CLXVIII Danaus
Danaus Beli filius ex pluribus coniugibus quinquaginta filias habuit, totidemque filios frater Aegyptus, qui Danaum fratrem interficere voluit ut regnum paternum solus obtineret ⟨et filias eius⟩ filiis uxores a fratre poposcit. Danaus re cognita Minerva adiutrice ex Africa Argos profugit: tunc primum dicitur Minerva navem fecisse biproram in qua Danaus profugeret. At Aegyptus ut resciit Danaum profugisse mittit filios ad persequendum fratrem et eis praecepit, ut aut Danaum interficerent aut ad se non reverterentur. qui postquam Argos venerunt, oppugnare patruum coeperunt. Danaus ut vidit se iis obsistere non posse, pollicetur eis filias suas uxores ut pugna absisterent. impetratas sorores patrueles acceperunt uxores, quae patris iussu viros suos interfecerunt. Sola Hypermestra Lynceum servavit. ob id c[a]eterae dicuntur apud inferos in dolium pertusum aquam ingerere. Hypermestrae et Lynceo fanum factum est.
168. Danaus
Danaus, son of Belus, had fifty daughters by several wives, and his brother Aegyptus had as many sons. Aegyptus wanted to kill his brother Danaus so as to hold their father's kingdom alone, ⟨and⟩ he asked his brother for ⟨his daughters⟩ as wives for his sons. When Danaus learned of this, with Athena's help he fled from Africa to Argos; then Athena is said to have made for the first time a ship with two prows, in which Danaus could flee. When Aegyptus found out that Danaus had fled, he sent his sons to pursue their uncle and ordered them either to kill Danaus or not to return to him. When they came to Argos, they began to attack their father's brother. When Danaus saw that he could not resist them, he promised them his daughters as wives, on condition that they stop fighting. They took their cousins, whom they had won, as wives, and the daughters, at their father's command, killed their husbands. Hypermestra alone spared Lynceus. For this the others are said to be in the underworld pouring water into a leaking jar. A shrine was made for Hypermestra and Lynceus.
CLXVIIII Amymone
Amymone Danai filia dum studiose in silva venatur Satyrum iaculo percussit: eam Satyrus voluit violare: illa Neptuni fidem imploravit. quo Neptunus cum venisset, Satyrum abegit et ipse cum ea concubuit; ex quo conceptu nascitur Nauplius. id in quo loco factum est Neptunus dicitur fuscina percussisse terram et inde aquam profluxisse, qui Lernaeus fons dictus est et Amymonium flumen.
Amymone Danai filia missa est a patre aquam petitum ad sacrum faciendum. quae dum quaerit lassitudine obdormiit. quam Satyrus violare voluit; illa Neptuni fidem imploravit. quod cum Neptunus fuscinam in Satyrum misisset, illa se in petram fixit; Satyrum Neptunus fugavit. qui cum quaereret in solitudine a puella, illa se aquatum missam esse dixit a patre. quam Neptunus compressit; ⟨ex qua compressione natus est Nauplius.⟩ pro quo beneficium ei tribuit iussitque eius fuscinam de petra educere. quae cum eduxisset [et] tres silani sunt secuti. qui ex Amymones nomine Amymonius fons appellatus est. hic autem fons Lernaeus est postea appellatus.
169. Amymone
While Amymone, daughter of Danaus, was eagerly hunting in the forest, she struck a Satyr with a javelin; the Satyr wanted to rape her, and she called on Poseidon for help. When Poseidon came, he drove the Satyr away and himself lay with her; from this conception Nauplius is born. In the place where this happened Poseidon is said to have struck the ground with his trident, and water flowed out from it, which was called the Lernaean spring and the river Amymonium.
Amymone, daughter of Danaus, was sent by her father to fetch water for a sacrifice. While she was searching she fell asleep from weariness. A Satyr wanted to rape her; she called on Poseidon for help. When Poseidon hurled his trident at the Satyr, it fixed itself in a rock; Poseidon put the Satyr to flight. Then, when he asked the girl [what she was seeking] in that lonely place, she said that she had been sent by her father to fetch water. Poseidon lay with her; ⟨from that union Nauplius was born.⟩ In return he gave her a favour and told her to pull his trident out of the rock. When she pulled it out, [and] three springs (silani) followed. The spring was called Amymonius from Amymone's name; afterwards this spring was called the Lernaean.
CLXX Filiae Danai quae quos occiderunt
†Idea Antimachum Philomela Panthium
Scylla Proteum †Phicomone Plexippum
Euippe * * * * * * * * *
* * * Agenorem Demoditas * * *
* * * Chrysippum †Hyale Perium
Trite Enceladum †Damone Amyntorem
Hippothoe Obrimum Myrmidone †Mineum
Eurydice Canthum Cleo Asterium
†Arcania Xanthum Cleopatra Metalcem
†Philea . Philinam †Hyparete Protheonem
Chrysothemis †Asteriden Pyrante Athamantem
†Armo asbus Glaucippe †Niavium
Demophile Pamphilum Autodice Clytum
Polyxena Aegyptum Hecabe Dryantem
†Achamantis †Echominum †Arsalte Ephialtem
†Monuste Eurysthenem Amymone †Midamum
Helice †Euideam [Am] Oeme Poly[de]ctorem
Polybe †Iltonomum †Helicta Cassum
Electra †Hyperantum Eubule Demarchum
†Daplidice †Pugnonem Hero Andromachum
†Europome †Atlitem †Pyrantis Plexippum
Critomedia Antipaphum Pirene Dolichum
†Eupheno Hyperbium Themistagora †Podasimum
Celaeno †Aristonon †Itea Antiochum
†Erate Eudemonem. Hypermestra Lynceum servavit;
qui cum Danaus perisset primusque Abas ei nuntiasset Lynceus, circumspiciens in templo quid ei muneri daret, casu conspexit clipeum, quem Danaus consecraverat Iunoni, quem in iuventa gesserat: refixit et donavit Abanti ludosque consecravit qui quinto quoque anno aguntur, qui appellantur ἀσπὶς ἐν Ἄργει. [e] quibus ludis cursoribus corona non datur sed clipeus. At Danaides post patris interitum viros duxerunt Argivos, e quibus qui nati sunt appellati.
170. The daughters of Danaus and the men they killed
†Idea: Antimachus · Philomela: Panthius
Scylla: Proteus · †Phicomone: Plexippus
Euippe: * * * · * * * * * *
* * * : Agenor · Demoditas: * * *
* * * : Chrysippus · †Hyale: Perius
Trite: Enceladus · †Damone: Amyntor
Hippothoe: Obrimus · Myrmidone: †Mineus
Eurydice: Canthus · Cleo: Asterius
†Arcania: Xanthus · Cleopatra: Metalces
†Philea . Philinas · †Hyparete: Protheon
Chrysothemis: †Asteris · Pyrante: Athamas
†Armo asbus · Glaucippe: †Niavius
Demophile: Pamphilus · Autodice: Clytus
Polyxena: Aegyptus · Hecabe: Dryas
†Achamantis: †Echominus · †Arsalte: Ephialtes
†Monuste: Eurysthenes · Amymone: †Midamus
Helice: †Euideas · [Am] Oeme: Poly[de]ctor
Polybe: †Iltonomus · †Helicta: Cassus
Electra: †Hyperas · Eubule: Demarchus
†Daplidice: †Pugno · Hero: Andromachus
†Europome: †Atlites · †Pyrantis: Plexippus
Critomedia: Antipaphus · Pirene: Dolichus
†Eupheno: Hyperbius · Themistagora: †Podasimus
Celaeno: †Aristonon · †Itea: Antiochus
†Erate: Eudemon. · Hypermestra spared Lynceus;
and when Danaus had died, and Abas was the first to announce it to him, Lynceus, looking round in the temple for something to give him as a present, by chance caught sight of a shield which Danaus had consecrated to Hera and had carried in his youth: he took it down, gave it to Abas, and instituted games, held every fifth year, which are called ἀσπὶς ἐν Ἄργει (the shield at Argos). [In] these games the runners are given no crown but a shield. The Danaids, after their father's death, married Argive husbands, and those born of them were called ...
CLXXI Althaea
Cum Althaea Thestii filia una nocte concubuerunt Oeneus et Mars; ex quibus cum esset natus Meleager subito in regia apparuerunt Parcae [Clotho Lachesis Atropos.] Cui fata ita cecinerunt: Clotho dixit eum generosum futurum, Lachesis fortem, Atropos titionem ardentem aspexit in foco et ait: ‘tamdiu hic vivet, quamdiu hic titio consumptus non fuerit’. hoc Althaea mater cum audisset exiluit de lecto atque titionem extinxit et eum in media regia obruit fatalem, ne ab igni obrueretur.
171. Althaea and the brand
Oeneus and Ares lay with Althaea, daughter of Thestius, on the same night; and when Meleager was born of them, the Fates (Parcae) suddenly appeared in the palace [Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos]. They sang his fates for him thus: Clotho said that he would be noble, Lachesis that he would be brave; Atropos caught sight of a burning brand on the hearth and said: ‘He will live as long as this brand has not been consumed.’ When his mother Althaea heard this, she leapt up from her bed, put out the brand, and buried it, fateful as it was, in the middle of the palace, so that it should not be overwhelmed by fire.
CLXXII Oeneus
Oeneus Parthaonis filius Aetoliae rex cum omnibus diis annua sacra fecisset et Dianam praeterisset, ea irata aprum immani magnitudine, qui agrum Calydonium vastaret, misit. tunc Meleager Oenei filius se pollicetur cum delectis Graeciae ducibus ad eum expugnandum iturum.
172. Oeneus
Oeneus, son of Parthaon, king of Aetolia, made the yearly sacrifices to all the gods but passed over Artemis; in her anger she sent a boar of enormous size to ravage the Calydonian land. Then Meleager, son of Oeneus, promised to go with chosen leaders of Greece to overcome it.
CLXXIII Qui ad aprum Calydonium ierunt
Castor et Pollux Iovis filii Eurytus Mercurii . . . Parth . . .
Echion Mercurii Thebis Aesculapius Apollinis
Iason Aesonis [Thebis] Alcon Martis Thracia Euphemus Neptuni
Iolaus Iphicli
Lynceus et Idas Apharei Peleus Aeaci Telamon Aeaci
Theseus Aegei Admetus Pheretis Laerta Arcesii Deucalion Minois
Plexippus [Ideus Lynceus] Thestii filii fratres Althaeae
Hippothous Cercyonis Caeneus Elati Mopsus Ampyci Meleager Oenei
Hippasus Euryti Ancaeus Lycurgi
Phoenix Amyntoris Dryas Iapeti Leucippus
Enaesimus ⟨et⟩ Alcon Hippocoontis [Amyclis]
Atalante Schoenei.
173. Those who went to the Calydonian boar
Castor and Pollux, sons of Zeus; Eurytus, son of Hermes; . . . Parth . . .
Echion, son of Hermes, Thebes; Asclepius, son of Apollo.
Jason, son of Aeson [Thebes]; Alcon, son of Ares, Thrace; Euphemus, son of Poseidon.
Iolaus, son of Iphicles.
Lynceus and Idas, sons of Aphareus; Peleus, son of Aeacus; Telamon, son of Aeacus.
Theseus, son of Aegeus; Admetus, son of Pheres; Laerta, son of Arcesius; Deucalion, son of Minos.
Plexippus [Ideus Lynceus], sons of Thestius, brothers of Althaea.
Hippothous, son of Cercyon; Caeneus, son of Elatus; Mopsus, son of Ampycus; Meleager, son of Oeneus.
Hippasus, son of Eurytus; Ancaeus, son of Lycurgus.
Phoenix, son of Amyntor; Dryas, son of Iapetus; Leucippus.
Enaesimus ⟨and⟩ Alcon, son of Hippocoon [Amyclis].
Atalanta, daughter of Schoeneus.
⟨CLXXIII^b⟩ Quae civitates auxilium miserunt Oeneo
Taenaros Iolcos Sparta Pleuron Messene Perrhaebia Phthia Magnesia Salamin Calydon Thessalia Oechalia Ithaca Tegea Creta Alope Athenae [Magnesia] et Arcadia.
173b. Cities that sent help to Oeneus
Taenarus, Iolcus, Sparta, Pleuron, Messene, Perrhaebia, Phthia, Magnesia, Salamis, Calydon, Thessaly, Oechalia, Ithaca, Tegea, Crete, Alope, Athens [Magnesia] and Arcadia.
CLXXIIII Meleager
Althaea Thestii filia ex Oeneo peperit Meleagrum. ibi in regia dicitur titio ardens apparuisse. huc Parcae venerunt et Meleagro fata cecinerunt, eum tamdiu victurum quamdiu is titio esset incolumis. Hunc Althaea in arca clausum diligenter servavit. Interim ira Dianae, quia Oeneus sacra annua ei non fecerat, aprum mira magnitudine qui agrum Calydonium vastaret misit: quem Meleager cum delectis iuvenibus Graeciae interfecit pellemque eius ob virtutem Atalant⟨a⟩e virgini donavit, quam †Ideus Plexippus †Lynceus Althaeae fratres eripere voluerunt. Illa cum Meleagri fidem implorasset, ille intervenit et amorem cognationi anteposuit, avunculosque suos occidit. id Althaea mater ⟨ut⟩ audivit, filium suum tantum facinus esse ausum, memor parcarum praecepti titionem ex arca prolatum in ignem coniecit. ita dum fratrum poenas vult exequi filium interfecit: at sorores eius praeter Gorgen et Deianiram flendo deorum voluntate in aves sunt transfiguratae quae meleagrides vocantur: at coniunx eius Alcyone moerens in luctu decessit.
174. Meleager
Althaea, daughter of Thestius, bore Meleager to Oeneus. There in the palace a burning brand is said to have appeared. The Fates came there and sang to Meleager his fates: that he would live as long as that brand remained unharmed. Althaea shut it in a chest and kept it carefully. Meanwhile, through the anger of Artemis, because Oeneus had not made the yearly sacrifices to her, a boar of marvellous size was sent to ravage the Calydonian land: Meleager killed it with chosen youths of Greece, and for her courage gave its hide to the maiden Atalanta, from whom †Ideus Plexippus †Lynceus, Althaea's brothers, wanted to take it. When she appealed to Meleager's good faith, he intervened, put love before kinship, and killed his maternal uncles. When his mother Althaea ⟨heard⟩ that her son had dared so great a crime, mindful of the Fates' instruction she took the brand out of the chest and threw it into the fire. Thus, while she wanted to avenge her brothers, she killed her son; but his sisters, except Gorge and Deianira, were transformed by weeping, by the will of the gods, into the birds called meleagrides (guinea-fowl); and his wife Alcyone died mourning in grief.
CLXXV Agrius
Agrius Parthaonis filius ut vidit Oeneum fratrem orbum liberis factum egentem regno expulit atque ipse regnum possedit. interim Diomedes Tydei filius et Deipyles Ilio devicto, ut audivit avum suum regno pulsum, pervenit in Aetoliam cum Sthenelo Capanei filio et armis contendit cum Lycopeo Agrii filio. quo interfecto Agrium egentem e regno expulit atque Oeneo avo suo regnum restituit. postque Agrius regno expulsus ipse se interfecit.
175. Agrius
When Agrius, son of Parthaon, saw that his brother Oeneus had been left bereft of children, he drove him, destitute, from the kingdom and himself took possession of it. Meanwhile Diomedes, son of Tydeus and Deipyle, after the conquest of Ilium, when he heard that his grandfather had been driven out of his kingdom, came to Aetolia with Sthenelus, son of Capaneus, and fought in arms with Lycopeus, son of Agrius. When he had killed him, he drove Agrius, destitute, from the kingdom and restored the kingdom to his grandfather Oeneus. Afterwards Agrius, driven from the kingdom, killed himself.
CLXXVI Lycaon
Ad Lycaonem Pelasgi filium Iovis in hospitium venisse dicitur et filiam eius Callisto compressisse; ex quo natus est Arcas, qui ex suo nomine terrae nomen indidit. sed Lycaonis filii Iovem tentare voluerunt, deusne esset, ⟨et⟩ carnem humanam cum c[a]etera carne commiscuerunt idque in epulo ei apposuerunt. qui postquam sensit iratus mensam evertit, Lycaonis filios fulmine necavit. eo loco postea Arcas oppidum communivit quod Τραπεζοῦς nominatur. patrem Iuppiter in lyci figuram mutavit.
176. Lycaon
Zeus is said to have come as a guest to Lycaon, son of Pelasgus, and to have lain with his daughter Callisto; from this union was born Arcas, who gave the land his own name. But Lycaon's sons wanted to test Zeus, to see whether he was a god, ⟨and⟩ mixed human flesh with other meat and set it before him at the banquet. When he realised this he overturned the table in anger and killed Lycaon's sons with a thunderbolt. In that place Arcas afterwards fortified a town which is called Trapezus. The father Zeus changed into the shape of a wolf.
CLXXVII Callisto
Callisto Lycaonis filia ursa dicitur facta esse ob iram Iunonis quod cum Iove concubuit. Postea Iovis in stellarum numerum retulit, quae septentrio appellatur, quod signum loco non movetur neque occidit. Tethys enim Oceani uxor nutrix Iunonis prohibet eam in Oceanum occidere. [hic ergo septentrio maior.] [de qua in †creticis versibus:
tuque Lycaoniae mutatae semine nymphae
quam gelido raptam de vertice Nonacrinae
oceano prohibet semper se tingere Tethys
ausa suae quia sit quondam succumbere alumnae.
haec igitur ursa a Graecis ἑλίκη appellatur: haec habet stellas in capite septem non claras, in utraque aure duas in armo unam in pectore claram unam in extrema coxa claram unam in femine posteriori duas in pede extremo duas in cauda tres, omnes numero viginti.]
177. Callisto
Callisto, daughter of Lycaon, is said to have been turned into a bear through Hera's anger because she lay with Zeus. Afterwards Zeus put her among the stars; the constellation is called Septentrio, because this sign does not move from its place and does not set. For Tethys, wife of Oceanus and Hera's nurse, forbids her to set in Ocean. [This, then, is the Greater Septentrio.] [On which, in †Cretan (?) verses:
‘And you, [born] of the seed of the transformed Lycaonian nymph [?],
whom, snatched from the cold peak of Nonacris,
Tethys forbids ever to dip herself in the ocean,
because she once dared to ... her foster-daughter [?].’
This bear, then, is called by the Greeks helice: it has seven faint stars on its head, two in each ear, one on the shoulder, one bright one on the breast, one bright one on the end of the hip, two on the hind thigh, two on the end of the foot, three in the tail, twenty in all.]
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