CHAPTER VI.

THE ÆOLIDS, OR SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF ÆOLUS.

Legends of Greece, originally isolated, afterwards thrown into series.—_Æolus._—His seven sons and five daughters.—1. _First Æolid line_—Salmôneus, Tyrô.—Pelias and Nêleus.—Pêrô, Bias, and Melampus.—Periklymenos.—Nestor and his exploits.—Nêleids down to Kodrus.—_Second Æolid line_—Krêtheus.—Admêtus and Alcêstis.—Pêleus and the wife of Acastus.—Pelias and Jasôn.—Jasôn and Mêdea.—Mêdea at Corinth.—_Third Æolid line_—Sisyphus.—Corinthian genealogy of Eumêlus.—Coalescence of different legends about Mêdea and Sisyphus.—Bellerophôn.—_Fourth Æolid line_—Athamas.—Phryxus and Hellê.—Inô and Palæmôn—Isthmian games.—Local root of the legend of Athamas.—Traces of ancient human sacrifices.—Athamas in the district near Orchomenos.—Eteoklês—festival of the Charitêsia.—Foundation and greatness of Orchomenos.—Overthrow by Hêraklês and the Thebans.—Trophônius and Agamêdês.—Ascalaphos and Ialmenos.—Discrepancies in the Orchomenian genealogy.—Probable inferences as to the ante-historical Orchomenos.—Its early wealth and industry.—Emissaries of the lake Kôpaïs.—Old Amphiktyony at Kalauria.—Orchomenos and Thebês.—Alcyonê and Kêyx.—Canacê.—The Alôids.—Calycê.—Elis and Ætôlia.—Eleian genealogy.—Augeas.—The Molionid brothers.—Variations in the Eleian genealogy.—Ætôlian genealogy.—Œneus, Meleager, Tydeus.—Legend of Meleager in Homer.—How altered by the poets after Homer.—Althæa and the burning brand.—Grand Kalydônian boar-hunt.—Atalanta.—Relics of the boar long preserved at Tegea.—Atalanta vanquished in the race by stratagem.—Deianeira.—Death of Hêraklês.—Tydeus.—Old age of Œneus.—Discrepant genealogies. 105-153