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.

ARISTAEUS,

the Son of Apollo and Cyrene, who was desperately in Love with Euridice the Wife of Orphaeus: She died of the Bite of a Serpent, as she fled from the amorous pursuit of Aristaeus; the Nymphs enraged at this Misfortune killed all Ari∣staeus's Bees, but he by the advice of his Mother consulted Proteus about this Loss, who or∣der'd him to sacrifice 4 Bulls and 4 Heifers to appease the Ghost of Euridice, which be∣ing done, immediately there came forth Swarms of Bees out of the Entrails of the slain Victims. 'Tis said that he first inven∣ted the way of extracting Hony from the Wax-combs which the Bees make, and of making Oyl out of Olives, and of curdling Milk. He was plac'd among the Number of the Gods after his Death, and ador'd by the Shepherds.

The Education of Bacchus was committed to Aristaeus, according to the Traditions of the Lybians, which are related by Diodorus Siculus. The same Author elsewhere gives us an Account, that Apollo transported into Lybia a Grecian Virgin call'd Cyrene, and built there a City of her Name by whom he had a Son call'd Aristaeus; and caused him to be nurs'd up in a Wilderness by the Nymphs, who taught him the Culture and the Use of Olives, of Bees, and Milk-meats, as Butter, Cheese, &c. which he in process of time communi∣cated to Mankind. After divers Voyages at length Aristaeus came into Sardinia and Si∣cily, and having pass'd over from thence in∣to Thracia, he was there initiated by Bacchus into his Mysteries, who taught him many things useful for human Life. At last Ari∣staeus died near Mount Hemis, and was there honour'd as a God, not only by the Thracians but also by the Graecians.

Herodotus, relates a Story of Aristaeus, in which Apollo is very much concerned. He was of Preconnesus, where it was commonly thought that he was dead; but he appeared again at Cyzicum as one return'd from the dead: He disappeared yet once more, and 340 Years after he shewed himself again to the Metapontines in Italy, whom he affirmed to be the only Persons of all the Italians, whom Apollo had honour'd with his Presence. enjoin'd them to erect a Statue to him in the Temple of Apollo, near that of Apollo himself. The Metapontines consulted the Ora∣cle about it, which commanded them to obey him, and so they did.