equally famed for wrestling; by which art he
slew many, whom he forced to the unequal contention. But Cercyon was the
name of the [748]place; and they were the Cercyonians, the priests of the
temple, who were noted for these achievements. Pausanias gives an account
of them under the character of one person. [749][Greek: Einai de ho Kerkuon
legetai kai ta alla adikos eis tous xenous, kai palaiein ou boulomenois.]
_Cercyon was in other respects lawless in his behaviour towards strangers;
but especially towards those who would not contend with him in wrestling_.
These Cercyonians were undoubtedly priests of Ceres, or Damater: who seems
to have been tired of their service, and glad to get rid of them, as we are
informed by the poet.

[750]Quaeque Ceres laeto vidit pereuntia vultu
Corpora Thesea Cercyonea manu.

Before most temples of old were areas, which were designed for Gumnasia,
where these feats of exercise were performed. Lucian speaks of one before
the temple of [751]Apollo Lucius. And Pausanias mentions that particular
[752]parade, where Cercyon was supposed to have exhibited his art. It stood
before the tomb of Alope, and was called the Palaestra of Cercyon even in
the time of this writer, who takes notice of many others. He styles it
[Greek: taphos Alopes], as if it were a tomb. But it was a Taph, or high
altar, sacred to Al-Ope, Sol Pytho, who was the Deity of the place called
Cer-Cuon. Before this altar was the palaestra; where the Cercyonian priests
obliged people to contend with them. I have taken notice of a Pharos at
[753]Torone, which Proteus is said to have quitted, that he might not be
witness to the cruelties of his sons. He fled, it seems, to Egypt, [Greek:
Teknon aluxas tas xenoktonas palas], to shun their wicked practices: for
they were so skilled in the Palaestric art, that they slew all strangers
whom they forced to engage with them. Taurus, called Minotaurus, was a
temple in Crete: but by the Grecians is spoken of as a person. Under this
character Taurus is represented as a [754]renowned wrestler, and many
persons are said to have been sent from Athens to be victims to his
prowess. Eusebius styles him, [755][Greek: omos kai anemeros], a man of a
cruel and sour disposition. After he had done much mischief, Theseus at
length [Greek: Tauron katepalaise], foiled him in his own art, and slew
him. He is supposed to have done the like by Cercyon. [756][Greek: Legetai
de ho Kerkuon tous diastantas pa