|
The next tribe beyond the Machlyans is the tribe of the Auseans.
Both these nations inhabit the borders of Lake Tritonis, being
separated from one another by the river Triton. Both also wear their
hair long, but the Machlyans let it grow at the back of the head,
while the Auseans have it long in front. The Ausean maidens keep
year by year a feast in honour of Minerva, whereat their custom is to
draw up in two bodies, and fight with stones and clubs. They say that
these are rites which have come down to them from their fathers, and
that they honour with them their native goddess, who is the same as the
Minerva (Athene) of the Grecians. If any of the maidens die of
the wounds they receive, the Auseans declare that such are false
maidens. Before the fight is suffered to begin, they have another
ceremony. One of the virgins, the loveliest of the number, is
selected from the rest; a Corinthian helmet and a complete suit of
Greek armour are publicly put upon her; and, thus adorned, she is
made to mount into a chariot, and led around the whole lake in a
procession. What arms they used for the adornment of their damsels
before the Greeks came to live in their country, I cannot say. I
imagine they dressed them in Egyptian armour, for I maintain that
both the shield and the helmet came into Greece from Egypt. The
Auseans declare that Minerva is the daughter of Neptune and the Lake
Tritonis - they say she quarrelled with her father, and applied to
Jupiter, who consented to let her be his child; and so she became his
adopted daughter. These people do not marry or live in families, but
dwell together like the gregarious beasts. When their children are
full-grown, they are brought before the assembly of the men, which is
held every third month, and assigned to those whom they most resemble.
|
|