[252]Ὁπποτε δη πρωτον πελασῃς ευεργεα νηα Τρινακιῃ νησῳ.
And the name, originally, did not relate to the island in general, but to a part only, and that a small district near Ætna. This spot had been occupied by the first inhabitants, the Cyclopians, Lestrygons, and Sicani: and it had this name from some sacred tower which they built. Callimachus calls it, mistakenly, Trinacria, but says that it was near Ætna, and a portion of the antient Sicani.
[253]Αυε δ' αρ' Αιτνα, Αυε δε Τρινακριη Σικανων ἑδος.
The island Rhodes was called [254]Trinacia, which was not triangular: so that the name had certainly suffered a variation, and had no relation to any figure. The city Trachin, Τραχιν, in Greece, was properly Tor-chun, turris sacra vel regia, like Tarchon in Hetruria. Chun and Chon were titles, said peculiarly to belong to Hercules: [255]Τον Ἡρακλην φησι κατα τον Αιγυπτιων διαλεκτον Κωνα λεγεσθαι. We accordingly find that this place was sacred to Hercules; that it was supposed to have been [256]founded by him; and that it was called [257]Heraclea.
I imagine that the trident of Poseidon was a mistaken implement; as it does not appear to have any relation to the Deity to whom it has been by the Poets appropriated. Both the towers on the sea-coast, and the beacons, which stood above them, had the name of Tor-ain. This the Grecians changed to Triaina, Τριαινα, and supposed it to have been a three-pronged fork. The beacon, or Torain, consisted of an iron or brazen frame, wherein were three or four tines, which stood up upon a circular basis of the same metal. They were bound with a hoop; and had either the figures of Dolphins, or else foliage in the intervals between them. These filled up the vacant space between the tines, and made them capable of holding the combustible matter with which they were at night filled. This instrument was put upon a high pole, and hung sloping sea-ward over the battlements of the tower, or from the stern of a ship: with this they could maintain, either a smoke by day, or a blaze by night. There was a place in Argos named [258]Triaina, which was supposed to have been so called from the trident of Neptune. It was undoubtedly a tower, and the true name Tor-ain; as may be shewn from the history with which it is attended. For it stood near a fountain, though a fountain of a different nature from that of which we have been speaking. The waters of Amumone rose here: which Amumone is a variation from Amim-On, _the waters of the Sun_. The stream rose close to the place, which was named Tor-ain, from its vicinity to the fountain.