(), a surname of Artemis, derived from the town of
Aricia in Latium, where she was worshipped. A tradition of that place related that Hippolytus,
after being restored to life by Asclepius, came to Italy, ruled over Aricia, and dedicated a
grove to Artemis. (Paus. 2.27.4.) This goddess was believed to
be the Taurian Artemis, and her statue at Aricia was considered to be the same as the one
which Orestes had brought with him from Tauris. (Serv. ad Aen.
2.116; Strab. v. p.239; Hyg.
Fab. 261.) According to Strabo, the priest of the Arician Artemis was always a
run-away slave, who obtained his office in the following manner:--The sacred grove of Artemis
contained one tree from which it was not allowed to break off a branch; but if a slave
succeeded in effecting it, the priest was obliged to fight with him, and if he was conquered
and killed, the victorious slave became his successor, and might in his turn be killed by
another slave, who then succeeded him. Suetonius (Calig. 35) calls the
priest rex nemorensis. Ovid (Ov. Fast.
3.260, &c.), Suetonius, and Pausanias, speak of contests of slaves in the grove at
Aricia, which seem to refer to the frequent fights between the priest and a slave who tried to
obtain his office.