in fabulous history, wrestled with Hercules, for no less a prize than Deianira, daughter of King Oeneus: but as Achelous had the power of assuming all shapes, the contest was long dubious: at last as he took that of a bull, Hercules tore off one of his horns; so that he was forced to submit, and to redeem it by giving the conqueror the horn of Amalthea, the same with the cornucopiae or horn of plenty; which Hercules having filled with a variety of fruits, consecrated to Jupiter. Some explain this fable, by saying, That Achelous is a winding river of Greece, whose stream was so rapid, that it roared like a bull, and overflowed its banks; but Hercules, by bringing it into two channels, broke off one of the horns, and so restored plenty to the country. See the next article.

a river of Acarnania; which rises in Mount Pindus, and, dividing Ætolia from Acarnania, falls from north to south into the Sinus Corinthiacus. It was formerly called Thoas from its impetuosity, and king of rivers (Homer). The epithet Achelous is used for Aqueus, (Virgil); the ancients calling all water Achelous, especially in oaths, vows, and sacrifices, according to Ephorus: Now called Afro Potamo. Rivers are by the ancient poets called Tauriformes, either either from the bellowing of their waters, or from their ploughing the earth in their course: Hercules, restraining by dykes and mounds the inundations of the Achelous, is said to have broken off one of his horns, and to have brought back plenty to the country. See the preceding article.