85 We shall now recount what the myths relate about Orion. The story runs like this: Orion, far surpassing in size and strength of body all the heroes of whom we have record, was a lover of the chase and the builder of mighty works by reason of his great strength and love of glory. In Sicily, for instance, for Zanclus, who was king at that time of the city which was called at that time after him Zanclê,47 p87but now Messenê, he built certain works, and among them he formed the harbour by throwing up a mole and made the Actê,48 as it is called. 2 And since we have mentioned Messenê we think it will not be foreign to our purpose to add to what has been set forth thus far what men have written about the Strait.49 3 The ancient mythographers, that is, say that Sicily was originally a peninsula, and that afterward it became an island, the cause being somewhat as follows. The isthmus at its narrowest point was subjected to the dash of the waves of the sea on its two sides and so a gap (rhegma) was made (anarrhegnusthai), and for this reason the spot was named rhegion, and the city50which was founded many years later received the same appellation as the place. 4 Some men say, however, that mighty earthquakes took place and the neck of what was the mainland was broken through, and in this way the Strait was formed, since the sea now separated the mainland from the island. 5 But the poet Hesiod51 states the very opposite, namely, that when the sea extended itself in between, Orion built out the headland which lies at Peloris52 and also erected there the sanctuary of Poseidon which is held in special honour by the natives; after he had finished these works he removed to Euboea and made his home there; and then, because of his fame, he was numbered among the stars of heaven and thus won for himself important remembrance. 6 And he is also mentioned by the poet Homer53 in his "Necuia"54 when he says:
7 Likewise, to show forth also his great size, whereas he had spoken before of the Aloiadae,55 that at nine years of age they were nine cubits in breadth and an equal number of fathoms in height, he adds:56
These were the tallest men that ever earth,
Giver of grain, did rear, and goodliest
By far, save for Orion, famed abroad.
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But for our part, since we have spoken, in accordance with the plan which we announced at the beginning,57 at sufficient length about the heroes and demigods, at this point we shall close the present Book.