[584] Strabo. l. 8. p. 572.
[585] Many places were denominated from Aster; such as Asteria, Asterion, Asteris, Astræa, Astarte. See Steph. Byzantinus. Αστεριον, πολις Θετταλιας—ἡ νυν Πιρεσια. Idem. Αστεριη, ἡ Δηλος, και ἡ Κρητη, εκαλειτο. Hesychius. Δηλος Αστεριη. Callimach. H. in Delon. v. 37. and 40. Asteria signifies the island of Aster.
[586] L. 8. p. 572.
[587] Pausanias mentions the apartments of the daughters of Prœtus. l. 2. p. 169. But the daughters of Prœtus were property the virgins who officiated at the Purait, the young priestesses ot the Deity.
The Sicilian Cyclopes were three, because there were three towers only, erected upon the islands called Cyclopum Scopuli; and that they were lighthouses is apparent from the name which still remains: for they are at this day styled Faraglioni, according to Fazellus. The Cyclopes of Tiryns were seven, as we learn from Strabo; because the towers probably were in number so many. From this circumstance we may presume, that the ideas of the antients concerning the Cyclopians, were taken from the buildings which they erected.
[588] The Cyclopian buildings were also called Ouranian. Κυκλωπεια τ' ουρανια τειχεα. Euripid. Electra. v. 1158.
[589] Both Cuclops, and Cuclopes, was the name of a place. We may, therefore, I think, be pretty well assured, that the Cyclopians were from hence denominated. And as sacred places had their names from the Deity, to whom they were dedicated, it is very probable, that the Cuclopian towers were named from Cœlus Ops, the Deity there worshipped: for I have shewn, that this people were the reputed children of Ouranus and Cœlus.
[590] Aristoteles de mirabil. auscult. p. 732.
[591] In excerptis apud Sononem. See not. Meursii in Antigonum Carystium. p. 183.
[592] Of the Cyclopians of Thrace see Scholia in Euripid. Orest. v. 966. Κυκλωπες, Θρακικον εθνος. Also Scholia in Statii Theb. l. 2. p. 104.