ABSTRACT
In one of the five hymns of the Rigveda, the sacred book of the Brahmins, we are told that Vishvakarman, the God of Life, when creating the World, in order to make earth and heaven visible by his might, blew into existence, from all sides with his arms and wings, eyes, faces, arms and feet, thus begetting the single God, the Pole Star, Agohya. The Phœnicians looked upon the Pole Star as a goddess, whom they knew as Astronæma, the Deity presiding over growing corn, and in whose honour a New Year's Festival of the first fruits was held. In the Stellar Cult which preceded Solar worship the Pole Star was considered to be a one-eyed god, the giant Cyclops.
