Chapter II.
THE KINGS OF ATLANTIS BECOME THE GODS OF THE GREEKS.
Lord Bacon said:
"The mythology of the Greeks, which their oldest writers do not pretend to have invented, was no more than a light air, which had passed from a more ancient people into the flutes of the Greeks, which they modulated to such descants as best suited their fancies."
This profoundly wise and great man, who has illuminated every subject which he has touched, guessed very close to the truth in this utterance.
The Hon. W. E. Gladstone has had quite a debate of late with Mr. Cox as to whether the Greek mythology was underlaid by a nature worship, or a planetary or solar worship.
Peru, worshipping the sun and moon and planets, probably represents very closely the simple and primitive religion of Atlantis, with its sacrifices of fruits and flowers. This passed directly to their colony in Egypt. We find the Egyptians in their early ages sun and planet worshippers. Ptah was the object of their highest adoration. He is the father of the god of the sun, the ruler of the region of light. Ra was the sun-god. He was the supreme divinity at On, or Heliopolis, near Memphis. His symbol was the solar disk, supported by two rings. He created all that exists below the heavens.
The Babylonian trinity was composed of Hea, Anu, and Bel. Bel represented the sun, and was the favorite god. Sin was the goddess of the moon.
The Phœnicians were also sun-worshippers. The sun was
