Epicurus, like Democritus and Leucippus, maintained the atomic theory. Cp. [note on chap. 15].
Epimenides, a seer and prophet of Crete who purified Athens of the plague with which she was afflicted in consequence of the crime of Cylon, circa 596 b.c.
Ostanes, or Hostanes, a famous semi-fabulous magician of Persia.
the 'purifications' of Empedocles. Empedocles of Agrigentum (flourished circa 450 b.c.) wrote a poem of 3,000 lines, entitled 'purifications' (καθαρμοί). In this he recommended good moral conduct as a means of averting epidemics and other evils. But as a fragment quoted by Diog. Laert. viii. 59, shows, he claimed also to have power over the winds.
the 'demon' of Socrates, the divine sign or voice (δαιμόνιον), which is represented by Socrates as having guided his actions, is never spoken of by him in terms that would lead us to suppose that he regarded it as a familiar spirit, though it is so treated by later writers (e.g. Plutarch, de genio Socratis, and Apuleius, de deo Socratis).
the 'good' of Plato. The reference is probably to the identification of τὸ ἀγαθόν with the δημιουργός the creator spoken of in the Timaeus.
[Chapter 30.] Vergil. Cp. Ecl. viii. 64-82. Aen. iv. 513-16.
the wondrous talisman. The allusion is to the hippomanes or growth said to be found on the forehead of a new-born foal. Unless the mother was prevented she devoured it.
Theocritus, sc. Id. ii.
Homer, e.g. the adventures with Circe.