ERYSICHTHON

that is, the tearer up of the earth.

1. A son of Triopas, who cut down trees in a grove sacred to Demeter, for which he was punished by the goddess with fearful hunger. (Metamorphoses by Ovid viii.) Muller thinks that the traditions concerning Triopas and Erysichthon belong to an agricultural religion, which, at the same time, refers to the infernal regions.

2. A son of Cecrops and Agraulos, died without issue in his father's lifetime, On his return from Delos, from whence he brought to Athens the ancient image of Eileithyia. His tomb was shown at Prasiae.