34 THESEUS.

from the first that which is now called Academia was then named Echedemia, and the village Marathon had its name from the other, who, to fulfil some oracle, volun- tarily offered himself to be made a sacrifice before battle. As soon as they were arrived at Aphidna?, they overcame their enemies in a set battle, and then assaulted and took the town. And here, they say, Alycus, the son of Sciron, was slain, of the party of the Dioscuri (Castor and Pol- lux), from whom a place in Megara, where he was buried, is called Alycus to this day. And Hereas writes that it was Theseus himself that killed him, in witness of which he cites these verses concerning Alycus, And Alycus, upon Aphidna's plain By Theseus in the cause of Helen slain. Though it is not at all probable that Theseus himself was there when both the city and his mother were taken. Aphidnae being won by Castor and Pollux, and the city of Athens being in consternation, Menestheus persuaded the people to opeu their gates, and receive them with all manner of friendship, for they were, he told them, at enmity with none but Theseus, who had first injured them, and were benefactors and saviors to all mankind beside. And their behavior gave credit to those promises; for, having made themselves absolute masters of the place, they demanded no more than to be initiated, since they were as nearly related to the city as Hercules was, who had received the same honor. This tbeir desire they easily obtained, and were adopted by Aphidnus, as Her- cules had been by Pylius. They were honored also like gods, and were called by a new name, Anaces, either from the cessation * of the war, or from the care they took that none should suffer any injury, though there was so great an army within the walls ; for the phrase anakus ekhein is

• Anokhe.