the son of Japetus, supposed to have been the first discoverer of the art of striking fire by flint and steel; which gave rise to the fable of his stealing fire from heaven: A renowned warrior; but whose history is involved in fable. He flourished about 1687 B.C. The poetical account is, that he formed a man of clay of such exquisite workmanship, that Pallas, charmed with his ingenuity, offered him whatever in heaven could contribute to finish his design; and for this purpose took him up with her to the celestial mansions, where he stole some fire from the chariot of the sun, which he used to animate his image. At this theft Jupiter was so enraged, that he ordered Vulcan to chain him down on Mount Caucasus, and sent an eagle or vulture to prey on his liver; which every night was renewed, in proportion to the quantity eaten up in the day-time, until at last he was delivered by Hercules, who killed the vulture.

ancient astronomy, was the name of a constellation of the northern hemisphere, now called Hercules, Encomystis. See Astronomy, p. 406.