Note 1025 — ANTIENT HEROES.

Some make Orpheus by birth a Thracian; some an Arcadian: others a Theban. Pausanias mentions it as an opinion among the [1025]Egyptians, that both Orpheus, and Amphion, were from their country. There is great uncertainty about his parents. He is generally supposed to have been the son of Œagrus, and Calliope: but Asclepiades made him the son of Apollo, by that [1026]Goddess. By some his mother was said to have been Menippe; by others [1027]Polymnia. He is also mentioned as the son of [1028]Thamyras. Plato differs from them all, and styles both Orpheus, and Musæus, [1029]Σεληνης και Μουσων εγγονοι, the offspring of the Moon, and the Muses: in which account is contained some curious mythology. The principal place of his residence is thought to have been in Pieria near mount Hæmus. He is also said to have resided among the Edonians; and in Sithonia, at the foot of mount Pangæus; also upon the sea-coast at Zona. In all these places he displayed his superiority in science; for he was not only a Poet, and skilled in harmony, but a great Theologist and Prophet; also very knowing in medicine, and in the history of the [1030]heavens. According to Antipater Sidonius, he was the author of Heroic verse. And some go so far as to ascribe to him the invention of letters; and deduce all knowledge from [1031]him.