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diff --git a/22381.txt b/22381.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..96eac85 --- /dev/null +++ b/22381.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12220 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + +_A HAND-BOOK OF MYTHOLOGY._ + + * * * * * + +THE + +MYTHS AND LEGENDS + +OF + +ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME. + +BY + +E. M. BERENS. + +_ILLUSTRATED FROM ANTIQUE SCULPTURES._ + +[Illustration] + +NEW YORK: + +MAYNARD, MERRILL, & CO., + +43, 45 AND 47 EAST TENTH STREET. + + * * * * * + + +{i} + +PREFACE. + + * * * * * + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I may add that no pains have been spared in order that, without passing +over details the omission of which would have {ii} 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. + +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. + +E. M. BERENS. + + * * * * * + + +{iii} + +CONTENTS. + + PART I.--MYTHS. + Page + Introduction, 7 + + FIRST DYNASTY. + ORIGIN OF THE WORLD-- + URANUS AND GAEA (Coelus and Terra), 11 + + SECOND DYNASTY. + CRONUS (Saturn), 14 + RHEA (Ops), 18 + DIVISION OF THE WORLD, 19 + THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN OF MAN, 21 + + THIRD DYNASTY. + OLYMPIAN DIVINITIES-- + ZEUS (Jupiter), 26 + HERA (Juno), 38 + PALLAS-ATHENE (Minerva), 43 + THEMIS, 48 + HESTIA (Vesta), 48 + DEMETER (Ceres), 50 + APHRODITE (Venus), 58 + HELIOS (Sol), 61 + EOS (Aurora), 67 + PHOEBUS-APOLLO, 68 + HECATE, 85 + SELENE (Luna), 86 + ARTEMIS (Diana), 87 + HEPHAESTUS (Vulcan), 97 + POSEIDON (Neptune), 101 + + {iv} + SEA DIVINITIES-- + OCEANUS, 107 + NEREUS, 108 + PROTEUS, 108 + TRITON AND THE TRITONS, 109 + GLAUCUS, 109 + THETIS, 110 + THAUMAS, PHORCYS, AND CETO, 111 + LEUCOTHEA, 111 + THE SIRENS, 112 + ARES (Mars), 112 + NIKE (Victoria), 117 + HERMES (Mercury), 117 + DIONYSUS (Bacchus or Liber), 124 + AIDES (Pluto), 130 + PLUTUS, 137 + + MINOR DIVINITIES-- + THE HARPIES, 137 + ERINYES, EUMENIDES (Furiae, Dirae), 138 + MOIRAE OR FATES (Parcae), 139 + NEMESIS, 141 + + NIGHT AND HER CHILDREN-- + NYX (Nox), 142 + THANATOS (Mors), HYPNUS (Somnus), 142 + MORPHEUS, 143 + THE GORGONS, 144 + GRAEAE, 145 + SPHINX, 146 + TYCHE (Fortuna) and ANANKE (Necessitas), 147 + KER, 149 + ATE, 149 + MOMUS, 149 + EROS (Cupid, Amor) and PSYCHE, 150 + HYMEN, 154 + IRIS, 155 + HEBE (Juventas), 156 + GANYMEDES, 157 + {v} + THE MUSES, 157 + PEGASUS, 162 + THE HESPERIDES, 162 + CHARITES OR GRACES, 163 + HORAE (Seasons), 164 + THE NYMPHS, 165 + THE WINDS, 170 + PAN (Faunus), 171 + THE SATYRS, 174 + PRIAPUS, 175 + ASCLEPIAS (AEsculapius), 176 + + ROMAN DIVINITIES-- + JANUS, 178 + FLORA, 180 + ROBIGUS, 180 + POMONA, 180 + VERTUMNUS, 181 + PALES, 181 + PICUS, 182 + PICUMNUS AND PILUMNUS, 182 + SILVANUS, 182 + TERMINUS, 182 + CONSUS, 183 + LIBITINA, 183 + LAVERNA, 184 + COMUS, 184 + CAMENAE, 184 + GENII, 185 + MANES, 185 + PENATES, 187 + + PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS AND ROMANS-- + TEMPLES, 188 + STATUES, 190 + ALTARS, 191 + PRIESTS, 191 + SACRIFICES, 192 + ORACLES, 194 + SOOTHSAYERS, 195 + {vi} + AUGURS, 196 + FESTIVALS, 196 + + GREEK FESTIVALS-- + ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES, 196 + THESMOPHORIA, 197 + DIONYSIA, 197 + PANATHENAEA, 199 + DAPHNEPHORIA, 200 + + ROMAN FESTIVALS-- + SATURNALIA, 200 + CEREALIA, 201 + VESTALIA, 201 + + PART II.--LEGENDS. + CADMUS, 203 + PERSEUS, 205 + ION, 210 + DAEDALUS AND ICARUS, 211 + THE ARGONAUTS, 213 + PELOPS, 232 + HERACLES, 234 + BELLEROPHON, 256 + THESEUS, 259 + OEDIPUS, 269 + THE SEVEN AGAINST THEBES, 272 + THE EPIGONI, 276 + ALCMAEON AND THE NECKLACE, 277 + THE HERACLIDAE, 280 + THE SIEGE OF TROY, 283 + RETURN OF THE GREEKS FROM TROY, 304 + + * * * * * + + +{7} + +MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME. + + * * * * * + +PART I.--MYTHS. + + * * * * * + +INTRODUCTION. + +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. + +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. + +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 {8} 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. + +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, &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, &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. + +In the study of Grecian mythology we meet with some {9} 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. + +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. {10} + +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. + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +{11} + +ORIGIN OF THE WORLD.--FIRST DYNASTY. + +URANUS AND GAEA. (COELUS AND TERRA.) + +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. + +Thus came into being the two first great primeval deities of the Greeks, +Uranus and Ge or Gaea. + +Uranus, the more refined deity, represented the light and air of heaven, +possessing the distinguishing qualities of light, heat, purity, and +omnipresence, whilst Gaea, the firm, flat,[1] 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 Gaea 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. + +Uranus, the heaven, was believed to have united himself in marriage with +Gaea, 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, +{12} 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. + +The first-born child of Uranus and Gaea was Oceanus,[2] 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 Gaea, 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. + +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 Gaea. 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 Aer (Air), which was in close proximity to Gaea, 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 Aer were separated from each other by divinities called Nephelae. These +were their restless and wandering sisters, who existed in the form of +clouds, ever {13} floating between Aether and Aer. Gaea 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. + +Co-existent with Uranus and Gaea 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. + +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. + +In addition to those children of heaven and earth already enumerated, +Uranus and Gaea 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, Phoebe, and +Tethys. + +Now Uranus, the chaste light of heaven, the essence of all that is bright +and pleasing, held in abhorrence his {14} 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, Gaea 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. + + * * * * * + +SECOND DYNASTY. + +CRONUS (SATURN). + +Cronus was the god of time in its sense of eternal duration. He married +Rhea, daughter of Uranus and Gaea, a very important divinity, to whom a +special chapter will be devoted hereafter. Their children were, three sons: +Aides (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 {15} Uranus. In +order, therefore, to render the prophecy impossible of fulfilment, Cronus +swallowed each child as soon as it was born,[3] 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 Gaea, 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. + +[Illustration] + +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.[4] 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 {16} 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. + +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),[5] 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 {17} 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. + +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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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. + +SATURN. + +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 {18} 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. + +Saturn is usually represented bearing a sickle in the one hand and a +wheat-sheaf in the other. + +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. + +RHEA (OPS). + +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. + +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. + +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 {19} +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[6] 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. + +OPS. + +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, B.C. 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. + + * * * * * + +DIVISION OF THE WORLD. + +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 +{20} conquered, should be divided between them. At last it was settled by +lot that Zeus should reign supreme in Heaven, whilst Aides 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 Aides 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. + +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 Gaea 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, Rhoetus, 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 {21} war was called Typhon or +Typhoeus. He was the youngest son of Tartarus and Gaea, 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. + + * * * * * + +THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN OF MAN. + +Just as there were several theories concerning the origin of the world, so +there were various accounts of the creation of man. + +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. + +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 {22} (son of Prometheus) +and his wife Pyrrha, being, on account of their piety, the only mortals +saved. + +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. + +After the lapse of time the theory of Autochthony (from _autos_, self, and +_chthon_, 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. + +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 {23} protecting those they had loved and left +behind on earth. The men of the Silver Age[7] 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. + +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. + +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 {24} +individual of this evil race, except Deucalion and Pyrrha. + +The theory of Hesiod,[8] 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. + +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. {25} 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 Hephaestus (Vulcan) to mould a +beautiful woman out of clay, and determined that through her +instrumentality trouble and misery should be brought into the world. + +The gods were so charmed with the graceful and artistic creation of +Hephaestus, 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[9] 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. + +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 {26} 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.[10] + +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. + + * * * * * + +THIRD DYNASTY--OLYMPIAN DIVINITIES. + +ZEUS[11] (JUPITER). + +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 aerial +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. + +As the god of aerial phenomena he could, by shaking his aegis,[12] 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. + +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 {27} 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.e._ eternity. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 {28} 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 Hephaestus. +Below these were other palaces of silver, ebony, ivory, or burnished brass, +where the Heroes, or Demi-gods, resided. + +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. + +[Illustration] + +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 {29} +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. + +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. + +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 {30} 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. + +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. + +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. + +The oak-tree, and also the summits of mountains, were sacred to Zeus. His +sacrifices consisted of white bulls, cows, and goats. + +Zeus had seven immortal wives, whose names were Metis, Themis, Eurynome, +Demeter, Mnemosyne, Leto, and Hera. + +METIS, 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 +{31} 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 Hephaestus, 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. + +THEMIS was the goddess of Justice, Law, and Order. + +EURYNOME was one of the Oceanides, and the mother of the Charites or +Graces. + +DEMETER,[13] the daughter of Cronus and Rhea, was the goddess of +Agriculture. + +MNEMOSYNE, the daughter of Uranus and Gaea, was the goddess of Memory and +the mother of the nine Muses. + +LETO (Latona) was the daughter of Coeus and Phoebe. 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[14] 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 AEgean 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. + +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 {32} resumed her true form when she arrived at the island +of Delos. + +HERA, being the principal wife of Zeus and queen of heaven, a detailed +account will be given of her in a special chapter. + +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. + + * * * * * + +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. + +ANTIOPE, 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 {33} 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. + +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. + +In sculpture Amphion is always represented with a lyre; Zethus with a club. + +LEDA, whose affections Zeus won under the form of a swan, was the daughter +of Thestius, king of AEtolia. Her twin-sons, Castor and (Polydeuces or) +Pollux,[15] were {34} 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. + +EUROPA was the beautiful daughter of Agenor, king of Phoenicia. 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. + +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. {35} + +CALLISTO, 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. + +ALCMENE, 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. + +SEMELE, a beautiful princess, the daughter of Cadmus, king of Phoenicia, +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 Beroe, +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. {36} + +IO, 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. + +DANAE.--Zeus appeared to Danae under the form of a shower of gold. (Further +details concerning her will be found in the legend of Perseus.) + + * * * * * + +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. + +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 {37} 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. + +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. + +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 {38} 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 Gaea. + +JUPITER. + +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 Aerial 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 +Moirae 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. + +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. + +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. + +HERA (JUNO). + +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.[16] She was the +{39} 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 +aerial 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. + +The following story will signally illustrate how ready she was to resent +any slight offered to her. + +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 {40} 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. + +Among the many stories of these frequent quarrels there is one connected +with Heracles, the favourite son of Zeus, which is as follows:--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 Hephaestus 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. + +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 Euboea. +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 {41} reconciliation took +place, and, committing the image to the flames, with joyful laughter she +seated herself in its place and returned to Olympus. + +Hera was the mother of Ares (Mars), Hephaestus, Hebe, and Eileithyia. Ares +was the god of War; Hephaestus, of Fire; Hebe, of Youth; and Eileithyia +presided over the birth of mortals. + +Hera dearly loved Greece, and indeed always watched over and protected +Greek interests, her beloved and favourite cities being Argos, Samos, +Sparta, and Mycenae. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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 Herae. A +beautiful robe, woven by sixteen women chosen from the sixteen cities of +Elis, was always offered to Hera on these {42} occasions, and choral songs +and sacred dances formed part of the ceremonies. + +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. + +The finest statue of this divinity was that by Polycletus at Argos. + +Her attributes are the diadem, veil, sceptre, and peacock. + +The first day of every month a ewe-lamb and sow were sacrificed to Hera. +The hawk, goose, and more particularly the peacock[17] were sacred to her. +Flocks of these beautiful birds generally surround her throne and draw her +chariot, Iris, the Rainbow, being seated behind her. + +Her favourite flowers were the dittany, poppy, and lily. + +JUNO. + +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 {43} warning +goddess. Adjacent to this shrine was the public mint.[18] 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.[19] + +PALLAS-ATHENE (MINERVA). + +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 {44} 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, &c., and presided over the building of the Argo,[20] +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. + +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, &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. + +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 {45} 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 aegis, +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 _pallo_, 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. + +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,[21] upon {46} 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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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 aegis on +her arm, and in her hand a golden staff, which possessed the property of +endowing her chosen favourites with youth and dignity. + +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 +{47} 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. + +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. + +The principal festival held in honour of this divinity was the Panathenaea. + +The owl, cock, and serpent were the animals sacred to her, and her +sacrifices were rams, bulls, and cows. + +[Illustration] + +MINERVA. + +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, &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. + +It is worthy of notice that the only three divinities {48} worshipped in +the Capitol were Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, and in their joint honour the +Ludi Maximi or great games were held. + +THEMIS. + +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 Boeotia. + +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. + +This divinity is sometimes identified with Tyche, sometimes with Ananke. + +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 Gaea. 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. + +HESTIA (Vesta). + +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 {49} 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. + +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. + +[Illustration] + +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. {50} + +VESTA. + +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. + +On her altar burned the never-ceasing fire, which was tended by her +priestesses, the Vestal Virgins.[22] + +The temple of Vesta was circular in form, and contained that sacred and +highly prized treasure the Palladium of Troy.[23] + +The great festival in honour of Vesta, called the Vestalia, was celebrated +on the 9th of June. + +DEMETER (Ceres). + +Demeter (from _Ge-meter_, earth-mother) was the daughter of Cronus and +Rhea.[24] She represented that portion of Gaea (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 Gaea 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 Gaea is accordingly described as retiring to a cavern in the bowels +{51} of the earth, where she sits in the lap of her daughter, slumbering, +moaning, and nodding for ever and ever. + +It is necessary to keep clearly in view the distinctive difference between +the three great earth-goddesses Gaea, Rhea, and Demeter. Gaea 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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Demeter is usually represented as a woman of noble {52} 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. + +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 +Aides, 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, Aides 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. {53} 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 +Aides 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 {54} 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. + +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 {55} 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 Aides, urgently entreating him to restore +Persephone to the arms of her disconsolate mother. When he arrived in the +gloomy realms of Aides, Hermes found him seated on a throne with the +beautiful Persephone beside him, sorrowfully bewailing her unhappy fate. On +learning his errand, Aides 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 Aides 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.[25] +Zeus, pitying the disappointment of Demeter at finding {56} her hopes thus +blighted, succeeded in effecting a compromise by inducing his brother Aides +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +{57} 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. + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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. {58} + +CERES. + +The Roman Ceres is actually the Greek Demeter under another name, her +attributes, worship, festivals, &c., being precisely identical. + +The Romans were indebted to Sicily for this divinity, her worship having +been introduced by the Greek colonists who settled there. + +The Cerealia, or festivals in honour of Ceres, commenced on the 12th of +April, and lasted several days. + +APHRODITE (VENUS). + +Aphrodite (from _aphros_, sea-foam, and _dite_, issued), the daughter of +Zeus and a sea-nymph called Dione, was the goddess of Love and Beauty. + +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. + +Aphrodite was the mother of Eros (Cupid), the god of Love, also of AEneas, +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 AEneas was wounded in battle, she came to +his assistance, regardless of personal danger, and was herself severely +wounded in attempting to save his life. {59} + +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 Aides, +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. + +Aphrodite possessed a magic girdle (the famous _cestus_) 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. + +Her usual attendants are the Charites or Graces (Euphrosyne, Aglaia, and +Thalia), who are represented undraped and intertwined in a loving embrace. + +In Hesiod's _Theogony_ 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. + +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 {60} 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 Hephaestus 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. + +[Illustration] + +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 {61} 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. + +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. + +The animals sacred to her were the dove, swan, swallow, and sparrow. Her +favourite plants were the myrtle, apple-tree, rose, and poppy. + +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 Astarte, the Ashtoreth of the Bible, against whose idolatrous +worship and infamous rites the prophets of old hurled forth their sublime +and powerful anathemas. + +VENUS. + +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. + +HELIOS (SOL). + +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, {62} 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. + +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[26] 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. + +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 {63} 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 Hephaestus, +awaited him there, and conveyed him rapidly, with his glorious equipage, to +the east, where he recommenced his bright and glowing career. + +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. + +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. + +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 {64} heavens, till +at length her limbs became rooted in the ground, and she was transformed +into a flower, which ever turns towards the sun. + +Helios married Perse, daughter of Oceanus, and their children were, Aetes, +king of Colchis (celebrated in the legend of the Argonauts as the possessor +of the Golden Fleece), and Circe, the renowned sorceress. + +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. + +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, {65} 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. + +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,[27] where it was received and buried by the {66} 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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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 {67} 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.[28] + +EOS (AURORA). + +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 AEaea. 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. + +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. + +{68} + +Eos first married the Titan Astraeus,[29] 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. + +PHOEBUS-APOLLO. + +Phoebus-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. + +Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto, and was born beneath the shade of a +palm tree which grew at the foot {69} 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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Phoebus-Apollo was the god of light in a twofold {70} 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--the Ionic, for instance--so complete +is this identification, that Apollo is called by them Helios-Apollo. + +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. + +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 _Iliad_ 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. + +In his character as god of light, Phoebus-Apollo is the protecting deity of +shepherds, because it is he who warms {71} the fields and meadows, and +gives rich pastures to the flocks, thereby gladdening the heart of the +herdsman. + +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, Phoebus-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 (AEsculapius), the veritable god +of the healing art. + +Pursuing our analysis of the various phases in the character of +Phoebus-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. + +And now we must view the glorious god of light under {72} 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. + +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 Gaea 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. + +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 {73} 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, &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. + +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. + +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 {74} 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. + +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. + +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--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 {75} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 {76} 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. + +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 Aides 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 {77} 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. + +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. + +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 {78} 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,[30] the huge blocks of +stone moved of their own accord, adjusting themselves with the utmost +nicety into the places designed for them. + +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, {79} 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. + +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." + +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, {80} 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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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. {81} 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. + +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 Aristaeus,[31] 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. + +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 +Aides 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 Aides. 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 {82} 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. + +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 +{83} from the west, were said to have arrived there at the same moment. + +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. + +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. + +A festival termed the Gymnopedaea was held at Sparta in honour of Apollo, in +which boys sang the praises of the gods, and of the three hundred +Lacedaemonians who fell at the battle of Thermopylae. + +Wolves and hawks were sacrificed to Apollo, and the birds sacred to him +were the hawk, raven, and swan. + +ROMAN APOLLO. + +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 B.C. 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 {84} gained, to +his influence, and accordingly erected a temple there, which he enriched +with a portion of the spoil. + +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. + +[Illustration] + +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 +Cumaean) 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. + +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 {85} 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. + +HECATE. + +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. + +Hecate was the daughter of Perses and "gold-wreathed" Astraea (the starry +night[32]), 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. + +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 {86} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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, &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. + +SELENE (LUNA). + +Just as Helios personified the sun, so his sister Selene represented the +moon, and was supposed to drive her {87} chariot across the sky whilst her +brother was reposing after the toils of the day. + +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. + +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. + +ARTEMIS (DIANA). + +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. + +ARCADIAN ARTEMIS. + +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 {88} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Her attributes are the bow, quiver, and spear. The animals sacred to her +are the hind, dog, bear, and wild boar. + +Artemis promptly resented any disregard or neglect of {89} her worship; a +remarkable instance of this is shown in the story of the Calydonian +boar-hunt, which is as follows:-- + +[Illustration] + +Oeneus, king of Calydon in AEtolia, 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. + +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 {90} 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. + +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. + +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. + +The news of the courage and intrepidity displayed by {91} 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. + +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. + +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. {92} + +EPHESIAN ARTEMIS. + +The Ephesian Artemis, known to us as "Diana of the Ephesians," was a very +ancient Asiatic divinity of Persian origin called Metra,[33] 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 {93} 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.[34] 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. + +BRAURONIAN ARTEMIS. + +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 {94} issued by the Taurian goddess of Chastity, to protect the +purity of her followers, by keeping them apart from foreign influences. + +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:--The fleet, collected by the Greeks for the siege of Troy, had +assembled at Aulis, in Boeotia, 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, +Clytemnaestra, 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 +{95} 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. + +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 {96} 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. + +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. + +SELENE-ARTEMIS. + +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 {97} 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. + +DIANA. + +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. + +The statues of Diana were generally erected at a point where three roads +met, for which reason she is called Trivia (from _tri_, three, and _via_, +way). + +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. + +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. + +HEPHAESTUS (VULCAN). + +Hephaestus, 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 {98} +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[35] in consequence of his taking the part of Hera, in one of +the domestic disagreements, which so frequently arose between this royal +pair. Hephaestus 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. + +It is said that the first work of Hephaestus 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. Hephaestus 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 +Hephaestus, and then induced him to return to Olympus, where, after having +released the {99} queen of heaven from her very undignified position, he +became reconciled to his parents. + +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 +Hephaestus the beautiful Aphrodite in marriage,[36] 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 Hephaestus 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. + +Aphrodite greatly preferred Ares to her husband, and this preference +naturally gave rise to much jealousy on the part of Hephaestus, and caused +them great unhappiness. + +Hephaestus appears to have been an indispensable member of the Olympic +Assembly, where he plays the part of smith, armourer, chariot-builder, &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 {100} far-famed aegis, 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. + +Among his most renowned works of art for the use of mortals were: the +armour of Achilles and AEneas, the beautiful necklace of Harmonia, and the +crown of Ariadne; but his masterpiece was Pandora, of whom a detailed +account has already been given. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +Hephaestus 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. + +VULCAN. + +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 {101} 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. + +POSEIDON (NEPTUNE). + +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. + +[Illustration] + +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 {102} +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. + +The symbol of his power was the fisherman's fork or trident,[37] 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. + +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. + +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 {103} 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. + +[Illustration] + +He inhabited a beautiful palace at the bottom of the sea at AEgea in Euboea, +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. + +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. + +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 {104} 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. + +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. + +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,[38] 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. + +Amphitrite is often represented assisting Poseidon in attaching the +sea-horses to his chariot. + +{105} + +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 Hephaestus, whose workshop was supposed to be in the heart of the +volcanic mountain AEtna. + +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. + +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. + +Triton, Rhoda,[39] and Benthesicyme were also children of Poseidon and +Amphitrite. + +The sea-god was the father of two giant sons called Otus and Ephialtes.[40] +When only nine years old they {106} were said to be twenty-seven cubits[41] +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. + +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. + +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 {107} +bloodshed. Athene accordingly called the city Athens, after herself, and it +has ever since retained this name. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +NEPTUNE. + +The Romans worshipped Poseidon under the name of Neptune, and invested him +with all the attributes which belong to the Greek divinity. + +The Roman commanders never undertook any naval expedition without +propitiating Neptune by a sacrifice. + +His temple at Rome was in the Campus Martius, and the festivals +commemorated in his honour were called Neptunalia. + + * * * * * + +SEA DIVINITIES. + +OCEANUS. + +Oceanus was the son of Uranus and Gaea. 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 {108} 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. + +NEREUS. + +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 AEgean 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. + +PROTEUS. + +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,[42] 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. + +{109} + +[Illustration] + +TRITON and the TRITONS. + +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 AEgea, 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. + +GLAUCUS. + +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. + +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. + +{110} + +THETIS. + +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 AEacus. 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. + +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. + +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. + +{111} + +THAUMAS, PHORCYS, and CETO. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Phorcys and Ceto personified more especially the hidden perils and terrors +of the ocean. They were the parents of the Gorgons, the Graea, and the +Dragon which guarded the golden apples of the Hesperides. + +[Illustration] + +LEUCOTHEA. + +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,[43] 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 Palaemon. + +{112} + +THE SIRENS. + +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. + +ARES (MARS). + +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. + +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. + +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. + +{113} + +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. + +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." + +[Illustration] + +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 Aloidae, the two giant-sons of +Poseidon, who put him in chains, and kept him in prison for thirteen +months. + +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;[44] 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 {114} 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. + +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. + +MARS. + +The Roman divinity most closely resembling the Greek Ares, and identified +with him, was called Mars, Mamers, and Marspiter or Father Mars. + +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 {115} 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. + +As the god who strode with warlike step to the battlefield, he was called +Gradivus (from _gradus_, 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.[45] + +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 Anciliae, 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. + +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. + +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 {116} the people held, and the young nobility trained to +martial exercises. + +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 Caesar. + +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. + +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. + +The attributes of this divinity are the helmet, shield, and spear. The +animals consecrated to him were the wolf, horse, vulture, and woodpecker. + +Intimately associated with Mars in his character as god of war, was a +goddess called BELLONA, 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. + +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. {117} + +NIKE (VICTORIA). + +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. + +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. + +A celebrated temple was erected to this divinity on the Acropolis at +Athens, which is still to be seen, and is in excellent preservation. + +VICTORIA. + +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. + +HERMES (MERCURY). + +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 {118} 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. + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration] + +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 Hermae (which were pillars of +stone surmounted by a head of Hermes), were placed at cross-roads, and +frequently in streets and public squares. + +Being the god of all undertakings in which gain was a feature, he was +worshipped as the giver of wealth and {119} 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. + +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 {120} 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. + +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 {121} 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. + +[Illustration] + +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--all qualities +characteristic of a trustworthy ambassador. + +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 Aides. + +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, +{122} binds Prometheus to Mount Caucasus, secures Ixion to the eternally +revolving wheel, destroys Argus, the hundred-eyed guardian of Io, &c. &c. + +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. + +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 Hephaestus; 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. + +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 {123} 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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +As messenger of the gods he wears the Petasus and Talaria, and bears in his +hand the Caduceus or herald's staff. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +MERCURY. + +Mercury was the Roman god of commerce and gain. We find mention of a temple +having been erected to him {124} near the Circus Maximus as early as B.C. +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. + +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. + +DIONYSUS (BACCHUS). + +Dionysus, also called Bacchus (from _bacca_, berry), was the god of wine, +and the personification of the blessings of Nature in general. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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, {125} 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. + +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. + +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 {126} progress through Syria, Egypt, Arabia, India, &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. + +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. + +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. + +Meanwhile, the mother of the king and her sisters, inspired with +Bacchanalian fury, had repaired to Mount Cithaeron, in order to join the +worshippers of the {127} 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 Cithaeron; 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. + +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, {128} 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. + +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. + +Among the most noted worshippers of Dionysus was Midas,[46] 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 {129} 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. + +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. + +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. + +The finest modern representation of Ariadne is that by Danneker, at +Frankfort-on-the-Maine. In this statue she {130} 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. + +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. + +He was also a prophetic divinity, and possessed oracles, the principal of +which was that on Mount Rhodope in Thrace. + +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. + +BACCHUS OR LIBER. + +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. + +The festival of Liber, called the Liberalia, was celebrated on the 17th of +March. + +AIDES (PLUTO). + +Aides, Aidoneus, 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. Aides, the grim and gloomy monarch of this lower +world, was the {131} successor of Erebus, that ancient primeval divinity +after whom these realms were called. + +The early Greeks regarded Aides 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. + +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 Aides +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. + +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 {132} +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. + +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. Aides, 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 Aides +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. + +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. + +In the dominions of Aides 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. + +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 {133} 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. + +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;--a +formidable sentinel, who permitted all shades to enter, but none to return. + +The happy spirits, destined to enjoy the delights of Elysium, passed out on +the right, and proceeded to the golden palace where Aides and Persephone +held their royal court, from whom they received a kindly greeting, ere they +set out for the Elysian Fields which lay beyond.[47] 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. + +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 {134} 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. + +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. + +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 Danaides. + +TITYUS, 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. + +TANTALUS 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, {135} 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. + +SISYPHUS 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. + +IXION 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. + +The DANAIDES were the fifty daughters of Danaus, king of Argos, who had +married their fifty cousins, the sons of AEgyptus. 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,--a never-ending and useless task. + +[Illustration] + +Aides 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, {136} 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. + +Aides, who was universally worshipped throughout Greece, had temples +erected to his honour in Elis, Olympia, and also at Athens. + +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. + +The narcissus, maiden-hair, and cypress were sacred to this divinity. + +PLUTO. + +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 Aides. 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 {137} all the +Greek notions with regard to a future state now obtained with the Romans, +who worshipped Aides under the name of Pluto, his other appellations being +Dis (from _dives_, rich) and Orcus from the dominions over which he ruled. +In Rome there were no temples erected to this divinity. + +PLUTUS. + +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. + +Plutus was believed to have his abode in the bowels of the earth, which was +probably the reason why, in later times, Aides became confounded with this +divinity. + + * * * * * + +MINOR DIVINITIES. + +THE HARPIES. + +[Illustration] + +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 Celaeno. + +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 {138} gluttony, or defiled in such a +manner as to render it unfit to be eaten. + +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. + +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. + +ERINYES, EUMENIDES (FURIAE, DIRAE). + +The Erinyes or Furies were female divinities who personified the torturing +pangs of an evil conscience, and the remorse which inevitably follows +wrong-doing. + +Their names were Alecto, Megaera, 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. + +Their place of abode was the lower world, where they were employed by Aides +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. + +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 {139} to +be beyond their reach, nor did any mortal dare to offer to their victims an +asylum from their persecutions. + +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. + +When they pursued Orestes they constantly held up a mirror to his horrified +gaze, in which he beheld the face of his murdered mother. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +MOIRAE OR FATES (PARCAE). + +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. + +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, {140} 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. + +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 Moirae are henceforth the special presiding deities over +the life and death of mortals. + +The Moirae 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. + +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. + +When represented at the feet of Aides 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. + +It was considered the function of the Moirae to indicate to the Furies the +precise torture which the wicked should undergo for their crimes. + +They were regarded as prophetic divinities, and had sanctuaries in many +parts of Greece. + +The Moirae are mentioned as assisting the Charites to conduct Persephone to +the upper world at her periodical {141} reunion with her mother Demeter. +They also appear in company with Eileithyia, goddess of birth. + +NEMESIS. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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;--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. +{142} + +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. + +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. + +NIGHT AND HER CHILDREN. +DEATH, SLEEP, AND DREAMS. + +NYX (NOX). + +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, &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. + +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. + +THANATOS (MORS) AND HYPNUS (SOMNUS). + +Thanatos (Death) and his twin-brother Hypnus (Sleep) were the children of +Nyx. + +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. + +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 {143} torch, emblematical of the light of life being extinguished, +whilst his disengaged arm is thrown lovingly round the shoulder of his +brother Hypnus. + +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. + +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. + +MORPHEUS. + +Morpheus, the son of Hypnus, was the god of Dreams. + +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 {144} noiseless footsteps over the earth, he gently scatters +the seeds of this sleep-producing plant over the eyes of weary mortals. + +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. + +THE GORGONS. + +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. + +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. + +These terrible sisters were supposed to dwell in that remote and mysterious +region in the far West, beyond the sacred stream of Oceanus. + +The Gorgons were the servants of Aides, 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. + +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 {145} 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. + +It is well to observe that when the Gorgons are spoken of in the singular, +it is Medusa who is alluded to. + +Medusa was the mother of Pegasus and Chrysaor, father of the three-headed, +winged giant Geryones, who was slain by Heracles. + +GRAEAE. + +The Graeae, who acted as servants to their sisters the Gorgons, were also +three in number; their names were Pephredo, Enyo, and Dino. + +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. + +When Perseus entered upon his expedition to slay the Medusa, he repaired to +the abode of the Graeae, in the far {146} 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. + +SPHINX. + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration] + +The Sphinx is represented, according to Greek genealogy, as the offspring +of Typhon and Echidna.[48] 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. + +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. + +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. Oedipus +offered {147} 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?" Oedipus 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. + +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. + +The Greek Sphinx may be recognized by having wings and by being of smaller +dimensions than the Egyptian Sphinx. + +TYCHE (FORTUNA) AND ANANKE (NECESSITAS). + +TYCHE (FORTUNA). + +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. + +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 {148} changes of fortune. +She frequently bears the sceptre and cornucopia[49] 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. + +Tyche was worshipped in various parts of Greece, but more particularly by +the Athenians, who believed in her special predilection for their city. + +FORTUNA. + +Tyche was worshipped in Rome under the name of Fortuna, and held a position +of much greater importance among the Romans than the Greeks. + +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. + +In addition to Fortuna, the Romans worshipped Felicitas as the giver of +positive good fortune. + +ANANKE (NECESSITAS). + +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. + +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. + +Ananke was worshipped in Rome under the name of Necessitas. + +{149} + +KER. + +In addition to the Moirae, 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. + +The Keres, who are frequently mentioned by Homer, were the goddesses who +delighted in the slaughter of the battle-field. + +ATE. + +Ate, the daughter of Zeus and Eris, was a divinity who delighted in evil. + +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. + +MOMUS. + +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 {150} 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.[50] + +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. + +EROS (CUPID, AMOR) AND PSYCHE. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +{151} + +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. + +[Illustration] + +Perhaps no myth is more charming and interesting than that of Eros and +Psyche, which is as follows:--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. + +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 {152} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 {153} she was always assisted by +invisible, beneficent beings, sent to her by Eros, who still loved her, and +continued to watch over her welfare. + +[Illustration] + +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:--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 Aides 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. + +Their reunion was celebrated amidst the rejoicings of all the Olympian +deities. The Graces shed perfume on {154} 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. + +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.[51] + +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. + +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. + +In Rome, Eros was worshipped under the name of Amor or Cupid. + +HYMEN. + +Hymen or Hymenaeus, 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. + +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 {155} 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. + +IRIS (THE RAINBOW). + +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. + +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. + +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. {156} + +[Illustration] + +HEBE (JUVENTAS). + +Hebe was the personification of eternal youth under its most attractive and +joyous aspect. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Hebe afterwards became the bride of Heracles, when, after his apotheosis, +he was received among the immortals. + +JUVENTAS. + +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. + +In Rome, several temples were erected in honour of this goddess. {157} + +GANYMEDES. + +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. + +Ganymedes is represented as a youth of exquisite beauty, with short golden +locks, delicately chiselled features, beaming blue eyes, and pouting lips. + +THE MUSES. + +Of all the Olympic deities, none occupy a more distinguished position than +the Muses, the nine beautiful daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne. + +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, &c. + +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. + +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 {158} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 {159} 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. + +[Illustration: CALLIOPE.] + +The libations to these divinities consisted of water, milk, and honey, but +never of wine. + +Their names and functions are as follows:-- + +CALLIOPE, 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. + +CLIO, the muse of History, holds in her hand a roll of parchment, and wears +a wreath of laurel. + +MELPOMENE, the muse of Tragedy, bears a tragic mask. + +THALIA, the muse of Comedy, carries in her right hand a shepherd's crook, +and has a comic mask beside her. + +POLYHYMNIA, 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. + +TERPSICHORE, the muse of Dance and Roundelay, is represented in the act of +playing on a seven-stringed lyre. + +URANIA, the muse of Astronomy, stands erect, and bears in her left hand a +celestial globe. + +EUTERPE, the muse of Harmony, is represented bearing a musical instrument, +usually a flute. + +ERATO, the muse of Love and hymeneal songs, wears a wreath of laurel, and +is striking the chords of a lyre. {160} + +[Illustration: CLIO.] + +[Illustration: TERPSICHORE.] + +[Illustration: EUTERPE.] + +[Illustration: ERATO.] + +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 {161} Titans, that some special divinities should be +called into existence, in order to commemorate in song the glorious deeds +of the Olympian gods. + +[Illustration: URANIA.] + +[Illustration: MELPOMENE.] + +[Illustration: THALIA.] + +[Illustration: POLYHYMNIA.] + +{162} + +PEGASUS. + +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 Danae. +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 Chimaera with his arrows. + +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. + +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. + +THE HESPERIDES. + +The Hesperides, the daughters of Atlas, dwelt in an island in the far west, +whence they derived their name. {163} + +They were appointed by Hera to act as guardians to a tree bearing golden +apples, which had been presented to her by Gaea on the occasion of her +marriage with Zeus. + +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. + +The names of the Hesperides were Aegle, Arethusa, and Hesperia. + +CHARITES (GRATIAE) GRACES. + +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). + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, +{164} 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. + +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. + +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. + +The Graces are frequently seen in attendance on other divinities; thus they +carry music for Apollo, myrtles for Aphrodite, &c., and frequently +accompany the Muses, Eros, or Dionysus. + +HORAE (SEASONS). + +Closely allied to the Graces were the Horae, or Seasons, who were also +represented as three beautiful maidens, daughters of Zeus and Themis. Their +names were Eunomia, Dice, and Irene. + +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 Horae, Thallo, goddess of +the bloom, and Carpo, of the corn and fruit-bearing season. + +The Horae 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 {165} 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. + +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 Horae, 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. + +The Horae 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. + +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. + +THE NYMPHS. + +The graceful beings called the Nymphs were the presiding deities of the +woods, grottoes, streams, meadows, &c. + +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 {166} +dedicated to them, but were worshipped in caves or grottoes, with libations +of milk, honey, oil, &c. + +They may be divided into three distinct classes, viz., water, mountain, and +tree or wood nymphs. + +WATER NYMPHS. + +OCEANIDES, NEREIDES, AND NAIADES. + +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. + +OCEANIDES. + +The OCEANIDES, or Ocean Nymphs, were the daughters of Oceanus and Tethys, +and, like most sea divinities, were endowed with the gift of prophecy. + +They are personifications of those delicate vapour-like {167} 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. + +THE NEREIDES. + +The NEREIDES were the daughters of Nereus and Doris, and were nymphs of the +Mediterranean Sea. + +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. + +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. + +The best known of the Nereides were Thetis, the wife of Peleus, Amphitrite, +the spouse of Poseidon, and Galatea, the beloved of Acis. + +THE NAIADES. + +The NAIADES were the nymphs of fresh-water springs, lakes, brooks, rivers, +&c. + +As the trees, plants, and flowers owed their nourishment to their genial, +fostering care, these divinities were {168} 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 +Nymphae, 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. + +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. + +DRYADES, OR TREE NYMPHS. + +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. + +The HAMADRYADES, 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. + +The BIRCH NYMPH is a melancholy maiden with floating hair, resembling the +branches of the pale and fragile-looking tree which she inhabits. + +The BEECH NYMPH 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. + +The nymph of the LINDEN TREE 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; {169} her pale, golden hair is +bound by the faintest streak of rose-coloured ribbon. + +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. + +NYMPHS OF THE VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS. + +NAPAEAE AND OREADES. + +The Napaeae 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 Napaeae are shy as the fawns, and +quite as frolicsome. + +The OREADES, 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 Napaeae 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. + +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 {170} 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. + +The LIMONIADES, or meadow nymphs, resemble the Naiades, and are usually +represented dancing hand in hand in a circle. + +The HYADES, 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. + +The MELIADES were the nymphs who presided over fruit-trees. + +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. + +THE WINDS. + +According to the oldest accounts, AEolus was a king of the AEolian 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. + +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 +{171} winged youths in full vigour in the act of flying through the air. + +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 Astraeus. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +PAN (FAUNUS). + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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 {172} an appearance that, at the +sight of him, his mother fled in dismay. + +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 _all_. + +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:--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. + +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 {173} 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, Boeotia, &c., were all consecrated to Pan. + +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. + +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. + +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 _pan_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. + +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. + +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--these being his usual attributes--whilst small horns project from +his forehead. He is either undraped, or wears merely the light cloak called +the chlamys. + +The usual offerings to Pan were milk and honey in {174} shepherds' bowls. +Cows, lambs, and rams were also sacrificed to him. + +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. + +FAUNUS. + +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. + +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. + +Fauna was the wife of Faunus, and participated in his functions. + +THE SATYRS. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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. + +{175} + +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. + +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. + +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. + +PRIAPUS. + +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. + +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 {176} 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. + +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. + +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. + +ASCLEPIAS (AESCULAPIUS). + +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. + +[Illustration] + +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 {177} worked by the god:--a custom undoubtedly productive of +most beneficial results. + +Groves, temples, and altars were dedicated to Asclepias in many parts of +Greece, but Epidaurus, the chief seat of his worship,--where, indeed, it is +said to have originated,--contained his principal temple, which served at +the same time as a hospital. + +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. + +His usual attributes are a staff, a bowl, a bunch of herbs, a pineapple, a +dog, and a serpent. + +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. + +Their sisters, HYGEIA (health), and PANACEA (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. + +AESCULAPIUS. + +The worship of AEsculapius was introduced into Rome from Epidaurus, whence +the statue of the god of healing {178} 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. + + * * * * * + +ROMAN DIVINITIES. + +JANUS. + +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. + +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. + +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, &c., on earth. + +The fact of his being the god of city gates, which were called Jani after +him, is ascribed, however, to the following myth:--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. + +{179} + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 {180} 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. + +FLORA. + +Flora was the goddess of flowers, and was regarded as a beneficent power, +who watched over and protected the early blossoms. + +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, &c., and were worn +by young girls in their hair. + +Flora, who typified the season of Spring, is generally represented as a +lovely maiden, garlanded with flowers. + +ROBIGUS. + +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. + +The festival of Robigus (the Robigalia) was celebrated on the 25th of +April. + +POMONA. + +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. + +Pomona, who typifies Autumn, is represented as a lovely maiden, laden with +branches of fruit-trees. + +{181} + +VERTUMNUS. + +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. + +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. + +Vertumnus is generally represented crowned with wheat-sheaves, and bearing +in his hand a cornucopia. + +PALES. + +Pales, a very ancient Italian divinity, is represented sometimes as a male, +sometimes as a female power. + +As a male divinity he is more particularly the god of shepherds and flocks. + +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. + +The name Palatine, which originally signified a pastoral colony, is derived +from this divinity. Her offerings were cakes and milk. + +{182} + +PICUS. + +Picus, the son of Saturn and father of Faunus, was a woodland divinity, +gifted with prophetic powers. + +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. + +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. + +PICUMNUS AND PILUMNUS. + +Picumnus and Pilumnus were two household divinities of the Romans, who were +the special presiding deities of new-born infants. + +SILVANUS. + +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. + +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. + +His sacrifices consisted of milk, meat, wine, grapes, wheat-ears, and pigs. + +TERMINUS. + +Terminus was the god who presided over all boundaries and landmarks. + +He was originally represented by a simple block of stone, which in later +times became surmounted by a {183} 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. + +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. + +CONSUS. + +Consus was the god of secret counsel. + +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. + +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. + +LIBITINA. + +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. + +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 {184} +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. + +LAVERNA. + +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. + +COMUS. + +Comus was the presiding genius of banquets, festive scenes, revelry, and +all joyous pleasures and reckless gaiety. + +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. + +THE CAMENAE. + +The Camenae 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 {185} life, and was therefore invoked by women before the birth of +their children. + +The Camenae are frequently identified by Roman writers with the Muses. + +GENII. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The genius which guided a woman was called, after the queen of heaven, +Juno. + +Among the Greeks, beings called Daemons 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. + +MANES. + +LEMURES (LARVAE) AND LARES. + +The Manes were the spirits of the departed, and were of two kinds, viz., +Lemures (or Larvae) and Lares. {186} + +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. + +It appears extremely probable that the superstitions with regard to ghosts, +haunted houses, &c., which exist even at the present day, owe their origin +to this very ancient pagan source. + +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. + +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. + +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. {187} + +PENATES. + +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. + +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. + +{188} + +[Illustration] + +PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS AND ROMANS. + +TEMPLES. + +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. + +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 {189} 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. + +Among the Lacedaemonians, 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 Lacedaemonians, 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. + +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. + +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 {190} +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. + +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. + +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." + +STATUES. + +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 {191} 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. + +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. + +ALTARS. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +PRIESTS. + +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. + +{192} + +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. + +Priests and priestesses were permitted to marry, but not a second time; +some, however, voluntarily adopted a life of celibacy. + +SACRIFICES. + +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. + +Among the Greeks, sacrifices were of various kinds. They consisted of +_free-will offerings_, _propitiatory offerings_, &c. + +_Free-will offerings_ 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. + +_Propitiatory offerings_ were brought with the object of appeasing the +anger of the gods. + +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. + +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. + +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 {193} +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, &c. + +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. + +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. + +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, &c., were sacrificed, the remainder becoming the perquisites of +the priests. + +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. + +On occasions of special solemnity the horns of the victim were overlaid +with gold, and the altars decked with flowers and sacred herbs. + +The mode of conducting the sacrifices was as follows:--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 {194} long trailing rope, in order +to indicate that it was not an unwilling sacrifice. + +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. + +At the sacrifices to the aerial 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. + +ORACLES. + +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. + +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. + +{195} + +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. + +The following is a striking instance of the ambiguity of oracular +predictions:--Croesus, 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, Croesus 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. + +SOOTHSAYERS (AUGURS). + +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, &c. {196} + +AUGURS. + +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. + +FESTIVALS. + +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. + +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, &c., were +conspicuous features on these occasions, and dramatic performances, +representing particular episodes in the lives of the gods and heroes, +frequently took place. + +We subjoin a few of the most interesting of the Greek and Roman festivals. + + * * * * * + +GREEK FESTIVALS. + +ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES. + +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 {197} 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. + +It is supposed that the secrets taught to the initiated by the priests--the +expounders of the Mysteries--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." + +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, &c., were held, and solemn sacrifices +offered. + +The initiation into the Lesser Mysteries served as a preparation for the +Greater. + +THESMOPHORIA. + +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. + +This festival was celebrated exclusively by women. + +DIONYSIA. + +A joyous spring festival was held in honour of Dionysus, in the month of +March, and lasted several days. + +{198} + +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. + +[Illustration] + +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, &c. Some representing Silenus rode on +asses, others wearing fawn-skins appeared as Pan or the Satyrs, and the +whole multitude sang paeans in honour of the wine-god. Public shows, games, +and sports took place, and the entire city was full of revelry. + +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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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, {199} 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. + +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. + +PANATHENAEA. + +The Panathenaea 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 Panathenaea. The former was held annually, +and the latter, which lasted several days, was celebrated every fourth +year. + +For the Greater Panathenaea 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. + +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. + +{200} + +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. + +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. + +DAPHNEPHORIA. + +The Daphnephoria was celebrated at Thebes in honour of Apollo every ninth +year. + +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. + + * * * * * + +ROMAN FESTIVALS. + +SATURNALIA. + +The Saturnalia, a national festival held in December in honour of Saturn, +was celebrated after the ingathering of the harvest, and lasted several +days. + +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. + +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 +{201} 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. + +There appears little doubt that the modern Carnival is a survival of the +ancient Saturnalia. + +CEREALIA. + +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. + +During this festival, games were celebrated in the Circus Maximus, to which +none were admitted unless clothed in white. + +VESTALIA. + +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. + +The priestesses of Vesta, called Vestales or Vestal Virgins, played a +conspicuous part in these festivals. They were six in number, and were +chosen--between the ages of six and ten--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. + +{202} + +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 +praetors 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. + +The Vestales were vowed to chastity, a violation of which was visited by +the frightful punishment of being buried alive. + + * * * * * + + +{203} + +PART II.--LEGENDS. + +CADMUS. + +The following is the legendary account of the founding of Thebes:-- + +After the abduction of his daughter Europa by Zeus, Agenor, king of +Phoenicia, unable to reconcile himself to her loss, despatched his son +Cadmus in search of her, desiring him not to return without his sister. + +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.e._ 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. + +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. + +After waiting some time for the return of his servants {204} 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. + +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. + +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 Hephaestus, which, +however, after the death of Harmonia, always proved fatal to its possessor. + +The children of Cadmus and Harmonia were one son, {205} Polydorus, and four +daughters, Autonoe, Ino, Semele, and Agave. + +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. + +PERSEUS. + +Perseus, one of the most renowned of the legendary heroes of antiquity, was +the son of Zeus and Danae, daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos. + +An oracle having foretold to Acrisius that a son of Danae 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 Danae became his +bride. + +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. + +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. + +Polydectes eventually became united to Danae, and {206} 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. + +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 Aides, 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 Graeae. +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 Graeae, 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. + +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. + +{207} + +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. + +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. + +Perseus then resumed his travels. His winged sandals bore him over deserts +and mountains, until he arrived at AEthiopia, 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. + +In their distress the unfortunate AEthiopians applied to the oracle of +Jupiter-Ammon, in the Libyan desert, {208} and obtained the response, that +only by the sacrifice of the king's daughter to the monster could the +country and people be saved. + +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. + +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 Aides, he mounted into the air, and awaited the +approach of the monster. + +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, {209} 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. + +[Illustration] + +Perseus now took leave of the AEthiopian king, and, accompanied by his +beautiful bride, returned to Seriphus, where a joyful meeting took place +between Danae 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. + +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 Mycenae and Midea. + +The head of the Medusa he presented to his divine patroness, Pallas-Athene, +who placed it in the centre of her shield. + +Many great heroes were descended from Perseus and Andromeda, foremost among +whom was Heracles, whose mother, Alcmene, was their granddaughter. + +Heroic honours were paid to Perseus, not only {210} throughout Argos, but +also at Athens and in the island of Seriphus. + +ION. + +Ion was the son of Creusa (the beauteous daughter of Erechtheus, king of +Athens) and the sun-god Phoebus-Apollo, to whom she was united without the +knowledge of her father. + +Fearing the anger of Erechtheus, Creusa 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. + +And now to return to Creusa. During a war with the Euboeans, in which the +latter were signally defeated, Xuthus, son of AEolus, greatly distinguished +himself on the side of the Athenians, and as a reward for his valuable +services, the hand of Creusa, 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. Creusa, 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; {211} when an old servant, observing her +grief, begged her to be comforted, assuring her that the cause of her +distress should be speedily removed. + +When, upon the occasion of the public adoption of his son, Xuthus gave a +grand banquet, the old servant of Creusa contrived to mix a strong poison +in the wine of the unsuspecting Ion. But the youth--according to the pious +custom of the ancients, of offering a libation to the gods before partaking +of any repast--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. + +Ion's suspicions at once fell upon the obsequious servant of Creusa, 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 Creusa, +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 Creusa 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. + +Mother and son now became reconciled to each other, and Creusa 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 Creusa would have a son called Dorus, who would be +the progenitor of the Dorian people, both of which predictions were in due +time verified. + +DAEDALUS and ICARUS. + +Daedalus, a descendant of Erechtheus, was an Athenian architect, sculptor, +and mechanician. He was the first {212} to introduce the art of sculpture +in its higher development, for before his time statues were merely rude +representations, having the limbs altogether undefined. + +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 Daedalus, 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, Daedalus 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. + +Daedalus 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 Daedalus 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. + +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. + +After this sad event, Daedalus winged his flight to the island of Sicily, +where he met with a kind welcome from {213} 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. + +Daedalus 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. + +THE ARGONAUTS. + +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. + +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, {214} 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. + +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. + +{215} + +STORY OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE. + +Athamas, king of Boeotia, 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. + +Phryxus arrived safely at Colchis, where he was hospitably received by king +Aetes, 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 Aetes, 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 Aetes 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. + +BUILDING AND LAUNCH OF THE ARGO.--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. + +Jason accordingly began to arrange his plans without delay, and invited the +young heroes whose friendship he {216} 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. + +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. + +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 +Pirithoeus (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), &c. &c. + +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, {217} the anchor is weighed, +and the ship glides like a bird out of the harbour into the waters of the +great sea. + +ARRIVAL AT LEMNOS.--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. + +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. + +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. + +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 {218} +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. + +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. + +GIANTS AND DOLIONES.--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--monsters with six arms. + +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. + +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 {219} 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. + +HERACLES LEFT BEHIND.--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. + +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. + +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. + +CONTEST WITH AMYCUS.--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 {220} 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. + +PHINEUS AND THE HARPIES.--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. + +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. + +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 {221} dangers awaiting them, but also +instructed them how they might be overcome. + +PASSAGE OF THE SYMPLEGADES.--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. + +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. + +After the miraculous passage of the Argo, the Symplegades became +permanently united, and attached to the bottom of the sea. + +THE STYMPHALIDES.--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. + +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 {222} the +birds flew away in terror, and the Argonauts were enabled to land with +safety on the island. + +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 Aetes was extremely +cruel, and, as the son of Apollo, was possessed of superhuman strength. + +ARRIVAL AT COLCHIS.--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. + +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 Aetes 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. + +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 {223} 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. + +The news of the return of the sons of Phryxus soon spread through the +palace, and brought Aetes 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. + +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. Aetes 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. + +The task proposed by Aetes to Jason was that he should yoke the two +brazen-footed, fire-breathing oxen of the king (which had been made for him +by Hephaestus) 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. + +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 {224} assistance of the gods, and to his own courage +and energy. + +JASON PLOUGHS THE FIELD OF ARES.--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. + +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. + +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. + +Next morning Aetes, in all the pomp of state, surrounded by his family and +the members of his court, {225} 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. + +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. + +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. + +Furious at seeing his murderous schemes thus defeated, Aetes 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. + +JASON SECURES THE GOLDEN FLEECE.--Becoming aware of the treacherous designs +of her father, Medea at {226} 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. + +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. + +MURDER OF ABSYRTUS.--Meanwhile Aetes, 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. + +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 {227} 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. + +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. + +THEY ARRIVE AT THE ISLAND OF CIRCE.--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. + +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. + +FURTHER ADVENTURES OF THE ARGONAUTS.--Having left the island of Circe they +were wafted by gentle {228} 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. + +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. + +The Argo next arrived at the island of the Phaeaces, 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 Aetes to demand the +restoration of his daughter. + +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 Aetes should they return to +Colchis without her, sought permission of Alcinous to settle in his +kingdom, which request was accorded them. + +{229} + +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. + +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. + +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. + +ARRIVAL AT CRETE.--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 {230} 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. + +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. + +ARRIVAL AT IOLCUS.--After a terrible night of storm and darkness they +passed the island of AEgina, 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. + +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. + +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. + +{231} + +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. + +DEATH OF JASON.--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. + +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 {232} 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. + +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. + +In a fit of despair Jason threw himself on his own sword, and perished on +the threshold of his desolate and deserted home. + +PELOPS. + +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 Oenomaus, king of Elis, he beheld Hippodamia, the king's daughter, +whose beauty won his heart. But an oracle having foretold to Oenomaus 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. + +The conditions of the contest were as follows:--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 {233} on his course whilst Oenomaus 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 Oenomaus, +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 Oenomaus as a suitor for the hand of his daughter. + +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. + +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. + +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 +Oenomaus, 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. + +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. + +{234} + +HERACLES (HERCULES). + +Heracles, the most renowned hero of antiquity, was the son of Zeus and +Alcmene, and the great grandson of Perseus. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +{235} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +THE CHOICE OF HERACLES.--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. + +Here two females of great beauty appeared to him. {236} 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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +Full of these noble resolves he sought once more his rural home, where he +was informed that on Mount Cithaeron, 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. + +As he was returning from this, his first exploit, he met {237} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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, +Phoebus-Apollo a bundle of arrows, Hephaestus a golden quiver, and Athene a +coat of leather. + +HERACLES AND EURYSTHEUS.--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 {238} 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. + +When, after his splendid victory over Erginus, the fame of Heracles spread +throughout Greece, Eurystheus (who had become king of Mycenae), 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. + +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. + +1. THE NEMEAN LION.--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. + +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, {239} 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. + +2. THE HYDRA.--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. + +[Illustration] + +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, {240} 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. + +3. THE HORNED HIND.--The third labour of Heracles was to bring the horned +hind Cerunitis alive to Mycenae. This animal, which was sacred to Artemis, +had golden antlers and hoofs of brass. + +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 Phoebus-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 +Mycenae. + +[Illustration] + +4. THE ERYMANTIAN BOAR.--The fourth task imposed upon Heracles by +Eurystheus was to bring alive to Mycenae the Erymantian boar, which had laid +waste the region of Erymantia, and was the scourge of the surrounding +neighbourhood. + +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 {241} 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. + +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. + +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 +Mycenae. + +{242} + +5. CLEANSING THE STABLES OF AUGEAS.--After slaying the Erymantian boar +Eurystheus commanded Heracles to cleanse in one day the stables of Augeas. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +6. THE STYMPHALIDES.--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. + +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 Hephaestus, with +which she {243} 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. + +7. THE CRETAN BULL.--The seventh labour of Heracles was to capture the +Cretan bull. + +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. + +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. + +8. THE MARES OF DIOMEDES.--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 {244} misfortune to enter the country +were made prisoners and flung before the horses, who devoured them. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +9. THE GIRDLE OF HIPPOLYTE.--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. + +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 {245} 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. + +On his voyage home the hero stopped at Troy, where a new adventure awaited +him. + +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. + +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. + +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 {246} his grandfather Tros in compensation for +robbing him of his son Ganymede. + +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 Mycenae, where he +presented the girdle to Eurystheus. + +10. THE OXEN OF GERYONES.--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. + +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. + +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. + +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 {247} 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. + +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 Mycenae, where he delivered them up to Eurystheus, +who sacrificed them to Hera. + +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. + +11. THE APPLES OF THE HESPERIDES.--The eleventh task imposed by Eurystheus +was to bring him the golden apples of the Hesperides, which grew on a tree +presented by Gaea 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. + +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 +{248} 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 Gaea, +which terminated fatally for his antagonist. + +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. + +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. {249} + +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. + +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. + +12. CERBERUS.--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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +After being initiated into the Eleusinian Mysteries, and {250} obtaining +from the priests certain information necessary for the accomplishment of +his task, Heracles set out for Taenarum 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. + +Arrived before the gates of Hades he found Theseus and Pirithoeus, who had +been fixed to an enchanted rock by Aides 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 Pirithoeus, the earth shook so violently beneath him +that he was compelled to relinquish his task. + +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 Aides 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. + +Before the gates of his palace stood Aides 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 Aides +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 {251} 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. + +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 Aides, and with this last task the subjection of Heracles +to Eurystheus terminated. + +MURDER OF IPHITUS.--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 Oechalia, 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. + +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. {252} + +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. + +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. + +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. + +HERACLES BECOMES THE SLAVE OF OMPHALE.--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 {253} to Eurytus, who, +however, declined to accept the money, which was handed over to the +children of Iphitus. + +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. + +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. + +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 Maeonian queen, he +determined to carry out the revenge he had so long meditated against the +treacherous Laomedon and the faithless Augeas. + +HERACLES EXECUTES VENGEANCE ON LAOMEDON AND AUGEAS.--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. + +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. {254} 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." + +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. + +HERACLES AND DEIANEIRA.--Heracles now proceeded to Calydon, where he wooed +the beautiful Deianeira, daughter of Oeneus, king of AEtolia; 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. + +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 Oeneus, 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. + +In the course of their journey they arrived at the river Evenus, over which +the Centaur Nessus was in the habit {255} 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. + +DEATH OF HERACLES.--The last expedition undertaken by the great hero was +against Eurytus, king of Oechalia, 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 Euboea in order to besiege Oechalia, 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. + +Returning from his victorious expedition, Heracles halted at Cenoeus 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. + +The victorious hero clothed himself with the garment, {256} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +BELLEROPHON. + +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 Proetus, +who purified him from his crime. Antea, the wife of Proetus, 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. {257} + +The first impulse of Proetus, 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. + +Bellerophon now presented to him the letter intrusted to him by Proetus. +Iobates, who had become greatly attached to the youth, was horror-struck at +its contents. Nevertheless he concluded that Proetus 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. + +[Illustration] + +He first sent him to kill the Chimaera, 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. + +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 {258} 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 Chimaera with his arrows. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +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. + +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 {259} 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. + +After death he was honoured in Corinth as a hero, and an altar was erected +to him in the grove of Poseidon. + +THESEUS. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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 {260} 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. + +His first adventure occurred at Epidaurus, where he met Periphetes, a son +of Hephaestus, 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. + +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. + +Passing through the woody district of Crommyon Theseus next slew a wild and +dangerous sow which had long ravaged the country. + +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. + +Theseus now journeyed on to Eleusis, where he found {261} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +When Theseus was acknowledged as the rightful heir to the throne he was +opposed by the fifty sons of Pallas, {262} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 Daedalus for the Cretan king. + +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 +{263} father that he would slay the Minotaur and return home victorious. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 {264} +beautiful maiden who so tenderly loved him, and left her on the lonely +island, where she was found and wooed by the wine-god. + +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. + +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. + +Theseus renewed the Isthmian Games, and also instituted numerous festivals, +the principal of which was the Panathenaea, held in honour of Athene-Polias. + +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 {265} 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. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +The remarkable friendship which existed between Theseus and Pirithoeus +originated under such peculiar circumstances that it is worthy of mention. + +Hearing upon one occasion that his herds, pasturing in the plains of +Marathon, had been carried off by Pirithoeus, 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. Pirithoeus, 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 {266} friendship;" whereupon the heroes embraced each +other and swore eternal fidelity. + +When, soon afterwards, Pirithoeus 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 +Pirithoeus. 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. Pirithoeus 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. + +After the death of Hippolyte Theseus sought the hand of Phaedra, 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, Phaedra, 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 +Phaedra 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. + +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 +{267} 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. + +In this condition he was found by the unhappy Theseus, who, having +ascertained the true facts of the case from an old servant of Phaedra, 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. + +After these events Theseus was persuaded by his friend Pirithoeus, 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. + +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 Pirithoeus +forcibly abducted her, and then having cast lots for her, she fell to +Theseus, who placed her under the charge of his mother AEthra. + +Pirithoeus 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 Aides 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 {268} 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 Pirithoeus to +endure for ever the punishment of his too daring ambition. + +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. AEthra at once resigned her charge, whereupon the brothers took +leave of Athens, and, accompanied by Helen, returned to their native +country. + +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. + +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. + +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, {269} and in his honour a temple was erected, which exists to the +present day, and serves as a museum of art. + +OEDIPUS. + +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 Cithaeron 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. + +Meanwhile the shepherd of king Polybus had unbound the feet of the infant, +and in consequence of their being much swollen he called him Oedipus, 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. +Oedipus 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. + +Filled with dismay, for he was tenderly attached to Polybus and Merope, +Oedipus determined not to return {270} to Corinth, and took instead the +road leading to Boeotia. 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 Oedipus 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. + +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. + +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. + +Just as this proclamation was being made in the streets of Thebes Oedipus, +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 Oedipus at once solved +it; whereupon the Sphinx, full of rage and despair, precipitated herself +into the abyss and perished. Oedipus {271} received the promised reward. He +became king of Thebes and the husband of Jocaste, the widow of his father, +king Laius. + +For many years Oedipus enjoyed the greatest happiness and tranquillity. +Four children were born to him--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. Oedipus 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. + +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 Oedipus of the truth of his words, he brought +forward the old servant who had exposed him as a babe on Mount Cithaeron, +and the shepherd who had conveyed him to king Polybus. Horrified at this +awful revelation Oedipus, in a fit of despair, deprived himself of sight, +and the unfortunate Jocaste, unable to survive her disgrace, hanged +herself. + +Accompanied by his faithful and devoted daughter Antigone, Oedipus 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. + +{272} + +THE SEVEN AGAINST THEBES. + +After the voluntary abdication of Oedipus, 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. + +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 +Oeneus, 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. + +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. + +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, {273} 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. + +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 Alcmaeon +that, should he perish on the field of battle, he would avenge his death on +his mother, the perfidious Eriphyle. + +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 +Parthenopaeus, Capaneus his nephew, Polynices and Tydeus, and Amphiaraus. + +{274} + +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. + +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. + +When Creon heard the words of the seer his first thought was of his +favourite son Menoeceus, 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 {275} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. {276} But retribution was at hand. His son, Haemon, 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. + +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 Haemon, had put an end to her existence, and thus +the king found himself in his old age both widowed and childless. + +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. + +THE EPIGONI. + +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. + +By the advice of the Delphic oracle the command was intrusted to Alcmaeon, +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 {277} Alcmaeon +and his brother Amphilochus to join in this second war against Thebes. + +Now the mother of Alcmaeon 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. + +Before the gates of the city Alcmaeon 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 Alcmaeon. + +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. + +ALCMAEON AND THE NECKLACE. + +When Alcmaeon 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 +{278} 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. + +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 Arsinoe, to whom Alcmaeon presented the necklace +and veil, which had already been the cause of so much unhappiness. + +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, Alcmaeon took a tender leave of +his wife and little son, and became once more an outcast and wanderer. + +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, Alcmaeon soon forgot the +loving wife and child he had left behind, and wooed Calirrhoe, the +beautiful daughter of the river-god, who became united to him in marriage. + +For many years Alcmaeon and Calirrhoe lived happily together, and two sons +were born to them. But {279} 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. + +Now the necklace and veil were in the safe-keeping of Arsinoe; but as +Alcmaeon 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 Calirrhoe 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. Arsinoe, deceived by his +artful representations, unhesitatingly restored to him his bridal gifts, +whereupon Alcmaeon set out on his homeward journey, well satisfied with the +successful issue of his expedition. + +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 Alcmaeon 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 Arsinoe. They accordingly concealed themselves at a point of +the road which Alcmaeon was compelled to pass, and as he neared the spot +they suddenly emerged from their place of ambush, fell upon him and +despatched him. + +When Arsinoe, 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 Ancaeus, at Tegea. {280} Here +they accused her of the murder of which they themselves were guilty, and +she suffered a painful death. + +Calirrhoe, on learning the sad fate of Alcmaeon, 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. + +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 Calirrhoe 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. + +THE HERACLIDAE. + +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 Heraclidae, 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. + +When the Athenians had made all necessary preparations to repel the +invaders, an oracle announced that the {281} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +For the space of twelve months the Heraclidae 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 Heraclidae to evacuate the country and return to Attica, where for a +time they settled. + +After the lapse of three years Hyllus resolved on {282} 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. + +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 +Heraclidae were to desist for fifty years from attempting to press their +claim. + +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. + +Hyllus was succeeded by his son Cleodaeus, 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. + +Twenty years later his son Aristomachus consulted an oracle, which promised +him victory if he went by way of the defile. The Heraclidae 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. + +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. + +{283} + +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. + +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 Heraclidae for a man answering to this +description, who was found at length in the person of Oxylus, a descendant +of the AEtolian 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. + +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, +Lacedaemon 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 Heraclidae. + +THE SIEGE OF TROY. + +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 {284} +valiant Hector, the prophetess Cassandra, and Paris, the cause of the +Trojan war. + +Before the birth of her second son Paris, Hecuba dreamt that she had given +birth to a flaming brand, which was interpreted by AEsacus 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. + +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. + +Paris became united to a beautiful nymph named Oenone, 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. + +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 {285} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +{286} + +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. + +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. + +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. + +PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR.--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. + +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 {287} 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. + +Only in the case of two great heroes, Odysseus (Ulysses) and Achilles, did +Menelaus experience any difficulty. + +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. + +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 AEgean Sea, where, disguised as a girl, he was +brought up among the daughters of Lycomedes, king of the country. + +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 {288} 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. + +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, &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 Boeotia. + +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. + +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 {289} 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. + +DEPARTURE OF THE GREEK FLEET.--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. + +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. + +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. + +A fair wind having at length sprung up, the fleet {290} once more set sail. +They first stopped at the island of Tenedos, where the famous archer +Philoctetes--who possessed the bow and arrows of Heracles, given to him by +the dying hero--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. + +COMMENCEMENT OF HOSTILITIES.--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. + +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. + +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, &c., +and formed an intrenched camp on the coast. + +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, {291} that the ever memorable battles between the +Greeks and Trojans were fought. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +DEFECTION OF ACHILLES.--During the first year of the campaign the Greeks +ravaged the surrounding country, {292} 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 Chryseis, daughter of Chryses, the priest of Apollo; +whilst to Achilles was allotted another captive, the fair Briseis. 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 Chryseis could his anger be appeased. + +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 Briseis, 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. + +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 {293} 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. + +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 Briseis 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. + +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 {294} his +brave band of warriors, but lent him also his own suit of armour. + +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. + +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. + +DEATH OF HECTOR.--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, Hephaestus forged for him a new suit of armour, which far surpassed +in magnificence that of all the other heroes. + +Thus gloriously arrayed he was soon seen striding {295} 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 Scaean gate; and with his last +dying breath the Trojan hero foretold to his conqueror that he himself +would soon perish on the same spot. + +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. + +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 {296} 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. + +PENTHESILEA.--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. + +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. + +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. + +On beholding the dead body of their leader in the {297} 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. + +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. + +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. + +DEATH OF ACHILLES.--A new ally of the Trojans now appeared on the field in +the person of Memnon, the AEthiopian, 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 Hephaestus. + +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 Moirae, Zeus seized the golden scales {298} 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. + +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. + +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 Phoebus-Apollo, aimed a well-directed dart at the +hero, which pierced his vulnerable heel, and he fell to the ground fatally +wounded before the Scaean 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. + +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. + +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 Hephaestus +should be awarded to him who had contributed the most to the {299} 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. + +FINAL MEASURES.--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. + +The Greeks learned from the Trojan prince that three conditions were +indispensable to the conquest of Troy:--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. + +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. + +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 {300} 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. + +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 Oenone 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, Oenone +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, Oenone threw herself +on the lifeless form of her husband and perished in the flames. + +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 {301} 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. + +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. + +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. + +DESTRUCTION OF TROY.--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. + +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 {302} 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;--for the fall of Troy was decreed by the gods. + +[Illustration] + +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. + +The crafty Odysseus had left behind his trusty friend Sinon with full +instructions as to his course of action. Assuming the role 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. + +The kind-hearted monarch, believing his story, released {303} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. {304} + +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. + +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. + +AEneas 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. + +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. + +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. + +RETURN OF THE GREEKS FROM TROY. + +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 {305} gods, for which reason their homeward voyage was +beset with manifold dangers and disasters, and many perished before they +reached their native land. + +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. + +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. + +FATE OF AGAMEMNON.--The homeward voyage of Agamemnon was tolerably +uneventful and prosperous; but on his arrival at Mycenae misfortune and ruin +awaited him. + +His wife Clytemnestra, in revenge for the sacrifice of her beloved daughter +Iphigenia, had formed a secret alliance during his absence with AEgisthus, +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, AEgisthus, who was concealed in an +adjoining chamber, rushed upon the defenceless hero and slew him. {306} + +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. + +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 Mycenae, where AEgisthus 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. + +Arrived at Mycenae, 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. + +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 {307} 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. + +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. + +HOMEWARD VOYAGE OF ODYSSEUS.--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. + +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. + +POLYPHEMUS.--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, {308} left his fleet safely +anchored in the bay of a neighbouring island, and with twelve chosen +companions set out to explore the country. + +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. + +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. + +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--for the lawless +Cyclops knew no fear of the gods--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. + +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 {309} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 {310} 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. + +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. + +FURTHER ADVENTURES.--After sailing about over unknown seas for some time +the hero and his followers cast anchor at the island of AEolus, king of the +Winds, who welcomed them cordially, and sumptuously entertained them for a +whole month. + +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. + +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 {311} out, fell asleep, and his comrades, thinking AEolus +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 AEolian island. This time, however, AEolus did not +welcome them as before, but dismissed them with bitter reproaches and +upbraidings for their disregard of his injunctions. + +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 Laestrygones, 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. + +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 AEaea. + +CIRCE.--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. + +They soon came to a magnificent marble palace, which was situated in a +charming and fertile valley. Here {312} 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. + +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. + +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 {313} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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,[52] in the realm of Hades, concerning +his future destiny. She then loaded his ship with provisions for the +voyage, and reluctantly bade him farewell. + +{314} + +THE REALM OF SHADES.--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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +{315} 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. + +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. + +THE SIRENS.--After some days' sail their course led them past the island of +the Sirens. + +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. + +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. + +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. {316} + +THE ISLAND OF HELIOS.--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. + +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. + +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 {317} escaping being +sucked in by the whirlpool of Charybdis, he was cast ashore on the island +of Ogygia. + +CALYPSO.--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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +NAUSICAA.--For seventeen days Odysseus contrived to pilot the raft +skilfully through all the perils of the deep, directing his course +according to the directions {318} of Calypso, and guided by the stars of +heaven. On the eighteenth day he joyfully hailed the distant outline of the +Phaeacian 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. + +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 Phaeaces. 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. + +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. + +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 +{319} 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. + +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. + +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. + +ARRIVAL AT ITHACA.--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 +Phaeacian 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. + +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 {320} 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. + +The goddess, who had meanwhile revealed her identity to Odysseus, now +assisted him to conceal in a neighbouring cave the valuable gifts of the +Phaeacian king. Then seating herself beside him she consulted with him as to +the best means of ridding his palace of its shameless occupants. + +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 Eumaeus his own swine-herd. + +Eumaeus 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. + +It chanced that the following morning Telemachus returned from his long and +fruitless search for his father, and going first to the hut of Eumaeus, +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 {321} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +{322} would have cried aloud in her joy, but the hero placing his hand upon +her mouth, implored her not to betray him. + +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. + +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. + +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 {323} 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + + +{325} + +PRONOUNCING INDEX. + + * * * * * + +[_Note._--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 AEneas may be pronounced A-na'-ahss; Aides 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.] + + A. + + Abderus (ab-dee'-rus), 244. + Absyrtus (ab-sir'-tus), 226. + Academus (ak-[)a]-dee'-mus), 268. + Achelous (ak-e-lo'-us), 254, 278. + Acheron (ak'-e-ron), 132, 250. + Achilles ([)a]-kil'-leez), 131, 291, 287, 297. + Acis ([=a]'-sis), 105, 167. + Acrisius ([)a]-crish'-e-us), 189, 205, 209. + Acropolis ([)a]-crop'-o-lis), 189. + Actaeon (ak-tee'-on), 91. + Admete (ad-mee'-te), 244. + Admetus (ad-mee'-tus), 76, 119, 216. + Adonis ([)a]-don'-iss), 59. + Adrastia (ad-ras-ti'-ah), 142. + Adrastus ([)a]-dras'-tus), 272. + AEacus (ee'-[)a]-cus), 34. + AEaea (ee-ee'-ah), island of, 67. + AEgean Sea (ee-gee'-an), 287. + [53]AEgeus (ee'-juce), 259, 262, 264. + AEgina (ee-ji'-nah), island of, 230. + AEgis (ee'-jiss), 26. + AEgisthus (ee-jiss'-thus, _th_ as in _both_), 305. + AEgle (egg'-le), 163. + AEgyptus (ee-jip'-tus), 135. + Aello ([)a]-el'-lo), 137. + AEneas (ee-nee'-ass), 304. + AEolus (ee'-o-lus), 170, 210. + Aer ([=a]'-er), 12. + AEsacus (es'-a-cus), 284. + AEsculapius (es-cu-la'-pe-us), 177. + AEson (ee'-son), 213. + AEetes (ee-ee'-teez), 215, 222. + AEther (ee'-ther), 12. + AEthiopia (e-thi-o'-pe-ah), 207. + AEthra (ee'-thrah), 259, 267, 288. + AEtna, Mount (et'-nah), 100. + Agamemnon (ag-[)a]-mem'-non), 94, 286, 305. + Agave ([)a]-ga'-ve), 127, 205. + Agenor ([)a]-jee'-nor), 203. + Ages, 22. + Aglaia (ag-lay'-yah), 163. + Agraulos ([)a]-graw'-l[)o]s), 122. + Agrigent (ag'-ri-jent), 213. + Aides (a-i'-deez), 52, 130, 250. + --helmet of 206, 208. + Aidoneus (a-i-do'-nuce), 130. + Air, 12. + Ajax ([=a]'-jax) the Greater, 298. + --the Lesser, 305. + Alcestis (al-ses'-tiss), 76. + Alcinous (al-sin'-o-us), 228, 318. + Alcippe (al-sip'-pe), 113 + Alcmaeon (alk-mee'-on), 273, 277. + Alcmene (alk-mee'-ne), 35, 234. + Alecto (a-leck'-to), 138. + Alexander (al-ex-an'-der), 284. + Aloidae (al-o-i'-de), 113. + Alpheus (al'-fuce), 242. + Altars, 191. + Althea (al-thee'-ah, _th_ as in _both_), 90. + Altis (al'-tis) the, 41. + Amalthea (am-al-thee'-ah), 15. + Amazons (am'-a-zons), 244, 258, 264. + Ambrosia (am-bro'-zhah), 15. + {326} + Amor ([=a]'-mor), 150. + Amphiaraus (am'-fe-a-ray'-us), 273. + Amphidamas (am-fid'-a-mass), 221. + Amphilochus (am-fil'-o-cus), 277. + Amphion (am-fi'-on), 33. + Amphitrite (am-fe-tri'-te), 104, 167. + Amphitrion (am-fit'-re-on), 35, 234. + Amycus (am'-i-cus), 219. + Anaitis-Aphroditis (an-a-i'-tis-af-ro-di'-tis), 92. + Ananke (an-ang'-ke), 147. + Anciliae (an-sil'-e-e), 115. + Androgeos (an-dro'-je-oss), 262. + Andromache (an-drom'-a-ke), 295, 304. + Andromeda (an-drom'-e-dah), 207. + Antea (an-tee'-ah), 256. + Anteos (an-tee'-[)o]s), 248. + Anteros (an'-te-ross), 150. + Antigone (an-tig'-o-ne), 271, 275. + Antinous (an-tin'-o-us), 321. + Antiope (an-ti'-o-pe), 32. + Antiphates (an-tif'-a-teez), 311. + Aphareus (af'-a-ruce), 34. + Aphrodite (af-ro-di'-te), 58, 99, 152. + Apollo ([)a]-pol'-lo), 68. + --(Roman), 83. + Apple of Discord, 39. + Arachne (a-rak'-ne), 45. + Arcadia (ar-ca'-de-ah), 240. + Arctos (ark'-t[)o]s), 35. + Areopagus (a-re-op'-a-gus), 44, 113, 212. + Ares ([=a]'-reez), 99, 112. + --grove of, 215. + --field of, 223, 225. + Arete (a-ree'-te _or_ ar'-e-te), 228, 318. + Arethusa (ar-e-thu'-sah), 163. + Aretias ([)a]-ree'-she-ass), 221. + Argia (ar-ji'-ah), 272. + Argives (ar-jives), 274. + Argo, 215, 230, 321. + Argonauts (ar'-go-nawts), 213. + Argos (ar'-g[)o]s), 209, 216, 283. + Argus, 224. + Argus-Panoptes (pan-op'-teez), 36. + Ariadne (a-re-ad'-ne), 128, 263. + Aricia (a-rish'-e-ah), 97. + Arion (a-ri'-on), 275. + Aristaeus (ar-iss-tee'-us), 81. + Aristodemus (a-ris'-to-de'-mus), 282. + Aristomachus (ar-is-tom'-a-cus), 282. + Arsinoe (ar-sin'-o-e), 278. + Artemis (ar'-te-miss), 87. + Ascalaphus (ass-cal'-a-fuss), 55, 250. + Asclepius (ass-clee'-pe-us), 71, 76, 176. + Ashtoreth (ash'-to-reth), 61. + Asphodel meadows (ass-fo-del), 133. + Astarte (ass-tar'-te), 61. + Astraea (ass-tree'-ah), 85. + Astraeus (ass-tree'-us), 68. + Astyanax (ass-ti'-a-nax), 304. + Atalanta (at-a-lan'-tah), 89. + Ate ([=a]'-te), 149. + Athamas (ath'-a-mass), 111, 215. + Athene (a-thee'-ne, _th_ as in _both_), 43. + Athene-Polias (po'-le-ass), 44, 189, 199, 264. + Athens, 264. + Atlas, 207, 248. + Atreus, ([)a]'-truce), 282. + Atropos (at'-ro-p[)o]s), 139. + Atys ([=a]'-tiss), 19. + Augeas (aw'-je-ass), 242, 254. + Augurs, 196. + Aulis (aw'-lis), 97. + Aurora (aw-ro'-rah), 13, 67. + Autochthony (aw-tok'-tho-ny), 22. + Autolycus (aw-tol'-i-cus), 235, 251. + Autonoe, (aw-ton'-o-e), 205. + Avernus (a-ver'-nus), 132. + Avertor ([=a]-ver'-tor), 180. + Averuncus (av-e-run'-cus), 180. + + B. + + Bacchanalia (bac-ca-na'-le-ah), 199. + Bacchantes (bac-can'-teez), 198. + Bacchus (bac'-cus), 130. + Battus (bat'-tus), 119. + Baucis (baw'-sis), 37. + Bebricians (be-brish'-e-anz), 219. + Beech-nymph, 168. + Bellerophon (bel-ler'-o-fon), 256. + Bellerophontes (bel-ler'-o-fon'-teez), 256. + Bellona (bel-lo'-nah), 116. + Belvedere (bel'-vi-deer), 85. + Benthesicyme, (ben-the-siss'-i-me), 105. + Berecynthia-Idea (ber'-e-sin'-the-ah-i-dee'-ah), 19. + Beroe (ber'-o-e, first _e_ like ei in _their_), 35. + Birch-nymph, 168. + Bistonians (bis-to'-ne-anz), 243. + Bithynia (bi-thin'-e-ah), 220. + Boreas (bo'-re-ass), 171. + Brauron (braw'-ron), 96. + Brazen Age, 23. + Briareus (bri'-a-ruce), 13. + Briseis (bri-see'-iss), 292. + Brontes (bron'-teez), 16. + Busiris (bu-si'-ris), 248. + Butes (bu'-teez), 228. + + C. + + Cadmus, 203. + Caduceus (ca-du'-she-us), 121. + Calais (cal'-a-iss), 171, 220. + Calchas (cal'-kas), 94, 287, 289, 292. + Calirrhoe (cal-lir'-ro-e), 278. + Calliope (cal-li'-o-pe), 80, 159. + Callisto (cal-lis'-to), 35. + {327} + Calydonian Boar-hunt, 89. + Calypso (ca-lip'-so), 317. + Camenae (ca-mee'-nee), 184. + Campus Martius (mar'-she-us), 115. + Canens (ca'-nenz), 182. + Capaneus (cap'-a-nuce), 273. + Caphareus, Cape (ca-fa'-ruce), 305. + Carmenta (car-men'-tah), 184. + Carmentalia (car-men-ta'-le-ah), 184. + Carnival, 201. + Carpo, 164. + Cassandra (cas-san'-drah), 284, 303, 305. + Cassiopea (cas'-se-o-pee'-ah), 207. + Castalian Spring, 159, 195. + Castor, 33, 187, 268. + Caucasus (caw'-c[)a]-sus), Mount, 222. + Cecrops (see'-crops), 189. + Celaeno (se-lee'-no), 137. + Celeus (see'-le-us), 53. + Celts, 10. + Cenaeus (se-nee'-us), 255. + Centaurs (sen'-tawrs), 266. + Ceos (see'-[)o]s), 13. + Cepheus (see'-fuce), 207. + Cephissus (se-fiss'-us), 169. + Cerberus (ser'-be-rus), 133, 153, 249. + Cercyon (ser'-se-on), 261. + Cerealia (se-re-a'-le-ah), 201. + Ceres (see'-reez), 58, 201. + Cerunitis (ser-u-ni'-tis), 240. + Cestus (ses'-tus), 59. + Ceto (see'-to), 111. + Ceuta (su'-tah), 222. + Ceyx (see'-ix), 110, 254, 280. + Chalciope (cal-si'-o-pe), 223. + Chaos (ka'-oss), 11. + Chares (ca'-reez), 99. + Charites (car'-i-teez), 163. + Charon (ca'-ron), 132, 153. + Charybdis (ca-rib'-dis), 228, 316. + Chimaera (ki-mee'-rah), 257, 162. + Chiron (ki'-ron), 289. + Chloris (clo'-ris), 171. + Chrysaor (cris-[=a]'-or), 145. + Chryseis (cri-see'-iss), 292. + Chryses (cri'-seez), 292. + Cimmerians (sim-me'-ri-anz), 132, 314. + Cimon (si'-mon), 268. + Circe (sir'-se), 64, 182, 227, 311. + Cithaeron (si-thee'-ron, _th_ as in _both_), 40. + --Mount, 236. + Cleodaeus (cle-o-dee'-us), 282. + Cleopatra (cle-o-pat'-rah), 220. + Clio (cli'-o), 159. + Cloacina (clo-a-si'-nah), 61. + Clotho (clo'-tho), 139. + Clymene (clim'-e-ne), 64. + Clytaemnestra (clit-em-nes'-trah), 94, 305, 306. + Clytie (cli'-ti-e), 63. + Cocalus (coc'-a-lus), 213. + Cocytus (co-si'-tus), 132, 314. + Coelus (see'-lus), 11. + Colchis (col'-kis), 215, 222. + Colonus (co-lo'-nus), 271. + Colossus of Rhodes (co-l[)o]s'-sus), 66. + Comus (co'-mus), 184. + Consualia (con-su-a'-le-ah), 183. + Consus (con'-sus), 183. + Copreus (co'-pruce), 239. + Cora, 197. + Cornucopia (cor-noo-co'-pe-ah), 148. + Coronis (co-ro'-nis), 75. + Corybantes (cor-i-ban'-teez), 19. + Cos, island of (coss), 104. + Cottos (cot'-t[)o]s), 13. + Crania, island of (cra-ni'-ah), 286. + Creon (cree'-on), 237, 275. + Cresphontes (cres-fon'-teez), 282. + Cretan Bull, 243. + Crete (creet), 229. + Creusa (cre-yu'-sah), 210. + Crios (cri'-[)o]s), 13. + Croesus (cree'-sus), 195. + Crommyon (crom'-me-on), 260. + Cronus (cro'-nus), 14, 179. + Ctesiphon (tes'-i-fon), 93. + Cumaean Sibyl, the (cu-mee'-an), 84. + Cupid (cu'-pid), 150. + Curetes (cu-ree'-teez), 15. + Cybele (sib'-i-le), 18, 128. + Cyclops (si'-clops), 105, 307. + Cycnus (sik'-nus), 66, 247. + Cyllene, Mount (sil-lee'-ne), 119. + Cyparissus (sip-a-ris'-sus), 77, 182. + Cyprus, island of (si'-prus), 60. + Cyrus (si'-rus), 195. + Cythera (sith-ee'-rah), 60. + Cyzicus (siz'-i-cus), 218. + + D. + + Daedalus (ded'-a-lus), 211. + Daemons (de'-mons), 185. + Damastes (da-mas'-teez), 261. + Danae (dan'-a-e), 205, 209. + Danaides (dan-a'-[)i]-deez), 135. + Danaus (dan'-a-us), 135. + Danneker (dan'-ek-ker), 129. + Daphne (daf'-ne), 74. + Daphnephoria (daf-ne-fo'-re-ah), 200. + Daphnephorus (daf-nef'-o-rus), 200. + Deianeira (de-i'-a-ni'-rah), 254. + Deiphobus (de-if'-o-bus), 300. + Deipyle (de-ip'-i-le), 272. + Delia (dee'-le-ah), 83. + Delos, island of (dee'-l[)o]s), 69, 83. + Delphi (del'-fi), 82. + Delphic Oracle, 194. + Demeter (de-mee'-ter), 50, 197. + Demi-gods, 8. + Demophoon (de-mof'-o-on), 53, 280. + Deucalion (du-ca'-le-on), 21. + Diana (di-an'-nah), 87. + --of Versailles, 88. + {328} + Dice (di'-se), 164. + Dictys (dic'-tiss), 205. + Dindymene (din-di-mee'-ne), 19. + Dino (di'-no), 145. + Diomedes (di-o-mee'-deez), 112, 243, 297, 305. + Dione (di-o'-ne), 58. + Dionysia (di-o-nish'-e-ah), 180, 197. + Dionysus (di-o-ni'-sus), 124, 193, 198, 263. + Dioscuri (di-[)o]s-cu'-ri), 33. + Dirae (di'-ree), 138. + Dirce (dir'-se), 33. + Dis (diss), 137. + Discord, goddess of, 284. + Dodona (do-do'-nah), 29, 216. + Doliones (do-li'-o-neez), 218. + Dorians (do'-re-anz), 211. + Doris (do'-ris), 108. + Dorus (do'-rus), 211. + Dryades (dri'-a-deez), 168. + Dryas (dri'-ass), 126. + Dymas (di'-mass), 283. + + E. + + Echedorus (ek-e-do'-rus), 247. + Echemon (ek-kee'-mon), 282. + Echidna, (ek-kid'-nah), 146. + Echo (ek'-o), 169. + Egeria (e-gee'-re-ah), 184. + Eilithyia (i-lith-i'-yah), 41, 237. + Electra (e-lek'-trah), 111, 306. + Electryon (e-lek'-tre-on), 35. + Eleusinian Mysteries (el-u-sin'-e-an), 56, 132, 196. + Eleusis (e-lu'-sis), 54. + Elis (ee'-lis), 254, 283. + Elysian Fields (e-lizh'-e-an), 133. + Elysium (e-lizh'-e-um), 133. + Enceladus (en-sel'-a-dus), 20. + Endymion (en-dim'-e-on), 87. + Enipeus (e-ni'-puce), 106. + Enyo (e-ni'-o), 113. + Eos (ee'-[)o]s), 67, 297. + Epaphus (ep'-a-fus), 36, 64. + Epeios (ep-i'-[)o]s), 301. + Ephesus, temple of (ef'-e-sus), 92. + Ephialtes (ef-e-[=a]l'-teez), 105. + Epidaurus (ep-e-daw'-rus), 260. + Epigoni (e-pig'-o-ni), 276. + Epimetheus (ep-e-me'-thuce), 25. + Epopeus (e-po'-puce), 32. + Erato (er'-a-to), 159. + Erebus (er'-e-buss), 13. + Erechtheus (e-rek'-thuce), 210. + Eresichthon (er-e-sik'-thon), 57. + Erginus (er-ji'-nus), 237. + Eridanus, river, the (e-rid'-a-nus), 65, 227, 248. + Erinnyes (e-rin'-ne-eez), 138. + Eriphyle (er-i-fi'-le), 273. + Eris (ee'-ris), 39. + Eros (ee'-r[)o]s), 74, 150. + Erymantian Boar (er-e-man'-shun), 240. + Erythia (er-e-thi'-ah), 246. + Eteocles (e-tee'-o-cleez), 272, 275. + Ether (ee'-ther), 12. + Euboeans (u-bee'-anz), 210. + Eumaeus (u-mee'-us), 320. + Eumenides (u-men'-i-deez), 138, 271. + Eunomia (u-no'-me-ah), 164. + Euphemus (u-fee'-mus), 221. + Euphrosyne (u-fros'-i-ne), 163. + Europa (u-ro'-pah), 34. + Eurus (u'-rus), 171. + Euryale (u-ri'-a-le), 144. + Eurybia (u-rib'-e-ah), 13. + Euryclea (u-ri-clee'-ah), 321. + Eurydice (u-rid'-i-se), 81. + Eurylochus (u-ril'-o-kus), 311. + Eurynome (u-rin'-o-me), 98. + Eurypylus (u-rip'-i-lus), 299. + Eurystheus (u-riss'-thuce), 237, 280. + Eurytion (u-rit'-e-on), 246, 266. + Eurytus (u'-ri-tus), 235. + Euterpe (u-ter'-pe), 159. + Evander (e-van'-der), 184. + Evenus (e-ve'-nus), 254. + + F. + + Farnese Bull, the (far'-neez), 33. + Fates, 139. + Fauns (fawns), 175. + Faunus (faw'-nus), 174. + Festivals, 196. + Fetiales (fe-she-a'-leez), 124. + Flora, 180. + Floralia (flo-ra'-le-ah), 180. + Fortuna (for-tu'-nah), 147. + Furies, 278, 306. + + G. + + Gadria (gad'-re-ah), 246. + Gaea (je'-ah), 11. + Galatea (gal-a-tee'-ah), 167. + Ganymede (gan-i-mee'-de), 156, 246. + Ganymedes (gan-i-mee'-deez), 156, 246. + Ge, 11. + Genii (jee'-ne-i), 185. + Geryon (jee'-re-on), 246. + Geryones (je-ri'-o-neez), 246. + Giants, 13, 199, 218. + Gigantomachia (ji-gan'-to-ma'-ke-ah), 20. + Glauce (glaw'-se), 231. + Glaucus (glaw'-cus), 109, 219. + Golden Age, 22, 185. + Golden Fleece, 215, 223, 226, 230. + Gordius (gor'-de-us), 128. + Gorgons, 144, 206. + Graces, 163. + {329} + Gradivus (gra-di'-vus), 115. + Graeae (gree'-ee), 145, 206. + Gratiae (gra'-she-ee), 163. + Gyges (ji'-jeez), 13. + + H. + + Hades (ha'-deez), 250. + Haemon (hee'-mon), 276. + Halcyone (hal-si'-o-ne), 110. + Halirrothius (hal-ir-ro'-the-us), 113. + Hamadryades (ham-a-dry'-a-deez), 168. + Harmonia (har-mo'-ne-ah), 204, 276. + Harpies (har'-piz), 137, 220. + Harpinna (har-pin'-nah), 233. + Hebe (hee'-be), 41, 156, 256. + Hebrus, river, the (hee'-brus), 82. + Hecate (hec'-a-te), 85. + Hecatombs (hec'-a-tomes), 193. + Hecatoncheires (hec'-a-ton-ki'-reez), 13. + Hector, 284, 290, 293. + Hecuba (hec'-u-bah), 283, 304. + Helen, 267, 286, 304. + Helenus (hel'-e-nus), 299. + Helicon (hel'-e-con), 158, 162. + Helios, (hee'-le-[)o]s), 61, 316. + Helios-Apollo, 70. + Helle (hel'-le), 215. + Hemera (hee'-me-rah), 13, 142. + Heosphorus (he-[)o]s'-fo-rus), 68. + Hephaestus (he-fes'-tus), 97. + Hera (he'-rah), 38, 214. + Heracles [54] (her'-a-cleez), 26, 218, 234. + Heraclidae [54] (her-a-cli'-dee), 280. + Herae (he'-ree), 41. + Hercules (her'-cu-leez) _See_ Heracles. + --Pillars of, 246. + Hermae (her'-mee), 118. + Hermes (her'-meez), 117, 250, 312. + Hermione (her-mi'-o-ne), 307. + Heroes, 8. + Herostratus (he-ros'-tra-tus), 93. + Herse (her'-se), 87, 122. + Hesiod's Theogony (he'-she-od), 24, 150. + Hesione (he-si'-o-ne), 245, 253, 285. + Hesperia (hes-pee'-re-ah), 163. + Hesperides (hes-per'-i-deez), 162, 247. + Hesperus (hes'-pe-rus), 68. + Hestia (hes'-te-ah), 48. + Hip'pocamp, 229. + Hippocamps, 102. + Hippocrene (hip-po-cree'-ne), 159, 162. + Hippodamia (hip'-po-da-mi'-ah), 232, 266. + Hippolyte (hip-pol'-i-te), 264. + Hippolyte's Girdle, 244. + Hippolytes (hip-pol'-i teez), 283. + Hippolytus (hip-pol'-i-tus), 266. + Hippomedon (hip-pom'-e-don), 273. + Hippomenes (hip-pom'-e-neez), 91. + Horae (ho'-ree), 164. + Horned Hind, 240. + Hyacinthus (hi-a-sin'-thus), 77. + Hyades (hi'-a-deez), 170. + Hydra, Lernean, the (hi'-drah, ler-nee'-an), 239. + Hygeia (hi-jee'-yah), 177. + Hylas (hi'-las), 216, 219. + Hyllus (hil'-lus), 254, 281. + Hymen (hi'-men), or Hymenaeus (hi-me-nee'-us), 154. + Hyperion (hi-pee'-re-on), 13. + Hypermnestra (hip-erm-nes'-trah), 135. + Hypnus (hip'-nus), 142. + Hypsipyle (hip-sip'-i-le), 274. + + I. + + Iambe (i-am'-be), 53. + Iapetus (i-ap'-e-tus), 24. + Iasion (i-a'-zhe-on), 137. + Iberia (i-bee'-re-ah), 247. + Icaria (i-ca'-re-ah), 212. + Icarus (ic'-a-rus), 211. + Ichor (i'-kor), 7. + Ida, Mount, 157, 284, 300. + Idas (i'-dass), 34, 75. + Idmon (id'-mon), 216. + Idomeneus (i-dom'-e-nuce), 286. + Ilion (il'-e-on), 283. + Illyria (il-lir'-e-ah), 205. + Ilus (i'-lus), 283. + Inachus (in'-a-cus), 36. + Ino (i'-no), 205, 215. + Inuus (in'-u-us), 174. + Io (i'-o), 36. + Iobates (i-ob'-a-teez), 257. + Iolaus (i-o-la'-us), 239, 251, 281. + Iolcus (i-ol'-cus), 213, 230. + Iole (i'-o-le), 251, 255. + Ion (i'-on), 210. + Iphigenia (if'-i-ge-ni'-ah), 94, 289, 307. + Iphitus (if'-i-tus), 251. + Iris (i'-ris), 155, 220. + Iron Age, 23. + Ismene (iss-mee'-ne), 271. + Ister (iss'-ter), 226. + Isthmian Games (isth'-me-an), 107, 264. + Ithaca (ith'-a-cah), 310, 319. + Ixion (ix-i'-on), 135. + + J. + + Jani (ja'-ni), 178. + Janus (ja'-nus), 18, 178. + {330} + Jason (ja'-son), 213. + Jocasta (jo-cas'-tah), 269, 270. + Juno (ju'-no), 42, 185. + Jupiter (ju'-pe-ter), 38. + Jupiter-Ammon, 207. + Juventas (ju-ven'-t[)a]ss), 156, 183. + + K. + + Keidomos (ki'-do-mos), 113. + Ker (cur), 149. + Keres (kee'-reez), 149. + + L. + + Labdacus (lab'-da-cus), 269. + Labyrinth (lab'-i-rinth), 212, 262. + Lacedaemon (las-e-dee'-mon), 283. + Lac'edaemo'nians, 189. + Lachesis (lak'-e-sis), 139. + Lacolia (la-co'-le-ah), 250. + Lacus Nemorensis (la'-cus nem-o-ren'-sis), 97. + Ladon (la'-don), 240. + Laertes (la-er'-teez), 314, 323. + Laestrygones (les-trig'-o-neez), 311. + Laius (la'-yus), 269. + Lampetus (lam'-pe-tus), 67. + Lampsacus (lamp'-sa-cus), 176. + Laocoon (la-oc'-o-on), 301. + Laodamas (la-od'-a-mass), 277. + Laomedon (la-om'-e-don), 104, 245, 253. + Lar, 186. + Lares Familiares (la'-reez fa-mil'-e-a'-reez), 186. + Larissa (la-ris'-sah), 189, 209. + Latmus Mount, 87. + Latona (la-to'-nah), 31. + Laverna (la-ver'-nah), 184. + Leda (lee'-dah), 33. + Lemnos, island of, (lem'-noss), 98, 217. + Lemuralia (lem-u-ra'-le-ah), 186. + Lemures (lem'-u-reez), 186. + Lerna, 239. + Lernean Hydra. _See_ Hydra. + Lesbos (lez'-bos), 290. + Lethe (lee'-the, _th_ as in _both_), 133. + Leto (lee'-to), 31. + Leucippus (lu-sip'-pus), 34. + Leucothea (lu-co'-the-ah, _th_ as in _both_), 111, 318. + Liber (li'-ber), 130. + Liberalia (lib-er-a'-le-ah), 130. + Libya (lib'-yah), 207, 229. + Limoniades (lim-o-ni'-a-deez), 170. + Linden-nymph, 168. + Linus (li'-nus), 235. + Lion, Nemean (ne'-me-an), 238. + Ludi Maximi (lu'-di max'-i-mi), 48. + Ludovici Villa (lu-do-vee'-chee), 116. + Luna (lu'-nah), 86, 97. + Lupercus (lu-per'-cus), 174. + Lycaon (li-cay'-on), 37. + Lycomedes (lic-o-mee'-deez), 268, 287. + Lycurgus (li-cur'-gus), 126, 189, 274. + Lycus (li'-cus), 32. + Lynceus (lin'-suce), 34, 216. + + M. + + Macaria (ma-ca'-re-ah), 281. + Machaon (ma-ca'-on), 177, 300. + Magna-Mater (may'-ter), 19. + Maia (may'-yah), 119. + Mamers (ma'-merz), 114. + Manes (ma'-neez), 185. + Marathonian Bull (mar-a-tho'-ne-an), 262. + Mares of Diomedes, 243 + Marpessa (mar-pes'-sah), 75. + Mars (marz), 114. + Marspiter (mars'-pe-ter), 114. + Marsyas (mar'-she-ass), 78. + Mater-Deorum (dee-o'-rum), 19. + Matronalia (ma-tro-na'-le-ah), 43. + Mecone (me-co'-ne), 24. + Medea (me-dee'-ah), 223, 261. + Medusa (me-du'-sah), 45, 144, 206. + Megaera (me-jee'-rah), 138. + Megapenthes (meg-a-pen'-theez), 209. + Megara (meg'-a-rah), 138, 237, 251. + Melanippe (mel-a-nip'-pe), 245. + Meleager (me-le-a'-jer), 89, 216. + Meliades (me-li'-a-deez), 170. + Melissa (me-lis'-sah), 15. + Melpomene (mel-pom'-e-ne), 159. + Memnon (mem'-non), 297. + Memphis (mem'-fiss), 36. + Menades (men'-a-deez), 198. + Menelaus (men-e-la'-us), 294, 304, 305. + Menesthius (me-nes'-the-us), 268. + Menoeceus (me-nee'-suce), 274. + Menoetius (me-nee'-she-us), 216. + Mercury (mer'-cu-ry), 123. + Merope (mer'-ope, first _e_ like _ei_ in _their_), 269. + Messene (mes-see'-ne), 283. + Metaneira (met-a-ni'-rah), 53. + Metis (mee'-tiss), 30. + Metra (mee'-trah), 57, 92. + Midas (mi'-das), 79, 128. + Midea (mi-dee'-ah), 209. + Milo (mi'-lo), 60. + Miltiades (mil-ti'-a-deez), 268. + Mimas (mi'-mass), 20. + Minerva (mi-ner'-vah), 47. + Minerval (mi-ner'-val), 47. + Minos (mi'-n[)o]s), 34, 134, 212, 243. + Minotaur (min'-o-tawr), 212, 262. + Minyans (min'-yanz), 237. + Mnemosyne (ne-m[)o]s'-i-ne), 13, 31. + Moira (moy'-rah), 139. + Moirae (moy'-ree), 297, 139. + {331} + Moly (mo'-ly), 312. + Momus (mo'-mus), 149. + Moneta Juno (mo-nee'-tah), 42. + Mopsus, 216. + Morpheus (mor'-fuce), 143. + Mors (morz). _See_ Thanatos. + Musagetes (mu-saj'-e-teez), 71. + Muses, 157. + Mutunus (mu-tu'-nus), 176. + Mycenae (mi-see'-ne), 209, 305. + Myrmidons (mir'-mi-dons), 288, 293, 295. + Myrtilus (mir'-ti-lus), 233. + Mysia (mish'-e-ah), 219. + Mysians, 289. + + N. + + Naiads (na'-yads), or Naiades (na-i'-a-deez), 166, 227. + Napaeae (na-pee'-ee), 169. + Narcissus (nar-sis'-sus), 169. + Nausicaa (naw-sic'-a-ah), 317. + Naxos (nax'-oss), 128, 263. + Necessitas (ne-ses'-si-tass), 148. + Nectar, 15. + Neleus (nee'-luce), 106, 119, 216. + Nemea (nee'-me-ah), 274. + Nemean Lion. _See_ Lion. + Nemesis (nem'-e-siss), 141. + Nemoralia (nem-o-ra'-le-ah), 97. + Neoptolemus (ne-op-tol'-e-mus), 299, 304. + Nephalia (ne-fa'-le-ah), 139. + Nephelae (nef'-e-lee), 12. + Nephele (nef'-e-le), 215. + Neptunalia (nep-tu-na'-le-ah), 107. + Neptune (nept'-une), 14, 107. + Nereides (ne-ree'-i-deez), 108, 167. + Nereus (nee'-ruce), 13, 108. + Nessus, 254. + Nestor, 286, 301, 305. + Nike (ni'-ke), 117. + Niobe (ni'-o-be), 79, 141. + Noman, 309. + Notus (no'-tus), 171. + Nox. _See_ Nyx. + Nyctimus (nic'-ti-mus), 38. + Nycteus (nic'-tuce), 32. + Nymphs, 165. + Nysa, Mount (ni'-sah), 125. + Nyx (nix), 13, 142. + + O. + + Oceanides (o-se-an'-i-deez), 108, 166. + Oceanus (o-see'-a-nus), 12, 107, 166, 314. + Ocypete (o-sip'-e-te), 137. + Odysseus (o-dis'-suce), 131, 287, 307. + Oechalia (e-ka'-le-ah), 255. + Oedipus (ed'-i-pus), 146, 269. + Oeneus (ee'-nuce), 89, 254. + Oenomaus (ee-nom'-a-us), 232. + Oenone (ee-no'-ne) 284, 300. + Ogygia (o-jij'-e-ah), 317. + Oileus (o-i'-luce), 216, 221. + Olympia (o-lim'-pe-ah), 29, 123. + Olym'pic Games, 30. + Olym'pus, Mount, 27. + Omphale (om'-fa-le), 252. + Ops, 19. + Oracles, 194. + Orchamus (or'-ca-mus), 63. + Orchomenus (or-com'-e-nus), 237. + Orcus (or'-cus), 136. + Oreades (o-ree'-a-deez), 169. + Orithyia (or'-i-thi'-yah), 171. + Orestes (o-res'-teez), 95, 139, 306. + Orpheus (or'-fuce), 80, 216, 228. + Orthrus (or'-thrus), 246. + Ossa (oss'-sah), 106. + Othrys, Mount, (o'-thris), 16. + Otus (o'-tus), 105. + Oxen of Geryones. _See_ Geryones. + Oxylus (ox'-i-lus), 283. + + P. + + Palaemon (pa-lee'-mon), 111. + Palamedes (pal-a-mee'-deez), 287, 291. + Palatine (pal'-a-tin), 181. + Pales (pa'-leez), 181. + Palilia (pa-lil'-e-ah), 181. + Palladium (pal-la'-de-um), 299, 301. + Pallan'tids, 262. + Pallas (pal'-lass), 117. + Pallas-Athene, 43, 234, 302. + Pan, 79, 171, 198. + Panacea (pan-a-see'-ah), 177. + Panathenaea (pan'-ath-e-nee'-ah), 199. + Pandareos (pan-da'-re-oss), 138. + Pandora (pan-do'-rah), 25. + Panisci (pa-nis'-si), 174. + Panoptes (pa-nop'-teez), 246. + Parcae (par'-see). _See_ Moirae. + Paris (par'-ris), 39, 284, 286. + Parnassus (par-nas'-sus), 158. + Parthenon (par'-the-non), 46. + --Hill, 89. + Parthenopaeus (par'-then-o-pee'-us), 273. + Patroclus (p[)a]-tro'-clus), 288, 293, 314. + Pedasus (ped'-a-sus), 292. + Pegasus (peg'-a-sus), 145, 162, 257. + Peitho (pi'-tho), 134. + Peleus (pee'-luce), 39, 287. + Pelias (pee'-le-ass), 106, 213, 230. + Pelion, Mount (pee'-le-on), 106. + Peloponnesus (pel'-o-pon-nee'-sus), 281. + Pelops (pee'-lops), 135, 232. + Penates (pe-na'-teez), 187. + {332} + Penelope (pe-nel'-o-pe), 287, 319. + Peneus (pe-nee'-us), 74, 242. + Penthesilea (pen'-the-si-lee'-ah), 296 + Pentheus (pen'-thuce), 126, 205. + Pephredo (pe-free'-do), 145. + Peplus (pee'-plus), 199. + Periphetes (per-i-fee'-teez), 260. + Perse (per'-se), 64, 312. + Persephone (per-sef'-o-ne), 52, 197, 267. + Perseus (per'-suce), 145, 205. + Petasus (pet'-a-sus), 121. + Phaeaces (fee-a'-seez), 228, 318. + Phaedra (fee'-drah), 266. + Phaethon (fa'-e-thon), 64, 67. + Pharos, isle of, (fa'-r[)o]s), 108. + Phases, river (fa'-seez), 222. + Phegeus (fee'-juce), 278. + Phidias (fid'-e-ass), 28. + Philemon (fi-lee'-mon), 37. + Philoctetes (fil-oc-tee'-teez), 256, 290, 299. + Phineus (fi'-nuce), 208, 220. + Phlegethon (flej'-e-thon), 134. + Phocis (fo'-siss), 306. + Phoebe (fee'-be), 13. + Phoebus-Apollo (fee'-bus), 68, 298. + Pholus (fo'-lus), 240. + Phorcys (for'-siss), 13, 111. + Phrygia (frij'-e-ah), 18. + Phryxus (frix'-us), 222. + Phylace (fil'-a-se), 290. + Phyleus (fi'-luce), 242, 254. + Phylla (fil'-lah), 233. + Picumnus (pi-cum'-nus), 182. + Picus (pi'-cus), 182. + Pieria (pi-ee'-re-ah), 119, 158. + Pierides (pi-er'-i-deez), 158, 162. + Pierus (pi'-e-rus), 158. + Pilumnus (pi-lum'-nus), 182. + Pindus, Mount, 158. + Pirithoeus (pi-rith'-o-us), 216, 250, 265. + Pisa (pi'-sah), 232. + Pittheus (pit'-thuce), 259. + Platea (pla-tee'-ah), 40. + Pleiades (plee'-ya-deez), 119. + Pluto (plu'-to), 136. + Plutus (plu'-tus), 132, 137, 148. + Podalirius (pod-a-lir'-e-us), 177. + Podarces (po-dar'-seez), 253. + Pollux, 33, 187, 227, 268. + Polybotes (pol-e-bo'-teez), 104. + Polybus (pol'-e-bus), 269. + Polydectes (pol-e-dec'-teez), 205. + Polydeuces (pol-e-du'-seez). _See_ Pollux. + Polydorus (pol-e-do'-rus), 205. + Polyhymnia (pol-e-him'-ne-ah), 159. + Polynices (pol-e-ni'-seez), 271, 272, 275. + Polyphemus (pol-e-fee'-mus), 105, 219, 307. + Pomona (po-mo'-nah), 180. + Pontus, 13. + Porta Lavernalis (lav-er-na'-lis), 184. + Poseidon (po-si'-don), 101, 162, 266. + Praxiteles (prax-it'-e-leez), 123. + Priam (pri'-am), 254, 283, 304. + Priamus (pri'-a-mus). _See_ Priam. + Priapus (pri-a'-pus), 175. + Priests, 191. + Procrustes (pro-crus'-teez), 261. + Proetus (pree'-tus), 257. + Prometheus (pro-mee'-thuce), 24, 149, 193, 222. + Proserpine (pross'-er-pine), _See_ Persephone. + Protesilaus (pro-tess'-i-la'-us), 290. + Proteus (pro'-tuce), 108. + Prytaneum (prit-a-nee'-um), 49. + Psophis (so'-fiss), 278. + Psyche (si'-ke), 150. + Pylades (pil'-a-deez), 95, 306. + Pylos (pi'-l[)o]s), 286. + Pyracmon (pi-rac'-mon), 16. + Pyrrha (pir'-rah), 22. + Pythia (pith'-e-ah) 195, 269. + Pythian Games, 83. + Python (pi'-thon), 31, 72, 195. + + Q. + + Quirinus (que-ri'-nus), 115. + + R. + + Remus (ree'-mus), 114. + Rhadamanthus (rad-a-man'-thus), 34, 134. + Rhamnus (ram'-nus), 142. + Rhamnusia (ram-nu'-zhe-ah), 142. + Rhea (ree'-ah), 13, 18. + Rhoda (ro'-dah), 105. + Rhodes (roads), 105. + Rhodope, Mount (rod'-o-pe), 130. + Rhoetus (ree'-tus), 20. + Robigus (ro-bi'-gus), 180. + Romulus (rom'-u-lus), 114. + + S. + + Sacrifices, 192. + Sagaris (sag'-a-ris), 19. + Salamis (sal'-a-mis), 285. + Salii (sa'-le-i), 115. + Samos (sa'-mos), 34. + Saturn (sat'-urn), 17, 200. + Saturnalia (sat-ur-na'-le-ah), 200. + Satyrs (sa'-turz), 174, 198. + Scamander (sca-man'-der), 290. + Scheria (skee'-re-ah), 318. + Schoeneus (skee'-nuce), 89. + Scyros, island of, (si'-r[)o]s), 268, 287. + Scylla (sil'-lah), 104, 316. + Scyron (si'-ron), 260. + {333} + Seasons, 164. + Selene (se-lee'-ne), 86. + Selene-Artemis, 96. + Selli (sel'-li), 29. + Semele (sem'-e-le), 35, 205, 215. + Seriphus (se-ri'-fus), 205. + Servius Tullius (ser'-ve-us tul'-le-us), 184. + Shades, realm of, 267, 314. + Sibyls (sib'-bles), 84. + Silens (si'-lenz), 174. + Silenus (si-lee'-nus), 125, 198. + Silvanus (sil-va'-nus), 115, 182. + Silver Age, 23. + Simois (sim'-o-iss), 290. + Sinnis (sin'-nis), 260. + Sinon (si'-non), 302. + Siphylus (sif'-i-lus), 80. + Sirens (si'-renz), 112, 158, 315. + Sisyphus (sis'-i-fus), 135. + Sol (soll). _See_ Helios. + Solymans (sol'-i-mans), 258. + Somnus (som'-nus). _See_ Hypnus. + Soothsayers, 195. + Sparta, 285. + Sphinx (sfinks), 146. + Stables, Augean (aw-jee'-an), 242. + Statues, 190. + Stellio (stel'-le-o), 57. + Steropes (ster'-o peez, the first _e_ like _ei_ in _their_), 16. + Stheno (sthee'-no), 144. + Strophius (stro'-fe-us), 306. + Stymphalides (stim-fal'-i-deez), 221, 242. + Styx (sticks), 117, 132, 287. + Symplegades (sim-pleg'-a-deez), 221. + Syrinx (si'-rinks), 172. + Syrtes (sir'-teez), 229. + + T. + + Taenarum (ten'-a-rum), 132, 250. + Talaria (ta-la'-re-ah), 121. + Talus (ta'-lus), 229. + Tantalus (tan'-ta-lus), 134. + Tarquinius Superbus (tar-quin'-e-us su-per'-bus), 84. + Tartarus (tar'-ta-rus), 14, 134. + Taurica Chersonesus (taw'-ri-cah ker-so-nee'-sus), 93, 306. + Tauris (taw'-ris), 93, 306. + Tegea (tee'-je-ah), 279. + Telamon (tel'-a-mon), 216, 253, 285. + Telemachus (tel-lem'-a-cus), 287, 320. + Telephus (tel'-e-fus), 289. + Temenus (tem'-e-nus), 282. + Temples, 188. + Tenedos (ten'-e-dos), 290, 301, 303. + Terminus (ter'-mi-nus), 182. + Terpsichore (terp-sic'-o-re), 159. + Terra (ter'-rah, the _e_ like _ei_ in _their_), 11. + Tethys (tee'-thiss, _th_ as in _both_), 107, 166. + Teutamias (tu-ta'-me-ass), 209. + [55]Thalia (tha-li'-ah), 159, 163. + Thallo (thal'-lo), 164. + Thamyris (tham'-i ris), 158. + Thanatos (than'-a-tos), 142. + Thaumas (thaw'-mass), 13, 111, 137. + Thebes (theebs), 203. + Theia (thi'-ah), 13. + Themis (thee'-mis), 31, 48. + Themiscyra (the-mis'-se-rah), 245. + Thermodon (ther-mo'-don), 244. + Thersander (ther-san'-der), 276. + Thersites (ther-si'-teez), 297. + Theseus (thee'-suce), 250, 259. + Thesmophoria (thes-mo-fo'-re-ah), 197. + Thes'saly, 77. + Thestius (thes'-te-us), 33. + Thetis (thee'-tis), 39, 98, 110, 297. + Thyone (thi-o'-ne), 128. + Tiphys (ti'-fiss), 216. + Tiresias (ti-ree'-she-ass), 235, 271, 274, 277, 313. + Tiryns (ti'-rinz), 209, 252. + Tirynth (ti'-rinth), 209, 252. + Tisiphone (ti-sif'-o-ne), 138. + Titanomachia (ti'-tan-o-ma'-ke-ah), 17. + Titans (ti'-tanz), 13. + Tithonus (ti-tho'-nus), 68, 297. + Tityus (tit'-e-us), 134. + Trachin (tra'-kin), 254. + Trachis (tra'-kis), 254. + Trinacria (tri-na'-cre-ah), 316. + Triptolemus (trip-tol'-e-mus), 53. + Triton (tri'-ton), 109. + Trivia (triv'-e-ah), 97. + Troezen (tree'-zen), 251 + Tros (tr[)o]ss), 157, 246. + Troy, 283. + -- walls of, 104. + Tubal-Cain (too'-bal-cane), 101. + Tyche (ti'-ke), 147. + Tydeus (ti'-duce), 272. + Tyndareus (tin-da'-re-us), 285. + Typhoeus (ti-fo'-yuce), 21. + Typhon (ti'-fon), 21. + Tyro (ti'-ro), 106. + + U. + + Uffizi Gallery (oof'-fid-ze), 80. + Ulysses (u-lis'-seez), _See_ Odysseus. + Urania (u-ra'-ne-ah), 159. + Uranus (u'-ra-nus), 11. + + V. + + Veneralia (ven-e-ra'-le-ah), 61. + {334} + Venus (vee'-nus), 61, 183. + -- of Milo, 60. + Vertumnus (ver-tum'-nus), 181. + Vesta (ves'-tah), 50, 201. + Vestalia (ves-ta'-le-ah), 59, 201. + Via Salavia (vi'-ah sa-la'-ve-ah), 184. + Victo'ria, 117. + Vulcan, 100. + + W. + + Winds, 170, 298. + Wooden Horse, 301. + + X. + + Xuthus (zoo-thus), 210. + + Z. + + Zephyrus (zef'-i-rus), 151, 171, 310. + Zetes (zee'-teez), 171. + Zethus (zee'-thus), 33. + Zeus (zuce), 26. + + * * * * * + + +A COMPLETE COURSE IN THE STUDY OF ENGLISH. + + * * * * * + +_Spelling, Language, Grammar, Composition, Literature_. + + * * * * * + + REED'S WORD LESSONS--A COMPLETE SPELLER. + REED'S INTRODUCTORY LANGUAGE WORK. + REED & KELLOGG'S GRADED LESSONS IN ENGLISH. + REED & KELLOGG'S HIGHER LESSONS IN ENGLISH. + REED & KELLOGG'S ONE-BOOK COURSE IN ENGLISH. + KELLOGG'S TEXT-BOOK ON RHETORIC. + KELLOGG'S TEXT-BOOK ON ENGLISH LITERATURE. + +In the preparation of this series the authors have had one object clearly +in view--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." + +Teachers are earnestly invited to examine these books. + + MAYNARD, MERRILL, & CO., PUBLISHERS. + 43, 45, and 47 East Tenth Street, New York. + + * * * * * + + +NOTES + +[1] 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. + +[2] 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 Gaea. + +[3] The myth of Cronus swallowing his children is evidently intended by the +poets to express the melancholy truth that time destroys all things. + +[4] Nectar was the drink, and ambrosia the food of the gods. + +[5] The Cyclops are generally mentioned as the sons of Uranus and Gaea, but +Homer speaks of Polyphemus, the chief of the Cyclops, as the son of +Poseidon, and states the Cyclops to be his brothers. + +[6] Possibly an image of him placed in readiness. + +[7] This age was contemporary with the commencement of the dynasty of Zeus. + +[8] Hesiod is said to have lived 850 years before the Christian era, +consequently about 200 years after King David. He lived in Boeotia, 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. + +[9] Epimetheus signifies after-thought, Prometheus fore-thought. + +[10] 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." + +[11] From _Diaus_, the sky. + +[12] A sacred shield made for Zeus by Hephaestus, which derived its name +from being covered by the skin of the goat Amalthea, the word AEgis +signifying goat's-skin. + +[13] See Demeter. + +[14] This frightful monster had sprung from the slimy and stagnant waters +which remained on the surface of the earth after the deluge of Deucalion. + +[15] Castor and Pollux were known by the name of the Dioscuri, from _dios_, +gods, and _kuroi_, youths. + +[16] 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. + +[17] 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. + +[18] This circumstance has given rise to the erroneous conclusion that Juno +presided over the finances of the state, but the word _moneta_ is derived +from the Latin _monere_, which means to warn or admonish. + +[19] See Roman Festivals. + +[20] The first large ship possessed by the Greeks fit for more than coast +navigation. + +[21] 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. + +[22] For details see Roman Festivals. + +[23] See Legend of Troy. + +[24] Some, with but little reason, make Demeter the daughter of Uranus and +Gaea. + +[25] Demeter transformed Ascalaphus into an owl for revealing the secret. + +[26] The course which the sun ran was considered by the ancients to be a +rising and descending curve [drawing of an arc], the centre of which was +supposed to be reached by Helios at mid-day. + +[27] The river Po. + +[28] This great work of antiquity was destroyed by an earthquake fifty-six +years after its erection, B.C. 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 L36,000, A.D. 672. + +[29] According to some authorities, Strymon. + +[30] 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. + +[31] Aristaeus 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. + +[32] Astraea was the daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe. Perses was son +of the Titans Crios and Eurybia. + +[33] Called also Anaitis-Aphroditis. + +[34] This occurred during the night Alexander the Great was born. + +[35] 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. + +[36] According to some accounts Chares was the wife of Hephaestus. + +[37] The trident resembled the arrow-headed pronged fork, used by the +fishermen of the Mediterranean Sea in the eel-fishery. + +[38] Scylla is a dangerous rock, much dreaded by mariners, in the Straits +of Messina. + +[39] The island of Rhodes owes its name to her. + +[40] 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. + +[41] 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. + +[42] On the Egyptian coast. + +[43] See Legend of the Argonauts. + +[44] His two sons Deimos and Phobos. + +[45] 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. + +[46] Midas was the son of Cybele and Gordius, the king who tied the +celebrated and intricate knot. + +[47] 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. + +[48] Echidna was a bloodthirsty monster, half maiden, half serpent. + +[49] 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. + +[50] According to another account, Momus discovered that Aphrodite made a +noise when she walked. + +[51] The word Psyche signifies "butterfly," the emblem of the soul in +ancient art. + +[52] Tiresias alone, of all the shades, was in full possession of his +mental vigour. + +[53] Most of the words ending in eus may also be pronounced thus: +_AE'-ge-us_, _[=a]'-tre-us_, _pro-me'-the-us_, etc. + +[54] The first e like ei in their. + +[55] _Th_ at the beginning of a word has its soft sound, as in _both_. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece +and Rome, by E.M. 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