among the offerings at Delos a golden hedypotis, the gift of Echenica, a woman of the country, whom he mentions also, in his eighth book. And Cratinus the younger says, using the diminutive form,—
And Archephon had twelve [Greek: hêdypotia].
38. There was another kind of cup called the Herculeum. Pisander, in the second book of his Herculead, says that the cup in which Hercules sailed across the ocean belonged to the Sun; and that Hercules received it from Oceanus for that purpose. But, perhaps, as the hero was fond of large cups, the poets and historians jesting because of the great size of this one, invented the fable of his having gone to sea in a cup. But Panyasis, in the first book of his Herculead, says that Hercules obtained the cup of the Sun from Nereus, and sailed even to Erythea in it. And we have said before that Hercules was one of the inordinate drinkers. And that the sun was borne on towards his setting in a cup, Stesichorus tells us, where he says—
And then the Sun, great Hyperion's offspring,
Embarked in his golden cup, that he
Might cross the ocean's wide expanse, and come
To the deep foundations of immortal Night;
To his fond mother, and his virgin bride,
And his dear children. And the son of Jove
Came to the grove
Shaded with laurels and with bays.
And Antimachus speaks thus—
And then the most illustrious Erythea
Sent the Sun forth in a convenient cup.
And Æschylus, in his Daughters of the Sun, says—
There in the west is found the golden cup,
Great Vulcan's work, your father's property,
In which he's borne along his rapid course
O'er the dark waters of the boundless sea.
When, his work done, he flies before dark Night,
Borne on her black-horsed chariot.
39. And Mimnermus, in his Nannus, says that the Sun when asleep is borne round to the east, lying on a golden bed which was made for this express purpose by Vulcan; by which enigmatical statement hie indicates the hollow form of the cup; and he speaks thus—
For the Sun labours every day, nor ever
Do he or his fleet steeds know pleasing rest
From that bright hour when the rosy Morn,
Leaving her ocean-bed, mounts up to heaven.
