IPHITUS, -fihf-tus. u. Son of King Eurytus of CEchalla. After his sister 1618 (q. v.) was refused to Hercules, Eurytus's oxen were stolen by AutolYcus, and Hercilles was sus pected of the theft. Iphitus, being sent in search of them, gained the favour of Hercules, whom he met, by advising his father to give him Iole. Hercules assisted in finding the oxen ; but afterwards, recollecting Eurytus's ingratitude, killed Iphitus by throwing him down from the walls of Tirynthus. 2. A king of Elis, son of Praxonides, re-established the Olympic games, 884 B.C.
IPsus, 16'-stes, a place in Phrygia, scene of the defeat of Antigiinus I., 301 B.C.
IRENiELJS, disciple of Polycarp and bishop of Lyons, suffered martyrdom 202.
IRIS, daughter of Thaumas and the Oceanid Electra, was the messenger of the gods, especially of Juno, and she cut the thread which detained the soul in the body of the dying. She was the same as the rainbow, and therefore was represented, sitting behind Juno, with variegated wings. She is likewise described as supplying the clouds with water to deluge the world.
IRUS, a beggar of Ithfica.
Is.Eus, an Athenian orator, born at Chaim, in Eubcea, was pupil of Lyslas and preceptor of Demosthenes.
ISAURIA, a country of Asia Minor near Mount Taurus. Its warlike people were conquered by the Romans under P. Ser vilius Vatia (Isau rims), 75 B.c., but they continued piratical. Their capital was Isau'ra (-orum).
Isis, i'-sis, a celebrated deity of the Egyp tians, identified by some with Io (q. v.), deified for teaching agriculture in Egypt. She married her brother Osiris (q. v.). Their symbols were the ox and cow. As Isis was identified with the moon and Osiris with the sun, Isis was represented holding a globe in her hand, with a vessel full of ears of corn. The periodical
inundations of the Nile were believed to pro ceed ftom her tears for the loss of Osiris. Her worship was universal in Egypt : her priests were vowed to celibacy, their heads were closely shaved,. they walked barefooted, clothed them selves in linen garments, and abstained from onions, salt, and the flesh of sheep and swine ; and during the night they were employed in constant devotions by her statue. Her festivals, I'sia, having become very licentious, were forbidden by the Roman Senate, 58 B.C., but restored by the emperor Commtidus.
Ismaaus, a rugged mountain of Thrace, covered with vines and olives, near the Hebrus, with a town, Ismarus. Ismar'ius is used for Thracian.
ISMENE, a daughter of tEdipus. ISMENUS, son of Apollo and the Nereid Melia, gave his name to the Leiden, a river of Eceotla, flowing past Thebes into the Asepus, and thence into the Euripus, where Apollo (Ismenins) had a temple.
ISOCRATES, a celebrated rheto rician, son of Theodorus, a rich Athenian musical instrument maker, was taught by Gorgias and Prodicus. He opened a school of rhetoric at Athens, and distinguished him self by the number, character, and fame of his pupils, and by the wealth he amassed by fees and presents. His intimacy with King Philip of Macedonia procured for Athens many years ut peace ; and the battle of Chmronea so de pressed him that he died four days after his country's downfall, 338 B.C.
1SSA, 0. An isle off Dalmatia. 2.
A town of Illyricum. 3. See AMPHISSA (x). ISSUS, ii-511.5, a town of Cilicia, famous for the defeat of Darius III. by Alexander the Great, 333 B.C., and the defeat of Niger by the emperor Severus, A.D. 194.