Ossa
(
*)/Ossa), the personification of rumour or report, the Latin Famna.
As it is often impossible to trace a report to its source, it is said to come from Zeus, and hence Ossa is called the messenger of Zeus (
Hom. Od. 1.282,
2.216,
24.412,
Il. 2.93). Sophocles (
Oed. Tyr.158) calls her a daughter of Hope, and the poets, both Greek and Latin, have indulged in various imaginary descriptions of Ossa or Fama (Hes.
Op. et Dies,705, &c.;
Verg. A. 4.174, &c.;
Ov. Met. 12.39, &c.). At Athens she was honoured with an altar. (
Paus. 1.17.1.)
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L.S]