HAMMON, Jupiter Hammon. It is an opinion almost generally received among the Criticks, that Jupiter Ammon, who was worshipped in Egypt, as I have hinted, is the same with Ham, whom his father Noah cursed. The conformity of names, and many other circumstances borrowed from history and fabulous accounts, have made this opinion very current. Egypt is called the Land of Ham in several passages of Ps. lxxviii. 51. cv. 23. cvi. 12.Scripture. There are some footsteps of this name farther to be observed in Pso-Chemmis, and Psita-Chemmis, which are cantons of Egypt. Plutarch speaks of this country’s Plut. de Iside & Osiride.being called Chemia. It is certain that it was peopled by Mizraïm, one Vaïagged, ויגדNuntiavit.of his sons; and that the neighbouring countries were possessed by the descendants of his other sons, Cush, Phut, and Canaan.
If Noah is the Saturn of the Heathens, Ham, the youngest of his sons, must be their Jupiter. What the Poets say of Jupiter, and the violence offered by him to his father, has a great deal of relation with the action of Ham. Jupiter castrated his father; Ham did not cover his father’s nakedness; nay, the Hebrew text may be interpreted, he castrated, instead of he told, by changing the pointing, which is a new invention. Saturn divided the whole World between his three sons; to Jupiter he gave ויגד Veiagged, He castrated.Heaven, the Sea to Neptune, and Hell to Pluto. Noah gave Africk to Ham, Asia to Shem, and Europe to Japheth. Africa is thought to be the highest country, and nearest to Heaven:
Terrarum primam Lybiam, nam proxima cœlo est, Ut probat ipse calor, tetigit. Ham is believed to have introduced Idolatry in Egypt, and himself to have received divine honours there. It is the opinion of some likewise, that originally the Stars only were worshipped, and that afterwards the same veneration was paid to illustrious Men, and Kings. Ammon is the same as the Sun, according to the old Pagan Theologists. Clem. Alex. Diodor. Sicul.Clemens Alexandrinus speaks of an Apollo the son of Ammon. Apollo we know is the Sun. Bauhen the Indian is also said to be the son of Ammon, begotten by him of the nymph Amalthæa, and that he was the inventor of presses.
The Egyptians, before the dominion of Alexander the Great in Asia and Egypt, knew nothing of the worship of the Grecian Jupiter; but these having introduced their Religion with their Language and Manners into Egypt, the Egyptians, who were the most superstitious of all people, easily received the false worship of the Greeks, and joining it with their old traditions, composed a monstrous medley of Egyptian and Greek Deities. The Greeks were willing to find their own Gods in those of the Egyptians; and the Egyptians, upon some inconsiderable mark of resemblance, made their Gods pass for those of the Greeks. Of Isis, for example, they made Diana, the Moon, Venus, Ceres, &c. of Osiris, Apollo and Adonis, &c. of Ammon, Jupiter, and the Sun, the greatest and principal of the Deities.
Q. Curt. l. 4.The Temple of Jupiter Ammon was thought to be one of the most ancient in the world: no one was able to shew the original of it. It was situated in the midst of a wood consecrated to this Deity, and served as a strong fort for the people round about. Three large walls formed the inclosure of it: in the first inclosure, there was an old palace to be seen, which had been formerly the dwelling of the Kings of that country. In the second inclosure, were apartments for the wives and children of these Kings; and in the same were the Temple and Oracle of Ammon. Lastly, the last court contained lodgings for the Prince’s Guards and Soldiers. Quintus Curtius, from whom we have this description, says, that the Priests of Jupiter Ammon carried this Deity in a vessel, on the two sides whereof was hung a great number of silver dishes. Ammon was represented and adored under the form of a ram, or at least Antiq. expliquée, t. 1. p. 45.with the head of a ram, and the horns of a ram upon it.
Stat tortis cornibus Ammon.
See above the Article AMMON.