TROPHO'NIUS (Lat., from Gk. T pooLotoc). An ancient god of the earth, worshiped at Lebadea, in Ilteotia, where he had a famous ora cle in a subterranean cavern. He who wished to consult the oracle prepared himself by fast ing, sacrifices, and purifications in a building dedicated to Tyche (Fortune) and Agathodre mon (Good Luck). After the due rites a sheep was sacrificed to Agamedes, brother of Tropho nius, neater from two springs, Forgetfulness and :Memory, was drunk, and the consultor descended by a ladder to a vault, in the side of which was an opening. Through this the feet were in serted, a honey-cake to appease the spirits was grasped in each hand, and then some hidden force swept the visitor into the inner recesses, where he saw visions or heard voices, and filially returned feet foremost through the same open ing by which he had descended. He was then seated on the stone of Remembrance and ques tioned by the priests, who interpreted his visions.
Legend also told how Agamedes and Trophonius were sons of Erginos and famous architects of the early time, who built the temple at Delphi, a treasury for King Byrieus of Tlyria in tkeotia, and other buildings. According to the story, they left a stone loose in the treasury, and thus were enabled to avail themselves of the King's riches at their pleasure. At length Agamedes was caught in a trap, whereupon Trophonius cut off his brother's head and escaped, but at Leba dea was swallowed up by the earth. Another version laid the scene with King Augeas in Elis, and represented Agamedes as the father of Trophonius and Cercyon. Trophonius cut off his father's head to escape detection, and, while Cercyon went to Athens. retired to Bfigiotia, where he built himself an underground chamber. The same story is told by Herodotus of King Rhamp sinitus in Egypt, and is a widely diffused folk tale.