

[Plates follow]
PLATES

F!
 PLATE I.

Ex-voto of wax preſented in the Church of Iſernia in 1780.

PLATE II.
PLATE III.
 PLATE IV.

Fig. 1. Fig. 2.

Fig. 3. Fig. 4.

Fig. 5. Fig. 6.
PLATE V.
PLATE VI.
PLATE VII.
PLATE VIII.
PLATE IX.
PLATE X.
PLATE XI.
PLATE XII.
PLATE XIII.
PLATE XIV.
PLATE XV.
PLATE XVI.
PLATE XVII.
PLATE XVIII.
PLATE XIX.
PLATE XX.
PLATE XXI.
 PLATE XXII.

Statue of a Bull on the Pagoda of Tanjore.

PLATE XXIII.
 PLATE XXIV.

Scuplture from the Iſland of Elephanta, near Bombay—Dimenſions

2 feet 6 inches by 1 foot 6 inches.
PLATE XXV.
 PLATE XXVI.

L’original de ce bas-relief a ététrouve dans le foille faites a Nînes dans l’annee 1825.
L’alligorie répréſente le Vautour, comme l’embléne de la maternité, couvant quatres oeufs
en apparence. La queue de l’oiſeau forme un phallus, et les oeufs [illegible] l’organe
femelle dans ſes quatres epoques de l’enfance, de l’adoleſcence, de la maturité et de la
velleſſe.
PLATE XXVII..
PLATE XXVIII.
PLATE XXIX.
PLATE XXX.
PLATE XXXI.
PLATE XXXII.
PLATE XXXIII.
PLATE XXXIV.
PLATE XXXV.
PLATE XXXVI.
PLATE XXXVII.

Fig 1.

Fig 2.
PLATE XXXVIII.
PLATE XXXIX..
[In some of the preceding plates, individual figures have been moved
around and rotated for ease of reading. Part of the French caption for
plate XXVI was illegible in the copy I was working from and my
knowledge of that language is insufficient to restore the missing word.
This edition is based on the posting at sacred-texts.com, as per the
notice following the front cover, but has been further proofed against a
facsimile of the 1894 edition; material omitted in the sacred-texts
posting has been restored and pagination and layout conformed to the
1894 edition.
My thanks to Massimo Mantovani for proof-reading my key-entry of
the Lettera da Isernia.
The lengthy footnotes to “On the Worship of the Generative Powers”
giving texts in Latin and French, most though by no means all of which
are translated or paraphrased in the body, were almost entirely absent in
the sacred-texts posting, possibly because they were missing from the
edition (not specified, but apparently a twentieth-century re-set in two
volumes) against which the sacred-texts version was proofed. They
should be regarded as unproofed; in particular, those in French may
contain a number of transcription errors owing to my limited knowledge
of that language (some apparent errors though are simply archaic uses).
A number of typographical errors in the Greek in the Discourse have
been corrected; in particular the compositor frequently put z for r.
Further, the 1894 typeset used a glyph looking something like the
Taurus symbol for ou, which got turned into a y between that edition
and the sacred-texts posting. It is not here employed. All Greek text
has been re-typed.
Plate XL follows overleaf; if this was a print edition, it would be on a
fold-out owing to the large amount of detail on it.
Revision 1.22a restores the use of narrow ‘s’s throughout, following the
admittedly anachronistic useage of the 1894 edition (I do not recall
seeing any other works belonging to the latter half of the nineteenth
century which followed this convention). — T.S.]
THE WITCHES’ SABBATH, FROM DE LANCRE, 1613.