(Strabo); ALPEUS, (Ptolemy); a noted and large river of the Peloponnesus; which, rising in, and after several windings running through Arcadia, and by Olympia in Elis, with a south-west course, falls into the Sinus Cheloniotes, about ten miles to the south of Olympia. It has a common spring with the Eurotas, at the foot of Mount Parthenius, near the village Alea, (Strabo.) The Alpheus and Eurotas mix and run together for 20 stadia; after which, they enter a subterraneous passage at Mantinea; then again emerge, the Eurotas in Laconia, and the Alpheus in the territory of Megalopolis, (Pausanias.) The poets' fable (strange things of this river, particularly, that out of love to the nymph Arethusa, it runs under the sea to Sicily, and bursts out at the fountain of that name in Syracuse, (Virgil.) Its waters were reckoned good in the leprosy, which is called Αλφειος by the Greeks; and hence the name Alpheus. On the banks of this river the Olympic games were celebrated, to which Pindar alludes.

"Alpheus, thy immortal flood, On his lord's triumphant brows The Olympic wreath bestow'd."

WEST'S PINDAR.

Pausanias adds, that the Eleans had a law, which condemned any woman to death that should either appear at the Olympic games, or even cross this river during that solemnity: and the Eleans add, that the only woman who transgressed it, had disguised herself in the habit of a master or keeper of the games, and conducted her son thither; but when she saw him come off victorious, her joy made her forget her disguise, so that her sex was discovered. She was pardoned; but from that time a law was made that the keepers should appear there naked.