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Divination for buried treasure is a familiar process burlesqued by Scott (Antiquary, ch. 21).

Μέλισσα: killed, probably accidentally, by her husband (iii. 50 f.). Her real name was Lysicle, Melissa being a name given her by Periander (Diog. Laert. i. 94), or a title as priestess of some goddess (Pind. Pyth. iv. 60, Schol.; Frazer, Paus. iv. 223, v. 621; J. H. S. xv. 11). For the geography cf. viii. 47. 1; Thuc. i. 46; Strabo 324; Paus. i. 17. 5. ‘The Acheron flows through a profound and gloomy gorge, one of the darkest and deepest of the glens of Greece’ (Leake, N. G. i. 241). Hence it was a spot likely to be accounted a descent into hell, where the ghost might be summoned back as was Samuel by the witch of Endor (1 Sam. 28). Other oracles of the dead were at Phigalea (Paus. iii. 17. 9; cf. Frazer), Heraclea Pontica (Plut. Cim. 6), and Taenarum (Plut. Mor. 560 E). On the custom of burning or burying with the dead clothes, &c., cf. iv. 71 n.

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