596), a ship was fitted out, in which an Athenian named Nicias was sent to Crete, enjoined to bring back the purifying philosopher, with all that respectful state which his celebrity demanded.

Epimenides complied with the prayer of the Athenians he arrived at Athens, and completed the necessary expiation in a manner somewhat simple for so notable an exorcist.

He ordered several sheep, some black and some white, to be turned loose in the Areopagus, directed them to be followed, and wherever they lay down, a sacrifice was ordained in honour of some one of the gods.

"Hence," says the historian of the philosophers, "you may still see throughout Athens anonymous altars (i.e.altars uninscribed to a particular god), the memorials of that propitiation." The order was obeyed--the sacrifice performed--and the phantoms were seen no more.

Although an impostor, Epimenides was a man of sagacity and genius.