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.

ALCESTIS,

the Daughter of Pelias and Wife of Admetus King of Thessaly. Apollo ob∣tained of the Destinies, that if Admetus could procure any Person to die in his stead, he should live as many years as he had done alrea∣dy. The Father and Mother of Admetus ha∣ving refus'd him that Favour, his Wife Alcestis offer'd to die for him. Hercules came unexpect∣edly, and, having heard what had pass'd, went to the Tomb of Alcestis, and rescu'd her from the Jaws of Death, and restored her to her Husband. Others say, he went down into Hell, and took her from Proserpina.

Euripides, in his Alcestis, relates, That Hercu∣les was entertained by Admetus the day that Al∣cestis his Wife died, and all his House was in Mourning. Admetus lodg'd him in an Apartment by himself, that he might not disturb his Guest by so doleful an Object. Hercules requited his Host well, for he undertook to encounter Death, who had taken away the Soul of Alcestis; he chas'd Death away, brought back her Soul to her Body, and restor'd his Wife alive to Admetus. This seems to be the History of Elisha counterfeited, who rais'd the Son of the Shunamite from the dead.