A New System; or, an Analysis of Ancient Mythology. Volume II

By Jacob Bryant

CAMPE and CAMPI.

Another name for those Amonian temples was Campi, of the same analogy, and nearly of the same purport, as Arpi above-mentioned. It was in after times made to signify the parade before the temples, where they wrestled, and otherwise celebrated their sacred games; and was expressed Campus. When chariots came in fashion, these too were admitted within the precincts; and races of this sort introduced. Among the Latines the word Campus came to mean any open and level space; but among the Sicilians the true meaning was in some degree preserved. Καμπος—Ιπποδρομος, Σικυλοι. Hesychius. It was properly a place of exercise in general, and not confined to races. Hence a combatant was styled ^[772]Campio, and the chief persons, who presided, ^[773]Campigeni. The exercise itself was by the Greeks styled αγων, αεθλος, ἁμιλλα; all Amonian terms, taken from the titles of the Deity, in whose honour the games were instituted. These temples partly from their symbols, and partly from their history, being misinterpreted, were by the antient mythologists represented as so many dragons and monsters. Nonnus mentions both Arpe, and Campe in this light, and says that the latter had fifty heads, each of some different beast,

But Campe was an oracular temple and inclosure, sacred to Ham or Cham: where people used to exercise. The fifty heads related to the number of the priests, who there resided; and who were esteemed as so many wild beasts for their cruelty. Nonnus makes Jupiter kill Campe: but Diodorus Siculus gives the honour to Dionusus; who is supposed to have slain this monster at Zaborna in Libya; and to have raised over her, χωμα παμμεγεθες, a vast mound of earth. This heap of soil was in reality a high place or altar; which in after times was taken for a place of burial. These inclosures grew by degrees into disrepute; and the history of them obsolete. In consequence of which the ταφοι, or mounds, were supposed to be the tombs of heroes. The Grecians, who took every history to themselves, imagined, that their Jupiter and Dionusus, and their Hercules had slain them. But what they took for tombs of enemies were in reality altars to these very Gods; who were not confined to Greece, nor of Grecian original. The Campanians in Italy were an antient Amonian colony; and they were denominated from Campe or Campus, which was probably the first temple, they erected. Stephanus Byzantinus shews, that there was of old such a place: Καμπος—κτισμα Καμπανου: but would insinuate that it took its name from a person the head of the colony. Eustathius more truly makes it give name to the people: though he is not sufficiently determinate. ^[775]Καμπανοι απο των ὑποκαθημενων εκει Καμπων ωνομασθησαν, η απο Καμπου πολεως. There were many of these Campi in Greece, which are styled by Pausanias ὑπαιθρα, in contradistinction to the temples, which were covered. They are to be found in many parts of the world, where the Amonian religion obtained, which was propagated much farther than we are aware. In our island the exhibition of those manly sports in vogue among country people is called Camping: and the inclosures for that purpose, where they wrestle and contend, are called Camping closes. There are many of them in Cambridgeshire, as well as in other parts of the kingdom. In Germany we meet with the name of Kæmpenfelt; in which word there is no part derived from the Latin language: for the terms would then be synonymous, and one of them redundant. Kæmpenfelt was, I imagine, an antient name for a field of sports, and exercise, like the gymnasium of the Greeks: and a Camping place in Britain is of the like purport.

[772] Campio, Gladiator. Isidorus.

[773] Vegetius. l. 2. c. 7.

[774] Nonnus. l. 18. p. 500.

[775] Eustathius on Dionysius. v. 357.

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