ABSTRACT
V.1.44-6o)comprisethreefrommythologyandoneofallegory. 'ThebattlewiththeCentaurs'wouldbealayorode,sinceit wouldbesung'ByanAthenianeunuchtotheharp'.Theseus himselffoughttheCentaurswhentheyinvadedthewedding feastofPirithousandHippodamia(cf.OvidMet.xii.21o-g6o) -soPhilostrato'ssuggestionwasapt.Herculestookpartin thefight,andlaterheexterminatedtheCentaurswhen,going tohunttheEurymanthianboar,hewasattackedbythemand slewhisoldtutorChiron.HerculesalsorescuedTheseusfrom Hell,wherehewastiedtoastone.Thepiecewouldbeacomplimenttohiskinsman,Theseusdeclares,aswellastohimself.
