Text
Antoninus Liberalis 8:
By the foothills of Parnassos, towards the south, there is a mountain called Kriphis, lying near Krisa. Inside it there is to this day a huge cave in which lived a great and prodigious beast. Some called it Lamia, though others called it Sybaris. Every day this monster would issue forth, snatching flocks in the fields, as well as people. The inhabitants of Delphoi had for some time been considering emigration and they asked the oracle to what land they should emigrate. The god told them that they would be delivered from this menace if they remained and were willing to abandon by the cave a youth chosen from the citizens. They did as the god told them. By lot Alkyoneus, son of Diomos and Meganira, was chosen. Only son of his father, he possessed beauty in both appearance and the nature of his character. The priests crowned Alkyoneus and led him towards the cave of Sybaris. By divine inspiration, Eurybaros son of Euphemos, a descendant of the River Axios, a young man but brave, happened to be coming from Kouretis and encountered the youth as he was being led forward. Stricken by love for him, and asking why they were so proceeding, he thought it dreadful not to defend him to the utmost and just allow the youth to perish wretchedly. Tearing off the chaplets from Alkyoneus, he placed them on his own head and gave orders that he himself should be led forward instead of the youth. As soon as the priests had led him up to the cavern, he ran in and hauled out Sybaris from her lair, carrying her into the open and hurling her from the crags. Tumbling down, she struck her head against the footings of Krisa. Because of this wound she faded from sight. From that rock sprang a fountain and the locals call it Sybaris. And the Lokrians founded a city in Italia, called Sybaris after her.
Source (list of abbreviations)
Antoninus Liberalis 8
Amar Annus
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