MYIAGRUS DEUS, in the heathen mythology, a name given sometimes to Jupiter, and sometimes to Hercules, on occasion of their being sacrificed to for the driving away the vast numbers of flies which infested the sacrifices on certain public occasions. The word is usually spelt Myiagrus; but this must be an error, as this word does not express the fly-destroyer, but the mouse-destroyer; and we have it sufficiently testified by the ancients, that flies were the only creatures against whom this deity was invoked. Pliny calls this deity also Myiodes; and tells us that the flies which used to pester the Olympic rites went away in whole clouds on the sacrificing a bull to this god. We find in Athenæus also, that this sacrificing to the god of flies at the Olympic games was a constant custom. Some distinguish these two deities, and tell us that the latter or Myiodes, used to visit the nations in vengeance, with a vast multitude of flies: and that, on paying him the due honours of a sacrifice, they all went away again; and this seems to agree with what Pliny tells us in some places.

At the time of the Olympic games, Jupiter was worshipped under the name of Apomynos or Myiagrus Deus, to supplicate the destruction of those troublesome creatures. This happened only once in many years, when the sacrifices were performed there; but the Elians worshipped him continually under this name, to deprecate the vengeance of heaven, which usually sent, as they expressed it, an army of flies and other insects, toward the latter end of the summer, that infested the whole country with sickness and pestilence.

MYIODÈS DEUS, in the heathen mythology, a name sometimes given to Hercules, but more frequently to Jupiter, to whom a bull was sacrificed, in order to make him propitious in driving away the flies that infested the Olympic games.

MYLÆ, in Ancient Geography, a Greek city situated on an isthmus of a cognominal peninsula, on the north-east side of the island. Mylacæ, or Mylænæ, the people. A town built by those of Zancle (Strabo). Mylacæus, the epithet, as Mylacæus Campus, mentioned by Polybius. Now called Milazzo, a port town of Sicily, in the Val di Demona. F. Long. 15. 5. N. Lat. 38° 36'.

MYLÀSA, or MYLASSA, in Ancient Geography, a noble city of Caria in Asia Minor, situated about three leagues from the Sinus Ceramicus. It was the capital of Hecatomnus king of Caria, and father of Mausolus. Pliny speaks of Menander king of Caria, and says that the Rhodians preserved with the greatest care his portrait painted by Apelles: but it was not in honour of this Menander that a Corinthian pillar was erected at Mylasa, which still exists, and on which is to be seen the following inscription: "The people erected this pillar in honour of Menander, the son of Ulaiades, and grandson of Euthydemus, the benefactor of his country, and whose ancestors rendered it great services also." Euthydemus, the grandfather of this Menander, lived in the time of Julius Caesar and Augustus. Caria was taken by Mithridates, and afterwards by Labienus, whose father had been one of Caesar's generals. Hybris, whose eloquence and valour deservedly entitled him to a distinguished rank among his countrymen, in vain encouraged them to make a most obstinate defence while it was besieged by the latter. He himself was obliged to yield to necessity, and to take refuge at Rhodes: but scarcely had the conqueror quitted the city, when Hybris returned, and restored liberty to his country.—Not content with rendering it this service, he also destroyed the power of a dangerous citizen, whose riches and talents rendered him a necessary evil. Euthydemus, often banished, and as often recalled, always too powerful in a state the independence of which he threatened, saw his ambition checked by the zeal and activity of Hybris. The Romans left to Mylasa that liberty of which it rendered itself so worthy, by the great efforts it made to preserve it. Pliny calls it Mylasa Libera. Strabo informs us, that it was one of the most magnificent cities of antiquity, and one of those, the temples, porticoes, and other public monuments of which were highly admired. A quarry of white marble in the neighbourhood furnished it with abundance of materials for erecting these edifices.—The Mylasians had two temples dedicated to Jupiter, one situated in the city, which was named Oxygo, and another built on a mountain, at the distance of 60 leagues. The latter was dedicated to Jupiter Stratius, Jupiter the Warrior. His state, which was very ancient, inspired great veneration; people came from all quarters to implore his protection; and for the greater accommodation of his votaries a paved way was constructed which reached from Mylasa to this venerable fabric. This city is now called Melasso, and, according to Dr Chandler, is still a large place.—The houses are numerous, but chiefly of plaster, and mean, with trees interspersed. The air is accounted bad; and scorpions abound as anciently, entering often at the doors and windows, and lurking in the rooms. The plain is surrounded by lofty mountains, and cultivated. Round the towns are ranges of broken columns, the remnants of porticoes, now with rubbish bounding the vineyards. A large portion of the plain is covered with scattered fragments, and with piers of ordinary aqueducts; besides inscriptions, mostly ruined and illegible. Some altars dedicated to Hecatomnus have been discovered. Of all the ancient temples which formerly ornamented this city, one only escaped the power of time, the blind zeal of the early Christians, and the barbarous superstition of the Mahometans. This monument was dedicated to Augustus and the divinity of Rome. When Pococke visited Melasso, it was perfect and entire; but at present no traces of it remain, except a few fragments, which have been employed to construct a Turkish mosque.