EuSTATHIUS’ AR/sTEREON 161 
“Tt is narrated that not only though incense were purifications 
made and performed, but also a certain plant was most useful for 
this. Aristereon certainly, the plant according to Pausanias, was 
suitable for use in purification.” * 
- Frazer, commenting on Pausanias, takes it for granted that 
Eustathius’ reference above quoted refers to the Asterion and to 
its use in the temple of Hera as quoted in Pausanias 2,17. But 
Eustathius does not say that Pausanias 2, 17 was the passage he 
meant, and there is too much difference between Aristereon and 
Asterion to be lightly mistaken for each other ; besides, Paus. 2, 
17 does not mention any plant as used for purifications ; it is for 
decoration and as an offering that his Asterion is used. 
Therefore Eustathius’ supposed identification of Asterion with 
Verbena is not an identification of Asterion at all, but merely a 
remark about another plant, Aristereon,{ already well caeatie to 
be the same as Peristereon ¢ or verbena. 
In favor of the identification of Pausanias’ Asterion with Dios- 
corides’ Asterion, 7. ¢., Aster Atticus, we may say the burden of 
proof rests by right with those who would prove them different ; 
and we add the following considerations : 
4. Pausanias says that his Asterion was offered to the divinity 
of the place, Hera - and that wreaths for her were made from it. 
Similarly Nicander and Vergil speak of offering Aster to the gods, 
and making garlands for them from it. 
aptarepsov yoo, ovtdv kara Lavoaviay, Schnee cic kafapusv, Soreads Weigel, 
Stating that he bases his edition on the excellent Roman text, with slight typographical 
correction 
Phitsscots literally is ‘‘the left-hand plant,’ ‘the sinister plant’’; see p 
555 mentioned also in the Orphica Argonautica, an epic of nearly 1,400 lines (edn. 
Hermann ; 916). Also mentioned by Aelian, about 150 A. D., bk. I., c. 35 of his 
De Se natura, rept Cowv Widrytoc, in 17 books, a miscellany on the peculiari- 
ig wing animals; edited by Gronovius, 1744. Some (J. Bauhin’s Astoria ate aida 
442) e explained ramelasae as ‘‘the strongly: consolidating plant,’’ from ~~ 
dove-c €; and n of this plant, because, says Ea | 4, 60, ** doves seem to 
delight to linger abe it,” Used like Aster for ulcers and in | labor. Unlike that and 
Perhaps all other plants, this was a sprinkling herb in religious ceremonial, and used, 
s Dios oscorides, in purifications, and called sacred herb, iepa-Boravi 
