VII
[7arg] How the opinions of the Greeks differ as to the number of Niobe's children.A STRANGE and indeed almost absurd variation is to be noted in the Greek poets as to the number of Niobe's children. For Homer says 1 that she had six sons and six daughters; Euripides, 2 seven of each; Sappho, 3 nine; Bacchylides 4 and Pindar, 5 ten; while certain other writers have said that there were only three sons and three daughters.