Brewer's: Salmoneus

(3 syl.). A king of Elis, noted for his arrogancè and impiety. He wished to be called a god, and to receive divine honour from his subjects. To imitate Jove's thunder he used to drive his chariot over a brazen bridge, and darted burning torches on every side to imitate lightning, for which impiety the king of gods and men hurled a thunder-bolt at him, and sent him to the infernal regions.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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