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A srxcmz PLAIN STONE THE ORIGIN or IDOLATRY.--CHAP. VI. snow. 11. 209
How the law of Numa, just now noticed, against images, came to be broken, does not
appear. To the universality of this law the Hindoos are said to present an exception;
but yet there are not wanting circumstances which may justify a presumption that India
was not originally polluted by idolatrous practices. Eg pt, excessive as was its degra-
dation, had accounts in its ancient histories, that a time had been when idolatry had not
prevailed, and to the very last a considerable district in the upper part of the country
never tolerated it. The persons who are inclined to believe with me in the great prime-
val nation of Baillie, may, perhaps, think they see grounds to entertain the opinion that
the enlightened nation, the parent of arts and sciences, was too enlightened to bend the
knee to the work of its own hands.
A SINGLE PLAIN STONE THE ORIGIN OF IDOLATRY.--CRAP. VI. SECT. II.
Throughout all the world the first object of Idolatry seems to have been a plain,
unwrought stone, placed in the ground, as an emblem of the generative or procreative
powers of nature.‘‘ In its origin this seems to have been of a very simple and inoffensive
character, though at last it came to be abused to the grossest and most superstitious
purposes. In all parts of India these kinds of stones are to be found under the name of
Linghams. They are many of them of immense size, and generally stand near some
magnificent temple. I believe there is no instance of any of their temples being found
without them. It is probable that most of them, at least of those that are very ancient,
were themselves the first objects of adoration, and that the temples were built near to
them, as in a place of peculiar sanctity. In time the idol within the temple might take
away part of the veneration from the pillar, but yet it is always considered with profound
respect and veneration. I
They are seldom any part of the building of the temple. They are mostly cones, with
the top shaped into the form of a heart. They are known to be emblems of the creative
power. The Tyrians had two near Tyre, and probably the pillars of Hercules were
stones of this description, set up by the Phcenicians. (See Vignette to this Chapter.)
Arrian, in his Life of Alexander, says, “ That Gades was built by the Phcenicians.
The form, the sacrifices and ceremonies, there performed, are all after the Phoenician
manner.” Strabo says,-]- that there were two pillars here dedicated "to Hercules. Siliusa
speaking of the rites used in the Gaditan temple of Hercules, says, the priests officiated
there bare-footed ;i practised chastity, had no statues, used whitelinen surplices, and paid
tithe to Hercules.
-1‘ See Iiudston, Plate 36. A1‘ Lib-‘ ii- I I Ex"d' iii‘ 5'
2 d