[46] Theophrastus adds that, desirous to get rid of their propensity to laugh, the Tirynthians consulted the oracle at Delphi, and got the god's answer that, if they could sacrifice an ox to Poseidon and throw it into the sea, without laughing, the evil would at once cease. The Tirynthians, who feared to fail in the execution of the god's command, forbad the children to be present at the sacrifice. But one of them having heard this, and having mixed in the crowd, they cried out at him to drive him away, on which he exclaimed, "How, are you afraid that I shall upset your sacrifice?" This excited universal laughter, and they became convinced that the god intended to show them by experience that an inveterate evil custom cannot be remedied.
[47] Max Müller, 'Essays,' II. 79.
[48] Aristot. Meteorol. I. 14.
[49] The exact depths are indicated by the proportional numbers appended to the sectional plans of the excavations in the margin of Plan A.
[50] See Nos. 2-7, and the coloured Plate A, figs. a, b.
[51] See Nos. 8-11 on p. 12, and the coloured Plate A, fig. d.
[52] To these may be added the Syrian and Phœnician Ashtoreth.
"Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns,
To whose bright image nightly, by the moon,
Phœnician virgins paid their vows and songs."—