in Fabulous History, wrestled with Hercules, for no less a prize than Dejanira, daughter of King Ceneus; 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 cornucopia, or horn of plenty; which Hercules, having filled with a variety of fruits, consecrated to Jupiter. Strabo interprets this fable as referring to the river Achelous, whose stream was so rapid, that it roared like a bull, and overflowed its banks; but Hercules, by confining it with embankments, broke off one of the horns, and so restored plenty to the country. Tauriformis is an ancient poetical epithet for rivers. See the next article.

river of Acarnania, which rises in Mount Pindus, and dividing Ætolia from Acarnania, falls into the Ionian Sea. It was formerly called Thoas from its impetuosity, and king of rivers (Homer), being the largest in Greece. It has a course of 130 miles. The epithet Acheloios is used for Aqueus (Virgil), the ancients calling all water Achelous, especially in oaths, vows, and sacrifices, according to Ephorus. It is now called Aspro Potamo. There was also a river in Arcadia, and another in Thessaly, of the same name.