This is Aristaeus. He is someone you should know and not just because he is obviously a manly sort of man who is not afraid of bees and attacking birds. He was a minor God, the son of Apollo and the sea naiad, Cyrene. When he was young, Apollo had Hermes feed him ambrosia so he would be immortal. While growing up, the Myrtle-nymphs taught him many useful and mysterious things. He was known far and wide for bringing these useful and mysterious things to the knowledge of humans and thereby improving their lives.
Artistaeus taught people how to make cheese and other dairy arts. He taught them the skill of beekeeping. He taught them about cultivating fruit trees and husbandry. He also saved the coast of Ceos from a disease-inducing heat. He made the proper sacrifices and to this day, Ceos is known for its cooling wind.
He sounds like a great guy. Well, not according to Virgil. In Virgil's version of Orpheus and Eurydice, Artisaeus is lustfully chasing Eurydice through the forest when Eurydice is bitten by the snake that kills her. It's even possible that the snake could be symbolic for the rape and murder of Eurydice by Artistaeus.
Don't worry; Artistaeus was punished for his vile deed: all his bees died. That had to hurt.
And hence was born Ruhl's Interesting/Nasty Man... Just thought you ought to know.
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