Aristeas
(
Ἀριστέας). An epic poet of Proconnesus, of whose life we
have only fabulous accounts. His date is quite uncertain. He is represented as a magician,
whose soul could leave and re-enter its body according to its pleasure. He was connected with
the worship of Apollo, which he was said to have introduced at Metapontum. He wrote an epic
poem on the
Arimaspi (q.v.), in three books, from
which the pseudoLonginus quotes. See Herod. iv. 13.