Smintheus

Smintheus (ancient Greek Σμινθεύς, also Sminthios) is an epithet mostly of the god Apollo, but also of Dionysus in Greek mythology. Homer calls Apollo Smintheus in the Iliad. The etymology of the non-Greek word is not certain. It is derived from the Cretan or Phrygian word sminthos for "mouse" or "rat" and can be translated as "mice eater". The extent to which Apollon Smintheus is to be equated with Apollo as the plague god is unclear. Mice or rats can point to epidemics that, according to Greek mythology, originated from Apollo. But the epiclesis was also chosen to drive away mice that had devastated the vineyards.

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