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Δαναόν. According to Greek story Lynceus was the nephew and son-in-law of Danaus (cf. Hor. Odes, iii. 11. 37 f.), and four generations removed from Perseus. The connexion of the Perseidae with Egypt is a genuine Argive legend, not like the late invention (Diod. i. 29) which makes the γηγενής Erechtheus come from Egypt to Athens. Perrot and Chipiez suggest (L'Art Mycénéen, pp. 77-8) that perhaps soldiers of fortune belonging to northern tribes, who, after having served in Egypt, were expelled and settled in Argolis, were considered to be Egyptians; but this is the merest conjecture. Genuine Egyptians certainly never settled in Greece. No historical conclusions can be drawn from the legends, though for other reasons early intercourse between Egypt and the Aegean, especially Crete, is certain. Cf. J. H. S. xii. 199 seq. (1891) and E. Meyer i. 172, 228, 291, 510, 520-3.

H. (vi. 53. 2) lays stress on the Egyptian ancestry of the Spartan kings, as descendants of Perseus; this all Greeks affirmed. He is supposed by Panoffsky (p. 55) to be here (ii. 91) borrowing from Pherecydes, who told the story of Perseus (cf. fr. 26, F. H. G. i. 75); but there is not the least evidence for this.

ἐκμεμαθηκότα, ‘because he was thoroughly familiar with.’ The participle is put out of place for emphasis.

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