Note 832 — GODS OF GREECE;

Naptha is called Apthas by Simplicius in Categoric. Aristotelis. Και ὁ Αφθας δεχεται ποῤῥωθεν του πυρος ειδος. The same by Gregory Nyssen is contracted, and called, after the Ionic manner, Φθης: ὡσπερ ὁ καλουμενος Φθης εξαπτεται. Liber de animâ. On which account these writers are blamed by the learned Valesius. They are, however, guilty of no mistake; only use the word out of composition. Ain-Aptha, contracted Naptha, was properly the fountain itself: the matter which proceeded from it was styled Apthas, Pthas, and Ptha. It was one of the titles of the God of fire, called Apha-Astus, the Hephastus of the Greeks; to whom this inflammable substance was sacred.