Dēlia, a surname of Diana, because she was born in Delos. Virgil, Eclogues, poem 3, li. 67.
Dēliădes, a son of Glaucus, killed by his brother Bellerophon. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 3.——The priestesses in Apollo’s temple. Homer, Hymn to Apollo.
Dēlium, a temple of Apollo.——A town of Bœotia opposite Calchis, famous for a battle fought there, B.C. 424, &c. Livy, bk. 31, ch. 45; bk. 35, ch. 51.
Dēlius, a surname of Apollo, because he was born in Delos.——Quintus, an officer of Antony, who, when he was sent to cite Cleopatra before his master, advised her to make her appearance in the most captivating attire. The plan succeeded. He afterwards abandoned his friend, and fled to Augustus, who received him with great kindness. Horace has addressed bk. 2, ode 3 to him. Plutarch, Antonius.
Delmatius Flavius Julius, a nephew of Constantine the Great, honoured with the title of Cæsar, and put in possession of Thrace, Macedonia, and Achaia. His great virtues were unable to save him from a violent death, and he was assassinated by his own soldiers, &c.
Delmĭnium, a town of Dalmatia. Florus, bk. 4, ch. 12.
Dēlos, one of the Cyclades at the north of Naxos, was severally called Lagia, Ortygia, Asteria, Chlamidia, Pelasgia, Pyrpyle, Cynthus, and Cynæthus, and now bears the name of Sailles. It was called Delos from δηλος, because it suddenly made its appearance on the surface of the sea, by the power of Neptune, who, according to the mythologists, permitted Latona to bring forth there, when she was persecuted all over the earth, and could find no safe asylum. See: [Apollo]. The island is celebrated for the nativity of Apollo and Diana; and the solemnity with which the festivals of these deities were celebrated there, by the inhabitants of the neighbouring islands and of the continent, is well known. One of the altars of Apollo, in the island, was reckoned among the seven wonders of the world. It had been erected by Apollo when only four years old, and made with the horns of goats, killed by Diana on mount Cynthus. It was unlawful to sacrifice any living creature upon that altar, which was religiously kept pure from blood and every pollution. The whole island of Delos was held in such veneration, that the Persians, who had pillaged and profaned all the temples of Greece, never offered violence to the temple of Apollo, but respected it with the most awful reverence. Apollo, whose image was in the shape of a dragon, delivered there oracles during the summer, in a plain manner, without any ambiguity or obscure meaning. No dogs, as Thucydides mentions, were permitted to enter the island. It was unlawful for a man to die, or for a child to be born there; and when the Athenians were ordered to purify the place, they dug up all the dead bodies that had been interred there, and transported them to the neighbouring islands. An edict was also issued, which commanded all persons labouring under any mortal or dangerous disease to be instantly removed to the adjacent island called Rhane. Some mythologists suppose that Asteria, who changed herself into a quail, to avoid the importuning addresses of Jupiter, was metamorphosed into this island, originally called Ortygia ab ὀρτυξ, a quail. The people of Delos are described by Cicero, Academica, bk. 2, chs. 16 & 18; bk. 4, ch. 18, as famous for rearing hens. Strabo, bks. 8 & 10.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 5, li. 329; bk. 6, li. 333.—Mela, bk. 2, ch. 7.—Pliny, bk. 4, ch. 12.—Plutarch, de Sollertia Animalium, &c.—Thucydides, bks. 3, 4, &c.—Virgil, Æneid, bk. 3, li. 73.—Ptolemy, bk. 3, ch. 15.—Callimachus, Hymn to Delos.—Claudian, Panegyricus de Consulatu Honorii Augusti, bk. 4.
Delphi, now Castri, a town of Phocis, situate in a valley at the south-west side of mount Parnassus. It was also called Pytho, because the serpent Python was killed there; and it received the name of Delphi, from Delphus the son of Apollo. Some have also called it Parnassia Nape, the valley of Parnassus. It was famous for a temple of Apollo, and for an oracle celebrated in every age and country. The origin of the oracle, though fabulous, is described as something wonderful. A number of goats that were feeding on mount Parnassus came near a place which had a deep and long perforation. The steam which issued from the hole seemed to inspire the goats, and they played and frisked about in such an uncommon manner, that the goat-herd was tempted to lean on the hole, and see what mysteries the place contained. He was immediately seized with a fit of enthusiasm, and his expressions were wild and extravagant, and passed for prophecies. This circumstance was soon known about the country, and many experienced the same enthusiastic inspiration. The place was revered, and a temple was soon after erected in honour of Apollo, and a city built. According to some accounts, Apollo was not the first who gave oracles there; but Terra, Neptune, Themis, and Phœbe were in possession of the place before the son of Latona. The oracles were generally given in verse; but when it had been sarcastically observed that the god and patron of poetry was the most imperfect poet in the world, the priestess delivered her answers in prose. The oracles were always delivered by a priestess called Pythia. See: [Pythia]. The temple was built and destroyed several times. It was customary for those who consulted the oracle to make rich presents to the god of Delphi; and no monarch distinguished himself more by his donations than Crœsus. This sacred repository of opulence was often the object of plunder, and the people of Phocis seized 10,000 talents from it, and Nero carried away no less than 500 statues of brass, partly of the gods, and partly of the most [♦]illustrious heroes. In another age, Constantine the Great removed its most splendid ornaments to his new capital. It was universally believed, and supported, by the ancients, that Delphi was in the middle of the earth; and on that account it was called terræ umbilicus. This, according to mythology, was first found out by two doves, which Jupiter had let loose from the two extremities of the earth, and which met at the place where the temple of Delphi was built. Apollonius, bk. 2, li. 706.—Diodorus, bk. 16.—Plutarch, de Defectu Oraculorum, &c.—Pausanias, bk. 10, ch. 6, &c.—Ovid, Metamorphoses, bk. 10, li. 168.—Strabo, bk. 9.
[♦] ‘illustrous’ replaced with ‘illustrious’
Delphĭcus, a surname of Apollo, from the worship paid to his divinity at Delphi.