Tempe

(plural), a valley in The aly, between mount Olympus at the north and O a at the south, through which the river Peneus flows into the Ægean. The poets have described it as the most delightful spot on the earth, with continually cool shades and verdant walks, which the warbling of birds rendered more pleasant and romantic, and which the gods often honoured with their presence. Tempe extended about five miles in length, but varied in the dimensions of its breadth so as to be in some places scarce one acre and a half wide. All valleys that are pleasant, either for their situation or the mildne of their climate, are called Tempe by the poets. Strabo , bk. 9 .— Mela , bk. 2 , ch. 3 .— Diodorus , bk. 4 .— Dionysius Periegetes , li. 219 .— Ælian , Varia Hist or i a , bk. 3 , ch. 1 .— Plutarch , de Music a .— Virgil , Georgics , bk. 2 , li. 469 .— Ovid , Metamorphoses , bk. 1 , li. 569 .