Orestes is then pursued by the Furies,[1430] and seeks refuge at Delphi, where he is purified by Apollo at the Omphalos[1431]; and he is also seen at Athens, where he afterwards sought the protection of Athena.[1432] Other vases, nearly all of late date, and therefore under the influence of the Euripidean tragedy, represent Orestes accompanied by Pylades, arrived at the temple of the Tauric Artemis, where Iphigeneia presents Pylades with the letter.[1433] Lastly, we have the death of Neoptolemos at the hand of Orestes at Delphi.[1434]
It will now be necessary to deal with sundry isolated subjects, which do not admit of being grouped together round the name of any one great hero or any particular legend. There are, however, a certain number which may perhaps be regarded as having a special connection with Athens, and with these we will begin.[1435] Some of the specially Athenian myths have already been discussed in other connections, notably the story of Theseus (p. 108), the dispute of Athena and Poseidon (p. 24), the sending of Triptolemos (p. 27), and the rape of Kephalos by Eos[1436] and of Oreithyia by Boreas (p. 80). There remain then the following:
(1) The birth of Erichthonios, who is represented as received by Athena from Gaia emerging out of the earth, in the presence of Kekrops and his daughters. It only occurs on the later R.F. vases; the type closely resembles that of the birth of Dionysos (p. 19).
B.M. E 372; Berlin 2537 = Reinach, i. 208 = _Wiener Vorl._ B. 12; Munich 345 = Reinach, i. 66; and Reinach, i. 113 = _Wiener Vorl._ iii. 2. Also a scene from the childhood of Erichthonios: B.M. E 788.
(2) The reception of Dionysos in Attica (by Ikarios or Amphiktion).
B 149, B 153, and E 166 in the British Museum appear to refer to this, but not certainly. See above, p. 56.
(3) The story of Tereus and his daughters, Prokne and Philomela.[1437]
(_a_) Tereus meeting Apate (Deceit); Prokne and Philomela in chariots.
(4) The three sons of Pandion, Lykos, Nisos, and Pallas,[1438] with Orneus the son of Erechtheus.
(5) The death of Prokris by the agency of Kephalos.
B.M. E 477 (with Siren as soul of Prokris or death-deity).
(6) Kreousa defended by Apollo from the attack of Ion.