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authorRoger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>2025-10-15 01:48:56 -0700
committerRoger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>2025-10-15 01:48:56 -0700
commit64d83685330c8572dee99ccb6ee1308967d8eee5 (patch)
tree9f5f74869edd572332170be0b1722c750534ea67 /22381-h
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome, by
+E.M. Berens
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
+
+Author: E.M. Berens
+
+Release Date: August 23, 2007 [EBook #22381]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MYTHS AND LEGENDS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Alicia Williams, Keith Edkins and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<h3><i>A HAND-BOOK OF MYTHOLOGY.</i></h3>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<p class="cenhead">THE</p>
+
+<h1><span class="sc">Myths and Legends</span></h1>
+
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="scac">OF</span></p>
+
+<h2>ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME.</h2>
+
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="scac">BY</span></p>
+
+<h2>E. M. BERENS.</h2>
+
+<p class="cenhead"><i>ILLUSTRATED FROM ANTIQUE SCULPTURES.</i></p>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/0335-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0335-1.png"
+ alt="Publishers Vignette." title="Publishers Vignette." /></a>
+ </div>
+<h3>NEW YORK:</h3>
+
+<h2><span class="sc">Maynard, Merrill, &amp; Co</span>.,</h2>
+
+<h3><span class="sc">43, 45 and 47 East Tenth Street</span>.</h3>
+
+<hr class="full" >
+
+<p><!-- Page i --><span class="pagenum"><a name="pagei"></a>[i]</span></p>
+
+<h3>PREFACE.</h3>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p>The want of an interesting work on Greek and Roman mythology, suitable
+ for the requirements of both boys and girls, has long been recognized by
+ the principals of our advanced schools. The study of the classics
+ themselves, even where the attainments of the pupil have rendered this
+ feasible, has not been found altogether successful in giving to the
+ student a clear and succinct idea of the religious beliefs of the
+ ancients, and it has been suggested that a work which would so deal with
+ the subject as to render it at once interesting and instructive would be
+ hailed as a valuable introduction to the study of classic authors, and
+ would be found to assist materially the labours of both master and
+ pupil.</p>
+
+ <p>In endeavouring to supply this want I have sought to place before the
+ reader a lifelike picture of the deities of classical times as they were
+ conceived and worshipped by the ancients themselves, and thereby to
+ awaken in the minds of young students a desire to become more intimately
+ acquainted with the noble productions of classical antiquity.</p>
+
+ <p>It has been my aim to render the Legends, which form the second
+ portion of the work, a picture, as it were, of old Greek life; its
+ customs, its superstitions, and its princely hospitalities, for which
+ reason they are given at somewhat greater length than is usual in works
+ of the kind.</p>
+
+ <p>In a chapter devoted to the purpose some interesting particulars have
+ been collected respecting the public worship of the ancient Greeks and
+ Romans (more especially of the former), to which is subjoined an account
+ of their principal festivals.</p>
+
+ <p>I may add that no pains have been spared in order that, without
+ passing over details the omission of which would have <!-- Page ii
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="pageii"></a>[ii]</span>marred the
+ completeness of the work, not a single passage should be found which
+ could possibly offend the most scrupulous delicacy; and also that I have
+ purposely treated the subject with that reverence which I consider due to
+ every religious system, however erroneous.</p>
+
+ <p>It is hardly necessary to dwell upon the importance of the study of
+ Mythology: our poems, our novels, and even our daily journals teem with
+ classical allusions; nor can a visit to our art galleries and museums be
+ fully enjoyed without something more than a mere superficial knowledge of
+ a subject which has in all ages inspired painters, sculptors, and poets.
+ It therefore only remains for me to express a hope that my little work
+ may prove useful, not only to teachers and scholars, but also to a large
+ class of general readers, who, in whiling away a leisure hour, may derive
+ some pleasure and profit from its perusal.</p>
+
+ <p class="author">E. M. BERENS.
+
+<hr class="full" >
+
+<p><!-- Page iii --><span class="pagenum"><a name="pageiii"></a>[iii]</span></p>
+
+ <p>CONTENTS.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>PART I.&mdash;MYTHS.</p>
+ <p>Introduction, <a href="#page7">7</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>FIRST DYNASTY.</p>
+ <p><span class="sc">Origin of the World</span>&mdash;</p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Uranus and Gæa</span> (C&oelig;lus and Terra), <a href="#page11">11</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>SECOND DYNASTY.</p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Cronus</span> (Saturn), <a href="#page14">14</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Rhea</span> (Ops), <a href="#page18">18</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Division of the World</span>, <a href="#page19">19</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Theories as to the Origin of Man</span>, <a href="#page21">21</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>THIRD DYNASTY.</p>
+ <p>OLYMPIAN DIVINITIES&mdash;</p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Zeus</span> (Jupiter), <a href="#page26">26</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Hera</span> (Juno), <a href="#page38">38</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Pallas-Athene</span> (Minerva), <a href="#page43">43</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Themis</span>, <a href="#page48">48</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Hestia</span> (Vesta), <a href="#page48">48</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Demeter</span> (Ceres), <a href="#page50">50</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Aphrodite</span> (Venus), <a href="#page58">58</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Helios</span> (Sol), <a href="#page61">61</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Eos</span> (Aurora), <a href="#page67">67</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Ph&oelig;bus-Apollo</span>, <a href="#page68">68</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Hecate</span>, <a href="#page85">85</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Selene</span> (Luna), <a href="#page86">86</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Artemis</span> (Diana), <a href="#page87">87</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Hephæstus</span> (Vulcan), <a href="#page97">97</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Poseidon</span> (Neptune), <a href="#page101">101</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+<!-- Page iv --><span class="pagenum"><a name="pageiv"></a>[iv]</span>
+ <p>SEA DIVINITIES&mdash;</p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Oceanus</span>, <a href="#page107">107</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Nereus</span>, <a href="#page108">108</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Proteus</span>, <a href="#page108">108</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Triton and the Tritons</span>, <a href="#page109">109</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Glaucus</span>, <a href="#page109">109</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Thetis</span>, <a href="#page110">110</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Thaumas, Phorcys, and Ceto</span>, <a href="#page111">111</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Leucothea</span>, <a href="#page111">111</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Sirens</span>, <a href="#page112">112</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Ares</span> (Mars), <a href="#page112">112</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Nike</span> (Victoria), <a href="#page117">117</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Hermes</span> (Mercury), <a href="#page117">117</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Dionysus</span> (Bacchus or Liber), <a href="#page124">124</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Aïdes</span> (Pluto), <a href="#page130">130</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Plutus</span>, <a href="#page137">137</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>MINOR DIVINITIES&mdash;</p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Harpies</span>, <a href="#page137">137</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Erinyes, Eumenides</span> (Furiæ, Diræ), <a href="#page138">138</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Moiræ or Fates</span> (Parcæ), <a href="#page139">139</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Nemesis</span>, <a href="#page141">141</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p><span class="sc">Night and Her Children</span>&mdash;</p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Nyx</span> (Nox), <a href="#page142">142</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Thanatos</span> (Mors), <span class="sc">Hypnus</span> (Somnus), <a href="#page142">142</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Morpheus</span>, <a href="#page143">143</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Gorgons</span>, <a href="#page144">144</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Grææ</span>, <a href="#page145">145</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Sphinx</span>, <a href="#page146">146</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Tyche</span> (Fortuna) and <span class="sc">Ananke</span> (Necessitas), <a href="#page147">147</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Ker</span>, <a href="#page149">149</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Ate</span>, <a href="#page149">149</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Momus</span>, <a href="#page149">149</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Eros</span> (Cupid, Amor) and <span class="sc">Psyche</span>, <a href="#page150">150</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Hymen</span>, <a href="#page154">154</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Iris</span>, <a href="#page155">155</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Hebe</span> (Juventas), <a href="#page156">156</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Ganymedes</span>, <a href="#page157">157</a></p>
+<!-- Page v --><span class="pagenum"><a name="pagev"></a>[v]</span>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Muses</span>, <a href="#page157">157</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Pegasus</span>, <a href="#page162">162</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Hesperides</span>, <a href="#page162">162</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Charites or Graces</span>, <a href="#page163">163</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Horæ</span> (Seasons), <a href="#page164">164</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Nymphs</span>, <a href="#page165">165</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Winds</span>, <a href="#page170">170</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Pan</span> (Faunus), <a href="#page171">171</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Satyrs</span>, <a href="#page174">174</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Priapus</span>, <a href="#page175">175</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Asclepias</span> (Æsculapius), <a href="#page176">176</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>ROMAN DIVINITIES&mdash;</p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Janus</span>, <a href="#page178">178</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Flora</span>, <a href="#page180">180</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Robigus</span>, <a href="#page180">180</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Pomona</span>, <a href="#page180">180</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Vertumnus</span>, <a href="#page181">181</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Pales</span>, <a href="#page181">181</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Picus</span>, <a href="#page182">182</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Picumnus and Pilumnus</span>, <a href="#page182">182</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Silvanus</span>, <a href="#page182">182</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Terminus</span>, <a href="#page182">182</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Consus</span>, <a href="#page183">183</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Libitina</span>, <a href="#page183">183</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Laverna</span>, <a href="#page184">184</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Comus</span>, <a href="#page184">184</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Camenæ</span>, <a href="#page184">184</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Genii</span>, <a href="#page185">185</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Manes</span>, <a href="#page185">185</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Penates</span>, <a href="#page187">187</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>PUBLIC WORSHIP <span class="scac">OF THE</span> ANCIENT GREEKS <span class="scac">AND</span> ROMANS&mdash;</p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Temples</span>, <a href="#page188">188</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Statues</span>, <a href="#page190">190</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Altars</span>, <a href="#page191">191</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Priests</span>, <a href="#page191">191</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Sacrifices</span>, <a href="#page192">192</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Oracles</span>, <a href="#page194">194</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Soothsayers</span>, <a href="#page195">195</a></p>
+<!-- Page vi --><span class="pagenum"><a name="pagevi"></a>[vi]</span>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Augurs</span>, <a href="#page196">196</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Festivals</span>, <a href="#page196">196</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>GREEK FESTIVALS&mdash;</p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Eleusinian Mysteries</span>, <a href="#page196">196</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Thesmophoria</span>, <a href="#page197">197</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Dionysia</span>, <a href="#page197">197</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Panathenæa</span>, <a href="#page199">199</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Daphnephoria</span>, <a href="#page200">200</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>ROMAN FESTIVALS&mdash;</p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Saturnalia</span>, <a href="#page200">200</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Cerealia</span>, <a href="#page201">201</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Vestalia</span>, <a href="#page201">201</a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>PART II.&mdash;LEGENDS.</p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Cadmus</span>, <a href="#page203">203</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Perseus</span>, <a href="#page205">205</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Ion</span>, <a href="#page210">210</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Dædalus and Icarus</span>, <a href="#page211">211</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Argonauts</span>, <a href="#page213">213</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Pelops</span>, <a href="#page232">232</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Heracles</span>, <a href="#page234">234</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Bellerophon</span>, <a href="#page256">256</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Theseus</span>, <a href="#page259">259</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">&OElig;dipus</span>, <a href="#page269">269</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Seven against Thebes</span>, <a href="#page272">272</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Epigoni</span>, <a href="#page276">276</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Alcmæon and the Necklace</span>, <a href="#page277">277</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Heraclidæ</span>, <a href="#page280">280</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">The Siege of Troy</span>, <a href="#page283">283</a></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Return of the Greeks from Troy</span>, <a href="#page304">304</a></p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+<p><!-- Page 7 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page7"></a>[7]</span></p>
+
+<h2>MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME.</h2>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h2>PART I.&mdash;MYTHS.</h2>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h3>INTRODUCTION.</h3>
+
+ <p>Before entering upon the many strange beliefs of the ancient Greeks,
+ and the extraordinary number of gods they worshipped, we must first
+ consider what kind of beings these divinities were.</p>
+
+ <p>In appearance, the gods were supposed to resemble mortals, whom,
+ however, they far surpassed in beauty, grandeur, and strength; they were
+ also more commanding in stature, height being considered by the Greeks an
+ attribute of beauty in man or woman. They resembled human beings in their
+ feelings and habits, intermarrying and having children, and requiring
+ daily nourishment to recruit their strength, and refreshing sleep to
+ restore their energies. Their blood, a bright ethereal fluid called
+ Ichor, never engendered disease, and, when shed, had the power of
+ producing new life.</p>
+
+ <p>The Greeks believed that the mental qualifications of their gods were
+ of a much higher order than those of men, but nevertheless, as we shall
+ see, they were not considered to be exempt from human passions, and we
+ frequently behold them actuated by revenge, deceit, and jealousy. They,
+ however, always punish the evil-doer, and visit with dire calamities any
+ impious mortal who dares to neglect their worship or despise their rites.
+ We often hear of them visiting mankind and partaking of their
+ hospitality, and not unfrequently both gods and goddesses <!-- Page 8
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page8"></a>[8]</span>become attached to
+ mortals, with whom they unite themselves, the offspring of these unions
+ being called heroes or demi-gods, who were usually renowned for their
+ great strength and courage. But although there were so many points of
+ resemblance between gods and men, there remained the one great
+ characteristic distinction, viz., that the gods enjoyed immortality.
+ Still, they were not invulnerable, and we often hear of them being
+ wounded, and suffering in consequence such exquisite torture that they
+ have earnestly prayed to be deprived of their privilege of
+ immortality.</p>
+
+ <p>The gods knew no limitation of time or space, being able to transport
+ themselves to incredible distances with the speed of thought. They
+ possessed the power of rendering themselves invisible at will, and could
+ assume the forms of men or animals as it suited their convenience. They
+ could also transform human beings into trees, stones, animals, &amp;c.,
+ either as a punishment for their misdeeds, or as a means of protecting
+ the individual, thus transformed, from impending danger. Their robes were
+ like those worn by mortals, but were perfect in form and much finer in
+ texture. Their weapons also resembled those used by mankind; we hear of
+ spears, shields, helmets, bows and arrows, &amp;c., being employed by the
+ gods. Each deity possessed a beautiful chariot, which, drawn by horses or
+ other animals of celestial breed, conveyed them rapidly over land and sea
+ according to their pleasure. Most of these divinities lived on the summit
+ of Mount Olympus, each possessing his or her individual habitation, and
+ all meeting together on festive occasions in the council-chamber of the
+ gods, where their banquets were enlivened by the sweet strains of
+ Apollo's lyre, whilst the beautiful voices of the Muses poured forth
+ their rich melodies to his harmonious accompaniment. Magnificent temples
+ were erected to their honour, where they were worshipped with the
+ greatest solemnity; rich gifts were presented to them, and animals, and
+ indeed sometimes human beings, were sacrificed on their altars.</p>
+
+ <p>In the study of Grecian mythology we meet with some <!-- Page 9
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page9"></a>[9]</span>curious, and what
+ may at first sight appear unaccountable notions. Thus we hear of terrible
+ giants hurling rocks, upheaving mountains, and raising earthquakes which
+ engulf whole armies; these ideas, however, may be accounted for by the
+ awful convulsions of nature, which were in operation in pre-historic
+ times. Again, the daily recurring phenomena, which to us, who know them
+ to be the result of certain well-ascertained laws of nature, are so
+ familiar as to excite no remark, were, to the early Greeks, matter of
+ grave speculation, and not unfrequently of alarm. For instance, when they
+ heard the awful roar of thunder, and saw vivid flashes of lightning,
+ accompanied by black clouds and torrents of rain, they believed that the
+ great god of heaven was angry, and they trembled at his wrath. If the
+ calm and tranquil sea became suddenly agitated, and the crested billows
+ rose mountains high, dashing furiously against the rocks, and threatening
+ destruction to all within their reach, the sea-god was supposed to be in
+ a furious rage. When they beheld the sky glowing with the hues of coming
+ day they thought that the goddess of the dawn, with rosy fingers, was
+ drawing aside the dark veil of night, to allow her brother, the sun-god,
+ to enter upon his brilliant career. Thus personifying all the powers of
+ nature, this very imaginative and highly poetical nation beheld a
+ divinity in every tree that grew, in every stream that flowed, in the
+ bright beams of the glorious sun, and the clear, cold rays of the silvery
+ moon; for them the whole universe lived and breathed, peopled by a
+ thousand forms of grace and beauty.</p>
+
+ <p>The most important of these divinities may have been something more
+ than the mere creations of an active and poetical imagination. They were
+ possibly human beings who had so distinguished themselves in life by
+ their preeminence over their fellow-mortals that after death they were
+ deified by the people among whom they lived, and the poets touched with
+ their magic wand the details of lives, which, in more prosaic times,
+ would simply have been recorded as illustrious. <!-- Page 10 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page10"></a>[10]</span></p>
+
+ <p>It is highly probable that the reputed actions of these deified beings
+ were commemorated by bards, who, travelling from one state to another,
+ celebrated their praise in song; it therefore becomes exceedingly
+ difficult, nay almost impossible, to separate bare facts from the
+ exaggerations which never fail to accompany oral traditions.</p>
+
+ <p>In order to exemplify this, let us suppose that Orpheus, the son of
+ Apollo, so renowned for his extraordinary musical powers, had existed at
+ the present day. We should no doubt have ranked him among the greatest of
+ our musicians, and honoured him as such; but the Greeks, with their vivid
+ imagination and poetic license, exaggerated his remarkable gifts, and
+ attributed to his music supernatural influence over animate and inanimate
+ nature. Thus we hear of wild beasts tamed, of mighty rivers arrested in
+ their course, and of mountains being moved by the sweet tones of his
+ voice. The theory here advanced may possibly prove useful in the future,
+ in suggesting to the reader the probable basis of many of the
+ extraordinary accounts we meet with in the study of classical
+ mythology.</p>
+
+ <p>And now a few words will be necessary concerning the religious beliefs
+ of the Romans. When the Greeks first settled in Italy they found in the
+ country they colonized a mythology belonging to the Celtic inhabitants,
+ which, according to the Greek custom of paying reverence to all gods,
+ known or unknown, they readily adopted, selecting and appropriating those
+ divinities which had the greatest affinity to their own, and thus they
+ formed a religious belief which naturally bore the impress of its ancient
+ Greek source. As the primitive Celts, however, were a less civilized
+ people than the Greeks, their mythology was of a more barbarous
+ character, and this circumstance, combined with the fact that the Romans
+ were not gifted with the vivid imagination of their Greek neighbours,
+ leaves its mark on the Roman mythology, which is far less fertile in
+ fanciful conceits, and deficient in all those fairy-like stories and
+ wonderfully poetic ideas which so strongly characterize that of the
+ Greeks.</p>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<p><!-- Page 11 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page11"></a>[11]</span></p>
+
+<h3>ORIGIN OF THE WORLD.&mdash;FIRST DYNASTY.</h3>
+
+<h3>URANUS AND GÆA. (<span class="sc">C&oelig;lus and Terra</span>.)</h3>
+
+ <p>The ancient Greeks had several different theories with regard to the
+ origin of the world, but the generally accepted notion was that before
+ this world came into existence, there was in its place a confused mass of
+ shapeless elements called Chaos. These elements becoming at length
+ consolidated (by what means does not appear), resolved themselves into
+ two widely different substances, the lighter portion of which, soaring on
+ high, formed the sky or firmament, and constituted itself into a vast,
+ overarching vault, which protected the firm and solid mass beneath.</p>
+
+ <p>Thus came into being the two first great primeval deities of the
+ Greeks, Uranus and Ge or Gæa.</p>
+
+ <p>Uranus, the more refined deity, represented the light and air of
+ heaven, possessing the distinguishing qualities of light, heat, purity,
+ and omnipresence, whilst Gæa, the firm, flat,<a name="NtA_1"
+ href="#Nt_1"><sup>[1]</sup></a> life-sustaining earth, was worshipped as
+ the great all-nourishing mother. Her many titles refer to her more or
+ less in this character, and she appears to have been universally revered
+ among the Greeks, there being scarcely a city in Greece which did not
+ contain a temple erected in her honour; indeed Gæa was held in such
+ veneration that her name was always invoked whenever the gods took a
+ solemn oath, made an emphatic declaration, or implored assistance.</p>
+
+ <p>Uranus, the heaven, was believed to have united himself in marriage
+ with Gæa, the earth; and a moment's reflection will show what a truly
+ poetical, and also what a logical idea this was; for, taken in a
+ figurative sense, <!-- Page 12 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page12"></a>[12]</span>this union actually does exist. The smiles
+ of heaven produce the flowers of earth, whereas his long-continued frowns
+ exercise so depressing an influence upon his loving partner, that she no
+ longer decks herself in bright and festive robes, but responds with ready
+ sympathy to his melancholy mood.</p>
+
+ <p>The first-born child of Uranus and Gæa was Oceanus,<a name="NtA_2"
+ href="#Nt_2"><sup>[2]</sup></a> the ocean stream, that vast expanse of
+ ever-flowing water which encircled the earth. Here we meet with another
+ logical though fanciful conclusion, which a very slight knowledge of the
+ workings of nature proves to have been just and true. The ocean is formed
+ from the rains which descend from heaven and the streams which flow from
+ earth. By making Oceanus therefore the offspring of Uranus and Gæa, the
+ ancients, if we take this notion in its literal sense, merely assert that
+ the ocean is produced by the combined influence of heaven and earth,
+ whilst at the same time their fervid and poetical imagination led them to
+ see in this, as in all manifestations of the powers of nature, an actual,
+ tangible divinity.</p>
+
+ <p>But Uranus, the heaven, the embodiment of light, heat, and the breath
+ of life, produced offspring who were of a much less material nature than
+ his son Oceanus. These other children of his were supposed to occupy the
+ intermediate space which divided him from Gæa. Nearest to Uranus, and
+ just beneath him, came Aether (Ether), a bright creation representing
+ that highly rarified atmosphere which immortals alone could breathe. Then
+ followed Aër (Air), which was in close proximity to Gæa, and represented,
+ as its name implies, the grosser atmosphere surrounding the earth which
+ mortals could freely breathe, and without which they would perish. Aether
+ and Aër were separated from each other by divinities called Nephelae.
+ These were their restless and wandering sisters, who existed in the form
+ of clouds, ever <!-- Page 13 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page13"></a>[13]</span>floating between Aether and Aër. Gæa also
+ produced the mountains, and Pontus (the sea). She united herself with the
+ latter, and their offspring were the sea-deities Nereus, Thaumas,
+ Phorcys, Ceto, and Eurybia.</p>
+
+ <p>Co-existent with Uranus and Gæa were two mighty powers who were also
+ the offspring of Chaos. These were Erebus (Darkness) and Nyx (Night), who
+ formed a striking contrast to the cheerful light of heaven and the bright
+ smiles of earth. Erebus reigned in that mysterious world below where no
+ ray of sunshine, no gleam of daylight, nor vestige of health-giving
+ terrestrial life ever appeared. Nyx, the sister of Erebus, represented
+ Night, and was worshipped by the ancients with the greatest
+ solemnity.</p>
+
+ <p>Uranus was also supposed to have been united to Nyx, but only in his
+ capacity as god of light, he being considered the source and fountain of
+ all light, and their children were Eos (Aurora), the Dawn, and Hemera,
+ the Daylight. Nyx again, on her side was also doubly united, having been
+ married at some indefinite period to Erebus.</p>
+
+ <p>In addition to those children of heaven and earth already enumerated,
+ Uranus and Gæa produced two distinctly different races of beings called
+ Giants and Titans. The Giants personified brute strength alone, but the
+ Titans united to their great physical power intellectual qualifications
+ variously developed. There were three Giants, Briareus, Cottus, and
+ Gyges, who each possessed a hundred hands and fifty heads, and were known
+ collectively by the name of the Hecatoncheires, which signified
+ hundred-handed. These mighty Giants could shake the universe and produce
+ earthquakes; it is therefore evident that they represented those active
+ subterranean forces to which allusion has been made in the opening
+ chapter. The Titans were twelve in number; their names were: Oceanus,
+ Ceos, Crios, Hyperion, Iapetus, Cronus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne,
+ Ph&oelig;be, and Tethys.</p>
+
+ <p>Now Uranus, the chaste light of heaven, the essence of all that is
+ bright and pleasing, held in abhorrence his <!-- Page 14 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page14"></a>[14]</span>crude, rough, and
+ turbulent offspring, the Giants, and moreover feared that their great
+ power might eventually prove hurtful to himself. He therefore hurled them
+ into Tartarus, that portion of the lower world which served as the
+ subterranean dungeon of the gods. In order to avenge the oppression of
+ her children, the Giants, Gæa instigated a conspiracy on the part of the
+ Titans against Uranus, which was carried to a successful issue by her son
+ Cronus. He wounded his father, and from the blood of the wound which fell
+ upon the earth sprang a race of monstrous beings also called Giants.
+ Assisted by his brother-Titans, Cronus succeeded in dethroning his
+ father, who, enraged at his defeat, cursed his rebellious son, and
+ foretold to him a similar fate. Cronus now became invested with supreme
+ power, and assigned to his brothers offices of distinction, subordinate
+ only to himself. Subsequently, however, when, secure of his position, he
+ no longer needed their assistance, he basely repaid their former services
+ with treachery, made war upon his brothers and faithful allies, and,
+ assisted by the Giants, completely defeated them, sending such as
+ resisted his all-conquering arm down into the lowest depths of
+ Tartarus.</p>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h3>SECOND DYNASTY.</h3>
+
+<h3>CRONUS (<span class="sc">Saturn</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Cronus was the god of time in its sense of eternal duration. He
+ married Rhea, daughter of Uranus and Gæa, a very important divinity, to
+ whom a special chapter will be devoted hereafter. Their children were,
+ three sons: Aïdes (Pluto), Poseidon (Neptune), Zeus (Jupiter), and three
+ daughters: Hestia (Vesta), Demeter (Ceres), and Hera (Juno). Cronus,
+ having an uneasy conscience, was afraid that his children might one day
+ rise up against his authority, and thus verify the prediction of his
+ father <!-- Page 15 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page15"></a>[15]</span>Uranus. In order, therefore, to render the
+ prophecy impossible of fulfilment, Cronus swallowed each child as soon as
+ it was born,<a name="NtA_3" href="#Nt_3"><sup>[3]</sup></a> greatly to
+ the sorrow and indignation of his wife Rhea. When it came to Zeus, the
+ sixth and last, Rhea resolved to try and save this one child at least, to
+ love and cherish, and appealed to her parents, Uranus and Gæa, for
+ counsel and assistance. By their advice she wrapped a stone in
+ baby-clothes, and Cronus, in eager haste, swallowed it, without noticing
+ the deception. The child thus saved, eventually, as we shall see,
+ dethroned his father Cronus, became supreme god in his stead, and was
+ universally venerated as the great national god of the Greeks.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0015-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0015-1.png"
+ alt="Cronus" title="Cronus" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Anxious to preserve the secret of his existence from Cronus, Rhea sent
+ the infant Zeus secretly to Crete, where he was nourished, protected, and
+ educated. A sacred goat, called Amalthea, supplied the place of his
+ mother, by providing him with milk; nymphs, called Melissae, fed him with
+ honey, and eagles and doves brought him nectar and ambrosia.<a
+ name="NtA_4" href="#Nt_4"><sup>[4]</sup></a> He was kept concealed in a
+ cave in the heart of Mount Ida, and the Curetes, or priests of Rhea, by
+ beating their shields together, kept up a constant noise at the entrance,
+ which drowned the cries of the child and frightened away all intruders.
+ Under the watchful care of the Nymphs the infant Zeus throve rapidly,
+ developing great physical powers, combined with <!-- Page 16 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page16"></a>[16]</span>extraordinary wisdom and
+ intelligence. Grown to manhood, he determined to compel his father to
+ restore his brothers and sisters to the light of day, and is said to have
+ been assisted in this difficult task by the goddess Metis, who artfully
+ persuaded Cronus to drink a potion, which caused him to give back the
+ children he had swallowed. The stone which had counterfeited Zeus was
+ placed at Delphi, where it was long exhibited as a sacred relic.</p>
+
+ <p>Cronus was so enraged at being circumvented that war between the
+ father and son became inevitable. The rival forces ranged themselves on
+ two separate high mountains in Thessaly; Zeus, with his brothers and
+ sisters, took his stand on Mount Olympus, where he was joined by Oceanus,
+ and others of the Titans, who had forsaken Cronus on account of his
+ oppressions. Cronus and his brother-Titans took possession of Mount
+ Othrys, and prepared for battle. The struggle was long and fierce, and at
+ length Zeus, finding that he was no nearer victory than before, bethought
+ himself of the existence of the imprisoned Giants, and knowing that they
+ would be able to render him most powerful assistance, he hastened to
+ liberate them. He also called to his aid the Cyclops (sons of Poseidon
+ and Amphitrite),<a name="NtA_5" href="#Nt_5"><sup>[5]</sup></a> who had
+ only one eye each in the middle of their foreheads, and were called
+ Brontes (Thunder), Steropes (Lightning), and Pyracmon (Fire-anvil). They
+ promptly responded to his summons for help, and brought with them
+ tremendous thunderbolts which the Hecatoncheires, with their hundred
+ hands, hurled down upon the enemy, at the same time raising mighty
+ earthquakes, which swallowed up and destroyed all who opposed them. Aided
+ by these new and powerful allies, Zeus now made a furious onslaught on
+ his enemies, and so tremendous was the encounter that all nature is said
+ to have throbbed in accord with this mighty effort of the celestial
+ deities. The sea rose mountains high, and its angry billows <!-- Page 17
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page17"></a>[17]</span>hissed and
+ foamed; the earth shook to its foundations, the heavens sent forth
+ rolling thunder, and flash after flash of death-bringing lightning,
+ whilst a blinding mist enveloped Cronus and his allies.</p>
+
+ <p>And now the fortunes of war began to turn, and victory smiled on Zeus.
+ Cronus and his army were completely overthrown, his brothers despatched
+ to the gloomy depths of the lower world, and Cronus himself was banished
+ from his kingdom and deprived for ever of the supreme power, which now
+ became vested in his son Zeus. This war was called the Titanomachia, and
+ is most graphically described by the old classic poets.</p>
+
+ <div class="figright" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0017-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0017-1.png"
+ alt="Saturn" title="Saturn" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>With the defeat of Cronus and his banishment from his dominions, his
+ career as a ruling Greek divinity entirely ceases. But being, like all
+ the gods, immortal, he was supposed to be still in existence, though
+ possessing no longer either influence or authority, his place being
+ filled to a certain extent by his descendant and successor, Zeus.</p>
+
+ <p>Cronus is often represented as an old man leaning on a scythe, with an
+ hour-glass in his hand. The hour-glass symbolizes the fast-fleeting
+ moments as they succeed each other unceasingly; the scythe is
+ emblematical of time, which mows down all before it.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">SATURN.</p>
+
+ <p>The Romans, according to their custom of identifying their deities
+ with those of the Greek gods whose attributes were similar to their own,
+ declared Cronus to be identical with their old agricultural divinity
+ Saturn. They believed that after his defeat in the <!-- Page 18 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page18"></a>[18]</span>Titanomachia and his
+ banishment from his dominions by Zeus, he took refuge with Janus, king of
+ Italy, who received the exiled deity with great kindness, and even shared
+ his throne with him. Their united reign became so thoroughly peaceful and
+ happy, and was distinguished by such uninterrupted prosperity, that it
+ was called the Golden Age.</p>
+
+ <p>Saturn is usually represented bearing a sickle in the one hand and a
+ wheat-sheaf in the other.</p>
+
+ <p>A temple was erected to him at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, in
+ which were deposited the public treasury and the laws of the state.</p>
+
+<h3>RHEA (<span class="sc">Ops</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Rhea, the wife of Cronus, and mother of Zeus and the other great gods
+ of Olympus, personified the earth, and was regarded as the Great Mother
+ and unceasing producer of all plant-life. She was also believed to
+ exercise unbounded sway over the animal creation, more especially over
+ the lion, the noble king of beasts. Rhea is generally represented wearing
+ a crown of turrets or towers and seated on a throne, with lions crouching
+ at her feet. She is sometimes depicted sitting in a chariot, drawn by
+ lions.</p>
+
+ <p>The principal seat of her worship, which was always of a very riotous
+ character, was at Crete. At her festivals, which took place at night, the
+ wildest music of flutes, cymbals, and drums resounded, whilst joyful
+ shouts and cries, accompanied by dancing and loud stamping of feet,
+ filled the air.</p>
+
+ <p>This divinity was introduced into Crete by its first colonists from
+ Phrygia, in Asia Minor, in which country she was worshipped under the
+ name of Cybele. The people of Crete adored her as the Great Mother, more
+ especially in her signification as the sustainer of the vegetable world.
+ Seeing, however, that year by year, as winter appears, all her glory
+ vanishes, her flowers fade, and her trees become leafless, they
+ poetically expressed this process of nature under the figure of a lost
+ love. She <!-- Page 19 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page19"></a>[19]</span>was said to have been tenderly attached to a
+ youth of remarkable beauty, named Atys, who, to her grief and
+ indignation, proved faithless to her. He was about to unite himself to a
+ nymph called Sagaris, when, in the midst of the wedding feast, the rage
+ of the incensed goddess suddenly burst forth upon all present. A panic
+ seized the assembled guests, and Atys, becoming afflicted with temporary
+ madness, fled to the mountains and destroyed himself. Cybele, moved with
+ sorrow and regret, instituted a yearly mourning for his loss, when her
+ priests, the Corybantes, with their usual noisy accompaniments, marched
+ into the mountains to seek the lost youth. Having discovered him<a
+ name="NtA_6" href="#Nt_6"><sup>[6]</sup></a> they gave full vent to their
+ ecstatic delight by indulging in the most violent gesticulations,
+ dancing, shouting, and, at the same time, wounding and gashing themselves
+ in a frightful manner.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">OPS.</p>
+
+ <p>In Rome the Greek Rhea was identified with Ops, the goddess of plenty,
+ the wife of Saturn, who had a variety of appellations. She was called
+ Magna-Mater, Mater-Deorum, Berecynthia-Idea, and also Dindymene. This
+ latter title she acquired from three high mountains in Phrygia, whence
+ she was brought to Rome as Cybele during the second Punic war, <span
+ class="scac">B.C.</span> 205, in obedience to an injunction contained in
+ the Sybilline books. She was represented as a matron crowned with towers,
+ seated in a chariot drawn by lions.</p>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h3>DIVISION OF THE WORLD.</h3>
+
+ <p>We will now return to Zeus and his brothers, who, having gained a
+ complete victory over their enemies, began to consider how the world,
+ which they had <!-- Page 20 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page20"></a>[20]</span>conquered, should be divided between them.
+ At last it was settled by lot that Zeus should reign supreme in Heaven,
+ whilst Aïdes governed the Lower World, and Poseidon had full command over
+ the Sea, but the supremacy of Zeus was recognized in all three kingdoms,
+ in heaven, on earth (in which of course the sea was included), and under
+ the earth. Zeus held his court on the top of Mount Olympus, whose summit
+ was beyond the clouds; the dominions of Aïdes were the gloomy unknown
+ regions below the earth; and Poseidon reigned over the sea. It will be
+ seen that the realm of each of these gods was enveloped in mystery.
+ Olympus was shrouded in mists, Hades was wrapt in gloomy darkness, and
+ the sea was, and indeed still is, a source of wonder and deep interest.
+ Hence we see that what to other nations were merely strange phenomena,
+ served this poetical and imaginative people as a foundation upon which to
+ build the wonderful stories of their mythology.</p>
+
+ <p>The division of the world being now satisfactorily arranged, it would
+ seem that all things ought to have gone on smoothly, but such was not the
+ case. Trouble arose in an unlooked-for quarter. The Giants, those hideous
+ monsters (some with legs formed of serpents) who had sprung from the
+ earth and the blood of Uranus, declared war against the triumphant
+ deities of Olympus, and a struggle ensued, which, in consequence of Gæa
+ having made these children of hers invincible as long as they kept their
+ feet on the ground, was wearisome and protracted. Their mother's
+ precaution, however, was rendered unavailing by pieces of rock being
+ hurled upon them, which threw them down, and their feet being no longer
+ placed firmly on their mother-earth, they were overcome, and this tedious
+ war (which was called the Gigantomachia) at last came to an end. Among
+ the most daring of these earth-born giants were Enceladus, Rh&oelig;tus,
+ and the valiant Mimas, who, with youthful fire and energy, hurled against
+ heaven great masses of rock and burning oak-trees, and defied the
+ lightnings of Zeus. One of the most powerful monsters who opposed Zeus in
+ this <!-- Page 21 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page21"></a>[21]</span>war was called Typhon or Typh&oelig;us. He
+ was the youngest son of Tartarus and Gæa, and had a hundred heads, with
+ eyes which struck terror to the beholders, and awe-inspiring voices
+ frightful to hear. This dreadful monster resolved to conquer both gods
+ and men, but his plans were at length defeated by Zeus, who, after a
+ violent encounter, succeeded in destroying him with a thunderbolt, but
+ not before he had so terrified the gods that they had fled for refuge to
+ Egypt, where they metamorphosed themselves into different animals and
+ thus escaped.</p>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h3>THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN OF MAN.</h3>
+
+ <p>Just as there were several theories concerning the origin of the
+ world, so there were various accounts of the creation of man.</p>
+
+ <p>The first natural belief of the Greek people was that man had sprung
+ from the earth. They saw the tender plants and flowers force their way
+ through the ground in the early spring of the year after the frost of
+ winter had disappeared, and so they naturally concluded that man must
+ also have issued from the earth in a similar manner. Like the wild plants
+ and flowers, he was supposed to have had no cultivation, and resembled in
+ his habits the untamed beasts of the field, having no habitation except
+ that which nature had provided in the holes of the rocks, and in the
+ dense forests whose overarching boughs protected him from the inclemency
+ of the weather.</p>
+
+ <p>In the course of time these primitive human beings became tamed and
+ civilized by the gods and heroes, who taught them to work in metals, to
+ build houses, and other useful arts of civilization. But the human race
+ became in the course of time so degenerate that the gods resolved to
+ destroy all mankind by means of a flood; Deucalion <!-- Page 22 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page22"></a>[22]</span>(son of Prometheus) and
+ his wife Pyrrha, being, on account of their piety, the only mortals
+ saved.</p>
+
+ <p>By the command of his father, Deucalion built a ship, in which he and
+ his wife took refuge during the deluge, which lasted for nine days. When
+ the waters abated the ship rested on Mount Othrys in Thessaly, or
+ according to some on Mount Parnassus. Deucalion and his wife now
+ consulted the oracle of Themis as to how the human race might be
+ restored. The answer was, that they were to cover their heads, and throw
+ the bones of their mother behind them. For some time they were perplexed
+ as to the meaning of the oracular command, but at length both agreed that
+ by the bones of their mother were meant the stones of the earth. They
+ accordingly took up stones from the mountain side and cast them over
+ their shoulders. From those thrown by Deucalion there sprang up men, and
+ from those thrown by Pyrrha, women.</p>
+
+ <p>After the lapse of time the theory of Autochthony (from <i>autos</i>,
+ self, and <i>chthon</i>, earth) was laid aside. When this belief existed
+ there were no religious teachers whatever; but in course of time temples
+ were raised in honour of the different gods, and priests appointed to
+ offer sacrifices to them and conduct their worship. These priests were
+ looked upon as authorities in all religious matters, and the doctrine
+ they taught was, that man had been created by the gods, and that there
+ had been several successive ages of men, which were called the Golden,
+ Silver, Brazen, and Iron Ages.</p>
+
+ <p>Life in the Golden Age was one unceasing round of ever-recurring
+ pleasures unmarred by sorrow or care. The favoured mortals living at this
+ happy time led pure and joyous lives, thinking no evil, and doing no
+ wrong. The earth brought forth fruits and flowers without toil or labour
+ in plentiful luxuriance, and war was unknown. This delightful and
+ god-like existence lasted for hundreds of years, and when at length life
+ on earth was ended, death laid his hand so gently upon them that they
+ passed painlessly away in a happy dream, and continued their existence as
+ ministering spirits in Hades, watching over and <!-- Page 23 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page23"></a>[23]</span>protecting those they had
+ loved and left behind on earth. The men of the Silver Age<a name="NtA_7"
+ href="#Nt_7"><sup>[7]</sup></a> were a long time growing up, and during
+ their childhood, which lasted a hundred years, they suffered from
+ ill-health and extreme debility. When they at last became men they lived
+ but a short time, for they would not abstain from mutual injury, nor pay
+ the service due to the gods, and were therefore banished to Hades. There,
+ unlike the beings of the Golden Age, they exercised no beneficent
+ supervision over the dear ones left behind, but wandered about as
+ restless spirits, always sighing for the lost pleasures they had enjoyed
+ in life.</p>
+
+ <p>The men of the Brazen Age were quite a different race of beings, being
+ as strong and powerful as those of the Silver Age were weak and
+ enervated. Everything which surrounded them was of brass; their arms,
+ their tools, their dwellings, and all that they made. Their characters
+ seem to have resembled the metal in which they delighted; their minds and
+ hearts were hard, obdurate, and cruel. They led a life of strife and
+ contention, introduced into the world, which had hitherto known nothing
+ but peace and tranquillity, the scourge of war, and were in fact only
+ happy when fighting and quarrelling with each other. Hitherto Themis, the
+ goddess of Justice, had been living among mankind, but becoming
+ disheartened at their evil doings, she abandoned the earth, and winged
+ her flight back to heaven. At last the gods became so tired of their evil
+ deeds and continual dissensions, that they removed them from the face of
+ the earth, and sent them down to Hades to share the fate of their
+ predecessors.</p>
+
+ <p>We now come to the men of the Iron Age. The earth, no longer teeming
+ with fruitfulness, only yielded her increase after much toil and labour.
+ The goddess of Justice having abandoned mankind, no influence remained
+ sufficiently powerful to preserve them from every kind of wickedness and
+ sin. This condition grew worse as time went on, until at last Zeus in his
+ anger let loose the water-courses from above, and drowned every <!-- Page
+ 24 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page24"></a>[24]</span>individual of
+ this evil race, except Deucalion and Pyrrha.</p>
+
+ <p>The theory of Hesiod,<a name="NtA_8" href="#Nt_8"><sup>[8]</sup></a>
+ the oldest of all the Greek poets, was that the Titan Prometheus, the son
+ of Iapetus, had formed man out of clay, and that Athene had breathed a
+ soul into him. Full of love for the beings he had called into existence,
+ Prometheus determined to elevate their minds and improve their condition
+ in every way; he therefore taught them astronomy, mathematics, the
+ alphabet, how to cure diseases, and the art of divination. He created
+ this race in such great numbers that the gods began to see the necessity
+ of instituting certain fixed laws with regard to the sacrifices due to
+ them, and the worship to which they considered themselves entitled from
+ mankind in return for the protection which they accorded them. An
+ assembly was therefore convened at Mecone in order to settle these
+ points. It was decided that Prometheus, as the advocate of man, should
+ slay an ox, which should be divided into two equal parts, and that the
+ gods should select one portion which should henceforth, in all future
+ sacrifices, be set apart for them. Prometheus so divided the ox that one
+ part consisted of the bones (which formed of course the least valuable
+ portion of the animal), artfully concealed by the white fat; whilst the
+ other contained all the edible parts, which he covered with the skin, and
+ on the top of all he laid the stomach.</p>
+
+ <p>Zeus, pretending to be deceived, chose the heap of bones, but he saw
+ through the stratagem, and was so angry at the deception practised on him
+ by Prometheus that he avenged himself by refusing to mortals the gift of
+ fire. <!-- Page 25 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page25"></a>[25]</span>Prometheus, however, resolved to brave the
+ anger of the great ruler of Olympus, and to obtain from heaven the vital
+ spark so necessary for the further progress and comfort of the human
+ race. He accordingly contrived to steal some sparks from the chariot of
+ the sun, which he conveyed to earth hidden in a hollow tube. Furious at
+ being again outwitted, Zeus determined to be revenged first on mankind,
+ and then on Prometheus. To punish the former he commanded Hephæstus
+ (Vulcan) to mould a beautiful woman out of clay, and determined that
+ through her instrumentality trouble and misery should be brought into the
+ world.</p>
+
+ <p>The gods were so charmed with the graceful and artistic creation of
+ Hephæstus, that they all determined to endow her with some special gift.
+ Hermes (Mercury) bestowed on her a smooth persuasive tongue, Aphrodite
+ gave her beauty and the art of pleasing; the Graces made her fascinating,
+ and Athene (Minerva) gifted her with the possession of feminine
+ accomplishments. She was called Pandora, which means all-gifted, having
+ received every attribute necessary to make her charming and irresistible.
+ Thus beautifully formed and endowed, this exquisite creature, attired by
+ the Graces, and crowned with flowers by the Seasons, was conducted to the
+ house of Epimetheus<a name="NtA_9" href="#Nt_9"><sup>[9]</sup></a> by
+ Hermes the messenger of the gods. Now Epimetheus had been warned by his
+ brother not to accept any gift whatever from the gods; but he was so
+ fascinated by the beautiful being who suddenly appeared before him, that
+ he welcomed her to his home, and made her his wife. It was not long,
+ however, before he had cause to regret his weakness.</p>
+
+ <p>He had in his possession a jar of rare workmanship, containing all the
+ blessings reserved by the gods for mankind, which he had been expressly
+ forbidden to open. But woman's proverbial curiosity could not withstand
+ so great a temptation, and Pandora determined to solve the mystery at any
+ cost. Watching her opportunity she raised the lid, and immediately all
+ the blessings which <!-- Page 26 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page26"></a>[26]</span>the gods had thus reserved for mankind took
+ wing and flew away. But all was not lost. Just as Hope (which lay at the
+ bottom) was about to escape, Pandora hastily closed the lid of the jar,
+ and thus preserved to man that never-failing solace which helps him to
+ bear with courage the many ills which assail him.<a name="NtA_10"
+ href="#Nt_10"><sup>[10]</sup></a></p>
+
+ <p>Having punished mankind, Zeus determined to execute vengeance on
+ Prometheus. He accordingly chained him to a rock in Mount Caucasus, and
+ sent an eagle every day to gnaw away his liver, which grew again every
+ night ready for fresh torments. For thirty years Prometheus endured this
+ fearful punishment; but at length Zeus relented, and permitted his son
+ Heracles (Hercules) to kill the eagle, and the sufferer was released.</p>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h3>THIRD DYNASTY&mdash;OLYMPIAN DIVINITIES.</h3>
+
+<h3>ZEUS<a name="NtA_11" href="#Nt_11"><sup>[11]</sup></a> (<span class="sc">Jupiter</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Zeus, the great presiding deity of the universe, the ruler of heaven
+ and earth, was regarded by the Greeks, first, as the god of all aërial
+ phenomena; secondly, as the personification of the laws of nature;
+ thirdly, as lord of state-life; and fourthly, as the father of gods and
+ men.</p>
+
+ <p>As the god of aërial phenomena he could, by shaking his ægis,<a
+ name="NtA_12" href="#Nt_12"><sup>[12]</sup></a> produce storms, tempests,
+ and intense darkness. At his command the mighty thunder rolls, the
+ lightning flashes, and the clouds open and pour forth their refreshing
+ streams to fructify the earth.</p>
+
+ <p>As the personification of the operations of nature, he represents
+ those grand laws of unchanging and harmonious order, by which not only
+ the physical but also <!-- Page 27 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page27"></a>[27]</span>the moral world is governed. Hence he is the
+ god of regulated time as marked by the changing seasons, and by the
+ regular succession of day and night, in contradistinction to his father
+ Cronus, who represents time absolutely, <i>i.e.</i> eternity.</p>
+
+ <p>As the lord of state-life, he is the founder of kingly power, the
+ upholder of all institutions connected with the state, and the special
+ friend and patron of princes, whom he guards and assists with his advice
+ and counsel. He protects the assembly of the people, and, in fact,
+ watches over the welfare of the whole community.</p>
+
+ <p>As the father of the gods, Zeus sees that each deity performs his or
+ her individual duty, punishes their misdeeds, settles their disputes, and
+ acts towards them on all occasions as their all-knowing counsellor and
+ mighty friend.</p>
+
+ <p>As the father of men, he takes a paternal interest in the actions and
+ well-being of mortals. He watches over them with tender solicitude,
+ rewarding truth, charity, and uprightness, but severely punishing
+ perjury, cruelty, and want of hospitality. Even the poorest and most
+ forlorn wanderer finds in him a powerful advocate, for he, by a wise and
+ merciful dispensation, ordains that the mighty ones of the earth should
+ succour their distressed and needy brethren.</p>
+
+ <p>The Greeks believed that the home of this their mighty and
+ all-powerful deity was on the top of Mount Olympus, that high and lofty
+ mountain between Thessaly and Macedon, whose summit, wrapt in clouds and
+ mist, was hidden from mortal view. It was supposed that this mysterious
+ region, which even a bird could not reach, extended beyond the clouds
+ right into Aether, the realm of the immortal gods. The poets describe
+ this ethereal atmosphere as bright, glistening, and refreshing,
+ exercising a peculiar, gladdening influence over the minds and hearts of
+ those privileged beings permitted to share its delights. Here youth never
+ ages, and the passing years leave no traces on its favoured inhabitants.
+ On the cloud-capped summit of Olympus was the palace of <!-- Page 28
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page28"></a>[28]</span>Zeus and Hera,
+ of burnished gold, chased silver, and gleaming ivory. Lower down were the
+ homes of the other gods, which, though less commanding in position and
+ size, were yet similar to that of Zeus in design and workmanship, all
+ being the work of the divine artist Hephæstus. Below these were other
+ palaces of silver, ebony, ivory, or burnished brass, where the Heroes, or
+ Demi-gods, resided.</p>
+
+ <p>As the worship of Zeus formed so important a feature in the religion
+ of the Greeks, his statues were necessarily both numerous and
+ magnificent. He is usually represented as a man of noble and imposing
+ mien, his countenance expressing all the lofty majesty of the omnipotent
+ ruler of the universe, combined with the gracious, yet serious, benignity
+ of the father and friend of mankind. He may be recognized by his rich
+ flowing beard, and the thick masses of hair, which rise straight from the
+ high and intellectual forehead and fall to his shoulders in clustering
+ locks. The nose is large and finely formed, and the slightly-opened lips
+ impart an air of sympathetic kindliness which invites confidence. He is
+ always accompanied by an eagle, which either surmounts his sceptre, or
+ sits at his feet; he generally bears in his uplifted hand a sheaf of
+ thunder-bolts, just ready to be hurled, whilst in the other he holds the
+ lightning. The head is frequently encircled with a wreath of
+ oak-leaves.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0028-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0028-1.png"
+ alt="Zeus" title="Zeus" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>The most celebrated statue of the Olympian Zeus was that by the famous
+ Athenian sculptor Phidias, which was forty feet high, and stood in the
+ temple of Zeus at Olympia. It was formed of ivory and gold, and was <!--
+ Page 29 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page29"></a>[29]</span>such a
+ masterpiece of art, that it was reckoned among the seven wonders of the
+ world. It represented the god, seated on a throne, holding in his right
+ hand a life-sized image of Nike (the goddess of Victory), and in his left
+ a royal sceptre, surmounted by an eagle. It is said that the great
+ sculptor had concentrated all the marvellous powers of his genius on this
+ sublime conception, and earnestly entreated Zeus to give him a decided
+ proof that his labours were approved. An answer to his prayer came
+ through the open roof of the temple in the shape of a flash of lightning,
+ which Phidias interpreted as a sign that the god of heaven was pleased
+ with his work.</p>
+
+ <p>Zeus was first worshipped at Dodona in Epirus, where, at the foot of
+ Mount Tomarus, on the woody shore of Lake Joanina, was his famous oracle,
+ the most ancient in Greece. Here the voice of the eternal and invisible
+ god was supposed to be heard in the rustling leaves of a giant oak,
+ announcing to mankind the will of heaven and the destiny of mortals;
+ these revelations being interpreted to the people by the priests of Zeus,
+ who were called Selli. Recent excavations which have been made at this
+ spot have brought to light the ruins of the ancient temple of Zeus, and
+ also, among other interesting relics, some plates of lead, on which are
+ engraved inquiries which were evidently made by certain individuals who
+ consulted the oracle. These little leaden plates speak to us, as it were,
+ in a curiously homely manner of a by-gone time in the buried past. One
+ person inquires what god he should apply to for health and fortune;
+ another asks for advice concerning his child; and a third, evidently a
+ shepherd, promises a gift to the oracle should a speculation in sheep
+ turn out successfully. Had these little memorials been of gold instead of
+ lead, they would doubtless have shared the fate of the numerous treasures
+ which adorned this and other temples, in the universal pillage which took
+ place when Greece fell into the hands of barbarians.</p>
+
+ <p>Though Dodona was the most ancient of his shrines, the great national
+ seat of the worship of Zeus was at Olympia in Elis, where there was a
+ magnificent temple <!-- Page 30 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page30"></a>[30]</span>dedicated to him, containing the famous
+ colossal statue by Phidias above described. Crowds of devout worshippers
+ flocked to this world-renowned fane from all parts of Greece, not only to
+ pay homage to their supreme deity, but also to join in the celebrated
+ games which were held there at intervals of four years. The Olympic games
+ were such a thoroughly national institution, that even Greeks who had
+ left their native country made a point of returning on these occasions,
+ if possible, in order to contend with their fellow-countrymen in the
+ various athletic sports which took place at these festivals.</p>
+
+ <p>It will be seen on reflection that in a country like Greece, which
+ contained so many petty states, often at variance with each other, these
+ national gatherings must have been most valuable as a means of uniting
+ the Greeks in one great bond of brotherhood. On these festive occasions
+ the whole nation met together, forgetting for the moment all past
+ differences, and uniting in the enjoyment of the same festivities.</p>
+
+ <p>It will doubtless have been remarked that in the representations of
+ Zeus he is always accompanied by an eagle. This royal bird was sacred to
+ him, probably from the fact of its being the only creature capable of
+ gazing at the sun without being dazzled, which may have suggested the
+ idea that it was able to contemplate the splendour of divine majesty
+ unshrinkingly.</p>
+
+ <p>The oak-tree, and also the summits of mountains, were sacred to Zeus.
+ His sacrifices consisted of white bulls, cows, and goats.</p>
+
+ <p>Zeus had seven immortal wives, whose names were Metis, Themis,
+ Eurynome, Demeter, Mnemosyne, Leto, and Hera.</p>
+
+ <p><b>METIS</b>, his first wife, was one of the Oceanides or sea-nymphs.
+ She was the personification of prudence and wisdom, a convincing proof of
+ which she displayed in her successful administration of the potion which
+ caused Cronus to yield up his children. She was endowed with the gift of
+ prophecy, and foretold to Zeus that one of their children would gain
+ ascendency over <!-- Page 31 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page31"></a>[31]</span>him. In order, therefore, to avert the
+ possibility of the prediction being fulfilled he swallowed her before any
+ children were born to them. Feeling afterwards violent pains in his head,
+ he sent for Hephæstus, and ordered him to open it with an axe. His
+ command was obeyed, and out sprang, with a loud and martial shout, a
+ beautiful being, clad in armour from head to foot. This was Athene
+ (Minerva), goddess of Armed Resistance and Wisdom.</p>
+
+ <p><b>THEMIS</b> was the goddess of Justice, Law, and Order.</p>
+
+ <p><b>EURYNOME</b> was one of the Oceanides, and the mother of the
+ Charites or Graces.</p>
+
+ <p><b>DEMETER</b>,<a name="NtA_13" href="#Nt_13"><sup>[13]</sup></a> the
+ daughter of Cronus and Rhea, was the goddess of Agriculture.</p>
+
+ <p><b>MNEMOSYNE</b>, the daughter of Uranus and Gæa, was the goddess of
+ Memory and the mother of the nine Muses.</p>
+
+ <p><b>LETO</b> (Latona) was the daughter of C&oelig;us and Ph&oelig;be.
+ She was gifted with wonderful beauty, and was tenderly loved by Zeus, but
+ her lot was far from being a happy one, for Hera, being extremely jealous
+ of her, persecuted her with inveterate cruelty, and sent the dreadful
+ serpent Python<a name="NtA_14" href="#Nt_14"><sup>[14]</sup></a> to
+ terrify and torment her wherever she went. But Zeus, who had observed
+ with the deepest compassion her weary wanderings and agonized fears,
+ resolved to create for her some place of refuge, however humble, where
+ she might feel herself safe from the venomous attacks of the serpent. He
+ therefore brought her to Delos, a floating island in the Ægean Sea, which
+ he made stationary by attaching it with chains of adamant to the bottom
+ of the sea. Here she gave birth to her twin-children, Apollo and Artemis
+ (Diana), two of the most beautiful of the immortals.</p>
+
+ <p>According to some versions of the story of Leto, Zeus transformed her
+ into a quail, in order that she might thus elude the vigilance of Hera,
+ and she is said to have <!-- Page 32 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page32"></a>[32]</span>resumed her true form when she arrived at
+ the island of Delos.</p>
+
+ <p><b>HERA</b>, being the principal wife of Zeus and queen of heaven, a
+ detailed account will be given of her in a special chapter.</p>
+
+ <p>In the union of Zeus with most of his immortal wives we shall find
+ that an allegorical meaning is conveyed. His marriage with Metis, who is
+ said to have surpassed both gods and men in knowledge, represents supreme
+ power allied to wisdom and prudence. His union with Themis typifies the
+ bond which exists between divine majesty and justice, law, and order.
+ Eurynome, as the mother of the Charites or Graces, supplied the refining
+ and harmonizing influences of grace and beauty, whilst the marriage of
+ Zeus with Mnemosyne typifies the union of genius with memory.</p>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p>In addition to the seven immortal wives of Zeus, he was also allied to
+ a number of mortal maidens whom he visited under various disguises, as it
+ was supposed that if he revealed himself in his true form as king of
+ heaven the splendour of his glory would cause instant destruction to
+ mortals. The mortal consorts of Zeus have been such a favourite theme
+ with poets, painters, and sculptors, that it is necessary to give some
+ account of their individual history. Those best known are Antiope, Leda,
+ Europa, Callisto, Alcmene, Semele, Io, and Danae.</p>
+
+ <p><b>ANTIOPE</b>, to whom Zeus appeared under the form of a satyr, was
+ the daughter of Nicteus, king of Thebes. To escape the anger of her
+ father she fled to Sicyon, where king Epopeus, enraptured with her
+ wonderful beauty, made her his wife without asking her father's consent.
+ This so enraged Nicteus that he declared war against Epopeus, in order to
+ compel him to restore Antiope. At his death, which took place before he
+ could succeed in his purpose, Nicteus left his kingdom to his brother
+ Lycus, commanding him, at the same time, to carry on the war, and execute
+ his vengeance. Lycus invaded Sicyon, defeated and killed Epopeus, and
+ brought back <!-- Page 33 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page33"></a>[33]</span>Antiope as a prisoner. On the way to Thebes
+ she gave birth to her twin-sons, Amphion and Zethus, who, by the orders
+ of Lycus, were at once exposed on Mount Cithaeron, and would have
+ perished but for the kindness of a shepherd, who took pity on them and
+ preserved their lives. Antiope was, for many years, held captive by her
+ uncle Lycus, and compelled to suffer the utmost cruelty at the hands of
+ his wife Dirce. But one day her bonds were miraculously loosened, and she
+ flew for shelter and protection to the humble dwelling of her sons on
+ Mount Cithaeron. During the long period of their mother's captivity the
+ babes had grown into sturdy youths, and, as they listened angrily to the
+ story of her wrongs, they became all impatience to avenge them. Setting
+ off at once to Thebes they succeeded in possessing themselves of the
+ town, and after slaying the cruel Lycus they bound Dirce by the hair to
+ the horns of a wild bull, which dragged her hither and thither until she
+ expired. Her mangled body was cast into the fount near Thebes, which
+ still bears her name. Amphion became king of Thebes in his uncle's stead.
+ He was a friend of the Muses, and devoted to music and poetry. His
+ brother, Zethus, was famous for his skill in archery, and was
+ passionately fond of the chase. It is said that when Amphion wished to
+ inclose the town of Thebes with walls and towers, he had but to play a
+ sweet melody on the lyre, given to him by Hermes, and the huge stones
+ began to move, and obediently fitted themselves together.</p>
+
+ <p>The punishment of Dirce at the hands of Amphion and Zethus forms the
+ subject of the world-renowned marble group in the museum at Naples, known
+ by the name of the Farnese Bull.</p>
+
+ <p>In sculpture Amphion is always represented with a lyre; Zethus with a
+ club.</p>
+
+ <p><b>LEDA</b>, whose affections Zeus won under the form of a swan, was
+ the daughter of Thestius, king of Ætolia. Her twin-sons, Castor and
+ (Polydeuces or) Pollux,<a name="NtA_15" href="#Nt_15"><sup>[15]</sup></a>
+ were <!-- Page 34 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page34"></a>[34]</span>renowned for their tender attachment to each
+ other. They were also famous for their physical accomplishments, Castor
+ being the most expert charioteer of his day, and Pollux the first of
+ pugilists. Their names appear both among the hunters of the Calydonian
+ boar-hunt and the heroes of the Argonautic expedition. The brothers
+ became attached to the daughters of Leucippus, prince of the Messenians,
+ who had been betrothed by their father to Idas and Lynceus, sons of
+ Aphareus. Having persuaded Leucippus to break his promise, the twins
+ carried off the maidens as their brides. Idas and Lynceus, naturally
+ furious at this proceeding, challenged the Dioscuri to mortal combat, in
+ which Castor perished by the hand of Idas, and Lynceus by that of Pollux.
+ Zeus wished to confer the gift of immortality upon Pollux, but he refused
+ to accept it unless allowed to share it with Castor. Zeus gave the
+ desired permission, and the faithful brothers were both allowed to live,
+ but only on alternate days. The Dioscuri received divine honours
+ throughout Greece, and were worshipped with special reverence at
+ Sparta.</p>
+
+ <p><b>EUROPA</b> was the beautiful daughter of Agenor, king of
+ Ph&oelig;nicia. She was one day gathering flowers with her companions in
+ a meadow near the sea-shore, when Zeus, charmed with her great beauty,
+ and wishing to win her love, transformed himself into a beautiful white
+ bull, and trotted quietly up to the princess, so as not to alarm her.
+ Surprised at the gentleness of the animal, and admiring its beauty, as it
+ lay placidly on the grass, she caressed it, crowned it with flowers, and,
+ at last, playfully seated herself on its back. Hardly had she done so
+ than the disguised god bounded away with his lovely burden, and swam
+ across the sea with her to the island of Crete.</p>
+
+ <p>Europa was the mother of Minos, Aeacus, and Rhadamanthus. Minos, who
+ became king of Crete, was celebrated for his justice and moderation, and
+ after death he was created one of the judges of the lower world, which
+ office he held in conjunction with his brothers. <!-- Page 35 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page35"></a>[35]</span></p>
+
+ <p><b>CALLISTO</b>, the daughter of Lycaon, king of Arcadia, was a
+ huntress in the train of Artemis, devoted to the pleasures of the chase,
+ who had made a vow never to marry; but Zeus, under the form of the
+ huntress-goddess, succeeded in obtaining her affections. Hera, being
+ extremely jealous of her, changed her into a bear, and caused Artemis
+ (who failed to recognize her attendant under this form) to hunt her in
+ the chase, and put an end to her existence. After her death she was
+ placed by Zeus among the stars as a constellation, under the name of
+ Arctos, or the bear.</p>
+
+ <p><b>ALCMENE</b>, the daughter of Electryon, king of Mycenae, was
+ betrothed to her cousin Amphytrion; but, during his absence on a perilous
+ undertaking, Zeus assumed his form, and obtained her affections. Heracles
+ (whose world-renowned exploits will be related among the legends) was the
+ son of Alcmene and Zeus.</p>
+
+ <p><b>SEMELE</b>, a beautiful princess, the daughter of Cadmus, king of
+ Ph&oelig;nicia, was greatly beloved by Zeus. Like the unfortunate
+ Callisto, she was hated by Hera with jealous malignity, and the haughty
+ queen of heaven determined to effect her destruction. Disguising herself,
+ therefore, as Ber&oelig;, Semele's faithful old nurse, she artfully
+ persuaded her to insist upon Zeus visiting her, as he appeared to Hera,
+ in all his power and glory, well knowing that this would cause her
+ instant death. Semele, suspecting no treachery, followed the advice of
+ her supposed nurse; and the next time Zeus came to her, she earnestly
+ entreated him to grant the favour she was about to ask. Zeus swore by the
+ Styx (which was to the gods an irrevocable oath) to accede to her request
+ whatsoever it might be. Semele, therefore, secure of gaining her
+ petition, begged of Zeus to appear to her in all the glory of his divine
+ power and majesty. As he had sworn to grant whatever she asked of him, he
+ was compelled to comply with her wish; he therefore revealed himself as
+ the mighty lord of the universe, accompanied by thunder and lightning,
+ and she was instantly consumed in the flames. <!-- Page 36 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page36"></a>[36]</span></p>
+
+ <p><b>IO</b>, daughter of Inachus, king of Argos, was a priestess of
+ Hera. She was very beautiful, and Zeus, who was much attached to her,
+ transformed her into a white cow, in order to defeat the jealous
+ intrigues of Hera, who, however, was not to be deceived. Aware of the
+ stratagem, she contrived to obtain the animal from Zeus, and placed her
+ under the watchful care of a man called Argus-Panoptes, who fastened her
+ to an olive-tree in the grove of Hera. He had a hundred eyes, of which,
+ when asleep, he never closed more than two at a time; being thus always
+ on the watch, Hera found him extremely useful in keeping guard over Io.
+ Hermes, however, by the command of Zeus, succeeded in putting all his
+ eyes to sleep with the sound of his magic lyre, and then, taking
+ advantage of his helpless condition, slew him. The story goes, that in
+ commemoration of the services which Argus had rendered her, Hera placed
+ his eyes on the tail of a peacock, as a lasting memorial of her
+ gratitude. Ever fertile in resource, Hera now sent a gadfly to worry and
+ torment the unfortunate Io incessantly, and she wandered all over the
+ world in hopes of escaping from her tormentor. At length she reached
+ Egypt, where she found rest and freedom from the persecutions of her
+ enemy. On the banks of the Nile she resumed her original form and gave
+ birth to a son called Epaphus, who afterwards became king of Egypt, and
+ built the famous city of Memphis.</p>
+
+ <p><b>DANAE.</b>&mdash;Zeus appeared to Danae under the form of a shower
+ of gold. (Further details concerning her will be found in the legend of
+ Perseus.)</p>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p>The Greeks supposed that the divine ruler of the Universe occasionally
+ assumed a human form, and descended from his celestial abode, in order to
+ visit mankind and observe their proceedings, his aim being generally
+ either to punish the guilty, or to reward the deserving.</p>
+
+ <p>On one occasion Zeus, accompanied by Hermes, made a journey through
+ Phrygia, seeking hospitality and shelter wherever they went. But nowhere
+ did they receive a <!-- Page 37 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page37"></a>[37]</span>kindly welcome till they came to the humble
+ cottage of an old man and his wife called Philemon and Baucis, who
+ entertained them with the greatest kindness, setting before them what
+ frugal fare their humble means permitted, and bidding them welcome with
+ unaffected cordiality. Observing in the course of their simple repast
+ that the wine bowl was miraculously replenished, the aged couple became
+ convinced of the divine nature of their guests. The gods now informed
+ them that on account of its wickedness their native place was doomed to
+ destruction, and told them to climb the neighbouring hill with them,
+ which overlooked the village where they dwelt. What was their dismay on
+ beholding at their feet, in place of the spot where they had passed so
+ many happy years together, nothing but a watery plain, the only house to
+ be seen being their own little cottage, which suddenly changed itself
+ into a temple before their eyes. Zeus now asked the worthy pair to name
+ any wish they particularly desired and it should be granted. They
+ accordingly begged that they might serve the gods in the temple below,
+ and end life together.</p>
+
+ <p>Their wish was granted, for, after spending the remainder of their
+ lives in the worship of the gods, they both died at the same instant, and
+ were transformed by Zeus into trees, remaining for ever side by side.</p>
+
+ <p>Upon another occasion Zeus, wishing to ascertain for himself the truth
+ of the reports concerning the atrocious wickedness of mankind, made a
+ journey through Arcadia. Being recognized by the Arcadians as king of
+ heaven, he was received by them with becoming respect and veneration; but
+ Lycaon, their king, who had rendered himself infamous by the gross
+ impiety of himself and his sons, doubted the divinity of Zeus, ridiculed
+ his people for being so easily duped, and, according to his custom of
+ killing all strangers who ventured to trust his hospitality, resolved to
+ murder him. Before executing this wicked design, however, he decided to
+ put Zeus to the test, and having killed a boy for the purpose, placed
+ before him a dish containing human flesh. But Zeus was <!-- Page 38
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page38"></a>[38]</span>not to be
+ deceived. He beheld the revolting dish with horror and loathing, and
+ angrily upsetting the table upon which it was placed, turned Lycaon into
+ a wolf, and destroyed all his fifty sons by lightning, except Nyctimus,
+ who was saved by the intervention of Gæa.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">JUPITER.</p>
+
+ <p>The Roman Jupiter, who is so frequently confounded with the Greek
+ Zeus, is identical with him only as being the head of the Olympic gods,
+ and the presiding deity over Life, Light, and Aërial Phenomena. Jupiter
+ is lord of life in its widest and most comprehensive signification,
+ having absolute power over life and death, in which respect he differed
+ from the Greek Zeus, who was to a certain extent controlled by the
+ all-potent sway of the Moiræ or Fates. Zeus, as we have seen, often
+ condescends to visit mankind, either as a mortal, or under various
+ disguises, whereas Jupiter always remains essentially the supreme god of
+ heaven, and never appears upon earth.</p>
+
+ <p>The most celebrated temple of Jupiter was that on the Capitoline Hill
+ in the city of Rome, where he was worshipped under the names of
+ Jupiter-Optimus-Maximus, Capitolinus, and Tarpeius.</p>
+
+ <p>The Romans represented him seated on a throne of ivory, holding in his
+ right hand a sheaf of thunderbolts, and in his left a sceptre, whilst an
+ eagle stands beside his throne.</p>
+
+<h3>HERA (<span class="sc">Juno</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Hera, the eldest daughter of Cronus and Rhea, was born at Samos, or,
+ according to some accounts, at Argos, and was reared by the
+ sea-divinities Oceanus and Tethys, who were models of conjugal
+ fidelity.<a name="NtA_16" href="#Nt_16"><sup>[16]</sup></a> She was the
+ <!-- Page 39 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page39"></a>[39]</span>principal wife of Zeus, and, as queen of
+ heaven, participated in the honours paid to him, but her dominion only
+ extended over the air (the lower aërial regions). Hera appears to be the
+ sublime embodiment of strict matronly virtue, and is on that account the
+ protectress of purity and married women. Faultless herself in her
+ fidelity as a wife, she is essentially the type of the sanctity of the
+ marriage tie, and holds in abhorrence any violation of its obligations.
+ So strongly was she imbued with this hatred of any immorality, that,
+ finding herself so often called upon to punish the failings of both gods
+ and men in this respect, she became jealous, harsh, and vindictive. Her
+ exalted position as the wife of the supreme deity, combined with her
+ extreme beauty, caused her to become exceedingly vain, and she
+ consequently resented with great severity any infringement on her rights
+ as queen of heaven, or any apparent slight on her personal
+ appearance.</p>
+
+ <p>The following story will signally illustrate how ready she was to
+ resent any slight offered to her.</p>
+
+ <p>At the marriage of the sea-nymph Thetis with a mortal called Peleus,
+ all the gods and goddesses were present, except Eris (the goddess of
+ Discord). Indignant at not being invited, she determined to cause
+ dissension in the assembly, and for this purpose threw into the midst of
+ the guests a golden apple with the inscription on it "For the Fairest."
+ Now, as all the goddesses were extremely beautiful, each claimed the
+ apple; but at length, the rest having relinquished their pretensions, the
+ number of candidates was reduced to three, Hera, Athene, and Aphrodite,
+ who agreed to appeal to Paris for a settlement of this delicate question,
+ he being noted for the wisdom he had displayed in his judgment upon
+ several occasions. Paris was the son of Priam, king of Troy, who,
+ ignorant of his noble birth, was at this time feeding his flocks on Mount
+ Ida, in Phrygia. Hermes, as messenger of the gods, conducted the three
+ rival beauties to the young shepherd, and with breathless anxiety they
+ awaited his decision. Each fair candidate endeavoured <!-- Page 40
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page40"></a>[40]</span>to secure his
+ favour by the most tempting offers. Hera promised him extensive
+ dominions; Athene, martial fame and glory; and Aphrodite, the loveliest
+ woman in the world. But whether he really considered Aphrodite the
+ fairest of the three, or preferred a beautiful wife to fame and power, we
+ cannot tell; all we know is that to her he awarded the golden apple, and
+ she became ever after universally acknowledged as the goddess of beauty.
+ Hera, having fully expected that Paris would give her the preference, was
+ so indignant that she never forgave him, and not only persecuted him, but
+ all the family of Priam, whose dreadful sufferings and misfortunes during
+ the Trojan war were attributed to her influence. In fact, she carried her
+ animosity to such an extent that it was often the cause of domestic
+ disagreements between herself and Zeus, who espoused the cause of the
+ Trojans.</p>
+
+ <p>Among the many stories of these frequent quarrels there is one
+ connected with Heracles, the favourite son of Zeus, which is as
+ follows:&mdash;Hera having raised a storm at sea in order to drive him
+ out of his course, Zeus became so angry that he hung her in the clouds by
+ a golden chain, and attached heavy anvils to her feet. Her son Hephæstus
+ tried to release his mother from her humiliating position, for which Zeus
+ threw him out of heaven, and his leg was broken by the fall.</p>
+
+ <p>Hera, being deeply offended with Zeus, determined to separate herself
+ from him for ever, and she accordingly left him and took up her abode in
+ Eub&oelig;a. Surprised and grieved at this unlooked-for desertion, Zeus
+ resolved to leave no means untried to win her back again. In this
+ emergency he consulted Cithaeron, king of Platea, who was famed for his
+ great wisdom and subtlety. Cithaeron advised him to dress up an image in
+ bridal attire and place it in a chariot, announcing that this was Platea,
+ his future wife. The artifice succeeded. Hera, incensed at the idea of a
+ rival, flew to meet the procession in great anger, and seizing the
+ supposed bride, she furiously attacked her and dragged off her nuptial
+ attire. Her delight on discovering the deception was so great that a <!--
+ Page 41 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page41"></a>[41]</span>reconciliation took place, and, committing
+ the image to the flames, with joyful laughter she seated herself in its
+ place and returned to Olympus.</p>
+
+ <p>Hera was the mother of Ares (Mars), Hephæstus, Hebe, and Eileithyia.
+ Ares was the god of War; Hephæstus, of Fire; Hebe, of Youth; and
+ Eileithyia presided over the birth of mortals.</p>
+
+ <p>Hera dearly loved Greece, and indeed always watched over and protected
+ Greek interests, her beloved and favourite cities being Argos, Samos,
+ Sparta, and Mycenæ.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0041-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0041-1.png"
+ alt="Hera" title="Hera" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Her principal temples were at Argos and Samos. From a remote period
+ she was greatly venerated at Olympia, and her temple there, which stood
+ in the Altis or sacred grove, was five hundred years older than that of
+ Zeus on the same spot. Some interesting excavations which are now going
+ on there have brought to light the remains of the ancient edifice, which
+ contains among other treasures of antiquity several beautiful statues,
+ the work of the famous sculptors of ancient Greece. At first this temple
+ was built of wood, then of stone, and the one lately discovered was
+ formed of conglomerate of shells.</p>
+
+ <p>In the Altis races were run by young maidens in honour of Hera, and
+ the fleetest of foot received in token of her victory an olive-wreath and
+ a piece of the flesh of the sacrifices. These races, like the Olympic
+ Games, were celebrated at intervals of four years, and were called Heræ.
+ A beautiful robe, woven by sixteen women chosen from the sixteen cities
+ of Elis, was always offered to Hera on these <!-- Page 42 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page42"></a>[42]</span>occasions, and choral
+ songs and sacred dances formed part of the ceremonies.</p>
+
+ <p>Hera is usually represented seated on a throne, holding a pomegranate
+ in one hand and a sceptre surmounted by a cuckoo in the other. She
+ appears as a calm, dignified matron of majestic beauty, robed in a tunic
+ and mantle, her forehead is broad and intellectual, her eyes large and
+ fully opened, and her arms dazzlingly white and finely moulded.</p>
+
+ <p>The finest statue of this divinity was that by Polycletus at
+ Argos.</p>
+
+ <p>Her attributes are the diadem, veil, sceptre, and peacock.</p>
+
+ <p>The first day of every month a ewe-lamb and sow were sacrificed to
+ Hera. The hawk, goose, and more particularly the peacock<a name="NtA_17"
+ href="#Nt_17"><sup>[17]</sup></a> were sacred to her. Flocks of these
+ beautiful birds generally surround her throne and draw her chariot, Iris,
+ the Rainbow, being seated behind her.</p>
+
+ <p>Her favourite flowers were the dittany, poppy, and lily.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">JUNO.</p>
+
+ <p>Juno, the Roman divinity supposed to be identical with the Greek Hera,
+ differed from her in the most salient points, for whereas Hera invariably
+ appears as the haughty, unbending queen of heaven, Juno, on the other
+ hand, is revered and beloved as the type of a matron and housewife. She
+ was worshipped in Rome under various titles, most of which point to her
+ vocation as the protectress of married women. Juno was believed to watch
+ over and guard the life of every woman from her birth to her death. The
+ principal temples dedicated to her were in Rome, one being erected on the
+ Aventine, and the other on the Capitoline Hill. She had also a temple on
+ the Arx, in which she was worshipped as Juno Moneta, or the <!-- Page 43
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page43"></a>[43]</span>warning goddess.
+ Adjacent to this shrine was the public mint.<a name="NtA_18"
+ href="#Nt_18"><sup>[18]</sup></a> On the 1st of March a grand annual
+ festival, called the Matronalia, was celebrated in her honour by all the
+ married women of Rome, and this religious institution was accompanied
+ with much solemnity.<a name="NtA_19"
+ href="#Nt_19"><sup>[19]</sup></a></p>
+
+<h3>PALLAS-ATHENE (<span class="sc">Minerva</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Pallas-Athene, goddess of Wisdom and Armed Resistance, was a purely
+ Greek divinity; that is to say, no other nation possessed a corresponding
+ conception. She was supposed, as already related, to have issued from the
+ head of Zeus himself, clad in armour from head to foot. The miraculous
+ advent of this maiden goddess is beautifully described by Homer in one of
+ his hymns: snow-capped Olympus shook to its foundation; the glad earth
+ re-echoed her martial shout; the billowy sea became agitated; and Helios,
+ the sun-god, arrested his fiery steeds in their headlong course to
+ welcome this wonderful emanation from the godhead. Athene was at once
+ admitted into the assembly of the gods, and henceforth took her place as
+ the most faithful and sagacious of all her father's counsellors. This
+ brave, dauntless maiden, so exactly the essence of all that is noble in
+ the character of "the father of gods and men," remained throughout chaste
+ in word and deed, and kind at heart, without exhibiting any of those
+ failings which somewhat mar the nobler features in the character of Zeus.
+ This direct emanation from his own self, justly his favourite child, his
+ better and purer counterpart, received from him several important
+ prerogatives. She was permitted to hurl the thunderbolts, to prolong the
+ life of man, and to bestow the gift of prophecy; in fact Athene was the
+ only divinity whose authority was equal to that of Zeus himself, and when
+ he had ceased to visit the earth in person <!-- Page 44 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page44"></a>[44]</span>she was empowered by him
+ to act as his deputy. It was her especial duty to protect the state and
+ all peaceful associations of mankind, which she possessed the power of
+ defending when occasion required. She encouraged the maintenance of law
+ and order, and defended the right on all occasions, for which reason, in
+ the Trojan war she espouses the cause of the Greeks and exerts all her
+ influence on their behalf. The Areopagus, a court of justice where
+ religious causes and murders were tried, was believed to have been
+ instituted by her, and when both sides happened to have an equal number
+ of votes she gave the casting-vote in favour of the accused. She was the
+ patroness of learning, science, and art, more particularly where these
+ contributed directly towards the welfare of nations. She presided over
+ all inventions connected with agriculture, invented the plough, and
+ taught mankind how to use oxen for farming purposes. She also instructed
+ mankind in the use of numbers, trumpets, chariots, &amp;c., and presided
+ over the building of the Argo,<a name="NtA_20"
+ href="#Nt_20"><sup>[20]</sup></a> thereby encouraging the useful art of
+ navigation. She also taught the Greeks how to build the wooden horse by
+ means of which the destruction of Troy was effected.</p>
+
+ <p>The safety of cities depended on her care, for which reason her
+ temples were generally built on the citadels, and she was supposed to
+ watch over the defence of the walls, fortifications, harbours, &amp;c. A
+ divinity who so faithfully guarded the best interests of the state, by
+ not only protecting it from the attacks of enemies, but also by
+ developing its chief resources of wealth and prosperity, was worthily
+ chosen as the presiding deity of the state, and in this character as an
+ essentially political goddess she was called Athene-Polias.</p>
+
+ <p>The fact of Athene having been born clad in armour, which merely
+ signified that her virtue and purity were unassailable, has given rise to
+ the erroneous supposition that she was the presiding goddess of war; but
+ a deeper <!-- Page 45 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page45"></a>[45]</span>study of her character in all its bearings
+ proves that, in contradistinction to her brother Ares, the god of war,
+ who loved strife for its own sake, she only takes up arms to protect the
+ innocent and deserving against tyrannical oppression. It is true that in
+ the Iliad we frequently see her on the battlefield fighting valiantly,
+ and protecting her favourite heroes; but this is always at the command of
+ Zeus, who even supplies her with arms for the purpose, as it is supposed
+ that she possessed none of her own. A marked feature in the
+ representations of this deity is the ægis, that wonderful shield given to
+ her by her father as a further means of defence, which, when in danger,
+ she swung so swiftly round and round that it kept at a distance all
+ antagonistic influences; hence her name Pallas, from <i>pallo</i>, I
+ swing. In the centre of this shield, which was covered with dragon's
+ scales, bordered with serpents, and which she sometimes wore as a
+ breastplate, was the awe-inspiring head of the Medusa, which had the
+ effect of turning to stone all beholders.</p>
+
+ <p>In addition to the many functions which she exercised in connection
+ with the state, Athene presided over the two chief departments of
+ feminine industry, spinning and weaving. In the latter art she herself
+ displayed unrivalled ability and exquisite taste. She wove her own robe
+ and that of Hera, which last she is said to have embroidered very richly;
+ she also gave Jason a cloak wrought by herself, when he set forth in
+ quest of the Golden Fleece. Being on one occasion challenged to a contest
+ in this accomplishment by a mortal maiden named Arachne, whom she had
+ instructed in the art of weaving, she accepted the challenge and was
+ completely vanquished by her pupil. Angry at her defeat, she struck the
+ unfortunate maiden on the forehead with the shuttle which she held in her
+ hand; and Arachne, being of a sensitive nature, was so hurt by this
+ indignity that she hung herself in despair, and was changed by Athene
+ into a spider. This goddess is said to have invented the flute,<a
+ name="NtA_21" href="#Nt_21"><sup>[21]</sup></a> upon <!-- Page 46
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page46"></a>[46]</span>which she played
+ with considerable talent, until one day, being laughed at by the
+ assembled gods and goddesses for the contortions which her countenance
+ assumed during these musical efforts, she hastily ran to a fountain in
+ order to convince herself whether she deserved their ridicule. Finding to
+ her intense disgust that such was indeed the fact, she threw the flute
+ away, and never raised it to her lips again.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0046-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0046-1.png"
+ alt="Athene" title="Athene" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Athene is usually represented fully draped; she has a serious and
+ thoughtful aspect, as though replete with earnestness and wisdom; the
+ beautiful oval contour of her countenance is adorned by the luxuriance of
+ her wealth of hair, which is drawn back from the temples and hangs down
+ in careless grace; she looks the embodiment of strength, grandeur, and
+ majesty; whilst her broad shoulders and small hips give her a slightly
+ masculine appearance.</p>
+
+ <p>When represented as the war-goddess she appears clad in armour, with a
+ helmet on her head, from which waves a large plume; she carries the ægis
+ on her arm, and in her hand a golden staff, which possessed the property
+ of endowing her chosen favourites with youth and dignity.</p>
+
+ <p>Athene was universally worshipped throughout Greece, but was regarded
+ with special veneration by the Athenians, she being the guardian deity of
+ Athens. Her most celebrated temple was the Parthenon, which stood on the
+ <!-- Page 47 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page47"></a>[47]</span>Acropolis at Athens, and contained her
+ world-renowned statue by Phidias, which ranks second only to that of Zeus
+ by the same great artist. This colossal statue was 39 feet high, and was
+ composed of ivory and gold; its majestic beauty formed the chief
+ attraction of the temple. It represented her standing erect, bearing her
+ spear and shield; in her hand she held an image of Nike, and at her feet
+ there lay a serpent.</p>
+
+ <p>The tree sacred to her was the olive, which she herself produced in a
+ contest with Poseidon. The olive-tree thus called into existence was
+ preserved in the temple of Erectheus, on the Acropolis, and is said to
+ have possessed such marvellous vitality, that when the Persians burned it
+ after sacking the town it immediately burst forth into new shoots.</p>
+
+ <p>The principal festival held in honour of this divinity was the
+ Panathenæa.</p>
+
+ <p>The owl, cock, and serpent were the animals sacred to her, and her
+ sacrifices were rams, bulls, and cows.</p>
+
+ <div class="figright" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0047-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0047-1.png"
+ alt="Minerva" title="Minerva" /></a>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead">MINERVA.</p>
+
+ <p>The Minerva of the Romans was identified with the Pallas-Athene of the
+ Greeks. Like her she presides over learning and all useful arts, and is
+ the patroness of the feminine accomplishments of sewing, spinning,
+ weaving, &amp;c. Schools were under her especial care, and schoolboys,
+ therefore, had holidays during her festivals (the Greater Quinquatria),
+ when they always brought a gift to their master, called the Minerval.</p>
+
+ <p>It is worthy of notice that the only three divinities <!-- Page 48
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page48"></a>[48]</span>worshipped in
+ the Capitol were Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, and in their joint honour
+ the Ludi Maximi or great games were held.</p>
+
+<h3>THEMIS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Themis, who has already been alluded to as the wife of Zeus, was the
+ daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and personified those divine laws of justice
+ and order by means of which the well-being and morality of communities
+ are regulated. She presided over the assemblies of the people and the
+ laws of hospitality. To her was intrusted the office of convoking the
+ assembly of the gods, and she was also mistress of ritual and ceremony.
+ On account of her great wisdom Zeus himself frequently sought her counsel
+ and acted upon her advice. Themis was a prophetic divinity, and had an
+ oracle near the river Cephissus in B&oelig;otia.</p>
+
+ <p>She is usually represented as being in the full maturity of womanhood,
+ of fair aspect, and wearing a flowing garment, which drapes her noble,
+ majestic form; in her right hand she holds the sword of justice, and in
+ her left the scales, which indicate the impartiality with which every
+ cause is carefully weighed by her, her eyes being bandaged so that the
+ personality of the individual should carry no weight with respect to the
+ verdict.</p>
+
+ <p>This divinity is sometimes identified with Tyche, sometimes with
+ Ananke.</p>
+
+ <p>Themis, like so many other Greek divinities, takes the place of a more
+ ancient deity of the same name who was a daughter of Uranus and Gæa. This
+ elder Themis inherited from her mother the gift of prophecy, and when she
+ became merged into her younger representative she transmitted to her this
+ prophetic power.</p>
+
+<h3>HESTIA (Vesta).</h3>
+
+ <p>Hestia was the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. She was the goddess of
+ Fire in its first application to the wants of mankind, hence she was
+ essentially the presiding deity <!-- Page 49 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page49"></a>[49]</span>of the domestic hearth and the guardian
+ spirit of man, and it was her pure and benign influence which was
+ supposed to protect the sanctity of domestic life.</p>
+
+ <p>Now in these early ages the hearth was regarded as the most important
+ and most sacred portion of the dwelling, probably because the protection
+ of the fire was an important consideration, for if once permitted to
+ become extinct, re-ignition was attended with extreme difficulty. In
+ fact, the hearth was held so sacred that it constituted the sanctum of
+ the family, for which reason it was always erected in the centre of every
+ house. It was a few feet in height and was built of stone; the fire was
+ placed on the top of it, and served the double purpose of preparing the
+ daily meals, and consuming the family sacrifices. Round this domestic
+ hearth or altar were gathered the various members of the family, the head
+ of the house occupying the place of honour nearest the hearth. Here
+ prayers were said and sacrifices offered, and here also every kind and
+ loving feeling was fostered, which even extended to the hunted and guilty
+ stranger, who, if he once succeeded in touching this sacred altar, was
+ safe from pursuit and punishment, and was henceforth placed under the
+ protection of the family. Any crime committed within the sacred precincts
+ of the domestic hearth was invariably visited by death.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0050-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0050-1.png"
+ alt="Vesta" title="Vesta" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>In Grecian cities there was a common hall, called the Prytaneum, in
+ which the members of the government had their meals at the expense of the
+ state, and here too was the Hestia, or public hearth, with its fire, by
+ means of which those meals were prepared. It was customary for emigrants
+ to take with them a portion of this sacred fire, which they jealously
+ guarded and brought with them to their new home, where it served as a
+ connecting link between the young Greek colony and the mother country.
+ Hestia is generally represented standing, and in accordance with the
+ dignity and sanctity of her character, always appears fully draped. Her
+ countenance is distinguished by a serene gravity of expression. <!-- Page
+ 50 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page50"></a>[50]</span></p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">VESTA.</p>
+
+ <p>Vesta occupies a distinguished place among the earlier divinities of
+ the Romans. Her temple in Rome, containing as it were the hearthstone of
+ the nation, stood close beside the palace of Numa Pompilius.</p>
+
+ <p>On her altar burned the never-ceasing fire, which was tended by her
+ priestesses, the Vestal Virgins.<a name="NtA_22"
+ href="#Nt_22"><sup>[22]</sup></a></p>
+
+ <p>The temple of Vesta was circular in form, and contained that sacred
+ and highly prized treasure the Palladium of Troy.<a name="NtA_23"
+ href="#Nt_23"><sup>[23]</sup></a></p>
+
+ <p>The great festival in honour of Vesta, called the Vestalia, was
+ celebrated on the 9th of June.</p>
+
+<h3>DEMETER (Ceres).</h3>
+
+ <p>Demeter (from <i>Ge-meter</i>, earth-mother) was the daughter of
+ Cronus and Rhea.<a name="NtA_24" href="#Nt_24"><sup>[24]</sup></a> She
+ represented that portion of Gæa (the whole solid earth) which we call the
+ earth's crust, and which produces all vegetation. As goddess of
+ agriculture, field-fruits, plenty, and productiveness, she was the
+ sustainer of material life, and was therefore a divinity of great
+ importance. When ancient Gæa lost, with Uranus, her position as a ruling
+ divinity, she abdicated her sway in favour of her daughter Rhea, who
+ henceforth inherited the powers which her mother had previously
+ possessed, receiving in her place the honour and worship of mankind. In a
+ very old poem Gæa is accordingly described as retiring to a cavern in the
+ bowels <!-- Page 51 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page51"></a>[51]</span>of the earth, where she sits in the lap of
+ her daughter, slumbering, moaning, and nodding for ever and ever.</p>
+
+ <p>It is necessary to keep clearly in view the distinctive difference
+ between the three great earth-goddesses Gæa, Rhea, and Demeter. Gæa
+ represents the earth as a whole, with its mighty subterranean forces;
+ Rhea is that productive power which causes vegetation to spring forth,
+ thus sustaining men and animals; Demeter, by presiding over agriculture,
+ directs and utilizes Rhea's productive powers. But in later times, when
+ Rhea, like other ancient divinities, loses her importance as a ruling
+ deity, Demeter assumes all her functions and attributes, and then becomes
+ the goddess of the life-producing and life-maintaining earth-crust. We
+ must bear in mind the fact that man in his primitive state knew neither
+ how to sow nor how to till the ground; when, therefore, he had exhausted
+ the pastures which surrounded him he was compelled to seek others which
+ were as yet unreaped; thus, roaming constantly from one place to another,
+ settled habitations, and consequently civilizing influences, were
+ impossible. Demeter, however, by introducing a knowledge of agriculture,
+ put an end, at once and for ever, to that nomadic life which was now no
+ longer necessary.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0051-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0051-1.png"
+ alt="Demeter" title="Demeter" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>The favour of Demeter was believed to bring mankind rich harvests and
+ fruitful crops, whereas her displeasure caused blight, drought, and
+ famine. The island of Sicily was supposed to be under her especial
+ protection, and there she was regarded with particular veneration, the
+ Sicilians naturally attributing the wonderful fertility of their country
+ to the partiality of the goddess.</p>
+
+ <p>Demeter is usually represented as a woman of noble <!-- Page 52
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page52"></a>[52]</span>bearing and
+ majestic appearance, tall, matronly, and dignified, with beautiful golden
+ hair, which falls in rippling curls over her stately shoulders, the
+ yellow locks being emblematical of the ripened ears of corn. Sometimes
+ she appears seated in a chariot drawn by winged dragons, at others she
+ stands erect, her figure drawn up to its full height, and always fully
+ draped; she bears a sheaf of wheat-ears in one hand and a lighted torch
+ in the other. The wheat-ears are not unfrequently replaced by a bunch of
+ poppies, with which her brows are also garlanded, though sometimes she
+ merely wears a simple riband in her hair.</p>
+
+ <p>Demeter, as the wife of Zeus, became the mother of Persephone
+ (Proserpine), to whom she was so tenderly attached that her whole life
+ was bound up in her, and she knew no happiness except in her society. One
+ day, however, whilst Persephone was gathering flowers in a meadow,
+ attended by the ocean-nymphs, she saw to her surprise a beautiful
+ narcissus, from the stem of which sprang forth a hundred blossoms.
+ Drawing near to examine this lovely flower, whose exquisite scent
+ perfumed the air, she stooped down to gather it, suspecting no evil, when
+ a yawning abyss opened at her feet, and Aïdes, the grim ruler of the
+ lower world, appeared from its depths, seated in his dazzling chariot
+ drawn by four black horses. Regardless of her tears and the shrieks of
+ her female attendants, Aïdes seized the terrified maiden, and bore her
+ away to the gloomy realms over which he reigned in melancholy grandeur.
+ Helios, the all-seeing sun-god, and Hecate, a mysterious and very ancient
+ divinity, alone heard her cries for aid, but were powerless to help her.
+ When Demeter became conscious of her loss her grief was intense, and she
+ refused to be comforted. She knew not where to seek for her child, but
+ feeling that repose and inaction were impossible, she set out on her
+ weary search, taking with her two torches which she lighted in the flames
+ of Mount Etna to guide her on her way. For nine long days and nights she
+ wandered on, inquiring of every one she met for tidings of her child.
+ <!-- Page 53 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page53"></a>[53]</span>But
+ all was in vain! Neither gods nor men could give her the comfort which
+ her soul so hungered for. At last, on the tenth day, the disconsolate
+ mother met Hecate, who informed her that she had heard her daughter's
+ cries, but knew not who it was that had borne her away. By Hecate's
+ advice Demeter consulted Helios, whose all-seeing eye nothing escapes,
+ and from him she learnt that it was Zeus himself who had permitted Aïdes
+ to seize Persephone, and transport her to the lower world in order that
+ she might become his wife. Indignant with Zeus for having given his
+ sanction to the abduction of his daughter, and filled with the bitterest
+ sorrow, she abandoned her home in Olympus, and refused all heavenly food.
+ Disguising herself as an old woman, she descended upon earth, and
+ commenced a weary pilgrimage among mankind. One evening she arrived at a
+ place called Eleusis, in Attica, and sat down to rest herself near a well
+ beneath the shade of an olive-tree. The youthful daughters of Celeus, the
+ king of the country, came with their pails of brass to draw water from
+ this well, and seeing that the tired wayfarer appeared faint and
+ dispirited, they spoke kindly to her, asking who she was, and whence she
+ came. Demeter replied that she had made her escape from pirates, who had
+ captured her, and added that she would feel grateful for a home with any
+ worthy family, whom she would be willing to serve in a menial capacity.
+ The princesses, on hearing this, begged Demeter to have a moment's
+ patience while they returned home and consulted their mother, Metaneira.
+ They soon brought the joyful intelligence that she was desirous of
+ securing her services as nurse to her infant son Demophoon, or
+ Triptolemus. When Demeter arrived at the house a radiant light suddenly
+ illumined her, which circumstance so overawed Metaneira that she treated
+ the unknown stranger with the greatest respect, and hospitably offered
+ her food and drink. But Demeter, still grief-worn and dejected, refused
+ her friendly offers, and held herself apart from the social board. At
+ length, however, the maid-servant Iambe succeeded, by means <!-- Page 54
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page54"></a>[54]</span>of playful jests
+ and merriment, in somewhat dispelling the grief of the sorrowing mother,
+ causing her at times to smile in spite of herself, and even inducing her
+ to partake of a mixture of barley-meal, mint, and water, which was
+ prepared according to the directions of the goddess herself. Time passed
+ on, and the young child throve amazingly under the care of his kind and
+ judicious nurse, who, however, gave him no food, but anointed him daily
+ with ambrosia, and every night laid him secretly in the fire in order to
+ render him immortal and exempt from old age. But, unfortunately, this
+ benevolent design on the part of Demeter was frustrated by Metaneira
+ herself, whose curiosity, one night, impelled her to watch the
+ proceedings of the mysterious being who nursed her child. When to her
+ horror she beheld her son placed in the flames, she shrieked aloud.
+ Demeter, incensed at this untimely interruption, instantly withdrew the
+ child, and throwing him on the ground, revealed herself in her true
+ character. The bent and aged form had vanished, and in its place there
+ stood a bright and beauteous being, whose golden locks streamed over her
+ shoulders in richest luxuriance, her whole aspect bespeaking dignity and
+ majesty. She told the awe-struck Metaneira that she was the goddess
+ Demeter, and had intended to make her son immortal, but that her fatal
+ curiosity had rendered this impossible, adding, however, that the child,
+ having slept in her arms, and been nursed on her lap, should ever command
+ the respect and esteem of mankind. She then desired that a temple and
+ altar should be erected to her on a neighbouring hill by the people of
+ Eleusis, promising that she herself would direct them how to perform the
+ sacred rites and ceremonies, which should be observed in her honour. With
+ these words she took her departure never to return.</p>
+
+ <p>Obedient to her commands, Celeus called together a meeting of his
+ people, and built the temple on the spot which the goddess had indicated.
+ It was soon completed, and Demeter took up her abode in it, but her heart
+ was still sad for the loss of her daughter, and the whole world felt the
+ influence of her grief and dejection. This was <!-- Page 55 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page55"></a>[55]</span>indeed a terrible year
+ for mankind. Demeter no longer smiled on the earth she was wont to bless,
+ and though the husbandman sowed the grain, and the groaning oxen ploughed
+ the fields, no harvest rewarded their labour. All was barren, dreary
+ desolation. The world was threatened with famine, and the gods with the
+ loss of their accustomed honours and sacrifices; it became evident,
+ therefore, to Zeus himself that some measures must be adopted to appease
+ the anger of the goddess. He accordingly despatched Iris and many of the
+ other gods and goddesses to implore Demeter to return to Olympus; but all
+ their prayers were fruitless. The incensed goddess swore that until her
+ daughter was restored to her she would not allow the grain to spring
+ forth from the earth. At length Zeus sent Hermes, his faithful messenger,
+ to the lower world with a petition to Aïdes, urgently entreating him to
+ restore Persephone to the arms of her disconsolate mother. When he
+ arrived in the gloomy realms of Aïdes, Hermes found him seated on a
+ throne with the beautiful Persephone beside him, sorrowfully bewailing
+ her unhappy fate. On learning his errand, Aïdes consented to resign
+ Persephone, who joyfully prepared to follow the messenger of the gods to
+ the abode of life and light. Before taking leave of her husband, he
+ presented to her a few seeds of pomegranate, which in her excitement she
+ thoughtlessly swallowed, and this simple act, as the sequel will show,
+ materially affected her whole future life. The meeting between mother and
+ child was one of unmixed rapture, and for the moment all the past was
+ forgotten. The loving mother's happiness would now have been complete had
+ not Aïdes asserted his rights. These were, that if any immortal had
+ tasted food in his realms they were bound to remain there for ever. Of
+ course the ruler of the lower world had to prove this assertion. This,
+ however, he found no difficulty in doing, as Ascalaphus, the son of
+ Acheron and Orphne, was his witness to the fact.<a name="NtA_25"
+ href="#Nt_25"><sup>[25]</sup></a> Zeus, pitying the disappointment of
+ Demeter at finding <!-- Page 56 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page56"></a>[56]</span>her hopes thus blighted, succeeded in
+ effecting a compromise by inducing his brother Aïdes to allow Persephone
+ to spend six months of the year with the gods above, whilst during the
+ other six she was to be the joyless companion of her grim lord below.
+ Accompanied by her daughter, the beautiful Persephone, Demeter now
+ resumed her long-abandoned dwelling in Olympus; the sympathetic earth
+ responded gaily to her bright smiles, the corn at once sprang forth from
+ the ground in fullest plenty, the trees, which late were sered and bare,
+ now donned their brightest emerald robes, and the flowers, so long
+ imprisoned in the hard, dry soil, filled the whole air with their
+ fragrant perfume. Thus ends this charming story, which was a favourite
+ theme with all the classic authors.</p>
+
+ <p>It is very possible that the poets who first created this graceful
+ myth merely intended it as an allegory to illustrate the change of
+ seasons; in the course of time, however, a literal meaning became
+ attached to this and similar poetical fancies, and thus the people of
+ Greece came to regard as an article of religious belief what, in the
+ first instance, was nothing more than a poetic simile.</p>
+
+ <p>In the temple erected to Demeter at Eleusis, the famous Eleusinian
+ Mysteries were instituted by the goddess herself. It is exceedingly
+ difficult, as in the case of all secret societies, to discover anything
+ with certainty concerning these sacred rites. The most plausible
+ supposition is that the doctrines taught by the priests to the favoured
+ few whom they initiated, were religious truths which were deemed unfit
+ for the uninstructed mind of the multitude. For instance, it is supposed
+ that the myth of Demeter and Persephone was explained by the teachers of
+ the Mysteries to signify the temporary loss which mother earth sustains
+ every year when the icy breath of winter robs her of her flowers and
+ fruits and grain.</p>
+
+ <p>It is believed that in later times a still deeper meaning was conveyed
+ by this beautiful myth, viz., the doctrine of the immortality of the
+ soul. The grain, which, as it were, remains dead for a time in the dark
+ earth, only <!-- Page 57 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page57"></a>[57]</span>to rise one day dressed in a newer and
+ lovelier garb, was supposed to symbolize the soul, which, after death,
+ frees itself from corruption, to live again under a better and purer
+ form.</p>
+
+ <p>When Demeter instituted the Eleusinian Mysteries, Celeus and his
+ family were the first to be initiated, Celeus himself being appointed
+ high-priest. His son Triptolemus and his daughters, who acted as
+ priestesses, assisted him in the duties of his sacred office. The
+ Mysteries were celebrated by the Athenians every five years, and were,
+ for a long time, their exclusive privilege. They took place by
+ torchlight, and were conducted with the greatest solemnity.</p>
+
+ <p>In order to spread abroad the blessings which agriculture confers,
+ Demeter presented Triptolemus with her chariot drawn by winged dragons,
+ and, giving him some grains of corn, desired him to journey through the
+ world, teaching mankind the arts of agriculture and husbandry.</p>
+
+ <div class="figright" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0058-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0058-1.png"
+ alt="Ceres" title="Ceres" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Demeter exercised great severity towards those who incurred her
+ displeasure. We find examples of this in the stories of Stellio and
+ Eresicthon. Stellio was a youth who ridiculed the goddess for the
+ eagerness with which she was eating a bowl of porridge, when weary and
+ faint in the vain search for her daughter. Resolved that he should never
+ again have an opportunity of thus offending, she angrily threw into his
+ face the remainder of the food, and changed him into a spotted
+ lizard.</p>
+
+ <p>Eresicthon, son of Triopas, had drawn upon himself the anger of
+ Demeter by cutting down her sacred groves, for which she punished him
+ with a constant and insatiable hunger. He sold all his possessions in
+ order to satisfy his cravings, and was forced at last to devour his own
+ limbs. His daughter Metra, who was devotedly attached to him, possessed
+ the power of transforming herself into a variety of different animals. By
+ this means she contrived to support her father, who sold her again and
+ again each time she assumed a different form, and thus he dragged on a
+ pitiful existence. <!-- Page 58 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page58"></a>[58]</span></p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">CERES.</p>
+
+ <p>The Roman Ceres is actually the Greek Demeter under another name, her
+ attributes, worship, festivals, &amp;c., being precisely identical.</p>
+
+ <p>The Romans were indebted to Sicily for this divinity, her worship
+ having been introduced by the Greek colonists who settled there.</p>
+
+ <p>The Cerealia, or festivals in honour of Ceres, commenced on the 12th
+ of April, and lasted several days.</p>
+
+<h3>APHRODITE (<span class="sc">Venus</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Aphrodite (from <i>aphros</i>, sea-foam, and <i>dite</i>, issued), the
+ daughter of Zeus and a sea-nymph called Dione, was the goddess of Love
+ and Beauty.</p>
+
+ <p>Dione, being a sea-nymph, gave birth to her daughter beneath the
+ waves; but the child of the heaven-inhabiting Zeus was forced to ascend
+ from the ocean-depths and mount to the snow-capped summits of Olympus, in
+ order to breathe that ethereal and most refined atmosphere which pertains
+ to the celestial gods.</p>
+
+ <p>Aphrodite was the mother of Eros (Cupid), the god of Love, also of
+ Æneas, the great Trojan hero and the head of that Greek colony which
+ settled in Italy, and from which arose the city of Rome. As a mother
+ Aphrodite claims our sympathy for the tenderness she exhibits towards her
+ children. Homer tells us in his Iliad, how, when Æneas was wounded in
+ battle, she came to his assistance, regardless of personal danger, and
+ was herself severely wounded in attempting to save his life. <!-- Page 59
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page59"></a>[59]</span></p>
+
+ <p>Aphrodite was tenderly attached to a lovely youth, called Adonis,
+ whose exquisite beauty has become proverbial. He was a motherless babe,
+ and Aphrodite, taking pity on him, placed him in a chest and intrusted
+ him to the care of Persephone, who became so fond of the beautiful youth
+ that she refused to part with him. Zeus, being appealed to by the rival
+ foster-mothers, decided that Adonis should spend four months of every
+ year with Persephone, four with Aphrodite, whilst during the remaining
+ four months he should be left to his own devices. He became, however, so
+ attached to Aphrodite that he voluntarily devoted to her the time at his
+ own disposal. Adonis was killed, during the chase, by a wild boar, to the
+ great grief of Aphrodite, who bemoaned his loss so persistently that
+ Aïdes, moved with pity, permitted him to pass six months of every year
+ with her, whilst the remaining half of the year was spent by him in the
+ lower world.</p>
+
+ <p>Aphrodite possessed a magic girdle (the famous <i>cestus</i>) which
+ she frequently lent to unhappy maidens suffering from the pangs of
+ unrequited love, as it was endowed with the power of inspiring affection
+ for the wearer, whom it invested with every attribute of grace, beauty,
+ and fascination.</p>
+
+ <p>Her usual attendants are the Charites or Graces (Euphrosyne, Aglaia,
+ and Thalia), who are represented undraped and intertwined in a loving
+ embrace.</p>
+
+ <p>In Hesiod's <i>Theogony</i> she is supposed to belong to the more
+ ancient divinities, and, whilst those of later date are represented as
+ having descended one from another, and all more or less from Zeus,
+ Aphrodite has a variously-accounted-for, yet independent origin.</p>
+
+ <p>The most poetical version of her birth is that when Uranus was wounded
+ by his son Cronus, his blood mingled with the foam of the sea, whereupon
+ the bubbling waters at once assumed a rosy tint, and from their depths
+ arose, in all the surpassing glory of her loveliness, Aphrodite, goddess
+ of love and beauty! Shaking her long, fair tresses, the water-drops
+ rolled down into the beautiful <!-- Page 60 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page60"></a>[60]</span>sea-shell in which she stood, and became
+ transformed into pure glistening pearls. Wafted by the soft and balmy
+ breezes, she floated on to Cythera, and was thence transported to the
+ island of Cyprus. Lightly she stepped on shore, and under the gentle
+ pressure of her delicate foot the dry and rigid sand became transformed
+ into a verdant meadow, where every varied shade of colour and every sweet
+ odour charmed the senses. The whole island of Cyprus became clothed with
+ verdure, and greeted this fairest of all created beings with a glad smile
+ of friendly welcome. Here she was received by the Seasons, who decked her
+ with garments of immortal fabric, encircling her fair brow with a wreath
+ of purest gold, whilst from her ears depended costly rings, and a
+ glittering chain embraced her swan-like throat. And now, arrayed in all
+ the panoply of her irresistible charms, the nymphs escort her to the
+ dazzling halls of Olympus, where she is received with ecstatic enthusiasm
+ by the admiring gods and goddesses. The gods all vied with each other in
+ aspiring to the honour of her hand, but Hephæstus became the envied
+ possessor of this lovely being, who, however, proved as faithless as she
+ was beautiful, and caused her husband much unhappiness, owing to the
+ preference she showed at various times for some of the other gods and
+ also for mortal men.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0060-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0060-1.png"
+ alt="Aphrodite" title="Aphrodite" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>The celebrated Venus of Milo, now in the Louvre, is an exquisite
+ statue of this divinity. The head is beautifully formed; the rich waves
+ of hair descend on her rather low but broad forehead and are caught up
+ gracefully in a small knot at the back of the head; the expression of the
+ face is most bewitching, and bespeaks the perfect <!-- Page 61 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page61"></a>[61]</span>joyousness of a happy
+ nature combined with the dignity of a goddess; the drapery falls in
+ careless folds from the waist downwards, and her whole attitude is the
+ embodiment of all that is graceful and lovely in womanhood. She is of
+ medium height, and the form is perfect in its symmetry and faultless
+ proportions.</p>
+
+ <p>Aphrodite is also frequently represented in the act of confining her
+ dripping locks in a knot, whilst her attendant nymphs envelop her in a
+ gauzy veil.</p>
+
+ <p>The animals sacred to her were the dove, swan, swallow, and sparrow.
+ Her favourite plants were the myrtle, apple-tree, rose, and poppy.</p>
+
+ <p>The worship of Aphrodite is supposed to have been introduced into
+ Greece from Central Asia. There is no doubt that she was originally
+ identical with the famous Astarté, the Ashtoreth of the Bible, against
+ whose idolatrous worship and infamous rites the prophets of old hurled
+ forth their sublime and powerful anathemas.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">VENUS.</p>
+
+ <p>The Venus of the Romans was identified with the Aphrodite of the
+ Greeks. The worship of this divinity was only established in Rome in
+ comparatively later times. Annual festivals, called Veneralia, were held
+ in her honour, and the month of April, when flowers and plants spring
+ forth afresh, was sacred to her. She was worshipped as Venus Cloacina (or
+ the Purifier), and as Venus Myrtea (or the myrtle goddess), an epithet
+ derived from the myrtle, the emblem of Love.</p>
+
+<h3>HELIOS (<span class="sc">Sol</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>The worship of Helios was introduced into Greece from Asia. According
+ to the earliest conceptions of the Greeks he was not only the sun-god,
+ but also the personification of life and all life-giving power, for light
+ is well known to be an indispensable condition of all healthy terrestrial
+ life. The worship of the sun was originally very widely spread, <!-- Page
+ 62 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page62"></a>[62]</span>not only
+ among the early Greeks themselves, but also among other primitive
+ nations. To us the sun is simply the orb of light, which, high above our
+ heads, performs each day the functions assigned to it by a mighty and
+ invisible Power; we can, therefore, form but a faint idea of the
+ impression which it produced upon the spirit of a people whose intellect
+ was still in its infancy, and who believed, with child-like simplicity,
+ that every power of nature was a divinity, which, according as its
+ character was baleful or beneficent, worked for the destruction or
+ benefit of the human race.</p>
+
+ <p>Helios, who was the son of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, is described
+ as rising every morning in the east, preceded by his sister Eos (the
+ Dawn), who, with her rosy fingers, paints the tips of the mountains, and
+ draws aside that misty veil through which her brother is about to appear.
+ When he has burst forth in all the glorious light of day, Eos disappears,
+ and Helios now drives his flame-darting chariot along the accustomed
+ track. This chariot, which is of burnished gold, is drawn by four
+ fire-breathing steeds, behind which the young god stands erect with
+ flashing eyes, his head surrounded with rays, holding in one hand the
+ reins of those fiery coursers which in all hands save his are
+ unmanageable. When towards evening he descends the curve<a name="NtA_26"
+ href="#Nt_26"><sup>[26]</sup></a> in order to cool his burning forehead
+ in the waters of the deep sea, he is followed closely by his sister
+ Selene (the Moon), who is now prepared to take charge of the world, and
+ illumine with her silver crescent the dusky night. Helios meanwhile rests
+ from his labours, and, reclining softly on the cool fragrant couch
+ prepared for him by the sea-nymphs, recruits himself for another
+ life-giving, joy-inspiring, and beauteous day.</p>
+
+ <p>It may appear strange that, although the Greeks considered the earth
+ to be a flat circle, no explanation is given of the fact that Helios
+ sinks down in the far <!-- Page 63 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page63"></a>[63]</span>west regularly every evening, and yet
+ reappears as regularly every morning in the east. Whether he was supposed
+ to pass through Tartarus, and thus regain the opposite extremity through
+ the bowels of the earth, or whether they thought he possessed any other
+ means of making this transit, there is not a line in either Homer or
+ Hesiod to prove. In later times, however, the poets invented the graceful
+ fiction, that when Helios had finished his course, and reached the
+ western side of the curve, a winged-boat, or cup, which had been made for
+ him by Hephæstus, awaited him there, and conveyed him rapidly, with his
+ glorious equipage, to the east, where he recommenced his bright and
+ glowing career.</p>
+
+ <p>This divinity was invoked as a witness when a solemn oath was taken,
+ as it was believed that nothing escaped his all-seeing eye, and it was
+ this fact which enabled him to inform Demeter of the fate of her
+ daughter, as already related. He was supposed to possess flocks and herds
+ in various localities, which may possibly be intended to represent the
+ days and nights of the year, or the stars of heaven.</p>
+
+ <p>Helios is said to have loved Clytie, a daughter of Oceanus, who
+ ardently returned his affection; but in the course of time the fickle
+ sun-god transferred his devotion to Leucothea, the daughter of Orchamus,
+ king of the eastern countries, which so angered the forsaken Clytie that
+ she informed Orchamus of his daughter's attachment, and he punished her
+ by inhumanly burying her alive. Helios, overcome with grief, endeavoured,
+ by every means in his power, to recall her to life. At last, finding all
+ his efforts unavailing, he sprinkled her grave with heavenly nectar, and
+ immediately there sprang forth from the spot a shoot of frankincense,
+ which spread around its aromatic perfume.</p>
+
+ <p>The jealous Clytie gained nothing by her cruel conduct, for the
+ sun-god came to her no more. Inconsolable at his loss, she threw herself
+ upon the ground, and refused all sustenance. For nine long days she
+ turned her face towards the glorious god of day, as he moved along the
+ <!-- Page 64 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page64"></a>[64]</span>heavens, till at length her limbs became
+ rooted in the ground, and she was transformed into a flower, which ever
+ turns towards the sun.</p>
+
+ <p>Helios married Perse, daughter of Oceanus, and their children were,
+ Aëtes, king of Colchis (celebrated in the legend of the Argonauts as the
+ possessor of the Golden Fleece), and Circe, the renowned sorceress.</p>
+
+ <p>Helios had another son named Phaethon, whose mother was Clymene, one
+ of the Oceanides. The youth was very beautiful, and a great favourite
+ with Aphrodite, who intrusted him with the care of one of her temples,
+ which flattering proof of her regard caused him to become vain and
+ presumptuous. His friend Epaphus, son of Zeus and Io, endeavoured to
+ check his youthful vanity by pretending to disbelieve his assertion that
+ the sun-god was his father. Phaethon, full of resentment, and eager to be
+ able to refute the calumny, hastened to his mother Clymene, and besought
+ her to tell him whether Helios was really his father. Moved by his
+ entreaties, and at the same time angry at the reproach of Epaphus,
+ Clymene pointed to the glorious sun, then shining down upon them, and
+ assured her son that in that bright orb he beheld the author of his
+ being, adding that if he had still any doubt, he might visit the radiant
+ dwelling of the great god of light and inquire for himself. Overjoyed at
+ his mother's reassuring words, and following the directions she gave him,
+ Phaethon quickly wended his way to his father's palace.</p>
+
+ <p>As he entered the palace of the sun-god the dazzling rays almost
+ blinded him, and prevented him from approaching the throne on which his
+ father was seated, surrounded by the Hours, Days, Months, Years, and
+ Seasons. Helios, who with his all-seeing eye had watched him from afar,
+ removed his crown of glittering rays, and bade him not to be afraid, but
+ to draw near to his father. Encouraged by this kind reception, Phaethon
+ entreated him to bestow upon him such a proof of his love, that all the
+ world might be convinced that he was indeed his son; whereupon Helios
+ desired him to ask any favour he pleased, <!-- Page 65 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page65"></a>[65]</span>and swore by the Styx
+ that it should be granted. The impetuous youth immediately requested
+ permission to drive the chariot of the sun for one whole day. His father
+ listened horror-struck to this presumptuous demand, and by representing
+ the many dangers which would beset his path, endeavoured to dissuade him
+ from so perilous an undertaking; but his son, deaf to all advice, pressed
+ his point with such pertinacity, that Helios was reluctantly compelled to
+ lead him to the chariot. Phaethon paused for a moment to admire the
+ beauty of the glittering equipage, the gift of the god of fire, who had
+ formed it of gold, and ornamented it with precious stones, which
+ reflected the rays of the sun. And now Helios, seeing his sister, the
+ Dawn, opening her doors in the rosy east, ordered the Hours to yoke the
+ horses. The goddesses speedily obeyed the command, and the father then
+ anointed the face of his son with a sacred balm, to enable him to endure
+ the burning flames which issued from the nostrils of the steeds, and
+ sorrowfully placing his crown of rays upon his head, desired him to
+ ascend the chariot.</p>
+
+ <p>The eager youth joyfully took his place and grasped the coveted reins,
+ but no sooner did the fiery coursers of the sun feel the inexperienced
+ hand which attempted to guide them, than they became restive and
+ unmanageable. Wildly they rushed out of their accustomed track, now
+ soaring so high as to threaten the heavens with destruction, now
+ descending so low as nearly to set the earth on fire. At last the
+ unfortunate charioteer, blinded with the glare, and terrified at the
+ awful devastation he had caused, dropped the reins from his trembling
+ hands. Mountains and forests were in flames, rivers and streams were
+ dried up, and a general conflagration was imminent. The scorched earth
+ now called on Zeus for help, who hurled his thunderbolt at Phaethon, and
+ with a flash of lightning brought the fiery steeds to a standstill. The
+ lifeless body of the youth fell headlong into the river Eridanus,<a
+ name="NtA_27" href="#Nt_27"><sup>[27]</sup></a> where it was received and
+ buried by the <!-- Page 66 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page66"></a>[66]</span>nymphs of the stream. His sisters mourned so
+ long for him that they were transformed by Zeus into poplars, and the
+ tears they shed, falling into the waters, became drops of clear,
+ transparent amber. Cycnus, the faithful friend of the unhappy Phaethon,
+ felt such overwhelming grief at his terrible fate, that he pined and
+ wasted away. The gods, moved with compassion, transformed him into a
+ swan, which for ever brooded over the fatal spot where the waters had
+ closed over the head of his unfortunate friend.</p>
+
+ <div class="figright" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0066-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0066-1.png"
+ alt="Colossus of Rhodes" title="Colossus of Rhodes" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>The chief seat of the worship of Helios was the island of Rhodes,
+ which according to the following myth was his especial territory. At the
+ time of the Titanomachia, when the gods were dividing the world by lot,
+ Helios happened to be absent, and consequently received no share. He,
+ therefore, complained to Zeus, who proposed to have a new allotment, but
+ this Helios would not allow, saying, that as he pursued his daily
+ journey, his penetrating eye had beheld a lovely, fertile island lying
+ beneath the waves of the ocean, and that if the immortals would swear to
+ give him the undisturbed possession of this spot, he would be content to
+ accept it as his share of the universe. The gods took the oath, whereupon
+ the island of Rhodes immediately raised itself above the surface of the
+ waters.</p>
+
+ <p>The famous Colossus of Rhodes, which was one of the seven wonders of
+ the world, was erected in honour of Helios. This wonderful statue was 105
+ feet high, and was formed entirely of brass; it formed the entrance to
+ the harbour at Rhodes, and the largest vessel could easily sail between
+ the legs, which stood on moles, each side of the harbour. Though so
+ gigantic, it was perfectly proportioned in every part. Some idea of <!--
+ Page 67 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page67"></a>[67]</span>its size
+ may be gained from the fact that very few people were able to span the
+ thumb of this statue with their arms. In the interior of the Colossus was
+ a winding staircase leading to the top, from the summit of which, by
+ means of a telescope, the coast of Syria, and also the shores of Egypt,
+ are said to have been visible.<a name="NtA_28"
+ href="#Nt_28"><sup>[28]</sup></a></p>
+
+<h3>EOS (<span class="sc">Aurora</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Eos, the Dawn, like her brother Helios, whose advent she always
+ announced, was also deified by the early Greeks. She too had her own
+ chariot, which she drove across the vast horizon both morning and night,
+ before and after the sun-god. Hence she is not merely the personification
+ of the rosy morn, but also of twilight, for which reason her palace is
+ placed in the west, on the island Ææa. The abode of Eos is a magnificent
+ structure, surrounded by flowery meads and velvety lawns, where nymphs
+ and other immortal beings, wind in and out in the mazy figures of the
+ dance, whilst the music of a sweetly-tuned melody accompanies their
+ graceful, gliding movements.</p>
+
+ <p>Eos is described by the poets as a beautiful maiden with rosy arms and
+ fingers, and large wings, whose plumage is of an ever-changing hue; she
+ bears a star on her forehead, and a torch in her hand. Wrapping round her
+ the rich folds of her violet-tinged mantle, she leaves her couch before
+ the break of day, and herself yokes her two horses, Lampetus and
+ Phaethon, to her glorious chariot. She then hastens with active
+ cheerfulness to open the gates of heaven, in order to herald the approach
+ of her brother, the god of day, whilst the tender plants and flowers,
+ revived by the morning dew, lift their heads to welcome her as she
+ passes.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 68 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page68"></a>[68]</span></p>
+
+ <p>Eos first married the Titan Astræus,<a name="NtA_29"
+ href="#Nt_29"><sup>[29]</sup></a> and their children were Heosphorus
+ (Hesperus), the evening star, and the winds. She afterwards became united
+ to Tithonus, son of Laomedon, king of Troy, who had won her affection by
+ his unrivalled beauty; and Eos, unhappy at the thought of their being
+ ever separated by death, obtained for him from Zeus the gift of
+ immortality, forgetting, however, to add to it that of eternal youth. The
+ consequence was that when, in the course of time, Tithonus grew old and
+ decrepid, and lost all the beauty which had won her admiration, Eos
+ became disgusted with his infirmities, and at last shut him up in a
+ chamber, where soon little else was left of him but his voice, which had
+ now sunk into a weak, feeble quaver. According to some of the later
+ poets, he became so weary of his cheerless and miserable existence, that
+ he entreated to be allowed to die. This was, however, impossible; but
+ Eos, pitying his unhappy condition, exerted her divine power, and changed
+ him into a grasshopper, which is, as it were, all voice, and whose
+ monotonous, ceaseless chirpings may not inaptly be compared to the
+ meaningless babble of extreme old age.</p>
+
+<h3>PH&OElig;BUS-APOLLO.</h3>
+
+ <p>Ph&oelig;bus-Apollo, the god of Light, Prophecy, Music, Poetry, and
+ the Arts and Sciences, is by far the noblest conception within the whole
+ range of Greek mythology, and his worship, which not only extended to all
+ the states of Greece, but also to Asia Minor and to every Greek colony
+ throughout the world, stands out among the most ancient and
+ strongly-marked features of Grecian history, and exerted a more decided
+ influence over the Greek nation, than that of any other deity, not
+ excepting Zeus himself.</p>
+
+ <p>Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto, and was born beneath the shade of
+ a palm tree which grew at the foot <!-- Page 69 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page69"></a>[69]</span>of Mount Cynthus, on the
+ barren and rocky island of Delos. The poets tell us that the earth smiled
+ when the young god first beheld the light of day, and that Delos became
+ so proud and exultant at the honour thus conferred upon her, that she
+ covered herself with golden flowers; swans surrounded the island, and the
+ Delian nymphs celebrated his birth with songs of joy.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0069-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0069-1.png"
+ alt="Apollo" title="Apollo" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>The unhappy Leto, driven to Delos by the relentless persecutions of
+ Hera, was not long permitted to enjoy her haven of refuge. Being still
+ tormented by her enemy, the young mother was once more obliged to fly;
+ she therefore resigned the charge of her new-born babe to the goddess
+ Themis, who carefully wrapped the helpless infant in swaddling-clothes,
+ and fed him with nectar and ambrosia; but he had no sooner partaken of
+ the heavenly food than, to the amazement of the goddess, he burst asunder
+ the bands which confined his infant limbs, and springing to his feet,
+ appeared before her as a full-grown youth of divine strength and beauty.
+ He now demanded a lyre and a bow, declaring that henceforth he would
+ announce to mankind the will of his father Zeus. "The golden lyre," said
+ he, "shall be my friend, the bent bow my delight, and in oracles will I
+ foretell the dark future." With these words he ascended to Olympus, where
+ he was received with joyful acclamations into the assembly of the
+ celestial gods, who acknowledged him as the most beautiful and glorious
+ of all the sons of Zeus.</p>
+
+ <p>Ph&oelig;bus-Apollo was the god of light in a twofold <!-- Page 70
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page70"></a>[70]</span>signification:
+ first, as representing the great orb of day which illumines the world;
+ and secondly, as the heavenly light which animates the soul of man. He
+ inherited his function as sun-god from Helios, with whom, in later times,
+ he was so completely identified, that the personality of the one became
+ gradually merged in that of the other. We, accordingly, find Helios
+ frequently confounded with Apollo, myths belonging to the former
+ attributed to the latter; and with some tribes&mdash;the Ionic, for
+ instance&mdash;so complete is this identification, that Apollo is called
+ by them Helios-Apollo.</p>
+
+ <p>As the divinity whose power is developed in the broad light of day, he
+ brings joy and delight to nature, and health and prosperity to man. By
+ the influence of his warm and gentle rays he disperses the noxious
+ vapours of the night, assists the grain to ripen and the flowers to
+ bloom.</p>
+
+ <p>But although, as god of the sun, he is a life-giving and
+ life-preserving power, who, by his genial influence, dispels the cold of
+ winter, he is, at the same time, the god who, by means of his fiercely
+ darting rays, could spread disease and send sudden death to men and
+ animals; and it is to this phase of his character that we must look for
+ the explanation of his being considered, in conjunction with his
+ twin-sister, Artemis (as moon-goddess), a divinity of death. The brother
+ and sister share this function between them, he taking man and she woman
+ as her aim, and those especially who died in the bloom of youth, or at an
+ advanced age, were believed to have been killed by their gentle arrows.
+ But Apollo did not always send an easy death. We see in the <i>Iliad</i>
+ how, when angry with the Greeks, the "god of the silver bow" strode down
+ from Olympus, with his quiver full of death-bringing darts, and sent a
+ raging pestilence into their camp. For nine days he let fly his fatal
+ arrows, first on animals and then on men, till the air became darkened
+ with the smoke from the funeral pyres.</p>
+
+ <p>In his character as god of light, Ph&oelig;bus-Apollo is the
+ protecting deity of shepherds, because it is he who warms <!-- Page 71
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page71"></a>[71]</span>the fields and
+ meadows, and gives rich pastures to the flocks, thereby gladdening the
+ heart of the herdsman.</p>
+
+ <p>As the temperate heat of the sun exercises so invigorating an effect
+ on man and animals, and promotes the growth of those medicinal herbs and
+ vegetable productions necessary for the cure of diseases,
+ Ph&oelig;bus-Apollo was supposed to possess the power of restoring life
+ and health; hence he was regarded as the god of healing; but this feature
+ in his character we shall find more particularly developed in his son
+ Asclepius (Æsculapius), the veritable god of the healing art.</p>
+
+ <p>Pursuing our analysis of the various phases in the character of
+ Ph&oelig;bus-Apollo, we find that with the first beams of his genial
+ light, all nature awakens to renewed life, and the woods re-echo with the
+ jubilant sound of the untaught lays, warbled by thousands of feathered
+ choristers. Hence, by a natural inference, he is the god of music, and
+ as, according to the belief of the ancients, the inspirations of genius
+ were inseparably connected with the glorious light of heaven, he is also
+ the god of poetry, and acts as the special patron of the arts and
+ sciences. Apollo is himself the heavenly musician among the Olympic gods,
+ whose banquets are gladdened by the wondrous strains which he produces
+ from his favourite instrument, the seven-stringed lyre. In the cultus of
+ Apollo, music formed a distinguishing feature. All sacred dances, and
+ even the sacrifices in his honour, were performed to the sound of musical
+ instruments; and it is, in a great measure, owing to the influence which
+ the music in his worship exercised on the Greek nation, that Apollo came
+ to be regarded as the leader of the nine Muses, the legitimate divinities
+ of poetry and song. In this character he is called Musagetes, and is
+ always represented robed in a long flowing garment; his lyre, to the
+ tones of which he appears to be singing, is suspended by a band across
+ the chest; his head is encircled by a wreath of laurel, and his long
+ hair, streaming down over his shoulders, gives him a somewhat effeminate
+ appearance.</p>
+
+ <p>And now we must view the glorious god of light under <!-- Page 72
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page72"></a>[72]</span>another, and (as
+ far as regards his influence over the Greek nation) a much more important
+ aspect; for, in historical times, all the other functions and attributes
+ of Apollo sink into comparative insignificance before the great power
+ which he exercised as god of prophecy. It is true that all Greek gods
+ were endowed, to a certain extent, with the faculty of foretelling future
+ events; but Apollo, as sun-god, was the concentration of all prophetic
+ power, as it was supposed that nothing escaped his all-seeing eye, which
+ penetrated the most hidden recesses, and laid bare the secrets which lay
+ concealed behind the dark veil of the future.</p>
+
+ <p>We have seen that when Apollo assumed his god-like form, he took his
+ place among the immortals; but he had not long enjoyed the rapturous
+ delights of Olympus, before he felt within him an ardent desire to fulfil
+ his great mission of interpreting to mankind the will of his mighty
+ father. He accordingly descended to earth, and travelled through many
+ countries, seeking a fitting site upon which to establish an oracle. At
+ length he reached the southern side of the rocky heights of Parnassus,
+ beneath which lay the harbour of Crissa. Here, under the overhanging
+ cliff, he found a secluded spot, where, from the most ancient times,
+ there had existed an oracle, in which Gæa herself had revealed the future
+ to man, and which, in Deucalion's time, she had resigned to Themis. It
+ was guarded by the huge serpent Python, the scourge of the surrounding
+ neighbourhood, and the terror alike of men and cattle. The young god,
+ full of confidence in his unerring aim, attacked and slew the monster
+ with his arrows, thus freeing land and people from their mighty
+ enemy.</p>
+
+ <p>The grateful inhabitants, anxious to do honour to their deliverer,
+ flocked round Apollo, who proceeded to mark out a plan for a temple, and,
+ with the assistance of numbers of eager volunteers, a suitable edifice
+ was soon erected. It now became necessary to choose ministers, who would
+ offer up sacrifices, interpret his prophecies to the people, and take
+ charge of the temple. Looking round, he saw in the far distance a vessel
+ bound from Crete to the <!-- Page 73 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page73"></a>[73]</span>Peloponnesus, and determined to avail
+ himself of her crew for his service. Assuming the shape of an enormous
+ dolphin, he agitated the waters to such a degree, that the ship was
+ tossed violently to and fro, to the great alarm of the mariners; at the
+ same time he raised a mighty wind, which drove the ship into the harbour
+ of Crissa, where she ran aground. The terrified sailors dared not set
+ foot on shore; but Apollo, under the form of a vigorous youth, stepped
+ down to the vessel, revealed himself in his true character, and informed
+ them that it was he who had driven them to Crissa, in order that they
+ might become his priests, and serve him in his temple. Arrived at the
+ sacred fane, he instructed them how to perform the services in his
+ honour, and desired them to worship him under the name of
+ Apollo-Delphinios, because he had first appeared to them under the form
+ of a dolphin. Thus was established the far-famed oracle of Delphi, the
+ only institution of the kind which was not exclusively national, for it
+ was consulted by Lydians, Phrygians, Etruscans, Romans, &amp;c., and, in
+ fact, was held in the highest repute all over the world. In obedience to
+ its decrees, the laws of Lycurgus were introduced, and the earliest Greek
+ colonies founded. No cities were built without first consulting the
+ Delphic oracle, for it was believed that Apollo took special delight in
+ the founding of cities, the first stone of which he laid in person; nor
+ was any enterprise ever undertaken, without inquiring at this sacred fane
+ as to its probable success.</p>
+
+ <p>But that which brought Apollo more closely home to the hearts of the
+ people, and raised the whole moral tone of the Greek nation, was the
+ belief, gradually developed with the intelligence of the people, that he
+ was the god who accepted repentance as an atonement for sin, who pardoned
+ the contrite sinner, and who acted as the special protector of those,
+ who, like Orestes, had committed a crime, which required long years of
+ expiation.</p>
+
+ <p>Apollo is represented by the poets as being eternally young; his
+ countenance, glowing with joyous life, is the embodiment of immortal
+ beauty; his eyes are of a deep <!-- Page 74 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page74"></a>[74]</span>blue; his forehead low, but broad and
+ intellectual; his hair, which falls over his shoulders in long waving
+ locks, is of a golden, or warm chestnut hue. He is crowned with laurel,
+ and wears a purple robe; in his hand he bears his silver bow, which is
+ unbent when he smiles, but ready for use when he menaces evil-doers.</p>
+
+ <p>But Apollo, the eternally beautiful youth, the perfection of all that
+ is graceful and refined, rarely seems to have been happy in his love;
+ either his advances met with a repulse, or his union with the object of
+ his affection was attended with fatal consequences.</p>
+
+ <p>His first love was Daphne (daughter of Peneus, the river-god), who was
+ so averse to marriage that she entreated her father to allow her to lead
+ a life of celibacy, and devote herself to the chase, which she loved to
+ the exclusion of all other pursuits. But one day, soon after his victory
+ over the Python, Apollo happened to see Eros bending his bow, and proud
+ of his own superior strength and skill, he laughed at the efforts of the
+ little archer, saying that such a weapon was more suited to the one who
+ had just killed the terrible serpent. Eros angrily replied that his arrow
+ should pierce the heart of the mocker himself, and flying off to the
+ summit of Mount Parnassus, he drew from his quiver two darts of different
+ workmanship&mdash;one of gold, which had the effect of inspiring love;
+ the other of lead, which created aversion. Taking aim at Apollo, he
+ pierced his breast with the golden shaft, whilst the leaden one he
+ discharged into the bosom of the beautiful Daphne. The son of Leto
+ instantly felt the most ardent affection for the nymph, who, on her part,
+ evinced the greatest dislike towards her divine lover, and, at his
+ approach, fled from him like a hunted deer. He called upon her in the
+ most endearing accents to stay, but she still sped on, until at length,
+ becoming faint with fatigue, and fearing that she was about to succumb,
+ she called upon the gods to come to her aid. Hardly had she uttered her
+ prayer before a heavy torpor seized her limbs, and just as Apollo threw
+ out his arms to embrace her, she became transformed <!-- Page 75 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page75"></a>[75]</span>into a laurel-bush. He
+ sorrowfully crowned his head with its leaves, and declared, that in
+ memory of his love, it should henceforth remain evergreen, and be held
+ sacred to him.</p>
+
+ <p>He next sought the love of Marpessa, the daughter of Evenus; but
+ though her father approved his suit, the maiden preferred a youth named
+ Idas, who contrived to carry her off in a winged chariot which he had
+ procured from Poseidon. Apollo pursued the fugitives, whom he quickly
+ overtook, and forcibly seizing the bride, refused to resign her. Zeus
+ then interfered, and declared that Marpessa herself must decide which of
+ her lovers should claim her as his wife. After due reflection she
+ accepted Idas as her husband, judiciously concluding that although the
+ attractions of the divine Apollo were superior to those of her lover, it
+ would be wiser to unite herself to a mortal, who, growing old with
+ herself, would be less likely to forsake her, when advancing years should
+ rob her of her charms.</p>
+
+ <p>Cassandra, daughter of Priam, king of Troy, was another object of the
+ love of Apollo. She feigned to return his affection, and promised to
+ marry him, provided he would confer upon her the gift of prophecy; but
+ having received the boon she desired, the treacherous maiden refused to
+ comply with the conditions upon which it had been granted. Incensed at
+ her breach of faith, Apollo, unable to recall the gift he had bestowed,
+ rendered it useless by causing her predictions to fail in obtaining
+ credence. Cassandra became famous in history for her prophetic powers,
+ but her prophecies were never believed. For instance, she warned her
+ brother Paris that if he brought back a wife from Greece he would cause
+ the destruction of his father's house and kingdom; she also warned the
+ Trojans not to admit the wooden horse within the walls of the city, and
+ foretold to Agamemnon all the disasters which afterwards befell him.</p>
+
+ <p>Apollo afterwards married Coronis, a nymph of Larissa, and thought
+ himself happy in the possession of her faithful love; but once more he
+ was doomed to <!-- Page 76 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page76"></a>[76]</span>disappointment, for one day his favourite
+ bird, the crow, flew to him with the intelligence that his wife had
+ transferred her affections to a youth of Haemonia. Apollo, burning with
+ rage, instantly destroyed her with one of his death-bringing darts. Too
+ late he repented of his rashness, for she had been tenderly beloved by
+ him, and he would fain have recalled her to life; but, although he
+ exerted all his healing powers, his efforts were in vain. He punished the
+ crow for its garrulity by changing the colour of its plumage from pure
+ white to intense black, and forbade it to fly any longer among the other
+ birds.</p>
+
+ <p>Coronis left an infant son named Asclepius, who afterwards became god
+ of medicine. His powers were so extraordinary that he could not only cure
+ the sick, but could even restore the dead to life. At last Aïdes
+ complained to Zeus that the number of shades conducted to his dominions
+ was daily decreasing, and the great ruler of Olympus, fearing that
+ mankind, thus protected against sickness and death, would be able to defy
+ the gods themselves, killed Asclepius with one of his thunderbolts. The
+ loss of his highly gifted son so exasperated Apollo that, being unable to
+ vent his anger on Zeus, he destroyed the Cyclops, who had forged the
+ fatal thunderbolts. For this offence, Apollo would have been banished by
+ Zeus to Tartarus, but at the earnest intercession of Leto he partially
+ relented, and contented himself with depriving him of all power and
+ dignity, and imposing on him a temporary servitude in the house of
+ Admetus, king of Thessaly. Apollo faithfully served his royal master for
+ nine years in the humble capacity of a shepherd, and was treated by him
+ with every kindness and consideration. During the period of his service
+ the king sought the hand of Alcestis, the beautiful daughter of Pelias,
+ son of Poseidon; but her father declared that he would only resign her to
+ the suitor who should succeed in yoking a lion and a wild boar to his
+ chariot. By the aid of his divine herdsman, Admetus accomplished this
+ difficult task, and gained his bride. Nor was this the only favour which
+ the king received from the exiled god, for Apollo obtained from <!-- Page
+ 77 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page77"></a>[77]</span>the Fates the
+ gift of immortality for his benefactor, on condition that when his last
+ hour approached, some member of his own family should be willing to die
+ in his stead. When the fatal hour arrived, and Admetus felt that he was
+ at the point of death, he implored his aged parents to yield to him their
+ few remaining days. But "life is sweet" even to old age, and they both
+ refused to make the sacrifice demanded of them. Alcestis, however, who
+ had secretly devoted herself to death for her husband, was seized with a
+ mortal sickness, which kept pace with his rapid recovery. The devoted
+ wife breathed her last in the arms of Admetus, and he had just consigned
+ her to the tomb, when Heracles chanced to come to the palace. Admetus
+ held the rites of hospitality so sacred, that he at first kept silence
+ with regard to his great bereavement; but as soon as his friend heard
+ what had occurred, he bravely descended into the tomb, and when death
+ came to claim his prey, he exerted his marvellous strength, and held him
+ in his arms, until he promised to restore the beautiful and heroic queen
+ to the bosom of her family.</p>
+
+ <p>Whilst pursuing the peaceful life of a shepherd, Apollo formed a
+ strong friendship with two youths named Hyacinthus and Cyparissus, but
+ the great favour shown to them by the god did not suffice to shield them
+ from misfortune. The former was one day throwing the discus with Apollo,
+ when, running too eagerly to take up the one thrown by the god, he was
+ struck on the head with it and killed on the spot. Apollo was overcome
+ with grief at the sad end of his young favourite, but being unable to
+ restore him to life, he changed him into the flower called after him the
+ Hyacinth. Cyparissus had the misfortune to kill by accident one of
+ Apollo's favourite stags, which so preyed on his mind that he gradually
+ pined away, and died of a broken heart. He was transformed by the god
+ into a cypress-tree, which owes its name to this story.</p>
+
+ <p>After these sad occurrences Apollo quitted Thessaly and repaired to
+ Phrygia, in Asia Minor, where he met Poseidon, who, like himself, was in
+ exile, and condemned <!-- Page 78 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page78"></a>[78]</span>to a temporary servitude on earth. The two
+ gods now entered the service of Laomedon, king of Troy, Apollo
+ undertaking to tend his flocks, and Poseidon to build the walls of the
+ city. But Apollo also contributed his assistance in the erection of those
+ wonderful walls, and, by the aid of his marvellous musical powers, the
+ labours of his fellow-worker, Poseidon, were rendered so light and easy
+ that his otherwise arduous task advanced with astonishing celerity; for,
+ as the master-hand of the god of music grasped the chords of his lyre,<a
+ name="NtA_30" href="#Nt_30"><sup>[30]</sup></a> the huge blocks of stone
+ moved of their own accord, adjusting themselves with the utmost nicety
+ into the places designed for them.</p>
+
+ <p>But though Apollo was so renowned in the art of music, there were two
+ individuals who had the effrontery to consider themselves equal to him in
+ this respect, and, accordingly, each challenged him to compete with them
+ in a musical contest. These were Marsyas and Pan. Marsyas was a satyr,
+ who, having picked up the flute which Athene had thrown away in disgust,
+ discovered, to his great delight and astonishment, that, in consequence
+ of its having touched the lips of a goddess, it played of itself in the
+ most charming manner. Marsyas, who was a great lover of music, and much
+ beloved on this account by all the elf-like denizens of the woods and
+ glens, was so intoxicated with joy at this discovery, that he foolishly
+ challenged Apollo to compete with him in a musical contest. The challenge
+ being accepted, the Muses were chosen umpires, and it was decided that
+ the unsuccessful candidate should suffer the punishment of being flayed
+ alive. For a long time the merits of both claimants remained so equally
+ balanced, that it was impossible to award the palm of victory to either,
+ seeing which, Apollo, resolved to conquer, added the sweet tones of his
+ melodious voice to the strains of his lyre, <!-- Page 79 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page79"></a>[79]</span>and this at once turned
+ the scale in his favour. The unhappy Marsyas being defeated, had to
+ undergo the terrible penalty, and his untimely fate was universally
+ lamented; indeed the Satyrs and Dryads, his companions, wept so
+ incessantly at his fate, that their tears, uniting together, formed a
+ river in Phrygia which is still known by the name of Marsyas.</p>
+
+ <p>The result of the contest with Pan was by no means of so serious a
+ character. The god of shepherds having affirmed that he could play more
+ skilfully on his flute of seven reeds (the syrinx or Pan's pipe), than
+ Apollo on his world-renowned lyre, a contest ensued, in which Apollo was
+ pronounced the victor by all the judges appointed to decide between the
+ rival candidates. Midas, king of Phrygia, alone demurred at this
+ decision, having the bad taste to prefer the uncouth tones of the Pan's
+ pipe to the refined melodies of Apollo's lyre. Incensed at the obstinacy
+ and stupidity of the Phrygian king, Apollo punished him by giving him the
+ ears of an ass. Midas, horrified at being thus disfigured, determined to
+ hide his disgrace from his subjects by means of a cap; his barber,
+ however, could not be kept in ignorance of the fact, and was therefore
+ bribed with rich gifts never to reveal it. Finding, however, that he
+ could not keep the secret any longer, he dug a hole in the ground into
+ which he whispered it; then closing up the aperture he returned home,
+ feeling greatly relieved at having thus eased his mind of its burden. But
+ after all, this very humiliating secret was revealed to the world, for
+ some reeds which sprung up from the spot murmured incessantly, as they
+ waved to and fro in the wind: "King Midas has the ears of an ass."</p>
+
+ <p>In the sad and beautiful story of Niobe, daughter of Tantalus, and
+ wife of Amphion, king of Thebes, we have another instance of the severe
+ punishments meted out by Apollo to those who in any way incurred his
+ displeasure. Niobe was the proud mother of seven sons and seven
+ daughters, and exulting in the number of her children, she, upon one
+ occasion, ridiculed the worship of Leto, <!-- Page 80 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page80"></a>[80]</span>because she had but one
+ son and daughter, and desired the Thebans, for the future, to give to her
+ the honours and sacrifices which they had hitherto offered to the mother
+ of Apollo and Artemis. The sacrilegious words had scarcely passed her
+ lips before Apollo called upon his sister Artemis to assist him in
+ avenging the insult offered to their mother, and soon their invisible
+ arrows sped through the air. Apollo slew all the sons, and Artemis had
+ already slain all the daughters save one, the youngest and best beloved,
+ whom Niobe clasped in her arms, when the agonized mother implored the
+ enraged deities to leave her, at least, one out of all her beautiful
+ children; but, even as she prayed, the deadly arrow reached the heart of
+ this child also. Meanwhile the unhappy father, unable to bear the loss of
+ his children, had destroyed himself, and his dead body lay beside the
+ lifeless corpse of his favourite son. Widowed and childless, the
+ heart-broken mother sat among her dead, and the gods, in pity for her
+ unutterable woe, turned her into a stone, which they transferred to
+ Siphylus, her native Phrygian mountain, where it still continues to shed
+ tears.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0080-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0080-1.png"
+ alt="Niobe" title="Niobe" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>The punishment of Niobe forms the subject of a magnificent marble
+ group, which was found at Rome in the year 1553, and is now in the
+ gallery of Uffizi, at Florence.</p>
+
+ <p>The renowned singer Orpheus was the son of Apollo and Calliope, the
+ muse of epic poetry, and, as might be expected with parents so highly
+ gifted, was endowed with most distinguished intellectual qualifications.
+ He was a poet, a teacher of the religious doctrines known as the Orphic
+ mysteries, and a great musician, having inherited from his father an
+ extraordinary genius for music. <!-- Page 81 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page81"></a>[81]</span>When he sang to the sweet tones of his lyre,
+ he charmed all nature, and summoned round him the wild beasts of the
+ forests, who, under the influence of his music, became tame and gentle as
+ lambs. The madly rushing torrents stopped their rapid course, and the
+ very mountains and trees moved from their places at the sound of his
+ entrancing melodies.</p>
+
+ <p>Orpheus became united to a lovely nymph named Eurydice, the daughter
+ of the sea-god Nereus, whom he fondly loved. She was no less attached to
+ him, and their married life was full of joy and happiness. But it was
+ only short-lived; for Aristæus,<a name="NtA_31"
+ href="#Nt_31"><sup>[31]</sup></a> the half-brother of Orpheus, having
+ fallen in love with the beautiful Eurydice, forcibly endeavoured to take
+ her from her husband, and as she fled across some fields to elude his
+ pursuit, she was bitten in the foot by a venomous snake, which lay
+ concealed in the long grass. Eurydice died of the wound, and her
+ sorrowing husband filled the groves and valleys with his piteous and
+ unceasing lamentations.</p>
+
+ <p>His longing to behold her once more became at last so unconquerable,
+ that he determined to brave the horrors of the lower world, in order to
+ entreat Aïdes to restore to him his beloved wife. Armed only with his
+ golden lyre, the gift of Apollo, he descended into the gloomy depths of
+ Hades, where his heavenly music arrested for a while the torments of the
+ unhappy sufferers. The stone of Sisyphus remained motionless; Tantalus
+ forgot his perpetual thirst; the wheel of Ixion ceased to revolve; and
+ even the Furies shed tears, and withheld for a time their persecutions.
+ Undismayed at the scenes of horror and suffering which met his view on
+ every side, he pursued his way until he arrived at the palace of Aïdes.
+ Presenting himself before the throne on which sat the stony-hearted king
+ and his consort Persephone, Orpheus recounted his woes to the sound of
+ his lyre. Moved to pity by his sweet strains, they listened to his <!--
+ Page 82 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page82"></a>[82]</span>melancholy story, and consented to release
+ Eurydice on condition that he should not look upon her until they reached
+ the upper world. Orpheus gladly promised to comply with this injunction,
+ and, followed by Eurydice, ascended the steep and gloomy path which led
+ to the realms of life and light. All went well until he was just about to
+ pass the extreme limits of Hades, when, forgetting for the moment the
+ hard condition, he turned to convince himself that his beloved wife was
+ really behind him. The glance was fatal, and destroyed all his hopes of
+ happiness; for, as he yearningly stretched out his arms to embrace her,
+ she was caught back, and vanished from his sight for ever. The grief of
+ Orpheus at this second loss was even more intense than before, and he now
+ avoided all human society. In vain did the nymphs, his once chosen
+ companions, endeavour to win him back to his accustomed haunts; their
+ power to charm was gone, and music was now his sole consolation. He
+ wandered forth alone, choosing the wildest and most secluded paths, and
+ the hills and vales resounded with his pathetic melodies. At last he
+ happened to cross the path of some Thracian women, who were performing
+ the wild rites of Dionysus (Bacchus), and in their mad fury at his
+ refusing to join them, they furiously attacked him, and tore him in
+ pieces. In pity for his unhappy fate, the Muses collected his remains,
+ which they buried at the foot of Mount Olympus, and the nightingale
+ warbled a funeral dirge over his grave. His head was thrown into the
+ river Hebrus, and as it floated down the stream, the lips still continued
+ to murmur the beloved name of Eurydice.</p>
+
+ <p>The chief seat of the worship of Apollo was at Delphi, and here was
+ the most magnificent of all his temples, the foundation of which reaches
+ far beyond all historical knowledge, and which contained immense riches,
+ the offerings of kings and private persons, who had received favourable
+ replies from the oracle. The Greeks believed Delphi to be the central
+ point of the earth, because two eagles sent forth by Zeus, one from the
+ east, the other <!-- Page 83 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page83"></a>[83]</span>from the west, were said to have arrived
+ there at the same moment.</p>
+
+ <p>The Pythian games, celebrated in honour of the victory of Apollo over
+ the Python, took place at Delphi every four years. At the first
+ celebration of these games, gods, goddesses, and heroes contended for the
+ prizes, which were at first of gold or silver, but consisted, in later
+ times, of simple laurel wreaths.</p>
+
+ <p>On account of its being the place of his birth, the whole island of
+ Delos was consecrated to Apollo, where he was worshipped with great
+ solemnity; the greatest care was taken to preserve the sanctity of the
+ spot, for which reason no one was suffered to be buried there. At the
+ foot of Mount Cynthus was a splendid temple of Apollo which possessed an
+ oracle, and was enriched with magnificent offerings from all parts of
+ Greece. Even foreign nations held this island sacred, for when the
+ Persians passed it on their way to attack Greece, they not only sailed
+ by, leaving it uninjured, but sent rich presents to the temple. Games,
+ called Delia, instituted by Theseus, were celebrated at Delos every four
+ years.</p>
+
+ <p>A festival termed the Gymnopedæa was held at Sparta in honour of
+ Apollo, in which boys sang the praises of the gods, and of the three
+ hundred Lacedæmonians who fell at the battle of Thermopylæ.</p>
+
+ <p>Wolves and hawks were sacrificed to Apollo, and the birds sacred to
+ him were the hawk, raven, and swan.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">ROMAN APOLLO.</p>
+
+ <p>The worship of Apollo never occupied the all-important position in
+ Rome which it held in Greece, nor was it introduced till a comparatively
+ late period. There was no sanctuary erected to this divinity until <span
+ class="scac">B.C.</span> 430, when the Romans, in order to avert a
+ plague, built a temple in his honour; but we do not find the worship of
+ Apollo becoming in any way prominent until the time of Augustus, who,
+ having called upon this god for aid before the famous battle of Actium,
+ ascribed the victory which he <!-- Page 84 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page84"></a>[84]</span>gained, to his influence, and accordingly
+ erected a temple there, which he enriched with a portion of the
+ spoil.</p>
+
+ <p>Augustus afterwards built another temple in honour of Apollo, on the
+ Palatine Hill, in which at the foot of his statue, were deposited two
+ gilt chests, containing the Sibylline oracles. These oracles were
+ collected to replace the Sibylline books originally preserved in the
+ temple of Jupiter, which were destroyed when that edifice was burned.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0084-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0084-1.png"
+ alt="Sibyl" title="Sibyl" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>The Sibyls were maidens who had received the gift of prophecy, and the
+ privilege of living to an incredible age. One of these Sibyls (known as
+ the Cumæan) appeared to Tarquinius Superbus, the last king of Rome,
+ offering for sale nine books, which she informed him had been written by
+ herself. Not knowing who she was, Tarquin refused to buy them, upon which
+ she burned three, and returned with six, demanding the same price as
+ before. Being again driven away as an impostor, she again retired and
+ burned three more, returning with the remaining three, for which she
+ still asked the same price as at first. Tarquin, amazed at her
+ inconsistency, now consulted the Augurs, who blamed him for not having
+ bought the nine books when they were first offered to him, and desired
+ him to secure the remaining three, at whatever price they were to be had.
+ He, accordingly, purchased the volumes, which were found to contain
+ predictions of great importance to the Romans. After the disposal of the
+ books, the Sibyl vanished, and was seen no more.</p>
+
+ <p>The most beautiful and renowned of all the statues of Apollo now in
+ existence, is that known as the Apollo Belvedere, which was found in 1503
+ among the ruins of <!-- Page 85 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page85"></a>[85]</span>ancient Antium. It was purchased by Pope
+ Julius II., who removed it to the Belvedere of the Vatican, from whence
+ it takes its name, and where it has been, for more than three hundred
+ years, the admiration of the world. When Rome was taken, and plundered by
+ the French, this celebrated statue was transported to Paris, and placed
+ in the museum there, but in 1815 it was restored to its former place in
+ the Vatican. The attitude of the figure, which is more than seven feet
+ high, is inimitable in its freedom, grace, and majesty. The forehead is
+ noble and intellectual, and the whole countenance so exquisite in its
+ beauty, that one pauses spell-bound to gaze on so perfect a conception.
+ The god has a very youthful appearance, as is usual in all his
+ representations, and with the exception of a short mantle which falls
+ from his shoulders, is unclothed. He stands against the trunk of a tree,
+ up which a serpent is creeping, and his left arm is outstretched, as
+ though about to punish.</p>
+
+<h3>HECATE.</h3>
+
+ <p>Hecate would appear to have been originally a moon-goddess worshipped
+ by the Thracians. She became confounded, and eventually identified with
+ Selene and Persephone, and is one of those divinities of whom the
+ ancients had various conflicting accounts.</p>
+
+ <p>Hecate was the daughter of Perses and "gold-wreathed" Astræa (the
+ starry night<a name="NtA_32" href="#Nt_32"><sup>[32]</sup></a>), and her
+ sway extended over earth, heaven, and hell, for which reason she is
+ represented in works of art as a triple divinity, having three female
+ bodies, all young and beautiful, and united together.</p>
+
+ <p>In later times, when this divinity becomes identified with Persephone,
+ she is supposed to inhabit the lower world as a malignant deity, and
+ henceforward it is the gloomy, awe-inspiring side of her character which
+ alone <!-- Page 86 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page86"></a>[86]</span>develops itself. She now presides over all
+ practices connected with witchcraft and enchantments, haunts sepulchres,
+ and the point where two roads cross, and lonely spots where murders have
+ been committed. She was supposed to be connected with the appearance of
+ ghosts and spectres, to possess unlimited influence over the powers of
+ the lower world, and to be able to lay to rest unearthly apparitions by
+ her magic spells and incantations.</p>
+
+ <p>Hecate appears as a gigantic woman, bearing a torch and a sword. Her
+ feet and hair are formed of snakes, and her passage is accompanied by
+ voices of thunder, weird shrieks and yells, and the deep baying and
+ howling of dogs.</p>
+
+ <p>Her favour was propitiated by offerings and sacrifices, principally
+ consisting of black lambs. Her festivals were celebrated at night, by
+ torchlight, when these animals were offered to her, accompanied by many
+ peculiar ceremonies. These ceremonies were carried out with the minutest
+ attention to details, as it was believed that the omission of the
+ slightest particular would afford to her ministers, the evil spirits of
+ the lower world, who hovered round the worshippers, an opportunity for
+ entering among them, and exerting their baneful influence. At the end of
+ every month food was placed wherever two roads met, in readiness for her
+ and other malignant divinities.</p>
+
+ <p>In studying the peculiar characteristics which Hecate assumes when she
+ usurps the place of Persephone, the rightful mistress of the lower world,
+ we are reminded of the various superstitions with regard to spectres,
+ witchcraft, &amp;c., which have, even down to our own times, exerted so
+ powerful an influence over the minds of the ignorant, and which would
+ appear to owe their origin to a remote pagan source.</p>
+
+<h3>SELENE (<span class="sc">Luna</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Just as Helios personified the sun, so his sister Selene represented
+ the moon, and was supposed to drive her <!-- Page 87 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page87"></a>[87]</span>chariot across the sky
+ whilst her brother was reposing after the toils of the day.</p>
+
+ <p>When the shades of evening began to enfold the earth, the two
+ milk-white steeds of Selene rose out of the mysterious depths of Oceanus.
+ Seated in a silvery chariot, and accompanied by her daughter Herse, the
+ goddess of the dew, appeared the mild and gentle queen of the night, with
+ a crescent on her fair brow, a gauzy veil flowing behind, and a lighted
+ torch in her hand.</p>
+
+ <p>Selene greatly admired a beautiful young shepherd named Endymion, to
+ whom Zeus had accorded the privilege of eternal youth, combined with the
+ faculty of sleeping whenever he desired, and as long as he wished. Seeing
+ this lovely youth fast asleep on Mount Latmus, Selene was so struck with
+ his beauty, that she came down every night from heaven to watch over and
+ protect him.</p>
+
+<h3>ARTEMIS (<span class="sc">Diana</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Artemis was worshipped by the Greeks under various appellations, to
+ each of which belonged special characteristics. Thus she is known as the
+ Arcadian, Ephesian and Brauronian Artemis, and also as Selene-Artemis,
+ and in order fully to comprehend the worship of this divinity, we must
+ consider her under each aspect.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">ARCADIAN ARTEMIS.</p>
+
+ <p>The Arcadian Artemis (the real Artemis of the Greeks) was the daughter
+ of Zeus and Leto, and twin-sister of Apollo. She was the goddess of
+ Hunting and Chastity, and having obtained from her father permission to
+ lead a life of celibacy, she ever remained a maiden-divinity. Artemis is
+ the feminine counterpart of her brother, the glorious god of Light, and,
+ like him, though she deals out destruction and sudden death to men and
+ animals, she is also able to alleviate suffering and cure diseases. Like
+ Apollo also, she is skilled in the use of the bow, but in a far more
+ eminent degree, for in the character of Artemis, who devoted herself to
+ the chase with passionate <!-- Page 88 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page88"></a>[88]</span>ardour, this becomes an all-distinguishing
+ feature. Armed with her bow and quiver, and attended by her train of
+ huntresses, who were nymphs of the woods and springs, she roamed over the
+ mountains in pursuit of her favourite exercise, destroying in her course
+ the wild animals of the forest. When the chase was ended, Artemis and her
+ maidens loved to assemble in a shady grove, or on the banks of a
+ favourite stream, where they joined in the merry song, or graceful dance,
+ and made the hills resound with their joyous shouts.</p>
+
+ <p>As the type of purity and chastity, Artemis was especially venerated
+ by young maidens, who, before marrying, sacrificed their hair to her. She
+ was also the patroness of those vowed to celibacy, and punished severely
+ any infringement of their obligation.</p>
+
+ <p>The huntress-goddess is represented as being a head taller than her
+ attendant nymphs, and always appears as a youthful and slender maiden.
+ Her features are beautiful, but wanting in gentleness of expression; her
+ hair is gathered negligently into a knot at the back of her well-shaped
+ head; and her figure, though somewhat masculine, is most graceful in its
+ attitude and proportions. The short robe she wears, leaves her limbs free
+ for the exercise of the chase, her devotion to which is indicated by the
+ quiver which is slung over her shoulder, and the bow which she bears in
+ her hand.</p>
+
+ <p>There are many famous statues of this divinity; but the most
+ celebrated is that known as the Diana of Versailles, now in the Louvre,
+ which forms a not unworthy companion to the Apollo-Belvedere of the
+ Vatican. In this statue, the goddess appears in the act of rescuing a
+ hunted deer from its pursuers, on whom she is turning with angry mien.
+ One hand is laid protectingly on the head of the stag, whilst with the
+ other she draws an arrow from the quiver which hangs over her
+ shoulder.</p>
+
+ <p>Her attributes are the bow, quiver, and spear. The animals sacred to
+ her are the hind, dog, bear, and wild boar.</p>
+
+ <p>Artemis promptly resented any disregard or neglect of <!-- Page 89
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page89"></a>[89]</span>her worship; a
+ remarkable instance of this is shown in the story of the Calydonian
+ boar-hunt, which is as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0089-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0089-1.png"
+ alt="Artemis" title="Artemis" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Oeneus, king of Calydon in Ætolia, had incurred the displeasure of
+ Artemis by neglecting to include her in a general sacrifice to the gods
+ which he had offered up, out of gratitude for a bountiful harvest. The
+ goddess, enraged at this neglect, sent a wild boar of extraordinary size
+ and prodigious strength, which destroyed the sprouting grain, laid waste
+ the fields, and threatened the inhabitants with famine and death. At this
+ juncture, Meleager, the brave son of Oeneus, returned from the Argonautic
+ expedition, and finding his country ravaged by this dreadful scourge,
+ entreated the assistance of all the celebrated heroes of the age to join
+ him in hunting the ferocious monster. Among the most famous of those who
+ responded to his call were Jason, Castor and Pollux, Idas and Lynceus,
+ Peleus, Telamon, Admetus, Perithous, and Theseus. The brothers of Althea,
+ wife of Oeneus, joined the hunters, and Meleager also enlisted into his
+ service the fleet-footed huntress Atalanta.</p>
+
+ <p>The father of this maiden was Schoeneus, an Arcadian, who,
+ disappointed at the birth of a daughter when he had particularly desired
+ a son, had exposed her on the Parthenian Hill, where he left her to
+ perish. Here she was nursed by a she-bear, and at last found by some
+ hunters, who reared her, and gave her the name of Atalanta. As the maiden
+ grew up, she became an ardent <!-- Page 90 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page90"></a>[90]</span>lover of the chase, and was alike
+ distinguished for her beauty and courage. Though often wooed, she led a
+ life of strict celibacy, an oracle having predicted that inevitable
+ misfortune awaited her, should she give herself in marriage to any of her
+ numerous suitors.</p>
+
+ <p>Many of the heroes objected to hunt in company with a maiden; but
+ Meleager, who loved Atalanta, overcame their opposition, and the valiant
+ band set out on their expedition. Atalanta was the first to wound the
+ boar with her spear, but not before two of the heroes had met their death
+ from his fierce tusks. After a long and desperate encounter, Meleager
+ succeeded in killing the monster, and presented the head and hide to
+ Atalanta, as trophies of the victory. The uncles of Meleager, however,
+ forcibly took the hide from the maiden, claiming their right to the spoil
+ as next of kin, if Meleager resigned it. Artemis, whose anger was still
+ unappeased, caused a violent quarrel to arise between uncles and nephew,
+ and, in the struggle which ensued, Meleager killed his mother's brothers,
+ and then restored the hide to Atalanta. When Althea beheld the dead
+ bodies of the slain heroes, her grief and anger knew no bounds. She swore
+ to revenge the death of her brothers on her own son, and unfortunately
+ for him, the instrument of vengeance lay ready to her hand.</p>
+
+ <p>At the birth of Meleager, the Moirae, or Fates, entered the house of
+ Oeneus, and pointing to a piece of wood then burning on the hearth,
+ declared that as soon as it was consumed the babe would surely die. On
+ hearing this, Althea seized the brand, laid it up carefully in a chest,
+ and henceforth preserved it as her most precious possession. But now,
+ love for her son giving place to the resentment she felt against the
+ murderer of her brothers, she threw the fatal brand into the devouring
+ flames. As it consumed, the vigour of Meleager wasted away, and when it
+ was reduced to ashes, he expired. Repenting too late the terrible effects
+ of her rash deed, Althea, in remorse and despair, took away her own
+ life.</p>
+
+ <p>The news of the courage and intrepidity displayed by <!-- Page 91
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page91"></a>[91]</span>Atalanta in the
+ famous boar-hunt, being carried to the ears of her father, caused him to
+ acknowledge his long-lost child. Urged by him to choose one of her
+ numerous suitors, she consented to do so, but made it a condition that he
+ alone, who could outstrip her in the race, should become her husband,
+ whilst those she defeated should be put to death by her, with the lance
+ which she bore in her hand. Thus many suitors had perished, for the
+ maiden was unequalled for swiftness of foot, but at last a beautiful
+ youth, named Hippomenes, who had vainly endeavoured to win her love by
+ his assiduous attentions in the chase, ventured to enter the fatal lists.
+ Knowing that only by stratagem could he hope to be successful, he
+ obtained, by the help of Aphrodite, three golden apples from the garden
+ of the Hesperides, which he threw down at intervals during his course.
+ Atalanta, secure of victory, stooped to pick up the tempting fruit, and,
+ in the meantime, Hippomenes arrived at the goal. He became the husband of
+ the lovely Atalanta, but forgot, in his newly found happiness, the
+ gratitude which he owed to Aphrodite, and the goddess withdrew her favour
+ from the pair. Not long after, the prediction which foretold misfortune
+ to Atalanta, in the event of her marriage, was verified, for she and her
+ husband, having strayed unsanctioned into a sacred grove of Zeus, were
+ both transformed into lions.</p>
+
+ <p>The trophies of the ever-memorable boar-hunt had been carried by
+ Atalanta into Arcadia, and, for many centuries, the identical hide and
+ enormous tusks of the Calydonian boar hung in the temple of Athene at
+ Tegea. The tusks were afterwards conveyed to Rome, and shown there among
+ other curiosities.</p>
+
+ <p>A forcible instance of the manner in which Artemis resented any
+ intrusion on her retirement, is seen in the fate which befell the famous
+ hunter Actaeon, who happening one day to see Artemis and her attendants
+ bathing, imprudently ventured to approach the spot. The goddess, incensed
+ at his audacity, sprinkled him with water, and transformed him into a
+ stag, whereupon he was torn in pieces and devoured by his own dogs. <!--
+ Page 92 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page92"></a>[92]</span></p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">EPHESIAN ARTEMIS.</p>
+
+ <p>The Ephesian Artemis, known to us as "Diana of the Ephesians," was a
+ very ancient Asiatic divinity of Persian origin called Metra,<a
+ name="NtA_33" href="#Nt_33"><sup>[33]</sup></a> whose worship the Greek
+ colonists found already established, when they first settled in Asia
+ Minor, and whom they identified with their own Greek Artemis, though she
+ really possessed but one single attribute in common with their home
+ deity.</p>
+
+ <p>Metra was a twofold divinity, and represented, in one phase of her
+ character, all-pervading love; in the other she was the light of heaven;
+ and as Artemis, in her character as Selene, was the only Greek female
+ divinity who represented celestial light, the Greek settlers, according
+ to their custom of fusing foreign deities into their own, seized at once
+ upon this point of resemblance, and decided that Metra should henceforth
+ be regarded as identical with Artemis.</p>
+
+ <p>In her character as the love which pervades all nature, and penetrates
+ everywhere, they believed her also to be present in the mysterious Realm
+ of Shades, where she exercised her benign sway, replacing to a certain
+ extent that ancient divinity Hecate, and partly usurping also the place
+ of Persephone, as mistress of the lower world. Thus they believed that it
+ was she who permitted the spirits of the departed to revisit the earth,
+ in order to communicate with those they loved, and to give them timely
+ warning of coming evil. In fact, this great, mighty, and omnipresent
+ power of love, as embodied in the Ephesian Artemis, was believed by the
+ great thinkers of old, to be the ruling spirit of the universe, and it
+ was to her influence, that all the mysterious and beneficent workings of
+ nature were ascribed.</p>
+
+ <p>There was a magnificent temple erected to this divinity at Ephesus (a
+ city of Asia Minor), which was ranked among the seven wonders of the
+ world, and was unequalled in beauty and grandeur. The interior of this
+ <!-- Page 93 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page93"></a>[93]</span>edifice was adorned with statues and
+ paintings, and contained one hundred and twenty-seven columns, sixty feet
+ in height, each column having been placed there by a different king. The
+ wealth deposited in this temple was enormous, and the goddess was here
+ worshipped with particular awe and solemnity. In the interior of the
+ edifice stood a statue of her, formed of ebony, with lions on her arms
+ and turrets on her head, whilst a number of breasts indicated the
+ fruitfulness of the earth and of nature. Ctesiphon was the principal
+ architect of this world-renowned structure, which, however, was not
+ entirely completed till two hundred and twenty years after the
+ foundation-stone was laid. But the labour of centuries was destroyed in a
+ single night; for a man called Herostratus, seized with the insane desire
+ of making his name famous to all succeeding generations, set fire to it
+ and completely destroyed it.<a name="NtA_34"
+ href="#Nt_34"><sup>[34]</sup></a> So great was the indignation and sorrow
+ of the Ephesians at this calamity, that they enacted a law, forbidding
+ the incendiary's name to be mentioned, thereby however, defeating their
+ own object, for thus the name of Herostratus has been handed down to
+ posterity, and will live as long as the memory of the famous temple of
+ Ephesus.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">BRAURONIAN ARTEMIS.</p>
+
+ <p>In ancient times, the country which we now call the Crimea, was known
+ by the name of the Taurica Chersonnesus. It was colonized by Greek
+ settlers, who, finding that the Scythian inhabitants had a native
+ divinity somewhat resembling their own Artemis, identified her with the
+ huntress-goddess of the mother-country. The worship of this Taurian
+ Artemis was attended with the most barbarous practices, for, in
+ accordance with a law which she had enacted, all strangers, whether male
+ or female, landing, or shipwrecked on her shores, were sacrificed upon
+ her altars. It is supposed that this decree was <!-- Page 94 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page94"></a>[94]</span>issued by the Taurian
+ goddess of Chastity, to protect the purity of her followers, by keeping
+ them apart from foreign influences.</p>
+
+ <p>The interesting story of Iphigenia, a priestess in the temple of
+ Artemis at Tauris, forms the subject of one of Schiller's most beautiful
+ plays. The circumstances occurred at the commencement of the Trojan war,
+ and are as follows:&mdash;The fleet, collected by the Greeks for the
+ siege of Troy, had assembled at Aulis, in B&oelig;otia, and was about to
+ set sail, when Agamemnon, the commander-in-chief, had the misfortune to
+ kill accidentally a stag which was grazing in a grove, sacred to Artemis.
+ The offended goddess sent continuous calms that delayed the departure of
+ the fleet, and Calchas, the soothsayer, who had accompanied the
+ expedition, declared that nothing less than the sacrifice of Agamemnon's
+ favorite daughter, Iphigenia, would appease the wrath of the goddess. At
+ these words, the heroic heart of the brave leader sank within him, and he
+ declared that rather than consent to so fearful an alternative, he would
+ give up his share in the expedition and return to Argos. In this dilemma
+ Odysseus and other great generals called a council to discuss the matter,
+ and, after much deliberation, it was decided that private feeling must
+ yield to the welfare of the state. For a long time the unhappy Agamemnon
+ turned a deaf ear to their arguments, but at last they succeeded in
+ persuading him that it was his duty to make the sacrifice. He,
+ accordingly, despatched a messenger to his wife, Clytemnæstra, begging
+ her to send Iphigenia to him, alleging as a pretext that the great hero
+ Achilles desired to make her his wife. Rejoicing at the brilliant destiny
+ which awaited her beautiful daughter, the fond mother at once obeyed the
+ command, and sent her to Aulis. When the maiden arrived at her
+ destination, and discovered, to her horror, the dreadful fate which
+ awaited her, she threw herself in an agony of grief at her father's feet,
+ and with sobs and tears entreated him to have mercy on her, and to spare
+ her young life. But alas! her doom was sealed, and her now repentant and
+ <!-- Page 95 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page95"></a>[95]</span>heart-broken father was powerless to avert
+ it. The unfortunate victim was bound to the altar, and already the fatal
+ knife was raised to deal the death-blow, when suddenly Iphigenia
+ disappeared from view, and in her place on the altar, lay a beautiful
+ deer ready to be sacrificed. It was Artemis herself, who, pitying the
+ youth and beauty of her victim, caused her to be conveyed in a cloud to
+ Taurica, where she became one of her priestesses, and intrusted with the
+ charge of her temple; a dignity, however, which necessitated the offering
+ of those human sacrifices presented to Artemis.</p>
+
+ <p>Many years passed away, during which time the long and wearisome siege
+ of Troy had come to an end, and the brave Agamemnon had returned home to
+ meet death at the hands of his wife and Aegisthus. But his daughter,
+ Iphigenia, was still an exile from her native country, and continued to
+ perform the terrible duties which her office involved. She had long given
+ up all hopes of ever being restored to her friends, when one day two
+ Greek strangers landed on Taurica's inhospitable shores. These were
+ Orestes and Pylades, whose romantic attachment to each other has made
+ their names synonymous for devoted self-sacrificing friendship. Orestes
+ was Iphigenia's brother, and Pylades her cousin, and their object in
+ undertaking an expedition fraught with so much peril, was to obtain the
+ statue of the Taurian Artemis. Orestes, having incurred the anger of the
+ Furies for avenging the murder of his father Agamemnon, was pursued by
+ them wherever he went, until at last he was informed by the oracle of
+ Delphi that, in order to pacify them, he must convey the image of the
+ Taurian Artemis from Tauris to Attica. This he at once resolved to do,
+ and accompanied by his faithful friend Pylades, who insisted on sharing
+ the dangers of the undertaking, he set out for Taurica. But the
+ unfortunate youths had hardly stepped on shore before they were seized by
+ the natives, who, as usual, conveyed them for sacrifice to the temple of
+ Artemis. Iphigenia, discovering that they were Greeks, though unaware of
+ their near relationship to herself, thought the <!-- Page 96 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page96"></a>[96]</span>opportunity a favourable
+ one for sending tidings of her existence to her native country, and,
+ accordingly, requested one of the strangers to be the bearer of a letter
+ from her to her family. A magnanimous dispute now arose between the
+ friends, and each besought the other to accept the precious privilege of
+ life and freedom. Pylades, at length overcome by the urgent entreaties of
+ Orestes, agreed to be the bearer of the missive, but on looking more
+ closely at the superscription, he observed, to his intense surprise, that
+ it was addressed to Orestes. Hereupon an explanation followed; the
+ brother and sister recognized each other, amid joyful tears and loving
+ embraces, and assisted by her friends and kinsmen, Iphigenia escaped with
+ them from a country where she had spent so many unhappy days, and
+ witnessed so many scenes of horror and anguish.</p>
+
+ <p>The fugitives, having contrived to obtain the image of the Taurian
+ Artemis, carried it with them to Brauron in Attica. This divinity was
+ henceforth known as the Brauronian Artemis, and the rites which had
+ rendered her worship so infamous in Taurica were now introduced into
+ Greece, and human victims bled freely under the sacrificial knife, both
+ in Athens and Sparta. The revolting practice of offering human sacrifices
+ to her, was continued until the time of Lycurgus, the great Spartan
+ lawgiver, who put an end to it by substituting in its place one, which
+ was hardly less barbarous, namely, the scourging of youths, who were
+ whipped on the altars of the Brauronian Artemis in the most cruel manner;
+ sometimes indeed they expired under the lash, in which case their
+ mothers, far from lamenting their fate, are said to have rejoiced,
+ considering this an honourable death for their sons.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">SELENE-ARTEMIS.</p>
+
+ <p>Hitherto we have seen Artemis only in the various phases of her
+ terrestrial character; but just as her brother Apollo drew into himself
+ by degrees the attributes of that more ancient divinity Helios, the
+ sun-god, so, in like manner, she came to be identified in later times
+ <!-- Page 97 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page97"></a>[97]</span>with Selene, the moon-goddess, in which
+ character she is always represented as wearing on her forehead a
+ glittering crescent, whilst a flowing veil, bespangled with stars,
+ reaches to her feet, and a long robe completely envelops her.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">DIANA.</p>
+
+ <p>The Diana of the Romans was identified with the Greek Artemis, with
+ whom she shares that peculiar tripartite character, which so strongly
+ marks the individuality of the Greek goddess. In heaven she was Luna (the
+ moon), on earth Diana (the huntress-goddess), and in the lower world
+ Proserpine; but, unlike the Ephesian Artemis, Diana, in her character as
+ Proserpine, carries with her into the lower world no element of love or
+ sympathy; she is, on the contrary, characterized by practices altogether
+ hostile to man, such as the exercise of witchcraft, evil charms, and
+ other antagonistic influences, and is, in fact, the Greek Hecate, in her
+ later development.</p>
+
+ <p>The statues of Diana were generally erected at a point where three
+ roads met, for which reason she is called Trivia (from <i>tri</i>, three,
+ and <i>via</i>, way).</p>
+
+ <p>A temple was dedicated to her on the Aventine hill by Servius Tullius,
+ who is said to have first introduced the worship of this divinity into
+ Rome.</p>
+
+ <p>The Nemoralia, or Grove Festivals, were celebrated in her honour on
+ the 13th of August, on the Lacus Nemorensis, or forest-buried lake, near
+ Aricia. The priest who officiated in her temple on this spot, was always
+ a fugitive slave, who had gained his office by murdering his predecessor,
+ and hence was constantly armed, in order that he might thus be prepared
+ to encounter a new aspirant.</p>
+
+<h3>HEPHÆSTUS (<span class="sc">Vulcan</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Hephæstus, the son of Zeus and Hera, was the god of fire in its
+ beneficial aspect, and the presiding deity over all workmanship
+ accomplished by means of this useful element. He was universally
+ honoured, not only as the <!-- Page 98 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page98"></a>[98]</span>god of all mechanical arts, but also as a
+ house and hearth divinity, who exercised a beneficial influence on
+ civilized society in general. Unlike the other Greek divinities, he was
+ ugly and deformed, being awkward in his movements, and limping in his
+ gait. This latter defect originated, as we have already seen, in the
+ wrath of his father Zeus, who hurled him down from heaven<a name="NtA_35"
+ href="#Nt_35"><sup>[35]</sup></a> in consequence of his taking the part
+ of Hera, in one of the domestic disagreements, which so frequently arose
+ between this royal pair. Hephæstus was a whole day falling from Olympus
+ to the earth, where he at length alighted on the island of Lemnos. The
+ inhabitants of the country, seeing him descending through the air,
+ received him in their arms; but in spite of their care, his leg was
+ broken by the fall, and he remained ever afterwards lame in one foot.
+ Grateful for the kindness of the Lemnians, he henceforth took up his
+ abode in their island, and there built for himself a superb palace, and
+ forges for the pursuit of his avocation. He instructed the people how to
+ work in metals, and also taught them other valuable and useful arts.</p>
+
+ <p>It is said that the first work of Hephæstus was a most ingenious
+ throne of gold, with secret springs, which he presented to Hera. It was
+ arranged in such a manner that, once seated, she found herself unable to
+ move, and though all the gods endeavoured to extricate her, their efforts
+ were unavailing. Hephæstus thus revenged himself on his mother for the
+ cruelty she had always displayed towards him, on account of his want of
+ comeliness and grace. Dionysus, the wine god, contrived, however, to
+ intoxicate Hephæstus, and then induced him to return to Olympus, where,
+ after having released the <!-- Page 99 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page99"></a>[99]</span>queen of heaven from her very undignified
+ position, he became reconciled to his parents.</p>
+
+ <p>He now built for himself a glorious palace on Olympus, of shining
+ gold, and made for the other deities those magnificent edifices which
+ they inhabited. He was assisted in his various and exquisitely skilful
+ works of art, by two female statues of pure gold, formed by his own hand,
+ which possessed the power of motion, and always accompanied him wherever
+ he went. With the assistance of the Cyclops, he forged for Zeus his
+ wonderful thunderbolts, thus investing his mighty father with a new power
+ of terrible import. Zeus testified his appreciation of this precious
+ gift, by bestowing upon Hephæstus the beautiful Aphrodite in marriage,<a
+ name="NtA_36" href="#Nt_36"><sup>[36]</sup></a> but this was a
+ questionable boon; for the lovely Aphrodite, who was the personification
+ of all grace and beauty, felt no affection for her ungainly and
+ unattractive spouse, and amused herself by ridiculing his awkward
+ movements and unsightly person. On one occasion especially, when
+ Hephæstus good-naturedly took upon himself the office of cup-bearer to
+ the gods, his hobbling gait and extreme awkwardness created the greatest
+ mirth amongst the celestials, in which his disloyal partner was the first
+ to join, with unconcealed merriment.</p>
+
+ <p>Aphrodite greatly preferred Ares to her husband, and this preference
+ naturally gave rise to much jealousy on the part of Hephæstus, and caused
+ them great unhappiness.</p>
+
+ <p>Hephæstus appears to have been an indispensable member of the Olympic
+ Assembly, where he plays the part of smith, armourer, chariot-builder,
+ &amp;c. As already mentioned, he constructed the palaces where the gods
+ resided, fashioned the golden shoes with which they trod the air or
+ water, built for them their wonderful chariots, and shod with brass the
+ horses of celestial breed, which conveyed these glittering equipages over
+ land and sea. He also made the tripods which moved of themselves in and
+ out of the celestial halls, formed for Zeus the <!-- Page 100 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page100"></a>[100]</span>far-famed ægis, and
+ erected the magnificent palace of the sun. He also created the
+ brazen-footed bulls of Aetes, which breathed flames from their nostrils,
+ sent forth clouds of smoke, and filled the air with their roaring.</p>
+
+ <p>Among his most renowned works of art for the use of mortals were: the
+ armour of Achilles and Æneas, the beautiful necklace of Harmonia, and the
+ crown of Ariadne; but his masterpiece was Pandora, of whom a detailed
+ account has already been given.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0100-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0100-1.png"
+ alt="Hephæstus" title="Hephæstus" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>There was a temple on Mount Etna erected in his honour, which none but
+ the pure and virtuous were permitted to enter. The entrance to this
+ temple was guarded by dogs, which possessed the extraordinary faculty of
+ being able to discriminate between the righteous and the unrighteous,
+ fawning upon and caressing the good, whilst they rushed upon all
+ evil-doers and drove them away.</p>
+
+ <p>Hephæstus is usually represented as a powerful, brawny, and very
+ muscular man of middle height and mature age; his strong uplifted arm is
+ raised in the act of striking the anvil with a hammer, which he holds in
+ one hand, whilst with the other he is turning a thunderbolt, which an
+ eagle beside him is waiting to carry to Zeus. The principal seat of his
+ worship was the island of Lemnos, where he was regarded with peculiar
+ veneration.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">VULCAN.</p>
+
+ <p>The Roman Vulcan was merely an importation from Greece, which never at
+ any time took firm root in Rome, nor entered largely into the actual life
+ and sympathies of the nation, his worship being unattended by the
+ devotional feeling and enthusiasm which characterized the religious rites
+ of the other deities. He still, however, retained in Rome his <!-- Page
+ 101 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page101"></a>[101]</span>Greek
+ attributes as god of fire, and unrivalled master of the art of working in
+ metals, and was ranked among the twelve great gods of Olympus, whose
+ gilded statues were arranged consecutively along the Forum. His Roman
+ name, Vulcan, would seem to indicate a connection with the first great
+ metal-working artificer of Biblical history, Tubal-Cain.</p>
+
+<h3>POSEIDON (<span class="sc">Neptune</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Poseidon was the son of Kronos and Rhea, and the brother of Zeus. He
+ was god of the sea, more particularly of the Mediterranean, and, like the
+ element over which he presided, was of a variable disposition, now
+ violently agitated, and now calm and placid, for which reason he is
+ sometimes represented by the poets as quiet and composed, and at others
+ as disturbed and angry.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0101-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0101-1.png"
+ alt="Poseidon" title="Poseidon" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>In the earliest ages of Greek mythology, he merely symbolized the
+ watery element; but in later times, as navigation and intercourse with
+ other nations engendered greater traffic by sea, Poseidon gained in
+ importance, and came to be regarded as a distinct divinity, holding
+ indisputable dominion over the sea, and over all sea-divinities, who
+ acknowledged him as their sovereign ruler. He possessed the power of
+ causing at will, mighty and destructive tempests, in which the billows
+ rise mountains high, the wind becomes a hurricane, land and sea being
+ enveloped in thick mists, whilst destruction assails the unfortunate
+ mariners exposed to their fury. On the other hand, his alone was the
+ power of stilling the angry <!-- Page 102 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page102"></a>[102]</span>waves, of soothing the troubled waters,
+ and granting safe voyages to mariners. For this reason, Poseidon was
+ always invoked and propitiated by a libation before a voyage was
+ undertaken, and sacrifices and thanksgivings were gratefully offered to
+ him after a safe and prosperous journey by sea.</p>
+
+ <p>The symbol of his power was the fisherman's fork or trident,<a
+ name="NtA_37" href="#Nt_37"><sup>[37]</sup></a> by means of which he
+ produced earthquakes, raised up islands from the bottom of the sea, and
+ caused wells to spring forth out of the earth.</p>
+
+ <p>Poseidon was essentially the presiding deity over fishermen, and was
+ on that account, more particularly worshipped and revered in countries
+ bordering on the sea-coast, where fish naturally formed a staple
+ commodity of trade. He was supposed to vent his displeasure by sending
+ disastrous inundations, which completely destroyed whole countries, and
+ were usually accompanied by terrible marine monsters, who swallowed up
+ and devoured those whom the floods had spared. It is probable that these
+ sea-monsters are the poetical figures which represent the demons of
+ hunger and famine, necessarily accompanying a general inundation.</p>
+
+ <p>Poseidon is generally represented as resembling his brother Zeus in
+ features, height, and general aspect; but we miss in the countenance of
+ the sea-god the kindness and benignity which so pleasingly distinguish
+ his mighty brother. The eyes are bright and piercing, and the contour of
+ the face somewhat sharper in its outline than that of Zeus, thus
+ corresponding, as it were, with his more angry and violent nature. His
+ hair waves in dark, disorderly masses over his shoulders; his chest is
+ broad, and his frame powerful and stalwart; he wears a short, curling
+ beard, and a band round his head. He usually appears standing erect in a
+ graceful shell-chariot, drawn by hippocamps, or sea-horses, with golden
+ manes and brazen hoofs, who bound over the dancing waves with such
+ wonderful swiftness, that the chariot scarcely touches <!-- Page 103
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page103"></a>[103]</span>the water. The
+ monsters of the deep, acknowledging their mighty lord, gambol playfully
+ around him, whilst the sea joyfully smooths a path for the passage of its
+ all-powerful ruler.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:25%;">
+ <a href="images/0103-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0103-1.png"
+ alt="A hippocamp" title="A hippocamp" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>He inhabited a beautiful palace at the bottom of the sea at Ægea in
+ Eub&oelig;a, and also possessed a royal residence on Mount Olympus,
+ which, however, he only visited when his presence was required at the
+ council of the gods.</p>
+
+ <p>His wonderful palace beneath the waters was of vast extent; in its
+ lofty and capacious halls thousands of his followers could assemble. The
+ exterior of the building was of bright gold, which the continual wash of
+ the waters preserved untarnished; in the interior, lofty and graceful
+ columns supported the gleaming dome. Everywhere fountains of glistening,
+ silvery water played; everywhere groves and arbours of feathery-leaved
+ sea-plants appeared, whilst rocks of pure crystal glistened with all the
+ varied colours of the rainbow. Some of the paths were strewn with white
+ sparkling sand, interspersed with jewels, pearls, and amber. This
+ delightful abode was surrounded on all sides by wide fields, where there
+ were whole groves of dark purple coralline, and tufts of beautiful
+ scarlet-leaved plants, and sea-anemones of every tint. Here grew bright,
+ pinky sea-weeds, mosses of all hues and shades, and tall grasses, which,
+ growing upwards, formed emerald caves and grottoes such as the Nereides
+ love, whilst fish of various kinds playfully darted in and out, in the
+ full enjoyment of their native element. Nor was illumination wanting in
+ this fairy-like region, which at night was lit up by the glow-worms of
+ the deep.</p>
+
+ <p>But although Poseidon ruled with absolute power over the ocean and its
+ inhabitants, he nevertheless bowed submissively to the will of the great
+ ruler of Olympus, and appeared at all times desirous of conciliating him.
+ We <!-- Page 104 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page104"></a>[104]</span>find him coming to his aid when emergency
+ demanded, and frequently rendering him valuable assistance against his
+ opponents. At the time when Zeus was harassed by the attacks of the
+ Giants, he proved himself a most powerful ally, engaging in single combat
+ with a hideous giant named Polybotes, whom he followed over the sea, and
+ at last succeeded in destroying, by hurling upon him the island of
+ Cos.</p>
+
+ <p>These amicable relations between the brothers were, however, sometimes
+ interrupted. Thus, for instance, upon one occasion Poseidon joined Hera
+ and Athene in a secret conspiracy to seize upon the ruler of heaven,
+ place him in fetters, and deprive him of the sovereign power. The
+ conspiracy being discovered, Hera, as the chief instigator of this
+ sacrilegious attempt on the divine person of Zeus, was severely
+ chastised, and even beaten, by her enraged spouse, as a punishment for
+ her rebellion and treachery, whilst Poseidon was condemned, for the space
+ of a whole year, to forego his dominion over the sea, and it was at this
+ time that, in conjunction with Apollo, he built for Laomedon the walls of
+ Troy.</p>
+
+ <p>Poseidon married a sea-nymph named Amphitrite, whom he wooed under the
+ form of a dolphin. She afterwards became jealous of a beautiful maiden
+ called Scylla, who was beloved by Poseidon, and in order to revenge
+ herself she threw some herbs into a well where Scylla was bathing, which
+ had the effect of metamorphosing her into a monster of terrible aspect,
+ having twelve feet, six heads with six long necks, and a voice which
+ resembled the bark of a dog. This awful monster is said to have inhabited
+ a cave at a very great height in the famous rock which still bears her
+ name,<a name="NtA_38" href="#Nt_38"><sup>[38]</sup></a> and was supposed
+ to swoop down from her rocky eminence upon every ship that passed, and
+ with each of her six heads to secure a victim.</p>
+
+ <p>Amphitrite is often represented assisting Poseidon in attaching the
+ sea-horses to his chariot.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 105 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page105"></a>[105]</span></p>
+
+ <p>The Cyclops, who have been already alluded to in the history of
+ Cronus, were the sons of Poseidon and Amphitrite. They were a wild race
+ of gigantic growth, similar in their nature to the earth-born Giants, and
+ had only one eye each in the middle of their foreheads. They led a
+ lawless life, possessing neither social manners nor fear of the gods, and
+ were the workmen of Hephæstus, whose workshop was supposed to be in the
+ heart of the volcanic mountain Ætna.</p>
+
+ <p>Here we have another striking instance of the manner in which the
+ Greeks personified the powers of nature, which they saw in active
+ operation around them. They beheld with awe, mingled with astonishment,
+ the fire, stones, and ashes which poured forth from the summit of this
+ and other volcanic mountains, and, with their vivacity of imagination,
+ found a solution of the mystery in the supposition, that the god of Fire
+ must be busy at work with his men in the depths of the earth, and that
+ the mighty flames which they beheld, issued in this manner from his
+ subterranean forge.</p>
+
+ <p>The chief representative of the Cyclops was the man-eating monster
+ Polyphemus, described by Homer as having been blinded and outwitted at
+ last by Odysseus. This monster fell in love with a beautiful nymph called
+ Galatea; but, as may be supposed, his addresses were not acceptable to
+ the fair maiden, who rejected them in favour of a youth named Acis, upon
+ which Polyphemus, with his usual barbarity, destroyed the life of his
+ rival by throwing upon him a gigantic rock. The blood of the murdered
+ Acis, gushing out of the rock, formed a stream which still bears his
+ name.</p>
+
+ <p>Triton, Rhoda,<a name="NtA_39" href="#Nt_39"><sup>[39]</sup></a> and
+ Benthesicyme were also children of Poseidon and Amphitrite.</p>
+
+ <p>The sea-god was the father of two giant sons called Otus and
+ Ephialtes.<a name="NtA_40" href="#Nt_40"><sup>[40]</sup></a> When only
+ nine years old they <!-- Page 106 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page106"></a>[106]</span>were said to be twenty-seven cubits<a
+ name="NtA_41" href="#Nt_41"><sup>[41]</sup></a> in height and nine in
+ breadth. These youthful giants were as rebellious as they were powerful,
+ even presuming to threaten the gods themselves with hostilities. During
+ the war of the Gigantomachia, they endeavoured to scale heaven by piling
+ mighty mountains one upon another. Already had they succeeded in placing
+ Mount Ossa on Olympus and Pelion on Ossa, when this impious project was
+ frustrated by Apollo, who destroyed them with his arrows. It was supposed
+ that had not their lives been thus cut off before reaching maturity,
+ their sacrilegious designs would have been carried into effect.</p>
+
+ <p>Pelias and Neleus were also sons of Poseidon. Their mother Tyro was
+ attached to the river-god Enipeus, whose form Poseidon assumed, and thus
+ won her love. Pelias became afterwards famous in the story of the
+ Argonauts, and Neleus was the father of Nestor, who was distinguished in
+ the Trojan War.</p>
+
+ <p>The Greeks believed that it was to Poseidon they were indebted for the
+ existence of the horse, which he is said to have produced in the
+ following manner: Athene and Poseidon both claiming the right to name
+ Cecropia (the ancient name of Athens), a violent dispute arose, which was
+ finally settled by an assembly of the Olympian gods, who decided that
+ whichever of the contending parties presented mankind with the most
+ useful gift, should obtain the privilege of naming the city. Upon this
+ Poseidon struck the ground with his trident, and the horse sprang forth
+ in all his untamed strength and graceful beauty. From the spot which
+ Athene touched with her wand, issued the olive-tree, whereupon the gods
+ unanimously awarded to her the victory, declaring her gift to be the
+ emblem of peace and plenty, whilst that of Poseidon was thought to be the
+ symbol of war and <!-- Page 107 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page107"></a>[107]</span>bloodshed. Athene accordingly called the
+ city Athens, after herself, and it has ever since retained this name.</p>
+
+ <p>Poseidon tamed the horse for the use of mankind, and was believed to
+ have taught men the art of managing horses by the bridle. The Isthmian
+ games (so named because they were held on the Isthmus of Corinth), in
+ which horse and chariot races were a distinguishing feature, were
+ instituted in honour of Poseidon.</p>
+
+ <p>He was more especially worshipped in the Peloponnesus, though
+ universally revered throughout Greece and in the south of Italy. His
+ sacrifices were generally black and white bulls, also wild boars and
+ rams. His usual attributes are the trident, horse, and dolphin.</p>
+
+ <p>In some parts of Greece this divinity was identified with the sea-god
+ Nereus, for which reason the Nereides, or daughters of Nereus, are
+ represented as accompanying him.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">NEPTUNE.</p>
+
+ <p>The Romans worshipped Poseidon under the name of Neptune, and invested
+ him with all the attributes which belong to the Greek divinity.</p>
+
+ <p>The Roman commanders never undertook any naval expedition without
+ propitiating Neptune by a sacrifice.</p>
+
+ <p>His temple at Rome was in the Campus Martius, and the festivals
+ commemorated in his honour were called Neptunalia.</p>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h3>SEA DIVINITIES.</h3>
+
+<h3>OCEANUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Oceanus was the son of Uranus and Gæa. He was the personification of
+ the ever-flowing stream, which, according to the primitive notions of the
+ early Greeks, encircled the world, and from which sprang all the rivers
+ and streams that watered the earth. He was married to Tethys, one of the
+ Titans, and was the father of a <!-- Page 108 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page108"></a>[108]</span>numerous progeny called the Oceanides, who
+ are said to have been three thousand in number. He alone, of all the
+ Titans, refrained from taking part against Zeus in the Titanomachia, and
+ was, on that account, the only one of the primeval divinities permitted
+ to retain his dominion under the new dynasty.</p>
+
+<h3>NEREUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Nereus appears to have been the personification of the sea in its calm
+ and placid moods, and was, after Poseidon, the most important of the
+ sea-deities. He is represented as a kind and benevolent old man,
+ possessing the gift of prophecy, and presiding more particularly over the
+ Ægean Sea, of which he was considered to be the protecting spirit. There
+ he dwelt with his wife Doris and their fifty blooming daughters, the
+ Nereides, beneath the waves in a beautiful grotto-palace, and was ever
+ ready to assist distressed mariners in the hour of danger.</p>
+
+<h3>PROTEUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Proteus, more familiarly known as "The Old Man of the Sea," was a son
+ of Poseidon, and gifted with prophetic power. But he had an invincible
+ objection to being consulted in his capacity as seer, and those who
+ wished him to foretell events, watched for the hour of noon, when he was
+ in the habit of coming up to the island of Pharos,<a name="NtA_42"
+ href="#Nt_42"><sup>[42]</sup></a> with Poseidon's flock of seals, which
+ he tended at the bottom of the sea. Surrounded by these creatures of the
+ deep, he used to slumber beneath the grateful shade of the rocks. This
+ was the favourable moment to seize the prophet, who, in order to avoid
+ importunities, would change himself into an infinite variety of forms.
+ But patience gained the day; for if he were only held long enough, he
+ became wearied at last, and, resuming his true form, gave the information
+ desired, after which he dived down again to the bottom of the sea,
+ accompanied by the animals he tended.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 109 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page109"></a>[109]</span></p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0109-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0109-1.png"
+ alt="Triton" title="Triton" /></a>
+ </div>
+<h3>TRITON and the TRITONS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Triton was the only son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, but he possessed
+ little influence, being altogether a minor divinity. He is usually
+ represented as preceding his father and acting as his trumpeter, using a
+ conch-shell for this purpose. He lived with his parents in their
+ beautiful golden palace beneath the sea at Ægea, and his favourite
+ pastime was to ride over the billows on horses or sea-monsters. Triton is
+ always represented as half man, half fish, the body below the waist
+ terminating in the tail of a dolphin. We frequently find mention of
+ Tritons who are either the offspring or kindred of Triton.</p>
+
+<h3>GLAUCUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Glaucus is said to have become a sea-divinity in the following manner.
+ While angling one day, he observed that the fish he caught and threw on
+ the bank, at once nibbled at the grass and then leaped back into the
+ water. His curiosity was naturally excited, and he proceeded to gratify
+ it by taking up a few blades and tasting them. No sooner was this done
+ than, obeying an irresistible impulse, he precipitated himself into the
+ deep, and became a sea-god.</p>
+
+ <p>Like most sea-divinities he was gifted with prophetic power, and each
+ year visited all the islands and coasts with a train of marine monsters,
+ foretelling all kinds of evil. Hence fishermen dreaded his approach, and
+ endeavoured, by prayer and fasting, to avert the misfortunes which he
+ prophesied. He is often represented floating on the billows, his body
+ covered with mussels, sea-weed, and shells, wearing a full beard and long
+ flowing hair, and bitterly bewailing his immortality.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 110 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page110"></a>[110]</span></p>
+
+<h3>THETIS.</h3>
+
+ <p>The silver-footed, fair-haired Thetis, who plays an important part in
+ the mythology of Greece, was the daughter of Nereus, or, as some assert,
+ of Poseidon. Her grace and beauty were so remarkable that Zeus and
+ Poseidon both sought an alliance with her; but, as it had been foretold
+ that a son of hers would gain supremacy over his father, they
+ relinquished their intentions, and she became the wife of Peleus, son of
+ Æacus. Like Proteus, Thetis possessed the power of transforming herself
+ into a variety of different shapes, and when wooed by Peleus she exerted
+ this power in order to elude him. But, knowing that persistence would
+ eventually succeed, he held her fast until she assumed her true form.
+ Their nuptials were celebrated with the utmost pomp and magnificence, and
+ were honoured by the presence of all the gods and goddesses, with the
+ exception of Eris. How the goddess of discord resented her exclusion from
+ the marriage festivities has already been shown.</p>
+
+ <p>Thetis ever retained great influence over the mighty lord of heaven,
+ which, as we shall see hereafter, she used in favour of her renowned son,
+ Achilles, in the Trojan War.</p>
+
+ <p>When Halcyone plunged into the sea in despair after the shipwreck and
+ death of her husband King Ceyx, Thetis transformed both husband and wife
+ into the birds called kingfishers (halcyones), which, with the tender
+ affection which characterized the unfortunate couple, always fly in
+ pairs. The idea of the ancients was that these birds brought forth their
+ young in nests, which float on the surface of the sea in calm weather,
+ before and after the shortest day, when Thetis was said to keep the
+ waters smooth and tranquil for their especial benefit; hence the term
+ "halcyon-days," which signifies a period of rest and untroubled
+ felicity.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 111 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page111"></a>[111]</span></p>
+
+<h3>THAUMAS, PHORCYS, and CETO.</h3>
+
+ <p>The early Greeks, with their extraordinary power of personifying all
+ and every attribute of Nature, gave a distinct personality to those
+ mighty wonders of the deep, which, in all ages, have afforded matter of
+ speculation to educated and uneducated alike. Among these
+ personifications we find Thaumas, Phorcys, and their sister Ceto, who
+ were the offspring of Pontus.</p>
+
+ <p>Thaumas (whose name signifies Wonder) typifies that peculiar,
+ translucent condition of the surface of the sea when it reflects,
+ mirror-like, various images, and appears to hold in its transparent
+ embrace the flaming stars and illuminated cities, which are so frequently
+ reflected on its glassy bosom.</p>
+
+ <p>Thaumas married the lovely Electra (whose name signifies the sparkling
+ light produced by electricity), daughter of Oceanus. Her amber-coloured
+ hair was of such rare beauty that none of her fair-haired sisters could
+ compare with her, and when she wept, her tears, being too precious to be
+ lost, formed drops of shining amber.</p>
+
+ <p>Phorcys and Ceto personified more especially the hidden perils and
+ terrors of the ocean. They were the parents of the Gorgons, the Græa, and
+ the Dragon which guarded the golden apples of the Hesperides.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0112-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0112-1.png"
+ alt="A Siren" title="A Siren" /></a>
+ </div>
+<h3>LEUCOTHEA.</h3>
+
+ <p>Leucothea was originally a mortal named Ino, daughter of Cadmus, king
+ of Thebes. She married Athamas, king of Orchomenus, who, incensed at her
+ unnatural conduct to her step-children,<a name="NtA_43"
+ href="#Nt_43"><sup>[43]</sup></a> pursued her and her son to the
+ sea-shore, when, seeing no hope of escape, she flung herself with her
+ child into the deep. They were kindly received by the Nereides, and
+ became sea-divinities under the name of Leucothea and Palæmon.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 112 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page112"></a>[112]</span></p>
+
+<h3>THE SIRENS.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Sirens would appear to have been personifications of those
+ numerous rocks and unseen dangers, which abound on the S.W. coast of
+ Italy. They were sea-nymphs, with the upper part of the body that of a
+ maiden and the lower that of a sea-bird, having wings attached to their
+ shoulders, and were endowed with such wonderful voices, that their sweet
+ songs are said to have lured mariners to destruction.</p>
+
+<h3>ARES (<span class="sc">Mars</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Ares, the son of Zeus and Hera, was the god of war, who gloried in
+ strife for its own sake; he loved the tumult and havoc of the
+ battlefield, and delighted in slaughter and extermination; in fact he
+ presents no benevolent aspect which could possibly react favourably upon
+ human life.</p>
+
+ <p>Epic poets, in particular, represent the god of battles as a wild
+ ungovernable warrior, who passes through the armies like a whirlwind,
+ hurling to the ground the brave and cowardly alike; destroying chariots
+ and helmets, and triumphing over the terrible desolation which he
+ produces.</p>
+
+ <p>In all the myths concerning Ares, his sister Athene ever appears in
+ opposition to him, endeavouring by every means in her power to defeat his
+ bloodthirsty designs. Thus she assists the divine hero Diomedes at the
+ siege of Troy, to overcome Ares in battle, and so well does he profit by
+ her timely aid, that he succeeds in wounding the sanguinary war-god, who
+ makes his exit from the field, roaring like ten thousand bulls.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 113 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page113"></a>[113]</span></p>
+
+ <p>Ares appears to have been an object of aversion to all the gods of
+ Olympus, Aphrodite alone excepted. As the son of Hera, he had inherited
+ from his mother the strongest feelings of independence and contradiction,
+ and as he took delight in upsetting that peaceful course of state-life
+ which it was pre-eminently the care of Zeus to establish, he was
+ naturally disliked and even hated by him.</p>
+
+ <p>When wounded by Diomedes, as above related, he complains to his
+ father, but receives no sympathy from the otherwise kindly and beneficent
+ ruler of Olympus, who thus angrily addresses him: "Do not trouble me with
+ thy complaints, thou who art of all the gods of Olympus most hateful to
+ me, for thou delightest in nought save war and strife. The very spirit of
+ thy mother lives in thee, and wert thou not my son, long ago wouldst thou
+ have lain deeper down in the bowels of the earth than the son of
+ Uranus."</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0114-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0114-1.png"
+ alt="Ares" title="Ares" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Ares, upon one occasion, incurred the anger of Poseidon by slaying his
+ son Halirrhothios, who had insulted Alcippe, the daughter of the war-god.
+ For this deed, Poseidon summoned Ares to appear before the tribunal of
+ the Olympic gods, which was held upon a hill in Athens. Ares was
+ acquitted, and this event is supposed to have given rise to the name
+ Areopagus (or Hill of Ares), which afterwards became so famous as a court
+ of justice. In the Gigantomachia, Ares was defeated by the Aloidæ, the
+ two giant-sons of Poseidon, who put him in chains, and kept him in prison
+ for thirteen months.</p>
+
+ <p>Ares is represented as a man of youthful appearance; his tall muscular
+ form combines great strength with wonderful agility. In his right hand he
+ bears a sword or a mighty lance, while on the left arm he carries his
+ round shield (see next page). His demoniacal surroundings are Terror and
+ Fear;<a name="NtA_44" href="#Nt_44"><sup>[44]</sup></a> Enyo, the goddess
+ of the war-cry; Keidomos, the demon of the noise of battles; and Eris
+ (Contention), his twin-sister and companion, who always <!-- Page 114
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page114"></a>[114]</span>precedes his
+ chariot when he rushes to the fight, the latter being evidently a simile
+ of the poets to express the fact that war follows contention.</p>
+
+ <p>Eris is represented as a woman of florid complexion, with dishevelled
+ hair, and her whole appearance angry and menacing. In one hand she
+ brandishes a poniard and a hissing adder, whilst in the other she carries
+ a burning torch. Her dress is torn and disorderly, and her hair
+ intertwined with venomous snakes. This divinity was never invoked by
+ mortals, except when they desired her assistance for the accomplishment
+ of evil purposes.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">MARS.</p>
+
+ <p>The Roman divinity most closely resembling the Greek Ares, and
+ identified with him, was called Mars, Mamers, and Marspiter or Father
+ Mars.</p>
+
+ <p>The earliest Italian tribes, who were mostly engaged in the pursuit of
+ husbandry, regarded this deity more especially as the god of spring, who
+ vanquished the powers of winter, and encouraged the peaceful arts of
+ agriculture. But with the Romans, who were an essentially warlike nation,
+ Mars gradually loses his peaceful character, and, as god of war, attains,
+ after Jupiter, the highest position among the Olympic gods. The Romans
+ looked upon him as their special protector, and declared him to have been
+ the father of Romulus and Remus, the founders of their city. But although
+ he was especially <!-- Page 115 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page115"></a>[115]</span>worshipped in Rome as god of war, he still
+ continued to preside over agriculture, and was also the protecting deity
+ who watched over the welfare of the state.</p>
+
+ <p>As the god who strode with warlike step to the battlefield, he was
+ called Gradivus (from <i>gradus</i>, a step), it being popularly believed
+ by the Romans that he himself marched before them to battle, and acted as
+ their invisible protector. As the presiding deity over agriculture, he
+ was styled Sylvanus, whilst in his character as guardian of the state, he
+ bore the name of Quirinus.<a name="NtA_45"
+ href="#Nt_45"><sup>[45]</sup></a></p>
+
+ <p>The priests of Mars were twelve in number, and were called Salii, or
+ the dancers, from the fact that sacred dances, in full armour, formed an
+ important item in their peculiar ceremonial. This religious order, the
+ members of which were always chosen from the noblest families in Rome,
+ was first instituted by Numa Pompilius, who intrusted to their special
+ charge the Anciliæ, or sacred shields. It is said that one morning, when
+ Numa was imploring the protection of Jupiter for the newly-founded city
+ of Rome, the god of heaven, as though in answer to his prayer, sent down
+ an oblong brazen shield, and, as it fell at the feet of the king, a voice
+ was heard announcing that on its preservation depended the future safety
+ and prosperity of Rome. In order, therefore, to lessen the chances of
+ this sacred treasure being abstracted, Numa caused eleven more to be made
+ exactly like it, which were then given into the care of the Salii.</p>
+
+ <p>The assistance and protection of the god of war was always solemnly
+ invoked before the departure of a Roman army for the field of battle, and
+ any reverses of fortune were invariably ascribed to his anger, which was
+ accordingly propitiated by means of extraordinary sin-offerings and
+ prayers.</p>
+
+ <p>In Rome a field, called the Campus Martius, was dedicated to Mars. It
+ was a large, open space, in which armies were collected and reviewed,
+ general assemblies of <!-- Page 116 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page116"></a>[116]</span>the people held, and the young nobility
+ trained to martial exercises.</p>
+
+ <p>The most celebrated and magnificent of the numerous temples built by
+ the Romans in honour of this deity was the one erected by Augustus in the
+ Forum, to commemorate the overthrow of the murderers of Cæsar.</p>
+
+ <p>Of all existing statues of Mars the most renowned is that in the Villa
+ Ludovisi at Rome, in which he is represented as a powerful, muscular man
+ in the full vigour of youth. The attitude is that of thoughtful repose,
+ but the short, curly hair, dilated nostrils, and strongly marked features
+ leave no doubt as to the force and turbulence of his character. At his
+ feet, the sculptor has placed the little god of love, who looks up all
+ undaunted at the mighty war-god, as though mischievously conscious that
+ this unusually quiet mood is attributable to his influence.</p>
+
+ <p>Religious festivals in honour of Mars were generally held in the month
+ of March; but he had also a festival on the Ides of October, when
+ chariot-races took place, after which, the right-hand horse of the team
+ which had drawn the victorious chariot, was sacrificed to him. In ancient
+ times, human sacrifices, more especially prisoners of war, were offered
+ to him; but, at a later period, this cruel practice was discontinued.</p>
+
+ <p>The attributes of this divinity are the helmet, shield, and spear. The
+ animals consecrated to him were the wolf, horse, vulture, and
+ woodpecker.</p>
+
+ <p>Intimately associated with Mars in his character as god of war, was a
+ goddess called <b>BELLONA</b>, who was evidently the female divinity of
+ battle with one or other of the primitive nations of Italy (most probably
+ the Sabines), and is usually seen accompanying Mars, whose war-chariot
+ she guides. Bellona appears on the battle-field, inspired with mad rage,
+ cruelty, and the love of extermination. She is in full armour, her hair
+ is dishevelled, and she bears a scourge in one hand, and a lance in the
+ other.</p>
+
+ <p>A temple was erected to her on the Campus Martius. Before the entrance
+ to this edifice stood a pillar, over which a spear was thrown when war
+ was publicly declared. <!-- Page 117 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page117"></a>[117]</span></p>
+
+<h3>NIKE (<span class="sc">Victoria</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Nike, the goddess of victory, was the daughter of the Titan Pallas,
+ and of Styx, the presiding nymph of the river of that name in the lower
+ world.</p>
+
+ <p>In her statues, Nike somewhat resembles Athene, but may easily be
+ recognized by her large, graceful wings and flowing drapery, which is
+ negligently fastened on the right shoulder, and only partially conceals
+ her lovely form. In her left hand, she holds aloft a crown of laurel, and
+ in the right, a palm-branch. In ancient sculpture, Nike is usually
+ represented in connection with colossal statues of Zeus or Pallas-Athene,
+ in which case she is life-sized, and stands on a ball, held in the open
+ palm of the deity she accompanies. Sometimes she is represented engaged
+ in inscribing the victory of a conqueror on his shield, her right foot
+ being slightly raised and placed on a ball.</p>
+
+ <p>A celebrated temple was erected to this divinity on the Acropolis at
+ Athens, which is still to be seen, and is in excellent preservation.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">VICTORIA.</p>
+
+ <p>Under the name of Victoria, Nike was highly honoured by the Romans,
+ with whom love of conquest was an all-absorbing characteristic. There
+ were several sanctuaries in Rome dedicated to her, the principal of which
+ was on the Capitol, where it was the custom of generals, after success
+ had attended their arms, to erect statues of the goddess in commemoration
+ of their victories. The most magnificent of these statues, was that
+ raised by Augustus after the battle of Actium. A festival was celebrated
+ in honour of Nike on the 12th of April.</p>
+
+<h3>HERMES (<span class="sc">Mercury</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Hermes was the swift-footed messenger, and trusted ambassador of all
+ the gods, and conductor of shades to Hades. He presided over the rearing
+ and education of <!-- Page 118 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page118"></a>[118]</span>the young, and encouraged gymnastic
+ exercises and athletic pursuits, for which reason, all gymnasiums and
+ wrestling schools throughout Greece were adorned with his statues. He is
+ said to have invented the alphabet, and to have taught the art of
+ interpreting foreign languages, and his versatility, sagacity, and
+ cunning were so extraordinary, that Zeus invariably chose him as his
+ attendant, when, disguised as a mortal, he journeyed on earth.</p>
+
+ <p>Hermes was worshipped as god of eloquence, most probably from the fact
+ that, in his office as ambassador, this faculty was indispensable to the
+ successful issue of the negotiations with which he was intrusted. He was
+ regarded as the god who granted increase and prosperity to flocks and
+ herds, and, on this account, was worshipped with special veneration by
+ herdsmen.</p>
+
+ <p>In ancient times, trade was conducted chiefly by means of the exchange
+ of cattle. Hermes, therefore, as god of herdsmen, came to be regarded as
+ the protector of merchants, and, as ready wit and adroitness are valuable
+ qualities both in buying and selling, he was also looked upon as the
+ patron of artifice and cunning. Indeed, so deeply was this notion rooted
+ in the minds of the Greek people, that he was popularly believed to be
+ also god of thieves, and of all persons who live by their wits.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:10%;">
+ <a href="images/0118-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0118-1.png"
+ alt="A Herma" title="A Herma" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>As the patron of commerce, Hermes was naturally supposed to be the
+ promoter of intercourse among nations; hence, he is essentially the god
+ of travellers, over whose safety he presided, and he severely punished
+ those who refused assistance to the lost or weary wayfarer. He was also
+ guardian of streets and roads, and his statues, called Hermæ (which were
+ pillars of stone surmounted by a head of Hermes), were placed at
+ cross-roads, and frequently in streets and public squares.</p>
+
+ <p>Being the god of all undertakings in which gain was a feature, he was
+ worshipped as the giver of wealth and <!-- Page 119 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page119"></a>[119]</span>good luck, and any
+ unexpected stroke of fortune was attributed to his influence. He also
+ presided over the game of dice, in which he is said to have been
+ instructed by Apollo.</p>
+
+ <p>Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia, the eldest and most beautiful of
+ the seven Pleiades (daughters of Atlas), and was born in a cave of Mount
+ Cyllene in Arcadia. As a mere babe, he exhibited an extraordinary faculty
+ for cunning and dissimulation; in fact, he was a thief from his cradle,
+ for, not many hours after his birth, we find him creeping stealthily out
+ of the cave in which he was born, in order to steal some oxen belonging
+ to his brother Apollo, who was at this time feeding the flocks of
+ Admetus. But he had not proceeded very far on his expedition before he
+ found a tortoise, which he killed, and, stretching seven strings across
+ the empty shell, invented a lyre, upon which he at once began to play
+ with exquisite skill. When he had sufficiently amused himself with the
+ instrument, he placed it in his cradle, and then resumed his journey to
+ Pieria, where the cattle of Admetus were grazing. Arriving at sunset at
+ his destination, he succeeded in separating fifty oxen from his brother's
+ herd, which he now drove before him, taking the precaution to cover his
+ feet with sandals made of twigs of myrtle, in order to escape detection.
+ But the little rogue was not unobserved, for the theft had been witnessed
+ by an old shepherd named Battus, who was tending the flocks of Neleus,
+ king of Pylos (father of Nestor). Hermes, frightened at being discovered,
+ bribed him with the finest cow in the herd not to betray him, and Battus
+ promised to keep the secret. But Hermes, astute as he was dishonest,
+ determined to test the shepherd's integrity. Feigning to go away, he
+ assumed the form of Admetus, and then returning to the spot offered the
+ old man two of his best oxen if he would disclose the author of the
+ theft. The ruse succeeded, for the avaricious shepherd, unable to resist
+ the tempting bait, gave the desired information, upon which Hermes,
+ exerting his divine power, changed him into a lump of touchstone, as a
+ <!-- Page 120 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page120"></a>[120]</span>punishment for his treachery and avarice.
+ Hermes now killed two of the oxen, which he sacrificed to himself and the
+ other gods, concealing the remainder in the cave. He then carefully
+ extinguished the fire, and, after throwing his twig shoes into the river
+ Alpheus, returned to Cyllene.</p>
+
+ <p>Apollo, by means of his all-seeing power, soon discovered who it was
+ that had robbed him, and hastening to Cyllene, demanded restitution of
+ his property. On his complaining to Maia of her son's conduct, she
+ pointed to the innocent babe then lying, apparently fast asleep, in his
+ cradle, whereupon, Apollo angrily aroused the pretended sleeper, and
+ charged him with the theft; but the child stoutly denied all knowledge of
+ it, and so cleverly did he play his part, that he even inquired in the
+ most naive manner what sort of animals cows were. Apollo threatened to
+ throw him into Tartarus if he would not confess the truth, but all to no
+ purpose. At last, he seized the babe in his arms, and brought him into
+ the presence of his august father, who was seated in the council chamber
+ of the gods. Zeus listened to the charge made by Apollo, and then sternly
+ desired Hermes to say where he had hidden the cattle. The child, who was
+ still in swaddling-clothes, looked up bravely into his father's face and
+ said, "Now, do I look capable of driving away a herd of cattle; I, who
+ was only born yesterday, and whose feet are much too soft and tender to
+ tread in rough places? Until this moment, I lay in sweet sleep on my
+ mother's bosom, and have never even crossed the threshold of our
+ dwelling. You know well that I am not guilty; but, if you wish, I will
+ affirm it by the most solemn oaths." As the child stood before him,
+ looking the picture of innocence, Zeus could not refrain from smiling at
+ his cleverness and cunning, but, being perfectly aware of his guilt, he
+ commanded him to conduct Apollo to the cave where he had concealed the
+ herd, and Hermes, seeing that further subterfuge was useless,
+ unhesitatingly obeyed. But when the divine shepherd was about to drive
+ his cattle back into Pieria, Hermes, as though by chance, touched the
+ chords of his <!-- Page 121 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page121"></a>[121]</span>lyre. Hitherto Apollo had heard nothing
+ but the music of his own three-stringed lyre and the syrinx, or Pan's
+ pipe, and, as he listened entranced to the delightful strains of this new
+ instrument, his longing to possess it became so great, that he gladly
+ offered the oxen in exchange, promising at the same time, to give Hermes
+ full dominion over flocks and herds, as well as over horses, and all the
+ wild animals of the woods and forests. The offer was accepted, and, a
+ reconciliation being thus effected between the brothers, Hermes became
+ henceforth god of herdsmen, whilst Apollo devoted himself
+ enthusiastically to the art of music.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:10%;">
+ <a href="images/0121-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0121-1.png"
+ alt="Caduceus" title="Caduceus" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>They now proceeded together to Olympus, where Apollo introduced Hermes
+ as his chosen friend and companion, and, having made him swear by the
+ Styx, that he would never steal his lyre or bow, nor invade his sanctuary
+ at Delphi, he presented him with the Caduceus, or golden wand. This wand
+ was surmounted by wings, and on presenting it to Hermes, Apollo informed
+ him that it possessed the faculty of uniting in love, all beings divided
+ by hate. Wishing to prove the truth of this assertion, Hermes threw it
+ down between two snakes which were fighting, whereupon the angry
+ combatants clasped each other in a loving embrace, and curling round the
+ staff, remained ever after permanently attached to it. The wand itself
+ typified power; the serpents, wisdom; and the wings, despatch&mdash;all
+ qualities characteristic of a trustworthy ambassador.</p>
+
+ <p>The young god was now presented by his father with a winged silver cap
+ (Petasus), and also with silver wings for his feet (Talaria), and was
+ forthwith appointed herald of the gods, and conductor of shades to Hades,
+ which office had hitherto been filled by Aïdes.</p>
+
+ <p>As messenger of the gods, we find him employed on all occasions
+ requiring special skill, tact, or despatch. Thus he conducts Hera,
+ Athene, and Aphrodite to Paris, leads Priam to Achilles to demand the
+ body of Hector, <!-- Page 122 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page122"></a>[122]</span>binds Prometheus to Mount Caucasus,
+ secures Ixion to the eternally revolving wheel, destroys Argus, the
+ hundred-eyed guardian of Io, &amp;c. &amp;c.</p>
+
+ <p>As conductor of shades, Hermes was always invoked by the dying to
+ grant them a safe and speedy passage across the Styx. He also possessed
+ the power of bringing back departed spirits to the upper world, and was,
+ therefore, the mediator between the living and the dead.</p>
+
+ <p>The poets relate many amusing stories of the youthful tricks played by
+ this mischief-loving god upon the other immortals. For instance, he had
+ the audacity to extract the Medusa's head from the shield of Athene,
+ which he playfully attached to the back of Hephæstus; he also stole the
+ girdle of Aphrodite; deprived Artemis of her arrows, and Ares of his
+ spear, but these acts were always performed with such graceful dexterity,
+ combined with such perfect good humour, that even the gods and goddesses
+ he thus provoked, were fain to pardon him, and he became a universal
+ favourite with them all.</p>
+
+ <p>It is said that Hermes was one day flying over Athens, when, looking
+ down into the city, he beheld a number of maidens returning in solemn
+ procession from the temple of Pallas-Athene. Foremost among them was
+ Herse, the beautiful daughter of king Cecrops, and Hermes was so struck
+ with her exceeding loveliness that he determined to seek an interview
+ with her. He accordingly presented himself at the royal palace, and
+ begged her sister Agraulos to favour his suit; but, being of an
+ avaricious turn of mind, she refused to do so without the payment of an
+ enormous sum of money. It did not take the messenger of the gods long to
+ obtain the means of fulfilling this condition, and he soon returned with
+ a well-filled purse. But meanwhile Athene, to punish the cupidity of
+ Agraulos, had caused the demon of envy to take possession of her, and the
+ consequence was, that, being unable to contemplate the happiness of her
+ sister, she sat down before the door, and resolutely refused to allow
+ Hermes to enter. He tried every persuasion and blandishment in his power,
+ but she still remained obstinate. At last, his patience <!-- Page 123
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page123"></a>[123]</span>being
+ exhausted, he changed her into a mass of black stone, and, the obstacle
+ to his wishes being removed, he succeeded in persuading Herse to become
+ his wife.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0123-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0123-1.png"
+ alt="Hermes" title="Hermes" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>In his statues, Hermes is represented as a beardless youth, with broad
+ chest and graceful but muscular limbs; the face is handsome and
+ intelligent, and a genial smile of kindly benevolence plays round the
+ delicately chiselled lips.</p>
+
+ <p>As messenger of the gods he wears the Petasus and Talaria, and bears
+ in his hand the Caduceus or herald's staff.</p>
+
+ <p>As god of eloquence, he is often represented with chains of gold
+ hanging from his lips, whilst, as the patron of merchants, he bears a
+ purse in his hand.</p>
+
+ <p>The wonderful excavations in Olympia, to which allusion has already
+ been made, have brought to light an exquisite marble group of Hermes and
+ the infant Bacchus, by Praxiteles. In this great work of art, Hermes is
+ represented as a young and handsome man, who is looking down kindly and
+ affectionately at the child resting on his arm, but unfortunately nothing
+ remains of the infant save the right hand, which is laid lovingly on the
+ shoulder of his protector.</p>
+
+ <p>The sacrifices to Hermes consisted of incense, honey, cakes, pigs, and
+ especially lambs and young goats. As god of eloquence, the tongues of
+ animals were sacrificed to him.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">MERCURY.</p>
+
+ <p>Mercury was the Roman god of commerce and gain. We find mention of a
+ temple having been erected to him <!-- Page 124 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page124"></a>[124]</span>near the Circus Maximus
+ as early as <span class="scac">B.C.</span> 495; and he had also a temple
+ and a sacred fount near the Porta Capena. Magic powers were ascribed to
+ the latter, and on the festival of Mercury, which took place on the 25th
+ of May, it was the custom for merchants to sprinkle themselves and their
+ merchandise with this holy water, in order to insure large profits from
+ their wares.</p>
+
+ <p>The Fetiales (Roman priests whose duty it was to act as guardians of
+ the public faith) refused to recognize the identity of Mercury with
+ Hermes, and ordered him to be represented with a sacred branch as the
+ emblem of peace, instead of the Caduceus. In later times, however, he was
+ completely identified with the Greek Hermes.</p>
+
+<h3>DIONYSUS (<span class="sc">Bacchus</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Dionysus, also called Bacchus (from <i>bacca</i>, berry), was the god
+ of wine, and the personification of the blessings of Nature in
+ general.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0124-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0124-1.png"
+ alt="Dionysus" title="Dionysus" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>The worship of this divinity, which is supposed to have been
+ introduced into Greece from Asia (in all probability from India), first
+ took root in Thrace, whence it gradually spread into other parts of
+ Greece.</p>
+
+ <p>Dionysus was the son of Zeus and Semele, and was snatched by Zeus from
+ the devouring flames in which his mother perished, when he appeared to
+ her in all the splendour of his divine glory. The motherless child was
+ intrusted to the charge of Hermes, who conveyed him to Semele's sister,
+ Ino. But Hera, still implacable in her vengeance, visited Athamas, the
+ husband of Ino, with madness, <!-- Page 125 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page125"></a>[125]</span>and the child's life being no longer safe,
+ he was transferred to the fostering care of the nymphs of Mount Nysa. An
+ aged satyr named Silenus, the son of Pan, took upon himself the office of
+ guardian and preceptor to the young god, who, in his turn, became much
+ attached to his kind tutor; hence we see Silenus always figuring as one
+ of the chief personages in the various expeditions of the wine-god.</p>
+
+ <p>Dionysus passed an innocent and uneventful childhood, roaming through
+ the woods and forests, surrounded by nymphs, satyrs, and shepherds.
+ During one of these rambles, he found a fruit growing wild, of a most
+ refreshing and cooling nature. This was the vine, from which he
+ subsequently learnt to extract a juice which formed a most exhilarating
+ beverage. After his companions had partaken freely of it, they felt their
+ whole being pervaded by an unwonted sense of pleasurable excitement, and
+ gave full vent to their overflowing exuberance, by shouting, singing, and
+ dancing. Their numbers were soon swelled by a crowd, eager to taste a
+ beverage productive of such extraordinary results, and anxious to join in
+ the worship of a divinity to whom they were indebted for this new
+ enjoyment. Dionysus, on his part, seeing how agreeably his discovery had
+ affected his immediate followers, resolved to extend the boon to mankind
+ in general. He saw that wine, used in moderation, would enable man to
+ enjoy a happier, and more sociable existence, and that, under its
+ invigorating influence, the sorrowful might, for a while, forget their
+ grief and the sick their pain. He accordingly gathered round him his
+ zealous followers, and they set forth on their travels, planting the vine
+ and teaching its cultivation wherever they went.</p>
+
+ <p>We now behold Dionysus at the head of a large army composed of men,
+ women, fauns, and satyrs, all bearing in their hands the Thyrsus (a staff
+ entwined with vine-branches surmounted by a fir-cone), and clashing
+ together cymbals and other musical instruments. Seated in a chariot drawn
+ by panthers, and accompanied by thousands of enthusiastic followers,
+ Dionysus made a triumphal <!-- Page 126 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page126"></a>[126]</span>progress through Syria, Egypt, Arabia,
+ India, &amp;c., conquering all before him, founding cities, and
+ establishing on every side a more civilized and sociable mode of life
+ among the inhabitants of the various countries through which he
+ passed.</p>
+
+ <p>When Dionysus returned to Greece from his Eastern expedition, he
+ encountered great opposition from Lycurgus, king of Thrace, and Pentheus,
+ king of Thebes. The former, highly disapproving of the wild revels which
+ attended the worship of the wine-god, drove away his attendants, the
+ nymphs of Nysa, from that sacred mountain, and so effectually intimidated
+ Dionysus, that he precipitated himself into the sea, where he was
+ received into the arms of the ocean-nymph, Thetis. But the impious king
+ bitterly expiated his sacrilegious conduct. He was punished with the loss
+ of his reason, and, during one of his mad paroxysms, killed his own son
+ Dryas, whom he mistook for a vine.</p>
+
+ <p>Pentheus, king of Thebes, seeing his subjects so completely infatuated
+ by the riotous worship of this new divinity, and fearing the demoralizing
+ effects of the unseemly nocturnal orgies held in honour of the wine-god,
+ strictly prohibited his people from taking any part in the wild
+ Bacchanalian revels. Anxious to save him from the consequences of his
+ impiety, Dionysus appeared to him under the form of a youth in the king's
+ train, and earnestly warned him to desist from his denunciations. But the
+ well-meant admonition failed in its purpose, for Pentheus only became
+ more incensed at this interference, and, commanding Dionysus to be cast
+ into prison, caused the most cruel preparations to be made for his
+ immediate execution. But the god soon freed himself from his ignoble
+ confinement, for scarcely had his jailers departed, ere the prison-doors
+ opened of themselves, and, bursting asunder his iron chains, he escaped
+ to rejoin his devoted followers.</p>
+
+ <p>Meanwhile, the mother of the king and her sisters, inspired with
+ Bacchanalian fury, had repaired to Mount Cithæron, in order to join the
+ worshippers of the <!-- Page 127 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page127"></a>[127]</span>wine-god in those dreadful orgies which
+ were solemnized exclusively by women, and at which no man was allowed to
+ be present. Enraged at finding his commands thus openly disregarded by
+ the members of his own family, Pentheus resolved to witness for himself
+ the excesses of which he had heard such terrible reports, and for this
+ purpose, concealed himself behind a tree on Mount Cithæron; but his
+ hiding-place being discovered, he was dragged out by the half-maddened
+ crew of Bacchantes and, horrible to relate, he was torn in pieces by his
+ own mother Agave and her two sisters.</p>
+
+ <p>An incident which occurred to Dionysus on one of his travels has been
+ a favourite subject with the classic poets. One day, as some Tyrrhenian
+ pirates approached the shores of Greece, they beheld Dionysus, in the
+ form of a beautiful youth, attired in radiant garments. Thinking to
+ secure a rich prize, they seized him, bound him, and conveyed him on
+ board their vessel, resolved to carry him with them to Asia and there
+ sell him as a slave. But the fetters dropped from his limbs, and the
+ pilot, who was the first to perceive the miracle, called upon his
+ companions to restore the youth carefully to the spot whence they had
+ taken him, assuring them that he was a god, and that adverse winds and
+ storms would, in all probability, result from their impious conduct. But,
+ refusing to part with their prisoner, they set sail for the open sea.
+ Suddenly, to the alarm of all on board, the ship stood still, masts and
+ sails were covered with clustering vines and wreaths of ivy-leaves,
+ streams of fragrant wine inundated the vessel, and heavenly strains of
+ music were heard around. The terrified crew, too late repentant, crowded
+ round the pilot for protection, and entreated him to steer for the shore.
+ But the hour of retribution had arrived. Dionysus assumed the form of a
+ lion, whilst beside him appeared a bear, which, with a terrific roar,
+ rushed upon the captain and tore him in pieces; the sailors, in an agony
+ of terror, leaped overboard, and were changed into dolphins. The discreet
+ and pious steersman was alone permitted to escape the fate of his
+ companions, <!-- Page 128 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page128"></a>[128]</span>and to him Dionysus, who had resumed his
+ true form, addressed words of kind and affectionate encouragement, and
+ announced his name and dignity. They now set sail, and Dionysus desired
+ the pilot to land him at the island of Naxos, where he found the lovely
+ Ariadne, daughter of Minos, king of Crete. She had been abandoned by
+ Theseus on this lonely spot, and, when Dionysus now beheld her, was lying
+ fast asleep on a rock, worn out with sorrow and weeping. Wrapt in
+ admiration, the god stood gazing at the beautiful vision before him, and
+ when she at length unclosed her eyes, he revealed himself to her, and, in
+ gentle tones, sought to banish her grief. Grateful for his kind sympathy,
+ coming as it did at a moment when she had deemed herself forsaken and
+ friendless, she gradually regained her former serenity, and, yielding to
+ his entreaties, consented to become his wife.</p>
+
+ <p>Dionysus, having established his worship in various parts of the
+ world, descended to the realm of shades in search of his ill-fated
+ mother, whom he conducted to Olympus, where, under the name of Thyone,
+ she was admitted into the assembly of the immortal gods.</p>
+
+ <p>Among the most noted worshippers of Dionysus was Midas,<a
+ name="NtA_46" href="#Nt_46"><sup>[46]</sup></a> the wealthy king of
+ Phrygia, the same who, as already related, gave judgment against Apollo.
+ Upon one occasion Silenus, the preceptor and friend of Dionysus, being in
+ an intoxicated condition, strayed into the rose-gardens of this monarch,
+ where he was found by some of the king's attendants, who bound him with
+ roses and conducted him to the presence of their royal master. Midas
+ treated the aged satyr with the greatest consideration, and, after
+ entertaining him hospitably for ten days, led him back to Dionysus, who
+ was so grateful for the kind attention shown to his old friend, that he
+ offered to grant Midas any favour he chose to demand; whereupon the
+ avaricious monarch, not content with his boundless wealth, and still
+ thirsting for more, desired that everything he touched might turn to
+ gold. The request was <!-- Page 129 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page129"></a>[129]</span>complied with in so literal a sense, that
+ the now wretched Midas bitterly repented his folly and cupidity, for,
+ when the pangs of hunger assailed him, and he essayed to appease his
+ cravings, the food became gold ere he could swallow it; as he raised the
+ cup of wine to his parched lips, the sparkling draught was changed into
+ the metal he had so coveted, and when at length, wearied and faint, he
+ stretched his aching frame on his hitherto luxurious couch, this also was
+ transformed into the substance which had now become the curse of his
+ existence. The despairing king at last implored the god to take back the
+ fatal gift, and Dionysus, pitying his unhappy plight, desired him to
+ bathe in the river Pactolus, a small stream in Lydia, in order to lose
+ the power which had become the bane of his life. Midas joyfully obeying
+ the injunction, was at once freed from the consequences of his avaricious
+ demand, and from this time forth the sands of the river Pactolus have
+ ever contained grains of gold.</p>
+
+ <p>Representations of Dionysus are of two kinds. According to the
+ earliest conceptions, he appears as a grave and dignified man in the
+ prime of life; his countenance is earnest, thoughtful, and benevolent; he
+ wears a full beard, and is draped from head to foot in the garb of an
+ Eastern monarch. But the sculptors of a later period represent him as a
+ youth of singular beauty, though of somewhat effeminate appearance; the
+ expression of the countenance is gentle and winning; the limbs are supple
+ and gracefully moulded; and the hair, which is adorned by a wreath of
+ vine or ivy leaves, falls over the shoulders in long curls. In one hand
+ he bears the Thyrsus, and in the other a drinking-cup with two handles,
+ these being his distinguishing attributes. He is often represented riding
+ on a panther, or seated in a chariot drawn by lions, tigers, panthers, or
+ lynxes.</p>
+
+ <p>Being the god of wine, which is calculated to promote sociability, he
+ rarely appears alone, but is usually accompanied by Bacchantes, satyrs,
+ and mountain-nymphs.</p>
+
+ <p>The finest modern representation of Ariadne is that by Danneker, at
+ Frankfort-on-the-Maine. In this statue she <!-- Page 130 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page130"></a>[130]</span>appears riding on a
+ panther; the beautiful upturned face inclines slightly over the left
+ shoulder; the features are regular and finely cut, and a wreath of
+ ivy-leaves encircles the well-shaped head. With her right hand she
+ gracefully clasps the folds of drapery which fall away negligently from
+ her rounded form, whilst the other rests lightly and caressingly on the
+ head of the animal.</p>
+
+ <p>Dionysus was regarded as the patron of the drama, and at the state
+ festival of the Dionysia, which was celebrated with great pomp in the
+ city of Athens, dramatic entertainments took place in his honour, for
+ which all the renowned Greek dramatists of antiquity composed their
+ immortal tragedies and comedies.</p>
+
+ <p>He was also a prophetic divinity, and possessed oracles, the principal
+ of which was that on Mount Rhodope in Thrace.</p>
+
+ <p>The tiger, lynx, panther, dolphin, serpent, and ass were sacred to
+ this god. His favourite plants were the vine, ivy, laurel, and asphodel.
+ His sacrifices consisted of goats, probably on account of their being
+ destructive to vineyards.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">BACCHUS <span class="scac">OR</span> LIBER.</p>
+
+ <p>The Romans had a divinity called Liber who presided over vegetation,
+ and was, on this account, identified with the Greek Dionysus, and
+ worshipped under the name of Bacchus.</p>
+
+ <p>The festival of Liber, called the Liberalia, was celebrated on the
+ 17th of March.</p>
+
+<h3>AÏDES (<span class="sc">Pluto</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Aïdes, Aïdoneus, or Hades, was the son of Cronus and Rhea, and the
+ youngest brother of Zeus and Poseidon. He was the ruler of that
+ subterranean region called Erebus, which was inhabited by the shades or
+ spirits of the dead, and also by those dethroned and exiled deities who
+ had been vanquished by Zeus and his allies. Aïdes, the grim and gloomy
+ monarch of this lower world, was the <!-- Page 131 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page131"></a>[131]</span>successor of Erebus,
+ that ancient primeval divinity after whom these realms were called.</p>
+
+ <p>The early Greeks regarded Aïdes in the light of their greatest foe,
+ and Homer tells us that he was "of all the gods the most detested," being
+ in their eyes the grim robber who stole from them their nearest and
+ dearest, and eventually deprived each of them of their share in
+ terrestrial existence. His name was so feared that it was never mentioned
+ by mortals, who, when they invoked him, struck the earth with their
+ hands, and in sacrificing to him turned away their faces.</p>
+
+ <p>The belief of the people with regard to a future state was, in the
+ Homeric age, a sad and cheerless one. It was supposed that when a mortal
+ ceased to exist, his spirit tenanted the shadowy outline of the human
+ form it had quitted. These shadows, or shades as they were called, were
+ driven by Aïdes into his dominions, where they passed their time, some in
+ brooding over the vicissitudes of fortune which they had experienced on
+ earth, others in regretting the lost pleasures they had enjoyed in life,
+ but all in a condition of semi-consciousness, from which the intellect
+ could only be roused to full activity by drinking of the blood of the
+ sacrifices offered to their shades by living friends, which, for a time,
+ endowed them with their former mental vigour. The only beings supposed to
+ enjoy any happiness in a future state were the heroes, whose acts of
+ daring and deeds of prowess had, during their life, reflected honour on
+ the land of their birth; and even these, according to Homer, pined after
+ their career of earthly activity. He tells us that when Odysseus visited
+ the lower world at the command of Circe, and held communion with the
+ shades of the heroes of the Trojan war, Achilles assured him that he
+ would rather be the poorest day-labourer on earth than reign supreme over
+ the realm of shades.</p>
+
+ <p>The early Greek poets offer but scanty allusions to Erebus. Homer
+ appears purposely to envelop these realms in vagueness and mystery, in
+ order, probably, to heighten the sensation of awe inseparably connected
+ with <!-- Page 132 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page132"></a>[132]</span>the lower world. In the Odyssey he
+ describes the entrance to Erebus as being beyond the furthermost edge of
+ Oceanus, in the far west, where dwelt the Cimmerians, enveloped in
+ eternal mists and darkness.</p>
+
+ <p>In later times, however, in consequence of extended intercourse with
+ foreign nations, new ideas became gradually introduced, and we find
+ Egyptian theories with regard to a future state taking root in Greece,
+ which become eventually the religious belief of the whole nation. It is
+ now that the poets and philosophers, and more especially the teachers of
+ the Eleusinian Mysteries, begin to inculcate the doctrine of the future
+ reward and punishment of good and bad deeds. Aïdes, who had hitherto been
+ regarded as the dread enemy of mankind, who delights in his grim office,
+ and keeps the shades imprisoned in his dominions after withdrawing them
+ from the joys of existence, now receives them with hospitality and
+ friendship, and Hermes replaces him as conductor of shades to Hades.
+ Under this new aspect Aïdes usurps the functions of a totally different
+ divinity called Plutus (the god of riches), and is henceforth regarded as
+ the giver of wealth to mankind, in the shape of those precious metals
+ which lie concealed in the bowels of the earth.</p>
+
+ <p>The later poets mention various entrances to Erebus, which were for
+ the most part caves and fissures. There was one in the mountain of
+ Taenarum, another in Thesprotia, and a third, the most celebrated of all,
+ in Italy, near the pestiferous Lake Avernus, over which it is said no
+ bird could fly, so noxious were its exhalations.</p>
+
+ <p>In the dominions of Aïdes there were four great rivers, three of which
+ had to be crossed by all the shades. These three were Acheron (sorrow),
+ Cocytus (lamentation), and Styx (intense darkness), the sacred stream
+ which flowed nine times round these realms.</p>
+
+ <p>The shades were ferried over the Styx by the grim, unshaven old
+ boatman Charon, who, however, only took those whose bodies had received
+ funereal rites on earth, and who had brought with them his indispensable
+ toll, which was a small coin or obolus, usually placed under the <!--
+ Page 133 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page133"></a>[133]</span>tongue of a dead person for this purpose.
+ If these conditions had not been fulfilled, the unhappy shades were left
+ behind to wander up and down the banks for a hundred years as restless
+ spirits.</p>
+
+ <p>On the opposite bank of the Styx was the tribunal of Minos, the
+ supreme judge, before whom all shades had to appear, and who, after
+ hearing full confession of their actions whilst on earth, pronounced the
+ sentence of happiness or misery to which their deeds had entitled them.
+ This tribunal was guarded by the terrible triple-headed dog Cerberus,
+ who, with his three necks bristling with snakes, lay at full length on
+ the ground;&mdash;a formidable sentinel, who permitted all shades to
+ enter, but none to return.</p>
+
+ <p>The happy spirits, destined to enjoy the delights of Elysium, passed
+ out on the right, and proceeded to the golden palace where Aïdes and
+ Persephone held their royal court, from whom they received a kindly
+ greeting, ere they set out for the Elysian Fields which lay beyond.<a
+ name="NtA_47" href="#Nt_47"><sup>[47]</sup></a> This blissful region was
+ replete with all that could charm the senses or please the imagination;
+ the air was balmy and fragrant, rippling brooks flowed peacefully through
+ the smiling meadows, which glowed with the varied hues of a thousand
+ flowers, whilst the groves resounded with the joyous songs of birds. The
+ occupations and amusements of the happy shades were of the same nature as
+ those which they had delighted in whilst on earth. Here the warrior found
+ his horses, chariots, and arms, the musician his lyre, and the hunter his
+ quiver and bow.</p>
+
+ <p>In a secluded vale of Elysium there flowed a gentle, silent stream,
+ called Lethe (oblivion), whose waters had the effect of dispelling care,
+ and producing utter forgetfulness of former events. According to the
+ Pythagorean doctrine of the transmigration of souls, it was supposed that
+ after the shades had inhabited Elysium for a thousand years they were
+ destined to animate other bodies on <!-- Page 134 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page134"></a>[134]</span>earth, and before
+ leaving Elysium they drank of the river Lethe, in order that they might
+ enter upon their new career without any remembrance of the past.</p>
+
+ <p>The guilty souls, after leaving the presence of Minos, were conducted
+ to the great judgment-hall of Hades, whose massive walls of solid adamant
+ were surrounded by the river Phlegethon, the waves of which rolled flames
+ of fire, and lit up, with their lurid glare, these awful realms. In the
+ interior sat the dread judge Rhadamanthus, who declared to each comer the
+ precise torments which awaited him in Tartarus. The wretched sinners were
+ then seized by the Furies, who scourged them with their whips, and
+ dragged them along to the great gate, which closed the opening to
+ Tartarus, into whose awful depths they were hurled, to suffer endless
+ torture.</p>
+
+ <p>Tartarus was a vast and gloomy expanse, as far below Hades as the
+ earth is distant from the skies. There the Titans, fallen from their high
+ estate, dragged out a dreary and monotonous existence; there also were
+ Otus and Ephialtes, those giant sons of Poseidon, who, with impious
+ hands, had attempted to scale Olympus and dethrone its mighty ruler.
+ Principal among the sufferers in this abode of gloom were Tityus,
+ Tantalus, Sisyphus, Ixion, and the Danaïdes.</p>
+
+ <p><b>TITYUS</b>, one of the earth-born giants, had insulted Hera on her
+ way to Peitho, for which offence Zeus flung him into Tartarus, where he
+ suffered dreadful torture, inflicted by two vultures, which perpetually
+ gnawed his liver.</p>
+
+ <p><b>TANTALUS</b> was a wise and wealthy king of Lydia, with whom the
+ gods themselves condescended to associate; he was even permitted to sit
+ at table with Zeus, who delighted in his conversation, and listened with
+ interest to the wisdom of his observations. Tantalus, however, elated at
+ these distinguished marks of divine favour, presumed upon his position,
+ and used unbecoming language to Zeus himself; he also stole nectar and
+ ambrosia from the table of the gods, with which he regaled his friends;
+ but his greatest crime consisted in killing his own son, <!-- Page 135
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page135"></a>[135]</span>Pelops, and
+ serving him up at one of the banquets to the gods, in order to test their
+ omniscience. For these heinous offences he was condemned by Zeus to
+ eternal punishment in Tartarus, where, tortured with an ever-burning
+ thirst, he was plunged up to the chin in water, which, as he stooped to
+ drink, always receded from his parched lips. Tall trees, with spreading
+ branches laden with delicious fruits, hung temptingly over his head; but
+ no sooner did he raise himself to grasp them, than a wind arose, and
+ carried them beyond his reach.</p>
+
+ <p><b>SISYPHUS</b> was a great tyrant who, according to some accounts,
+ barbarously murdered all travellers who came into his dominions, by
+ hurling upon them enormous pieces of rock. In punishment for his crimes
+ he was condemned to roll incessantly a huge block of stone up a steep
+ hill, which, as soon as it reached the summit, always rolled back again
+ to the plain below.</p>
+
+ <p><b>IXION</b> was a king of Thessaly to whom Zeus accorded the
+ privilege of joining the festive banquets of the gods; but, taking
+ advantage of his exalted position, he presumed to aspire to the favour of
+ Hera, which so greatly incensed Zeus, that he struck him with his
+ thunderbolts, and commanded Hermes to throw him into Tartarus, and bind
+ him to an ever-revolving wheel.</p>
+
+ <p>The <b>DANAÏDES</b> were the fifty daughters of Danaus, king of Argos,
+ who had married their fifty cousins, the sons of Ægyptus. By the command
+ of their father, who had been warned by an oracle that his son-in-law
+ would cause his death, they all killed their husbands in one night,
+ Hypermnestra alone excepted. Their punishment in the lower world was to
+ fill with water a vessel full of holes,&mdash;a never-ending and useless
+ task.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0136-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0136-1.png"
+ alt="Aïdes and Persephone" title="Aïdes and Persephone" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Aïdes is usually represented as a man of mature years and stern
+ majestic mien, bearing a striking resemblance to his brother Zeus; but
+ the gloomy and inexorable expression of the face contrasts forcibly with
+ that peculiar benignity which so characterizes the countenance of the
+ mighty ruler of heaven. He is seated on a throne of ebony, with his
+ queen, the grave and sad Persephone, <!-- Page 136 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page136"></a>[136]</span>beside him, and wears a
+ full beard, and long flowing black hair, which hangs straight down over
+ his forehead; in his hand he either bears a two-pronged fork or the keys
+ of the lower world, and at his feet sits Cerberus. He is sometimes seen
+ in a chariot of gold, drawn by four black horses, and wearing on his head
+ a helmet made for him by the Cyclops, which rendered the wearer
+ invisible. This helmet he frequently lent to mortals and immortals.</p>
+
+ <p>Aïdes, who was universally worshipped throughout Greece, had temples
+ erected to his honour in Elis, Olympia, and also at Athens.</p>
+
+ <p>His sacrifices, which took place at night, consisted of black sheep,
+ and the blood, instead of being sprinkled on the altars or received in
+ vessels, as at other sacrifices, was permitted to run down into a trench,
+ dug for this purpose. The officiating priests wore black robes, and were
+ crowned with cypress.</p>
+
+ <p>The narcissus, maiden-hair, and cypress were sacred to this
+ divinity.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">PLUTO.</p>
+
+ <p>Before the introduction into Rome of the religion and literature of
+ Greece, the Romans had no belief in a realm of future happiness or
+ misery, corresponding to the Greek Hades; hence they had no god of the
+ lower world identical with Aïdes. They supposed that there was, in the
+ centre of the earth, a vast, gloomy, and impenetrably dark cavity called
+ Orcus, which formed a place of eternal rest for the dead. But with the
+ introduction of Greek mythology, the Roman Orcus became the Greek Hades,
+ and <!-- Page 137 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page137"></a>[137]</span>all the Greek notions with regard to a
+ future state now obtained with the Romans, who worshipped Aïdes under the
+ name of Pluto, his other appellations being Dis (from <i>dives</i>, rich)
+ and Orcus from the dominions over which he ruled. In Rome there were no
+ temples erected to this divinity.</p>
+
+<h3>PLUTUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Plutus, the son of Demeter and a mortal called Iasion, was the god of
+ wealth, and is represented as being lame when he makes his appearance,
+ and winged when he takes his departure. He was supposed to be both blind
+ and foolish, because he bestows his gifts without discrimination, and
+ frequently upon the most unworthy objects.</p>
+
+ <p>Plutus was believed to have his abode in the bowels of the earth,
+ which was probably the reason why, in later times, Aïdes became
+ confounded with this divinity.</p>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h3>MINOR DIVINITIES.</h3>
+
+<h3>THE HARPIES.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0137-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0137-1.png"
+ alt="A Harpy" title="A Harpy" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>The Harpies, who, like the Furies, were employed by the gods as
+ instruments for the punishment of the guilty, were three female
+ divinities, daughters of Thaumas and Electra, called Aello, Ocypete, and
+ Celæno.</p>
+
+ <p>They were represented with the head of a fair-haired maiden and the
+ body of a vulture, and were perpetually devoured by the pangs of
+ insatiable hunger, which caused them to torment their victims by robbing
+ them of their food; this they either devoured with great <!-- Page 138
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page138"></a>[138]</span>gluttony, or
+ defiled in such a manner as to render it unfit to be eaten.</p>
+
+ <p>Their wonderfully rapid flight far surpassed that of birds, or even of
+ the winds themselves. If any mortal suddenly and unaccountably
+ disappeared, the Harpies were believed to have carried him off. Thus they
+ were supposed to have borne away the daughters of King Pandareos to act
+ as servants to the Erinyes.</p>
+
+ <p>The Harpies would appear to be personifications of sudden tempests,
+ which, with ruthless violence, sweep over whole districts, carrying off
+ or injuring all before them.</p>
+
+<h3>ERINYES, EUMENIDES (<span class="sc">Furiæ</span>, <span class="sc">Diræ</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>The Erinyes or Furies were female divinities who personified the
+ torturing pangs of an evil conscience, and the remorse which inevitably
+ follows wrong-doing.</p>
+
+ <p>Their names were Alecto, Megæra, and Tisiphone, and their origin was
+ variously accounted for. According to Hesiod, they sprang from the blood
+ of Uranus, when wounded by Cronus, and were hence supposed to be the
+ embodiment of all the terrible imprecations, which the defeated deity
+ called down upon the head of his rebellious son. According to other
+ accounts they were the daughters of Night.</p>
+
+ <p>Their place of abode was the lower world, where they were employed by
+ Aïdes and Persephone to chastise and torment those shades who, during
+ their earthly career, had committed crimes, and had not been reconciled
+ to the gods before descending to Hades.</p>
+
+ <p>But their sphere of action was not confined to the realm of shades,
+ for they appeared upon earth as the avenging deities who relentlessly
+ pursued and punished murderers, perjurers, those who had failed in duty
+ to their parents, in hospitality to strangers, or in the respect due to
+ old age. Nothing escaped the piercing glance of these terrible
+ divinities, from whom flight was unavailing, for no corner of the earth
+ was so remote as <!-- Page 139 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page139"></a>[139]</span>to be beyond their reach, nor did any
+ mortal dare to offer to their victims an asylum from their
+ persecutions.</p>
+
+ <p>The Furies are frequently represented with wings; their bodies are
+ black, blood drips from their eyes, and snakes twine in their hair. In
+ their hands they bear either a dagger, scourge, torch, or serpent.</p>
+
+ <p>When they pursued Orestes they constantly held up a mirror to his
+ horrified gaze, in which he beheld the face of his murdered mother.</p>
+
+ <p>These divinities were also called Eumenides, which signifies the
+ "well-meaning" or "soothed goddesses;" This appellation was given to them
+ because they were so feared and dreaded that people dared not call them
+ by their proper title, and hoped by this means to propitiate their
+ wrath.</p>
+
+ <p>In later times the Furies came to be regarded as salutary agencies,
+ who, by severely punishing sin, upheld the cause of morality and social
+ order, and thus contributed to the welfare of mankind. They now lose
+ their awe-inspiring aspect, and are represented, more especially in
+ Athens, as earnest maidens, dressed, like Artemis, in short tunics
+ suitable for the chase, but still retaining, in their hands, the wand of
+ office in the form of a snake.</p>
+
+ <p>Their sacrifices consisted of black sheep and a libation composed of a
+ mixture of honey and water, called Nephalia. A celebrated temple was
+ erected to the Eumenides at Athens, near the Areopagus.</p>
+
+<h3><b>MOIRÆ or FATES</b> (<span class="sc">Parcæ</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>The ancients believed that the duration of human existence and the
+ destinies of mortals were regulated by three sister-goddesses, called
+ Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, who were the daughters of Zeus and
+ Themis.</p>
+
+ <p>The power which they wielded over the fate of man was significantly
+ indicated under the figure of a thread, which they spun out for the life
+ of each human being from his birth to the grave. This occupation they
+ divided between them. Clotho wound the flax round the distaff, <!-- Page
+ 140 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page140"></a>[140]</span>ready for
+ her sister Lachesis, who span out the thread of life, which Atropos, with
+ her scissors, relentlessly snapt asunder, when the career of an
+ individual was about to terminate.</p>
+
+ <p>Homer speaks of one Moira only, the daughter of Night, who represents
+ the moral force by which the universe is governed, and to whom both
+ mortals and immortals were forced to submit, Zeus himself being powerless
+ to avert her decrees; but in later times this conception of one
+ inexorable, all-conquering fate became amplified by the poets into that
+ above described, and the Moiræ are henceforth the special presiding
+ deities over the life and death of mortals.</p>
+
+ <p>The Moiræ are represented by the poets as stern, inexorable female
+ divinities, aged, hideous, and also lame, which is evidently meant to
+ indicate the slow and halting march of destiny, which they controlled.
+ Painters and sculptors, on the other hand, depicted them as beautiful
+ maidens of a grave but kindly aspect.</p>
+
+ <p>There is a charming representation of Lachesis, which depicts her in
+ all the grace of youth and beauty. She is sitting spinning, and at her
+ feet lie two masks, one comic, the other tragic, as though to convey the
+ idea, that, to a divinity of fate, the brightest and saddest scenes of
+ earthly existence are alike indifferent, and that she quietly and
+ steadily pursues her occupation, regardless of human weal or woe.</p>
+
+ <p>When represented at the feet of Aïdes in the lower world they are clad
+ in dark robes; but when they appear in Olympus they wear bright garments,
+ bespangled with stars, and are seated on radiant thrones, with crowns on
+ their heads.</p>
+
+ <p>It was considered the function of the Moiræ to indicate to the Furies
+ the precise torture which the wicked should undergo for their crimes.</p>
+
+ <p>They were regarded as prophetic divinities, and had sanctuaries in
+ many parts of Greece.</p>
+
+ <p>The Moiræ are mentioned as assisting the Charites to conduct
+ Persephone to the upper world at her periodical <!-- Page 141 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page141"></a>[141]</span>reunion with her mother
+ Demeter. They also appear in company with Eileithyia, goddess of
+ birth.</p>
+
+<h3>NEMESIS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Nemesis, the daughter of Nyx, represents that power which adjusts the
+ balance of human affairs, by awarding to each individual the fate which
+ his actions deserve. She rewards, humble, unacknowledged merit, punishes
+ crime, deprives the worthless of undeserved good fortune, humiliates the
+ proud and overbearing, and visits all evil on the wrong-doer; thus
+ maintaining that proper balance of things, which the Greeks recognized as
+ a necessary condition of all civilized life. But though Nemesis, in her
+ original character, was the distributor of rewards as well as
+ punishments, the world was so full of sin, that she found but little
+ occupation in her first capacity, and hence became finally regarded as
+ the avenging goddess only.</p>
+
+ <p>We have seen a striking instance of the manner in which this divinity
+ punishes the proud and arrogant in the history of Niobe. Apollo and
+ Artemis were merely the instruments for avenging the insult offered to
+ their mother; but it was Nemesis who prompted the deed, and presided over
+ its execution.</p>
+
+ <p>Homer makes no mention of Nemesis; it is therefore evident that she
+ was a conception of later times, when higher views of morality had
+ obtained among the Greek nation.</p>
+
+ <p>Nemesis is represented as a beautiful woman of thoughtful and benign
+ aspect and regal bearing; a diadem crowns her majestic brow, and she
+ bears in her hand a rudder, balance, and cubit;&mdash;fitting emblems of
+ the manner in which she guides, weighs, and measures all human events.
+ She is also sometimes seen with a wheel, to symbolize the rapidity with
+ which she executes justice. As the avenger of evil she appears winged,
+ bearing in her hand either a scourge or a sword, and seated in a chariot
+ drawn by griffins. <!-- Page 142 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page142"></a>[142]</span></p>
+
+ <p>Nemesis is frequently called Adrastia, and also Rhamnusia, from
+ Rhamnus in Attica, the chief seat of her worship, which contained a
+ celebrated statue of the goddess.</p>
+
+ <p>Nemesis was worshipped by the Romans, (who invoked her on the
+ Capitol), as a divinity who possessed the power of averting the
+ pernicious consequences of envy.</p>
+
+<h3>NIGHT AND HER CHILDREN.<br />
+DEATH, SLEEP, AND DREAMS.</h3>
+
+<h3>NYX (<span class="sc">Nox</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Nyx, the daughter of Chaos, being the personification of Night, was,
+ according to the poetic ideas of the Greeks, considered to be the mother
+ of everything mysterious and inexplicable, such as death, sleep, dreams,
+ &amp;c. She became united to Erebus, and their children were Aether and
+ Hemera (Air and Daylight), evidently a simile of the poets, to indicate
+ that darkness always precedes light.</p>
+
+ <p>Nyx inhabited a palace in the dark regions of the lower world, and is
+ represented as a beautiful woman, seated in a chariot, drawn by two black
+ horses. She is clothed in dark robes, wears a long veil, and is
+ accompanied by the stars, which follow in her train.</p>
+
+<h3>THANATOS (<span class="sc">Mors</span>) <b>AND HYPNUS</b> (<span class="sc">Somnus</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Thanatos (Death) and his twin-brother Hypnus (Sleep) were the children
+ of Nyx.</p>
+
+ <p>Their dwelling was in the realm of shades, and when they appear among
+ mortals, Thanatos is feared and hated as the enemy of mankind, whose hard
+ heart knows no pity, whilst his brother Hypnus is universally loved and
+ welcomed as their kindest and most beneficent friend.</p>
+
+ <p>But though the ancients regarded Thanatos as a gloomy and mournful
+ divinity, they did not represent him with any exterior repulsiveness. On
+ the contrary, he appears as a beautiful youth, who holds in his hand an
+ inverted <!-- Page 143 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page143"></a>[143]</span>torch, emblematical of the light of life
+ being extinguished, whilst his disengaged arm is thrown lovingly round
+ the shoulder of his brother Hypnus.</p>
+
+ <p>Hypnus is sometimes depicted standing erect with closed eyes; at
+ others he is in a recumbent position beside his brother Thanatos, and
+ usually bears a poppy-stalk in his hand.</p>
+
+ <p>A most interesting description of the abode of Hypnus is given by Ovid
+ in his Metamorphoses. He tells us how the god of Sleep dwelt in a
+ mountain-cave near the realm of the Cimmerians, which the sun never
+ pierced with his rays. No sound disturbed the stillness, no song of
+ birds, not a branch moved, and no human voice broke the profound silence
+ which reigned everywhere. From the lowermost rocks of the cave issued the
+ river Lethe, and one might almost have supposed that its course was
+ arrested, were it not for the low, monotonous hum of the water, which
+ invited slumber. The entrance was partially hidden by numberless white
+ and red poppies, which Mother Night had gathered and planted there, and
+ from the juice of which she extracts drowsiness, which she scatters in
+ liquid drops all over the earth, as soon as the sun-god has sunk to rest.
+ In the centre of the cave stands a couch of blackest ebony, with a bed of
+ down, over which is laid a coverlet of sable hue. Here the god himself
+ reposes, surrounded by innumerable forms. These are idle dreams, more
+ numerous than the sands of the sea. Chief among them is Morpheus, that
+ changeful god, who may assume any shape or form he pleases. Nor can the
+ god of Sleep resist his own power; for though he may rouse himself for a
+ while, he soon succumbs to the drowsy influences which surround him.</p>
+
+<h3>MORPHEUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Morpheus, the son of Hypnus, was the god of Dreams.</p>
+
+ <p>He is always represented winged, and appears sometimes as a youth,
+ sometimes as an old man. In his hand he bears a cluster of poppies, and
+ as he steps with <!-- Page 144 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page144"></a>[144]</span>noiseless footsteps over the earth, he
+ gently scatters the seeds of this sleep-producing plant over the eyes of
+ weary mortals.</p>
+
+ <p>Homer describes the House of Dreams as having two gates: one, whence
+ issue all deceptive and flattering visions, being formed of ivory; the
+ other, through which proceed those dreams which are fulfilled, of
+ horn.</p>
+
+<h3>THE GORGONS.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Gorgons, Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa, were the three daughters of
+ Phorcys and Ceto, and were the personification of those benumbing, and,
+ as it were, petrifying sensations, which result from sudden and extreme
+ fear.</p>
+
+ <p>They were frightful winged monsters, whose bodies were covered with
+ scales; hissing, wriggling snakes clustered round their heads instead of
+ hair; their hands were of brass; their teeth resembled the tusks of a
+ wild boar; and their whole aspect was so appalling, that they are said to
+ have turned into stone all who beheld them.</p>
+
+ <p>These terrible sisters were supposed to dwell in that remote and
+ mysterious region in the far West, beyond the sacred stream of
+ Oceanus.</p>
+
+ <p>The Gorgons were the servants of Aïdes, who made use of them to
+ terrify and overawe those shades, doomed to be kept in a constant state
+ of unrest as a punishment for their misdeeds, whilst the Furies, on their
+ part, scourged them with their whips and tortured them incessantly.</p>
+
+ <p>The most celebrated of the three sisters was Medusa, who alone was
+ mortal. She was originally a golden-haired and very beautiful maiden,
+ who, as a priestess of Athene, was devoted to a life of celibacy; but,
+ being wooed by Poseidon, whom she loved in return, she forgot her vows,
+ and became united to him in marriage. For this offence she was punished
+ by the goddess in a most terrible manner. Each wavy lock of the beautiful
+ hair which had so charmed her husband, was changed into a <!-- Page 145
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page145"></a>[145]</span>venomous
+ snake; her once gentle, love-inspiring eyes now became blood-shot,
+ furious orbs, which excited fear and disgust in the mind of the beholder;
+ whilst her former roseate hue and milk-white skin assumed a loathsome
+ greenish tinge. Seeing herself thus transformed into so repulsive an
+ object, Medusa fled from her home, never to return. Wandering about,
+ abhorred, dreaded, and shunned by all the world, she now developed into a
+ character, worthy of her outward appearance. In her despair she fled to
+ Africa, where, as she passed restlessly from place to place, infant
+ snakes dropped from her hair, and thus, according to the belief of the
+ ancients, that country became the hotbed of these venomous reptiles. With
+ the curse of Athene upon her, she turned into stone whomsoever she gazed
+ upon, till at last, after a life of nameless misery, deliverance came to
+ her in the shape of death, at the hands of Perseus.</p>
+
+ <p>It is well to observe that when the Gorgons are spoken of in the
+ singular, it is Medusa who is alluded to.</p>
+
+ <p>Medusa was the mother of Pegasus and Chrysaor, father of the
+ three-headed, winged giant Geryones, who was slain by Heracles.</p>
+
+<h3>GRÆÆ.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Grææ, who acted as servants to their sisters the Gorgons, were
+ also three in number; their names were Pephredo, Enyo, and Dino.</p>
+
+ <p>In their original conception they were merely personifications of
+ kindly and venerable old age, possessing all its benevolent attributes
+ without its natural infirmities. They were old and gray from their birth,
+ and so they ever remained. In later times, however, they came to be
+ regarded as misshapen females, decrepid, and hideously ugly, having only
+ one eye, one tooth, and one gray wig between them, which they lent to
+ each other, when one of them wished to appear before the world.</p>
+
+ <p>When Perseus entered upon his expedition to slay the Medusa, he
+ repaired to the abode of the Grææ, in the far <!-- Page 146 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page146"></a>[146]</span>west, to inquire the
+ way to the Gorgons, and on their refusing to give any information, he
+ deprived them of their one eye, tooth, and wig, and did not restore them
+ until he received the necessary directions.</p>
+
+<h3>SPHINX.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Sphinx was an ancient Egyptian divinity, who personified wisdom,
+ and the fertility of nature. She is represented as a lion-couchant, with
+ the head and bust of a woman, and wears a peculiar sort of hood, which
+ completely envelops her head, and falls down on either side of the
+ face.</p>
+
+ <p>Transplanted into Greece, this sublime and mysterious Egyptian deity
+ degenerates into an insignificant, and yet malignant power, and though
+ she also deals in mysteries, they are, as we shall see, of a totally
+ different character, and altogether inimical to human life.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0147-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0147-1.png"
+ alt="The Sphinx" title="The Sphinx" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>The Sphinx is represented, according to Greek genealogy, as the
+ offspring of Typhon and Echidna.<a name="NtA_48"
+ href="#Nt_48"><sup>[48]</sup></a> Hera, being upon one occasion
+ displeased with the Thebans, sent them this awful monster, as a
+ punishment for their offences. Taking her seat on a rocky eminence near
+ the city of Thebes, commanding a pass which the Thebans were compelled to
+ traverse in their usual way of business, she propounded to all comers a
+ riddle, and if they failed to solve it, she tore them in pieces.</p>
+
+ <p>During the reign of King Creon, so many people had fallen a sacrifice
+ to this monster, that he determined to use every effort to rid the
+ country of so terrible a scourge. On consulting the oracle of Delphi, he
+ was informed that the only way to destroy the Sphinx was to solve one of
+ her riddles, when she would immediately precipitate herself from the rock
+ on which she was seated.</p>
+
+ <p>Creon, accordingly, made a public declaration to the effect, that
+ whoever could give the true interpretation of a riddle propounded by the
+ monster, should obtain the crown, and the hand of his sister Jocaste.
+ &OElig;dipus offered <!-- Page 147 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page147"></a>[147]</span>himself as a candidate, and proceeding to
+ the spot where she kept guard, received from her the following riddle for
+ solution: "What creature goes in the morning on four legs, at noon on
+ two, and in the evening on three?" &OElig;dipus replied, that it must be
+ man, who during his infancy creeps on all fours, in his prime walks erect
+ on two legs, and when old age has enfeebled his powers, calls a staff to
+ his assistance, and thus has, as it were, three legs.</p>
+
+ <p>The Sphinx no sooner heard this reply, which was the correct solution
+ of her riddle, than she flung herself over the precipice, and perished in
+ the abyss below.</p>
+
+ <p>The Greek Sphinx may be recognized by having wings and by being of
+ smaller dimensions than the Egyptian Sphinx.</p>
+
+<h3>TYCHE (<span class="sc">Fortuna</span>) <span class="scac">AND</span> <b>ANANKE</b> (<span class="sc">Necessitas</span>).</h3>
+
+<p class="cenhead">TYCHE (<span class="sc">Fortuna</span>).</p>
+
+ <p>Tyche personified that peculiar combination of circumstances which we
+ call luck or fortune, and was considered to be the source of all
+ unexpected events in human life, whether good or evil. If a person
+ succeeded in all he undertook without possessing any special merit of his
+ own, Tyche was supposed to have smiled on his birth. If, on the other
+ hand, undeserved ill-luck followed him through life, and all his efforts
+ resulted in failure, it was ascribed to her adverse influence.</p>
+
+ <p>This goddess of Fortune is variously represented. Sometimes she is
+ depicted bearing in her hand two rudders, with one of which she steers
+ the bark of the fortunate, and with the other that of the unfortunate
+ among mortals. In later times she appears blindfolded, and stands on a
+ ball or wheel, indicative of the fickleness and ever-revolving <!-- Page
+ 148 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page148"></a>[148]</span>changes of
+ fortune. She frequently bears the sceptre and cornucopia<a name="NtA_49"
+ href="#Nt_49"><sup>[49]</sup></a> or horn of plenty, and is usually
+ winged. In her temple at Thebes, she is represented holding the infant
+ Plutus in her arms, to symbolize her power over riches and
+ prosperity.</p>
+
+ <p>Tyche was worshipped in various parts of Greece, but more particularly
+ by the Athenians, who believed in her special predilection for their
+ city.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">FORTUNA.</p>
+
+ <p>Tyche was worshipped in Rome under the name of Fortuna, and held a
+ position of much greater importance among the Romans than the Greeks.</p>
+
+ <p>In later times Fortuna is never represented either winged or standing
+ on a ball; she merely bears the cornucopia. It is evident, therefore,
+ that she had come to be regarded as the goddess of good luck only, who
+ brings blessings to man, and not, as with the Greeks, as the
+ personification of the fluctuations of fortune.</p>
+
+ <p>In addition to Fortuna, the Romans worshipped Felicitas as the giver
+ of positive good fortune.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">ANANKE (<span class="sc">Necessitas</span>).</p>
+
+ <p>As Ananke, Tyche assumes quite another character, and becomes the
+ embodiment of those immutable laws of nature, by which certain causes
+ produce certain inevitable results.</p>
+
+ <p>In a statue of this divinity at Athens she was represented with hands
+ of bronze, and surrounded with nails and hammers. The hands of bronze
+ probably indicated the irresistible power of the inevitable, and the
+ hammer and chains the fetters which she forged for man.</p>
+
+ <p>Ananke was worshipped in Rome under the name of Necessitas.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 149 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page149"></a>[149]</span></p>
+
+<h3>KER.</h3>
+
+ <p>In addition to the Moiræ, who presided over the life of mortals, there
+ was another divinity, called Ker, appointed for each human being at the
+ moment of his birth. The Ker belonging to an individual was believed to
+ develop with his growth, either for good or evil; and when the ultimate
+ fate of a mortal was about to be decided, his Ker was weighed in the
+ balance, and, according to the preponderance of its worth or
+ worthlessness, life or death was awarded to the human being in question.
+ It becomes evident, therefore, that according to the belief of the early
+ Greeks, each individual had it in his power, to a certain extent, to
+ shorten or prolong his own existence.</p>
+
+ <p>The Keres, who are frequently mentioned by Homer, were the goddesses
+ who delighted in the slaughter of the battle-field.</p>
+
+<h3>ATE.</h3>
+
+ <p>Ate, the daughter of Zeus and Eris, was a divinity who delighted in
+ evil.</p>
+
+ <p>Having instigated Hera to deprive Heracles of his birthright, her
+ father seized her by the hair of her head, and hurled her from Olympus,
+ forbidding her, under the most solemn imprecations, ever to return.
+ Henceforth she wandered among mankind, sowing dissension, working
+ mischief, and luring men to all actions inimical to their welfare and
+ happiness. Hence, when a reconciliation took place between friends who
+ had quarrelled, Ate was blamed as the original cause of disagreement.</p>
+
+<h3>MOMUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Momus, the son of Nyx, was the god of raillery and ridicule, who
+ delighted to criticise, with bitter sarcasm, the actions of gods and men,
+ and contrived to discover in all things some defect or blemish. Thus when
+ Prometheus created the first man, Momus considered his work incomplete
+ because there was no aperture in the breast through which his inmost
+ thoughts might be read. He <!-- Page 150 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page150"></a>[150]</span>also found fault with a house built by
+ Athene because, being unprovided with the means of locomotion, it could
+ never be removed from an unhealthy locality. Aphrodite alone defied his
+ criticism, for, to his great chagrin, he could find no fault with her
+ perfect form.<a name="NtA_50" href="#Nt_50"><sup>[50]</sup></a></p>
+
+ <p>In what manner the ancients represented this god is unknown. In modern
+ art he is depicted like a king's jester, with a fool's cap and bells.</p>
+
+<h3>EROS (<span class="sc">Cupid</span>, <span class="sc">Amor</span>) <b>AND PSYCHE</b>.</h3>
+
+ <p>According to Hesiod's Theogony, Eros, the divine spirit of Love,
+ sprang forth from Chaos, while all was still in confusion, and by his
+ beneficent power reduced to order and harmony the shapeless, conflicting
+ elements, which, under his influence, began to assume distinct forms.
+ This ancient Eros is represented as a full-grown and very beautiful
+ youth, crowned with flowers, and leaning on a shepherd's crook.</p>
+
+ <p>In the course of time, this beautiful conception gradually faded away,
+ and though occasional mention still continues to be made of the Eros of
+ Chaos, he is replaced by the son of Aphrodite, the popular,
+ mischief-loving little god of Love, so familiar to us all.</p>
+
+ <p>In one of the myths concerning Eros, Aphrodite is described as
+ complaining to Themis, that her son, though so beautiful, did not appear
+ to increase in stature; whereupon Themis suggested that his small
+ proportions were probably attributable to the fact of his being always
+ alone, and advised his mother to let him have a companion. Aphrodite
+ accordingly gave him, as a playfellow, his younger brother Anteros
+ (requited love), and soon had the gratification of seeing the little Eros
+ begin to grow and thrive; but, curious to relate, this desirable result
+ only continued as long as the brothers remained together, for the moment
+ they were separated, Eros shrank once more to his original size.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 151 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page151"></a>[151]</span></p>
+
+ <p>By degrees the conception of Eros became multiplied and we hear of
+ little love-gods (Amors), who appear under the most charming and
+ diversified forms. These love-gods, who afforded to artists inexhaustible
+ subjects for the exercise of their imagination, are represented as being
+ engaged in various occupations, such as hunting, fishing, rowing, driving
+ chariots, and even busying themselves in mechanical labour.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:12%;">
+ <a href="images/0151-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0151-1.png"
+ alt="Eros and Psyche" title="Eros and Psyche" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Perhaps no myth is more charming and interesting than that of Eros and
+ Psyche, which is as follows:&mdash;Psyche, the youngest of three
+ princesses, was so transcendently beautiful that Aphrodite herself became
+ jealous of her, and no mortal dared to aspire to the honour of her hand.
+ As her sisters, who were by no means equal to her in attractions, were
+ married, and Psyche still remained unwedded, her father consulted the
+ oracle of Delphi, and, in obedience to the divine response, caused her to
+ be dressed as though for the grave, and conducted to the edge of a
+ yawning precipice. No sooner was she alone than she felt herself lifted
+ up, and wafted away by the gentle west wind Zephyrus, who transported her
+ to a verdant meadow, in the midst of which stood a stately palace,
+ surrounded by groves and fountains.</p>
+
+ <p>Here dwelt Eros, the god of Love, in whose arms Zephyrus deposited his
+ lovely burden. Eros, himself unseen, wooed her in the softest accents of
+ affection; but warned her, as she valued his love, not to endeavour to
+ behold his form. For some time Psyche was obedient to the injunction of
+ her immortal spouse, and made no effort to gratify her natural curiosity;
+ but, unfortunately, in the midst of her happiness she was seized with an
+ unconquerable longing for the society of her <!-- Page 152 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page152"></a>[152]</span>sisters, and, in
+ accordance with her desire, they were conducted by Zephyrus to her
+ fairy-like abode. Filled with envy at the sight of her felicity, they
+ poisoned her mind against her husband, and telling her that her unseen
+ lover was a frightful monster, they gave her a sharp dagger, which they
+ persuaded her to use for the purpose of delivering herself from his
+ power.</p>
+
+ <p>After the departure of her sisters, Psyche resolved to take the first
+ opportunity of following their malicious counsel. She accordingly rose in
+ the dead of night, and taking a lamp in one hand and a dagger in the
+ other, stealthily approached the couch where Eros was reposing, when,
+ instead of the frightful monster she had expected to see, the beauteous
+ form of the god of Love greeted her view. Overcome with surprise and
+ admiration, Psyche stooped down to gaze more closely on his lovely
+ features, when, from the lamp which she held in her trembling hand, there
+ fell a drop of burning oil upon the shoulder of the sleeping god, who
+ instantly awoke, and seeing Psyche standing over him with the instrument
+ of death in her hand, sorrowfully reproached her for her treacherous
+ designs, and, spreading out his wings, flew away.</p>
+
+ <p>In despair at having lost her lover, the unhappy Psyche endeavoured to
+ put an end to her existence by throwing herself into the nearest river;
+ but instead of closing over her, the waters bore her gently to the
+ opposite bank, where Pan (the god of shepherds) received her, and
+ consoled her with the hope of becoming eventually reconciled to her
+ husband.</p>
+
+ <p>Meanwhile her wicked sisters, in expectation of meeting with the same
+ good fortune which had befallen Psyche, placed themselves on the edge of
+ the rock, but were both precipitated into the chasm below.</p>
+
+ <p>Psyche herself, filled with a restless yearning for her lost love,
+ wandered all over the world in search of him. At length she appealed to
+ Aphrodite to take compassion on her; but the goddess of Beauty, still
+ jealous of her charms, imposed upon her the hardest tasks, the
+ accomplishment of which often appeared impossible. In these <!-- Page 153
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page153"></a>[153]</span>she was always
+ assisted by invisible, beneficent beings, sent to her by Eros, who still
+ loved her, and continued to watch over her welfare.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0154-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0154-1.png"
+ alt="Eros" title="Eros" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Psyche had to undergo a long and severe penance before she became
+ worthy to regain the happiness, which she had so foolishly trifled away.
+ At last Aphrodite commanded her to descend into the under world, and
+ obtain from Persephone a box containing all the charms of beauty.
+ Psyche's courage now failed her, for she concluded that death must of
+ necessity precede her entrance into the realm of shades. About to abandon
+ herself to despair, she heard a voice which warned her of every danger to
+ be avoided on her perilous journey, and instructed her with regard to
+ certain precautions to be observed. These were as follows:&mdash;not to
+ omit to provide herself with the ferryman's toll for Charon, and the cake
+ to pacify Cerberus, also to refrain from taking any part in the banquets
+ of Aïdes and Persephone, and, above all things, to bring the box of
+ beauty charms unopened to Aphrodite. In conclusion, the voice assured
+ her, that compliance with the above conditions would insure for her a
+ safe return to the realms of light. But, alas, Psyche, who had implicitly
+ followed all injunctions, could not withstand the temptation of the last
+ condition; and, hardly had she quitted the lower world, when, unable to
+ resist the curiosity which devoured her, she raised the lid of the box
+ with eager expectation. But, instead of the wondrous charms of beauty
+ which she expected to behold, there issued from the casket a dense black
+ vapour, which had the effect of throwing her into a death-like sleep, out
+ of which Eros, who had long hovered round her unseen, at length awoke her
+ with the point of one of his golden arrows. He gently reproached her with
+ this second proof of her curiosity and folly, and then, having persuaded
+ Aphrodite to be reconciled to his beloved, he induced Zeus to admit her
+ among the immortal gods.</p>
+
+ <p>Their reunion was celebrated amidst the rejoicings of all the Olympian
+ deities. The Graces shed perfume on <!-- Page 154 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page154"></a>[154]</span>their path, the Hours
+ sprinkled roses over the sky, Apollo added the music of his lyre, and the
+ Muses united their voices in a glad chorus of delight.</p>
+
+ <p>This myth would appear to be an allegory, which signifies that the
+ soul, before it can be reunited to its original divine essence, must be
+ purified by the chastening sorrows and sufferings of its earthly
+ career.<a name="NtA_51" href="#Nt_51"><sup>[51]</sup></a></p>
+
+ <p>Eros is represented as a lovely boy, with rounded limbs, and a merry,
+ roguish expression. He has golden wings, and a quiver slung over his
+ shoulder, which contained his magical and unerring arrows; in one hand he
+ bears his golden bow, and in the other a torch.</p>
+
+ <p>He is also frequently depicted riding on a lion, dolphin, or eagle, or
+ seated in a chariot drawn by stags or wild boars, undoubtedly
+ emblematical of the power of love as the subduer of all nature, even of
+ the wild animals.</p>
+
+ <p>In Rome, Eros was worshipped under the name of Amor or Cupid.</p>
+
+<h3>HYMEN.</h3>
+
+ <p>Hymen or Hymenæus, the son of Apollo and the muse Urania, was the god
+ who presided over marriage and nuptial solemnities, and was hence invoked
+ at all marriage festivities.</p>
+
+ <p>There is a myth concerning this divinity, which tells us that Hymen
+ was a beautiful youth of very poor parents, who fell in love with a
+ wealthy maiden, so far above him in rank, that he dared not cherish the
+ hope of ever becoming united to her. Still he missed no opportunity of
+ seeing her, and, upon one occasion, disguised himself as <!-- Page 155
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page155"></a>[155]</span>a girl, and
+ joined a troop of maidens, who, in company with his beloved, were
+ proceeding from Athens to Eleusis, in order to attend a festival of
+ Demeter. On their way thither they were surprised by pirates, who carried
+ them off to a desert island, where the ruffians, after drinking deeply,
+ fell into a heavy sleep. Hymen, seizing the opportunity, slew them all,
+ and then set sail for Athens, where he found the parents of the maidens
+ in the greatest distress at their unaccountable disappearance. He
+ comforted them with the assurance that their children should be restored
+ to them, provided they would promise to give him in marriage the maiden
+ he loved. The condition being gladly complied with, he at once returned
+ to the island, and brought back the maidens in safety to Athens,
+ whereupon he became united to the object of his love; and their union
+ proved so remarkably happy, that henceforth the name of Hymen became
+ synonymous with conjugal felicity.</p>
+
+<h3>IRIS (<span class="sc">The Rainbow</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Iris, the daughter of Thaumas and Electra, personified the rainbow,
+ and was the special attendant and messenger of the queen of heaven, whose
+ commands she executed with singular tact, intelligence, and
+ swiftness.</p>
+
+ <p>Most primitive nations have regarded the rainbow as a bridge of
+ communication between heaven and earth, and this is doubtless the reason
+ why Iris, who represented that beautiful phenomenon of nature, should
+ have been invested by the Greeks with the office of communicating between
+ gods and men.</p>
+
+ <p>Iris is usually represented seated behind the chariot of Hera, ready
+ to do the bidding of her royal mistress. She appears under the form of a
+ slender maiden of great beauty, robed in an airy fabric of variegated
+ hues, resembling mother-of-pearl; her sandals are bright as burnished
+ silver, she has golden wings, and wherever she appears, a radiance of
+ light, and a sweet odour, as of delicate spring flowers, pervades the
+ air. <!-- Page 156 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page156"></a>[156]</span></p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0156-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0156-1.png"
+ alt="Hebe" title="Hebe" /></a>
+ </div>
+<h3>HEBE (<span class="sc">Juventas</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Hebe was the personification of eternal youth under its most
+ attractive and joyous aspect.</p>
+
+ <p>She was the daughter of Zeus and Hera, and though of such
+ distinguished rank, is nevertheless represented as cup-bearer to the
+ gods; a forcible exemplification of the old patriarchal custom, in
+ accordance with which the daughters of the house, even when of the
+ highest lineage, personally assisted in serving the guests.</p>
+
+ <p>Hebe is represented as a comely, modest maiden, small, of a
+ beautifully rounded contour, with nut-brown tresses and sparkling eyes.
+ She is often depicted pouring out nectar from an upraised vessel, or
+ bearing in her hand a shallow dish, supposed to contain ambrosia, the
+ ever youth-renewing food of the immortals.</p>
+
+ <p>In consequence of an act of awkwardness, which caused her to slip
+ while serving the gods, Hebe was deprived of her office, which was
+ henceforth delegated to Ganymedes, son of Tros.</p>
+
+ <p>Hebe afterwards became the bride of Heracles, when, after his
+ apotheosis, he was received among the immortals.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">JUVENTAS.</p>
+
+ <p>Juventas was the Roman divinity identified with Hebe, whose
+ attributes, however, were regarded by the Romans as applying more
+ particularly to the imperishable vigour and immortal glory of the
+ state.</p>
+
+ <p>In Rome, several temples were erected in honour of this goddess. <!--
+ Page 157 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page157"></a>[157]</span></p>
+
+<h3>GANYMEDES.</h3>
+
+ <p>Ganymedes, the youngest son of Tros, king of Troy, was one day drawing
+ water from a well on Mount Ida, when he was observed by Zeus, who, struck
+ with his wonderful beauty, sent his eagle to transport him to Olympus,
+ where he was endowed with immortality, and appointed cup-bearer to the
+ gods.</p>
+
+ <p>Ganymedes is represented as a youth of exquisite beauty, with short
+ golden locks, delicately chiselled features, beaming blue eyes, and
+ pouting lips.</p>
+
+<h3>THE MUSES.</h3>
+
+ <p>Of all the Olympic deities, none occupy a more distinguished position
+ than the Muses, the nine beautiful daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne.</p>
+
+ <p>In their original signification, they presided merely over music,
+ song, and dance; but with the progress of civilization the arts and
+ sciences claimed their special presiding divinities, and we see these
+ graceful creations, in later times, sharing among them various functions,
+ such as poetry, astronomy, &amp;c.</p>
+
+ <p>The Muses were honoured alike by mortals and immortals. In Olympus,
+ where Apollo acted as their leader, no banquet or festivity was
+ considered complete without their joy-inspiring presence, and on earth no
+ social gathering was celebrated without libations being poured out to
+ them; nor was any task involving intellectual effort ever undertaken,
+ without earnestly supplicating their assistance. They endowed their
+ chosen favourites with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding; they
+ bestowed upon the orator the gift of eloquence, inspired the poet with
+ his noblest thoughts, and the musician with his sweetest harmonies.</p>
+
+ <p>Like so many of the Greek divinities, however, the refined conception
+ of the Muses is somewhat marred by the acerbity with which they punished
+ any effort on the part <!-- Page 158 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page158"></a>[158]</span>of mortals to rival them in their divine
+ powers. An instance of this is seen in the case of Thamyris, a Thracian
+ bard, who presumed to invite them to a trial of skill in music. Having
+ vanquished him, they not only afflicted him with blindness, but deprived
+ him also of the power of song.</p>
+
+ <p>Another example of the manner in which the gods punished presumption
+ and vanity is seen in the story of the daughters of King Pierus. Proud of
+ the perfection to which they had brought their skill in music, they
+ presumed to challenge the Muses themselves in the art over which they
+ specially presided. The contest took place on Mount Helicon, and it is
+ said that when the mortal maidens commenced their song, the sky became
+ dark and misty, whereas when the Muses raised their heavenly voices, all
+ nature seemed to rejoice, and Mount Helicon itself moved with exultation.
+ The Pierides were signally defeated, and were transformed by the Muses
+ into singing birds, as a punishment for having dared to challenge
+ comparison with the immortals.</p>
+
+ <p>Undeterred by the above example, the Sirens also entered into a
+ similar contest. The songs of the Muses were loyal and true, whilst those
+ of the Sirens were the false and deceptive strains with which so many
+ unfortunate mariners had been lured to their death. The Sirens were
+ defeated by the Muses, and as a mark of humiliation, were deprived of the
+ feathers with which their bodies were adorned.</p>
+
+ <p>The oldest seat of the worship of the Muses was Pieria in Thrace,
+ where they were supposed to have first seen the light of day. Pieria is a
+ district on one of the sloping declivities of Mount Olympus, whence a
+ number of rivulets, as they flow towards the plains beneath, produce
+ those sweet, soothing sounds, which may possibly have suggested this spot
+ as a fitting home for the presiding divinities of song.</p>
+
+ <p>They dwelt on the summits of Mounts Helicon, Parnassus, and Pindus,
+ and loved to haunt the springs and fountains which gushed forth amidst
+ these rocky <!-- Page 159 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page159"></a>[159]</span>heights, all of which were sacred to them
+ and to poetic inspiration. Aganippe and Hippocrene on Mount Helicon, and
+ the Castalian spring on Mount Parnassus, were sacred to the Muses. The
+ latter flowed between two lofty rocks above the city of Delphi, and in
+ ancient times its waters were introduced into a square stone basin, where
+ they were retained for the use of the Pythia and the priests of
+ Apollo.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0159-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0159-1.png"
+ alt="Calliope" title="Calliope" /></a>
+ <span class="sc">Calliope.</span>
+ </div>
+ <p>The libations to these divinities consisted of water, milk, and honey,
+ but never of wine.</p>
+
+ <p>Their names and functions are as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <p><b>CALLIOPE</b>, the most honoured of the Muses, presided over heroic
+ song and epic poetry, and is represented with a pencil in her hand, and a
+ slate upon her knee.</p>
+
+ <p><b>CLIO</b>, the muse of History, holds in her hand a roll of
+ parchment, and wears a wreath of laurel.</p>
+
+ <p><b>MELPOMENE</b>, the muse of Tragedy, bears a tragic mask.</p>
+
+ <p><b>THALIA</b>, the muse of Comedy, carries in her right hand a
+ shepherd's crook, and has a comic mask beside her.</p>
+
+ <p><b>POLYHYMNIA</b>, the muse of Sacred Hymns, is crowned with a wreath
+ of laurel. She is always represented in a thoughtful attitude, and
+ entirely enveloped in rich folds of drapery.</p>
+
+ <p><b>TERPSICHORE</b>, the muse of Dance and Roundelay, is represented in
+ the act of playing on a seven-stringed lyre.</p>
+
+ <p><b>URANIA</b>, the muse of Astronomy, stands erect, and bears in her
+ left hand a celestial globe.</p>
+
+ <p><b>EUTERPE</b>, the muse of Harmony, is represented bearing a musical
+ instrument, usually a flute.</p>
+
+ <p><b>ERATO</b>, the muse of Love and hymeneal songs, wears a wreath of
+ laurel, and is striking the chords of a lyre. <!-- Page 160 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page160"></a>[160]</span></p>
+
+ <div class="figright" style="width:19%;">
+ <a href="images/0160-4.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0160-4.png"
+ alt="Erato" title="Erato" /></a>
+ <span class="sc">Erato.</span>
+ </div>
+ <div class="figright" style="width:19%;">
+ <a href="images/0160-3.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0160-3.png"
+ alt="Euterpe" title="Euterpe" /></a>
+ <span class="sc">Euterpe.</span>
+ </div>
+ <div class="figright" style="width:21%;">
+ <a href="images/0160-2.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0160-2.png"
+ alt="Terpsichore" title="Terpsichore" /></a>
+ <span class="sc">Terpsichore.</span>
+ </div>
+ <div class="figright" style="width:21%;">
+ <a href="images/0160-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0160-1.png"
+ alt="Clio" title="Clio" /></a>
+ <span class="sc">Clio.</span>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear : both" /></p>
+ <p>With regard to the origin of the Muses, it is said that they were
+ created by Zeus in answer to a request on the part of the victorious
+ deities, after the war with the <!-- Page 161 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page161"></a>[161]</span>Titans, that some special divinities
+ should be called into existence, in order to commemorate in song the
+ glorious deeds of the Olympian gods.</p>
+
+ <div class="figright" style="width:21%;">
+ <a href="images/0161-4.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0161-4.png"
+ alt="Polyhymnia" title="Polyhymnia" /></a>
+ <span class="sc">Polyhymnia.</span>
+ </div>
+ <div class="figright" style="width:21%;">
+ <a href="images/0161-3.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0161-3.png"
+ alt="Thalia" title="Thalia" /></a>
+ <span class="sc">Thalia.</span>
+ </div>
+ <div class="figright" style="width:19%;">
+ <a href="images/0161-2.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0161-2.png"
+ alt="Melpomene" title="Melpomene" /></a>
+ <span class="sc">Melpomene.</span>
+ </div>
+ <div class="figright" style="width:19%;">
+ <a href="images/0161-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0161-1.png"
+ alt="Clio" title="Clio" /></a>
+ <span class="sc">Urania.</span>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear : both" /></p>
+<p><!-- Page 162 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page162"></a>[162]</span></p>
+
+<h3>PEGASUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Pegasus was a beautiful winged horse who sprang from the body of
+ Medusa when she was slain by the hero Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danaë.
+ Spreading out his wings he immediately flew to the top of Mount Olympus,
+ where he was received with delight and admiration by all the immortals. A
+ place in his palace was assigned to him by Zeus, who employed him to
+ carry his thunder and lightning. Pegasus permitted none but the gods to
+ mount him, except in the case of Bellerophon, whom, at the command of
+ Athene, he carried aloft, in order that he might slay the Chimæra with
+ his arrows.</p>
+
+ <p>The later poets represent Pegasus as being at the service of the
+ Muses, and for this reason he is more celebrated in modern times than in
+ antiquity. He would appear to represent that poetical inspiration, which
+ tends to develop man's higher nature, and causes the mind to soar
+ heavenwards. The only mention by the ancients of Pegasus in connection
+ with the Muses, is the story of his having produced with his hoofs, the
+ famous fountain Hippocrene.</p>
+
+ <p>It is said that during their contest with the Pierides, the Muses
+ played and sang on the summit of Mount Helicon with such extraordinary
+ power and sweetness, that heaven and earth stood still to listen, whilst
+ the mountain raised itself in joyous ecstasy towards the abode of the
+ celestial gods. Poseidon, seeing his special function thus interfered
+ with, sent Pegasus to check the boldness of the mountain, in daring to
+ move without his permission. When Pegasus reached the summit, he stamped
+ the ground with his hoofs, and out gushed the waters of Hippocrene,
+ afterwards so renowned as the sacred fount, whence the Muses quaffed
+ their richest draughts of inspiration.</p>
+
+<h3>THE HESPERIDES.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Hesperides, the daughters of Atlas, dwelt in an island in the far
+ west, whence they derived their name. <!-- Page 163 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page163"></a>[163]</span></p>
+
+ <p>They were appointed by Hera to act as guardians to a tree bearing
+ golden apples, which had been presented to her by Gæa on the occasion of
+ her marriage with Zeus.</p>
+
+ <p>It is said that the Hesperides, being unable to withstand the
+ temptation of tasting the golden fruit confided to their care, were
+ deprived of their office, which was henceforth delegated to the terrible
+ dragon Ladon, who now became the ever-watchful sentinel of these precious
+ treasures.</p>
+
+ <p>The names of the Hesperides were Aegle, Arethusa, and Hesperia.</p>
+
+<h3>CHARITES (<span class="sc">Gratiæ</span>) <b>GRACES.</b></h3>
+
+ <p>All those gentler attributes which beautify and refine human existence
+ were personified by the Greeks under the form of three lovely sisters,
+ Euphrosyne, Aglaia, and Thalia, the daughters of Zeus and Eurynome (or,
+ according to later writers, of Dionysus and Aphrodite).</p>
+
+ <p>They are represented as beautiful, slender maidens in the full bloom
+ of youth, with hands and arms lovingly intertwined, and are either
+ undraped, or wear a fleecy, transparent garment of an ethereal
+ fabric.</p>
+
+ <p>They portray every gentle emotion of the heart, which vents itself in
+ friendship and benevolence, and were believed to preside over those
+ qualities which constitute grace, modesty, unconscious beauty,
+ gentleness, kindliness, innocent joy, purity of mind and body, and
+ eternal youth.</p>
+
+ <p>They not only possessed the most perfect beauty themselves, but also
+ conferred this gift upon others. All the enjoyments of life were enhanced
+ by their presence, and were deemed incomplete without them; and wherever
+ joy or pleasure, grace and gaiety reigned, there they were supposed to be
+ present.</p>
+
+ <p>Temples and altars were everywhere erected in their honour, and people
+ of all ages and of every rank in life entreated their favour. Incense was
+ burnt daily upon their altars, and at every banquet they were invoked,
+ <!-- Page 164 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page164"></a>[164]</span>and a libation poured out to them, as they
+ not only heightened all enjoyment, but also by their refining influence
+ moderated the exciting effects of wine.</p>
+
+ <p>Music, eloquence, poetry, and art, though the direct work of the
+ Muses, received at the hands of the Graces an additional touch of
+ refinement and beauty; for which reason they are always regarded as the
+ friends of the Muses, with whom they lived on Mount Olympus.</p>
+
+ <p>Their special function was to act, in conjunction with the Seasons, as
+ attendants upon Aphrodite, whom they adorned with wreaths of flowers, and
+ she emerges from their hands like the Queen of Spring, perfumed with the
+ odour of roses and violets, and all sweet-scented blossoms.</p>
+
+ <p>The Graces are frequently seen in attendance on other divinities; thus
+ they carry music for Apollo, myrtles for Aphrodite, &amp;c., and
+ frequently accompany the Muses, Eros, or Dionysus.</p>
+
+<h3>HORÆ (<span class="sc">Seasons</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Closely allied to the Graces were the Horæ, or Seasons, who were also
+ represented as three beautiful maidens, daughters of Zeus and Themis.
+ Their names were Eunomia, Dice, and Irene.</p>
+
+ <p>It may appear strange that these divinities, presiding over the
+ seasons, should be but three in number, but this is quite in accordance
+ with the notions of the ancient Greeks, who only recognized spring,
+ summer, and autumn as seasons; nature being supposed to be wrapt in death
+ or slumber, during that cheerless and unproductive portion of the year
+ which we call winter. In some parts of Greece there were but two Horæ,
+ Thallo, goddess of the bloom, and Carpo, of the corn and fruit-bearing
+ season.</p>
+
+ <p>The Horæ are always regarded as friendly towards mankind, and totally
+ devoid of guile or subtlety; they are represented as joyous, but gentle
+ maidens, crowned with flowers, and holding each other by the hand in a
+ round dance. When they are depicted separately as personifications of the
+ different seasons, the Hora <!-- Page 165 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page165"></a>[165]</span>representing spring appears laden with
+ flowers, that of summer bears a sheaf of corn, whilst the personification
+ of autumn has her hands filled with clusters of grapes and other fruits.
+ They also appear in company with the Graces in the train of Aphrodite,
+ and are seen with Apollo and the Muses.</p>
+
+ <p>They are inseparably connected with all that is good and beautiful in
+ nature, and as the regular alternation of the seasons, like all her other
+ operations, demands the most perfect order and regularity, the Horæ,
+ being the daughters of Themis, came to be regarded as the representatives
+ of order, and the just administration of human affairs in civilized
+ communities. Each of these graceful maidens took upon herself a separate
+ function: Eunomia presided more especially over state life, Dice guarded
+ the interests of individuals, whilst Irene, the gayest and brightest of
+ the three sisters, was the light-hearted companion of Dionysus.</p>
+
+ <p>The Horæ were also the deities of the fast-fleeting hours, and thus
+ presided over the smaller, as well as the larger divisions of time. In
+ this capacity they assist every morning in yoking the celestial horses to
+ the glorious chariot of the sun, which they again help to unyoke when he
+ sinks to rest.</p>
+
+ <p>In their original conception they were personifications of the clouds,
+ and are described as opening and closing the gates of heaven, and causing
+ fruits and flowers to spring forth, when they pour down upon them their
+ refreshing and life-giving streams.</p>
+
+<h3>THE NYMPHS.</h3>
+
+ <p>The graceful beings called the Nymphs were the presiding deities of
+ the woods, grottoes, streams, meadows, &amp;c.</p>
+
+ <p>These divinities were supposed to be beautiful maidens of fairy-like
+ form, and robed in more or less shadowy garments. They were held in the
+ greatest veneration, though, being minor divinities, they had no temples
+ <!-- Page 166 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page166"></a>[166]</span>dedicated to them, but were worshipped in
+ caves or grottoes, with libations of milk, honey, oil, &amp;c.</p>
+
+ <p>They may be divided into three distinct classes, viz., water,
+ mountain, and tree or wood nymphs.</p>
+
+<h3>WATER NYMPHS.</h3>
+
+<p class="cenhead"><b>OCEANIDES, NEREIDES, AND NAIADES.</b></p>
+
+ <p>The worship of water-deities is common to most primitive nations. The
+ streams, springs, and fountains of a country bear the same relation to it
+ which the blood, coursing through the numberless arteries of a human
+ being, bears to the body; both represent the living, moving,
+ life-awakening element, without which existence would be impossible.
+ Hence we find among most nations a deep feeling of attachment to the
+ streams and waters of their native land, the remembrance of which, when
+ absent in foreign climes, is always treasured with peculiar fondness.
+ Thus among the early Greeks, each tribe came to regard the rivers and
+ springs of its individual state as beneficent powers, which brought
+ blessing and prosperity to the country. It is probable also that the
+ charm which ever accompanies the sound of running water exercised its
+ power over their imagination. They heard with delight the gentle whisper
+ of the fountain, lulling the senses with its low, rippling tones; the
+ soft purling of the brook as it rushes over the pebbles, or the mighty
+ voice of the waterfall as it dashes on in its headlong course; and the
+ beings which they pictured to themselves as presiding over all these
+ charming sights and sounds of nature, corresponded, in their graceful
+ appearance, with the scenes with which they were associated.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead"><b>OCEANIDES.</b></p>
+
+ <p>The <span class="sc">Oceanides</span>, or Ocean Nymphs, were the
+ daughters of Oceanus and Tethys, and, like most sea divinities, were
+ endowed with the gift of prophecy.</p>
+
+ <p>They are personifications of those delicate vapour-like <!-- Page 167
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page167"></a>[167]</span>exhalations,
+ which, in warm climates, are emitted from the surface of the sea, more
+ especially at sunset, and are impelled forwards by the evening breeze.
+ They are accordingly represented as misty, shadowy beings, with graceful
+ swaying forms, and robed in pale blue, gauze-like fabrics.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead"><b>THE NEREIDES.</b></p>
+
+ <p>The <span class="sc">Nereides</span> were the daughters of Nereus and
+ Doris, and were nymphs of the Mediterranean Sea.</p>
+
+ <p>They are similar in appearance to the Oceanides, but their beauty is
+ of a less shadowy order, and is more like that of mortals. They wear a
+ flowing, pale green robe; their liquid eyes resemble, in their clear
+ depths, the lucid waters of the sea they inhabit; their hair floats
+ carelessly over their shoulders, and assumes the greenish tint of the
+ water itself, which, far from deteriorating from their beauty, greatly
+ adds to its effect. The Nereides either accompany the chariot of the
+ mighty ruler of the sea, or follow in his train.</p>
+
+ <p>We are told by the poets that the lonely mariner watches the Nereides
+ with silent awe and wondering delight, as they rise from their
+ grotto-palaces in the deep, and dance, in joyful groups, over the
+ sleeping waves. Some, with arms entwined, follow with their movements the
+ melodies which seem to hover over the sea, whilst others scatter liquid
+ gems around, these being emblematical of the phosphorescent light, so
+ frequently observed at night by the traveller in southern waters.</p>
+
+ <p>The best known of the Nereides were Thetis, the wife of Peleus,
+ Amphitrite, the spouse of Poseidon, and Galatea, the beloved of Acis.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead"><b>THE NAIADES.</b></p>
+
+ <p>The <span class="sc">Naiades</span> were the nymphs of fresh-water
+ springs, lakes, brooks, rivers, &amp;c.</p>
+
+ <p>As the trees, plants, and flowers owed their nourishment to their
+ genial, fostering care, these divinities were <!-- Page 168 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page168"></a>[168]</span>regarded by the Greeks
+ as special benefactors to mankind. Like all the nymphs, they possessed
+ the gift of prophecy, for which reason many of the springs and fountains
+ over which they presided were believed to inspire mortals who drank of
+ their waters with the power of foretelling future events. The Naiades are
+ intimately connected in idea with those flowers which are called after
+ them Nymphæ, or water-lilies, whose broad, green leaves and yellow cups
+ float upon the surface of the water, as though proudly conscious of their
+ own grace and beauty.</p>
+
+ <p>We often hear of the Naiades forming alliances with mortals, and also
+ of their being wooed by the sylvan deities of the woods and dales.</p>
+
+<h3>DRYADES, OR TREE NYMPHS.</h3>
+
+ <p>The tree nymphs partook of the distinguishing characteristics of the
+ particular tree to whose life they were wedded, and were known
+ collectively by the name of the Dryades.</p>
+
+ <p>The <span class="sc">Hamadryades</span>, or oak nymphs, represent in
+ their peculiar individuality the quiet, self-reliant power which appears
+ to belong essentially to the grand and lordly king of the forest.</p>
+
+ <p>The <span class="sc">Birch Nymph</span> is a melancholy maiden with
+ floating hair, resembling the branches of the pale and fragile-looking
+ tree which she inhabits.</p>
+
+ <p>The <span class="sc">Beech Nymph</span> is strong and sturdy, full of
+ life and joyousness, and appears to give promise of faithful love and
+ undisturbed repose, whilst her rosy cheeks, deep brown eyes, and graceful
+ form bespeak health, vigour, and vitality.</p>
+
+ <p>The nymph of the <span class="sc">Linden Tree</span> is represented as
+ a little coy maiden, whose short silver-gray dress reaches a little below
+ the knee, and displays to advantage her delicately formed limbs. The
+ sweet face, which is partly averted, reveals a pair of large blue eyes,
+ which appear to look at you with wondering surprise and shy mistrust;
+ <!-- Page 169 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page169"></a>[169]</span>her pale, golden hair is bound by the
+ faintest streak of rose-coloured ribbon.</p>
+
+ <p>The tree nymph, being wedded to the life of the tree she inhabited,
+ ceased to exist when it was either felled, or so injured as to wither
+ away and die.</p>
+
+<h3>NYMPHS OF THE VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS.</h3>
+
+<p class="cenhead"><b>NAPÆÆ AND OREADES.</b></p>
+
+ <p>The Napææ were the kind and gentle nymphs of the valleys and glens who
+ appear in the train of Artemis. They are represented as lovely maidens
+ with short tunics, which, reaching only to the knee, do not impede their
+ swift and graceful movements in the exercise of the chase. Their pale
+ brown tresses are fastened in a knot at the back of the head, whence a
+ few stray curls escape over their shoulders. The Napææ are shy as the
+ fawns, and quite as frolicsome.</p>
+
+ <p>The <span class="sc">Oreades</span>, or mountain nymphs, who are the
+ principal and constant companions of Artemis, are tall, graceful maidens,
+ attired as huntresses. They are ardent followers of the chase, and spare
+ neither the gentle deer nor the timid hare, nor indeed any animal they
+ meet with in their rapid course. Wherever their wild hunt goes the shy
+ Napææ are represented as hiding behind the leaves, whilst their
+ favourites, the fawns, kneel tremblingly beside them, looking up
+ beseechingly for protection from the wild huntresses; and even the bold
+ Satyrs dart away at their approach, and seek safety in flight.</p>
+
+ <p>There is a myth connected with one of these mountain nymphs, the
+ unfortunate Echo. She became enamoured of a beautiful youth named
+ Narcissus, son of the river-god Cephissus, who, however, failed to return
+ her love, which so grieved her that she gradually pined away, becoming a
+ mere shadow of her former self, till, at length, nothing remained of her
+ except her voice, which henceforth gave back, with unerring fidelity,
+ every sound that was uttered in the hills and dales. Narcissus himself
+ <!-- Page 170 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page170"></a>[170]</span>also met with an unhappy fate, for
+ Aphrodite punished him by causing him to fall in love with his own image,
+ which he beheld in a neighbouring fountain, whereupon, consumed with
+ unrequited love, he wasted away, and was changed into the flower which
+ bears his name.</p>
+
+ <p>The <span class="sc">Limoniades</span>, or meadow nymphs, resemble the
+ Naiades, and are usually represented dancing hand in hand in a
+ circle.</p>
+
+ <p>The <span class="sc">Hyades</span>, who in appearance are somewhat
+ similar to the Oceanides, are cloudy divinities, and, from the fact of
+ their being invariably accompanied by rain, are represented as
+ incessantly weeping.</p>
+
+ <p>The <span class="sc">Meliades</span> were the nymphs who presided over
+ fruit-trees.</p>
+
+ <p>Before concluding this subject, attention should be drawn to the fact
+ that, in more modern times, this beautiful idea of animating all nature
+ in detail reappears under the various local traditions extant in
+ different countries. Thus do the Oceanides and Nereides live again in the
+ mermaids, whose existence is still believed in by mariners, whilst the
+ flower and meadow nymphs assume the shape of those tiny elves and
+ fairies, who were formerly believed to hold their midnight revels in
+ every wood and on every common; indeed, even at the present day, the
+ Irish peasantry, especially in the west, firmly believe in the existence
+ of the fairies, or "good people," as they are called.</p>
+
+<h3>THE WINDS.</h3>
+
+ <p>According to the oldest accounts, Æolus was a king of the Æolian
+ Islands, to whom Zeus gave the command of the winds, which he kept shut
+ up in a deep cave, and which he freed at his pleasure, or at the command
+ of the gods.</p>
+
+ <p>In later times the above belief underwent a change, and the winds came
+ to be regarded as distinct divinities, whose aspect accorded with the
+ respective winds with which they were identified. They were depicted as
+ <!-- Page 171 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page171"></a>[171]</span>winged youths in full vigour in the act of
+ flying through the air.</p>
+
+ <p>The principal winds were: Boreas (the north wind), Eurus (the east
+ wind), Zephyrus (the west wind), and Notus (the south wind), who were
+ said to be the children of Eos and Astræus.</p>
+
+ <p>There are no myths of interest connected with these divinities.
+ Zephyrus was united to Chloris (Flora), the goddess of flowers. Of Boreas
+ it is related that while flying over the river Ilissus, he beheld on the
+ banks Oreithyia, the charming daughter of Erechtheus, king of Athens,
+ whom he carried off to his native Thrace, and there made her his bride.
+ Boreas and Oreithyia were the parents of Zetes and Calais, afterwards
+ famous in the expedition of the Argonauts.</p>
+
+ <p>There was an altar erected at Athens in honour of Boreas, in
+ commemoration of his having destroyed the Persian fleet sent to attack
+ the Greeks.</p>
+
+ <p>On the Acropolis at Athens there was a celebrated octagonal temple,
+ built by Pericles, which was dedicated to the winds, and on its sides
+ were their various representations. The ruins of this temple are still to
+ be seen.</p>
+
+<h3>PAN (<span class="sc">Faunus</span>).</h3>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0171-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0171-1.png"
+ alt="Pan and Syrinx" title="Pan and Syrinx" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Pan was the god of fertility, and the special patron of shepherds and
+ huntsmen; he presided over all rural occupations, was chief of the
+ Satyrs, and head of all rural divinities.</p>
+
+ <p>According to the common belief, he was the son of Hermes and a wood
+ nymph, and came into the world with horns sprouting from his forehead, a
+ goat's beard and a crooked nose, pointed ears, and the tail and feet of a
+ goat, and presented altogether so repulsive <!-- Page 172 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page172"></a>[172]</span>an appearance that, at
+ the sight of him, his mother fled in dismay.</p>
+
+ <p>Hermes, however, took up his curious little offspring, wrapt him in a
+ hare skin, and carried him in his arms to Olympus. The grotesque form and
+ merry antics of the little stranger made him a great favourite with all
+ the immortals, especially Dionysus; and they bestowed upon him the name
+ of Pan (all), because he had delighted them <i>all</i>.</p>
+
+ <p>His favourite haunts were grottoes, and his delight was to wander in
+ uncontrolled freedom over rocks and mountains, following his various
+ pursuits, ever cheerful, and usually very noisy. He was a great lover of
+ music, singing, dancing, and all pursuits which enhance the pleasures of
+ life; and hence, in spite of his repulsive appearance, we see him
+ surrounded with nymphs of the forests and dales, who love to dance round
+ him to the cheerful music of his pipe, the syrinx. The myth concerning
+ the origin of Pan's pipe is as follows:&mdash;Pan became enamoured of a
+ beautiful nymph, called Syrinx, who, appalled at his terrible appearance,
+ fled from the pertinacious attentions of her unwelcome suitor. He pursued
+ her to the banks of the river Ladon, when, seeing his near approach, and
+ feeling escape impossible, she called on the gods for assistance, who, in
+ answer to her prayer, transformed her into a reed, just as Pan was about
+ to seize her. Whilst the love-sick Pan was sighing and lamenting his
+ unfortunate fate, the winds gently swayed the reeds, and produced a
+ murmuring sound as of one complaining. Charmed with the soothing tones,
+ he endeavoured to reproduce them himself, and after cutting seven of the
+ reeds of unequal length, he joined them together, and succeeded in
+ producing the pipe, which he called the syrinx, in memory of his lost
+ love.</p>
+
+ <p>Pan was regarded by shepherds as their most valiant protector, who
+ defended their flocks from the attacks of wolves. The shepherds of these
+ early times, having no penfolds, were in the habit of gathering together
+ their flocks in mountain caves, to protect them against the <!-- Page 173
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page173"></a>[173]</span>inclemency of
+ the weather, and also to secure them at night against the attacks of wild
+ animals; these caves, therefore, which were very numerous in the mountain
+ districts of Arcadia, B&oelig;otia, &amp;c., were all consecrated to
+ Pan.</p>
+
+ <p>As it is customary in all tropical climates to repose during the heat
+ of the day, Pan is represented as greatly enjoying his afternoon sleep in
+ the cool shelter of a tree or cave, and also as being highly displeased
+ at any sound which disturbed his slumbers, for which reason the shepherds
+ were always particularly careful to keep unbroken silence during these
+ hours, whilst they themselves indulged in a quiet siesta.</p>
+
+ <p>Pan was equally beloved by huntsmen, being himself a great lover of
+ the woods, which afforded to his cheerful and active disposition full
+ scope, and in which he loved to range at will. He was regarded as the
+ patron of the chase, and the rural sportsmen, returning from an
+ unsuccessful day's sport, beat, in token of their displeasure, the wooden
+ image of Pan, which always occupied a prominent place in their
+ dwellings.</p>
+
+ <p>All sudden and unaccountable sounds which startle travellers in lonely
+ spots, were attributed to Pan, who possessed a frightful and most
+ discordant voice; hence the term <i>pan</i>ic terror, to indicate sudden
+ fear. The Athenians ascribed their victory at Marathon to the alarm which
+ he created among the Persians by his terrible voice.</p>
+
+ <p>Pan was gifted with the power of prophecy, which he is said to have
+ imparted to Apollo, and he possessed a well-known and very ancient oracle
+ in Arcadia, in which state he was more especially worshipped.</p>
+
+ <p>The artists of later times have somewhat toned down the original very
+ unattractive conception of Pan, as above described, and merely represent
+ him as a young man, hardened by the exposure to all weathers which a
+ rural life involves, and bearing in his hand the shepherd's crook and
+ syrinx&mdash;these being his usual attributes&mdash;whilst small horns
+ project from his forehead. He is either undraped, or wears merely the
+ light cloak called the chlamys.</p>
+
+ <p>The usual offerings to Pan were milk and honey in <!-- Page 174
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page174"></a>[174]</span>shepherds'
+ bowls. Cows, lambs, and rams were also sacrificed to him.</p>
+
+ <p>After the introduction of Pan into the worship of Dionysus, we hear of
+ a number of little Pans (Panisci), who are sometimes confounded with the
+ Satyrs.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">FAUNUS.</p>
+
+ <p>The Romans had an old Italian divinity called Faunus, who, as the god
+ of shepherds, was identified with the Greek Pan, and represented in a
+ similar manner.</p>
+
+ <p>Faunus is frequently called Inuus or the fertilizer, and Lupercus or
+ the one who wards off wolves. Like Pan, he possessed the gift of
+ prophecy, and was the presiding spirit of the woods and fields; he also
+ shared with his Greek prototype the faculty of alarming travellers in
+ solitary places. Bad dreams and evil apparitions were attributed to
+ Faunus, and he was believed to enter houses stealthily at night for this
+ purpose.</p>
+
+ <p>Fauna was the wife of Faunus, and participated in his functions.</p>
+
+<h3>THE SATYRS.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0175-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0175-1.png"
+ alt="A Satyr" title="A Satyr" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>The Satyrs were a race of woodland spirits, who evidently personified
+ the free, wild, and untrammelled life of the forest. Their appearance was
+ both grotesque and repulsive; they had flat broad noses, pointed ears,
+ and little horns sprouting from their foreheads, a rough shaggy skin, and
+ small goat's tails. They led a life of pleasure and self-indulgence,
+ followed the chase, revelled in every description of wild music and
+ dancing, were terrible wine-bibbers, and addicted to the deep slumbers
+ which follow heavy potations. They were no less dreaded by mortals than
+ by the gentle woodland nymphs, who always avoided their coarse rough
+ sports.</p>
+
+ <p>The Satyrs were conspicuous figures in the train of Dionysus, and, as
+ we have seen, Silenus their chief was tutor to the wine god. The older
+ Satyrs were called Silens, and are represented in antique sculpture, as
+ more nearly approaching the human form.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 175 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page175"></a>[175]</span></p>
+
+ <p>In addition to the ordinary Satyrs, artists delighted in depicting
+ little Satyrs, young imps, frolicking about the woods in a marvellous
+ variety of droll attitudes. These little fellows greatly resemble their
+ friends and companions, the Panisci.</p>
+
+ <p>In rural districts it was customary for the shepherds and peasants who
+ attended the festivals of Dionysus, to dress themselves in the skins of
+ goats and other animals, and, under this disguise, they permitted
+ themselves all kinds of playful tricks and excesses, to which
+ circumstance the conception of the Satyrs is by some authorities
+ attributed.</p>
+
+ <p>In Rome the old Italian wood-divinities, the FAUNS, who had goats'
+ feet and all other characteristics of the Satyrs greatly exaggerated,
+ were identified with them.</p>
+
+<h3>PRIAPUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Priapus, the son of Dionysus and Aphrodite, was regarded as the god of
+ fruitfulness, the protector of flocks, sheep, goats, bees, the fruit of
+ the vine, and all garden produce.</p>
+
+ <p>His statues, which were set up in gardens and vineyards, acted not
+ only as objects of worship, but also as scarecrows, the appearance of
+ this god being especially repulsive and unsightly. These statues were
+ formed of wood or stone, and from the hips downwards were merely rude
+ columns. They represent him as having a red and very ugly face; he bears
+ in his hand a pruning knife, and his head is crowned with a wreath of
+ vine and laurel. He usually carries fruit in his garments or a cornucopia
+ in his hand, always, however, retaining his singularly revolting aspect.
+ It is said that Hera, wishing <!-- Page 176 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page176"></a>[176]</span>to punish Aphrodite, sent her this
+ misshapen and unsightly son, and that when he was born, his mother was so
+ horrified at the sight of him, that she ordered him to be exposed on the
+ mountains, where he was found by some shepherds, who, taking pity on him,
+ saved his life.</p>
+
+ <p>This divinity was chiefly worshipped at Lampsacus, his birthplace.
+ Asses were sacrificed to him, and he received the first-fruits of the
+ fields and gardens, with a libation of milk and honey.</p>
+
+ <p>The worship of Priapus was introduced into Rome at the same time as
+ that of Aphrodite, and was identified with a native Italian divinity
+ named Mutunus.</p>
+
+<h3>ASCLEPIAS (<span class="sc">Æsculapius</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Asclepias, the god of the healing art, was the son of Apollo and the
+ nymph Coronis. He was educated by the noble Centaur Chiron, who
+ instructed him in all knowledge, but more especially in that of the
+ properties of herbs. Asclepias searched out the hidden powers of plants,
+ and discovered cures for the various diseases which afflict the human
+ body. He brought his art to such perfection, that he not only succeeded
+ in warding off death, but also restored the dead to life. It was
+ popularly believed that he was materially assisted in his wonderful cures
+ by the blood of the Medusa, given to him by Pallas-Athene.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0177-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0177-1.png"
+ alt="Asclepias" title="Asclepias" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>It is well to observe that the shrines of this divinity, which were
+ usually built in healthy places, on hills outside the town, or near wells
+ which were believed to have healing powers, offered at the same time
+ means of cure for the sick and suffering, thus combining religious with
+ sanitary influences. It was the custom for the sufferer to sleep in the
+ temple, when, if he had been earnest in his devotions, Asclepias appeared
+ to him in a dream, and revealed the means to be employed for the cure of
+ his malady. On the walls of these temples were hung tablets, inscribed by
+ the different pilgrims with the particulars of their maladies, the
+ remedies practised, and the cures <!-- Page 177 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page177"></a>[177]</span>worked by the
+ god:&mdash;a custom undoubtedly productive of most beneficial
+ results.</p>
+
+ <p>Groves, temples, and altars were dedicated to Asclepias in many parts
+ of Greece, but Epidaurus, the chief seat of his worship,&mdash;where,
+ indeed, it is said to have originated,&mdash;contained his principal
+ temple, which served at the same time as a hospital.</p>
+
+ <p>The statue of Asclepias in the temple at Epidaurus was formed of ivory
+ and gold, and represented him as an old man with a full beard, leaning on
+ a staff round which a serpent is climbing. The serpent was the
+ distinguishing symbol of this divinity, partly because these reptiles
+ were greatly used by the ancients in the cure of diseases, and partly
+ also because all the prudence and wisdom of the serpent were deemed
+ indispensable to the judicious physician.</p>
+
+ <p>His usual attributes are a staff, a bowl, a bunch of herbs, a
+ pineapple, a dog, and a serpent.</p>
+
+ <p>His children inherited, for the most part, the distinguished talents
+ of their father. Two of his sons, Machaon and Podalirius, accompanied
+ Agamemnon to the Trojan war, in which expedition they became renowned,
+ not only as military heroes, but also as skilful physicians.</p>
+
+ <p>Their sisters, <b>HYGEIA</b> (health), and <b>PANACEA</b>
+ (all-healing), had temples dedicated to them, and received divine
+ honours. The function of Hygeia was to maintain the health of the
+ community, which great blessing was supposed to be brought by her as a
+ direct and beneficent gift from the gods.</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">ÆSCULAPIUS.</p>
+
+ <p>The worship of Æsculapius was introduced into Rome from Epidaurus,
+ whence the statue of the god of healing <!-- Page 178 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page178"></a>[178]</span>was brought at the time
+ of a great pestilence. Grateful for their deliverance from this plague,
+ the Romans erected a temple in his honour, on an island near the mouth of
+ the Tiber.</p>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h3>ROMAN DIVINITIES.</h3>
+
+<h3>JANUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>From the earliest ages Janus was regarded by the Romans with the
+ utmost affection and veneration, as a divinity who ranked only second to
+ Jupiter himself, and through whom all prayers and petitions were
+ transmitted to the other gods.</p>
+
+ <p>He was believed to preside over the beginnings of all things, hence it
+ was he who inaugurated the years, months, and seasons, and in course of
+ time came to be considered as specially protecting the beginnings of all
+ human enterprises. The great importance which the Romans attached to an
+ auspicious commencement, as contributing to the ultimate success of an
+ enterprise, accounts for the high estimation in which Janus was held as
+ the god of beginnings.</p>
+
+ <p>This divinity would appear to have been the ancient sun-god of the
+ Italian tribes, in which capacity he opens and closes the gates of heaven
+ every morning and evening. Hence he was regarded as the door-keeper of
+ heaven, and also as the presiding deity over all gates, entrances,
+ &amp;c., on earth.</p>
+
+ <p>The fact of his being the god of city gates, which were called Jani
+ after him, is ascribed, however, to the following myth:&mdash;After the
+ abduction of their women by the Romans, the Sabines, in revenge, invaded
+ the Roman state, and were already about to enter the gates of the city,
+ when suddenly a hot sulphur spring, which was believed to have been sent
+ by Janus for their special preservation, gushed forth from the earth, and
+ arrested the progress of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 179 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page179"></a>[179]</span></p>
+
+ <p>In his character as guardian of gates and doors, he was also regarded
+ as a protecting deity of the home, for which reason little shrines were
+ erected to him over the doors of houses, which contained an image of the
+ god, having two faces.</p>
+
+ <p>Janus possessed no temples in the ordinary acceptation of the word,
+ but all the gates of cities were dedicated to him. Close to the Forum of
+ Rome stood the so-called temple of Janus, which, however, was merely an
+ arched passage, closed by massive gates. This temple was open only in
+ time of war, as it was supposed that the god had then taken his departure
+ with the Roman army, over whose welfare he personally presided. It is
+ worthy of notice, as an evidence of the many wars in which the Romans
+ were engaged, that the gates of this sanctuary were only closed three
+ times during 700 years.</p>
+
+ <p>As the god who ushers in the new year, the first month was called
+ after him, and on the 1st of January his most important festival was
+ celebrated, on which occasion all entrances of public and private
+ buildings were decorated with laurel branches and garlands of
+ flowers.</p>
+
+ <p>His sacrifices, consisting of cakes, wine, and barley, were offered to
+ him at the beginning of every month; and before sacrificing to the other
+ gods his name was always invoked, and a libation poured out to him.</p>
+
+ <p>Janus is usually represented with two faces; in his special function
+ as door-keeper of heaven he stands erect, bearing a key in one hand, and
+ a rod or sceptre in the other.</p>
+
+ <p>It is supposed that Janus was the most ancient king of Italy, who,
+ during his life, governed his subjects with such wisdom and moderation
+ that, in gratitude for the benefits conferred upon them, his people
+ deified him after death and placed him in the foremost rank among their
+ divinities. We have already seen in the history of Cronus that Saturn,
+ who was identified with the Greek Cronus (god of time), was the friend
+ and colleague of Janus. Anxious to prove his gratitude to his benefactor,
+ Cronus endowed him with the knowledge of past and future <!-- Page 180
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page180"></a>[180]</span>events, which
+ enabled him to adopt the wisest measures for the welfare of his subjects,
+ and it is on this account that Janus is represented with two faces
+ looking in opposite directions, the one to the past, the other to the
+ future.</p>
+
+<h3>FLORA.</h3>
+
+ <p>Flora was the goddess of flowers, and was regarded as a beneficent
+ power, who watched over and protected the early blossoms.</p>
+
+ <p>She was held in the highest estimation by the Romans, and a festival,
+ called the Floralia, was celebrated in her honour from the 28th of April
+ to the 1st of May. This festival was a season of universal merriment, in
+ which flowers were used profusely in adorning houses, streets, &amp;c.,
+ and were worn by young girls in their hair.</p>
+
+ <p>Flora, who typified the season of Spring, is generally represented as
+ a lovely maiden, garlanded with flowers.</p>
+
+<h3>ROBIGUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>In opposition to Flora we find an antagonistic divinity, called
+ Robigus, a worker of evil, who delighted in the destruction of the tender
+ herbs by mildew, and whose wrath could only be averted by prayers and
+ sacrifices, when he was invoked under the title of Averuncus, or the
+ Avertor.</p>
+
+ <p>The festival of Robigus (the Robigalia) was celebrated on the 25th of
+ April.</p>
+
+<h3>POMONA.</h3>
+
+ <p>Pomona was the goddess of orchards and fruit-trees, who, according to
+ Ovid, cares not for woods or streams, but loves her gardens and the
+ boughs that bear the thriving fruit.</p>
+
+ <p>Pomona, who typifies Autumn, is represented as a lovely maiden, laden
+ with branches of fruit-trees.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 181 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page181"></a>[181]</span></p>
+
+<h3>VERTUMNUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Vertumnus was the god of garden and field produce. He personifies the
+ change of seasons, and that process of transformation in nature by means
+ of which the leaf-buds become developed into blossoms, and the blossoms
+ into fruit.</p>
+
+ <p>The change of seasons is symbolized in a myth which represents
+ Vertumnus as metamorphosing himself into a variety of different forms in
+ order to gain the affection of Pomona, who so loved her vocation that she
+ abjured all thoughts of marriage. He first appears to her as a ploughman,
+ typifying Spring; then as a reaper, to represent Summer; afterwards as a
+ vine-gatherer, to indicate Autumn; and finally as a gray-haired old
+ woman, symbolical of the snows of Winter; but it was not until he assumed
+ his true form, that of a beautiful youth, that he succeeded in his
+ suit.</p>
+
+ <p>Vertumnus is generally represented crowned with wheat-sheaves, and
+ bearing in his hand a cornucopia.</p>
+
+<h3>PALES.</h3>
+
+ <p>Pales, a very ancient Italian divinity, is represented sometimes as a
+ male, sometimes as a female power.</p>
+
+ <p>As a male divinity he is more particularly the god of shepherds and
+ flocks.</p>
+
+ <p>As a female deity, Pales presides over husbandry and the fruitfulness
+ of herds. Her festivals, the Palilia, were celebrated on the 21st of
+ April, the day on which the city of Rome was founded. During this
+ festival it was customary for shepherds to ignite a mass of straw,
+ through which they rushed with their flocks, believing that this ordeal
+ would purify them from sin.</p>
+
+ <p>The name Palatine, which originally signified a pastoral colony, is
+ derived from this divinity. Her offerings were cakes and milk.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 182 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page182"></a>[182]</span></p>
+
+<h3>PICUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Picus, the son of Saturn and father of Faunus, was a woodland
+ divinity, gifted with prophetic powers.</p>
+
+ <p>An ancient myth relates that Picus was a beautiful youth, united to a
+ nymph called Canens. The sorceress Circe, infatuated by his beauty,
+ endeavoured to secure his love, but he rejected her advances, and she, in
+ revenge, changed him into a woodpecker, under which form he still
+ retained his powers of prophecy.</p>
+
+ <p>Picus is represented as a youth, with a woodpecker perched upon his
+ head, which bird became henceforth regarded as possessed of the power of
+ prophecy.</p>
+
+<h3>PICUMNUS AND PILUMNUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Picumnus and Pilumnus were two household divinities of the Romans, who
+ were the special presiding deities of new-born infants.</p>
+
+<h3>SILVANUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Silvanus was a woodland divinity, who, like Faunus, greatly resembled
+ the Greek Pan. He was the presiding deity of plantations and forests, and
+ specially protected the boundaries of fields.</p>
+
+ <p>Silvanus is represented as a hale old man, carrying a cypress-tree,
+ for, according to Roman mythology, the transformation of the youth
+ Cyparissus into the tree which bears his name was attributed to him.</p>
+
+ <p>His sacrifices consisted of milk, meat, wine, grapes, wheat-ears, and
+ pigs.</p>
+
+<h3>TERMINUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Terminus was the god who presided over all boundaries and
+ landmarks.</p>
+
+ <p>He was originally represented by a simple block of stone, which in
+ later times became surmounted by a <!-- Page 183 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page183"></a>[183]</span>head of this divinity.
+ Numa Pompilius, the great benefactor of his people, anxious to inculcate
+ respect for the rights of property, specially enjoined the erection of
+ these blocks of stone, as a durable monument to mark the line dividing
+ one property from another. He also caused altars to be raised to
+ Terminus, and instituted his festival (the Terminalia), which was
+ celebrated on the 23rd of February.</p>
+
+ <p>Upon one occasion, when Tarquin wished to remove the altars of several
+ deities, in order to build a new temple, it is said that Terminus and
+ Juventas alone objected to being displaced. This obstinate refusal on
+ their part was interpreted as a good omen, signifying that the city of
+ Rome would never lose her boundaries, and would remain ever young and
+ vigorous.</p>
+
+<h3>CONSUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Consus was the god of secret counsel.</p>
+
+ <p>The Romans believed that when an idea developed itself spontaneously
+ within the mind of an individual, it was Consus who had prompted the
+ suggestion. This applied, however, more particularly to plans which
+ resulted satisfactorily.</p>
+
+ <p>An altar was erected to this divinity on the Circus Maximus, which was
+ kept always covered, except during his festival, the Consualia, which was
+ celebrated on the 18th of August.</p>
+
+<h3>LIBITINA.</h3>
+
+ <p>Libitina was the goddess who presided over funerals. This divinity was
+ identified with Venus, possibly because the ancients considered that the
+ power of love extended even to the realms of death.</p>
+
+ <p>Her temple in Rome, which was erected by Servius Tullius, contained
+ all the requisites for funerals, and these could either be bought or
+ hired there. A register of all deaths which occurred in the city of Rome
+ was kept in <!-- Page 184 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page184"></a>[184]</span>this temple, and in order to ascertain the
+ rate of mortality, a piece of money was paid by command of Servius
+ Tullius, on the demise of each person.</p>
+
+<h3>LAVERNA.</h3>
+
+ <p>Laverna was the presiding goddess of thieves, and of all artifice and
+ fraud. There was an altar erected to her near the Porta Lavernalis, which
+ was called after her, and she possessed a sacred grove on the Via
+ Salavia.</p>
+
+<h3>COMUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Comus was the presiding genius of banquets, festive scenes, revelry,
+ and all joyous pleasures and reckless gaiety.</p>
+
+ <p>He is represented as a young man crowned with flowers, his face heated
+ and flushed with wine, leaning against a post in a half-sleepy and
+ drunken attitude, with a torch falling from his hand.</p>
+
+<h3>THE CAMENÆ.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Camenæ were prophetic nymphs held in high veneration by the
+ ancient Italians. They were four in number, the best known of whom are
+ Carmenta and Egeria.</p>
+
+ <p>Carmenta was celebrated as being the mother of Evander, who led an
+ Arcadian colony into Italy, and founded a town on the river Tiber, which
+ became afterwards incorporated with the city of Rome. Evander is said to
+ have been the first who introduced Greek art and civilization into Italy,
+ and also the worship of Greek divinities.</p>
+
+ <p>A temple was erected to Carmenta on the Capitoline Hill, and a
+ festival, called the Carmentalia, was celebrated in her honour on the
+ 11th of January.</p>
+
+ <p>Egeria is said to have initiated Numa Pompilius in the forms of
+ religious worship, which he introduced among his people. She was regarded
+ as the giver of <!-- Page 185 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page185"></a>[185]</span>life, and was therefore invoked by women
+ before the birth of their children.</p>
+
+ <p>The Camenæ are frequently identified by Roman writers with the
+ Muses.</p>
+
+<h3>GENII.</h3>
+
+ <p>A comforting and assuring belief existed among the Romans, that each
+ individual was accompanied through life, from the hour of his birth to
+ that of his death, by a protecting spirit, called his genius, who
+ prompted him to good and noble deeds, and acted towards him as a guardian
+ angel, comforting him in sorrow, and guiding him throughout his earthly
+ career.</p>
+
+ <p>In the course of time a second genius was believed to exist, of an
+ evil nature, who, as the instigator of all wrong-doing, was ever at war
+ with the beneficent genius; and on the issue of the conflict between
+ these antagonistic influences, depended the fate of the individual. The
+ genii were depicted as winged beings, greatly resembling our modern
+ representations of guardian angels.</p>
+
+ <p>Every state, town, or city, (as well as every man), possessed its
+ special genius. The sacrifices to the genii consisted of wine, cakes, and
+ incense, which were offered to them on birthdays.</p>
+
+ <p>The genius which guided a woman was called, after the queen of heaven,
+ Juno.</p>
+
+ <p>Among the Greeks, beings called Dæmons were regarded as exercising
+ similar functions to those of the Roman genii. They were believed to be
+ the spirits of the righteous race which existed in the Golden Age, who
+ watched over mankind, carrying their prayers to the gods, and the gifts
+ of the gods to them.</p>
+
+<h3>MANES.</h3>
+
+<p class="cenhead">LEMURES (LARVÆ) AND LARES.</p>
+
+ <p>The Manes were the spirits of the departed, and were of two kinds,
+ viz., Lemures (or Larvæ) and Lares. <!-- Page 186 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page186"></a>[186]</span></p>
+
+ <p>The Lemures were those Manes who haunted their former abodes on earth
+ as evil spirits, appearing at night under awful forms and hideous shapes,
+ greatly to the alarm of their friends and relatives. They were so feared
+ that a festival, called the Lemuralia, was celebrated in order to
+ propitiate them.</p>
+
+ <p>It appears extremely probable that the superstitions with regard to
+ ghosts, haunted houses, &amp;c., which exist even at the present day, owe
+ their origin to this very ancient pagan source.</p>
+
+ <p>The Lares Familiares were a much more pleasing conception. They were
+ the spirits of the ancestors of each family, who exercised after death a
+ protecting power over the well-being and prosperity of the family to
+ which they had in life belonged. The place of honour beside the hearth
+ was occupied by the statue of the Lar of the house, who was supposed to
+ have been the founder of the family. This statue was the object of
+ profound veneration, and was honoured on all occasions by every member of
+ the family; a portion of each meal was laid before it, and it was
+ believed to take an active part in all family affairs and domestic
+ events, whether of a sad or joyful nature. Before starting on any
+ expedition the master of the house saluted the statue of the Lar, and, on
+ his return, a solemn thanksgiving was offered to this, the presiding
+ deity of his hearth and home, in grateful acknowledgment of his
+ protection; whereupon the statue was crowned with garlands of flowers,
+ these being the favourite offerings to the Lares on all occasions of
+ especial family rejoicing.</p>
+
+ <p>The first act of a bride on entering her new abode was to do homage to
+ the Lar, in the belief that he would exercise over her a protecting
+ influence and shield her from evil.</p>
+
+ <p>In addition to those above enumerated there were also public Lares,
+ who were guardians of the state, highroads, country, and sea. Their
+ temples were always open for any pious worshipper to enter, and on their
+ altars public sacrifices were offered for the welfare of the state or
+ city. <!-- Page 187 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page187"></a>[187]</span></p>
+
+<h3>PENATES.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Penates were deities selected by each family, and frequently by
+ its individual members, as a special protector. Various causes led to
+ this selection. If, for instance, a child were born on the festival of
+ Vesta, it was thought that that deity would henceforward act as its
+ special guardian. If a youth possessed great business talents he adopted
+ Mercury as his tutelary deity; should he, on the other hand, develop a
+ passion for music, Apollo was selected as his patron god, and so forth.
+ These became regarded as the special divinities of the household, small
+ images of them adorned the surroundings of the hearth, and honours
+ similar to those paid to the Lares were accorded to them.</p>
+
+ <p>Just as there were public Lares so there were public Penates, which
+ were worshipped by the Roman people under the form of two youthful
+ warriors, who, in later times, were regarded as identical with Castor and
+ Pollux. They are generally represented on horseback, with conical caps on
+ their heads, and bearing long spears in their hands.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 188 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page188"></a>[188]</span></p>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:30%;">
+ <a href="images/0188-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0188-1.png"
+ alt="Temple" title="Temple" /></a>
+ </div>
+<h3>PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS
+AND ROMANS.</h3>
+
+<h3>TEMPLES.</h3>
+
+ <p>In very remote times the Greeks had no shrines or sanctuaries devoted
+ to public worship, but performed their devotions beneath the vast and
+ boundless canopy of heaven, in the great temple of nature itself.
+ Believing that their divinities throned above the clouds, pious
+ worshippers naturally sought the highest available points, in order to
+ place themselves in the closest communion possible with their gods; hence
+ the summits of high mountains were selected for devotional purposes, and
+ the more exalted the rank and importance of the divinity invoked, the
+ more elevated was the site selected for his or her worship. But the
+ inconvenience attending this mode of worship gradually suggested the idea
+ of erecting edifices which would afford means of shelter from the
+ inclemency of the weather.</p>
+
+ <p>These structures were, in the first instance, of the most simple form,
+ and without decoration; but when, with the progress of civilization, the
+ Greeks became a <!-- Page 189 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page189"></a>[189]</span>wealthy and powerful people, temples were
+ built and adorned with the greatest splendour and magnificence, talent,
+ labour, and wealth being lavished unsparingly on their erection and
+ decoration; indeed so massively were they constructed, that some of them
+ have, to a certain extent, withstood the ravages of time. The city of
+ Athens especially contains numerous remains of these buildings of
+ antiquity. On the Acropolis we may still behold, among other monuments of
+ ancient art, the temple of Athene-Polias, and that of Theseus, the latter
+ of which is the most entire ancient edifice in the world. In the island
+ of Delos, also, are to be seen the ruins of the temples of Apollo and
+ Artemis, both of which are in a wonderful state of preservation. These
+ ruins are most valuable, being sufficiently complete to enable us to
+ study, by their aid, the plan and character of the original
+ structure.</p>
+
+ <p>Among the Lacedæmonians, however, we find no vestiges of these stately
+ temples, for they were specially enjoined by a law of Lycurgus to serve
+ the gods with as little outlay as possible. When the great lawgiver was
+ asked the reason of this injunction, he replied that the Lacedæmonians,
+ being a poor nation, might otherwise abstain altogether from the
+ observance of their religious duties, and wisely added that magnificent
+ edifices and costly sacrifices were not so pleasing to the gods, as the
+ true piety and unfeigned devotion of their worshippers.</p>
+
+ <p>The most ancient temples known to us served a double purpose: they
+ were not only consecrated to the service of the gods, but were at the
+ same time venerable monuments in honour of the dead. Thus, for instance,
+ the temple of Pallas-Athene, in the tower of the city of Larissa, served
+ as the sepulchre of Acrisius, and the Acropolis at Athens received the
+ ashes of Cecrops, founder of the city.</p>
+
+ <p>A temple was frequently dedicated to two or more gods, and was always
+ built after the manner considered most acceptable to the particular
+ divinities to whom it was consecrated; for just as trees, birds, and
+ animals of <!-- Page 190 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page190"></a>[190]</span>every description were held to be sacred
+ to certain deities, so almost every god had a form of building peculiar
+ to himself, which was deemed more acceptable to him than any other. Thus
+ the Doric style of architecture was sacred to Zeus, Ares, and Heracles;
+ the Ionic to Apollo, Artemis, and Dionysus; and the Corinthian to
+ Hestia.</p>
+
+ <p>In the porch of the temple stood a vessel of stone or brass,
+ containing holy water (which had been consecrated by putting into it a
+ burning torch, taken from the altar), with which all those admitted to
+ take part in the sacrifices were besprinkled. In the inmost recess of the
+ sanctuary was the most holy place, into which none but the priests were
+ suffered to enter.</p>
+
+ <p>Temples in the country were usually surrounded with groves of trees.
+ The solitude of these shady retreats naturally tended to inspire the
+ worshipper with awe and reverence, added to which the delightful shade
+ and coolness afforded by tall leafy trees is peculiarly grateful in hot
+ countries. Indeed so general did this custom of building temples in
+ groves become, that all places devoted to sacred purposes, even where no
+ trees existed, were called groves. That this practice must be of very
+ remote antiquity is proved by the Biblical injunction, having for its
+ object the separation of the Jews from all idolatrous practices: "Thou
+ shalt not plant thee a grove of trees near unto the altar of the Lord thy
+ God."</p>
+
+<h3>STATUES.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Greeks worshipped their gods without any visible representations
+ of them until the time of Cecrops. The most ancient of these
+ representations consisted of square blocks of stone, upon which the name
+ of the deity intended to be represented was engraved. The first attempts
+ at sculpture were rude stocks, with a head at one end and a shapeless
+ trunk at the other, tapering slightly down to the feet, which, however,
+ were not divided, the limbs being in no way defined. But the artists of
+ later times devoted all their genius to the <!-- Page 191 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page191"></a>[191]</span>successful production
+ of the highest ideals of their gods, some of which are preserved to this
+ day, and are regarded as examples of purest art.</p>
+
+ <p>On a pedestal in the centre of the edifice stood the statue of the
+ divinity to whom the temple was dedicated, surrounded by images of other
+ gods, all of which were fenced off by rails.</p>
+
+<h3>ALTARS.</h3>
+
+ <p>The altar in a Greek temple, which stood in the centre of the building
+ and in front of the statue of the presiding deity, was generally of a
+ circular form, and constructed of stone. It was customary to engrave upon
+ it the name or distinguishing symbol of the divinity to whom it was
+ dedicated; and it was held so sacred that if any malefactor fled to it
+ his life was safe from his pursuers, and it was considered one of the
+ greatest acts of sacrilege to force him from this asylum.</p>
+
+ <p>The most ancient altars were adorned with horns, which in former times
+ were emblems of power and dignity, as wealth, and consequently
+ importance, consisted among most primitive nations in flocks and
+ herds.</p>
+
+ <p>In addition to those erected in places of public worship, altars were
+ frequently raised in groves, on highways, or in the market-places of
+ cities.</p>
+
+ <p>The gods of the lower world had no altars whatever, ditches or
+ trenches being dug for the reception of the blood of the sacrifices
+ offered to them.</p>
+
+<h3>PRIESTS.</h3>
+
+ <p>In ancient times the priests were recognized as a special social
+ caste, and were distinguished not only by their sacerdotal vestments, but
+ also by their piety, wisdom, and blameless life. They were the chosen
+ mediators between gods and men, and offered prayers and sacrifices in the
+ name of the people, whom they also instructed as to what vows, gifts, and
+ offerings would be most acceptable to the gods.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 192 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page192"></a>[192]</span></p>
+
+ <p>Every deity had a different order of priests consecrated to his
+ worship, and in every place a high-priest was appointed, whose duty it
+ was to superintend the rest of his order, and also to carry out the more
+ sacred rites and religious observances.</p>
+
+ <p>Priests and priestesses were permitted to marry, but not a second
+ time; some, however, voluntarily adopted a life of celibacy.</p>
+
+<h3>SACRIFICES.</h3>
+
+ <p>There is no doubt that a feeling of gratitude to the gods for their
+ protecting care, and the abundance with which they were believed to bless
+ mankind, has induced men of all nations and in all countries to feel a
+ desire to sacrifice to their divinities some portion of the gifts so
+ generously lavished upon them.</p>
+
+ <p>Among the Greeks, sacrifices were of various kinds. They consisted of
+ <i>free-will offerings</i>, <i>propitiatory offerings</i>, &amp;c.</p>
+
+ <p><i>Free-will offerings</i> were grateful acknowledgments for benefits
+ received, and usually consisted of the first-fruits of the field, or the
+ finest of the flocks and herds, which were required to be without spot or
+ blemish.</p>
+
+ <p><i>Propitiatory offerings</i> were brought with the object of
+ appeasing the anger of the gods.</p>
+
+ <p>In addition to those above enumerated, sacrifices were made, either
+ with a view of obtaining success in an enterprise about to be undertaken,
+ or in fulfilment of a vow, or at the command of an oracle.</p>
+
+ <p>Every sacrifice was accompanied by salt and also by a libation, which
+ usually consisted of wine, the cup being always filled to the brim,
+ indicating that the offering was made without stint. When sacrificing to
+ the infernal gods the cup containing the libation was filled with
+ blood.</p>
+
+ <p>The animals offered to the Olympian divinities were white, whilst
+ those to the gods of the lower world were black. When a man offered a
+ special sacrifice for himself or his family it partook of the nature of
+ his <!-- Page 193 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page193"></a>[193]</span>occupation; thus a shepherd brought a
+ sheep, a vine-grower his grapes, and so forth. But in the case of public
+ sacrifices, the supposed individuality of the deity was always consulted.
+ For instance, to Demeter a sow was offered, because that animal is apt to
+ root up the seed-corn; to Dionysus a goat, on account of its being
+ destructive to vineyards, &amp;c.</p>
+
+ <p>The value of offerings depended greatly upon the position of the
+ individual; it being regarded as a contempt of the gods for a rich man to
+ bring a sordid offering, whilst from a poor man the smallest oblation was
+ considered acceptable.</p>
+
+ <p>Hecatombs consisted of a hundred animals, and were offered by entire
+ communities, or by wealthy individuals who either desired, or had
+ obtained some special favour from the gods.</p>
+
+ <p>When a sacrifice was to be offered, a fire was kindled on the altar,
+ into which wine and frankincense were poured, in order to increase the
+ flame. In very ancient times, the victim was laid upon the altar and
+ burned whole; but after the time of Prometheus portions only of the
+ shoulders, thighs, entrails, &amp;c., were sacrificed, the remainder
+ becoming the perquisites of the priests.</p>
+
+ <p>The officiating priests wore a crown composed of the leaves of the
+ tree sacred to the deity they invoked. Thus when sacrificing to Apollo
+ the crowns were of laurel; when to Heracles, of poplar. This practice of
+ wearing crowns was, at a later period, adopted by the general public at
+ banquets and other festivities.</p>
+
+ <p>On occasions of special solemnity the horns of the victim were
+ overlaid with gold, and the altars decked with flowers and sacred
+ herbs.</p>
+
+ <p>The mode of conducting the sacrifices was as follows:&mdash;All things
+ being prepared, a salt cake, the sacrificial knife, and the crowns, were
+ placed in a small basket, and carried to the sanctuary by a young maiden,
+ whereupon the victim was conducted into the temple, frequently to the
+ accompaniment of music. If a small animal, it was driven loose to the
+ altar; if a large one, it was led by a <!-- Page 194 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page194"></a>[194]</span>long trailing rope, in
+ order to indicate that it was not an unwilling sacrifice.</p>
+
+ <p>When all were assembled, the priest, after walking in solemn state
+ round the altar, besprinkled it with a mixture of meal and holy water,
+ after which he also besprinkled the assembled worshippers, and exhorted
+ them to join with him in prayer. The service being ended, the priest
+ first tasted the libation, and after causing the congregation to do the
+ like, poured the remainder between the horns of the victim, after which
+ frankincense was strewn upon the altar, and a portion of the meal and
+ water poured upon the animal, which was then killed. If by any chance the
+ victim escaped the stroke, or became in any way restless, it was regarded
+ as an evil omen; if, on the contrary, it expired without a struggle, it
+ was considered auspicious.</p>
+
+ <p>At the sacrifices to the aërial divinities music was added, whilst
+ dances were performed round the altar, and sacred hymns sung. These hymns
+ were generally composed in honour of the gods, and contained an account
+ of their famous actions, their clemency and beneficence, and the gifts
+ conferred by them on mankind. In conclusion, the gods were invoked for a
+ continuance of their favour, and when the service was ended a feast was
+ held.</p>
+
+<h3>ORACLES.</h3>
+
+ <p>The desire to penetrate the dark veil of futurity, and thereby to
+ avert, if possible, threatened danger, has animated mankind in all ages
+ of the world. Prophetic knowledge was sought by the Greeks at the mouth
+ of oracles, whose predictions were interpreted to the people by priests,
+ specially appointed for the purpose.</p>
+
+ <p>The most famous of these institutions was the oracle of Apollo at
+ Delphi, which was held in general repute all over the world. People
+ flocked from far and near to consult this wonderful mouth-piece of the
+ gods, one month in the year being specially set apart for the
+ purpose.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 195 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page195"></a>[195]</span></p>
+
+ <p>The priestess who delivered the oracles was called the Pythia, after
+ the serpent Python, which was killed by Apollo. Having first bathed in
+ the waters of the Castalian spring, she was conducted into the temple by
+ the priests, and was seated on a sort of three-legged stool or table,
+ called a tripod, which was placed over the mouth of a cave whence issued
+ sulphurous vapours. Here she gradually became affected in a remarkable
+ manner, and fell into an ecstatic condition, in which she uttered wild
+ and extraordinary phrases, which were held to be the utterance of Apollo
+ himself; these the priests interpreted to the people, but in most cases
+ in so ambiguous a manner that the fulfilment of the prediction could not
+ easily be disputed. During the ceremony, clouds of incense filled the
+ temple, and hid the priestess from the view of the uninitiated, and at
+ its conclusion she was reconducted, in a fainting condition, to her
+ cell.</p>
+
+ <p>The following is a striking instance of the ambiguity of oracular
+ predictions:&mdash;Cr&oelig;sus, the rich king of Lydia, before going to
+ war with Cyrus, king of Persia, consulted an oracle as to the probable
+ success of the expedition. The reply he received was, that if he crossed
+ a certain river he would destroy a great empire. Interpreting the
+ response as being favourable to his design, Cr&oelig;sus crossed the
+ river, and encountered the Persian king, by whom he was entirely
+ defeated; and his own empire being destroyed, the prediction of the
+ oracle was said to have been fulfilled.</p>
+
+<h3>SOOTHSAYERS (<span class="sc">Augurs</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>In addition to the manifestation of the will of the gods by means of
+ oracles, the Greeks also believed that certain men, called soothsayers,
+ were gifted with the power of foretelling future events from dreams, from
+ observing the flight of birds, the entrails of sacrificed animals, and
+ even the direction of the flames and smoke from the altar, &amp;c. <!--
+ Page 196 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page196"></a>[196]</span></p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">AUGURS.</p>
+
+ <p>The Roman soothsayers were called augurs, and played an important part
+ in the history of the Romans, as no enterprise was ever undertaken
+ without first consulting them with regard to its ultimate success.</p>
+
+<h3>FESTIVALS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Festivals were instituted as seasons of rest, rejoicing, and
+ thanksgiving, and also as anniversaries to commemorate events of national
+ importance. The most ancient festivals were those held after the
+ ingathering of the harvest or vintage, and were celebrated with
+ rejoicings and merry-makings, which lasted many days, during which time
+ the first-fruits of the fields were offered to the gods, accompanied by
+ prayers and thanksgiving.</p>
+
+ <p>The festivals held in cities in honour of special divinities, or in
+ commemoration of particular events, were conducted with an elaborate
+ ceremonial. Gorgeous processions, games, chariot races, &amp;c., were
+ conspicuous features on these occasions, and dramatic performances,
+ representing particular episodes in the lives of the gods and heroes,
+ frequently took place.</p>
+
+ <p>We subjoin a few of the most interesting of the Greek and Roman
+ festivals.</p>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h3>GREEK FESTIVALS.</h3>
+
+<h3>ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES.</h3>
+
+ <p>One of the most ancient and important among the festivals observed by
+ the Greeks was that of the Eleusinian Mysteries, which was celebrated in
+ honour of Demeter and Persephone. The name was derived from Eleusis, a
+ town in Attica, where the Mysteries were first introduced by the goddess
+ herself. They were divided into the <!-- Page 197 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page197"></a>[197]</span>Greater and Lesser
+ Mysteries, and, according to the general account, were held every five
+ years. The Greater, which were celebrated in honour of Demeter, and
+ lasted nine days, were held in autumn; the Lesser, dedicated to
+ Persephone (who at these festivals was affectionately called Cora, or the
+ maiden), were held in spring.</p>
+
+ <p>It is supposed that the secrets taught to the initiated by the
+ priests&mdash;the expounders of the Mysteries&mdash;were moral meanings,
+ elucidated from the myths concerning Demeter and Persephone; but the most
+ important belief inculcated was the doctrine of the immortality of the
+ soul. That the lessons taught were of the highest moral character is
+ universally admitted. "The souls of those who participated in them were
+ filled with the sweetest hopes both as to this and the future world;" and
+ it was a common saying among the Athenians: "In the Mysteries no one is
+ sad."</p>
+
+ <p>The initiation into these solemn rites (which was originally the
+ exclusive privilege of the Athenians) was accompanied with awe-inspiring
+ ceremonies; and secrecy was so strictly enjoined that its violation was
+ punished by death. At the conclusion of the initiation great rejoicings
+ took place, chariot-races, wrestling matches, &amp;c., were held, and
+ solemn sacrifices offered.</p>
+
+ <p>The initiation into the Lesser Mysteries served as a preparation for
+ the Greater.</p>
+
+<h3>THESMOPHORIA.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Thesmophoria was another festival held in honour of Demeter, in
+ her character as presiding over marriage and social institutions
+ resulting from the spread of agriculture.</p>
+
+ <p>This festival was celebrated exclusively by women.</p>
+
+<h3>DIONYSIA.</h3>
+
+ <p>A joyous spring festival was held in honour of Dionysus, in the month
+ of March, and lasted several days.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 198 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page198"></a>[198]</span></p>
+
+ <p>This festival, which was called the Greater Dionysia, was celebrated
+ with particular splendour at Athens, when strangers flocked from all
+ parts of the world to take part in the ceremonies. The city was gaily
+ decorated, the houses were garlanded with ivy-leaves, crowds perambulated
+ the streets, everything wore its holiday garb, and wine was freely
+ indulged in.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0198-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0198-1.png"
+ alt="Celebrating the Dionysia" title="Celebrating the Dionysia" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>In the processions which took place during these festivities, the
+ statue of Dionysus was carried, and men and women, crowned with ivy and
+ bearing the thyrsus, were dressed in every description of grotesque
+ costume, and played on drums, pipes, flutes, cymbals, &amp;c. Some
+ representing Silenus rode on asses, others wearing fawn-skins appeared as
+ Pan or the Satyrs, and the whole multitude sang pæans in honour of the
+ wine-god. Public shows, games, and sports took place, and the entire city
+ was full of revelry.</p>
+
+ <p>What lent additional interest to these festivals was the custom of
+ introducing new comedies and tragedies to the public, representations of
+ which were given, and prizes awarded to those which elicited the greatest
+ admiration.</p>
+
+ <div class="figright" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0198-2.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0198-2.png"
+ alt="Celebrating the Dionysia" title="Celebrating the Dionysia" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>The Lesser Dionysia were vintage festivals, celebrated in rural
+ districts in the month of November, and were characterized by drinking,
+ feasting, and joviality of all kinds.</p>
+
+ <p>In connection with some of the festivals in honour of Dionysus were
+ certain mystic observances, into which only women, called Menades or
+ Bacchantes, were initiated. Clad in fawn-skins, they assembled by night
+ on the mountain sides, <!-- Page 199 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page199"></a>[199]</span>some carrying blazing torches, others
+ thyrsi, and all animated with religious enthusiasm and frenzy. They
+ shouted, clapped their hands, danced wildly, and worked themselves up to
+ such a pitch of excitement and fury that in their mad frenzy they tore in
+ pieces the animal brought as a sacrifice to Dionysus.</p>
+
+ <p>Under the name of Bacchanalia, these mystic rites were introduced into
+ Rome, where men also were allowed to participate in them; but they were
+ attended with such frightful excesses that the state authorities at
+ length interfered and prohibited them.</p>
+
+<h3>PANATHENÆA.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Panathenæa was a famous festival celebrated in Athens in honour of
+ Athene-Polias, the guardian of the state. There were two festivals of
+ this name, the Lesser and the Greater Panathenæa. The former was held
+ annually, and the latter, which lasted several days, was celebrated every
+ fourth year.</p>
+
+ <p>For the Greater Panathenæa a garment, embroidered with gold, called
+ the Peplus, was specially woven by Athenian maidens, on which was
+ represented the victory gained by Athene over the Giants. This garment
+ was suspended to the mast of a ship which stood outside the city; and
+ during the festival, which was characterized by a grand procession, the
+ ship (with the Peplus on its mast) was impelled forward by means of
+ invisible machinery, and formed the most conspicuous feature of the
+ pageant. The whole population, bearing olive branches in their hands,
+ took part in the procession; and amidst music and rejoicings this
+ imposing pageant wended its way to the temple of Athene-Polias, where the
+ Peplus was deposited on the statue of the goddess.</p>
+
+ <p>At this festival, Homer's poems were declaimed aloud, and poets also
+ introduced their own works to the public. Musical contests, foot and
+ horse races, and wrestling matches were held, and dances were performed
+ by boys in armour.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 200 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page200"></a>[200]</span></p>
+
+ <p>Men who had deserved well of their country were presented at the
+ festival with a crown of gold, and the name of the person so
+ distinguished was announced publicly by a herald.</p>
+
+ <p>The victors in the races and athletic games received, as a prize, a
+ vase of oil, supposed to have been extracted from the fruit of the sacred
+ olive-tree of Athene.</p>
+
+<h3>DAPHNEPHORIA.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Daphnephoria was celebrated at Thebes in honour of Apollo every
+ ninth year.</p>
+
+ <p>The distinguishing feature of this festival was a procession to the
+ temple of Apollo, in which a young priest (the Daphnephorus) of noble
+ descent, splendidly attired and wearing a crown of gold, was preceded by
+ a youth, carrying an emblematical representation of the sun, moon, stars,
+ and days of the year, and followed by beautiful maidens bearing laurel
+ branches, and singing hymns in honour of the god.</p>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h3>ROMAN FESTIVALS.</h3>
+
+<h3>SATURNALIA.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Saturnalia, a national festival held in December in honour of
+ Saturn, was celebrated after the ingathering of the harvest, and lasted
+ several days.</p>
+
+ <p>It was a time of universal rejoicing, cessation from labour, and
+ merry-making. School children had holidays, friends sent presents to each
+ other, the law-courts were closed, and no business was transacted.</p>
+
+ <p>Crowds of people from the surrounding country flocked to Rome for this
+ festival attired in every variety of masquerade dress; practical jokes
+ were given and received with the utmost good humour, shouts of exultation
+ filled <!-- Page 201 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page201"></a>[201]</span>the air, all classes abandoned themselves
+ to enjoyment, and unrestrained hilarity reigned supreme. Social
+ distinctions were for a time suspended, or even reversed; and so heartily
+ was the spirit of this festival entered into, that masters waited upon
+ their slaves at banquets which they provided for them; the slaves being
+ dressed upon these occasions in the garments of their masters.</p>
+
+ <p>There appears little doubt that the modern Carnival is a survival of
+ the ancient Saturnalia.</p>
+
+<h3>CEREALIA.</h3>
+
+ <p>This festival was celebrated in honour of Ceres. It was solemnized
+ exclusively by women, who, dressed in white garments, wandered about with
+ torches in their hands, to represent the search of the goddess for her
+ daughter Proserpine.</p>
+
+ <p>During this festival, games were celebrated in the Circus Maximus, to
+ which none were admitted unless clothed in white.</p>
+
+<h3>VESTALIA.</h3>
+
+ <p>The Vestalia was a festival held in honour of Vesta on the 9th of
+ June, and was celebrated exclusively by women, who walked barefooted in
+ procession to the temple of the goddess.</p>
+
+ <p>The priestesses of Vesta, called Vestales or Vestal Virgins, played a
+ conspicuous part in these festivals. They were six in number, and were
+ chosen&mdash;between the ages of six and ten&mdash;from the noblest
+ families in Rome. Their term of office was thirty years. During the first
+ ten years, they were initiated in their religious duties, during the
+ second ten they performed them, and during the third they instructed
+ novices. Their chief duty was to watch and feed the ever-burning flame on
+ the altar of Vesta, the extinction of which was regarded as a national
+ calamity of ominous import.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 202 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page202"></a>[202]</span></p>
+
+ <p>Great honours and privileges were accorded to them; the best seats
+ were reserved for their use at all public spectacles, and even the
+ consuls and prætors made way for them to pass. If they met a criminal on
+ his way to execution they had the power to pardon him, provided it could
+ be proved that the meeting was accidental.</p>
+
+ <p>The Vestales were vowed to chastity, a violation of which was visited
+ by the frightful punishment of being buried alive.</p>
+
+<hr class="full" >
+
+<p><!-- Page 203 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page203"></a>[203]</span></p>
+
+<h2>PART II.&mdash;LEGENDS.</h2>
+
+<h3>CADMUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>The following is the legendary account of the founding of
+ Thebes:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <p>After the abduction of his daughter Europa by Zeus, Agenor, king of
+ Ph&oelig;nicia, unable to reconcile himself to her loss, despatched his
+ son Cadmus in search of her, desiring him not to return without his
+ sister.</p>
+
+ <p>For many years Cadmus pursued his search through various countries,
+ but without success. Not daring to return home without her, he consulted
+ the oracle of Apollo at Delphi; and the reply was that he must desist
+ from his task, and take upon himself a new duty, <i>i.e.</i> that of
+ founding a city, the site of which would be indicated to him by a heifer
+ which had never borne the yoke, and which would lie down on the spot
+ whereon the city was to be built.</p>
+
+ <p>Scarcely had Cadmus left the sacred fane, when he observed a heifer
+ who bore no marks of servitude on her neck, walking slowly in front of
+ him. He followed the animal for a considerable distance, until at length,
+ on the site where Thebes afterwards stood, she looked towards heaven and,
+ gently lowing, lay down in the long grass. Grateful for this mark of
+ divine favour, Cadmus resolved to offer up the animal as a sacrifice, and
+ accordingly sent his followers to fetch water for the libation from a
+ neighbouring spring. This spring, which was sacred to Ares, was situated
+ in a wood, and guarded by a fierce dragon, who, at the approach of the
+ retainers of Cadmus, suddenly pounced upon them and killed them.</p>
+
+ <p>After waiting some time for the return of his servants <!-- Page 204
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page204"></a>[204]</span>Cadmus grew
+ impatient, and hastily arming himself with his lance and spear, set out
+ to seek them. On reaching the spot, the mangled remains of his
+ unfortunate followers met his view, and near them he beheld the frightful
+ monster, dripping with the blood of his victims. Seizing a huge rock, the
+ hero hurled it with all his might upon the dragon; but protected by his
+ tough black skin and steely scales as by a coat of mail, he remained
+ unhurt. Cadmus now tried his lance, and with more success, for it pierced
+ the side of the beast, who, furious with pain, sprang at his adversary,
+ when Cadmus, leaping aside, succeeded in fixing the point of his spear
+ within his jaws, which final stroke put an end to the encounter.</p>
+
+ <p>While Cadmus stood surveying his vanquished foe Pallas-Athene appeared
+ to him, and commanded him to sow the teeth of the dead dragon in the
+ ground. He obeyed; and out of the furrows there arose a band of armed
+ men, who at once commenced to fight with each other, until all except
+ five were killed. These last surviving warriors made peace with each
+ other, and it was with their assistance that Cadmus now built the famous
+ city of Thebes. In later times the noblest Theban families proudly
+ claimed their descent from these mighty earth-born warriors.</p>
+
+ <p>Ares was furious with rage when he discovered that Cadmus had slain
+ his dragon, and would have killed him had not Zeus interfered, and
+ induced him to mitigate his punishment to that of servitude for the term
+ of eight years. At the end of that time the god of war became reconciled
+ to Cadmus, and, in token of his forgiveness, bestowed upon him the hand
+ of his daughter Harmonia in marriage. Their nuptials were almost as
+ celebrated as those of Peleus and Thetis. All the gods honoured them with
+ their presence, and offered rich gifts and congratulations. Cadmus
+ himself presented his lovely bride with a splendid necklace fashioned by
+ Hephæstus, which, however, after the death of Harmonia, always proved
+ fatal to its possessor.</p>
+
+ <p>The children of Cadmus and Harmonia were one son, <!-- Page 205
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page205"></a>[205]</span>Polydorus, and
+ four daughters, Autonoe, Ino, Semele, and Agave.</p>
+
+ <p>For many years the founder of Thebes reigned happily, but at length a
+ conspiracy was formed against him, and he was deprived of his throne by
+ his grandson Pentheus. Accompanied by his faithful wife Harmonia, he
+ retired into Illyria, and after death they were both changed by Zeus into
+ serpents, and transferred to Elysium.</p>
+
+<h3>PERSEUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Perseus, one of the most renowned of the legendary heroes of
+ antiquity, was the son of Zeus and Danaë, daughter of Acrisius, king of
+ Argos.</p>
+
+ <p>An oracle having foretold to Acrisius that a son of Danaë would be the
+ cause of his death, he imprisoned her in a tower of brass in order to
+ keep her secluded from the world. Zeus, however, descended through the
+ roof of the tower in the form of a shower of gold, and the lovely Danaë
+ became his bride.</p>
+
+ <p>For four years Acrisius remained in ignorance of this union, but one
+ evening as he chanced to pass by the brazen chamber, he heard the cry of
+ a young child proceeding from within, which led to the discovery of his
+ daughter's marriage with Zeus. Enraged at finding all his precautions
+ unavailing, Acrisius commanded the mother and child to be placed in a
+ chest and thrown into the sea.</p>
+
+ <p>But it was not the will of Zeus that they should perish. He directed
+ Poseidon to calm the troubled waters, and caused the chest to float
+ safely to the island of Seriphus. Dictys, brother of Polydectes, king of
+ the island, was fishing on the sea-shore when he saw the chest stranded
+ on the beach; and pitying the helpless condition of its unhappy
+ occupants, he conducted them to the palace of the king, where they were
+ treated with the greatest kindness.</p>
+
+ <p>Polydectes eventually became united to Danaë, and <!-- Page 206
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page206"></a>[206]</span>bestowed upon
+ Perseus an education befitting a hero. When he saw his stepson develop
+ into a noble and manly youth he endeavoured to instil into his mind a
+ desire to signalize himself by the achievement of some great and heroic
+ deed, and after mature deliberation it was decided that the slaying of
+ the Gorgon, Medusa, would bring him the greatest renown.</p>
+
+ <p>For the successful accomplishment of his object it was necessary for
+ him to be provided with a pair of winged sandals, a magic wallet, and the
+ helmet of Aïdes, which rendered the wearer invisible, all of which were
+ in the keeping of the Nymphs, the place of whose abode was known only to
+ the Grææ. Perseus started on his expedition, and, guided by Hermes and
+ Pallas-Athene, arrived, after a long journey, in the far-off region, on
+ the borders of Oceanus, where dwelt the Grææ, daughters of Phorcys and
+ Ceto. He at once applied to them for the necessary information, and on
+ their refusing to grant it he deprived them of their single eye and
+ tooth, which he only restored to them when they gave him full directions
+ with regard to his route. He then proceeded to the abode of the Nymphs,
+ from whom he obtained the objects indispensable for his purpose.</p>
+
+ <p>Equipped with the magic helmet and wallet, and armed with a sickle,
+ the gift of Hermes, he attached to his feet the winged sandals, and flew
+ to the abode of the Gorgons, whom he found fast asleep. Now as Perseus
+ had been warned by his celestial guides that whoever looked upon these
+ weird sisters would be transformed into stone, he stood with averted face
+ before the sleepers, and caught on his bright metal shield their triple
+ image. Then, guided by Pallas-Athene, he cut off the head of the Medusa,
+ which he placed in his wallet. No sooner had he done so than from the
+ headless trunk there sprang forth the winged steed Pegasus, and Chrysaor,
+ the father of the winged giant Geryon. He now hastened to elude the
+ pursuit of the two surviving sisters, who, aroused from their slumbers,
+ eagerly rushed to avenge the death of their sister.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 207 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page207"></a>[207]</span></p>
+
+ <p>His invisible helmet and winged sandals here stood him in good stead;
+ for the former concealed him from the view of the Gorgons, whilst the
+ latter bore him swiftly over land and sea, far beyond the reach of
+ pursuit. In passing over the burning plains of Libya the drops of blood
+ from the head of the Medusa oozed through the wallet, and falling on the
+ hot sands below produced a brood of many-coloured snakes, which spread
+ all over the country.</p>
+
+ <p>Perseus continued his flight until he reached the kingdom of Atlas, of
+ whom he begged rest and shelter. But as this king possessed a valuable
+ orchard, in which every tree bore golden fruit, he was fearful lest the
+ slayer of the Medusa might destroy the dragon which guarded it, and then
+ rob him of his treasures. He therefore refused to grant the hospitality
+ which the hero demanded, whereupon Perseus, exasperated at the churlish
+ repulse, produced from his wallet the head of the Medusa, and holding it
+ towards the king, transformed him into a stony mountain. Beard and hair
+ erected themselves into forests; shoulders, hands, and limbs became huge
+ rocks, and the head grew up into a craggy peak which reached into the
+ clouds.</p>
+
+ <p>Perseus then resumed his travels. His winged sandals bore him over
+ deserts and mountains, until he arrived at Æthiopia, the kingdom of King
+ Cepheus. Here he found the country inundated with disastrous floods,
+ towns and villages destroyed, and everywhere signs of desolation and
+ ruin. On a projecting cliff close to the shore he beheld a lovely maiden
+ chained to a rock. This was Andromeda, the king's daughter. Her mother
+ Cassiopea, having boasted that her beauty surpassed that of the Nereides,
+ the angry sea-nymphs appealed to Poseidon to avenge their wrongs,
+ whereupon the sea-god devastated the country with a terrible inundation,
+ which brought with it a huge monster who devoured all that came in his
+ way.</p>
+
+ <p>In their distress the unfortunate Æthiopians applied to the oracle of
+ Jupiter-Ammon, in the Libyan desert, <!-- Page 208 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page208"></a>[208]</span>and obtained the
+ response, that only by the sacrifice of the king's daughter to the
+ monster could the country and people be saved.</p>
+
+ <p>Cepheus, who was tenderly attached to his child, at first refused to
+ listen to this dreadful proposal; but overcome at length by the prayers
+ and solicitations of his unhappy subjects, the heart-broken father gave
+ up his child for the welfare of his country. Andromeda was accordingly
+ chained to a rock on the sea-shore to serve as a prey to the monster,
+ whilst her unhappy parents bewailed her sad fate on the beach below.</p>
+
+ <p>On being informed of the meaning of this tragic scene, Perseus
+ proposed to Cepheus to slay the dragon, on condition that the lovely
+ victim should become his bride. Overjoyed at the prospect of Andromeda's
+ release, the king gladly acceded to the stipulation, and Perseus hastened
+ to the rock, to breathe words of hope and comfort to the trembling
+ maiden. Then assuming once more the helmet of Aïdes, he mounted into the
+ air, and awaited the approach of the monster.</p>
+
+ <p>Presently the sea opened, and the shark's head of the gigantic beast
+ of the deep raised itself above the waves. Lashing his tail furiously
+ from side to side, he leaped forward to seize his victim; but the gallant
+ hero, watching his opportunity, suddenly darted down, and producing the
+ head of the Medusa from his wallet, held it before the eyes of the
+ dragon, whose hideous body became gradually transformed into a huge black
+ rock, which remained for ever a silent witness of the miraculous
+ deliverance of Andromeda. Perseus then led the maiden to her now happy
+ parents, who, anxious to evince their gratitude to her deliverer ordered
+ immediate preparations to be made for the nuptial feast. But the young
+ hero was not to bear away his lovely bride uncontested; for in the midst
+ of the banquet, Phineus, the king's brother, to whom Andromeda had
+ previously been betrothed, returned to claim his bride. Followed by a
+ band of armed warriors he forced his way into the hall, and a desperate
+ encounter took place between the rivals, <!-- Page 209 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page209"></a>[209]</span>which might have
+ terminated fatally for Perseus, had he not suddenly bethought himself of
+ the Medusa's head. Calling to his friends to avert their faces, he drew
+ it from his wallet, and held it before Phineus and his formidable
+ body-guard, whereupon they all stiffened into stone.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0209-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0209-1.png"
+ alt="Pallas-Athene with her shield" title="Pallas-Athene with her shield" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Perseus now took leave of the Æthiopian king, and, accompanied by his
+ beautiful bride, returned to Seriphus, where a joyful meeting took place
+ between Danaë and her son. He then sent a messenger to his grandfather,
+ informing him that he intended returning to Argos; but Acrisius, fearing
+ the fulfilment of the oracular prediction, fled for protection to his
+ friend Teutemias, king of Larissa. Anxious to induce the aged monarch to
+ return to Argos, Perseus followed him thither. But here a strange
+ fatality occurred. Whilst taking part in some funereal games, celebrated
+ in honour of the king's father, Perseus, by an unfortunate throw of the
+ discus, accidentally struck his grandfather, and thereby was the innocent
+ cause of his death.</p>
+
+ <p>After celebrating the funereal rites of Acrisius with due solemnity,
+ Perseus returned to Argos; but feeling loath to occupy the throne of one
+ whose death he had caused, he exchanged kingdoms with Megapenthes, king
+ of Tiryns, and in course of time founded the cities of Mycenæ and
+ Midea.</p>
+
+ <p>The head of the Medusa he presented to his divine patroness,
+ Pallas-Athene, who placed it in the centre of her shield.</p>
+
+ <p>Many great heroes were descended from Perseus and Andromeda, foremost
+ among whom was Heracles, whose mother, Alcmene, was their
+ granddaughter.</p>
+
+ <p>Heroic honours were paid to Perseus, not only <!-- Page 210 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page210"></a>[210]</span>throughout Argos, but
+ also at Athens and in the island of Seriphus.</p>
+
+<h3>ION.</h3>
+
+ <p>Ion was the son of Crëusa (the beauteous daughter of Erechtheus, king
+ of Athens) and the sun-god Ph&oelig;bus-Apollo, to whom she was united
+ without the knowledge of her father.</p>
+
+ <p>Fearing the anger of Erechtheus, Crëusa placed her new-born babe in a
+ little wicker basket, and hanging some golden charms round his neck,
+ invoked for him the protection of the gods, and concealed him in a lonely
+ cave. Apollo, pitying his deserted child, sent Hermes to convey him to
+ Delphi, where he deposited his charge on the steps of the temple. Next
+ morning the Delphic priestess discovered the infant, and was so charmed
+ by his engaging appearance that she adopted him as her own son. The young
+ child was carefully tended and reared by his kind foster-mother, and was
+ brought up in the service of the temple, where he was intrusted with some
+ of the minor duties of the holy edifice.</p>
+
+ <p>And now to return to Crëusa. During a war with the Eub&oelig;ans, in
+ which the latter were signally defeated, Xuthus, son of Æolus, greatly
+ distinguished himself on the side of the Athenians, and as a reward for
+ his valuable services, the hand of Crëusa, the king's daughter, was
+ bestowed upon him in marriage. Their union, however, was not blest with
+ children, and as this was a source of great grief to both of them, they
+ repaired to Delphi in order to consult the oracle. The response was, that
+ Xuthus should regard the first person who met him on leaving the
+ sanctuary as his son. Now it happened that Ion, the young guardian of the
+ temple, was the first to greet his view, and when Xuthus beheld the
+ beautiful youth, he gladly welcomed him as his son, declaring that the
+ gods had sent him to be a blessing and comfort to his old age. Crëusa,
+ however, who concluded that the youth was the offspring of a secret
+ marriage on the part of her husband, was filled with suspicion and
+ jealousy; <!-- Page 211 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page211"></a>[211]</span>when an old servant, observing her grief,
+ begged her to be comforted, assuring her that the cause of her distress
+ should be speedily removed.</p>
+
+ <p>When, upon the occasion of the public adoption of his son, Xuthus gave
+ a grand banquet, the old servant of Crëusa contrived to mix a strong
+ poison in the wine of the unsuspecting Ion. But the youth&mdash;according
+ to the pious custom of the ancients, of offering a libation to the gods
+ before partaking of any repast&mdash;poured upon the ground a portion of
+ the wine before putting it to his lips, when suddenly, as if by a
+ miracle, a dove flew into the banquet-hall, and sipped of the wine of the
+ libation; whereupon the poor little creature began to quiver in every
+ limb, and in a few moments expired.</p>
+
+ <p>Ion's suspicions at once fell upon the obsequious servant of Crëusa,
+ who with such officious attention had filled his cup. He violently seized
+ the old man, and accused him of his murderous intentions. Unprepared for
+ this sudden attack he admitted his guilt, but pointed to the wife of
+ Xuthus as the instigator of the crime. Ion was about to avenge himself
+ upon Crëusa, when, by means of the divine intervention of Apollo, his
+ foster-mother, the Delphic priestess appeared on the scene, and explained
+ the true relationship which existed between Crëusa and Ion. In order to
+ set all doubts at rest, she produced the charms which she had found round
+ the neck of the infant, and also the wicker basket in which he had been
+ conveyed to Delphi.</p>
+
+ <p>Mother and son now became reconciled to each other, and Crëusa
+ revealed to Ion the secret of his divine origin. The priestess of Delphi
+ foretold that he would become the father of a great nation, called after
+ him the Ionians, and also that Xuthus and Crëusa would have a son called
+ Dorus, who would be the progenitor of the Dorian people, both of which
+ predictions were in due time verified.</p>
+
+<h3>DÆDALUS and ICARUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Dædalus, a descendant of Erechtheus, was an Athenian architect,
+ sculptor, and mechanician. He was the first <!-- Page 212 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page212"></a>[212]</span>to introduce the art of
+ sculpture in its higher development, for before his time statues were
+ merely rude representations, having the limbs altogether undefined.</p>
+
+ <p>But great as was his genius, still greater was his vanity, and he
+ could brook no rival. Now his nephew and pupil, Talus, exhibited great
+ talent, having invented both the saw and the compass, and Dædalus,
+ fearing lest he might overshadow his own fame, secretly killed him by
+ throwing him down from the citadel of Pallas-Athene. The murder being
+ discovered, Dædalus was summoned before the court of the Areopagus and
+ condemned to death; but he made his escape to the island of Crete, where
+ he was received by king Minos in a manner worthy of his great
+ reputation.</p>
+
+ <p>Dædalus constructed for the king the world-renowned labyrinth, which
+ was an immense building, full of intricate passages, intersecting each
+ other in such a manner, that even Dædalus himself is said, upon one
+ occasion, to have nearly lost his way in it; and it was in this building
+ the king placed the Minotaur, a monster with the head and shoulders of a
+ bull and the body of a man.</p>
+
+ <p>In the course of time the great artist became weary of his long exile,
+ more especially as the king, under the guise of friendship, kept him
+ almost a prisoner. He therefore resolved to make his escape, and for this
+ purpose ingeniously contrived wings for himself and his young son Icarus,
+ whom he diligently trained how to use them. Having awaited a favourable
+ opportunity, father and son commenced their flight, and were well on
+ their way when Icarus, pleased with the novel sensation, forgot
+ altogether his father's oft-repeated injunction not to approach too near
+ the sun. The consequence was that the wax, by means of which his wings
+ were attached, melted, and he fell into the sea and was drowned. The body
+ of the unfortunate Icarus was washed up by the tide, and was buried by
+ the bereaved father on an island which he called after his son,
+ Icaria.</p>
+
+ <p>After this sad event, Dædalus winged his flight to the island of
+ Sicily, where he met with a kind welcome from <!-- Page 213 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page213"></a>[213]</span>king Cocalus, for whom
+ he constructed several important public works. But no sooner did Minos
+ receive the intelligence that his great architect had found an asylum
+ with Cocalus than he sailed over to Sicily with a large army, and sent
+ messengers to the Sicilian king demanding the surrender of his guest.
+ Cocalus feigned compliance and invited Minos to his palace, where he was
+ treacherously put to death in a warm bath. The body of their king was
+ brought to Agrigent by the Cretans, where it was buried with great pomp,
+ and over his tomb a temple to Aphrodite was erected.</p>
+
+ <p>Dædalus passed the remainder of his life tranquilly in the island of
+ Sicily, where he occupied himself in the construction of various
+ beautiful works of art.</p>
+
+<h3>THE ARGONAUTS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Aeson, king of Iolcus, was forced to fly from his dominions, which had
+ been usurped by his younger brother, Pelias, and with difficulty
+ succeeded in saving the life of his young son, Jason, who was at that
+ time only ten years of age. He intrusted him to the care of the Centaur
+ Chiron, by whom he was carefully trained in company with other noble
+ youths, who, like himself, afterwards signalized themselves by their
+ bravery and heroic exploits. For ten years Jason remained in the cave of
+ the Centaur, by whom he was instructed in all useful and warlike arts.
+ But as he approached manhood he became filled with an unconquerable
+ desire to regain his paternal inheritance. He therefore took leave of his
+ kind friend and preceptor, and set out for Iolcus to demand from his
+ uncle Pelias the kingdom which he had so unjustly usurped.</p>
+
+ <p>In the course of his journey he came to a broad and foaming river, on
+ the banks of which he perceived an old woman, who implored him to help
+ her across. At first he hesitated, knowing that even alone he would find
+ some difficulty in stemming the fierce torrent; but, <!-- Page 214
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page214"></a>[214]</span>pitying her
+ forlorn condition, he raised her in his arms, and succeeded, with a great
+ effort, in reaching the opposite shore. But as soon as her feet had
+ touched the earth she became transformed into a beautiful woman, who,
+ looking kindly at the bewildered youth, informed him that she was the
+ goddess Hera, and that she would henceforth guide and protect him
+ throughout his career. She then disappeared, and, full of hope and
+ courage at this divine manifestation, Jason pursued his journey. He now
+ perceived that in crossing the river he had lost one of his sandals, but
+ as it could not be recovered he was obliged to proceed without it.</p>
+
+ <p>On his arrival at Iolcus he found his uncle in the market-place,
+ offering up a public sacrifice to Poseidon. When the king had concluded
+ his offering, his eye fell upon the distinguished stranger, whose manly
+ beauty and heroic bearing had already attracted the attention of his
+ people. Observing that one foot was unshod, he was reminded of an
+ oracular prediction which foretold to him the loss of his kingdom by a
+ man wearing only one sandal. He, however, disguised his fears, conversed
+ kindly with the youth, and drew from him his name and errand. Then
+ pretending to be highly pleased with his nephew, Pelias entertained him
+ sumptuously for five days, during which time all was festivity and
+ rejoicing. On the sixth, Jason appeared before his uncle, and with manly
+ firmness demanded from him the throne and kingdom which were his by
+ right. Pelias, dissembling his true feelings, smilingly consented to
+ grant his request, provided that, in return, Jason would undertake an
+ expedition for him, which his advanced age prevented him from
+ accomplishing himself. He informed his nephew that the shade of Phryxus
+ had appeared to him in his dreams, and entreated him to bring back from
+ Colchis his mortal remains and the Golden Fleece; and added that if Jason
+ succeeded in obtaining for him these sacred relics, throne, kingdom, and
+ sceptre should be his.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 215 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page215"></a>[215]</span></p>
+
+<h3>STORY OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE.</h3>
+
+ <p>Athamas, king of B&oelig;otia, had married Nephele, a cloud-nymph, and
+ their children were Helle and Phryxus. The restless and wandering nature
+ of Nephele, however, soon wearied her husband, who, being a mortal, had
+ little sympathy with his ethereal consort; so he divorced her, and
+ married the beautiful but wicked Ino (sister of Semele), who hated her
+ step-children, and even planned their destruction. But the watchful
+ Nephele contrived to circumvent her cruel designs, and succeeded in
+ getting the children out of the palace. She then placed them both on the
+ back of a winged ram, with a fleece of pure gold, which had been given to
+ her by Hermes; and on this wonderful animal brother and sister rode
+ through the air over land and sea; but on the way Helle, becoming seized
+ with giddiness, fell into the sea (called after her the Hellespont) and
+ was drowned.</p>
+
+ <p>Phryxus arrived safely at Colchis, where he was hospitably received by
+ king Aëtes, who gave him one of his daughters in marriage. In gratitude
+ to Zeus for the protection accorded him during his flight, Phryxus
+ sacrificed to him the golden ram, whilst the fleece he presented to
+ Aëtes, who nailed it up in the Grove of Ares, and dedicated it to the god
+ of War. An oracle having declared that the life of Aëtes depended on the
+ safe-keeping of the fleece, he carefully guarded the entrance to the
+ grove by placing before it an immense dragon, which never slept.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Building and Launch of the Argo.</b>&mdash;We will now return to
+ Jason, who eagerly undertook the perilous expedition proposed to him by
+ his uncle, who, well aware of the dangers attending such an enterprise,
+ hoped by this means to rid himself for ever of the unwelcome
+ intruder.</p>
+
+ <p>Jason accordingly began to arrange his plans without delay, and
+ invited the young heroes whose friendship he <!-- Page 216 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page216"></a>[216]</span>had formed whilst under
+ the care of Chiron, to join him in the perilous expedition. None refused
+ the invitation, all feeling honoured at being allowed the privilege of
+ taking part in so noble and heroic an undertaking.</p>
+
+ <p>Jason now applied to Argos, one of the cleverest ship-builders of his
+ time, who, under the guidance of Pallas-Athene, built for him a splendid
+ fifty-oared galley, which was called the Argo, after the builder. In the
+ upper deck of the vessel the goddess had imbedded a board from the
+ speaking oak of the oracle of Zeus at Dodona, which ever retained its
+ powers of prophecy. The exterior of the ship was ornamented with
+ magnificent carvings, and the whole vessel was so strongly built that it
+ defied the power of the winds and waves, and was, nevertheless, so light
+ that the heroes, when necessary, were able to carry it on their
+ shoulders. When the vessel was completed, the Argonauts (so called after
+ their ship) assembled, and their places were distributed by lot.</p>
+
+ <p>Jason was appointed commander-in-chief of the expedition, Tiphys acted
+ as steersman, Lynceus as pilot. In the bow of the vessel sat the renowned
+ hero Heracles; in the stern, Peleus (father of Achilles) and Telamon (the
+ father of Ajax the Great). In the inner space were Castor and Pollux,
+ Neleus (the father of Nestor), Admetus (the husband of Alcestes),
+ Meleager (the slayer of the Calydonian boar), Orpheus (the renowned
+ singer), Menoctius (the father of Patroclus), Theseus (afterwards king of
+ Athens) and his friend Pirithöus (the son of Ixion), Hylas (the adopted
+ son of Heracles), Euphemus (the son of Poseidon), Oileus (father of Ajax
+ the Lesser), Zetes and Calais (the winged sons of Boreas), Idmon the Seer
+ (the son of Apollo), Mopsus (the Thessalian prophet), &amp;c. &amp;c.</p>
+
+ <p>Before their departure Jason offered a solemn sacrifice to Poseidon
+ and all the other sea-deities; he also invoked the protection of Zeus and
+ the Fates, and then, Mopsus having taken the auguries, and found them
+ auspicious, the heroes stepped on board. And now a favourable breeze
+ having sprung up, they take their allotted places, <!-- Page 217 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page217"></a>[217]</span>the anchor is weighed,
+ and the ship glides like a bird out of the harbour into the waters of the
+ great sea.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Arrival at Lemnos.</b>&mdash;The Argo, with her brave crew of fifty
+ heroes, was soon out of sight, and the sea-breeze only wafted to the
+ shore a faint echo of the sweet strains of Orpheus.</p>
+
+ <p>For a time all went smoothly, but the vessel was soon driven, by
+ stress of weather, to take refuge in a harbour in the island of Lemnos.
+ This island was inhabited by women only, who, the year before, in a fit
+ of mad jealousy, had killed all the male population of the island, with
+ the exception of the father of their queen, Hypsipyle. As the protection
+ of their island now devolved upon themselves they were always on the
+ look-out for danger. When, therefore, they sighted the Argo from afar
+ they armed themselves and rushed to the shore, determined to repel any
+ invasion of their territory.</p>
+
+ <p>On arriving in port the Argonauts, astonished at beholding an armed
+ crowd of women, despatched a herald in one of their boats, bearing the
+ staff of peace and friendship. Hypsipyle, the queen, proposed that food
+ and presents should be sent to the strangers, in order to prevent their
+ landing; but her old nurse, who stood beside her, suggested that this
+ would be a good opportunity to provide themselves with noble husbands,
+ who would act as their defenders, and thus put an end to their constant
+ fears. Hypsipyle listened attentively to the advice of her nurse, and
+ after some consultation, decided to invite the strangers into the city.
+ Robed in his purple mantle, the gift of Pallas-Athene, Jason, accompanied
+ by some of his companions, stepped on shore, where he was met by a
+ deputation consisting of the most beautiful of the Lemnian women, and, as
+ commander of the expedition, was invited into the palace of the
+ queen.</p>
+
+ <p>When he appeared before Hypsipyle, she was so struck with his godlike
+ and heroic presence that she presented him with her father's sceptre, and
+ invited him to seat himself on the throne beside her. Jason thereupon
+ <!-- Page 218 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page218"></a>[218]</span>took up his residence in the royal castle,
+ whilst his companions scattered themselves through the town, spending
+ their time in feasting and pleasure. Heracles, with a few chosen
+ comrades, alone remained on board.</p>
+
+ <p>From day to day their departure was delayed, and the Argonauts, in
+ their new life of dissipation, had almost forgotten the object of the
+ expedition, when Heracles suddenly appeared amongst them, and at last
+ recalled them to a sense of their duty.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Giants and Doliones.</b>&mdash;The Argonauts now pursued their
+ voyage, till contrary winds drove them towards an island, inhabited by
+ the Doliones, whose king Cyzicus received them with great kindness and
+ hospitality. The Doliones were descendants of Poseidon, who protected
+ them against the frequent attacks of their fierce and formidable
+ neighbours, the earth-born Giants&mdash;monsters with six arms.</p>
+
+ <p>Whilst his companions were attending a banquet given by king Cyzicus,
+ Heracles, who, as usual, had remained behind to guard the ship, observed
+ that these Giants were busy blocking up the harbour with huge rocks. He
+ at once realized the danger, and, attacking them with his arrows,
+ succeeded in considerably thinning their numbers; then, assisted by the
+ heroes, who at length came to his aid, he effectually destroyed the
+ remainder.</p>
+
+ <p>The Argo now steered out of the harbour and set sail; but in
+ consequence of a severe storm which arose at night, was driven back once
+ more to the shores of the kindly Doliones. Unfortunately, however, owing
+ to the darkness of the night, the inhabitants failed to recognize their
+ former guests, and, mistaking them for enemies, commenced to attack them.
+ Those who had so recently parted as friends were now engaged in mortal
+ combat, and in the battle which ensued, Jason himself pierced to the
+ heart his friend king Cyzicus; whereupon the Doliones, being deprived of
+ their leader, fled to their city and closed the gates. When morning
+ dawned, and both sides perceived their error, they were filled with <!--
+ Page 219 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page219"></a>[219]</span>the
+ deepest sorrow and remorse; and for three days the heroes remained with
+ the Doliones, celebrating the funereal rites of the slain, with every
+ demonstration of mourning and solemnity.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Heracles left behind.</b>&mdash;The Argonauts once more set sail,
+ and after a stormy voyage arrived at Mysia, where they were hospitably
+ received by the inhabitants, who spread before them plentiful banquets
+ and sumptuously regaled them.</p>
+
+ <p>While his friends were feasting, Heracles, who had declined to join
+ them, went into the forest to seek a fir-tree which he required for an
+ oar, and was missed by his adopted son Hylas, who set out to seek him.
+ When the youth arrived at a spring, in the most secluded part of the
+ forest, the nymph of the fountain was so struck by his beauty that she
+ drew him down beneath the waters, and he was seen no more. Polyphemus,
+ one of the heroes, who happened to be also in the forest, heard his cry
+ for help, and on meeting Heracles informed him of the circumstance. They
+ at once set out in search of the missing youth, no traces of whom were to
+ be found, and whilst they were engaged looking for him, the Argo set sail
+ and left them behind.</p>
+
+ <p>The ship had proceeded some distance before the absence of Heracles
+ was observed. Some of the heroes were in favour of returning for him,
+ others wished to proceed on their journey, when, in the midst of the
+ dispute, the sea-god Glaucus arose from the waves, and informed them that
+ it was the will of Zeus that Heracles, having another mission to perform,
+ should remain behind. The Argonauts continued their voyage without their
+ companions; Heracles returned to Argos, whilst Polyphemus remained with
+ the Mysians, where he founded a city and became its king.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Contest with Amycus.</b>&mdash;Next morning the Argo touched at the
+ country of the Bebrycians, whose king Amycus was a famous pugilist, and
+ permitted no strangers to leave his shores without matching their <!--
+ Page 220 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page220"></a>[220]</span>strength with his. When the heroes,
+ therefore, demanded permission to land, they were informed that they
+ could only do so provided that one of their number should engage in a
+ boxing-match with the king. Pollux, who was the best pugilist in Greece,
+ was selected as their champion, and a contest took place, which, after a
+ tremendous struggle, proved fatal to Amycus, who had hitherto been
+ victorious in all similar encounters.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Phineus and the Harpies.</b>&mdash;They now proceeded towards
+ Bithynia, where reigned the blind old prophet-king Phineus, son of
+ Agenor. Phineus had been punished by the gods with premature old age and
+ blindness for having abused the gift of prophecy. He was also tormented
+ by the Harpies, who swooped down upon his food, which they either
+ devoured or so defiled as to render it unfit to be eaten. This poor old
+ man, trembling with the weakness of age, and faint with hunger, appeared
+ before the Argonauts, and implored their assistance against his fiendish
+ tormentors, whereupon Zetes and Calais, the winged sons of Boreas,
+ recognizing in him the husband of their sister Cleopatra, affectionately
+ embraced him, and promised to rescue him from his painful position.</p>
+
+ <p>The heroes prepared a banquet on the sea-shore, to which they invited
+ Phineus; but no sooner had he taken his place, than the Harpies appeared
+ and devoured all the viands. Zetes and Calais now rose up into the air,
+ drove the Harpies away, and were pursuing them with drawn swords, when
+ Iris, the swift-footed messenger of the gods, appeared, and desired them
+ to desist from their work of vengeance, promising that Phineus should be
+ no longer molested.</p>
+
+ <p>Freed at length from his tormentors the old man sat down and enjoyed a
+ plentiful repast with his kind friends the Argonauts, who now informed
+ him of the object of their voyage. In gratitude for his deliverance
+ Phineus gave them much useful information concerning their journey, and
+ not only warned them of the manifold <!-- Page 221 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page221"></a>[221]</span>dangers awaiting them,
+ but also instructed them how they might be overcome.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Passage of the Symplegades.</b>&mdash;After a fortnight's sojourn
+ in Bithynia the Argonauts once more set sail, but had not proceeded far
+ on their course, when they heard a fearful and tremendous crash. This was
+ caused by the meeting of two great rocky islands, called the Symplegades,
+ which floated about in the sea, and constantly met and separated.</p>
+
+ <p>Before leaving Bithynia, the blind old seer, Phineus, had informed
+ them that they would be compelled to pass between these terrible rocks,
+ and he instructed them how to do so with safety. As they now approached
+ the scene of danger they remembered his advice, and acted upon it.
+ Typhus, the steersman, stood at the helm, whilst Euphemus held in his
+ hand a dove ready to be let loose; for Phineus had told them that if the
+ dove ventured to fly through, they might safely follow. Euphemus now
+ despatched the bird, which passed swiftly through the islands, yet not
+ without losing some of the feathers of her tail, so speedily did they
+ reunite. Seizing the moment when the rocks once more separated, the
+ Argonauts worked at their oars with all their might, and achieved the
+ perilous passage in safety.</p>
+
+ <p>After the miraculous passage of the Argo, the Symplegades became
+ permanently united, and attached to the bottom of the sea.</p>
+
+ <p><b>The Stymphalides.</b>&mdash;The Argo pursued her course along the
+ southern coast of the Pontus, and arrived at the island of Aretias, which
+ was inhabited by birds, who, as they flew through the air, discharged
+ from their wings feathers sharp as arrows.</p>
+
+ <p>As the ship was gliding along, Oileus was wounded by one of these
+ birds, whereupon the Argonauts held a council, and by the advice of
+ Amphidamas, an experienced hero, all put on their helmets, and held up
+ their glittering shields, uttering, at the same time, such fearful cries
+ that <!-- Page 222 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page222"></a>[222]</span>the birds flew away in terror, and the
+ Argonauts were enabled to land with safety on the island.</p>
+
+ <p>Here they found four shipwrecked youths, who proved to be the sons of
+ Phryxus, and were greeted by Jason as his cousins. On ascertaining the
+ object of the expedition they volunteered to accompany the Argo, and to
+ show the heroes the way to Colchis. They also informed them that the
+ Golden Fleece was guarded by a fearful dragon, that king Aëtes was
+ extremely cruel, and, as the son of Apollo, was possessed of superhuman
+ strength.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Arrival at Colchis.</b>&mdash;Taking with them the four new-comers
+ they journeyed on, and soon came in sight of the snow-capped peaks of the
+ Caucasus, when, towards evening, the loud flapping of wings was heard
+ overhead. It was the giant eagle of Prometheus on his way to torture the
+ noble and long-suffering Titan, whose fearful groans soon afterwards fell
+ upon their ears. That night they reached their journey's end, and
+ anchored in the smooth waters of the river Phases. On the left bank of
+ this river they beheld Ceuta, the capital of Colchis; and on their right
+ a wide field, and the sacred grove of Ares, where the Golden Fleece,
+ suspended from a magnificent oak-tree, was glittering in the sun. Jason
+ now filled a golden cup with wine, and offered a libation to
+ mother-earth, the gods of the country, and the shades of those of the
+ heroes who had died on the voyage.</p>
+
+ <p>Next morning a council was held, in which it was decided, that before
+ resorting to forcible measures kind and conciliatory overtures should
+ first be made to king Aëtes in order to induce him to resign the Golden
+ Fleece. It was arranged that Jason, with a few chosen companions, should
+ proceed to the royal castle, leaving the remainder of the crew to guard
+ the Argo. Accompanied, therefore, by Telamon and Augeas, and the four
+ sons of Phryxus, he set out for the palace.</p>
+
+ <p>When they arrived in sight of the castle they were struck by the
+ vastness and massiveness of the building, at the entrance to which
+ sparkling fountains played in <!-- Page 223 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page223"></a>[223]</span>the midst of luxuriant and park-like
+ gardens. Here the king's daughters, Chalciope and Medea, who were walking
+ in the grounds of the palace, met them. The former, to her great joy,
+ recognized in the youths who accompanied the hero her own long-lost sons,
+ whom she had mourned as dead, whilst the young and lovely Medea was
+ struck with the noble and manly form of Jason.</p>
+
+ <p>The news of the return of the sons of Phryxus soon spread through the
+ palace, and brought Aëtes himself to the scene, whereupon the strangers
+ were presented to him, and were invited to a banquet which the king
+ ordered to be prepared in their honour. All the most beautiful ladies of
+ the court were present at this entertainment; but in the eyes of Jason
+ none could compare with the king's daughter, the young and lovely
+ Medea.</p>
+
+ <p>When the banquet was ended, Jason related to the king his various
+ adventures, and also the object of his expedition, with the circumstances
+ which had led to his undertaking it. Aëtes listened, in silent
+ indignation, to this recital, and then burst out into a torrent of
+ invectives against the Argonauts and his grand-children, declaring that
+ the Fleece was his rightful property, and that on no consideration would
+ he consent to relinquish it. Jason, however, with mild and persuasive
+ words, contrived so far to conciliate him, that he was induced to promise
+ that if the heroes could succeed in demonstrating their divine origin by
+ the performance of some task requiring superhuman power, the Fleece
+ should be theirs.</p>
+
+ <p>The task proposed by Aëtes to Jason was that he should yoke the two
+ brazen-footed, fire-breathing oxen of the king (which had been made for
+ him by Hephæstus) to his ponderous iron plough. Having done this he must
+ till with them the stony field of Ares, and then sow in the furrows the
+ poisonous teeth of a dragon, from which armed men would arise. These he
+ must destroy to a man, or he himself would perish at their hands.</p>
+
+ <p>When Jason heard what was expected of him, his heart for a moment sank
+ within him; but he determined, nevertheless, not to flinch from his task,
+ but to trust to the <!-- Page 224 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page224"></a>[224]</span>assistance of the gods, and to his own
+ courage and energy.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Jason ploughs the Field of Ares.</b>&mdash;Accompanied by his two
+ friends, Telamon and Augeas, and also by Argus, the son of Chalciope,
+ Jason returned to the vessel for the purpose of holding a consultation as
+ to the best means of accomplishing these perilous feats.</p>
+
+ <p>Argus explained to Jason all the difficulties of the superhuman task
+ which lay before him, and pronounced it as his opinion that the only
+ means by which success was possible was to enlist the assistance of the
+ Princess Medea, who was a priestess of Hecate, and a great enchantress.
+ His suggestion meeting with approval, he returned to the palace, and by
+ the aid of his mother an interview was arranged between Jason and Medea,
+ which took place, at an early hour next morning, in the temple of
+ Hecate.</p>
+
+ <p>A confession of mutual attachment took place, and Medea, trembling for
+ her lover's safety, presented him with a magic salve, which possessed the
+ property of rendering any person anointed with it invulnerable for the
+ space of one day against fire and steel, and invincible against any
+ adversary however powerful. With this salve she instructed him to anoint
+ his spear and shield on the day of his great undertaking. She further
+ added that when, after having ploughed the field and sown the teeth,
+ armed men should arise from the furrows, he must on no account lose
+ heart, but remember to throw among them a huge rock, over the possession
+ of which they would fight among themselves, and their attention being
+ thus diverted he would find it an easy task to destroy them. Overwhelmed
+ with gratitude, Jason thanked her, in the most earnest manner, for her
+ wise counsel and timely aid; at the same time he offered her his hand,
+ and promised her he would not return to Greece without taking her with
+ him as his wife.</p>
+
+ <p>Next morning Aëtes, in all the pomp of state, surrounded by his family
+ and the members of his court, <!-- Page 225 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page225"></a>[225]</span>repaired to a spot whence a full view of
+ the approaching spectacle could be obtained. Soon Jason appeared in the
+ field of Ares, looking as noble and majestic as the god of war himself.
+ In a distant part of the field the brazen yokes and the massive plough
+ met his view, but as yet the dread animals themselves were nowhere to be
+ seen. He was about to go in quest of them, when they suddenly rushed out
+ from a subterranean cave, breathing flames of fire, and enveloped in a
+ thick smoke.</p>
+
+ <p>The friends of Jason trembled; but the undaunted hero, relying on the
+ magic powers with which he was imbued by Medea, seized the oxen, one
+ after the other, by the horns, and forced them to the yoke. Near the
+ plough was a helmet full of dragon's teeth, which he sowed as he ploughed
+ the field, whilst with sharp pricks from his lance he compelled the
+ monstrous creatures to draw the plough over the stony ground, which was
+ thus speedily tilled.</p>
+
+ <p>While Jason was engaged sowing the dragon's teeth in the deep furrows
+ of the field, he kept a cautious look-out lest the germinating giant
+ brood might grow too quickly for him, and as soon as the four acres of
+ land had been tilled he unyoked the oxen, and succeeded in frightening
+ them so effectually with his weapons, that they rushed back in terror to
+ their subterranean stables. Meanwhile armed men had sprung up out of the
+ furrows, and the whole field now bristled with lances; but Jason,
+ remembering the instructions of Medea, seized an immense rock and hurled
+ it into the midst of these earth-born warriors, who immediately began to
+ attack each other. Jason then rushed furiously upon them, and after a
+ terrible struggle not one of the giants remained alive.</p>
+
+ <p>Furious at seeing his murderous schemes thus defeated, Aëtes not only
+ perfidiously refused to give Jason the Fleece which he had so bravely
+ earned, but, in his anger, determined to destroy all the Argonauts, and
+ to burn their vessel.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Jason secures the Golden Fleece.</b>&mdash;Becoming aware of the
+ treacherous designs of her father, Medea at <!-- Page 226 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page226"></a>[226]</span>once took measures to
+ baffle them. In the darkness of night she went on board the Argo, and
+ warned the heroes of their approaching danger. She then advised Jason to
+ accompany her without loss of time to the sacred grove, in order to
+ possess himself of the long-coveted treasure. They set out together, and
+ Medea, followed by Jason, led the way, and advanced boldly into the
+ grove. The tall oak-tree was soon discovered, from the topmost boughs of
+ which hung the beautiful Golden Fleece. At the foot of this tree, keeping
+ his ever-wakeful watch, lay the dreadful, sleepless dragon, who at sight
+ of them bounded forward, opening his huge jaws.</p>
+
+ <p>Medea now called into play her magic powers, and quietly approaching
+ the monster, threw over him a few drops of a potion, which soon took
+ effect, and sent him into a deep sleep; whereupon Jason, seizing the
+ opportunity, climbed the tree and secured the Fleece. Their perilous task
+ being now accomplished, Jason and Medea quitted the grove, and hastened
+ on board the Argo, which immediately put to sea.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Murder of Absyrtus.</b>&mdash;Meanwhile Aëtes, having discovered
+ the loss of his daughter and the Golden Fleece, despatched a large fleet,
+ under the command of his son Absyrtus, in pursuit of the fugitives. After
+ some days' sail they arrived at an island at the mouth of the river
+ Ister, where they found the Argo at anchor, and surrounded her with their
+ numerous ships. They then despatched a herald on board of her, demanding
+ the surrender of Medea and the Fleece.</p>
+
+ <p>Medea now consulted Jason, and, with his consent, carried out the
+ following stratagem. She sent a message to her brother Absyrtus, to the
+ effect that she had been carried off against her will, and promised that
+ if he would meet her, in the darkness of night, in the temple of Artemis,
+ she would assist him in regaining possession of the Golden Fleece.
+ Relying on the good faith of his sister, Absyrtus fell into the snare,
+ and duly appeared at the appointed trysting-place; and whilst Medea kept
+ her <!-- Page 227 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page227"></a>[227]</span>brother engaged in conversation, Jason
+ rushed forward and slew him. Then, according to a preconcerted signal, he
+ held aloft a lighted torch, whereupon the Argonauts attacked the
+ Colchians, put them to flight, and entirely defeated them.</p>
+
+ <p>The Argonauts now returned to their ship, when the prophetic board
+ from the Dodonean oak thus addressed them: "The cruel murder of Absyrtus
+ was witnessed by the Erinyes, and you will not escape the wrath of Zeus
+ until the goddess Circe has purified you from your crime. Let Castor and
+ Pollux pray to the gods that you may be enabled to find the abode of the
+ sorceress." In obedience to the voice, the twin-brothers invoked divine
+ assistance, and the heroes set out in search of the isle of Circe.</p>
+
+ <p><b>They arrive at the Island of Circe.</b>&mdash;The good ship Argo
+ sped on her way, and, after passing safely through the foaming waters of
+ the river Eridanus, at length arrived in the harbour of the island of
+ Circe, where she cast anchor.</p>
+
+ <p>Commanding his companions to remain on board, Jason landed with Medea,
+ and conducted her to the palace of the sorceress. The goddess of charms
+ and magic arts received them kindly, and invited them to be seated; but
+ instead of doing so they assumed a supplicating attitude, and humbly
+ besought her protection. They then informed her of the dreadful crime
+ which they had committed, and implored her to purify them from it. This
+ Circe promised to do. She forthwith commanded her attendant Naiads to
+ kindle the fire on the altar, and to prepare everything necessary for the
+ performance of the mystic rites, after which a dog was sacrificed, and
+ the sacred cakes were burned. Having thus duly purified the criminals,
+ she severely reprimanded them for the horrible murder of which they had
+ been guilty; whereupon Medea, with veiled head, and weeping bitterly, was
+ reconducted by Jason to the Argo.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Further Adventures of the Argonauts.</b>&mdash;Having left the
+ island of Circe they were wafted by gentle <!-- Page 228 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page228"></a>[228]</span>zephyrs towards the
+ abode of the Sirens, whose enticing strains soon fell upon their ears.
+ The Argonauts, powerfully affected by the melody, were making ready to
+ land, when Orpheus perceived the danger, and, to the accompaniment of his
+ magic lyre, commenced one of his enchanting songs, which so completely
+ absorbed his listeners that they passed the island in safety; but not
+ before Butes, one of their number, lured by the seductive music of the
+ Sirens, had sprung from the vessel into the waves below. Aphrodite,
+ however, in pity for his youth, landed him gently on the island of
+ Libibaon before the Sirens could reach him, and there he remained for
+ many years.</p>
+
+ <p>And now the Argonauts approached new dangers, for on one side of them
+ seethed and foamed the whirlpool of Charybdis, whilst on the other
+ towered the mighty rock whence the monster Scylla swooped down upon
+ unfortunate mariners; but here the goddess Hera came to their assistance,
+ and sent to them the sea-nymph Thetis, who guided them safely through
+ these dangerous straits.</p>
+
+ <p>The Argo next arrived at the island of the Phæaces, where they were
+ hospitably entertained by King Alcinous and his queen Arete. But the
+ banquet prepared for them by their kind host was unexpectedly interrupted
+ by the appearance of a large army of Colchians, sent by Aëtes to demand
+ the restoration of his daughter.</p>
+
+ <p>Medea threw herself at the feet of the queen, and implored her to save
+ her from the anger of her father, and Arete, in her kindness of heart,
+ promised her her protection. Next morning, in an assembly of the people
+ at which the Colchians were invited to be present, the latter were
+ informed that as Medea was the lawful wife of Jason they could not
+ consent to deliver her up; whereupon the Colchians, seeing that the
+ resolution of the king was not to be shaken, and fearing to face the
+ anger of Aëtes should they return to Colchis without her, sought
+ permission of Alcinous to settle in his kingdom, which request was
+ accorded them.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 229 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page229"></a>[229]</span></p>
+
+ <p>After these events the Argonauts once more set sail, and steered for
+ Iolcus; but, in the course of a terrible and fearful night, a mighty
+ storm arose, and in the morning they found themselves stranded on the
+ treacherous quicksands of Syrtes, on the shores of Libya. Here all was a
+ waste and barren desert, untenanted by any living creature, save the
+ venomous snakes which had sprung from the blood of the Medusa when borne
+ by Perseus over these arid plains.</p>
+
+ <p>They had already passed several days in this abode of desolation,
+ beneath the rays of the scorching sun, and had abandoned themselves to
+ the deepest despair, when the Libyan queen, who was a prophetess of
+ divine origin, appeared to Jason, and informed him that a sea-horse would
+ be sent by the gods to act as his guide.</p>
+
+ <p>Scarcely had she departed when a gigantic hippocamp was seen in the
+ distance, making its way towards the Argo. Jason now related to his
+ companions the particulars of his interview with the Libyan prophetess,
+ and after some deliberation it was decided to carry the Argo on their
+ shoulders, and to follow wherever the sea-horse should lead them. They
+ then commenced a long and weary journey through the desert, and at last,
+ after twelve days of severe toil and terrible suffering, the welcome
+ sight of the sea greeted their view. In gratitude for having been saved
+ from their manifold dangers they offered up sacrifices to the gods, and
+ launched their ship once more into the deep waters of the ocean.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Arrival at Crete.</b>&mdash;With heartfelt joy and gladness they
+ proceeded on their homeward voyage, and after some days arrived at the
+ island of Crete, where they purposed to furnish themselves with fresh
+ provisions and water. Their landing, however, was opposed by a terrible
+ giant who guarded the island against all intruders. This giant, whose
+ name was Talus, was the last of the Brazen race, and being formed of
+ brass, was invulnerable, except in his right ankle, where there was a
+ sinew of flesh and a vein of blood. As he saw the Argo <!-- Page 230
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page230"></a>[230]</span>nearing the
+ coast, he hurled huge rocks at her, which would inevitably have sunk the
+ vessel had not the crew beat a hasty retreat. Although sadly in want of
+ food and water, the Argonauts had decided to proceed on their journey
+ rather than face so powerful an opponent, when Medea came forward and
+ assured them that if they would trust to her she would destroy the
+ giant.</p>
+
+ <p>Enveloped in the folds of a rich purple mantle, she stepped on deck,
+ and after invoking the aid of the Fates, uttered a magic incantation,
+ which had the effect of throwing Talus into a deep sleep. He stretched
+ himself at full length upon the ground, and in doing so grazed his
+ vulnerable ankle against the point of a sharp rock, whereupon a mighty
+ stream of blood gushed forth from the wound. Awakened by the pain, he
+ tried to rise, but in vain, and with a mighty groan of anguish the giant
+ fell dead, and his enormous body rolled heavily over into the deep. The
+ heroes being now able to land, provisioned their vessel, after which they
+ resumed their homeward voyage.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Arrival at Iolcus.</b>&mdash;After a terrible night of storm and
+ darkness they passed the island of Ægina, and at length reached in safety
+ the port of Iolcus, where the recital of their numerous adventures and
+ hair-breadth escapes was listened to with wondering admiration by their
+ fellow-countrymen.</p>
+
+ <p>The Argo was consecrated to Poseidon, and was carefully preserved for
+ many generations till no vestige of it remained, when it was placed in
+ the heavens as a brilliant constellation.</p>
+
+ <p>On his arrival at Iolcus, Jason conducted his beautiful bride to the
+ palace of his uncle Pelias, taking with him the Golden Fleece, for the
+ sake of which this perilous expedition had been undertaken. But the old
+ king, who had never expected that Jason would return alive, basely
+ refused to fulfil his part of the compact, and declined to abdicate the
+ throne.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 231 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page231"></a>[231]</span></p>
+
+ <p>Indignant at the wrongs of her husband, Medea avenged them in a most
+ shocking manner. She made friends with the daughters of the king, and
+ feigned great interest in all their concerns. Having gained their
+ confidence, she informed them, that among her numerous magic arts, she
+ possessed the power of restoring to the aged all the vigour and strength
+ of youth, and in order to give them a convincing proof of the truth of
+ her assertion, she cut up an old ram, which she boiled in a cauldron,
+ whereupon, after uttering various mystic incantations, there came forth
+ from the vessel a beautiful young lamb. She then assured them, that in a
+ similar manner they could restore to their old father his former youthful
+ frame and vigour. The fond and credulous daughters of Pelias lent an all
+ too willing ear to the wicked sorceress, and thus the old king perished
+ at the hands of his innocent children.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Death of Jason.</b>&mdash;Medea and Jason now fled to Corinth,
+ where at length they found, for a time, peace and tranquillity, their
+ happiness being completed by the birth of three children.</p>
+
+ <p>As time passed on, however, and Medea began to lose the beauty which
+ had won the love of her husband, he grew weary of her, and became
+ attracted by the youthful charms of Glauce, the beautiful daughter of
+ Creon, king of Corinth. Jason had obtained her father's consent to their
+ union, and the wedding-day was already fixed, before he disclosed to
+ Medea the treachery which he meditated against her. He used all his
+ persuasive powers in order to induce her to consent to his union with
+ Glauce, assuring her that his affection had in no way diminished, but
+ that for the sake of the advantages which would thereby accrue to their
+ children, he had decided on forming this alliance with the royal house.
+ Though justly enraged at his deceitful conduct, Medea dissembled her
+ wrath, and, feigning to be satisfied with this explanation, sent, as a
+ wedding-gift to her rival, a magnificent robe of cloth-of-gold. This robe
+ was imbued with a deadly <!-- Page 232 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page232"></a>[232]</span>poison which penetrated to the flesh and
+ bone of the wearer, and burned them as though with a consuming fire.
+ Pleased with the beauty and costliness of the garment, the unsuspecting
+ Glauce lost no time in donning it; but no sooner had she done so than the
+ fell poison began to take effect. In vain she tried to tear the robe
+ away; it defied all efforts to be removed, and after horrible and
+ protracted sufferings, she expired.</p>
+
+ <p>Maddened at the loss of her husband's love Medea next put to death her
+ three sons, and when Jason, thirsting for revenge, left the chamber of
+ his dead bride, and flew to his own house in search of Medea, the ghastly
+ spectacle of his murdered children met his view. He rushed frantically to
+ seek the murderess, but nowhere could she be found. At length, hearing a
+ sound above his head, he looked up, and beheld Medea gliding through the
+ air in a golden chariot drawn by dragons.</p>
+
+ <p>In a fit of despair Jason threw himself on his own sword, and perished
+ on the threshold of his desolate and deserted home.</p>
+
+<h3>PELOPS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Pelops, the son of the cruel Tantalus, was a pious and virtuous
+ prince. After his father was banished into Tartarus, a war ensued between
+ Pelops and the king of Troy, in which the former was vanquished and
+ forced to fly from his dominions in Phrygia. He emigrated into Greece,
+ where, at the court of &OElig;nomaus, king of Elis, he beheld Hippodamia,
+ the king's daughter, whose beauty won his heart. But an oracle having
+ foretold to &OElig;nomaus that he would die on the day of his daughter's
+ marriage, he threw every obstacle in the way of her suitors, and declared
+ that he would only give her to him who succeeded in vanquishing him in a
+ chariot race, but that all unsuccessful competitors should suffer death
+ at his hands.</p>
+
+ <p>The conditions of the contest were as follows:&mdash;The race was to
+ be run from a given point at Pisa to the altar of Poseidon at Corinth;
+ the suitor was allowed to start <!-- Page 233 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page233"></a>[233]</span>on his course whilst &OElig;nomaus
+ performed his sacrifice to Zeus, and only on its completion did the king
+ mount his chariot, guided by the skilful Myrtilus, and drawn by his two
+ famous horses, Phylla and Harpinna, who surpassed in swiftness the winds
+ themselves. In this manner many a gallant young prince had perished; for
+ although a considerable start was given to all competitors, still
+ &OElig;nomaus, with his swift team, always overtook them before they
+ reached the goal, and killed them with his spear. But the love of Pelops
+ for Hippodamia overcame all fears, and, undeterred by the terrible fate
+ of his predecessors, he announced himself to &OElig;nomaus as a suitor
+ for the hand of his daughter.</p>
+
+ <p>On the eve of the race, Pelops repaired to the sea-shore and earnestly
+ implored Poseidon to assist him in his perilous undertaking. The sea-god
+ heard his prayer, and sent him out of the deep a chariot drawn by two
+ winged horses.</p>
+
+ <p>When Pelops appeared on the course, the king at once recognized the
+ horses of Poseidon; but, nothing daunted, he relied on his own
+ supernatural team, and the contest was allowed to proceed.</p>
+
+ <p>Whilst the king was offering his sacrifice to Zeus Pelops set out on
+ the race, and had nearly reached the goal, when, turning round, he beheld
+ &OElig;nomaus, spear in hand, who, with his magic steeds, had nearly
+ overtaken him. But in this emergency Poseidon came to the aid of the son
+ of Tantalus. He caused the wheels of the royal chariot to fly off,
+ whereupon the king was thrown out violently, and killed on the spot, just
+ as Pelops arrived at the altar of Poseidon.</p>
+
+ <p>As the hero was about to return to Pisa to claim his bride, he beheld,
+ in the distance, flames issuing from the royal castle, which at that
+ instant had been struck by lightning. With his winged horses he flew to
+ rescue his lovely bride, and succeeded in extricating her uninjured from
+ the burning building. They soon afterwards became united, and Pelops
+ reigned in Pisa for many years in great splendour.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 234 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page234"></a>[234]</span></p>
+
+<h3>HERACLES (<span class="sc">Hercules</span>).</h3>
+
+ <p>Heracles, the most renowned hero of antiquity, was the son of Zeus and
+ Alcmene, and the great grandson of Perseus.</p>
+
+ <p>At the time of his birth Alcmene was living at Thebes with her husband
+ Amphitryon, and thus the infant Heracles was born in the palace of his
+ stepfather.</p>
+
+ <p>Aware of the animosity with which Hera persecuted all those who
+ rivalled her in the affections of Zeus, Alcmene, fearful lest this hatred
+ should be visited on her innocent child, intrusted him, soon after his
+ birth, to the care of a faithful servant, with instructions to expose him
+ in a certain field, and there leave him, feeling assured that the divine
+ offspring of Zeus would not long remain without the protection of the
+ gods.</p>
+
+ <p>Soon after the child had been thus abandoned, Hera and Pallas-Athene
+ happened to pass by the field, and were attracted by its cries. Athene
+ pityingly took up the infant in her arms, and prevailed upon the queen of
+ heaven to put it to her breast; but no sooner had she done so, than the
+ child, causing her pain, she angrily threw him to the ground, and left
+ the spot. Athene, moved with compassion, carried him to Alcmene, and
+ entreated her kind offices on behalf of the poor little foundling.
+ Alcmene at once recognized her child, and joyfully accepted the
+ charge.</p>
+
+ <p>Soon afterwards Hera, to her extreme annoyance, discovered whom she
+ had nursed, and became filled with jealous rage. She now sent two
+ venomous snakes into the chamber of Alcmene, which crept, unperceived by
+ the nurses, to the cradle of the sleeping child. He awoke with a cry, and
+ grasping a snake in each hand, strangled them both. Alcmene and her
+ attendants, whom the cry of the child had awakened, rushed to the cradle,
+ where, to their astonishment and terror, they beheld the two reptiles
+ dead in the hands of the infant Heracles. Amphitryon was also attracted
+ to the chamber by the <!-- Page 235 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page235"></a>[235]</span>commotion, and when he beheld this
+ astounding proof of supernatural strength, he declared that the child
+ must have been sent to him as a special gift from Zeus. He accordingly
+ consulted the famous seer Tiresias, who now informed him of the divine
+ origin of his stepson, and prognosticated for him a great and
+ distinguished future.</p>
+
+ <p>When Amphitryon heard the noble destiny which awaited the child
+ intrusted to his care, he resolved to educate him in a manner worthy of
+ his future career. At a suitable age he himself taught him how to guide a
+ chariot; Eurytus, how to handle the bow; Autolycus, dexterity in
+ wrestling and boxing; and Castor, the art of armed warfare; whilst Linus,
+ the son of Apollo, instructed him in music and letters.</p>
+
+ <p>Heracles was an apt pupil; but undue harshness was intolerable to his
+ high spirit, and old Linus, who was not the gentlest of teachers, one day
+ corrected him with blows, whereupon the boy angrily took up his lyre,
+ and, with one stroke of his powerful arm, killed his tutor on the
+ spot.</p>
+
+ <p>Apprehensive lest the ungovernable temper of the youth might again
+ involve him in similar acts of violence, Amphitryon sent him into the
+ country, where he placed him under the charge of one of his most trusted
+ herdsmen. Here, as he grew up to manhood, his extraordinary stature and
+ strength became the wonder and admiration of all beholders. His aim,
+ whether with spear, lance, or bow, was unerring, and at the age of
+ eighteen he was considered to be the strongest as well as the most
+ beautiful youth in all Greece.</p>
+
+ <p><b>The Choice of Heracles.</b>&mdash;Heracles felt that the time had
+ now arrived when it became necessary to decide for himself how to make
+ use of the extraordinary powers with which he had been endowed by the
+ gods; and in order to meditate in solitude on this all-important subject,
+ he repaired to a lonely and secluded spot in the heart of the forest.</p>
+
+ <p>Here two females of great beauty appeared to him. <!-- Page 236
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page236"></a>[236]</span>One was Vice,
+ the other Virtue. The former was full of artificial wiles and fascinating
+ arts, her face painted and her dress gaudy and attractive; whilst the
+ latter was of noble bearing and modest mien, her robes of spotless
+ purity.</p>
+
+ <p>Vice stepped forward and thus addressed him: "If you will walk in my
+ paths, and make me your friend, your life shall be one round of pleasure
+ and enjoyment. You shall taste of every delight which can be procured on
+ earth; the choicest viands, the most delicious wines, the most luxuriant
+ of couches shall be ever at your disposal; and all this without any
+ exertion on your part, either physical or mental."</p>
+
+ <p>Virtue now spoke in her turn: "If you will follow me and be my friend,
+ I promise you the reward of a good conscience, and the love and respect
+ of your fellowmen. I cannot undertake to smooth your path with roses, or
+ to give you a life of idleness and pleasure; for you must know that the
+ gods grant no good and desirable thing that is not earned by labour; and
+ as you sow, so must you reap."</p>
+
+ <p>Heracles listened patiently and attentively to both speakers, and
+ then, after mature deliberation, decided to follow in the paths of
+ virtue, and henceforth to honour the gods, and to devote his life to the
+ service of his country.</p>
+
+ <p>Full of these noble resolves he sought once more his rural home, where
+ he was informed that on Mount Cithæron, at the foot of which the herds of
+ Amphitryon were grazing, a ferocious lion had fixed his lair, and was
+ committing such frightful ravages among the flocks and herds that he had
+ become the scourge and terror of the whole neighbourhood. Heracles at
+ once armed himself and ascended the mountain, where he soon caught sight
+ of the lion, and rushing at him with his sword succeeded in killing him.
+ The hide of the animal he wore ever afterwards over his shoulders, and
+ the head served him as a helmet.</p>
+
+ <p>As he was returning from this, his first exploit, he met <!-- Page 237
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page237"></a>[237]</span>the heralds of
+ Erginus, king of the Minyans, who were proceeding to Thebes to demand
+ their annual tribute of 100 oxen. Indignant at this humiliation of his
+ native city, Heracles mutilated the heralds, and sent them back, with
+ ropes round their necks, to their royal master.</p>
+
+ <p>Erginus was so incensed at the ill-treatment of his messengers that he
+ collected an army and appeared before the gates of Thebes, demanding the
+ surrender of Heracles. Creon, who was at this time king of Thebes,
+ fearing the consequences of a refusal, was about to yield, when the hero,
+ with the assistance of Amphitryon and a band of brave youths, advanced
+ against the Minyans.</p>
+
+ <p>Heracles took possession of a narrow defile through which the enemy
+ were compelled to pass, and as they entered the pass the Thebans fell
+ upon them, killed their king Erginus, and completely routed them. In this
+ engagement Amphitryon, the kind friend and foster-father of Heracles,
+ lost his life. The hero now advanced upon Orchomenus, the capital of the
+ Minyans, where he burned the royal castle and sacked the town.</p>
+
+ <p>After this signal victory all Greece rang with the fame of the young
+ hero, and Creon, in gratitude for his great services, bestowed upon him
+ his daughter Megara in marriage. The Olympian gods testified their
+ appreciation of his valour by sending him presents; Hermes gave him a
+ sword, Ph&oelig;bus-Apollo a bundle of arrows, Hephæstus a golden quiver,
+ and Athene a coat of leather.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Heracles and Eurystheus.</b>&mdash;And now it will be necessary to
+ retrace our steps. Just before the birth of Heracles, Zeus, in an
+ assembly of the gods, exultingly declared that the child who should be
+ born on that day to the house of Perseus should rule over all his race.
+ When Hera heard her lord's boastful announcement she knew well that it
+ was for the child of the hated Alcmene that this brilliant destiny was
+ designed; and in order to rob the son of her rival of his rights, she
+ called to her aid the goddess Eilithyia, who retarded the birth of <!--
+ Page 238 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page238"></a>[238]</span>Heracles, and caused his cousin Eurystheus
+ (another grandson of Perseus) to precede him into the world. And thus, as
+ the word of the mighty Zeus was irrevocable, Heracles became the subject
+ and servant of his cousin Eurystheus.</p>
+
+ <p>When, after his splendid victory over Erginus, the fame of Heracles
+ spread throughout Greece, Eurystheus (who had become king of Mycenæ),
+ jealous of the reputation of the young hero, asserted his rights, and
+ commanded him to undertake for him various difficult tasks. But the proud
+ spirit of the hero rebelled against this humiliation, and he was about to
+ refuse compliance, when Zeus appeared to him and desired him not to rebel
+ against the Fates. Heracles now repaired to Delphi in order to consult
+ the oracle, and received the answer that after performing ten tasks for
+ his cousin Eurystheus his servitude would be at an end.</p>
+
+ <p>Soon afterwards Heracles fell into a state of the deepest melancholy,
+ and through the influence of his inveterate enemy, the goddess Hera, this
+ despondency developed into raving madness, in which condition he killed
+ his own children. When he at length regained his reason he was so
+ horrified and grieved at what he had done, that he shut himself up in his
+ chamber and avoided all intercourse with men. But in his loneliness and
+ seclusion the conviction that work would be the best means of procuring
+ oblivion of the past decided him to enter, without delay, upon the tasks
+ appointed him by Eurystheus.</p>
+
+ <p><b>1. The Nemean Lion.</b>&mdash;His first task was to bring to
+ Eurystheus the skin of the much-dreaded Nemean lion, which ravaged the
+ territory between Cleone and Nemea, and whose hide was invulnerable
+ against any mortal weapon.</p>
+
+ <p>Heracles proceeded to the forest of Nemea, where, having discovered
+ the lion's lair, he attempted to pierce him with his arrows; but finding
+ these of no avail he felled him to the ground with his club, and before
+ the animal had time to recover from the terrible blow, <!-- Page 239
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page239"></a>[239]</span>Heracles
+ seized him by the neck and, with a mighty effort, succeeded in strangling
+ him. He then made himself a coat of mail of the skin, and a new helmet of
+ the head of the animal. Thus attired, he so alarmed Eurystheus by
+ appearing suddenly before him, that the king concealed himself in his
+ palace, and henceforth forbade Heracles to enter his presence, but
+ commanded him to receive his behests, for the future, through his
+ messenger Copreus.</p>
+
+ <p><b>2. The Hydra.</b>&mdash;His second task was to slay the Hydra, a
+ monster serpent (the offspring of Typhon and Echidna), bristling with
+ nine heads, one of which was immortal. This monster infested the
+ neighbourhood of Lerna, where she committed great depredations among the
+ herds.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0239-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0239-1.png"
+ alt="Heracles fighting the Hydra" title="Heracles fighting the Hydra" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Heracles, accompanied by his nephew Iolaus, set out in a chariot for
+ the marsh of Lerna, in the slimy waters of which he found her. He
+ commenced the attack by assailing her with his fierce arrows, in order to
+ force her to leave her lair, from which she at length emerged, and sought
+ refuge in a wood on a neighbouring hill. Heracles now rushed forward and
+ endeavoured to crush her heads by means of well-directed blows from his
+ tremendous club; but no sooner was one head destroyed than it was
+ immediately replaced by two others. He next seized the monster in his
+ powerful grasp; but at this juncture a giant crab came to the assistance
+ of the Hydra and commenced biting the feet of her assailant. Heracles
+ destroyed this new adversary with his club, and now called upon his
+ nephew to come to his aid. At his command Iolaus set fire to the
+ neighbouring trees, <!-- Page 240 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page240"></a>[240]</span>and, with a burning branch, seared the
+ necks of the monster as Heracles cut them off, thus effectually
+ preventing the growth of more. Heracles next struck off the immortal
+ head, which he buried by the road-side, and placed over it a heavy stone.
+ Into the poisonous blood of the monster he then dipped his arrows, which
+ ever afterwards rendered wounds inflicted by them incurable.</p>
+
+ <p><b>3. The Horned Hind.</b>&mdash;The third labour of Heracles was to
+ bring the horned hind Cerunitis alive to Mycenæ. This animal, which was
+ sacred to Artemis, had golden antlers and hoofs of brass.</p>
+
+ <p>Not wishing to wound the hind Heracles patiently pursued her through
+ many countries for a whole year, and overtook her at last on the banks of
+ the river Ladon; but even there he was compelled, in order to secure her,
+ to wound her with one of his arrows, after which he lifted her on his
+ shoulders and carried her through Arcadia. On his way he met Artemis with
+ her brother Ph&oelig;bus-Apollo, when the goddess angrily reproved him
+ for wounding her favourite hind; but Heracles succeeded in appeasing her
+ displeasure, whereupon she permitted him to take the animal alive to
+ Mycenæ.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0240-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0240-1.png"
+ alt="A Centaur" title="A Centaur" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p><b>4. The Erymantian Boar.</b>&mdash;The fourth task imposed upon
+ Heracles by Eurystheus was to bring alive to Mycenæ the Erymantian boar,
+ which had laid waste the region of Erymantia, and was the scourge of the
+ surrounding neighbourhood.</p>
+
+ <p>On his way thither he craved food and shelter of a Centaur named
+ Pholus, who received him with generous hospitality, setting before him a
+ good and plentiful repast. When Heracles expressed his surprise that at
+ such a well-furnished board <!-- Page 241 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page241"></a>[241]</span>wine should be wanting, his host explained
+ that the wine-cellar was the common property of all the Centaurs, and
+ that it was against the rules for a cask to be broached, except all were
+ present to partake of it. By dint of persuasion, however, Heracles
+ prevailed on his kind host to make an exception in his favour; but the
+ powerful, luscious odour of the good old wine soon spread over the
+ mountains, and brought large numbers of Centaurs to the spot, all armed
+ with huge rocks and fir-trees. Heracles drove them back with fire-brands,
+ and then, following up his victory, pursued them with his arrows as far
+ as Malea, where they took refuge in the cave of the kind old Centaur
+ Chiron. Unfortunately, however, as Heracles was shooting at them with his
+ poisoned darts, one of these pierced the knee of Chiron. When Heracles
+ discovered that it was the friend of his early days that he had wounded,
+ he was overcome with sorrow and regret. He at once extracted the arrow,
+ and anointed the wound with a salve, the virtue of which had been taught
+ him by Chiron himself. But all his efforts were unavailing. The wound,
+ imbued with the deadly poison of the Hydra, was incurable, and so great
+ was the agony of Chiron that, at the intercession of Heracles, death was
+ sent him by the gods; for otherwise, being immortal, he would have been
+ doomed to endless suffering.</p>
+
+ <p>Pholus, who had so kindly entertained Heracles, also perished by means
+ of one of these arrows, which he had extracted from the body of a dead
+ Centaur. While he was quietly examining it, astonished that so small and
+ insignificant an object should be productive of such serious results, the
+ arrow fell upon his foot and fatally wounded him. Full of grief at this
+ untoward event, Heracles buried him with due honours, and then set out to
+ chase the boar.</p>
+
+ <p>With loud shouts and terrible cries he first drove him out of the
+ thickets into the deep snow-drifts which covered the summit of the
+ mountain, and then, having at length wearied him with his incessant
+ pursuit, he captured the exhausted animal, bound him with a rope, and
+ brought him alive to Mycenæ.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 242 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page242"></a>[242]</span></p>
+
+ <p><b>5. Cleansing the Stables of Augeas.</b>&mdash;After slaying the
+ Erymantian boar Eurystheus commanded Heracles to cleanse in one day the
+ stables of Augeas.</p>
+
+ <p>Augeas was a king of Elis who was very rich in herds. Three thousand
+ of his cattle he kept near the royal palace in an inclosure where the
+ refuse had accumulated for many years. When Heracles presented himself
+ before the king, and offered to cleanse his stables in one day, provided
+ he should receive in return a tenth part of the herds, Augeas, thinking
+ the feat impossible, accepted his offer in the presence of his son
+ Phyleus.</p>
+
+ <p>Near the palace were the two rivers Peneus and Alpheus, the streams of
+ which Heracles conducted into the stables by means of a trench which he
+ dug for this purpose, and as the waters rushed through the shed, they
+ swept away with them the whole mass of accumulated filth.</p>
+
+ <p>But when Augeas heard that this was one of the labours imposed by
+ Eurystheus, he refused the promised guerdon. Heracles brought the matter
+ before a court, and called Phyleus as a witness to the justice of his
+ claim, whereupon Augeas, without waiting for the delivery of the verdict,
+ angrily banished Heracles and his son from his dominions.</p>
+
+ <p><b>6. The Stymphalides.</b>&mdash;The sixth task was to chase away the
+ Stymphalides, which were immense birds of prey who, as we have seen (in
+ the legend of the Argonauts), shot from their wings feathers sharp as
+ arrows. The home of these birds was on the shore of the lake Stymphalis,
+ in Arcadia (after which they were called), where they caused great
+ destruction among men and cattle.</p>
+
+ <p>On approaching the lake, Heracles observed great numbers of them; and,
+ while hesitating how to commence the attack, he suddenly felt a hand on
+ his shoulder. Looking round he beheld the majestic form of Pallas-Athene,
+ who held in her hand a gigantic pair of brazen clappers made by
+ Hephæstus, with which she <!-- Page 243 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page243"></a>[243]</span>presented him; whereupon he ascended to
+ the summit of a neighbouring hill, and commenced to rattle them
+ violently. The shrill noise of these instruments was so intolerable to
+ the birds that they rose into the air in terror, upon which he aimed at
+ them with his arrows, destroying them in great numbers, whilst such as
+ escaped his darts flew away, never to return.</p>
+
+ <p><b>7. The Cretan Bull.</b>&mdash;The seventh labour of Heracles was to
+ capture the Cretan bull.</p>
+
+ <p>Minos, king of Crete, having vowed to sacrifice to Poseidon any animal
+ which should first appear out of the sea, the god caused a magnificent
+ bull to emerge from the waves in order to test the sincerity of the
+ Cretan king, who, in making this vow, had alleged that he possessed no
+ animal, among his own herds, worthy the acceptance of the mighty sea-god.
+ Charmed with the splendid animal sent by Poseidon, and eager to possess
+ it, Minos placed it among his herds, and substituted as a sacrifice one
+ of his own bulls. Hereupon Poseidon, in order to punish the cupidity of
+ Minos, caused the animal to become mad, and commit such great havoc in
+ the island as to endanger the safety of the inhabitants. When Heracles,
+ therefore, arrived in Crete for the purpose of capturing the bull, Minos,
+ far from opposing his design, gladly gave him permission to do so.</p>
+
+ <p>The hero not only succeeded in securing the animal, but tamed him so
+ effectually that he rode on his back right across the sea as far as the
+ Peloponnesus. He now delivered him up to Eurystheus, who at once set him
+ at liberty, after which he became as ferocious and wild as before, roamed
+ all over Greece into Arcadia, and was eventually killed by Theseus on the
+ plains of Marathon.</p>
+
+ <p><b>8. The Mares of Diomedes.</b>&mdash;The eighth labour of Heracles
+ was to bring to Eurystheus the mares of Diomedes, a son of Ares, and king
+ of the Bistonians, a warlike Thracian tribe. This king possessed a breed
+ of wild horses of tremendous size and strength, whose food consisted of
+ human flesh, and all strangers who had the <!-- Page 244 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page244"></a>[244]</span>misfortune to enter the
+ country were made prisoners and flung before the horses, who devoured
+ them.</p>
+
+ <p>When Heracles arrived he first captured the cruel Diomedes himself,
+ and then threw him before his own mares, who, after devouring their
+ master, became perfectly tame and tractable. They were then led by
+ Heracles to the sea-shore, when the Bistonians, enraged at the loss of
+ their king, rushed after the hero and attacked him. He now gave the
+ animals in charge of his friend Abderus, and made such a furious
+ onslaught on his assailants that they turned and fled.</p>
+
+ <p>But on his return from this encounter he found, to his great grief,
+ that the mares had torn his friend in pieces and devoured him. After
+ celebrating due funereal rites to the unfortunate Abderus, Heracles built
+ a city in his honour, which he named after him. He then returned to
+ Tiryns, where he delivered up the mares to Eurystheus, who set them loose
+ on Mount Olympus, where they became the prey of wild beasts.</p>
+
+ <p>It was after the performance of this task that Heracles joined the
+ Argonauts in their expedition to gain possession of the Golden Fleece,
+ and was left behind at Chios, as already narrated. During his wanderings
+ he undertook his ninth labour, which was to bring to Eurystheus the
+ girdle of Hippolyte, queen of the Amazons.</p>
+
+ <p><b>9. The Girdle of Hippolyte.</b>&mdash;The Amazons, who dwelt on the
+ shores of the Black Sea, near the river Thermodon, were a nation of
+ warlike women, renowned for their strength, courage, and great skill in
+ horsemanship. Their queen, Hippolyte, had received from her father, Ares,
+ a beautiful girdle, which she always wore as a sign of her royal power
+ and authority, and it was this girdle which Heracles was required to
+ place in the hands of Eurystheus, who designed it as a gift for his
+ daughter Admete.</p>
+
+ <p>Foreseeing that this would be a task of no ordinary difficulty the
+ hero called to his aid a select band of brave companions, with whom he
+ embarked for the Amazonian <!-- Page 245 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page245"></a>[245]</span>town Themiscyra. Here they were met by
+ queen Hippolyte, who was so impressed by the extraordinary stature and
+ noble bearing of Heracles that, on learning his errand, she at once
+ consented to present him with the coveted girdle. But Hera, his
+ implacable enemy, assuming the form of an Amazon, spread the report in
+ the town that a stranger was about to carry off their queen. The Amazons
+ at once flew to arms and mounted their horses, whereupon a battle ensued,
+ in which many of their bravest warriors were killed or wounded. Among the
+ latter was their most skilful leader, Melanippe, whom Heracles afterwards
+ restored to Hippolyte, receiving the girdle in exchange.</p>
+
+ <p>On his voyage home the hero stopped at Troy, where a new adventure
+ awaited him.</p>
+
+ <p>During the time that Apollo and Poseidon were condemned by Zeus to a
+ temporary servitude on earth, they built for king Laomedon the famous
+ walls of Troy, afterwards so renowned in history; but when their work was
+ completed the king treacherously refused to give them the reward due to
+ them. The incensed deities now combined to punish the offender. Apollo
+ sent a pestilence which decimated the people, and Poseidon a flood, which
+ bore with it a marine monster, who swallowed in his huge jaws all that
+ came within his reach.</p>
+
+ <p>In his distress Laomedon consulted an oracle, and was informed that
+ only by the sacrifice of his own daughter Hesione could the anger of the
+ gods be appeased. Yielding at length to the urgent appeals of his people
+ he consented to make the sacrifice, and on the arrival of Heracles the
+ maiden was already chained to a rock in readiness to be devoured by the
+ monster.</p>
+
+ <p>When Laomedon beheld the renowned hero, whose marvellous feats of
+ strength and courage had become the wonder and admiration of all mankind,
+ he earnestly implored him to save his daughter from her impending fate,
+ and to rid the country of the monster, holding out to him as a reward the
+ horses which Zeus had presented to <!-- Page 246 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page246"></a>[246]</span>his grandfather Tros in
+ compensation for robbing him of his son Ganymede.</p>
+
+ <p>Heracles unhesitatingly accepted the offer, and when the monster
+ appeared, opening his terrible jaws to receive his prey, the hero, sword
+ in hand, attacked and slew him. But the perfidious monarch once more
+ broke faith, and Heracles, vowing future vengeance, departed for Mycenæ,
+ where he presented the girdle to Eurystheus.</p>
+
+ <p><b>10. The Oxen of Geryones.</b>&mdash;The tenth labour of Heracles
+ was the capture of the magnificent oxen belonging to the giant Geryon or
+ Geryones, who dwelt on the island of Erythia in the bay of Gadria
+ (Cadiz). This giant, who was the son of Chrysaor, had three bodies with
+ three heads, six hands, and six feet. He possessed a herd of splendid
+ cattle, which were famous for their size, beauty, and rich red colour.
+ They were guarded by another giant named Eurytion, and a two-headed dog
+ called Orthrus, the offspring of Typhon and Echidna.</p>
+
+ <p>In choosing for him a task so replete with danger, Eurystheus was in
+ hopes that he might rid himself for ever of his hated cousin. But the
+ indomitable courage of the hero rose with the prospect of this difficult
+ and dangerous undertaking.</p>
+
+ <p>After a long and wearisome journey he at last arrived at the western
+ coast of Africa, where, as a monument of his perilous expedition, he
+ erected the famous "Pillars of Hercules," one of which he placed on each
+ side of the Straits of Gibraltar. Here he found the intense heat so
+ insufferable that he angrily raised his bow towards heaven, and
+ threatened to shoot the sun-god. But Helios, far from being incensed at
+ his audacity, was so struck with admiration at his daring that he lent to
+ him the golden boat with which he accomplished his nocturnal transit from
+ West to East, and thus Heracles crossed over safely to the island of
+ Erythia.</p>
+
+ <p>No sooner had he landed than Eurytion, accompanied by his savage dog
+ Orthrus, fiercely attacked him; but Heracles, with a superhuman effort,
+ slew the dog and <!-- Page 247 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page247"></a>[247]</span>then his master. Hereupon he collected the
+ herd, and was proceeding to the sea-shore when Geryones himself met him,
+ and a desperate encounter took place, in which the giant perished.</p>
+
+ <p>Heracles then drove the cattle into the sea, and seizing one of the
+ oxen by the horns, swam with them over to the opposite coast of Iberia
+ (Spain). Then driving his magnificent prize before him through Gaul,
+ Italy, Illyria, and Thrace, he at length arrived, after many perilous
+ adventures and hair-breadth escapes, at Mycenæ, where he delivered them
+ up to Eurystheus, who sacrificed them to Hera.</p>
+
+ <p>Heracles had now executed his ten tasks, which had been accomplished
+ in the space of eight years; but Eurystheus refused to include the
+ slaying of the Hydra and the cleansing of the stables of Augeas among the
+ number, alleging as a reason that the one had been performed by the
+ assistance of Iolaus, and that the other had been executed for hire. He
+ therefore insisted on Heracles substituting two more labours in their
+ place.</p>
+
+ <p><b>11. The Apples of the Hesperides.</b>&mdash;The eleventh task
+ imposed by Eurystheus was to bring him the golden apples of the
+ Hesperides, which grew on a tree presented by Gæa to Hera, on the
+ occasion of her marriage with Zeus. This sacred tree was guarded by four
+ maidens, daughters of Night, called the Hesperides, who were assisted in
+ their task by a terrible hundred-headed dragon. This dragon never slept,
+ and out of its hundred throats came a constant hissing sound, which
+ effectually warned off all intruders. But what rendered the undertaking
+ still more difficult was the complete ignorance of the hero as to the
+ locality of the garden, and he was forced, in consequence, to make many
+ fruitless journeys and to undergo many trials before he could find
+ it.</p>
+
+ <p>He first travelled through Thessaly and arrived at the river
+ Echedorus, where he met the giant Cycnus, the son of Ares and Pyrene, who
+ challenged him to single combat. In this encounter Heracles completely
+ vanquished <!-- Page 248 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page248"></a>[248]</span>his opponent, who was killed in the
+ contest; but now a mightier adversary appeared on the scene, for the
+ war-god himself came to avenge his son. A terrible struggle ensued, which
+ had lasted some time, when Zeus interfered between the brothers, and put
+ an end to the strife by hurling a thunderbolt between them. Heracles
+ proceeded on his journey, and reached the banks of the river Eridanus,
+ where dwelt the Nymphs, daughters of Zeus and Themis. On seeking advice
+ from them as to his route, they directed him to the old sea-god Nereus,
+ who alone knew the way to the Garden of the Hesperides. Heracles found
+ him asleep, and seizing the opportunity, held him so firmly in his
+ powerful grasp that he could not possibly escape, so that notwithstanding
+ his various metamorphoses he was at last compelled to give the
+ information required. The hero then crossed over to Libya, where he
+ engaged in a wrestling-match with king Anteos, son of Poseidon and Gæa,
+ which terminated fatally for his antagonist.</p>
+
+ <p>From thence he proceeded to Egypt, where reigned Busiris, another son
+ of Poseidon, who (acting on the advice given by an oracle during a time
+ of great scarcity) sacrificed all strangers to Zeus. When Heracles
+ arrived he was seized and dragged to the altar; but the powerful demi-god
+ burst asunder his bonds, and then slew Busiris and his son.</p>
+
+ <p>Resuming his journey he now wandered on through Arabia until he
+ arrived at Mount Caucasus, where Prometheus groaned in unceasing agony.
+ It was at this time that Heracles (as already related) shot the eagle
+ which had so long tortured the noble and devoted friend of mankind. Full
+ of gratitude for his deliverance, Prometheus instructed him how to find
+ his way to that remote region in the far West where Atlas supported the
+ heavens on his shoulders, near which lay the Garden of the Hesperides. He
+ also warned Heracles not to attempt to secure the precious fruit himself,
+ but to assume for a time the duties of Atlas, and to despatch him for the
+ apples. <!-- Page 249 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page249"></a>[249]</span></p>
+
+ <p>On arriving at his destination Heracles followed the advice of
+ Prometheus. Atlas, who willingly entered into the arrangement, contrived
+ to put the dragon to sleep, and then, having cunningly outwitted the
+ Hesperides, carried off three of the golden apples, which he now brought
+ to Heracles. But when the latter was prepared to relinquish his burden,
+ Atlas, having once tasted the delights of freedom, declined to resume his
+ post, and announced his intention of being himself the bearer of the
+ apples to Eurystheus, leaving Heracles to fill his place. To this
+ proposal the hero feigned assent, merely begging that Atlas would be kind
+ enough to support the heavens for a few moments whilst he contrived a pad
+ for his head. Atlas good-naturedly threw down the apples and once more
+ resumed his load, upon which Heracles bade him adieu, and departed.</p>
+
+ <p>When Heracles conveyed the golden apples to Eurystheus the latter
+ presented them to the hero, whereupon Heracles placed the sacred fruit on
+ the altar of Pallas-Athene, who restored them to the garden of the
+ Hesperides.</p>
+
+ <p><b>12. Cerberus.</b>&mdash;The twelfth and last labour which
+ Eurystheus imposed on Heracles was to bring up Cerberus from the lower
+ world, believing that all his heroic powers would be unavailing in the
+ Realm of Shades, and that in this, his last and most perilous
+ undertaking, the hero must at length succumb and perish.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0249-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0249-1.png"
+ alt="Cerberus" title="Cerberus" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Cerberus was a monster dog with three heads, out of whose awful jaws
+ dripped poison; the hair of his head and back was formed of venomous
+ snakes, and his body terminated in the tail of a dragon.</p>
+
+ <p>After being initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries, and <!-- Page 250
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page250"></a>[250]</span>obtaining from
+ the priests certain information necessary for the accomplishment of his
+ task, Heracles set out for Tænarum in Lacolia, where there was an opening
+ which led to the under-world. Conducted by Hermes, he commenced his
+ descent into the awful gulf, where myriads of shades soon began to
+ appear, all of whom fled in terror at his approach, Meleager and Medusa
+ alone excepted. About to strike the latter with his sword, Hermes
+ interfered and stayed his hand, reminding him that she was but a shadow,
+ and that consequently no weapon could avail against her.</p>
+
+ <p>Arrived before the gates of Hades he found Theseus and Pirithöus, who
+ had been fixed to an enchanted rock by Aïdes for their presumption in
+ endeavouring to carry off Persephone. When they saw Heracles they
+ implored him to set them free. The hero succeeded in delivering Theseus,
+ but when he endeavoured to liberate Pirithöus, the earth shook so
+ violently beneath him that he was compelled to relinquish his task.</p>
+
+ <p>Proceeding further Heracles recognized Ascalaphus, who, as we have
+ seen in the history of Demeter, had revealed the fact that Persephone had
+ swallowed the seeds of a pomegranate offered to her by her husband, which
+ bound her to Aïdes for ever. Ascalaphus was groaning beneath a huge rock
+ which Demeter in her anger had hurled upon him, and which Heracles now
+ removed, releasing the sufferer.</p>
+
+ <p>Before the gates of his palace stood Aïdes the mighty ruler of the
+ lower world, and barred his entrance; but Heracles, aiming at him with
+ one of his unerring darts, shot him in the shoulder, so that for the
+ first time the god experienced the agony of mortal suffering. Heracles
+ then demanded of him permission to take Cerberus to the upper-world, and
+ to this Aïdes consented on condition that he should secure him unarmed.
+ Protected by his breastplate and lion's skin Heracles went in search of
+ the monster, whom he found at the mouth of the river Acheron. Undismayed
+ by the hideous barking which proceeded from his three heads, he seized
+ the <!-- Page 251 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page251"></a>[251]</span>throat with one hand and the legs with the
+ other, and although the dragon which served him as a tail bit him
+ severely, he did not relinquish his grasp. In this manner he conducted
+ him to the upper-world, through an opening near Troezen in Argolia.</p>
+
+ <p>When Eurystheus beheld Cerberus he stood aghast, and despairing of
+ ever getting rid of his hated rival, he returned the hell-hound to the
+ hero, who restored him to Aïdes, and with this last task the subjection
+ of Heracles to Eurystheus terminated.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Murder of Iphitus.</b>&mdash;Free at last Heracles now returned to
+ Thebes; and it being impossible for him to live happily with Megara in
+ consequence of his having murdered her children he, with her own consent,
+ gave her in marriage to his nephew Iolaus. Heracles himself sought the
+ hand of Iole, daughter of Eurytus, king of &OElig;chalia, who had
+ instructed him when a boy in the use of the bow. Hearing that this king
+ had promised to give his daughter to him who could surpass himself and
+ his three sons in shooting with the bow, Heracles lost no time in
+ presenting himself as a competitor. He soon proved that he was no
+ unworthy pupil of Eurytus, for he signally defeated all his opponents.
+ But although the king treated him with marked respect and honour he
+ refused, nevertheless, to give him the hand of his daughter, fearing for
+ her a similar fate to that which had befallen Megara. Iphitus, the eldest
+ son of Eurytus, alone espoused the cause of Heracles, and essayed to
+ induce his father to give his consent to the marriage; but all to no
+ purpose, and at length, stung to the quick at his rejection, the hero
+ angrily took his departure.</p>
+
+ <p>Soon afterwards the oxen of the king were stolen by the notorious
+ thief Autolycus, and Heracles was suspected by Eurytus of having
+ committed the theft. But Iphitus loyally defended his absent friend, and
+ proposed to seek out Heracles, and with his assistance to go in search of
+ the missing cattle. <!-- Page 252 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page252"></a>[252]</span></p>
+
+ <p>The hero warmly welcomed his staunch young friend, and entered
+ cordially into his plan. They at once set out on their expedition; but
+ their search proved altogether unsuccessful. When they approached the
+ city of Tiryns they mounted a tower in hopes of discovering the missing
+ herd in the surrounding country; but as they stood on the topmost summit
+ of the building, Heracles became suddenly seized with one of his former
+ attacks of madness, and mistaking his friend Iphitus for an enemy, hurled
+ him down into the plain below, and he was killed on the spot.</p>
+
+ <p>Heracles now set forth on a weary pilgrimage, begging in vain that
+ some one would purify him from the murder of Iphitus. It was during these
+ wanderings that he arrived at the palace of his friend Admetus, whose
+ beautiful and heroic wife (Alcestes) he restored to her husband after a
+ terrible struggle with Death, as already related.</p>
+
+ <p>Soon after this event Heracles was struck with a fearful disease, and
+ betook himself to the temple of Delphi, hoping to obtain from the oracle
+ the means of relief. The priestess, however, refused him a response on
+ the ground of his having murdered Iphitus, whereupon the angry hero
+ seized upon the tripod, which he carried off, declaring that he would
+ construct an oracle for himself. Apollo, who witnessed the sacrilege,
+ came down to defend his sanctuary, and a violent struggle ensued. Zeus
+ once more interfered, and, flashing his lightnings between his two
+ favourite sons, ended the combat. The Pythia now vouchsafed an answer to
+ the prayer of the hero, and commanded him, in expiation of his crime, to
+ allow himself to be sold by Hermes for three years as a slave, the
+ purchase-money to be given to Eurytus in compensation for the loss of his
+ son.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Heracles becomes the Slave of Omphale.</b>&mdash;Heracles bowed in
+ submission to the divine will, and was conducted by Hermes to Omphale,
+ queen of Lydia. The three talents which she paid for him were given <!--
+ Page 253 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page253"></a>[253]</span>to
+ Eurytus, who, however, declined to accept the money, which was handed
+ over to the children of Iphitus.</p>
+
+ <p>Heracles now regained his former vigour. He rid the territory of
+ Omphale of the robbers which infested it and performed for her various
+ other services requiring strength and courage. It was about this time
+ that he took part in the Calydonian boar-hunt, details of which have
+ already been given.</p>
+
+ <p>When Omphale learned that her slave was none other than the renowned
+ Heracles himself she at once gave him his liberty, and offered him her
+ hand and kingdom. In her palace Heracles abandoned himself to all the
+ enervating luxuries of an oriental life, and so completely was the great
+ hero enthralled by the fascination which his mistress exercised over him,
+ that whilst she playfully donned his lion's skin and helmet, he, attired
+ in female garments, sat at her feet spinning wool, and beguiling the time
+ by the relation of his past adventures.</p>
+
+ <p>But when at length, his term of bondage having expired, he became
+ master of his own actions, the manly and energetic spirit of the hero
+ reasserted itself, and tearing himself away from the palace of the
+ Mæonian queen, he determined to carry out the revenge he had so long
+ meditated against the treacherous Laomedon and the faithless Augeas.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Heracles executes vengeance on Laomedon and
+ Augeas.</b>&mdash;Gathering round him some of his old brave
+ companions-in-arms, Heracles collected a fleet of vessels and set sail
+ for Troy, where he landed, took the city by storm, and killed Laomedon,
+ who thus met at length the retribution he had so richly deserved.</p>
+
+ <p>To Telamon, one of his bravest followers, he gave Hesione, the
+ daughter of the king, in marriage. When Heracles gave her permission to
+ release one of the prisoners of war she chose her own brother Podarces,
+ whereupon she was informed that as he was already a prisoner of war she
+ would be compelled to ransom him. <!-- Page 254 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page254"></a>[254]</span>On hearing this Hesione
+ took off her golden diadem, which she joyfully handed to the hero. Owing
+ to this circumstance Podarces henceforth bore the name of Priamus (or
+ Priam), which signifies the "ransomed one."</p>
+
+ <p>Heracles now marched against Augeas to execute his vengeance on him
+ also for his perfidious conduct. He stormed the city of Elis and put to
+ death Augeas and his sons, sparing only his brave advocate and staunch
+ defender Phyleus, on whom he bestowed the vacant throne of his
+ father.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Heracles and Deianeira.</b>&mdash;Heracles now proceeded to
+ Calydon, where he wooed the beautiful Deianeira, daughter of &OElig;neus,
+ king of Ætolia; but he encountered a formidable rival in Achelous, the
+ river-god, and it was agreed that their claims should be decided by
+ single combat. Trusting to his power of assuming various forms at will,
+ Achelous felt confident of success; but this availed him nothing, for
+ having at last transformed himself into a bull, his mighty adversary
+ broke off one of his horns, and compelled him to acknowledge himself
+ defeated.</p>
+
+ <p>After passing three happy years with Deianeira an unfortunate accident
+ occurred, which for a time marred their felicity. Heracles was one day
+ present at a banquet given by &OElig;neus, when, by a sudden swing of his
+ hand, he had the misfortune to strike on the head a youth of noble birth,
+ who, according to the custom of the ancients, was serving the guests at
+ table, and so violent was the blow that it caused his death. The father
+ of the unfortunate youth, who had witnessed the occurrence, saw that it
+ was the result of accident, and therefore absolved the hero from blame.
+ But Heracles resolved to act according to the law of the land, banished
+ himself from the country, and bidding farewell to his father-in-law, set
+ out for Trachin to visit his friend King Ceyx, taking with him his wife
+ Deianeira, and his young son Hyllus.</p>
+
+ <p>In the course of their journey they arrived at the river Evenus, over
+ which the Centaur Nessus was in the habit <!-- Page 255 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page255"></a>[255]</span>of carrying travellers
+ for hire. Heracles, with his little son in his arms, forded the stream
+ unaided, intrusting his wife to the care of the Centaur, who, charmed
+ with the beauty of his fair burden, attempted to carry her off. But her
+ cries were heard by her husband, who without hesitation shot Nessus
+ through the heart with one of his poisoned arrows. Now the dying Centaur
+ was thirsting for revenge. He called Deianeira to his side, and directed
+ her to secure some of the blood which flowed from his wound, assuring her
+ that if, when in danger of losing her husband's affection, she used it in
+ the manner indicated by him, it would act as a charm, and prevent her
+ from being supplanted by a rival. Heracles and Deianeira now pursued
+ their journey, and after several adventures at length arrived at their
+ destination.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Death of Heracles.</b>&mdash;The last expedition undertaken by the
+ great hero was against Eurytus, king of &OElig;chalia, to revenge himself
+ upon this king and his sons for having refused to bestow upon him the
+ hand of Iole, after having fairly won the maiden. Having collected a
+ large army Heracles set out for Eub&oelig;a in order to besiege
+ &OElig;chalia, its capital. Success crowned his arms. He stormed the
+ citadel, slew the king and his three sons, reduced the town to ashes, and
+ carried away captive the young and beautiful Iole.</p>
+
+ <p>Returning from his victorious expedition, Heracles halted at
+ Cen&oelig;us in order to offer a sacrifice to Zeus, and sent to Deianeira
+ to Trachin for a sacrificial robe. Deianeira having been informed that
+ the fair Iole was in the train of Heracles was fearful lest her youthful
+ charms might supplant her in the affection of her husband, and calling to
+ mind the advice of the dying Centaur, she determined to test the efficacy
+ of the love-charm which he had given to her. Taking out the phial which
+ she had carefully preserved, she imbued the robe with a portion of the
+ liquid which it contained, and then sent it to Heracles.</p>
+
+ <p>The victorious hero clothed himself with the garment, <!-- Page 256
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page256"></a>[256]</span>and was about
+ to perform the sacrifice, when the hot flames rising from the altar
+ heated the poison with which it was imbued, and soon every fibre of his
+ body was penetrated by the deadly venom. The unfortunate hero, suffering
+ the most fearful tortures, endeavoured to tear off the robe, but it
+ adhered so closely to the skin that all his efforts to remove it only
+ increased his agonies.</p>
+
+ <p>In this pitiable condition he was conveyed to Trachin, where
+ Deianeira, on beholding the terrible suffering of which she was the
+ innocent cause, was overcome with grief and remorse, and hanged herself
+ in despair. The dying hero called his son Hyllus to his side, and desired
+ him to make Iole his wife, and then ordering his followers to erect a
+ funeral pyre, he mounted it and implored the by-standers to set fire to
+ it, and thus in mercy to terminate his insufferable torments. But no one
+ had the courage to obey him, until at last his friend and companion
+ Philoctetes, yielding to his piteous appeal, lighted the pile, and
+ received in return the bow and arrows of the hero.</p>
+
+ <p>Soon flames on flames ascended, and amidst vivid flashes of lightning,
+ accompanied by awful peals of thunder, Pallas-Athene descended in a
+ cloud, and bore her favourite hero in a chariot to Olympus.</p>
+
+ <p>Heracles became admitted among the immortals; and Hera, in token of
+ her reconciliation, bestowed upon him the hand of her beautiful daughter
+ Hebe, the goddess of eternal youth.</p>
+
+<h3>BELLEROPHON.</h3>
+
+ <p>Bellerophon, or Bellerophontes, was the son of Glaucus, king of
+ Corinth, and grandson of Sisyphus. In consequence of an unpremeditated
+ murder Bellerophon fled to Tiryns, where he was kindly received by King
+ Pr&oelig;tus, who purified him from his crime. Antea, the wife of
+ Pr&oelig;tus, was so charmed with the comely youth that she fell in love
+ with him; but Bellerophon did not return her affection, and she, in
+ revenge, slandered him to the king by a gross misrepresentation of the
+ facts. <!-- Page 257 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page257"></a>[257]</span></p>
+
+ <p>The first impulse of Pr&oelig;tus, when informed of the conduct of
+ Bellerophon, was to kill him; but the youth, with his gentle and winning
+ manners, had so endeared himself to his host that he felt it impossible
+ to take his life with his own hands. He therefore sent him to his
+ father-in-law, Iobates, king of Lycia, with a kind of letter or tablet
+ which contained mysterious signs, indicating his desire that the bearer
+ of the missive should be put to death. But the gods watched over the true
+ and loyal youth, and inclined the heart of Iobates, who was an amiable
+ prince, towards his guest. Judging by his appearance that he was of noble
+ birth, he entertained him, according to the hospitable custom of the
+ Greeks, in the most princely manner for nine days, and not until the
+ morning of the tenth did he inquire his name and errand.</p>
+
+ <p>Bellerophon now presented to him the letter intrusted to him by
+ Pr&oelig;tus. Iobates, who had become greatly attached to the youth, was
+ horror-struck at its contents. Nevertheless he concluded that
+ Pr&oelig;tus must have good reasons for his conduct, and that probably
+ Bellerophon had committed a crime which deserved death. But as he could
+ not make up his mind to murder the guest he had grown to esteem, he
+ decided to despatch him upon dangerous enterprises, in which he would in
+ all probability lose his life.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:30%;">
+ <a href="images/0257-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0257-1.png"
+ alt="The Chimæra" title="The Chimæra" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>He first sent him to kill the Chimæra, a monster which was at this
+ time devastating the country. The fore part of its body was that of a
+ lion, the centre of a goat, and the hind part of a dragon; whilst out of
+ its jaws issued flames of fire.</p>
+
+ <p>Before starting on this difficult task Bellerophon invoked the
+ protection of the gods, and in answer to his prayer they despatched to
+ his aid the immortal-winged horse Pegasus, the offspring of Poseidon and
+ Medusa. But the divine animal would not suffer himself to be <!-- Page
+ 258 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page258"></a>[258]</span>caught,
+ and at last, worn out with his fruitless exertions, Bellerophon fell into
+ a deep sleep beside the sacred spring Pirene. Here Pallas-Athene appeared
+ to him in a dream, and presented him with a magic bridle for the purpose
+ of capturing the divine steed. On awaking Bellerophon instinctively put
+ out his hand to grasp it, when, to his amazement, there lay beside him
+ the bridle of his dream, whilst Pegasus was quietly drinking at the
+ fountain close by. Seizing him by the mane Bellerophon threw the bridle
+ over his head, and succeeded in mounting him without further difficulty;
+ then rising with him into the air he slew the Chimæra with his
+ arrows.</p>
+
+ <div class="figright" style="width:25%;">
+ <a href="images/0258-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0258-1.png"
+ alt="Bellerophon and Pegasus" title="Bellerophon and Pegasus" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Iobates next sent him on an expedition against the Solymans, a fierce
+ neighbouring tribe with whom he was at enmity. Bellerophon succeeded in
+ vanquishing them, and was then despatched against the much-dreaded
+ Amazons; but greatly to the astonishment of Iobates the hero again
+ returned victorious.</p>
+
+ <p>Finally, Iobates placed a number of the bravest Lycians in ambush for
+ the purpose of destroying him, but not one returned alive, for
+ Bellerophon bravely defended himself and slew them all. Convinced at
+ length that Bellerophon, far from deserving death, was the special
+ favourite of the gods, who had evidently protected him throughout his
+ perilous exploits, the king now ceased his persecutions.</p>
+
+ <p>Iobates admitted him to a share in the government, and gave him his
+ daughter in marriage. But Bellerophon having attained the summit of
+ earthly prosperity became intoxicated with pride and vanity, and incurred
+ the displeasure of the gods by endeavouring to mount to heaven on his
+ winged horse, for the purpose of gratifying his idle curiosity. Zeus
+ punished him for his impiety by sending <!-- Page 259 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page259"></a>[259]</span>a gadfly to sting the
+ horse, who became so restive that he threw his rider, who was
+ precipitated to the earth. Filled with remorse at having offended the
+ gods Bellerophon fell a prey to the deepest melancholy, and wandered
+ about for the remainder of his life in the loneliest and most desolate
+ places.</p>
+
+ <p>After death he was honoured in Corinth as a hero, and an altar was
+ erected to him in the grove of Poseidon.</p>
+
+<h3>THESEUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Aegeus, king of Athens, being twice married, and having no children,
+ was so desirous of an heir to his throne that he made a pilgrimage to
+ Delphi in order to consult the oracle. But the response being ambiguous,
+ he repaired to Troezen to consult his wise friend Pittheus, who reigned
+ over that city, by whose advice he contracted a secret marriage with his
+ friend's daughter Aethra.</p>
+
+ <p>After passing some time with his bride, Aegeus prepared to take his
+ departure for his own dominions; but before doing so he led Aethra to the
+ sea-shore, where, after depositing his sword and sandals under a huge
+ rock, he thus addressed her: "Should the gods bless our union with a son,
+ do not reveal to him the name and rank of his father until he is old
+ enough to possess the strength requisite for moving this stone. Then send
+ him to my palace at Athens bearing these tokens of his identity."</p>
+
+ <p>A son was born to Aethra, whom she called Theseus, and who was
+ carefully trained and educated by his grandfather Pittheus. When he had
+ developed into a strong and manly youth his mother conducted him to the
+ spot where the rock had been placed by Aegeus, and at her command he
+ rolled away the stone, and took possession of the sword and sandals which
+ had lain there for sixteen years, and which she now desired him to convey
+ to his father Aegeus, king of Athens.</p>
+
+ <p>His mother and grandfather were anxious that the youth should travel
+ by the safe sea route, the road between Troezen and Athens being at this
+ time infested <!-- Page 260 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page260"></a>[260]</span>with robbers of great ferocity and
+ enormous strength. But feeling within himself the spirit of a hero,
+ Theseus resolved to emulate the deeds of Heracles, with whose fame all
+ Greece resounded, and therefore chose the more dangerous journey by land,
+ as calculated to afford him an opportunity of distinguishing himself by
+ feats of valour.</p>
+
+ <p>His first adventure occurred at Epidaurus, where he met Periphetes, a
+ son of Hephæstus, who was armed with an iron club, with which he killed
+ all travellers. Having received from his grandfather a full description
+ of this savage, Theseus at once recognized him, and rushing upon him with
+ his sword, succeeded after a desperate encounter in killing him. He
+ appropriated the club as a trophy of his victory, and proceeded on his
+ journey without hinderance until he arrived at the Isthmus of
+ Corinth.</p>
+
+ <p>Here the people warned him to beware of Sinnis the robber, who forced
+ all travellers to bend with him one of the branches of a tall pine-tree.
+ Having dragged it to the ground, the cruel Sinnis suddenly released his
+ hold, whereupon the bough rebounding high up into the air, the
+ unfortunate victim was dashed to the ground and killed. When Theseus
+ beheld Sinnis advancing towards him he steadily awaited his approach;
+ then seizing his powerful club, he killed the inhuman wretch with one
+ blow.</p>
+
+ <p>Passing through the woody district of Crommyon Theseus next slew a
+ wild and dangerous sow which had long ravaged the country.</p>
+
+ <p>He then continued his journey and approached the borders of Megara,
+ where, on a narrow path overhanging the sea, dwelt the wicked Scyron,
+ another terror to travellers. It was his custom to compel all strangers
+ who passed his abode to wash his feet, during which operation he kicked
+ them over the rock into the sea. Theseus boldly attacked the giant,
+ overcame him, and then flung his body over the cliff where so many of his
+ victims had perished.</p>
+
+ <p>Theseus now journeyed on to Eleusis, where he found <!-- Page 261
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page261"></a>[261]</span>another
+ adversary in the person of King Cercyon, who forced all comers to wrestle
+ with him, and killed those whom he vanquished; but Theseus overcame the
+ mighty wrestler and slew him.</p>
+
+ <p>Near Eleusis, on the banks of the river Cephissus, Theseus met with a
+ new adventure. Here lived the giant Damastes, called Procrustes or the
+ Stretcher, who had two iron beds, one being long and the other short,
+ into which he forced all strangers; In the short one he placed the tall
+ men, whose limbs he cut to the size of the bed, whilst to the short ones
+ he assigned the large bed, stretching them out to fit it; and thus he
+ left his victims to expire in the most cruel torments. Theseus freed the
+ country from this inhuman monster by serving him as he had done his
+ unfortunate victims.</p>
+
+ <p>The hero now continued his journey, and at length reached Athens
+ without meeting with any further adventures. When he arrived at his
+ destination he found his father a helpless tool in the hands of the
+ sorceress Medea, whom he had married after her departure from Corinth.
+ Knowing, by means of her supernatural powers, that Theseus was the king's
+ son, and fearing that her influence might be weakened by his presence,
+ she poisoned the mind of the old king against the stranger, whom she
+ represented as being a spy. It was accordingly arranged that Theseus
+ should be invited to a banquet, and a strong poison mixed with his
+ wine.</p>
+
+ <p>Now Theseus had resolved to reveal himself at this feast to the father
+ whom he yearned to embrace. Before tasting the wine he put his plan into
+ execution, and drew out his sword so that the eyes of the king might rest
+ upon it. When Aegeus beheld once more the well-known weapon which he had
+ so often wielded, he knew that it was his son who stood before him. He
+ warmly embraced him, presented him as his heir to his courtiers and
+ subjects, and then, no longer able to endure the sight of Medea, he
+ banished her for ever from his dominions.</p>
+
+ <p>When Theseus was acknowledged as the rightful heir to the throne he
+ was opposed by the fifty sons of Pallas, <!-- Page 262 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page262"></a>[262]</span>the king's brother, who
+ had confidently expected that on the demise of the old king the
+ government of the country would devolve upon them. They therefore
+ resolved to put Theseus to death; but their plans becoming known to him,
+ he surprised them as they lay in ambush awaiting his approach, and
+ destroyed them all.</p>
+
+ <p>Fearing, however, lest the Athenians might entertain a prejudice
+ against him on account of his extermination of their fellow-citizens, the
+ Pallantids, Theseus resolved to perform some signal service for the
+ state, which should gain for him the hearts of the people. He accordingly
+ decided to rid the country of the famous bull of Marathon, which had
+ become a terror to the cultivators of the land. He captured the animal
+ and brought him in chains to Athens, where, after publicly exhibiting him
+ to the astonished multitude, he solemnly sacrificed him to Apollo.</p>
+
+ <p>The next enterprise undertaken by Theseus far surpassed all his other
+ feats of heroic daring, and secured to him the universal admiration and
+ gratitude of his fellow-citizens. This was the slaying of the Minotaur,
+ which put an end for ever to the shameful tribute of seven youths and
+ seven maidens which was exacted from the Athenians every nine years.</p>
+
+ <p>The origin of this barbarous tribute was as follows: Androgeos, the
+ youthful son of Minos, king of Crete, having been treacherously murdered
+ by the Athenians, his father, anxious to avenge the death of his son,
+ declared war against their king Aegeus, and conquered Athens and the
+ villages in its vicinity. The conqueror henceforth compelled the
+ Athenians to send to him every nine years a tribute of seven youths and
+ seven maidens of the noblest families of the land, who became the prey of
+ the Minotaur, a monster, half-man, half-bull, whose lair was in the
+ wonderful labyrinth, constructed by Dædalus for the Cretan king.</p>
+
+ <p>When Theseus informed his father of his heroic determination, he was
+ overwhelmed with grief, and endeavoured, by every means in his power, to
+ shake his son's resolution, but, confident of success, Theseus assured
+ his <!-- Page 263 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page263"></a>[263]</span>father that he would slay the Minotaur and
+ return home victorious.</p>
+
+ <p>It was customary for the vessel bearing its unhappy freight of human
+ victims to use on this voyage black sails only; but Theseus promised his
+ father that, should he return in safety, he would hoist white ones in
+ their place.</p>
+
+ <p>Before leaving Athens Theseus, by the advice of an oracle, chose
+ Aphrodite as his guardian and protectress, and accordingly offered up a
+ sacrifice to her. When he arrived in the presence of king Minos, the
+ goddess of Love inspired Ariadne, the beautiful daughter of the king,
+ with an ardent attachment for the noble young hero. During a secret
+ interview, in which a mutual confession of affection took place, Ariadne
+ furnished him with a sharp sword and a clue of thread, the end of which
+ she desired him to fasten at the entrance to the labyrinth and to
+ continue to unwind it till he reached the lair of the Minotaur. Full of
+ hope as to the successful issue of his undertaking, Theseus took leave of
+ the kind maiden, after expressing his gratitude for her timely aid.</p>
+
+ <p>At the head of his companions he was now conducted by Minos to the
+ entrance of the labyrinth. Strictly adhering to the injunctions of the
+ fair Ariadne he succeeded in finding the Minotaur, whom, after a fierce
+ and violent struggle, he defeated and killed; then carefully feeling his
+ way, by means of the clue of thread, he led his companions safely out of
+ the labyrinth. They then fled to their ship, taking with them the lovely
+ maiden to whose affection for their deliverer they owed their safety.</p>
+
+ <p>Arrived at the island of Naxos, Theseus had a dream, in which
+ Dionysus, the wine-god, appeared to him, and informed him that the Fates
+ had decreed that Ariadne should be his bride, at the same time menacing
+ the hero with all kinds of misfortunes should he refuse to resign her.
+ Now Theseus, having been taught from his youth to reverence the gods,
+ feared to disobey the wishes of Dionysus. He accordingly took a sad
+ farewell of the <!-- Page 264 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page264"></a>[264]</span>beautiful maiden who so tenderly loved
+ him, and left her on the lonely island, where she was found and wooed by
+ the wine-god.</p>
+
+ <p>Theseus and his companions felt keenly the loss of their benefactress,
+ and in their grief at parting with her, forgot that the ship still bore
+ the black sails with which she had left the Attic coast. As she neared
+ the port of Athens, Aegeus, who was anxiously awaiting the return of his
+ son on the beach, caught sight of the vessel with its black sails, and
+ concluding that his gallant son had perished, threw himself in despair
+ into the sea.</p>
+
+ <p>With the unanimous approval of the Athenians, Theseus now ascended the
+ vacant throne, and soon proved himself to be not only a valiant hero but
+ also a wise prince and prudent legislator. Athens was at this time but a
+ small city surrounded by a number of villages, each of which possessed
+ its own separate form of government; but by means of kind and
+ conciliatory measures Theseus induced the heads of these different
+ communities to resign their sovereignty, and to intrust the
+ administration of public affairs to a court which should sit constantly
+ at Athens, and exercise jurisdiction over all the inhabitants of Attica.
+ The result of these judicious measures was, that the Athenians became a
+ united and powerful people, and that numbers of strangers and foreigners
+ flocked to Athens, which became a flourishing maritime port and a
+ commercial centre of great importance.</p>
+
+ <p>Theseus renewed the Isthmian Games, and also instituted numerous
+ festivals, the principal of which was the Panathenæa, held in honour of
+ Athene-Polias.</p>
+
+ <p>It is related that Theseus upon one occasion arrived during a voyage
+ at the Amazonian coast. Anxious to ascertain the object of his visit, the
+ Amazons sent Hippolyte, one of their number, with presents to the
+ stranger; but no sooner did the fair herald set foot on board his vessel
+ than Theseus set sail and carried her off to Athens, where he made her
+ his queen. Enraged at this indignity the Amazons determined to be
+ revenged. Some time afterwards, when the whole affair would <!-- Page 265
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page265"></a>[265]</span>appear to have
+ been forgotten, they seized the opportunity when the city of Athens was
+ in a defenceless condition and landed an army in Attica. So sudden was
+ their attack that they had penetrated into the very heart of the city
+ before the Athenians could organize their forces; but Theseus
+ expeditiously collected his troops and commenced such a furious onslaught
+ upon the invaders that, after a desperate encounter, they were driven
+ from the city. Peace was then concluded, whereupon the Amazons evacuated
+ the country. During this engagement Hippolyte, forgetful of her origin,
+ fought valiantly by the side of her husband against her own kinsfolk, and
+ perished on the field of battle.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0265-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0265-1.png"
+ alt="Hippolyte" title="Hippolyte" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>It was soon after this sad event that Theseus joined the
+ world-renowned Calydonian Boar-hunt, in which he took a leading part. He
+ also formed one of the brave band who shared in the perils of the
+ Argonautic expedition.</p>
+
+ <p>The remarkable friendship which existed between Theseus and Pirithöus
+ originated under such peculiar circumstances that it is worthy of
+ mention.</p>
+
+ <p>Hearing upon one occasion that his herds, pasturing in the plains of
+ Marathon, had been carried off by Pirithöus, Theseus collected together
+ an armed force and sallied forth to punish the plunderer. But, when the
+ two heroes met face to face, both were seized with an impulse of
+ sympathetic admiration for each other. Pirithöus, holding out his hand in
+ token of peace, exclaimed, "What satisfaction shall I render thee, oh
+ Theseus? Be thou thyself the judge." Theseus seized the proffered hand
+ and replied, "I ask nought save thy <!-- Page 266 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page266"></a>[266]</span>friendship;" whereupon
+ the heroes embraced each other and swore eternal fidelity.</p>
+
+ <p>When, soon afterwards, Pirithöus became united to Hippodamia, a
+ Thessalian princess, he invited Theseus to the wedding-feast, which was
+ also attended, among other guests, by a large number of Centaurs, who
+ were friends of Pirithöus. Towards the end of the banquet Eurytion, a
+ young Centaur, heated and flushed with wine, seized the lovely bride and
+ sought by force to carry her off. The other Centaurs, following his
+ example, each endeavoured to capture a maiden. Pirithöus and his
+ followers, aided by Theseus, who rendered most valuable assistance,
+ attacked the Centaurs, and after a violent hand-to-hand struggle in which
+ many perished, forced them to relinquish their prey.</p>
+
+ <p>After the death of Hippolyte Theseus sought the hand of Phædra, the
+ sister of his former bride Ariadne, to whom he became united. For some
+ years they lived happily together, and their union was blessed by the
+ birth of two sons. During this time Hippolytus, the son of the Amazonian
+ queen, had been absent from home, having been placed under the care of
+ the king's uncles in order to be educated. When, having grown to manhood,
+ he now returned to his father's palace, his young stepmother, Phædra,
+ fell violently in love with him; but Hippolytus failed to return her
+ affection, and treated her with contempt and indifference. Filled with
+ rage and despair at his coldness Phædra put an end to her existence; and
+ when she was discovered by her husband she held in her hand a letter,
+ accusing Hippolytus of being the cause of her death, and of having
+ conspired against the honour of the king.</p>
+
+ <p>Now Poseidon had upon one occasion promised to grant Theseus whatever
+ request he should demand; he therefore called upon the sea-god to destroy
+ Hippolytus, whom he cursed in the most solemn manner. The father's awful
+ malediction fell but too soon upon his innocent son; for, as the latter
+ was driving his chariot along the sea-shore, between Troezen and Athens,
+ a <!-- Page 267 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page267"></a>[267]</span>monster, sent by Poseidon, rose out of the
+ deep, and so frightened the horses that they became altogether
+ unmanageable. As they rushed on in their mad career the chariot was
+ dashed to pieces, and the unfortunate youth, whose feet had become
+ entangled in the reins, was dragged along until life was nearly
+ extinct.</p>
+
+ <p>In this condition he was found by the unhappy Theseus, who, having
+ ascertained the true facts of the case from an old servant of Phædra, had
+ hastened to prevent the catastrophe. But he arrived too late, and was
+ only able to soothe the last moments of his dying son by acknowledging
+ the sad mistake which he had committed, and declaring his firm belief in
+ his honour and innocence.</p>
+
+ <p>After these events Theseus was persuaded by his friend Pirithöus, who
+ had also about this time lost his young wife, Hippodamia, to join him in
+ a journey through Greece, with the object of carrying off by force the
+ most beautiful maidens whom they should chance to meet.</p>
+
+ <p>Arrived at Sparta they beheld, in the temple of Artemis, Helen, the
+ daughter of Zeus and Leda, who was engaged in performing sacred dances in
+ honour of the goddess. Although the maiden was only nine years old the
+ fame of her beauty, which was destined to play so important a part in the
+ history of Greece, had already spread far and wide. Theseus and Pirithöus
+ forcibly abducted her, and then having cast lots for her, she fell to
+ Theseus, who placed her under the charge of his mother Æthra.</p>
+
+ <p>Pirithöus now requested Theseus to assist him in his ambitious scheme
+ of descending to the lower world and carrying off Persephone, the queen
+ of Hades. Though fully alive to the perils of the undertaking Theseus
+ would not forsake his friend, and together they sought the gloomy realm
+ of Shades. But Aïdes had been forewarned of their approach, and scarcely
+ had the two friends set foot within his dominions when, by his orders,
+ they were seized, bound with chains, and secured to an enchanted rock at
+ the entrance of Hades. Here the two <!-- Page 268 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page268"></a>[268]</span>friends languished for
+ many years, until Heracles passed by in his search for Cerberus, when he
+ released Theseus; but in obedience to an injunction of the gods, left
+ Pirithöus to endure for ever the punishment of his too daring
+ ambition.</p>
+
+ <p>While Theseus was imprisoned in the under world Castor and Pollux, the
+ brothers of Helen, invaded Athens, and demanded the restoration of their
+ young sister. Seeing his country threatened with the horrors of warfare,
+ an Athenian citizen named Academus, who knew of Helen's place of
+ concealment, repaired to the camp of the Dioscuri, and informed them
+ where they would find her. Æthra at once resigned her charge, whereupon
+ the brothers took leave of Athens, and, accompanied by Helen, returned to
+ their native country.</p>
+
+ <p>But the prolonged absence of Theseus gave rise to other troubles of a
+ more serious character. Thinking the opportunity favourable for a revolt,
+ a faction, headed by Menesthius, a descendant of Erechtheus, arrogated to
+ themselves supreme power, and seized the reins of government.</p>
+
+ <p>Returned to Athens, Theseus at once took active measures to quell the
+ insubordination which existed on all sides. He expelled Menesthius from
+ office, rigorously punished the ringleaders of the revolt, and placed
+ himself once more upon the throne. But his hold upon the people was gone.
+ His former services were all forgotten, and, finding at length that
+ dissensions and revolts were rife, he voluntarily abdicated the throne,
+ and retired to his estates in the island of Scyros. Here Lycomedes, king
+ of the island, feigned to receive him with the utmost friendship; but
+ being, as it is supposed, in league with Menesthius, he led the old king
+ to the summit of a high rock, under pretence of showing him his estates,
+ and treacherously killed him by pushing him over the cliff.</p>
+
+ <p>Many centuries after his death, by the command of the oracle of
+ Delphi, Cimon, the father of Miltiades, at the conclusion of the Persian
+ war, brought the remains of Theseus, the great benefactor of Athens, to
+ that city, <!-- Page 269 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page269"></a>[269]</span>and in his honour a temple was erected,
+ which exists to the present day, and serves as a museum of art.</p>
+
+<h3>&OElig;DIPUS.</h3>
+
+ <p>Laius, king of Thebes, the son of Labdacus, and a direct descendant of
+ Cadmus, was married to Jocaste, the daughter of a noble Theban. An oracle
+ having foretold that he would perish by the hand of his own son, he
+ determined to destroy the infant to whom Jocaste had just given birth.
+ With the consent of his wife, whose affection for her husband overcame
+ her love for her child, he pierced the feet of the babe, bound them
+ together, and handed the infant over to a servant, with instructions to
+ expose him on Mount Cithæron to perish. But instead of obeying this cruel
+ command, the servant intrusted him to a shepherd who was tending the
+ flocks of Polybus, king of Corinth, and then returned to Laius and
+ Jocaste, and informed them that their orders had been obeyed. The parents
+ were satisfied with the intelligence, and quieted their conscience by the
+ reflection that they had thus prevented their son from committing the
+ crime of parricide.</p>
+
+ <p>Meanwhile the shepherd of king Polybus had unbound the feet of the
+ infant, and in consequence of their being much swollen he called him
+ &OElig;dipus, or Swollen-foot. He then carried him to the king, his
+ master, who, pitying the poor little waif, enlisted for him the kind
+ offices of his wife, Merope. &OElig;dipus was adopted by the king and
+ queen as their own son, and grew up in the belief that they were his
+ parents, until one day a Corinthian noble taunted him at a banquet with
+ not being the son of the king. Stung at this reproach the youth appealed
+ to Merope, but receiving an equivocal, though kindly answer, he repaired
+ to Delphi to consult the oracle. The Pythia vouchsafed no reply to his
+ inquiry, but informed him, to his horror, that he was fated to kill his
+ father and to marry his own mother.</p>
+
+ <p>Filled with dismay, for he was tenderly attached to Polybus and
+ Merope, &OElig;dipus determined not to return <!-- Page 270 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page270"></a>[270]</span>to Corinth, and took
+ instead the road leading to B&oelig;otia. On his way a chariot passed
+ him, in which sat an old man with two servants, who rudely pushed the
+ pedestrian out of the path. In the scuffle which ensued &OElig;dipus
+ struck the old man with his heavy stick, and he fell back dead on the
+ seat of the chariot. Struck with dismay at the unpremeditated murder
+ which he had committed, the youth fled, and left the spot without
+ learning that the old man whom he had killed was his father, Laius, king
+ of Thebes.</p>
+
+ <p>Not long after this occurrence the Sphinx (full details of whom have
+ already been given) was sent by the goddess Hera as a punishment to the
+ Thebans. Stationed on a rocky height just outside the city, she
+ propounded to the passers by riddles which she had been taught by the
+ Muses, and whoever failed to solve them was torn in pieces and devoured
+ by the monster, and in this manner great numbers of the inhabitants of
+ Thebes had perished.</p>
+
+ <p>Now on the death of the old king Laius, Creon, the brother of the
+ widowed queen, had seized the reins of government and mounted the vacant
+ throne; and when at length his own son fell a victim to the Sphinx, he
+ resolved at all costs to rid the country of this fearful scourge. He
+ accordingly issued a proclamation, that the kingdom and the hand of his
+ sister Jocaste should be awarded to him who should succeed in solving one
+ of the riddles of the Sphinx, it having been foretold by an oracle that
+ only then would the country be freed from the monster.</p>
+
+ <p>Just as this proclamation was being made in the streets of Thebes
+ &OElig;dipus, with his pilgrim's staff in his hand, entered the city.
+ Tempted by the prospect of so magnificent a reward he repaired to the
+ rock, and boldly requested the Sphinx to propound to him one of her
+ riddles. She proposed to him one which she deemed impossible of solution,
+ but &OElig;dipus at once solved it; whereupon the Sphinx, full of rage
+ and despair, precipitated herself into the abyss and perished.
+ &OElig;dipus <!-- Page 271 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page271"></a>[271]</span>received the promised reward. He became
+ king of Thebes and the husband of Jocaste, the widow of his father, king
+ Laius.</p>
+
+ <p>For many years &OElig;dipus enjoyed the greatest happiness and
+ tranquillity. Four children were born to him&mdash;two sons, Eteocles and
+ Polynices, and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene. But at last the gods
+ afflicted the country with a grievous pestilence, which made terrible
+ havoc among the people. In their distress they entreated the help of the
+ king, who was regarded by his subjects as a special favourite of the
+ gods. &OElig;dipus consulted an oracle, and the response was that the
+ pestilence would continue to rage until the land was purified of the
+ blood of king Laius, whose murderer was living unpunished at Thebes.</p>
+
+ <p>The king now invoked the most solemn imprecations on the head of the
+ murderer, and offered a reward for any information concerning him. He
+ then sent for the blind old seer Tiresias, and implored him, by means of
+ his prophetic powers, to reveal to him the author of the crime. Tiresias
+ at first hesitated, but yielding to the earnest solicitations of the
+ king, the old prophet thus addressed him: "Thou thyself art the murderer
+ of the old king Laius, who was thy father; and thou art wedded to his
+ widow, thine own mother." In order to convince &OElig;dipus of the truth
+ of his words, he brought forward the old servant who had exposed him as a
+ babe on Mount Cithæron, and the shepherd who had conveyed him to king
+ Polybus. Horrified at this awful revelation &OElig;dipus, in a fit of
+ despair, deprived himself of sight, and the unfortunate Jocaste, unable
+ to survive her disgrace, hanged herself.</p>
+
+ <p>Accompanied by his faithful and devoted daughter Antigone,
+ &OElig;dipus quitted Thebes and became a miserable and homeless outcast,
+ begging his bread from place to place. At length, after a long and
+ painful pilgrimage, he found a place of refuge in the grove of the
+ Eumenides (at Colonus, near Athens), where his last moments were soothed
+ and tended by the care and devotion of the faithful Antigone.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 272 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page272"></a>[272]</span></p>
+
+<h3>THE SEVEN AGAINST THEBES.</h3>
+
+ <p>After the voluntary abdication of &OElig;dipus, his two sons, Eteocles
+ and Polynices, took possession of the crown and reigned over the city of
+ Thebes. But Eteocles, being an ambitious prince, soon seized the reins of
+ government himself, and expelled his brother from the throne.</p>
+
+ <p>Polynices now repaired to Argos, where he arrived in the dead of
+ night. Outside the gates of the royal palace he encountered Tydeus, the
+ son of &OElig;neus, king of Calydon. Having accidentally killed a
+ relative in the chase, Tydeus was also a fugitive; but being mistaken by
+ Polynices in the darkness for an enemy, a quarrel ensued, which might
+ have ended fatally, had not king Adrastus, aroused by the clamour,
+ appeared on the scene and parted the combatants.</p>
+
+ <p>By the light of the torches borne by his attendants Adrastus observed,
+ to his surprise, that on the shield of Polynices a lion was depicted, and
+ on that of Tydeus a boar. The former bore this insignia in honour of the
+ renowned hero Heracles, the latter in memory of the famous Calydonian
+ boar-hunt. This circumstance reminded the king of an extraordinary
+ oracular prediction concerning his two beautiful daughters, Argia and
+ Deipyle, which was to the effect that he would give them in marriage to a
+ lion and a boar. Hailing with delight what he regarded as an auspicious
+ solution of the mysterious prophecy, he invited the strangers into his
+ palace; and when he heard their history, and had convinced himself that
+ they were of noble birth, he bestowed upon Polynices his beautiful
+ daughter Argia, and upon Tydeus the fair Deipyle, promising at the same
+ time that he would assist both his sons-in-law to regain their rightful
+ patrimony.</p>
+
+ <p>The first care of Adrastus was to aid Polynices in regaining
+ possession of his lawful share in the government of Thebes. He
+ accordingly invited the most powerful chiefs in his kingdom to join in
+ the expedition, <!-- Page 273 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page273"></a>[273]</span>all of whom readily obeyed the call with
+ the exception of the king's brother-in-law, Amphiaraus, the seer. As he
+ foresaw a disastrous termination to the enterprise, and knew that not one
+ of the heroes, save Adrastus himself, would return alive, he earnestly
+ dissuaded the king from carrying out his project, and declined to take
+ any part in the undertaking. But Adrastus, seconded by Polynices and
+ Tydeus, was obstinately bent on the achievement of his purpose, and
+ Amphiaraus, in order to escape from their importunities, concealed
+ himself in a hiding-place known only to his wife Eriphyle.</p>
+
+ <p>Now on the occasion of the marriage of Amphiaraus it had been agreed,
+ that if he ever differed in opinion with the king, his wife should decide
+ the question. As the presence of Amphiaraus was indispensable to the
+ success of the undertaking, and, moreover, as Adrastus would not enter
+ upon it without "the eye of the army," as he called his brother-in-law,
+ Polynices, bent on securing his services, determined to bribe Eriphyle to
+ use her influence with her husband and to decide the question in
+ accordance with his wishes. He bethought himself of the beautiful
+ necklace of Harmonia, wife of Cadmus, which he had brought with him in
+ his flight from Thebes. Without loss of time he presented himself before
+ the wife of Amphiaraus, and held up to her admiring gaze the glittering
+ bauble, promising that if she revealed the hiding-place of her husband
+ and induced him to join the expedition, the necklace should be hers.
+ Eriphyle, unable to withstand the tempting bait, accepted the bribe, and
+ thus Amphiaraus was compelled to join the army. But before leaving his
+ home he extorted a solemn promise from his son Alcmæon that, should he
+ perish on the field of battle, he would avenge his death on his mother,
+ the perfidious Eriphyle.</p>
+
+ <p>Seven leaders were now chosen, each at the head of a separate
+ detachment of troops. These were Adrastus the king, his two brothers
+ Hippomedon and Parthenopæus, Capaneus his nephew, Polynices and Tydeus,
+ and Amphiaraus.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 274 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page274"></a>[274]</span></p>
+
+ <p>When the army was collected they set out for Nemea, which was at this
+ time governed by king Lycurgus. Here the Argives, being short of water,
+ halted on the outskirts of a forest in order to search for a spring, when
+ they saw a majestic and beautiful woman seated on the trunk of a tree,
+ nursing an infant. They concluded from her noble and queenly appearance
+ that she must be a goddess, but were informed by her that she was
+ Hypsipile, queen of the Lemnians, who had been carried away captive by
+ pirates, and sold as a slave to king Lycurgus, and that she was now
+ acting as nurse to his infant son. When the warriors told her that they
+ were in search of water, she laid the child down in the grass, and led
+ them to a secret spring in the forest, with which she alone was
+ acquainted. But on their return they found, to their grief, that the
+ unfortunate babe had been killed during their absence, by a serpent. They
+ slew the reptile, and then collecting the remains of the infant, they
+ buried them with funereal honours and proceeded on their way.</p>
+
+ <p>The warlike host now appeared before the walls of Thebes, and each
+ leader placed himself before one of the seven gates of the city in
+ readiness for the attack. Eteocles, in conjunction with Creon, had made
+ due preparations to repel the invaders, and had stationed troops, under
+ the command of trusty leaders, to guard each of the gates. Then,
+ according to the practice of the ancients of consulting soothsayers
+ before entering upon any undertaking, the blind old seer Tiresias was
+ sent for, who, after carefully taking the auguries from the flight of
+ birds, declared that all efforts to defend the city would prove
+ unavailing, unless the youngest descendant of the house of Cadmus would
+ offer himself as a voluntary sacrifice for the good of the state.</p>
+
+ <p>When Creon heard the words of the seer his first thought was of his
+ favourite son Men&oelig;ceus, the youngest scion of the royal house, who
+ was present at the interview. He therefore earnestly implored him to
+ leave the city, and to repair for safety to Delphi. But the gallant youth
+ heroically resolved to sacrifice his life for the <!-- Page 275 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page275"></a>[275]</span>benefit of his country,
+ and after taking leave of his old father, mounted the city walls, and
+ plunging a dagger into his heart, perished in the sight of the contending
+ hosts.</p>
+
+ <p>Adrastus now gave his troops the word of command to storm the city,
+ and they rushed forward to the attack with great valour. The battle raged
+ long and furiously, and after heavy losses on both sides the Argives were
+ routed and put to flight.</p>
+
+ <p>After the lapse of some days they reorganized their forces, and again
+ appeared before the gates of Thebes, when Eteocles, grieved to think that
+ there should be such a terrible loss of life on his account, sent a
+ herald into the opposite camp, with a proposition that the fate of the
+ campaign should be decided by single combat between himself and his
+ brother Polynices. The challenge was readily accepted, and in the duel
+ which took place outside the city walls, in the sight of the rival
+ forces, Eteocles and Polynices were both fatally wounded and expired on
+ the field of battle.</p>
+
+ <p>Both sides now claimed the day, and the result was that hostilities
+ recommenced, and soon the battle raged with greater fury than ever. But
+ victory at last declared itself for the Thebans. In their flight the
+ Argives lost all their leaders, Adrastus excepted, who owed his safety to
+ the fleetness of his horse Arion.</p>
+
+ <p>By the death of the brothers, Creon became once more king of Thebes,
+ and in order to show his abhorrence of the conduct of Polynices in
+ fighting against his country, he strictly forbade any one to bury either
+ his remains or those of his allies. But the faithful Antigone, who had
+ returned to Thebes on the death of her father, could not endure that the
+ body of her brother should remain unburied. She therefore bravely
+ disregarded the orders of the king, and endeavoured to give sepulture to
+ the remains of Polynices.</p>
+
+ <p>When Creon discovered that his commands had been set at defiance, he
+ inhumanly condemned the devoted maiden to be entombed alive in a
+ subterranean vault. <!-- Page 276 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page276"></a>[276]</span>But retribution was at hand. His son,
+ Hæmon, who was betrothed to Antigone, having contrived to effect an
+ entrance into the vault, was horrified to find that Antigone had hanged
+ herself by her veil. Feeling that life without her would be intolerable,
+ he threw himself in despair on his own sword, and after solemnly invoking
+ the malediction of the gods on the head of his father, expired beside the
+ dead body of his betrothed.</p>
+
+ <p>Hardly had the news of the tragic fate of his son reached the king,
+ before another messenger appeared, bearing the tidings that his wife
+ Eurydice, on hearing of the death of Hæmon, had put an end to her
+ existence, and thus the king found himself in his old age both widowed
+ and childless.</p>
+
+ <p>Nor did he succeed in the execution of his vindictive designs; for
+ Adrastus, who, after his flight from Thebes, had taken refuge at Athens,
+ induced Theseus to lead an army against the Thebans, to compel them to
+ restore the dead bodies of the Argive warriors to their friends, in order
+ that they might perform due funereal rites in honour of the slain. This
+ undertaking was successfully accomplished, and the remains of the fallen
+ heroes were interred with due honours.</p>
+
+<h3>THE EPIGONI.</h3>
+
+ <p>Ten years after these events the sons of the slain heroes, who were
+ called Epigoni, or descendants, resolved to avenge the death of their
+ fathers, and with this object entered upon a new expedition against the
+ city of Thebes.</p>
+
+ <p>By the advice of the Delphic oracle the command was intrusted to
+ Alcmæon, the son of Amphiaraus; but remembering the injunction of his
+ father he hesitated to accept this post before executing vengeance on his
+ mother Eriphyle. Thersander, however, the son of Polynices, adopting
+ similar tactics to those of his father, bribed Eriphyle with the
+ beautiful veil of Harmonia, bequeathed to him by Polynices, to induce her
+ son <!-- Page 277 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page277"></a>[277]</span>Alcmæon and his brother Amphilochus to
+ join in this second war against Thebes.</p>
+
+ <p>Now the mother of Alcmæon was gifted with that rare fascination which
+ renders its possessor irresistible to all who may chance to come within
+ its influence; nor was her own son able to withstand her blandishments.
+ Yielding therefore to her wily representations he accepted the command of
+ the troops, and at the head of a large and powerful army advanced upon
+ Thebes.</p>
+
+ <p>Before the gates of the city Alcmæon encountered the Thebans under the
+ command of Laodamas, the son of Eteocles. A fierce battle ensued, in
+ which the Theban leader, after performing prodigies of valour, perished
+ by the hand of Alcmæon.</p>
+
+ <p>After losing their chief and the flower of their army, the Thebans
+ retreated behind the city walls, and the enemy now pressed them hard on
+ every side. In their distress they appealed to the blind old seer
+ Tiresias, who was over a hundred years old. With trembling lips and in
+ broken accents, he informed them that they could only save their lives by
+ abandoning their native city with their wives and families. Upon this
+ they despatched ambassadors into the enemy's camp; and whilst these were
+ protracting negotiations during the night, the Thebans, with their wives
+ and children, evacuated the city. Next morning the Argives entered Thebes
+ and plundered it, placing Thersander, the son of Polynices (who was a
+ descendant of Cadmus), on the throne which his father had so vainly
+ contested.</p>
+
+<h3>ALCMÆON AND THE NECKLACE.</h3>
+
+ <p>When Alcmæon returned from his expedition against the Thebans he
+ determined to fulfil the last injunction of his father Amphiaraus, who
+ had desired him to be revenged on his mother Eriphyle for her perfidy in
+ accepting a bribe to betray him. This resolution was further strengthened
+ by the discovery that his unprincipled mother had urged him also to join
+ the expedition <!-- Page 278 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page278"></a>[278]</span>in return for the much-coveted veil of
+ Harmonia. He therefore put her to death; and taking with him the
+ ill-fated necklace and veil, abandoned for ever the home of his
+ fathers.</p>
+
+ <p>But the gods, who could not suffer so unnatural a crime to go
+ unpunished, afflicted him with madness, and sent one of the Furies to
+ pursue him unceasingly. In this unhappy condition he wandered about from
+ place to place, until at last having reached Psophis in Arcadia, Phegeus,
+ king of the country, not only purified him of his crime, but also
+ bestowed upon him the hand of his daughter Arsinoë, to whom Alcmæon
+ presented the necklace and veil, which had already been the cause of so
+ much unhappiness.</p>
+
+ <p>Though now released from his mental affliction, the curse which hung
+ over him was not entirely removed, and on his account the country of his
+ adoption was visited with a severe drought. On consulting the oracle of
+ Delphi he was informed that any land which offered him shelter would be
+ cursed by the gods, and that the malediction would continue to follow him
+ till he came to a country which was not in existence at the time he had
+ murdered his mother. Bereft of hope, and resolved no longer to cast the
+ shadow of his dark fate over those he loved, Alcmæon took a tender leave
+ of his wife and little son, and became once more an outcast and
+ wanderer.</p>
+
+ <p>Arrived after a long and painful pilgrimage at the river Achelous, he
+ discovered, to his unspeakable joy, a beautiful and fertile island, which
+ had but lately emerged from beneath the water. Here he took up his abode;
+ and in this haven of rest he was at length freed from his sufferings, and
+ finally purified of his crime by the river-god Achelous. But in his
+ new-found home where prosperity smiled upon him, Alcmæon soon forgot the
+ loving wife and child he had left behind, and wooed Calirrhoë, the
+ beautiful daughter of the river-god, who became united to him in
+ marriage.</p>
+
+ <p>For many years Alcmæon and Calirrhoë lived happily together, and two
+ sons were born to them. But <!-- Page 279 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page279"></a>[279]</span>unfortunately for the peace of her
+ husband, the daughter of Achelous had heard of the celebrated necklace
+ and veil of Harmonia, and became seized with a violent desire to become
+ the possessor of these precious treasures.</p>
+
+ <p>Now the necklace and veil were in the safe-keeping of Arsinoë; but as
+ Alcmæon had carefully concealed the fact of his former marriage from his
+ young wife, he informed her, when no longer able to combat her
+ importunities, that he had concealed them in a cave in his native
+ country, and promised to hasten thither and procure them for her. He
+ accordingly took leave of Calirrhoë and his children, and proceeded to
+ Psophis, where he presented himself before his deserted wife and her
+ father, king Phegeus. To them he excused his absence by the fact of his
+ having suffered from a fresh attack of madness, and added that an oracle
+ had foretold to him that his malady would only be cured when he had
+ deposited the necklace and veil of Harmonia in the temple of Apollo at
+ Delphi. Arsinoë, deceived by his artful representations, unhesitatingly
+ restored to him his bridal gifts, whereupon Alcmæon set out on his
+ homeward journey, well satisfied with the successful issue of his
+ expedition.</p>
+
+ <p>But the fatal necklace and veil were doomed to bring ruin and disaster
+ to all who possessed them. During his sojourn at the court of king
+ Phegeus, one of the servants who had accompanied Alcmæon betrayed the
+ secret of his union with the daughter of the river-god; and when the king
+ informed his sons of his treacherous conduct, they determined to avenge
+ the wrongs of their sister Arsinoë. They accordingly concealed themselves
+ at a point of the road which Alcmæon was compelled to pass, and as he
+ neared the spot they suddenly emerged from their place of ambush, fell
+ upon him and despatched him.</p>
+
+ <p>When Arsinoë, who still loved her faithless husband, heard of the
+ murder, she bitterly reproached her brothers for the crime which they had
+ perpetrated, at which they were so incensed, that they placed her in a
+ chest, and conveyed her to Agapenor, son of Ancæus, at Tegea. <!-- Page
+ 280 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page280"></a>[280]</span>Here they
+ accused her of the murder of which they themselves were guilty, and she
+ suffered a painful death.</p>
+
+ <p>Calirrhoë, on learning the sad fate of Alcmæon, implored Zeus that her
+ infant sons might grow at once to manhood, and avenge the death of their
+ father. The ruler of Olympus heard the petition of the bereaved wife,
+ and, in answer to her prayer, the children of yesterday became
+ transformed into bearded men, full of strength and courage, and thirsting
+ for revenge.</p>
+
+ <p>Hastening to Tegea, they there encountered the sons of Phegeus, who
+ were about to repair to Delphi, in order to deposit the necklace and veil
+ in the sanctuary of Apollo; and before the brothers had time to defend
+ themselves, the stalwart sons of Calirrhoë rushed upon them and slew
+ them. They then proceeded to Psophis, where they killed king Phegeus and
+ his wife, after which they returned to their mother with the necklace and
+ veil, which, by the command of her father Achelous, were deposited as
+ sacred offerings in the temple of Apollo at Delphi.</p>
+
+<h3>THE HERACLIDÆ.</h3>
+
+ <p>After the apotheosis of Heracles, his children were so cruelly
+ persecuted by Eurystheus, that they fled for protection to king Ceyx at
+ Trachin, accompanied by the aged Iolaus, the nephew and life-long friend
+ of their father, who constituted himself their guide and protector. But
+ on Eurystheus demanding the surrender of the fugitives, the Heraclidæ,
+ knowing that the small force at the disposal of king Ceyx would be
+ altogether inadequate to protect them against the powerful king of Argos,
+ abandoned his territory, and sought refuge at Athens, where they were
+ hospitably received by king Demophoon, the son of the great hero Theseus.
+ He warmly espoused their cause, and determined to protect them at all
+ costs against Eurystheus, who had despatched a numerous force in pursuit
+ of them.</p>
+
+ <p>When the Athenians had made all necessary preparations to repel the
+ invaders, an oracle announced that the <!-- Page 281 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page281"></a>[281]</span>sacrifice of a maiden
+ of noble birth was necessary to ensure to them victory; whereupon
+ Macaria, the beautiful daughter of Heracles and Deianira, magnanimously
+ offered herself as a sacrifice, and, surrounded by the noblest matrons
+ and maidens of Athens, voluntarily devoted herself to death.</p>
+
+ <p>While these events were transpiring in Athens, Hyllus, the eldest son
+ of Heracles and Deianira, had advanced with a large army to the
+ assistance of his brothers, and having sent a messenger to the king
+ announcing his arrival, Demophoon, with his army, joined his forces.</p>
+
+ <p>In the thick of the battle which ensued, Iolaus, following a sudden
+ impulse, borrowed the chariot of Hyllus, and earnestly entreated Zeus and
+ Hebe to restore to him, for this one day only, the vigour and strength of
+ his youth. His prayer was heard. A thick cloud descended from heaven and
+ enveloped the chariot, and when it disappeared, Iolaus, in the full
+ plenitude of manly vigour, stood revealed before the astonished gaze of
+ the combatants. He then led on his valiant band of warriors, and soon the
+ enemy was in headlong flight; and Eurystheus, who was taken prisoner, was
+ put to death by the command of king Demophoon.</p>
+
+ <p>After gratefully acknowledging the timely aid of the Athenians,
+ Hyllus, accompanied by the faithful Iolaus and his brothers, took leave
+ of king Demophoon, and proceeded to invade the Peloponnesus, which they
+ regarded as their lawful patrimony; for, according to the will of Zeus,
+ it should have been the rightful possession of their father, the great
+ hero Heracles, had not Hera maliciously defeated his plans by causing his
+ cousin Eurystheus to precede him into the world.</p>
+
+ <p>For the space of twelve months the Heraclidæ contrived to maintain
+ themselves in the Peloponnesus; but at the expiration of that time a
+ pestilence broke out, which spread over the entire peninsula, and
+ compelled the Heraclidæ to evacuate the country and return to Attica,
+ where for a time they settled.</p>
+
+ <p>After the lapse of three years Hyllus resolved on <!-- Page 282
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page282"></a>[282]</span>making another
+ effort to obtain his paternal inheritance. Before setting out on the
+ expedition, however, he consulted the oracle of Delphi, and the response
+ was, that he must wait for the third fruit before the enterprise would
+ prove successful. Interpreting this ambiguous reply to signify the third
+ summer, Hyllus controlled his impatience for three years, when, having
+ collected a powerful army, he once more entered the Peloponnesus.</p>
+
+ <p>At the isthmus of Corinth he was opposed by Atreus, the son of Pelops,
+ who at the death of Eurystheus had inherited the kingdom. In order to
+ save bloodshed, Hyllus offered to decide his claims by single combat, the
+ conditions being, that if he were victorious, he and his brothers should
+ obtain undisputed possession of their rights; but if defeated, the
+ Heraclidæ were to desist for fifty years from attempting to press their
+ claim.</p>
+
+ <p>The challenge was accepted by Echemon, king of Tegea, and Hyllus lost
+ his life in the encounter, whereupon the sons of Heracles, in virtue of
+ their agreement, abandoned the Peloponnesus and retired to Marathon.</p>
+
+ <p>Hyllus was succeeded by his son Cleodæus, who, at the expiration of
+ the appointed time, collected a large army and invaded the Peloponnesus;
+ but he was not more successful than his father had been, and perished
+ there with all his forces.</p>
+
+ <p>Twenty years later his son Aristomachus consulted an oracle, which
+ promised him victory if he went by way of the defile. The Heraclidæ once
+ more set out, but were again defeated, and Aristomachus shared the fate
+ of his father and grandfather, and fell on the field of battle.</p>
+
+ <p>When, at the expiration of thirty years, the sons of Aristomachus,
+ Temenus, Cresphontes, and Aristodemus again consulted the oracle, the
+ answer was still the same; but this time the following explanation
+ accompanied the response: the third fruit signified the third generation,
+ to which they themselves belonged, and not the third fruit of the earth;
+ and by the defile was indicated, not the isthmus of Corinth, but the
+ straits on the right of the isthmus.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 283 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page283"></a>[283]</span></p>
+
+ <p>Temenus lost no time in collecting an army and building ships of war;
+ but just as all was ready and the fleet about to sail, Aristodemus, the
+ youngest of the brothers, was struck by lightning. To add to their
+ misfortunes, Hippolytes, a descendant of Heracles, who had joined in the
+ expedition, killed a soothsayer whom he mistook for a spy, and the gods,
+ in their displeasure, sent violent tempests, by means of which the entire
+ fleet was destroyed, whilst famine and pestilence decimated the ranks of
+ the army.</p>
+
+ <p>The oracle, on being again consulted, advised that Hippolytes, being
+ the offender, should be banished from the country for ten years, and that
+ the command of the troops should be delegated to a man having three eyes.
+ A search was at once instituted by the Heraclidæ for a man answering to
+ this description, who was found at length in the person of Oxylus, a
+ descendant of the Ætolian race of kings. In obedience to the command of
+ the oracle, Hippolytes was banished, an army and fleet once more
+ equipped, and Oxylus elected commander-in-chief.</p>
+
+ <p>And now success at length crowned the efforts of the long-suffering
+ descendants of the great hero. They obtained possession of the
+ Peloponnesus, which was divided among them by lot. Argos fell to Temenus,
+ Lacedæmon to Aristodemus, and Messene to Cresphontes. In gratitude for
+ the services of their able leader, Oxylus, the kingdom of Elis, was
+ conferred upon him by the Heraclidæ.</p>
+
+<h3>THE SIEGE OF TROY.</h3>
+
+ <p>Troy or Ilion was the capital of a kingdom in Asia Minor, situated
+ near the Hellespont, and founded by Ilus, son of Tros. At the time of the
+ famous Trojan war this city was under the government of Priam, a direct
+ descendant of Ilus. Priam was married to Hecuba, daughter of Dymas, king
+ of Thrace; and among the most celebrated of their children were the
+ renowned and <!-- Page 284 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page284"></a>[284]</span>valiant Hector, the prophetess Cassandra,
+ and Paris, the cause of the Trojan war.</p>
+
+ <p>Before the birth of her second son Paris, Hecuba dreamt that she had
+ given birth to a flaming brand, which was interpreted by Æsacus the seer
+ (a son of Priam by a former marriage) to signify that she would bear a
+ son who would cause the destruction of the city of Troy. Anxious to
+ prevent the fulfilment of the prophecy, Hecuba caused her new-born babe
+ to be exposed on Mount Ida to perish; but being found by some
+ kind-hearted shepherds, the child was reared by them, and grew up
+ unconscious of his noble birth.</p>
+
+ <p>As the boy approached manhood he became remarkable, not only for his
+ wonderful beauty of form and feature, but also for his strength and
+ courage, which he exercised in defending the flocks from the attacks of
+ robbers and wild beasts; hence he was called Alexander, or helper of men.
+ It was about this time that he settled the famous dispute concerning the
+ golden apple, thrown by the goddess of Discord into the assembly of the
+ gods. As we have already seen, he gave his decision in favour of
+ Aphrodite; thus creating for himself two implacable enemies, for Hera and
+ Athene never forgave the slight.</p>
+
+ <p>Paris became united to a beautiful nymph named &OElig;none, with whom
+ he lived happily in the seclusion and tranquillity of a pastoral life;
+ but to her deep grief this peaceful existence was not fated to be of long
+ duration.</p>
+
+ <p>Hearing that some funereal games were about to be held in Troy in
+ honour of a departed relative of the king, Paris resolved to visit the
+ capital and take part in them himself. There he so greatly distinguished
+ himself in a contest with his unknown brothers, Hector and Deiphobus,
+ that the proud young princes, enraged that an obscure shepherd should
+ snatch from them the prize of victory, were about to create a
+ disturbance, when Cassandra, who had been a spectator of the proceedings,
+ stepped forward, and announced to them that the humble peasant who had so
+ signally defeated them was their own <!-- Page 285 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page285"></a>[285]</span>brother Paris. He was
+ then conducted to the presence of his parents, who joyfully acknowledged
+ him as their child; and amidst the festivities and rejoicings in honour
+ of their new-found son the ominous prediction of the past was
+ forgotten.</p>
+
+ <p>As a proof of his confidence, the king now intrusted Paris with a
+ somewhat delicate mission. As we have already seen in the Legend of
+ Heracles, that great hero conquered Troy, and after killing king
+ Laomedon, carried away captive his beautiful daughter Hesione, whom he
+ bestowed in marriage on his friend Telamon. But although she became
+ princess of Salamis, and lived happily with her husband, her brother
+ Priam never ceased to regret her loss, and the indignity which had been
+ passed upon his house; and it was now proposed that Paris should be
+ equipped with a numerous fleet, and proceed to Greece in order to demand
+ the restoration of the king's sister.</p>
+
+ <p>Before setting out on this expedition, Paris was warned by Cassandra
+ against bringing home a wife from Greece, and she predicted that if he
+ disregarded her injunction he would bring inevitable ruin upon the city
+ of Troy, and destruction to the house of Priam.</p>
+
+ <p>Under the command of Paris the fleet set sail, and arrived safely in
+ Greece. Here the young Trojan prince first beheld Helen, the daughter of
+ Zeus and Leda, and sister of the Dioscuri, who was the wife of Menelaus,
+ king of Sparta, and the loveliest woman of her time. The most renowned
+ heroes in Greece had sought the honour of her hand; but her stepfather,
+ Tyndareus, king of Sparta, fearing that if he bestowed her in marriage on
+ one of her numerous lovers he would make enemies of the rest, made it a
+ stipulation that all suitors should solemnly swear to assist and defend
+ the successful candidate, with all the means at their command, in any
+ feud which might hereafter arise in connection with the marriage. He at
+ length conferred the hand of Helen upon Menelaus, a warlike prince,
+ devoted to martial exercises and the pleasures of the chase, to whom he
+ resigned his throne and kingdom.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 286 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page286"></a>[286]</span></p>
+
+ <p>When Paris arrived at Sparta, and sought hospitality at the royal
+ palace, he was kindly received by king Menelaus. At the banquet given in
+ his honour, he charmed both host and hostess by his graceful manner and
+ varied accomplishments, and specially ingratiated himself with the fair
+ Helen, to whom he presented some rare and chaste trinkets of Asiatic
+ manufacture.</p>
+
+ <p>Whilst Paris was still a guest at the court of the king of Sparta, the
+ latter received an invitation from his friend Idomeneus, king of Crete,
+ to join him in a hunting expedition; and Menelaus, being of an
+ unsuspicious and easy temperament, accepted the invitation, leaving to
+ Helen the duty of entertaining the distinguished stranger. Captivated by
+ her surpassing loveliness, the Trojan prince forgot every sense of honour
+ and duty, and resolved to rob his absent host of his beautiful wife. He
+ accordingly collected his followers, and with their assistance stormed
+ the royal castle, possessed himself of the rich treasures which it
+ contained, and succeeded in carrying off its beautiful, and not
+ altogether unwilling mistress.</p>
+
+ <p>They at once set sail, but were driven by stress of weather to the
+ island of Crania, where they cast anchor; and it was not until some years
+ had elapsed, during which time home and country were forgotten, that
+ Paris and Helen proceeded to Troy.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Preparations for the War.</b>&mdash;When Menelaus heard of the
+ violation of his hearth and home he proceeded to Pylos, accompanied by
+ his brother Agamemnon, in order to consult the wise old king Nestor, who
+ was renowned for his great experience and state-craft. On hearing the
+ facts of the case Nestor expressed it as his opinion that only by means
+ of the combined efforts of all the states of Greece could Menelaus hope
+ to regain Helen in defiance of so powerful a kingdom as that of Troy.</p>
+
+ <p>Menelaus and Agamemnon now raised the war-cry, which was unanimously
+ responded to from one end of Greece to the other. Many of those who
+ volunteered <!-- Page 287 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page287"></a>[287]</span>their services were former suitors of the
+ fair Helen, and were therefore bound by their oath to support the cause
+ of Menelaus; others joined from pure love of adventure, but one and all
+ were deeply impressed with the disgrace which would attach to their
+ country should such a crime be suffered to go unpunished. Thus a powerful
+ army was collected in which few names of note were missing.</p>
+
+ <p>Only in the case of two great heroes, Odysseus (Ulysses) and Achilles,
+ did Menelaus experience any difficulty.</p>
+
+ <p>Odysseus, famed for his wisdom and great astuteness, was at this time
+ living happily in Ithaca with his fair young wife Penelope and his little
+ son Telemachus, and was loath to leave his happy home for a perilous
+ foreign expedition of uncertain duration. When therefore his services
+ were solicited he feigned madness; but the shrewd Palamedes, a
+ distinguished hero in the suite of Menelaus, detected and exposed the
+ ruse, and thus Odysseus was forced to join in the war. But he never
+ forgave the interference of Palamedes, and, as we shall see, eventually
+ revenged himself upon him in a most cruel manner.</p>
+
+ <p>Achilles was the son of Peleus and the sea-goddess Thetis, who is said
+ to have dipped her son, when a babe, in the river Styx, and thereby
+ rendered him invulnerable, except in the right heel, by which she held
+ him. When the boy was nine years old it was foretold to Thetis that he
+ would either enjoy a long life of inglorious ease and inactivity, or that
+ after a brief career of victory he would die the death of a hero.
+ Naturally desirous of prolonging the life of her son, the fond mother
+ devoutly hoped that the former fate might be allotted to him. With this
+ view she conveyed him to the island of Scyros, in the Ægean Sea, where,
+ disguised as a girl, he was brought up among the daughters of Lycomedes,
+ king of the country.</p>
+
+ <p>Now that the presence of Achilles was required, owing to an oracular
+ prediction that Troy could not be taken without him, Menelaus consulted
+ Calchas the soothsayer, who revealed to him the place of his concealment.
+ Odysseus was accordingly despatched to Scyros, where, by <!-- Page 288
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page288"></a>[288]</span>means of a
+ clever device, he soon discovered which among the maidens was the object
+ of his search. Disguising himself as a merchant, Odysseus obtained an
+ introduction to the royal palace, where he offered to the king's
+ daughters various trinkets for sale. The girls, with one exception, all
+ examined his wares with unfeigned interest. Observing this circumstance
+ Odysseus shrewdly concluded that the one who held aloof must be none
+ other than the young Achilles himself. But in order further to test the
+ correctness of his deduction, he now exhibited a beautiful set of warlike
+ accoutrements, whilst, at a given signal, stirring strains of martial
+ music were heard outside; whereupon Achilles, fired with warlike ardour,
+ seized the weapons, and thus revealed his identity. He now joined the
+ cause of the Greeks, accompanied at the request of his father by his
+ kinsman Patroclus, and contributed to the expedition a large force of
+ Thessalian troops, or Myrmidons, as they were called, and also fifty
+ ships.</p>
+
+ <p>For ten long years Agamemnon and the other chiefs devoted all their
+ energy and means in preparing for the expedition against Troy. But during
+ these warlike preparations an attempt at a peaceful solution of the
+ difficulty was not neglected. An embassy consisting of Menelaus,
+ Odysseus, &amp;c., was despatched to king Priam demanding the surrender
+ of Helen; but though the embassy was received with the utmost pomp and
+ ceremony, the demand was nevertheless rejected; upon which the
+ ambassadors returned to Greece, and the order was given for the fleet to
+ assemble at Aulis, in B&oelig;otia.</p>
+
+ <p>Never before in the annals of Greece had so large an army been
+ collected. A hundred thousand warriors were assembled at Aulis, and in
+ its bay floated over a thousand ships, ready to convey them to the Trojan
+ coast. The command of this mighty host was intrusted to Agamemnon, king
+ of Argos, the most powerful of all the Greek princes.</p>
+
+ <p>Before the fleet set sail solemn sacrifices were offered to the gods
+ on the sea-shore, when suddenly a serpent was seen to ascend a
+ plane-tree, in which was a sparrow's <!-- Page 289 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page289"></a>[289]</span>nest containing nine
+ young ones. The reptile first devoured the young birds and then their
+ mother, after which it was turned by Zeus into stone. Calchas the
+ soothsayer, on being consulted, interpreted the miracle to signify that
+ the war with Troy would last for nine years, and that only in the tenth
+ would the city be taken.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Departure of the Greek Fleet.</b>&mdash;The fleet then set sail;
+ but mistaking the Mysian coast for that of Troy, they landed troops and
+ commenced to ravage the country. Telephus, king of the Mysians, who was a
+ son of the great hero Heracles, opposed them with a large army, and
+ succeeded in driving them back to their ships, but was himself wounded in
+ the engagement by the spear of Achilles. Patroclus, who fought valiantly
+ by the side of his kinsman, was also wounded in this battle; but
+ Achilles, who was a pupil of Chiron, carefully bound up the wound, which
+ he succeeded in healing; and from this incident dates the celebrated
+ friendship which ever after existed between the two heroes, who even in
+ death remained united.</p>
+
+ <p>The Greeks now returned to Aulis. Meanwhile, the wound of Telephus
+ proving incurable, he consulted an oracle, and the response was, that he
+ alone who had inflicted the wound possessed the power of curing it.
+ Telephus accordingly proceeded to the Greek camp, where he was healed by
+ Achilles, and, at the solicitation of Odysseus, consented to act as guide
+ in the voyage to Troy.</p>
+
+ <p>Just as the expedition was about to start for the second time,
+ Agamemnon had the misfortune to kill a hind sacred to Artemis, who, in
+ her anger, sent continuous calms, which prevented the fleet from setting
+ sail. Calchas on being consulted announced that the sacrifice of
+ Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon, would alone appease the incensed
+ goddess. How Agamemnon at length overcame his feelings as a father, and
+ how Iphigenia was saved by Artemis herself, has been already related in a
+ previous chapter.</p>
+
+ <p>A fair wind having at length sprung up, the fleet <!-- Page 290
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page290"></a>[290]</span>once more set
+ sail. They first stopped at the island of Tenedos, where the famous
+ archer Philoctetes&mdash;who possessed the bow and arrows of Heracles,
+ given to him by the dying hero&mdash;was bitten in the foot by a venomous
+ snake. So unbearable was the odour emitted by the wound, that, at the
+ suggestion of Odysseus, Philoctetes was conveyed to the island of Lesbos,
+ where, to his great chagrin, he was abandoned to his fate, and the fleet
+ proceeded on their journey to Troy.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Commencement of Hostilities.</b>&mdash;Having received early
+ intelligence of the impending invasion of their country, the Trojans
+ sought the assistance of the neighbouring states, who all gallantly
+ responded to their call for help, and thus ample preparations were made
+ to receive the enemy. King Priam being himself too advanced in years for
+ active service, the command of the army devolved upon his eldest son, the
+ brave and valiant Hector.</p>
+
+ <p>At the approach of the Greek fleet the Trojans appeared on the coast
+ in order to prevent their landing. But great hesitation prevailed among
+ the troops as to who should be the first to set foot on the enemy's soil,
+ it having been predicted that whoever did so would fall a sacrifice to
+ the Fates. Protesilaus of Phylace, however, nobly disregarding the
+ ominous prediction, leaped on shore, and fell by the hand of Hector.</p>
+
+ <p>The Greeks then succeeded in effecting a landing, and in the
+ engagement which ensued the Trojans were signally defeated, and driven to
+ seek safety behind the walls of their city. With Achilles at their head
+ the Greeks now made a desperate attempt to take the city by storm, but
+ were repulsed with terrible losses. After this defeat the invaders,
+ foreseeing a long and wearisome campaign, drew up their ships on land,
+ erected tents, huts, &amp;c., and formed an intrenched camp on the
+ coast.</p>
+
+ <p>Between the Greek camp and the city of Troy was a plain watered by the
+ rivers Scamander and Simois, and it was on this plain, afterwards so
+ renowned in history, <!-- Page 291 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page291"></a>[291]</span>that the ever memorable battles between
+ the Greeks and Trojans were fought.</p>
+
+ <p>The impossibility of taking the city by storm was now recognized by
+ the leaders of the Greek forces. The Trojans, on their side, being less
+ numerous than the enemy, dared not venture on a great battle in the open
+ field; hence the war dragged on for many weary years without any decisive
+ engagement taking place.</p>
+
+ <p>It was about this time that Odysseus carried out his long meditated
+ revenge against Palamedes. Palamedes was one of the wisest, most
+ energetic, and most upright of all the Greek heroes, and it was in
+ consequence of his unflagging zeal and wonderful eloquence that most of
+ the chiefs had been induced to join the expedition. But the very
+ qualities which endeared him to the hearts of his countrymen rendered him
+ hateful in the eyes of his implacable enemy, Odysseus, who never forgave
+ his having detected his scheme to avoid joining the army.</p>
+
+ <p>In order to effect the ruin of Palamedes, Odysseus concealed in his
+ tent a vast sum of money. He next wrote a letter, purporting to be from
+ king Priam to Palamedes, in which the former thanked the Greek hero
+ effusively for the valuable information received from him, referring at
+ the same time to a large sum of money which he had sent to him as a
+ reward. This letter, which was found upon the person of a Phrygian
+ prisoner, was read aloud in a council of the Greek princes. Palamedes was
+ arraigned before the chiefs of the army and accused of betraying his
+ country to the enemy, whereupon a search was instituted, and a large sum
+ of money being found in his tent, he was pronounced guilty and sentenced
+ to be stoned to death. Though fully aware of the base treachery practised
+ against him, Palamedes offered not a word in self-defence, knowing but
+ too well that, in the face of such damning evidence, the attempt to prove
+ his innocence would be vain.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Defection of Achilles.</b>&mdash;During the first year of the
+ campaign the Greeks ravaged the surrounding country, <!-- Page 292
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page292"></a>[292]</span>and pillaged
+ the neighbouring villages. Upon one of these foraging expeditions the
+ city of Pedasus was sacked, and Agamemnon, as commander-in-chief,
+ received as his share of the spoil the beautiful Chrysëis, daughter of
+ Chryses, the priest of Apollo; whilst to Achilles was allotted another
+ captive, the fair Brisëis. The following day Chryses, anxious to ransom
+ his daughter, repaired to the Greek camp; but Agamemnon refused to accede
+ to his proposal, and with rude and insulting words drove the old man
+ away. Full of grief at the loss of his child Chryses called upon Apollo
+ for vengeance on her captor. His prayer was heard, and the god sent a
+ dreadful pestilence which raged for ten days in the camp of the Greeks.
+ Achilles at length called together a council, and inquired of Calchas the
+ soothsayer how to arrest this terrible visitation of the gods. The seer
+ replied that Apollo, incensed at the insult offered to his priest, had
+ sent the plague, and that only by the surrender of Chrysëis could his
+ anger be appeased.</p>
+
+ <p>On hearing this Agamemnon agreed to resign the maiden; but being
+ already embittered against Calchas for his prediction with regard to his
+ own daughter Iphigenia, he now heaped insults upon the soothsayer and
+ accused him of plotting against his interests. Achilles espoused the
+ cause of Calchas, and a violent dispute arose, in which the son of Thetis
+ would have killed his chief but for the timely interference of
+ Pallas-Athene, who suddenly appeared beside him, unseen by the rest, and
+ recalled him to a sense of the duty he owed to his commander. Agamemnon
+ revenged himself on Achilles by depriving him of his beautiful captive,
+ the fair Brisëis, who had become so attached to her kind and noble captor
+ that she wept bitterly on being removed from his charge. Achilles, now
+ fairly disgusted with the ungenerous conduct of his chief, withdrew
+ himself to his tent, and obstinately declined to take further part in the
+ war.</p>
+
+ <p>Heart-sore and dejected he repaired to the sea-shore, and there
+ invoked the presence of his divine mother. In answer to his prayer Thetis
+ emerged from beneath <!-- Page 293 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page293"></a>[293]</span>the waves, and comforted her gallant son
+ with the assurance that she would entreat the mighty Zeus to avenge his
+ wrongs by giving victory to the Trojans, so that the Greeks might learn
+ to realize the great loss which they had sustained by his withdrawal from
+ the army. The Trojans being informed by one of their spies of the
+ defection of Achilles, became emboldened by the absence of this brave and
+ intrepid leader, whom they feared above all the other Greek heroes; they
+ accordingly sallied forth, and made a bold and eminently successful
+ attack upon the Greeks, who, although they most bravely and obstinately
+ defended their position, were completely routed, and driven back to their
+ intrenchments, Agamemnon and most of the other Greek leaders being
+ wounded in the engagement.</p>
+
+ <p>Encouraged by this marked and signal success the Trojans now commenced
+ to besiege the Greeks in their own camp. At this juncture Agamemnon,
+ seeing the danger which threatened the army, sunk for the moment all
+ personal grievances, and despatched an embassy to Achilles consisting of
+ many noble and distinguished chiefs, urgently entreating him to come to
+ the assistance of his countrymen in this their hour of peril; promising
+ that not only should the fair Brisëis be restored to him, but also that
+ the hand of his own daughter should be bestowed on him in marriage, with
+ seven towns as her dowry. But the obstinate determination of the proud
+ hero was not to be moved; and though he listened courteously to the
+ arguments and representations of the messengers of Agamemnon, his
+ resolution to take no further part in the war remained unshaken.</p>
+
+ <p>In one of the engagements which took place soon afterwards, the
+ Trojans, under the command of Hector, penetrated into the heart of the
+ Greek camp, and had already commenced to burn their ships, when
+ Patroclus, seeing the distress of his countrymen, earnestly besought
+ Achilles to send him to the rescue at the head of the Myrmidons. The
+ better nature of the hero prevailed, and he not only intrusted to his
+ friend the command of <!-- Page 294 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page294"></a>[294]</span>his brave band of warriors, but lent him
+ also his own suit of armour.</p>
+
+ <p>Patroclus having mounted the war-chariot of the hero, Achilles lifted
+ on high a golden goblet and poured out a libation of wine to the gods,
+ accompanied by an earnest petition for victory, and the safe return of
+ his beloved comrade. As a parting injunction he warned Patroclus against
+ advancing too far into the territory of the enemy, and entreated him to
+ be content with rescuing the galleys.</p>
+
+ <p>At the head of the Myrmidons Patroclus now made a desperate attack
+ upon the enemy, who, thinking that the invincible Achilles was himself in
+ command of his battalions, became disheartened, and were put to flight.
+ Patroclus followed up his victory and pursued the Trojans as far as the
+ walls of their city, altogether forgetting in the excitement of battle
+ the injunction of his friend Achilles. But his temerity cost the young
+ hero his life, for he now encountered the mighty Hector himself, and fell
+ by his hands. Hector stripped the armour from his dead foe, and would
+ have dragged the body into the city had not Menelaus and Ajax the Greater
+ rushed forward, and after a long and fierce struggle succeeded in
+ rescuing it from desecration.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Death of Hector.</b>&mdash;And now came the mournful task of
+ informing Achilles of the fate of his friend. He wept bitterly over the
+ dead body of his comrade, and solemnly vowed that the funereal rites
+ should not be solemnized in his honour until he had slain Hector with his
+ own hands, and captured twelve Trojans to be immolated on his funeral
+ pyre. All other considerations vanished before the burning desire to
+ avenge the death of his friend; and Achilles, now thoroughly aroused from
+ his apathy, became reconciled to Agamemnon, and rejoined the Greek army.
+ At the request of the goddess Thetis, Hephæstus forged for him a new suit
+ of armour, which far surpassed in magnificence that of all the other
+ heroes.</p>
+
+ <p>Thus gloriously arrayed he was soon seen striding <!-- Page 295
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page295"></a>[295]</span>along, calling
+ the Greeks to arms. He now led the troops against the enemy, who were
+ defeated and put to flight until, near the gates of the city, Achilles
+ and Hector encountered each other. But here, for the first time
+ throughout his whole career, the courage of the Trojan hero deserted him.
+ At the near approach of his redoubtable antagonist he turned and fled for
+ his life. Achilles pursued him; and thrice round the walls of the city
+ was the terrible race run, in sight of the old king and queen, who had
+ mounted the walls to watch the battle. Hector endeavoured, during each
+ course, to reach the city gates, so that his comrades might open them to
+ admit him or cover him with their missiles; but his adversary, seeing his
+ design, forced him into the open plain, at the same time calling to his
+ friends to hurl no spear upon his foe, but to leave to him the vengeance
+ he had so long panted for. At length, wearied with the hot pursuit,
+ Hector made a stand and challenged his foe to single combat. A desperate
+ encounter took place, in which Hector succumbed to his powerful adversary
+ at the Scæan gate; and with his last dying breath the Trojan hero
+ foretold to his conqueror that he himself would soon perish on the same
+ spot.</p>
+
+ <p>The infuriated victor bound the lifeless corse of his fallen foe to
+ his chariot, and dragged it three times round the city walls and thence
+ to the Greek camp. Overwhelmed with horror at this terrible scene the
+ aged parents of Hector uttered such heart-rending cries of anguish that
+ they reached the ears of Andromache, his faithful wife, who, rushing to
+ the walls, beheld the dead body of her husband, bound to the conqueror's
+ car.</p>
+
+ <p>Achilles now solemnized the funereal rites in honour of his friend
+ Patroclus. The dead body of the hero was borne to the funeral pile by the
+ Myrmidons in full panoply. His dogs and horses were then slain to
+ accompany him, in case he should need them in the realm of shades; after
+ which Achilles, in fulfilment of his savage vow, slaughtered twelve brave
+ Trojan captives, who were <!-- Page 296 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page296"></a>[296]</span>laid on the funeral pyre, which was now
+ lighted. When all was consumed the bones of Patroclus were carefully
+ collected and inclosed in a golden urn. Then followed the funereal games,
+ which consisted of chariot-races, fighting with the cestus (a sort of
+ boxing-glove), wrestling matches, foot-races, and single combats with
+ shield and spear, in all of which the most distinguished heroes took
+ part, and contended for the prizes.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Penthesilea.</b>&mdash;After the death of Hector, their great hope
+ and bulwark, the Trojans did not venture beyond the walls of their city.
+ But soon their hopes were revived by the appearance of a powerful army of
+ Amazons under the command of their queen Penthesilea, a daughter of Ares,
+ whose great ambition was to measure swords with the renowned Achilles
+ himself, and to avenge the death of the valiant Hector.</p>
+
+ <p>Hostilities now recommenced in the open plain. Penthesilea led the
+ Trojan host; the Greeks on their side being under the command of Achilles
+ and Ajax. Whilst the latter succeeded in putting the enemy to flight,
+ Achilles was challenged by Penthesilea to single combat. With heroic
+ courage she went forth to the fight; but even the strongest men failed
+ before the power of the great Achilles, and though a daughter of Ares,
+ Penthesilea was but a woman. With generous chivalry the hero endeavoured
+ to spare the brave and beautiful maiden-warrior, and only when his own
+ life was in imminent danger did he make a serious effort to vanquish his
+ enemy, when Penthesilea shared the fate of all who ventured to oppose the
+ spear of Achilles, and fell by his hand.</p>
+
+ <p>Feeling herself fatally wounded, she remembered the desecration of the
+ dead body of Hector, and earnestly entreated the forbearance of the hero.
+ But the petition was hardly necessary, for Achilles, full of compassion
+ for his brave but unfortunate adversary, lifted her gently from the
+ ground, and she expired in his arms.</p>
+
+ <p>On beholding the dead body of their leader in the <!-- Page 297
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page297"></a>[297]</span>possession of
+ Achilles, the Amazons and Trojans prepared for a fresh attack in order to
+ wrest it from his hands; but observing their purpose, Achilles stepped
+ forward and loudly called upon them to halt. Then in a few well-chosen
+ words he praised the great valour and intrepidity of the fallen queen,
+ and expressed his willingness to resign the body at once.</p>
+
+ <p>The chivalrous conduct of Achilles was fully appreciated by both
+ Greeks and Trojans. Thersites alone, a base and cowardly wretch,
+ attributed unworthy motives to the gracious proceedings of the hero; and,
+ not content with these insinuations, he savagely pierced with his lance
+ the dead body of the Amazonian queen; whereupon Achilles, with one blow
+ of his powerful arm, felled him to the ground, and killed him on the
+ spot.</p>
+
+ <p>The well-merited death of Thersites excited no commiseration, but his
+ kinsman Diomedes came forward and claimed compensation for the murder of
+ his relative; and as Agamemnon, who, as commander-in-chief, might easily
+ have settled the difficulty, refrained from interfering, the proud nature
+ of Achilles resented the implied condemnation of his conduct, and he once
+ more abandoned the Greek army and took ship for Lesbos. Odysseus,
+ however, followed him to the island, and, with his usual tact, succeeded
+ in inducing the hero to return to the camp.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Death of Achilles.</b>&mdash;A new ally of the Trojans now appeared
+ on the field in the person of Memnon, the Æthiopian, a son of Eos and
+ Tithonus, who brought with him a powerful reinforcement of negroes.
+ Memnon was the first opponent who had yet encountered Achilles on an
+ equal footing; for like the great hero himself he was the son of a
+ goddess, and possessed also, like Achilles, a suit of armour made for him
+ by Hephæstus.</p>
+
+ <p>Before the heroes encountered each other in single combat, the two
+ goddesses, Thetis and Eos, hastened to Olympus to intercede with its
+ mighty ruler for the life of their sons. Resolved even in this instance
+ not to act in opposition to the Moiræ, Zeus seized the golden scales <!--
+ Page 298 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page298"></a>[298]</span>in
+ which he weighed the lot of mortals, and placed in it the respective
+ fates of the two heroes, whereupon that of Memnon weighed down the
+ balance, thus portending his death.</p>
+
+ <p>Eos abandoned Olympus in despair. Arrived on the battlefield she
+ beheld the lifeless body of her son, who, after a long and brave defence,
+ had at length succumbed to the all-conquering arm of Achilles. At her
+ command her children, the Winds, flew down to the plain, and seizing the
+ body of the slain hero conveyed it through the air safe from the
+ desecration of the enemy.</p>
+
+ <p>The triumph of Achilles was not of long duration. Intoxicated with
+ success he attempted, at the head of the Greek army, to storm the city of
+ Troy, when Paris, by the aid of Ph&oelig;bus-Apollo, aimed a
+ well-directed dart at the hero, which pierced his vulnerable heel, and he
+ fell to the ground fatally wounded before the Scæan gate. But though face
+ to face with death, the intrepid hero, raising himself from the ground,
+ still performed prodigies of valour, and not until his tottering limbs
+ refused their office was the enemy aware that the wound was mortal.</p>
+
+ <p>By the combined efforts of Ajax and Odysseus the body of Achilles was
+ wrested from the enemy after a long and terrible fight, and conveyed to
+ the Greek camp. Weeping bitterly over the untimely fate of her gallant
+ son, Thetis came to embrace him for the last time, and mingled her
+ regrets and lamentations with those of the whole Greek army. The funeral
+ pyre was then lighted, and the voices of the Muses were heard chanting
+ his funeral dirge. When, according to the custom of the ancients, the
+ body had been burned on the pyre, the bones of the hero were collected,
+ inclosed in a golden urn, and deposited beside the remains of his beloved
+ friend Patroclus.</p>
+
+ <p>In the funereal games celebrated in honour of the fallen hero, the
+ property of her son was offered by Thetis as the prize of victory. But it
+ was unanimously agreed that the beautiful suit of armour made by
+ Hephæstus should be awarded to him who had contributed the most to the
+ <!-- Page 299 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page299"></a>[299]</span>rescue of the body from the hands of the
+ enemy. Popular opinion unanimously decided in favour of Odysseus, which
+ verdict was confirmed by the Trojan prisoners who were present at the
+ engagement. Unable to endure the slight, the unfortunate Ajax lost his
+ reason, and in this condition put an end to his existence.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Final Measures.</b>&mdash;Thus were the Greeks deprived at one and
+ the same time of their bravest and most powerful leader, and of him also
+ who approached the nearest to this distinction. For a time operations
+ were at a standstill, until Odysseus at length, contrived by means of a
+ cleverly-arranged ambush to capture Helenus, the son of Priam. Like his
+ sister Cassandra, Helenus possessed the gift of prophecy, and the
+ unfortunate youth was now coerced by Odysseus into using this gift
+ against the welfare of his native city.</p>
+
+ <p>The Greeks learned from the Trojan prince that three conditions were
+ indispensable to the conquest of Troy:&mdash;In the first place the son
+ of Achilles must fight in their ranks; secondly, the arrows of Heracles
+ must be used against the enemy; and thirdly, they must obtain possession
+ of the wooden image of Pallas-Athene, the famous Palladium of Troy.</p>
+
+ <p>The first condition was easily fulfilled. Ever ready to serve the
+ interests of the community, Odysseus repaired to the island of Scyros,
+ where he found Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles. Having succeeded in
+ arousing the ambition of the fiery youth, he generously resigned to him
+ the magnificent armour of his father, and then conveyed him to the Greek
+ camp, where he immediately distinguished himself in single combat with
+ Eurypylus, the son of Telephus, who had come to the aid of the
+ Trojans.</p>
+
+ <p>To procure the poison-dipped arrows of Heracles was a matter of
+ greater difficulty. They were still in the possession of the
+ much-aggrieved Philoctetes, who had remained in the island of Lemnos, his
+ wound still unhealed, suffering the most abject misery. But the <!-- Page
+ 300 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page300"></a>[300]</span>judicious
+ zeal of the indefatigable and ever-active Odysseus, who was accompanied
+ in this undertaking by Diomedes, at length gained the day, and he induced
+ Philoctetes to accompany him to the camp, where the skilful leech
+ Machaon, the son of Asclepias, healed him of his wound.</p>
+
+ <p>Philoctetes became reconciled to Agamemnon, and in an engagement which
+ took place soon after, he mortally wounded Paris, the son of Priam. But
+ though pierced by the fatal arrow of the demi-god, death did not
+ immediately ensue; and Paris, calling to mind the prediction of an
+ oracle, that his deserted wife &OElig;none could alone cure him if
+ wounded, caused himself to be transported to her abode on Mount Ida,
+ where he implored her by the memory of their past love to save his life.
+ But mindful only of her wrongs, &OElig;none crushed out of her heart
+ every womanly feeling of pity and compassion, and sternly bade him
+ depart. Soon, however, all her former affection for her husband awoke
+ within her. With frantic haste she followed him; but on her arrival in
+ the city she found the dead body of Paris already laid on the lighted
+ funeral pile, and, in her remorse and despair, &OElig;none threw herself
+ on the lifeless form of her husband and perished in the flames.</p>
+
+ <p>The Trojans were now shut up within their walls and closely besieged;
+ but the third and most difficult condition being still unfulfilled, all
+ efforts to take the city were unavailing. In this emergency the wise and
+ devoted Odysseus came once more to the aid of his comrades. Having
+ disfigured himself with self-inflicted wounds, he assumed the disguise of
+ a wretched old mendicant, and then crept stealthily into the city in
+ order to discover where the Palladium was preserved. He succeeded in his
+ object, and was recognized by no one save the fair Helen, who after the
+ death of Paris had been given in marriage to his brother Deiphobus. But
+ since death had robbed her of her lover, the heart of the Greek princess
+ had turned yearningly towards her native country and her husband
+ Menelaus, and Odysseus now found in her a most unlooked-for ally. On his
+ return to the camp <!-- Page 301 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page301"></a>[301]</span>Odysseus called to his aid the valiant
+ Diomedes, and with his assistance the perilous task of abstracting the
+ Palladium from its sacred precincts was, after some difficulty,
+ effected.</p>
+
+ <p>The conditions of conquest being now fulfilled, a council was called
+ to decide on final proceedings. Epeios, a Greek sculptor, who had
+ accompanied the expedition, was desired to construct a colossal wooden
+ horse large enough to contain a number of able and distinguished heroes.
+ On its completion a band of warriors concealed themselves within,
+ whereupon the Greek army broke up their camp, and then set fire to it, as
+ though, wearied of the long and tedious ten years' siege, they had
+ abandoned the enterprise as hopeless.</p>
+
+ <p>Accompanied by Agamemnon and the sage Nestor, the fleet set sail for
+ the island of Tenedos, where they cast anchor, anxiously awaiting the
+ torch signal to hasten back to the Trojan coast.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Destruction of Troy.</b>&mdash;When the Trojans saw the enemy
+ depart, and the Greek camp in flames, they believed themselves safe at
+ last, and streamed in great numbers out of the town in order to view the
+ site where the Greeks had so long encamped. Here they found the gigantic
+ wooden horse, which they examined with wondering curiosity, various
+ opinions being expressed with regard to its utility. Some supposed it to
+ be an engine of war, and were in favour of destroying it, others regarded
+ it as a sacred idol, and proposed that it should be brought into the
+ city. Two circumstances which now occurred induced the Trojans to incline
+ towards the latter opinion.</p>
+
+ <p>Chief among those who suspected a treacherous design in this huge
+ contrivance was Laocoon, a priest of Apollo, who, in company with his two
+ young sons, had issued from the city with the Trojans in order to offer a
+ sacrifice to the gods. With all the eloquence at his command he urged his
+ countrymen not to place confidence in any gift of the Greeks, and even
+ went so far as to pierce the <!-- Page 302 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page302"></a>[302]</span>side of the horse with a spear which he
+ took from a warrior beside him, whereupon the arms of the heroes were
+ heard to rattle. The hearts of the brave men concealed inside the horse
+ quailed within them, and they had already given themselves up for lost,
+ when Pallas-Athene, who ever watched over the cause of the Greeks, now
+ came to their aid, and a miracle occurred in order to blind and deceive
+ the devoted Trojans;&mdash;for the fall of Troy was decreed by the
+ gods.</p>
+
+ <div class="figleft" style="width:20%;">
+ <a href="images/0302-1.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/0302-1.png"
+ alt="Laocoon and his sons" title="Laocoon and his sons" /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p>Whilst Laocoon with his two sons stood prepared to perform the
+ sacrifice, two enormous serpents suddenly rose out of the sea, and made
+ direct for the altar. They entwined themselves first round the tender
+ limbs of the helpless youths, and then encircled their father who rushed
+ to their assistance, and thus all three were destroyed in sight of the
+ horrified multitude. The Trojans naturally interpreted the fate of
+ Laocoon and his sons to be a punishment sent by Zeus for his sacrilege
+ against the wooden horse, and were now fully convinced that it must be
+ consecrated to the gods.</p>
+
+ <p>The crafty Odysseus had left behind his trusty friend Sinon with full
+ instructions as to his course of action. Assuming the rôle assigned to
+ him, he now approached king Priam with fettered hands and piteous
+ entreaties, alleging that the Greeks, in obedience to the command of an
+ oracle, had attempted to immolate him as a sacrifice; but that he had
+ contrived to escape from their hands, and now sought protection from the
+ king.</p>
+
+ <p>The kind-hearted monarch, believing his story, released <!-- Page 303
+ --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page303"></a>[303]</span>his bonds,
+ assured him of his favour, and then begged him to explain the true
+ meaning of the wooden horse. Sinon willingly complied. He informed the
+ king that Pallas-Athene, who had hitherto been the hope and stay of the
+ Greeks throughout the war, was so deeply offended at the removal of her
+ sacred image, the Palladium, from her temple in Troy, that she had
+ withdrawn her protection from the Greeks, and refused all further aid
+ till it was restored to its rightful place. Hence the Greeks had returned
+ home in order to seek fresh instructions from an oracle. But before
+ leaving, Calchas the seer had advised their building this gigantic wooden
+ horse as a tribute to the offended goddess, hoping thereby to appease her
+ just anger. He further explained that it had been constructed of such
+ colossal proportions in order to prevent its being brought into the city,
+ so that the favour of Pallas-Athene might not be transferred to the
+ Trojans.</p>
+
+ <p>Hardly had the crafty Sinon ceased speaking when the Trojans, with one
+ accord, urged that the wooden horse should be brought into their city
+ without delay. The gates being too low to admit its entrance, a breach
+ was made in the walls, and the horse was conveyed in triumph into the
+ very heart of Troy; whereupon the Trojans, overjoyed at what they deemed
+ the successful issue of the campaign, abandoned themselves to feasting
+ and rioting.</p>
+
+ <p>Amidst the universal rejoicing the unhappy Cassandra, foreseeing the
+ result of the admission of the wooden horse into the city, was seen
+ rushing through the streets with wild gestures and dishevelled hair,
+ warning her people against the dangers which awaited them. But her
+ eloquent words fell on deaf ears; for it was ever the fate of the
+ unfortunate prophetess that her predictions should find no credence.</p>
+
+ <p>When, after the day's excitement, the Trojans had retired to rest, and
+ all was hushed and silent, Sinon, in the dead of night, released the
+ heroes from their voluntary imprisonment. The signal was then given to
+ the Greek fleet lying off Tenedos, and the whole army in unbroken silence
+ once more landed on the Trojan coast. <!-- Page 304 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page304"></a>[304]</span></p>
+
+ <p>To enter the city was now an easy matter, and a fearful slaughter
+ ensued. Aroused from their slumbers, the Trojans, under the command of
+ their bravest leaders, made a gallant defence, but were easily overcome.
+ All their most valiant heroes fell in the fight, and soon the whole city
+ was wrapt in flames.</p>
+
+ <p>Priam fell by the hand of Neoptolemus, who killed him as he lay
+ prostrate before the altar of Zeus, praying for divine assistance in this
+ awful hour of peril. The unfortunate Andromache with her young son
+ Astyanax had taken refuge on the summit of a tower, where she was
+ discovered by the victors, who, fearing lest the son of Hector might one
+ day rise against them to avenge the death of his father, tore him from
+ her arms and hurled him over the battlements.</p>
+
+ <p>Æneas alone, the son of Aphrodite, the beloved of gods and men,
+ escaped the universal carnage with his son and his old father Anchises,
+ whom he carried on his shoulders out of the city. He first sought refuge
+ on Mount Ida, and afterwards fled to Italy, where he became the ancestral
+ hero of the Roman people.</p>
+
+ <p>Menelaus now sought Helen in the royal palace, who, being immortal,
+ still retained all her former beauty and fascination. A reconciliation
+ took place, and she accompanied her husband on his homeward voyage.
+ Andromache, the widow of the brave Hector, was given in marriage to
+ Neoptolemus, Cassandra fell to the share of Agamemnon, and Hecuba, the
+ gray-haired and widowed queen, was made prisoner by Odysseus.</p>
+
+ <p>The boundless treasures of the wealthy Trojan king fell into the hands
+ of the Greek heroes, who, after having levelled the city of Troy to the
+ ground, prepared for their homeward voyage.</p>
+
+<h3>RETURN OF THE GREEKS FROM TROY.</h3>
+
+ <p>During the sacking of the city of Troy the Greeks, in the hour of
+ victory, committed many acts of desecration and cruelty, which called
+ down upon them the wrath of the <!-- Page 305 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page305"></a>[305]</span>gods, for which reason their homeward
+ voyage was beset with manifold dangers and disasters, and many perished
+ before they reached their native land.</p>
+
+ <p>Nestor, Diomedes, Philoctetes, and Neoptolemus were among those who
+ arrived safely in Greece after a prosperous voyage. The vessel which
+ carried Menelaus and Helen was driven by violent tempests to the coast of
+ Egypt, and only after many years of weary wanderings and vicissitudes did
+ they succeed in reaching their home at Sparta.</p>
+
+ <p>Ajax the Lesser having offended Pallas-Athene by desecrating her
+ temple on the night of the destruction of Troy, was shipwrecked off Cape
+ Caphareus. He succeeded, however, in clinging to a rock, and his life
+ might have been spared but for his impious boast that he needed not the
+ help of the gods. No sooner had he uttered the sacrilegious words than
+ Poseidon, enraged at his audacity, split with his trident the rock to
+ which the hero was clinging, and the unfortunate Ajax was overwhelmed by
+ the waves.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Fate of Agamemnon.</b>&mdash;The homeward voyage of Agamemnon was
+ tolerably uneventful and prosperous; but on his arrival at Mycenæ
+ misfortune and ruin awaited him.</p>
+
+ <p>His wife Clytemnestra, in revenge for the sacrifice of her beloved
+ daughter Iphigenia, had formed a secret alliance during his absence with
+ Ægisthus, the son of Thyestes, and on the return of Agamemnon they both
+ conspired to compass his destruction. Clytemnestra feigned the greatest
+ joy on beholding her husband, and in spite of the urgent warnings of
+ Cassandra, who was now a captive in his train, he received her
+ protestations of affection with the most trusting confidence. In her
+ well-assumed anxiety for the comfort of the weary traveller, she prepared
+ a warm bath for his refreshment, and at a given signal from the
+ treacherous queen, Ægisthus, who was concealed in an adjoining chamber,
+ rushed upon the defenceless hero and slew him. <!-- Page 306 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page306"></a>[306]</span></p>
+
+ <p>During the massacre of the retainers of Agamemnon which followed, his
+ daughter Electra, with great presence of mind, contrived to save her
+ young brother Orestes. He fled for refuge to his uncle Strophius, king of
+ Phocis, who educated him with his own son Pylades, and an ardent
+ friendship sprung up between the youths, which, from its constancy and
+ disinterestedness, has become proverbial.</p>
+
+ <p>As Orestes grew up to manhood, his one great all-absorbing desire was
+ to avenge the death of his father. Accompanied by his faithful friend
+ Pylades, he repaired in disguise to Mycenæ, where Ægisthus and
+ Clytemnestra reigned conjointly over the kingdom of Argos. In order to
+ disarm suspicion he had taken the precaution to despatch a messenger to
+ Clytemnestra, purporting to be sent by king Strophius, to announce to her
+ the untimely death of her son Orestes through an accident during a
+ chariot-race at Delphi.</p>
+
+ <p>Arrived at Mycenæ, he found his sister Electra so overwhelmed with
+ grief at the news of her brother's death that to her he revealed his
+ identity. When he heard from her lips how cruelly she had been treated by
+ her mother, and how joyfully the news of his demise had been received,
+ his long pent-up passion completely overpowered him, and rushing into the
+ presence of the king and queen, he first pierced Clytemnestra to the
+ heart, and afterwards her guilty partner.</p>
+
+ <p>But the crime of murdering his own mother was not long unavenged by
+ the gods. Hardly was the fatal act committed when the Furies appeared and
+ unceasingly pursued the unfortunate Orestes wherever he went. In this
+ wretched plight he sought refuge in the temple of Delphi, where he
+ earnestly besought Apollo to release him from his cruel tormentors. The
+ god commanded him, in expiation of his crime, to repair to
+ Taurica-Chersonnesus and convey the statue of Artemis from thence to the
+ kingdom of Attica, an expedition fraught with extreme peril. We have
+ already seen in a former chapter how Orestes escaped the fate which
+ befell all strangers <!-- Page 307 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page307"></a>[307]</span>who landed on the Taurian coast, and how,
+ with the aid of his sister Iphigenia, the priestess of the temple, he
+ succeeded in conveying the statue of the goddess to his native
+ country.</p>
+
+ <p>But the Furies did not so easily relinquish their prey, and only by
+ means of the interposition of the just and powerful goddess Pallas-Athene
+ was Orestes finally liberated from their persecution. His peace of mind
+ being at length restored, Orestes assumed the government of the kingdom
+ of Argos, and became united to the beautiful Hermione, daughter of Helen
+ and Menelaus. On his faithful friend Pylades he bestowed the hand of his
+ beloved sister, the good and faithful Electra.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Homeward Voyage of Odysseus.</b>&mdash;With his twelve ships laden
+ with enormous treasures, captured during the sacking of Troy, Odysseus
+ set sail with a light heart for his rocky island home of Ithaca. At
+ length the happy hour had arrived which for ten long years the hero had
+ so anxiously awaited, and he little dreamt that ten more must elapse
+ before he would be permitted by the Fates to clasp to his heart his
+ beloved wife and child.</p>
+
+ <p>During his homeward voyage his little fleet was driven by stress of
+ weather to a land whose inhabitants subsisted entirely on a curious plant
+ called the lotus, which was sweet as honey to the taste, but had the
+ effect of causing utter oblivion of home and country, and of creating an
+ irresistible longing to remain for ever in the land of the lotus-eaters.
+ Odysseus and his companions were hospitably received by the inhabitants,
+ who regaled them freely with their peculiar and very delicious food;
+ after partaking of which, however, the comrades of the hero refused to
+ leave the country, and it was only by sheer force that he at length
+ succeeded in bringing them back to their ships.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Polyphemus.</b>&mdash;Continuing their journey, they next arrived
+ at the country of the Cyclops, a race of giants remarkable for having
+ only one eye, which was placed in the centre of their foreheads. Here
+ Odysseus, whose love of adventure overcame more prudent considerations,
+ <!-- Page 308 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page308"></a>[308]</span>left his fleet safely anchored in the bay
+ of a neighbouring island, and with twelve chosen companions set out to
+ explore the country.</p>
+
+ <p>Near the shore they found a vast cave, into which they boldly entered.
+ In the interior they saw to their surprise huge piles of cheese and great
+ pails of milk ranged round the walls. After partaking freely of these
+ provisions his companions endeavoured to persuade Odysseus to return to
+ the ship; but the hero being curious to make the acquaintance of the
+ owner of this extraordinary abode, ordered them to remain and await his
+ pleasure.</p>
+
+ <p>Towards evening a fierce giant made his appearance, bearing an
+ enormous load of wood upon his shoulders, and driving before him a large
+ flock of sheep. This was Polyphemus, the son of Poseidon, the owner of
+ the cave. After all his sheep had entered, the giant rolled before the
+ entrance to the cave an enormous rock, which the combined strength of a
+ hundred men would have been powerless to move.</p>
+
+ <p>Having kindled a fire of great logs of pine-wood he was about to
+ prepare his supper when the flames revealed to him, in a corner of the
+ cavern, its new occupants, who now came forward and informed him that
+ they were shipwrecked mariners, and claimed his hospitality in the name
+ of Zeus. But the fierce monster railed at the great ruler of
+ Olympus&mdash;for the lawless Cyclops knew no fear of the gods&mdash;and
+ hardly vouchsafed a reply to the demand of the hero. To the consternation
+ of Odysseus the giant seized two of his companions, and, after dashing
+ them to the ground, consumed their remains, washing down the ghastly meal
+ with huge draughts of milk. He then stretched his gigantic limbs on the
+ ground, and soon fell fast asleep beside the fire.</p>
+
+ <p>Thinking the opportunity a favourable one to rid himself and his
+ companions of their terrible enemy, Odysseus drew his sword, and,
+ creeping stealthily forward, was about to slay the giant when he suddenly
+ remembered that the aperture of the cave was effectually closed by the
+ immense rock, which rendered egress impossible. He <!-- Page 309 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page309"></a>[309]</span>therefore wisely
+ determined to wait until the following day, and set his wits to work in
+ the meantime to devise a scheme by which he and his companions might make
+ their escape.</p>
+
+ <p>When, early next morning, the giant awoke, two more unfortunate
+ companions of the hero were seized by him and devoured; after which
+ Polyphemus leisurely drove out his flock, taking care to secure the
+ entrance of the cave as before.</p>
+
+ <p>Next evening the giant devoured two more of his victims, and when he
+ had finished his revolting meal Odysseus stepped forward and presented
+ him with a large measure of wine which he had brought with him from his
+ ship in a goat's skin. Delighted with the delicious beverage the giant
+ inquired the name of the donor. Odysseus replied that his name was Noman,
+ whereupon Polyphemus, graciously announced that he would evince his
+ gratitude by eating him the last.</p>
+
+ <p>The monster, thoroughly overcome with the powerful old liquor, soon
+ fell into a heavy sleep, and Odysseus lost no time in putting his plans
+ into execution. He had cut during the day a large piece of the giant's
+ own olive-staff, which he now heated in the fire, and, aided by his
+ companions, thrust it into the eye-ball of Polyphemus, and in this manner
+ effectually blinded him.</p>
+
+ <p>The giant made the cave resound with his howls of pain and rage. His
+ cries being heard by his brother Cyclops, who lived in caves not far
+ distant from his own, they soon came trooping over the hills from all
+ sides, and assailed the door of the cave with inquiries concerning the
+ cause of his cries and groans. But as his only reply was, "Noman has
+ injured me," they concluded that he had been playing them a trick, and
+ therefore abandoned him to his fate.</p>
+
+ <p>The blinded giant now groped vainly round his cave in hopes of laying
+ hands on some of his tormentors; but wearied at length of these fruitless
+ exertions he rolled away the rock which closed the aperture, thinking
+ that his victims would rush out with the sheep, when it would <!-- Page
+ 310 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page310"></a>[310]</span>be an easy
+ matter to capture them. But in the meantime Odysseus had not been idle,
+ and the subtlety of the hero was now brought into play, and proved more
+ than a match for the giant's strength. The sheep were very large, and
+ Odysseus, with bands of willow taken from the bed of Polyphemus, had
+ cleverly linked them together three abreast, and under each centre one
+ had secured one of his comrades. After providing for the safety of his
+ companions, Odysseus himself selected the finest ram of the flock, and,
+ by clinging to the wool of the animal, made his escape. As the sheep
+ passed out of the cave the giant felt carefully among them for his
+ victims, but not finding them on the backs of the animals he let them
+ pass, and thus they all escaped.</p>
+
+ <p>They now hastened on board their vessel, and Odysseus, thinking
+ himself at a safe distance, shouted out his real name and mockingly
+ defied the giant; whereupon Polyphemus seized a huge rock, and, following
+ the direction of the voice, hurled it towards the ship, which narrowly
+ escaped destruction. He then called upon his father Poseidon to avenge
+ him, entreating him to curse Odysseus with a long and tedious voyage, to
+ destroy all his ships and all his companions, and to make his return as
+ late, as unhappy, and as desolate as possible.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Further Adventures.</b>&mdash;After sailing about over unknown seas
+ for some time the hero and his followers cast anchor at the island of
+ Æolus, king of the Winds, who welcomed them cordially, and sumptuously
+ entertained them for a whole month.</p>
+
+ <p>When they took their leave he gave Odysseus the skin of an ox, into
+ which he had placed all the contrary winds in order to insure to them a
+ safe and speedy voyage, and then, having cautioned him on no account to
+ open it, caused the gentle Zephyrus to blow so that he might waft them to
+ the shores of Greece.</p>
+
+ <p>On the evening of the tenth day after their departure they arrived in
+ sight of the watch-fires of Ithaca. But here, unfortunately, Odysseus,
+ being completely wearied <!-- Page 311 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page311"></a>[311]</span>out, fell asleep, and his comrades,
+ thinking Æolus had given him a treasure in the bag which he so sedulously
+ guarded, seized this opportunity of opening it, whereupon all the adverse
+ winds rushed out, and drove them back to the Æolian island. This time,
+ however, Æolus did not welcome them as before, but dismissed them with
+ bitter reproaches and upbraidings for their disregard of his
+ injunctions.</p>
+
+ <p>After a six days' voyage they at length sighted land. Observing what
+ appeared to be the smoke from a large town, Odysseus despatched a herald,
+ accompanied by two of his comrades, in order to procure provisions. When
+ they arrived in the city they discovered to their consternation that they
+ had set foot in the land of the Læstrygones, a race of fierce and
+ gigantic cannibals, governed by their king Antiphates. The unfortunate
+ herald was seized and killed by the king; but his two companions, who
+ took to flight, succeeded in reaching their ship in safety, and urgently
+ entreated their chief to put to sea without delay.</p>
+
+ <p>But Antiphates and his fellow-giants pursued the fugitives to the
+ sea-shore, where they now appeared in large numbers. They seized huge
+ rocks, which they hurled upon the fleet, sinking eleven of the ships with
+ all hands, on board; the vessel under the immediate command of Odysseus
+ being the only one which escaped destruction. In this ship, with his few
+ remaining followers, Odysseus now set sail, but was driven by adverse
+ winds to an island called Ææa.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Circe.</b>&mdash;The hero and his companions were in sore need of
+ provisions, but, warned by previous disasters, Odysseus resolved that
+ only a certain number of the ship's crew should be despatched to
+ reconnoitre the country; and on lots being drawn by Odysseus and
+ Eurylochus, it fell to the share of the latter to fill the office of
+ conductor to the little band selected for this purpose.</p>
+
+ <p>They soon came to a magnificent marble palace, which was situated in a
+ charming and fertile valley. Here <!-- Page 312 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page312"></a>[312]</span>dwelt a beautiful
+ enchantress called Circe, daughter of the sun-god and the sea-nymph
+ Perse. The entrance to her abode was guarded by wolves and lions, who,
+ however, to the great surprise of the strangers, were tame and harmless
+ as lambs. These were, in fact, human beings who, by the wicked arts of
+ the sorceress, had been thus transformed. From within they heard the
+ enchanting voice of the goddess, who was singing a sweet melody as she
+ sat at her work, weaving a web such as immortals alone could produce. She
+ graciously invited them to enter, and all save the prudent and cautious
+ Eurylochus accepted the invitation.</p>
+
+ <p>As they trod the wide and spacious halls of tesselated marble objects
+ of wealth and beauty met their view on all sides. The soft and luxuriant
+ couches on which she bade them be seated were studded with silver, and
+ the banquet which she provided for their refreshment was served in
+ vessels of pure gold. But while her unsuspecting guests were abandoning
+ themselves to the pleasures of the table the wicked enchantress was
+ secretly working their ruin; for the wine-cup which was presented to them
+ was drugged with a potent draught, after partaking of which the sorceress
+ touched them with her magic wand, and they were immediately transformed
+ into swine, still, however, retaining their human senses.</p>
+
+ <p>When Odysseus heard from Eurylochus of the terrible fate which had
+ befallen his companions he set out, regardless of personal danger,
+ resolved to make an effort to rescue them. On his way to the palace of
+ the sorceress he met a fair youth bearing a wand of gold, who revealed
+ himself to him as Hermes, the divine messenger of the gods. He gently
+ reproached the hero for his temerity in venturing to enter the abode of
+ Circe unprovided with an antidote against her spells, and presented him
+ with a peculiar herb called Moly, assuring him that it would inevitably
+ counteract the baneful arts of the fell enchantress. Hermes warned
+ Odysseus that Circe would offer him a draught of drugged wine with the
+ intention of transforming him as she had done his companions. He bade him
+ drink the wine, the effect of <!-- Page 313 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page313"></a>[313]</span>which would be completely nullified by the
+ herb which he had given him, and then rush boldly at the sorceress as
+ though he would take her life, whereupon her power over him would cease,
+ she would recognize her master, and grant him whatever he might
+ desire.</p>
+
+ <p>Circe received the hero with all the grace and fascination at her
+ command, and presented him with a draught of wine in a golden goblet.
+ This he readily accepted, trusting to the efficacy of the antidote. Then,
+ in obedience to the injunction of Hermes, he drew his sword from its
+ scabbard and rushed upon the sorceress as though he would slay her.</p>
+
+ <p>When Circe found that her fell purpose was for the first time
+ frustrated, and that a mortal had dared to attack her, she knew that it
+ must be the great Odysseus who stood before her, whose visit to her abode
+ had been foretold to her by Hermes. At his solicitation she restored to
+ his companions their human form, promising at the same time that
+ henceforth the hero and his comrades should be free from her
+ enchantments.</p>
+
+ <p>But all warnings and past experience were forgotten by Odysseus when
+ Circe commenced to exercise upon him her fascinations and blandishments.
+ At her request his companions took up their abode in the island, and he
+ himself became the guest and slave of the enchantress for a whole year;
+ and it was only at the earnest admonition of his friends that he was at
+ length induced to free himself from her toils.</p>
+
+ <p>Circe had become so attached to the gallant hero that it cost her a
+ great effort to part with him, but having vowed not to exercise her magic
+ spells against him she was powerless to detain him further. The goddess
+ now warned him that his future would be beset with many dangers, and
+ commanded him to consult the blind old seer Tiresias,<a name="NtA_52"
+ href="#Nt_52"><sup>[52]</sup></a> in the realm of Hades, concerning his
+ future destiny. She then loaded his ship with provisions for the voyage,
+ and reluctantly bade him farewell.</p>
+
+<p><!-- Page 314 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page314"></a>[314]</span></p>
+
+ <p><b>The Realm of Shades.</b>&mdash;Though somewhat appalled at the
+ prospect of seeking the weird and gloomy realms inhabited by the spirits
+ of the dead, Odysseus nevertheless obeyed the command of the goddess, who
+ gave him full directions with regard to his course, and also certain
+ injunctions which it was important that he should carry out with strict
+ attention to detail.</p>
+
+ <p>He accordingly set sail with his companions for the dark and gloomy
+ land of the Cimmerians, which lay at the furthermost end of the world,
+ beyond the great stream Oceanus. Favoured by gentle breezes they soon
+ reached their destination in the far west. On arriving at the spot
+ indicated by Circe, where the turbid waters of the rivers Acheron and
+ Cocytus mingled at the entrance to the lower world, Odysseus landed,
+ unattended by his companions.</p>
+
+ <p>Having dug a trench to receive the blood of the sacrifices he now
+ offered a black ram and ewe to the powers of darkness, whereupon crowds
+ of shades rose up from the yawning gulf, clustering round him, eager to
+ quaff the blood of the sacrifice, which would restore to them for a time
+ their mental vigour. But mindful of the injunction of Circe, Odysseus
+ brandished his sword, and suffered none to approach until Tiresias had
+ appeared. The great prophet now came slowly forward leaning on his golden
+ staff, and after drinking of the sacrifice proceeded to impart to
+ Odysseus the hidden secrets of his future fate. Tiresias also warned him
+ of the numerous perils which would assail him, not only during his
+ homeward voyage but also on his return to Ithaca, and then instructed him
+ how to avoid them.</p>
+
+ <p>Meanwhile numbers of other shades had quaffed the sense-awakening
+ draught of the sacrifice, among whom Odysseus recognized to his dismay
+ his tenderly-loved mother Anticlea. From her he learned that she had died
+ of grief at her son's protracted absence, and that his aged father
+ Laertes was wearing his life away in vain and anxious longings for his
+ return. He also conversed with the ill-fated Agamemnon, Patroclus, and
+ Achilles. The latter <!-- Page 315 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page315"></a>[315]</span>bemoaned his shadowy and unreal existence,
+ and plaintively assured his former companion-in-arms that rather would he
+ be the poorest day-labourer on earth than reign supreme as king over the
+ realm of shades. Ajax alone, who still brooded over his wrongs, held
+ aloof, refusing to converse with Odysseus, and sullenly retired when the
+ hero addressed him.</p>
+
+ <p>But at last so many shades came swarming round him that the courage of
+ Odysseus failed him, and he fled in terror back to his ship. Having
+ rejoined his companions they once more put to sea, and proceeded on their
+ homeward voyage.</p>
+
+ <p><b>The Sirens.</b>&mdash;After some days' sail their course led them
+ past the island of the Sirens.</p>
+
+ <p>Now Circe had warned Odysseus on no account to listen to the seductive
+ melodies of these treacherous nymphs; for that all who gave ear to their
+ enticing strains felt an unconquerable desire to leap overboard and join
+ them, when they either perished at their hands, or were engulfed by the
+ waves.</p>
+
+ <p>In order that his crew should not hear the song of the Sirens,
+ Odysseus had filled their ears with melted wax; but the hero himself so
+ dearly loved adventure that he could not resist the temptation of braving
+ this new danger. By his own desire, therefore, he was lashed to the mast,
+ and his comrades had strict orders on no account to release him until
+ they were out of sight of the island, no matter how he might implore them
+ to set him free.</p>
+
+ <p>As they neared the fatal shore they beheld the Sirens seated side by
+ side on the verdant slopes of their island; and as their sweet and
+ alluring strains fell upon his ear the hero became so powerfully affected
+ by them, that, forgetful of all danger, he entreated his comrades to
+ release him; but the sailors, obedient to their orders, refused to unbind
+ him until the enchanted island had disappeared from view. The danger
+ past, the hero gratefully acknowledged the firmness of his followers,
+ which had been the means of saving his life. <!-- Page 316 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page316"></a>[316]</span></p>
+
+ <p><b>The Island of Helios.</b>&mdash;They now approached the terrible
+ dangers of Scylla and Charybdis, between which Circe had desired them to
+ pass. As Odysseus steered the vessel beneath the great rock, Scylla
+ swooped down and seized six of his crew from the deck, and the cries of
+ her wretched victims long rang in his ears. At length they reached the
+ island of Trinacria (Sicily), whereon the sun-god pastured his flocks and
+ herds, and Odysseus, calling to mind the warning of Tiresias to avoid
+ this sacred island, would fain have steered the vessel past and left the
+ country unexplored. But his crew became mutinous, and insisted on
+ landing. Odysseus was therefore obliged to yield, but before allowing
+ them to set foot on shore he made them take an oath not to touch the
+ sacred herds of Helios, and to be ready to sail again on the following
+ morning.</p>
+
+ <p>It happened, unfortunately, however, that stress of weather compelled
+ them to remain a whole month at Trinacria, and the store of wine and food
+ given to them by Circe at parting being completely exhausted, they were
+ obliged to subsist on what fish and birds the island afforded. Frequently
+ there was not sufficient to satisfy their hunger, and one evening when
+ Odysseus, worn out with anxiety and fatigue, had fallen asleep,
+ Eurylochus persuaded the hungry men to break their vows and kill some of
+ the sacred oxen.</p>
+
+ <p>Dreadful was the anger of Helios, who caused the hides of the
+ slaughtered animals to creep and the joints on the spits to bellow like
+ living cattle, and threatened that unless Zeus punished the impious crew
+ he would withdraw his light from the heavens and shine only in Hades.
+ Anxious to appease the enraged deity Zeus assured him that his cause
+ should be avenged. When, therefore, after feasting for seven days
+ Odysseus and his companions again set sail, the ruler of Olympus caused a
+ terrible storm to overtake them, during which the ship was struck with
+ lightning and went to pieces. All the crew were drowned except Odysseus,
+ who, clinging to a mast, floated about in the open sea for nine days,
+ when, after once more <!-- Page 317 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page317"></a>[317]</span>escaping being sucked in by the whirlpool
+ of Charybdis, he was cast ashore on the island of Ogygia.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Calypso.</b>&mdash;Ogygia was an island covered with dense forests,
+ where, in the midst of a grove of cypress and poplar, stood the charming
+ grotto-palace of the nymph Calypso, daughter of the Titan Atlas. The
+ entrance to the grotto was entwined with a leafy trellis-work of
+ vine-branches, from which depended clusters of purple and golden grapes;
+ the plashing of fountains gave a delicious sense of coolness to the air,
+ which was filled with the songs of birds, and the ground was carpeted
+ with violets and mosses.</p>
+
+ <p>Calypso cordially welcomed the forlorn and shipwrecked hero, and
+ hospitably ministered to his wants. In the course of time she became so
+ greatly attached to him that she offered him immortality and eternal
+ youth if he would consent to remain with her for ever. But the heart of
+ Odysseus turned yearningly towards his beloved wife Penelope and his
+ young son. He therefore refused the boon, and earnestly entreated the
+ gods to permit him to revisit his home. But the curse of Poseidon still
+ followed the unfortunate hero, and for seven long years he was detained
+ on the island by Calypso, sorely against his will.</p>
+
+ <p>At length Pallas-Athene interceded with her mighty father on his
+ behalf, and Zeus, yielding to her request, forthwith despatched the
+ fleet-footed Hermes to Calypso, commanding her to permit Odysseus to
+ depart and to provide him with the means of transport.</p>
+
+ <p>The goddess, though loath to part with her guest, dared not disobey
+ the commands of the mighty Zeus. She therefore instructed the hero how to
+ construct a raft, for which she herself wove the sails. Odysseus now bade
+ her farewell, and alone and unaided embarked on the frail little craft
+ for his native land.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Nausicaa.</b>&mdash;For seventeen days Odysseus contrived to pilot
+ the raft skilfully through all the perils of the deep, directing his
+ course according to the directions <!-- Page 318 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page318"></a>[318]</span>of Calypso, and guided
+ by the stars of heaven. On the eighteenth day he joyfully hailed the
+ distant outline of the Phæacian coast, and began to look forward
+ hopefully to temporary rest and shelter. But Poseidon, still enraged with
+ the hero who had blinded and insulted his son, caused an awful tempest to
+ arise, during which the raft was swamped by the waves, and Odysseus only
+ saved himself by clinging for bare life to a portion of the wreck.</p>
+
+ <p>For two days and nights he floated about, drifted hither and thither
+ by the angry billows, till at last, after many a narrow escape of his
+ life, the sea-goddess Leucothea came to his aid, and he was cast ashore
+ on the coast of Scheria, the island of the luxurious Phæaces. Worn out
+ with the hardships and dangers he had passed through he crept into a
+ thicket for security, and, lying down on a bed of dried leaves, soon fell
+ fast asleep.</p>
+
+ <p>It chanced that Nausicaa, the beautiful daughter of king Alcinous and
+ his queen Arete, had come down to the shore, accompanied by her maidens,
+ to wash the linen which was destined to form part of her marriage
+ portion. When they had finished their task they bathed and sat down to a
+ repast, after which they amused themselves with singing and playing at
+ ball.</p>
+
+ <p>Their joyous shouts at last awoke Odysseus, who, rising from his
+ hiding place, suddenly found himself in the midst of the happy group.
+ Alarmed at his wild aspect the attendants of Nausicaa fled in terror; but
+ the princess, pitying the forlorn condition of the stranger, addressed
+ him with kind and sympathetic words. After hearing from him the account
+ of his shipwreck and the terrible hardships he had undergone, Nausicaa
+ called back her attendants, reproached them for their want of courtesy,
+ and bade them supply the wanderer with food, drink, and suitable raiment.
+ Odysseus then left the maidens to resume their games, whilst he bathed
+ and clothed himself with the garments with which they had furnished him.
+ Athene now appeared to the hero and endowed him with a commanding and
+ magnificent stature, and with more than mortal beauty. When he
+ reappeared, the young <!-- Page 319 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page319"></a>[319]</span>princess was struck with admiration, and
+ requested the hero to visit the palace of her father. She then desired
+ her attendants to yoke the mules to the wagons and prepare to return
+ home.</p>
+
+ <p>Odysseus was cordially received by the king and queen, who entertained
+ him with magnificent hospitality, and in return for their kindness the
+ hero related to them the history of his long and eventful voyage, and the
+ many extraordinary adventures and miraculous escapes which had befallen
+ him since his departure from the coast of Ilion.</p>
+
+ <p>When he at last took leave of his royal entertainers Alcinous loaded
+ him with rich gifts, and ordered him to be conveyed in one of his own
+ ships to Ithaca.</p>
+
+ <p><b>Arrival at Ithaca.</b>&mdash;The voyage was a short and prosperous
+ one. By the direction of king Alcinous rich furs had been laid on deck
+ for the comfort of his guest, on which the hero, leaving the guidance of
+ the ship to the Phæacian sailors, soon fell into a deep sleep. When next
+ morning the vessel arrived in the harbour of Ithaca the sailors,
+ concluding that so unusually profound a slumber must be sent by the gods,
+ conveyed him on shore without disturbing him, where they gently placed
+ him beneath the cool shade of an olive-tree.</p>
+
+ <p>When Odysseus awoke he knew not where he was, for his ever-watchful
+ protectress Pallas-Athene had enveloped him in a thick cloud in order to
+ conceal him from view. She now appeared to him in the disguise of a
+ shepherd, and informed him that he was in his native land; that his
+ father Laertes, bent with sorrow and old age, had withdrawn from the
+ court; that his son Telemachus had grown to manhood, and was gone to seek
+ for tidings of his father; and that his wife Penelope was harassed by the
+ importunities of numerous suitors, who had taken possession of his home
+ and devoured his substance. In order to gain time Penelope had promised
+ to marry one of her lovers as soon as she had finished weaving a robe for
+ the aged Laertes; but by secretly undoing at night <!-- Page 320 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page320"></a>[320]</span>what she had done in
+ the day she effectually retarded the completion of the work, and thus
+ deferred her final reply. Just as Odysseus had set foot in Ithaca the
+ angry suitors had discovered her stratagem, and had become in consequence
+ more clamorous than ever. When the hero heard that this was indeed his
+ native land, which, after an absence of twenty years, the gods had at
+ length permitted him to behold once more, he threw himself on the ground,
+ and kissed it in an ecstacy of joy.</p>
+
+ <p>The goddess, who had meanwhile revealed her identity to Odysseus, now
+ assisted him to conceal in a neighbouring cave the valuable gifts of the
+ Phæacian king. Then seating herself beside him she consulted with him as
+ to the best means of ridding his palace of its shameless occupants.</p>
+
+ <p>In order to prevent his being recognized she caused him to assume the
+ form of an aged mendicant. His limbs became decrepid, his brown locks
+ vanished, his eyes grew dim and bleared, and the regal robes given to him
+ by king Alcinous were replaced by a tattered garb of dingy hue, which
+ hung loosely round his shrunken form. Athene then desired him to seek
+ shelter in the hut of Eumæus his own swine-herd.</p>
+
+ <p>Eumæus received the old beggar hospitably, kindly ministered to his
+ wants, and even confided to him his distress at the long continued
+ absence of his beloved old master, and his regrets at being compelled by
+ the unruly invaders of his house, to slaughter for their use all the
+ finest and fattest of the herd.</p>
+
+ <p>It chanced that the following morning Telemachus returned from his
+ long and fruitless search for his father, and going first to the hut of
+ Eumæus, heard from him the story of the seeming beggar whom he promised
+ to befriend. Athene now urged Odysseus to make himself known to his son;
+ and at her touch his beggar's rags disappeared, and he stood before
+ Telemachus arrayed in royal robes and in the full strength and vigour of
+ manhood. So imposing was the appearance of the hero that at first the
+ young prince thought he must be a god; but when <!-- Page 321 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page321"></a>[321]</span>he was convinced that
+ it was indeed his beloved father, whose prolonged absence had caused him
+ so much grief, he fell upon his neck and embraced him with every
+ expression of dutiful affection.</p>
+
+ <p>Odysseus charged Telemachus to keep his return a secret, and concerted
+ with him a plan whereby they might rid themselves of the detested
+ suitors. In order to carry it into effect Telemachus was to induce his
+ mother to promise her hand to the one who could conquer in shooting with
+ the famous bow of Odysseus, which the hero had left behind when he went
+ to Troy, deeming it too precious a treasure to be taken with him.
+ Odysseus now resumed his beggar's dress and appearance and accompanied
+ his son to the palace, before the door of which lay his faithful dog
+ Argo, who, though worn and feeble with age and neglect, instantly
+ recognized his master. In his delight the poor animal made a last effort
+ to welcome him; but his strength was exhausted, and he expired at his
+ feet.</p>
+
+ <p>When Odysseus entered his ancestral halls he was mocked and reviled by
+ the riotous suitors, and Antinous, the most shameless of them all,
+ ridiculed his abject appearance, and insolently bade him depart; but
+ Penelope hearing of their cruel conduct, was touched with compassion, and
+ desired her maidens to bring the poor mendicant into her presence. She
+ spoke kindly to him, inquiring who he was and whence he came. He told her
+ that he was the brother of the king of Crete, in whose palace he had seen
+ Odysseus, who was about starting for Ithaca, and had declared his
+ intention of arriving there before the year was out. The queen, overjoyed
+ at the happy tidings, ordered her maidens to prepare a bed for the
+ stranger, and to treat him as an honoured guest. She then desired the old
+ nurse Euryclea to provide him with suitable raiment and to attend to all
+ his wants.</p>
+
+ <p>As the old servant was bathing his feet her eyes fell upon a scar
+ which Odysseus had received in his youth from the tusks of a wild boar;
+ and instantly recognizing the beloved master whom she had nursed as a
+ babe, she <!-- Page 322 --><span class="pagenum"><a
+ name="page322"></a>[322]</span>would have cried aloud in her joy, but the
+ hero placing his hand upon her mouth, implored her not to betray him.</p>
+
+ <p>The next day was a festival of Apollo, and the suitors in honour of
+ the occasion feasted with more than their accustomed revelry. After the
+ banquet was over Penelope, taking down the great bow of Odysseus from its
+ place, entered the hall and declared that whosoever of her lovers could
+ bend it and send an arrow through twelve rings (a feat which she had
+ often seen Odysseus perform) should be chosen by her as her husband.</p>
+
+ <p>All the suitors tried their skill, but in vain; not one possessed the
+ strength required to draw the bow. Odysseus now stepped forward and asked
+ permission to be allowed to try, but the haughty nobles mocked at his
+ audacity, and would not have permitted it had not Telemachus interfered.
+ The pretended beggar took up the bow, and with the greatest ease sent an
+ arrow whizzing through the rings; then turning to Antinous, who was just
+ raising a goblet of wine to his lips, he pierced him to the heart. At
+ this the suitors sprang to their feet and looked round for their arms;
+ but in obedience to the instructions of Odysseus Telemachus had
+ previously removed them. He and his father now attacked the riotous
+ revellers, and after a desperate encounter not one of the whole crew
+ remained alive.</p>
+
+ <p>The joyful intelligence of the return of Odysseus being conveyed to
+ Penelope she descended to the hall, but refused to recognize, in the aged
+ beggar, her gallant husband; whereupon he retired to the bath, from which
+ he emerged in all the vigour and beauty with which Athene had endowed him
+ at the court of Alcinous. But Penelope, still incredulous, determined to
+ put him to a sure test. She therefore commanded in his hearing that his
+ own bed should be brought from his chamber. Now the foot of this bed had
+ been fashioned by Odysseus himself out of the stem of an olive-tree which
+ was still rooted in the ground, and round it he had built the walls of
+ the chamber. Knowing therefore that the bed could not be moved, he
+ exclaimed that the errand was useless, for that no <!-- Page 323 --><span
+ class="pagenum"><a name="page323"></a>[323]</span>mortal could stir it
+ from its place. Then Penelope knew that it must be Odysseus himself who
+ stood before her, and a most touching and affectionate meeting took place
+ between the long-separated husband and wife.</p>
+
+ <p>The following day the hero set out to seek his old father Laertes,
+ whom he found on one of his estates in the country engaged in digging up
+ a young olive-tree. The poor old man, who was dressed in the humble garb
+ of a labourer, bore the traces of deep grief on his furrowed countenance,
+ and so shocked was his son at the change in his appearance that for a
+ moment he turned aside to conceal his tears.</p>
+
+ <p>When Odysseus revealed himself to his father as the son whom he had so
+ long mourned as lost, the joy of the poor old man was almost greater than
+ he could bear. With loving care Odysseus led him into the house, where at
+ length, for the first time since the departure of his son, Laertes once
+ more resumed his regal robes, and piously thanked the gods for this great
+ and unlooked-for happiness.</p>
+
+ <p>But not yet was the hero permitted to enjoy his well-earned repose,
+ for the friends and relatives of the suitors now rose in rebellion
+ against him and pursued him to the abode of his father. The struggle,
+ however, was but a short one. After a brief contest negotiations of a
+ peaceful nature were entered into between Odysseus and his subjects.
+ Recognizing the justice of his cause, they became reconciled to their
+ chief, who for many years continued to reign over them.</p>
+
+<hr class="full" >
+
+<p><!-- Page 325 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page325"></a>[325]</span></p>
+
+<h2>PRONOUNCING INDEX.</h2>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p>[<i>Note.</i>&mdash;The system of pronunciation here followed is the
+ English system, because it is the one at present most used among
+ English-speaking peoples. In it the letters have substantially their
+ English sound. Upon the continent of Europe the pronunciation of Latin
+ and Greek is in like manner made to correspond in each nation to the
+ pronunciation of its own language, and thus there is much diversity among
+ the continental systems, though they resemble each other more closely
+ than they do the English. In England and America also the continental
+ methods of pronunciation have been extensively used. Thus Æneas may be
+ pronounced A-na´-ahss; Aïdes ah-ee´-daze. Since the true, the ancient,
+ pronunciation has been lost, and, as many contend, cannot be even
+ substantially recovered, it is a matter of individual preference what
+ system shall be followed.]</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">A.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Abderus (ab-dee´-rus), <a href="#page244">244</a>.</p>
+ <p>Absyrtus (ab-sir´-tus), <a href="#page226">226</a>.</p>
+ <p>Academus (ak-&#x103;-dee´-mus), <a href="#page268">268</a>.</p>
+ <p>Achelous (ak-e-lo´-us), <a href="#page254">254</a>, <a href="#page278">278</a>.</p>
+ <p>Acheron (ak´-e-ron), <a href="#page132">132</a>, <a href="#page250">250</a>.</p>
+ <p>Achilles (&#x103;-kil´-leez), <a href="#page131">131</a>, <a href="#page291">291</a>, <a href="#page287">287</a>, <a href="#page297">297</a>.</p>
+ <p>Acis (&#x101;´-sis), <a href="#page105">105</a>, <a href="#page167">167</a>.</p>
+ <p>Acrisius (&#x103;-crish´-e-us), <a href="#page189">189</a>, <a href="#page205">205</a>, <a href="#page209">209</a>.</p>
+ <p>Acropolis (&#x103;-crop´-o-lis), <a href="#page189">189</a>.</p>
+ <p>Actæon (ak-tee´-on), <a href="#page91">91</a>.</p>
+ <p>Admete (ad-mee´-te), <a href="#page244">244</a>.</p>
+ <p>Admetus (ad-mee´-tus), <a href="#page76">76</a>, <a href="#page119">119</a>, <a href="#page216">216</a>.</p>
+ <p>Adonis (&#x103;-don´-iss), <a href="#page59">59</a>.</p>
+ <p>Adrastia (ad-ras-ti´-ah), <a href="#page142">142</a>.</p>
+ <p>Adrastus (&#x103;-dras´-tus), <a href="#page272">272</a>.</p>
+ <p>Æacus (ee´-&#x103;-cus), <a href="#page34">34</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ææa (ee-ee´-ah), island of, <a href="#page67">67</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ægean Sea (ee-gee´-an), <a href="#page287">287</a>.</p>
+ <p><a name="NtA_53" href="#Nt_53"><sup>[53]</sup></a>Ægeus (ee´-juce), <a href="#page259">259</a>, <a href="#page262">262</a>, <a href="#page264">264</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ægina (ee-ji´-nah), island of, <a href="#page230">230</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ægis (ee´-jiss), <a href="#page26">26</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ægisthus (ee-jiss´-thus, <i>th</i> as in <i>both</i>), <a href="#page305">305</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ægle (egg´-le), <a href="#page163">163</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ægyptus (ee-jip´-tus), <a href="#page135">135</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aello (&#x103;-el´-lo), <a href="#page137">137</a>.</p>
+ <p>Æneas (ee-nee´-ass), <a href="#page304">304</a>.</p>
+ <p>Æolus (ee´-o-lus), <a href="#page170">170</a>, <a href="#page210">210</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aër (&#x101;´-er), <a href="#page12">12</a>.</p>
+ <p>Æsacus (es´-a-cus), <a href="#page284">284</a>.</p>
+ <p>Æsculapius (es-cu-la´-pe-us), <a href="#page177">177</a>.</p>
+ <p>Æson (ee´-son), <a href="#page213">213</a>.</p>
+ <p>Æetes (ee-ee´-teez), <a href="#page215">215</a>, <a href="#page222">222</a>.</p>
+ <p>Æther (ee´-ther), <a href="#page12">12</a>.</p>
+ <p>Æthiopia (e-thi-o´-pe-ah), <a href="#page207">207</a>.</p>
+ <p>Æthra (ee´-thrah), <a href="#page259">259</a>, <a href="#page267">267</a>, <a href="#page288">288</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ætna, Mount (et´-nah), <a href="#page100">100</a>.</p>
+ <p>Agamemnon (ag-&#x103;-mem´-non), <a href="#page94">94</a>, <a href="#page286">286</a>, <a href="#page305">305</a>.</p>
+ <p>Agave (&#x103;-ga´-ve), <a href="#page127">127</a>, <a href="#page205">205</a>.</p>
+ <p>Agenor (&#x103;-jee´-nor), <a href="#page203">203</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ages, <a href="#page22">22</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aglaia (ag-lay´-yah), <a href="#page163">163</a>.</p>
+ <p>Agraulos (&#x103;-graw´-l&#x14F;s), <a href="#page122">122</a>.</p>
+ <p>Agrigent (ag´-ri-jent), <a href="#page213">213</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aïdes (a-i´-deez), <a href="#page52">52</a>, <a href="#page130">130</a>, <a href="#page250">250</a>.</p>
+ <p class="i2">&mdash;helmet of <a href="#page206">206</a>, <a href="#page208">208</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aïdoneus (a-i-do´-nuce), <a href="#page130">130</a>.</p>
+ <p>Air, <a href="#page12">12</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ajax (&#x101;´-jax) the Greater, <a href="#page298">298</a>.</p>
+ <p class="i2">&mdash;the Lesser, <a href="#page305">305</a>.</p>
+ <p>Alcestis (al-ses´-tiss), <a href="#page76">76</a>.</p>
+ <p>Alcinous (al-sin´-o-us), <a href="#page228">228</a>, <a href="#page318">318</a>.</p>
+ <p>Alcippe (al-sip´-pe), <a href="#page113">113</a></p>
+ <p>Alcmæon (alk-mee´-on), <a href="#page273">273</a>, <a href="#page277">277</a>.</p>
+ <p>Alcmene (alk-mee´-ne), <a href="#page35">35</a>, <a href="#page234">234</a>.</p>
+ <p>Alecto (a-leck´-to), <a href="#page138">138</a>.</p>
+ <p>Alexander (al-ex-an´-der), <a href="#page284">284</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aloidæ (al-o-i´-de), <a href="#page113">113</a>.</p>
+ <p>Alpheus (al´-fuce), <a href="#page242">242</a>.</p>
+ <p>Altars, <a href="#page191">191</a>.</p>
+ <p>Althea (al-thee´-ah, <i>th</i> as in <i>both</i>), <a href="#page90">90</a>.</p>
+ <p>Altis (al´-tis) the, <a href="#page41">41</a>.</p>
+ <p>Amalthea (am-al-thee´-ah), <a href="#page15">15</a>.</p>
+ <p>Amazons (am´-a-zons), <a href="#page244">244</a>, <a href="#page258">258</a>, <a href="#page264">264</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ambrosia (am-bro´-zhah), <a href="#page15">15</a>.</p>
+<!-- Page 326 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page326"></a>[326]</span>
+ <p>Amor (&#x101;´-mor), <a href="#page150">150</a>.</p>
+ <p>Amphiaraus (am´-fe-a-ray´-us), <a href="#page273">273</a>.</p>
+ <p>Amphidamas (am-fid´-a-mass), <a href="#page221">221</a>.</p>
+ <p>Amphilochus (am-fil´-o-cus), <a href="#page277">277</a>.</p>
+ <p>Amphion (am-fi´-on), <a href="#page33">33</a>.</p>
+ <p>Amphitrite (am-fe-tri´-te), <a href="#page104">104</a>, <a href="#page167">167</a>.</p>
+ <p>Amphitrion (am-fit´-re-on), <a href="#page35">35</a>, <a href="#page234">234</a>.</p>
+ <p>Amycus (am´-i-cus), <a href="#page219">219</a>.</p>
+ <p>Anaitis-Aphroditis (an-a-i´-tis-af-ro-di´-tis), <a href="#page92">92</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ananke (an-ang´-ke), <a href="#page147">147</a>.</p>
+ <p>Anciliæ (an-sil´-e-e), <a href="#page115">115</a>.</p>
+ <p>Androgeos (an-dro´-je-oss), <a href="#page262">262</a>.</p>
+ <p>Andromache (an-drom´-a-ke), <a href="#page295">295</a>, <a href="#page304">304</a>.</p>
+ <p>Andromeda (an-drom´-e-dah), <a href="#page207">207</a>.</p>
+ <p>Antea (an-tee´-ah), <a href="#page256">256</a>.</p>
+ <p>Anteos (an-tee´-&#x14F;s), <a href="#page248">248</a>.</p>
+ <p>Anteros (an´-te-ross), <a href="#page150">150</a>.</p>
+ <p>Antigone (an-tig´-o-ne), <a href="#page271">271</a>, <a href="#page275">275</a>.</p>
+ <p>Antinous (an-tin´-o-us), <a href="#page321">321</a>.</p>
+ <p>Antiope (an-ti´-o-pe), <a href="#page32">32</a>.</p>
+ <p>Antiphates (an-tif´-a-teez), <a href="#page311">311</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aphareus (af´-a-ruce), <a href="#page34">34</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aphrodite (af-ro-di´-te), <a href="#page58">58</a>, <a href="#page99">99</a>, <a href="#page152">152</a>.</p>
+ <p>Apollo (&#x103;-pol´-lo), <a href="#page68">68</a>.</p>
+ <p class="i2">&mdash;(Roman), <a href="#page83">83</a>.</p>
+ <p>Apple of Discord, <a href="#page39">39</a>.</p>
+ <p>Arachne (a-rak´-ne), <a href="#page45">45</a>.</p>
+ <p>Arcadia (ar-ca´-de-ah), <a href="#page240">240</a>.</p>
+ <p>Arctos (ark´-t&#x14F;s), <a href="#page35">35</a>.</p>
+ <p>Areopagus (a-re-op´-a-gus), <a href="#page44">44</a>, <a href="#page113">113</a>, <a href="#page212">212</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ares (&#x101;´-reez), <a href="#page99">99</a>, <a href="#page112">112</a>.</p>
+ <p class="i2">&mdash;grove of, <a href="#page215">215</a>.</p>
+ <p class="i2">&mdash;field of, <a href="#page223">223</a>, <a href="#page225">225</a>.</p>
+ <p>Arete (a-ree´-te <i>or</i> ar´-e-te), <a href="#page228">228</a>, <a href="#page318">318</a>.</p>
+ <p>Arethusa (ar-e-thu´-sah), <a href="#page163">163</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aretias (&#x103;-ree´-she-ass), <a href="#page221">221</a>.</p>
+ <p>Argia (ar-ji´-ah), <a href="#page272">272</a>.</p>
+ <p>Argives (ar-jives), <a href="#page274">274</a>.</p>
+ <p>Argo, <a href="#page215">215</a>, <a href="#page230">230</a>, <a href="#page321">321</a>.</p>
+ <p>Argonauts (ar´-go-nawts), <a href="#page213">213</a>.</p>
+ <p>Argos (ar´-g&#x14F;s), <a href="#page209">209</a>, <a href="#page216">216</a>, <a href="#page283">283</a>.</p>
+ <p>Argus, <a href="#page224">224</a>.</p>
+ <p>Argus-Panoptes (pan-op´-teez), <a href="#page36">36</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ariadne (a-re-ad´-ne), <a href="#page128">128</a>, <a href="#page263">263</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aricia (a-rish´-e-ah), <a href="#page97">97</a>.</p>
+ <p>Arion (a-ri´-on), <a href="#page275">275</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aristæus (ar-iss-tee´-us), <a href="#page81">81</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aristodemus (a-ris´-to-de´-mus), <a href="#page282">282</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aristomachus (ar-is-tom´-a-cus), <a href="#page282">282</a>.</p>
+ <p>Arsinoë (ar-sin´-o-e), <a href="#page278">278</a>.</p>
+ <p>Artemis (ar´-te-miss), <a href="#page87">87</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ascalaphus (ass-cal´-a-fuss), <a href="#page55">55</a>, <a href="#page250">250</a>.</p>
+ <p>Asclepius (ass-clee´-pe-us), <a href="#page71">71</a>, <a href="#page76">76</a>, <a href="#page176">176</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ashtoreth (ash´-to-reth), <a href="#page61">61</a>.</p>
+ <p>Asphodel meadows (ass-fo-del), <a href="#page133">133</a>.</p>
+ <p>Astarte (ass-tar´-te), <a href="#page61">61</a>.</p>
+ <p>Astræa (ass-tree´-ah), <a href="#page85">85</a>.</p>
+ <p>Astræus (ass-tree´-us), <a href="#page68">68</a>.</p>
+ <p>Astyanax (ass-ti´-a-nax), <a href="#page304">304</a>.</p>
+ <p>Atalanta (at-a-lan´-tah), <a href="#page89">89</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ate (&#x101;´-te), <a href="#page149">149</a>.</p>
+ <p>Athamas (ath´-a-mass), <a href="#page111">111</a>, <a href="#page215">215</a>.</p>
+ <p>Athene (a-thee´-ne, <i>th</i> as in <i>both</i>), <a href="#page43">43</a>.</p>
+ <p>Athene-Polias (po´-le-ass), <a href="#page44">44</a>, <a href="#page189">189</a>, <a href="#page199">199</a>, <a href="#page264">264</a>.</p>
+ <p>Athens, <a href="#page264">264</a>.</p>
+ <p>Atlas, <a href="#page207">207</a>, <a href="#page248">248</a>.</p>
+ <p>Atreus, (&#x103;´-truce), <a href="#page282">282</a>.</p>
+ <p>Atropos (at´-ro-p&#x14F;s), <a href="#page139">139</a>.</p>
+ <p>Atys (&#x101;´-tiss), <a href="#page19">19</a>.</p>
+ <p>Augeas (aw´-je-ass), <a href="#page242">242</a>, <a href="#page254">254</a>.</p>
+ <p>Augurs, <a href="#page196">196</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aulis (aw´-lis), <a href="#page97">97</a>.</p>
+ <p>Aurora (aw-ro´-rah), <a href="#page13">13</a>, <a href="#page67">67</a>.</p>
+ <p>Autochthony (aw-tok´-tho-ny), <a href="#page22">22</a>.</p>
+ <p>Autolycus (aw-tol´-i-cus), <a href="#page235">235</a>, <a href="#page251">251</a>.</p>
+ <p>Autonoe, (aw-ton´-o-e), <a href="#page205">205</a>.</p>
+ <p>Avernus (a-ver´-nus), <a href="#page132">132</a>.</p>
+ <p>Avertor (&#x101;-ver´-tor), <a href="#page180">180</a>.</p>
+ <p>Averuncus (av-e-run´-cus), <a href="#page180">180</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">B.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Bacchanalia (bac-ca-na´-le-ah), <a href="#page199">199</a>.</p>
+ <p>Bacchantes (bac-can´-teez), <a href="#page198">198</a>.</p>
+ <p>Bacchus (bac´-cus), <a href="#page130">130</a>.</p>
+ <p>Battus (bat´-tus), <a href="#page119">119</a>.</p>
+ <p>Baucis (baw´-sis), <a href="#page37">37</a>.</p>
+ <p>Bebricians (be-brish´-e-anz), <a href="#page219">219</a>.</p>
+ <p>Beech-nymph, <a href="#page168">168</a>.</p>
+ <p>Bellerophon (bel-ler´-o-fon), <a href="#page256">256</a>.</p>
+ <p>Bellerophontes (bel-ler´-o-fon´-teez), <a href="#page256">256</a>.</p>
+ <p>Bellona (bel-lo´-nah), <a href="#page116">116</a>.</p>
+ <p>Belvedere (bel´-vi-deer), <a href="#page85">85</a>.</p>
+ <p>Benthesicyme, (ben-the-siss´-i-me), <a href="#page105">105</a>.</p>
+ <p>Berecynthia-Idea (ber´-e-sin´-the-ah-i-dee´-ah), <a href="#page19">19</a>.</p>
+ <p>Beroe (ber´-o-e, first <i>e</i> like ei in <i>their</i>), <a href="#page35">35</a>.</p>
+ <p>Birch-nymph, <a href="#page168">168</a>.</p>
+ <p>Bistonians (bis-to´-ne-anz), <a href="#page243">243</a>.</p>
+ <p>Bithynia (bi-thin´-e-ah), <a href="#page220">220</a>.</p>
+ <p>Boreas (bo´-re-ass), <a href="#page171">171</a>.</p>
+ <p>Brauron (braw´-ron), <a href="#page96">96</a>.</p>
+ <p>Brazen Age, <a href="#page23">23</a>.</p>
+ <p>Briareus (bri´-a-ruce), <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ <p>Brisëis (bri-see´-iss), <a href="#page292">292</a>.</p>
+ <p>Brontes (bron´-teez), <a href="#page16">16</a>.</p>
+ <p>Busiris (bu-si´-ris), <a href="#page248">248</a>.</p>
+ <p>Butes (bu´-teez), <a href="#page228">228</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">C.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Cadmus, <a href="#page203">203</a>.</p>
+ <p>Caduceus (ca-du´-she-us), <a href="#page121">121</a>.</p>
+ <p>Calais (cal´-a-iss), <a href="#page171">171</a>, <a href="#page220">220</a>.</p>
+ <p>Calchas (cal´-kas), <a href="#page94">94</a>, <a href="#page287">287</a>, <a href="#page289">289</a>, <a href="#page292">292</a>.</p>
+ <p>Calirrhoë (cal-lir´-ro-e), <a href="#page278">278</a>.</p>
+ <p>Calliope (cal-li´-o-pe), <a href="#page80">80</a>, <a href="#page159">159</a>.</p>
+ <p>Callisto (cal-lis´-to), <a href="#page35">35</a>.</p>
+<!-- Page 327 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page327"></a>[327]</span>
+ <p>Calydonian Boar-hunt, <a href="#page89">89</a>.</p>
+ <p>Calypso (ca-lip´-so), <a href="#page317">317</a>.</p>
+ <p>Camenæ (ca-mee´-nee), <a href="#page184">184</a>.</p>
+ <p>Campus Martius (mar´-she-us), <a href="#page115">115</a>.</p>
+ <p>Canens (ca´-nenz), <a href="#page182">182</a>.</p>
+ <p>Capaneus (cap´-a-nuce), <a href="#page273">273</a>.</p>
+ <p>Caphareus, Cape (ca-fa´-ruce), <a href="#page305">305</a>.</p>
+ <p>Carmenta (car-men´-tah), <a href="#page184">184</a>.</p>
+ <p>Carmentalia (car-men-ta´-le-ah), <a href="#page184">184</a>.</p>
+ <p>Carnival, <a href="#page201">201</a>.</p>
+ <p>Carpo, <a href="#page164">164</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cassandra (cas-san´-drah), <a href="#page284">284</a>, <a href="#page303">303</a>, <a href="#page305">305</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cassiopea (cas´-se-o-pee´-ah), <a href="#page207">207</a>.</p>
+ <p>Castalian Spring, <a href="#page159">159</a>, <a href="#page195">195</a>.</p>
+ <p>Castor, <a href="#page33">33</a>, <a href="#page187">187</a>, <a href="#page268">268</a>.</p>
+ <p>Caucasus (caw´-c&#x103;-sus), Mount, <a href="#page222">222</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cecrops (see´-crops), <a href="#page189">189</a>.</p>
+ <p>Celæno (se-lee´-no), <a href="#page137">137</a>.</p>
+ <p>Celeus (see´-le-us), <a href="#page53">53</a>.</p>
+ <p>Celts, <a href="#page10">10</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cenæus (se-nee´-us), <a href="#page255">255</a>.</p>
+ <p>Centaurs (sen´-tawrs), <a href="#page266">266</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ceos (see´-&#x14F;s), <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cepheus (see´-fuce), <a href="#page207">207</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cephissus (se-fiss´-us), <a href="#page169">169</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cerberus (ser´-be-rus), <a href="#page133">133</a>, <a href="#page153">153</a>, <a href="#page249">249</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cercyon (ser´-se-on), <a href="#page261">261</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cerealia (se-re-a´-le-ah), <a href="#page201">201</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ceres (see´-reez), <a href="#page58">58</a>, <a href="#page201">201</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cerunitis (ser-u-ni´-tis), <a href="#page240">240</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cestus (ses´-tus), <a href="#page59">59</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ceto (see´-to), <a href="#page111">111</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ceuta (su´-tah), <a href="#page222">222</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ceyx (see´-ix), <a href="#page110">110</a>, <a href="#page254">254</a>, <a href="#page280">280</a>.</p>
+ <p>Chalciope (cal-si´-o-pe), <a href="#page223">223</a>.</p>
+ <p>Chaos (ka´-oss), <a href="#page11">11</a>.</p>
+ <p>Chares (ca´-reez), <a href="#page99">99</a>.</p>
+ <p>Charites (car´-i-teez), <a href="#page163">163</a>.</p>
+ <p>Charon (ca´-ron), <a href="#page132">132</a>, <a href="#page153">153</a>.</p>
+ <p>Charybdis (ca-rib´-dis), <a href="#page228">228</a>, <a href="#page316">316</a>.</p>
+ <p>Chimæra (ki-mee´-rah), <a href="#page257">257</a>, <a href="#page162">162</a>.</p>
+ <p>Chiron (ki´-ron), <a href="#page289">289</a>.</p>
+ <p>Chloris (clo´-ris), <a href="#page171">171</a>.</p>
+ <p>Chrysaor (cris-&#x101;´-or), <a href="#page145">145</a>.</p>
+ <p>Chrysëis (cri-see´-iss), <a href="#page292">292</a>.</p>
+ <p>Chryses (cri´-seez), <a href="#page292">292</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cimmerians (sim-me´-ri-anz), <a href="#page132">132</a>, <a href="#page314">314</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cimon (si´-mon), <a href="#page268">268</a>.</p>
+ <p>Circe (sir´-se), <a href="#page64">64</a>, <a href="#page182">182</a>, <a href="#page227">227</a>, <a href="#page311">311</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cithæron (si-thee´-ron, <i>th</i> as in <i>both</i>), <a href="#page40">40</a>.</p>
+ <p class="i2">&mdash;Mount, <a href="#page236">236</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cleodæus (cle-o-dee´-us), <a href="#page282">282</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cleopatra (cle-o-pat´-rah), <a href="#page220">220</a>.</p>
+ <p>Clio (cli´-o), <a href="#page159">159</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cloacina (clo-a-si´-nah), <a href="#page61">61</a>.</p>
+ <p>Clotho (clo´-tho), <a href="#page139">139</a>.</p>
+ <p>Clymene (clim´-e-ne), <a href="#page64">64</a>.</p>
+ <p>Clytæmnestra (clit-em-nes´-trah), <a href="#page94">94</a>, <a href="#page305">305</a>, <a href="#page306">306</a>.</p>
+ <p>Clytie (cli´-ti-e), <a href="#page63">63</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cocalus (coc´-a-lus), <a href="#page213">213</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cocytus (co-si´-tus), <a href="#page132">132</a>, <a href="#page314">314</a>.</p>
+ <p>C&oelig;lus (see´-lus), <a href="#page11">11</a>.</p>
+ <p>Colchis (col´-kis), <a href="#page215">215</a>, <a href="#page222">222</a>.</p>
+ <p>Colonus (co-lo´-nus), <a href="#page271">271</a>.</p>
+ <p>Colossus of Rhodes (co-l&#x14F;s´-sus), <a href="#page66">66</a>.</p>
+ <p>Comus (co´-mus), <a href="#page184">184</a>.</p>
+ <p>Consualia (con-su-a´-le-ah), <a href="#page183">183</a>.</p>
+ <p>Consus (con´-sus), <a href="#page183">183</a>.</p>
+ <p>Copreus (co´-pruce), <a href="#page239">239</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cora, <a href="#page197">197</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cornucopia (cor-noo-co´-pe-ah), <a href="#page148">148</a>.</p>
+ <p>Coronis (co-ro´-nis), <a href="#page75">75</a>.</p>
+ <p>Corybantes (cor-i-ban´-teez), <a href="#page19">19</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cos, island of (coss), <a href="#page104">104</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cottos (cot´-t&#x14F;s), <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ <p>Crania, island of (cra-ni´-ah), <a href="#page286">286</a>.</p>
+ <p>Creon (cree´-on), <a href="#page237">237</a>, <a href="#page275">275</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cresphontes (cres-fon´-teez), <a href="#page282">282</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cretan Bull, <a href="#page243">243</a>.</p>
+ <p>Crete (creet), <a href="#page229">229</a>.</p>
+ <p>Crëusa (cre-yu´-sah), <a href="#page210">210</a>.</p>
+ <p>Crios (cri´-&#x14F;s), <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cr&oelig;sus (cree´-sus), <a href="#page195">195</a>.</p>
+ <p>Crommyon (crom´-me-on), <a href="#page260">260</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cronus (cro´-nus), <a href="#page14">14</a>, <a href="#page179">179</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ctesiphon (tes´-i-fon), <a href="#page93">93</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cumæan Sibyl, the (cu-mee´-an), <a href="#page84">84</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cupid (cu´-pid), <a href="#page150">150</a>.</p>
+ <p>Curetes (cu-ree´-teez), <a href="#page15">15</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cybele (sib´-i-le), <a href="#page18">18</a>, <a href="#page128">128</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cyclops (si´-clops), <a href="#page105">105</a>, <a href="#page307">307</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cycnus (sik´-nus), <a href="#page66">66</a>, <a href="#page247">247</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cyllene, Mount (sil-lee´-ne), <a href="#page119">119</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cyparissus (sip-a-ris´-sus), <a href="#page77">77</a>, <a href="#page182">182</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cyprus, island of (si´-prus), <a href="#page60">60</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cyrus (si´-rus), <a href="#page195">195</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cythera (sith-ee´-rah), <a href="#page60">60</a>.</p>
+ <p>Cyzicus (siz´-i-cus), <a href="#page218">218</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">D.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Dædalus (ded´-a-lus), <a href="#page211">211</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dæmons (de´-mons), <a href="#page185">185</a>.</p>
+ <p>Damastes (da-mas´-teez), <a href="#page261">261</a>.</p>
+ <p>Danaë (dan´-a-e), <a href="#page205">205</a>, <a href="#page209">209</a>.</p>
+ <p>Danaïdes (dan-a´-&#x12D;-deez), <a href="#page135">135</a>.</p>
+ <p>Danaus (dan´-a-us), <a href="#page135">135</a>.</p>
+ <p>Danneker (dan´-ek-ker), <a href="#page129">129</a>.</p>
+ <p>Daphne (daf´-ne), <a href="#page74">74</a>.</p>
+ <p>Daphnephoria (daf-ne-fo´-re-ah), <a href="#page200">200</a>.</p>
+ <p>Daphnephorus (daf-nef´-o-rus), <a href="#page200">200</a>.</p>
+ <p>Deianeira (de-i´-a-ni´-rah), <a href="#page254">254</a>.</p>
+ <p>Deiphobus (de-if´-o-bus), <a href="#page300">300</a>.</p>
+ <p>Deipyle (de-ip´-i-le), <a href="#page272">272</a>.</p>
+ <p>Delia (dee´-le-ah), <a href="#page83">83</a>.</p>
+ <p>Delos, island of (dee´-l&#x14F;s), <a href="#page69">69</a>, <a href="#page83">83</a>.</p>
+ <p>Delphi (del´-fi), <a href="#page82">82</a>.</p>
+ <p>Delphic Oracle, <a href="#page194">194</a>.</p>
+ <p>Demeter (de-mee´-ter), <a href="#page50">50</a>, <a href="#page197">197</a>.</p>
+ <p>Demi-gods, <a href="#page8">8</a>.</p>
+ <p>Demophoon (de-mof´-o-on), <a href="#page53">53</a>, <a href="#page280">280</a>.</p>
+ <p>Deucalion (du-ca´-le-on), <a href="#page21">21</a>.</p>
+ <p>Diana (di-an´-nah), <a href="#page87">87</a>.</p>
+ <p class="i2">&mdash;of Versailles, <a href="#page88">88</a>.</p>
+<!-- Page 328 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page328"></a>[328]</span>
+ <p>Dice (di´-se), <a href="#page164">164</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dictys (dic´-tiss), <a href="#page205">205</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dindymene (din-di-mee´-ne), <a href="#page19">19</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dino (di´-no), <a href="#page145">145</a>.</p>
+ <p>Diomedes (di-o-mee´-deez), <a href="#page112">112</a>, <a href="#page243">243</a>, <a href="#page297">297</a>, <a href="#page305">305</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dione (di-o´-ne), <a href="#page58">58</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dionysia (di-o-nish´-e-ah), <a href="#page180">180</a>, <a href="#page197">197</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dionysus (di-o-ni´-sus), <a href="#page124">124</a>, <a href="#page193">193</a>, <a href="#page198">198</a>, <a href="#page263">263</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dioscuri (di-&#x14F;s-cu´-ri), <a href="#page33">33</a>.</p>
+ <p>Diræ (di´-ree), <a href="#page138">138</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dirce (dir´-se), <a href="#page33">33</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dis (diss), <a href="#page137">137</a>.</p>
+ <p>Discord, goddess of, <a href="#page284">284</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dodona (do-do´-nah), <a href="#page29">29</a>, <a href="#page216">216</a>.</p>
+ <p>Doliones (do-li´-o-neez), <a href="#page218">218</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dorians (do´-re-anz), <a href="#page211">211</a>.</p>
+ <p>Doris (do´-ris), <a href="#page108">108</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dorus (do´-rus), <a href="#page211">211</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dryades (dri´-a-deez), <a href="#page168">168</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dryas (dri´-ass), <a href="#page126">126</a>.</p>
+ <p>Dymas (di´-mass), <a href="#page283">283</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">E.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Echedorus (ek-e-do´-rus), <a href="#page247">247</a>.</p>
+ <p>Echemon (ek-kee´-mon), <a href="#page282">282</a>.</p>
+ <p>Echidna, (ek-kid´-nah), <a href="#page146">146</a>.</p>
+ <p>Echo (ek´-o), <a href="#page169">169</a>.</p>
+ <p>Egeria (e-gee´-re-ah), <a href="#page184">184</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eilithyia (i-lith-i´-yah), <a href="#page41">41</a>, <a href="#page237">237</a>.</p>
+ <p>Electra (e-lek´-trah), <a href="#page111">111</a>, <a href="#page306">306</a>.</p>
+ <p>Electryon (e-lek´-tre-on), <a href="#page35">35</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eleusinian Mysteries (el-u-sin´-e-an), <a href="#page56">56</a>, <a href="#page132">132</a>, <a href="#page196">196</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eleusis (e-lu´-sis), <a href="#page54">54</a>.</p>
+ <p>Elis (ee´-lis), <a href="#page254">254</a>, <a href="#page283">283</a>.</p>
+ <p>Elysian Fields (e-lizh´-e-an), <a href="#page133">133</a>.</p>
+ <p>Elysium (e-lizh´-e-um), <a href="#page133">133</a>.</p>
+ <p>Enceladus (en-sel´-a-dus), <a href="#page20">20</a>.</p>
+ <p>Endymion (en-dim´-e-on), <a href="#page87">87</a>.</p>
+ <p>Enipeus (e-ni´-puce), <a href="#page106">106</a>.</p>
+ <p>Enyo (e-ni´-o), <a href="#page113">113</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eos (ee´-&#x14F;s), <a href="#page67">67</a>, <a href="#page297">297</a>.</p>
+ <p>Epaphus (ep´-a-fus), <a href="#page36">36</a>, <a href="#page64">64</a>.</p>
+ <p>Epeios (ep-i´-&#x14F;s), <a href="#page301">301</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ephesus, temple of (ef´-e-sus), <a href="#page92">92</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ephialtes (ef-e-&#x101;l´-teez), <a href="#page105">105</a>.</p>
+ <p>Epidaurus (ep-e-daw´-rus), <a href="#page260">260</a>.</p>
+ <p>Epigoni (e-pig´-o-ni), <a href="#page276">276</a>.</p>
+ <p>Epimetheus (ep-e-me´-thuce), <a href="#page25">25</a>.</p>
+ <p>Epopeus (e-po´-puce), <a href="#page32">32</a>.</p>
+ <p>Erato (er´-a-to), <a href="#page159">159</a>.</p>
+ <p>Erebus (er´-e-buss), <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ <p>Erechtheus (e-rek´-thuce), <a href="#page210">210</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eresichthon (er-e-sik´-thon), <a href="#page57">57</a>.</p>
+ <p>Erginus (er-ji´-nus), <a href="#page237">237</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eridanus, river, the (e-rid´-a-nus), <a href="#page65">65</a>, <a href="#page227">227</a>, <a href="#page248">248</a>.</p>
+ <p>Erinnyes (e-rin´-ne-eez), <a href="#page138">138</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eriphyle (er-i-fi´-le), <a href="#page273">273</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eris (ee´-ris), <a href="#page39">39</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eros (ee´-r&#x14F;s), <a href="#page74">74</a>, <a href="#page150">150</a>.</p>
+ <p>Erymantian Boar (er-e-man´-shun), <a href="#page240">240</a>.</p>
+ <p>Erythia (er-e-thi´-ah), <a href="#page246">246</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eteocles (e-tee´-o-cleez), <a href="#page272">272</a>, <a href="#page275">275</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ether (ee´-ther), <a href="#page12">12</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eub&oelig;ans (u-bee´-anz), <a href="#page210">210</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eumæus (u-mee´-us), <a href="#page320">320</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eumenides (u-men´-i-deez), <a href="#page138">138</a>, <a href="#page271">271</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eunomia (u-no´-me-ah), <a href="#page164">164</a>.</p>
+ <p>Euphemus (u-fee´-mus), <a href="#page221">221</a>.</p>
+ <p>Euphrosyne (u-fros´-i-ne), <a href="#page163">163</a>.</p>
+ <p>Europa (u-ro´-pah), <a href="#page34">34</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eurus (u´-rus), <a href="#page171">171</a>.</p>
+ <p>Euryale (u-ri´-a-le), <a href="#page144">144</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eurybia (u-rib´-e-ah), <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ <p>Euryclea (u-ri-clee´-ah), <a href="#page321">321</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eurydice (u-rid´-i-se), <a href="#page81">81</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eurylochus (u-ril´-o-kus), <a href="#page311">311</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eurynome (u-rin´-o-me), <a href="#page98">98</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eurypylus (u-rip´-i-lus), <a href="#page299">299</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eurystheus (u-riss´-thuce), <a href="#page237">237</a>, <a href="#page280">280</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eurytion (u-rit´-e-on), <a href="#page246">246</a>, <a href="#page266">266</a>.</p>
+ <p>Eurytus (u´-ri-tus), <a href="#page235">235</a>.</p>
+ <p>Euterpe (u-ter´-pe), <a href="#page159">159</a>.</p>
+ <p>Evander (e-van´-der), <a href="#page184">184</a>.</p>
+ <p>Evenus (e-ve´-nus), <a href="#page254">254</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">F.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Farnese Bull, the (far´-neez), <a href="#page33">33</a>.</p>
+ <p>Fates, <a href="#page139">139</a>.</p>
+ <p>Fauns (fawns), <a href="#page175">175</a>.</p>
+ <p>Faunus (faw´-nus), <a href="#page174">174</a>.</p>
+ <p>Festivals, <a href="#page196">196</a>.</p>
+ <p>Fetiales (fe-she-a´-leez), <a href="#page124">124</a>.</p>
+ <p>Flora, <a href="#page180">180</a>.</p>
+ <p>Floralia (flo-ra´-le-ah), <a href="#page180">180</a>.</p>
+ <p>Fortuna (for-tu´-nah), <a href="#page147">147</a>.</p>
+ <p>Furies, <a href="#page278">278</a>, <a href="#page306">306</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">G.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Gadria (gad´-re-ah), <a href="#page246">246</a>.</p>
+ <p>Gæa (je´-ah), <a href="#page11">11</a>.</p>
+ <p>Galatea (gal-a-tee´-ah), <a href="#page167">167</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ganymede (gan-i-mee´-de), <a href="#page156">156</a>, <a href="#page246">246</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ganymedes (gan-i-mee´-deez), <a href="#page156">156</a>, <a href="#page246">246</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ge, <a href="#page11">11</a>.</p>
+ <p>Genii (jee´-ne-i), <a href="#page185">185</a>.</p>
+ <p>Geryon (jee´-re-on), <a href="#page246">246</a>.</p>
+ <p>Geryones (je-ri´-o-neez), <a href="#page246">246</a>.</p>
+ <p>Giants, <a href="#page13">13</a>, <a href="#page199">199</a>, <a href="#page218">218</a>.</p>
+ <p>Gigantomachia (ji-gan´-to-ma´-ke-ah), <a href="#page20">20</a>.</p>
+ <p>Glauce (glaw´-se), <a href="#page231">231</a>.</p>
+ <p>Glaucus (glaw´-cus), <a href="#page109">109</a>, <a href="#page219">219</a>.</p>
+ <p>Golden Age, <a href="#page22">22</a>, <a href="#page185">185</a>.</p>
+ <p>Golden Fleece, <a href="#page215">215</a>, <a href="#page223">223</a>, <a href="#page226">226</a>, <a href="#page230">230</a>.</p>
+ <p>Gordius (gor´-de-us), <a href="#page128">128</a>.</p>
+ <p>Gorgons, <a href="#page144">144</a>, <a href="#page206">206</a>.</p>
+ <p>Graces, <a href="#page163">163</a>.</p>
+<!-- Page 329 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page329"></a>[329]</span>
+ <p>Gradivus (gra-di´-vus), <a href="#page115">115</a>.</p>
+ <p>Grææ (gree´-ee), <a href="#page145">145</a>, <a href="#page206">206</a>.</p>
+ <p>Gratiæ (gra´-she-ee), <a href="#page163">163</a>.</p>
+ <p>Gyges (ji´-jeez), <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">H.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Hades (ha´-deez), <a href="#page250">250</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hæmon (hee´-mon), <a href="#page276">276</a>.</p>
+ <p>Halcyone (hal-si´-o-ne), <a href="#page110">110</a>.</p>
+ <p>Halirrothius (hal-ir-ro´-the-us), <a href="#page113">113</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hamadryades (ham-a-dry´-a-deez), <a href="#page168">168</a>.</p>
+ <p>Harmonia (har-mo´-ne-ah), <a href="#page204">204</a>, <a href="#page276">276</a>.</p>
+ <p>Harpies (har´-piz), <a href="#page137">137</a>, <a href="#page220">220</a>.</p>
+ <p>Harpinna (har-pin´-nah), <a href="#page233">233</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hebe (hee´-be), <a href="#page41">41</a>, <a href="#page156">156</a>, <a href="#page256">256</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hebrus, river, the (hee´-brus), <a href="#page82">82</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hecate (hec´-a-te), <a href="#page85">85</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hecatombs (hec´-a-tomes), <a href="#page193">193</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hecatoncheires (hec´-a-ton-ki´-reez), <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hector, <a href="#page284">284</a>, <a href="#page290">290</a>, <a href="#page293">293</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hecuba (hec´-u-bah), <a href="#page283">283</a>, <a href="#page304">304</a>.</p>
+ <p>Helen, <a href="#page267">267</a>, <a href="#page286">286</a>, <a href="#page304">304</a>.</p>
+ <p>Helenus (hel´-e-nus), <a href="#page299">299</a>.</p>
+ <p>Helicon (hel´-e-con), <a href="#page158">158</a>, <a href="#page162">162</a>.</p>
+ <p>Helios, (hee´-le-&#x14F;s), <a href="#page61">61</a>, <a href="#page316">316</a>.</p>
+ <p>Helios-Apollo, <a href="#page70">70</a>.</p>
+ <p>Helle (hel´-le), <a href="#page215">215</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hemera (hee´-me-rah), <a href="#page13">13</a>, <a href="#page142">142</a>.</p>
+ <p>Heosphorus (he-&#x14F;s´-fo-rus), <a href="#page68">68</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hephæstus (he-fes´-tus), <a href="#page97">97</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hera (he´-rah), <a href="#page38">38</a>, <a href="#page214">214</a>.</p>
+ <p>Heracles <a name="NtA_54" href="#Nt_54"><sup>[54]</sup></a> (her´-a-cleez), <a href="#page26">26</a>, <a href="#page218">218</a>, <a href="#page234">234</a>.</p>
+ <p>Heraclidæ <a href="#Nt_54"><sup>[54]</sup></a> (her-a-cli´-dee), <a href="#page280">280</a>.</p>
+ <p>Heræ (he´-ree), <a href="#page41">41</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hercules (her´-cu-leez) <i>See</i> Heracles.</p>
+ <p class="i2">&mdash;Pillars of, <a href="#page246">246</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hermæ (her´-mee), <a href="#page118">118</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hermes (her´-meez), <a href="#page117">117</a>, <a href="#page250">250</a>, <a href="#page312">312</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hermione (her-mi´-o-ne), <a href="#page307">307</a>.</p>
+ <p>Heroes, <a href="#page8">8</a>.</p>
+ <p>Herostratus (he-ros´-tra-tus), <a href="#page93">93</a>.</p>
+ <p>Herse (her´-se), <a href="#page87">87</a>, <a href="#page122">122</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hesiod's Theogony (he´-she-od), <a href="#page24">24</a>, <a href="#page150">150</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hesione (he-si´-o-ne), <a href="#page245">245</a>, <a href="#page253">253</a>, <a href="#page285">285</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hesperia (hes-pee´-re-ah), <a href="#page163">163</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hesperides (hes-per´-i-deez), <a href="#page162">162</a>, <a href="#page247">247</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hesperus (hes´-pe-rus), <a href="#page68">68</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hestia (hes´-te-ah), <a href="#page48">48</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hip´pocamp, <a href="#page229">229</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hippocamps, <a href="#page102">102</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hippocrene (hip-po-cree´-ne), <a href="#page159">159</a>, <a href="#page162">162</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hippodamia (hip´-po-da-mi´-ah), <a href="#page232">232</a>, <a href="#page266">266</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hippolyte (hip-pol´-i-te), <a href="#page264">264</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hippolyte's Girdle, <a href="#page244">244</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hippolytes (hip-pol´-i teez), <a href="#page283">283</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hippolytus (hip-pol´-i-tus), <a href="#page266">266</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hippomedon (hip-pom´-e-don), <a href="#page273">273</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hippomenes (hip-pom´-e-neez), <a href="#page91">91</a>.</p>
+ <p>Horæ (ho´-ree), <a href="#page164">164</a>.</p>
+ <p>Horned Hind, <a href="#page240">240</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hyacinthus (hi-a-sin´-thus), <a href="#page77">77</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hyades (hi´-a-deez), <a href="#page170">170</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hydra, Lernean, the (hi´-drah, ler-nee´-an), <a href="#page239">239</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hygeia (hi-jee´-yah), <a href="#page177">177</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hylas (hi´-las), <a href="#page216">216</a>, <a href="#page219">219</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hyllus (hil´-lus), <a href="#page254">254</a>, <a href="#page281">281</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hymen (hi´-men), or Hymenæus (hi-me-nee´-us), <a href="#page154">154</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hyperion (hi-pee´-re-on), <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hypermnestra (hip-erm-nes´-trah), <a href="#page135">135</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hypnus (hip´-nus), <a href="#page142">142</a>.</p>
+ <p>Hypsipyle (hip-sip´-i-le), <a href="#page274">274</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">I.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Iambe (i-am´-be), <a href="#page53">53</a>.</p>
+ <p>Iapetus (i-ap´-e-tus), <a href="#page24">24</a>.</p>
+ <p>Iasion (i-a´-zhe-on), <a href="#page137">137</a>.</p>
+ <p>Iberia (i-bee´-re-ah), <a href="#page247">247</a>.</p>
+ <p>Icaria (i-ca´-re-ah), <a href="#page212">212</a>.</p>
+ <p>Icarus (ic´-a-rus), <a href="#page211">211</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ichor (i´-kor), <a href="#page7">7</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ida, Mount, <a href="#page157">157</a>, <a href="#page284">284</a>, <a href="#page300">300</a>.</p>
+ <p>Idas (i´-dass), <a href="#page34">34</a>, <a href="#page75">75</a>.</p>
+ <p>Idmon (id´-mon), <a href="#page216">216</a>.</p>
+ <p>Idomeneus (i-dom´-e-nuce), <a href="#page286">286</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ilion (il´-e-on), <a href="#page283">283</a>.</p>
+ <p>Illyria (il-lir´-e-ah), <a href="#page205">205</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ilus (i´-lus), <a href="#page283">283</a>.</p>
+ <p>Inachus (in´-a-cus), <a href="#page36">36</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ino (i´-no), <a href="#page205">205</a>, <a href="#page215">215</a>.</p>
+ <p>Inuus (in´-u-us), <a href="#page174">174</a>.</p>
+ <p>Io (i´-o), <a href="#page36">36</a>.</p>
+ <p>Iobates (i-ob´-a-teez), <a href="#page257">257</a>.</p>
+ <p>Iolaus (i-o-la´-us), <a href="#page239">239</a>, <a href="#page251">251</a>, <a href="#page281">281</a>.</p>
+ <p>Iolcus (i-ol´-cus), <a href="#page213">213</a>, <a href="#page230">230</a>.</p>
+ <p>Iole (i´-o-le), <a href="#page251">251</a>, <a href="#page255">255</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ion (i´-on), <a href="#page210">210</a>.</p>
+ <p>Iphigenia (if´-i-ge-ni´-ah), <a href="#page94">94</a>, <a href="#page289">289</a>, <a href="#page307">307</a>.</p>
+ <p>Iphitus (if´-i-tus), <a href="#page251">251</a>.</p>
+ <p>Iris (i´-ris), <a href="#page155">155</a>, <a href="#page220">220</a>.</p>
+ <p>Iron Age, <a href="#page23">23</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ismene (iss-mee´-ne), <a href="#page271">271</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ister (iss´-ter), <a href="#page226">226</a>.</p>
+ <p>Isthmian Games (isth´-me-an), <a href="#page107">107</a>, <a href="#page264">264</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ithaca (ith´-a-cah), <a href="#page310">310</a>, <a href="#page319">319</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ixion (ix-i´-on), <a href="#page135">135</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">J.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Jani (ja´-ni), <a href="#page178">178</a>.</p>
+ <p>Janus (ja´-nus), <a href="#page18">18</a>, <a href="#page178">178</a>.</p>
+<!-- Page 330 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page330"></a>[330]</span>
+ <p>Jason (ja´-son), <a href="#page213">213</a>.</p>
+ <p>Jocasta (jo-cas´-tah), <a href="#page269">269</a>, <a href="#page270">270</a>.</p>
+ <p>Juno (ju´-no), <a href="#page42">42</a>, <a href="#page185">185</a>.</p>
+ <p>Jupiter (ju´-pe-ter), <a href="#page38">38</a>.</p>
+ <p>Jupiter-Ammon, <a href="#page207">207</a>.</p>
+ <p>Juventas (ju-ven´-t&#x103;ss), <a href="#page156">156</a>, <a href="#page183">183</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">K.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Keidomos (ki´-do-mos), <a href="#page113">113</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ker (cur), <a href="#page149">149</a>.</p>
+ <p>Keres (kee´-reez), <a href="#page149">149</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">L.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Labdacus (lab´-da-cus), <a href="#page269">269</a>.</p>
+ <p>Labyrinth (lab´-i-rinth), <a href="#page212">212</a>, <a href="#page262">262</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lacedæmon (las-e-dee´-mon), <a href="#page283">283</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lac´edæmo´nians, <a href="#page189">189</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lachesis (lak´-e-sis), <a href="#page139">139</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lacolia (la-co´-le-ah), <a href="#page250">250</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lacus Nemorensis (la´-cus nem-o-ren´-sis), <a href="#page97">97</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ladon (la´-don), <a href="#page240">240</a>.</p>
+ <p>Laertes (la-er´-teez), <a href="#page314">314</a>, <a href="#page323">323</a>.</p>
+ <p>Læstrygones (les-trig´-o-neez), <a href="#page311">311</a>.</p>
+ <p>Laius (la´-yus), <a href="#page269">269</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lampetus (lam´-pe-tus), <a href="#page67">67</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lampsacus (lamp´-sa-cus), <a href="#page176">176</a>.</p>
+ <p>Laocoon (la-oc´-o-on), <a href="#page301">301</a>.</p>
+ <p>Laodamas (la-od´-a-mass), <a href="#page277">277</a>.</p>
+ <p>Laomedon (la-om´-e-don), <a href="#page104">104</a>, <a href="#page245">245</a>, <a href="#page253">253</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lar, <a href="#page186">186</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lares Familiares (la´-reez fa-mil´-e-a´-reez), <a href="#page186">186</a>.</p>
+ <p>Larissa (la-ris´-sah), <a href="#page189">189</a>, <a href="#page209">209</a>.</p>
+ <p>Latmus Mount, <a href="#page87">87</a>.</p>
+ <p>Latona (la-to´-nah), <a href="#page31">31</a>.</p>
+ <p>Laverna (la-ver´-nah), <a href="#page184">184</a>.</p>
+ <p>Leda (lee´-dah), <a href="#page33">33</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lemnos, island of, (lem´-noss), <a href="#page98">98</a>, <a href="#page217">217</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lemuralia (lem-u-ra´-le-ah), <a href="#page186">186</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lemures (lem´-u-reez), <a href="#page186">186</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lerna, <a href="#page239">239</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lernean Hydra. <i>See</i> Hydra.</p>
+ <p>Lesbos (lez´-bos), <a href="#page290">290</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lethe (lee´-the, <i>th</i> as in <i>both</i>), <a href="#page133">133</a>.</p>
+ <p>Leto (lee´-to), <a href="#page31">31</a>.</p>
+ <p>Leucippus (lu-sip´-pus), <a href="#page34">34</a>.</p>
+ <p>Leucothea (lu-co´-the-ah, <i>th</i> as in <i>both</i>), <a href="#page111">111</a>, <a href="#page318">318</a>.</p>
+ <p>Liber (li´-ber), <a href="#page130">130</a>.</p>
+ <p>Liberalia (lib-er-a´-le-ah), <a href="#page130">130</a>.</p>
+ <p>Libya (lib´-yah), <a href="#page207">207</a>, <a href="#page229">229</a>.</p>
+ <p>Limoniades (lim-o-ni´-a-deez), <a href="#page170">170</a>.</p>
+ <p>Linden-nymph, <a href="#page168">168</a>.</p>
+ <p>Linus (li´-nus), <a href="#page235">235</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lion, Nemean (ne´-me-an), <a href="#page238">238</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ludi Maximi (lu´-di max´-i-mi), <a href="#page48">48</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ludovici Villa (lu-do-vee´-chee), <a href="#page116">116</a>.</p>
+ <p>Luna (lu´-nah), <a href="#page86">86</a>, <a href="#page97">97</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lupercus (lu-per´-cus), <a href="#page174">174</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lycaon (li-cay´-on), <a href="#page37">37</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lycomedes (lic-o-mee´-deez), <a href="#page268">268</a>, <a href="#page287">287</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lycurgus (li-cur´-gus), <a href="#page126">126</a>, <a href="#page189">189</a>, <a href="#page274">274</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lycus (li´-cus), <a href="#page32">32</a>.</p>
+ <p>Lynceus (lin´-suce), <a href="#page34">34</a>, <a href="#page216">216</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">M.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Macaria (ma-ca´-re-ah), <a href="#page281">281</a>.</p>
+ <p>Machaon (ma-ca´-on), <a href="#page177">177</a>, <a href="#page300">300</a>.</p>
+ <p>Magna-Mater (may´-ter), <a href="#page19">19</a>.</p>
+ <p>Maia (may´-yah), <a href="#page119">119</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mamers (ma´-merz), <a href="#page114">114</a>.</p>
+ <p>Manes (ma´-neez), <a href="#page185">185</a>.</p>
+ <p>Marathonian Bull (mar-a-tho´-ne-an), <a href="#page262">262</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mares of Diomedes, <a href="#page243">243</a></p>
+ <p>Marpessa (mar-pes´-sah), <a href="#page75">75</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mars (marz), <a href="#page114">114</a>.</p>
+ <p>Marspiter (mars´-pe-ter), <a href="#page114">114</a>.</p>
+ <p>Marsyas (mar´-she-ass), <a href="#page78">78</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mater-Deorum (dee-o´-rum), <a href="#page19">19</a>.</p>
+ <p>Matronalia (ma-tro-na´-le-ah), <a href="#page43">43</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mecone (me-co´-ne), <a href="#page24">24</a>.</p>
+ <p>Medea (me-dee´-ah), <a href="#page223">223</a>, <a href="#page261">261</a>.</p>
+ <p>Medusa (me-du´-sah), <a href="#page45">45</a>, <a href="#page144">144</a>, <a href="#page206">206</a>.</p>
+ <p>Megæra (me-jee´-rah), <a href="#page138">138</a>.</p>
+ <p>Megapenthes (meg-a-pen´-theez), <a href="#page209">209</a>.</p>
+ <p>Megara (meg´-a-rah), <a href="#page138">138</a>, <a href="#page237">237</a>, <a href="#page251">251</a>.</p>
+ <p>Melanippe (mel-a-nip´-pe), <a href="#page245">245</a>.</p>
+ <p>Meleager (me-le-a´-jer), <a href="#page89">89</a>, <a href="#page216">216</a>.</p>
+ <p>Meliades (me-li´-a-deez), <a href="#page170">170</a>.</p>
+ <p>Melissa (me-lis´-sah), <a href="#page15">15</a>.</p>
+ <p>Melpomene (mel-pom´-e-ne), <a href="#page159">159</a>.</p>
+ <p>Memnon (mem´-non), <a href="#page297">297</a>.</p>
+ <p>Memphis (mem´-fiss), <a href="#page36">36</a>.</p>
+ <p>Menades (men´-a-deez), <a href="#page198">198</a>.</p>
+ <p>Menelaus (men-e-la´-us), <a href="#page294">294</a>, <a href="#page304">304</a>, <a href="#page305">305</a>.</p>
+ <p>Menesthius (me-nes´-the-us), <a href="#page268">268</a>.</p>
+ <p>Men&oelig;ceus (me-nee´-suce), <a href="#page274">274</a>.</p>
+ <p>Men&oelig;tius (me-nee´-she-us), <a href="#page216">216</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mercury (mer´-cu-ry), <a href="#page123">123</a>.</p>
+ <p>Merope (mer´-ope, first <i>e</i> like <i>ei</i> in <i>their</i>), <a href="#page269">269</a>.</p>
+ <p>Messene (mes-see´-ne), <a href="#page283">283</a>.</p>
+ <p>Metaneira (met-a-ni´-rah), <a href="#page53">53</a>.</p>
+ <p>Metis (mee´-tiss), <a href="#page30">30</a>.</p>
+ <p>Metra (mee´-trah), <a href="#page57">57</a>, <a href="#page92">92</a>.</p>
+ <p>Midas (mi´-das), <a href="#page79">79</a>, <a href="#page128">128</a>.</p>
+ <p>Midea (mi-dee´-ah), <a href="#page209">209</a>.</p>
+ <p>Milo (mi´-lo), <a href="#page60">60</a>.</p>
+ <p>Miltiades (mil-ti´-a-deez), <a href="#page268">268</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mimas (mi´-mass), <a href="#page20">20</a>.</p>
+ <p>Minerva (mi-ner´-vah), <a href="#page47">47</a>.</p>
+ <p>Minerval (mi-ner´-val), <a href="#page47">47</a>.</p>
+ <p>Minos (mi´-n&#x14F;s), <a href="#page34">34</a>, <a href="#page134">134</a>, <a href="#page212">212</a>, <a href="#page243">243</a>.</p>
+ <p>Minotaur (min´-o-tawr), <a href="#page212">212</a>, <a href="#page262">262</a>.</p>
+ <p>Minyans (min´-yanz), <a href="#page237">237</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mnemosyne (ne-m&#x14F;s´-i-ne), <a href="#page13">13</a>, <a href="#page31">31</a>.</p>
+ <p>Moira (moy´-rah), <a href="#page139">139</a>.</p>
+ <p>Moiræ (moy´-ree), <a href="#page297">297</a>, <a href="#page139">139</a>.</p>
+<!-- Page 331 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page331"></a>[331]</span>
+ <p>Moly (mo´-ly), <a href="#page312">312</a>.</p>
+ <p>Momus (mo´-mus), <a href="#page149">149</a>.</p>
+ <p>Moneta Juno (mo-nee´-tah), <a href="#page42">42</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mopsus, <a href="#page216">216</a>.</p>
+ <p>Morpheus (mor´-fuce), <a href="#page143">143</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mors (morz). <i>See</i> Thanatos.</p>
+ <p>Musagetes (mu-saj´-e-teez), <a href="#page71">71</a>.</p>
+ <p>Muses, <a href="#page157">157</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mutunus (mu-tu´-nus), <a href="#page176">176</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mycenæ (mi-see´-ne), <a href="#page209">209</a>, <a href="#page305">305</a>.</p>
+ <p>Myrmidons (mir´-mi-dons), <a href="#page288">288</a>, <a href="#page293">293</a>, <a href="#page295">295</a>.</p>
+ <p>Myrtilus (mir´-ti-lus), <a href="#page233">233</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mysia (mish´-e-ah), <a href="#page219">219</a>.</p>
+ <p>Mysians, <a href="#page289">289</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">N.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Naiads (na´-yads), or Naiades (na-i´-a-deez), <a href="#page166">166</a>, <a href="#page227">227</a>.</p>
+ <p>Napææ (na-pee´-ee), <a href="#page169">169</a>.</p>
+ <p>Narcissus (nar-sis´-sus), <a href="#page169">169</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nausicaa (naw-sic´-a-ah), <a href="#page317">317</a>.</p>
+ <p>Naxos (nax´-oss), <a href="#page128">128</a>, <a href="#page263">263</a>.</p>
+ <p>Necessitas (ne-ses´-si-tass), <a href="#page148">148</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nectar, <a href="#page15">15</a>.</p>
+ <p>Neleus (nee´-luce), <a href="#page106">106</a>, <a href="#page119">119</a>, <a href="#page216">216</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nemea (nee´-me-ah), <a href="#page274">274</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nemean Lion. <i>See</i> Lion.</p>
+ <p>Nemesis (nem´-e-siss), <a href="#page141">141</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nemoralia (nem-o-ra´-le-ah), <a href="#page97">97</a>.</p>
+ <p>Neoptolemus (ne-op-tol´-e-mus), <a href="#page299">299</a>, <a href="#page304">304</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nephalia (ne-fa´-le-ah), <a href="#page139">139</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nephelæ (nef´-e-lee), <a href="#page12">12</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nephele (nef´-e-le), <a href="#page215">215</a>.</p>
+ <p>Neptunalia (nep-tu-na´-le-ah), <a href="#page107">107</a>.</p>
+ <p>Neptune (nept´-une), <a href="#page14">14</a>, <a href="#page107">107</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nereides (ne-ree´-i-deez), <a href="#page108">108</a>, <a href="#page167">167</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nereus (nee´-ruce), <a href="#page13">13</a>, <a href="#page108">108</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nessus, <a href="#page254">254</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nestor, <a href="#page286">286</a>, <a href="#page301">301</a>, <a href="#page305">305</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nike (ni´-ke), <a href="#page117">117</a>.</p>
+ <p>Niobe (ni´-o-be), <a href="#page79">79</a>, <a href="#page141">141</a>.</p>
+ <p>Noman, <a href="#page309">309</a>.</p>
+ <p>Notus (no´-tus), <a href="#page171">171</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nox. <i>See</i> Nyx.</p>
+ <p>Nyctimus (nic´-ti-mus), <a href="#page38">38</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nycteus (nic´-tuce), <a href="#page32">32</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nymphs, <a href="#page165">165</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nysa, Mount (ni´-sah), <a href="#page125">125</a>.</p>
+ <p>Nyx (nix), <a href="#page13">13</a>, <a href="#page142">142</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">O.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Oceanides (o-se-an´-i-deez), <a href="#page108">108</a>, <a href="#page166">166</a>.</p>
+ <p>Oceanus (o-see´-a-nus), <a href="#page12">12</a>, <a href="#page107">107</a>, <a href="#page166">166</a>, <a href="#page314">314</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ocypete (o-sip´-e-te), <a href="#page137">137</a>.</p>
+ <p>Odysseus (o-dis´-suce), <a href="#page131">131</a>, <a href="#page287">287</a>, <a href="#page307">307</a>.</p>
+ <p>&OElig;chalia (e-ka´-le-ah), <a href="#page255">255</a>.</p>
+ <p>&OElig;dipus (ed´-i-pus), <a href="#page146">146</a>, <a href="#page269">269</a>.</p>
+ <p>&OElig;neus (ee´-nuce), <a href="#page89">89</a>, <a href="#page254">254</a>.</p>
+ <p>&OElig;nomaus (ee-nom´-a-us), <a href="#page232">232</a>.</p>
+ <p>&OElig;none (ee-no´-ne) <a href="#page284">284</a>, <a href="#page300">300</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ogygia (o-jij´-e-ah), <a href="#page317">317</a>.</p>
+ <p>Oileus (o-i´-luce), <a href="#page216">216</a>, <a href="#page221">221</a>.</p>
+ <p>Olympia (o-lim´-pe-ah), <a href="#page29">29</a>, <a href="#page123">123</a>.</p>
+ <p>Olym´pic Games, <a href="#page30">30</a>.</p>
+ <p>Olym´pus, Mount, <a href="#page27">27</a>.</p>
+ <p>Omphale (om´-fa-le), <a href="#page252">252</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ops, <a href="#page19">19</a>.</p>
+ <p>Oracles, <a href="#page194">194</a>.</p>
+ <p>Orchamus (or´-ca-mus), <a href="#page63">63</a>.</p>
+ <p>Orchomenus (or-com´-e-nus), <a href="#page237">237</a>.</p>
+ <p>Orcus (or´-cus), <a href="#page136">136</a>.</p>
+ <p>Oreades (o-ree´-a-deez), <a href="#page169">169</a>.</p>
+ <p>Orithyia (or´-i-thi´-yah), <a href="#page171">171</a>.</p>
+ <p>Orestes (o-res´-teez), <a href="#page95">95</a>, <a href="#page139">139</a>, <a href="#page306">306</a>.</p>
+ <p>Orpheus (or´-fuce), <a href="#page80">80</a>, <a href="#page216">216</a>, <a href="#page228">228</a>.</p>
+ <p>Orthrus (or´-thrus), <a href="#page246">246</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ossa (oss´-sah), <a href="#page106">106</a>.</p>
+ <p>Othrys, Mount, (o´-thris), <a href="#page16">16</a>.</p>
+ <p>Otus (o´-tus), <a href="#page105">105</a>.</p>
+ <p>Oxen of Geryones. <i>See</i> Geryones.</p>
+ <p>Oxylus (ox´-i-lus), <a href="#page283">283</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">P.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Palæmon (pa-lee´-mon), <a href="#page111">111</a>.</p>
+ <p>Palamedes (pal-a-mee´-deez), <a href="#page287">287</a>, <a href="#page291">291</a>.</p>
+ <p>Palatine (pal´-a-tin), <a href="#page181">181</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pales (pa´-leez), <a href="#page181">181</a>.</p>
+ <p>Palilia (pa-lil´-e-ah), <a href="#page181">181</a>.</p>
+ <p>Palladium (pal-la´-de-um), <a href="#page299">299</a>, <a href="#page301">301</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pallan´tids, <a href="#page262">262</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pallas (pal´-lass), <a href="#page117">117</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pallas-Athene, <a href="#page43">43</a>, <a href="#page234">234</a>, <a href="#page302">302</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pan, <a href="#page79">79</a>, <a href="#page171">171</a>, <a href="#page198">198</a>.</p>
+ <p>Panacea (pan-a-see´-ah), <a href="#page177">177</a>.</p>
+ <p>Panathenæa (pan´-ath-e-nee´-ah), <a href="#page199">199</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pandareos (pan-da´-re-oss), <a href="#page138">138</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pandora (pan-do´-rah), <a href="#page25">25</a>.</p>
+ <p>Panisci (pa-nis´-si), <a href="#page174">174</a>.</p>
+ <p>Panoptes (pa-nop´-teez), <a href="#page246">246</a>.</p>
+ <p>Parcæ (par´-see). <i>See</i> Moiræ.</p>
+ <p>Paris (par´-ris), <a href="#page39">39</a>, <a href="#page284">284</a>, <a href="#page286">286</a>.</p>
+ <p>Parnassus (par-nas´-sus), <a href="#page158">158</a>.</p>
+ <p>Parthenon (par´-the-non), <a href="#page46">46</a>.</p>
+ <p class="i2">&mdash;Hill, <a href="#page89">89</a>.</p>
+ <p>Parthenopæus (par´-then-o-pee´-us), <a href="#page273">273</a>.</p>
+ <p>Patroclus (p&#x103;-tro´-clus), <a href="#page288">288</a>, <a href="#page293">293</a>, <a href="#page314">314</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pedasus (ped´-a-sus), <a href="#page292">292</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pegasus (peg´-a-sus), <a href="#page145">145</a>, <a href="#page162">162</a>, <a href="#page257">257</a>.</p>
+ <p>Peitho (pi´-tho), <a href="#page134">134</a>.</p>
+ <p>Peleus (pee´-luce), <a href="#page39">39</a>, <a href="#page287">287</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pelias (pee´-le-ass), <a href="#page106">106</a>, <a href="#page213">213</a>, <a href="#page230">230</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pelion, Mount (pee´-le-on), <a href="#page106">106</a>.</p>
+ <p>Peloponnesus (pel´-o-pon-nee´-sus), <a href="#page281">281</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pelops (pee´-lops), <a href="#page135">135</a>, <a href="#page232">232</a>.</p>
+ <p>Penates (pe-na´-teez), <a href="#page187">187</a>.</p>
+<!-- Page 332 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page332"></a>[332]</span>
+ <p>Penelope (pe-nel´-o-pe), <a href="#page287">287</a>, <a href="#page319">319</a>.</p>
+ <p>Peneus (pe-nee´-us), <a href="#page74">74</a>, <a href="#page242">242</a>.</p>
+ <p>Penthesilea (pen´-the-si-lee´-ah), <a href="#page296">296</a></p>
+ <p>Pentheus (pen´-thuce), <a href="#page126">126</a>, <a href="#page205">205</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pephredo (pe-free´-do), <a href="#page145">145</a>.</p>
+ <p>Peplus (pee´-plus), <a href="#page199">199</a>.</p>
+ <p>Periphetes (per-i-fee´-teez), <a href="#page260">260</a>.</p>
+ <p>Perse (per´-se), <a href="#page64">64</a>, <a href="#page312">312</a>.</p>
+ <p>Persephone (per-sef´-o-ne), <a href="#page52">52</a>, <a href="#page197">197</a>, <a href="#page267">267</a>.</p>
+ <p>Perseus (per´-suce), <a href="#page145">145</a>, <a href="#page205">205</a>.</p>
+ <p>Petasus (pet´-a-sus), <a href="#page121">121</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phæaces (fee-a´-seez), <a href="#page228">228</a>, <a href="#page318">318</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phædra (fee´-drah), <a href="#page266">266</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phaëthon (fa´-e-thon), <a href="#page64">64</a>, <a href="#page67">67</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pharos, isle of, (fa´-r&#x14F;s), <a href="#page108">108</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phases, river (fa´-seez), <a href="#page222">222</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phegeus (fee´-juce), <a href="#page278">278</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phidias (fid´-e-ass), <a href="#page28">28</a>.</p>
+ <p>Philemon (fi-lee´-mon), <a href="#page37">37</a>.</p>
+ <p>Philoctetes (fil-oc-tee´-teez), <a href="#page256">256</a>, <a href="#page290">290</a>, <a href="#page299">299</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phineus (fi´-nuce), <a href="#page208">208</a>, <a href="#page220">220</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phlegethon (flej´-e-thon), <a href="#page134">134</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phocis (fo´-siss), <a href="#page306">306</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ph&oelig;be (fee´-be), <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ph&oelig;bus-Apollo (fee´-bus), <a href="#page68">68</a>, <a href="#page298">298</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pholus (fo´-lus), <a href="#page240">240</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phorcys (for´-siss), <a href="#page13">13</a>, <a href="#page111">111</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phrygia (frij´-e-ah), <a href="#page18">18</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phryxus (frix´-us), <a href="#page222">222</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phylace (fil´-a-se), <a href="#page290">290</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phyleus (fi´-luce), <a href="#page242">242</a>, <a href="#page254">254</a>.</p>
+ <p>Phylla (fil´-lah), <a href="#page233">233</a>.</p>
+ <p>Picumnus (pi-cum´-nus), <a href="#page182">182</a>.</p>
+ <p>Picus (pi´-cus), <a href="#page182">182</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pieria (pi-ee´-re-ah), <a href="#page119">119</a>, <a href="#page158">158</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pierides (pi-er´-i-deez), <a href="#page158">158</a>, <a href="#page162">162</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pierus (pi´-e-rus), <a href="#page158">158</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pilumnus (pi-lum´-nus), <a href="#page182">182</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pindus, Mount, <a href="#page158">158</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pirithöus (pi-rith´-o-us), <a href="#page216">216</a>, <a href="#page250">250</a>, <a href="#page265">265</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pisa (pi´-sah), <a href="#page232">232</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pittheus (pit´-thuce), <a href="#page259">259</a>.</p>
+ <p>Platea (pla-tee´-ah), <a href="#page40">40</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pleiades (plee´-ya-deez), <a href="#page119">119</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pluto (plu´-to), <a href="#page136">136</a>.</p>
+ <p>Plutus (plu´-tus), <a href="#page132">132</a>, <a href="#page137">137</a>, <a href="#page148">148</a>.</p>
+ <p>Podalirius (pod-a-lir´-e-us), <a href="#page177">177</a>.</p>
+ <p>Podarces (po-dar´-seez), <a href="#page253">253</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pollux, <a href="#page33">33</a>, <a href="#page187">187</a>, <a href="#page227">227</a>, <a href="#page268">268</a>.</p>
+ <p>Polybotes (pol-e-bo´-teez), <a href="#page104">104</a>.</p>
+ <p>Polybus (pol´-e-bus), <a href="#page269">269</a>.</p>
+ <p>Polydectes (pol-e-dec´-teez), <a href="#page205">205</a>.</p>
+ <p>Polydeuces (pol-e-du´-seez). <i>See</i> Pollux.</p>
+ <p>Polydorus (pol-e-do´-rus), <a href="#page205">205</a>.</p>
+ <p>Polyhymnia (pol-e-him´-ne-ah), <a href="#page159">159</a>.</p>
+ <p>Polynices (pol-e-ni´-seez), <a href="#page271">271</a>, <a href="#page272">272</a>, <a href="#page275">275</a>.</p>
+ <p>Polyphemus (pol-e-fee´-mus), <a href="#page105">105</a>, <a href="#page219">219</a>, <a href="#page307">307</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pomona (po-mo´-nah), <a href="#page180">180</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pontus, <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ <p>Porta Lavernalis (lav-er-na´-lis), <a href="#page184">184</a>.</p>
+ <p>Poseidon (po-si´-don), <a href="#page101">101</a>, <a href="#page162">162</a>, <a href="#page266">266</a>.</p>
+ <p>Praxiteles (prax-it´-e-leez), <a href="#page123">123</a>.</p>
+ <p>Priam (pri´-am), <a href="#page254">254</a>, <a href="#page283">283</a>, <a href="#page304">304</a>.</p>
+ <p>Priamus (pri´-a-mus). <i>See</i> Priam.</p>
+ <p>Priapus (pri-a´-pus), <a href="#page175">175</a>.</p>
+ <p>Priests, <a href="#page191">191</a>.</p>
+ <p>Procrustes (pro-crus´-teez), <a href="#page261">261</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pr&oelig;tus (pree´-tus), <a href="#page257">257</a>.</p>
+ <p>Prometheus (pro-mee´-thuce), <a href="#page24">24</a>, <a href="#page149">149</a>, <a href="#page193">193</a>, <a href="#page222">222</a>.</p>
+ <p>Proserpine (pross´-er-pine), <i>See</i> Persephone.</p>
+ <p>Protesilaus (pro-tess´-i-la´-us), <a href="#page290">290</a>.</p>
+ <p>Proteus (pro´-tuce), <a href="#page108">108</a>.</p>
+ <p>Prytaneum (prit-a-nee´-um), <a href="#page49">49</a>.</p>
+ <p>Psophis (so´-fiss), <a href="#page278">278</a>.</p>
+ <p>Psyche (si´-ke), <a href="#page150">150</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pylades (pil´-a-deez), <a href="#page95">95</a>, <a href="#page306">306</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pylos (pi´-l&#x14F;s), <a href="#page286">286</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pyracmon (pi-rac´-mon), <a href="#page16">16</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pyrrha (pir´-rah), <a href="#page22">22</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pythia (pith´-e-ah) <a href="#page195">195</a>, <a href="#page269">269</a>.</p>
+ <p>Pythian Games, <a href="#page83">83</a>.</p>
+ <p>Python (pi´-thon), <a href="#page31">31</a>, <a href="#page72">72</a>, <a href="#page195">195</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">Q.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Quirinus (que-ri´-nus), <a href="#page115">115</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">R.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Remus (ree´-mus), <a href="#page114">114</a>.</p>
+ <p>Rhadamanthus (rad-a-man´-thus), <a href="#page34">34</a>, <a href="#page134">134</a>.</p>
+ <p>Rhamnus (ram´-nus), <a href="#page142">142</a>.</p>
+ <p>Rhamnusia (ram-nu´-zhe-ah), <a href="#page142">142</a>.</p>
+ <p>Rhea (ree´-ah), <a href="#page13">13</a>, <a href="#page18">18</a>.</p>
+ <p>Rhoda (ro´-dah), <a href="#page105">105</a>.</p>
+ <p>Rhodes (roads), <a href="#page105">105</a>.</p>
+ <p>Rhodope, Mount (rod´-o-pe), <a href="#page130">130</a>.</p>
+ <p>Rh&oelig;tus (ree´-tus), <a href="#page20">20</a>.</p>
+ <p>Robigus (ro-bi´-gus), <a href="#page180">180</a>.</p>
+ <p>Romulus (rom´-u-lus), <a href="#page114">114</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">S.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Sacrifices, <a href="#page192">192</a>.</p>
+ <p>Sagaris (sag´-a-ris), <a href="#page19">19</a>.</p>
+ <p>Salamis (sal´-a-mis), <a href="#page285">285</a>.</p>
+ <p>Salii (sa´-le-i), <a href="#page115">115</a>.</p>
+ <p>Samos (sa´-mos), <a href="#page34">34</a>.</p>
+ <p>Saturn (sat´-urn), <a href="#page17">17</a>, <a href="#page200">200</a>.</p>
+ <p>Saturnalia (sat-ur-na´-le-ah), <a href="#page200">200</a>.</p>
+ <p>Satyrs (sa´-turz), <a href="#page174">174</a>, <a href="#page198">198</a>.</p>
+ <p>Scamander (sca-man´-der), <a href="#page290">290</a>.</p>
+ <p>Scheria (skee´-re-ah), <a href="#page318">318</a>.</p>
+ <p>Sch&oelig;neus (skee´-nuce), <a href="#page89">89</a>.</p>
+ <p>Scyros, island of, (si´-r&#x14F;s), <a href="#page268">268</a>, <a href="#page287">287</a>.</p>
+ <p>Scylla (sil´-lah), <a href="#page104">104</a>, <a href="#page316">316</a>.</p>
+ <p>Scyron (si´-ron), <a href="#page260">260</a>.</p>
+<!-- Page 333 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page333"></a>[333]</span>
+ <p>Seasons, <a href="#page164">164</a>.</p>
+ <p>Selene (se-lee´-ne), <a href="#page86">86</a>.</p>
+ <p>Selene-Artemis, <a href="#page96">96</a>.</p>
+ <p>Selli (sel´-li), <a href="#page29">29</a>.</p>
+ <p>Semele (sem´-e-le), <a href="#page35">35</a>, <a href="#page205">205</a>, <a href="#page215">215</a>.</p>
+ <p>Seriphus (se-ri´-fus), <a href="#page205">205</a>.</p>
+ <p>Servius Tullius (ser´-ve-us tul´-le-us), <a href="#page184">184</a>.</p>
+ <p>Shades, realm of, <a href="#page267">267</a>, <a href="#page314">314</a>.</p>
+ <p>Sibyls (sib´-bles), <a href="#page84">84</a>.</p>
+ <p>Silens (si´-lenz), <a href="#page174">174</a>.</p>
+ <p>Silenus (si-lee´-nus), <a href="#page125">125</a>, <a href="#page198">198</a>.</p>
+ <p>Silvanus (sil-va´-nus), <a href="#page115">115</a>, <a href="#page182">182</a>.</p>
+ <p>Silver Age, <a href="#page23">23</a>.</p>
+ <p>Simois (sim´-o-iss), <a href="#page290">290</a>.</p>
+ <p>Sinnis (sin´-nis), <a href="#page260">260</a>.</p>
+ <p>Sinon (si´-non), <a href="#page302">302</a>.</p>
+ <p>Siphylus (sif´-i-lus), <a href="#page80">80</a>.</p>
+ <p>Sirens (si´-renz), <a href="#page112">112</a>, <a href="#page158">158</a>, <a href="#page315">315</a>.</p>
+ <p>Sisyphus (sis´-i-fus), <a href="#page135">135</a>.</p>
+ <p>Sol (soll). <i>See</i> Helios.</p>
+ <p>Solymans (sol´-i-mans), <a href="#page258">258</a>.</p>
+ <p>Somnus (som´-nus). <i>See</i> Hypnus.</p>
+ <p>Soothsayers, <a href="#page195">195</a>.</p>
+ <p>Sparta, <a href="#page285">285</a>.</p>
+ <p>Sphinx (sfinks), <a href="#page146">146</a>.</p>
+ <p>Stables, Augean (aw-jee´-an), <a href="#page242">242</a>.</p>
+ <p>Statues, <a href="#page190">190</a>.</p>
+ <p>Stellio (stel´-le-o), <a href="#page57">57</a>.</p>
+ <p>Steropes (ster´-o peez, the first <i>e</i> like <i>ei</i> in <i>their</i>), <a href="#page16">16</a>.</p>
+ <p>Stheno (sthee´-no), <a href="#page144">144</a>.</p>
+ <p>Strophius (stro´-fe-us), <a href="#page306">306</a>.</p>
+ <p>Stymphalides (stim-fal´-i-deez), <a href="#page221">221</a>, <a href="#page242">242</a>.</p>
+ <p>Styx (sticks), <a href="#page117">117</a>, <a href="#page132">132</a>, <a href="#page287">287</a>.</p>
+ <p>Symplegades (sim-pleg´-a-deez), <a href="#page221">221</a>.</p>
+ <p>Syrinx (si´-rinks), <a href="#page172">172</a>.</p>
+ <p>Syrtes (sir´-teez), <a href="#page229">229</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">T.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Tænarum (ten´-a-rum), <a href="#page132">132</a>, <a href="#page250">250</a>.</p>
+ <p>Talaria (ta-la´-re-ah), <a href="#page121">121</a>.</p>
+ <p>Talus (ta´-lus), <a href="#page229">229</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tantalus (tan´-ta-lus), <a href="#page134">134</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tarquinius Superbus (tar-quin´-e-us su-per´-bus), <a href="#page84">84</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tartarus (tar´-ta-rus), <a href="#page14">14</a>, <a href="#page134">134</a>.</p>
+ <p>Taurica Chersonesus (taw´-ri-cah ker-so-nee´-sus), <a href="#page93">93</a>, <a href="#page306">306</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tauris (taw´-ris), <a href="#page93">93</a>, <a href="#page306">306</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tegea (tee´-je-ah), <a href="#page279">279</a>.</p>
+ <p>Telamon (tel´-a-mon), <a href="#page216">216</a>, <a href="#page253">253</a>, <a href="#page285">285</a>.</p>
+ <p>Telemachus (tel-lem´-a-cus), <a href="#page287">287</a>, <a href="#page320">320</a>.</p>
+ <p>Telephus (tel´-e-fus), <a href="#page289">289</a>.</p>
+ <p>Temenus (tem´-e-nus), <a href="#page282">282</a>.</p>
+ <p>Temples, <a href="#page188">188</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tenedos (ten´-e-dos), <a href="#page290">290</a>, <a href="#page301">301</a>, <a href="#page303">303</a>.</p>
+ <p>Terminus (ter´-mi-nus), <a href="#page182">182</a>.</p>
+ <p>Terpsichore (terp-sic´-o-re), <a href="#page159">159</a>.</p>
+ <p>Terra (ter´-rah, the <i>e</i> like <i>ei</i> in <i>their</i>), <a href="#page11">11</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tethys (tee´-thiss, <i>th</i> as in <i>both</i>), <a href="#page107">107</a>, <a href="#page166">166</a>.</p>
+ <p>Teutamias (tu-ta´-me-ass), <a href="#page209">209</a>.</p>
+ <p><a name="NtA_55" href="#Nt_55"><sup>[55]</sup></a>Thalia (tha-li´-ah), <a href="#page159">159</a>, <a href="#page163">163</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thallo (thal´-lo), <a href="#page164">164</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thamyris (tham´-i ris), <a href="#page158">158</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thanatos (than´-a-tos), <a href="#page142">142</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thaumas (thaw´-mass), <a href="#page13">13</a>, <a href="#page111">111</a>, <a href="#page137">137</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thebes (theebs), <a href="#page203">203</a>.</p>
+ <p>Theia (thi´-ah), <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ <p>Themis (thee´-mis), <a href="#page31">31</a>, <a href="#page48">48</a>.</p>
+ <p>Themiscyra (the-mis´-se-rah), <a href="#page245">245</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thermodon (ther-mo´-don), <a href="#page244">244</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thersander (ther-san´-der), <a href="#page276">276</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thersites (ther-si´-teez), <a href="#page297">297</a>.</p>
+ <p>Theseus (thee´-suce), <a href="#page250">250</a>, <a href="#page259">259</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thesmophoria (thes-mo-fo´-re-ah), <a href="#page197">197</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thes´saly, <a href="#page77">77</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thestius (thes´-te-us), <a href="#page33">33</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thetis (thee´-tis), <a href="#page39">39</a>, <a href="#page98">98</a>, <a href="#page110">110</a>, <a href="#page297">297</a>.</p>
+ <p>Thyone (thi-o´-ne), <a href="#page128">128</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tiphys (ti´-fiss), <a href="#page216">216</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tiresias (ti-ree´-she-ass), <a href="#page235">235</a>, <a href="#page271">271</a>, <a href="#page274">274</a>, <a href="#page277">277</a>, <a href="#page313">313</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tiryns (ti´-rinz), <a href="#page209">209</a>, <a href="#page252">252</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tirynth (ti´-rinth), <a href="#page209">209</a>, <a href="#page252">252</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tisiphone (ti-sif´-o-ne), <a href="#page138">138</a>.</p>
+ <p>Titanomachia (ti´-tan-o-ma´-ke-ah), <a href="#page17">17</a>.</p>
+ <p>Titans (ti´-tanz), <a href="#page13">13</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tithonus (ti-tho´-nus), <a href="#page68">68</a>, <a href="#page297">297</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tityus (tit´-e-us), <a href="#page134">134</a>.</p>
+ <p>Trachin (tra´-kin), <a href="#page254">254</a>.</p>
+ <p>Trachis (tra´-kis), <a href="#page254">254</a>.</p>
+ <p>Trinacria (tri-na´-cre-ah), <a href="#page316">316</a>.</p>
+ <p>Triptolemus (trip-tol´-e-mus), <a href="#page53">53</a>.</p>
+ <p>Triton (tri´-ton), <a href="#page109">109</a>.</p>
+ <p>Trivia (triv´-e-ah), <a href="#page97">97</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tr&oelig;zen (tree´-zen), <a href="#page251">251</a></p>
+ <p>Tros (tr&#x14F;ss), <a href="#page157">157</a>, <a href="#page246">246</a>.</p>
+ <p>Troy, <a href="#page283">283</a>.</p>
+ <p class="i2">&mdash; walls of, <a href="#page104">104</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tubal-Cain (too´-bal-cane), <a href="#page101">101</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tyche (ti´-ke), <a href="#page147">147</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tydeus (ti´-duce), <a href="#page272">272</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tyndareus (tin-da´-re-us), <a href="#page285">285</a>.</p>
+ <p>Typh&oelig;us (ti-fo´-yuce), <a href="#page21">21</a>.</p>
+ <p>Typhon (ti´-fon), <a href="#page21">21</a>.</p>
+ <p>Tyro (ti´-ro), <a href="#page106">106</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">U.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Uffizi Gallery (oof´-fid-ze), <a href="#page80">80</a>.</p>
+ <p>Ulysses (u-lis´-seez), <i>See</i> Odysseus.</p>
+ <p>Urania (u-ra´-ne-ah), <a href="#page159">159</a>.</p>
+ <p>Uranus (u´-ra-nus), <a href="#page11">11</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">V.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Veneralia (ven-e-ra´-le-ah), <a href="#page61">61</a>.</p>
+<!-- Page 334 --><span class="pagenum"><a name="page334"></a>[334]</span>
+ <p>Venus (vee´-nus), <a href="#page61">61</a>, <a href="#page183">183</a>.</p>
+ <p class="i1">&mdash; of Milo, <a href="#page60">60</a>.</p>
+ <p>Vertumnus (ver-tum´-nus), <a href="#page181">181</a>.</p>
+ <p>Vesta (ves´-tah), <a href="#page50">50</a>, <a href="#page201">201</a>.</p>
+ <p>Vestalia (ves-ta´-le-ah), <a href="#page59">59</a>, <a href="#page201">201</a>.</p>
+ <p>Via Salavia (vi´-ah sa-la´-ve-ah), <a href="#page184">184</a>.</p>
+ <p>Victo´ria, <a href="#page117">117</a>.</p>
+ <p>Vulcan, <a href="#page100">100</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">W.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Winds, <a href="#page170">170</a>, <a href="#page298">298</a>.</p>
+ <p>Wooden Horse, <a href="#page301">301</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">X.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Xuthus (zoo-thus), <a href="#page210">210</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">Z.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Zephyrus (zef´-i-rus), <a href="#page151">151</a>, <a href="#page171">171</a>, <a href="#page310">310</a>.</p>
+ <p>Zetes (zee´-teez), <a href="#page171">171</a>.</p>
+ <p>Zethus (zee´-thus), <a href="#page33">33</a>.</p>
+ <p>Zeus (zuce), <a href="#page26">26</a>.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+<h2><span class="sc">A Complete Course in the Study of English.</span></h2>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h3><i>Spelling, Language, Grammar, Composition, Literature</i>.</h3>
+
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p><span class="sc">Reed's Word Lessons&mdash;A Complete Speller.</span></p>
+ <p class="i2"><span class="sc">Reed's Introductory Language Work.</span></p>
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Reed &amp; Kellogg's Graded Lessons in English.</span></p>
+ <p class="i6"><span class="sc">Reed &amp; Kellogg's Higher Lessons in English.</span></p>
+ <p class="i8"><span class="sc">Reed &amp; Kellogg's One-book Course in English.</span></p>
+ <p class="i10"><span class="sc">Kellogg's Text-Book on Rhetoric.</span></p>
+ <p class="i12"><span class="sc">Kellogg's Text-Book on English Literature.</span></p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>In the preparation of this series the authors have had one object
+ clearly in view&mdash;to so develop the study of the English language as
+ to present a complete, progressive course, from the Spelling-Book to the
+ study of English Literature. The troublesome contradictions which arise
+ in using books arranged by different authors on these subjects, and which
+ require much time for explanation in the schoolroom, will be avoided by
+ the use of the above "Complete Course."</p>
+
+ <p>Teachers are earnestly invited to examine these books.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p><span class="sc">Maynard, Merrill, &amp; Co., Publishers.</span></p>
+ <p class="i4">43, 45, and 47 East Tenth Street, New York.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+<h3>NOTES</h3>
+
+<div class="note">
+ <p><a name="Nt_1" href="#NtA_1">[1]</a> The early Greeks supposed the
+ earth to be a flat circle, in the centre of which was Greece. Oceanus,
+ the ocean stream, encircled it; the Mediterranean being supposed to flow
+ into this river on the one side, and the Euxine, or Black Sea, on the
+ other.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_2" href="#NtA_2">[2]</a> Owing to the vagueness of the
+ various accounts of creation, the origin of the primeval gods is
+ variously accounted for. Thus, for instance, Oceanus, with some, becomes
+ the younger brother of Uranus and Gæa.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_3" href="#NtA_3">[3]</a> The myth of Cronus swallowing his
+ children is evidently intended by the poets to express the melancholy
+ truth that time destroys all things.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_4" href="#NtA_4">[4]</a> Nectar was the drink, and
+ ambrosia the food of the gods.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_5" href="#NtA_5">[5]</a> The Cyclops are generally
+ mentioned as the sons of Uranus and Gæa, but Homer speaks of Polyphemus,
+ the chief of the Cyclops, as the son of Poseidon, and states the Cyclops
+ to be his brothers.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_6" href="#NtA_6">[6]</a> Possibly an image of him placed
+ in readiness.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_7" href="#NtA_7">[7]</a> This age was contemporary with
+ the commencement of the dynasty of Zeus.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_8" href="#NtA_8">[8]</a> Hesiod is said to have lived 850
+ years before the Christian era, consequently about 200 years after King
+ David. He lived in B&oelig;otia, where his tomb is still shown at
+ Orchomenus. This ancient writer left behind him two great poems, one
+ entitled "The Works and Days," in which he gives us some of the earliest
+ Greek legends, and the other, "The Theogony," containing the genealogies
+ of the gods; but, unfortunately, both these poems have been so
+ interpolated by the writers of the Alexandrian school that they have lost
+ their value as reliable sources of information with regard to the early
+ beliefs of the Greek nation.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_9" href="#NtA_9">[9]</a> Epimetheus signifies
+ after-thought, Prometheus fore-thought.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_10" href="#NtA_10">[10]</a> There are various versions of
+ this myth. According to some the jar or vase was full of all "the ills
+ which flesh is heir to."</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_11" href="#NtA_11">[11]</a> From <i>Diaus</i>, the
+ sky.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_12" href="#NtA_12">[12]</a> A sacred shield made for Zeus
+ by Hephæstus, which derived its name from being covered by the skin of
+ the goat Amalthea, the word Ægis signifying goat's-skin.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_13" href="#NtA_13">[13]</a> See Demeter.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_14" href="#NtA_14">[14]</a> This frightful monster had
+ sprung from the slimy and stagnant waters which remained on the surface
+ of the earth after the deluge of Deucalion.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_15" href="#NtA_15">[15]</a> Castor and Pollux were known
+ by the name of the Dioscuri, from <i>dios</i>, gods, and <i>kuroi</i>,
+ youths.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_16" href="#NtA_16">[16]</a> The ancient Greeks attributed
+ much of the subsequent character of an individual to early influences;
+ hence Hera, the future queen and mistress of heaven, is represented as
+ being brought up in a domesticated and orderly household, where home
+ virtues are carefully inculcated.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_17" href="#NtA_17">[17]</a> In the Homeric age peacocks
+ were unknown; it is therefore the later poets who describe Hera
+ surrounded with peacocks, which were brought to Greece from India.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_18" href="#NtA_18">[18]</a> This circumstance has given
+ rise to the erroneous conclusion that Juno presided over the finances of
+ the state, but the word <i>moneta</i> is derived from the Latin
+ <i>monere</i>, which means to warn or admonish.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_19" href="#NtA_19">[19]</a> See Roman Festivals.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_20" href="#NtA_20">[20]</a> The first large ship possessed
+ by the Greeks fit for more than coast navigation.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_21" href="#NtA_21">[21]</a> When Perseus, with the help of
+ Athene, had cut off the head of the Medusa, the two sisters caused a sad
+ dirge-like song to issue from the mouths of the many snakes of which
+ their hair was composed, whereupon Athene, pleased with the sound,
+ imitated the melody on a reed, and thus invented the flute.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_22" href="#NtA_22">[22]</a> For details see Roman
+ Festivals.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_23" href="#NtA_23">[23]</a> See Legend of Troy.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_24" href="#NtA_24">[24]</a> Some, with but little reason,
+ make Demeter the daughter of Uranus and Gæa.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_25" href="#NtA_25">[25]</a> Demeter transformed Ascalaphus
+ into an owl for revealing the secret.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_26" href="#NtA_26">[26]</a> The course which the sun ran
+ was considered by the ancients to be a rising and descending curve <img
+ src="images/0062-1.png" alt="arc" style="height:1ex" /> the centre of
+ which was supposed to be reached by Helios at mid-day.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_27" href="#NtA_27">[27]</a> The river Po.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_28" href="#NtA_28">[28]</a> This great work of antiquity
+ was destroyed by an earthquake fifty-six years after its erection, <span
+ class="scac">B.C.</span> 256. The fragments remained on the ground for
+ many centuries, until Rhodes was conquered by the Turks, and they were
+ eventually sold by one of the generals of Caliph Othman IV. to a merchant
+ of Emesa for £36,000, <span class="scac">A.D.</span> 672.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_29" href="#NtA_29">[29]</a> According to some authorities,
+ Strymon.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_30" href="#NtA_30">[30]</a> This wonderful lyre, which had
+ been given to Apollo by Hermes (Mercury) in exchange for the Caduceus or
+ rod of wealth, is said to have possessed such extraordinary powers, that
+ it caused a stone, upon which it was laid, to become so melodious, that
+ ever afterwards, on being touched, it emitted a musical sound which
+ resembled that produced by the lyre itself.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_31" href="#NtA_31">[31]</a> Aristæus was worshipped as a
+ rural divinity in various parts of Greece, and was supposed to have
+ taught mankind how to catch bees, and to utilize honey and wax.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_32" href="#NtA_32">[32]</a> Astræa was the daughter of the
+ Titans C&oelig;us and Ph&oelig;be. Perses was son of the Titans Crios and
+ Eurybia.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_33" href="#NtA_33">[33]</a> Called also
+ Anaitis-Aphroditis.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_34" href="#NtA_34">[34]</a> This occurred during the night
+ Alexander the Great was born.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_35" href="#NtA_35">[35]</a> Another version with regard to
+ the origin of this defect, is that being born ugly and deformed, his
+ mother Hera, disgusted at his unsightliness, herself threw him violently
+ from her lap, and it was then that his leg was broken, producing the
+ lameness from which he suffered ever after. On this occasion he fell into
+ the sea, and was saved by the sea-nymphs Thetis and Eurynome, who kept
+ him for nine years in a cavern beneath the ocean, where he made for them,
+ in gratitude for their kindness, several beautiful ornaments, and
+ trinkets of rare workmanship.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_36" href="#NtA_36">[36]</a> According to some accounts
+ Chares was the wife of Hephæstus.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_37" href="#NtA_37">[37]</a> The trident resembled the
+ arrow-headed pronged fork, used by the fishermen of the Mediterranean Sea
+ in the eel-fishery.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_38" href="#NtA_38">[38]</a> Scylla is a dangerous rock,
+ much dreaded by mariners, in the Straits of Messina.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_39" href="#NtA_39">[39]</a> The island of Rhodes owes its
+ name to her.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_40" href="#NtA_40">[40]</a> It is worthy of notice that
+ the sons of Poseidon were, for the most part, distinguished by great
+ force and turbulence of character, in keeping with the element over which
+ their father was the presiding deity. They were giants in power, and
+ intractable, fiery, and impatient by nature, spurning all efforts to
+ control them; in all respects, therefore, fitting representatives of
+ their progenitor, the mighty ruler of the sea.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_41" href="#NtA_41">[41]</a> A cubit is the length from the
+ elbow to the extremity of the middle finger, and therefore an indefinite
+ measure, but modern usage takes it as representing a length of seventeen
+ to eighteen inches.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_42" href="#NtA_42">[42]</a> On the Egyptian coast.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_43" href="#NtA_43">[43]</a> See Legend of the
+ Argonauts.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_44" href="#NtA_44">[44]</a> His two sons Deimos and
+ Phobos.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_45" href="#NtA_45">[45]</a> Romulus was deified by the
+ Romans after death, and was worshipped by them under the name of
+ Quirinus, an appellation which he shared in common with his father
+ Mars.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_46" href="#NtA_46">[46]</a> Midas was the son of Cybele
+ and Gordius, the king who tied the celebrated and intricate knot.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_47" href="#NtA_47">[47]</a> The shades of those mortals
+ whose lives had neither been distinguished by virtue nor vice, were
+ condemned to a monotonous, joyless, existence in the Asphodel meadows of
+ Hades.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_48" href="#NtA_48">[48]</a> Echidna was a bloodthirsty
+ monster, half maiden, half serpent.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_49" href="#NtA_49">[49]</a> One of the horns of the goat
+ Amalthea, broken off by Zeus, and supposed to possess the power of
+ filling itself with whatsoever its owner desired.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_50" href="#NtA_50">[50]</a> According to another account,
+ Momus discovered that Aphrodite made a noise when she walked.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_51" href="#NtA_51">[51]</a> The word Psyche signifies
+ "butterfly," the emblem of the soul in ancient art.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_52" href="#NtA_52">[52]</a> Tiresias alone, of all the
+ shades, was in full possession of his mental vigour.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_53" href="#NtA_53">[53]</a> Most of the words ending in
+ eus may also be pronounced thus: <i>Æ´-ge-us</i>, <i>&#x101;´-tre-us</i>,
+ <i>pro-me´-the-us</i>, etc.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_54" href="#NtA_54">[54]</a> The first e like ei in
+ their.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="Nt_55" href="#NtA_55">[55]</a> <i>Th</i> at the beginning of
+ a word has its soft sound, as in <i>both</i>.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece
+and Rome, by E.M. Berens
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