A complete dictionary of the Greek and Roman antiquities explaining the obscure places in classic authors and ancient historians relating to the religion, mythology, history, geography and chronology of the ancient Greeks and Romans, their ... rites and customs, laws, polity, arts and engines of war : also an account of their navigations, arts and sciences and the inventors of them : with the lives and opinions of their philosophers / compiled originally in French ... by Monsieur Danet ; made English, with the addition of very useful mapps.

HERCULES

the GRECIAN was the Son of Jupiter and Alcmena the wife of Amphitrio, being yet in the Cradle he choa••∣ed two Serpents, which Juno out of jealousy against his Mother, had sent to destroy him. They relate twelve Prodigies extraordinary, called the twelve Labours of Hercules.

Euristheus the Son of Helenus King of Myce•••• having a mind to be rid of Hercules, sent him first to stop the incursions of the Lion of the Nemean Forest, who was fallen from the Hea∣ven of the Moon, and destroyed all the Country: Hercules pursued him, and having driven him into a Den, he seiz'd upon him, and tore his Mouth with his own hands, and ever after wore the skin of that Lion.

After this Expedition he was sent to the Lake of Lerna near Argos, to force the Hydra, a dreadful Serpent with seven Heads, and having cut off one Head thereof, two arose in the place, wherefore Hercules cut off her seven heads at once.

Then he marched against a fierce Wild-Boar, inhabiting Mount Erymanthus in Arcadia, who spoiled all the Fields. He took him alive, and brought him upon his shoulders to Eristheus, who was almost frighted to death at the sight thereof.

He also caught running the Hind of Mena∣lus's Hills, the Feet whereof were of Brass, and his Horns of Gold, after he had pursu'd her a whole year.

He likewise drove away the Birds of Sty••••∣phalus's Lake, that were so numerous, and of so prodigious a bigness, that they stopt the light with their wings, and took up Men to devour them.

He engag'd the Amazons inhabiting Scythia, near the Hircanean Sea, and took their Queen Hypolita prisoner, whom Theseus married.

He cleansed the Stables of Augias King of Elis, where a thousand Oxen were kept, the Dung whereof infected the air: and to com∣pass this work, he turned the course of the River Alpheus, and convey'd the Waters thereof through the Stables, which carried away all the Dung.

He seiz'd upon a Bull casting out fire and flames, that Neptune had sent into Greece, to revenge some affront he had received from the Greeks.

He took Diomedes King of Thrace, and gave him to be eaten by his own Man-eating Horses, to punish him for his cruelty towards Strangers, whom likewise he deliver'd up to be devoured by his Horses, and made Geryon, who had three Bodies, suffer the same punish∣ment, because his Oxen devoured Travellers.

He brought to Euristeus, the golden Apples out of the Garden of the Hesperides, and kill'd the dreadful Dragon that guarded them.

He went to Hell, and brought thence with him the Dog Cerberus, and delivered

Theseus, who was gone thither to keep com∣pany with Pirithous his Friend; and this was the last of his Exploits.

Many other performances both of Justice and Courage are still ascribed to Hercules; for he kill'd Busiris the Son of Neptune, who us'd to cut the Throats of Travellers; and killed Cacus a three-headed Man, the Son of Vulcan, a famous Robber, who infested Mount Aven∣tinus, and the Country round about with his Robberies; and passing by Mount Caucasus, he delivered Prometheus whom Jupiter had order'd to be tied thereon, and kill'd the Eagle who was devouring his Liver, and smother'd in his Arms Anteus the Son of the Earth.

In the latter end of his life he was much given to Women, and Omphale Queen of Lydia made him spin, and beat him with her Distaff, and after all his great Atchievements, he put an end to his Life on Mouut Oeta; for having put on the Garment of Nessus the Centaur, which Dejanira his Wife had sent him by Lycas; the malignity of Nessus's blood, which was a strong Poyson, put him into so violent a rage, that he cast himself into a burning pile of wood, and there was consumed.