Alcyŏneus, a youth of exemplary virtue, son to Antigonus. Plutarch, Pyrrhus.—Diogenes Laërtius, bk. 4.——A giant, brother to Porphyrion. He was killed by Hercules. His daughters, mourning his death, threw themselves into the sea, and were changed into Alcyons by Amphitrite. Claudian, De Raptu Proserpinæ.—Apollodorus, bk. 1, ch. 6.
Aldescus, a river of European Sarmatia, rising from the Riphæan mountains, and falling into the northern sea. Dionysius Periegetes.
Alduăbis. See: [Dubis].
Alea, a surname of Minerva, from her temple built by Aleus son of Aphidas, at Tegæa in Arcadia. The statue of the goddess made of ivory was carried by Augustus to Rome. Pausanias, bk. 8, chs. 4 & 46.——A town of Arcadia, built by Aleus. It had three famous temples, those of Minerva, Bacchus, and Diana the Ephesian. When the festivals of Bacchus were celebrated, the women were whipped in the temple. Pausanias, bk. 8, ch. 23.
Alēbas, a tyrant of Larissa, killed by his own guards for his cruelties. Ovid, Ibis, li. 323.
Alēbion and Dercynus, sons of Neptune, were killed by Hercules for stealing his oxen in Africa. Apollodorus, bk. 2, ch. 5.
Alecto, one of the Furies (a, ληγω, non desino), is represented with flaming torches, her head covered with serpents, and breathing vengeance, war, and pestilence. See: [Eumenides]. Virgil, Æneid, bk. 7, li. 324, &c.; bk. 10, li. 41.
Alector, succeeded his father Anaxagoras in the kingdom of Argos, and was father to Iphis and Capaneus. Pausanias, bk. 2, ch. 18.—Apollodorus, bk. 3, ch. 6.
Alectryon, a youth whom Mars, during his amours with Venus, stationed at the door to watch against the approach of the sun. He fell asleep, and Apollo came and discovered the lovers, who were exposed by Vulcan, in each other’s arms, before all the gods. Mars was so incensed that he changed Alectryon into a cock, which, still mindful of his neglect, early announces the approach of the sun. Lucian, Alectryon [Gallus].
Alectus, a tyrant of Britain, in Diocletian’s reign, &c. He died 296 A.D.