According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, the people of Kittim – often associated with the Romans or other Mediterranean peoples – held Zepho in high esteem. They were so impressed with him that they practically begged him to stay and lead their armies, showering him with riches and honors.
Now, picture this: Zepho is wandering in the mountains of Koptiziah. The people of Kittim had sought refuge there, fleeing the forces of an African king. While searching for a lost ox (because even heroes have to deal with mundane tasks. ), Zepho stumbles upon a cave. The entrance is sealed by a massive stone, but nothing can stop our hero. He shatters the stone (talk about an entrance!) and ventures inside. And what does he find? A creature unlike anything he’s ever seen. Ginzberg describes it as being "formed like a man above and a he-goat below." Can you imagine that? A human-goat hybrid, a bizarre chimera straight out of mythology. And this creature? It was in the process of devouring Zepho's missing ox!
Without hesitation, Zepho slays the beast. And here's where the story really takes off. Turns out, this monster had been terrorizing the cattle of Kittim for ages. The people were ecstatic, overjoyed at its demise. In gratitude, they dedicated a day of the year to Zepho, calling it by his name. On this day, everyone showered him with gifts and offered sacrifices in his honor. One act of bravery, one unexpected discovery, transformed Zepho from a respected leader into a celebrated hero, a figure of near-divine status. It just goes to show you, sometimes the most ordinary tasks, like looking for a lost ox, can lead to the most extraordinary adventures. And who knows, maybe there's a monster lurking in your own backyard, just waiting for a hero to emerge.