_Thymætes_ [238] who was contemporary to _Orpheus_, and wrote a poesy called _Phrygia_, of the actions of _Bacchus_ in very old language and character, said that _Bacchus_ had _Libyan_ women in his army, amongst whom was _Minerva_ a woman born in _Libya_, near the river _Triton,_ and that _Bacchus_ commanded the men and _Minerva_ the women. _Diodorus_ [239] calls her _Myrina_, and saith that she was Queen of the _Amazons_ in _Libya_, and there conquered the _Atlantides_ and _Gorgons_, and then made a league with _Orus_ the son of _Isis_, sent to her by his father _Osiris_ or _Bacchus_ for that purpose, and passing through _Egypt_ subdued the _Arabians_, and _Syria_ and _Cilicia_, and came through _Phrygia_, _viz._ in the army of _Bacchus_ to the _Mediterranean_; but palling over into _Europe_, was slain with many of her women by the _Thracians_ and _Scythians_, under the conduct of _Sipylus_ a _Scythian_, and _Mopsus_ a _Thracian_ whom _Lycurgus_ King of _Thrace_ had banished. This was that _Lycurgus_ who opposed the passage of _Bacchus_ over the _Hellespont_, and was soon after conquered by him, and slain: but afterwards _Bacchus_ met with a repulse from the _Greeks_, under the conduct of _Perseus_, who slew many of his women, as _Pausanias_ [240] relates, and was assisted by the _Scythians_ and _Thracians_ under the conduct of _Sipylus_ and _Mopsus_; which repulses, together with a revolt of his brother _Danaus_ in _Egypt_; put a stop to his victories: and in returning home he left part of his men in _Colchis_ and at _Mount Caucasus_, under _Æetes_ and _Prometheus_; and his women upon the river _Thermodon_ near _Colchis_, under their new Queens _Marthesia_ and _Lampeto_: for _Diodorus_ [241] speaking of the _Amazons_ who were seated at _Thermodon_, saith, that they dwelt originally in _Libya_, and there Reigned over the _Atlantides_, and invading their neighbours conquered as far as _Europe_: and _Ammianus_, [242] that the ancient _Amazons_ breaking through many nations, attack'd the _Athenians_, and there receiving a great slaughter retired to _Thermodon_: and _Justin_, [243] that these _Amazons_ had at first, he means at their first coming to _Thermodon_, two Queens who called themselves daughters of _Mars_; and that they conquered part of _Europe_, and some cities of _Asia_, _viz._ in the Reign of _Minerva_, and then sent back part of their army with a great booty, under their said new Queens; and that _Marthesia_ being afterwards slain, was succeeded by her daughter _Orithya_, and she by _Penthesilea_; and that _Theseus_ captivated and married _Antiope_ the sister of _Orithya_. _Hercules_ made war upon the _Amazons_, and in the Reign of _Orithya_ and _Penthesilea_ they came to the _Trojan_ war: whence the first wars of the _Amazons_ in _Europe_ and _Asia_, and their settling at _Thermodon_, were but one Generation before those actions of _Hercules_ and _Theseus_, and but two before the _Trojan_ war, and so fell in with the