(Ἀσκάλαξος), a son of Misme. When Demeter on her wanderings in search of her daughter Persephone came to Misme in Attica, the goddess was received kindly, and being exhausted and thirsty, Misme gave her something to drink. As the goddess emptied the vessel at one draught, Ascalabus laughed at her, and ordered a whole cask to be brought. Demeter indignant at his conduct, sprinkled the few remaining drops from her vessel upon him and thereby changed him into a lizard. (Antonin. Lib. 24; Ov. Met. 5.447, where a similar story is related, though without the name either of Misme or Ascalabus; Welcker, Das Kanst-Museum zu Bonn, p. 74, &c.) For different legends respecting what happened to Demeter on her arrival in Attica, see BAUBO, IAMBE, and METANEIRA.
[L.S]A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology
Smith, William
A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. William Smith, LLD, ed. 1890