Note 1240 — ANTIENT HEROES.

This is the person by Virgil styled Pastor Aristæus. Zethus and Amphion are described as of the same profession, though kings of Thebes, [1240]Ζηθος δε και Αμφιων αδελφοι ησαν ποιμενες. Even the monster Polyphemus is taken notice of as a musician, and a [1241]shepherd. Macrobius mentions, that among the Phrygians the Sun was worshipped under a pastoral [1242]character, with a pipe and a wand. Tiresias, the prophet, is by Hyginus styled Tiresias, Eueri filius, or as some read it, Tiresias, Eurii filius, [1243]Pastor. This was also one of the titles out of many conferred upon the Phenician Hercules, to whom they attributed the invention of purple. He was the chief Deity, the same as Cham, and Orus, the God of light; to whom there is a remarkable invocation in the Dionusiaca of Nonnus.