Difference between revisions of "Ammon"

<p> or HAMMON, or JUPITER-AMMON, an epithet given to [[Jupiter]] in Lybia, where was a celebrated temple of that deity under the denomination of Jupiter Ammon, which was visited by [[Alexander]] the Great. </p> <p> The word <em> Amoun, </em> which imports "shining," according to Jablonski, denoted the effects produced by the sun on attaining the equator, such as the increase of the days; a more splendid light; and above all, the fortunate presage of the inundation of the Nile, and its consequent abundance. </p> <p> Ammon is by others derived from Ham, the son of Noah, who first peopled Egypt and Lybia, after the flood; and, when idolatry began to gain ground soon after this period, became the chief deity of those two countries, in which his descendants continued. A temple, it is said, was built to his honour, in the midst of the sandy deserts of Lybia, upon a spot of good ground, about two leagues broad, which formed a kind of island or oasis in a sea of sand. He was esteemed the [[Zeus]] of Greece, and the Jupiter of Latium, as well as the Ammon of the Egyptians. In process of time, these two names were joined; and he was called Jupiter Ammon. For this reason the city of Ammon, No-ammon, or the city of Ham, was called by the [[Greeks]] Diospolis, or the city of Jupiter. [[Plutarch]] says, that of all the [[Egyptian]] deities which seemed to have any correspondence with the Zeus of Greece, [[Amon]] or Ammon was the most peculiar and appropriate. From Egypt his name and worship were brought into Greece; as indeed were almost all the names of all the deities that were there worshipped. Jupiter Ammon, or the Egyptian Jupiter, was usually represented under the figure of a ram; though in some medals he appears of a human shape, having only two ram's horns growing out beneath his ears. The Egyptians, says Proclus, in the [[Timaeus]] of Plato, had a singular veneration for the ram, because the image of Ammon bore its head, and because this first sign of the zodiac was the presage of the fruits of the earth. [[Eusebius]] adds, that this symbol marked the conjunction of the sun and moon in the sign of the ram. </p> <p> <strong> 2. </strong> AMMON, or [[Ben-Ammi]] the son of Lot, by his youngest daughter, &nbsp; [[Genesis]] 19:38 . He was the father of the Ammonites, and dwelt on the east side of the Dead Sea, in the mountains of Gilead. </p>

<p> (Heb., Ammon', עִמּוֹן, another form of the name ''Ben-Ammi;'' Sept. Ἀμμάν )'','' the son of Lot by his younger daughter (&nbsp;Genesis 19:38), B.C. 2063. (See Ben-Ammi). It also stands for his posterity (comp. &nbsp;Psalms 83:7-8), usually in the phrase "children of Ammon." (See Ammonite). The expression most commonly employed for this nation is (in the original) "Bene-Ammon;" next in frequency comes "Ammoni" or "Ammonim;" and least often "Ammon." The translators of the Auth. Vers. have, as usual, neglected these minute differences, and have employed the three terms, children of Ammon, Ammonites, Ammon, indiscriminately. For No- Ammon, (See Amon), and (See [[No]]). The name is perpetuated in the modern ruins called ''Amman,'' which represent RABBAH-AMMON (See Rabbah-Ammon) (q.v.). </p> <p> is likewise the name of another Egyptian of the same century, a bishop, to whom St. [[Athanasius]] addressed his Letter on Chastity. </p> <p> is the name of several other saints: </p> <p> '''(1)''' commemorated in the Hoieronymian martyrology on Feb. 7; </p> <p> '''(2)''' commemorated in Jerome's and Bede's martyrology on Feb. 9; </p> <p> '''(3)''' the deacon, with the forty women, his disciples, martyrs, is commemorated in the Byzantine calendar on Sept. 1; </p> <p> '''(4)''' commemorated in Jerome's and Bede's martyrology on Sept. 10; </p> <p> '''(5)''' martyr at Alexandria, according to the old Roman and Bede's martyrology, on Dec. 20. </p>