AT′ROPOS, one of the three sisters called _The Fates_, who held the
shears ready to cut the thread of life.
A′TYS, son of Crœsus, was born dumb, but when in a fight he saw a
soldier about to kill the king, he gained speech, and cried out, “Save
the king!” and the string that held his tongue was broken.
A′TYS was a youth beloved by Aurora, and was slain by her father, but,
according to Ovid, was afterwards turned into a pine-tree.
AUG′ÆAS, a king of Elis, the owner of the stable which Hercules
cleansed after three thousand oxen had been kept in it for thirty
years. It was cleansed by turning the river Alpheus through it. Augæas
promised to give Hercules a tenth part of his cattle for his trouble,
but, for neglecting to keep his promise, Hercules shot him.
AU′GURY. This was a means adopted by the Romans of forming a judgment
of futurity by the flight of birds, and the officiating priest was
called an augur.
AURO′RA, the goddess of the morning,
“Whose rosy fingers ope the gates of day.”
She was daughter of Sol, the sun, and was the mother of the stars
and winds. She is represented as riding in a splendid golden chariot
drawn by white horses. The goddess loved Tithonus, and begged the gods
to grant him immortality, but forgot to ask at the same time that he
should not get old and decrepit. See Tithonus.
“... So soon as the all-cheering sun
Should, in the farthest east, begin to draw
The shady curtains of Aurora’s bed.”