Antient history affords numberless instances of this ungenerous and cruel practice. The stranger, who stood most in need of courtesy, was treated as a profest enemy: and the rites of hospitality were evaded under the undue sanction of a sacrifice to the Gods. In the history of Busiris we have an account of this custom prevailing in Egypt. [758]Βουσιριν δε κατα την Αιγυπτον τῳ Διι καλλιερειν σφαγιαζοντα τους παρεπιδημουντας ΞΕΝΟΥΣ. _It is said of Busiris, that he used to offer to Jupiter, as the most acceptable sacrifice, all the strangers, whom chance brought into his country_. There was a tradition concerning Antæus, that he covered the roof of a temple, sacred to Poseidon, with the sculls of foreigners, whom he forced to engage with him. The manner of the engagement was by [759]wrestling. Eryx in Sicily was a proficient in this art, and did much mischief to strangers: till he was in his turn slain. The Deity was the same in these parts, as was alluded to under the name of Taurus, and Minotaurus, in Crete; and the rites were the same. Hence Lycophron speaks of Eryx by the name of Taurus; and calls the place of exercise before the temple, [760]Ταυρου γυμναδας κακοξενου Παλης κονιστρας. This the Scholiast interprets παλαιστραν του Ερυκος του ξενοκτονου, _The Gymnasium of Eryx, who used to murder strangers_. Androgeos the son of Minos came to the [761]like end, who had been superior to every body in this art. Euripides styles the hero Cycnus [762]ξενοδαικταν, on account of his cruelty to strangers. He resided it seems near the sea-coast; used to oblige every person, who travelled that way, or whom ill fortune brought on shore to contend with him. And his ambition was to be able with the skulls of the victims, which he slew, to build a temple to Apollo. [763]Κακοξενος ὁ Κυκνος, και εν παροδῳ της θαλασσης οικων, επεκερτομει τους παριοντας, ναον τῳ Απολλωνι βουλομενος εκ των κεφαλων οικοδομησαι. Mention is made of Lycaon, qui advenas et hospites trucidavit. He is said to have founded the temple of Jupiter [764]Lycæus, and to have first introduced human sacrifices, particularly those of infants. Λυκαων δε επι τον βωμον τον [765]Λυκαιου Διος βρεφος ηνεγκεν ανθρωπου, και εθυσε το βρεφος, και εσπεισεν επι του βωμου το ἁιμα. _Lycaon was the person, who brought an infant, the offspring of a man, to the altar of Zeus Lucaios: and he slew the infant, and he sprinkled the altar with the blood which issued from it_. Antinous in Homer threatens to send Irus to one Echetus, a king in Epirus, who was the dread of that country. The same threat is uttered against [766]Ulysses, if he should presume to bend the bow, which Penelope had laid before the suitors. Under the character of Lycaon, Cycnus, &c. we are to understand Lycaonian and Cycnean priests; which latter were from Canaan: and this method of interpretation is to be observed all through these histories. Echetus, Εχετος, was a title of Apollo, rendered more