E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Am’mon.
The Libyan Jupiter; so called from the Greek ammos (sand), because his temple was in the desert. Herodotus calls it an Egyptian word (ii. 42).
1
Son of Jupiter Ammon. Alexander the Great. His father, Philip, claimed to be a descendant of Hercules, and therefore of Jupiter; and the son was saluted by the priests of the Libyan temple as son of Ammon. Hence was he called the son or descendant both of Jupiter and of Ammon.
