Hesiod gives an account of the dispersion of the Titans, and of the feuds which preceded; and he says, that the Deity at last interposed, and put the Titans to flight, and condemned them to reside in Tartarus, at the extremities of the earth. The description is very fine; but he has confounded the history by supposing the Giants and Titans to have been different persons. He accordingly makes them oppose one another in battle: and even Cottus, Iapetus, Gyas, whom all writers mention as Titans, are by him introduced in opposition, and described as of another family. He sends them indeed to Tartarus; but supposes them to be there placed, as a guard over the Titans. His description, however, is much to the purpose; and the first contest and dispersion is plainly alluded to. I shall therefore lay some part of it before the reader. L 27 * Τίτηνες δ' ἑτερωθεν εκαρτύναντο φάλαγγας Προφρόνεως χειρωντε, βιησθ' άλα εργον εφαίνον Γη δε μεγ' εσμαραγησεν, επέδενε δ' ουρανος ευρύς Φωνη δ' αμφοτέρων ἱκετ' Ουρανον ασεροεντα 23 * Theogon. v. 676. Κεκλομένων· ὁι δε ξυνισαν μεγαλῳ αλαλητῳ. Ου δ' αρ' ετι Ζευς ισχεν εον μενος, αλλά νυ τε γε Φαινε βιην' άμυδις δ' αρ' απ' Ουρανε, ηδ' απ' Ολυμπε, Ικταρ άμα βροντητε και αςεροπη ποτεοντο Συν δ' ανεμοι ενοσιντε κονινθ' άμα εσφαραγιζον, Καυμα τε θεσπεσιον κατεχεν χαος Εκλίνθη δε μάχη. Και τες μεν Τίτηνας υπο χθονος ευρυοδείης Ενθα θεοι Τιτηνες ύπο ζοφῳ περοεντι Ενθα δε γης δνοφερης, και Ταρταρε περόεντος, Firm to their cause the Titans wide display'd A well-embodied phalanx; and each side Gave proofs of noble prowess, and great strength, Worthy of Gods. The tumult reach'd to heaven, Now Jove no longer could withhold his ire; But rose with tenfold vengeance: down he hurl'd His lightning, dreadful implement of wrath, Which flash'd incessant and before him mov'd His awful thunder, with tremendous peal Appalling, and astounding, as it roll'd. For from a mighty hand it shap'd its course, Loud echoing through the vaulted realms of day, Meantime storms rag'd; and dusky whirlwinds rose.. Still blaz'd the lightning with continual glare, Till nature languish'd: and th' expanded deep, And every stream, that lav'd the glowing earth, Boil'd with redounding heat. A ruddy flame Shot upwards to the fiery cope of heav'n, Shedding a baleful influence; and the gleam Smote dreadful on the Titan bands, whose eyes Were blasted, as they gaz'd; nor could they stand The fervour, but exhausted sunk to ground. The Gods, victorious, seiz'd the rebel crew, And sent them, bound in adamantine chains, Still pining in eternal gloom, and lost To every comfort. Round them wide extend The dreary bounds of earth, and sea, and air, Of heaven above, and Tartarus below. Such was the first great commotion among men. It was described by the poets as the war of the Giants; who raised mountains upon mountains in order that they might scale heaven. The sons of Chus were the aggressors in these acts of rebellion. They have been represented under the character both of Giants and Titanians and are said to have been dissipated into different parts of the world. One place of their retreat is mentioned to have been in that part of Scythia, which bordered upon the Palus Mæotis. It was called 22 Keira; and described as a vast cavern, which they fortified. The Romans under Crassus are said to have viewed it. But Keir, and Keirah, signified of old a city or fortress: and it was the 22 Το σπήλαιον την Κείξην καλεμένην. Dion. Cassius. 1. 51. P. 313. appellative name of the place, to which this people retired. They were to be found in various parts, as I shall shew: but the most prevailing notion about the Titanians was, that after their war against heaven, they were banished to Tartarus, at the extremities of the earth. The antient Grecians knew very little of the western parts of the world. They therefore represent the Titans, as in a state of darkness; and Tartarus as an infernal region. 33 Και τες μεν ύπο χθονος ευρυοδείης Πεμψαν, και δεσμοισιν ὑπ' αργαλεοισιν έδησαν, They plac'd the rebels, fast in fetters bound, They are the words of Hesiod; who says, that an anvil of iron being dropped down would but just reach the abyss in ten days. Here the Titans were doomed to reside. 24 14 Ενθα θεοι Τιτηνες ὑπο ζοφῳ περοεντι 23 Hesiod. Theog. v.717. 24 Ibid. v. 729. |