She was also called Agrotera, Orthia, Taurica, Delia, Cynthia, Aricia, &c. She was supposed to be the same as the Isis of the Egyptians, whose worship was introduced into Greece with that of Osiris under the name of Apollo. When Typhon waged war against the gods, Diana is said to have metamorphosed herself into a cat, to avoid his fury. The goddess is generally known in the figures that represent her, by the crescent on her head, by the dogs which attend her, and by her hunting habit. The most famous of her temples was that of Ephesus, which was one of the seven wonders of the world. See: [Ephesus]. She was there represented with a great number of breasts, and other symbols which signified the earth, or Cybele. Though she was the patroness of chastity, yet she forgot her dignity to enjoy the company of Endymion, and the very familiar favours which, according to mythology, she granted to Pan and Orion are well known. See: [Endymion], [Pan], [Orion]. The inhabitants of Taurica were particularly attached to the worship of this goddess, and they cruelly offered on her altar all the strangers that were shipwrecked on their coasts. Her temple in Aricia was served by a priest who had always murdered his predecessor, and the Lacedæmonians yearly offered her human victims till the age of Lycurgus, who changed this barbarous custom for the sacrifice of flagellation. The Athenians generally offered her goats, and others a white kid, and sometimes a boar pig, or an ox. Among plants the poppy and the ditamy were sacred to her. She, as well as her brother Apollo, had some oracles, among which those of Egypt, Cilicia, and Ephesus are the most known. Ovid, Fasti, bk. 2, li. 155; Metamorphoses, bk. 3, li. 156; bk. 7, lis. 94 & 194, &c.—Cicero, de Natura Deorum, bk. 3.—Horace, bk. 3, ode 22.—Virgil, Georgics, bk. 3, li. 302; Æneid, bk. 1, li. 505.—Homer, Odyssey, bk. 5.—Pausanias, bk. 8, chs. 31 & 37.—Catullus.—Statius, bk. 3, Sylvæ, poem 1, li. 57.—Apollodorus bk. 1, ch. 4, &c.; bk. 3, ch. 5, &c.
Dianasa, the mother of Lycurgus. Plutarch, Lycurgus.
Dianium, a town and promontory of Spain, now cape Martin, where Diana was worshipped.
Diasia, festivals in honour of Jupiter at Athens. They received their name ἀπο του διος και της ἁτης, from Jupiter and misfortune, because, by making application to Jupiter, men obtained relief from their misfortunes, and were delivered from dangers. During this festival things of all kinds were exposed for sale.
Dibio, a town of France, now Dijon in Burgundy.
Dicæa and Dicæarchea, a town of Italy. Silius Italicus, bk. 13, li. 385.
Dicæus, an Athenian who was supernaturally apprised of the defeat of the Persians in Greece. Herodotus, bk. 8, ch. 65.
Dice, one of the Horæ, daughters of Jupiter. Apollonius, bk. 1, ch. 3.
Dicearchus, a Messenian famous for his knowledge of philosophy, history, and mathematics. He was one of Aristotle’s disciples. Nothing remains of his numerous compositions. He had composed a history of the Spartan republic, which was publicly read over every year by order of the magistrates, for the improvement and instruction of youth.
Diceneus, an Egyptian philosopher in the age of Augustus, who travelled into Scythia, where he ingratiated himself with the king of the country, and by his instruction softened the wildness and rusticity of his manners. He also gained such an influence over the multitude, that they destroyed all the vines which grew in their country, to prevent the riot and dissipation which the wine occasioned among them. He wrote all his maxims and his laws in a book, that they might not lose the benefit of them after his death.