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The curved scimitar (ἀκινάκης) needed a ‘cap’ (μύκης) to guard its point; the same accident happened to Perseus with less fatal results; hence the name Μυκῆναι (Paus. ii. 16. 3).

The coincidence (as to the position of the wound) is also suspicious; cf. the legend that Salome, who danced off the head of St. John, was herself beheaded by floating ice. The B. I. (i. 11) says: ‘Afterwards Cambyses, killing himself, died,’ which seems to imply suicide.

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