um, Hippouris, Hippana,
Hipponesus, Hippocrene. This last was a sacred fountain, denominated from
the God of light, who was the patron of verse, and science: but by the
Greeks it was referred to an animal, and supposed to have been produced by
the hoof of an horse. The rites of Dionusus Hippius were carried into
Thrace, where the horses of Diomedes were said to have been fed with human
flesh. Deianira is introduced by Ovid, as asking Hercules, if he did not
well remember this practice.

[709]Non tibi succurrit crudi Diomedis imago,
Efferus humana qui dape pavit equos?

Abderus, the founder of Abdera, is supposed to have been a victim to these
animals: of which Scymnus Chius gives the following account.

[710][Greek: Ton d' epi thalattei keimenon estin polis]
[Greek: Abder', ap' Abderou men onomasmene,]
[Greek: Tou kai ktisantos proteron auten; hos dokei]
[Greek: Hupo ton Diomedous husteron xenoktonon]
[Greek: Hippon phtharenai.]

These horses, [Greek: xenoktonoi], which fed upon the flesh of strangers,
were the priests of Hippa, and of Dionusus, styled Hippus, or more properly
Hippius. They seem to have resided in an island, and probably in the
Thracian Chersonese: which they denominated [711]Diu-Medes, or the island
of the Egyptian Deity Medes. From hence the Grecian Poets have formed a
personage Diomedes, whom they have made king of the country. There were
opposite to Apulia islands of the same name, where similar rites prevailed.
The priests were here Cycneans, and described as a species of swans, who
were kind to people of their own race, but cruel to [712]strangers. A
Diomedes is supposed to have been a king in these parts, and to have given
name to these islands. It is said by Scymnus Chios above, that Abderus, who
was devoured by the horses of Diomedes in Thrace, built the city, which
bore his name. The Grecians continually supposed the personage, in whose
honour a city was built, to have been the founder. I have mentioned, that
Abderus signifies the place of Abdir, which is a contraction of Abadir, the
serpent Deity Ad-Ur, or Adorus. And it is plain from many passages in
antient writers, that human sacrifices were common at his shrine; and
particularly those of infants. By Abdera being a victim to the horses of
Diomedes is meant that the natives of that place, which stood in the
vicinity of the Chersonesus, were obliged to submit to the cruel rites of
the Diomedean [713]priests. The very name m