DIONYSIUS I and II. Father and son, tyrants of Syracuse, 405-343 B.C. The elder was a great patron of literature, and himself wrote verses and tragedies. DIONYSUS, or BACCHUS. Son of Zeus and the Theban Semele. For his birth see SEMELE. Travelled through Egypt, Asia, &c., introducing the vine and punishing all who slighted his power. His female worshippers were known as Bacchantes, who roamed the country with dishevelled locks, carrying the thyrsus and crying _evoe_. DIOPITHES. An Athenian commander frequently employed against Philip of Macedon. DIOSCURI. _See_ CASTOR. DIOTIMA. A priestess at Mantinea, called by Socrates (in Plato's _Symposium_) his instructress in the art of love. DODONA. Ancient oracle of Zeus in Epirus, where responses were given by the rustling leaves of the sacred trees. DOSIADAS. Author of two enigmatic poems whose verses are so arranged as to present the profile of an altar. DRACHMA. Greek coin worth tenpence. DRACO. Ancient Athenian lawgiver, 621 B.C. DROMO. Stock name for a slave. ELECTRA. _See_ AGAMEMNON. ELEUSIS. A town a few miles from Athens, where the Mysteries were celebrated. ELEVEN, THE. The board at Athens in charge of prisons and executions. EMPEDOCLES. A Pythagorean philosopher, 444 B.C. His skill in medicine and natural knowledge caused him to be credited with supernatural powers. He fell or threw himself into the crater of Etna, as some say that by his sudden disappearance he might be believed to be a God; but his brazen sandal was thrown up and betrayed him. EMPUSA. A monstrous spectre believed to devour human beings, and capable of assuming different forms. ENDYMION. A beautiful Carian youth with whom Selene fell in love. ENIPEUS. A river and river-god in Thessaly. EPHIALTES and OTUS. The two giants who piled Ossa upon Olympus and Pelion upon Ossa to scale heaven. EPICTETUS. A celebrated Stoic philosopher of the first century A.D. Expelled from Rome with the other philosophers by Domitian. His _Discourses_ and _Enchiridion_, still much read, are the notes of his teaching collected by his pupil Arrian. EPICUREANS. The school of philosophy instituted by Epicurus (342-270 B.C.). He combined the physics of Democritus with the ethics of Aristippus; adopting the atomic theory of the former, he deduced from it the indifference or non-existence of Gods; and he qualified Aristippus's exaltation of pleasure by preferring mental and permanent to bodily and immediate gratification. Their religious attitude caused them to be held in abhorrence by other schools. EPIMENIDES. Poet and prophet of Crete. The _Rip van Winkle_ of antiquity, but a historical character. EPIMETHEUS, 'after-thought,' was the brother of Prometheus, 'forethought.' ERECHTHEUS II. Ancient king of Athens. Posidon, offended by the slaying of his son Eumolpus, demanded the sacrifice of one of Erechtheus's daughters; one being drawn by lot, the other three would not survive her.