Ărĕthūsa, ae, f., = Ἀρέθουσα.
- 1. A celebrated fountain near Syracuse, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 53; acc. to the fable, a nymph in the train of Diana, in Elis, pursued by the river-god Alpheus, fled to Sicily, Ov. M. 5, 573 (cf. Pausan. 5, 7); hence it was believed that it flowed under the sea with the Alpheus, and appeared again in Sicily, Verg. E. 10, 4 sqq.; id. A. 3, 694; Plin. 2, 103, 106, § 225; 31, 5, 30, § 55; cf. Mann. Ital. II. 325, and Alpheus.
- 2. A fountain in Eubœa, Plin. 4, 12, 21, § 64.
- 3. A fountain in Bœotia, Plin. 4, 12, 21, § 64.
- 4. A lake in Armenia Major, Plin. 2, 103, 106, § 226 (Jan, Aritissa).
- 5. A town in Macedonia, Plin. 4, 10, 17, § 38.
- 6. A town in Syria, on the Orontes, now Rustan or Restun, Itin. Anton.
- II. Derivv.
- A. Ărĕthūsaeus, a, um, adj., of or pertaining to the fountain Arethusa (in Sicily), Arethusian, Claud. Rapt. Pros. 2, 60.
- B. Ărĕthūsis, ĭdis, adj., Arethusian, a poet. epithet for Syracuse, near which was the fountain Arethusa, Ov. F. 4, 873 (cf. id. ib. 5, 7: Aganippis Hippocrene).
- C. Ărĕthūsĭus, a, um, adj.
- 1. Arethusian; hence poet. for Syracusan: proles, Sil. 14, 356.
- 2. Subst.: Ărĕthūsĭi, ōrum, m.
- a. The inhabitants of Arethusa, in Macedonia, Plin. 4, 10, 17, § 35.
- b. The inhabitants of Arethusa, in Syria, Plin. 5, 23, 19, § 82.