Note 761 — DAMATER, or CERES.

This the Scholiast interprets παλαιστραν του Ερυκος του ξενοκτονου, The Gymnasium of Eryx, who used to murder strangers. Androgeos the son of Minos came to the [761]like end, who had been superior to every body in this art. Euripides styles the hero Cycnus [762]ξενοδαικταν, on account of his cruelty to strangers. He resided it seems near the sea-coast; used to oblige every person, who travelled that way, or whom ill fortune brought on shore to contend with him. And his ambition was to be able with the skulls of the victims, which he slew, to build a temple to Apollo. [763]Κακοξενος ὁ Κυκνος, και εν παροδῳ της θαλασσης οικων, επεκερτομει τους παριοντας, ναον τῳ Απολλωνι βουλομενος εκ των κεφαλων οικοδομησαι. Mention is made of Lycaon, qui advenas et hospites trucidavit. He is said to have founded the temple of Jupiter [764]Lycæus, and to have first introduced human sacrifices, particularly those of infants. Λυκαων δε επι τον βωμον τον [765]Λυκαιου Διος βρεφος ηνεγκεν ανθρωπου, και εθυσε το βρεφος, και εσπεισεν επι του βωμου το ἁιμα. Lycaon was the person, who brought an infant, the offspring of a man, to the altar of Zeus Lucaios: and he slew the infant, and he sprinkled the altar with the blood which issued from it. Antinous in Homer threatens to send Irus to one Echetus, a king in Epirus, who was the dread of that country. The same threat is uttered against [766]Ulysses, if he should presume to bend the bow, which Penelope had laid before the suitors. Under the character of Lycaon, Cycnus, &c. we are to understand Lycaonian and Cycnean priests; which latter were from Canaan: and this method of interpretation is to be observed all through these histories. Echetus, Εχετος, was a title of Apollo, rendered more commonly [767]Ἑκατος by the Greeks, as if it came from the word ἑκας. It was an Amonian title by which Orus, and Osiris, were called: and this king Echetus was a priest of that family, who was named from the Deity, whom he served. The Poet styles him βροτων δηλημονα, from his cruelty to strangers.