been the son of
Oeagrus, and Calliope: but Asclepiades made him the son of Apollo, by that
[1026]Goddess. By some his mother was said to have been Menippe; by others
[1027]Polymnia. He is also mentioned as the son of [1028]Thamyras. Plato
differs from them all, and styles both Orpheus, and Musaeus, [1029][Greek:
Selenes kai Mouson engonoi], _the offspring of the Moon, and the Muses_: in
which account is contained some curious mythology. The principal place of
his residence is thought to have been in Pieria near mount Haemus. He is
also said to have resided among the Edonians; and in Sithonia, at the foot
of mount Pangaeus; also upon the sea-coast at Zona. In all these places he
displayed his superiority in science; for he was not only a Poet, and
skilled in harmony, but a great Theologist and Prophet; also very knowing
in medicine, and in the history of the [1030]heavens. According to
Antipater Sidonius, he was the author of Heroic verse. And some go so far
as to ascribe to him the invention of letters; and deduce all knowledge
from [1031]him.

Many of the things, reported to have been done by Orpheus, are attributed
to other persons, such as [1032]Eetion, Musaeus, Melampus, Linus, Cadmus,
and Philammon. Some of these are said to have had the same [1033]parents.
Authors in their accounts of Orpheus, do not agree about the manner of his
[1034]death. The common notion is, that he was torn to pieces by the
Thracian women. But, according to Leonides, in Laertius, he was slain by
lightning: and there is an [1035]epitaph to that purpose. The name of
Orpheus is to be found in the lists of the Argonauts: and he is mentioned
in the two principal poems upon that subject. Yet there were writers who
placed him eleven generations before the war of Troy, consequently ten
generations before that expedition. [1036][Greek: Gegone pro 11 geneon ton
Troikon--bionai de geneas 9; hoi de 11 phesin.] _He was born eleven ages
before the siege of Troy, and he is said to have lived nine ages; and
according to some eleven_. This extent of [1037]life has been given him in
order to bring him down as low as the aera of the Argonauts: though, if we
may believe Pherecydes Syrus, he had no share in that expedition.

To remedy the inconsistences, which arise in the history of Orpheus,
writers have supposed many persons of this name. Suidas takes notice of no
less than four in [1038]Thrace. But all these will not make the history
consistent. Vossius the