|
They add that, once before, there came to Delos by the same road as
Hyperoche and Laodice, two other virgins from the Hyperboreans,
whose names were Arge and Opis. Hyperoche and Laodice came to bring
to Ilithyia the offering which they had laid upon themselves, in
acknowledgment of their quick labours; but Arge and Opis came at the
same time as the gods of Delos,' and are honoured by the Delians in
a different way. For the Delian women make collections in these
maidens' names, and invoke them in the hymn which Olen, a Lycian,
composed for them; and the rest of the islanders, and even the
Ionians, have been taught by the Delians to do the like. This
Olen, who came from Lycia, made the other old hymns also which are
sung in Delos. The Delians add that the ashes from the thigh-bones
burnt upon the altar are scattered over the tomb of Opis and Arge.
Their tomb lies behind the temple of Diana, facing the east, near
the banqueting-hall of the Ceians. Thus much then, and no more,
concerning the Hyperboreans.
|
|