Alpheus

Alphēus, a, um: (adj.), of the Alpheus, Alphean, 10.179.

Alphēus, i., m.: the Alpheus, a river in Elis, supposed to disappear under the sea, and rise again as the fountain of Arethusa, in the island of Ortygia, near Syracuse, 3.694, et al.

Alphēus (trisyl.) or Alphēŏs, i, m., = Ἀλφειός,

• the chief river in the Peloponnesus, now Rufia. It rises in the southern part of Arcadia, not far from Asea, unites with the Eurotas, and then losing itself under ground, makes its appearance again in Megalopolis. It afterwards flows, in a north-west direction, through Arcadia to Elis, and then turns west from Olympia, and falls into the Ionian Sea. At its mouth there was a grove consecrated to Diana or Alphiusa (Mann. Greece, 467 sq. 503). Its disappearance under ground gives occasion for the fable that it flows under the sea, and appearing again in Sicily, mingles with the waters of Arethusa.—Hence personified as the lover of the nymph Arethusa, Ov. M. 2, 250; 5, 599; id. Am. 3, 6, 29 (cf. Verg. E. 10, 1 sqq.).—Hence. Alphēus, a, um. adj., = Ἀλφεῖος, of or pertaining to the Alpheus: Alpheae Pisae, founded by a colony from Pisa, in Elis, on the river Alpheus, Verg. A. 10, 179: Alpheae ripae, Claud. B. Get. 575.

Alphēus u. poet. Alphēos, ī, m. (Ἀλφειός), der Hauptstrom des Peloponnes, der nach den Alten als Bach bei Phylake entsprang, im Gebiet von Tegea verschwand, bei Äsäa wieder zum Vorschein kam, hier mit dem Eurotas sich vereinigte, nach einstündigem Lauf sich mit diesem in einer Erdkluft verlor und bei Pejä in Arkadien wieder herauskam. Durch viele kleine Flüsse u. Bäche verstärkt u. für Boote schiffbar, trat er oberhalb Olympias in Elis ein, durchfloß den Hain der Diana Alphionia und ergoß sich ins Ionische Meer. Sein öfteres Erscheinen u. Verschwinden gab wohl zu dem Mythus Veranlassung, er habe sich als Flußgott (Sohn des Oceanus u. der Thetis) aus Liebe zur Arethusa (s.d.) unter dem Meeresgrunde bis zur Quelle Arethusa auf Ortygia im Hafen von Syrakus fortgewühlt u. dort mit dieser sich vereinigen lassen, Plin. 2, 225; 31, 55. Ov. met. 5, 494 sqq. Verg. Aen. 3, 694: Form Alphēos, Ov. met. 2, 250 M. (Riese Alpheus): Akk. Alphēon, Ov. am. 3, 6, 29. Sil. 14, 54: Vok. Alphēe, Stat. Theb. 4, 239. – Dav. abgel.: a) Alphēias, adis, f. (*Ἀλφειϊάς od. *Ἀλφηϊάς), die Alphëiade, Beiname der Nymphe und Quelle Arethusa (s. vorher), Ov. met. 5, 487. – b) Alphēus, a, um, zum Alpheus gehörig, alphëisch, Pisae (in Italien), von Pisaten aus Elis (wo der Alpheus strömt) gegründet, Verg. Aen. 10, 178: flumina, Verg. georg. 3, 180: ripae, Claud. de bell. Get. 575.

Alphēŭs (13) ou -ēŏs, ī, m. (Ἀλφειός), lʼAlphée [fleuve de lʼÉlide] : Ov. M. 2, 250 ; Am. 3, 6, 29 || -ēus, a, um, de lʼAlphée : Virg. En. 10, 179 ; Claud. Get. 575.

Alphēus

(Ἀλφειός). The chief river of the Peloponnesus, rising in the southeastern part of Arcadia, flowing through Arcadia and Elis, not far from Olympia, and falling into the Ionian Sea. In some parts of its course the river flows underground; and this subterranean descent gave rise to the story about the river-god Alpheus and the nymph Arethusa. The latter, pursued by Alpheus, was changed by Artemis into the fountain of Arethusa in the island of Ortygia at Syracuse; but the god continued to pursue her under the sea, and attempted to mingle his stream with the fountain in Ortygia.

Alpheus Alpheus, river

• Paus. 3.8.4, Paus. 5.7.1-3, Paus. 6.21.4, 5
• sources and upper course: Paus. 8.44.3, 4, Paus. 8.54.1
• often vanishes under ground: Paus. 8.54.2
• tributaries: Paus. 5.7.1, Paus. 8.34.5, Paus. 8.35.1, 3
• dearest of rivers to Zeus: Paus. 5.13.11
• ashes of victims kneaded with its water: Paus. 5.13.11
• wild olive first grew on its banks: Paus. 5.14.3
• women forbidden to cross it on certain days: Paus. 5.6.7
• loves Arethusa: Paus. 5.7.2ff.
• flows through Adriatic to Ortygia: Paus. 8.54.3
• loves Artemis: Paus. 6.22.9ff.
• images: Paus. 5.10.7, Paus. 5.24.7
• altars: Paus. 5.14.6
• Leucippus keeps hair long for: Paus. 8.20.3
• Apollo at the: Apollod. 1.9.11
• diverted by Herakles into the cattleyard of Augeas: Apollod. 2.5.4, Apollod. 2.5.5

Alpheus(2), a Spartan

• distinguished at Thermopylae: Hdt. 7.227