Kitap 9
17.3
Near this are two stone images of Athena, surnamed Girder, said to have been dedicated by Amphitryon.The second reading mentioned in the critical note would give the translation:— “two images, dedicated by Amphitryon, . . . said to be of Athena, etc.” For here, they say, he put on his armour when he was about to give battle to Chalcodon and the Euboeans. It seems that the ancients used the verb “to gird oneself” in the sense of “to put on one's armour,” and so they say that when Homer compares Agamemnon to Ares “in respect of his girdle,” he is really saying that they were alike in the fashion of their armour.
17.4
The tomb shared by Zethus and Amphion is a small mound of earth. The inhabitants of Tithorea in Phocis like to steal earth from it when the sun is passing through the constellation Taurus. For if at that time they take earth from the mound and set it on Antiope's tomb, the land of Tithorea will yield a harvest, but that of Thebes be less fertile. For this reason the Thebans at that time keep watch over the tomb.
17.5
Both these cities hold this belief, and they do so because of the oracles of Bacis, in which are the lines:—But when a man of Tithorea to Amphion and to ZethusPours on the earth peace-offerings of libation and prayer,When Taurus is warmed by the might of the glorious sun,Beware then of no slight disaster threatening the city;For the harvest wastes away in it,When they take of the earth, and bring it to the tomb of Phocus.
17.6
Bacis calls it the tomb of Phocus for the following reason. The wife of Lycus worshipped Dionysus more than any other deity. When she had suffered what the story says she suffered, Dionysus was angry with Antiope. For some reason extravagant punishments always arouse the resentment of the gods. They say that Antiope went mad, and when out of her wits roamed all over Greece; but Phocus, son of Ornytion, son of Sisyphus, chanced to meet her, cured her madness, and then married her.
