ntas es palen] [757][Greek: diaphtheirai
plen Theseos.] _For it is said of Cercyon, that he slew every person who
ventured to cope with him in wrestling, except Theseus_. In all these
instances the place is put for the persons who resided in it: of which
mistake I have been obliged often to take notice.

Antient history affords numberless instances of this ungenerous and cruel
practice. The stranger, who stood most in need of courtesy, was treated as
a profest enemy: and the rites of hospitality were evaded under the undue
sanction of a sacrifice to the Gods. In the history of Busiris we have an
account of this custom prevailing in Egypt. [758][Greek: Bousirin de kata
ten Aigupton toi Dii kallierein sphagiazonta tous parepidemountas XENOUS.]
_It is said of Busiris, that he used to offer to Jupiter, as the most
acceptable sacrifice, all the strangers, whom chance brought into his
country_. There was a tradition concerning Antaeus, that he covered the roof
of a temple, sacred to Poseidon, with the sculls of foreigners, whom he
forced to engage with him. The manner of the engagement was by
[759]wrestling. Eryx in Sicily was a proficient in this art, and did much
mischief to strangers: till he was in his turn slain. The Deity was the
same in these parts, as was alluded to under the name of Taurus, and
Minotaurus, in Crete; and the rites were the same. Hence Lycophron speaks
of Eryx by the name of Taurus; and calls the place of exercise before the
temple,

[760][Greek: Taurou gumnadas kakoxenou]
[Greek: Pales konistras.]

This the Scholiast interprets [Greek: palaistran tou Erukos tou
xenoktonou], _The Gymnasium of Eryx, who used to murder strangers_.
Androgeos the son of Minos came to the [761]like end, who had been superior
to every body in this art. Euripides styles the hero Cycnus [762][Greek:
xenodaiktan], on account of his cruelty to strangers. He resided it seems
near the sea-coast; used to oblige every person, who travelled that way, or
whom ill fortune brought on shore to contend with him. And his ambition was
to be able with the skulls of the victims, which he slew, to build a temple
to Apollo. [763][Greek: Kakoxenos ho Kuknos, kai en parodoi tes thalasses
oikon, epekertomei tous pariontas, naon toi Apolloni boulomenos ek ton
kephalon oikodomesai.] Mention is made of Lycaon, qui advenas et hospites
trucidavit. He is said to have founded the temple of Jupiter [764]Lycaeus,
and to have first introdu