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 anyhere at no cost and ith
a!most no restrictions hatsoe"er. #ou may co$y it, gi"e it aay or
re%use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License inc!uded
ith this eBook or on!ine at .gutenberg.org
Tit!e& Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome
Author& E.M. Berens
Re!ease 'ate& August (), (**+ ,EBook -(()./0
Language& Eng!ish
1haracter set encoding& 234%..56%/
777 3TART 48 T923 PR4:E1T G;TE<BERG EB44= M#T93 A<' LEGE<'3 777
Produced by A!icia >i!!iams, =eith Edkins and the 4n!ine
'istributed Proofreading Team at htt$&??.$gd$.net
A 9A<'%B44= 48 M#T94L4G#.
T9E
Myths and Legends
48
A<12E<T GREE1E A<' R4ME.
B#
E. M. BERE<3.
2LL;3TRATE' 8R4M A<T2@;E 31;LPT;RE3.
Pub!ishers Aignette.
<E> #4R=&
Maynard, Merri!!, B 1o.,
C), C5 and C+ East Tenth 3treet.
,i0
PRE8A1E.
The ant of an interesting ork on Greek and Roman mytho!ogy, suitab!e for the
reDuirements of both boys and gir!s, has !ong been recogniEed by the $rinci$a!s of our
ad"anced schoo!s. The study of the c!assics themse!"es, e"en here the attainments of the
$u$i! ha"e rendered this feasib!e, has not been found a!together successfu! in gi"ing to the
student a c!ear and succinct idea of the re!igious be!iefs of the ancients, and it has been
suggested that a ork hich ou!d so dea! ith the subject as to render it at once
interesting and instructi"e ou!d be hai!ed as a "a!uab!e introduction to the study of
c!assic authors, and ou!d be found to assist materia!!y the !abours of both master and
$u$i!.
2n endea"ouring to su$$!y this ant 2 ha"e sought to $!ace before the reader a !ife!ike
$icture of the deities of c!assica! times as they ere concei"ed and orshi$$ed by the
ancients themse!"es, and thereby to aaken in the minds of young students a desire to
become more intimate!y acDuainted ith the nob!e $roductions of c!assica! antiDuity.
2t has been my aim to render the Legends, hich form the second $ortion of the ork, a
$icture, as it ere, of o!d Greek !ifeF its customs, its su$erstitions, and its $rince!y
hos$ita!ities, for hich reason they are gi"en at somehat greater !ength than is usua! in
orks of the kind.
2n a cha$ter de"oted to the $ur$ose some interesting $articu!ars ha"e been co!!ected
res$ecting the $ub!ic orshi$ of the ancient Greeks and Romans Gmore es$ecia!!y of the
formerH, to hich is subjoined an account of their $rinci$a! festi"a!s.
2 may add that no $ains ha"e been s$ared in order that, ithout $assing o"er detai!s the
omission of hich ou!d ha"e ,ii0marred the com$!eteness of the ork, not a sing!e
$assage shou!d be found hich cou!d $ossib!y offend the most scru$u!ous de!icacyF and
a!so that 2 ha"e $ur$ose!y treated the subject ith that re"erence hich 2 consider due to
e"ery re!igious system, hoe"er erroneous.
2t is hard!y necessary to de!! u$on the im$ortance of the study of Mytho!ogy& our
$oems, our no"e!s, and e"en our dai!y journa!s teem ith c!assica! a!!usionsF nor can a
"isit to our art ga!!eries and museums be fu!!y enjoyed ithout something more than a
mere su$erficia! kno!edge of a subject hich has in a!! ages ins$ired $ainters, scu!$tors,
and $oets. 2t therefore on!y remains for me to eI$ress a ho$e that my !itt!e ork may
$ro"e usefu!, not on!y to teachers and scho!ars, but a!so to a !arge c!ass of genera! readers,
ho, in hi!ing aay a !eisure hour, may deri"e some $!easure and $rofit from its
$erusa!.
E. M. BERE<3.
,iii0
14<TE<T3.
PART 2.JM#T93.
2ntroduction, +
82R3T '#<A3T#.
4rigin of the >or!dJ
;ranus and GKa G1L!us and TerraH, //
3E14<' '#<A3T#.
1ronus G3aturnH, /C
Rhea G4$sH, /.
'i"ision of the >or!d, /6
Theories as to the 4rigin of Man, (/
T92R' '#<A3T#.
4L#MP2A< '2A2<2T2E3J
Meus G:u$iterH, (N
9era G:unoH, ).
Pa!!as%Athene GMiner"aH, C)
Themis, C.
9estia GAestaH, C.
'emeter G1eresH, 5*
A$hrodite GAenusH, 5.
9e!ios G3o!H, N/
Eos GAuroraH, N+
PhLbus%A$o!!o, N.
9ecate, .5
3e!ene GLunaH, .N
Artemis G'ianaH, .+
9e$hKstus GAu!canH, 6+
Poseidon G<e$tuneH, /*/
,i"0
3EA '2A2<2T2E3J
4ceanus, /*+
<ereus, /*.
Proteus, /*.
Triton and the Tritons, /*6
G!aucus, /*6
Thetis, //*
Thaumas, Phorcys, and 1eto, ///
Leucothea, ///
The 3irens, //(
Ares GMarsH, //(
<ike GAictoriaH, //+
9ermes GMercuryH, //+
'ionysus GBacchus or LiberH, /(C
AOdes GP!utoH, /)*
P!utus, /)+
M2<4R '2A2<2T2E3J
The 9ar$ies, /)+
Erinyes, Eumenides G8uriK, 'irKH, /).
MoirK or 8ates GParcKH, /)6
<emesis, /C/
<ight and 9er 1hi!drenJ
<yI G<oIH, /C(
Thanatos GMorsH, 9y$nus G3omnusH, /C(
Mor$heus, /C)
The Gorgons, /CC
GrKK, /C5
3$hinI, /CN
Tyche G8ortunaH and Ananke G<ecessitasH, /C+
=er, /C6
Ate, /C6
Momus, /C6
Eros G1u$id, AmorH and Psyche, /5*
9ymen, /5C
2ris, /55
9ebe G:u"entasH, /5N
Ganymedes, /5+
,"0
The Muses, /5+
Pegasus, /N(
The 9es$erides, /N(
1harites or Graces, /N)
9orK G3easonsH, /NC
The <ym$hs, /N5
The >inds, /+*
Pan G8aunusH, /+/
The 3atyrs, /+C
Pria$us, /+5
Asc!e$ias GPscu!a$iusH, /+N
R4MA< '2A2<2T2E3J
:anus, /+.
8!ora, /.*
Robigus, /.*
Pomona, /.*
Aertumnus, /./
Pa!es, /./
Picus, /.(
Picumnus and Pi!umnus, /.(
3i!"anus, /.(
Terminus, /.(
1onsus, /.)
Libitina, /.)
La"erna, /.C
1omus, /.C
1amenK, /.C
Genii, /.5
Manes, /.5
Penates, /.+
P;BL21 >4R392P 48 T9E A<12E<T GREE=3 A<' R4MA<3J
Tem$!es, /..
3tatues, /6*
A!tars, /6/
Priests, /6/
3acrifices, /6(
4rac!es, /6C
3oothsayers, /65
,"i0
Augurs, /6N
8esti"a!s, /6N
GREE= 8E3T2AAL3J
E!eusinian Mysteries, /6N
Thesmo$horia, /6+
'ionysia, /6+
PanathenKa, /66
'a$hne$horia, (**
R4MA< 8E3T2AAL3J
3aturna!ia, (**
1erea!ia, (*/
Aesta!ia, (*/
PART 22.JLEGE<'3.
1admus, (*)
Perseus, (*5
2on, (/*
'Kda!us and 2carus, (//
The Argonauts, (/)
Pe!o$s, ()(
9erac!es, ()C
Be!!ero$hon, (5N
Theseus, (56
Qdi$us, (N6
The 3e"en against Thebes, (+(
The E$igoni, (+N
A!cmKon and the <eck!ace, (++
The 9erac!idK, (.*
The 3iege of Troy, (.)
Return of the Greeks from Troy, )*C
,+0
M#T93 A<' LEGE<'3 48 A<12E<T GREE1E A<' R4ME.
PART 2.JM#T93.
2<TR4';1T24<.
Before entering u$on the many strange be!iefs of the ancient Greeks, and the
eItraordinary number of gods they orshi$$ed, e must first consider hat kind of
beings these di"inities ere.
2n a$$earance, the gods ere su$$osed to resemb!e morta!s, hom, hoe"er, they far
sur$assed in beauty, grandeur, and strengthF they ere a!so more commanding in stature,
height being considered by the Greeks an attribute of beauty in man or oman. They
resemb!ed human beings in their fee!ings and habits, intermarrying and ha"ing chi!dren,
and reDuiring dai!y nourishment to recruit their strength, and refreshing s!ee$ to restore
their energies. Their b!ood, a bright etherea! f!uid ca!!ed 2chor, ne"er engendered disease,
and, hen shed, had the $oer of $roducing ne !ife.
The Greeks be!ie"ed that the menta! Dua!ifications of their gods ere of a much higher
order than those of men, but ne"erthe!ess, as e sha!! see, they ere not considered to be
eIem$t from human $assions, and e freDuent!y beho!d them actuated by re"enge,
deceit, and jea!ousy. They, hoe"er, a!ays $unish the e"i!%doer, and "isit ith dire
ca!amities any im$ious morta! ho dares to neg!ect their orshi$ or des$ise their rites.
>e often hear of them "isiting mankind and $artaking of their hos$ita!ity, and not
unfreDuent!y both gods and goddesses ,.0become attached to morta!s, ith hom they
unite themse!"es, the offs$ring of these unions being ca!!ed heroes or demi%gods, ho
ere usua!!y renoned for their great strength and courage. But a!though there ere so
many $oints of resemb!ance beteen gods and men, there remained the one great
characteristic distinction, "iE., that the gods enjoyed immorta!ity. 3ti!!, they ere not
in"u!nerab!e, and e often hear of them being ounded, and suffering in conseDuence
such eIDuisite torture that they ha"e earnest!y $rayed to be de$ri"ed of their $ri"i!ege of
immorta!ity.
The gods kne no !imitation of time or s$ace, being ab!e to trans$ort themse!"es to
incredib!e distances ith the s$eed of thought. They $ossessed the $oer of rendering
themse!"es in"isib!e at i!!, and cou!d assume the forms of men or anima!s as it suited
their con"enience. They cou!d a!so transform human beings into trees, stones, anima!s,
Bc., either as a $unishment for their misdeeds, or as a means of $rotecting the indi"idua!,
thus transformed, from im$ending danger. Their robes ere !ike those orn by morta!s,
but ere $erfect in form and much finer in teIture. Their ea$ons a!so resemb!ed those
used by mankindF e hear of s$ears, shie!ds, he!mets, bos and arros, Bc., being
em$!oyed by the gods. Each deity $ossessed a beautifu! chariot, hich, dran by horses
or other anima!s of ce!estia! breed, con"eyed them ra$id!y o"er !and and sea according to
their $!easure. Most of these di"inities !i"ed on the summit of Mount 4!ym$us, each
$ossessing his or her indi"idua! habitation, and a!! meeting together on festi"e occasions
in the counci!%chamber of the gods, here their banDuets ere en!i"ened by the seet
strains of A$o!!oRs !yre, hi!st the beautifu! "oices of the Muses $oured forth their rich
me!odies to his harmonious accom$animent. Magnificent tem$!es ere erected to their
honour, here they ere orshi$$ed ith the greatest so!emnityF rich gifts ere
$resented to them, and anima!s, and indeed sometimes human beings, ere sacrificed on
their a!tars.
2n the study of Grecian mytho!ogy e meet ith some ,60curious, and hat may at first
sight a$$ear unaccountab!e notions. Thus e hear of terrib!e giants hur!ing rocks,
u$hea"ing mountains, and raising earthDuakes hich engu!f ho!e armiesF these ideas,
hoe"er, may be accounted for by the afu! con"u!sions of nature, hich ere in
o$eration in $re%historic times. Again, the dai!y recurring $henomena, hich to us, ho
kno them to be the resu!t of certain e!!%ascertained !as of nature, are so fami!iar as to
eIcite no remark, ere, to the ear!y Greeks, matter of gra"e s$ecu!ation, and not
unfreDuent!y of a!arm. 8or instance, hen they heard the afu! roar of thunder, and sa
"i"id f!ashes of !ightning, accom$anied by b!ack c!ouds and torrents of rain, they
be!ie"ed that the great god of hea"en as angry, and they tremb!ed at his rath. 2f the
ca!m and tranDui! sea became sudden!y agitated, and the crested bi!!os rose mountains
high, dashing furious!y against the rocks, and threatening destruction to a!! ithin their
reach, the sea%god as su$$osed to be in a furious rage. >hen they behe!d the sky
g!oing ith the hues of coming day they thought that the goddess of the dan, ith
rosy fingers, as draing aside the dark "ei! of night, to a!!o her brother, the sun%god,
to enter u$on his bri!!iant career. Thus $ersonifying a!! the $oers of nature, this "ery
imaginati"e and high!y $oetica! nation behe!d a di"inity in e"ery tree that gre, in e"ery
stream that f!oed, in the bright beams of the g!orious sun, and the c!ear, co!d rays of the
si!"ery moonF for them the ho!e uni"erse !i"ed and breathed, $eo$!ed by a thousand
forms of grace and beauty.
The most im$ortant of these di"inities may ha"e been something more than the mere
creations of an acti"e and $oetica! imagination. They ere $ossib!y human beings ho
had so distinguished themse!"es in !ife by their $reeminence o"er their fe!!o%morta!s
that after death they ere deified by the $eo$!e among hom they !i"ed, and the $oets
touched ith their magic and the detai!s of !i"es, hich, in more $rosaic times, ou!d
sim$!y ha"e been recorded as i!!ustrious. ,/*0
2t is high!y $robab!e that the re$uted actions of these deified beings ere commemorated
by bards, ho, tra"e!!ing from one state to another, ce!ebrated their $raise in songF it
therefore becomes eIceeding!y difficu!t, nay a!most im$ossib!e, to se$arate bare facts
from the eIaggerations hich ne"er fai! to accom$any ora! traditions.
2n order to eIem$!ify this, !et us su$$ose that 4r$heus, the son of A$o!!o, so renoned
for his eItraordinary musica! $oers, had eIisted at the $resent day. >e shou!d no doubt
ha"e ranked him among the greatest of our musicians, and honoured him as suchF but the
Greeks, ith their "i"id imagination and $oetic !icense, eIaggerated his remarkab!e gifts,
and attributed to his music su$ernatura! inf!uence o"er animate and inanimate nature.
Thus e hear of i!d beasts tamed, of mighty ri"ers arrested in their course, and of
mountains being mo"ed by the seet tones of his "oice. The theory here ad"anced may
$ossib!y $ro"e usefu! in the future, in suggesting to the reader the $robab!e basis of many
of the eItraordinary accounts e meet ith in the study of c!assica! mytho!ogy.
And no a fe ords i!! be necessary concerning the re!igious be!iefs of the Romans.
>hen the Greeks first sett!ed in 2ta!y they found in the country they co!oniEed a
mytho!ogy be!onging to the 1e!tic inhabitants, hich, according to the Greek custom of
$aying re"erence to a!! gods, knon or unknon, they readi!y ado$ted, se!ecting and
a$$ro$riating those di"inities hich had the greatest affinity to their on, and thus they
formed a re!igious be!ief hich natura!!y bore the im$ress of its ancient Greek source. As
the $rimiti"e 1e!ts, hoe"er, ere a !ess ci"i!iEed $eo$!e than the Greeks, their
mytho!ogy as of a more barbarous character, and this circumstance, combined ith the
fact that the Romans ere not gifted ith the "i"id imagination of their Greek
neighbours, !ea"es its mark on the Roman mytho!ogy, hich is far !ess ferti!e in fancifu!
conceits, and deficient in a!! those fairy%!ike stories and onderfu!!y $oetic ideas hich
so strong!y characteriEe that of the Greeks.
,//0
4R2G2< 48 T9E >4RL'.J82R3T '#<A3T#.
;RA<;3 A<' GPA. G1L!us and Terra.H
The ancient Greeks had se"era! different theories ith regard to the origin of the or!d,
but the genera!!y acce$ted notion as that before this or!d came into eIistence, there
as in its $!ace a confused mass of sha$e!ess e!ements ca!!ed 1haos. These e!ements
becoming at !ength conso!idated Gby hat means does not a$$earH, reso!"ed themse!"es
into to ide!y different substances, the !ighter $ortion of hich, soaring on high,
formed the sky or firmament, and constituted itse!f into a "ast, o"erarching "au!t, hich
$rotected the firm and so!id mass beneath.
Thus came into being the to first great $rime"a! deities of the Greeks, ;ranus and Ge or
GKa.
;ranus, the more refined deity, re$resented the !ight and air of hea"en, $ossessing the
distinguishing Dua!ities of !ight, heat, $urity, and omni$resence, hi!st GKa, the firm, f!at,
,/0 !ife%sustaining earth, as orshi$$ed as the great a!!%nourishing mother. 9er many
tit!es refer to her more or !ess in this character, and she a$$ears to ha"e been uni"ersa!!y
re"ered among the Greeks, there being scarce!y a city in Greece hich did not contain a
tem$!e erected in her honourF indeed GKa as he!d in such "eneration that her name as
a!ays in"oked hene"er the gods took a so!emn oath, made an em$hatic dec!aration, or
im$!ored assistance.
;ranus, the hea"en, as be!ie"ed to ha"e united himse!f in marriage ith GKa, the earthF
and a momentRs ref!ection i!! sho hat a tru!y $oetica!, and a!so hat a !ogica! idea
this asF for, taken in a figurati"e sense, ,/(0this union actua!!y does eIist. The smi!es of
hea"en $roduce the f!oers of earth, hereas his !ong%continued frons eIercise so
de$ressing an inf!uence u$on his !o"ing $artner, that she no !onger decks herse!f in bright
and festi"e robes, but res$onds ith ready sym$athy to his me!ancho!y mood.
The first%born chi!d of ;ranus and GKa as 4ceanus,,(0 the ocean stream, that "ast
eI$anse of e"er%f!oing ater hich encirc!ed the earth. 9ere e meet ith another
!ogica! though fancifu! conc!usion, hich a "ery s!ight kno!edge of the orkings of
nature $ro"es to ha"e been just and true. The ocean is formed from the rains hich
descend from hea"en and the streams hich f!o from earth. By making 4ceanus
therefore the offs$ring of ;ranus and GKa, the ancients, if e take this notion in its !itera!
sense, mere!y assert that the ocean is $roduced by the combined inf!uence of hea"en and
earth, hi!st at the same time their fer"id and $oetica! imagination !ed them to see in this,
as in a!! manifestations of the $oers of nature, an actua!, tangib!e di"inity.
But ;ranus, the hea"en, the embodiment of !ight, heat, and the breath of !ife, $roduced
offs$ring ho ere of a much !ess materia! nature than his son 4ceanus. These other
chi!dren of his ere su$$osed to occu$y the intermediate s$ace hich di"ided him from
GKa. <earest to ;ranus, and just beneath him, came Aether GEtherH, a bright creation
re$resenting that high!y rarified atmos$here hich immorta!s a!one cou!d breathe. Then
fo!!oed ASr GAirH, hich as in c!ose $roIimity to GKa, and re$resented, as its name
im$!ies, the grosser atmos$here surrounding the earth hich morta!s cou!d free!y breathe,
and ithout hich they ou!d $erish. Aether and ASr ere se$arated from each other by
di"inities ca!!ed <e$he!ae. These ere their rest!ess and andering sisters, ho eIisted in
the form of c!ouds, e"er ,/)0f!oating beteen Aether and ASr. GKa a!so $roduced the
mountains, and Pontus Gthe seaH. 3he united herse!f ith the !atter, and their offs$ring
ere the sea%deities <ereus, Thaumas, Phorcys, 1eto, and Eurybia.
1o%eIistent ith ;ranus and GKa ere to mighty $oers ho ere a!so the offs$ring
of 1haos. These ere Erebus G'arknessH and <yI G<ightH, ho formed a striking contrast
to the cheerfu! !ight of hea"en and the bright smi!es of earth. Erebus reigned in that
mysterious or!d be!o here no ray of sunshine, no g!eam of day!ight, nor "estige of
hea!th%gi"ing terrestria! !ife e"er a$$eared. <yI, the sister of Erebus, re$resented <ight,
and as orshi$$ed by the ancients ith the greatest so!emnity.
;ranus as a!so su$$osed to ha"e been united to <yI, but on!y in his ca$acity as god of
!ight, he being considered the source and fountain of a!! !ight, and their chi!dren ere Eos
GAuroraH, the 'an, and 9emera, the 'ay!ight. <yI again, on her side as a!so doub!y
united, ha"ing been married at some indefinite $eriod to Erebus.
2n addition to those chi!dren of hea"en and earth a!ready enumerated, ;ranus and GKa
$roduced to distinct!y different races of beings ca!!ed Giants and Titans. The Giants
$ersonified brute strength a!one, but the Titans united to their great $hysica! $oer
inte!!ectua! Dua!ifications "arious!y de"e!o$ed. There ere three Giants, Briareus, 1ottus,
and Gyges, ho each $ossessed a hundred hands and fifty heads, and ere knon
co!!ecti"e!y by the name of the 9ecatoncheires, hich signified hundred%handed. These
mighty Giants cou!d shake the uni"erse and $roduce earthDuakesF it is therefore e"ident
that they re$resented those acti"e subterranean forces to hich a!!usion has been made in
the o$ening cha$ter. The Titans ere te!"e in numberF their names ere& 4ceanus,
1eos, 1rios, 9y$erion, 2a$etus, 1ronus, Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, PhLbe, and
Tethys.
<o ;ranus, the chaste !ight of hea"en, the essence of a!! that is bright and $!easing, he!d
in abhorrence his ,/C0crude, rough, and turbu!ent offs$ring, the Giants, and moreo"er
feared that their great $oer might e"entua!!y $ro"e hurtfu! to himse!f. 9e therefore
hur!ed them into Tartarus, that $ortion of the !oer or!d hich ser"ed as the
subterranean dungeon of the gods. 2n order to a"enge the o$$ression of her chi!dren, the
Giants, GKa instigated a cons$iracy on the $art of the Titans against ;ranus, hich as
carried to a successfu! issue by her son 1ronus. 9e ounded his father, and from the
b!ood of the ound hich fe!! u$on the earth s$rang a race of monstrous beings a!so
ca!!ed Giants. Assisted by his brother%Titans, 1ronus succeeded in dethroning his father,
ho, enraged at his defeat, cursed his rebe!!ious son, and foreto!d to him a simi!ar fate.
1ronus no became in"ested ith su$reme $oer, and assigned to his brothers offices of
distinction, subordinate on!y to himse!f. 3ubseDuent!y, hoe"er, hen, secure of his
$osition, he no !onger needed their assistance, he base!y re$aid their former ser"ices ith
treachery, made ar u$on his brothers and faithfu! a!!ies, and, assisted by the Giants,
com$!ete!y defeated them, sending such as resisted his a!!%conDuering arm don into the
!oest de$ths of Tartarus.
3E14<' '#<A3T#.
1R4<;3 G3aturnH.
1ronus as the god of time in its sense of eterna! duration. 9e married Rhea, daughter of
;ranus and GKa, a "ery im$ortant di"inity, to hom a s$ecia! cha$ter i!! be de"oted
hereafter. Their chi!dren ere, three sons& AOdes GP!utoH, Poseidon G<e$tuneH, Meus
G:u$iterH, and three daughters& 9estia GAestaH, 'emeter G1eresH, and 9era G:unoH. 1ronus,
ha"ing an uneasy conscience, as afraid that his chi!dren might one day rise u$ against
his authority, and thus "erify the $rediction of his father ,/50;ranus. 2n order, therefore,
to render the $ro$hecy im$ossib!e of fu!fi!ment, 1ronus sa!!oed each chi!d as soon as
it as born,,)0 great!y to the sorro and indignation of his ife Rhea. >hen it came to
Meus, the siIth and !ast, Rhea reso!"ed to try and sa"e this one chi!d at !east, to !o"e and
cherish, and a$$ea!ed to her $arents, ;ranus and GKa, for counse! and assistance. By
their ad"ice she ra$$ed a stone in baby%c!othes, and 1ronus, in eager haste, sa!!oed
it, ithout noticing the dece$tion. The chi!d thus sa"ed, e"entua!!y, as e sha!! see,
dethroned his father 1ronus, became su$reme god in his stead, and as uni"ersa!!y
"enerated as the great nationa! god of the Greeks.
1ronus
AnIious to $reser"e the secret of his eIistence from 1ronus, Rhea sent the infant Meus
secret!y to 1rete, here he as nourished, $rotected, and educated. A sacred goat, ca!!ed
Ama!thea, su$$!ied the $!ace of his mother, by $ro"iding him ith mi!kF nym$hs, ca!!ed
Me!issae, fed him ith honey, and eag!es and do"es brought him nectar and ambrosia.,C0
9e as ke$t concea!ed in a ca"e in the heart of Mount 2da, and the 1uretes, or $riests of
Rhea, by beating their shie!ds together, ke$t u$ a constant noise at the entrance, hich
droned the cries of the chi!d and frightened aay a!! intruders. ;nder the atchfu! care
of the <ym$hs the infant Meus thro"e ra$id!y, de"e!o$ing great $hysica! $oers,
combined ith ,/N0eItraordinary isdom and inte!!igence. Gron to manhood, he
determined to com$e! his father to restore his brothers and sisters to the !ight of day, and
is said to ha"e been assisted in this difficu!t task by the goddess Metis, ho artfu!!y
$ersuaded 1ronus to drink a $otion, hich caused him to gi"e back the chi!dren he had
sa!!oed. The stone hich had counterfeited Meus as $!aced at 'e!$hi, here it as
!ong eIhibited as a sacred re!ic.
1ronus as so enraged at being circum"ented that ar beteen the father and son
became ine"itab!e. The ri"a! forces ranged themse!"es on to se$arate high mountains in
Thessa!yF Meus, ith his brothers and sisters, took his stand on Mount 4!ym$us, here he
as joined by 4ceanus, and others of the Titans, ho had forsaken 1ronus on account of
his o$$ressions. 1ronus and his brother%Titans took $ossession of Mount 4thrys, and
$re$ared for batt!e. The strugg!e as !ong and fierce, and at !ength Meus, finding that he
as no nearer "ictory than before, bethought himse!f of the eIistence of the im$risoned
Giants, and knoing that they ou!d be ab!e to render him most $oerfu! assistance, he
hastened to !iberate them. 9e a!so ca!!ed to his aid the 1yc!o$s Gsons of Poseidon and
Am$hitriteH,,50 ho had on!y one eye each in the midd!e of their foreheads, and ere
ca!!ed Brontes GThunderH, 3tero$es GLightningH, and Pyracmon G8ire%an"i!H. They
$rom$t!y res$onded to his summons for he!$, and brought ith them tremendous
thunderbo!ts hich the 9ecatoncheires, ith their hundred hands, hur!ed don u$on the
enemy, at the same time raising mighty earthDuakes, hich sa!!oed u$ and destroyed
a!! ho o$$osed them. Aided by these ne and $oerfu! a!!ies, Meus no made a furious
ons!aught on his enemies, and so tremendous as the encounter that a!! nature is said to
ha"e throbbed in accord ith this mighty effort of the ce!estia! deities. The sea rose
mountains high, and its angry bi!!os ,/+0hissed and foamedF the earth shook to its
foundations, the hea"ens sent forth ro!!ing thunder, and f!ash after f!ash of death%bringing
!ightning, hi!st a b!inding mist en"e!o$ed 1ronus and his a!!ies.
And no the fortunes of ar began to turn, and "ictory smi!ed on Meus. 1ronus and his
army ere com$!ete!y o"erthron, his brothers des$atched to the g!oomy de$ths of the
!oer or!d, and 1ronus himse!f as banished from his kingdom and de$ri"ed for e"er
of the su$reme $oer, hich no became "ested in his son Meus. This ar as ca!!ed the
Titanomachia, and is most gra$hica!!y described by the o!d c!assic $oets.
3aturn
>ith the defeat of 1ronus and his banishment from his dominions, his career as a ru!ing
Greek di"inity entire!y ceases. But being, !ike a!! the gods, immorta!, he as su$$osed to
be sti!! in eIistence, though $ossessing no !onger either inf!uence or authority, his $!ace
being fi!!ed to a certain eItent by his descendant and successor, Meus.
1ronus is often re$resented as an o!d man !eaning on a scythe, ith an hour%g!ass in his
hand. The hour%g!ass symbo!iEes the fast%f!eeting moments as they succeed each other
unceasing!yF the scythe is emb!ematica! of time, hich mos don a!! before it.
3AT;R<.
The Romans, according to their custom of identifying their deities ith those of the
Greek gods hose attributes ere simi!ar to their on, dec!ared 1ronus to be identica!
ith their o!d agricu!tura! di"inity 3aturn. They be!ie"ed that after his defeat in the
,/.0Titanomachia and his banishment from his dominions by Meus, he took refuge ith
:anus, king of 2ta!y, ho recei"ed the eIi!ed deity ith great kindness, and e"en shared
his throne ith him. Their united reign became so thorough!y $eacefu! and ha$$y, and
as distinguished by such uninterru$ted $ros$erity, that it as ca!!ed the Go!den Age.
3aturn is usua!!y re$resented bearing a sick!e in the one hand and a heat%sheaf in the
other.
A tem$!e as erected to him at the foot of the 1a$ito!ine 9i!!, in hich ere de$osited
the $ub!ic treasury and the !as of the state.
R9EA G4$sH.
Rhea, the ife of 1ronus, and mother of Meus and the other great gods of 4!ym$us,
$ersonified the earth, and as regarded as the Great Mother and unceasing $roducer of a!!
$!ant%!ife. 3he as a!so be!ie"ed to eIercise unbounded say o"er the anima! creation,
more es$ecia!!y o"er the !ion, the nob!e king of beasts. Rhea is genera!!y re$resented
earing a cron of turrets or toers and seated on a throne, ith !ions crouching at her
feet. 3he is sometimes de$icted sitting in a chariot, dran by !ions.
The $rinci$a! seat of her orshi$, hich as a!ays of a "ery riotous character, as at
1rete. At her festi"a!s, hich took $!ace at night, the i!dest music of f!utes, cymba!s,
and drums resounded, hi!st joyfu! shouts and cries, accom$anied by dancing and !oud
stam$ing of feet, fi!!ed the air.
This di"inity as introduced into 1rete by its first co!onists from Phrygia, in Asia Minor,
in hich country she as orshi$$ed under the name of 1ybe!e. The $eo$!e of 1rete
adored her as the Great Mother, more es$ecia!!y in her signification as the sustainer of the
"egetab!e or!d. 3eeing, hoe"er, that year by year, as inter a$$ears, a!! her g!ory
"anishes, her f!oers fade, and her trees become !eaf!ess, they $oetica!!y eI$ressed this
$rocess of nature under the figure of a !ost !o"e. 3he ,/60as said to ha"e been tender!y
attached to a youth of remarkab!e beauty, named Atys, ho, to her grief and indignation,
$ro"ed faith!ess to her. 9e as about to unite himse!f to a nym$h ca!!ed 3agaris, hen, in
the midst of the edding feast, the rage of the incensed goddess sudden!y burst forth
u$on a!! $resent. A $anic seiEed the assemb!ed guests, and Atys, becoming aff!icted ith
tem$orary madness, f!ed to the mountains and destroyed himse!f. 1ybe!e, mo"ed ith
sorro and regret, instituted a year!y mourning for his !oss, hen her $riests, the
1orybantes, ith their usua! noisy accom$animents, marched into the mountains to seek
the !ost youth. 9a"ing disco"ered him,N0 they ga"e fu!! "ent to their ecstatic de!ight by
indu!ging in the most "io!ent gesticu!ations, dancing, shouting, and, at the same time,
ounding and gashing themse!"es in a frightfu! manner.
4P3.
2n Rome the Greek Rhea as identified ith 4$s, the goddess of $!enty, the ife of
3aturn, ho had a "ariety of a$$e!!ations. 3he as ca!!ed Magna%Mater, Mater%'eorum,
Berecynthia%2dea, and a!so 'indymene. This !atter tit!e she acDuired from three high
mountains in Phrygia, hence she as brought to Rome as 1ybe!e during the second
Punic ar, B.1. (*5, in obedience to an injunction contained in the 3ybi!!ine books. 3he
as re$resented as a matron croned ith toers, seated in a chariot dran by !ions.
'2A2324< 48 T9E >4RL'.
>e i!! no return to Meus and his brothers, ho, ha"ing gained a com$!ete "ictory o"er
their enemies, began to consider ho the or!d, hich they had ,(*0conDuered, shou!d be
di"ided beteen them. At !ast it as sett!ed by !ot that Meus shou!d reign su$reme in
9ea"en, hi!st AOdes go"erned the Loer >or!d, and Poseidon had fu!! command o"er
the 3ea, but the su$remacy of Meus as recogniEed in a!! three kingdoms, in hea"en, on
earth Gin hich of course the sea as inc!udedH, and under the earth. Meus he!d his court
on the to$ of Mount 4!ym$us, hose summit as beyond the c!oudsF the dominions of
AOdes ere the g!oomy unknon regions be!o the earthF and Poseidon reigned o"er the
sea. 2t i!! be seen that the rea!m of each of these gods as en"e!o$ed in mystery.
4!ym$us as shrouded in mists, 9ades as ra$t in g!oomy darkness, and the sea as,
and indeed sti!! is, a source of onder and dee$ interest. 9ence e see that hat to other
nations ere mere!y strange $henomena, ser"ed this $oetica! and imaginati"e $eo$!e as a
foundation u$on hich to bui!d the onderfu! stories of their mytho!ogy.
The di"ision of the or!d being no satisfactori!y arranged, it ou!d seem that a!! things
ought to ha"e gone on smooth!y, but such as not the case. Troub!e arose in an un!ooked%
for Duarter. The Giants, those hideous monsters Gsome ith !egs formed of ser$entsH ho
had s$rung from the earth and the b!ood of ;ranus, dec!ared ar against the trium$hant
deities of 4!ym$us, and a strugg!e ensued, hich, in conseDuence of GKa ha"ing made
these chi!dren of hers in"incib!e as !ong as they ke$t their feet on the ground, as
earisome and $rotracted. Their motherRs $recaution, hoe"er, as rendered una"ai!ing
by $ieces of rock being hur!ed u$on them, hich thre them don, and their feet being
no !onger $!aced firm!y on their mother%earth, they ere o"ercome, and this tedious ar
Ghich as ca!!ed the GigantomachiaH at !ast came to an end. Among the most daring of
these earth%born giants ere Ence!adus, RhLtus, and the "a!iant Mimas, ho, ith
youthfu! fire and energy, hur!ed against hea"en great masses of rock and burning oak%
trees, and defied the !ightnings of Meus. 4ne of the most $oerfu! monsters ho o$$osed
Meus in this ,(/0ar as ca!!ed Ty$hon or Ty$hLus. 9e as the youngest son of Tartarus
and GKa, and had a hundred heads, ith eyes hich struck terror to the beho!ders, and
ae%ins$iring "oices frightfu! to hear. This dreadfu! monster reso!"ed to conDuer both
gods and men, but his $!ans ere at !ength defeated by Meus, ho, after a "io!ent
encounter, succeeded in destroying him ith a thunderbo!t, but not before he had so
terrified the gods that they had f!ed for refuge to Egy$t, here they metamor$hosed
themse!"es into different anima!s and thus esca$ed.
T9E4R2E3 A3 T4 T9E 4R2G2< 48 MA<.
:ust as there ere se"era! theories concerning the origin of the or!d, so there ere
"arious accounts of the creation of man.
The first natura! be!ief of the Greek $eo$!e as that man had s$rung from the earth. They
sa the tender $!ants and f!oers force their ay through the ground in the ear!y s$ring
of the year after the frost of inter had disa$$eared, and so they natura!!y conc!uded that
man must a!so ha"e issued from the earth in a simi!ar manner. Like the i!d $!ants and
f!oers, he as su$$osed to ha"e had no cu!ti"ation, and resemb!ed in his habits the
untamed beasts of the fie!d, ha"ing no habitation eIce$t that hich nature had $ro"ided
in the ho!es of the rocks, and in the dense forests hose o"erarching boughs $rotected
him from the inc!emency of the eather.
2n the course of time these $rimiti"e human beings became tamed and ci"i!iEed by the
gods and heroes, ho taught them to ork in meta!s, to bui!d houses, and other usefu!
arts of ci"i!iEation. But the human race became in the course of time so degenerate that
the gods reso!"ed to destroy a!! mankind by means of a f!oodF 'euca!ion ,((0Gson of
PrometheusH and his ife Pyrrha, being, on account of their $iety, the on!y morta!s sa"ed.
By the command of his father, 'euca!ion bui!t a shi$, in hich he and his ife took
refuge during the de!uge, hich !asted for nine days. >hen the aters abated the shi$
rested on Mount 4thrys in Thessa!y, or according to some on Mount Parnassus.
'euca!ion and his ife no consu!ted the orac!e of Themis as to ho the human race
might be restored. The anser as, that they ere to co"er their heads, and thro the
bones of their mother behind them. 8or some time they ere $er$!eIed as to the meaning
of the oracu!ar command, but at !ength both agreed that by the bones of their mother ere
meant the stones of the earth. They according!y took u$ stones from the mountain side
and cast them o"er their shou!ders. 8rom those thron by 'euca!ion there s$rang u$
men, and from those thron by Pyrrha, omen.
After the !a$se of time the theory of Autochthony Gfrom autos, se!f, and chthon, earthH
as !aid aside. >hen this be!ief eIisted there ere no re!igious teachers hate"erF but in
course of time tem$!es ere raised in honour of the different gods, and $riests a$$ointed
to offer sacrifices to them and conduct their orshi$. These $riests ere !ooked u$on as
authorities in a!! re!igious matters, and the doctrine they taught as, that man had been
created by the gods, and that there had been se"era! successi"e ages of men, hich ere
ca!!ed the Go!den, 3i!"er, BraEen, and 2ron Ages.
Life in the Go!den Age as one unceasing round of e"er%recurring $!easures unmarred by
sorro or care. The fa"oured morta!s !i"ing at this ha$$y time !ed $ure and joyous !i"es,
thinking no e"i!, and doing no rong. The earth brought forth fruits and f!oers ithout
toi! or !abour in $!entifu! !uIuriance, and ar as unknon. This de!ightfu! and god%!ike
eIistence !asted for hundreds of years, and hen at !ength !ife on earth as ended, death
!aid his hand so gent!y u$on them that they $assed $ain!ess!y aay in a ha$$y dream, and
continued their eIistence as ministering s$irits in 9ades, atching o"er and
,()0$rotecting those they had !o"ed and !eft behind on earth. The men of the 3i!"er
Age,+0 ere a !ong time groing u$, and during their chi!dhood, hich !asted a hundred
years, they suffered from i!!%hea!th and eItreme debi!ity. >hen they at !ast became men
they !i"ed but a short time, for they ou!d not abstain from mutua! injury, nor $ay the
ser"ice due to the gods, and ere therefore banished to 9ades. There, un!ike the beings of
the Go!den Age, they eIercised no beneficent su$er"ision o"er the dear ones !eft behind,
but andered about as rest!ess s$irits, a!ays sighing for the !ost $!easures they had
enjoyed in !ife.
The men of the BraEen Age ere Duite a different race of beings, being as strong and
$oerfu! as those of the 3i!"er Age ere eak and ener"ated. E"erything hich
surrounded them as of brassF their arms, their too!s, their de!!ings, and a!! that they
made. Their characters seem to ha"e resemb!ed the meta! in hich they de!ightedF their
minds and hearts ere hard, obdurate, and crue!. They !ed a !ife of strife and contention,
introduced into the or!d, hich had hitherto knon nothing but $eace and tranDui!!ity,
the scourge of ar, and ere in fact on!y ha$$y hen fighting and Duarre!!ing ith each
other. 9itherto Themis, the goddess of :ustice, had been !i"ing among mankind, but
becoming disheartened at their e"i! doings, she abandoned the earth, and inged her
f!ight back to hea"en. At !ast the gods became so tired of their e"i! deeds and continua!
dissensions, that they remo"ed them from the face of the earth, and sent them don to
9ades to share the fate of their $redecessors.
>e no come to the men of the 2ron Age. The earth, no !onger teeming ith fruitfu!ness,
on!y yie!ded her increase after much toi! and !abour. The goddess of :ustice ha"ing
abandoned mankind, no inf!uence remained sufficient!y $oerfu! to $reser"e them from
e"ery kind of ickedness and sin. This condition gre orse as time ent on, unti! at !ast
Meus in his anger !et !oose the ater%courses from abo"e, and droned e"ery
,(C0indi"idua! of this e"i! race, eIce$t 'euca!ion and Pyrrha.
The theory of 9esiod,,.0 the o!dest of a!! the Greek $oets, as that the Titan Prometheus,
the son of 2a$etus, had formed man out of c!ay, and that Athene had breathed a sou! into
him. 8u!! of !o"e for the beings he had ca!!ed into eIistence, Prometheus determined to
e!e"ate their minds and im$ro"e their condition in e"ery ayF he therefore taught them
astronomy, mathematics, the a!$habet, ho to cure diseases, and the art of di"ination. 9e
created this race in such great numbers that the gods began to see the necessity of
instituting certain fiIed !as ith regard to the sacrifices due to them, and the orshi$ to
hich they considered themse!"es entit!ed from mankind in return for the $rotection
hich they accorded them. An assemb!y as therefore con"ened at Mecone in order to
sett!e these $oints. 2t as decided that Prometheus, as the ad"ocate of man, shou!d s!ay an
oI, hich shou!d be di"ided into to eDua! $arts, and that the gods shou!d se!ect one
$ortion hich shou!d henceforth, in a!! future sacrifices, be set a$art for them.
Prometheus so di"ided the oI that one $art consisted of the bones Ghich formed of
course the !east "a!uab!e $ortion of the anima!H, artfu!!y concea!ed by the hite fatF hi!st
the other contained a!! the edib!e $arts, hich he co"ered ith the skin, and on the to$ of
a!! he !aid the stomach.
Meus, $retending to be decei"ed, chose the hea$ of bones, but he sa through the
stratagem, and as so angry at the dece$tion $ractised on him by Prometheus that he
a"enged himse!f by refusing to morta!s the gift of fire. ,(50Prometheus, hoe"er,
reso!"ed to bra"e the anger of the great ru!er of 4!ym$us, and to obtain from hea"en the
"ita! s$ark so necessary for the further $rogress and comfort of the human race. 9e
according!y contri"ed to stea! some s$arks from the chariot of the sun, hich he
con"eyed to earth hidden in a ho!!o tube. 8urious at being again outitted, Meus
determined to be re"enged first on mankind, and then on Prometheus. To $unish the
former he commanded 9e$hKstus GAu!canH to mou!d a beautifu! oman out of c!ay, and
determined that through her instrumenta!ity troub!e and misery shou!d be brought into the
or!d.
The gods ere so charmed ith the gracefu! and artistic creation of 9e$hKstus, that they
a!! determined to endo her ith some s$ecia! gift. 9ermes GMercuryH bestoed on her a
smooth $ersuasi"e tongue, A$hrodite ga"e her beauty and the art of $!easingF the Graces
made her fascinating, and Athene GMiner"aH gifted her ith the $ossession of feminine
accom$!ishments. 3he as ca!!ed Pandora, hich means a!!%gifted, ha"ing recei"ed e"ery
attribute necessary to make her charming and irresistib!e. Thus beautifu!!y formed and
endoed, this eIDuisite creature, attired by the Graces, and croned ith f!oers by the
3easons, as conducted to the house of E$imetheus,60 by 9ermes the messenger of the
gods. <o E$imetheus had been arned by his brother not to acce$t any gift hate"er
from the godsF but he as so fascinated by the beautifu! being ho sudden!y a$$eared
before him, that he e!comed her to his home, and made her his ife. 2t as not !ong,
hoe"er, before he had cause to regret his eakness.
9e had in his $ossession a jar of rare orkmanshi$, containing a!! the b!essings reser"ed
by the gods for mankind, hich he had been eI$ress!y forbidden to o$en. But omanRs
$ro"erbia! curiosity cou!d not ithstand so great a tem$tation, and Pandora determined to
so!"e the mystery at any cost. >atching her o$$ortunity she raised the !id, and
immediate!y a!! the b!essings hich ,(N0the gods had thus reser"ed for mankind took
ing and f!e aay. But a!! as not !ost. :ust as 9o$e Ghich !ay at the bottomH as
about to esca$e, Pandora hasti!y c!osed the !id of the jar, and thus $reser"ed to man that
ne"er%fai!ing so!ace hich he!$s him to bear ith courage the many i!!s hich assai! him.
,/*0
9a"ing $unished mankind, Meus determined to eIecute "engeance on Prometheus. 9e
according!y chained him to a rock in Mount 1aucasus, and sent an eag!e e"ery day to
gna aay his !i"er, hich gre again e"ery night ready for fresh torments. 8or thirty
years Prometheus endured this fearfu! $unishmentF but at !ength Meus re!ented, and
$ermitted his son 9erac!es G9ercu!esH to ki!! the eag!e, and the sufferer as re!eased.
T92R' '#<A3T#J4L#MP2A< '2A2<2T2E3.
ME;3,//0 G:u$iterH.
Meus, the great $residing deity of the uni"erse, the ru!er of hea"en and earth, as
regarded by the Greeks, first, as the god of a!! aSria! $henomenaF second!y, as the
$ersonification of the !as of natureF third!y, as !ord of state%!ifeF and fourth!y, as the
father of gods and men.
As the god of aSria! $henomena he cou!d, by shaking his Kgis,,/(0 $roduce storms,
tem$ests, and intense darkness. At his command the mighty thunder ro!!s, the !ightning
f!ashes, and the c!ouds o$en and $our forth their refreshing streams to fructify the earth.
As the $ersonification of the o$erations of nature, he re$resents those grand !as of
unchanging and harmonious order, by hich not on!y the $hysica! but a!so ,(+0the mora!
or!d is go"erned. 9ence he is the god of regu!ated time as marked by the changing
seasons, and by the regu!ar succession of day and night, in contradistinction to his father
1ronus, ho re$resents time abso!ute!y, i.e. eternity.
As the !ord of state%!ife, he is the founder of king!y $oer, the u$ho!der of a!! institutions
connected ith the state, and the s$ecia! friend and $atron of $rinces, hom he guards
and assists ith his ad"ice and counse!. 9e $rotects the assemb!y of the $eo$!e, and, in
fact, atches o"er the e!fare of the ho!e community.
As the father of the gods, Meus sees that each deity $erforms his or her indi"idua! duty,
$unishes their misdeeds, sett!es their dis$utes, and acts toards them on a!! occasions as
their a!!%knoing counse!!or and mighty friend.
As the father of men, he takes a $aterna! interest in the actions and e!!%being of morta!s.
9e atches o"er them ith tender so!icitude, rearding truth, charity, and u$rightness,
but se"ere!y $unishing $erjury, crue!ty, and ant of hos$ita!ity. E"en the $oorest and
most for!orn anderer finds in him a $oerfu! ad"ocate, for he, by a ise and mercifu!
dis$ensation, ordains that the mighty ones of the earth shou!d succour their distressed and
needy brethren.
The Greeks be!ie"ed that the home of this their mighty and a!!%$oerfu! deity as on the
to$ of Mount 4!ym$us, that high and !ofty mountain beteen Thessa!y and Macedon,
hose summit, ra$t in c!ouds and mist, as hidden from morta! "ie. 2t as su$$osed
that this mysterious region, hich e"en a bird cou!d not reach, eItended beyond the
c!ouds right into Aether, the rea!m of the immorta! gods. The $oets describe this etherea!
atmos$here as bright, g!istening, and refreshing, eIercising a $ecu!iar, g!addening
inf!uence o"er the minds and hearts of those $ri"i!eged beings $ermitted to share its
de!ights. 9ere youth ne"er ages, and the $assing years !ea"e no traces on its fa"oured
inhabitants. 4n the c!oud%ca$$ed summit of 4!ym$us as the $a!ace of ,(.0Meus and
9era, of burnished go!d, chased si!"er, and g!eaming i"ory. Loer don ere the homes
of the other gods, hich, though !ess commanding in $osition and siEe, ere yet simi!ar
to that of Meus in design and orkmanshi$, a!! being the ork of the di"ine artist
9e$hKstus. Be!o these ere other $a!aces of si!"er, ebony, i"ory, or burnished brass,
here the 9eroes, or 'emi%gods, resided.
As the orshi$ of Meus formed so im$ortant a feature in the re!igion of the Greeks, his
statues ere necessari!y both numerous and magnificent. 9e is usua!!y re$resented as a
man of nob!e and im$osing mien, his countenance eI$ressing a!! the !ofty majesty of the
omni$otent ru!er of the uni"erse, combined ith the gracious, yet serious, benignity of
the father and friend of mankind. 9e may be recogniEed by his rich f!oing beard, and
the thick masses of hair, hich rise straight from the high and inte!!ectua! forehead and
fa!! to his shou!ders in c!ustering !ocks. The nose is !arge and fine!y formed, and the
s!ight!y%o$ened !i$s im$art an air of sym$athetic kind!iness hich in"ites confidence. 9e
is a!ays accom$anied by an eag!e, hich either surmounts his sce$tre, or sits at his feetF
he genera!!y bears in his u$!ifted hand a sheaf of thunder%bo!ts, just ready to be hur!ed,
hi!st in the other he ho!ds the !ightning. The head is freDuent!y encirc!ed ith a reath
of oak%!ea"es.
Meus
The most ce!ebrated statue of the 4!ym$ian Meus as that by the famous Athenian
scu!$tor Phidias, hich as forty feet high, and stood in the tem$!e of Meus at 4!ym$ia.
2t as formed of i"ory and go!d, and as ,(60such a master$iece of art, that it as
reckoned among the se"en onders of the or!d. 2t re$resented the god, seated on a
throne, ho!ding in his right hand a !ife%siEed image of <ike Gthe goddess of AictoryH, and
in his !eft a roya! sce$tre, surmounted by an eag!e. 2t is said that the great scu!$tor had
concentrated a!! the mar"e!!ous $oers of his genius on this sub!ime conce$tion, and
earnest!y entreated Meus to gi"e him a decided $roof that his !abours ere a$$ro"ed. An
anser to his $rayer came through the o$en roof of the tem$!e in the sha$e of a f!ash of
!ightning, hich Phidias inter$reted as a sign that the god of hea"en as $!eased ith his
ork.
Meus as first orshi$$ed at 'odona in E$irus, here, at the foot of Mount Tomarus, on
the oody shore of Lake :oanina, as his famous orac!e, the most ancient in Greece.
9ere the "oice of the eterna! and in"isib!e god as su$$osed to be heard in the rust!ing
!ea"es of a giant oak, announcing to mankind the i!! of hea"en and the destiny of
morta!sF these re"e!ations being inter$reted to the $eo$!e by the $riests of Meus, ho ere
ca!!ed 3e!!i. Recent eIca"ations hich ha"e been made at this s$ot ha"e brought to !ight
the ruins of the ancient tem$!e of Meus, and a!so, among other interesting re!ics, some
$!ates of !ead, on hich are engra"ed inDuiries hich ere e"ident!y made by certain
indi"idua!s ho consu!ted the orac!e. These !itt!e !eaden $!ates s$eak to us, as it ere, in
a curious!y home!y manner of a by%gone time in the buried $ast. 4ne $erson inDuires
hat god he shou!d a$$!y to for hea!th and fortuneF another asks for ad"ice concerning
his chi!dF and a third, e"ident!y a she$herd, $romises a gift to the orac!e shou!d a
s$ecu!ation in shee$ turn out successfu!!y. 9ad these !itt!e memoria!s been of go!d instead
of !ead, they ou!d doubt!ess ha"e shared the fate of the numerous treasures hich
adorned this and other tem$!es, in the uni"ersa! $i!!age hich took $!ace hen Greece
fe!! into the hands of barbarians.
Though 'odona as the most ancient of his shrines, the great nationa! seat of the orshi$
of Meus as at 4!ym$ia in E!is, here there as a magnificent tem$!e ,)*0dedicated to
him, containing the famous co!ossa! statue by Phidias abo"e described. 1rods of de"out
orshi$$ers f!ocked to this or!d%renoned fane from a!! $arts of Greece, not on!y to $ay
homage to their su$reme deity, but a!so to join in the ce!ebrated games hich ere he!d
there at inter"a!s of four years. The 4!ym$ic games ere such a thorough!y nationa!
institution, that e"en Greeks ho had !eft their nati"e country made a $oint of returning
on these occasions, if $ossib!e, in order to contend ith their fe!!o%countrymen in the
"arious ath!etic s$orts hich took $!ace at these festi"a!s.
2t i!! be seen on ref!ection that in a country !ike Greece, hich contained so many $etty
states, often at "ariance ith each other, these nationa! gatherings must ha"e been most
"a!uab!e as a means of uniting the Greeks in one great bond of brotherhood. 4n these
festi"e occasions the ho!e nation met together, forgetting for the moment a!! $ast
differences, and uniting in the enjoyment of the same festi"ities.
2t i!! doubt!ess ha"e been remarked that in the re$resentations of Meus he is a!ays
accom$anied by an eag!e. This roya! bird as sacred to him, $robab!y from the fact of its
being the on!y creature ca$ab!e of gaEing at the sun ithout being daEE!ed, hich may
ha"e suggested the idea that it as ab!e to contem$!ate the s$!endour of di"ine majesty
unshrinking!y.
The oak%tree, and a!so the summits of mountains, ere sacred to Meus. 9is sacrifices
consisted of hite bu!!s, cos, and goats.
Meus had se"en immorta! i"es, hose names ere Metis, Themis, Eurynome, 'emeter,
Mnemosyne, Leto, and 9era.
MET23, his first ife, as one of the 4ceanides or sea%nym$hs. 3he as the
$ersonification of $rudence and isdom, a con"incing $roof of hich she dis$!ayed in
her successfu! administration of the $otion hich caused 1ronus to yie!d u$ his chi!dren.
3he as endoed ith the gift of $ro$hecy, and foreto!d to Meus that one of their chi!dren
ou!d gain ascendency o"er ,)/0him. 2n order, therefore, to a"ert the $ossibi!ity of the
$rediction being fu!fi!!ed he sa!!oed her before any chi!dren ere born to them.
8ee!ing afterards "io!ent $ains in his head, he sent for 9e$hKstus, and ordered him to
o$en it ith an aIe. 9is command as obeyed, and out s$rang, ith a !oud and martia!
shout, a beautifu! being, c!ad in armour from head to foot. This as Athene GMiner"aH,
goddess of Armed Resistance and >isdom.
T9EM23 as the goddess of :ustice, La, and 4rder.
E;R#<4ME as one of the 4ceanides, and the mother of the 1harites or Graces.
'EMETER,,/)0 the daughter of 1ronus and Rhea, as the goddess of Agricu!ture.
M<EM43#<E, the daughter of ;ranus and GKa, as the goddess of Memory and the
mother of the nine Muses.
LET4 GLatonaH as the daughter of 1Lus and PhLbe. 3he as gifted ith onderfu!
beauty, and as tender!y !o"ed by Meus, but her !ot as far from being a ha$$y one, for
9era, being eItreme!y jea!ous of her, $ersecuted her ith in"eterate crue!ty, and sent the
dreadfu! ser$ent Python,/C0 to terrify and torment her here"er she ent. But Meus, ho
had obser"ed ith the dee$est com$assion her eary anderings and agoniEed fears,
reso!"ed to create for her some $!ace of refuge, hoe"er humb!e, here she might fee!
herse!f safe from the "enomous attacks of the ser$ent. 9e therefore brought her to 'e!os,
a f!oating is!and in the Pgean 3ea, hich he made stationary by attaching it ith chains
of adamant to the bottom of the sea. 9ere she ga"e birth to her tin%chi!dren, A$o!!o and
Artemis G'ianaH, to of the most beautifu! of the immorta!s.
According to some "ersions of the story of Leto, Meus transformed her into a Duai!, in
order that she might thus e!ude the "igi!ance of 9era, and she is said to ha"e ,)(0resumed
her true form hen she arri"ed at the is!and of 'e!os.
9ERA, being the $rinci$a! ife of Meus and Dueen of hea"en, a detai!ed account i!! be
gi"en of her in a s$ecia! cha$ter.
2n the union of Meus ith most of his immorta! i"es e sha!! find that an a!!egorica!
meaning is con"eyed. 9is marriage ith Metis, ho is said to ha"e sur$assed both gods
and men in kno!edge, re$resents su$reme $oer a!!ied to isdom and $rudence. 9is
union ith Themis ty$ifies the bond hich eIists beteen di"ine majesty and justice,
!a, and order. Eurynome, as the mother of the 1harites or Graces, su$$!ied the refining
and harmoniEing inf!uences of grace and beauty, hi!st the marriage of Meus ith
Mnemosyne ty$ifies the union of genius ith memory.
2n addition to the se"en immorta! i"es of Meus, he as a!so a!!ied to a number of morta!
maidens hom he "isited under "arious disguises, as it as su$$osed that if he re"ea!ed
himse!f in his true form as king of hea"en the s$!endour of his g!ory ou!d cause instant
destruction to morta!s. The morta! consorts of Meus ha"e been such a fa"ourite theme
ith $oets, $ainters, and scu!$tors, that it is necessary to gi"e some account of their
indi"idua! history. Those best knon are Antio$e, Leda, Euro$a, 1a!!isto, A!cmene,
3eme!e, 2o, and 'anae.
A<T24PE, to hom Meus a$$eared under the form of a satyr, as the daughter of
<icteus, king of Thebes. To esca$e the anger of her father she f!ed to 3icyon, here king
E$o$eus, enra$tured ith her onderfu! beauty, made her his ife ithout asking her
fatherRs consent. This so enraged <icteus that he dec!ared ar against E$o$eus, in order
to com$e! him to restore Antio$e. At his death, hich took $!ace before he cou!d succeed
in his $ur$ose, <icteus !eft his kingdom to his brother Lycus, commanding him, at the
same time, to carry on the ar, and eIecute his "engeance. Lycus in"aded 3icyon,
defeated and ki!!ed E$o$eus, and brought back ,))0Antio$e as a $risoner. 4n the ay to
Thebes she ga"e birth to her tin%sons, Am$hion and Methus, ho, by the orders of
Lycus, ere at once eI$osed on Mount 1ithaeron, and ou!d ha"e $erished but for the
kindness of a she$herd, ho took $ity on them and $reser"ed their !i"es. Antio$e as, for
many years, he!d ca$ti"e by her unc!e Lycus, and com$e!!ed to suffer the utmost crue!ty
at the hands of his ife 'irce. But one day her bonds ere miracu!ous!y !oosened, and
she f!e for she!ter and $rotection to the humb!e de!!ing of her sons on Mount
1ithaeron. 'uring the !ong $eriod of their motherRs ca$ti"ity the babes had gron into
sturdy youths, and, as they !istened angri!y to the story of her rongs, they became a!!
im$atience to a"enge them. 3etting off at once to Thebes they succeeded in $ossessing
themse!"es of the ton, and after s!aying the crue! Lycus they bound 'irce by the hair to
the horns of a i!d bu!!, hich dragged her hither and thither unti! she eI$ired. 9er
mang!ed body as cast into the fount near Thebes, hich sti!! bears her name. Am$hion
became king of Thebes in his unc!eRs stead. 9e as a friend of the Muses, and de"oted to
music and $oetry. 9is brother, Methus, as famous for his ski!! in archery, and as
$assionate!y fond of the chase. 2t is said that hen Am$hion ished to inc!ose the ton
of Thebes ith a!!s and toers, he had but to $!ay a seet me!ody on the !yre, gi"en to
him by 9ermes, and the huge stones began to mo"e, and obedient!y fitted themse!"es
together.
The $unishment of 'irce at the hands of Am$hion and Methus forms the subject of the
or!d%renoned marb!e grou$ in the museum at <a$!es, knon by the name of the
8arnese Bu!!.
2n scu!$ture Am$hion is a!ays re$resented ith a !yreF Methus ith a c!ub.
LE'A, hose affections Meus on under the form of a san, as the daughter of
Thestius, king of Pto!ia. 9er tin%sons, 1astor and GPo!ydeuces orH Po!!uI,,/50 ere
,)C0renoned for their tender attachment to each other. They ere a!so famous for their
$hysica! accom$!ishments, 1astor being the most eI$ert charioteer of his day, and Po!!uI
the first of $ugi!ists. Their names a$$ear both among the hunters of the 1a!ydonian boar%
hunt and the heroes of the Argonautic eI$edition. The brothers became attached to the
daughters of Leuci$$us, $rince of the Messenians, ho had been betrothed by their father
to 2das and Lynceus, sons of A$hareus. 9a"ing $ersuaded Leuci$$us to break his
$romise, the tins carried off the maidens as their brides. 2das and Lynceus, natura!!y
furious at this $roceeding, cha!!enged the 'ioscuri to morta! combat, in hich 1astor
$erished by the hand of 2das, and Lynceus by that of Po!!uI. Meus ished to confer the
gift of immorta!ity u$on Po!!uI, but he refused to acce$t it un!ess a!!oed to share it ith
1astor. Meus ga"e the desired $ermission, and the faithfu! brothers ere both a!!oed to
!i"e, but on!y on a!ternate days. The 'ioscuri recei"ed di"ine honours throughout Greece,
and ere orshi$$ed ith s$ecia! re"erence at 3$arta.
E;R4PA as the beautifu! daughter of Agenor, king of PhLnicia. 3he as one day
gathering f!oers ith her com$anions in a meado near the sea%shore, hen Meus,
charmed ith her great beauty, and ishing to in her !o"e, transformed himse!f into a
beautifu! hite bu!!, and trotted Duiet!y u$ to the $rincess, so as not to a!arm her.
3ur$rised at the gent!eness of the anima!, and admiring its beauty, as it !ay $!acid!y on the
grass, she caressed it, croned it ith f!oers, and, at !ast, $!ayfu!!y seated herse!f on its
back. 9ard!y had she done so than the disguised god bounded aay ith his !o"e!y
burden, and sam across the sea ith her to the is!and of 1rete.
Euro$a as the mother of Minos, Aeacus, and Rhadamanthus. Minos, ho became king
of 1rete, as ce!ebrated for his justice and moderation, and after death he as created
one of the judges of the !oer or!d, hich office he he!d in conjunction ith his
brothers. ,)50
1ALL23T4, the daughter of Lycaon, king of Arcadia, as a huntress in the train of
Artemis, de"oted to the $!easures of the chase, ho had made a "o ne"er to marryF but
Meus, under the form of the huntress%goddess, succeeded in obtaining her affections.
9era, being eItreme!y jea!ous of her, changed her into a bear, and caused Artemis Gho
fai!ed to recogniEe her attendant under this formH to hunt her in the chase, and $ut an end
to her eIistence. After her death she as $!aced by Meus among the stars as a
conste!!ation, under the name of Arctos, or the bear.
AL1ME<E, the daughter of E!ectryon, king of Mycenae, as betrothed to her cousin
Am$hytrionF but, during his absence on a $eri!ous undertaking, Meus assumed his form,
and obtained her affections. 9erac!es Ghose or!d%renoned eI$!oits i!! be re!ated
among the !egendsH as the son of A!cmene and Meus.
3EMELE, a beautifu! $rincess, the daughter of 1admus, king of PhLnicia, as great!y
be!o"ed by Meus. Like the unfortunate 1a!!isto, she as hated by 9era ith jea!ous
ma!ignity, and the haughty Dueen of hea"en determined to effect her destruction.
'isguising herse!f, therefore, as BerL, 3eme!eRs faithfu! o!d nurse, she artfu!!y $ersuaded
her to insist u$on Meus "isiting her, as he a$$eared to 9era, in a!! his $oer and g!ory,
e!! knoing that this ou!d cause her instant death. 3eme!e, sus$ecting no treachery,
fo!!oed the ad"ice of her su$$osed nurseF and the neIt time Meus came to her, she
earnest!y entreated him to grant the fa"our she as about to ask. Meus sore by the 3tyI
Ghich as to the gods an irre"ocab!e oathH to accede to her reDuest hatsoe"er it might
be. 3eme!e, therefore, secure of gaining her $etition, begged of Meus to a$$ear to her in
a!! the g!ory of his di"ine $oer and majesty. As he had sorn to grant hate"er she
asked of him, he as com$e!!ed to com$!y ith her ishF he therefore re"ea!ed himse!f
as the mighty !ord of the uni"erse, accom$anied by thunder and !ightning, and she as
instant!y consumed in the f!ames. ,)N0
24, daughter of 2nachus, king of Argos, as a $riestess of 9era. 3he as "ery beautifu!,
and Meus, ho as much attached to her, transformed her into a hite co, in order to
defeat the jea!ous intrigues of 9era, ho, hoe"er, as not to be decei"ed. Aare of the
stratagem, she contri"ed to obtain the anima! from Meus, and $!aced her under the
atchfu! care of a man ca!!ed Argus%Pano$tes, ho fastened her to an o!i"e%tree in the
gro"e of 9era. 9e had a hundred eyes, of hich, hen as!ee$, he ne"er c!osed more than
to at a timeF being thus a!ays on the atch, 9era found him eItreme!y usefu! in
kee$ing guard o"er 2o. 9ermes, hoe"er, by the command of Meus, succeeded in $utting
a!! his eyes to s!ee$ ith the sound of his magic !yre, and then, taking ad"antage of his
he!$!ess condition, s!e him. The story goes, that in commemoration of the ser"ices
hich Argus had rendered her, 9era $!aced his eyes on the tai! of a $eacock, as a !asting
memoria! of her gratitude. E"er ferti!e in resource, 9era no sent a gadf!y to orry and
torment the unfortunate 2o incessant!y, and she andered a!! o"er the or!d in ho$es of
esca$ing from her tormentor. At !ength she reached Egy$t, here she found rest and
freedom from the $ersecutions of her enemy. 4n the banks of the <i!e she resumed her
origina! form and ga"e birth to a son ca!!ed E$a$hus, ho afterards became king of
Egy$t, and bui!t the famous city of Mem$his.
'A<AE.JMeus a$$eared to 'anae under the form of a shoer of go!d. G8urther detai!s
concerning her i!! be found in the !egend of Perseus.H
The Greeks su$$osed that the di"ine ru!er of the ;ni"erse occasiona!!y assumed a human
form, and descended from his ce!estia! abode, in order to "isit mankind and obser"e their
$roceedings, his aim being genera!!y either to $unish the gui!ty, or to reard the
deser"ing.
4n one occasion Meus, accom$anied by 9ermes, made a journey through Phrygia,
seeking hos$ita!ity and she!ter here"er they ent. But nohere did they recei"e a
,)+0kind!y e!come ti!! they came to the humb!e cottage of an o!d man and his ife
ca!!ed Phi!emon and Baucis, ho entertained them ith the greatest kindness, setting
before them hat fruga! fare their humb!e means $ermitted, and bidding them e!come
ith unaffected cordia!ity. 4bser"ing in the course of their sim$!e re$ast that the ine
bo! as miracu!ous!y re$!enished, the aged cou$!e became con"inced of the di"ine
nature of their guests. The gods no informed them that on account of its ickedness
their nati"e $!ace as doomed to destruction, and to!d them to c!imb the neighbouring
hi!! ith them, hich o"er!ooked the "i!!age here they de!t. >hat as their dismay on
beho!ding at their feet, in $!ace of the s$ot here they had $assed so many ha$$y years
together, nothing but a atery $!ain, the on!y house to be seen being their on !itt!e
cottage, hich sudden!y changed itse!f into a tem$!e before their eyes. Meus no asked
the orthy $air to name any ish they $articu!ar!y desired and it shou!d be granted. They
according!y begged that they might ser"e the gods in the tem$!e be!o, and end !ife
together.
Their ish as granted, for, after s$ending the remainder of their !i"es in the orshi$ of
the gods, they both died at the same instant, and ere transformed by Meus into trees,
remaining for e"er side by side.
;$on another occasion Meus, ishing to ascertain for himse!f the truth of the re$orts
concerning the atrocious ickedness of mankind, made a journey through Arcadia. Being
recogniEed by the Arcadians as king of hea"en, he as recei"ed by them ith becoming
res$ect and "enerationF but Lycaon, their king, ho had rendered himse!f infamous by the
gross im$iety of himse!f and his sons, doubted the di"inity of Meus, ridicu!ed his $eo$!e
for being so easi!y du$ed, and, according to his custom of ki!!ing a!! strangers ho
"entured to trust his hos$ita!ity, reso!"ed to murder him. Before eIecuting this icked
design, hoe"er, he decided to $ut Meus to the test, and ha"ing ki!!ed a boy for the
$ur$ose, $!aced before him a dish containing human f!esh. But Meus as ,).0not to be
decei"ed. 9e behe!d the re"o!ting dish ith horror and !oathing, and angri!y u$setting the
tab!e u$on hich it as $!aced, turned Lycaon into a o!f, and destroyed a!! his fifty sons
by !ightning, eIce$t <yctimus, ho as sa"ed by the inter"ention of GKa.
:;P2TER.
The Roman :u$iter, ho is so freDuent!y confounded ith the Greek Meus, is identica!
ith him on!y as being the head of the 4!ym$ic gods, and the $residing deity o"er Life,
Light, and ASria! Phenomena. :u$iter is !ord of !ife in its idest and most com$rehensi"e
signification, ha"ing abso!ute $oer o"er !ife and death, in hich res$ect he differed
from the Greek Meus, ho as to a certain eItent contro!!ed by the a!!%$otent say of the
MoirK or 8ates. Meus, as e ha"e seen, often condescends to "isit mankind, either as a
morta!, or under "arious disguises, hereas :u$iter a!ays remains essentia!!y the
su$reme god of hea"en, and ne"er a$$ears u$on earth.
The most ce!ebrated tem$!e of :u$iter as that on the 1a$ito!ine 9i!! in the city of Rome,
here he as orshi$$ed under the names of :u$iter%4$timus%MaIimus, 1a$ito!inus,
and Tar$eius.
The Romans re$resented him seated on a throne of i"ory, ho!ding in his right hand a sheaf
of thunderbo!ts, and in his !eft a sce$tre, hi!st an eag!e stands beside his throne.
9ERA G:unoH.
9era, the e!dest daughter of 1ronus and Rhea, as born at 3amos, or, according to some
accounts, at Argos, and as reared by the sea%di"inities 4ceanus and Tethys, ho ere
mode!s of conjuga! fide!ity.,/N0 3he as the ,)60$rinci$a! ife of Meus, and, as Dueen of
hea"en, $artici$ated in the honours $aid to him, but her dominion on!y eItended o"er the
air Gthe !oer aSria! regionsH. 9era a$$ears to be the sub!ime embodiment of strict
matron!y "irtue, and is on that account the $rotectress of $urity and married omen.
8au!t!ess herse!f in her fide!ity as a ife, she is essentia!!y the ty$e of the sanctity of the
marriage tie, and ho!ds in abhorrence any "io!ation of its ob!igations. 3o strong!y as she
imbued ith this hatred of any immora!ity, that, finding herse!f so often ca!!ed u$on to
$unish the fai!ings of both gods and men in this res$ect, she became jea!ous, harsh, and
"indicti"e. 9er eIa!ted $osition as the ife of the su$reme deity, combined ith her
eItreme beauty, caused her to become eIceeding!y "ain, and she conseDuent!y resented
ith great se"erity any infringement on her rights as Dueen of hea"en, or any a$$arent
s!ight on her $ersona! a$$earance.
The fo!!oing story i!! signa!!y i!!ustrate ho ready she as to resent any s!ight offered
to her.
At the marriage of the sea%nym$h Thetis ith a morta! ca!!ed Pe!eus, a!! the gods and
goddesses ere $resent, eIce$t Eris Gthe goddess of 'iscordH. 2ndignant at not being
in"ited, she determined to cause dissension in the assemb!y, and for this $ur$ose thre
into the midst of the guests a go!den a$$!e ith the inscri$tion on it T8or the 8airest.T
<o, as a!! the goddesses ere eItreme!y beautifu!, each c!aimed the a$$!eF but at !ength,
the rest ha"ing re!inDuished their $retensions, the number of candidates as reduced to
three, 9era, Athene, and A$hrodite, ho agreed to a$$ea! to Paris for a sett!ement of this
de!icate Duestion, he being noted for the isdom he had dis$!ayed in his judgment u$on
se"era! occasions. Paris as the son of Priam, king of Troy, ho, ignorant of his nob!e
birth, as at this time feeding his f!ocks on Mount 2da, in Phrygia. 9ermes, as messenger
of the gods, conducted the three ri"a! beauties to the young she$herd, and ith breath!ess
anIiety they aaited his decision. Each fair candidate endea"oured ,C*0to secure his
fa"our by the most tem$ting offers. 9era $romised him eItensi"e dominionsF Athene,
martia! fame and g!oryF and A$hrodite, the !o"e!iest oman in the or!d. But hether he
rea!!y considered A$hrodite the fairest of the three, or $referred a beautifu! ife to fame
and $oer, e cannot te!!F a!! e kno is that to her he aarded the go!den a$$!e, and
she became e"er after uni"ersa!!y ackno!edged as the goddess of beauty. 9era, ha"ing
fu!!y eI$ected that Paris ou!d gi"e her the $reference, as so indignant that she ne"er
forga"e him, and not on!y $ersecuted him, but a!! the fami!y of Priam, hose dreadfu!
sufferings and misfortunes during the Trojan ar ere attributed to her inf!uence. 2n fact,
she carried her animosity to such an eItent that it as often the cause of domestic
disagreements beteen herse!f and Meus, ho es$oused the cause of the Trojans.
Among the many stories of these freDuent Duarre!s there is one connected ith 9erac!es,
the fa"ourite son of Meus, hich is as fo!!os&J9era ha"ing raised a storm at sea in
order to dri"e him out of his course, Meus became so angry that he hung her in the c!ouds
by a go!den chain, and attached hea"y an"i!s to her feet. 9er son 9e$hKstus tried to
re!ease his mother from her humi!iating $osition, for hich Meus thre him out of
hea"en, and his !eg as broken by the fa!!.
9era, being dee$!y offended ith Meus, determined to se$arate herse!f from him for e"er,
and she according!y !eft him and took u$ her abode in EubLa. 3ur$rised and grie"ed at
this un!ooked%for desertion, Meus reso!"ed to !ea"e no means untried to in her back
again. 2n this emergency he consu!ted 1ithaeron, king of P!atea, ho as famed for his
great isdom and subt!ety. 1ithaeron ad"ised him to dress u$ an image in brida! attire
and $!ace it in a chariot, announcing that this as P!atea, his future ife. The artifice
succeeded. 9era, incensed at the idea of a ri"a!, f!e to meet the $rocession in great
anger, and seiEing the su$$osed bride, she furious!y attacked her and dragged off her
nu$tia! attire. 9er de!ight on disco"ering the dece$tion as so great that a
,C/0reconci!iation took $!ace, and, committing the image to the f!ames, ith joyfu!
!aughter she seated herse!f in its $!ace and returned to 4!ym$us.
9era as the mother of Ares GMarsH, 9e$hKstus, 9ebe, and Ei!eithyia. Ares as the god
of >arF 9e$hKstus, of 8ireF 9ebe, of #outhF and Ei!eithyia $resided o"er the birth of
morta!s.
9era dear!y !o"ed Greece, and indeed a!ays atched o"er and $rotected Greek interests,
her be!o"ed and fa"ourite cities being Argos, 3amos, 3$arta, and MycenK.
9era
9er $rinci$a! tem$!es ere at Argos and 3amos. 8rom a remote $eriod she as great!y
"enerated at 4!ym$ia, and her tem$!e there, hich stood in the A!tis or sacred gro"e, as
fi"e hundred years o!der than that of Meus on the same s$ot. 3ome interesting eIca"ations
hich are no going on there ha"e brought to !ight the remains of the ancient edifice,
hich contains among other treasures of antiDuity se"era! beautifu! statues, the ork of
the famous scu!$tors of ancient Greece. At first this tem$!e as bui!t of ood, then of
stone, and the one !ate!y disco"ered as formed of cong!omerate of she!!s.
2n the A!tis races ere run by young maidens in honour of 9era, and the f!eetest of foot
recei"ed in token of her "ictory an o!i"e%reath and a $iece of the f!esh of the sacrifices.
These races, !ike the 4!ym$ic Games, ere ce!ebrated at inter"a!s of four years, and ere
ca!!ed 9erK. A beautifu! robe, o"en by siIteen omen chosen from the siIteen cities of
E!is, as a!ays offered to 9era on these ,C(0occasions, and chora! songs and sacred
dances formed $art of the ceremonies.
9era is usua!!y re$resented seated on a throne, ho!ding a $omegranate in one hand and a
sce$tre surmounted by a cuckoo in the other. 3he a$$ears as a ca!m, dignified matron of
majestic beauty, robed in a tunic and mant!e, her forehead is broad and inte!!ectua!, her
eyes !arge and fu!!y o$ened, and her arms daEE!ing!y hite and fine!y mou!ded.
The finest statue of this di"inity as that by Po!yc!etus at Argos.
9er attributes are the diadem, "ei!, sce$tre, and $eacock.
The first day of e"ery month a ee%!amb and so ere sacrificed to 9era. The hak,
goose, and more $articu!ar!y the $eacock,/+0 ere sacred to her. 8!ocks of these beautifu!
birds genera!!y surround her throne and dra her chariot, 2ris, the Rainbo, being seated
behind her.
9er fa"ourite f!oers ere the dittany, $o$$y, and !i!y.
:;<4.
:uno, the Roman di"inity su$$osed to be identica! ith the Greek 9era, differed from her
in the most sa!ient $oints, for hereas 9era in"ariab!y a$$ears as the haughty, unbending
Dueen of hea"en, :uno, on the other hand, is re"ered and be!o"ed as the ty$e of a matron
and houseife. 3he as orshi$$ed in Rome under "arious tit!es, most of hich $oint to
her "ocation as the $rotectress of married omen. :uno as be!ie"ed to atch o"er and
guard the !ife of e"ery oman from her birth to her death. The $rinci$a! tem$!es
dedicated to her ere in Rome, one being erected on the A"entine, and the other on the
1a$ito!ine 9i!!. 3he had a!so a tem$!e on the ArI, in hich she as orshi$$ed as :uno
Moneta, or the ,C)0arning goddess. Adjacent to this shrine as the $ub!ic mint.,/.0 4n
the /st of March a grand annua! festi"a!, ca!!ed the Matrona!ia, as ce!ebrated in her
honour by a!! the married omen of Rome, and this re!igious institution as
accom$anied ith much so!emnity.,/60
PALLA3%AT9E<E GMiner"aH.
Pa!!as%Athene, goddess of >isdom and Armed Resistance, as a $ure!y Greek di"inityF
that is to say, no other nation $ossessed a corres$onding conce$tion. 3he as su$$osed,
as a!ready re!ated, to ha"e issued from the head of Meus himse!f, c!ad in armour from
head to foot. The miracu!ous ad"ent of this maiden goddess is beautifu!!y described by
9omer in one of his hymns& sno%ca$$ed 4!ym$us shook to its foundationF the g!ad
earth re%echoed her martia! shoutF the bi!!oy sea became agitatedF and 9e!ios, the sun%
god, arrested his fiery steeds in their head!ong course to e!come this onderfu!
emanation from the godhead. Athene as at once admitted into the assemb!y of the gods,
and henceforth took her $!ace as the most faithfu! and sagacious of a!! her fatherRs
counse!!ors. This bra"e, daunt!ess maiden, so eIact!y the essence of a!! that is nob!e in the
character of Tthe father of gods and men,T remained throughout chaste in ord and deed,
and kind at heart, ithout eIhibiting any of those fai!ings hich somehat mar the nob!er
features in the character of Meus. This direct emanation from his on se!f, just!y his
fa"ourite chi!d, his better and $urer counter$art, recei"ed from him se"era! im$ortant
$rerogati"es. 3he as $ermitted to hur! the thunderbo!ts, to $ro!ong the !ife of man, and
to besto the gift of $ro$hecyF in fact Athene as the on!y di"inity hose authority as
eDua! to that of Meus himse!f, and hen he had ceased to "isit the earth in $erson ,CC0she
as em$oered by him to act as his de$uty. 2t as her es$ecia! duty to $rotect the state
and a!! $eacefu! associations of mankind, hich she $ossessed the $oer of defending
hen occasion reDuired. 3he encouraged the maintenance of !a and order, and defended
the right on a!! occasions, for hich reason, in the Trojan ar she es$ouses the cause of
the Greeks and eIerts a!! her inf!uence on their beha!f. The Areo$agus, a court of justice
here re!igious causes and murders ere tried, as be!ie"ed to ha"e been instituted by
her, and hen both sides ha$$ened to ha"e an eDua! number of "otes she ga"e the
casting%"ote in fa"our of the accused. 3he as the $atroness of !earning, science, and art,
more $articu!ar!y here these contributed direct!y toards the e!fare of nations. 3he
$resided o"er a!! in"entions connected ith agricu!ture, in"ented the $!ough, and taught
mankind ho to use oIen for farming $ur$oses. 3he a!so instructed mankind in the use of
numbers, trum$ets, chariots, Bc., and $resided o"er the bui!ding of the Argo,,(*0 thereby
encouraging the usefu! art of na"igation. 3he a!so taught the Greeks ho to bui!d the
ooden horse by means of hich the destruction of Troy as effected.
The safety of cities de$ended on her care, for hich reason her tem$!es ere genera!!y
bui!t on the citade!s, and she as su$$osed to atch o"er the defence of the a!!s,
fortifications, harbours, Bc. A di"inity ho so faithfu!!y guarded the best interests of the
state, by not on!y $rotecting it from the attacks of enemies, but a!so by de"e!o$ing its
chief resources of ea!th and $ros$erity, as orthi!y chosen as the $residing deity of the
state, and in this character as an essentia!!y $o!itica! goddess she as ca!!ed Athene%
Po!ias.
The fact of Athene ha"ing been born c!ad in armour, hich mere!y signified that her
"irtue and $urity ere unassai!ab!e, has gi"en rise to the erroneous su$$osition that she
as the $residing goddess of arF but a dee$er ,C50study of her character in a!! its
bearings $ro"es that, in contradistinction to her brother Ares, the god of ar, ho !o"ed
strife for its on sake, she on!y takes u$ arms to $rotect the innocent and deser"ing
against tyrannica! o$$ression. 2t is true that in the 2!iad e freDuent!y see her on the
batt!efie!d fighting "a!iant!y, and $rotecting her fa"ourite heroesF but this is a!ays at the
command of Meus, ho e"en su$$!ies her ith arms for the $ur$ose, as it is su$$osed that
she $ossessed none of her on. A marked feature in the re$resentations of this deity is the
Kgis, that onderfu! shie!d gi"en to her by her father as a further means of defence,
hich, hen in danger, she sung so sift!y round and round that it ke$t at a distance a!!
antagonistic inf!uencesF hence her name Pa!!as, from $a!!o, 2 sing. 2n the centre of this
shie!d, hich as co"ered ith dragonRs sca!es, bordered ith ser$ents, and hich she
sometimes ore as a breast$!ate, as the ae%ins$iring head of the Medusa, hich had
the effect of turning to stone a!! beho!ders.
2n addition to the many functions hich she eIercised in connection ith the state,
Athene $resided o"er the to chief de$artments of feminine industry, s$inning and
ea"ing. 2n the !atter art she herse!f dis$!ayed unri"a!!ed abi!ity and eIDuisite taste. 3he
o"e her on robe and that of 9era, hich !ast she is said to ha"e embroidered "ery
rich!yF she a!so ga"e :ason a c!oak rought by herse!f, hen he set forth in Duest of the
Go!den 8!eece. Being on one occasion cha!!enged to a contest in this accom$!ishment by
a morta! maiden named Arachne, hom she had instructed in the art of ea"ing, she
acce$ted the cha!!enge and as com$!ete!y "anDuished by her $u$i!. Angry at her defeat,
she struck the unfortunate maiden on the forehead ith the shutt!e hich she he!d in her
handF and Arachne, being of a sensiti"e nature, as so hurt by this indignity that she hung
herse!f in des$air, and as changed by Athene into a s$ider. This goddess is said to ha"e
in"ented the f!ute,,(/0 u$on ,CN0hich she $!ayed ith considerab!e ta!ent, unti! one day,
being !aughed at by the assemb!ed gods and goddesses for the contortions hich her
countenance assumed during these musica! efforts, she hasti!y ran to a fountain in order
to con"ince herse!f hether she deser"ed their ridicu!e. 8inding to her intense disgust that
such as indeed the fact, she thre the f!ute aay, and ne"er raised it to her !i$s again.
Athene
Athene is usua!!y re$resented fu!!y dra$edF she has a serious and thoughtfu! as$ect, as
though re$!ete ith earnestness and isdomF the beautifu! o"a! contour of her
countenance is adorned by the !uIuriance of her ea!th of hair, hich is dran back from
the tem$!es and hangs don in care!ess graceF she !ooks the embodiment of strength,
grandeur, and majestyF hi!st her broad shou!ders and sma!! hi$s gi"e her a s!ight!y
mascu!ine a$$earance.
>hen re$resented as the ar%goddess she a$$ears c!ad in armour, ith a he!met on her
head, from hich a"es a !arge $!umeF she carries the Kgis on her arm, and in her hand a
go!den staff, hich $ossessed the $ro$erty of endoing her chosen fa"ourites ith youth
and dignity.
Athene as uni"ersa!!y orshi$$ed throughout Greece, but as regarded ith s$ecia!
"eneration by the Athenians, she being the guardian deity of Athens. 9er most ce!ebrated
tem$!e as the Parthenon, hich stood on the ,C+0Acro$o!is at Athens, and contained her
or!d%renoned statue by Phidias, hich ranks second on!y to that of Meus by the same
great artist. This co!ossa! statue as )6 feet high, and as com$osed of i"ory and go!dF
its majestic beauty formed the chief attraction of the tem$!e. 2t re$resented her standing
erect, bearing her s$ear and shie!dF in her hand she he!d an image of <ike, and at her feet
there !ay a ser$ent.
The tree sacred to her as the o!i"e, hich she herse!f $roduced in a contest ith
Poseidon. The o!i"e%tree thus ca!!ed into eIistence as $reser"ed in the tem$!e of
Erectheus, on the Acro$o!is, and is said to ha"e $ossessed such mar"e!!ous "ita!ity, that
hen the Persians burned it after sacking the ton it immediate!y burst forth into ne
shoots.
The $rinci$a! festi"a! he!d in honour of this di"inity as the PanathenKa.
The o!, cock, and ser$ent ere the anima!s sacred to her, and her sacrifices ere rams,
bu!!s, and cos.
Miner"a
M2<ERAA.
The Miner"a of the Romans as identified ith the Pa!!as%Athene of the Greeks. Like her
she $resides o"er !earning and a!! usefu! arts, and is the $atroness of the feminine
accom$!ishments of seing, s$inning, ea"ing, Bc. 3choo!s ere under her es$ecia!
care, and schoo!boys, therefore, had ho!idays during her festi"a!s Gthe Greater
@uinDuatriaH, hen they a!ays brought a gift to their master, ca!!ed the Miner"a!.
2t is orthy of notice that the on!y three di"inities ,C.0orshi$$ed in the 1a$ito! ere
:u$iter, :uno, and Miner"a, and in their joint honour the Ludi MaIimi or great games
ere he!d.
T9EM23.
Themis, ho has a!ready been a!!uded to as the ife of Meus, as the daughter of 1ronus
and Rhea, and $ersonified those di"ine !as of justice and order by means of hich the
e!!%being and mora!ity of communities are regu!ated. 3he $resided o"er the assemb!ies
of the $eo$!e and the !as of hos$ita!ity. To her as intrusted the office of con"oking the
assemb!y of the gods, and she as a!so mistress of ritua! and ceremony. 4n account of
her great isdom Meus himse!f freDuent!y sought her counse! and acted u$on her ad"ice.
Themis as a $ro$hetic di"inity, and had an orac!e near the ri"er 1e$hissus in BLotia.
3he is usua!!y re$resented as being in the fu!! maturity of omanhood, of fair as$ect, and
earing a f!oing garment, hich dra$es her nob!e, majestic formF in her right hand she
ho!ds the sord of justice, and in her !eft the sca!es, hich indicate the im$artia!ity ith
hich e"ery cause is carefu!!y eighed by her, her eyes being bandaged so that the
$ersona!ity of the indi"idua! shou!d carry no eight ith res$ect to the "erdict.
This di"inity is sometimes identified ith Tyche, sometimes ith Ananke.
Themis, !ike so many other Greek di"inities, takes the $!ace of a more ancient deity of the
same name ho as a daughter of ;ranus and GKa. This e!der Themis inherited from her
mother the gift of $ro$hecy, and hen she became merged into her younger
re$resentati"e she transmitted to her this $ro$hetic $oer.
9E3T2A GAestaH.
9estia as the daughter of 1ronus and Rhea. 3he as the goddess of 8ire in its first
a$$!ication to the ants of mankind, hence she as essentia!!y the $residing deity ,C60of
the domestic hearth and the guardian s$irit of man, and it as her $ure and benign
inf!uence hich as su$$osed to $rotect the sanctity of domestic !ife.
<o in these ear!y ages the hearth as regarded as the most im$ortant and most sacred
$ortion of the de!!ing, $robab!y because the $rotection of the fire as an im$ortant
consideration, for if once $ermitted to become eItinct, re%ignition as attended ith
eItreme difficu!ty. 2n fact, the hearth as he!d so sacred that it constituted the sanctum of
the fami!y, for hich reason it as a!ays erected in the centre of e"ery house. 2t as a
fe feet in height and as bui!t of stoneF the fire as $!aced on the to$ of it, and ser"ed
the doub!e $ur$ose of $re$aring the dai!y mea!s, and consuming the fami!y sacrifices.
Round this domestic hearth or a!tar ere gathered the "arious members of the fami!y, the
head of the house occu$ying the $!ace of honour nearest the hearth. 9ere $rayers ere
said and sacrifices offered, and here a!so e"ery kind and !o"ing fee!ing as fostered,
hich e"en eItended to the hunted and gui!ty stranger, ho, if he once succeeded in
touching this sacred a!tar, as safe from $ursuit and $unishment, and as henceforth
$!aced under the $rotection of the fami!y. Any crime committed ithin the sacred
$recincts of the domestic hearth as in"ariab!y "isited by death.
Aesta
2n Grecian cities there as a common ha!!, ca!!ed the Prytaneum, in hich the members
of the go"ernment had their mea!s at the eI$ense of the state, and here too as the 9estia,
or $ub!ic hearth, ith its fire, by means of hich those mea!s ere $re$ared. 2t as
customary for emigrants to take ith them a $ortion of this sacred fire, hich they
jea!ous!y guarded and brought ith them to their ne home, here it ser"ed as a
connecting !ink beteen the young Greek co!ony and the mother country. 9estia is
genera!!y re$resented standing, and in accordance ith the dignity and sanctity of her
character, a!ays a$$ears fu!!y dra$ed. 9er countenance is distinguished by a serene
gra"ity of eI$ression. ,5*0
AE3TA.
Aesta occu$ies a distinguished $!ace among the ear!ier di"inities of the Romans. 9er
tem$!e in Rome, containing as it ere the hearthstone of the nation, stood c!ose beside
the $a!ace of <uma Pom$i!ius.
4n her a!tar burned the ne"er%ceasing fire, hich as tended by her $riestesses, the
Aesta! Airgins.,((0
The tem$!e of Aesta as circu!ar in form, and contained that sacred and high!y $riEed
treasure the Pa!!adium of Troy.,()0
The great festi"a! in honour of Aesta, ca!!ed the Aesta!ia, as ce!ebrated on the 6th of
:une.
'EMETER G1eresH.
'emeter Gfrom Ge%meter, earth%motherH as the daughter of 1ronus and Rhea.,(C0 3he
re$resented that $ortion of GKa Gthe ho!e so!id earthH hich e ca!! the earthRs crust,
and hich $roduces a!! "egetation. As goddess of agricu!ture, fie!d%fruits, $!enty, and
$roducti"eness, she as the sustainer of materia! !ife, and as therefore a di"inity of
great im$ortance. >hen ancient GKa !ost, ith ;ranus, her $osition as a ru!ing di"inity,
she abdicated her say in fa"our of her daughter Rhea, ho henceforth inherited the
$oers hich her mother had $re"ious!y $ossessed, recei"ing in her $!ace the honour and
orshi$ of mankind. 2n a "ery o!d $oem GKa is according!y described as retiring to a
ca"ern in the boe!s ,5/0of the earth, here she sits in the !a$ of her daughter,
s!umbering, moaning, and nodding for e"er and e"er.
2t is necessary to kee$ c!ear!y in "ie the distincti"e difference beteen the three great
earth%goddesses GKa, Rhea, and 'emeter. GKa re$resents the earth as a ho!e, ith its
mighty subterranean forcesF Rhea is that $roducti"e $oer hich causes "egetation to
s$ring forth, thus sustaining men and anima!sF 'emeter, by $residing o"er agricu!ture,
directs and uti!iEes RheaRs $roducti"e $oers. But in !ater times, hen Rhea, !ike other
ancient di"inities, !oses her im$ortance as a ru!ing deity, 'emeter assumes a!! her
functions and attributes, and then becomes the goddess of the !ife%$roducing and !ife%
maintaining earth%crust. >e must bear in mind the fact that man in his $rimiti"e state
kne neither ho to so nor ho to ti!! the groundF hen, therefore, he had eIhausted
the $astures hich surrounded him he as com$e!!ed to seek others hich ere as yet
unrea$edF thus, roaming constant!y from one $!ace to another, sett!ed habitations, and
conseDuent!y ci"i!iEing inf!uences, ere im$ossib!e. 'emeter, hoe"er, by introducing a
kno!edge of agricu!ture, $ut an end, at once and for e"er, to that nomadic !ife hich as
no no !onger necessary.
'emeter
The fa"our of 'emeter as be!ie"ed to bring mankind rich har"ests and fruitfu! cro$s,
hereas her dis$!easure caused b!ight, drought, and famine. The is!and of 3ici!y as
su$$osed to be under her es$ecia! $rotection, and there she as regarded ith $articu!ar
"eneration, the 3ici!ians natura!!y attributing the onderfu! ferti!ity of their country to the
$artia!ity of the goddess.
'emeter is usua!!y re$resented as a oman of nob!e ,5(0bearing and majestic
a$$earance, ta!!, matron!y, and dignified, ith beautifu! go!den hair, hich fa!!s in
ri$$!ing cur!s o"er her state!y shou!ders, the ye!!o !ocks being emb!ematica! of the
ri$ened ears of corn. 3ometimes she a$$ears seated in a chariot dran by inged
dragons, at others she stands erect, her figure dran u$ to its fu!! height, and a!ays fu!!y
dra$edF she bears a sheaf of heat%ears in one hand and a !ighted torch in the other. The
heat%ears are not unfreDuent!y re$!aced by a bunch of $o$$ies, ith hich her bros
are a!so gar!anded, though sometimes she mere!y ears a sim$!e riband in her hair.
'emeter, as the ife of Meus, became the mother of Perse$hone GProser$ineH, to hom
she as so tender!y attached that her ho!e !ife as bound u$ in her, and she kne no
ha$$iness eIce$t in her society. 4ne day, hoe"er, hi!st Perse$hone as gathering
f!oers in a meado, attended by the ocean%nym$hs, she sa to her sur$rise a beautifu!
narcissus, from the stem of hich s$rang forth a hundred b!ossoms. 'raing near to
eIamine this !o"e!y f!oer, hose eIDuisite scent $erfumed the air, she stoo$ed don to
gather it, sus$ecting no e"i!, hen a yaning abyss o$ened at her feet, and AOdes, the
grim ru!er of the !oer or!d, a$$eared from its de$ths, seated in his daEE!ing chariot
dran by four b!ack horses. Regard!ess of her tears and the shrieks of her fema!e
attendants, AOdes seiEed the terrified maiden, and bore her aay to the g!oomy rea!ms
o"er hich he reigned in me!ancho!y grandeur. 9e!ios, the a!!%seeing sun%god, and
9ecate, a mysterious and "ery ancient di"inity, a!one heard her cries for aid, but ere
$oer!ess to he!$ her. >hen 'emeter became conscious of her !oss her grief as intense,
and she refused to be comforted. 3he kne not here to seek for her chi!d, but fee!ing
that re$ose and inaction ere im$ossib!e, she set out on her eary search, taking ith her
to torches hich she !ighted in the f!ames of Mount Etna to guide her on her ay. 8or
nine !ong days and nights she andered on, inDuiring of e"ery one she met for tidings of
her chi!d. ,5)0But a!! as in "ainU <either gods nor men cou!d gi"e her the comfort hich
her sou! so hungered for. At !ast, on the tenth day, the disconso!ate mother met 9ecate,
ho informed her that she had heard her daughterRs cries, but kne not ho it as that
had borne her aay. By 9ecateRs ad"ice 'emeter consu!ted 9e!ios, hose a!!%seeing eye
nothing esca$es, and from him she !earnt that it as Meus himse!f ho had $ermitted
AOdes to seiEe Perse$hone, and trans$ort her to the !oer or!d in order that she might
become his ife. 2ndignant ith Meus for ha"ing gi"en his sanction to the abduction of
his daughter, and fi!!ed ith the bitterest sorro, she abandoned her home in 4!ym$us,
and refused a!! hea"en!y food. 'isguising herse!f as an o!d oman, she descended u$on
earth, and commenced a eary $i!grimage among mankind. 4ne e"ening she arri"ed at a
$!ace ca!!ed E!eusis, in Attica, and sat don to rest herse!f near a e!! beneath the shade
of an o!i"e%tree. The youthfu! daughters of 1e!eus, the king of the country, came ith
their $ai!s of brass to dra ater from this e!!, and seeing that the tired ayfarer
a$$eared faint and dis$irited, they s$oke kind!y to her, asking ho she as, and hence
she came. 'emeter re$!ied that she had made her esca$e from $irates, ho had ca$tured
her, and added that she ou!d fee! gratefu! for a home ith any orthy fami!y, hom she
ou!d be i!!ing to ser"e in a menia! ca$acity. The $rincesses, on hearing this, begged
'emeter to ha"e a momentRs $atience hi!e they returned home and consu!ted their
mother, Metaneira. They soon brought the joyfu! inte!!igence that she as desirous of
securing her ser"ices as nurse to her infant son 'emo$hoon, or Tri$to!emus. >hen
'emeter arri"ed at the house a radiant !ight sudden!y i!!umined her, hich circumstance
so o"eraed Metaneira that she treated the unknon stranger ith the greatest res$ect,
and hos$itab!y offered her food and drink. But 'emeter, sti!! grief%orn and dejected,
refused her friend!y offers, and he!d herse!f a$art from the socia! board. At !ength,
hoe"er, the maid%ser"ant 2ambe succeeded, by means ,5C0of $!ayfu! jests and
merriment, in somehat dis$e!!ing the grief of the sorroing mother, causing her at times
to smi!e in s$ite of herse!f, and e"en inducing her to $artake of a miIture of bar!ey%mea!,
mint, and ater, hich as $re$ared according to the directions of the goddess herse!f.
Time $assed on, and the young chi!d thro"e amaEing!y under the care of his kind and
judicious nurse, ho, hoe"er, ga"e him no food, but anointed him dai!y ith ambrosia,
and e"ery night !aid him secret!y in the fire in order to render him immorta! and eIem$t
from o!d age. But, unfortunate!y, this bene"o!ent design on the $art of 'emeter as
frustrated by Metaneira herse!f, hose curiosity, one night, im$e!!ed her to atch the
$roceedings of the mysterious being ho nursed her chi!d. >hen to her horror she behe!d
her son $!aced in the f!ames, she shrieked a!oud. 'emeter, incensed at this untime!y
interru$tion, instant!y ithdre the chi!d, and throing him on the ground, re"ea!ed
herse!f in her true character. The bent and aged form had "anished, and in its $!ace there
stood a bright and beauteous being, hose go!den !ocks streamed o"er her shou!ders in
richest !uIuriance, her ho!e as$ect bes$eaking dignity and majesty. 3he to!d the ae%
struck Metaneira that she as the goddess 'emeter, and had intended to make her son
immorta!, but that her fata! curiosity had rendered this im$ossib!e, adding, hoe"er, that
the chi!d, ha"ing s!e$t in her arms, and been nursed on her !a$, shou!d e"er command the
res$ect and esteem of mankind. 3he then desired that a tem$!e and a!tar shou!d be erected
to her on a neighbouring hi!! by the $eo$!e of E!eusis, $romising that she herse!f ou!d
direct them ho to $erform the sacred rites and ceremonies, hich shou!d be obser"ed in
her honour. >ith these ords she took her de$arture ne"er to return.
4bedient to her commands, 1e!eus ca!!ed together a meeting of his $eo$!e, and bui!t the
tem$!e on the s$ot hich the goddess had indicated. 2t as soon com$!eted, and 'emeter
took u$ her abode in it, but her heart as sti!! sad for the !oss of her daughter, and the
ho!e or!d fe!t the inf!uence of her grief and dejection. This as ,550indeed a terrib!e
year for mankind. 'emeter no !onger smi!ed on the earth she as ont to b!ess, and
though the husbandman soed the grain, and the groaning oIen $!oughed the fie!ds, no
har"est rearded their !abour. A!! as barren, dreary deso!ation. The or!d as
threatened ith famine, and the gods ith the !oss of their accustomed honours and
sacrificesF it became e"ident, therefore, to Meus himse!f that some measures must be
ado$ted to a$$ease the anger of the goddess. 9e according!y des$atched 2ris and many of
the other gods and goddesses to im$!ore 'emeter to return to 4!ym$usF but a!! their
$rayers ere fruit!ess. The incensed goddess sore that unti! her daughter as restored to
her she ou!d not a!!o the grain to s$ring forth from the earth. At !ength Meus sent
9ermes, his faithfu! messenger, to the !oer or!d ith a $etition to AOdes, urgent!y
entreating him to restore Perse$hone to the arms of her disconso!ate mother. >hen he
arri"ed in the g!oomy rea!ms of AOdes, 9ermes found him seated on a throne ith the
beautifu! Perse$hone beside him, sorrofu!!y beai!ing her unha$$y fate. 4n !earning his
errand, AOdes consented to resign Perse$hone, ho joyfu!!y $re$ared to fo!!o the
messenger of the gods to the abode of !ife and !ight. Before taking !ea"e of her husband,
he $resented to her a fe seeds of $omegranate, hich in her eIcitement she
thought!ess!y sa!!oed, and this sim$!e act, as the seDue! i!! sho, materia!!y affected
her ho!e future !ife. The meeting beteen mother and chi!d as one of unmiIed ra$ture,
and for the moment a!! the $ast as forgotten. The !o"ing motherRs ha$$iness ou!d no
ha"e been com$!ete had not AOdes asserted his rights. These ere, that if any immorta!
had tasted food in his rea!ms they ere bound to remain there for e"er. 4f course the
ru!er of the !oer or!d had to $ro"e this assertion. This, hoe"er, he found no difficu!ty
in doing, as Asca!a$hus, the son of Acheron and 4r$hne, as his itness to the fact.,(50
Meus, $itying the disa$$ointment of 'emeter at finding ,5N0her ho$es thus b!ighted,
succeeded in effecting a com$romise by inducing his brother AOdes to a!!o Perse$hone
to s$end siI months of the year ith the gods abo"e, hi!st during the other siI she as
to be the joy!ess com$anion of her grim !ord be!o. Accom$anied by her daughter, the
beautifu! Perse$hone, 'emeter no resumed her !ong%abandoned de!!ing in 4!ym$usF
the sym$athetic earth res$onded gai!y to her bright smi!es, the corn at once s$rang forth
from the ground in fu!!est $!enty, the trees, hich !ate ere sered and bare, no donned
their brightest emera!d robes, and the f!oers, so !ong im$risoned in the hard, dry soi!,
fi!!ed the ho!e air ith their fragrant $erfume. Thus ends this charming story, hich as
a fa"ourite theme ith a!! the c!assic authors.
2t is "ery $ossib!e that the $oets ho first created this gracefu! myth mere!y intended it as
an a!!egory to i!!ustrate the change of seasonsF in the course of time, hoe"er, a !itera!
meaning became attached to this and simi!ar $oetica! fancies, and thus the $eo$!e of
Greece came to regard as an artic!e of re!igious be!ief hat, in the first instance, as
nothing more than a $oetic simi!e.
2n the tem$!e erected to 'emeter at E!eusis, the famous E!eusinian Mysteries ere
instituted by the goddess herse!f. 2t is eIceeding!y difficu!t, as in the case of a!! secret
societies, to disco"er anything ith certainty concerning these sacred rites. The most
$!ausib!e su$$osition is that the doctrines taught by the $riests to the fa"oured fe hom
they initiated, ere re!igious truths hich ere deemed unfit for the uninstructed mind of
the mu!titude. 8or instance, it is su$$osed that the myth of 'emeter and Perse$hone as
eI$!ained by the teachers of the Mysteries to signify the tem$orary !oss hich mother
earth sustains e"ery year hen the icy breath of inter robs her of her f!oers and fruits
and grain.
2t is be!ie"ed that in !ater times a sti!! dee$er meaning as con"eyed by this beautifu!
myth, "iE., the doctrine of the immorta!ity of the sou!. The grain, hich, as it ere,
remains dead for a time in the dark earth, on!y ,5+0to rise one day dressed in a neer and
!o"e!ier garb, as su$$osed to symbo!iEe the sou!, hich, after death, frees itse!f from
corru$tion, to !i"e again under a better and $urer form.
>hen 'emeter instituted the E!eusinian Mysteries, 1e!eus and his fami!y ere the first to
be initiated, 1e!eus himse!f being a$$ointed high%$riest. 9is son Tri$to!emus and his
daughters, ho acted as $riestesses, assisted him in the duties of his sacred office. The
Mysteries ere ce!ebrated by the Athenians e"ery fi"e years, and ere, for a !ong time,
their eIc!usi"e $ri"i!ege. They took $!ace by torch!ight, and ere conducted ith the
greatest so!emnity.
2n order to s$read abroad the b!essings hich agricu!ture confers, 'emeter $resented
Tri$to!emus ith her chariot dran by inged dragons, and, gi"ing him some grains of
corn, desired him to journey through the or!d, teaching mankind the arts of agricu!ture
and husbandry.
1eres
'emeter eIercised great se"erity toards those ho incurred her dis$!easure. >e find
eIam$!es of this in the stories of 3te!!io and Eresicthon. 3te!!io as a youth ho ridicu!ed
the goddess for the eagerness ith hich she as eating a bo! of $orridge, hen eary
and faint in the "ain search for her daughter. Reso!"ed that he shou!d ne"er again ha"e an
o$$ortunity of thus offending, she angri!y thre into his face the remainder of the food,
and changed him into a s$otted !iEard.
Eresicthon, son of Trio$as, had dran u$on himse!f the anger of 'emeter by cutting
don her sacred gro"es, for hich she $unished him ith a constant and insatiab!e
hunger. 9e so!d a!! his $ossessions in order to satisfy his cra"ings, and as forced at !ast
to de"our his on !imbs. 9is daughter Metra, ho as de"oted!y attached to him,
$ossessed the $oer of transforming herse!f into a "ariety of different anima!s. By this
means she contri"ed to su$$ort her father, ho so!d her again and again each time she
assumed a different form, and thus he dragged on a $itifu! eIistence. ,5.0
1ERE3.
The Roman 1eres is actua!!y the Greek 'emeter under another name, her attributes,
orshi$, festi"a!s, Bc., being $recise!y identica!.
The Romans ere indebted to 3ici!y for this di"inity, her orshi$ ha"ing been introduced
by the Greek co!onists ho sett!ed there.
The 1erea!ia, or festi"a!s in honour of 1eres, commenced on the /(th of A$ri!, and !asted
se"era! days.
AP9R4'2TE GAenusH.
A$hrodite Gfrom a$hros, sea%foam, and dite, issuedH, the daughter of Meus and a sea%
nym$h ca!!ed 'ione, as the goddess of Lo"e and Beauty.
'ione, being a sea%nym$h, ga"e birth to her daughter beneath the a"esF but the chi!d of
the hea"en%inhabiting Meus as forced to ascend from the ocean%de$ths and mount to the
sno%ca$$ed summits of 4!ym$us, in order to breathe that etherea! and most refined
atmos$here hich $ertains to the ce!estia! gods.
A$hrodite as the mother of Eros G1u$idH, the god of Lo"e, a!so of Pneas, the great
Trojan hero and the head of that Greek co!ony hich sett!ed in 2ta!y, and from hich
arose the city of Rome. As a mother A$hrodite c!aims our sym$athy for the tenderness
she eIhibits toards her chi!dren. 9omer te!!s us in his 2!iad, ho, hen Pneas as
ounded in batt!e, she came to his assistance, regard!ess of $ersona! danger, and as
herse!f se"ere!y ounded in attem$ting to sa"e his !ife. ,560
A$hrodite as tender!y attached to a !o"e!y youth, ca!!ed Adonis, hose eIDuisite beauty
has become $ro"erbia!. 9e as a mother!ess babe, and A$hrodite, taking $ity on him,
$!aced him in a chest and intrusted him to the care of Perse$hone, ho became so fond of
the beautifu! youth that she refused to $art ith him. Meus, being a$$ea!ed to by the ri"a!
foster%mothers, decided that Adonis shou!d s$end four months of e"ery year ith
Perse$hone, four ith A$hrodite, hi!st during the remaining four months he shou!d be
!eft to his on de"ices. 9e became, hoe"er, so attached to A$hrodite that he "o!untari!y
de"oted to her the time at his on dis$osa!. Adonis as ki!!ed, during the chase, by a
i!d boar, to the great grief of A$hrodite, ho bemoaned his !oss so $ersistent!y that
AOdes, mo"ed ith $ity, $ermitted him to $ass siI months of e"ery year ith her, hi!st
the remaining ha!f of the year as s$ent by him in the !oer or!d.
A$hrodite $ossessed a magic gird!e Gthe famous cestusH hich she freDuent!y !ent to
unha$$y maidens suffering from the $angs of unreDuited !o"e, as it as endoed ith the
$oer of ins$iring affection for the earer, hom it in"ested ith e"ery attribute of
grace, beauty, and fascination.
9er usua! attendants are the 1harites or Graces GEu$hrosyne, Ag!aia, and Tha!iaH, ho are
re$resented undra$ed and intertined in a !o"ing embrace.
2n 9esiodRs Theogony she is su$$osed to be!ong to the more ancient di"inities, and,
hi!st those of !ater date are re$resented as ha"ing descended one from another, and a!!
more or !ess from Meus, A$hrodite has a "arious!y%accounted%for, yet inde$endent origin.
The most $oetica! "ersion of her birth is that hen ;ranus as ounded by his son
1ronus, his b!ood ming!ed ith the foam of the sea, hereu$on the bubb!ing aters at
once assumed a rosy tint, and from their de$ths arose, in a!! the sur$assing g!ory of her
!o"e!iness, A$hrodite, goddess of !o"e and beautyU 3haking her !ong, fair tresses, the
ater%dro$s ro!!ed don into the beautifu! ,N*0sea%she!! in hich she stood, and became
transformed into $ure g!istening $ear!s. >afted by the soft and ba!my breeEes, she f!oated
on to 1ythera, and as thence trans$orted to the is!and of 1y$rus. Light!y she ste$$ed on
shore, and under the gent!e $ressure of her de!icate foot the dry and rigid sand became
transformed into a "erdant meado, here e"ery "aried shade of co!our and e"ery seet
odour charmed the senses. The ho!e is!and of 1y$rus became c!othed ith "erdure, and
greeted this fairest of a!! created beings ith a g!ad smi!e of friend!y e!come. 9ere she
as recei"ed by the 3easons, ho decked her ith garments of immorta! fabric,
encirc!ing her fair bro ith a reath of $urest go!d, hi!st from her ears de$ended
cost!y rings, and a g!ittering chain embraced her san%!ike throat. And no, arrayed in a!!
the $ano$!y of her irresistib!e charms, the nym$hs escort her to the daEE!ing ha!!s of
4!ym$us, here she is recei"ed ith ecstatic enthusiasm by the admiring gods and
goddesses. The gods a!! "ied ith each other in as$iring to the honour of her hand, but
9e$hKstus became the en"ied $ossessor of this !o"e!y being, ho, hoe"er, $ro"ed as
faith!ess as she as beautifu!, and caused her husband much unha$$iness, oing to the
$reference she shoed at "arious times for some of the other gods and a!so for morta!
men.
A$hrodite
The ce!ebrated Aenus of Mi!o, no in the Lou"re, is an eIDuisite statue of this di"inity.
The head is beautifu!!y formedF the rich a"es of hair descend on her rather !o but
broad forehead and are caught u$ gracefu!!y in a sma!! knot at the back of the headF the
eI$ression of the face is most beitching, and bes$eaks the $erfect ,N/0joyousness of a
ha$$y nature combined ith the dignity of a goddessF the dra$ery fa!!s in care!ess fo!ds
from the aist donards, and her ho!e attitude is the embodiment of a!! that is
gracefu! and !o"e!y in omanhood. 3he is of medium height, and the form is $erfect in its
symmetry and fau!t!ess $ro$ortions.
A$hrodite is a!so freDuent!y re$resented in the act of confining her dri$$ing !ocks in a
knot, hi!st her attendant nym$hs en"e!o$ her in a gauEy "ei!.
The anima!s sacred to her ere the do"e, san, sa!!o, and s$arro. 9er fa"ourite
$!ants ere the myrt!e, a$$!e%tree, rose, and $o$$y.
The orshi$ of A$hrodite is su$$osed to ha"e been introduced into Greece from 1entra!
Asia. There is no doubt that she as origina!!y identica! ith the famous AstartV, the
Ashtoreth of the Bib!e, against hose ido!atrous orshi$ and infamous rites the $ro$hets
of o!d hur!ed forth their sub!ime and $oerfu! anathemas.
AE<;3.
The Aenus of the Romans as identified ith the A$hrodite of the Greeks. The orshi$
of this di"inity as on!y estab!ished in Rome in com$arati"e!y !ater times. Annua!
festi"a!s, ca!!ed Aenera!ia, ere he!d in her honour, and the month of A$ri!, hen f!oers
and $!ants s$ring forth afresh, as sacred to her. 3he as orshi$$ed as Aenus 1!oacina
Gor the PurifierH, and as Aenus Myrtea Gor the myrt!e goddessH, an e$ithet deri"ed from the
myrt!e, the emb!em of Lo"e.
9EL243 G3o!H.
The orshi$ of 9e!ios as introduced into Greece from Asia. According to the ear!iest
conce$tions of the Greeks he as not on!y the sun%god, but a!so the $ersonification of !ife
and a!! !ife%gi"ing $oer, for !ight is e!! knon to be an indis$ensab!e condition of a!!
hea!thy terrestria! !ife. The orshi$ of the sun as origina!!y "ery ide!y s$read, ,N(0not
on!y among the ear!y Greeks themse!"es, but a!so among other $rimiti"e nations. To us
the sun is sim$!y the orb of !ight, hich, high abo"e our heads, $erforms each day the
functions assigned to it by a mighty and in"isib!e PoerF e can, therefore, form but a
faint idea of the im$ression hich it $roduced u$on the s$irit of a $eo$!e hose inte!!ect
as sti!! in its infancy, and ho be!ie"ed, ith chi!d%!ike sim$!icity, that e"ery $oer of
nature as a di"inity, hich, according as its character as ba!efu! or beneficent, orked
for the destruction or benefit of the human race.
9e!ios, ho as the son of the Titans 9y$erion and Theia, is described as rising e"ery
morning in the east, $receded by his sister Eos Gthe 'anH, ho, ith her rosy fingers,
$aints the ti$s of the mountains, and dras aside that misty "ei! through hich her
brother is about to a$$ear. >hen he has burst forth in a!! the g!orious !ight of day, Eos
disa$$ears, and 9e!ios no dri"es his f!ame%darting chariot a!ong the accustomed track.
This chariot, hich is of burnished go!d, is dran by four fire%breathing steeds, behind
hich the young god stands erect ith f!ashing eyes, his head surrounded ith rays,
ho!ding in one hand the reins of those fiery coursers hich in a!! hands sa"e his are
unmanageab!e. >hen toards e"ening he descends the cur"e,(N0 in order to coo! his
burning forehead in the aters of the dee$ sea, he is fo!!oed c!ose!y by his sister 3e!ene
Gthe MoonH, ho is no $re$ared to take charge of the or!d, and i!!umine ith her si!"er
crescent the dusky night. 9e!ios meanhi!e rests from his !abours, and, rec!ining soft!y
on the coo! fragrant couch $re$ared for him by the sea%nym$hs, recruits himse!f for
another !ife%gi"ing, joy%ins$iring, and beauteous day.
2t may a$$ear strange that, a!though the Greeks considered the earth to be a f!at circ!e, no
eI$!anation is gi"en of the fact that 9e!ios sinks don in the far ,N)0est regu!ar!y e"ery
e"ening, and yet rea$$ears as regu!ar!y e"ery morning in the east. >hether he as
su$$osed to $ass through Tartarus, and thus regain the o$$osite eItremity through the
boe!s of the earth, or hether they thought he $ossessed any other means of making this
transit, there is not a !ine in either 9omer or 9esiod to $ro"e. 2n !ater times, hoe"er, the
$oets in"ented the gracefu! fiction, that hen 9e!ios had finished his course, and reached
the estern side of the cur"e, a inged%boat, or cu$, hich had been made for him by
9e$hKstus, aaited him there, and con"eyed him ra$id!y, ith his g!orious eDui$age, to
the east, here he recommenced his bright and g!oing career.
This di"inity as in"oked as a itness hen a so!emn oath as taken, as it as be!ie"ed
that nothing esca$ed his a!!%seeing eye, and it as this fact hich enab!ed him to inform
'emeter of the fate of her daughter, as a!ready re!ated. 9e as su$$osed to $ossess f!ocks
and herds in "arious !oca!ities, hich may $ossib!y be intended to re$resent the days and
nights of the year, or the stars of hea"en.
9e!ios is said to ha"e !o"ed 1!ytie, a daughter of 4ceanus, ho ardent!y returned his
affectionF but in the course of time the fick!e sun%god transferred his de"otion to
Leucothea, the daughter of 4rchamus, king of the eastern countries, hich so angered the
forsaken 1!ytie that she informed 4rchamus of his daughterRs attachment, and he
$unished her by inhuman!y burying her a!i"e. 9e!ios, o"ercome ith grief, endea"oured,
by e"ery means in his $oer, to reca!! her to !ife. At !ast, finding a!! his efforts una"ai!ing,
he s$rink!ed her gra"e ith hea"en!y nectar, and immediate!y there s$rang forth from the
s$ot a shoot of frankincense, hich s$read around its aromatic $erfume.
The jea!ous 1!ytie gained nothing by her crue! conduct, for the sun%god came to her no
more. 2nconso!ab!e at his !oss, she thre herse!f u$on the ground, and refused a!!
sustenance. 8or nine !ong days she turned her face toards the g!orious god of day, as he
mo"ed a!ong the ,NC0hea"ens, ti!! at !ength her !imbs became rooted in the ground, and
she as transformed into a f!oer, hich e"er turns toards the sun.
9e!ios married Perse, daughter of 4ceanus, and their chi!dren ere, AStes, king of
1o!chis Gce!ebrated in the !egend of the Argonauts as the $ossessor of the Go!den 8!eeceH,
and 1irce, the renoned sorceress.
9e!ios had another son named Phaethon, hose mother as 1!ymene, one of the
4ceanides. The youth as "ery beautifu!, and a great fa"ourite ith A$hrodite, ho
intrusted him ith the care of one of her tem$!es, hich f!attering $roof of her regard
caused him to become "ain and $resum$tuous. 9is friend E$a$hus, son of Meus and 2o,
endea"oured to check his youthfu! "anity by $retending to disbe!ie"e his assertion that
the sun%god as his father. Phaethon, fu!! of resentment, and eager to be ab!e to refute the
ca!umny, hastened to his mother 1!ymene, and besought her to te!! him hether 9e!ios
as rea!!y his father. Mo"ed by his entreaties, and at the same time angry at the re$roach
of E$a$hus, 1!ymene $ointed to the g!orious sun, then shining don u$on them, and
assured her son that in that bright orb he behe!d the author of his being, adding that if he
had sti!! any doubt, he might "isit the radiant de!!ing of the great god of !ight and
inDuire for himse!f. 4"erjoyed at his motherRs reassuring ords, and fo!!oing the
directions she ga"e him, Phaethon Duick!y ended his ay to his fatherRs $a!ace.
As he entered the $a!ace of the sun%god the daEE!ing rays a!most b!inded him, and
$re"ented him from a$$roaching the throne on hich his father as seated, surrounded
by the 9ours, 'ays, Months, #ears, and 3easons. 9e!ios, ho ith his a!!%seeing eye had
atched him from afar, remo"ed his cron of g!ittering rays, and bade him not to be
afraid, but to dra near to his father. Encouraged by this kind rece$tion, Phaethon
entreated him to besto u$on him such a $roof of his !o"e, that a!! the or!d might be
con"inced that he as indeed his sonF hereu$on 9e!ios desired him to ask any fa"our he
$!eased, ,N50and sore by the 3tyI that it shou!d be granted. The im$etuous youth
immediate!y reDuested $ermission to dri"e the chariot of the sun for one ho!e day. 9is
father !istened horror%struck to this $resum$tuous demand, and by re$resenting the many
dangers hich ou!d beset his $ath, endea"oured to dissuade him from so $eri!ous an
undertakingF but his son, deaf to a!! ad"ice, $ressed his $oint ith such $ertinacity, that
9e!ios as re!uctant!y com$e!!ed to !ead him to the chariot. Phaethon $aused for a
moment to admire the beauty of the g!ittering eDui$age, the gift of the god of fire, ho
had formed it of go!d, and ornamented it ith $recious stones, hich ref!ected the rays of
the sun. And no 9e!ios, seeing his sister, the 'an, o$ening her doors in the rosy east,
ordered the 9ours to yoke the horses. The goddesses s$eedi!y obeyed the command, and
the father then anointed the face of his son ith a sacred ba!m, to enab!e him to endure
the burning f!ames hich issued from the nostri!s of the steeds, and sorrofu!!y $!acing
his cron of rays u$on his head, desired him to ascend the chariot.
The eager youth joyfu!!y took his $!ace and gras$ed the co"eted reins, but no sooner did
the fiery coursers of the sun fee! the ineI$erienced hand hich attem$ted to guide them,
than they became resti"e and unmanageab!e. >i!d!y they rushed out of their accustomed
track, no soaring so high as to threaten the hea"ens ith destruction, no descending so
!o as near!y to set the earth on fire. At !ast the unfortunate charioteer, b!inded ith the
g!are, and terrified at the afu! de"astation he had caused, dro$$ed the reins from his
tremb!ing hands. Mountains and forests ere in f!ames, ri"ers and streams ere dried u$,
and a genera! conf!agration as imminent. The scorched earth no ca!!ed on Meus for
he!$, ho hur!ed his thunderbo!t at Phaethon, and ith a f!ash of !ightning brought the
fiery steeds to a standsti!!. The !ife!ess body of the youth fe!! head!ong into the ri"er
Eridanus,,(+0 here it as recei"ed and buried by the ,NN0nym$hs of the stream. 9is
sisters mourned so !ong for him that they ere transformed by Meus into $o$!ars, and the
tears they shed, fa!!ing into the aters, became dro$s of c!ear, trans$arent amber. 1ycnus,
the faithfu! friend of the unha$$y Phaethon, fe!t such o"erhe!ming grief at his terrib!e
fate, that he $ined and asted aay. The gods, mo"ed ith com$assion, transformed him
into a san, hich for e"er brooded o"er the fata! s$ot here the aters had c!osed o"er
the head of his unfortunate friend.
1o!ossus of Rhodes
The chief seat of the orshi$ of 9e!ios as the is!and of Rhodes, hich according to the
fo!!oing myth as his es$ecia! territory. At the time of the Titanomachia, hen the gods
ere di"iding the or!d by !ot, 9e!ios ha$$ened to be absent, and conseDuent!y recei"ed
no share. 9e, therefore, com$!ained to Meus, ho $ro$osed to ha"e a ne a!!otment, but
this 9e!ios ou!d not a!!o, saying, that as he $ursued his dai!y journey, his $enetrating
eye had behe!d a !o"e!y, ferti!e is!and !ying beneath the a"es of the ocean, and that if the
immorta!s ou!d sear to gi"e him the undisturbed $ossession of this s$ot, he ou!d be
content to acce$t it as his share of the uni"erse. The gods took the oath, hereu$on the
is!and of Rhodes immediate!y raised itse!f abo"e the surface of the aters.
The famous 1o!ossus of Rhodes, hich as one of the se"en onders of the or!d, as
erected in honour of 9e!ios. This onderfu! statue as /*5 feet high, and as formed
entire!y of brassF it formed the entrance to the harbour at Rhodes, and the !argest "esse!
cou!d easi!y sai! beteen the !egs, hich stood on mo!es, each side of the harbour.
Though so gigantic, it as $erfect!y $ro$ortioned in e"ery $art. 3ome idea of ,N+0its siEe
may be gained from the fact that "ery fe $eo$!e ere ab!e to s$an the thumb of this
statue ith their arms. 2n the interior of the 1o!ossus as a inding staircase !eading to
the to$, from the summit of hich, by means of a te!esco$e, the coast of 3yria, and a!so
the shores of Egy$t, are said to ha"e been "isib!e.,(.0
E43 GAuroraH.
Eos, the 'an, !ike her brother 9e!ios, hose ad"ent she a!ays announced, as a!so
deified by the ear!y Greeks. 3he too had her on chariot, hich she dro"e across the "ast
horiEon both morning and night, before and after the sun%god. 9ence she is not mere!y
the $ersonification of the rosy morn, but a!so of ti!ight, for hich reason her $a!ace is
$!aced in the est, on the is!and PKa. The abode of Eos is a magnificent structure,
surrounded by f!oery meads and "e!"ety !ans, here nym$hs and other immorta!
beings, ind in and out in the maEy figures of the dance, hi!st the music of a seet!y%
tuned me!ody accom$anies their gracefu!, g!iding mo"ements.
Eos is described by the $oets as a beautifu! maiden ith rosy arms and fingers, and !arge
ings, hose $!umage is of an e"er%changing hueF she bears a star on her forehead, and a
torch in her hand. >ra$$ing round her the rich fo!ds of her "io!et%tinged mant!e, she
!ea"es her couch before the break of day, and herse!f yokes her to horses, Lam$etus and
Phaethon, to her g!orious chariot. 3he then hastens ith acti"e cheerfu!ness to o$en the
gates of hea"en, in order to hera!d the a$$roach of her brother, the god of day, hi!st the
tender $!ants and f!oers, re"i"ed by the morning de, !ift their heads to e!come her as
she $asses.
,N.0
Eos first married the Titan AstrKus,,(60 and their chi!dren ere 9eos$horus G9es$erusH,
the e"ening star, and the inds. 3he afterards became united to Tithonus, son of
Laomedon, king of Troy, ho had on her affection by his unri"a!!ed beautyF and Eos,
unha$$y at the thought of their being e"er se$arated by death, obtained for him from
Meus the gift of immorta!ity, forgetting, hoe"er, to add to it that of eterna! youth. The
conseDuence as that hen, in the course of time, Tithonus gre o!d and decre$id, and
!ost a!! the beauty hich had on her admiration, Eos became disgusted ith his
infirmities, and at !ast shut him u$ in a chamber, here soon !itt!e e!se as !eft of him but
his "oice, hich had no sunk into a eak, feeb!e Dua"er. According to some of the !ater
$oets, he became so eary of his cheer!ess and miserab!e eIistence, that he entreated to
be a!!oed to die. This as, hoe"er, im$ossib!eF but Eos, $itying his unha$$y condition,
eIerted her di"ine $oer, and changed him into a grassho$$er, hich is, as it ere, a!!
"oice, and hose monotonous, cease!ess chir$ings may not ina$t!y be com$ared to the
meaning!ess babb!e of eItreme o!d age.
P9QB;3%AP4LL4.
PhLbus%A$o!!o, the god of Light, Pro$hecy, Music, Poetry, and the Arts and 3ciences, is
by far the nob!est conce$tion ithin the ho!e range of Greek mytho!ogy, and his
orshi$, hich not on!y eItended to a!! the states of Greece, but a!so to Asia Minor and
to e"ery Greek co!ony throughout the or!d, stands out among the most ancient and
strong!y%marked features of Grecian history, and eIerted a more decided inf!uence o"er
the Greek nation, than that of any other deity, not eIce$ting Meus himse!f.
A$o!!o as the son of Meus and Leto, and as born beneath the shade of a $a!m tree
hich gre at the foot ,N60of Mount 1ynthus, on the barren and rocky is!and of 'e!os.
The $oets te!! us that the earth smi!ed hen the young god first behe!d the !ight of day,
and that 'e!os became so $roud and eIu!tant at the honour thus conferred u$on her, that
she co"ered herse!f ith go!den f!oersF sans surrounded the is!and, and the 'e!ian
nym$hs ce!ebrated his birth ith songs of joy.
A$o!!o
The unha$$y Leto, dri"en to 'e!os by the re!ent!ess $ersecutions of 9era, as not !ong
$ermitted to enjoy her ha"en of refuge. Being sti!! tormented by her enemy, the young
mother as once more ob!iged to f!yF she therefore resigned the charge of her ne%born
babe to the goddess Themis, ho carefu!!y ra$$ed the he!$!ess infant in sadd!ing%
c!othes, and fed him ith nectar and ambrosiaF but he had no sooner $artaken of the
hea"en!y food than, to the amaEement of the goddess, he burst asunder the bands hich
confined his infant !imbs, and s$ringing to his feet, a$$eared before her as a fu!!%gron
youth of di"ine strength and beauty. 9e no demanded a !yre and a bo, dec!aring that
henceforth he ou!d announce to mankind the i!! of his father Meus. TThe go!den !yre,T
said he, Tsha!! be my friend, the bent bo my de!ight, and in orac!es i!! 2 forete!! the
dark future.T >ith these ords he ascended to 4!ym$us, here he as recei"ed ith
joyfu! acc!amations into the assemb!y of the ce!estia! gods, ho ackno!edged him as the
most beautifu! and g!orious of a!! the sons of Meus.
PhLbus%A$o!!o as the god of !ight in a tofo!d ,+*0signification& first, as re$resenting
the great orb of day hich i!!umines the or!dF and second!y, as the hea"en!y !ight hich
animates the sou! of man. 9e inherited his function as sun%god from 9e!ios, ith hom,
in !ater times, he as so com$!ete!y identified, that the $ersona!ity of the one became
gradua!!y merged in that of the other. >e, according!y, find 9e!ios freDuent!y confounded
ith A$o!!o, myths be!onging to the former attributed to the !atterF and ith some tribes
Jthe 2onic, for instanceJso com$!ete is this identification, that A$o!!o is ca!!ed by them
9e!ios%A$o!!o.
As the di"inity hose $oer is de"e!o$ed in the broad !ight of day, he brings joy and
de!ight to nature, and hea!th and $ros$erity to man. By the inf!uence of his arm and
gent!e rays he dis$erses the noIious "a$ours of the night, assists the grain to ri$en and the
f!oers to b!oom.
But a!though, as god of the sun, he is a !ife%gi"ing and !ife%$reser"ing $oer, ho, by his
genia! inf!uence, dis$e!s the co!d of inter, he is, at the same time, the god ho, by
means of his fierce!y darting rays, cou!d s$read disease and send sudden death to men
and anima!sF and it is to this $hase of his character that e must !ook for the eI$!anation
of his being considered, in conjunction ith his tin%sister, Artemis Gas moon%goddessH, a
di"inity of death. The brother and sister share this function beteen them, he taking man
and she oman as her aim, and those es$ecia!!y ho died in the b!oom of youth, or at an
ad"anced age, ere be!ie"ed to ha"e been ki!!ed by their gent!e arros. But A$o!!o did
not a!ays send an easy death. >e see in the 2!iad ho, hen angry ith the Greeks, the
Tgod of the si!"er boT strode don from 4!ym$us, ith his Dui"er fu!! of death%bringing
darts, and sent a raging $esti!ence into their cam$. 8or nine days he !et f!y his fata!
arros, first on anima!s and then on men, ti!! the air became darkened ith the smoke
from the funera! $yres.
2n his character as god of !ight, PhLbus%A$o!!o is the $rotecting deity of she$herds,
because it is he ho arms ,+/0the fie!ds and meados, and gi"es rich $astures to the
f!ocks, thereby g!addening the heart of the herdsman.
As the tem$erate heat of the sun eIercises so in"igorating an effect on man and anima!s,
and $romotes the groth of those medicina! herbs and "egetab!e $roductions necessary
for the cure of diseases, PhLbus%A$o!!o as su$$osed to $ossess the $oer of restoring
!ife and hea!thF hence he as regarded as the god of hea!ingF but this feature in his
character e sha!! find more $articu!ar!y de"e!o$ed in his son Asc!e$ius GPscu!a$iusH,
the "eritab!e god of the hea!ing art.
Pursuing our ana!ysis of the "arious $hases in the character of PhLbus%A$o!!o, e find
that ith the first beams of his genia! !ight, a!! nature aakens to reneed !ife, and the
oods re%echo ith the jubi!ant sound of the untaught !ays, arb!ed by thousands of
feathered choristers. 9ence, by a natura! inference, he is the god of music, and as,
according to the be!ief of the ancients, the ins$irations of genius ere inse$arab!y
connected ith the g!orious !ight of hea"en, he is a!so the god of $oetry, and acts as the
s$ecia! $atron of the arts and sciences. A$o!!o is himse!f the hea"en!y musician among
the 4!ym$ic gods, hose banDuets are g!addened by the ondrous strains hich he
$roduces from his fa"ourite instrument, the se"en%stringed !yre. 2n the cu!tus of A$o!!o,
music formed a distinguishing feature. A!! sacred dances, and e"en the sacrifices in his
honour, ere $erformed to the sound of musica! instrumentsF and it is, in a great measure,
oing to the inf!uence hich the music in his orshi$ eIercised on the Greek nation, that
A$o!!o came to be regarded as the !eader of the nine Muses, the !egitimate di"inities of
$oetry and song. 2n this character he is ca!!ed Musagetes, and is a!ays re$resented robed
in a !ong f!oing garmentF his !yre, to the tones of hich he a$$ears to be singing, is
sus$ended by a band across the chestF his head is encirc!ed by a reath of !aure!, and his
!ong hair, streaming don o"er his shou!ders, gi"es him a somehat effeminate
a$$earance.
And no e must "ie the g!orious god of !ight under ,+(0another, and Gas far as regards
his inf!uence o"er the Greek nationH a much more im$ortant as$ectF for, in historica!
times, a!! the other functions and attributes of A$o!!o sink into com$arati"e insignificance
before the great $oer hich he eIercised as god of $ro$hecy. 2t is true that a!! Greek
gods ere endoed, to a certain eItent, ith the facu!ty of forete!!ing future e"entsF but
A$o!!o, as sun%god, as the concentration of a!! $ro$hetic $oer, as it as su$$osed that
nothing esca$ed his a!!%seeing eye, hich $enetrated the most hidden recesses, and !aid
bare the secrets hich !ay concea!ed behind the dark "ei! of the future.
>e ha"e seen that hen A$o!!o assumed his god%!ike form, he took his $!ace among the
immorta!sF but he had not !ong enjoyed the ra$turous de!ights of 4!ym$us, before he fe!t
ithin him an ardent desire to fu!fi! his great mission of inter$reting to mankind the i!!
of his mighty father. 9e according!y descended to earth, and tra"e!!ed through many
countries, seeking a fitting site u$on hich to estab!ish an orac!e. At !ength he reached
the southern side of the rocky heights of Parnassus, beneath hich !ay the harbour of
1rissa. 9ere, under the o"erhanging c!iff, he found a sec!uded s$ot, here, from the most
ancient times, there had eIisted an orac!e, in hich GKa herse!f had re"ea!ed the future to
man, and hich, in 'euca!ionRs time, she had resigned to Themis. 2t as guarded by the
huge ser$ent Python, the scourge of the surrounding neighbourhood, and the terror a!ike
of men and catt!e. The young god, fu!! of confidence in his unerring aim, attacked and
s!e the monster ith his arros, thus freeing !and and $eo$!e from their mighty enemy.
The gratefu! inhabitants, anIious to do honour to their de!i"erer, f!ocked round A$o!!o,
ho $roceeded to mark out a $!an for a tem$!e, and, ith the assistance of numbers of
eager "o!unteers, a suitab!e edifice as soon erected. 2t no became necessary to choose
ministers, ho ou!d offer u$ sacrifices, inter$ret his $ro$hecies to the $eo$!e, and take
charge of the tem$!e. Looking round, he sa in the far distance a "esse! bound from 1rete
to the ,+)0Pe!o$onnesus, and determined to a"ai! himse!f of her cre for his ser"ice.
Assuming the sha$e of an enormous do!$hin, he agitated the aters to such a degree, that
the shi$ as tossed "io!ent!y to and fro, to the great a!arm of the marinersF at the same
time he raised a mighty ind, hich dro"e the shi$ into the harbour of 1rissa, here she
ran aground. The terrified sai!ors dared not set foot on shoreF but A$o!!o, under the form
of a "igorous youth, ste$$ed don to the "esse!, re"ea!ed himse!f in his true character,
and informed them that it as he ho had dri"en them to 1rissa, in order that they might
become his $riests, and ser"e him in his tem$!e. Arri"ed at the sacred fane, he instructed
them ho to $erform the ser"ices in his honour, and desired them to orshi$ him under
the name of A$o!!o%'e!$hinios, because he had first a$$eared to them under the form of a
do!$hin. Thus as estab!ished the far%famed orac!e of 'e!$hi, the on!y institution of the
kind hich as not eIc!usi"e!y nationa!, for it as consu!ted by Lydians, Phrygians,
Etruscans, Romans, Bc., and, in fact, as he!d in the highest re$ute a!! o"er the or!d. 2n
obedience to its decrees, the !as of Lycurgus ere introduced, and the ear!iest Greek
co!onies founded. <o cities ere bui!t ithout first consu!ting the 'e!$hic orac!e, for it
as be!ie"ed that A$o!!o took s$ecia! de!ight in the founding of cities, the first stone of
hich he !aid in $ersonF nor as any enter$rise e"er undertaken, ithout inDuiring at this
sacred fane as to its $robab!e success.
But that hich brought A$o!!o more c!ose!y home to the hearts of the $eo$!e, and raised
the ho!e mora! tone of the Greek nation, as the be!ief, gradua!!y de"e!o$ed ith the
inte!!igence of the $eo$!e, that he as the god ho acce$ted re$entance as an atonement
for sin, ho $ardoned the contrite sinner, and ho acted as the s$ecia! $rotector of those,
ho, !ike 4restes, had committed a crime, hich reDuired !ong years of eI$iation.
A$o!!o is re$resented by the $oets as being eterna!!y youngF his countenance, g!oing
ith joyous !ife, is the embodiment of immorta! beautyF his eyes are of a dee$ ,+C0b!ueF
his forehead !o, but broad and inte!!ectua!F his hair, hich fa!!s o"er his shou!ders in
!ong a"ing !ocks, is of a go!den, or arm chestnut hue. 9e is croned ith !aure!, and
ears a $ur$!e robeF in his hand he bears his si!"er bo, hich is unbent hen he smi!es,
but ready for use hen he menaces e"i!%doers.
But A$o!!o, the eterna!!y beautifu! youth, the $erfection of a!! that is gracefu! and refined,
rare!y seems to ha"e been ha$$y in his !o"eF either his ad"ances met ith a re$u!se, or his
union ith the object of his affection as attended ith fata! conseDuences.
9is first !o"e as 'a$hne Gdaughter of Peneus, the ri"er%godH, ho as so a"erse to
marriage that she entreated her father to a!!o her to !ead a !ife of ce!ibacy, and de"ote
herse!f to the chase, hich she !o"ed to the eIc!usion of a!! other $ursuits. But one day,
soon after his "ictory o"er the Python, A$o!!o ha$$ened to see Eros bending his bo, and
$roud of his on su$erior strength and ski!!, he !aughed at the efforts of the !itt!e archer,
saying that such a ea$on as more suited to the one ho had just ki!!ed the terrib!e
ser$ent. Eros angri!y re$!ied that his arro shou!d $ierce the heart of the mocker himse!f,
and f!ying off to the summit of Mount Parnassus, he dre from his Dui"er to darts of
different orkmanshi$Jone of go!d, hich had the effect of ins$iring !o"eF the other of
!ead, hich created a"ersion. Taking aim at A$o!!o, he $ierced his breast ith the go!den
shaft, hi!st the !eaden one he discharged into the bosom of the beautifu! 'a$hne. The
son of Leto instant!y fe!t the most ardent affection for the nym$h, ho, on her $art,
e"inced the greatest dis!ike toards her di"ine !o"er, and, at his a$$roach, f!ed from him
!ike a hunted deer. 9e ca!!ed u$on her in the most endearing accents to stay, but she sti!!
s$ed on, unti! at !ength, becoming faint ith fatigue, and fearing that she as about to
succumb, she ca!!ed u$on the gods to come to her aid. 9ard!y had she uttered her $rayer
before a hea"y tor$or seiEed her !imbs, and just as A$o!!o thre out his arms to embrace
her, she became transformed ,+50into a !aure!%bush. 9e sorrofu!!y croned his head
ith its !ea"es, and dec!ared, that in memory of his !o"e, it shou!d henceforth remain
e"ergreen, and be he!d sacred to him.
9e neIt sought the !o"e of Mar$essa, the daughter of E"enusF but though her father
a$$ro"ed his suit, the maiden $referred a youth named 2das, ho contri"ed to carry her
off in a inged chariot hich he had $rocured from Poseidon. A$o!!o $ursued the
fugiti"es, hom he Duick!y o"ertook, and forcib!y seiEing the bride, refused to resign her.
Meus then interfered, and dec!ared that Mar$essa herse!f must decide hich of her !o"ers
shou!d c!aim her as his ife. After due ref!ection she acce$ted 2das as her husband,
judicious!y conc!uding that a!though the attractions of the di"ine A$o!!o ere su$erior to
those of her !o"er, it ou!d be iser to unite herse!f to a morta!, ho, groing o!d ith
herse!f, ou!d be !ess !ike!y to forsake her, hen ad"ancing years shou!d rob her of her
charms.
1assandra, daughter of Priam, king of Troy, as another object of the !o"e of A$o!!o. 3he
feigned to return his affection, and $romised to marry him, $ro"ided he ou!d confer
u$on her the gift of $ro$hecyF but ha"ing recei"ed the boon she desired, the treacherous
maiden refused to com$!y ith the conditions u$on hich it had been granted. 2ncensed
at her breach of faith, A$o!!o, unab!e to reca!! the gift he had bestoed, rendered it
use!ess by causing her $redictions to fai! in obtaining credence. 1assandra became
famous in history for her $ro$hetic $oers, but her $ro$hecies ere ne"er be!ie"ed. 8or
instance, she arned her brother Paris that if he brought back a ife from Greece he
ou!d cause the destruction of his fatherRs house and kingdomF she a!so arned the
Trojans not to admit the ooden horse ithin the a!!s of the city, and foreto!d to
Agamemnon a!! the disasters hich afterards befe!! him.
A$o!!o afterards married 1oronis, a nym$h of Larissa, and thought himse!f ha$$y in the
$ossession of her faithfu! !o"eF but once more he as doomed to ,+N0disa$$ointment, for
one day his fa"ourite bird, the cro, f!e to him ith the inte!!igence that his ife had
transferred her affections to a youth of 9aemonia. A$o!!o, burning ith rage, instant!y
destroyed her ith one of his death%bringing darts. Too !ate he re$ented of his rashness,
for she had been tender!y be!o"ed by him, and he ou!d fain ha"e reca!!ed her to !ifeF but,
a!though he eIerted a!! his hea!ing $oers, his efforts ere in "ain. 9e $unished the cro
for its garru!ity by changing the co!our of its $!umage from $ure hite to intense b!ack,
and forbade it to f!y any !onger among the other birds.
1oronis !eft an infant son named Asc!e$ius, ho afterards became god of medicine. 9is
$oers ere so eItraordinary that he cou!d not on!y cure the sick, but cou!d e"en restore
the dead to !ife. At !ast AOdes com$!ained to Meus that the number of shades conducted to
his dominions as dai!y decreasing, and the great ru!er of 4!ym$us, fearing that
mankind, thus $rotected against sickness and death, ou!d be ab!e to defy the gods
themse!"es, ki!!ed Asc!e$ius ith one of his thunderbo!ts. The !oss of his high!y gifted
son so eIas$erated A$o!!o that, being unab!e to "ent his anger on Meus, he destroyed the
1yc!o$s, ho had forged the fata! thunderbo!ts. 8or this offence, A$o!!o ou!d ha"e been
banished by Meus to Tartarus, but at the earnest intercession of Leto he $artia!!y re!ented,
and contented himse!f ith de$ri"ing him of a!! $oer and dignity, and im$osing on him
a tem$orary ser"itude in the house of Admetus, king of Thessa!y. A$o!!o faithfu!!y ser"ed
his roya! master for nine years in the humb!e ca$acity of a she$herd, and as treated by
him ith e"ery kindness and consideration. 'uring the $eriod of his ser"ice the king
sought the hand of A!cestis, the beautifu! daughter of Pe!ias, son of PoseidonF but her
father dec!ared that he ou!d on!y resign her to the suitor ho shou!d succeed in yoking a
!ion and a i!d boar to his chariot. By the aid of his di"ine herdsman, Admetus
accom$!ished this difficu!t task, and gained his bride. <or as this the on!y fa"our hich
the king recei"ed from the eIi!ed god, for A$o!!o obtained from ,++0the 8ates the gift of
immorta!ity for his benefactor, on condition that hen his !ast hour a$$roached, some
member of his on fami!y shou!d be i!!ing to die in his stead. >hen the fata! hour
arri"ed, and Admetus fe!t that he as at the $oint of death, he im$!ored his aged $arents
to yie!d to him their fe remaining days. But T!ife is seetT e"en to o!d age, and they
both refused to make the sacrifice demanded of them. A!cestis, hoe"er, ho had
secret!y de"oted herse!f to death for her husband, as seiEed ith a morta! sickness,
hich ke$t $ace ith his ra$id reco"ery. The de"oted ife breathed her !ast in the arms
of Admetus, and he had just consigned her to the tomb, hen 9erac!es chanced to come
to the $a!ace. Admetus he!d the rites of hos$ita!ity so sacred, that he at first ke$t si!ence
ith regard to his great berea"ementF but as soon as his friend heard hat had occurred,
he bra"e!y descended into the tomb, and hen death came to c!aim his $rey, he eIerted
his mar"e!!ous strength, and he!d him in his arms, unti! he $romised to restore the
beautifu! and heroic Dueen to the bosom of her fami!y.
>hi!st $ursuing the $eacefu! !ife of a she$herd, A$o!!o formed a strong friendshi$ ith
to youths named 9yacinthus and 1y$arissus, but the great fa"our shon to them by the
god did not suffice to shie!d them from misfortune. The former as one day throing the
discus ith A$o!!o, hen, running too eager!y to take u$ the one thron by the god, he
as struck on the head ith it and ki!!ed on the s$ot. A$o!!o as o"ercome ith grief at
the sad end of his young fa"ourite, but being unab!e to restore him to !ife, he changed him
into the f!oer ca!!ed after him the 9yacinth. 1y$arissus had the misfortune to ki!! by
accident one of A$o!!oRs fa"ourite stags, hich so $reyed on his mind that he gradua!!y
$ined aay, and died of a broken heart. 9e as transformed by the god into a cy$ress%
tree, hich oes its name to this story.
After these sad occurrences A$o!!o Duitted Thessa!y and re$aired to Phrygia, in Asia
Minor, here he met Poseidon, ho, !ike himse!f, as in eIi!e, and condemned ,+.0to a
tem$orary ser"itude on earth. The to gods no entered the ser"ice of Laomedon, king
of Troy, A$o!!o undertaking to tend his f!ocks, and Poseidon to bui!d the a!!s of the city.
But A$o!!o a!so contributed his assistance in the erection of those onderfu! a!!s, and,
by the aid of his mar"e!!ous musica! $oers, the !abours of his fe!!o%orker, Poseidon,
ere rendered so !ight and easy that his otherise arduous task ad"anced ith
astonishing ce!erityF for, as the master%hand of the god of music gras$ed the chords of his
!yre,,)*0 the huge b!ocks of stone mo"ed of their on accord, adjusting themse!"es ith
the utmost nicety into the $!aces designed for them.
But though A$o!!o as so renoned in the art of music, there ere to indi"idua!s ho
had the effrontery to consider themse!"es eDua! to him in this res$ect, and, according!y,
each cha!!enged him to com$ete ith them in a musica! contest. These ere Marsyas and
Pan. Marsyas as a satyr, ho, ha"ing $icked u$ the f!ute hich Athene had thron
aay in disgust, disco"ered, to his great de!ight and astonishment, that, in conseDuence of
its ha"ing touched the !i$s of a goddess, it $!ayed of itse!f in the most charming manner.
Marsyas, ho as a great !o"er of music, and much be!o"ed on this account by a!! the
e!f%!ike deniEens of the oods and g!ens, as so intoIicated ith joy at this disco"ery,
that he foo!ish!y cha!!enged A$o!!o to com$ete ith him in a musica! contest. The
cha!!enge being acce$ted, the Muses ere chosen um$ires, and it as decided that the
unsuccessfu! candidate shou!d suffer the $unishment of being f!ayed a!i"e. 8or a !ong
time the merits of both c!aimants remained so eDua!!y ba!anced, that it as im$ossib!e to
aard the $a!m of "ictory to either, seeing hich, A$o!!o, reso!"ed to conDuer, added the
seet tones of his me!odious "oice to the strains of his !yre, ,+60and this at once turned
the sca!e in his fa"our. The unha$$y Marsyas being defeated, had to undergo the terrib!e
$ena!ty, and his untime!y fate as uni"ersa!!y !amentedF indeed the 3atyrs and 'ryads,
his com$anions, e$t so incessant!y at his fate, that their tears, uniting together, formed a
ri"er in Phrygia hich is sti!! knon by the name of Marsyas.
The resu!t of the contest ith Pan as by no means of so serious a character. The god of
she$herds ha"ing affirmed that he cou!d $!ay more ski!fu!!y on his f!ute of se"en reeds
Gthe syrinI or PanRs $i$eH, than A$o!!o on his or!d%renoned !yre, a contest ensued, in
hich A$o!!o as $ronounced the "ictor by a!! the judges a$$ointed to decide beteen
the ri"a! candidates. Midas, king of Phrygia, a!one demurred at this decision, ha"ing the
bad taste to $refer the uncouth tones of the PanRs $i$e to the refined me!odies of A$o!!oRs
!yre. 2ncensed at the obstinacy and stu$idity of the Phrygian king, A$o!!o $unished him
by gi"ing him the ears of an ass. Midas, horrified at being thus disfigured, determined to
hide his disgrace from his subjects by means of a ca$F his barber, hoe"er, cou!d not be
ke$t in ignorance of the fact, and as therefore bribed ith rich gifts ne"er to re"ea! it.
8inding, hoe"er, that he cou!d not kee$ the secret any !onger, he dug a ho!e in the
ground into hich he his$ered itF then c!osing u$ the a$erture he returned home, fee!ing
great!y re!ie"ed at ha"ing thus eased his mind of its burden. But after a!!, this "ery
humi!iating secret as re"ea!ed to the or!d, for some reeds hich s$rung u$ from the
s$ot murmured incessant!y, as they a"ed to and fro in the ind& T=ing Midas has the
ears of an ass.T
2n the sad and beautifu! story of <iobe, daughter of Tanta!us, and ife of Am$hion, king
of Thebes, e ha"e another instance of the se"ere $unishments meted out by A$o!!o to
those ho in any ay incurred his dis$!easure. <iobe as the $roud mother of se"en sons
and se"en daughters, and eIu!ting in the number of her chi!dren, she, u$on one occasion,
ridicu!ed the orshi$ of Leto, ,.*0because she had but one son and daughter, and desired
the Thebans, for the future, to gi"e to her the honours and sacrifices hich they had
hitherto offered to the mother of A$o!!o and Artemis. The sacri!egious ords had scarce!y
$assed her !i$s before A$o!!o ca!!ed u$on his sister Artemis to assist him in a"enging the
insu!t offered to their mother, and soon their in"isib!e arros s$ed through the air. A$o!!o
s!e a!! the sons, and Artemis had a!ready s!ain a!! the daughters sa"e one, the youngest
and best be!o"ed, hom <iobe c!as$ed in her arms, hen the agoniEed mother im$!ored
the enraged deities to !ea"e her, at !east, one out of a!! her beautifu! chi!drenF but, e"en as
she $rayed, the dead!y arro reached the heart of this chi!d a!so. Meanhi!e the unha$$y
father, unab!e to bear the !oss of his chi!dren, had destroyed himse!f, and his dead body
!ay beside the !ife!ess cor$se of his fa"ourite son. >idoed and chi!d!ess, the heart%
broken mother sat among her dead, and the gods, in $ity for her unutterab!e oe, turned
her into a stone, hich they transferred to 3i$hy!us, her nati"e Phrygian mountain, here
it sti!! continues to shed tears.
<iobe
The $unishment of <iobe forms the subject of a magnificent marb!e grou$, hich as
found at Rome in the year /55), and is no in the ga!!ery of ;ffiEi, at 8!orence.
The renoned singer 4r$heus as the son of A$o!!o and 1a!!io$e, the muse of e$ic
$oetry, and, as might be eI$ected ith $arents so high!y gifted, as endoed ith most
distinguished inte!!ectua! Dua!ifications. 9e as a $oet, a teacher of the re!igious
doctrines knon as the 4r$hic mysteries, and a great musician, ha"ing inherited from his
father an eItraordinary genius for music. ,./0>hen he sang to the seet tones of his !yre,
he charmed a!! nature, and summoned round him the i!d beasts of the forests, ho,
under the inf!uence of his music, became tame and gent!e as !ambs. The mad!y rushing
torrents sto$$ed their ra$id course, and the "ery mountains and trees mo"ed from their
$!aces at the sound of his entrancing me!odies.
4r$heus became united to a !o"e!y nym$h named Eurydice, the daughter of the sea%god
<ereus, hom he fond!y !o"ed. 3he as no !ess attached to him, and their married !ife
as fu!! of joy and ha$$iness. But it as on!y short%!i"edF for AristKus,,)/0 the ha!f%
brother of 4r$heus, ha"ing fa!!en in !o"e ith the beautifu! Eurydice, forcib!y
endea"oured to take her from her husband, and as she f!ed across some fie!ds to e!ude his
$ursuit, she as bitten in the foot by a "enomous snake, hich !ay concea!ed in the !ong
grass. Eurydice died of the ound, and her sorroing husband fi!!ed the gro"es and
"a!!eys ith his $iteous and unceasing !amentations.
9is !onging to beho!d her once more became at !ast so unconDuerab!e, that he determined
to bra"e the horrors of the !oer or!d, in order to entreat AOdes to restore to him his
be!o"ed ife. Armed on!y ith his go!den !yre, the gift of A$o!!o, he descended into the
g!oomy de$ths of 9ades, here his hea"en!y music arrested for a hi!e the torments of
the unha$$y sufferers. The stone of 3isy$hus remained motion!essF Tanta!us forgot his
$er$etua! thirstF the hee! of 2Iion ceased to re"o!"eF and e"en the 8uries shed tears, and
ithhe!d for a time their $ersecutions. ;ndismayed at the scenes of horror and suffering
hich met his "ie on e"ery side, he $ursued his ay unti! he arri"ed at the $a!ace of
AOdes. Presenting himse!f before the throne on hich sat the stony%hearted king and his
consort Perse$hone, 4r$heus recounted his oes to the sound of his !yre. Mo"ed to $ity
by his seet strains, they !istened to his ,.(0me!ancho!y story, and consented to re!ease
Eurydice on condition that he shou!d not !ook u$on her unti! they reached the u$$er
or!d. 4r$heus g!ad!y $romised to com$!y ith this injunction, and, fo!!oed by
Eurydice, ascended the stee$ and g!oomy $ath hich !ed to the rea!ms of !ife and !ight.
A!! ent e!! unti! he as just about to $ass the eItreme !imits of 9ades, hen,
forgetting for the moment the hard condition, he turned to con"ince himse!f that his
be!o"ed ife as rea!!y behind him. The g!ance as fata!, and destroyed a!! his ho$es of
ha$$inessF for, as he yearning!y stretched out his arms to embrace her, she as caught
back, and "anished from his sight for e"er. The grief of 4r$heus at this second !oss as
e"en more intense than before, and he no a"oided a!! human society. 2n "ain did the
nym$hs, his once chosen com$anions, endea"our to in him back to his accustomed
hauntsF their $oer to charm as gone, and music as no his so!e conso!ation. 9e
andered forth a!one, choosing the i!dest and most sec!uded $aths, and the hi!!s and
"a!es resounded ith his $athetic me!odies. At !ast he ha$$ened to cross the $ath of some
Thracian omen, ho ere $erforming the i!d rites of 'ionysus GBacchusH, and in their
mad fury at his refusing to join them, they furious!y attacked him, and tore him in $ieces.
2n $ity for his unha$$y fate, the Muses co!!ected his remains, hich they buried at the
foot of Mount 4!ym$us, and the nightinga!e arb!ed a funera! dirge o"er his gra"e. 9is
head as thron into the ri"er 9ebrus, and as it f!oated don the stream, the !i$s sti!!
continued to murmur the be!o"ed name of Eurydice.
The chief seat of the orshi$ of A$o!!o as at 'e!$hi, and here as the most magnificent
of a!! his tem$!es, the foundation of hich reaches far beyond a!! historica! kno!edge,
and hich contained immense riches, the offerings of kings and $ri"ate $ersons, ho had
recei"ed fa"ourab!e re$!ies from the orac!e. The Greeks be!ie"ed 'e!$hi to be the centra!
$oint of the earth, because to eag!es sent forth by Meus, one from the east, the other
,.)0from the est, ere said to ha"e arri"ed there at the same moment.
The Pythian games, ce!ebrated in honour of the "ictory of A$o!!o o"er the Python, took
$!ace at 'e!$hi e"ery four years. At the first ce!ebration of these games, gods, goddesses,
and heroes contended for the $riEes, hich ere at first of go!d or si!"er, but consisted, in
!ater times, of sim$!e !aure! reaths.
4n account of its being the $!ace of his birth, the ho!e is!and of 'e!os as consecrated
to A$o!!o, here he as orshi$$ed ith great so!emnityF the greatest care as taken to
$reser"e the sanctity of the s$ot, for hich reason no one as suffered to be buried there.
At the foot of Mount 1ynthus as a s$!endid tem$!e of A$o!!o hich $ossessed an
orac!e, and as enriched ith magnificent offerings from a!! $arts of Greece. E"en
foreign nations he!d this is!and sacred, for hen the Persians $assed it on their ay to
attack Greece, they not on!y sai!ed by, !ea"ing it uninjured, but sent rich $resents to the
tem$!e. Games, ca!!ed 'e!ia, instituted by Theseus, ere ce!ebrated at 'e!os e"ery four
years.
A festi"a! termed the Gymno$edKa as he!d at 3$arta in honour of A$o!!o, in hich boys
sang the $raises of the gods, and of the three hundred LacedKmonians ho fe!! at the
batt!e of Thermo$y!K.
>o!"es and haks ere sacrificed to A$o!!o, and the birds sacred to him ere the hak,
ra"en, and san.
R4MA< AP4LL4.
The orshi$ of A$o!!o ne"er occu$ied the a!!%im$ortant $osition in Rome hich it he!d in
Greece, nor as it introduced ti!! a com$arati"e!y !ate $eriod. There as no sanctuary
erected to this di"inity unti! B.1. C)*, hen the Romans, in order to a"ert a $!ague, bui!t
a tem$!e in his honourF but e do not find the orshi$ of A$o!!o becoming in any ay
$rominent unti! the time of Augustus, ho, ha"ing ca!!ed u$on this god for aid before the
famous batt!e of Actium, ascribed the "ictory hich he ,.C0gained, to his inf!uence, and
according!y erected a tem$!e there, hich he enriched ith a $ortion of the s$oi!.
Augustus afterards bui!t another tem$!e in honour of A$o!!o, on the Pa!atine 9i!!, in
hich at the foot of his statue, ere de$osited to gi!t chests, containing the 3iby!!ine
orac!es. These orac!es ere co!!ected to re$!ace the 3iby!!ine books origina!!y $reser"ed
in the tem$!e of :u$iter, hich ere destroyed hen that edifice as burned.
3iby!
The 3iby!s ere maidens ho had recei"ed the gift of $ro$hecy, and the $ri"i!ege of
!i"ing to an incredib!e age. 4ne of these 3iby!s Gknon as the 1umKanH a$$eared to
TarDuinius 3u$erbus, the !ast king of Rome, offering for sa!e nine books, hich she
informed him had been ritten by herse!f. <ot knoing ho she as, TarDuin refused to
buy them, u$on hich she burned three, and returned ith siI, demanding the same $rice
as before. Being again dri"en aay as an im$ostor, she again retired and burned three
more, returning ith the remaining three, for hich she sti!! asked the same $rice as at
first. TarDuin, amaEed at her inconsistency, no consu!ted the Augurs, ho b!amed him
for not ha"ing bought the nine books hen they ere first offered to him, and desired
him to secure the remaining three, at hate"er $rice they ere to be had. 9e, according!y,
$urchased the "o!umes, hich ere found to contain $redictions of great im$ortance to
the Romans. After the dis$osa! of the books, the 3iby! "anished, and as seen no more.
The most beautifu! and renoned of a!! the statues of A$o!!o no in eIistence, is that
knon as the A$o!!o Be!"edere, hich as found in /5*) among the ruins of ,.50ancient
Antium. 2t as $urchased by Po$e :u!ius 22., ho remo"ed it to the Be!"edere of the
Aatican, from hence it takes its name, and here it has been, for more than three
hundred years, the admiration of the or!d. >hen Rome as taken, and $!undered by the
8rench, this ce!ebrated statue as trans$orted to Paris, and $!aced in the museum there,
but in /./5 it as restored to its former $!ace in the Aatican. The attitude of the figure,
hich is more than se"en feet high, is inimitab!e in its freedom, grace, and majesty. The
forehead is nob!e and inte!!ectua!, and the ho!e countenance so eIDuisite in its beauty,
that one $auses s$e!!%bound to gaEe on so $erfect a conce$tion. The god has a "ery
youthfu! a$$earance, as is usua! in a!! his re$resentations, and ith the eIce$tion of a
short mant!e hich fa!!s from his shou!ders, is unc!othed. 9e stands against the trunk of a
tree, u$ hich a ser$ent is cree$ing, and his !eft arm is outstretched, as though about to
$unish.
9E1ATE.
9ecate ou!d a$$ear to ha"e been origina!!y a moon%goddess orshi$$ed by the
Thracians. 3he became confounded, and e"entua!!y identified ith 3e!ene and
Perse$hone, and is one of those di"inities of hom the ancients had "arious conf!icting
accounts.
9ecate as the daughter of Perses and Tgo!d%reathedT AstrKa Gthe starry night,)(0H, and
her say eItended o"er earth, hea"en, and he!!, for hich reason she is re$resented in
orks of art as a tri$!e di"inity, ha"ing three fema!e bodies, a!! young and beautifu!, and
united together.
2n !ater times, hen this di"inity becomes identified ith Perse$hone, she is su$$osed to
inhabit the !oer or!d as a ma!ignant deity, and henceforard it is the g!oomy, ae%
ins$iring side of her character hich a!one ,.N0de"e!o$s itse!f. 3he no $resides o"er a!!
$ractices connected ith itchcraft and enchantments, haunts se$u!chres, and the $oint
here to roads cross, and !one!y s$ots here murders ha"e been committed. 3he as
su$$osed to be connected ith the a$$earance of ghosts and s$ectres, to $ossess
un!imited inf!uence o"er the $oers of the !oer or!d, and to be ab!e to !ay to rest
unearth!y a$$aritions by her magic s$e!!s and incantations.
9ecate a$$ears as a gigantic oman, bearing a torch and a sord. 9er feet and hair are
formed of snakes, and her $assage is accom$anied by "oices of thunder, eird shrieks
and ye!!s, and the dee$ baying and ho!ing of dogs.
9er fa"our as $ro$itiated by offerings and sacrifices, $rinci$a!!y consisting of b!ack
!ambs. 9er festi"a!s ere ce!ebrated at night, by torch!ight, hen these anima!s ere
offered to her, accom$anied by many $ecu!iar ceremonies. These ceremonies ere
carried out ith the minutest attention to detai!s, as it as be!ie"ed that the omission of
the s!ightest $articu!ar ou!d afford to her ministers, the e"i! s$irits of the !oer or!d,
ho ho"ered round the orshi$$ers, an o$$ortunity for entering among them, and
eIerting their banefu! inf!uence. At the end of e"ery month food as $!aced here"er to
roads met, in readiness for her and other ma!ignant di"inities.
2n studying the $ecu!iar characteristics hich 9ecate assumes hen she usur$s the $!ace
of Perse$hone, the rightfu! mistress of the !oer or!d, e are reminded of the "arious
su$erstitions ith regard to s$ectres, itchcraft, Bc., hich ha"e, e"en don to our on
times, eIerted so $oerfu! an inf!uence o"er the minds of the ignorant, and hich ou!d
a$$ear to oe their origin to a remote $agan source.
3ELE<E GLunaH.
:ust as 9e!ios $ersonified the sun, so his sister 3e!ene re$resented the moon, and as
su$$osed to dri"e her ,.+0chariot across the sky hi!st her brother as re$osing after the
toi!s of the day.
>hen the shades of e"ening began to enfo!d the earth, the to mi!k%hite steeds of
3e!ene rose out of the mysterious de$ths of 4ceanus. 3eated in a si!"ery chariot, and
accom$anied by her daughter 9erse, the goddess of the de, a$$eared the mi!d and
gent!e Dueen of the night, ith a crescent on her fair bro, a gauEy "ei! f!oing behind,
and a !ighted torch in her hand.
3e!ene great!y admired a beautifu! young she$herd named Endymion, to hom Meus had
accorded the $ri"i!ege of eterna! youth, combined ith the facu!ty of s!ee$ing hene"er
he desired, and as !ong as he ished. 3eeing this !o"e!y youth fast as!ee$ on Mount
Latmus, 3e!ene as so struck ith his beauty, that she came don e"ery night from
hea"en to atch o"er and $rotect him.
ARTEM23 G'ianaH.
Artemis as orshi$$ed by the Greeks under "arious a$$e!!ations, to each of hich
be!onged s$ecia! characteristics. Thus she is knon as the Arcadian, E$hesian and
Brauronian Artemis, and a!so as 3e!ene%Artemis, and in order fu!!y to com$rehend the
orshi$ of this di"inity, e must consider her under each as$ect.
AR1A'2A< ARTEM23.
The Arcadian Artemis Gthe rea! Artemis of the GreeksH as the daughter of Meus and
Leto, and tin%sister of A$o!!o. 3he as the goddess of 9unting and 1hastity, and ha"ing
obtained from her father $ermission to !ead a !ife of ce!ibacy, she e"er remained a
maiden%di"inity. Artemis is the feminine counter$art of her brother, the g!orious god of
Light, and, !ike him, though she dea!s out destruction and sudden death to men and
anima!s, she is a!so ab!e to a!!e"iate suffering and cure diseases. Like A$o!!o a!so, she is
ski!!ed in the use of the bo, but in a far more eminent degree, for in the character of
Artemis, ho de"oted herse!f to the chase ith $assionate ,..0ardour, this becomes an
a!!%distinguishing feature. Armed ith her bo and Dui"er, and attended by her train of
huntresses, ho ere nym$hs of the oods and s$rings, she roamed o"er the mountains
in $ursuit of her fa"ourite eIercise, destroying in her course the i!d anima!s of the
forest. >hen the chase as ended, Artemis and her maidens !o"ed to assemb!e in a shady
gro"e, or on the banks of a fa"ourite stream, here they joined in the merry song, or
gracefu! dance, and made the hi!!s resound ith their joyous shouts.
As the ty$e of $urity and chastity, Artemis as es$ecia!!y "enerated by young maidens,
ho, before marrying, sacrificed their hair to her. 3he as a!so the $atroness of those
"oed to ce!ibacy, and $unished se"ere!y any infringement of their ob!igation.
The huntress%goddess is re$resented as being a head ta!!er than her attendant nym$hs, and
a!ays a$$ears as a youthfu! and s!ender maiden. 9er features are beautifu!, but anting
in gent!eness of eI$ressionF her hair is gathered neg!igent!y into a knot at the back of her
e!!%sha$ed headF and her figure, though somehat mascu!ine, is most gracefu! in its
attitude and $ro$ortions. The short robe she ears, !ea"es her !imbs free for the eIercise
of the chase, her de"otion to hich is indicated by the Dui"er hich is s!ung o"er her
shou!der, and the bo hich she bears in her hand.
There are many famous statues of this di"inityF but the most ce!ebrated is that knon as
the 'iana of Aersai!!es, no in the Lou"re, hich forms a not unorthy com$anion to the
A$o!!o%Be!"edere of the Aatican. 2n this statue, the goddess a$$ears in the act of rescuing
a hunted deer from its $ursuers, on hom she is turning ith angry mien. 4ne hand is
!aid $rotecting!y on the head of the stag, hi!st ith the other she dras an arro from
the Dui"er hich hangs o"er her shou!der.
9er attributes are the bo, Dui"er, and s$ear. The anima!s sacred to her are the hind, dog,
bear, and i!d boar.
Artemis $rom$t!y resented any disregard or neg!ect of ,.60her orshi$F a remarkab!e
instance of this is shon in the story of the 1a!ydonian boar%hunt, hich is as fo!!os&J
Artemis
4eneus, king of 1a!ydon in Pto!ia, had incurred the dis$!easure of Artemis by neg!ecting
to inc!ude her in a genera! sacrifice to the gods hich he had offered u$, out of gratitude
for a bountifu! har"est. The goddess, enraged at this neg!ect, sent a i!d boar of
eItraordinary siEe and $rodigious strength, hich destroyed the s$routing grain, !aid
aste the fie!ds, and threatened the inhabitants ith famine and death. At this juncture,
Me!eager, the bra"e son of 4eneus, returned from the Argonautic eI$edition, and finding
his country ra"aged by this dreadfu! scourge, entreated the assistance of a!! the ce!ebrated
heroes of the age to join him in hunting the ferocious monster. Among the most famous of
those ho res$onded to his ca!! ere :ason, 1astor and Po!!uI, 2das and Lynceus, Pe!eus,
Te!amon, Admetus, Perithous, and Theseus. The brothers of A!thea, ife of 4eneus,
joined the hunters, and Me!eager a!so en!isted into his ser"ice the f!eet%footed huntress
Ata!anta.
The father of this maiden as 3choeneus, an Arcadian, ho, disa$$ointed at the birth of a
daughter hen he had $articu!ar!y desired a son, had eI$osed her on the Parthenian 9i!!,
here he !eft her to $erish. 9ere she as nursed by a she%bear, and at !ast found by some
hunters, ho reared her, and ga"e her the name of Ata!anta. As the maiden gre u$, she
became an ardent ,6*0!o"er of the chase, and as a!ike distinguished for her beauty and
courage. Though often ooed, she !ed a !ife of strict ce!ibacy, an orac!e ha"ing $redicted
that ine"itab!e misfortune aaited her, shou!d she gi"e herse!f in marriage to any of her
numerous suitors.
Many of the heroes objected to hunt in com$any ith a maidenF but Me!eager, ho !o"ed
Ata!anta, o"ercame their o$$osition, and the "a!iant band set out on their eI$edition.
Ata!anta as the first to ound the boar ith her s$ear, but not before to of the heroes
had met their death from his fierce tusks. After a !ong and des$erate encounter, Me!eager
succeeded in ki!!ing the monster, and $resented the head and hide to Ata!anta, as tro$hies
of the "ictory. The unc!es of Me!eager, hoe"er, forcib!y took the hide from the maiden,
c!aiming their right to the s$oi! as neIt of kin, if Me!eager resigned it. Artemis, hose
anger as sti!! una$$eased, caused a "io!ent Duarre! to arise beteen unc!es and ne$he,
and, in the strugg!e hich ensued, Me!eager ki!!ed his motherRs brothers, and then
restored the hide to Ata!anta. >hen A!thea behe!d the dead bodies of the s!ain heroes, her
grief and anger kne no bounds. 3he sore to re"enge the death of her brothers on her
on son, and unfortunate!y for him, the instrument of "engeance !ay ready to her hand.
At the birth of Me!eager, the Moirae, or 8ates, entered the house of 4eneus, and $ointing
to a $iece of ood then burning on the hearth, dec!ared that as soon as it as consumed
the babe ou!d sure!y die. 4n hearing this, A!thea seiEed the brand, !aid it u$ carefu!!y in
a chest, and henceforth $reser"ed it as her most $recious $ossession. But no, !o"e for
her son gi"ing $!ace to the resentment she fe!t against the murderer of her brothers, she
thre the fata! brand into the de"ouring f!ames. As it consumed, the "igour of Me!eager
asted aay, and hen it as reduced to ashes, he eI$ired. Re$enting too !ate the
terrib!e effects of her rash deed, A!thea, in remorse and des$air, took aay her on !ife.
The nes of the courage and intre$idity dis$!ayed by ,6/0Ata!anta in the famous boar%
hunt, being carried to the ears of her father, caused him to ackno!edge his !ong%!ost
chi!d. ;rged by him to choose one of her numerous suitors, she consented to do so, but
made it a condition that he a!one, ho cou!d outstri$ her in the race, shou!d become her
husband, hi!st those she defeated shou!d be $ut to death by her, ith the !ance hich
she bore in her hand. Thus many suitors had $erished, for the maiden as uneDua!!ed for
siftness of foot, but at !ast a beautifu! youth, named 9i$$omenes, ho had "ain!y
endea"oured to in her !o"e by his assiduous attentions in the chase, "entured to enter
the fata! !ists. =noing that on!y by stratagem cou!d he ho$e to be successfu!, he
obtained, by the he!$ of A$hrodite, three go!den a$$!es from the garden of the
9es$erides, hich he thre don at inter"a!s during his course. Ata!anta, secure of
"ictory, stoo$ed to $ick u$ the tem$ting fruit, and, in the meantime, 9i$$omenes arri"ed
at the goa!. 9e became the husband of the !o"e!y Ata!anta, but forgot, in his ne!y found
ha$$iness, the gratitude hich he oed to A$hrodite, and the goddess ithdre her
fa"our from the $air. <ot !ong after, the $rediction hich foreto!d misfortune to Ata!anta,
in the e"ent of her marriage, as "erified, for she and her husband, ha"ing strayed
unsanctioned into a sacred gro"e of Meus, ere both transformed into !ions.
The tro$hies of the e"er%memorab!e boar%hunt had been carried by Ata!anta into Arcadia,
and, for many centuries, the identica! hide and enormous tusks of the 1a!ydonian boar
hung in the tem$!e of Athene at Tegea. The tusks ere afterards con"eyed to Rome, and
shon there among other curiosities.
A forcib!e instance of the manner in hich Artemis resented any intrusion on her
retirement, is seen in the fate hich befe!! the famous hunter Actaeon, ho ha$$ening
one day to see Artemis and her attendants bathing, im$rudent!y "entured to a$$roach the
s$ot. The goddess, incensed at his audacity, s$rink!ed him ith ater, and transformed
him into a stag, hereu$on he as torn in $ieces and de"oured by his on dogs. ,6(0
EP9E32A< ARTEM23.
The E$hesian Artemis, knon to us as T'iana of the E$hesians,T as a "ery ancient
Asiatic di"inity of Persian origin ca!!ed Metra,,))0 hose orshi$ the Greek co!onists
found a!ready estab!ished, hen they first sett!ed in Asia Minor, and hom they
identified ith their on Greek Artemis, though she rea!!y $ossessed but one sing!e
attribute in common ith their home deity.
Metra as a tofo!d di"inity, and re$resented, in one $hase of her character, a!!%
$er"ading !o"eF in the other she as the !ight of hea"enF and as Artemis, in her character
as 3e!ene, as the on!y Greek fema!e di"inity ho re$resented ce!estia! !ight, the Greek
sett!ers, according to their custom of fusing foreign deities into their on, seiEed at once
u$on this $oint of resemb!ance, and decided that Metra shou!d henceforth be regarded as
identica! ith Artemis.
2n her character as the !o"e hich $er"ades a!! nature, and $enetrates e"eryhere, they
be!ie"ed her a!so to be $resent in the mysterious Rea!m of 3hades, here she eIercised
her benign say, re$!acing to a certain eItent that ancient di"inity 9ecate, and $art!y
usur$ing a!so the $!ace of Perse$hone, as mistress of the !oer or!d. Thus they be!ie"ed
that it as she ho $ermitted the s$irits of the de$arted to re"isit the earth, in order to
communicate ith those they !o"ed, and to gi"e them time!y arning of coming e"i!. 2n
fact, this great, mighty, and omni$resent $oer of !o"e, as embodied in the E$hesian
Artemis, as be!ie"ed by the great thinkers of o!d, to be the ru!ing s$irit of the uni"erse,
and it as to her inf!uence, that a!! the mysterious and beneficent orkings of nature
ere ascribed.
There as a magnificent tem$!e erected to this di"inity at E$hesus Ga city of Asia MinorH,
hich as ranked among the se"en onders of the or!d, and as uneDua!!ed in beauty
and grandeur. The interior of this ,6)0edifice as adorned ith statues and $aintings, and
contained one hundred and tenty%se"en co!umns, siIty feet in height, each co!umn
ha"ing been $!aced there by a different king. The ea!th de$osited in this tem$!e as
enormous, and the goddess as here orshi$$ed ith $articu!ar ae and so!emnity. 2n
the interior of the edifice stood a statue of her, formed of ebony, ith !ions on her arms
and turrets on her head, hi!st a number of breasts indicated the fruitfu!ness of the earth
and of nature. 1tesi$hon as the $rinci$a! architect of this or!d%renoned structure,
hich, hoe"er, as not entire!y com$!eted ti!! to hundred and tenty years after the
foundation%stone as !aid. But the !abour of centuries as destroyed in a sing!e nightF for
a man ca!!ed 9erostratus, seiEed ith the insane desire of making his name famous to a!!
succeeding generations, set fire to it and com$!ete!y destroyed it.,)C0 3o great as the
indignation and sorro of the E$hesians at this ca!amity, that they enacted a !a,
forbidding the incendiaryRs name to be mentioned, thereby hoe"er, defeating their on
object, for thus the name of 9erostratus has been handed don to $osterity, and i!! !i"e
as !ong as the memory of the famous tem$!e of E$hesus.
BRA;R4<2A< ARTEM23.
2n ancient times, the country hich e no ca!! the 1rimea, as knon by the name of
the Taurica 1hersonnesus. 2t as co!oniEed by Greek sett!ers, ho, finding that the
3cythian inhabitants had a nati"e di"inity somehat resemb!ing their on Artemis,
identified her ith the huntress%goddess of the mother%country. The orshi$ of this
Taurian Artemis as attended ith the most barbarous $ractices, for, in accordance ith a
!a hich she had enacted, a!! strangers, hether ma!e or fema!e, !anding, or
shi$recked on her shores, ere sacrificed u$on her a!tars. 2t is su$$osed that this decree
as ,6C0issued by the Taurian goddess of 1hastity, to $rotect the $urity of her fo!!oers,
by kee$ing them a$art from foreign inf!uences.
The interesting story of 2$higenia, a $riestess in the tem$!e of Artemis at Tauris, forms the
subject of one of 3chi!!erRs most beautifu! $!ays. The circumstances occurred at the
commencement of the Trojan ar, and are as fo!!os&JThe f!eet, co!!ected by the Greeks
for the siege of Troy, had assemb!ed at Au!is, in BLotia, and as about to set sai!, hen
Agamemnon, the commander%in%chief, had the misfortune to ki!! accidenta!!y a stag
hich as graEing in a gro"e, sacred to Artemis. The offended goddess sent continuous
ca!ms that de!ayed the de$arture of the f!eet, and 1a!chas, the soothsayer, ho had
accom$anied the eI$edition, dec!ared that nothing !ess than the sacrifice of AgamemnonRs
fa"orite daughter, 2$higenia, ou!d a$$ease the rath of the goddess. At these ords, the
heroic heart of the bra"e !eader sank ithin him, and he dec!ared that rather than consent
to so fearfu! an a!ternati"e, he ou!d gi"e u$ his share in the eI$edition and return to
Argos. 2n this di!emma 4dysseus and other great genera!s ca!!ed a counci! to discuss the
matter, and, after much de!iberation, it as decided that $ri"ate fee!ing must yie!d to the
e!fare of the state. 8or a !ong time the unha$$y Agamemnon turned a deaf ear to their
arguments, but at !ast they succeeded in $ersuading him that it as his duty to make the
sacrifice. 9e, according!y, des$atched a messenger to his ife, 1!ytemnKstra, begging
her to send 2$higenia to him, a!!eging as a $reteIt that the great hero Achi!!es desired to
make her his ife. Rejoicing at the bri!!iant destiny hich aaited her beautifu! daughter,
the fond mother at once obeyed the command, and sent her to Au!is. >hen the maiden
arri"ed at her destination, and disco"ered, to her horror, the dreadfu! fate hich aaited
her, she thre herse!f in an agony of grief at her fatherRs feet, and ith sobs and tears
entreated him to ha"e mercy on her, and to s$are her young !ife. But a!asU her doom as
sea!ed, and her no re$entant and ,650heart%broken father as $oer!ess to a"ert it. The
unfortunate "ictim as bound to the a!tar, and a!ready the fata! knife as raised to dea!
the death%b!o, hen sudden!y 2$higenia disa$$eared from "ie, and in her $!ace on the
a!tar, !ay a beautifu! deer ready to be sacrificed. 2t as Artemis herse!f, ho, $itying the
youth and beauty of her "ictim, caused her to be con"eyed in a c!oud to Taurica, here
she became one of her $riestesses, and intrusted ith the charge of her tem$!eF a dignity,
hoe"er, hich necessitated the offering of those human sacrifices $resented to Artemis.
Many years $assed aay, during hich time the !ong and earisome siege of Troy had
come to an end, and the bra"e Agamemnon had returned home to meet death at the hands
of his ife and Aegisthus. But his daughter, 2$higenia, as sti!! an eIi!e from her nati"e
country, and continued to $erform the terrib!e duties hich her office in"o!"ed. 3he had
!ong gi"en u$ a!! ho$es of e"er being restored to her friends, hen one day to Greek
strangers !anded on TauricaRs inhos$itab!e shores. These ere 4restes and Py!ades, hose
romantic attachment to each other has made their names synonymous for de"oted se!f%
sacrificing friendshi$. 4restes as 2$higeniaRs brother, and Py!ades her cousin, and their
object in undertaking an eI$edition fraught ith so much $eri!, as to obtain the statue of
the Taurian Artemis. 4restes, ha"ing incurred the anger of the 8uries for a"enging the
murder of his father Agamemnon, as $ursued by them here"er he ent, unti! at !ast he
as informed by the orac!e of 'e!$hi that, in order to $acify them, he must con"ey the
image of the Taurian Artemis from Tauris to Attica. This he at once reso!"ed to do, and
accom$anied by his faithfu! friend Py!ades, ho insisted on sharing the dangers of the
undertaking, he set out for Taurica. But the unfortunate youths had hard!y ste$$ed on
shore before they ere seiEed by the nati"es, ho, as usua!, con"eyed them for sacrifice
to the tem$!e of Artemis. 2$higenia, disco"ering that they ere Greeks, though unaare
of their near re!ationshi$ to herse!f, thought the ,6N0o$$ortunity a fa"ourab!e one for
sending tidings of her eIistence to her nati"e country, and, according!y, reDuested one of
the strangers to be the bearer of a !etter from her to her fami!y. A magnanimous dis$ute
no arose beteen the friends, and each besought the other to acce$t the $recious
$ri"i!ege of !ife and freedom. Py!ades, at !ength o"ercome by the urgent entreaties of
4restes, agreed to be the bearer of the missi"e, but on !ooking more c!ose!y at the
su$erscri$tion, he obser"ed, to his intense sur$rise, that it as addressed to 4restes.
9ereu$on an eI$!anation fo!!oedF the brother and sister recogniEed each other, amid
joyfu! tears and !o"ing embraces, and assisted by her friends and kinsmen, 2$higenia
esca$ed ith them from a country here she had s$ent so many unha$$y days, and
itnessed so many scenes of horror and anguish.
The fugiti"es, ha"ing contri"ed to obtain the image of the Taurian Artemis, carried it ith
them to Brauron in Attica. This di"inity as henceforth knon as the Brauronian
Artemis, and the rites hich had rendered her orshi$ so infamous in Taurica ere no
introduced into Greece, and human "ictims b!ed free!y under the sacrificia! knife, both in
Athens and 3$arta. The re"o!ting $ractice of offering human sacrifices to her, as
continued unti! the time of Lycurgus, the great 3$artan !agi"er, ho $ut an end to it by
substituting in its $!ace one, hich as hard!y !ess barbarous, name!y, the scourging of
youths, ho ere hi$$ed on the a!tars of the Brauronian Artemis in the most crue!
mannerF sometimes indeed they eI$ired under the !ash, in hich case their mothers, far
from !amenting their fate, are said to ha"e rejoiced, considering this an honourab!e death
for their sons.
3ELE<E%ARTEM23.
9itherto e ha"e seen Artemis on!y in the "arious $hases of her terrestria! characterF but
just as her brother A$o!!o dre into himse!f by degrees the attributes of that more ancient
di"inity 9e!ios, the sun%god, so, in !ike manner, she came to be identified in !ater times
,6+0ith 3e!ene, the moon%goddess, in hich character she is a!ays re$resented as
earing on her forehead a g!ittering crescent, hi!st a f!oing "ei!, bes$ang!ed ith stars,
reaches to her feet, and a !ong robe com$!ete!y en"e!o$s her.
'2A<A.
The 'iana of the Romans as identified ith the Greek Artemis, ith hom she shares
that $ecu!iar tri$artite character, hich so strong!y marks the indi"idua!ity of the Greek
goddess. 2n hea"en she as Luna Gthe moonH, on earth 'iana Gthe huntress%goddessH, and
in the !oer or!d Proser$ineF but, un!ike the E$hesian Artemis, 'iana, in her character
as Proser$ine, carries ith her into the !oer or!d no e!ement of !o"e or sym$athyF she
is, on the contrary, characteriEed by $ractices a!together hosti!e to man, such as the
eIercise of itchcraft, e"i! charms, and other antagonistic inf!uences, and is, in fact, the
Greek 9ecate, in her !ater de"e!o$ment.
The statues of 'iana ere genera!!y erected at a $oint here three roads met, for hich
reason she is ca!!ed Tri"ia Gfrom tri, three, and "ia, ayH.
A tem$!e as dedicated to her on the A"entine hi!! by 3er"ius Tu!!ius, ho is said to ha"e
first introduced the orshi$ of this di"inity into Rome.
The <emora!ia, or Gro"e 8esti"a!s, ere ce!ebrated in her honour on the /)th of August,
on the Lacus <emorensis, or forest%buried !ake, near Aricia. The $riest ho officiated in
her tem$!e on this s$ot, as a!ays a fugiti"e s!a"e, ho had gained his office by
murdering his $redecessor, and hence as constant!y armed, in order that he might thus
be $re$ared to encounter a ne as$irant.
9EP9P3T;3 GAu!canH.
9e$hKstus, the son of Meus and 9era, as the god of fire in its beneficia! as$ect, and the
$residing deity o"er a!! orkmanshi$ accom$!ished by means of this usefu! e!ement. 9e
as uni"ersa!!y honoured, not on!y as the ,6.0god of a!! mechanica! arts, but a!so as a
house and hearth di"inity, ho eIercised a beneficia! inf!uence on ci"i!iEed society in
genera!. ;n!ike the other Greek di"inities, he as ug!y and deformed, being akard in
his mo"ements, and !im$ing in his gait. This !atter defect originated, as e ha"e a!ready
seen, in the rath of his father Meus, ho hur!ed him don from hea"en,)50 in
conseDuence of his taking the $art of 9era, in one of the domestic disagreements, hich
so freDuent!y arose beteen this roya! $air. 9e$hKstus as a ho!e day fa!!ing from
4!ym$us to the earth, here he at !ength a!ighted on the is!and of Lemnos. The
inhabitants of the country, seeing him descending through the air, recei"ed him in their
armsF but in s$ite of their care, his !eg as broken by the fa!!, and he remained e"er
afterards !ame in one foot. Gratefu! for the kindness of the Lemnians, he henceforth
took u$ his abode in their is!and, and there bui!t for himse!f a su$erb $a!ace, and forges
for the $ursuit of his a"ocation. 9e instructed the $eo$!e ho to ork in meta!s, and a!so
taught them other "a!uab!e and usefu! arts.
2t is said that the first ork of 9e$hKstus as a most ingenious throne of go!d, ith
secret s$rings, hich he $resented to 9era. 2t as arranged in such a manner that, once
seated, she found herse!f unab!e to mo"e, and though a!! the gods endea"oured to
eItricate her, their efforts ere una"ai!ing. 9e$hKstus thus re"enged himse!f on his
mother for the crue!ty she had a!ays dis$!ayed toards him, on account of his ant of
come!iness and grace. 'ionysus, the ine god, contri"ed, hoe"er, to intoIicate
9e$hKstus, and then induced him to return to 4!ym$us, here, after ha"ing re!eased the
,660Dueen of hea"en from her "ery undignified $osition, he became reconci!ed to his
$arents.
9e no bui!t for himse!f a g!orious $a!ace on 4!ym$us, of shining go!d, and made for the
other deities those magnificent edifices hich they inhabited. 9e as assisted in his
"arious and eIDuisite!y ski!fu! orks of art, by to fema!e statues of $ure go!d, formed
by his on hand, hich $ossessed the $oer of motion, and a!ays accom$anied him
here"er he ent. >ith the assistance of the 1yc!o$s, he forged for Meus his onderfu!
thunderbo!ts, thus in"esting his mighty father ith a ne $oer of terrib!e im$ort. Meus
testified his a$$reciation of this $recious gift, by bestoing u$on 9e$hKstus the beautifu!
A$hrodite in marriage,,)N0 but this as a Duestionab!e boonF for the !o"e!y A$hrodite,
ho as the $ersonification of a!! grace and beauty, fe!t no affection for her ungain!y and
unattracti"e s$ouse, and amused herse!f by ridicu!ing his akard mo"ements and
unsight!y $erson. 4n one occasion es$ecia!!y, hen 9e$hKstus good%natured!y took u$on
himse!f the office of cu$%bearer to the gods, his hobb!ing gait and eItreme akardness
created the greatest mirth amongst the ce!estia!s, in hich his dis!oya! $artner as the
first to join, ith unconcea!ed merriment.
A$hrodite great!y $referred Ares to her husband, and this $reference natura!!y ga"e rise to
much jea!ousy on the $art of 9e$hKstus, and caused them great unha$$iness.
9e$hKstus a$$ears to ha"e been an indis$ensab!e member of the 4!ym$ic Assemb!y,
here he $!ays the $art of smith, armourer, chariot%bui!der, Bc. As a!ready mentioned, he
constructed the $a!aces here the gods resided, fashioned the go!den shoes ith hich
they trod the air or ater, bui!t for them their onderfu! chariots, and shod ith brass the
horses of ce!estia! breed, hich con"eyed these g!ittering eDui$ages o"er !and and sea. 9e
a!so made the tri$ods hich mo"ed of themse!"es in and out of the ce!estia! ha!!s, formed
for Meus the ,/**0far%famed Kgis, and erected the magnificent $a!ace of the sun. 9e a!so
created the braEen%footed bu!!s of Aetes, hich breathed f!ames from their nostri!s, sent
forth c!ouds of smoke, and fi!!ed the air ith their roaring.
Among his most renoned orks of art for the use of morta!s ere& the armour of
Achi!!es and Pneas, the beautifu! neck!ace of 9armonia, and the cron of AriadneF but
his master$iece as Pandora, of hom a detai!ed account has a!ready been gi"en.
9e$hKstus
There as a tem$!e on Mount Etna erected in his honour, hich none but the $ure and
"irtuous ere $ermitted to enter. The entrance to this tem$!e as guarded by dogs, hich
$ossessed the eItraordinary facu!ty of being ab!e to discriminate beteen the righteous
and the unrighteous, faning u$on and caressing the good, hi!st they rushed u$on a!!
e"i!%doers and dro"e them aay.
9e$hKstus is usua!!y re$resented as a $oerfu!, brany, and "ery muscu!ar man of
midd!e height and mature ageF his strong u$!ifted arm is raised in the act of striking the
an"i! ith a hammer, hich he ho!ds in one hand, hi!st ith the other he is turning a
thunderbo!t, hich an eag!e beside him is aiting to carry to Meus. The $rinci$a! seat of
his orshi$ as the is!and of Lemnos, here he as regarded ith $ecu!iar "eneration.
A;L1A<.
The Roman Au!can as mere!y an im$ortation from Greece, hich ne"er at any time
took firm root in Rome, nor entered !arge!y into the actua! !ife and sym$athies of the
nation, his orshi$ being unattended by the de"otiona! fee!ing and enthusiasm hich
characteriEed the re!igious rites of the other deities. 9e sti!!, hoe"er, retained in Rome
his ,/*/0Greek attributes as god of fire, and unri"a!!ed master of the art of orking in
meta!s, and as ranked among the te!"e great gods of 4!ym$us, hose gi!ded statues
ere arranged consecuti"e!y a!ong the 8orum. 9is Roman name, Au!can, ou!d seem to
indicate a connection ith the first great meta!%orking artificer of Bib!ica! history,
Tuba!%1ain.
P43E2'4< G<e$tuneH.
Poseidon as the son of =ronos and Rhea, and the brother of Meus. 9e as god of the
sea, more $articu!ar!y of the Mediterranean, and, !ike the e!ement o"er hich he $resided,
as of a "ariab!e dis$osition, no "io!ent!y agitated, and no ca!m and $!acid, for hich
reason he is sometimes re$resented by the $oets as Duiet and com$osed, and at others as
disturbed and angry.
Poseidon
2n the ear!iest ages of Greek mytho!ogy, he mere!y symbo!iEed the atery e!ementF but in
!ater times, as na"igation and intercourse ith other nations engendered greater traffic by
sea, Poseidon gained in im$ortance, and came to be regarded as a distinct di"inity,
ho!ding indis$utab!e dominion o"er the sea, and o"er a!! sea%di"inities, ho
ackno!edged him as their so"ereign ru!er. 9e $ossessed the $oer of causing at i!!,
mighty and destructi"e tem$ests, in hich the bi!!os rise mountains high, the ind
becomes a hurricane, !and and sea being en"e!o$ed in thick mists, hi!st destruction
assai!s the unfortunate mariners eI$osed to their fury. 4n the other hand, his a!one as
the $oer of sti!!ing the angry ,/*(0a"es, of soothing the troub!ed aters, and granting
safe "oyages to mariners. 8or this reason, Poseidon as a!ays in"oked and $ro$itiated
by a !ibation before a "oyage as undertaken, and sacrifices and thanksgi"ings ere
gratefu!!y offered to him after a safe and $ros$erous journey by sea.
The symbo! of his $oer as the fishermanRs fork or trident,,)+0 by means of hich he
$roduced earthDuakes, raised u$ is!ands from the bottom of the sea, and caused e!!s to
s$ring forth out of the earth.
Poseidon as essentia!!y the $residing deity o"er fishermen, and as on that account,
more $articu!ar!y orshi$$ed and re"ered in countries bordering on the sea%coast, here
fish natura!!y formed a sta$!e commodity of trade. 9e as su$$osed to "ent his
dis$!easure by sending disastrous inundations, hich com$!ete!y destroyed ho!e
countries, and ere usua!!y accom$anied by terrib!e marine monsters, ho sa!!oed u$
and de"oured those hom the f!oods had s$ared. 2t is $robab!e that these sea%monsters
are the $oetica! figures hich re$resent the demons of hunger and famine, necessari!y
accom$anying a genera! inundation.
Poseidon is genera!!y re$resented as resemb!ing his brother Meus in features, height, and
genera! as$ectF but e miss in the countenance of the sea%god the kindness and benignity
hich so $!easing!y distinguish his mighty brother. The eyes are bright and $iercing, and
the contour of the face somehat shar$er in its out!ine than that of Meus, thus
corres$onding, as it ere, ith his more angry and "io!ent nature. 9is hair a"es in dark,
disorder!y masses o"er his shou!dersF his chest is broad, and his frame $oerfu! and
sta!artF he ears a short, cur!ing beard, and a band round his head. 9e usua!!y a$$ears
standing erect in a gracefu! she!!%chariot, dran by hi$$ocam$s, or sea%horses, ith
go!den manes and braEen hoofs, ho bound o"er the dancing a"es ith such onderfu!
siftness, that the chariot scarce!y touches ,/*)0the ater. The monsters of the dee$,
ackno!edging their mighty !ord, gambo! $!ayfu!!y around him, hi!st the sea joyfu!!y
smooths a $ath for the $assage of its a!!%$oerfu! ru!er.
A hi$$ocam$
9e inhabited a beautifu! $a!ace at the bottom of the sea at Pgea in EubLa, and a!so
$ossessed a roya! residence on Mount 4!ym$us, hich, hoe"er, he on!y "isited hen
his $resence as reDuired at the counci! of the gods.
9is onderfu! $a!ace beneath the aters as of "ast eItentF in its !ofty and ca$acious
ha!!s thousands of his fo!!oers cou!d assemb!e. The eIterior of the bui!ding as of
bright go!d, hich the continua! ash of the aters $reser"ed untarnishedF in the interior,
!ofty and gracefu! co!umns su$$orted the g!eaming dome. E"eryhere fountains of
g!istening, si!"ery ater $!ayedF e"eryhere gro"es and arbours of feathery%!ea"ed sea%
$!ants a$$eared, hi!st rocks of $ure crysta! g!istened ith a!! the "aried co!ours of the
rainbo. 3ome of the $aths ere stren ith hite s$ark!ing sand, inters$ersed ith
jee!s, $ear!s, and amber. This de!ightfu! abode as surrounded on a!! sides by ide
fie!ds, here there ere ho!e gro"es of dark $ur$!e cora!!ine, and tufts of beautifu!
scar!et%!ea"ed $!ants, and sea%anemones of e"ery tint. 9ere gre bright, $inky sea%eeds,
mosses of a!! hues and shades, and ta!! grasses, hich, groing u$ards, formed emera!d
ca"es and grottoes such as the <ereides !o"e, hi!st fish of "arious kinds $!ayfu!!y darted
in and out, in the fu!! enjoyment of their nati"e e!ement. <or as i!!umination anting in
this fairy%!ike region, hich at night as !it u$ by the g!o%orms of the dee$.
But a!though Poseidon ru!ed ith abso!ute $oer o"er the ocean and its inhabitants, he
ne"erthe!ess boed submissi"e!y to the i!! of the great ru!er of 4!ym$us, and a$$eared
at a!! times desirous of conci!iating him. >e ,/*C0find him coming to his aid hen
emergency demanded, and freDuent!y rendering him "a!uab!e assistance against his
o$$onents. At the time hen Meus as harassed by the attacks of the Giants, he $ro"ed
himse!f a most $oerfu! a!!y, engaging in sing!e combat ith a hideous giant named
Po!ybotes, hom he fo!!oed o"er the sea, and at !ast succeeded in destroying, by hur!ing
u$on him the is!and of 1os.
These amicab!e re!ations beteen the brothers ere, hoe"er, sometimes interru$ted.
Thus, for instance, u$on one occasion Poseidon joined 9era and Athene in a secret
cons$iracy to seiEe u$on the ru!er of hea"en, $!ace him in fetters, and de$ri"e him of the
so"ereign $oer. The cons$iracy being disco"ered, 9era, as the chief instigator of this
sacri!egious attem$t on the di"ine $erson of Meus, as se"ere!y chastised, and e"en
beaten, by her enraged s$ouse, as a $unishment for her rebe!!ion and treachery, hi!st
Poseidon as condemned, for the s$ace of a ho!e year, to forego his dominion o"er the
sea, and it as at this time that, in conjunction ith A$o!!o, he bui!t for Laomedon the
a!!s of Troy.
Poseidon married a sea%nym$h named Am$hitrite, hom he ooed under the form of a
do!$hin. 3he afterards became jea!ous of a beautifu! maiden ca!!ed 3cy!!a, ho as
be!o"ed by Poseidon, and in order to re"enge herse!f she thre some herbs into a e!!
here 3cy!!a as bathing, hich had the effect of metamor$hosing her into a monster of
terrib!e as$ect, ha"ing te!"e feet, siI heads ith siI !ong necks, and a "oice hich
resemb!ed the bark of a dog. This afu! monster is said to ha"e inhabited a ca"e at a "ery
great height in the famous rock hich sti!! bears her name,,).0 and as su$$osed to
soo$ don from her rocky eminence u$on e"ery shi$ that $assed, and ith each of her
siI heads to secure a "ictim.
Am$hitrite is often re$resented assisting Poseidon in attaching the sea%horses to his
chariot.
,/*50
The 1yc!o$s, ho ha"e been a!ready a!!uded to in the history of 1ronus, ere the sons of
Poseidon and Am$hitrite. They ere a i!d race of gigantic groth, simi!ar in their
nature to the earth%born Giants, and had on!y one eye each in the midd!e of their
foreheads. They !ed a !a!ess !ife, $ossessing neither socia! manners nor fear of the gods,
and ere the orkmen of 9e$hKstus, hose orksho$ as su$$osed to be in the heart of
the "o!canic mountain Ptna.
9ere e ha"e another striking instance of the manner in hich the Greeks $ersonified the
$oers of nature, hich they sa in acti"e o$eration around them. They behe!d ith ae,
ming!ed ith astonishment, the fire, stones, and ashes hich $oured forth from the
summit of this and other "o!canic mountains, and, ith their "i"acity of imagination,
found a so!ution of the mystery in the su$$osition, that the god of 8ire must be busy at
ork ith his men in the de$ths of the earth, and that the mighty f!ames hich they
behe!d, issued in this manner from his subterranean forge.
The chief re$resentati"e of the 1yc!o$s as the man%eating monster Po!y$hemus,
described by 9omer as ha"ing been b!inded and outitted at !ast by 4dysseus. This
monster fe!! in !o"e ith a beautifu! nym$h ca!!ed Ga!ateaF but, as may be su$$osed, his
addresses ere not acce$tab!e to the fair maiden, ho rejected them in fa"our of a youth
named Acis, u$on hich Po!y$hemus, ith his usua! barbarity, destroyed the !ife of his
ri"a! by throing u$on him a gigantic rock. The b!ood of the murdered Acis, gushing out
of the rock, formed a stream hich sti!! bears his name.
Triton, Rhoda,,)60 and Benthesicyme ere a!so chi!dren of Poseidon and Am$hitrite.
The sea%god as the father of to giant sons ca!!ed 4tus and E$hia!tes.,C*0 >hen on!y
nine years o!d they ,/*N0ere said to be tenty%se"en cubits,C/0 in height and nine in
breadth. These youthfu! giants ere as rebe!!ious as they ere $oerfu!, e"en $resuming
to threaten the gods themse!"es ith hosti!ities. 'uring the ar of the Gigantomachia,
they endea"oured to sca!e hea"en by $i!ing mighty mountains one u$on another. A!ready
had they succeeded in $!acing Mount 4ssa on 4!ym$us and Pe!ion on 4ssa, hen this
im$ious $roject as frustrated by A$o!!o, ho destroyed them ith his arros. 2t as
su$$osed that had not their !i"es been thus cut off before reaching maturity, their
sacri!egious designs ou!d ha"e been carried into effect.
Pe!ias and <e!eus ere a!so sons of Poseidon. Their mother Tyro as attached to the
ri"er%god Eni$eus, hose form Poseidon assumed, and thus on her !o"e. Pe!ias became
afterards famous in the story of the Argonauts, and <e!eus as the father of <estor,
ho as distinguished in the Trojan >ar.
The Greeks be!ie"ed that it as to Poseidon they ere indebted for the eIistence of the
horse, hich he is said to ha"e $roduced in the fo!!oing manner& Athene and Poseidon
both c!aiming the right to name 1ecro$ia Gthe ancient name of AthensH, a "io!ent dis$ute
arose, hich as fina!!y sett!ed by an assemb!y of the 4!ym$ian gods, ho decided that
hiche"er of the contending $arties $resented mankind ith the most usefu! gift, shou!d
obtain the $ri"i!ege of naming the city. ;$on this Poseidon struck the ground ith his
trident, and the horse s$rang forth in a!! his untamed strength and gracefu! beauty. 8rom
the s$ot hich Athene touched ith her and, issued the o!i"e%tree, hereu$on the gods
unanimous!y aarded to her the "ictory, dec!aring her gift to be the emb!em of $eace and
$!enty, hi!st that of Poseidon as thought to be the symbo! of ar and ,/*+0b!oodshed.
Athene according!y ca!!ed the city Athens, after herse!f, and it has e"er since retained this
name.
Poseidon tamed the horse for the use of mankind, and as be!ie"ed to ha"e taught men
the art of managing horses by the brid!e. The 2sthmian games Gso named because they
ere he!d on the 2sthmus of 1orinthH, in hich horse and chariot races ere a
distinguishing feature, ere instituted in honour of Poseidon.
9e as more es$ecia!!y orshi$$ed in the Pe!o$onnesus, though uni"ersa!!y re"ered
throughout Greece and in the south of 2ta!y. 9is sacrifices ere genera!!y b!ack and hite
bu!!s, a!so i!d boars and rams. 9is usua! attributes are the trident, horse, and do!$hin.
2n some $arts of Greece this di"inity as identified ith the sea%god <ereus, for hich
reason the <ereides, or daughters of <ereus, are re$resented as accom$anying him.
<EPT;<E.
The Romans orshi$$ed Poseidon under the name of <e$tune, and in"ested him ith a!!
the attributes hich be!ong to the Greek di"inity.
The Roman commanders ne"er undertook any na"a! eI$edition ithout $ro$itiating
<e$tune by a sacrifice.
9is tem$!e at Rome as in the 1am$us Martius, and the festi"a!s commemorated in his
honour ere ca!!ed <e$tuna!ia.
3EA '2A2<2T2E3.
41EA<;3.
4ceanus as the son of ;ranus and GKa. 9e as the $ersonification of the e"er%f!oing
stream, hich, according to the $rimiti"e notions of the ear!y Greeks, encirc!ed the or!d,
and from hich s$rang a!! the ri"ers and streams that atered the earth. 9e as married
to Tethys, one of the Titans, and as the father of a ,/*.0numerous $rogeny ca!!ed the
4ceanides, ho are said to ha"e been three thousand in number. 9e a!one, of a!! the
Titans, refrained from taking $art against Meus in the Titanomachia, and as, on that
account, the on!y one of the $rime"a! di"inities $ermitted to retain his dominion under the
ne dynasty.
<ERE;3.
<ereus a$$ears to ha"e been the $ersonification of the sea in its ca!m and $!acid moods,
and as, after Poseidon, the most im$ortant of the sea%deities. 9e is re$resented as a kind
and bene"o!ent o!d man, $ossessing the gift of $ro$hecy, and $residing more $articu!ar!y
o"er the Pgean 3ea, of hich he as considered to be the $rotecting s$irit. There he
de!t ith his ife 'oris and their fifty b!ooming daughters, the <ereides, beneath the
a"es in a beautifu! grotto%$a!ace, and as e"er ready to assist distressed mariners in the
hour of danger.
PR4TE;3.
Proteus, more fami!iar!y knon as TThe 4!d Man of the 3ea,T as a son of Poseidon, and
gifted ith $ro$hetic $oer. But he had an in"incib!e objection to being consu!ted in his
ca$acity as seer, and those ho ished him to forete!! e"ents, atched for the hour of
noon, hen he as in the habit of coming u$ to the is!and of Pharos,,C(0 ith PoseidonRs
f!ock of sea!s, hich he tended at the bottom of the sea. 3urrounded by these creatures of
the dee$, he used to s!umber beneath the gratefu! shade of the rocks. This as the
fa"ourab!e moment to seiEe the $ro$het, ho, in order to a"oid im$ortunities, ou!d
change himse!f into an infinite "ariety of forms. But $atience gained the dayF for if he
ere on!y he!d !ong enough, he became earied at !ast, and, resuming his true form, ga"e
the information desired, after hich he di"ed don again to the bottom of the sea,
accom$anied by the anima!s he tended.
,/*60
Triton
TR2T4< and the TR2T4<3.
Triton as the on!y son of Poseidon and Am$hitrite, but he $ossessed !itt!e inf!uence,
being a!together a minor di"inity. 9e is usua!!y re$resented as $receding his father and
acting as his trum$eter, using a conch%she!! for this $ur$ose. 9e !i"ed ith his $arents in
their beautifu! go!den $a!ace beneath the sea at Pgea, and his fa"ourite $astime as to
ride o"er the bi!!os on horses or sea%monsters. Triton is a!ays re$resented as ha!f man,
ha!f fish, the body be!o the aist terminating in the tai! of a do!$hin. >e freDuent!y find
mention of Tritons ho are either the offs$ring or kindred of Triton.
GLA;1;3.
G!aucus is said to ha"e become a sea%di"inity in the fo!!oing manner. >hi!e ang!ing one
day, he obser"ed that the fish he caught and thre on the bank, at once nibb!ed at the
grass and then !ea$ed back into the ater. 9is curiosity as natura!!y eIcited, and he
$roceeded to gratify it by taking u$ a fe b!ades and tasting them. <o sooner as this
done than, obeying an irresistib!e im$u!se, he $reci$itated himse!f into the dee$, and
became a sea%god.
Like most sea%di"inities he as gifted ith $ro$hetic $oer, and each year "isited a!! the
is!ands and coasts ith a train of marine monsters, forete!!ing a!! kinds of e"i!. 9ence
fishermen dreaded his a$$roach, and endea"oured, by $rayer and fasting, to a"ert the
misfortunes hich he $ro$hesied. 9e is often re$resented f!oating on the bi!!os, his
body co"ered ith musse!s, sea%eed, and she!!s, earing a fu!! beard and !ong f!oing
hair, and bitter!y beai!ing his immorta!ity.
,//*0
T9ET23.
The si!"er%footed, fair%haired Thetis, ho $!ays an im$ortant $art in the mytho!ogy of
Greece, as the daughter of <ereus, or, as some assert, of Poseidon. 9er grace and
beauty ere so remarkab!e that Meus and Poseidon both sought an a!!iance ith herF but,
as it had been foreto!d that a son of hers ou!d gain su$remacy o"er his father, they
re!inDuished their intentions, and she became the ife of Pe!eus, son of Pacus. Like
Proteus, Thetis $ossessed the $oer of transforming herse!f into a "ariety of different
sha$es, and hen ooed by Pe!eus she eIerted this $oer in order to e!ude him. But,
knoing that $ersistence ou!d e"entua!!y succeed, he he!d her fast unti! she assumed
her true form. Their nu$tia!s ere ce!ebrated ith the utmost $om$ and magnificence,
and ere honoured by the $resence of a!! the gods and goddesses, ith the eIce$tion of
Eris. 9o the goddess of discord resented her eIc!usion from the marriage festi"ities has
a!ready been shon.
Thetis e"er retained great inf!uence o"er the mighty !ord of hea"en, hich, as e sha!!
see hereafter, she used in fa"our of her renoned son, Achi!!es, in the Trojan >ar.
>hen 9a!cyone $!unged into the sea in des$air after the shi$reck and death of her
husband =ing 1eyI, Thetis transformed both husband and ife into the birds ca!!ed
kingfishers Gha!cyonesH, hich, ith the tender affection hich characteriEed the
unfortunate cou$!e, a!ays f!y in $airs. The idea of the ancients as that these birds
brought forth their young in nests, hich f!oat on the surface of the sea in ca!m eather,
before and after the shortest day, hen Thetis as said to kee$ the aters smooth and
tranDui! for their es$ecia! benefitF hence the term Tha!cyon%days,T hich signifies a $eriod
of rest and untroub!ed fe!icity.
,///0
T9A;MA3, P94R1#3, and 1ET4.
The ear!y Greeks, ith their eItraordinary $oer of $ersonifying a!! and e"ery attribute
of <ature, ga"e a distinct $ersona!ity to those mighty onders of the dee$, hich, in a!!
ages, ha"e afforded matter of s$ecu!ation to educated and uneducated a!ike. Among these
$ersonifications e find Thaumas, Phorcys, and their sister 1eto, ho ere the offs$ring
of Pontus.
Thaumas Ghose name signifies >onderH ty$ifies that $ecu!iar, trans!ucent condition of
the surface of the sea hen it ref!ects, mirror%!ike, "arious images, and a$$ears to ho!d in
its trans$arent embrace the f!aming stars and i!!uminated cities, hich are so freDuent!y
ref!ected on its g!assy bosom.
Thaumas married the !o"e!y E!ectra Ghose name signifies the s$ark!ing !ight $roduced
by e!ectricityH, daughter of 4ceanus. 9er amber%co!oured hair as of such rare beauty
that none of her fair%haired sisters cou!d com$are ith her, and hen she e$t, her tears,
being too $recious to be !ost, formed dro$s of shining amber.
Phorcys and 1eto $ersonified more es$ecia!!y the hidden $eri!s and terrors of the ocean.
They ere the $arents of the Gorgons, the GrKa, and the 'ragon hich guarded the
go!den a$$!es of the 9es$erides.
A 3iren
LE;14T9EA.
Leucothea as origina!!y a morta! named 2no, daughter of 1admus, king of Thebes. 3he
married Athamas, king of 4rchomenus, ho, incensed at her unnatura! conduct to her
ste$%chi!dren,,C)0 $ursued her and her son to the sea%shore, hen, seeing no ho$e of
esca$e, she f!ung herse!f ith her chi!d into the dee$. They ere kind!y recei"ed by the
<ereides, and became sea%di"inities under the name of Leucothea and Pa!Kmon.
,//(0
T9E 32RE<3.
The 3irens ou!d a$$ear to ha"e been $ersonifications of those numerous rocks and
unseen dangers, hich abound on the 3.>. coast of 2ta!y. They ere sea%nym$hs, ith
the u$$er $art of the body that of a maiden and the !oer that of a sea%bird, ha"ing ings
attached to their shou!ders, and ere endoed ith such onderfu! "oices, that their
seet songs are said to ha"e !ured mariners to destruction.
ARE3 GMarsH.
Ares, the son of Meus and 9era, as the god of ar, ho g!oried in strife for its on sakeF
he !o"ed the tumu!t and ha"oc of the batt!efie!d, and de!ighted in s!aughter and
eIterminationF in fact he $resents no bene"o!ent as$ect hich cou!d $ossib!y react
fa"ourab!y u$on human !ife.
E$ic $oets, in $articu!ar, re$resent the god of batt!es as a i!d ungo"ernab!e arrior, ho
$asses through the armies !ike a hir!ind, hur!ing to the ground the bra"e and coard!y
a!ikeF destroying chariots and he!mets, and trium$hing o"er the terrib!e deso!ation hich
he $roduces.
2n a!! the myths concerning Ares, his sister Athene e"er a$$ears in o$$osition to him,
endea"ouring by e"ery means in her $oer to defeat his b!oodthirsty designs. Thus she
assists the di"ine hero 'iomedes at the siege of Troy, to o"ercome Ares in batt!e, and so
e!! does he $rofit by her time!y aid, that he succeeds in ounding the sanguinary ar%
god, ho makes his eIit from the fie!d, roaring !ike ten thousand bu!!s.
,//)0
Ares a$$ears to ha"e been an object of a"ersion to a!! the gods of 4!ym$us, A$hrodite
a!one eIce$ted. As the son of 9era, he had inherited from his mother the strongest
fee!ings of inde$endence and contradiction, and as he took de!ight in u$setting that
$eacefu! course of state%!ife hich it as $re%eminent!y the care of Meus to estab!ish, he
as natura!!y dis!iked and e"en hated by him.
>hen ounded by 'iomedes, as abo"e re!ated, he com$!ains to his father, but recei"es
no sym$athy from the otherise kind!y and beneficent ru!er of 4!ym$us, ho thus
angri!y addresses him& T'o not troub!e me ith thy com$!aints, thou ho art of a!! the
gods of 4!ym$us most hatefu! to me, for thou de!ightest in nought sa"e ar and strife.
The "ery s$irit of thy mother !i"es in thee, and ert thou not my son, !ong ago ou!dst
thou ha"e !ain dee$er don in the boe!s of the earth than the son of ;ranus.T
Ares
Ares, u$on one occasion, incurred the anger of Poseidon by s!aying his son 9a!irrhothios,
ho had insu!ted A!ci$$e, the daughter of the ar%god. 8or this deed, Poseidon
summoned Ares to a$$ear before the tribuna! of the 4!ym$ic gods, hich as he!d u$on
a hi!! in Athens. Ares as acDuitted, and this e"ent is su$$osed to ha"e gi"en rise to the
name Areo$agus Gor 9i!! of AresH, hich afterards became so famous as a court of
justice. 2n the Gigantomachia, Ares as defeated by the A!oidK, the to giant%sons of
Poseidon, ho $ut him in chains, and ke$t him in $rison for thirteen months.
Ares is re$resented as a man of youthfu! a$$earanceF his ta!! muscu!ar form combines
great strength ith onderfu! agi!ity. 2n his right hand he bears a sord or a mighty
!ance, hi!e on the !eft arm he carries his round shie!d Gsee neIt $ageH. 9is demoniaca!
surroundings are Terror and 8earF,CC0 Enyo, the goddess of the ar%cryF =eidomos, the
demon of the noise of batt!esF and Eris G1ontentionH, his tin%sister and com$anion, ho
a!ays ,//C0$recedes his chariot hen he rushes to the fight, the !atter being e"ident!y a
simi!e of the $oets to eI$ress the fact that ar fo!!os contention.
Eris is re$resented as a oman of f!orid com$!eIion, ith dishe"e!!ed hair, and her ho!e
a$$earance angry and menacing. 2n one hand she brandishes a $oniard and a hissing
adder, hi!st in the other she carries a burning torch. 9er dress is torn and disorder!y, and
her hair intertined ith "enomous snakes. This di"inity as ne"er in"oked by morta!s,
eIce$t hen they desired her assistance for the accom$!ishment of e"i! $ur$oses.
MAR3.
The Roman di"inity most c!ose!y resemb!ing the Greek Ares, and identified ith him,
as ca!!ed Mars, Mamers, and Mars$iter or 8ather Mars.
The ear!iest 2ta!ian tribes, ho ere most!y engaged in the $ursuit of husbandry, regarded
this deity more es$ecia!!y as the god of s$ring, ho "anDuished the $oers of inter, and
encouraged the $eacefu! arts of agricu!ture. But ith the Romans, ho ere an
essentia!!y ar!ike nation, Mars gradua!!y !oses his $eacefu! character, and, as god of
ar, attains, after :u$iter, the highest $osition among the 4!ym$ic gods. The Romans
!ooked u$on him as their s$ecia! $rotector, and dec!ared him to ha"e been the father of
Romu!us and Remus, the founders of their city. But a!though he as es$ecia!!y
,//50orshi$$ed in Rome as god of ar, he sti!! continued to $reside o"er agricu!ture,
and as a!so the $rotecting deity ho atched o"er the e!fare of the state.
As the god ho strode ith ar!ike ste$ to the batt!efie!d, he as ca!!ed Gradi"us Gfrom
gradus, a ste$H, it being $o$u!ar!y be!ie"ed by the Romans that he himse!f marched before
them to batt!e, and acted as their in"isib!e $rotector. As the $residing deity o"er
agricu!ture, he as sty!ed 3y!"anus, hi!st in his character as guardian of the state, he
bore the name of @uirinus.,C50
The $riests of Mars ere te!"e in number, and ere ca!!ed 3a!ii, or the dancers, from
the fact that sacred dances, in fu!! armour, formed an im$ortant item in their $ecu!iar
ceremonia!. This re!igious order, the members of hich ere a!ays chosen from the
nob!est fami!ies in Rome, as first instituted by <uma Pom$i!ius, ho intrusted to their
s$ecia! charge the Anci!iK, or sacred shie!ds. 2t is said that one morning, hen <uma as
im$!oring the $rotection of :u$iter for the ne!y%founded city of Rome, the god of
hea"en, as though in anser to his $rayer, sent don an ob!ong braEen shie!d, and, as it
fe!! at the feet of the king, a "oice as heard announcing that on its $reser"ation
de$ended the future safety and $ros$erity of Rome. 2n order, therefore, to !essen the
chances of this sacred treasure being abstracted, <uma caused e!e"en more to be made
eIact!y !ike it, hich ere then gi"en into the care of the 3a!ii.
The assistance and $rotection of the god of ar as a!ays so!emn!y in"oked before the
de$arture of a Roman army for the fie!d of batt!e, and any re"erses of fortune ere
in"ariab!y ascribed to his anger, hich as according!y $ro$itiated by means of
eItraordinary sin%offerings and $rayers.
2n Rome a fie!d, ca!!ed the 1am$us Martius, as dedicated to Mars. 2t as a !arge, o$en
s$ace, in hich armies ere co!!ected and re"ieed, genera! assemb!ies of ,//N0the
$eo$!e he!d, and the young nobi!ity trained to martia! eIercises.
The most ce!ebrated and magnificent of the numerous tem$!es bui!t by the Romans in
honour of this deity as the one erected by Augustus in the 8orum, to commemorate the
o"erthro of the murderers of 1Ksar.
4f a!! eIisting statues of Mars the most renoned is that in the Ai!!a Ludo"isi at Rome, in
hich he is re$resented as a $oerfu!, muscu!ar man in the fu!! "igour of youth. The
attitude is that of thoughtfu! re$ose, but the short, cur!y hair, di!ated nostri!s, and strong!y
marked features !ea"e no doubt as to the force and turbu!ence of his character. At his feet,
the scu!$tor has $!aced the !itt!e god of !o"e, ho !ooks u$ a!! undaunted at the mighty
ar%god, as though mischie"ous!y conscious that this unusua!!y Duiet mood is attributab!e
to his inf!uence.
Re!igious festi"a!s in honour of Mars ere genera!!y he!d in the month of MarchF but he
had a!so a festi"a! on the 2des of 4ctober, hen chariot%races took $!ace, after hich, the
right%hand horse of the team hich had dran the "ictorious chariot, as sacrificed to
him. 2n ancient times, human sacrifices, more es$ecia!!y $risoners of ar, ere offered to
himF but, at a !ater $eriod, this crue! $ractice as discontinued.
The attributes of this di"inity are the he!met, shie!d, and s$ear. The anima!s consecrated
to him ere the o!f, horse, "u!ture, and ood$ecker.
2ntimate!y associated ith Mars in his character as god of ar, as a goddess ca!!ed
BELL4<A, ho as e"ident!y the fema!e di"inity of batt!e ith one or other of the
$rimiti"e nations of 2ta!y Gmost $robab!y the 3abinesH, and is usua!!y seen accom$anying
Mars, hose ar%chariot she guides. Be!!ona a$$ears on the batt!e%fie!d, ins$ired ith
mad rage, crue!ty, and the !o"e of eItermination. 3he is in fu!! armour, her hair is
dishe"e!!ed, and she bears a scourge in one hand, and a !ance in the other.
A tem$!e as erected to her on the 1am$us Martius. Before the entrance to this edifice
stood a $i!!ar, o"er hich a s$ear as thron hen ar as $ub!ic!y dec!ared. ,//+0
<2=E GAictoriaH.
<ike, the goddess of "ictory, as the daughter of the Titan Pa!!as, and of 3tyI, the
$residing nym$h of the ri"er of that name in the !oer or!d.
2n her statues, <ike somehat resemb!es Athene, but may easi!y be recogniEed by her
!arge, gracefu! ings and f!oing dra$ery, hich is neg!igent!y fastened on the right
shou!der, and on!y $artia!!y concea!s her !o"e!y form. 2n her !eft hand, she ho!ds a!oft a
cron of !aure!, and in the right, a $a!m%branch. 2n ancient scu!$ture, <ike is usua!!y
re$resented in connection ith co!ossa! statues of Meus or Pa!!as%Athene, in hich case
she is !ife%siEed, and stands on a ba!!, he!d in the o$en $a!m of the deity she accom$anies.
3ometimes she is re$resented engaged in inscribing the "ictory of a conDueror on his
shie!d, her right foot being s!ight!y raised and $!aced on a ba!!.
A ce!ebrated tem$!e as erected to this di"inity on the Acro$o!is at Athens, hich is sti!!
to be seen, and is in eIce!!ent $reser"ation.
A21T4R2A.
;nder the name of Aictoria, <ike as high!y honoured by the Romans, ith hom !o"e
of conDuest as an a!!%absorbing characteristic. There ere se"era! sanctuaries in Rome
dedicated to her, the $rinci$a! of hich as on the 1a$ito!, here it as the custom of
genera!s, after success had attended their arms, to erect statues of the goddess in
commemoration of their "ictories. The most magnificent of these statues, as that raised
by Augustus after the batt!e of Actium. A festi"a! as ce!ebrated in honour of <ike on the
/(th of A$ri!.
9ERME3 GMercuryH.
9ermes as the sift%footed messenger, and trusted ambassador of a!! the gods, and
conductor of shades to 9ades. 9e $resided o"er the rearing and education of ,//.0the
young, and encouraged gymnastic eIercises and ath!etic $ursuits, for hich reason, a!!
gymnasiums and rest!ing schoo!s throughout Greece ere adorned ith his statues. 9e
is said to ha"e in"ented the a!$habet, and to ha"e taught the art of inter$reting foreign
!anguages, and his "ersati!ity, sagacity, and cunning ere so eItraordinary, that Meus
in"ariab!y chose him as his attendant, hen, disguised as a morta!, he journeyed on earth.
9ermes as orshi$$ed as god of e!oDuence, most $robab!y from the fact that, in his
office as ambassador, this facu!ty as indis$ensab!e to the successfu! issue of the
negotiations ith hich he as intrusted. 9e as regarded as the god ho granted
increase and $ros$erity to f!ocks and herds, and, on this account, as orshi$$ed ith
s$ecia! "eneration by herdsmen.
2n ancient times, trade as conducted chief!y by means of the eIchange of catt!e.
9ermes, therefore, as god of herdsmen, came to be regarded as the $rotector of
merchants, and, as ready it and adroitness are "a!uab!e Dua!ities both in buying and
se!!ing, he as a!so !ooked u$on as the $atron of artifice and cunning. 2ndeed, so dee$!y
as this notion rooted in the minds of the Greek $eo$!e, that he as $o$u!ar!y be!ie"ed to
be a!so god of thie"es, and of a!! $ersons ho !i"e by their its.
A 9erma
As the $atron of commerce, 9ermes as natura!!y su$$osed to be the $romoter of
intercourse among nationsF hence, he is essentia!!y the god of tra"e!!ers, o"er hose
safety he $resided, and he se"ere!y $unished those ho refused assistance to the !ost or
eary ayfarer. 9e as a!so guardian of streets and roads, and his statues, ca!!ed 9ermK
Ghich ere $i!!ars of stone surmounted by a head of 9ermesH, ere $!aced at cross%
roads, and freDuent!y in streets and $ub!ic sDuares.
Being the god of a!! undertakings in hich gain as a feature, he as orshi$$ed as the
gi"er of ea!th and ,//60good !uck, and any uneI$ected stroke of fortune as attributed
to his inf!uence. 9e a!so $resided o"er the game of dice, in hich he is said to ha"e been
instructed by A$o!!o.
9ermes as the son of Meus and Maia, the e!dest and most beautifu! of the se"en P!eiades
Gdaughters of At!asH, and as born in a ca"e of Mount 1y!!ene in Arcadia. As a mere
babe, he eIhibited an eItraordinary facu!ty for cunning and dissimu!ationF in fact, he as
a thief from his crad!e, for, not many hours after his birth, e find him cree$ing stea!thi!y
out of the ca"e in hich he as born, in order to stea! some oIen be!onging to his brother
A$o!!o, ho as at this time feeding the f!ocks of Admetus. But he had not $roceeded
"ery far on his eI$edition before he found a tortoise, hich he ki!!ed, and, stretching
se"en strings across the em$ty she!!, in"ented a !yre, u$on hich he at once began to $!ay
ith eIDuisite ski!!. >hen he had sufficient!y amused himse!f ith the instrument, he
$!aced it in his crad!e, and then resumed his journey to Pieria, here the catt!e of
Admetus ere graEing. Arri"ing at sunset at his destination, he succeeded in se$arating
fifty oIen from his brotherRs herd, hich he no dro"e before him, taking the $recaution
to co"er his feet ith sanda!s made of tigs of myrt!e, in order to esca$e detection. But
the !itt!e rogue as not unobser"ed, for the theft had been itnessed by an o!d she$herd
named Battus, ho as tending the f!ocks of <e!eus, king of Py!os Gfather of <estorH.
9ermes, frightened at being disco"ered, bribed him ith the finest co in the herd not to
betray him, and Battus $romised to kee$ the secret. But 9ermes, astute as he as
dishonest, determined to test the she$herdRs integrity. 8eigning to go aay, he assumed
the form of Admetus, and then returning to the s$ot offered the o!d man to of his best
oIen if he ou!d disc!ose the author of the theft. The ruse succeeded, for the a"aricious
she$herd, unab!e to resist the tem$ting bait, ga"e the desired information, u$on hich
9ermes, eIerting his di"ine $oer, changed him into a !um$ of touchstone, as a
,/(*0$unishment for his treachery and a"arice. 9ermes no ki!!ed to of the oIen, hich
he sacrificed to himse!f and the other gods, concea!ing the remainder in the ca"e. 9e then
carefu!!y eItinguished the fire, and, after throing his tig shoes into the ri"er A!$heus,
returned to 1y!!ene.
A$o!!o, by means of his a!!%seeing $oer, soon disco"ered ho it as that had robbed
him, and hastening to 1y!!ene, demanded restitution of his $ro$erty. 4n his com$!aining
to Maia of her sonRs conduct, she $ointed to the innocent babe then !ying, a$$arent!y fast
as!ee$, in his crad!e, hereu$on, A$o!!o angri!y aroused the $retended s!ee$er, and
charged him ith the theftF but the chi!d stout!y denied a!! kno!edge of it, and so
c!e"er!y did he $!ay his $art, that he e"en inDuired in the most nai"e manner hat sort of
anima!s cos ere. A$o!!o threatened to thro him into Tartarus if he ou!d not confess
the truth, but a!! to no $ur$ose. At !ast, he seiEed the babe in his arms, and brought him
into the $resence of his august father, ho as seated in the counci! chamber of the gods.
Meus !istened to the charge made by A$o!!o, and then stern!y desired 9ermes to say here
he had hidden the catt!e. The chi!d, ho as sti!! in sadd!ing%c!othes, !ooked u$ bra"e!y
into his fatherRs face and said, T<o, do 2 !ook ca$ab!e of dri"ing aay a herd of catt!eF 2,
ho as on!y born yesterday, and hose feet are much too soft and tender to tread in
rough $!acesW ;nti! this moment, 2 !ay in seet s!ee$ on my motherRs bosom, and ha"e
ne"er e"en crossed the thresho!d of our de!!ing. #ou kno e!! that 2 am not gui!tyF but,
if you ish, 2 i!! affirm it by the most so!emn oaths.T As the chi!d stood before him,
!ooking the $icture of innocence, Meus cou!d not refrain from smi!ing at his c!e"erness
and cunning, but, being $erfect!y aare of his gui!t, he commanded him to conduct
A$o!!o to the ca"e here he had concea!ed the herd, and 9ermes, seeing that further
subterfuge as use!ess, unhesitating!y obeyed. But hen the di"ine she$herd as about
to dri"e his catt!e back into Pieria, 9ermes, as though by chance, touched the chords of
his ,/(/0!yre. 9itherto A$o!!o had heard nothing but the music of his on three%stringed
!yre and the syrinI, or PanRs $i$e, and, as he !istened entranced to the de!ightfu! strains of
this ne instrument, his !onging to $ossess it became so great, that he g!ad!y offered the
oIen in eIchange, $romising at the same time, to gi"e 9ermes fu!! dominion o"er f!ocks
and herds, as e!! as o"er horses, and a!! the i!d anima!s of the oods and forests. The
offer as acce$ted, and, a reconci!iation being thus effected beteen the brothers,
9ermes became henceforth god of herdsmen, hi!st A$o!!o de"oted himse!f
enthusiastica!!y to the art of music.
1aduceus
They no $roceeded together to 4!ym$us, here A$o!!o introduced 9ermes as his
chosen friend and com$anion, and, ha"ing made him sear by the 3tyI, that he ou!d
ne"er stea! his !yre or bo, nor in"ade his sanctuary at 'e!$hi, he $resented him ith the
1aduceus, or go!den and. This and as surmounted by ings, and on $resenting it to
9ermes, A$o!!o informed him that it $ossessed the facu!ty of uniting in !o"e, a!! beings
di"ided by hate. >ishing to $ro"e the truth of this assertion, 9ermes thre it don
beteen to snakes hich ere fighting, hereu$on the angry combatants c!as$ed each
other in a !o"ing embrace, and cur!ing round the staff, remained e"er after $ermanent!y
attached to it. The and itse!f ty$ified $oerF the ser$ents, isdomF and the ings,
des$atchJa!! Dua!ities characteristic of a trustorthy ambassador.
The young god as no $resented by his father ith a inged si!"er ca$ GPetasusH, and
a!so ith si!"er ings for his feet GTa!ariaH, and as forthith a$$ointed hera!d of the
gods, and conductor of shades to 9ades, hich office had hitherto been fi!!ed by AOdes.
As messenger of the gods, e find him em$!oyed on a!! occasions reDuiring s$ecia! ski!!,
tact, or des$atch. Thus he conducts 9era, Athene, and A$hrodite to Paris, !eads Priam to
Achi!!es to demand the body of 9ector, ,/((0binds Prometheus to Mount 1aucasus,
secures 2Iion to the eterna!!y re"o!"ing hee!, destroys Argus, the hundred%eyed guardian
of 2o, Bc. Bc.
As conductor of shades, 9ermes as a!ays in"oked by the dying to grant them a safe
and s$eedy $assage across the 3tyI. 9e a!so $ossessed the $oer of bringing back
de$arted s$irits to the u$$er or!d, and as, therefore, the mediator beteen the !i"ing
and the dead.
The $oets re!ate many amusing stories of the youthfu! tricks $!ayed by this mischief%
!o"ing god u$on the other immorta!s. 8or instance, he had the audacity to eItract the
MedusaRs head from the shie!d of Athene, hich he $!ayfu!!y attached to the back of
9e$hKstusF he a!so sto!e the gird!e of A$hroditeF de$ri"ed Artemis of her arros, and
Ares of his s$ear, but these acts ere a!ays $erformed ith such gracefu! deIterity,
combined ith such $erfect good humour, that e"en the gods and goddesses he thus
$ro"oked, ere fain to $ardon him, and he became a uni"ersa! fa"ourite ith them a!!.
2t is said that 9ermes as one day f!ying o"er Athens, hen, !ooking don into the city,
he behe!d a number of maidens returning in so!emn $rocession from the tem$!e of Pa!!as%
Athene. 8oremost among them as 9erse, the beautifu! daughter of king 1ecro$s, and
9ermes as so struck ith her eIceeding !o"e!iness that he determined to seek an
inter"ie ith her. 9e according!y $resented himse!f at the roya! $a!ace, and begged her
sister Agrau!os to fa"our his suitF but, being of an a"aricious turn of mind, she refused to
do so ithout the $ayment of an enormous sum of money. 2t did not take the messenger
of the gods !ong to obtain the means of fu!fi!!ing this condition, and he soon returned ith
a e!!%fi!!ed $urse. But meanhi!e Athene, to $unish the cu$idity of Agrau!os, had caused
the demon of en"y to take $ossession of her, and the conseDuence as, that, being unab!e
to contem$!ate the ha$$iness of her sister, she sat don before the door, and reso!ute!y
refused to a!!o 9ermes to enter. 9e tried e"ery $ersuasion and b!andishment in his
$oer, but she sti!! remained obstinate. At !ast, his $atience ,/()0being eIhausted, he
changed her into a mass of b!ack stone, and, the obstac!e to his ishes being remo"ed, he
succeeded in $ersuading 9erse to become his ife.
9ermes
2n his statues, 9ermes is re$resented as a beard!ess youth, ith broad chest and gracefu!
but muscu!ar !imbsF the face is handsome and inte!!igent, and a genia! smi!e of kind!y
bene"o!ence $!ays round the de!icate!y chise!!ed !i$s.
As messenger of the gods he ears the Petasus and Ta!aria, and bears in his hand the
1aduceus or hera!dRs staff.
As god of e!oDuence, he is often re$resented ith chains of go!d hanging from his !i$s,
hi!st, as the $atron of merchants, he bears a $urse in his hand.
The onderfu! eIca"ations in 4!ym$ia, to hich a!!usion has a!ready been made, ha"e
brought to !ight an eIDuisite marb!e grou$ of 9ermes and the infant Bacchus, by
PraIite!es. 2n this great ork of art, 9ermes is re$resented as a young and handsome
man, ho is !ooking don kind!y and affectionate!y at the chi!d resting on his arm, but
unfortunate!y nothing remains of the infant sa"e the right hand, hich is !aid !o"ing!y on
the shou!der of his $rotector.
The sacrifices to 9ermes consisted of incense, honey, cakes, $igs, and es$ecia!!y !ambs
and young goats. As god of e!oDuence, the tongues of anima!s ere sacrificed to him.
MER1;R#.
Mercury as the Roman god of commerce and gain. >e find mention of a tem$!e ha"ing
been erected to him ,/(C0near the 1ircus MaIimus as ear!y as B.1. C65F and he had a!so a
tem$!e and a sacred fount near the Porta 1a$ena. Magic $oers ere ascribed to the
!atter, and on the festi"a! of Mercury, hich took $!ace on the (5th of May, it as the
custom for merchants to s$rink!e themse!"es and their merchandise ith this ho!y ater,
in order to insure !arge $rofits from their ares.
The 8etia!es GRoman $riests hose duty it as to act as guardians of the $ub!ic faithH
refused to recogniEe the identity of Mercury ith 9ermes, and ordered him to be
re$resented ith a sacred branch as the emb!em of $eace, instead of the 1aduceus. 2n
!ater times, hoe"er, he as com$!ete!y identified ith the Greek 9ermes.
'24<#3;3 GBacchusH.
'ionysus, a!so ca!!ed Bacchus Gfrom bacca, berryH, as the god of ine, and the
$ersonification of the b!essings of <ature in genera!.
'ionysus
The orshi$ of this di"inity, hich is su$$osed to ha"e been introduced into Greece from
Asia Gin a!! $robabi!ity from 2ndiaH, first took root in Thrace, hence it gradua!!y s$read
into other $arts of Greece.
'ionysus as the son of Meus and 3eme!e, and as snatched by Meus from the de"ouring
f!ames in hich his mother $erished, hen he a$$eared to her in a!! the s$!endour of his
di"ine g!ory. The mother!ess chi!d as intrusted to the charge of 9ermes, ho con"eyed
him to 3eme!eRs sister, 2no. But 9era, sti!! im$!acab!e in her "engeance, "isited Athamas,
the husband of 2no, ith madness, ,/(50and the chi!dRs !ife being no !onger safe, he as
transferred to the fostering care of the nym$hs of Mount <ysa. An aged satyr named
3i!enus, the son of Pan, took u$on himse!f the office of guardian and $rece$tor to the
young god, ho, in his turn, became much attached to his kind tutorF hence e see
3i!enus a!ays figuring as one of the chief $ersonages in the "arious eI$editions of the
ine%god.
'ionysus $assed an innocent and une"entfu! chi!dhood, roaming through the oods and
forests, surrounded by nym$hs, satyrs, and she$herds. 'uring one of these ramb!es, he
found a fruit groing i!d, of a most refreshing and coo!ing nature. This as the "ine,
from hich he subseDuent!y !earnt to eItract a juice hich formed a most eIhi!arating
be"erage. After his com$anions had $artaken free!y of it, they fe!t their ho!e being
$er"aded by an unonted sense of $!easurab!e eIcitement, and ga"e fu!! "ent to their
o"erf!oing eIuberance, by shouting, singing, and dancing. Their numbers ere soon
se!!ed by a crod, eager to taste a be"erage $roducti"e of such eItraordinary resu!ts,
and anIious to join in the orshi$ of a di"inity to hom they ere indebted for this ne
enjoyment. 'ionysus, on his $art, seeing ho agreeab!y his disco"ery had affected his
immediate fo!!oers, reso!"ed to eItend the boon to mankind in genera!. 9e sa that
ine, used in moderation, ou!d enab!e man to enjoy a ha$$ier, and more sociab!e
eIistence, and that, under its in"igorating inf!uence, the sorrofu! might, for a hi!e,
forget their grief and the sick their $ain. 9e according!y gathered round him his Eea!ous
fo!!oers, and they set forth on their tra"e!s, $!anting the "ine and teaching its cu!ti"ation
here"er they ent.
>e no beho!d 'ionysus at the head of a !arge army com$osed of men, omen, fauns,
and satyrs, a!! bearing in their hands the Thyrsus Ga staff entined ith "ine%branches
surmounted by a fir%coneH, and c!ashing together cymba!s and other musica! instruments.
3eated in a chariot dran by $anthers, and accom$anied by thousands of enthusiastic
fo!!oers, 'ionysus made a trium$ha! ,/(N0$rogress through 3yria, Egy$t, Arabia, 2ndia,
Bc., conDuering a!! before him, founding cities, and estab!ishing on e"ery side a more
ci"i!iEed and sociab!e mode of !ife among the inhabitants of the "arious countries through
hich he $assed.
>hen 'ionysus returned to Greece from his Eastern eI$edition, he encountered great
o$$osition from Lycurgus, king of Thrace, and Pentheus, king of Thebes. The former,
high!y disa$$ro"ing of the i!d re"e!s hich attended the orshi$ of the ine%god, dro"e
aay his attendants, the nym$hs of <ysa, from that sacred mountain, and so effectua!!y
intimidated 'ionysus, that he $reci$itated himse!f into the sea, here he as recei"ed
into the arms of the ocean%nym$h, Thetis. But the im$ious king bitter!y eI$iated his
sacri!egious conduct. 9e as $unished ith the !oss of his reason, and, during one of his
mad $aroIysms, ki!!ed his on son 'ryas, hom he mistook for a "ine.
Pentheus, king of Thebes, seeing his subjects so com$!ete!y infatuated by the riotous
orshi$ of this ne di"inity, and fearing the demora!iEing effects of the unseem!y
nocturna! orgies he!d in honour of the ine%god, strict!y $rohibited his $eo$!e from
taking any $art in the i!d Bacchana!ian re"e!s. AnIious to sa"e him from the
conseDuences of his im$iety, 'ionysus a$$eared to him under the form of a youth in the
kingRs train, and earnest!y arned him to desist from his denunciations. But the e!!%
meant admonition fai!ed in its $ur$ose, for Pentheus on!y became more incensed at this
interference, and, commanding 'ionysus to be cast into $rison, caused the most crue!
$re$arations to be made for his immediate eIecution. But the god soon freed himse!f
from his ignob!e confinement, for scarce!y had his jai!ers de$arted, ere the $rison%doors
o$ened of themse!"es, and, bursting asunder his iron chains, he esca$ed to rejoin his
de"oted fo!!oers.
Meanhi!e, the mother of the king and her sisters, ins$ired ith Bacchana!ian fury, had
re$aired to Mount 1ithKron, in order to join the orshi$$ers of the ,/(+0ine%god in
those dreadfu! orgies hich ere so!emniEed eIc!usi"e!y by omen, and at hich no
man as a!!oed to be $resent. Enraged at finding his commands thus o$en!y
disregarded by the members of his on fami!y, Pentheus reso!"ed to itness for himse!f
the eIcesses of hich he had heard such terrib!e re$orts, and for this $ur$ose, concea!ed
himse!f behind a tree on Mount 1ithKronF but his hiding%$!ace being disco"ered, he as
dragged out by the ha!f%maddened cre of Bacchantes and, horrib!e to re!ate, he as torn
in $ieces by his on mother Aga"e and her to sisters.
An incident hich occurred to 'ionysus on one of his tra"e!s has been a fa"ourite subject
ith the c!assic $oets. 4ne day, as some Tyrrhenian $irates a$$roached the shores of
Greece, they behe!d 'ionysus, in the form of a beautifu! youth, attired in radiant
garments. Thinking to secure a rich $riEe, they seiEed him, bound him, and con"eyed him
on board their "esse!, reso!"ed to carry him ith them to Asia and there se!! him as a
s!a"e. But the fetters dro$$ed from his !imbs, and the $i!ot, ho as the first to $ercei"e
the mirac!e, ca!!ed u$on his com$anions to restore the youth carefu!!y to the s$ot hence
they had taken him, assuring them that he as a god, and that ad"erse inds and storms
ou!d, in a!! $robabi!ity, resu!t from their im$ious conduct. But, refusing to $art ith
their $risoner, they set sai! for the o$en sea. 3udden!y, to the a!arm of a!! on board, the
shi$ stood sti!!, masts and sai!s ere co"ered ith c!ustering "ines and reaths of i"y%
!ea"es, streams of fragrant ine inundated the "esse!, and hea"en!y strains of music ere
heard around. The terrified cre, too !ate re$entant, croded round the $i!ot for
$rotection, and entreated him to steer for the shore. But the hour of retribution had
arri"ed. 'ionysus assumed the form of a !ion, hi!st beside him a$$eared a bear, hich,
ith a terrific roar, rushed u$on the ca$tain and tore him in $iecesF the sai!ors, in an
agony of terror, !ea$ed o"erboard, and ere changed into do!$hins. The discreet and
$ious steersman as a!one $ermitted to esca$e the fate of his com$anions, ,/(.0and to
him 'ionysus, ho had resumed his true form, addressed ords of kind and affectionate
encouragement, and announced his name and dignity. They no set sai!, and 'ionysus
desired the $i!ot to !and him at the is!and of <aIos, here he found the !o"e!y Ariadne,
daughter of Minos, king of 1rete. 3he had been abandoned by Theseus on this !one!y
s$ot, and, hen 'ionysus no behe!d her, as !ying fast as!ee$ on a rock, orn out ith
sorro and ee$ing. >ra$t in admiration, the god stood gaEing at the beautifu! "ision
before him, and hen she at !ength unc!osed her eyes, he re"ea!ed himse!f to her, and, in
gent!e tones, sought to banish her grief. Gratefu! for his kind sym$athy, coming as it did
at a moment hen she had deemed herse!f forsaken and friend!ess, she gradua!!y
regained her former serenity, and, yie!ding to his entreaties, consented to become his
ife.
'ionysus, ha"ing estab!ished his orshi$ in "arious $arts of the or!d, descended to the
rea!m of shades in search of his i!!%fated mother, hom he conducted to 4!ym$us, here,
under the name of Thyone, she as admitted into the assemb!y of the immorta! gods.
Among the most noted orshi$$ers of 'ionysus as Midas,,CN0 the ea!thy king of
Phrygia, the same ho, as a!ready re!ated, ga"e judgment against A$o!!o. ;$on one
occasion 3i!enus, the $rece$tor and friend of 'ionysus, being in an intoIicated condition,
strayed into the rose%gardens of this monarch, here he as found by some of the kingRs
attendants, ho bound him ith roses and conducted him to the $resence of their roya!
master. Midas treated the aged satyr ith the greatest consideration, and, after
entertaining him hos$itab!y for ten days, !ed him back to 'ionysus, ho as so gratefu!
for the kind attention shon to his o!d friend, that he offered to grant Midas any fa"our
he chose to demandF hereu$on the a"aricious monarch, not content ith his bound!ess
ea!th, and sti!! thirsting for more, desired that e"erything he touched might turn to go!d.
The reDuest as ,/(60com$!ied ith in so !itera! a sense, that the no retched Midas
bitter!y re$ented his fo!!y and cu$idity, for, hen the $angs of hunger assai!ed him, and
he essayed to a$$ease his cra"ings, the food became go!d ere he cou!d sa!!o itF as he
raised the cu$ of ine to his $arched !i$s, the s$ark!ing draught as changed into the
meta! he had so co"eted, and hen at !ength, earied and faint, he stretched his aching
frame on his hitherto !uIurious couch, this a!so as transformed into the substance hich
had no become the curse of his eIistence. The des$airing king at !ast im$!ored the god
to take back the fata! gift, and 'ionysus, $itying his unha$$y $!ight, desired him to bathe
in the ri"er Pacto!us, a sma!! stream in Lydia, in order to !ose the $oer hich had
become the bane of his !ife. Midas joyfu!!y obeying the injunction, as at once freed
from the conseDuences of his a"aricious demand, and from this time forth the sands of the
ri"er Pacto!us ha"e e"er contained grains of go!d.
Re$resentations of 'ionysus are of to kinds. According to the ear!iest conce$tions, he
a$$ears as a gra"e and dignified man in the $rime of !ifeF his countenance is earnest,
thoughtfu!, and bene"o!entF he ears a fu!! beard, and is dra$ed from head to foot in the
garb of an Eastern monarch. But the scu!$tors of a !ater $eriod re$resent him as a youth
of singu!ar beauty, though of somehat effeminate a$$earanceF the eI$ression of the
countenance is gent!e and inningF the !imbs are su$$!e and gracefu!!y mou!dedF and the
hair, hich is adorned by a reath of "ine or i"y !ea"es, fa!!s o"er the shou!ders in !ong
cur!s. 2n one hand he bears the Thyrsus, and in the other a drinking%cu$ ith to hand!es,
these being his distinguishing attributes. 9e is often re$resented riding on a $anther, or
seated in a chariot dran by !ions, tigers, $anthers, or !ynIes.
Being the god of ine, hich is ca!cu!ated to $romote sociabi!ity, he rare!y a$$ears a!one,
but is usua!!y accom$anied by Bacchantes, satyrs, and mountain%nym$hs.
The finest modern re$resentation of Ariadne is that by 'anneker, at 8rankfort%on%the%
Maine. 2n this statue she ,/)*0a$$ears riding on a $antherF the beautifu! u$turned face
inc!ines s!ight!y o"er the !eft shou!derF the features are regu!ar and fine!y cut, and a
reath of i"y%!ea"es encirc!es the e!!%sha$ed head. >ith her right hand she gracefu!!y
c!as$s the fo!ds of dra$ery hich fa!! aay neg!igent!y from her rounded form, hi!st the
other rests !ight!y and caressing!y on the head of the anima!.
'ionysus as regarded as the $atron of the drama, and at the state festi"a! of the
'ionysia, hich as ce!ebrated ith great $om$ in the city of Athens, dramatic
entertainments took $!ace in his honour, for hich a!! the renoned Greek dramatists of
antiDuity com$osed their immorta! tragedies and comedies.
9e as a!so a $ro$hetic di"inity, and $ossessed orac!es, the $rinci$a! of hich as that
on Mount Rhodo$e in Thrace.
The tiger, !ynI, $anther, do!$hin, ser$ent, and ass ere sacred to this god. 9is fa"ourite
$!ants ere the "ine, i"y, !aure!, and as$hode!. 9is sacrifices consisted of goats, $robab!y
on account of their being destructi"e to "ineyards.
BA119;3 4R L2BER.
The Romans had a di"inity ca!!ed Liber ho $resided o"er "egetation, and as, on this
account, identified ith the Greek 'ionysus, and orshi$$ed under the name of Bacchus.
The festi"a! of Liber, ca!!ed the Libera!ia, as ce!ebrated on the /+th of March.
AX'E3 GP!utoH.
AOdes, AOdoneus, or 9ades, as the son of 1ronus and Rhea, and the youngest brother of
Meus and Poseidon. 9e as the ru!er of that subterranean region ca!!ed Erebus, hich
as inhabited by the shades or s$irits of the dead, and a!so by those dethroned and eIi!ed
deities ho had been "anDuished by Meus and his a!!ies. AOdes, the grim and g!oomy
monarch of this !oer or!d, as the ,/)/0successor of Erebus, that ancient $rime"a!
di"inity after hom these rea!ms ere ca!!ed.
The ear!y Greeks regarded AOdes in the !ight of their greatest foe, and 9omer te!!s us that
he as Tof a!! the gods the most detested,T being in their eyes the grim robber ho sto!e
from them their nearest and dearest, and e"entua!!y de$ri"ed each of them of their share
in terrestria! eIistence. 9is name as so feared that it as ne"er mentioned by morta!s,
ho, hen they in"oked him, struck the earth ith their hands, and in sacrificing to him
turned aay their faces.
The be!ief of the $eo$!e ith regard to a future state as, in the 9omeric age, a sad and
cheer!ess one. 2t as su$$osed that hen a morta! ceased to eIist, his s$irit tenanted the
shadoy out!ine of the human form it had Duitted. These shados, or shades as they ere
ca!!ed, ere dri"en by AOdes into his dominions, here they $assed their time, some in
brooding o"er the "icissitudes of fortune hich they had eI$erienced on earth, others in
regretting the !ost $!easures they had enjoyed in !ife, but a!! in a condition of semi%
consciousness, from hich the inte!!ect cou!d on!y be roused to fu!! acti"ity by drinking
of the b!ood of the sacrifices offered to their shades by !i"ing friends, hich, for a time,
endoed them ith their former menta! "igour. The on!y beings su$$osed to enjoy any
ha$$iness in a future state ere the heroes, hose acts of daring and deeds of $roess
had, during their !ife, ref!ected honour on the !and of their birthF and e"en these,
according to 9omer, $ined after their career of earth!y acti"ity. 9e te!!s us that hen
4dysseus "isited the !oer or!d at the command of 1irce, and he!d communion ith the
shades of the heroes of the Trojan ar, Achi!!es assured him that he ou!d rather be the
$oorest day%!abourer on earth than reign su$reme o"er the rea!m of shades.
The ear!y Greek $oets offer but scanty a!!usions to Erebus. 9omer a$$ears $ur$ose!y to
en"e!o$ these rea!ms in "agueness and mystery, in order, $robab!y, to heighten the
sensation of ae inse$arab!y connected ith ,/)(0the !oer or!d. 2n the 4dyssey he
describes the entrance to Erebus as being beyond the furthermost edge of 4ceanus, in the
far est, here de!t the 1immerians, en"e!o$ed in eterna! mists and darkness.
2n !ater times, hoe"er, in conseDuence of eItended intercourse ith foreign nations, ne
ideas became gradua!!y introduced, and e find Egy$tian theories ith regard to a future
state taking root in Greece, hich become e"entua!!y the re!igious be!ief of the ho!e
nation. 2t is no that the $oets and $hi!oso$hers, and more es$ecia!!y the teachers of the
E!eusinian Mysteries, begin to incu!cate the doctrine of the future reard and $unishment
of good and bad deeds. AOdes, ho had hitherto been regarded as the dread enemy of
mankind, ho de!ights in his grim office, and kee$s the shades im$risoned in his
dominions after ithdraing them from the joys of eIistence, no recei"es them ith
hos$ita!ity and friendshi$, and 9ermes re$!aces him as conductor of shades to 9ades.
;nder this ne as$ect AOdes usur$s the functions of a tota!!y different di"inity ca!!ed
P!utus Gthe god of richesH, and is henceforth regarded as the gi"er of ea!th to mankind,
in the sha$e of those $recious meta!s hich !ie concea!ed in the boe!s of the earth.
The !ater $oets mention "arious entrances to Erebus, hich ere for the most $art ca"es
and fissures. There as one in the mountain of Taenarum, another in Thes$rotia, and a
third, the most ce!ebrated of a!!, in 2ta!y, near the $estiferous Lake A"ernus, o"er hich it
is said no bird cou!d f!y, so noIious ere its eIha!ations.
2n the dominions of AOdes there ere four great ri"ers, three of hich had to be crossed
by a!! the shades. These three ere Acheron GsorroH, 1ocytus G!amentationH, and 3tyI
Gintense darknessH, the sacred stream hich f!oed nine times round these rea!ms.
The shades ere ferried o"er the 3tyI by the grim, unsha"en o!d boatman 1haron, ho,
hoe"er, on!y took those hose bodies had recei"ed funerea! rites on earth, and ho had
brought ith them his indis$ensab!e to!!, hich as a sma!! coin or obo!us, usua!!y
$!aced under the ,/))0tongue of a dead $erson for this $ur$ose. 2f these conditions had
not been fu!fi!!ed, the unha$$y shades ere !eft behind to ander u$ and don the banks
for a hundred years as rest!ess s$irits.
4n the o$$osite bank of the 3tyI as the tribuna! of Minos, the su$reme judge, before
hom a!! shades had to a$$ear, and ho, after hearing fu!! confession of their actions
hi!st on earth, $ronounced the sentence of ha$$iness or misery to hich their deeds had
entit!ed them. This tribuna! as guarded by the terrib!e tri$!e%headed dog 1erberus, ho,
ith his three necks brist!ing ith snakes, !ay at fu!! !ength on the groundFJa formidab!e
sentine!, ho $ermitted a!! shades to enter, but none to return.
The ha$$y s$irits, destined to enjoy the de!ights of E!ysium, $assed out on the right, and
$roceeded to the go!den $a!ace here AOdes and Perse$hone he!d their roya! court, from
hom they recei"ed a kind!y greeting, ere they set out for the E!ysian 8ie!ds hich !ay
beyond.,C+0 This b!issfu! region as re$!ete ith a!! that cou!d charm the senses or $!ease
the imaginationF the air as ba!my and fragrant, ri$$!ing brooks f!oed $eacefu!!y
through the smi!ing meados, hich g!oed ith the "aried hues of a thousand f!oers,
hi!st the gro"es resounded ith the joyous songs of birds. The occu$ations and
amusements of the ha$$y shades ere of the same nature as those hich they had
de!ighted in hi!st on earth. 9ere the arrior found his horses, chariots, and arms, the
musician his !yre, and the hunter his Dui"er and bo.
2n a sec!uded "a!e of E!ysium there f!oed a gent!e, si!ent stream, ca!!ed Lethe Gob!i"ionH,
hose aters had the effect of dis$e!!ing care, and $roducing utter forgetfu!ness of
former e"ents. According to the Pythagorean doctrine of the transmigration of sou!s, it
as su$$osed that after the shades had inhabited E!ysium for a thousand years they ere
destined to animate other bodies on ,/)C0earth, and before !ea"ing E!ysium they drank of
the ri"er Lethe, in order that they might enter u$on their ne career ithout any
remembrance of the $ast.
The gui!ty sou!s, after !ea"ing the $resence of Minos, ere conducted to the great
judgment%ha!! of 9ades, hose massi"e a!!s of so!id adamant ere surrounded by the
ri"er Ph!egethon, the a"es of hich ro!!ed f!ames of fire, and !it u$, ith their !urid
g!are, these afu! rea!ms. 2n the interior sat the dread judge Rhadamanthus, ho dec!ared
to each comer the $recise torments hich aaited him in Tartarus. The retched sinners
ere then seiEed by the 8uries, ho scourged them ith their hi$s, and dragged them
a!ong to the great gate, hich c!osed the o$ening to Tartarus, into hose afu! de$ths
they ere hur!ed, to suffer end!ess torture.
Tartarus as a "ast and g!oomy eI$anse, as far be!o 9ades as the earth is distant from
the skies. There the Titans, fa!!en from their high estate, dragged out a dreary and
monotonous eIistenceF there a!so ere 4tus and E$hia!tes, those giant sons of Poseidon,
ho, ith im$ious hands, had attem$ted to sca!e 4!ym$us and dethrone its mighty ru!er.
Princi$a! among the sufferers in this abode of g!oom ere Tityus, Tanta!us, 3isy$hus,
2Iion, and the 'anaOdes.
T2T#;3, one of the earth%born giants, had insu!ted 9era on her ay to Peitho, for hich
offence Meus f!ung him into Tartarus, here he suffered dreadfu! torture, inf!icted by to
"u!tures, hich $er$etua!!y gnaed his !i"er.
TA<TAL;3 as a ise and ea!thy king of Lydia, ith hom the gods themse!"es
condescended to associateF he as e"en $ermitted to sit at tab!e ith Meus, ho de!ighted
in his con"ersation, and !istened ith interest to the isdom of his obser"ations. Tanta!us,
hoe"er, e!ated at these distinguished marks of di"ine fa"our, $resumed u$on his
$osition, and used unbecoming !anguage to Meus himse!fF he a!so sto!e nectar and
ambrosia from the tab!e of the gods, ith hich he rega!ed his friendsF but his greatest
crime consisted in ki!!ing his on son, ,/)50Pe!o$s, and ser"ing him u$ at one of the
banDuets to the gods, in order to test their omniscience. 8or these heinous offences he as
condemned by Meus to eterna! $unishment in Tartarus, here, tortured ith an e"er%
burning thirst, he as $!unged u$ to the chin in ater, hich, as he stoo$ed to drink,
a!ays receded from his $arched !i$s. Ta!! trees, ith s$reading branches !aden ith
de!icious fruits, hung tem$ting!y o"er his headF but no sooner did he raise himse!f to
gras$ them, than a ind arose, and carried them beyond his reach.
323#P9;3 as a great tyrant ho, according to some accounts, barbarous!y murdered
a!! tra"e!!ers ho came into his dominions, by hur!ing u$on them enormous $ieces of
rock. 2n $unishment for his crimes he as condemned to ro!! incessant!y a huge b!ock of
stone u$ a stee$ hi!!, hich, as soon as it reached the summit, a!ays ro!!ed back again to
the $!ain be!o.
2Y24< as a king of Thessa!y to hom Meus accorded the $ri"i!ege of joining the festi"e
banDuets of the godsF but, taking ad"antage of his eIa!ted $osition, he $resumed to as$ire
to the fa"our of 9era, hich so great!y incensed Meus, that he struck him ith his
thunderbo!ts, and commanded 9ermes to thro him into Tartarus, and bind him to an
e"er%re"o!"ing hee!.
The 'A<AX'E3 ere the fifty daughters of 'anaus, king of Argos, ho had married
their fifty cousins, the sons of Pgy$tus. By the command of their father, ho had been
arned by an orac!e that his son%in%!a ou!d cause his death, they a!! ki!!ed their
husbands in one night, 9y$ermnestra a!one eIce$ted. Their $unishment in the !oer
or!d as to fi!! ith ater a "esse! fu!! of ho!es,Ja ne"er%ending and use!ess task.
AOdes and Perse$hone
AOdes is usua!!y re$resented as a man of mature years and stern majestic mien, bearing a
striking resemb!ance to his brother MeusF but the g!oomy and ineIorab!e eI$ression of the
face contrasts forcib!y ith that $ecu!iar benignity hich so characteriEes the
countenance of the mighty ru!er of hea"en. 9e is seated on a throne of ebony, ith his
Dueen, the gra"e and sad Perse$hone, ,/)N0beside him, and ears a fu!! beard, and !ong
f!oing b!ack hair, hich hangs straight don o"er his foreheadF in his hand he either
bears a to%$ronged fork or the keys of the !oer or!d, and at his feet sits 1erberus. 9e
is sometimes seen in a chariot of go!d, dran by four b!ack horses, and earing on his
head a he!met made for him by the 1yc!o$s, hich rendered the earer in"isib!e. This
he!met he freDuent!y !ent to morta!s and immorta!s.
AOdes, ho as uni"ersa!!y orshi$$ed throughout Greece, had tem$!es erected to his
honour in E!is, 4!ym$ia, and a!so at Athens.
9is sacrifices, hich took $!ace at night, consisted of b!ack shee$, and the b!ood, instead
of being s$rink!ed on the a!tars or recei"ed in "esse!s, as at other sacrifices, as $ermitted
to run don into a trench, dug for this $ur$ose. The officiating $riests ore b!ack robes,
and ere croned ith cy$ress.
The narcissus, maiden%hair, and cy$ress ere sacred to this di"inity.
PL;T4.
Before the introduction into Rome of the re!igion and !iterature of Greece, the Romans
had no be!ief in a rea!m of future ha$$iness or misery, corres$onding to the Greek 9adesF
hence they had no god of the !oer or!d identica! ith AOdes. They su$$osed that there
as, in the centre of the earth, a "ast, g!oomy, and im$enetrab!y dark ca"ity ca!!ed 4rcus,
hich formed a $!ace of eterna! rest for the dead. But ith the introduction of Greek
mytho!ogy, the Roman 4rcus became the Greek 9ades, and ,/)+0a!! the Greek notions
ith regard to a future state no obtained ith the Romans, ho orshi$$ed AOdes under
the name of P!uto, his other a$$e!!ations being 'is Gfrom di"es, richH and 4rcus from the
dominions o"er hich he ru!ed. 2n Rome there ere no tem$!es erected to this di"inity.
PL;T;3.
P!utus, the son of 'emeter and a morta! ca!!ed 2asion, as the god of ea!th, and is
re$resented as being !ame hen he makes his a$$earance, and inged hen he takes his
de$arture. 9e as su$$osed to be both b!ind and foo!ish, because he bestos his gifts
ithout discrimination, and freDuent!y u$on the most unorthy objects.
P!utus as be!ie"ed to ha"e his abode in the boe!s of the earth, hich as $robab!y the
reason hy, in !ater times, AOdes became confounded ith this di"inity.
M2<4R '2A2<2T2E3.
T9E 9ARP2E3.
A 9ar$y
The 9ar$ies, ho, !ike the 8uries, ere em$!oyed by the gods as instruments for the
$unishment of the gui!ty, ere three fema!e di"inities, daughters of Thaumas and E!ectra,
ca!!ed Ae!!o, 4cy$ete, and 1e!Kno.
They ere re$resented ith the head of a fair%haired maiden and the body of a "u!ture,
and ere $er$etua!!y de"oured by the $angs of insatiab!e hunger, hich caused them to
torment their "ictims by robbing them of their foodF this they either de"oured ith great
,/).0g!uttony, or defi!ed in such a manner as to render it unfit to be eaten.
Their onderfu!!y ra$id f!ight far sur$assed that of birds, or e"en of the inds
themse!"es. 2f any morta! sudden!y and unaccountab!y disa$$eared, the 9ar$ies ere
be!ie"ed to ha"e carried him off. Thus they ere su$$osed to ha"e borne aay the
daughters of =ing Pandareos to act as ser"ants to the Erinyes.
The 9ar$ies ou!d a$$ear to be $ersonifications of sudden tem$ests, hich, ith ruth!ess
"io!ence, see$ o"er ho!e districts, carrying off or injuring a!! before them.
ER2<#E3, E;ME<2'E3 G8uriK, 'irKH.
The Erinyes or 8uries ere fema!e di"inities ho $ersonified the torturing $angs of an
e"i! conscience, and the remorse hich ine"itab!y fo!!os rong%doing.
Their names ere A!ecto, MegKra, and Tisi$hone, and their origin as "arious!y
accounted for. According to 9esiod, they s$rang from the b!ood of ;ranus, hen
ounded by 1ronus, and ere hence su$$osed to be the embodiment of a!! the terrib!e
im$recations, hich the defeated deity ca!!ed don u$on the head of his rebe!!ious son.
According to other accounts they ere the daughters of <ight.
Their $!ace of abode as the !oer or!d, here they ere em$!oyed by AOdes and
Perse$hone to chastise and torment those shades ho, during their earth!y career, had
committed crimes, and had not been reconci!ed to the gods before descending to 9ades.
But their s$here of action as not confined to the rea!m of shades, for they a$$eared u$on
earth as the a"enging deities ho re!ent!ess!y $ursued and $unished murderers, $erjurers,
those ho had fai!ed in duty to their $arents, in hos$ita!ity to strangers, or in the res$ect
due to o!d age. <othing esca$ed the $iercing g!ance of these terrib!e di"inities, from
hom f!ight as una"ai!ing, for no corner of the earth as so remote as ,/)60to be
beyond their reach, nor did any morta! dare to offer to their "ictims an asy!um from their
$ersecutions.
The 8uries are freDuent!y re$resented ith ingsF their bodies are b!ack, b!ood dri$s from
their eyes, and snakes tine in their hair. 2n their hands they bear either a dagger, scourge,
torch, or ser$ent.
>hen they $ursued 4restes they constant!y he!d u$ a mirror to his horrified gaEe, in
hich he behe!d the face of his murdered mother.
These di"inities ere a!so ca!!ed Eumenides, hich signifies the Te!!%meaningT or
Tsoothed goddessesFT This a$$e!!ation as gi"en to them because they ere so feared and
dreaded that $eo$!e dared not ca!! them by their $ro$er tit!e, and ho$ed by this means to
$ro$itiate their rath.
2n !ater times the 8uries came to be regarded as sa!utary agencies, ho, by se"ere!y
$unishing sin, u$he!d the cause of mora!ity and socia! order, and thus contributed to the
e!fare of mankind. They no !ose their ae%ins$iring as$ect, and are re$resented, more
es$ecia!!y in Athens, as earnest maidens, dressed, !ike Artemis, in short tunics suitab!e for
the chase, but sti!! retaining, in their hands, the and of office in the form of a snake.
Their sacrifices consisted of b!ack shee$ and a !ibation com$osed of a miIture of honey
and ater, ca!!ed <e$ha!ia. A ce!ebrated tem$!e as erected to the Eumenides at Athens,
near the Areo$agus.
M42RP or 8ATE3 GParcKH.
The ancients be!ie"ed that the duration of human eIistence and the destinies of morta!s
ere regu!ated by three sister%goddesses, ca!!ed 1!otho, Lachesis, and Atro$os, ho ere
the daughters of Meus and Themis.
The $oer hich they ie!ded o"er the fate of man as significant!y indicated under the
figure of a thread, hich they s$un out for the !ife of each human being from his birth to
the gra"e. This occu$ation they di"ided beteen them. 1!otho ound the f!aI round the
distaff, ,/C*0ready for her sister Lachesis, ho s$an out the thread of !ife, hich Atro$os,
ith her scissors, re!ent!ess!y sna$t asunder, hen the career of an indi"idua! as about
to terminate.
9omer s$eaks of one Moira on!y, the daughter of <ight, ho re$resents the mora! force
by hich the uni"erse is go"erned, and to hom both morta!s and immorta!s ere forced
to submit, Meus himse!f being $oer!ess to a"ert her decreesF but in !ater times this
conce$tion of one ineIorab!e, a!!%conDuering fate became am$!ified by the $oets into that
abo"e described, and the MoirK are henceforth the s$ecia! $residing deities o"er the !ife
and death of morta!s.
The MoirK are re$resented by the $oets as stern, ineIorab!e fema!e di"inities, aged,
hideous, and a!so !ame, hich is e"ident!y meant to indicate the s!o and ha!ting march
of destiny, hich they contro!!ed. Painters and scu!$tors, on the other hand, de$icted them
as beautifu! maidens of a gra"e but kind!y as$ect.
There is a charming re$resentation of Lachesis, hich de$icts her in a!! the grace of
youth and beauty. 3he is sitting s$inning, and at her feet !ie to masks, one comic, the
other tragic, as though to con"ey the idea, that, to a di"inity of fate, the brightest and
saddest scenes of earth!y eIistence are a!ike indifferent, and that she Duiet!y and steadi!y
$ursues her occu$ation, regard!ess of human ea! or oe.
>hen re$resented at the feet of AOdes in the !oer or!d they are c!ad in dark robesF but
hen they a$$ear in 4!ym$us they ear bright garments, bes$ang!ed ith stars, and are
seated on radiant thrones, ith crons on their heads.
2t as considered the function of the MoirK to indicate to the 8uries the $recise torture
hich the icked shou!d undergo for their crimes.
They ere regarded as $ro$hetic di"inities, and had sanctuaries in many $arts of Greece.
The MoirK are mentioned as assisting the 1harites to conduct Perse$hone to the u$$er
or!d at her $eriodica! ,/C/0reunion ith her mother 'emeter. They a!so a$$ear in
com$any ith Ei!eithyia, goddess of birth.
<EME323.
<emesis, the daughter of <yI, re$resents that $oer hich adjusts the ba!ance of human
affairs, by aarding to each indi"idua! the fate hich his actions deser"e. 3he reards,
humb!e, unackno!edged merit, $unishes crime, de$ri"es the orth!ess of undeser"ed
good fortune, humi!iates the $roud and o"erbearing, and "isits a!! e"i! on the rong%doerF
thus maintaining that $ro$er ba!ance of things, hich the Greeks recogniEed as a
necessary condition of a!! ci"i!iEed !ife. But though <emesis, in her origina! character,
as the distributor of reards as e!! as $unishments, the or!d as so fu!! of sin, that
she found but !itt!e occu$ation in her first ca$acity, and hence became fina!!y regarded as
the a"enging goddess on!y.
>e ha"e seen a striking instance of the manner in hich this di"inity $unishes the $roud
and arrogant in the history of <iobe. A$o!!o and Artemis ere mere!y the instruments for
a"enging the insu!t offered to their motherF but it as <emesis ho $rom$ted the deed,
and $resided o"er its eIecution.
9omer makes no mention of <emesisF it is therefore e"ident that she as a conce$tion of
!ater times, hen higher "ies of mora!ity had obtained among the Greek nation.
<emesis is re$resented as a beautifu! oman of thoughtfu! and benign as$ect and rega!
bearingF a diadem crons her majestic bro, and she bears in her hand a rudder, ba!ance,
and cubitFJfitting emb!ems of the manner in hich she guides, eighs, and measures a!!
human e"ents. 3he is a!so sometimes seen ith a hee!, to symbo!iEe the ra$idity ith
hich she eIecutes justice. As the a"enger of e"i! she a$$ears inged, bearing in her
hand either a scourge or a sord, and seated in a chariot dran by griffins. ,/C(0
<emesis is freDuent!y ca!!ed Adrastia, and a!so Rhamnusia, from Rhamnus in Attica, the
chief seat of her orshi$, hich contained a ce!ebrated statue of the goddess.
<emesis as orshi$$ed by the Romans, Gho in"oked her on the 1a$ito!H, as a di"inity
ho $ossessed the $oer of a"erting the $ernicious conseDuences of en"y.
<2G9T A<' 9ER 192L'RE<.
'EAT9, 3LEEP, A<' 'REAM3.
<#Y G<oIH.
<yI, the daughter of 1haos, being the $ersonification of <ight, as, according to the
$oetic ideas of the Greeks, considered to be the mother of e"erything mysterious and
ineI$!icab!e, such as death, s!ee$, dreams, Bc. 3he became united to Erebus, and their
chi!dren ere Aether and 9emera GAir and 'ay!ightH, e"ident!y a simi!e of the $oets, to
indicate that darkness a!ays $recedes !ight.
<yI inhabited a $a!ace in the dark regions of the !oer or!d, and is re$resented as a
beautifu! oman, seated in a chariot, dran by to b!ack horses. 3he is c!othed in dark
robes, ears a !ong "ei!, and is accom$anied by the stars, hich fo!!o in her train.
T9A<AT43 GMorsH A<' 9#P<;3 G3omnusH.
Thanatos G'eathH and his tin%brother 9y$nus G3!ee$H ere the chi!dren of <yI.
Their de!!ing as in the rea!m of shades, and hen they a$$ear among morta!s,
Thanatos is feared and hated as the enemy of mankind, hose hard heart knos no $ity,
hi!st his brother 9y$nus is uni"ersa!!y !o"ed and e!comed as their kindest and most
beneficent friend.
But though the ancients regarded Thanatos as a g!oomy and mournfu! di"inity, they did
not re$resent him ith any eIterior re$u!si"eness. 4n the contrary, he a$$ears as a
beautifu! youth, ho ho!ds in his hand an in"erted ,/C)0torch, emb!ematica! of the !ight
of !ife being eItinguished, hi!st his disengaged arm is thron !o"ing!y round the
shou!der of his brother 9y$nus.
9y$nus is sometimes de$icted standing erect ith c!osed eyesF at others he is in a
recumbent $osition beside his brother Thanatos, and usua!!y bears a $o$$y%sta!k in his
hand.
A most interesting descri$tion of the abode of 9y$nus is gi"en by 4"id in his
Metamor$hoses. 9e te!!s us ho the god of 3!ee$ de!t in a mountain%ca"e near the
rea!m of the 1immerians, hich the sun ne"er $ierced ith his rays. <o sound disturbed
the sti!!ness, no song of birds, not a branch mo"ed, and no human "oice broke the
$rofound si!ence hich reigned e"eryhere. 8rom the !oermost rocks of the ca"e issued
the ri"er Lethe, and one might a!most ha"e su$$osed that its course as arrested, ere it
not for the !o, monotonous hum of the ater, hich in"ited s!umber. The entrance as
$artia!!y hidden by number!ess hite and red $o$$ies, hich Mother <ight had gathered
and $!anted there, and from the juice of hich she eItracts drosiness, hich she scatters
in !iDuid dro$s a!! o"er the earth, as soon as the sun%god has sunk to rest. 2n the centre of
the ca"e stands a couch of b!ackest ebony, ith a bed of don, o"er hich is !aid a
co"er!et of sab!e hue. 9ere the god himse!f re$oses, surrounded by innumerab!e forms.
These are id!e dreams, more numerous than the sands of the sea. 1hief among them is
Mor$heus, that changefu! god, ho may assume any sha$e or form he $!eases. <or can
the god of 3!ee$ resist his on $oerF for though he may rouse himse!f for a hi!e, he
soon succumbs to the drosy inf!uences hich surround him.
M4RP9E;3.
Mor$heus, the son of 9y$nus, as the god of 'reams.
9e is a!ays re$resented inged, and a$$ears sometimes as a youth, sometimes as an o!d
man. 2n his hand he bears a c!uster of $o$$ies, and as he ste$s ith ,/CC0noise!ess
footste$s o"er the earth, he gent!y scatters the seeds of this s!ee$%$roducing $!ant o"er the
eyes of eary morta!s.
9omer describes the 9ouse of 'reams as ha"ing to gates& one, hence issue a!!
dece$ti"e and f!attering "isions, being formed of i"oryF the other, through hich $roceed
those dreams hich are fu!fi!!ed, of horn.
T9E G4RG4<3.
The Gorgons, 3theno, Eurya!e, and Medusa, ere the three daughters of Phorcys and
1eto, and ere the $ersonification of those benumbing, and, as it ere, $etrifying
sensations, hich resu!t from sudden and eItreme fear.
They ere frightfu! inged monsters, hose bodies ere co"ered ith sca!esF hissing,
rigg!ing snakes c!ustered round their heads instead of hairF their hands ere of brassF
their teeth resemb!ed the tusks of a i!d boarF and their ho!e as$ect as so a$$a!!ing,
that they are said to ha"e turned into stone a!! ho behe!d them.
These terrib!e sisters ere su$$osed to de!! in that remote and mysterious region in the
far >est, beyond the sacred stream of 4ceanus.
The Gorgons ere the ser"ants of AOdes, ho made use of them to terrify and o"erae
those shades, doomed to be ke$t in a constant state of unrest as a $unishment for their
misdeeds, hi!st the 8uries, on their $art, scourged them ith their hi$s and tortured
them incessant!y.
The most ce!ebrated of the three sisters as Medusa, ho a!one as morta!. 3he as
origina!!y a go!den%haired and "ery beautifu! maiden, ho, as a $riestess of Athene, as
de"oted to a !ife of ce!ibacyF but, being ooed by Poseidon, hom she !o"ed in return,
she forgot her "os, and became united to him in marriage. 8or this offence she as
$unished by the goddess in a most terrib!e manner. Each a"y !ock of the beautifu! hair
hich had so charmed her husband, as changed into a ,/C50"enomous snakeF her once
gent!e, !o"e%ins$iring eyes no became b!ood%shot, furious orbs, hich eIcited fear and
disgust in the mind of the beho!derF hi!st her former roseate hue and mi!k%hite skin
assumed a !oathsome greenish tinge. 3eeing herse!f thus transformed into so re$u!si"e an
object, Medusa f!ed from her home, ne"er to return. >andering about, abhorred, dreaded,
and shunned by a!! the or!d, she no de"e!o$ed into a character, orthy of her outard
a$$earance. 2n her des$air she f!ed to Africa, here, as she $assed rest!ess!y from $!ace to
$!ace, infant snakes dro$$ed from her hair, and thus, according to the be!ief of the
ancients, that country became the hotbed of these "enomous re$ti!es. >ith the curse of
Athene u$on her, she turned into stone homsoe"er she gaEed u$on, ti!! at !ast, after a
!ife of name!ess misery, de!i"erance came to her in the sha$e of death, at the hands of
Perseus.
2t is e!! to obser"e that hen the Gorgons are s$oken of in the singu!ar, it is Medusa
ho is a!!uded to.
Medusa as the mother of Pegasus and 1hrysaor, father of the three%headed, inged
giant Geryones, ho as s!ain by 9erac!es.
GRPP.
The GrKK, ho acted as ser"ants to their sisters the Gorgons, ere a!so three in numberF
their names ere Pe$hredo, Enyo, and 'ino.
2n their origina! conce$tion they ere mere!y $ersonifications of kind!y and "enerab!e o!d
age, $ossessing a!! its bene"o!ent attributes ithout its natura! infirmities. They ere o!d
and gray from their birth, and so they e"er remained. 2n !ater times, hoe"er, they came
to be regarded as missha$en fema!es, decre$id, and hideous!y ug!y, ha"ing on!y one eye,
one tooth, and one gray ig beteen them, hich they !ent to each other, hen one of
them ished to a$$ear before the or!d.
>hen Perseus entered u$on his eI$edition to s!ay the Medusa, he re$aired to the abode of
the GrKK, in the far ,/CN0est, to inDuire the ay to the Gorgons, and on their refusing to
gi"e any information, he de$ri"ed them of their one eye, tooth, and ig, and did not
restore them unti! he recei"ed the necessary directions.
3P92<Y.
The 3$hinI as an ancient Egy$tian di"inity, ho $ersonified isdom, and the ferti!ity
of nature. 3he is re$resented as a !ion%couchant, ith the head and bust of a oman, and
ears a $ecu!iar sort of hood, hich com$!ete!y en"e!o$s her head, and fa!!s don on
either side of the face.
Trans$!anted into Greece, this sub!ime and mysterious Egy$tian deity degenerates into an
insignificant, and yet ma!ignant $oer, and though she a!so dea!s in mysteries, they are,
as e sha!! see, of a tota!!y different character, and a!together inimica! to human !ife.
The 3$hinI
The 3$hinI is re$resented, according to Greek genea!ogy, as the offs$ring of Ty$hon and
Echidna.,C.0 9era, being u$on one occasion dis$!eased ith the Thebans, sent them this
afu! monster, as a $unishment for their offences. Taking her seat on a rocky eminence
near the city of Thebes, commanding a $ass hich the Thebans ere com$e!!ed to
tra"erse in their usua! ay of business, she $ro$ounded to a!! comers a ridd!e, and if they
fai!ed to so!"e it, she tore them in $ieces.
'uring the reign of =ing 1reon, so many $eo$!e had fa!!en a sacrifice to this monster,
that he determined to use e"ery effort to rid the country of so terrib!e a scourge. 4n
consu!ting the orac!e of 'e!$hi, he as informed that the on!y ay to destroy the 3$hinI
as to so!"e one of her ridd!es, hen she ou!d immediate!y $reci$itate herse!f from the
rock on hich she as seated.
1reon, according!y, made a $ub!ic dec!aration to the effect, that hoe"er cou!d gi"e the
true inter$retation of a ridd!e $ro$ounded by the monster, shou!d obtain the cron, and
the hand of his sister :ocaste. Qdi$us offered ,/C+0himse!f as a candidate, and $roceeding
to the s$ot here she ke$t guard, recei"ed from her the fo!!oing ridd!e for so!ution&
T>hat creature goes in the morning on four !egs, at noon on to, and in the e"ening on
threeWT Qdi$us re$!ied, that it must be man, ho during his infancy cree$s on a!! fours, in
his $rime a!ks erect on to !egs, and hen o!d age has enfeeb!ed his $oers, ca!!s a
staff to his assistance, and thus has, as it ere, three !egs.
The 3$hinI no sooner heard this re$!y, hich as the correct so!ution of her ridd!e, than
she f!ung herse!f o"er the $reci$ice, and $erished in the abyss be!o.
The Greek 3$hinI may be recogniEed by ha"ing ings and by being of sma!!er
dimensions than the Egy$tian 3$hinI.
T#19E G8ortunaH A<' A<A<=E G<ecessitasH.
T#19E G8ortunaH.
Tyche $ersonified that $ecu!iar combination of circumstances hich e ca!! !uck or
fortune, and as considered to be the source of a!! uneI$ected e"ents in human !ife,
hether good or e"i!. 2f a $erson succeeded in a!! he undertook ithout $ossessing any
s$ecia! merit of his on, Tyche as su$$osed to ha"e smi!ed on his birth. 2f, on the other
hand, undeser"ed i!!%!uck fo!!oed him through !ife, and a!! his efforts resu!ted in fai!ure,
it as ascribed to her ad"erse inf!uence.
This goddess of 8ortune is "arious!y re$resented. 3ometimes she is de$icted bearing in
her hand to rudders, ith one of hich she steers the bark of the fortunate, and ith the
other that of the unfortunate among morta!s. 2n !ater times she a$$ears b!indfo!ded, and
stands on a ba!! or hee!, indicati"e of the fick!eness and e"er%re"o!"ing ,/C.0changes of
fortune. 3he freDuent!y bears the sce$tre and cornuco$ia,C60 or horn of $!enty, and is
usua!!y inged. 2n her tem$!e at Thebes, she is re$resented ho!ding the infant P!utus in
her arms, to symbo!iEe her $oer o"er riches and $ros$erity.
Tyche as orshi$$ed in "arious $arts of Greece, but more $articu!ar!y by the Athenians,
ho be!ie"ed in her s$ecia! $redi!ection for their city.
84RT;<A.
Tyche as orshi$$ed in Rome under the name of 8ortuna, and he!d a $osition of much
greater im$ortance among the Romans than the Greeks.
2n !ater times 8ortuna is ne"er re$resented either inged or standing on a ba!!F she mere!y
bears the cornuco$ia. 2t is e"ident, therefore, that she had come to be regarded as the
goddess of good !uck on!y, ho brings b!essings to man, and not, as ith the Greeks, as
the $ersonification of the f!uctuations of fortune.
2n addition to 8ortuna, the Romans orshi$$ed 8e!icitas as the gi"er of $ositi"e good
fortune.
A<A<=E G<ecessitasH.
As Ananke, Tyche assumes Duite another character, and becomes the embodiment of
those immutab!e !as of nature, by hich certain causes $roduce certain ine"itab!e
resu!ts.
2n a statue of this di"inity at Athens she as re$resented ith hands of bronEe, and
surrounded ith nai!s and hammers. The hands of bronEe $robab!y indicated the
irresistib!e $oer of the ine"itab!e, and the hammer and chains the fetters hich she
forged for man.
Ananke as orshi$$ed in Rome under the name of <ecessitas.
,/C60
=ER.
2n addition to the MoirK, ho $resided o"er the !ife of morta!s, there as another
di"inity, ca!!ed =er, a$$ointed for each human being at the moment of his birth. The =er
be!onging to an indi"idua! as be!ie"ed to de"e!o$ ith his groth, either for good or
e"i!F and hen the u!timate fate of a morta! as about to be decided, his =er as eighed
in the ba!ance, and, according to the $re$onderance of its orth or orth!essness, !ife or
death as aarded to the human being in Duestion. 2t becomes e"ident, therefore, that
according to the be!ief of the ear!y Greeks, each indi"idua! had it in his $oer, to a
certain eItent, to shorten or $ro!ong his on eIistence.
The =eres, ho are freDuent!y mentioned by 9omer, ere the goddesses ho de!ighted
in the s!aughter of the batt!e%fie!d.
ATE.
Ate, the daughter of Meus and Eris, as a di"inity ho de!ighted in e"i!.
9a"ing instigated 9era to de$ri"e 9erac!es of his birthright, her father seiEed her by the
hair of her head, and hur!ed her from 4!ym$us, forbidding her, under the most so!emn
im$recations, e"er to return. 9enceforth she andered among mankind, soing
dissension, orking mischief, and !uring men to a!! actions inimica! to their e!fare and
ha$$iness. 9ence, hen a reconci!iation took $!ace beteen friends ho had Duarre!!ed,
Ate as b!amed as the origina! cause of disagreement.
M4M;3.
Momus, the son of <yI, as the god of rai!!ery and ridicu!e, ho de!ighted to criticise,
ith bitter sarcasm, the actions of gods and men, and contri"ed to disco"er in a!! things
some defect or b!emish. Thus hen Prometheus created the first man, Momus considered
his ork incom$!ete because there as no a$erture in the breast through hich his inmost
thoughts might be read. 9e ,/5*0a!so found fau!t ith a house bui!t by Athene because,
being un$ro"ided ith the means of !ocomotion, it cou!d ne"er be remo"ed from an
unhea!thy !oca!ity. A$hrodite a!one defied his criticism, for, to his great chagrin, he cou!d
find no fau!t ith her $erfect form.,5*0
2n hat manner the ancients re$resented this god is unknon. 2n modern art he is
de$icted !ike a kingRs jester, ith a foo!Rs ca$ and be!!s.
ER43 G1u$id, AmorH A<' P3#19E.
According to 9esiodRs Theogony, Eros, the di"ine s$irit of Lo"e, s$rang forth from
1haos, hi!e a!! as sti!! in confusion, and by his beneficent $oer reduced to order and
harmony the sha$e!ess, conf!icting e!ements, hich, under his inf!uence, began to assume
distinct forms. This ancient Eros is re$resented as a fu!!%gron and "ery beautifu! youth,
croned ith f!oers, and !eaning on a she$herdRs crook.
2n the course of time, this beautifu! conce$tion gradua!!y faded aay, and though
occasiona! mention sti!! continues to be made of the Eros of 1haos, he is re$!aced by the
son of A$hrodite, the $o$u!ar, mischief%!o"ing !itt!e god of Lo"e, so fami!iar to us a!!.
2n one of the myths concerning Eros, A$hrodite is described as com$!aining to Themis,
that her son, though so beautifu!, did not a$$ear to increase in statureF hereu$on Themis
suggested that his sma!! $ro$ortions ere $robab!y attributab!e to the fact of his being
a!ays a!one, and ad"ised his mother to !et him ha"e a com$anion. A$hrodite according!y
ga"e him, as a $!ayfe!!o, his younger brother Anteros GreDuited !o"eH, and soon had the
gratification of seeing the !itt!e Eros begin to gro and thri"eF but, curious to re!ate, this
desirab!e resu!t on!y continued as !ong as the brothers remained together, for the moment
they ere se$arated, Eros shrank once more to his origina! siEe.
,/5/0
By degrees the conce$tion of Eros became mu!ti$!ied and e hear of !itt!e !o"e%gods
GAmorsH, ho a$$ear under the most charming and di"ersified forms. These !o"e%gods,
ho afforded to artists ineIhaustib!e subjects for the eIercise of their imagination, are
re$resented as being engaged in "arious occu$ations, such as hunting, fishing, roing,
dri"ing chariots, and e"en busying themse!"es in mechanica! !abour.
Eros and Psyche
Perha$s no myth is more charming and interesting than that of Eros and Psyche, hich is
as fo!!os&JPsyche, the youngest of three $rincesses, as so transcendent!y beautifu!
that A$hrodite herse!f became jea!ous of her, and no morta! dared to as$ire to the honour
of her hand. As her sisters, ho ere by no means eDua! to her in attractions, ere
married, and Psyche sti!! remained unedded, her father consu!ted the orac!e of 'e!$hi,
and, in obedience to the di"ine res$onse, caused her to be dressed as though for the gra"e,
and conducted to the edge of a yaning $reci$ice. <o sooner as she a!one than she fe!t
herse!f !ifted u$, and afted aay by the gent!e est ind Me$hyrus, ho trans$orted her
to a "erdant meado, in the midst of hich stood a state!y $a!ace, surrounded by gro"es
and fountains.
9ere de!t Eros, the god of Lo"e, in hose arms Me$hyrus de$osited his !o"e!y burden.
Eros, himse!f unseen, ooed her in the softest accents of affectionF but arned her, as she
"a!ued his !o"e, not to endea"our to beho!d his form. 8or some time Psyche as obedient
to the injunction of her immorta! s$ouse, and made no effort to gratify her natura!
curiosityF but, unfortunate!y, in the midst of her ha$$iness she as seiEed ith an
unconDuerab!e !onging for the society of her ,/5(0sisters, and, in accordance ith her
desire, they ere conducted by Me$hyrus to her fairy%!ike abode. 8i!!ed ith en"y at the
sight of her fe!icity, they $oisoned her mind against her husband, and te!!ing her that her
unseen !o"er as a frightfu! monster, they ga"e her a shar$ dagger, hich they $ersuaded
her to use for the $ur$ose of de!i"ering herse!f from his $oer.
After the de$arture of her sisters, Psyche reso!"ed to take the first o$$ortunity of
fo!!oing their ma!icious counse!. 3he according!y rose in the dead of night, and taking a
!am$ in one hand and a dagger in the other, stea!thi!y a$$roached the couch here Eros
as re$osing, hen, instead of the frightfu! monster she had eI$ected to see, the
beauteous form of the god of Lo"e greeted her "ie. 4"ercome ith sur$rise and
admiration, Psyche stoo$ed don to gaEe more c!ose!y on his !o"e!y features, hen, from
the !am$ hich she he!d in her tremb!ing hand, there fe!! a dro$ of burning oi! u$on the
shou!der of the s!ee$ing god, ho instant!y aoke, and seeing Psyche standing o"er him
ith the instrument of death in her hand, sorrofu!!y re$roached her for her treacherous
designs, and, s$reading out his ings, f!e aay.
2n des$air at ha"ing !ost her !o"er, the unha$$y Psyche endea"oured to $ut an end to her
eIistence by throing herse!f into the nearest ri"erF but instead of c!osing o"er her, the
aters bore her gent!y to the o$$osite bank, here Pan Gthe god of she$herdsH recei"ed
her, and conso!ed her ith the ho$e of becoming e"entua!!y reconci!ed to her husband.
Meanhi!e her icked sisters, in eI$ectation of meeting ith the same good fortune
hich had befa!!en Psyche, $!aced themse!"es on the edge of the rock, but ere both
$reci$itated into the chasm be!o.
Psyche herse!f, fi!!ed ith a rest!ess yearning for her !ost !o"e, andered a!! o"er the
or!d in search of him. At !ength she a$$ea!ed to A$hrodite to take com$assion on herF
but the goddess of Beauty, sti!! jea!ous of her charms, im$osed u$on her the hardest tasks,
the accom$!ishment of hich often a$$eared im$ossib!e. 2n these ,/5)0she as a!ays
assisted by in"isib!e, beneficent beings, sent to her by Eros, ho sti!! !o"ed her, and
continued to atch o"er her e!fare.
Eros
Psyche had to undergo a !ong and se"ere $enance before she became orthy to regain the
ha$$iness, hich she had so foo!ish!y trif!ed aay. At !ast A$hrodite commanded her to
descend into the under or!d, and obtain from Perse$hone a boI containing a!! the
charms of beauty. PsycheRs courage no fai!ed her, for she conc!uded that death must of
necessity $recede her entrance into the rea!m of shades. About to abandon herse!f to
des$air, she heard a "oice hich arned her of e"ery danger to be a"oided on her
$eri!ous journey, and instructed her ith regard to certain $recautions to be obser"ed.
These ere as fo!!os&Jnot to omit to $ro"ide herse!f ith the ferrymanRs to!! for
1haron, and the cake to $acify 1erberus, a!so to refrain from taking any $art in the
banDuets of AOdes and Perse$hone, and, abo"e a!! things, to bring the boI of beauty
charms uno$ened to A$hrodite. 2n conc!usion, the "oice assured her, that com$!iance ith
the abo"e conditions ou!d insure for her a safe return to the rea!ms of !ight. But, a!as,
Psyche, ho had im$!icit!y fo!!oed a!! injunctions, cou!d not ithstand the tem$tation
of the !ast conditionF and, hard!y had she Duitted the !oer or!d, hen, unab!e to resist
the curiosity hich de"oured her, she raised the !id of the boI ith eager eI$ectation.
But, instead of the ondrous charms of beauty hich she eI$ected to beho!d, there issued
from the casket a dense b!ack "a$our, hich had the effect of throing her into a death%
!ike s!ee$, out of hich Eros, ho had !ong ho"ered round her unseen, at !ength aoke
her ith the $oint of one of his go!den arros. 9e gent!y re$roached her ith this second
$roof of her curiosity and fo!!y, and then, ha"ing $ersuaded A$hrodite to be reconci!ed to
his be!o"ed, he induced Meus to admit her among the immorta! gods.
Their reunion as ce!ebrated amidst the rejoicings of a!! the 4!ym$ian deities. The
Graces shed $erfume on ,/5C0their $ath, the 9ours s$rink!ed roses o"er the sky, A$o!!o
added the music of his !yre, and the Muses united their "oices in a g!ad chorus of de!ight.
This myth ou!d a$$ear to be an a!!egory, hich signifies that the sou!, before it can be
reunited to its origina! di"ine essence, must be $urified by the chastening sorros and
sufferings of its earth!y career.,5/0
Eros is re$resented as a !o"e!y boy, ith rounded !imbs, and a merry, roguish eI$ression.
9e has go!den ings, and a Dui"er s!ung o"er his shou!der, hich contained his magica!
and unerring arrosF in one hand he bears his go!den bo, and in the other a torch.
9e is a!so freDuent!y de$icted riding on a !ion, do!$hin, or eag!e, or seated in a chariot
dran by stags or i!d boars, undoubted!y emb!ematica! of the $oer of !o"e as the
subduer of a!! nature, e"en of the i!d anima!s.
2n Rome, Eros as orshi$$ed under the name of Amor or 1u$id.
9#ME<.
9ymen or 9ymenKus, the son of A$o!!o and the muse ;rania, as the god ho $resided
o"er marriage and nu$tia! so!emnities, and as hence in"oked at a!! marriage festi"ities.
There is a myth concerning this di"inity, hich te!!s us that 9ymen as a beautifu! youth
of "ery $oor $arents, ho fe!! in !o"e ith a ea!thy maiden, so far abo"e him in rank,
that he dared not cherish the ho$e of e"er becoming united to her. 3ti!! he missed no
o$$ortunity of seeing her, and, u$on one occasion, disguised himse!f as ,/550a gir!, and
joined a troo$ of maidens, ho, in com$any ith his be!o"ed, ere $roceeding from
Athens to E!eusis, in order to attend a festi"a! of 'emeter. 4n their ay thither they ere
sur$rised by $irates, ho carried them off to a desert is!and, here the ruffians, after
drinking dee$!y, fe!! into a hea"y s!ee$. 9ymen, seiEing the o$$ortunity, s!e them a!!,
and then set sai! for Athens, here he found the $arents of the maidens in the greatest
distress at their unaccountab!e disa$$earance. 9e comforted them ith the assurance that
their chi!dren shou!d be restored to them, $ro"ided they ou!d $romise to gi"e him in
marriage the maiden he !o"ed. The condition being g!ad!y com$!ied ith, he at once
returned to the is!and, and brought back the maidens in safety to Athens, hereu$on he
became united to the object of his !o"eF and their union $ro"ed so remarkab!y ha$$y, that
henceforth the name of 9ymen became synonymous ith conjuga! fe!icity.
2R23 GThe RainboH.
2ris, the daughter of Thaumas and E!ectra, $ersonified the rainbo, and as the s$ecia!
attendant and messenger of the Dueen of hea"en, hose commands she eIecuted ith
singu!ar tact, inte!!igence, and siftness.
Most $rimiti"e nations ha"e regarded the rainbo as a bridge of communication beteen
hea"en and earth, and this is doubt!ess the reason hy 2ris, ho re$resented that beautifu!
$henomenon of nature, shou!d ha"e been in"ested by the Greeks ith the office of
communicating beteen gods and men.
2ris is usua!!y re$resented seated behind the chariot of 9era, ready to do the bidding of
her roya! mistress. 3he a$$ears under the form of a s!ender maiden of great beauty, robed
in an airy fabric of "ariegated hues, resemb!ing mother%of%$ear!F her sanda!s are bright as
burnished si!"er, she has go!den ings, and here"er she a$$ears, a radiance of !ight, and
a seet odour, as of de!icate s$ring f!oers, $er"ades the air. ,/5N0
9ebe
9EBE G:u"entasH.
9ebe as the $ersonification of eterna! youth under its most attracti"e and joyous as$ect.
3he as the daughter of Meus and 9era, and though of such distinguished rank, is
ne"erthe!ess re$resented as cu$%bearer to the godsF a forcib!e eIem$!ification of the o!d
$atriarcha! custom, in accordance ith hich the daughters of the house, e"en hen of
the highest !ineage, $ersona!!y assisted in ser"ing the guests.
9ebe is re$resented as a come!y, modest maiden, sma!!, of a beautifu!!y rounded contour,
ith nut%bron tresses and s$ark!ing eyes. 3he is often de$icted $ouring out nectar from
an u$raised "esse!, or bearing in her hand a sha!!o dish, su$$osed to contain ambrosia,
the e"er youth%reneing food of the immorta!s.
2n conseDuence of an act of akardness, hich caused her to s!i$ hi!e ser"ing the
gods, 9ebe as de$ri"ed of her office, hich as henceforth de!egated to Ganymedes,
son of Tros.
9ebe afterards became the bride of 9erac!es, hen, after his a$otheosis, he as
recei"ed among the immorta!s.
:;AE<TA3.
:u"entas as the Roman di"inity identified ith 9ebe, hose attributes, hoe"er, ere
regarded by the Romans as a$$!ying more $articu!ar!y to the im$erishab!e "igour and
immorta! g!ory of the state.
2n Rome, se"era! tem$!es ere erected in honour of this goddess. ,/5+0
GA<#ME'E3.
Ganymedes, the youngest son of Tros, king of Troy, as one day draing ater from a
e!! on Mount 2da, hen he as obser"ed by Meus, ho, struck ith his onderfu!
beauty, sent his eag!e to trans$ort him to 4!ym$us, here he as endoed ith
immorta!ity, and a$$ointed cu$%bearer to the gods.
Ganymedes is re$resented as a youth of eIDuisite beauty, ith short go!den !ocks,
de!icate!y chise!!ed features, beaming b!ue eyes, and $outing !i$s.
T9E M;3E3.
4f a!! the 4!ym$ic deities, none occu$y a more distinguished $osition than the Muses,
the nine beautifu! daughters of Meus and Mnemosyne.
2n their origina! signification, they $resided mere!y o"er music, song, and danceF but ith
the $rogress of ci"i!iEation the arts and sciences c!aimed their s$ecia! $residing di"inities,
and e see these gracefu! creations, in !ater times, sharing among them "arious functions,
such as $oetry, astronomy, Bc.
The Muses ere honoured a!ike by morta!s and immorta!s. 2n 4!ym$us, here A$o!!o
acted as their !eader, no banDuet or festi"ity as considered com$!ete ithout their joy%
ins$iring $resence, and on earth no socia! gathering as ce!ebrated ithout !ibations
being $oured out to themF nor as any task in"o!"ing inte!!ectua! effort e"er undertaken,
ithout earnest!y su$$!icating their assistance. They endoed their chosen fa"ourites
ith kno!edge, isdom, and understandingF they bestoed u$on the orator the gift of
e!oDuence, ins$ired the $oet ith his nob!est thoughts, and the musician ith his seetest
harmonies.
Like so many of the Greek di"inities, hoe"er, the refined conce$tion of the Muses is
somehat marred by the acerbity ith hich they $unished any effort on the $art ,/5.0of
morta!s to ri"a! them in their di"ine $oers. An instance of this is seen in the case of
Thamyris, a Thracian bard, ho $resumed to in"ite them to a tria! of ski!! in music.
9a"ing "anDuished him, they not on!y aff!icted him ith b!indness, but de$ri"ed him a!so
of the $oer of song.
Another eIam$!e of the manner in hich the gods $unished $resum$tion and "anity is
seen in the story of the daughters of =ing Pierus. Proud of the $erfection to hich they
had brought their ski!! in music, they $resumed to cha!!enge the Muses themse!"es in the
art o"er hich they s$ecia!!y $resided. The contest took $!ace on Mount 9e!icon, and it is
said that hen the morta! maidens commenced their song, the sky became dark and
misty, hereas hen the Muses raised their hea"en!y "oices, a!! nature seemed to rejoice,
and Mount 9e!icon itse!f mo"ed ith eIu!tation. The Pierides ere signa!!y defeated, and
ere transformed by the Muses into singing birds, as a $unishment for ha"ing dared to
cha!!enge com$arison ith the immorta!s.
;ndeterred by the abo"e eIam$!e, the 3irens a!so entered into a simi!ar contest. The
songs of the Muses ere !oya! and true, hi!st those of the 3irens ere the fa!se and
dece$ti"e strains ith hich so many unfortunate mariners had been !ured to their death.
The 3irens ere defeated by the Muses, and as a mark of humi!iation, ere de$ri"ed of
the feathers ith hich their bodies ere adorned.
The o!dest seat of the orshi$ of the Muses as Pieria in Thrace, here they ere
su$$osed to ha"e first seen the !ight of day. Pieria is a district on one of the s!o$ing
dec!i"ities of Mount 4!ym$us, hence a number of ri"u!ets, as they f!o toards the
$!ains beneath, $roduce those seet, soothing sounds, hich may $ossib!y ha"e
suggested this s$ot as a fitting home for the $residing di"inities of song.
They de!t on the summits of Mounts 9e!icon, Parnassus, and Pindus, and !o"ed to haunt
the s$rings and fountains hich gushed forth amidst these rocky ,/560heights, a!! of
hich ere sacred to them and to $oetic ins$iration. Agani$$e and 9i$$ocrene on Mount
9e!icon, and the 1asta!ian s$ring on Mount Parnassus, ere sacred to the Muses. The
!atter f!oed beteen to !ofty rocks abo"e the city of 'e!$hi, and in ancient times its
aters ere introduced into a sDuare stone basin, here they ere retained for the use of
the Pythia and the $riests of A$o!!o.
1a!!io$e 1a!!io$e.
The !ibations to these di"inities consisted of ater, mi!k, and honey, but ne"er of ine.
Their names and functions are as fo!!os&J
1ALL24PE, the most honoured of the Muses, $resided o"er heroic song and e$ic $oetry,
and is re$resented ith a $enci! in her hand, and a s!ate u$on her knee.
1L24, the muse of 9istory, ho!ds in her hand a ro!! of $archment, and ears a reath of
!aure!.
MELP4ME<E, the muse of Tragedy, bears a tragic mask.
T9AL2A, the muse of 1omedy, carries in her right hand a she$herdRs crook, and has a
comic mask beside her.
P4L#9#M<2A, the muse of 3acred 9ymns, is croned ith a reath of !aure!. 3he is
a!ays re$resented in a thoughtfu! attitude, and entire!y en"e!o$ed in rich fo!ds of
dra$ery.
TERP32194RE, the muse of 'ance and Rounde!ay, is re$resented in the act of $!aying
on a se"en%stringed !yre.
;RA<2A, the muse of Astronomy, stands erect, and bears in her !eft hand a ce!estia!
g!obe.
E;TERPE, the muse of 9armony, is re$resented bearing a musica! instrument, usua!!y a
f!ute.
ERAT4, the muse of Lo"e and hymenea! songs, ears a reath of !aure!, and is striking
the chords of a !yre. ,/N*0
Erato Erato. Euter$e Euter$e. Ter$sichore Ter$sichore. 1!io 1!io.
>ith regard to the origin of the Muses, it is said that they ere created by Meus in anser
to a reDuest on the $art of the "ictorious deities, after the ar ith the ,/N/0Titans, that
some s$ecia! di"inities shou!d be ca!!ed into eIistence, in order to commemorate in song
the g!orious deeds of the 4!ym$ian gods.
Po!yhymnia Po!yhymnia. Tha!ia Tha!ia. Me!$omene Me!$omene. 1!io ;rania.
,/N(0
PEGA3;3.
Pegasus as a beautifu! inged horse ho s$rang from the body of Medusa hen she
as s!ain by the hero Perseus, the son of Meus and 'anaS. 3$reading out his ings he
immediate!y f!e to the to$ of Mount 4!ym$us, here he as recei"ed ith de!ight and
admiration by a!! the immorta!s. A $!ace in his $a!ace as assigned to him by Meus, ho
em$!oyed him to carry his thunder and !ightning. Pegasus $ermitted none but the gods to
mount him, eIce$t in the case of Be!!ero$hon, hom, at the command of Athene, he
carried a!oft, in order that he might s!ay the 1himKra ith his arros.
The !ater $oets re$resent Pegasus as being at the ser"ice of the Muses, and for this reason
he is more ce!ebrated in modern times than in antiDuity. 9e ou!d a$$ear to re$resent
that $oetica! ins$iration, hich tends to de"e!o$ manRs higher nature, and causes the mind
to soar hea"enards. The on!y mention by the ancients of Pegasus in connection ith the
Muses, is the story of his ha"ing $roduced ith his hoofs, the famous fountain
9i$$ocrene.
2t is said that during their contest ith the Pierides, the Muses $!ayed and sang on the
summit of Mount 9e!icon ith such eItraordinary $oer and seetness, that hea"en and
earth stood sti!! to !isten, hi!st the mountain raised itse!f in joyous ecstasy toards the
abode of the ce!estia! gods. Poseidon, seeing his s$ecia! function thus interfered ith,
sent Pegasus to check the bo!dness of the mountain, in daring to mo"e ithout his
$ermission. >hen Pegasus reached the summit, he stam$ed the ground ith his hoofs,
and out gushed the aters of 9i$$ocrene, afterards so renoned as the sacred fount,
hence the Muses Duaffed their richest draughts of ins$iration.
T9E 9E3PER2'E3.
The 9es$erides, the daughters of At!as, de!t in an is!and in the far est, hence they
deri"ed their name. ,/N)0
They ere a$$ointed by 9era to act as guardians to a tree bearing go!den a$$!es, hich
had been $resented to her by GKa on the occasion of her marriage ith Meus.
2t is said that the 9es$erides, being unab!e to ithstand the tem$tation of tasting the
go!den fruit confided to their care, ere de$ri"ed of their office, hich as henceforth
de!egated to the terrib!e dragon Ladon, ho no became the e"er%atchfu! sentine! of
these $recious treasures.
The names of the 9es$erides ere Aeg!e, Arethusa, and 9es$eria.
19AR2TE3 GGratiKH GRA1E3.
A!! those gent!er attributes hich beautify and refine human eIistence ere $ersonified
by the Greeks under the form of three !o"e!y sisters, Eu$hrosyne, Ag!aia, and Tha!ia, the
daughters of Meus and Eurynome Gor, according to !ater riters, of 'ionysus and
A$hroditeH.
They are re$resented as beautifu!, s!ender maidens in the fu!! b!oom of youth, ith hands
and arms !o"ing!y intertined, and are either undra$ed, or ear a f!eecy, trans$arent
garment of an etherea! fabric.
They $ortray e"ery gent!e emotion of the heart, hich "ents itse!f in friendshi$ and
bene"o!ence, and ere be!ie"ed to $reside o"er those Dua!ities hich constitute grace,
modesty, unconscious beauty, gent!eness, kind!iness, innocent joy, $urity of mind and
body, and eterna! youth.
They not on!y $ossessed the most $erfect beauty themse!"es, but a!so conferred this gift
u$on others. A!! the enjoyments of !ife ere enhanced by their $resence, and ere
deemed incom$!ete ithout themF and here"er joy or $!easure, grace and gaiety
reigned, there they ere su$$osed to be $resent.
Tem$!es and a!tars ere e"eryhere erected in their honour, and $eo$!e of a!! ages and of
e"ery rank in !ife entreated their fa"our. 2ncense as burnt dai!y u$on their a!tars, and at
e"ery banDuet they ere in"oked, ,/NC0and a !ibation $oured out to them, as they not
on!y heightened a!! enjoyment, but a!so by their refining inf!uence moderated the eIciting
effects of ine.
Music, e!oDuence, $oetry, and art, though the direct ork of the Muses, recei"ed at the
hands of the Graces an additiona! touch of refinement and beautyF for hich reason they
are a!ays regarded as the friends of the Muses, ith hom they !i"ed on Mount
4!ym$us.
Their s$ecia! function as to act, in conjunction ith the 3easons, as attendants u$on
A$hrodite, hom they adorned ith reaths of f!oers, and she emerges from their
hands !ike the @ueen of 3$ring, $erfumed ith the odour of roses and "io!ets, and a!!
seet%scented b!ossoms.
The Graces are freDuent!y seen in attendance on other di"initiesF thus they carry music
for A$o!!o, myrt!es for A$hrodite, Bc., and freDuent!y accom$any the Muses, Eros, or
'ionysus.
94RP G3easonsH.
1!ose!y a!!ied to the Graces ere the 9orK, or 3easons, ho ere a!so re$resented as
three beautifu! maidens, daughters of Meus and Themis. Their names ere Eunomia,
'ice, and 2rene.
2t may a$$ear strange that these di"inities, $residing o"er the seasons, shou!d be but three
in number, but this is Duite in accordance ith the notions of the ancient Greeks, ho
on!y recogniEed s$ring, summer, and autumn as seasonsF nature being su$$osed to be
ra$t in death or s!umber, during that cheer!ess and un$roducti"e $ortion of the year
hich e ca!! inter. 2n some $arts of Greece there ere but to 9orK, Tha!!o, goddess
of the b!oom, and 1ar$o, of the corn and fruit%bearing season.
The 9orK are a!ays regarded as friend!y toards mankind, and tota!!y de"oid of gui!e
or subt!etyF they are re$resented as joyous, but gent!e maidens, croned ith f!oers,
and ho!ding each other by the hand in a round dance. >hen they are de$icted se$arate!y
as $ersonifications of the different seasons, the 9ora ,/N50re$resenting s$ring a$$ears
!aden ith f!oers, that of summer bears a sheaf of corn, hi!st the $ersonification of
autumn has her hands fi!!ed ith c!usters of gra$es and other fruits. They a!so a$$ear in
com$any ith the Graces in the train of A$hrodite, and are seen ith A$o!!o and the
Muses.
They are inse$arab!y connected ith a!! that is good and beautifu! in nature, and as the
regu!ar a!ternation of the seasons, !ike a!! her other o$erations, demands the most $erfect
order and regu!arity, the 9orK, being the daughters of Themis, came to be regarded as the
re$resentati"es of order, and the just administration of human affairs in ci"i!iEed
communities. Each of these gracefu! maidens took u$on herse!f a se$arate function&
Eunomia $resided more es$ecia!!y o"er state !ife, 'ice guarded the interests of
indi"idua!s, hi!st 2rene, the gayest and brightest of the three sisters, as the !ight%
hearted com$anion of 'ionysus.
The 9orK ere a!so the deities of the fast%f!eeting hours, and thus $resided o"er the
sma!!er, as e!! as the !arger di"isions of time. 2n this ca$acity they assist e"ery morning
in yoking the ce!estia! horses to the g!orious chariot of the sun, hich they again he!$ to
unyoke hen he sinks to rest.
2n their origina! conce$tion they ere $ersonifications of the c!ouds, and are described as
o$ening and c!osing the gates of hea"en, and causing fruits and f!oers to s$ring forth,
hen they $our don u$on them their refreshing and !ife%gi"ing streams.
T9E <#MP93.
The gracefu! beings ca!!ed the <ym$hs ere the $residing deities of the oods, grottoes,
streams, meados, Bc.
These di"inities ere su$$osed to be beautifu! maidens of fairy%!ike form, and robed in
more or !ess shadoy garments. They ere he!d in the greatest "eneration, though, being
minor di"inities, they had no tem$!es ,/NN0dedicated to them, but ere orshi$$ed in
ca"es or grottoes, ith !ibations of mi!k, honey, oi!, Bc.
They may be di"ided into three distinct c!asses, "iE., ater, mountain, and tree or ood
nym$hs.
>ATER <#MP93.
41EA<2'E3, <ERE2'E3, A<' <A2A'E3.
The orshi$ of ater%deities is common to most $rimiti"e nations. The streams, s$rings,
and fountains of a country bear the same re!ation to it hich the b!ood, coursing through
the number!ess arteries of a human being, bears to the bodyF both re$resent the !i"ing,
mo"ing, !ife%aakening e!ement, ithout hich eIistence ou!d be im$ossib!e. 9ence
e find among most nations a dee$ fee!ing of attachment to the streams and aters of
their nati"e !and, the remembrance of hich, hen absent in foreign c!imes, is a!ays
treasured ith $ecu!iar fondness. Thus among the ear!y Greeks, each tribe came to regard
the ri"ers and s$rings of its indi"idua! state as beneficent $oers, hich brought b!essing
and $ros$erity to the country. 2t is $robab!e a!so that the charm hich e"er accom$anies
the sound of running ater eIercised its $oer o"er their imagination. They heard ith
de!ight the gent!e his$er of the fountain, !u!!ing the senses ith its !o, ri$$!ing tonesF
the soft $ur!ing of the brook as it rushes o"er the $ebb!es, or the mighty "oice of the
aterfa!! as it dashes on in its head!ong courseF and the beings hich they $ictured to
themse!"es as $residing o"er a!! these charming sights and sounds of nature,
corres$onded, in their gracefu! a$$earance, ith the scenes ith hich they ere
associated.
41EA<2'E3.
The 4ceanides, or 4cean <ym$hs, ere the daughters of 4ceanus and Tethys, and, !ike
most sea di"inities, ere endoed ith the gift of $ro$hecy.
They are $ersonifications of those de!icate "a$our%!ike ,/N+0eIha!ations, hich, in arm
c!imates, are emitted from the surface of the sea, more es$ecia!!y at sunset, and are
im$e!!ed forards by the e"ening breeEe. They are according!y re$resented as misty,
shadoy beings, ith gracefu! saying forms, and robed in $a!e b!ue, gauEe%!ike fabrics.
T9E <ERE2'E3.
The <ereides ere the daughters of <ereus and 'oris, and ere nym$hs of the
Mediterranean 3ea.
They are simi!ar in a$$earance to the 4ceanides, but their beauty is of a !ess shadoy
order, and is more !ike that of morta!s. They ear a f!oing, $a!e green robeF their !iDuid
eyes resemb!e, in their c!ear de$ths, the !ucid aters of the sea they inhabitF their hair
f!oats care!ess!y o"er their shou!ders, and assumes the greenish tint of the ater itse!f,
hich, far from deteriorating from their beauty, great!y adds to its effect. The <ereides
either accom$any the chariot of the mighty ru!er of the sea, or fo!!o in his train.
>e are to!d by the $oets that the !one!y mariner atches the <ereides ith si!ent ae and
ondering de!ight, as they rise from their grotto%$a!aces in the dee$, and dance, in joyfu!
grou$s, o"er the s!ee$ing a"es. 3ome, ith arms entined, fo!!o ith their
mo"ements the me!odies hich seem to ho"er o"er the sea, hi!st others scatter !iDuid
gems around, these being emb!ematica! of the $hos$horescent !ight, so freDuent!y
obser"ed at night by the tra"e!!er in southern aters.
The best knon of the <ereides ere Thetis, the ife of Pe!eus, Am$hitrite, the s$ouse of
Poseidon, and Ga!atea, the be!o"ed of Acis.
T9E <A2A'E3.
The <aiades ere the nym$hs of fresh%ater s$rings, !akes, brooks, ri"ers, Bc.
As the trees, $!ants, and f!oers oed their nourishment to their genia!, fostering care,
these di"inities ere ,/N.0regarded by the Greeks as s$ecia! benefactors to mankind. Like
a!! the nym$hs, they $ossessed the gift of $ro$hecy, for hich reason many of the s$rings
and fountains o"er hich they $resided ere be!ie"ed to ins$ire morta!s ho drank of
their aters ith the $oer of forete!!ing future e"ents. The <aiades are intimate!y
connected in idea ith those f!oers hich are ca!!ed after them <ym$hK, or ater%!i!ies,
hose broad, green !ea"es and ye!!o cu$s f!oat u$on the surface of the ater, as though
$roud!y conscious of their on grace and beauty.
>e often hear of the <aiades forming a!!iances ith morta!s, and a!so of their being
ooed by the sy!"an deities of the oods and da!es.
'R#A'E3, 4R TREE <#MP93.
The tree nym$hs $artook of the distinguishing characteristics of the $articu!ar tree to
hose !ife they ere edded, and ere knon co!!ecti"e!y by the name of the 'ryades.
The 9amadryades, or oak nym$hs, re$resent in their $ecu!iar indi"idua!ity the Duiet, se!f%
re!iant $oer hich a$$ears to be!ong essentia!!y to the grand and !ord!y king of the
forest.
The Birch <ym$h is a me!ancho!y maiden ith f!oating hair, resemb!ing the branches of
the $a!e and fragi!e%!ooking tree hich she inhabits.
The Beech <ym$h is strong and sturdy, fu!! of !ife and joyousness, and a$$ears to gi"e
$romise of faithfu! !o"e and undisturbed re$ose, hi!st her rosy cheeks, dee$ bron eyes,
and gracefu! form bes$eak hea!th, "igour, and "ita!ity.
The nym$h of the Linden Tree is re$resented as a !itt!e coy maiden, hose short si!"er%
gray dress reaches a !itt!e be!o the knee, and dis$!ays to ad"antage her de!icate!y formed
!imbs. The seet face, hich is $art!y a"erted, re"ea!s a $air of !arge b!ue eyes, hich
a$$ear to !ook at you ith ondering sur$rise and shy mistrustF ,/N60her $a!e, go!den
hair is bound by the faintest streak of rose%co!oured ribbon.
The tree nym$h, being edded to the !ife of the tree she inhabited, ceased to eIist hen it
as either fe!!ed, or so injured as to ither aay and die.
<#MP93 48 T9E AALLE#3 A<' M4;<TA2<3.
<APPP A<' 4REA'E3.
The <a$KK ere the kind and gent!e nym$hs of the "a!!eys and g!ens ho a$$ear in the
train of Artemis. They are re$resented as !o"e!y maidens ith short tunics, hich,
reaching on!y to the knee, do not im$ede their sift and gracefu! mo"ements in the
eIercise of the chase. Their $a!e bron tresses are fastened in a knot at the back of the
head, hence a fe stray cur!s esca$e o"er their shou!ders. The <a$KK are shy as the
fans, and Duite as fro!icsome.
The 4reades, or mountain nym$hs, ho are the $rinci$a! and constant com$anions of
Artemis, are ta!!, gracefu! maidens, attired as huntresses. They are ardent fo!!oers of the
chase, and s$are neither the gent!e deer nor the timid hare, nor indeed any anima! they
meet ith in their ra$id course. >here"er their i!d hunt goes the shy <a$KK are
re$resented as hiding behind the !ea"es, hi!st their fa"ourites, the fans, knee!
tremb!ing!y beside them, !ooking u$ beseeching!y for $rotection from the i!d
huntressesF and e"en the bo!d 3atyrs dart aay at their a$$roach, and seek safety in f!ight.
There is a myth connected ith one of these mountain nym$hs, the unfortunate Echo. 3he
became enamoured of a beautifu! youth named <arcissus, son of the ri"er%god 1e$hissus,
ho, hoe"er, fai!ed to return her !o"e, hich so grie"ed her that she gradua!!y $ined
aay, becoming a mere shado of her former se!f, ti!!, at !ength, nothing remained of her
eIce$t her "oice, hich henceforth ga"e back, ith unerring fide!ity, e"ery sound that
as uttered in the hi!!s and da!es. <arcissus himse!f ,/+*0a!so met ith an unha$$y fate,
for A$hrodite $unished him by causing him to fa!! in !o"e ith his on image, hich he
behe!d in a neighbouring fountain, hereu$on, consumed ith unreDuited !o"e, he
asted aay, and as changed into the f!oer hich bears his name.
The Limoniades, or meado nym$hs, resemb!e the <aiades, and are usua!!y re$resented
dancing hand in hand in a circ!e.
The 9yades, ho in a$$earance are somehat simi!ar to the 4ceanides, are c!oudy
di"inities, and, from the fact of their being in"ariab!y accom$anied by rain, are
re$resented as incessant!y ee$ing.
The Me!iades ere the nym$hs ho $resided o"er fruit%trees.
Before conc!uding this subject, attention shou!d be dran to the fact that, in more modern
times, this beautifu! idea of animating a!! nature in detai! rea$$ears under the "arious
!oca! traditions eItant in different countries. Thus do the 4ceanides and <ereides !i"e
again in the mermaids, hose eIistence is sti!! be!ie"ed in by mariners, hi!st the f!oer
and meado nym$hs assume the sha$e of those tiny e!"es and fairies, ho ere former!y
be!ie"ed to ho!d their midnight re"e!s in e"ery ood and on e"ery commonF indeed, e"en
at the $resent day, the 2rish $easantry, es$ecia!!y in the est, firm!y be!ie"e in the
eIistence of the fairies, or Tgood $eo$!e,T as they are ca!!ed.
T9E >2<'3.
According to the o!dest accounts, Po!us as a king of the Po!ian 2s!ands, to hom Meus
ga"e the command of the inds, hich he ke$t shut u$ in a dee$ ca"e, and hich he
freed at his $!easure, or at the command of the gods.
2n !ater times the abo"e be!ief underent a change, and the inds came to be regarded as
distinct di"inities, hose as$ect accorded ith the res$ecti"e inds ith hich they ere
identified. They ere de$icted as ,/+/0inged youths in fu!! "igour in the act of f!ying
through the air.
The $rinci$a! inds ere& Boreas Gthe north indH, Eurus Gthe east indH, Me$hyrus Gthe
est indH, and <otus Gthe south indH, ho ere said to be the chi!dren of Eos and
AstrKus.
There are no myths of interest connected ith these di"inities. Me$hyrus as united to
1h!oris G8!oraH, the goddess of f!oers. 4f Boreas it is re!ated that hi!e f!ying o"er the
ri"er 2!issus, he behe!d on the banks 4reithyia, the charming daughter of Erechtheus, king
of Athens, hom he carried off to his nati"e Thrace, and there made her his bride. Boreas
and 4reithyia ere the $arents of Metes and 1a!ais, afterards famous in the eI$edition
of the Argonauts.
There as an a!tar erected at Athens in honour of Boreas, in commemoration of his
ha"ing destroyed the Persian f!eet sent to attack the Greeks.
4n the Acro$o!is at Athens there as a ce!ebrated octagona! tem$!e, bui!t by Peric!es,
hich as dedicated to the inds, and on its sides ere their "arious re$resentations. The
ruins of this tem$!e are sti!! to be seen.
PA< G8aunusH.
Pan and 3yrinI
Pan as the god of ferti!ity, and the s$ecia! $atron of she$herds and huntsmenF he
$resided o"er a!! rura! occu$ations, as chief of the 3atyrs, and head of a!! rura!
di"inities.
According to the common be!ief, he as the son of 9ermes and a ood nym$h, and came
into the or!d ith horns s$routing from his forehead, a goatRs beard and a crooked nose,
$ointed ears, and the tai! and feet of a goat, and $resented a!together so re$u!si"e ,/+(0an
a$$earance that, at the sight of him, his mother f!ed in dismay.
9ermes, hoe"er, took u$ his curious !itt!e offs$ring, ra$t him in a hare skin, and
carried him in his arms to 4!ym$us. The grotesDue form and merry antics of the !itt!e
stranger made him a great fa"ourite ith a!! the immorta!s, es$ecia!!y 'ionysusF and they
bestoed u$on him the name of Pan Ga!!H, because he had de!ighted them a!!.
9is fa"ourite haunts ere grottoes, and his de!ight as to ander in uncontro!!ed
freedom o"er rocks and mountains, fo!!oing his "arious $ursuits, e"er cheerfu!, and
usua!!y "ery noisy. 9e as a great !o"er of music, singing, dancing, and a!! $ursuits
hich enhance the $!easures of !ifeF and hence, in s$ite of his re$u!si"e a$$earance, e
see him surrounded ith nym$hs of the forests and da!es, ho !o"e to dance round him to
the cheerfu! music of his $i$e, the syrinI. The myth concerning the origin of PanRs $i$e is
as fo!!os&JPan became enamoured of a beautifu! nym$h, ca!!ed 3yrinI, ho, a$$a!!ed
at his terrib!e a$$earance, f!ed from the $ertinacious attentions of her une!come suitor.
9e $ursued her to the banks of the ri"er Ladon, hen, seeing his near a$$roach, and
fee!ing esca$e im$ossib!e, she ca!!ed on the gods for assistance, ho, in anser to her
$rayer, transformed her into a reed, just as Pan as about to seiEe her. >hi!st the !o"e%
sick Pan as sighing and !amenting his unfortunate fate, the inds gent!y sayed the
reeds, and $roduced a murmuring sound as of one com$!aining. 1harmed ith the
soothing tones, he endea"oured to re$roduce them himse!f, and after cutting se"en of the
reeds of uneDua! !ength, he joined them together, and succeeded in $roducing the $i$e,
hich he ca!!ed the syrinI, in memory of his !ost !o"e.
Pan as regarded by she$herds as their most "a!iant $rotector, ho defended their f!ocks
from the attacks of o!"es. The she$herds of these ear!y times, ha"ing no $enfo!ds, ere
in the habit of gathering together their f!ocks in mountain ca"es, to $rotect them against
the ,/+)0inc!emency of the eather, and a!so to secure them at night against the attacks of
i!d anima!sF these ca"es, therefore, hich ere "ery numerous in the mountain districts
of Arcadia, BLotia, Bc., ere a!! consecrated to Pan.
As it is customary in a!! tro$ica! c!imates to re$ose during the heat of the day, Pan is
re$resented as great!y enjoying his afternoon s!ee$ in the coo! she!ter of a tree or ca"e,
and a!so as being high!y dis$!eased at any sound hich disturbed his s!umbers, for hich
reason the she$herds ere a!ays $articu!ar!y carefu! to kee$ unbroken si!ence during
these hours, hi!st they themse!"es indu!ged in a Duiet siesta.
Pan as eDua!!y be!o"ed by huntsmen, being himse!f a great !o"er of the oods, hich
afforded to his cheerfu! and acti"e dis$osition fu!! sco$e, and in hich he !o"ed to range
at i!!. 9e as regarded as the $atron of the chase, and the rura! s$ortsmen, returning
from an unsuccessfu! dayRs s$ort, beat, in token of their dis$!easure, the ooden image of
Pan, hich a!ays occu$ied a $rominent $!ace in their de!!ings.
A!! sudden and unaccountab!e sounds hich start!e tra"e!!ers in !one!y s$ots, ere
attributed to Pan, ho $ossessed a frightfu! and most discordant "oiceF hence the term
$anic terror, to indicate sudden fear. The Athenians ascribed their "ictory at Marathon to
the a!arm hich he created among the Persians by his terrib!e "oice.
Pan as gifted ith the $oer of $ro$hecy, hich he is said to ha"e im$arted to A$o!!o,
and he $ossessed a e!!%knon and "ery ancient orac!e in Arcadia, in hich state he as
more es$ecia!!y orshi$$ed.
The artists of !ater times ha"e somehat toned don the origina! "ery unattracti"e
conce$tion of Pan, as abo"e described, and mere!y re$resent him as a young man,
hardened by the eI$osure to a!! eathers hich a rura! !ife in"o!"es, and bearing in his
hand the she$herdRs crook and syrinIJthese being his usua! attributesJhi!st sma!!
horns $roject from his forehead. 9e is either undra$ed, or ears mere!y the !ight c!oak
ca!!ed the ch!amys.
The usua! offerings to Pan ere mi!k and honey in ,/+C0she$herdsR bo!s. 1os, !ambs,
and rams ere a!so sacrificed to him.
After the introduction of Pan into the orshi$ of 'ionysus, e hear of a number of !itt!e
Pans GPanisciH, ho are sometimes confounded ith the 3atyrs.
8A;<;3.
The Romans had an o!d 2ta!ian di"inity ca!!ed 8aunus, ho, as the god of she$herds, as
identified ith the Greek Pan, and re$resented in a simi!ar manner.
8aunus is freDuent!y ca!!ed 2nuus or the ferti!iEer, and Lu$ercus or the one ho ards off
o!"es. Like Pan, he $ossessed the gift of $ro$hecy, and as the $residing s$irit of the
oods and fie!dsF he a!so shared ith his Greek $rototy$e the facu!ty of a!arming
tra"e!!ers in so!itary $!aces. Bad dreams and e"i! a$$aritions ere attributed to 8aunus,
and he as be!ie"ed to enter houses stea!thi!y at night for this $ur$ose.
8auna as the ife of 8aunus, and $artici$ated in his functions.
T9E 3AT#R3.
A 3atyr
The 3atyrs ere a race of ood!and s$irits, ho e"ident!y $ersonified the free, i!d, and
untramme!!ed !ife of the forest. Their a$$earance as both grotesDue and re$u!si"eF they
had f!at broad noses, $ointed ears, and !itt!e horns s$routing from their foreheads, a rough
shaggy skin, and sma!! goatRs tai!s. They !ed a !ife of $!easure and se!f%indu!gence,
fo!!oed the chase, re"e!!ed in e"ery descri$tion of i!d music and dancing, ere terrib!e
ine%bibbers, and addicted to the dee$ s!umbers hich fo!!o hea"y $otations. They
ere no !ess dreaded by morta!s than by the gent!e ood!and nym$hs, ho a!ays
a"oided their coarse rough s$orts.
The 3atyrs ere cons$icuous figures in the train of 'ionysus, and, as e ha"e seen,
3i!enus their chief as tutor to the ine god. The o!der 3atyrs ere ca!!ed 3i!ens, and are
re$resented in antiDue scu!$ture, as more near!y a$$roaching the human form.
,/+50
2n addition to the ordinary 3atyrs, artists de!ighted in de$icting !itt!e 3atyrs, young im$s,
fro!icking about the oods in a mar"e!!ous "ariety of dro!! attitudes. These !itt!e fe!!os
great!y resemb!e their friends and com$anions, the Panisci.
2n rura! districts it as customary for the she$herds and $easants ho attended the
festi"a!s of 'ionysus, to dress themse!"es in the skins of goats and other anima!s, and,
under this disguise, they $ermitted themse!"es a!! kinds of $!ayfu! tricks and eIcesses, to
hich circumstance the conce$tion of the 3atyrs is by some authorities attributed.
2n Rome the o!d 2ta!ian ood%di"inities, the 8A;<3, ho had goatsR feet and a!! other
characteristics of the 3atyrs great!y eIaggerated, ere identified ith them.
PR2AP;3.
Pria$us, the son of 'ionysus and A$hrodite, as regarded as the god of fruitfu!ness, the
$rotector of f!ocks, shee$, goats, bees, the fruit of the "ine, and a!! garden $roduce.
9is statues, hich ere set u$ in gardens and "ineyards, acted not on!y as objects of
orshi$, but a!so as scarecros, the a$$earance of this god being es$ecia!!y re$u!si"e and
unsight!y. These statues ere formed of ood or stone, and from the hi$s donards
ere mere!y rude co!umns. They re$resent him as ha"ing a red and "ery ug!y faceF he
bears in his hand a $runing knife, and his head is croned ith a reath of "ine and
!aure!. 9e usua!!y carries fruit in his garments or a cornuco$ia in his hand, a!ays,
hoe"er, retaining his singu!ar!y re"o!ting as$ect. 2t is said that 9era, ishing ,/+N0to
$unish A$hrodite, sent her this missha$en and unsight!y son, and that hen he as born,
his mother as so horrified at the sight of him, that she ordered him to be eI$osed on the
mountains, here he as found by some she$herds, ho, taking $ity on him, sa"ed his
!ife.
This di"inity as chief!y orshi$$ed at Lam$sacus, his birth$!ace. Asses ere sacrificed
to him, and he recei"ed the first%fruits of the fie!ds and gardens, ith a !ibation of mi!k
and honey.
The orshi$ of Pria$us as introduced into Rome at the same time as that of A$hrodite,
and as identified ith a nati"e 2ta!ian di"inity named Mutunus.
A31LEP2A3 GPscu!a$iusH.
Asc!e$ias, the god of the hea!ing art, as the son of A$o!!o and the nym$h 1oronis. 9e
as educated by the nob!e 1entaur 1hiron, ho instructed him in a!! kno!edge, but
more es$ecia!!y in that of the $ro$erties of herbs. Asc!e$ias searched out the hidden
$oers of $!ants, and disco"ered cures for the "arious diseases hich aff!ict the human
body. 9e brought his art to such $erfection, that he not on!y succeeded in arding off
death, but a!so restored the dead to !ife. 2t as $o$u!ar!y be!ie"ed that he as materia!!y
assisted in his onderfu! cures by the b!ood of the Medusa, gi"en to him by Pa!!as%
Athene.
Asc!e$ias
2t is e!! to obser"e that the shrines of this di"inity, hich ere usua!!y bui!t in hea!thy
$!aces, on hi!!s outside the ton, or near e!!s hich ere be!ie"ed to ha"e hea!ing
$oers, offered at the same time means of cure for the sick and suffering, thus combining
re!igious ith sanitary inf!uences. 2t as the custom for the sufferer to s!ee$ in the
tem$!e, hen, if he had been earnest in his de"otions, Asc!e$ias a$$eared to him in a
dream, and re"ea!ed the means to be em$!oyed for the cure of his ma!ady. 4n the a!!s of
these tem$!es ere hung tab!ets, inscribed by the different $i!grims ith the $articu!ars of
their ma!adies, the remedies $ractised, and the cures ,/++0orked by the god&Ja custom
undoubted!y $roducti"e of most beneficia! resu!ts.
Gro"es, tem$!es, and a!tars ere dedicated to Asc!e$ias in many $arts of Greece, but
E$idaurus, the chief seat of his orshi$,Jhere, indeed, it is said to ha"e originated,J
contained his $rinci$a! tem$!e, hich ser"ed at the same time as a hos$ita!.
The statue of Asc!e$ias in the tem$!e at E$idaurus as formed of i"ory and go!d, and
re$resented him as an o!d man ith a fu!! beard, !eaning on a staff round hich a ser$ent
is c!imbing. The ser$ent as the distinguishing symbo! of this di"inity, $art!y because
these re$ti!es ere great!y used by the ancients in the cure of diseases, and $art!y a!so
because a!! the $rudence and isdom of the ser$ent ere deemed indis$ensab!e to the
judicious $hysician.
9is usua! attributes are a staff, a bo!, a bunch of herbs, a $inea$$!e, a dog, and a ser$ent.
9is chi!dren inherited, for the most $art, the distinguished ta!ents of their father. To of
his sons, Machaon and Poda!irius, accom$anied Agamemnon to the Trojan ar, in hich
eI$edition they became renoned, not on!y as mi!itary heroes, but a!so as ski!fu!
$hysicians.
Their sisters, 9#GE2A Ghea!thH, and PA<A1EA Ga!!%hea!ingH, had tem$!es dedicated to
them, and recei"ed di"ine honours. The function of 9ygeia as to maintain the hea!th of
the community, hich great b!essing as su$$osed to be brought by her as a direct and
beneficent gift from the gods.
P31;LAP2;3.
The orshi$ of Pscu!a$ius as introduced into Rome from E$idaurus, hence the statue
of the god of hea!ing ,/+.0as brought at the time of a great $esti!ence. Gratefu! for their
de!i"erance from this $!ague, the Romans erected a tem$!e in his honour, on an is!and
near the mouth of the Tiber.
R4MA< '2A2<2T2E3.
:A<;3.
8rom the ear!iest ages :anus as regarded by the Romans ith the utmost affection and
"eneration, as a di"inity ho ranked on!y second to :u$iter himse!f, and through hom
a!! $rayers and $etitions ere transmitted to the other gods.
9e as be!ie"ed to $reside o"er the beginnings of a!! things, hence it as he ho
inaugurated the years, months, and seasons, and in course of time came to be considered
as s$ecia!!y $rotecting the beginnings of a!! human enter$rises. The great im$ortance
hich the Romans attached to an aus$icious commencement, as contributing to the
u!timate success of an enter$rise, accounts for the high estimation in hich :anus as
he!d as the god of beginnings.
This di"inity ou!d a$$ear to ha"e been the ancient sun%god of the 2ta!ian tribes, in hich
ca$acity he o$ens and c!oses the gates of hea"en e"ery morning and e"ening. 9ence he
as regarded as the door%kee$er of hea"en, and a!so as the $residing deity o"er a!! gates,
entrances, Bc., on earth.
The fact of his being the god of city gates, hich ere ca!!ed :ani after him, is ascribed,
hoe"er, to the fo!!oing myth&JAfter the abduction of their omen by the Romans, the
3abines, in re"enge, in"aded the Roman state, and ere a!ready about to enter the gates
of the city, hen sudden!y a hot su!$hur s$ring, hich as be!ie"ed to ha"e been sent by
:anus for their s$ecia! $reser"ation, gushed forth from the earth, and arrested the $rogress
of the enemy.
,/+60
2n his character as guardian of gates and doors, he as a!so regarded as a $rotecting deity
of the home, for hich reason !itt!e shrines ere erected to him o"er the doors of houses,
hich contained an image of the god, ha"ing to faces.
:anus $ossessed no tem$!es in the ordinary acce$tation of the ord, but a!! the gates of
cities ere dedicated to him. 1!ose to the 8orum of Rome stood the so%ca!!ed tem$!e of
:anus, hich, hoe"er, as mere!y an arched $assage, c!osed by massi"e gates. This
tem$!e as o$en on!y in time of ar, as it as su$$osed that the god had then taken his
de$arture ith the Roman army, o"er hose e!fare he $ersona!!y $resided. 2t is orthy
of notice, as an e"idence of the many ars in hich the Romans ere engaged, that the
gates of this sanctuary ere on!y c!osed three times during +** years.
As the god ho ushers in the ne year, the first month as ca!!ed after him, and on the
/st of :anuary his most im$ortant festi"a! as ce!ebrated, on hich occasion a!! entrances
of $ub!ic and $ri"ate bui!dings ere decorated ith !aure! branches and gar!ands of
f!oers.
9is sacrifices, consisting of cakes, ine, and bar!ey, ere offered to him at the beginning
of e"ery monthF and before sacrificing to the other gods his name as a!ays in"oked,
and a !ibation $oured out to him.
:anus is usua!!y re$resented ith to facesF in his s$ecia! function as door%kee$er of
hea"en he stands erect, bearing a key in one hand, and a rod or sce$tre in the other.
2t is su$$osed that :anus as the most ancient king of 2ta!y, ho, during his !ife, go"erned
his subjects ith such isdom and moderation that, in gratitude for the benefits conferred
u$on them, his $eo$!e deified him after death and $!aced him in the foremost rank among
their di"inities. >e ha"e a!ready seen in the history of 1ronus that 3aturn, ho as
identified ith the Greek 1ronus Ggod of timeH, as the friend and co!!eague of :anus.
AnIious to $ro"e his gratitude to his benefactor, 1ronus endoed him ith the
kno!edge of $ast and future ,/.*0e"ents, hich enab!ed him to ado$t the isest
measures for the e!fare of his subjects, and it is on this account that :anus is re$resented
ith to faces !ooking in o$$osite directions, the one to the $ast, the other to the future.
8L4RA.
8!ora as the goddess of f!oers, and as regarded as a beneficent $oer, ho atched
o"er and $rotected the ear!y b!ossoms.
3he as he!d in the highest estimation by the Romans, and a festi"a!, ca!!ed the 8!ora!ia,
as ce!ebrated in her honour from the (.th of A$ri! to the /st of May. This festi"a! as a
season of uni"ersa! merriment, in hich f!oers ere used $rofuse!y in adorning houses,
streets, Bc., and ere orn by young gir!s in their hair.
8!ora, ho ty$ified the season of 3$ring, is genera!!y re$resented as a !o"e!y maiden,
gar!anded ith f!oers.
R4B2G;3.
2n o$$osition to 8!ora e find an antagonistic di"inity, ca!!ed Robigus, a orker of e"i!,
ho de!ighted in the destruction of the tender herbs by mi!de, and hose rath cou!d
on!y be a"erted by $rayers and sacrifices, hen he as in"oked under the tit!e of
A"eruncus, or the A"ertor.
The festi"a! of Robigus Gthe Robiga!iaH as ce!ebrated on the (5th of A$ri!.
P4M4<A.
Pomona as the goddess of orchards and fruit%trees, ho, according to 4"id, cares not
for oods or streams, but !o"es her gardens and the boughs that bear the thri"ing fruit.
Pomona, ho ty$ifies Autumn, is re$resented as a !o"e!y maiden, !aden ith branches of
fruit%trees.
,/./0
AERT;M<;3.
Aertumnus as the god of garden and fie!d $roduce. 9e $ersonifies the change of
seasons, and that $rocess of transformation in nature by means of hich the !eaf%buds
become de"e!o$ed into b!ossoms, and the b!ossoms into fruit.
The change of seasons is symbo!iEed in a myth hich re$resents Aertumnus as
metamor$hosing himse!f into a "ariety of different forms in order to gain the affection of
Pomona, ho so !o"ed her "ocation that she abjured a!! thoughts of marriage. 9e first
a$$ears to her as a $!oughman, ty$ifying 3$ringF then as a rea$er, to re$resent 3ummerF
afterards as a "ine%gatherer, to indicate AutumnF and fina!!y as a gray%haired o!d
oman, symbo!ica! of the snos of >interF but it as not unti! he assumed his true form,
that of a beautifu! youth, that he succeeded in his suit.
Aertumnus is genera!!y re$resented croned ith heat%shea"es, and bearing in his hand
a cornuco$ia.
PALE3.
Pa!es, a "ery ancient 2ta!ian di"inity, is re$resented sometimes as a ma!e, sometimes as a
fema!e $oer.
As a ma!e di"inity he is more $articu!ar!y the god of she$herds and f!ocks.
As a fema!e deity, Pa!es $resides o"er husbandry and the fruitfu!ness of herds. 9er
festi"a!s, the Pa!i!ia, ere ce!ebrated on the (/st of A$ri!, the day on hich the city of
Rome as founded. 'uring this festi"a! it as customary for she$herds to ignite a mass
of stra, through hich they rushed ith their f!ocks, be!ie"ing that this ordea! ou!d
$urify them from sin.
The name Pa!atine, hich origina!!y signified a $astora! co!ony, is deri"ed from this
di"inity. 9er offerings ere cakes and mi!k.
,/.(0
P21;3.
Picus, the son of 3aturn and father of 8aunus, as a ood!and di"inity, gifted ith
$ro$hetic $oers.
An ancient myth re!ates that Picus as a beautifu! youth, united to a nym$h ca!!ed
1anens. The sorceress 1irce, infatuated by his beauty, endea"oured to secure his !o"e, but
he rejected her ad"ances, and she, in re"enge, changed him into a ood$ecker, under
hich form he sti!! retained his $oers of $ro$hecy.
Picus is re$resented as a youth, ith a ood$ecker $erched u$on his head, hich bird
became henceforth regarded as $ossessed of the $oer of $ro$hecy.
P21;M<;3 A<' P2L;M<;3.
Picumnus and Pi!umnus ere to househo!d di"inities of the Romans, ho ere the
s$ecia! $residing deities of ne%born infants.
32LAA<;3.
3i!"anus as a ood!and di"inity, ho, !ike 8aunus, great!y resemb!ed the Greek Pan. 9e
as the $residing deity of $!antations and forests, and s$ecia!!y $rotected the boundaries
of fie!ds.
3i!"anus is re$resented as a ha!e o!d man, carrying a cy$ress%tree, for, according to
Roman mytho!ogy, the transformation of the youth 1y$arissus into the tree hich bears
his name as attributed to him.
9is sacrifices consisted of mi!k, meat, ine, gra$es, heat%ears, and $igs.
TERM2<;3.
Terminus as the god ho $resided o"er a!! boundaries and !andmarks.
9e as origina!!y re$resented by a sim$!e b!ock of stone, hich in !ater times became
surmounted by a ,/.)0head of this di"inity. <uma Pom$i!ius, the great benefactor of his
$eo$!e, anIious to incu!cate res$ect for the rights of $ro$erty, s$ecia!!y enjoined the
erection of these b!ocks of stone, as a durab!e monument to mark the !ine di"iding one
$ro$erty from another. 9e a!so caused a!tars to be raised to Terminus, and instituted his
festi"a! Gthe Termina!iaH, hich as ce!ebrated on the ()rd of 8ebruary.
;$on one occasion, hen TarDuin ished to remo"e the a!tars of se"era! deities, in order
to bui!d a ne tem$!e, it is said that Terminus and :u"entas a!one objected to being
dis$!aced. This obstinate refusa! on their $art as inter$reted as a good omen, signifying
that the city of Rome ou!d ne"er !ose her boundaries, and ou!d remain e"er young and
"igorous.
14<3;3.
1onsus as the god of secret counse!.
The Romans be!ie"ed that hen an idea de"e!o$ed itse!f s$ontaneous!y ithin the mind
of an indi"idua!, it as 1onsus ho had $rom$ted the suggestion. This a$$!ied, hoe"er,
more $articu!ar!y to $!ans hich resu!ted satisfactori!y.
An a!tar as erected to this di"inity on the 1ircus MaIimus, hich as ke$t a!ays
co"ered, eIce$t during his festi"a!, the 1onsua!ia, hich as ce!ebrated on the /.th of
August.
L2B2T2<A.
Libitina as the goddess ho $resided o"er funera!s. This di"inity as identified ith
Aenus, $ossib!y because the ancients considered that the $oer of !o"e eItended e"en to
the rea!ms of death.
9er tem$!e in Rome, hich as erected by 3er"ius Tu!!ius, contained a!! the reDuisites
for funera!s, and these cou!d either be bought or hired there. A register of a!! deaths hich
occurred in the city of Rome as ke$t in ,/.C0this tem$!e, and in order to ascertain the
rate of morta!ity, a $iece of money as $aid by command of 3er"ius Tu!!ius, on the
demise of each $erson.
LAAER<A.
La"erna as the $residing goddess of thie"es, and of a!! artifice and fraud. There as an
a!tar erected to her near the Porta La"erna!is, hich as ca!!ed after her, and she
$ossessed a sacred gro"e on the Aia 3a!a"ia.
14M;3.
1omus as the $residing genius of banDuets, festi"e scenes, re"e!ry, and a!! joyous
$!easures and reck!ess gaiety.
9e is re$resented as a young man croned ith f!oers, his face heated and f!ushed ith
ine, !eaning against a $ost in a ha!f%s!ee$y and drunken attitude, ith a torch fa!!ing
from his hand.
T9E 1AME<P.
The 1amenK ere $ro$hetic nym$hs he!d in high "eneration by the ancient 2ta!ians. They
ere four in number, the best knon of hom are 1armenta and Egeria.
1armenta as ce!ebrated as being the mother of E"ander, ho !ed an Arcadian co!ony
into 2ta!y, and founded a ton on the ri"er Tiber, hich became afterards incor$orated
ith the city of Rome. E"ander is said to ha"e been the first ho introduced Greek art
and ci"i!iEation into 2ta!y, and a!so the orshi$ of Greek di"inities.
A tem$!e as erected to 1armenta on the 1a$ito!ine 9i!!, and a festi"a!, ca!!ed the
1armenta!ia, as ce!ebrated in her honour on the //th of :anuary.
Egeria is said to ha"e initiated <uma Pom$i!ius in the forms of re!igious orshi$, hich
he introduced among his $eo$!e. 3he as regarded as the gi"er of ,/.50!ife, and as
therefore in"oked by omen before the birth of their chi!dren.
The 1amenK are freDuent!y identified by Roman riters ith the Muses.
GE<22.
A comforting and assuring be!ief eIisted among the Romans, that each indi"idua! as
accom$anied through !ife, from the hour of his birth to that of his death, by a $rotecting
s$irit, ca!!ed his genius, ho $rom$ted him to good and nob!e deeds, and acted toards
him as a guardian ange!, comforting him in sorro, and guiding him throughout his
earth!y career.
2n the course of time a second genius as be!ie"ed to eIist, of an e"i! nature, ho, as the
instigator of a!! rong%doing, as e"er at ar ith the beneficent geniusF and on the issue
of the conf!ict beteen these antagonistic inf!uences, de$ended the fate of the indi"idua!.
The genii ere de$icted as inged beings, great!y resemb!ing our modern re$resentations
of guardian ange!s.
E"ery state, ton, or city, Gas e!! as e"ery manH, $ossessed its s$ecia! genius. The
sacrifices to the genii consisted of ine, cakes, and incense, hich ere offered to them
on birthdays.
The genius hich guided a oman as ca!!ed, after the Dueen of hea"en, :uno.
Among the Greeks, beings ca!!ed 'Kmons ere regarded as eIercising simi!ar functions
to those of the Roman genii. They ere be!ie"ed to be the s$irits of the righteous race
hich eIisted in the Go!den Age, ho atched o"er mankind, carrying their $rayers to
the gods, and the gifts of the gods to them.
MA<E3.
LEM;RE3 GLARAPH A<' LARE3.
The Manes ere the s$irits of the de$arted, and ere of to kinds, "iE., Lemures Gor
Lar"KH and Lares. ,/.N0
The Lemures ere those Manes ho haunted their former abodes on earth as e"i! s$irits,
a$$earing at night under afu! forms and hideous sha$es, great!y to the a!arm of their
friends and re!ati"es. They ere so feared that a festi"a!, ca!!ed the Lemura!ia, as
ce!ebrated in order to $ro$itiate them.
2t a$$ears eItreme!y $robab!e that the su$erstitions ith regard to ghosts, haunted houses,
Bc., hich eIist e"en at the $resent day, oe their origin to this "ery ancient $agan
source.
The Lares 8ami!iares ere a much more $!easing conce$tion. They ere the s$irits of the
ancestors of each fami!y, ho eIercised after death a $rotecting $oer o"er the e!!%
being and $ros$erity of the fami!y to hich they had in !ife be!onged. The $!ace of
honour beside the hearth as occu$ied by the statue of the Lar of the house, ho as
su$$osed to ha"e been the founder of the fami!y. This statue as the object of $rofound
"eneration, and as honoured on a!! occasions by e"ery member of the fami!yF a $ortion
of each mea! as !aid before it, and it as be!ie"ed to take an acti"e $art in a!! fami!y
affairs and domestic e"ents, hether of a sad or joyfu! nature. Before starting on any
eI$edition the master of the house sa!uted the statue of the Lar, and, on his return, a
so!emn thanksgi"ing as offered to this, the $residing deity of his hearth and home, in
gratefu! ackno!edgment of his $rotectionF hereu$on the statue as croned ith
gar!ands of f!oers, these being the fa"ourite offerings to the Lares on a!! occasions of
es$ecia! fami!y rejoicing.
The first act of a bride on entering her ne abode as to do homage to the Lar, in the
be!ief that he ou!d eIercise o"er her a $rotecting inf!uence and shie!d her from e"i!.
2n addition to those abo"e enumerated there ere a!so $ub!ic Lares, ho ere guardians
of the state, highroads, country, and sea. Their tem$!es ere a!ays o$en for any $ious
orshi$$er to enter, and on their a!tars $ub!ic sacrifices ere offered for the e!fare of
the state or city. ,/.+0
PE<ATE3.
The Penates ere deities se!ected by each fami!y, and freDuent!y by its indi"idua!
members, as a s$ecia! $rotector. Aarious causes !ed to this se!ection. 2f, for instance, a
chi!d ere born on the festi"a! of Aesta, it as thought that that deity ou!d
henceforard act as its s$ecia! guardian. 2f a youth $ossessed great business ta!ents he
ado$ted Mercury as his tute!ary deityF shou!d he, on the other hand, de"e!o$ a $assion for
music, A$o!!o as se!ected as his $atron god, and so forth. These became regarded as the
s$ecia! di"inities of the househo!d, sma!! images of them adorned the surroundings of the
hearth, and honours simi!ar to those $aid to the Lares ere accorded to them.
:ust as there ere $ub!ic Lares so there ere $ub!ic Penates, hich ere orshi$$ed by
the Roman $eo$!e under the form of to youthfu! arriors, ho, in !ater times, ere
regarded as identica! ith 1astor and Po!!uI. They are genera!!y re$resented on
horseback, ith conica! ca$s on their heads, and bearing !ong s$ears in their hands.
,/..0
Tem$!e
P;BL21 >4R392P 48 T9E A<12E<T GREE=3 A<' R4MA<3.
TEMPLE3.
2n "ery remote times the Greeks had no shrines or sanctuaries de"oted to $ub!ic orshi$,
but $erformed their de"otions beneath the "ast and bound!ess cano$y of hea"en, in the
great tem$!e of nature itse!f. Be!ie"ing that their di"inities throned abo"e the c!ouds,
$ious orshi$$ers natura!!y sought the highest a"ai!ab!e $oints, in order to $!ace
themse!"es in the c!osest communion $ossib!e ith their godsF hence the summits of high
mountains ere se!ected for de"otiona! $ur$oses, and the more eIa!ted the rank and
im$ortance of the di"inity in"oked, the more e!e"ated as the site se!ected for his or her
orshi$. But the incon"enience attending this mode of orshi$ gradua!!y suggested the
idea of erecting edifices hich ou!d afford means of she!ter from the inc!emency of the
eather.
These structures ere, in the first instance, of the most sim$!e form, and ithout
decorationF but hen, ith the $rogress of ci"i!iEation, the Greeks became a
,/.60ea!thy and $oerfu! $eo$!e, tem$!es ere bui!t and adorned ith the greatest
s$!endour and magnificence, ta!ent, !abour, and ea!th being !a"ished uns$aring!y on
their erection and decorationF indeed so massi"e!y ere they constructed, that some of
them ha"e, to a certain eItent, ithstood the ra"ages of time. The city of Athens
es$ecia!!y contains numerous remains of these bui!dings of antiDuity. 4n the Acro$o!is
e may sti!! beho!d, among other monuments of ancient art, the tem$!e of Athene%Po!ias,
and that of Theseus, the !atter of hich is the most entire ancient edifice in the or!d. 2n
the is!and of 'e!os, a!so, are to be seen the ruins of the tem$!es of A$o!!o and Artemis,
both of hich are in a onderfu! state of $reser"ation. These ruins are most "a!uab!e,
being sufficient!y com$!ete to enab!e us to study, by their aid, the $!an and character of
the origina! structure.
Among the LacedKmonians, hoe"er, e find no "estiges of these state!y tem$!es, for
they ere s$ecia!!y enjoined by a !a of Lycurgus to ser"e the gods ith as !itt!e out!ay
as $ossib!e. >hen the great !agi"er as asked the reason of this injunction, he re$!ied
that the LacedKmonians, being a $oor nation, might otherise abstain a!together from the
obser"ance of their re!igious duties, and ise!y added that magnificent edifices and cost!y
sacrifices ere not so $!easing to the gods, as the true $iety and unfeigned de"otion of
their orshi$$ers.
The most ancient tem$!es knon to us ser"ed a doub!e $ur$ose& they ere not on!y
consecrated to the ser"ice of the gods, but ere at the same time "enerab!e monuments in
honour of the dead. Thus, for instance, the tem$!e of Pa!!as%Athene, in the toer of the
city of Larissa, ser"ed as the se$u!chre of Acrisius, and the Acro$o!is at Athens recei"ed
the ashes of 1ecro$s, founder of the city.
A tem$!e as freDuent!y dedicated to to or more gods, and as a!ays bui!t after the
manner considered most acce$tab!e to the $articu!ar di"inities to hom it as
consecratedF for just as trees, birds, and anima!s of ,/6*0e"ery descri$tion ere he!d to be
sacred to certain deities, so a!most e"ery god had a form of bui!ding $ecu!iar to himse!f,
hich as deemed more acce$tab!e to him than any other. Thus the 'oric sty!e of
architecture as sacred to Meus, Ares, and 9erac!esF the 2onic to A$o!!o, Artemis, and
'ionysusF and the 1orinthian to 9estia.
2n the $orch of the tem$!e stood a "esse! of stone or brass, containing ho!y ater Ghich
had been consecrated by $utting into it a burning torch, taken from the a!tarH, ith hich
a!! those admitted to take $art in the sacrifices ere bes$rink!ed. 2n the inmost recess of
the sanctuary as the most ho!y $!ace, into hich none but the $riests ere suffered to
enter.
Tem$!es in the country ere usua!!y surrounded ith gro"es of trees. The so!itude of
these shady retreats natura!!y tended to ins$ire the orshi$$er ith ae and re"erence,
added to hich the de!ightfu! shade and coo!ness afforded by ta!! !eafy trees is $ecu!iar!y
gratefu! in hot countries. 2ndeed so genera! did this custom of bui!ding tem$!es in gro"es
become, that a!! $!aces de"oted to sacred $ur$oses, e"en here no trees eIisted, ere
ca!!ed gro"es. That this $ractice must be of "ery remote antiDuity is $ro"ed by the
Bib!ica! injunction, ha"ing for its object the se$aration of the :es from a!! ido!atrous
$ractices& TThou sha!t not $!ant thee a gro"e of trees near unto the a!tar of the Lord thy
God.T
3TAT;E3.
The Greeks orshi$$ed their gods ithout any "isib!e re$resentations of them unti! the
time of 1ecro$s. The most ancient of these re$resentations consisted of sDuare b!ocks of
stone, u$on hich the name of the deity intended to be re$resented as engra"ed. The
first attem$ts at scu!$ture ere rude stocks, ith a head at one end and a sha$e!ess trunk
at the other, ta$ering s!ight!y don to the feet, hich, hoe"er, ere not di"ided, the
!imbs being in no ay defined. But the artists of !ater times de"oted a!! their genius to the
,/6/0successfu! $roduction of the highest idea!s of their gods, some of hich are
$reser"ed to this day, and are regarded as eIam$!es of $urest art.
4n a $edesta! in the centre of the edifice stood the statue of the di"inity to hom the
tem$!e as dedicated, surrounded by images of other gods, a!! of hich ere fenced off
by rai!s.
ALTAR3.
The a!tar in a Greek tem$!e, hich stood in the centre of the bui!ding and in front of the
statue of the $residing deity, as genera!!y of a circu!ar form, and constructed of stone. 2t
as customary to engra"e u$on it the name or distinguishing symbo! of the di"inity to
hom it as dedicatedF and it as he!d so sacred that if any ma!efactor f!ed to it his !ife
as safe from his $ursuers, and it as considered one of the greatest acts of sacri!ege to
force him from this asy!um.
The most ancient a!tars ere adorned ith horns, hich in former times ere emb!ems of
$oer and dignity, as ea!th, and conseDuent!y im$ortance, consisted among most
$rimiti"e nations in f!ocks and herds.
2n addition to those erected in $!aces of $ub!ic orshi$, a!tars ere freDuent!y raised in
gro"es, on highays, or in the market%$!aces of cities.
The gods of the !oer or!d had no a!tars hate"er, ditches or trenches being dug for the
rece$tion of the b!ood of the sacrifices offered to them.
PR2E3T3.
2n ancient times the $riests ere recogniEed as a s$ecia! socia! caste, and ere
distinguished not on!y by their sacerdota! "estments, but a!so by their $iety, isdom, and
b!ame!ess !ife. They ere the chosen mediators beteen gods and men, and offered
$rayers and sacrifices in the name of the $eo$!e, hom they a!so instructed as to hat
"os, gifts, and offerings ou!d be most acce$tab!e to the gods.
,/6(0
E"ery deity had a different order of $riests consecrated to his orshi$, and in e"ery $!ace
a high%$riest as a$$ointed, hose duty it as to su$erintend the rest of his order, and
a!so to carry out the more sacred rites and re!igious obser"ances.
Priests and $riestesses ere $ermitted to marry, but not a second timeF some, hoe"er,
"o!untari!y ado$ted a !ife of ce!ibacy.
3A1R2821E3.
There is no doubt that a fee!ing of gratitude to the gods for their $rotecting care, and the
abundance ith hich they ere be!ie"ed to b!ess mankind, has induced men of a!!
nations and in a!! countries to fee! a desire to sacrifice to their di"inities some $ortion of
the gifts so generous!y !a"ished u$on them.
Among the Greeks, sacrifices ere of "arious kinds. They consisted of free%i!!
offerings, $ro$itiatory offerings, Bc.
8ree%i!! offerings ere gratefu! ackno!edgments for benefits recei"ed, and usua!!y
consisted of the first%fruits of the fie!d, or the finest of the f!ocks and herds, hich ere
reDuired to be ithout s$ot or b!emish.
Pro$itiatory offerings ere brought ith the object of a$$easing the anger of the gods.
2n addition to those abo"e enumerated, sacrifices ere made, either ith a "ie of
obtaining success in an enter$rise about to be undertaken, or in fu!fi!ment of a "o, or at
the command of an orac!e.
E"ery sacrifice as accom$anied by sa!t and a!so by a !ibation, hich usua!!y consisted
of ine, the cu$ being a!ays fi!!ed to the brim, indicating that the offering as made
ithout stint. >hen sacrificing to the inferna! gods the cu$ containing the !ibation as
fi!!ed ith b!ood.
The anima!s offered to the 4!ym$ian di"inities ere hite, hi!st those to the gods of the
!oer or!d ere b!ack. >hen a man offered a s$ecia! sacrifice for himse!f or his fami!y
it $artook of the nature of his ,/6)0occu$ationF thus a she$herd brought a shee$, a "ine%
groer his gra$es, and so forth. But in the case of $ub!ic sacrifices, the su$$osed
indi"idua!ity of the deity as a!ays consu!ted. 8or instance, to 'emeter a so as
offered, because that anima! is a$t to root u$ the seed%cornF to 'ionysus a goat, on
account of its being destructi"e to "ineyards, Bc.
The "a!ue of offerings de$ended great!y u$on the $osition of the indi"idua!F it being
regarded as a contem$t of the gods for a rich man to bring a sordid offering, hi!st from a
$oor man the sma!!est ob!ation as considered acce$tab!e.
9ecatombs consisted of a hundred anima!s, and ere offered by entire communities, or
by ea!thy indi"idua!s ho either desired, or had obtained some s$ecia! fa"our from the
gods.
>hen a sacrifice as to be offered, a fire as kind!ed on the a!tar, into hich ine and
frankincense ere $oured, in order to increase the f!ame. 2n "ery ancient times, the "ictim
as !aid u$on the a!tar and burned ho!eF but after the time of Prometheus $ortions on!y
of the shou!ders, thighs, entrai!s, Bc., ere sacrificed, the remainder becoming the
$erDuisites of the $riests.
The officiating $riests ore a cron com$osed of the !ea"es of the tree sacred to the deity
they in"oked. Thus hen sacrificing to A$o!!o the crons ere of !aure!F hen to
9erac!es, of $o$!ar. This $ractice of earing crons as, at a !ater $eriod, ado$ted by the
genera! $ub!ic at banDuets and other festi"ities.
4n occasions of s$ecia! so!emnity the horns of the "ictim ere o"er!aid ith go!d, and
the a!tars decked ith f!oers and sacred herbs.
The mode of conducting the sacrifices as as fo!!os&JA!! things being $re$ared, a sa!t
cake, the sacrificia! knife, and the crons, ere $!aced in a sma!! basket, and carried to
the sanctuary by a young maiden, hereu$on the "ictim as conducted into the tem$!e,
freDuent!y to the accom$animent of music. 2f a sma!! anima!, it as dri"en !oose to the
a!tarF if a !arge one, it as !ed by a ,/6C0!ong trai!ing ro$e, in order to indicate that it as
not an uni!!ing sacrifice.
>hen a!! ere assemb!ed, the $riest, after a!king in so!emn state round the a!tar,
bes$rink!ed it ith a miIture of mea! and ho!y ater, after hich he a!so bes$rink!ed the
assemb!ed orshi$$ers, and eIhorted them to join ith him in $rayer. The ser"ice being
ended, the $riest first tasted the !ibation, and after causing the congregation to do the !ike,
$oured the remainder beteen the horns of the "ictim, after hich frankincense as
stren u$on the a!tar, and a $ortion of the mea! and ater $oured u$on the anima!, hich
as then ki!!ed. 2f by any chance the "ictim esca$ed the stroke, or became in any ay
rest!ess, it as regarded as an e"i! omenF if, on the contrary, it eI$ired ithout a strugg!e,
it as considered aus$icious.
At the sacrifices to the aSria! di"inities music as added, hi!st dances ere $erformed
round the a!tar, and sacred hymns sung. These hymns ere genera!!y com$osed in honour
of the gods, and contained an account of their famous actions, their c!emency and
beneficence, and the gifts conferred by them on mankind. 2n conc!usion, the gods ere
in"oked for a continuance of their fa"our, and hen the ser"ice as ended a feast as
he!d.
4RA1LE3.
The desire to $enetrate the dark "ei! of futurity, and thereby to a"ert, if $ossib!e,
threatened danger, has animated mankind in a!! ages of the or!d. Pro$hetic kno!edge
as sought by the Greeks at the mouth of orac!es, hose $redictions ere inter$reted to
the $eo$!e by $riests, s$ecia!!y a$$ointed for the $ur$ose.
The most famous of these institutions as the orac!e of A$o!!o at 'e!$hi, hich as he!d
in genera! re$ute a!! o"er the or!d. Peo$!e f!ocked from far and near to consu!t this
onderfu! mouth%$iece of the gods, one month in the year being s$ecia!!y set a$art for
the $ur$ose.
,/650
The $riestess ho de!i"ered the orac!es as ca!!ed the Pythia, after the ser$ent Python,
hich as ki!!ed by A$o!!o. 9a"ing first bathed in the aters of the 1asta!ian s$ring, she
as conducted into the tem$!e by the $riests, and as seated on a sort of three%!egged
stoo! or tab!e, ca!!ed a tri$od, hich as $!aced o"er the mouth of a ca"e hence issued
su!$hurous "a$ours. 9ere she gradua!!y became affected in a remarkab!e manner, and fe!!
into an ecstatic condition, in hich she uttered i!d and eItraordinary $hrases, hich
ere he!d to be the utterance of A$o!!o himse!fF these the $riests inter$reted to the $eo$!e,
but in most cases in so ambiguous a manner that the fu!fi!ment of the $rediction cou!d not
easi!y be dis$uted. 'uring the ceremony, c!ouds of incense fi!!ed the tem$!e, and hid the
$riestess from the "ie of the uninitiated, and at its conc!usion she as reconducted, in a
fainting condition, to her ce!!.
The fo!!oing is a striking instance of the ambiguity of oracu!ar $redictions&J1rLsus,
the rich king of Lydia, before going to ar ith 1yrus, king of Persia, consu!ted an orac!e
as to the $robab!e success of the eI$edition. The re$!y he recei"ed as, that if he crossed
a certain ri"er he ou!d destroy a great em$ire. 2nter$reting the res$onse as being
fa"ourab!e to his design, 1rLsus crossed the ri"er, and encountered the Persian king, by
hom he as entire!y defeatedF and his on em$ire being destroyed, the $rediction of the
orac!e as said to ha"e been fu!fi!!ed.
344T93A#ER3 GAugursH.
2n addition to the manifestation of the i!! of the gods by means of orac!es, the Greeks
a!so be!ie"ed that certain men, ca!!ed soothsayers, ere gifted ith the $oer of
forete!!ing future e"ents from dreams, from obser"ing the f!ight of birds, the entrai!s of
sacrificed anima!s, and e"en the direction of the f!ames and smoke from the a!tar, Bc.
,/6N0
A;G;R3.
The Roman soothsayers ere ca!!ed augurs, and $!ayed an im$ortant $art in the history of
the Romans, as no enter$rise as e"er undertaken ithout first consu!ting them ith
regard to its u!timate success.
8E3T2AAL3.
8esti"a!s ere instituted as seasons of rest, rejoicing, and thanksgi"ing, and a!so as
anni"ersaries to commemorate e"ents of nationa! im$ortance. The most ancient festi"a!s
ere those he!d after the ingathering of the har"est or "intage, and ere ce!ebrated ith
rejoicings and merry%makings, hich !asted many days, during hich time the first%fruits
of the fie!ds ere offered to the gods, accom$anied by $rayers and thanksgi"ing.
The festi"a!s he!d in cities in honour of s$ecia! di"inities, or in commemoration of
$articu!ar e"ents, ere conducted ith an e!aborate ceremonia!. Gorgeous $rocessions,
games, chariot races, Bc., ere cons$icuous features on these occasions, and dramatic
$erformances, re$resenting $articu!ar e$isodes in the !i"es of the gods and heroes,
freDuent!y took $!ace.
>e subjoin a fe of the most interesting of the Greek and Roman festi"a!s.
GREE= 8E3T2AAL3.
ELE;32<2A< M#3TER2E3.
4ne of the most ancient and im$ortant among the festi"a!s obser"ed by the Greeks as
that of the E!eusinian Mysteries, hich as ce!ebrated in honour of 'emeter and
Perse$hone. The name as deri"ed from E!eusis, a ton in Attica, here the Mysteries
ere first introduced by the goddess herse!f. They ere di"ided into the ,/6+0Greater and
Lesser Mysteries, and, according to the genera! account, ere he!d e"ery fi"e years. The
Greater, hich ere ce!ebrated in honour of 'emeter, and !asted nine days, ere he!d in
autumnF the Lesser, dedicated to Perse$hone Gho at these festi"a!s as affectionate!y
ca!!ed 1ora, or the maidenH, ere he!d in s$ring.
2t is su$$osed that the secrets taught to the initiated by the $riestsJthe eI$ounders of the
MysteriesJere mora! meanings, e!ucidated from the myths concerning 'emeter and
Perse$honeF but the most im$ortant be!ief incu!cated as the doctrine of the immorta!ity
of the sou!. That the !essons taught ere of the highest mora! character is uni"ersa!!y
admitted. TThe sou!s of those ho $artici$ated in them ere fi!!ed ith the seetest
ho$es both as to this and the future or!dFT and it as a common saying among the
Athenians& T2n the Mysteries no one is sad.T
The initiation into these so!emn rites Ghich as origina!!y the eIc!usi"e $ri"i!ege of the
AtheniansH as accom$anied ith ae%ins$iring ceremoniesF and secrecy as so strict!y
enjoined that its "io!ation as $unished by death. At the conc!usion of the initiation great
rejoicings took $!ace, chariot%races, rest!ing matches, Bc., ere he!d, and so!emn
sacrifices offered.
The initiation into the Lesser Mysteries ser"ed as a $re$aration for the Greater.
T9E3M4P94R2A.
The Thesmo$horia as another festi"a! he!d in honour of 'emeter, in her character as
$residing o"er marriage and socia! institutions resu!ting from the s$read of agricu!ture.
This festi"a! as ce!ebrated eIc!usi"e!y by omen.
'24<#32A.
A joyous s$ring festi"a! as he!d in honour of 'ionysus, in the month of March, and
!asted se"era! days.
,/6.0
This festi"a!, hich as ca!!ed the Greater 'ionysia, as ce!ebrated ith $articu!ar
s$!endour at Athens, hen strangers f!ocked from a!! $arts of the or!d to take $art in the
ceremonies. The city as gai!y decorated, the houses ere gar!anded ith i"y%!ea"es,
crods $erambu!ated the streets, e"erything ore its ho!iday garb, and ine as free!y
indu!ged in.
1e!ebrating the 'ionysia
2n the $rocessions hich took $!ace during these festi"ities, the statue of 'ionysus as
carried, and men and omen, croned ith i"y and bearing the thyrsus, ere dressed in
e"ery descri$tion of grotesDue costume, and $!ayed on drums, $i$es, f!utes, cymba!s, Bc.
3ome re$resenting 3i!enus rode on asses, others earing fan%skins a$$eared as Pan or
the 3atyrs, and the ho!e mu!titude sang $Kans in honour of the ine%god. Pub!ic shos,
games, and s$orts took $!ace, and the entire city as fu!! of re"e!ry.
>hat !ent additiona! interest to these festi"a!s as the custom of introducing ne
comedies and tragedies to the $ub!ic, re$resentations of hich ere gi"en, and $riEes
aarded to those hich e!icited the greatest admiration.
1e!ebrating the 'ionysia
The Lesser 'ionysia ere "intage festi"a!s, ce!ebrated in rura! districts in the month of
<o"ember, and ere characteriEed by drinking, feasting, and jo"ia!ity of a!! kinds.
2n connection ith some of the festi"a!s in honour of 'ionysus ere certain mystic
obser"ances, into hich on!y omen, ca!!ed Menades or Bacchantes, ere initiated. 1!ad
in fan%skins, they assemb!ed by night on the mountain sides, ,/660some carrying
b!aEing torches, others thyrsi, and a!! animated ith re!igious enthusiasm and frenEy.
They shouted, c!a$$ed their hands, danced i!d!y, and orked themse!"es u$ to such a
$itch of eIcitement and fury that in their mad frenEy they tore in $ieces the anima!
brought as a sacrifice to 'ionysus.
;nder the name of Bacchana!ia, these mystic rites ere introduced into Rome, here
men a!so ere a!!oed to $artici$ate in themF but they ere attended ith such frightfu!
eIcesses that the state authorities at !ength interfered and $rohibited them.
PA<AT9E<PA.
The PanathenKa as a famous festi"a! ce!ebrated in Athens in honour of Athene%Po!ias,
the guardian of the state. There ere to festi"a!s of this name, the Lesser and the
Greater PanathenKa. The former as he!d annua!!y, and the !atter, hich !asted se"era!
days, as ce!ebrated e"ery fourth year.
8or the Greater PanathenKa a garment, embroidered ith go!d, ca!!ed the Pe$!us, as
s$ecia!!y o"en by Athenian maidens, on hich as re$resented the "ictory gained by
Athene o"er the Giants. This garment as sus$ended to the mast of a shi$ hich stood
outside the cityF and during the festi"a!, hich as characteriEed by a grand $rocession,
the shi$ Gith the Pe$!us on its mastH as im$e!!ed forard by means of in"isib!e
machinery, and formed the most cons$icuous feature of the $ageant. The ho!e
$o$u!ation, bearing o!i"e branches in their hands, took $art in the $rocessionF and amidst
music and rejoicings this im$osing $ageant ended its ay to the tem$!e of Athene%
Po!ias, here the Pe$!us as de$osited on the statue of the goddess.
At this festi"a!, 9omerRs $oems ere dec!aimed a!oud, and $oets a!so introduced their
on orks to the $ub!ic. Musica! contests, foot and horse races, and rest!ing matches
ere he!d, and dances ere $erformed by boys in armour.
,(**0
Men ho had deser"ed e!! of their country ere $resented at the festi"a! ith a cron
of go!d, and the name of the $erson so distinguished as announced $ub!ic!y by a hera!d.
The "ictors in the races and ath!etic games recei"ed, as a $riEe, a "ase of oi!, su$$osed to
ha"e been eItracted from the fruit of the sacred o!i"e%tree of Athene.
'AP9<EP94R2A.
The 'a$hne$horia as ce!ebrated at Thebes in honour of A$o!!o e"ery ninth year.
The distinguishing feature of this festi"a! as a $rocession to the tem$!e of A$o!!o, in
hich a young $riest Gthe 'a$hne$horusH of nob!e descent, s$!endid!y attired and earing
a cron of go!d, as $receded by a youth, carrying an emb!ematica! re$resentation of the
sun, moon, stars, and days of the year, and fo!!oed by beautifu! maidens bearing !aure!
branches, and singing hymns in honour of the god.
R4MA< 8E3T2AAL3.
3AT;R<AL2A.
The 3aturna!ia, a nationa! festi"a! he!d in 'ecember in honour of 3aturn, as ce!ebrated
after the ingathering of the har"est, and !asted se"era! days.
2t as a time of uni"ersa! rejoicing, cessation from !abour, and merry%making. 3choo!
chi!dren had ho!idays, friends sent $resents to each other, the !a%courts ere c!osed, and
no business as transacted.
1rods of $eo$!e from the surrounding country f!ocked to Rome for this festi"a! attired
in e"ery "ariety of masDuerade dressF $ractica! jokes ere gi"en and recei"ed ith the
utmost good humour, shouts of eIu!tation fi!!ed ,(*/0the air, a!! c!asses abandoned
themse!"es to enjoyment, and unrestrained hi!arity reigned su$reme. 3ocia! distinctions
ere for a time sus$ended, or e"en re"ersedF and so hearti!y as the s$irit of this festi"a!
entered into, that masters aited u$on their s!a"es at banDuets hich they $ro"ided for
themF the s!a"es being dressed u$on these occasions in the garments of their masters.
There a$$ears !itt!e doubt that the modern 1arni"a! is a sur"i"a! of the ancient 3aturna!ia.
1EREAL2A.
This festi"a! as ce!ebrated in honour of 1eres. 2t as so!emniEed eIc!usi"e!y by
omen, ho, dressed in hite garments, andered about ith torches in their hands, to
re$resent the search of the goddess for her daughter Proser$ine.
'uring this festi"a!, games ere ce!ebrated in the 1ircus MaIimus, to hich none ere
admitted un!ess c!othed in hite.
AE3TAL2A.
The Aesta!ia as a festi"a! he!d in honour of Aesta on the 6th of :une, and as ce!ebrated
eIc!usi"e!y by omen, ho a!ked barefooted in $rocession to the tem$!e of the
goddess.
The $riestesses of Aesta, ca!!ed Aesta!es or Aesta! Airgins, $!ayed a cons$icuous $art in
these festi"a!s. They ere siI in number, and ere chosenJbeteen the ages of siI and
tenJfrom the nob!est fami!ies in Rome. Their term of office as thirty years. 'uring the
first ten years, they ere initiated in their re!igious duties, during the second ten they
$erformed them, and during the third they instructed no"ices. Their chief duty as to
atch and feed the e"er%burning f!ame on the a!tar of Aesta, the eItinction of hich as
regarded as a nationa! ca!amity of ominous im$ort.
,(*(0
Great honours and $ri"i!eges ere accorded to themF the best seats ere reser"ed for
their use at a!! $ub!ic s$ectac!es, and e"en the consu!s and $rKtors made ay for them to
$ass. 2f they met a crimina! on his ay to eIecution they had the $oer to $ardon him,
$ro"ided it cou!d be $ro"ed that the meeting as accidenta!.
The Aesta!es ere "oed to chastity, a "io!ation of hich as "isited by the frightfu!
$unishment of being buried a!i"e.
,(*)0
PART 22.JLEGE<'3.
1A'M;3.
The fo!!oing is the !egendary account of the founding of Thebes&J
After the abduction of his daughter Euro$a by Meus, Agenor, king of PhLnicia, unab!e to
reconci!e himse!f to her !oss, des$atched his son 1admus in search of her, desiring him
not to return ithout his sister.
8or many years 1admus $ursued his search through "arious countries, but ithout
success. <ot daring to return home ithout her, he consu!ted the orac!e of A$o!!o at
'e!$hiF and the re$!y as that he must desist from his task, and take u$on himse!f a ne
duty, i.e. that of founding a city, the site of hich ou!d be indicated to him by a heifer
hich had ne"er borne the yoke, and hich ou!d !ie don on the s$ot hereon the city
as to be bui!t.
3carce!y had 1admus !eft the sacred fane, hen he obser"ed a heifer ho bore no marks
of ser"itude on her neck, a!king s!o!y in front of him. 9e fo!!oed the anima! for a
considerab!e distance, unti! at !ength, on the site here Thebes afterards stood, she
!ooked toards hea"en and, gent!y !oing, !ay don in the !ong grass. Gratefu! for this
mark of di"ine fa"our, 1admus reso!"ed to offer u$ the anima! as a sacrifice, and
according!y sent his fo!!oers to fetch ater for the !ibation from a neighbouring s$ring.
This s$ring, hich as sacred to Ares, as situated in a ood, and guarded by a fierce
dragon, ho, at the a$$roach of the retainers of 1admus, sudden!y $ounced u$on them
and ki!!ed them.
After aiting some time for the return of his ser"ants ,(*C01admus gre im$atient, and
hasti!y arming himse!f ith his !ance and s$ear, set out to seek them. 4n reaching the
s$ot, the mang!ed remains of his unfortunate fo!!oers met his "ie, and near them he
behe!d the frightfu! monster, dri$$ing ith the b!ood of his "ictims. 3eiEing a huge rock,
the hero hur!ed it ith a!! his might u$on the dragonF but $rotected by his tough b!ack
skin and stee!y sca!es as by a coat of mai!, he remained unhurt. 1admus no tried his
!ance, and ith more success, for it $ierced the side of the beast, ho, furious ith $ain,
s$rang at his ad"ersary, hen 1admus, !ea$ing aside, succeeded in fiIing the $oint of his
s$ear ithin his jas, hich fina! stroke $ut an end to the encounter.
>hi!e 1admus stood sur"eying his "anDuished foe Pa!!as%Athene a$$eared to him, and
commanded him to so the teeth of the dead dragon in the ground. 9e obeyedF and out of
the furros there arose a band of armed men, ho at once commenced to fight ith each
other, unti! a!! eIce$t fi"e ere ki!!ed. These !ast sur"i"ing arriors made $eace ith
each other, and it as ith their assistance that 1admus no bui!t the famous city of
Thebes. 2n !ater times the nob!est Theban fami!ies $roud!y c!aimed their descent from
these mighty earth%born arriors.
Ares as furious ith rage hen he disco"ered that 1admus had s!ain his dragon, and
ou!d ha"e ki!!ed him had not Meus interfered, and induced him to mitigate his
$unishment to that of ser"itude for the term of eight years. At the end of that time the god
of ar became reconci!ed to 1admus, and, in token of his forgi"eness, bestoed u$on
him the hand of his daughter 9armonia in marriage. Their nu$tia!s ere a!most as
ce!ebrated as those of Pe!eus and Thetis. A!! the gods honoured them ith their $resence,
and offered rich gifts and congratu!ations. 1admus himse!f $resented his !o"e!y bride
ith a s$!endid neck!ace fashioned by 9e$hKstus, hich, hoe"er, after the death of
9armonia, a!ays $ro"ed fata! to its $ossessor.
The chi!dren of 1admus and 9armonia ere one son, ,(*50Po!ydorus, and four
daughters, Autonoe, 2no, 3eme!e, and Aga"e.
8or many years the founder of Thebes reigned ha$$i!y, but at !ength a cons$iracy as
formed against him, and he as de$ri"ed of his throne by his grandson Pentheus.
Accom$anied by his faithfu! ife 9armonia, he retired into 2!!yria, and after death they
ere both changed by Meus into ser$ents, and transferred to E!ysium.
PER3E;3.
Perseus, one of the most renoned of the !egendary heroes of antiDuity, as the son of
Meus and 'anaS, daughter of Acrisius, king of Argos.
An orac!e ha"ing foreto!d to Acrisius that a son of 'anaS ou!d be the cause of his death,
he im$risoned her in a toer of brass in order to kee$ her sec!uded from the or!d. Meus,
hoe"er, descended through the roof of the toer in the form of a shoer of go!d, and
the !o"e!y 'anaS became his bride.
8or four years Acrisius remained in ignorance of this union, but one e"ening as he
chanced to $ass by the braEen chamber, he heard the cry of a young chi!d $roceeding
from ithin, hich !ed to the disco"ery of his daughterRs marriage ith Meus. Enraged at
finding a!! his $recautions una"ai!ing, Acrisius commanded the mother and chi!d to be
$!aced in a chest and thron into the sea.
But it as not the i!! of Meus that they shou!d $erish. 9e directed Poseidon to ca!m the
troub!ed aters, and caused the chest to f!oat safe!y to the is!and of 3eri$hus. 'ictys,
brother of Po!ydectes, king of the is!and, as fishing on the sea%shore hen he sa the
chest stranded on the beachF and $itying the he!$!ess condition of its unha$$y occu$ants,
he conducted them to the $a!ace of the king, here they ere treated ith the greatest
kindness.
Po!ydectes e"entua!!y became united to 'anaS, and ,(*N0bestoed u$on Perseus an
education befitting a hero. >hen he sa his ste$son de"e!o$ into a nob!e and man!y
youth he endea"oured to insti! into his mind a desire to signa!iEe himse!f by the
achie"ement of some great and heroic deed, and after mature de!iberation it as decided
that the s!aying of the Gorgon, Medusa, ou!d bring him the greatest renon.
8or the successfu! accom$!ishment of his object it as necessary for him to be $ro"ided
ith a $air of inged sanda!s, a magic a!!et, and the he!met of AOdes, hich rendered
the earer in"isib!e, a!! of hich ere in the kee$ing of the <ym$hs, the $!ace of hose
abode as knon on!y to the GrKK. Perseus started on his eI$edition, and, guided by
9ermes and Pa!!as%Athene, arri"ed, after a !ong journey, in the far%off region, on the
borders of 4ceanus, here de!t the GrKK, daughters of Phorcys and 1eto. 9e at once
a$$!ied to them for the necessary information, and on their refusing to grant it he
de$ri"ed them of their sing!e eye and tooth, hich he on!y restored to them hen they
ga"e him fu!! directions ith regard to his route. 9e then $roceeded to the abode of the
<ym$hs, from hom he obtained the objects indis$ensab!e for his $ur$ose.
EDui$$ed ith the magic he!met and a!!et, and armed ith a sick!e, the gift of 9ermes,
he attached to his feet the inged sanda!s, and f!e to the abode of the Gorgons, hom
he found fast as!ee$. <o as Perseus had been arned by his ce!estia! guides that
hoe"er !ooked u$on these eird sisters ou!d be transformed into stone, he stood ith
a"erted face before the s!ee$ers, and caught on his bright meta! shie!d their tri$!e image.
Then, guided by Pa!!as%Athene, he cut off the head of the Medusa, hich he $!aced in his
a!!et. <o sooner had he done so than from the head!ess trunk there s$rang forth the
inged steed Pegasus, and 1hrysaor, the father of the inged giant Geryon. 9e no
hastened to e!ude the $ursuit of the to sur"i"ing sisters, ho, aroused from their
s!umbers, eager!y rushed to a"enge the death of their sister.
,(*+0
9is in"isib!e he!met and inged sanda!s here stood him in good steadF for the former
concea!ed him from the "ie of the Gorgons, hi!st the !atter bore him sift!y o"er !and
and sea, far beyond the reach of $ursuit. 2n $assing o"er the burning $!ains of Libya the
dro$s of b!ood from the head of the Medusa ooEed through the a!!et, and fa!!ing on the
hot sands be!o $roduced a brood of many%co!oured snakes, hich s$read a!! o"er the
country.
Perseus continued his f!ight unti! he reached the kingdom of At!as, of hom he begged
rest and she!ter. But as this king $ossessed a "a!uab!e orchard, in hich e"ery tree bore
go!den fruit, he as fearfu! !est the s!ayer of the Medusa might destroy the dragon hich
guarded it, and then rob him of his treasures. 9e therefore refused to grant the hos$ita!ity
hich the hero demanded, hereu$on Perseus, eIas$erated at the chur!ish re$u!se,
$roduced from his a!!et the head of the Medusa, and ho!ding it toards the king,
transformed him into a stony mountain. Beard and hair erected themse!"es into forestsF
shou!ders, hands, and !imbs became huge rocks, and the head gre u$ into a craggy $eak
hich reached into the c!ouds.
Perseus then resumed his tra"e!s. 9is inged sanda!s bore him o"er deserts and
mountains, unti! he arri"ed at Pthio$ia, the kingdom of =ing 1e$heus. 9ere he found the
country inundated ith disastrous f!oods, tons and "i!!ages destroyed, and e"eryhere
signs of deso!ation and ruin. 4n a $rojecting c!iff c!ose to the shore he behe!d a !o"e!y
maiden chained to a rock. This as Andromeda, the kingRs daughter. 9er mother
1assio$ea, ha"ing boasted that her beauty sur$assed that of the <ereides, the angry sea%
nym$hs a$$ea!ed to Poseidon to a"enge their rongs, hereu$on the sea%god de"astated
the country ith a terrib!e inundation, hich brought ith it a huge monster ho
de"oured a!! that came in his ay.
2n their distress the unfortunate Pthio$ians a$$!ied to the orac!e of :u$iter%Ammon, in
the Libyan desert, ,(*.0and obtained the res$onse, that on!y by the sacrifice of the kingRs
daughter to the monster cou!d the country and $eo$!e be sa"ed.
1e$heus, ho as tender!y attached to his chi!d, at first refused to !isten to this dreadfu!
$ro$osa!F but o"ercome at !ength by the $rayers and so!icitations of his unha$$y subjects,
the heart%broken father ga"e u$ his chi!d for the e!fare of his country. Andromeda as
according!y chained to a rock on the sea%shore to ser"e as a $rey to the monster, hi!st
her unha$$y $arents beai!ed her sad fate on the beach be!o.
4n being informed of the meaning of this tragic scene, Perseus $ro$osed to 1e$heus to
s!ay the dragon, on condition that the !o"e!y "ictim shou!d become his bride. 4"erjoyed
at the $ros$ect of AndromedaRs re!ease, the king g!ad!y acceded to the sti$u!ation, and
Perseus hastened to the rock, to breathe ords of ho$e and comfort to the tremb!ing
maiden. Then assuming once more the he!met of AOdes, he mounted into the air, and
aaited the a$$roach of the monster.
Present!y the sea o$ened, and the sharkRs head of the gigantic beast of the dee$ raised
itse!f abo"e the a"es. Lashing his tai! furious!y from side to side, he !ea$ed forard to
seiEe his "ictimF but the ga!!ant hero, atching his o$$ortunity, sudden!y darted don,
and $roducing the head of the Medusa from his a!!et, he!d it before the eyes of the
dragon, hose hideous body became gradua!!y transformed into a huge b!ack rock, hich
remained for e"er a si!ent itness of the miracu!ous de!i"erance of Andromeda. Perseus
then !ed the maiden to her no ha$$y $arents, ho, anIious to e"ince their gratitude to
her de!i"erer ordered immediate $re$arations to be made for the nu$tia! feast. But the
young hero as not to bear aay his !o"e!y bride uncontestedF for in the midst of the
banDuet, Phineus, the kingRs brother, to hom Andromeda had $re"ious!y been betrothed,
returned to c!aim his bride. 8o!!oed by a band of armed arriors he forced his ay into
the ha!!, and a des$erate encounter took $!ace beteen the ri"a!s, ,(*60hich might ha"e
terminated fata!!y for Perseus, had he not sudden!y bethought himse!f of the MedusaRs
head. 1a!!ing to his friends to a"ert their faces, he dre it from his a!!et, and he!d it
before Phineus and his formidab!e body%guard, hereu$on they a!! stiffened into stone.
Pa!!as%Athene ith her shie!d
Perseus no took !ea"e of the Pthio$ian king, and, accom$anied by his beautifu! bride,
returned to 3eri$hus, here a joyfu! meeting took $!ace beteen 'anaS and her son. 9e
then sent a messenger to his grandfather, informing him that he intended returning to
ArgosF but Acrisius, fearing the fu!fi!ment of the oracu!ar $rediction, f!ed for $rotection to
his friend Teutemias, king of Larissa. AnIious to induce the aged monarch to return to
Argos, Perseus fo!!oed him thither. But here a strange fata!ity occurred. >hi!st taking
$art in some funerea! games, ce!ebrated in honour of the kingRs father, Perseus, by an
unfortunate thro of the discus, accidenta!!y struck his grandfather, and thereby as the
innocent cause of his death.
After ce!ebrating the funerea! rites of Acrisius ith due so!emnity, Perseus returned to
ArgosF but fee!ing !oath to occu$y the throne of one hose death he had caused, he
eIchanged kingdoms ith Mega$enthes, king of Tiryns, and in course of time founded
the cities of MycenK and Midea.
The head of the Medusa he $resented to his di"ine $atroness, Pa!!as%Athene, ho $!aced
it in the centre of her shie!d.
Many great heroes ere descended from Perseus and Andromeda, foremost among hom
as 9erac!es, hose mother, A!cmene, as their granddaughter.
9eroic honours ere $aid to Perseus, not on!y ,(/*0throughout Argos, but a!so at Athens
and in the is!and of 3eri$hus.
24<.
2on as the son of 1rSusa Gthe beauteous daughter of Erechtheus, king of AthensH and the
sun%god PhLbus%A$o!!o, to hom she as united ithout the kno!edge of her father.
8earing the anger of Erechtheus, 1rSusa $!aced her ne%born babe in a !itt!e icker
basket, and hanging some go!den charms round his neck, in"oked for him the $rotection
of the gods, and concea!ed him in a !one!y ca"e. A$o!!o, $itying his deserted chi!d, sent
9ermes to con"ey him to 'e!$hi, here he de$osited his charge on the ste$s of the
tem$!e. <eIt morning the 'e!$hic $riestess disco"ered the infant, and as so charmed by
his engaging a$$earance that she ado$ted him as her on son. The young chi!d as
carefu!!y tended and reared by his kind foster%mother, and as brought u$ in the ser"ice
of the tem$!e, here he as intrusted ith some of the minor duties of the ho!y edifice.
And no to return to 1rSusa. 'uring a ar ith the EubLans, in hich the !atter ere
signa!!y defeated, Yuthus, son of Po!us, great!y distinguished himse!f on the side of the
Athenians, and as a reard for his "a!uab!e ser"ices, the hand of 1rSusa, the kingRs
daughter, as bestoed u$on him in marriage. Their union, hoe"er, as not b!est ith
chi!dren, and as this as a source of great grief to both of them, they re$aired to 'e!$hi in
order to consu!t the orac!e. The res$onse as, that Yuthus shou!d regard the first $erson
ho met him on !ea"ing the sanctuary as his son. <o it ha$$ened that 2on, the young
guardian of the tem$!e, as the first to greet his "ie, and hen Yuthus behe!d the
beautifu! youth, he g!ad!y e!comed him as his son, dec!aring that the gods had sent him
to be a b!essing and comfort to his o!d age. 1rSusa, hoe"er, ho conc!uded that the
youth as the offs$ring of a secret marriage on the $art of her husband, as fi!!ed ith
sus$icion and jea!ousyF ,(//0hen an o!d ser"ant, obser"ing her grief, begged her to be
comforted, assuring her that the cause of her distress shou!d be s$eedi!y remo"ed.
>hen, u$on the occasion of the $ub!ic ado$tion of his son, Yuthus ga"e a grand banDuet,
the o!d ser"ant of 1rSusa contri"ed to miI a strong $oison in the ine of the unsus$ecting
2on. But the youthJaccording to the $ious custom of the ancients, of offering a !ibation
to the gods before $artaking of any re$astJ$oured u$on the ground a $ortion of the ine
before $utting it to his !i$s, hen sudden!y, as if by a mirac!e, a do"e f!e into the
banDuet%ha!!, and si$$ed of the ine of the !ibationF hereu$on the $oor !itt!e creature
began to Dui"er in e"ery !imb, and in a fe moments eI$ired.
2onRs sus$icions at once fe!! u$on the obseDuious ser"ant of 1rSusa, ho ith such
officious attention had fi!!ed his cu$. 9e "io!ent!y seiEed the o!d man, and accused him of
his murderous intentions. ;n$re$ared for this sudden attack he admitted his gui!t, but
$ointed to the ife of Yuthus as the instigator of the crime. 2on as about to a"enge
himse!f u$on 1rSusa, hen, by means of the di"ine inter"ention of A$o!!o, his foster%
mother, the 'e!$hic $riestess a$$eared on the scene, and eI$!ained the true re!ationshi$
hich eIisted beteen 1rSusa and 2on. 2n order to set a!! doubts at rest, she $roduced the
charms hich she had found round the neck of the infant, and a!so the icker basket in
hich he had been con"eyed to 'e!$hi.
Mother and son no became reconci!ed to each other, and 1rSusa re"ea!ed to 2on the
secret of his di"ine origin. The $riestess of 'e!$hi foreto!d that he ou!d become the
father of a great nation, ca!!ed after him the 2onians, and a!so that Yuthus and 1rSusa
ou!d ha"e a son ca!!ed 'orus, ho ou!d be the $rogenitor of the 'orian $eo$!e, both
of hich $redictions ere in due time "erified.
'P'AL;3 and 21AR;3.
'Kda!us, a descendant of Erechtheus, as an Athenian architect, scu!$tor, and
mechanician. 9e as the first ,(/(0to introduce the art of scu!$ture in its higher
de"e!o$ment, for before his time statues ere mere!y rude re$resentations, ha"ing the
!imbs a!together undefined.
But great as as his genius, sti!! greater as his "anity, and he cou!d brook no ri"a!. <o
his ne$he and $u$i!, Ta!us, eIhibited great ta!ent, ha"ing in"ented both the sa and the
com$ass, and 'Kda!us, fearing !est he might o"ershado his on fame, secret!y ki!!ed
him by throing him don from the citade! of Pa!!as%Athene. The murder being
disco"ered, 'Kda!us as summoned before the court of the Areo$agus and condemned to
deathF but he made his esca$e to the is!and of 1rete, here he as recei"ed by king
Minos in a manner orthy of his great re$utation.
'Kda!us constructed for the king the or!d%renoned !abyrinth, hich as an immense
bui!ding, fu!! of intricate $assages, intersecting each other in such a manner, that e"en
'Kda!us himse!f is said, u$on one occasion, to ha"e near!y !ost his ay in itF and it as
in this bui!ding the king $!aced the Minotaur, a monster ith the head and shou!ders of a
bu!! and the body of a man.
2n the course of time the great artist became eary of his !ong eIi!e, more es$ecia!!y as
the king, under the guise of friendshi$, ke$t him a!most a $risoner. 9e therefore reso!"ed
to make his esca$e, and for this $ur$ose ingenious!y contri"ed ings for himse!f and his
young son 2carus, hom he di!igent!y trained ho to use them. 9a"ing aaited a
fa"ourab!e o$$ortunity, father and son commenced their f!ight, and ere e!! on their
ay hen 2carus, $!eased ith the no"e! sensation, forgot a!together his fatherRs oft%
re$eated injunction not to a$$roach too near the sun. The conseDuence as that the aI,
by means of hich his ings ere attached, me!ted, and he fe!! into the sea and as
droned. The body of the unfortunate 2carus as ashed u$ by the tide, and as buried
by the berea"ed father on an is!and hich he ca!!ed after his son, 2caria.
After this sad e"ent, 'Kda!us inged his f!ight to the is!and of 3ici!y, here he met ith
a kind e!come from ,(/)0king 1oca!us, for hom he constructed se"era! im$ortant
$ub!ic orks. But no sooner did Minos recei"e the inte!!igence that his great architect had
found an asy!um ith 1oca!us than he sai!ed o"er to 3ici!y ith a !arge army, and sent
messengers to the 3ici!ian king demanding the surrender of his guest. 1oca!us feigned
com$!iance and in"ited Minos to his $a!ace, here he as treacherous!y $ut to death in a
arm bath. The body of their king as brought to Agrigent by the 1retans, here it as
buried ith great $om$, and o"er his tomb a tem$!e to A$hrodite as erected.
'Kda!us $assed the remainder of his !ife tranDui!!y in the is!and of 3ici!y, here he
occu$ied himse!f in the construction of "arious beautifu! orks of art.
T9E ARG4<A;T3.
Aeson, king of 2o!cus, as forced to f!y from his dominions, hich had been usur$ed by
his younger brother, Pe!ias, and ith difficu!ty succeeded in sa"ing the !ife of his young
son, :ason, ho as at that time on!y ten years of age. 9e intrusted him to the care of the
1entaur 1hiron, by hom he as carefu!!y trained in com$any ith other nob!e youths,
ho, !ike himse!f, afterards signa!iEed themse!"es by their bra"ery and heroic eI$!oits.
8or ten years :ason remained in the ca"e of the 1entaur, by hom he as instructed in a!!
usefu! and ar!ike arts. But as he a$$roached manhood he became fi!!ed ith an
unconDuerab!e desire to regain his $aterna! inheritance. 9e therefore took !ea"e of his
kind friend and $rece$tor, and set out for 2o!cus to demand from his unc!e Pe!ias the
kingdom hich he had so unjust!y usur$ed.
2n the course of his journey he came to a broad and foaming ri"er, on the banks of hich
he $ercei"ed an o!d oman, ho im$!ored him to he!$ her across. At first he hesitated,
knoing that e"en a!one he ou!d find some difficu!ty in stemming the fierce torrentF
but, ,(/C0$itying her for!orn condition, he raised her in his arms, and succeeded, ith a
great effort, in reaching the o$$osite shore. But as soon as her feet had touched the earth
she became transformed into a beautifu! oman, ho, !ooking kind!y at the bei!dered
youth, informed him that she as the goddess 9era, and that she ou!d henceforth guide
and $rotect him throughout his career. 3he then disa$$eared, and, fu!! of ho$e and
courage at this di"ine manifestation, :ason $ursued his journey. 9e no $ercei"ed that in
crossing the ri"er he had !ost one of his sanda!s, but as it cou!d not be reco"ered he as
ob!iged to $roceed ithout it.
4n his arri"a! at 2o!cus he found his unc!e in the market%$!ace, offering u$ a $ub!ic
sacrifice to Poseidon. >hen the king had conc!uded his offering, his eye fe!! u$on the
distinguished stranger, hose man!y beauty and heroic bearing had a!ready attracted the
attention of his $eo$!e. 4bser"ing that one foot as unshod, he as reminded of an
oracu!ar $rediction hich foreto!d to him the !oss of his kingdom by a man earing on!y
one sanda!. 9e, hoe"er, disguised his fears, con"ersed kind!y ith the youth, and dre
from him his name and errand. Then $retending to be high!y $!eased ith his ne$he,
Pe!ias entertained him sum$tuous!y for fi"e days, during hich time a!! as festi"ity and
rejoicing. 4n the siIth, :ason a$$eared before his unc!e, and ith man!y firmness
demanded from him the throne and kingdom hich ere his by right. Pe!ias, dissemb!ing
his true fee!ings, smi!ing!y consented to grant his reDuest, $ro"ided that, in return, :ason
ou!d undertake an eI$edition for him, hich his ad"anced age $re"ented him from
accom$!ishing himse!f. 9e informed his ne$he that the shade of PhryIus had a$$eared
to him in his dreams, and entreated him to bring back from 1o!chis his morta! remains
and the Go!den 8!eeceF and added that if :ason succeeded in obtaining for him these
sacred re!ics, throne, kingdom, and sce$tre shou!d be his.
,(/50
3T4R# 48 T9E G4L'E< 8LEE1E.
Athamas, king of BLotia, had married <e$he!e, a c!oud%nym$h, and their chi!dren ere
9e!!e and PhryIus. The rest!ess and andering nature of <e$he!e, hoe"er, soon earied
her husband, ho, being a morta!, had !itt!e sym$athy ith his etherea! consortF so he
di"orced her, and married the beautifu! but icked 2no Gsister of 3eme!eH, ho hated her
ste$%chi!dren, and e"en $!anned their destruction. But the atchfu! <e$he!e contri"ed to
circum"ent her crue! designs, and succeeded in getting the chi!dren out of the $a!ace. 3he
then $!aced them both on the back of a inged ram, ith a f!eece of $ure go!d, hich had
been gi"en to her by 9ermesF and on this onderfu! anima! brother and sister rode
through the air o"er !and and seaF but on the ay 9e!!e, becoming seiEed ith giddiness,
fe!! into the sea Gca!!ed after her the 9e!!es$ontH and as droned.
PhryIus arri"ed safe!y at 1o!chis, here he as hos$itab!y recei"ed by king AStes, ho
ga"e him one of his daughters in marriage. 2n gratitude to Meus for the $rotection
accorded him during his f!ight, PhryIus sacrificed to him the go!den ram, hi!st the
f!eece he $resented to AStes, ho nai!ed it u$ in the Gro"e of Ares, and dedicated it to the
god of >ar. An orac!e ha"ing dec!ared that the !ife of AStes de$ended on the safe%kee$ing
of the f!eece, he carefu!!y guarded the entrance to the gro"e by $!acing before it an
immense dragon, hich ne"er s!e$t.
Bui!ding and Launch of the Argo.J>e i!! no return to :ason, ho eager!y undertook
the $eri!ous eI$edition $ro$osed to him by his unc!e, ho, e!! aare of the dangers
attending such an enter$rise, ho$ed by this means to rid himse!f for e"er of the
une!come intruder.
:ason according!y began to arrange his $!ans ithout de!ay, and in"ited the young heroes
hose friendshi$ he ,(/N0had formed hi!st under the care of 1hiron, to join him in the
$eri!ous eI$edition. <one refused the in"itation, a!! fee!ing honoured at being a!!oed the
$ri"i!ege of taking $art in so nob!e and heroic an undertaking.
:ason no a$$!ied to Argos, one of the c!e"erest shi$%bui!ders of his time, ho, under the
guidance of Pa!!as%Athene, bui!t for him a s$!endid fifty%oared ga!!ey, hich as ca!!ed
the Argo, after the bui!der. 2n the u$$er deck of the "esse! the goddess had imbedded a
board from the s$eaking oak of the orac!e of Meus at 'odona, hich e"er retained its
$oers of $ro$hecy. The eIterior of the shi$ as ornamented ith magnificent car"ings,
and the ho!e "esse! as so strong!y bui!t that it defied the $oer of the inds and
a"es, and as, ne"erthe!ess, so !ight that the heroes, hen necessary, ere ab!e to carry
it on their shou!ders. >hen the "esse! as com$!eted, the Argonauts Gso ca!!ed after their
shi$H assemb!ed, and their $!aces ere distributed by !ot.
:ason as a$$ointed commander%in%chief of the eI$edition, Ti$hys acted as steersman,
Lynceus as $i!ot. 2n the bo of the "esse! sat the renoned hero 9erac!esF in the stern,
Pe!eus Gfather of Achi!!esH and Te!amon Gthe father of AjaI the GreatH. 2n the inner s$ace
ere 1astor and Po!!uI, <e!eus Gthe father of <estorH, Admetus Gthe husband of
A!cestesH, Me!eager Gthe s!ayer of the 1a!ydonian boarH, 4r$heus Gthe renoned singerH,
Menoctius Gthe father of Patroc!usH, Theseus Gafterards king of AthensH and his friend
PirithZus Gthe son of 2IionH, 9y!as Gthe ado$ted son of 9erac!esH, Eu$hemus Gthe son of
PoseidonH, 4i!eus Gfather of AjaI the LesserH, Metes and 1a!ais Gthe inged sons of
BoreasH, 2dmon the 3eer Gthe son of A$o!!oH, Mo$sus Gthe Thessa!ian $ro$hetH, Bc. Bc.
Before their de$arture :ason offered a so!emn sacrifice to Poseidon and a!! the other sea%
deitiesF he a!so in"oked the $rotection of Meus and the 8ates, and then, Mo$sus ha"ing
taken the auguries, and found them aus$icious, the heroes ste$$ed on board. And no a
fa"ourab!e breeEe ha"ing s$rung u$, they take their a!!otted $!aces, ,(/+0the anchor is
eighed, and the shi$ g!ides !ike a bird out of the harbour into the aters of the great sea.
Arri"a! at Lemnos.JThe Argo, ith her bra"e cre of fifty heroes, as soon out of sight,
and the sea%breeEe on!y afted to the shore a faint echo of the seet strains of 4r$heus.
8or a time a!! ent smooth!y, but the "esse! as soon dri"en, by stress of eather, to take
refuge in a harbour in the is!and of Lemnos. This is!and as inhabited by omen on!y,
ho, the year before, in a fit of mad jea!ousy, had ki!!ed a!! the ma!e $o$u!ation of the
is!and, ith the eIce$tion of the father of their Dueen, 9y$si$y!e. As the $rotection of
their is!and no de"o!"ed u$on themse!"es they ere a!ays on the !ook%out for danger.
>hen, therefore, they sighted the Argo from afar they armed themse!"es and rushed to
the shore, determined to re$e! any in"asion of their territory.
4n arri"ing in $ort the Argonauts, astonished at beho!ding an armed crod of omen,
des$atched a hera!d in one of their boats, bearing the staff of $eace and friendshi$.
9y$si$y!e, the Dueen, $ro$osed that food and $resents shou!d be sent to the strangers, in
order to $re"ent their !andingF but her o!d nurse, ho stood beside her, suggested that this
ou!d be a good o$$ortunity to $ro"ide themse!"es ith nob!e husbands, ho ou!d act
as their defenders, and thus $ut an end to their constant fears. 9y$si$y!e !istened
attenti"e!y to the ad"ice of her nurse, and after some consu!tation, decided to in"ite the
strangers into the city. Robed in his $ur$!e mant!e, the gift of Pa!!as%Athene, :ason,
accom$anied by some of his com$anions, ste$$ed on shore, here he as met by a
de$utation consisting of the most beautifu! of the Lemnian omen, and, as commander of
the eI$edition, as in"ited into the $a!ace of the Dueen.
>hen he a$$eared before 9y$si$y!e, she as so struck ith his god!ike and heroic
$resence that she $resented him ith her fatherRs sce$tre, and in"ited him to seat himse!f
on the throne beside her. :ason thereu$on ,(/.0took u$ his residence in the roya! cast!e,
hi!st his com$anions scattered themse!"es through the ton, s$ending their time in
feasting and $!easure. 9erac!es, ith a fe chosen comrades, a!one remained on board.
8rom day to day their de$arture as de!ayed, and the Argonauts, in their ne !ife of
dissi$ation, had a!most forgotten the object of the eI$edition, hen 9erac!es sudden!y
a$$eared amongst them, and at !ast reca!!ed them to a sense of their duty.
Giants and 'o!iones.JThe Argonauts no $ursued their "oyage, ti!! contrary inds
dro"e them toards an is!and, inhabited by the 'o!iones, hose king 1yEicus recei"ed
them ith great kindness and hos$ita!ity. The 'o!iones ere descendants of Poseidon,
ho $rotected them against the freDuent attacks of their fierce and formidab!e
neighbours, the earth%born GiantsJmonsters ith siI arms.
>hi!st his com$anions ere attending a banDuet gi"en by king 1yEicus, 9erac!es, ho,
as usua!, had remained behind to guard the shi$, obser"ed that these Giants ere busy
b!ocking u$ the harbour ith huge rocks. 9e at once rea!iEed the danger, and, attacking
them ith his arros, succeeded in considerab!y thinning their numbersF then, assisted by
the heroes, ho at !ength came to his aid, he effectua!!y destroyed the remainder.
The Argo no steered out of the harbour and set sai!F but in conseDuence of a se"ere
storm hich arose at night, as dri"en back once more to the shores of the kind!y
'o!iones. ;nfortunate!y, hoe"er, oing to the darkness of the night, the inhabitants
fai!ed to recogniEe their former guests, and, mistaking them for enemies, commenced to
attack them. Those ho had so recent!y $arted as friends ere no engaged in morta!
combat, and in the batt!e hich ensued, :ason himse!f $ierced to the heart his friend king
1yEicusF hereu$on the 'o!iones, being de$ri"ed of their !eader, f!ed to their city and
c!osed the gates. >hen morning daned, and both sides $ercei"ed their error, they ere
fi!!ed ith ,(/60the dee$est sorro and remorseF and for three days the heroes remained
ith the 'o!iones, ce!ebrating the funerea! rites of the s!ain, ith e"ery demonstration of
mourning and so!emnity.
9erac!es !eft behind.JThe Argonauts once more set sai!, and after a stormy "oyage
arri"ed at Mysia, here they ere hos$itab!y recei"ed by the inhabitants, ho s$read
before them $!entifu! banDuets and sum$tuous!y rega!ed them.
>hi!e his friends ere feasting, 9erac!es, ho had dec!ined to join them, ent into the
forest to seek a fir%tree hich he reDuired for an oar, and as missed by his ado$ted son
9y!as, ho set out to seek him. >hen the youth arri"ed at a s$ring, in the most sec!uded
$art of the forest, the nym$h of the fountain as so struck by his beauty that she dre
him don beneath the aters, and he as seen no more. Po!y$hemus, one of the heroes,
ho ha$$ened to be a!so in the forest, heard his cry for he!$, and on meeting 9erac!es
informed him of the circumstance. They at once set out in search of the missing youth, no
traces of hom ere to be found, and hi!st they ere engaged !ooking for him, the
Argo set sai! and !eft them behind.
The shi$ had $roceeded some distance before the absence of 9erac!es as obser"ed.
3ome of the heroes ere in fa"our of returning for him, others ished to $roceed on their
journey, hen, in the midst of the dis$ute, the sea%god G!aucus arose from the a"es, and
informed them that it as the i!! of Meus that 9erac!es, ha"ing another mission to
$erform, shou!d remain behind. The Argonauts continued their "oyage ithout their
com$anionsF 9erac!es returned to Argos, hi!st Po!y$hemus remained ith the Mysians,
here he founded a city and became its king.
1ontest ith Amycus.J<eIt morning the Argo touched at the country of the Bebrycians,
hose king Amycus as a famous $ugi!ist, and $ermitted no strangers to !ea"e his shores
ithout matching their ,((*0strength ith his. >hen the heroes, therefore, demanded
$ermission to !and, they ere informed that they cou!d on!y do so $ro"ided that one of
their number shou!d engage in a boIing%match ith the king. Po!!uI, ho as the best
$ugi!ist in Greece, as se!ected as their cham$ion, and a contest took $!ace, hich, after
a tremendous strugg!e, $ro"ed fata! to Amycus, ho had hitherto been "ictorious in a!!
simi!ar encounters.
Phineus and the 9ar$ies.JThey no $roceeded toards Bithynia, here reigned the
b!ind o!d $ro$het%king Phineus, son of Agenor. Phineus had been $unished by the gods
ith $remature o!d age and b!indness for ha"ing abused the gift of $ro$hecy. 9e as a!so
tormented by the 9ar$ies, ho soo$ed don u$on his food, hich they either de"oured
or so defi!ed as to render it unfit to be eaten. This $oor o!d man, tremb!ing ith the
eakness of age, and faint ith hunger, a$$eared before the Argonauts, and im$!ored
their assistance against his fiendish tormentors, hereu$on Metes and 1a!ais, the inged
sons of Boreas, recogniEing in him the husband of their sister 1!eo$atra, affectionate!y
embraced him, and $romised to rescue him from his $ainfu! $osition.
The heroes $re$ared a banDuet on the sea%shore, to hich they in"ited PhineusF but no
sooner had he taken his $!ace, than the 9ar$ies a$$eared and de"oured a!! the "iands.
Metes and 1a!ais no rose u$ into the air, dro"e the 9ar$ies aay, and ere $ursuing
them ith dran sords, hen 2ris, the sift%footed messenger of the gods, a$$eared,
and desired them to desist from their ork of "engeance, $romising that Phineus shou!d
be no !onger mo!ested.
8reed at !ength from his tormentors the o!d man sat don and enjoyed a $!entifu! re$ast
ith his kind friends the Argonauts, ho no informed him of the object of their "oyage.
2n gratitude for his de!i"erance Phineus ga"e them much usefu! information concerning
their journey, and not on!y arned them of the manifo!d ,((/0dangers aaiting them, but
a!so instructed them ho they might be o"ercome.
Passage of the 3ym$!egades.JAfter a fortnightRs sojourn in Bithynia the Argonauts once
more set sai!, but had not $roceeded far on their course, hen they heard a fearfu! and
tremendous crash. This as caused by the meeting of to great rocky is!ands, ca!!ed the
3ym$!egades, hich f!oated about in the sea, and constant!y met and se$arated.
Before !ea"ing Bithynia, the b!ind o!d seer, Phineus, had informed them that they ou!d
be com$e!!ed to $ass beteen these terrib!e rocks, and he instructed them ho to do so
ith safety. As they no a$$roached the scene of danger they remembered his ad"ice,
and acted u$on it. Ty$hus, the steersman, stood at the he!m, hi!st Eu$hemus he!d in his
hand a do"e ready to be !et !ooseF for Phineus had to!d them that if the do"e "entured to
f!y through, they might safe!y fo!!o. Eu$hemus no des$atched the bird, hich $assed
sift!y through the is!ands, yet not ithout !osing some of the feathers of her tai!, so
s$eedi!y did they reunite. 3eiEing the moment hen the rocks once more se$arated, the
Argonauts orked at their oars ith a!! their might, and achie"ed the $eri!ous $assage in
safety.
After the miracu!ous $assage of the Argo, the 3ym$!egades became $ermanent!y united,
and attached to the bottom of the sea.
The 3tym$ha!ides.JThe Argo $ursued her course a!ong the southern coast of the Pontus,
and arri"ed at the is!and of Aretias, hich as inhabited by birds, ho, as they f!e
through the air, discharged from their ings feathers shar$ as arros.
As the shi$ as g!iding a!ong, 4i!eus as ounded by one of these birds, hereu$on the
Argonauts he!d a counci!, and by the ad"ice of Am$hidamas, an eI$erienced hero, a!! $ut
on their he!mets, and he!d u$ their g!ittering shie!ds, uttering, at the same time, such
fearfu! cries that ,(((0the birds f!e aay in terror, and the Argonauts ere enab!ed to
!and ith safety on the is!and.
9ere they found four shi$recked youths, ho $ro"ed to be the sons of PhryIus, and
ere greeted by :ason as his cousins. 4n ascertaining the object of the eI$edition they
"o!unteered to accom$any the Argo, and to sho the heroes the ay to 1o!chis. They
a!so informed them that the Go!den 8!eece as guarded by a fearfu! dragon, that king
AStes as eItreme!y crue!, and, as the son of A$o!!o, as $ossessed of su$erhuman
strength.
Arri"a! at 1o!chis.JTaking ith them the four ne%comers they journeyed on, and soon
came in sight of the sno%ca$$ed $eaks of the 1aucasus, hen, toards e"ening, the !oud
f!a$$ing of ings as heard o"erhead. 2t as the giant eag!e of Prometheus on his ay to
torture the nob!e and !ong%suffering Titan, hose fearfu! groans soon afterards fe!! u$on
their ears. That night they reached their journeyRs end, and anchored in the smooth aters
of the ri"er Phases. 4n the !eft bank of this ri"er they behe!d 1euta, the ca$ita! of
1o!chisF and on their right a ide fie!d, and the sacred gro"e of Ares, here the Go!den
8!eece, sus$ended from a magnificent oak%tree, as g!ittering in the sun. :ason no fi!!ed
a go!den cu$ ith ine, and offered a !ibation to mother%earth, the gods of the country,
and the shades of those of the heroes ho had died on the "oyage.
<eIt morning a counci! as he!d, in hich it as decided, that before resorting to
forcib!e measures kind and conci!iatory o"ertures shou!d first be made to king AStes in
order to induce him to resign the Go!den 8!eece. 2t as arranged that :ason, ith a fe
chosen com$anions, shou!d $roceed to the roya! cast!e, !ea"ing the remainder of the cre
to guard the Argo. Accom$anied, therefore, by Te!amon and Augeas, and the four sons of
PhryIus, he set out for the $a!ace.
>hen they arri"ed in sight of the cast!e they ere struck by the "astness and massi"eness
of the bui!ding, at the entrance to hich s$ark!ing fountains $!ayed in ,(()0the midst of
!uIuriant and $ark%!ike gardens. 9ere the kingRs daughters, 1ha!cio$e and Medea, ho
ere a!king in the grounds of the $a!ace, met them. The former, to her great joy,
recogniEed in the youths ho accom$anied the hero her on !ong%!ost sons, hom she
had mourned as dead, hi!st the young and !o"e!y Medea as struck ith the nob!e and
man!y form of :ason.
The nes of the return of the sons of PhryIus soon s$read through the $a!ace, and
brought AStes himse!f to the scene, hereu$on the strangers ere $resented to him, and
ere in"ited to a banDuet hich the king ordered to be $re$ared in their honour. A!! the
most beautifu! !adies of the court ere $resent at this entertainmentF but in the eyes of
:ason none cou!d com$are ith the kingRs daughter, the young and !o"e!y Medea.
>hen the banDuet as ended, :ason re!ated to the king his "arious ad"entures, and a!so
the object of his eI$edition, ith the circumstances hich had !ed to his undertaking it.
AStes !istened, in si!ent indignation, to this recita!, and then burst out into a torrent of
in"ecti"es against the Argonauts and his grand%chi!dren, dec!aring that the 8!eece as his
rightfu! $ro$erty, and that on no consideration ou!d he consent to re!inDuish it. :ason,
hoe"er, ith mi!d and $ersuasi"e ords, contri"ed so far to conci!iate him, that he as
induced to $romise that if the heroes cou!d succeed in demonstrating their di"ine origin
by the $erformance of some task reDuiring su$erhuman $oer, the 8!eece shou!d be
theirs.
The task $ro$osed by AStes to :ason as that he shou!d yoke the to braEen%footed, fire%
breathing oIen of the king Ghich had been made for him by 9e$hKstusH to his
$onderous iron $!ough. 9a"ing done this he must ti!! ith them the stony fie!d of Ares,
and then so in the furros the $oisonous teeth of a dragon, from hich armed men
ou!d arise. These he must destroy to a man, or he himse!f ou!d $erish at their hands.
>hen :ason heard hat as eI$ected of him, his heart for a moment sank ithin himF
but he determined, ne"erthe!ess, not to f!inch from his task, but to trust to the
,((C0assistance of the gods, and to his on courage and energy.
:ason $!oughs the 8ie!d of Ares.JAccom$anied by his to friends, Te!amon and Augeas,
and a!so by Argus, the son of 1ha!cio$e, :ason returned to the "esse! for the $ur$ose of
ho!ding a consu!tation as to the best means of accom$!ishing these $eri!ous feats.
Argus eI$!ained to :ason a!! the difficu!ties of the su$erhuman task hich !ay before him,
and $ronounced it as his o$inion that the on!y means by hich success as $ossib!e as
to en!ist the assistance of the Princess Medea, ho as a $riestess of 9ecate, and a great
enchantress. 9is suggestion meeting ith a$$ro"a!, he returned to the $a!ace, and by the
aid of his mother an inter"ie as arranged beteen :ason and Medea, hich took $!ace,
at an ear!y hour neIt morning, in the tem$!e of 9ecate.
A confession of mutua! attachment took $!ace, and Medea, tremb!ing for her !o"erRs
safety, $resented him ith a magic sa!"e, hich $ossessed the $ro$erty of rendering any
$erson anointed ith it in"u!nerab!e for the s$ace of one day against fire and stee!, and
in"incib!e against any ad"ersary hoe"er $oerfu!. >ith this sa!"e she instructed him to
anoint his s$ear and shie!d on the day of his great undertaking. 3he further added that
hen, after ha"ing $!oughed the fie!d and son the teeth, armed men shou!d arise from
the furros, he must on no account !ose heart, but remember to thro among them a huge
rock, o"er the $ossession of hich they ou!d fight among themse!"es, and their
attention being thus di"erted he ou!d find it an easy task to destroy them. 4"erhe!med
ith gratitude, :ason thanked her, in the most earnest manner, for her ise counse! and
time!y aidF at the same time he offered her his hand, and $romised her he ou!d not
return to Greece ithout taking her ith him as his ife.
<eIt morning AStes, in a!! the $om$ of state, surrounded by his fami!y and the members
of his court, ,((50re$aired to a s$ot hence a fu!! "ie of the a$$roaching s$ectac!e
cou!d be obtained. 3oon :ason a$$eared in the fie!d of Ares, !ooking as nob!e and
majestic as the god of ar himse!f. 2n a distant $art of the fie!d the braEen yokes and the
massi"e $!ough met his "ie, but as yet the dread anima!s themse!"es ere nohere to be
seen. 9e as about to go in Duest of them, hen they sudden!y rushed out from a
subterranean ca"e, breathing f!ames of fire, and en"e!o$ed in a thick smoke.
The friends of :ason tremb!edF but the undaunted hero, re!ying on the magic $oers ith
hich he as imbued by Medea, seiEed the oIen, one after the other, by the horns, and
forced them to the yoke. <ear the $!ough as a he!met fu!! of dragonRs teeth, hich he
soed as he $!oughed the fie!d, hi!st ith shar$ $ricks from his !ance he com$e!!ed the
monstrous creatures to dra the $!ough o"er the stony ground, hich as thus s$eedi!y
ti!!ed.
>hi!e :ason as engaged soing the dragonRs teeth in the dee$ furros of the fie!d, he
ke$t a cautious !ook%out !est the germinating giant brood might gro too Duick!y for him,
and as soon as the four acres of !and had been ti!!ed he unyoked the oIen, and succeeded
in frightening them so effectua!!y ith his ea$ons, that they rushed back in terror to
their subterranean stab!es. Meanhi!e armed men had s$rung u$ out of the furros, and
the ho!e fie!d no brist!ed ith !ancesF but :ason, remembering the instructions of
Medea, seiEed an immense rock and hur!ed it into the midst of these earth%born arriors,
ho immediate!y began to attack each other. :ason then rushed furious!y u$on them, and
after a terrib!e strugg!e not one of the giants remained a!i"e.
8urious at seeing his murderous schemes thus defeated, AStes not on!y $erfidious!y
refused to gi"e :ason the 8!eece hich he had so bra"e!y earned, but, in his anger,
determined to destroy a!! the Argonauts, and to burn their "esse!.
:ason secures the Go!den 8!eece.JBecoming aare of the treacherous designs of her
father, Medea at ,((N0once took measures to baff!e them. 2n the darkness of night she
ent on board the Argo, and arned the heroes of their a$$roaching danger. 3he then
ad"ised :ason to accom$any her ithout !oss of time to the sacred gro"e, in order to
$ossess himse!f of the !ong%co"eted treasure. They set out together, and Medea, fo!!oed
by :ason, !ed the ay, and ad"anced bo!d!y into the gro"e. The ta!! oak%tree as soon
disco"ered, from the to$most boughs of hich hung the beautifu! Go!den 8!eece. At the
foot of this tree, kee$ing his e"er%akefu! atch, !ay the dreadfu!, s!ee$!ess dragon, ho
at sight of them bounded forard, o$ening his huge jas.
Medea no ca!!ed into $!ay her magic $oers, and Duiet!y a$$roaching the monster,
thre o"er him a fe dro$s of a $otion, hich soon took effect, and sent him into a dee$
s!ee$F hereu$on :ason, seiEing the o$$ortunity, c!imbed the tree and secured the 8!eece.
Their $eri!ous task being no accom$!ished, :ason and Medea Duitted the gro"e, and
hastened on board the Argo, hich immediate!y $ut to sea.
Murder of Absyrtus.JMeanhi!e AStes, ha"ing disco"ered the !oss of his daughter and
the Go!den 8!eece, des$atched a !arge f!eet, under the command of his son Absyrtus, in
$ursuit of the fugiti"es. After some daysR sai! they arri"ed at an is!and at the mouth of the
ri"er 2ster, here they found the Argo at anchor, and surrounded her ith their numerous
shi$s. They then des$atched a hera!d on board of her, demanding the surrender of Medea
and the 8!eece.
Medea no consu!ted :ason, and, ith his consent, carried out the fo!!oing stratagem.
3he sent a message to her brother Absyrtus, to the effect that she had been carried off
against her i!!, and $romised that if he ou!d meet her, in the darkness of night, in the
tem$!e of Artemis, she ou!d assist him in regaining $ossession of the Go!den 8!eece.
Re!ying on the good faith of his sister, Absyrtus fe!! into the snare, and du!y a$$eared at
the a$$ointed trysting%$!aceF and hi!st Medea ke$t her ,((+0brother engaged in
con"ersation, :ason rushed forard and s!e him. Then, according to a $reconcerted
signa!, he he!d a!oft a !ighted torch, hereu$on the Argonauts attacked the 1o!chians, $ut
them to f!ight, and entire!y defeated them.
The Argonauts no returned to their shi$, hen the $ro$hetic board from the 'odonean
oak thus addressed them& TThe crue! murder of Absyrtus as itnessed by the Erinyes,
and you i!! not esca$e the rath of Meus unti! the goddess 1irce has $urified you from
your crime. Let 1astor and Po!!uI $ray to the gods that you may be enab!ed to find the
abode of the sorceress.T 2n obedience to the "oice, the tin%brothers in"oked di"ine
assistance, and the heroes set out in search of the is!e of 1irce.
They arri"e at the 2s!and of 1irce.JThe good shi$ Argo s$ed on her ay, and, after
$assing safe!y through the foaming aters of the ri"er Eridanus, at !ength arri"ed in the
harbour of the is!and of 1irce, here she cast anchor.
1ommanding his com$anions to remain on board, :ason !anded ith Medea, and
conducted her to the $a!ace of the sorceress. The goddess of charms and magic arts
recei"ed them kind!y, and in"ited them to be seatedF but instead of doing so they assumed
a su$$!icating attitude, and humb!y besought her $rotection. They then informed her of
the dreadfu! crime hich they had committed, and im$!ored her to $urify them from it.
This 1irce $romised to do. 3he forthith commanded her attendant <aiads to kind!e the
fire on the a!tar, and to $re$are e"erything necessary for the $erformance of the mystic
rites, after hich a dog as sacrificed, and the sacred cakes ere burned. 9a"ing thus
du!y $urified the crimina!s, she se"ere!y re$rimanded them for the horrib!e murder of
hich they had been gui!tyF hereu$on Medea, ith "ei!ed head, and ee$ing bitter!y,
as reconducted by :ason to the Argo.
8urther Ad"entures of the Argonauts.J9a"ing !eft the is!and of 1irce they ere afted
by gent!e ,((.0Ee$hyrs toards the abode of the 3irens, hose enticing strains soon fe!!
u$on their ears. The Argonauts, $oerfu!!y affected by the me!ody, ere making ready to
!and, hen 4r$heus $ercei"ed the danger, and, to the accom$animent of his magic !yre,
commenced one of his enchanting songs, hich so com$!ete!y absorbed his !isteners that
they $assed the is!and in safetyF but not before Butes, one of their number, !ured by the
seducti"e music of the 3irens, had s$rung from the "esse! into the a"es be!o.
A$hrodite, hoe"er, in $ity for his youth, !anded him gent!y on the is!and of Libibaon
before the 3irens cou!d reach him, and there he remained for many years.
And no the Argonauts a$$roached ne dangers, for on one side of them seethed and
foamed the hir!$oo! of 1harybdis, hi!st on the other toered the mighty rock hence
the monster 3cy!!a soo$ed don u$on unfortunate marinersF but here the goddess 9era
came to their assistance, and sent to them the sea%nym$h Thetis, ho guided them safe!y
through these dangerous straits.
The Argo neIt arri"ed at the is!and of the PhKaces, here they ere hos$itab!y
entertained by =ing A!cinous and his Dueen Arete. But the banDuet $re$ared for them by
their kind host as uneI$ected!y interru$ted by the a$$earance of a !arge army of
1o!chians, sent by AStes to demand the restoration of his daughter.
Medea thre herse!f at the feet of the Dueen, and im$!ored her to sa"e her from the anger
of her father, and Arete, in her kindness of heart, $romised her her $rotection. <eIt
morning, in an assemb!y of the $eo$!e at hich the 1o!chians ere in"ited to be $resent,
the !atter ere informed that as Medea as the !afu! ife of :ason they cou!d not
consent to de!i"er her u$F hereu$on the 1o!chians, seeing that the reso!ution of the king
as not to be shaken, and fearing to face the anger of AStes shou!d they return to 1o!chis
ithout her, sought $ermission of A!cinous to sett!e in his kingdom, hich reDuest as
accorded them.
,((60
After these e"ents the Argonauts once more set sai!, and steered for 2o!cusF but, in the
course of a terrib!e and fearfu! night, a mighty storm arose, and in the morning they found
themse!"es stranded on the treacherous Duicksands of 3yrtes, on the shores of Libya.
9ere a!! as a aste and barren desert, untenanted by any !i"ing creature, sa"e the
"enomous snakes hich had s$rung from the b!ood of the Medusa hen borne by
Perseus o"er these arid $!ains.
They had a!ready $assed se"era! days in this abode of deso!ation, beneath the rays of the
scorching sun, and had abandoned themse!"es to the dee$est des$air, hen the Libyan
Dueen, ho as a $ro$hetess of di"ine origin, a$$eared to :ason, and informed him that a
sea%horse ou!d be sent by the gods to act as his guide.
3carce!y had she de$arted hen a gigantic hi$$ocam$ as seen in the distance, making
its ay toards the Argo. :ason no re!ated to his com$anions the $articu!ars of his
inter"ie ith the Libyan $ro$hetess, and after some de!iberation it as decided to carry
the Argo on their shou!ders, and to fo!!o here"er the sea%horse shou!d !ead them. They
then commenced a !ong and eary journey through the desert, and at !ast, after te!"e
days of se"ere toi! and terrib!e suffering, the e!come sight of the sea greeted their "ie.
2n gratitude for ha"ing been sa"ed from their manifo!d dangers they offered u$ sacrifices
to the gods, and !aunched their shi$ once more into the dee$ aters of the ocean.
Arri"a! at 1rete.J>ith heartfe!t joy and g!adness they $roceeded on their homeard
"oyage, and after some days arri"ed at the is!and of 1rete, here they $ur$osed to furnish
themse!"es ith fresh $ro"isions and ater. Their !anding, hoe"er, as o$$osed by a
terrib!e giant ho guarded the is!and against a!! intruders. This giant, hose name as
Ta!us, as the !ast of the BraEen race, and being formed of brass, as in"u!nerab!e,
eIce$t in his right ank!e, here there as a sine of f!esh and a "ein of b!ood. As he sa
the Argo ,()*0nearing the coast, he hur!ed huge rocks at her, hich ou!d ine"itab!y
ha"e sunk the "esse! had not the cre beat a hasty retreat. A!though sad!y in ant of food
and ater, the Argonauts had decided to $roceed on their journey rather than face so
$oerfu! an o$$onent, hen Medea came forard and assured them that if they ou!d
trust to her she ou!d destroy the giant.
En"e!o$ed in the fo!ds of a rich $ur$!e mant!e, she ste$$ed on deck, and after in"oking
the aid of the 8ates, uttered a magic incantation, hich had the effect of throing Ta!us
into a dee$ s!ee$. 9e stretched himse!f at fu!! !ength u$on the ground, and in doing so
graEed his "u!nerab!e ank!e against the $oint of a shar$ rock, hereu$on a mighty stream
of b!ood gushed forth from the ound. Aakened by the $ain, he tried to rise, but in "ain,
and ith a mighty groan of anguish the giant fe!! dead, and his enormous body ro!!ed
hea"i!y o"er into the dee$. The heroes being no ab!e to !and, $ro"isioned their "esse!,
after hich they resumed their homeard "oyage.
Arri"a! at 2o!cus.JAfter a terrib!e night of storm and darkness they $assed the is!and of
Pgina, and at !ength reached in safety the $ort of 2o!cus, here the recita! of their
numerous ad"entures and hair%breadth esca$es as !istened to ith ondering admiration
by their fe!!o%countrymen.
The Argo as consecrated to Poseidon, and as carefu!!y $reser"ed for many generations
ti!! no "estige of it remained, hen it as $!aced in the hea"ens as a bri!!iant
conste!!ation.
4n his arri"a! at 2o!cus, :ason conducted his beautifu! bride to the $a!ace of his unc!e
Pe!ias, taking ith him the Go!den 8!eece, for the sake of hich this $eri!ous eI$edition
had been undertaken. But the o!d king, ho had ne"er eI$ected that :ason ou!d return
a!i"e, base!y refused to fu!fi! his $art of the com$act, and dec!ined to abdicate the throne.
,()/0
2ndignant at the rongs of her husband, Medea a"enged them in a most shocking manner.
3he made friends ith the daughters of the king, and feigned great interest in a!! their
concerns. 9a"ing gained their confidence, she informed them, that among her numerous
magic arts, she $ossessed the $oer of restoring to the aged a!! the "igour and strength of
youth, and in order to gi"e them a con"incing $roof of the truth of her assertion, she cut
u$ an o!d ram, hich she boi!ed in a cau!dron, hereu$on, after uttering "arious mystic
incantations, there came forth from the "esse! a beautifu! young !amb. 3he then assured
them, that in a simi!ar manner they cou!d restore to their o!d father his former youthfu!
frame and "igour. The fond and credu!ous daughters of Pe!ias !ent an a!! too i!!ing ear to
the icked sorceress, and thus the o!d king $erished at the hands of his innocent chi!dren.
'eath of :ason.JMedea and :ason no f!ed to 1orinth, here at !ength they found, for a
time, $eace and tranDui!!ity, their ha$$iness being com$!eted by the birth of three
chi!dren.
As time $assed on, hoe"er, and Medea began to !ose the beauty hich had on the !o"e
of her husband, he gre eary of her, and became attracted by the youthfu! charms of
G!auce, the beautifu! daughter of 1reon, king of 1orinth. :ason had obtained her fatherRs
consent to their union, and the edding%day as a!ready fiIed, before he disc!osed to
Medea the treachery hich he meditated against her. 9e used a!! his $ersuasi"e $oers in
order to induce her to consent to his union ith G!auce, assuring her that his affection had
in no ay diminished, but that for the sake of the ad"antages hich ou!d thereby accrue
to their chi!dren, he had decided on forming this a!!iance ith the roya! house. Though
just!y enraged at his deceitfu! conduct, Medea dissemb!ed her rath, and, feigning to be
satisfied ith this eI$!anation, sent, as a edding%gift to her ri"a!, a magnificent robe of
c!oth%of%go!d. This robe as imbued ith a dead!y ,()(0$oison hich $enetrated to the
f!esh and bone of the earer, and burned them as though ith a consuming fire. P!eased
ith the beauty and cost!iness of the garment, the unsus$ecting G!auce !ost no time in
donning itF but no sooner had she done so than the fe!! $oison began to take effect. 2n "ain
she tried to tear the robe aayF it defied a!! efforts to be remo"ed, and after horrib!e and
$rotracted sufferings, she eI$ired.
Maddened at the !oss of her husbandRs !o"e Medea neIt $ut to death her three sons, and
hen :ason, thirsting for re"enge, !eft the chamber of his dead bride, and f!e to his on
house in search of Medea, the ghast!y s$ectac!e of his murdered chi!dren met his "ie.
9e rushed frantica!!y to seek the murderess, but nohere cou!d she be found. At !ength,
hearing a sound abo"e his head, he !ooked u$, and behe!d Medea g!iding through the air
in a go!den chariot dran by dragons.
2n a fit of des$air :ason thre himse!f on his on sord, and $erished on the thresho!d of
his deso!ate and deserted home.
PEL4P3.
Pe!o$s, the son of the crue! Tanta!us, as a $ious and "irtuous $rince. After his father as
banished into Tartarus, a ar ensued beteen Pe!o$s and the king of Troy, in hich the
former as "anDuished and forced to f!y from his dominions in Phrygia. 9e emigrated
into Greece, here, at the court of Qnomaus, king of E!is, he behe!d 9i$$odamia, the
kingRs daughter, hose beauty on his heart. But an orac!e ha"ing foreto!d to Qnomaus
that he ou!d die on the day of his daughterRs marriage, he thre e"ery obstac!e in the
ay of her suitors, and dec!ared that he ou!d on!y gi"e her to him ho succeeded in
"anDuishing him in a chariot race, but that a!! unsuccessfu! com$etitors shou!d suffer
death at his hands.
The conditions of the contest ere as fo!!os&JThe race as to be run from a gi"en
$oint at Pisa to the a!tar of Poseidon at 1orinthF the suitor as a!!oed to start ,())0on
his course hi!st Qnomaus $erformed his sacrifice to Meus, and on!y on its com$!etion
did the king mount his chariot, guided by the ski!fu! Myrti!us, and dran by his to
famous horses, Phy!!a and 9ar$inna, ho sur$assed in siftness the inds themse!"es. 2n
this manner many a ga!!ant young $rince had $erishedF for a!though a considerab!e start
as gi"en to a!! com$etitors, sti!! Qnomaus, ith his sift team, a!ays o"ertook them
before they reached the goa!, and ki!!ed them ith his s$ear. But the !o"e of Pe!o$s for
9i$$odamia o"ercame a!! fears, and, undeterred by the terrib!e fate of his $redecessors,
he announced himse!f to Qnomaus as a suitor for the hand of his daughter.
4n the e"e of the race, Pe!o$s re$aired to the sea%shore and earnest!y im$!ored Poseidon
to assist him in his $eri!ous undertaking. The sea%god heard his $rayer, and sent him out
of the dee$ a chariot dran by to inged horses.
>hen Pe!o$s a$$eared on the course, the king at once recogniEed the horses of PoseidonF
but, nothing daunted, he re!ied on his on su$ernatura! team, and the contest as a!!oed
to $roceed.
>hi!st the king as offering his sacrifice to Meus Pe!o$s set out on the race, and had
near!y reached the goa!, hen, turning round, he behe!d Qnomaus, s$ear in hand, ho,
ith his magic steeds, had near!y o"ertaken him. But in this emergency Poseidon came to
the aid of the son of Tanta!us. 9e caused the hee!s of the roya! chariot to f!y off,
hereu$on the king as thron out "io!ent!y, and ki!!ed on the s$ot, just as Pe!o$s
arri"ed at the a!tar of Poseidon.
As the hero as about to return to Pisa to c!aim his bride, he behe!d, in the distance,
f!ames issuing from the roya! cast!e, hich at that instant had been struck by !ightning.
>ith his inged horses he f!e to rescue his !o"e!y bride, and succeeded in eItricating
her uninjured from the burning bui!ding. They soon afterards became united, and
Pe!o$s reigned in Pisa for many years in great s$!endour.
,()C0
9ERA1LE3 G9ercu!esH.
9erac!es, the most renoned hero of antiDuity, as the son of Meus and A!cmene, and the
great grandson of Perseus.
At the time of his birth A!cmene as !i"ing at Thebes ith her husband Am$hitryon, and
thus the infant 9erac!es as born in the $a!ace of his ste$father.
Aare of the animosity ith hich 9era $ersecuted a!! those ho ri"a!!ed her in the
affections of Meus, A!cmene, fearfu! !est this hatred shou!d be "isited on her innocent
chi!d, intrusted him, soon after his birth, to the care of a faithfu! ser"ant, ith instructions
to eI$ose him in a certain fie!d, and there !ea"e him, fee!ing assured that the di"ine
offs$ring of Meus ou!d not !ong remain ithout the $rotection of the gods.
3oon after the chi!d had been thus abandoned, 9era and Pa!!as%Athene ha$$ened to $ass
by the fie!d, and ere attracted by its cries. Athene $itying!y took u$ the infant in her
arms, and $re"ai!ed u$on the Dueen of hea"en to $ut it to her breastF but no sooner had
she done so, than the chi!d, causing her $ain, she angri!y thre him to the ground, and !eft
the s$ot. Athene, mo"ed ith com$assion, carried him to A!cmene, and entreated her kind
offices on beha!f of the $oor !itt!e found!ing. A!cmene at once recogniEed her chi!d, and
joyfu!!y acce$ted the charge.
3oon afterards 9era, to her eItreme annoyance, disco"ered hom she had nursed, and
became fi!!ed ith jea!ous rage. 3he no sent to "enomous snakes into the chamber of
A!cmene, hich cre$t, un$ercei"ed by the nurses, to the crad!e of the s!ee$ing chi!d. 9e
aoke ith a cry, and gras$ing a snake in each hand, strang!ed them both. A!cmene and
her attendants, hom the cry of the chi!d had aakened, rushed to the crad!e, here, to
their astonishment and terror, they behe!d the to re$ti!es dead in the hands of the infant
9erac!es. Am$hitryon as a!so attracted to the chamber by the ,()50commotion, and
hen he behe!d this astounding $roof of su$ernatura! strength, he dec!ared that the chi!d
must ha"e been sent to him as a s$ecia! gift from Meus. 9e according!y consu!ted the
famous seer Tiresias, ho no informed him of the di"ine origin of his ste$son, and
$rognosticated for him a great and distinguished future.
>hen Am$hitryon heard the nob!e destiny hich aaited the chi!d intrusted to his care,
he reso!"ed to educate him in a manner orthy of his future career. At a suitab!e age he
himse!f taught him ho to guide a chariotF Eurytus, ho to hand!e the boF Auto!ycus,
deIterity in rest!ing and boIingF and 1astor, the art of armed arfareF hi!st Linus, the
son of A$o!!o, instructed him in music and !etters.
9erac!es as an a$t $u$i!F but undue harshness as into!erab!e to his high s$irit, and o!d
Linus, ho as not the gent!est of teachers, one day corrected him ith b!os,
hereu$on the boy angri!y took u$ his !yre, and, ith one stroke of his $oerfu! arm,
ki!!ed his tutor on the s$ot.
A$$rehensi"e !est the ungo"ernab!e tem$er of the youth might again in"o!"e him in
simi!ar acts of "io!ence, Am$hitryon sent him into the country, here he $!aced him
under the charge of one of his most trusted herdsmen. 9ere, as he gre u$ to manhood,
his eItraordinary stature and strength became the onder and admiration of a!! beho!ders.
9is aim, hether ith s$ear, !ance, or bo, as unerring, and at the age of eighteen he
as considered to be the strongest as e!! as the most beautifu! youth in a!! Greece.
The 1hoice of 9erac!es.J9erac!es fe!t that the time had no arri"ed hen it became
necessary to decide for himse!f ho to make use of the eItraordinary $oers ith hich
he had been endoed by the godsF and in order to meditate in so!itude on this a!!%
im$ortant subject, he re$aired to a !one!y and sec!uded s$ot in the heart of the forest.
9ere to fema!es of great beauty a$$eared to him. ,()N04ne as Aice, the other Airtue.
The former as fu!! of artificia! i!es and fascinating arts, her face $ainted and her dress
gaudy and attracti"eF hi!st the !atter as of nob!e bearing and modest mien, her robes of
s$ot!ess $urity.
Aice ste$$ed forard and thus addressed him& T2f you i!! a!k in my $aths, and make
me your friend, your !ife sha!! be one round of $!easure and enjoyment. #ou sha!! taste of
e"ery de!ight hich can be $rocured on earthF the choicest "iands, the most de!icious
ines, the most !uIuriant of couches sha!! be e"er at your dis$osa!F and a!! this ithout
any eIertion on your $art, either $hysica! or menta!.T
Airtue no s$oke in her turn& T2f you i!! fo!!o me and be my friend, 2 $romise you the
reard of a good conscience, and the !o"e and res$ect of your fe!!omen. 2 cannot
undertake to smooth your $ath ith roses, or to gi"e you a !ife of id!eness and $!easureF
for you must kno that the gods grant no good and desirab!e thing that is not earned by
!abourF and as you so, so must you rea$.T
9erac!es !istened $atient!y and attenti"e!y to both s$eakers, and then, after mature
de!iberation, decided to fo!!o in the $aths of "irtue, and henceforth to honour the gods,
and to de"ote his !ife to the ser"ice of his country.
8u!! of these nob!e reso!"es he sought once more his rura! home, here he as informed
that on Mount 1ithKron, at the foot of hich the herds of Am$hitryon ere graEing, a
ferocious !ion had fiIed his !air, and as committing such frightfu! ra"ages among the
f!ocks and herds that he had become the scourge and terror of the ho!e neighbourhood.
9erac!es at once armed himse!f and ascended the mountain, here he soon caught sight
of the !ion, and rushing at him ith his sord succeeded in ki!!ing him. The hide of the
anima! he ore e"er afterards o"er his shou!ders, and the head ser"ed him as a he!met.
As he as returning from this, his first eI$!oit, he met ,()+0the hera!ds of Erginus, king
of the Minyans, ho ere $roceeding to Thebes to demand their annua! tribute of /**
oIen. 2ndignant at this humi!iation of his nati"e city, 9erac!es muti!ated the hera!ds, and
sent them back, ith ro$es round their necks, to their roya! master.
Erginus as so incensed at the i!!%treatment of his messengers that he co!!ected an army
and a$$eared before the gates of Thebes, demanding the surrender of 9erac!es. 1reon,
ho as at this time king of Thebes, fearing the conseDuences of a refusa!, as about to
yie!d, hen the hero, ith the assistance of Am$hitryon and a band of bra"e youths,
ad"anced against the Minyans.
9erac!es took $ossession of a narro defi!e through hich the enemy ere com$e!!ed to
$ass, and as they entered the $ass the Thebans fe!! u$on them, ki!!ed their king Erginus,
and com$!ete!y routed them. 2n this engagement Am$hitryon, the kind friend and foster%
father of 9erac!es, !ost his !ife. The hero no ad"anced u$on 4rchomenus, the ca$ita! of
the Minyans, here he burned the roya! cast!e and sacked the ton.
After this signa! "ictory a!! Greece rang ith the fame of the young hero, and 1reon, in
gratitude for his great ser"ices, bestoed u$on him his daughter Megara in marriage. The
4!ym$ian gods testified their a$$reciation of his "a!our by sending him $resentsF 9ermes
ga"e him a sord, PhLbus%A$o!!o a bund!e of arros, 9e$hKstus a go!den Dui"er, and
Athene a coat of !eather.
9erac!es and Eurystheus.JAnd no it i!! be necessary to retrace our ste$s. :ust before
the birth of 9erac!es, Meus, in an assemb!y of the gods, eIu!ting!y dec!ared that the chi!d
ho shou!d be born on that day to the house of Perseus shou!d ru!e o"er a!! his race.
>hen 9era heard her !ordRs boastfu! announcement she kne e!! that it as for the
chi!d of the hated A!cmene that this bri!!iant destiny as designedF and in order to rob the
son of her ri"a! of his rights, she ca!!ed to her aid the goddess Ei!ithyia, ho retarded the
birth of ,().09erac!es, and caused his cousin Eurystheus Ganother grandson of PerseusH to
$recede him into the or!d. And thus, as the ord of the mighty Meus as irre"ocab!e,
9erac!es became the subject and ser"ant of his cousin Eurystheus.
>hen, after his s$!endid "ictory o"er Erginus, the fame of 9erac!es s$read throughout
Greece, Eurystheus Gho had become king of MycenKH, jea!ous of the re$utation of the
young hero, asserted his rights, and commanded him to undertake for him "arious
difficu!t tasks. But the $roud s$irit of the hero rebe!!ed against this humi!iation, and he
as about to refuse com$!iance, hen Meus a$$eared to him and desired him not to rebe!
against the 8ates. 9erac!es no re$aired to 'e!$hi in order to consu!t the orac!e, and
recei"ed the anser that after $erforming ten tasks for his cousin Eurystheus his ser"itude
ou!d be at an end.
3oon afterards 9erac!es fe!! into a state of the dee$est me!ancho!y, and through the
inf!uence of his in"eterate enemy, the goddess 9era, this des$ondency de"e!o$ed into
ra"ing madness, in hich condition he ki!!ed his on chi!dren. >hen he at !ength
regained his reason he as so horrified and grie"ed at hat he had done, that he shut
himse!f u$ in his chamber and a"oided a!! intercourse ith men. But in his !one!iness and
sec!usion the con"iction that ork ou!d be the best means of $rocuring ob!i"ion of the
$ast decided him to enter, ithout de!ay, u$on the tasks a$$ointed him by Eurystheus.
/. The <emean Lion.J9is first task as to bring to Eurystheus the skin of the much%
dreaded <emean !ion, hich ra"aged the territory beteen 1!eone and <emea, and
hose hide as in"u!nerab!e against any morta! ea$on.
9erac!es $roceeded to the forest of <emea, here, ha"ing disco"ered the !ionRs !air, he
attem$ted to $ierce him ith his arrosF but finding these of no a"ai! he fe!!ed him to the
ground ith his c!ub, and before the anima! had time to reco"er from the terrib!e b!o,
,()609erac!es seiEed him by the neck and, ith a mighty effort, succeeded in strang!ing
him. 9e then made himse!f a coat of mai! of the skin, and a ne he!met of the head of the
anima!. Thus attired, he so a!armed Eurystheus by a$$earing sudden!y before him, that
the king concea!ed himse!f in his $a!ace, and henceforth forbade 9erac!es to enter his
$resence, but commanded him to recei"e his behests, for the future, through his
messenger 1o$reus.
(. The 9ydra.J9is second task as to s!ay the 9ydra, a monster ser$ent Gthe offs$ring
of Ty$hon and EchidnaH, brist!ing ith nine heads, one of hich as immorta!. This
monster infested the neighbourhood of Lerna, here she committed great de$redations
among the herds.
9erac!es fighting the 9ydra
9erac!es, accom$anied by his ne$he 2o!aus, set out in a chariot for the marsh of Lerna,
in the s!imy aters of hich he found her. 9e commenced the attack by assai!ing her ith
his fierce arros, in order to force her to !ea"e her !air, from hich she at !ength emerged,
and sought refuge in a ood on a neighbouring hi!!. 9erac!es no rushed forard and
endea"oured to crush her heads by means of e!!%directed b!os from his tremendous
c!ubF but no sooner as one head destroyed than it as immediate!y re$!aced by to
others. 9e neIt seiEed the monster in his $oerfu! gras$F but at this juncture a giant crab
came to the assistance of the 9ydra and commenced biting the feet of her assai!ant.
9erac!es destroyed this ne ad"ersary ith his c!ub, and no ca!!ed u$on his ne$he to
come to his aid. At his command 2o!aus set fire to the neighbouring trees, ,(C*0and, ith
a burning branch, seared the necks of the monster as 9erac!es cut them off, thus
effectua!!y $re"enting the groth of more. 9erac!es neIt struck off the immorta! head,
hich he buried by the road%side, and $!aced o"er it a hea"y stone. 2nto the $oisonous
b!ood of the monster he then di$$ed his arros, hich e"er afterards rendered ounds
inf!icted by them incurab!e.
). The 9orned 9ind.JThe third !abour of 9erac!es as to bring the horned hind
1erunitis a!i"e to MycenK. This anima!, hich as sacred to Artemis, had go!den ant!ers
and hoofs of brass.
<ot ishing to ound the hind 9erac!es $atient!y $ursued her through many countries for
a ho!e year, and o"ertook her at !ast on the banks of the ri"er LadonF but e"en there he
as com$e!!ed, in order to secure her, to ound her ith one of his arros, after hich
he !ifted her on his shou!ders and carried her through Arcadia. 4n his ay he met Artemis
ith her brother PhLbus%A$o!!o, hen the goddess angri!y re$ro"ed him for ounding
her fa"ourite hindF but 9erac!es succeeded in a$$easing her dis$!easure, hereu$on she
$ermitted him to take the anima! a!i"e to MycenK.
A 1entaur
C. The Erymantian Boar.JThe fourth task im$osed u$on 9erac!es by Eurystheus as to
bring a!i"e to MycenK the Erymantian boar, hich had !aid aste the region of
Erymantia, and as the scourge of the surrounding neighbourhood.
4n his ay thither he cra"ed food and she!ter of a 1entaur named Pho!us, ho recei"ed
him ith generous hos$ita!ity, setting before him a good and $!entifu! re$ast. >hen
9erac!es eI$ressed his sur$rise that at such a e!!%furnished board ,(C/0ine shou!d be
anting, his host eI$!ained that the ine%ce!!ar as the common $ro$erty of a!! the
1entaurs, and that it as against the ru!es for a cask to be broached, eIce$t a!! ere
$resent to $artake of it. By dint of $ersuasion, hoe"er, 9erac!es $re"ai!ed on his kind
host to make an eIce$tion in his fa"ourF but the $oerfu!, !uscious odour of the good o!d
ine soon s$read o"er the mountains, and brought !arge numbers of 1entaurs to the s$ot,
a!! armed ith huge rocks and fir%trees. 9erac!es dro"e them back ith fire%brands, and
then, fo!!oing u$ his "ictory, $ursued them ith his arros as far as Ma!ea, here they
took refuge in the ca"e of the kind o!d 1entaur 1hiron. ;nfortunate!y, hoe"er, as
9erac!es as shooting at them ith his $oisoned darts, one of these $ierced the knee of
1hiron. >hen 9erac!es disco"ered that it as the friend of his ear!y days that he had
ounded, he as o"ercome ith sorro and regret. 9e at once eItracted the arro, and
anointed the ound ith a sa!"e, the "irtue of hich had been taught him by 1hiron
himse!f. But a!! his efforts ere una"ai!ing. The ound, imbued ith the dead!y $oison
of the 9ydra, as incurab!e, and so great as the agony of 1hiron that, at the intercession
of 9erac!es, death as sent him by the godsF for otherise, being immorta!, he ou!d
ha"e been doomed to end!ess suffering.
Pho!us, ho had so kind!y entertained 9erac!es, a!so $erished by means of one of these
arros, hich he had eItracted from the body of a dead 1entaur. >hi!e he as Duiet!y
eIamining it, astonished that so sma!! and insignificant an object shou!d be $roducti"e of
such serious resu!ts, the arro fe!! u$on his foot and fata!!y ounded him. 8u!! of grief at
this untoard e"ent, 9erac!es buried him ith due honours, and then set out to chase the
boar.
>ith !oud shouts and terrib!e cries he first dro"e him out of the thickets into the dee$
sno%drifts hich co"ered the summit of the mountain, and then, ha"ing at !ength
earied him ith his incessant $ursuit, he ca$tured the eIhausted anima!, bound him ith
a ro$e, and brought him a!i"e to MycenK.
,(C(0
5. 1!eansing the 3tab!es of Augeas.JAfter s!aying the Erymantian boar Eurystheus
commanded 9erac!es to c!eanse in one day the stab!es of Augeas.
Augeas as a king of E!is ho as "ery rich in herds. Three thousand of his catt!e he
ke$t near the roya! $a!ace in an inc!osure here the refuse had accumu!ated for many
years. >hen 9erac!es $resented himse!f before the king, and offered to c!eanse his
stab!es in one day, $ro"ided he shou!d recei"e in return a tenth $art of the herds, Augeas,
thinking the feat im$ossib!e, acce$ted his offer in the $resence of his son Phy!eus.
<ear the $a!ace ere the to ri"ers Peneus and A!$heus, the streams of hich 9erac!es
conducted into the stab!es by means of a trench hich he dug for this $ur$ose, and as the
aters rushed through the shed, they se$t aay ith them the ho!e mass of
accumu!ated fi!th.
But hen Augeas heard that this as one of the !abours im$osed by Eurystheus, he
refused the $romised guerdon. 9erac!es brought the matter before a court, and ca!!ed
Phy!eus as a itness to the justice of his c!aim, hereu$on Augeas, ithout aiting for
the de!i"ery of the "erdict, angri!y banished 9erac!es and his son from his dominions.
N. The 3tym$ha!ides.JThe siIth task as to chase aay the 3tym$ha!ides, hich ere
immense birds of $rey ho, as e ha"e seen Gin the !egend of the ArgonautsH, shot from
their ings feathers shar$ as arros. The home of these birds as on the shore of the !ake
3tym$ha!is, in Arcadia Gafter hich they ere ca!!edH, here they caused great
destruction among men and catt!e.
4n a$$roaching the !ake, 9erac!es obser"ed great numbers of themF and, hi!e hesitating
ho to commence the attack, he sudden!y fe!t a hand on his shou!der. Looking round he
behe!d the majestic form of Pa!!as%Athene, ho he!d in her hand a gigantic $air of braEen
c!a$$ers made by 9e$hKstus, ith hich she ,(C)0$resented himF hereu$on he
ascended to the summit of a neighbouring hi!!, and commenced to ratt!e them "io!ent!y.
The shri!! noise of these instruments as so into!erab!e to the birds that they rose into the
air in terror, u$on hich he aimed at them ith his arros, destroying them in great
numbers, hi!st such as esca$ed his darts f!e aay, ne"er to return.
+. The 1retan Bu!!.JThe se"enth !abour of 9erac!es as to ca$ture the 1retan bu!!.
Minos, king of 1rete, ha"ing "oed to sacrifice to Poseidon any anima! hich shou!d
first a$$ear out of the sea, the god caused a magnificent bu!! to emerge from the a"es in
order to test the sincerity of the 1retan king, ho, in making this "o, had a!!eged that he
$ossessed no anima!, among his on herds, orthy the acce$tance of the mighty sea%god.
1harmed ith the s$!endid anima! sent by Poseidon, and eager to $ossess it, Minos
$!aced it among his herds, and substituted as a sacrifice one of his on bu!!s. 9ereu$on
Poseidon, in order to $unish the cu$idity of Minos, caused the anima! to become mad,
and commit such great ha"oc in the is!and as to endanger the safety of the inhabitants.
>hen 9erac!es, therefore, arri"ed in 1rete for the $ur$ose of ca$turing the bu!!, Minos,
far from o$$osing his design, g!ad!y ga"e him $ermission to do so.
The hero not on!y succeeded in securing the anima!, but tamed him so effectua!!y that he
rode on his back right across the sea as far as the Pe!o$onnesus. 9e no de!i"ered him u$
to Eurystheus, ho at once set him at !iberty, after hich he became as ferocious and
i!d as before, roamed a!! o"er Greece into Arcadia, and as e"entua!!y ki!!ed by
Theseus on the $!ains of Marathon.
.. The Mares of 'iomedes.JThe eighth !abour of 9erac!es as to bring to Eurystheus
the mares of 'iomedes, a son of Ares, and king of the Bistonians, a ar!ike Thracian
tribe. This king $ossessed a breed of i!d horses of tremendous siEe and strength, hose
food consisted of human f!esh, and a!! strangers ho had the ,(CC0misfortune to enter the
country ere made $risoners and f!ung before the horses, ho de"oured them.
>hen 9erac!es arri"ed he first ca$tured the crue! 'iomedes himse!f, and then thre him
before his on mares, ho, after de"ouring their master, became $erfect!y tame and
tractab!e. They ere then !ed by 9erac!es to the sea%shore, hen the Bistonians, enraged
at the !oss of their king, rushed after the hero and attacked him. 9e no ga"e the anima!s
in charge of his friend Abderus, and made such a furious ons!aught on his assai!ants that
they turned and f!ed.
But on his return from this encounter he found, to his great grief, that the mares had torn
his friend in $ieces and de"oured him. After ce!ebrating due funerea! rites to the
unfortunate Abderus, 9erac!es bui!t a city in his honour, hich he named after him. 9e
then returned to Tiryns, here he de!i"ered u$ the mares to Eurystheus, ho set them
!oose on Mount 4!ym$us, here they became the $rey of i!d beasts.
2t as after the $erformance of this task that 9erac!es joined the Argonauts in their
eI$edition to gain $ossession of the Go!den 8!eece, and as !eft behind at 1hios, as
a!ready narrated. 'uring his anderings he undertook his ninth !abour, hich as to
bring to Eurystheus the gird!e of 9i$$o!yte, Dueen of the AmaEons.
6. The Gird!e of 9i$$o!yte.JThe AmaEons, ho de!t on the shores of the B!ack 3ea,
near the ri"er Thermodon, ere a nation of ar!ike omen, renoned for their strength,
courage, and great ski!! in horsemanshi$. Their Dueen, 9i$$o!yte, had recei"ed from her
father, Ares, a beautifu! gird!e, hich she a!ays ore as a sign of her roya! $oer and
authority, and it as this gird!e hich 9erac!es as reDuired to $!ace in the hands of
Eurystheus, ho designed it as a gift for his daughter Admete.
8oreseeing that this ou!d be a task of no ordinary difficu!ty the hero ca!!ed to his aid a
se!ect band of bra"e com$anions, ith hom he embarked for the AmaEonian ,(C50ton
Themiscyra. 9ere they ere met by Dueen 9i$$o!yte, ho as so im$ressed by the
eItraordinary stature and nob!e bearing of 9erac!es that, on !earning his errand, she at
once consented to $resent him ith the co"eted gird!e. But 9era, his im$!acab!e enemy,
assuming the form of an AmaEon, s$read the re$ort in the ton that a stranger as about
to carry off their Dueen. The AmaEons at once f!e to arms and mounted their horses,
hereu$on a batt!e ensued, in hich many of their bra"est arriors ere ki!!ed or
ounded. Among the !atter as their most ski!fu! !eader, Me!ani$$e, hom 9erac!es
afterards restored to 9i$$o!yte, recei"ing the gird!e in eIchange.
4n his "oyage home the hero sto$$ed at Troy, here a ne ad"enture aaited him.
'uring the time that A$o!!o and Poseidon ere condemned by Meus to a tem$orary
ser"itude on earth, they bui!t for king Laomedon the famous a!!s of Troy, afterards so
renoned in historyF but hen their ork as com$!eted the king treacherous!y refused
to gi"e them the reard due to them. The incensed deities no combined to $unish the
offender. A$o!!o sent a $esti!ence hich decimated the $eo$!e, and Poseidon a f!ood,
hich bore ith it a marine monster, ho sa!!oed in his huge jas a!! that came
ithin his reach.
2n his distress Laomedon consu!ted an orac!e, and as informed that on!y by the sacrifice
of his on daughter 9esione cou!d the anger of the gods be a$$eased. #ie!ding at !ength
to the urgent a$$ea!s of his $eo$!e he consented to make the sacrifice, and on the arri"a!
of 9erac!es the maiden as a!ready chained to a rock in readiness to be de"oured by the
monster.
>hen Laomedon behe!d the renoned hero, hose mar"e!!ous feats of strength and
courage had become the onder and admiration of a!! mankind, he earnest!y im$!ored
him to sa"e his daughter from her im$ending fate, and to rid the country of the monster,
ho!ding out to him as a reard the horses hich Meus had $resented to ,(CN0his
grandfather Tros in com$ensation for robbing him of his son Ganymede.
9erac!es unhesitating!y acce$ted the offer, and hen the monster a$$eared, o$ening his
terrib!e jas to recei"e his $rey, the hero, sord in hand, attacked and s!e him. But the
$erfidious monarch once more broke faith, and 9erac!es, "oing future "engeance,
de$arted for MycenK, here he $resented the gird!e to Eurystheus.
/*. The 4Ien of Geryones.JThe tenth !abour of 9erac!es as the ca$ture of the
magnificent oIen be!onging to the giant Geryon or Geryones, ho de!t on the is!and of
Erythia in the bay of Gadria G1adiEH. This giant, ho as the son of 1hrysaor, had three
bodies ith three heads, siI hands, and siI feet. 9e $ossessed a herd of s$!endid catt!e,
hich ere famous for their siEe, beauty, and rich red co!our. They ere guarded by
another giant named Eurytion, and a to%headed dog ca!!ed 4rthrus, the offs$ring of
Ty$hon and Echidna.
2n choosing for him a task so re$!ete ith danger, Eurystheus as in ho$es that he might
rid himse!f for e"er of his hated cousin. But the indomitab!e courage of the hero rose ith
the $ros$ect of this difficu!t and dangerous undertaking.
After a !ong and earisome journey he at !ast arri"ed at the estern coast of Africa,
here, as a monument of his $eri!ous eI$edition, he erected the famous TPi!!ars of
9ercu!es,T one of hich he $!aced on each side of the 3traits of Gibra!tar. 9ere he found
the intense heat so insufferab!e that he angri!y raised his bo toards hea"en, and
threatened to shoot the sun%god. But 9e!ios, far from being incensed at his audacity, as
so struck ith admiration at his daring that he !ent to him the go!den boat ith hich he
accom$!ished his nocturna! transit from >est to East, and thus 9erac!es crossed o"er
safe!y to the is!and of Erythia.
<o sooner had he !anded than Eurytion, accom$anied by his sa"age dog 4rthrus, fierce!y
attacked himF but 9erac!es, ith a su$erhuman effort, s!e the dog and ,(C+0then his
master. 9ereu$on he co!!ected the herd, and as $roceeding to the sea%shore hen
Geryones himse!f met him, and a des$erate encounter took $!ace, in hich the giant
$erished.
9erac!es then dro"e the catt!e into the sea, and seiEing one of the oIen by the horns,
sam ith them o"er to the o$$osite coast of 2beria G3$ainH. Then dri"ing his
magnificent $riEe before him through Gau!, 2ta!y, 2!!yria, and Thrace, he at !ength arri"ed,
after many $eri!ous ad"entures and hair%breadth esca$es, at MycenK, here he de!i"ered
them u$ to Eurystheus, ho sacrificed them to 9era.
9erac!es had no eIecuted his ten tasks, hich had been accom$!ished in the s$ace of
eight yearsF but Eurystheus refused to inc!ude the s!aying of the 9ydra and the c!eansing
of the stab!es of Augeas among the number, a!!eging as a reason that the one had been
$erformed by the assistance of 2o!aus, and that the other had been eIecuted for hire. 9e
therefore insisted on 9erac!es substituting to more !abours in their $!ace.
//. The A$$!es of the 9es$erides.JThe e!e"enth task im$osed by Eurystheus as to
bring him the go!den a$$!es of the 9es$erides, hich gre on a tree $resented by GKa to
9era, on the occasion of her marriage ith Meus. This sacred tree as guarded by four
maidens, daughters of <ight, ca!!ed the 9es$erides, ho ere assisted in their task by a
terrib!e hundred%headed dragon. This dragon ne"er s!e$t, and out of its hundred throats
came a constant hissing sound, hich effectua!!y arned off a!! intruders. But hat
rendered the undertaking sti!! more difficu!t as the com$!ete ignorance of the hero as to
the !oca!ity of the garden, and he as forced, in conseDuence, to make many fruit!ess
journeys and to undergo many tria!s before he cou!d find it.
9e first tra"e!!ed through Thessa!y and arri"ed at the ri"er Echedorus, here he met the
giant 1ycnus, the son of Ares and Pyrene, ho cha!!enged him to sing!e combat. 2n this
encounter 9erac!es com$!ete!y "anDuished ,(C.0his o$$onent, ho as ki!!ed in the
contestF but no a mightier ad"ersary a$$eared on the scene, for the ar%god himse!f
came to a"enge his son. A terrib!e strugg!e ensued, hich had !asted some time, hen
Meus interfered beteen the brothers, and $ut an end to the strife by hur!ing a thunderbo!t
beteen them. 9erac!es $roceeded on his journey, and reached the banks of the ri"er
Eridanus, here de!t the <ym$hs, daughters of Meus and Themis. 4n seeking ad"ice
from them as to his route, they directed him to the o!d sea%god <ereus, ho a!one kne
the ay to the Garden of the 9es$erides. 9erac!es found him as!ee$, and seiEing the
o$$ortunity, he!d him so firm!y in his $oerfu! gras$ that he cou!d not $ossib!y esca$e,
so that notithstanding his "arious metamor$hoses he as at !ast com$e!!ed to gi"e the
information reDuired. The hero then crossed o"er to Libya, here he engaged in a
rest!ing%match ith king Anteos, son of Poseidon and GKa, hich terminated fata!!y for
his antagonist.
8rom thence he $roceeded to Egy$t, here reigned Busiris, another son of Poseidon, ho
Gacting on the ad"ice gi"en by an orac!e during a time of great scarcityH sacrificed a!!
strangers to Meus. >hen 9erac!es arri"ed he as seiEed and dragged to the a!tarF but the
$oerfu! demi%god burst asunder his bonds, and then s!e Busiris and his son.
Resuming his journey he no andered on through Arabia unti! he arri"ed at Mount
1aucasus, here Prometheus groaned in unceasing agony. 2t as at this time that
9erac!es Gas a!ready re!atedH shot the eag!e hich had so !ong tortured the nob!e and
de"oted friend of mankind. 8u!! of gratitude for his de!i"erance, Prometheus instructed
him ho to find his ay to that remote region in the far >est here At!as su$$orted the
hea"ens on his shou!ders, near hich !ay the Garden of the 9es$erides. 9e a!so arned
9erac!es not to attem$t to secure the $recious fruit himse!f, but to assume for a time the
duties of At!as, and to des$atch him for the a$$!es. ,(C60
4n arri"ing at his destination 9erac!es fo!!oed the ad"ice of Prometheus. At!as, ho
i!!ing!y entered into the arrangement, contri"ed to $ut the dragon to s!ee$, and then,
ha"ing cunning!y outitted the 9es$erides, carried off three of the go!den a$$!es, hich
he no brought to 9erac!es. But hen the !atter as $re$ared to re!inDuish his burden,
At!as, ha"ing once tasted the de!ights of freedom, dec!ined to resume his $ost, and
announced his intention of being himse!f the bearer of the a$$!es to Eurystheus, !ea"ing
9erac!es to fi!! his $!ace. To this $ro$osa! the hero feigned assent, mere!y begging that
At!as ou!d be kind enough to su$$ort the hea"ens for a fe moments hi!st he
contri"ed a $ad for his head. At!as good%natured!y thre don the a$$!es and once more
resumed his !oad, u$on hich 9erac!es bade him adieu, and de$arted.
>hen 9erac!es con"eyed the go!den a$$!es to Eurystheus the !atter $resented them to the
hero, hereu$on 9erac!es $!aced the sacred fruit on the a!tar of Pa!!as%Athene, ho
restored them to the garden of the 9es$erides.
/(. 1erberus.JThe te!fth and !ast !abour hich Eurystheus im$osed on 9erac!es as to
bring u$ 1erberus from the !oer or!d, be!ie"ing that a!! his heroic $oers ou!d be
una"ai!ing in the Rea!m of 3hades, and that in this, his !ast and most $eri!ous
undertaking, the hero must at !ength succumb and $erish.
1erberus
1erberus as a monster dog ith three heads, out of hose afu! jas dri$$ed $oisonF
the hair of his head and back as formed of "enomous snakes, and his body terminated in
the tai! of a dragon.
After being initiated into the E!eusinian Mysteries, and ,(5*0obtaining from the $riests
certain information necessary for the accom$!ishment of his task, 9erac!es set out for
TKnarum in Laco!ia, here there as an o$ening hich !ed to the under%or!d.
1onducted by 9ermes, he commenced his descent into the afu! gu!f, here myriads of
shades soon began to a$$ear, a!! of hom f!ed in terror at his a$$roach, Me!eager and
Medusa a!one eIce$ted. About to strike the !atter ith his sord, 9ermes interfered and
stayed his hand, reminding him that she as but a shado, and that conseDuent!y no
ea$on cou!d a"ai! against her.
Arri"ed before the gates of 9ades he found Theseus and PirithZus, ho had been fiIed to
an enchanted rock by AOdes for their $resum$tion in endea"ouring to carry off
Perse$hone. >hen they sa 9erac!es they im$!ored him to set them free. The hero
succeeded in de!i"ering Theseus, but hen he endea"oured to !iberate PirithZus, the earth
shook so "io!ent!y beneath him that he as com$e!!ed to re!inDuish his task.
Proceeding further 9erac!es recogniEed Asca!a$hus, ho, as e ha"e seen in the history
of 'emeter, had re"ea!ed the fact that Perse$hone had sa!!oed the seeds of a
$omegranate offered to her by her husband, hich bound her to AOdes for e"er.
Asca!a$hus as groaning beneath a huge rock hich 'emeter in her anger had hur!ed
u$on him, and hich 9erac!es no remo"ed, re!easing the sufferer.
Before the gates of his $a!ace stood AOdes the mighty ru!er of the !oer or!d, and barred
his entranceF but 9erac!es, aiming at him ith one of his unerring darts, shot him in the
shou!der, so that for the first time the god eI$erienced the agony of morta! suffering.
9erac!es then demanded of him $ermission to take 1erberus to the u$$er%or!d, and to
this AOdes consented on condition that he shou!d secure him unarmed. Protected by his
breast$!ate and !ionRs skin 9erac!es ent in search of the monster, hom he found at the
mouth of the ri"er Acheron. ;ndismayed by the hideous barking hich $roceeded from
his three heads, he seiEed the ,(5/0throat ith one hand and the !egs ith the other, and
a!though the dragon hich ser"ed him as a tai! bit him se"ere!y, he did not re!inDuish his
gras$. 2n this manner he conducted him to the u$$er%or!d, through an o$ening near
TroeEen in Argo!ia.
>hen Eurystheus behe!d 1erberus he stood aghast, and des$airing of e"er getting rid of
his hated ri"a!, he returned the he!!%hound to the hero, ho restored him to AOdes, and
ith this !ast task the subjection of 9erac!es to Eurystheus terminated.
Murder of 2$hitus.J8ree at !ast 9erac!es no returned to ThebesF and it being
im$ossib!e for him to !i"e ha$$i!y ith Megara in conseDuence of his ha"ing murdered
her chi!dren he, ith her on consent, ga"e her in marriage to his ne$he 2o!aus.
9erac!es himse!f sought the hand of 2o!e, daughter of Eurytus, king of Qcha!ia, ho had
instructed him hen a boy in the use of the bo. 9earing that this king had $romised to
gi"e his daughter to him ho cou!d sur$ass himse!f and his three sons in shooting ith
the bo, 9erac!es !ost no time in $resenting himse!f as a com$etitor. 9e soon $ro"ed that
he as no unorthy $u$i! of Eurytus, for he signa!!y defeated a!! his o$$onents. But
a!though the king treated him ith marked res$ect and honour he refused, ne"erthe!ess, to
gi"e him the hand of his daughter, fearing for her a simi!ar fate to that hich had befa!!en
Megara. 2$hitus, the e!dest son of Eurytus, a!one es$oused the cause of 9erac!es, and
essayed to induce his father to gi"e his consent to the marriageF but a!! to no $ur$ose, and
at !ength, stung to the Duick at his rejection, the hero angri!y took his de$arture.
3oon afterards the oIen of the king ere sto!en by the notorious thief Auto!ycus, and
9erac!es as sus$ected by Eurytus of ha"ing committed the theft. But 2$hitus !oya!!y
defended his absent friend, and $ro$osed to seek out 9erac!es, and ith his assistance to
go in search of the missing catt!e. ,(5(0
The hero arm!y e!comed his staunch young friend, and entered cordia!!y into his $!an.
They at once set out on their eI$editionF but their search $ro"ed a!together unsuccessfu!.
>hen they a$$roached the city of Tiryns they mounted a toer in ho$es of disco"ering
the missing herd in the surrounding countryF but as they stood on the to$most summit of
the bui!ding, 9erac!es became sudden!y seiEed ith one of his former attacks of madness,
and mistaking his friend 2$hitus for an enemy, hur!ed him don into the $!ain be!o, and
he as ki!!ed on the s$ot.
9erac!es no set forth on a eary $i!grimage, begging in "ain that some one ou!d
$urify him from the murder of 2$hitus. 2t as during these anderings that he arri"ed at
the $a!ace of his friend Admetus, hose beautifu! and heroic ife GA!cestesH he restored
to her husband after a terrib!e strugg!e ith 'eath, as a!ready re!ated.
3oon after this e"ent 9erac!es as struck ith a fearfu! disease, and betook himse!f to the
tem$!e of 'e!$hi, ho$ing to obtain from the orac!e the means of re!ief. The $riestess,
hoe"er, refused him a res$onse on the ground of his ha"ing murdered 2$hitus,
hereu$on the angry hero seiEed u$on the tri$od, hich he carried off, dec!aring that he
ou!d construct an orac!e for himse!f. A$o!!o, ho itnessed the sacri!ege, came don to
defend his sanctuary, and a "io!ent strugg!e ensued. Meus once more interfered, and,
f!ashing his !ightnings beteen his to fa"ourite sons, ended the combat. The Pythia no
"ouchsafed an anser to the $rayer of the hero, and commanded him, in eI$iation of his
crime, to a!!o himse!f to be so!d by 9ermes for three years as a s!a"e, the $urchase%
money to be gi"en to Eurytus in com$ensation for the !oss of his son.
9erac!es becomes the 3!a"e of 4m$ha!e.J9erac!es boed in submission to the di"ine
i!!, and as conducted by 9ermes to 4m$ha!e, Dueen of Lydia. The three ta!ents hich
she $aid for him ere gi"en ,(5)0to Eurytus, ho, hoe"er, dec!ined to acce$t the
money, hich as handed o"er to the chi!dren of 2$hitus.
9erac!es no regained his former "igour. 9e rid the territory of 4m$ha!e of the robbers
hich infested it and $erformed for her "arious other ser"ices reDuiring strength and
courage. 2t as about this time that he took $art in the 1a!ydonian boar%hunt, detai!s of
hich ha"e a!ready been gi"en.
>hen 4m$ha!e !earned that her s!a"e as none other than the renoned 9erac!es himse!f
she at once ga"e him his !iberty, and offered him her hand and kingdom. 2n her $a!ace
9erac!es abandoned himse!f to a!! the ener"ating !uIuries of an orienta! !ife, and so
com$!ete!y as the great hero enthra!!ed by the fascination hich his mistress eIercised
o"er him, that hi!st she $!ayfu!!y donned his !ionRs skin and he!met, he, attired in fema!e
garments, sat at her feet s$inning oo!, and begui!ing the time by the re!ation of his $ast
ad"entures.
But hen at !ength, his term of bondage ha"ing eI$ired, he became master of his on
actions, the man!y and energetic s$irit of the hero reasserted itse!f, and tearing himse!f
aay from the $a!ace of the MKonian Dueen, he determined to carry out the re"enge he
had so !ong meditated against the treacherous Laomedon and the faith!ess Augeas.
9erac!es eIecutes "engeance on Laomedon and Augeas.JGathering round him some of
his o!d bra"e com$anions%in%arms, 9erac!es co!!ected a f!eet of "esse!s and set sai! for
Troy, here he !anded, took the city by storm, and ki!!ed Laomedon, ho thus met at
!ength the retribution he had so rich!y deser"ed.
To Te!amon, one of his bra"est fo!!oers, he ga"e 9esione, the daughter of the king, in
marriage. >hen 9erac!es ga"e her $ermission to re!ease one of the $risoners of ar she
chose her on brother Podarces, hereu$on she as informed that as he as a!ready a
$risoner of ar she ou!d be com$e!!ed to ransom him. ,(5C04n hearing this 9esione
took off her go!den diadem, hich she joyfu!!y handed to the hero. 4ing to this
circumstance Podarces henceforth bore the name of Priamus Gor PriamH, hich signifies
the Transomed one.T
9erac!es no marched against Augeas to eIecute his "engeance on him a!so for his
$erfidious conduct. 9e stormed the city of E!is and $ut to death Augeas and his sons,
s$aring on!y his bra"e ad"ocate and staunch defender Phy!eus, on hom he bestoed the
"acant throne of his father.
9erac!es and 'eianeira.J9erac!es no $roceeded to 1a!ydon, here he ooed the
beautifu! 'eianeira, daughter of Qneus, king of Pto!iaF but he encountered a formidab!e
ri"a! in Ache!ous, the ri"er%god, and it as agreed that their c!aims shou!d be decided by
sing!e combat. Trusting to his $oer of assuming "arious forms at i!!, Ache!ous fe!t
confident of successF but this a"ai!ed him nothing, for ha"ing at !ast transformed himse!f
into a bu!!, his mighty ad"ersary broke off one of his horns, and com$e!!ed him to
ackno!edge himse!f defeated.
After $assing three ha$$y years ith 'eianeira an unfortunate accident occurred, hich
for a time marred their fe!icity. 9erac!es as one day $resent at a banDuet gi"en by
Qneus, hen, by a sudden sing of his hand, he had the misfortune to strike on the head
a youth of nob!e birth, ho, according to the custom of the ancients, as ser"ing the
guests at tab!e, and so "io!ent as the b!o that it caused his death. The father of the
unfortunate youth, ho had itnessed the occurrence, sa that it as the resu!t of
accident, and therefore abso!"ed the hero from b!ame. But 9erac!es reso!"ed to act
according to the !a of the !and, banished himse!f from the country, and bidding faree!!
to his father%in%!a, set out for Trachin to "isit his friend =ing 1eyI, taking ith him his
ife 'eianeira, and his young son 9y!!us.
2n the course of their journey they arri"ed at the ri"er E"enus, o"er hich the 1entaur
<essus as in the habit ,(550of carrying tra"e!!ers for hire. 9erac!es, ith his !itt!e son in
his arms, forded the stream unaided, intrusting his ife to the care of the 1entaur, ho,
charmed ith the beauty of his fair burden, attem$ted to carry her off. But her cries ere
heard by her husband, ho ithout hesitation shot <essus through the heart ith one of
his $oisoned arros. <o the dying 1entaur as thirsting for re"enge. 9e ca!!ed
'eianeira to his side, and directed her to secure some of the b!ood hich f!oed from his
ound, assuring her that if, hen in danger of !osing her husbandRs affection, she used it
in the manner indicated by him, it ou!d act as a charm, and $re"ent her from being
su$$!anted by a ri"a!. 9erac!es and 'eianeira no $ursued their journey, and after se"era!
ad"entures at !ength arri"ed at their destination.
'eath of 9erac!es.JThe !ast eI$edition undertaken by the great hero as against
Eurytus, king of Qcha!ia, to re"enge himse!f u$on this king and his sons for ha"ing
refused to besto u$on him the hand of 2o!e, after ha"ing fair!y on the maiden. 9a"ing
co!!ected a !arge army 9erac!es set out for EubLa in order to besiege Qcha!ia, its ca$ita!.
3uccess croned his arms. 9e stormed the citade!, s!e the king and his three sons,
reduced the ton to ashes, and carried aay ca$ti"e the young and beautifu! 2o!e.
Returning from his "ictorious eI$edition, 9erac!es ha!ted at 1enLus in order to offer a
sacrifice to Meus, and sent to 'eianeira to Trachin for a sacrificia! robe. 'eianeira ha"ing
been informed that the fair 2o!e as in the train of 9erac!es as fearfu! !est her youthfu!
charms might su$$!ant her in the affection of her husband, and ca!!ing to mind the ad"ice
of the dying 1entaur, she determined to test the efficacy of the !o"e%charm hich he had
gi"en to her. Taking out the $hia! hich she had carefu!!y $reser"ed, she imbued the robe
ith a $ortion of the !iDuid hich it contained, and then sent it to 9erac!es.
The "ictorious hero c!othed himse!f ith the garment, ,(5N0and as about to $erform the
sacrifice, hen the hot f!ames rising from the a!tar heated the $oison ith hich it as
imbued, and soon e"ery fibre of his body as $enetrated by the dead!y "enom. The
unfortunate hero, suffering the most fearfu! tortures, endea"oured to tear off the robe, but
it adhered so c!ose!y to the skin that a!! his efforts to remo"e it on!y increased his agonies.
2n this $itiab!e condition he as con"eyed to Trachin, here 'eianeira, on beho!ding the
terrib!e suffering of hich she as the innocent cause, as o"ercome ith grief and
remorse, and hanged herse!f in des$air. The dying hero ca!!ed his son 9y!!us to his side,
and desired him to make 2o!e his ife, and then ordering his fo!!oers to erect a funera!
$yre, he mounted it and im$!ored the by%standers to set fire to it, and thus in mercy to
terminate his insufferab!e torments. But no one had the courage to obey him, unti! at !ast
his friend and com$anion Phi!octetes, yie!ding to his $iteous a$$ea!, !ighted the $i!e, and
recei"ed in return the bo and arros of the hero.
3oon f!ames on f!ames ascended, and amidst "i"id f!ashes of !ightning, accom$anied by
afu! $ea!s of thunder, Pa!!as%Athene descended in a c!oud, and bore her fa"ourite hero
in a chariot to 4!ym$us.
9erac!es became admitted among the immorta!sF and 9era, in token of her reconci!iation,
bestoed u$on him the hand of her beautifu! daughter 9ebe, the goddess of eterna!
youth.
BELLER4P94<.
Be!!ero$hon, or Be!!ero$hontes, as the son of G!aucus, king of 1orinth, and grandson of
3isy$hus. 2n conseDuence of an un$remeditated murder Be!!ero$hon f!ed to Tiryns, here
he as kind!y recei"ed by =ing PrLtus, ho $urified him from his crime. Antea, the ife
of PrLtus, as so charmed ith the come!y youth that she fe!! in !o"e ith himF but
Be!!ero$hon did not return her affection, and she, in re"enge, s!andered him to the king
by a gross misre$resentation of the facts. ,(5+0
The first im$u!se of PrLtus, hen informed of the conduct of Be!!ero$hon, as to ki!!
himF but the youth, ith his gent!e and inning manners, had so endeared himse!f to his
host that he fe!t it im$ossib!e to take his !ife ith his on hands. 9e therefore sent him to
his father%in%!a, 2obates, king of Lycia, ith a kind of !etter or tab!et hich contained
mysterious signs, indicating his desire that the bearer of the missi"e shou!d be $ut to
death. But the gods atched o"er the true and !oya! youth, and inc!ined the heart of
2obates, ho as an amiab!e $rince, toards his guest. :udging by his a$$earance that he
as of nob!e birth, he entertained him, according to the hos$itab!e custom of the Greeks,
in the most $rince!y manner for nine days, and not unti! the morning of the tenth did he
inDuire his name and errand.
Be!!ero$hon no $resented to him the !etter intrusted to him by PrLtus. 2obates, ho had
become great!y attached to the youth, as horror%struck at its contents. <e"erthe!ess he
conc!uded that PrLtus must ha"e good reasons for his conduct, and that $robab!y
Be!!ero$hon had committed a crime hich deser"ed death. But as he cou!d not make u$
his mind to murder the guest he had gron to esteem, he decided to des$atch him u$on
dangerous enter$rises, in hich he ou!d in a!! $robabi!ity !ose his !ife.
The 1himKra
9e first sent him to ki!! the 1himKra, a monster hich as at this time de"astating the
country. The fore $art of its body as that of a !ion, the centre of a goat, and the hind $art
of a dragonF hi!st out of its jas issued f!ames of fire.
Before starting on this difficu!t task Be!!ero$hon in"oked the $rotection of the gods, and
in anser to his $rayer they des$atched to his aid the immorta!%inged horse Pegasus, the
offs$ring of Poseidon and Medusa. But the di"ine anima! ou!d not suffer himse!f to be
,(5.0caught, and at !ast, orn out ith his fruit!ess eIertions, Be!!ero$hon fe!! into a dee$
s!ee$ beside the sacred s$ring Pirene. 9ere Pa!!as%Athene a$$eared to him in a dream,
and $resented him ith a magic brid!e for the $ur$ose of ca$turing the di"ine steed. 4n
aaking Be!!ero$hon instincti"e!y $ut out his hand to gras$ it, hen, to his amaEement,
there !ay beside him the brid!e of his dream, hi!st Pegasus as Duiet!y drinking at the
fountain c!ose by. 3eiEing him by the mane Be!!ero$hon thre the brid!e o"er his head,
and succeeded in mounting him ithout further difficu!tyF then rising ith him into the
air he s!e the 1himKra ith his arros.
Be!!ero$hon and Pegasus
2obates neIt sent him on an eI$edition against the 3o!ymans, a fierce neighbouring tribe
ith hom he as at enmity. Be!!ero$hon succeeded in "anDuishing them, and as then
des$atched against the much%dreaded AmaEonsF but great!y to the astonishment of 2obates
the hero again returned "ictorious.
8ina!!y, 2obates $!aced a number of the bra"est Lycians in ambush for the $ur$ose of
destroying him, but not one returned a!i"e, for Be!!ero$hon bra"e!y defended himse!f and
s!e them a!!. 1on"inced at !ength that Be!!ero$hon, far from deser"ing death, as the
s$ecia! fa"ourite of the gods, ho had e"ident!y $rotected him throughout his $eri!ous
eI$!oits, the king no ceased his $ersecutions.
2obates admitted him to a share in the go"ernment, and ga"e him his daughter in
marriage. But Be!!ero$hon ha"ing attained the summit of earth!y $ros$erity became
intoIicated ith $ride and "anity, and incurred the dis$!easure of the gods by
endea"ouring to mount to hea"en on his inged horse, for the $ur$ose of gratifying his
id!e curiosity. Meus $unished him for his im$iety by sending ,(560a gadf!y to sting the
horse, ho became so resti"e that he thre his rider, ho as $reci$itated to the earth.
8i!!ed ith remorse at ha"ing offended the gods Be!!ero$hon fe!! a $rey to the dee$est
me!ancho!y, and andered about for the remainder of his !ife in the !one!iest and most
deso!ate $!aces.
After death he as honoured in 1orinth as a hero, and an a!tar as erected to him in the
gro"e of Poseidon.
T9E3E;3.
Aegeus, king of Athens, being tice married, and ha"ing no chi!dren, as so desirous of
an heir to his throne that he made a $i!grimage to 'e!$hi in order to consu!t the orac!e.
But the res$onse being ambiguous, he re$aired to TroeEen to consu!t his ise friend
Pittheus, ho reigned o"er that city, by hose ad"ice he contracted a secret marriage
ith his friendRs daughter Aethra.
After $assing some time ith his bride, Aegeus $re$ared to take his de$arture for his on
dominionsF but before doing so he !ed Aethra to the sea%shore, here, after de$ositing his
sord and sanda!s under a huge rock, he thus addressed her& T3hou!d the gods b!ess our
union ith a son, do not re"ea! to him the name and rank of his father unti! he is o!d
enough to $ossess the strength reDuisite for mo"ing this stone. Then send him to my
$a!ace at Athens bearing these tokens of his identity.T
A son as born to Aethra, hom she ca!!ed Theseus, and ho as carefu!!y trained and
educated by his grandfather Pittheus. >hen he had de"e!o$ed into a strong and man!y
youth his mother conducted him to the s$ot here the rock had been $!aced by Aegeus,
and at her command he ro!!ed aay the stone, and took $ossession of the sord and
sanda!s hich had !ain there for siIteen years, and hich she no desired him to con"ey
to his father Aegeus, king of Athens.
9is mother and grandfather ere anIious that the youth shou!d tra"e! by the safe sea
route, the road beteen TroeEen and Athens being at this time infested ,(N*0ith robbers
of great ferocity and enormous strength. But fee!ing ithin himse!f the s$irit of a hero,
Theseus reso!"ed to emu!ate the deeds of 9erac!es, ith hose fame a!! Greece
resounded, and therefore chose the more dangerous journey by !and, as ca!cu!ated to
afford him an o$$ortunity of distinguishing himse!f by feats of "a!our.
9is first ad"enture occurred at E$idaurus, here he met Peri$hetes, a son of 9e$hKstus,
ho as armed ith an iron c!ub, ith hich he ki!!ed a!! tra"e!!ers. 9a"ing recei"ed
from his grandfather a fu!! descri$tion of this sa"age, Theseus at once recogniEed him,
and rushing u$on him ith his sord, succeeded after a des$erate encounter in ki!!ing
him. 9e a$$ro$riated the c!ub as a tro$hy of his "ictory, and $roceeded on his journey
ithout hinderance unti! he arri"ed at the 2sthmus of 1orinth.
9ere the $eo$!e arned him to beare of 3innis the robber, ho forced a!! tra"e!!ers to
bend ith him one of the branches of a ta!! $ine%tree. 9a"ing dragged it to the ground, the
crue! 3innis sudden!y re!eased his ho!d, hereu$on the bough rebounding high u$ into
the air, the unfortunate "ictim as dashed to the ground and ki!!ed. >hen Theseus behe!d
3innis ad"ancing toards him he steadi!y aaited his a$$roachF then seiEing his $oerfu!
c!ub, he ki!!ed the inhuman retch ith one b!o.
Passing through the oody district of 1rommyon Theseus neIt s!e a i!d and
dangerous so hich had !ong ra"aged the country.
9e then continued his journey and a$$roached the borders of Megara, here, on a narro
$ath o"erhanging the sea, de!t the icked 3cyron, another terror to tra"e!!ers. 2t as his
custom to com$e! a!! strangers ho $assed his abode to ash his feet, during hich
o$eration he kicked them o"er the rock into the sea. Theseus bo!d!y attacked the giant,
o"ercame him, and then f!ung his body o"er the c!iff here so many of his "ictims had
$erished.
Theseus no journeyed on to E!eusis, here he found ,(N/0another ad"ersary in the
$erson of =ing 1ercyon, ho forced a!! comers to rest!e ith him, and ki!!ed those
hom he "anDuishedF but Theseus o"ercame the mighty rest!er and s!e him.
<ear E!eusis, on the banks of the ri"er 1e$hissus, Theseus met ith a ne ad"enture.
9ere !i"ed the giant 'amastes, ca!!ed Procrustes or the 3tretcher, ho had to iron beds,
one being !ong and the other short, into hich he forced a!! strangersF 2n the short one he
$!aced the ta!! men, hose !imbs he cut to the siEe of the bed, hi!st to the short ones he
assigned the !arge bed, stretching them out to fit itF and thus he !eft his "ictims to eI$ire
in the most crue! torments. Theseus freed the country from this inhuman monster by
ser"ing him as he had done his unfortunate "ictims.
The hero no continued his journey, and at !ength reached Athens ithout meeting ith
any further ad"entures. >hen he arri"ed at his destination he found his father a he!$!ess
too! in the hands of the sorceress Medea, hom he had married after her de$arture from
1orinth. =noing, by means of her su$ernatura! $oers, that Theseus as the kingRs son,
and fearing that her inf!uence might be eakened by his $resence, she $oisoned the mind
of the o!d king against the stranger, hom she re$resented as being a s$y. 2t as
according!y arranged that Theseus shou!d be in"ited to a banDuet, and a strong $oison
miIed ith his ine.
<o Theseus had reso!"ed to re"ea! himse!f at this feast to the father hom he yearned to
embrace. Before tasting the ine he $ut his $!an into eIecution, and dre out his sord
so that the eyes of the king might rest u$on it. >hen Aegeus behe!d once more the e!!%
knon ea$on hich he had so often ie!ded, he kne that it as his son ho stood
before him. 9e arm!y embraced him, $resented him as his heir to his courtiers and
subjects, and then, no !onger ab!e to endure the sight of Medea, he banished her for e"er
from his dominions.
>hen Theseus as ackno!edged as the rightfu! heir to the throne he as o$$osed by the
fifty sons of Pa!!as, ,(N(0the kingRs brother, ho had confident!y eI$ected that on the
demise of the o!d king the go"ernment of the country ou!d de"o!"e u$on them. They
therefore reso!"ed to $ut Theseus to deathF but their $!ans becoming knon to him, he
sur$rised them as they !ay in ambush aaiting his a$$roach, and destroyed them a!!.
8earing, hoe"er, !est the Athenians might entertain a $rejudice against him on account
of his eItermination of their fe!!o%citiEens, the Pa!!antids, Theseus reso!"ed to $erform
some signa! ser"ice for the state, hich shou!d gain for him the hearts of the $eo$!e. 9e
according!y decided to rid the country of the famous bu!! of Marathon, hich had become
a terror to the cu!ti"ators of the !and. 9e ca$tured the anima! and brought him in chains to
Athens, here, after $ub!ic!y eIhibiting him to the astonished mu!titude, he so!emn!y
sacrificed him to A$o!!o.
The neIt enter$rise undertaken by Theseus far sur$assed a!! his other feats of heroic
daring, and secured to him the uni"ersa! admiration and gratitude of his fe!!o%citiEens.
This as the s!aying of the Minotaur, hich $ut an end for e"er to the shamefu! tribute of
se"en youths and se"en maidens hich as eIacted from the Athenians e"ery nine years.
The origin of this barbarous tribute as as fo!!os& Androgeos, the youthfu! son of
Minos, king of 1rete, ha"ing been treacherous!y murdered by the Athenians, his father,
anIious to a"enge the death of his son, dec!ared ar against their king Aegeus, and
conDuered Athens and the "i!!ages in its "icinity. The conDueror henceforth com$e!!ed the
Athenians to send to him e"ery nine years a tribute of se"en youths and se"en maidens of
the nob!est fami!ies of the !and, ho became the $rey of the Minotaur, a monster, ha!f%
man, ha!f%bu!!, hose !air as in the onderfu! !abyrinth, constructed by 'Kda!us for the
1retan king.
>hen Theseus informed his father of his heroic determination, he as o"erhe!med ith
grief, and endea"oured, by e"ery means in his $oer, to shake his sonRs reso!ution, but,
confident of success, Theseus assured his ,(N)0father that he ou!d s!ay the Minotaur and
return home "ictorious.
2t as customary for the "esse! bearing its unha$$y freight of human "ictims to use on
this "oyage b!ack sai!s on!yF but Theseus $romised his father that, shou!d he return in
safety, he ou!d hoist hite ones in their $!ace.
Before !ea"ing Athens Theseus, by the ad"ice of an orac!e, chose A$hrodite as his
guardian and $rotectress, and according!y offered u$ a sacrifice to her. >hen he arri"ed
in the $resence of king Minos, the goddess of Lo"e ins$ired Ariadne, the beautifu!
daughter of the king, ith an ardent attachment for the nob!e young hero. 'uring a secret
inter"ie, in hich a mutua! confession of affection took $!ace, Ariadne furnished him
ith a shar$ sord and a c!ue of thread, the end of hich she desired him to fasten at the
entrance to the !abyrinth and to continue to unind it ti!! he reached the !air of the
Minotaur. 8u!! of ho$e as to the successfu! issue of his undertaking, Theseus took !ea"e of
the kind maiden, after eI$ressing his gratitude for her time!y aid.
At the head of his com$anions he as no conducted by Minos to the entrance of the
!abyrinth. 3trict!y adhering to the injunctions of the fair Ariadne he succeeded in finding
the Minotaur, hom, after a fierce and "io!ent strugg!e, he defeated and ki!!edF then
carefu!!y fee!ing his ay, by means of the c!ue of thread, he !ed his com$anions safe!y
out of the !abyrinth. They then f!ed to their shi$, taking ith them the !o"e!y maiden to
hose affection for their de!i"erer they oed their safety.
Arri"ed at the is!and of <aIos, Theseus had a dream, in hich 'ionysus, the ine%god,
a$$eared to him, and informed him that the 8ates had decreed that Ariadne shou!d be his
bride, at the same time menacing the hero ith a!! kinds of misfortunes shou!d he refuse
to resign her. <o Theseus, ha"ing been taught from his youth to re"erence the gods,
feared to disobey the ishes of 'ionysus. 9e according!y took a sad faree!! of the
,(NC0beautifu! maiden ho so tender!y !o"ed him, and !eft her on the !one!y is!and, here
she as found and ooed by the ine%god.
Theseus and his com$anions fe!t keen!y the !oss of their benefactress, and in their grief at
$arting ith her, forgot that the shi$ sti!! bore the b!ack sai!s ith hich she had !eft the
Attic coast. As she neared the $ort of Athens, Aegeus, ho as anIious!y aaiting the
return of his son on the beach, caught sight of the "esse! ith its b!ack sai!s, and
conc!uding that his ga!!ant son had $erished, thre himse!f in des$air into the sea.
>ith the unanimous a$$ro"a! of the Athenians, Theseus no ascended the "acant throne,
and soon $ro"ed himse!f to be not on!y a "a!iant hero but a!so a ise $rince and $rudent
!egis!ator. Athens as at this time but a sma!! city surrounded by a number of "i!!ages,
each of hich $ossessed its on se$arate form of go"ernmentF but by means of kind and
conci!iatory measures Theseus induced the heads of these different communities to resign
their so"ereignty, and to intrust the administration of $ub!ic affairs to a court hich
shou!d sit constant!y at Athens, and eIercise jurisdiction o"er a!! the inhabitants of Attica.
The resu!t of these judicious measures as, that the Athenians became a united and
$oerfu! $eo$!e, and that numbers of strangers and foreigners f!ocked to Athens, hich
became a f!ourishing maritime $ort and a commercia! centre of great im$ortance.
Theseus reneed the 2sthmian Games, and a!so instituted numerous festi"a!s, the
$rinci$a! of hich as the PanathenKa, he!d in honour of Athene%Po!ias.
2t is re!ated that Theseus u$on one occasion arri"ed during a "oyage at the AmaEonian
coast. AnIious to ascertain the object of his "isit, the AmaEons sent 9i$$o!yte, one of
their number, ith $resents to the strangerF but no sooner did the fair hera!d set foot on
board his "esse! than Theseus set sai! and carried her off to Athens, here he made her
his Dueen. Enraged at this indignity the AmaEons determined to be re"enged. 3ome time
afterards, hen the ho!e affair ou!d ,(N50a$$ear to ha"e been forgotten, they seiEed
the o$$ortunity hen the city of Athens as in a defence!ess condition and !anded an
army in Attica. 3o sudden as their attack that they had $enetrated into the "ery heart of
the city before the Athenians cou!d organiEe their forcesF but Theseus eI$editious!y
co!!ected his troo$s and commenced such a furious ons!aught u$on the in"aders that, after
a des$erate encounter, they ere dri"en from the city. Peace as then conc!uded,
hereu$on the AmaEons e"acuated the country. 'uring this engagement 9i$$o!yte,
forgetfu! of her origin, fought "a!iant!y by the side of her husband against her on
kinsfo!k, and $erished on the fie!d of batt!e.
9i$$o!yte
2t as soon after this sad e"ent that Theseus joined the or!d%renoned 1a!ydonian
Boar%hunt, in hich he took a !eading $art. 9e a!so formed one of the bra"e band ho
shared in the $eri!s of the Argonautic eI$edition.
The remarkab!e friendshi$ hich eIisted beteen Theseus and PirithZus originated under
such $ecu!iar circumstances that it is orthy of mention.
9earing u$on one occasion that his herds, $asturing in the $!ains of Marathon, had been
carried off by PirithZus, Theseus co!!ected together an armed force and sa!!ied forth to
$unish the $!underer. But, hen the to heroes met face to face, both ere seiEed ith an
im$u!se of sym$athetic admiration for each other. PirithZus, ho!ding out his hand in token
of $eace, eIc!aimed, T>hat satisfaction sha!! 2 render thee, oh TheseusW Be thou thyse!f
the judge.T Theseus seiEed the $roffered hand and re$!ied, T2 ask nought sa"e thy
,(NN0friendshi$FT hereu$on the heroes embraced each other and sore eterna! fide!ity.
>hen, soon afterards, PirithZus became united to 9i$$odamia, a Thessa!ian $rincess,
he in"ited Theseus to the edding%feast, hich as a!so attended, among other guests, by
a !arge number of 1entaurs, ho ere friends of PirithZus. Toards the end of the
banDuet Eurytion, a young 1entaur, heated and f!ushed ith ine, seiEed the !o"e!y bride
and sought by force to carry her off. The other 1entaurs, fo!!oing his eIam$!e, each
endea"oured to ca$ture a maiden. PirithZus and his fo!!oers, aided by Theseus, ho
rendered most "a!uab!e assistance, attacked the 1entaurs, and after a "io!ent hand%to%hand
strugg!e in hich many $erished, forced them to re!inDuish their $rey.
After the death of 9i$$o!yte Theseus sought the hand of PhKdra, the sister of his former
bride Ariadne, to hom he became united. 8or some years they !i"ed ha$$i!y together,
and their union as b!essed by the birth of to sons. 'uring this time 9i$$o!ytus, the son
of the AmaEonian Dueen, had been absent from home, ha"ing been $!aced under the care
of the kingRs unc!es in order to be educated. >hen, ha"ing gron to manhood, he no
returned to his fatherRs $a!ace, his young ste$mother, PhKdra, fe!! "io!ent!y in !o"e ith
himF but 9i$$o!ytus fai!ed to return her affection, and treated her ith contem$t and
indifference. 8i!!ed ith rage and des$air at his co!dness PhKdra $ut an end to her
eIistenceF and hen she as disco"ered by her husband she he!d in her hand a !etter,
accusing 9i$$o!ytus of being the cause of her death, and of ha"ing cons$ired against the
honour of the king.
<o Poseidon had u$on one occasion $romised to grant Theseus hate"er reDuest he
shou!d demandF he therefore ca!!ed u$on the sea%god to destroy 9i$$o!ytus, hom he
cursed in the most so!emn manner. The fatherRs afu! ma!ediction fe!! but too soon u$on
his innocent sonF for, as the !atter as dri"ing his chariot a!ong the sea%shore, beteen
TroeEen and Athens, a ,(N+0monster, sent by Poseidon, rose out of the dee$, and so
frightened the horses that they became a!together unmanageab!e. As they rushed on in
their mad career the chariot as dashed to $ieces, and the unfortunate youth, hose feet
had become entang!ed in the reins, as dragged a!ong unti! !ife as near!y eItinct.
2n this condition he as found by the unha$$y Theseus, ho, ha"ing ascertained the true
facts of the case from an o!d ser"ant of PhKdra, had hastened to $re"ent the catastro$he.
But he arri"ed too !ate, and as on!y ab!e to soothe the !ast moments of his dying son by
ackno!edging the sad mistake hich he had committed, and dec!aring his firm be!ief in
his honour and innocence.
After these e"ents Theseus as $ersuaded by his friend PirithZus, ho had a!so about this
time !ost his young ife, 9i$$odamia, to join him in a journey through Greece, ith the
object of carrying off by force the most beautifu! maidens hom they shou!d chance to
meet.
Arri"ed at 3$arta they behe!d, in the tem$!e of Artemis, 9e!en, the daughter of Meus and
Leda, ho as engaged in $erforming sacred dances in honour of the goddess. A!though
the maiden as on!y nine years o!d the fame of her beauty, hich as destined to $!ay so
im$ortant a $art in the history of Greece, had a!ready s$read far and ide. Theseus and
PirithZus forcib!y abducted her, and then ha"ing cast !ots for her, she fe!! to Theseus, ho
$!aced her under the charge of his mother Pthra.
PirithZus no reDuested Theseus to assist him in his ambitious scheme of descending to
the !oer or!d and carrying off Perse$hone, the Dueen of 9ades. Though fu!!y a!i"e to
the $eri!s of the undertaking Theseus ou!d not forsake his friend, and together they
sought the g!oomy rea!m of 3hades. But AOdes had been forearned of their a$$roach,
and scarce!y had the to friends set foot ithin his dominions hen, by his orders, they
ere seiEed, bound ith chains, and secured to an enchanted rock at the entrance of
9ades. 9ere the to ,(N.0friends !anguished for many years, unti! 9erac!es $assed by in
his search for 1erberus, hen he re!eased TheseusF but in obedience to an injunction of
the gods, !eft PirithZus to endure for e"er the $unishment of his too daring ambition.
>hi!e Theseus as im$risoned in the under or!d 1astor and Po!!uI, the brothers of
9e!en, in"aded Athens, and demanded the restoration of their young sister. 3eeing his
country threatened ith the horrors of arfare, an Athenian citiEen named Academus,
ho kne of 9e!enRs $!ace of concea!ment, re$aired to the cam$ of the 'ioscuri, and
informed them here they ou!d find her. Pthra at once resigned her charge, hereu$on
the brothers took !ea"e of Athens, and, accom$anied by 9e!en, returned to their nati"e
country.
But the $ro!onged absence of Theseus ga"e rise to other troub!es of a more serious
character. Thinking the o$$ortunity fa"ourab!e for a re"o!t, a faction, headed by
Menesthius, a descendant of Erechtheus, arrogated to themse!"es su$reme $oer, and
seiEed the reins of go"ernment.
Returned to Athens, Theseus at once took acti"e measures to Due!! the insubordination
hich eIisted on a!! sides. 9e eI$e!!ed Menesthius from office, rigorous!y $unished the
ring!eaders of the re"o!t, and $!aced himse!f once more u$on the throne. But his ho!d
u$on the $eo$!e as gone. 9is former ser"ices ere a!! forgotten, and, finding at !ength
that dissensions and re"o!ts ere rife, he "o!untari!y abdicated the throne, and retired to
his estates in the is!and of 3cyros. 9ere Lycomedes, king of the is!and, feigned to recei"e
him ith the utmost friendshi$F but being, as it is su$$osed, in !eague ith Menesthius,
he !ed the o!d king to the summit of a high rock, under $retence of shoing him his
estates, and treacherous!y ki!!ed him by $ushing him o"er the c!iff.
Many centuries after his death, by the command of the orac!e of 'e!$hi, 1imon, the
father of Mi!tiades, at the conc!usion of the Persian ar, brought the remains of Theseus,
the great benefactor of Athens, to that city, ,(N60and in his honour a tem$!e as erected,
hich eIists to the $resent day, and ser"es as a museum of art.
Q'2P;3.
Laius, king of Thebes, the son of Labdacus, and a direct descendant of 1admus, as
married to :ocaste, the daughter of a nob!e Theban. An orac!e ha"ing foreto!d that he
ou!d $erish by the hand of his on son, he determined to destroy the infant to hom
:ocaste had just gi"en birth. >ith the consent of his ife, hose affection for her husband
o"ercame her !o"e for her chi!d, he $ierced the feet of the babe, bound them together, and
handed the infant o"er to a ser"ant, ith instructions to eI$ose him on Mount 1ithKron
to $erish. But instead of obeying this crue! command, the ser"ant intrusted him to a
she$herd ho as tending the f!ocks of Po!ybus, king of 1orinth, and then returned to
Laius and :ocaste, and informed them that their orders had been obeyed. The $arents
ere satisfied ith the inte!!igence, and Duieted their conscience by the ref!ection that
they had thus $re"ented their son from committing the crime of $arricide.
Meanhi!e the she$herd of king Po!ybus had unbound the feet of the infant, and in
conseDuence of their being much so!!en he ca!!ed him Qdi$us, or 3o!!en%foot. 9e then
carried him to the king, his master, ho, $itying the $oor !itt!e aif, en!isted for him the
kind offices of his ife, Mero$e. Qdi$us as ado$ted by the king and Dueen as their on
son, and gre u$ in the be!ief that they ere his $arents, unti! one day a 1orinthian nob!e
taunted him at a banDuet ith not being the son of the king. 3tung at this re$roach the
youth a$$ea!ed to Mero$e, but recei"ing an eDui"oca!, though kind!y anser, he re$aired
to 'e!$hi to consu!t the orac!e. The Pythia "ouchsafed no re$!y to his inDuiry, but
informed him, to his horror, that he as fated to ki!! his father and to marry his on
mother.
8i!!ed ith dismay, for he as tender!y attached to Po!ybus and Mero$e, Qdi$us
determined not to return ,(+*0to 1orinth, and took instead the road !eading to BLotia. 4n
his ay a chariot $assed him, in hich sat an o!d man ith to ser"ants, ho rude!y
$ushed the $edestrian out of the $ath. 2n the scuff!e hich ensued Qdi$us struck the o!d
man ith his hea"y stick, and he fe!! back dead on the seat of the chariot. 3truck ith
dismay at the un$remeditated murder hich he had committed, the youth f!ed, and !eft
the s$ot ithout !earning that the o!d man hom he had ki!!ed as his father, Laius, king
of Thebes.
<ot !ong after this occurrence the 3$hinI Gfu!! detai!s of hom ha"e a!ready been gi"enH
as sent by the goddess 9era as a $unishment to the Thebans. 3tationed on a rocky
height just outside the city, she $ro$ounded to the $assers by ridd!es hich she had been
taught by the Muses, and hoe"er fai!ed to so!"e them as torn in $ieces and de"oured
by the monster, and in this manner great numbers of the inhabitants of Thebes had
$erished.
<o on the death of the o!d king Laius, 1reon, the brother of the idoed Dueen, had
seiEed the reins of go"ernment and mounted the "acant throneF and hen at !ength his
on son fe!! a "ictim to the 3$hinI, he reso!"ed at a!! costs to rid the country of this
fearfu! scourge. 9e according!y issued a $roc!amation, that the kingdom and the hand of
his sister :ocaste shou!d be aarded to him ho shou!d succeed in so!"ing one of the
ridd!es of the 3$hinI, it ha"ing been foreto!d by an orac!e that on!y then ou!d the
country be freed from the monster.
:ust as this $roc!amation as being made in the streets of Thebes Qdi$us, ith his
$i!grimRs staff in his hand, entered the city. Tem$ted by the $ros$ect of so magnificent a
reard he re$aired to the rock, and bo!d!y reDuested the 3$hinI to $ro$ound to him one
of her ridd!es. 3he $ro$osed to him one hich she deemed im$ossib!e of so!ution, but
Qdi$us at once so!"ed itF hereu$on the 3$hinI, fu!! of rage and des$air, $reci$itated
herse!f into the abyss and $erished. Qdi$us ,(+/0recei"ed the $romised reard. 9e
became king of Thebes and the husband of :ocaste, the ido of his father, king Laius.
8or many years Qdi$us enjoyed the greatest ha$$iness and tranDui!!ity. 8our chi!dren
ere born to himJto sons, Eteoc!es and Po!ynices, and to daughters, Antigone and
2smene. But at !ast the gods aff!icted the country ith a grie"ous $esti!ence, hich made
terrib!e ha"oc among the $eo$!e. 2n their distress they entreated the he!$ of the king, ho
as regarded by his subjects as a s$ecia! fa"ourite of the gods. Qdi$us consu!ted an
orac!e, and the res$onse as that the $esti!ence ou!d continue to rage unti! the !and as
$urified of the b!ood of king Laius, hose murderer as !i"ing un$unished at Thebes.
The king no in"oked the most so!emn im$recations on the head of the murderer, and
offered a reard for any information concerning him. 9e then sent for the b!ind o!d seer
Tiresias, and im$!ored him, by means of his $ro$hetic $oers, to re"ea! to him the author
of the crime. Tiresias at first hesitated, but yie!ding to the earnest so!icitations of the king,
the o!d $ro$het thus addressed him& TThou thyse!f art the murderer of the o!d king Laius,
ho as thy fatherF and thou art edded to his ido, thine on mother.T 2n order to
con"ince Qdi$us of the truth of his ords, he brought forard the o!d ser"ant ho had
eI$osed him as a babe on Mount 1ithKron, and the she$herd ho had con"eyed him to
king Po!ybus. 9orrified at this afu! re"e!ation Qdi$us, in a fit of des$air, de$ri"ed
himse!f of sight, and the unfortunate :ocaste, unab!e to sur"i"e her disgrace, hanged
herse!f.
Accom$anied by his faithfu! and de"oted daughter Antigone, Qdi$us Duitted Thebes and
became a miserab!e and home!ess outcast, begging his bread from $!ace to $!ace. At
!ength, after a !ong and $ainfu! $i!grimage, he found a $!ace of refuge in the gro"e of the
Eumenides Gat 1o!onus, near AthensH, here his !ast moments ere soothed and tended
by the care and de"otion of the faithfu! Antigone.
,(+(0
T9E 3EAE< AGA2<3T T9EBE3.
After the "o!untary abdication of Qdi$us, his to sons, Eteoc!es and Po!ynices, took
$ossession of the cron and reigned o"er the city of Thebes. But Eteoc!es, being an
ambitious $rince, soon seiEed the reins of go"ernment himse!f, and eI$e!!ed his brother
from the throne.
Po!ynices no re$aired to Argos, here he arri"ed in the dead of night. 4utside the gates
of the roya! $a!ace he encountered Tydeus, the son of Qneus, king of 1a!ydon. 9a"ing
accidenta!!y ki!!ed a re!ati"e in the chase, Tydeus as a!so a fugiti"eF but being mistaken
by Po!ynices in the darkness for an enemy, a Duarre! ensued, hich might ha"e ended
fata!!y, had not king Adrastus, aroused by the c!amour, a$$eared on the scene and $arted
the combatants.
By the !ight of the torches borne by his attendants Adrastus obser"ed, to his sur$rise, that
on the shie!d of Po!ynices a !ion as de$icted, and on that of Tydeus a boar. The former
bore this insignia in honour of the renoned hero 9erac!es, the !atter in memory of the
famous 1a!ydonian boar%hunt. This circumstance reminded the king of an eItraordinary
oracu!ar $rediction concerning his to beautifu! daughters, Argia and 'ei$y!e, hich as
to the effect that he ou!d gi"e them in marriage to a !ion and a boar. 9ai!ing ith de!ight
hat he regarded as an aus$icious so!ution of the mysterious $ro$hecy, he in"ited the
strangers into his $a!aceF and hen he heard their history, and had con"inced himse!f that
they ere of nob!e birth, he bestoed u$on Po!ynices his beautifu! daughter Argia, and
u$on Tydeus the fair 'ei$y!e, $romising at the same time that he ou!d assist both his
sons%in%!a to regain their rightfu! $atrimony.
The first care of Adrastus as to aid Po!ynices in regaining $ossession of his !afu! share
in the go"ernment of Thebes. 9e according!y in"ited the most $oerfu! chiefs in his
kingdom to join in the eI$edition, ,(+)0a!! of hom readi!y obeyed the ca!! ith the
eIce$tion of the kingRs brother%in%!a, Am$hiaraus, the seer. As he foresa a disastrous
termination to the enter$rise, and kne that not one of the heroes, sa"e Adrastus himse!f,
ou!d return a!i"e, he earnest!y dissuaded the king from carrying out his $roject, and
dec!ined to take any $art in the undertaking. But Adrastus, seconded by Po!ynices and
Tydeus, as obstinate!y bent on the achie"ement of his $ur$ose, and Am$hiaraus, in
order to esca$e from their im$ortunities, concea!ed himse!f in a hiding%$!ace knon on!y
to his ife Eri$hy!e.
<o on the occasion of the marriage of Am$hiaraus it had been agreed, that if he e"er
differed in o$inion ith the king, his ife shou!d decide the Duestion. As the $resence of
Am$hiaraus as indis$ensab!e to the success of the undertaking, and, moreo"er, as
Adrastus ou!d not enter u$on it ithout Tthe eye of the army,T as he ca!!ed his brother%
in%!a, Po!ynices, bent on securing his ser"ices, determined to bribe Eri$hy!e to use her
inf!uence ith her husband and to decide the Duestion in accordance ith his ishes. 9e
bethought himse!f of the beautifu! neck!ace of 9armonia, ife of 1admus, hich he had
brought ith him in his f!ight from Thebes. >ithout !oss of time he $resented himse!f
before the ife of Am$hiaraus, and he!d u$ to her admiring gaEe the g!ittering baub!e,
$romising that if she re"ea!ed the hiding%$!ace of her husband and induced him to join the
eI$edition, the neck!ace shou!d be hers. Eri$hy!e, unab!e to ithstand the tem$ting bait,
acce$ted the bribe, and thus Am$hiaraus as com$e!!ed to join the army. But before
!ea"ing his home he eItorted a so!emn $romise from his son A!cmKon that, shou!d he
$erish on the fie!d of batt!e, he ou!d a"enge his death on his mother, the $erfidious
Eri$hy!e.
3e"en !eaders ere no chosen, each at the head of a se$arate detachment of troo$s.
These ere Adrastus the king, his to brothers 9i$$omedon and Partheno$Kus,
1a$aneus his ne$he, Po!ynices and Tydeus, and Am$hiaraus.
,(+C0
>hen the army as co!!ected they set out for <emea, hich as at this time go"erned by
king Lycurgus. 9ere the Argi"es, being short of ater, ha!ted on the outskirts of a forest
in order to search for a s$ring, hen they sa a majestic and beautifu! oman seated on
the trunk of a tree, nursing an infant. They conc!uded from her nob!e and Dueen!y
a$$earance that she must be a goddess, but ere informed by her that she as 9y$si$i!e,
Dueen of the Lemnians, ho had been carried aay ca$ti"e by $irates, and so!d as a s!a"e
to king Lycurgus, and that she as no acting as nurse to his infant son. >hen the
arriors to!d her that they ere in search of ater, she !aid the chi!d don in the grass,
and !ed them to a secret s$ring in the forest, ith hich she a!one as acDuainted. But on
their return they found, to their grief, that the unfortunate babe had been ki!!ed during
their absence, by a ser$ent. They s!e the re$ti!e, and then co!!ecting the remains of the
infant, they buried them ith funerea! honours and $roceeded on their ay.
The ar!ike host no a$$eared before the a!!s of Thebes, and each !eader $!aced
himse!f before one of the se"en gates of the city in readiness for the attack. Eteoc!es, in
conjunction ith 1reon, had made due $re$arations to re$e! the in"aders, and had
stationed troo$s, under the command of trusty !eaders, to guard each of the gates. Then,
according to the $ractice of the ancients of consu!ting soothsayers before entering u$on
any undertaking, the b!ind o!d seer Tiresias as sent for, ho, after carefu!!y taking the
auguries from the f!ight of birds, dec!ared that a!! efforts to defend the city ou!d $ro"e
una"ai!ing, un!ess the youngest descendant of the house of 1admus ou!d offer himse!f
as a "o!untary sacrifice for the good of the state.
>hen 1reon heard the ords of the seer his first thought as of his fa"ourite son
MenLceus, the youngest scion of the roya! house, ho as $resent at the inter"ie. 9e
therefore earnest!y im$!ored him to !ea"e the city, and to re$air for safety to 'e!$hi. But
the ga!!ant youth heroica!!y reso!"ed to sacrifice his !ife for the ,(+50benefit of his
country, and after taking !ea"e of his o!d father, mounted the city a!!s, and $!unging a
dagger into his heart, $erished in the sight of the contending hosts.
Adrastus no ga"e his troo$s the ord of command to storm the city, and they rushed
forard to the attack ith great "a!our. The batt!e raged !ong and furious!y, and after
hea"y !osses on both sides the Argi"es ere routed and $ut to f!ight.
After the !a$se of some days they reorganiEed their forces, and again a$$eared before the
gates of Thebes, hen Eteoc!es, grie"ed to think that there shou!d be such a terrib!e !oss
of !ife on his account, sent a hera!d into the o$$osite cam$, ith a $ro$osition that the
fate of the cam$aign shou!d be decided by sing!e combat beteen himse!f and his brother
Po!ynices. The cha!!enge as readi!y acce$ted, and in the due! hich took $!ace outside
the city a!!s, in the sight of the ri"a! forces, Eteoc!es and Po!ynices ere both fata!!y
ounded and eI$ired on the fie!d of batt!e.
Both sides no c!aimed the day, and the resu!t as that hosti!ities recommenced, and
soon the batt!e raged ith greater fury than e"er. But "ictory at !ast dec!ared itse!f for the
Thebans. 2n their f!ight the Argi"es !ost a!! their !eaders, Adrastus eIce$ted, ho oed his
safety to the f!eetness of his horse Arion.
By the death of the brothers, 1reon became once more king of Thebes, and in order to
sho his abhorrence of the conduct of Po!ynices in fighting against his country, he
strict!y forbade any one to bury either his remains or those of his a!!ies. But the faithfu!
Antigone, ho had returned to Thebes on the death of her father, cou!d not endure that
the body of her brother shou!d remain unburied. 3he therefore bra"e!y disregarded the
orders of the king, and endea"oured to gi"e se$u!ture to the remains of Po!ynices.
>hen 1reon disco"ered that his commands had been set at defiance, he inhuman!y
condemned the de"oted maiden to be entombed a!i"e in a subterranean "au!t. ,(+N0But
retribution as at hand. 9is son, 9Kmon, ho as betrothed to Antigone, ha"ing
contri"ed to effect an entrance into the "au!t, as horrified to find that Antigone had
hanged herse!f by her "ei!. 8ee!ing that !ife ithout her ou!d be into!erab!e, he thre
himse!f in des$air on his on sord, and after so!emn!y in"oking the ma!ediction of the
gods on the head of his father, eI$ired beside the dead body of his betrothed.
9ard!y had the nes of the tragic fate of his son reached the king, before another
messenger a$$eared, bearing the tidings that his ife Eurydice, on hearing of the death of
9Kmon, had $ut an end to her eIistence, and thus the king found himse!f in his o!d age
both idoed and chi!d!ess.
<or did he succeed in the eIecution of his "indicti"e designsF for Adrastus, ho, after his
f!ight from Thebes, had taken refuge at Athens, induced Theseus to !ead an army against
the Thebans, to com$e! them to restore the dead bodies of the Argi"e arriors to their
friends, in order that they might $erform due funerea! rites in honour of the s!ain. This
undertaking as successfu!!y accom$!ished, and the remains of the fa!!en heroes ere
interred ith due honours.
T9E EP2G4<2.
Ten years after these e"ents the sons of the s!ain heroes, ho ere ca!!ed E$igoni, or
descendants, reso!"ed to a"enge the death of their fathers, and ith this object entered
u$on a ne eI$edition against the city of Thebes.
By the ad"ice of the 'e!$hic orac!e the command as intrusted to A!cmKon, the son of
Am$hiarausF but remembering the injunction of his father he hesitated to acce$t this $ost
before eIecuting "engeance on his mother Eri$hy!e. Thersander, hoe"er, the son of
Po!ynices, ado$ting simi!ar tactics to those of his father, bribed Eri$hy!e ith the
beautifu! "ei! of 9armonia, beDueathed to him by Po!ynices, to induce her son
,(++0A!cmKon and his brother Am$hi!ochus to join in this second ar against Thebes.
<o the mother of A!cmKon as gifted ith that rare fascination hich renders its
$ossessor irresistib!e to a!! ho may chance to come ithin its inf!uenceF nor as her
on son ab!e to ithstand her b!andishments. #ie!ding therefore to her i!y
re$resentations he acce$ted the command of the troo$s, and at the head of a !arge and
$oerfu! army ad"anced u$on Thebes.
Before the gates of the city A!cmKon encountered the Thebans under the command of
Laodamas, the son of Eteoc!es. A fierce batt!e ensued, in hich the Theban !eader, after
$erforming $rodigies of "a!our, $erished by the hand of A!cmKon.
After !osing their chief and the f!oer of their army, the Thebans retreated behind the city
a!!s, and the enemy no $ressed them hard on e"ery side. 2n their distress they a$$ea!ed
to the b!ind o!d seer Tiresias, ho as o"er a hundred years o!d. >ith tremb!ing !i$s and
in broken accents, he informed them that they cou!d on!y sa"e their !i"es by abandoning
their nati"e city ith their i"es and fami!ies. ;$on this they des$atched ambassadors
into the enemyRs cam$F and hi!st these ere $rotracting negotiations during the night,
the Thebans, ith their i"es and chi!dren, e"acuated the city. <eIt morning the Argi"es
entered Thebes and $!undered it, $!acing Thersander, the son of Po!ynices Gho as a
descendant of 1admusH, on the throne hich his father had so "ain!y contested.
AL1MP4< A<' T9E <E1=LA1E.
>hen A!cmKon returned from his eI$edition against the Thebans he determined to fu!fi!
the !ast injunction of his father Am$hiaraus, ho had desired him to be re"enged on his
mother Eri$hy!e for her $erfidy in acce$ting a bribe to betray him. This reso!ution as
further strengthened by the disco"ery that his un$rinci$!ed mother had urged him a!so to
join the eI$edition ,(+.0in return for the much%co"eted "ei! of 9armonia. 9e therefore
$ut her to deathF and taking ith him the i!!%fated neck!ace and "ei!, abandoned for e"er
the home of his fathers.
But the gods, ho cou!d not suffer so unnatura! a crime to go un$unished, aff!icted him
ith madness, and sent one of the 8uries to $ursue him unceasing!y. 2n this unha$$y
condition he andered about from $!ace to $!ace, unti! at !ast ha"ing reached Pso$his in
Arcadia, Phegeus, king of the country, not on!y $urified him of his crime, but a!so
bestoed u$on him the hand of his daughter ArsinoS, to hom A!cmKon $resented the
neck!ace and "ei!, hich had a!ready been the cause of so much unha$$iness.
Though no re!eased from his menta! aff!iction, the curse hich hung o"er him as not
entire!y remo"ed, and on his account the country of his ado$tion as "isited ith a
se"ere drought. 4n consu!ting the orac!e of 'e!$hi he as informed that any !and hich
offered him she!ter ou!d be cursed by the gods, and that the ma!ediction ou!d continue
to fo!!o him ti!! he came to a country hich as not in eIistence at the time he had
murdered his mother. Bereft of ho$e, and reso!"ed no !onger to cast the shado of his
dark fate o"er those he !o"ed, A!cmKon took a tender !ea"e of his ife and !itt!e son, and
became once more an outcast and anderer.
Arri"ed after a !ong and $ainfu! $i!grimage at the ri"er Ache!ous, he disco"ered, to his
uns$eakab!e joy, a beautifu! and ferti!e is!and, hich had but !ate!y emerged from beneath
the ater. 9ere he took u$ his abodeF and in this ha"en of rest he as at !ength freed from
his sufferings, and fina!!y $urified of his crime by the ri"er%god Ache!ous. But in his ne%
found home here $ros$erity smi!ed u$on him, A!cmKon soon forgot the !o"ing ife and
chi!d he had !eft behind, and ooed 1a!irrhoS, the beautifu! daughter of the ri"er%god,
ho became united to him in marriage.
8or many years A!cmKon and 1a!irrhoS !i"ed ha$$i!y together, and to sons ere born
to them. But ,(+60unfortunate!y for the $eace of her husband, the daughter of Ache!ous
had heard of the ce!ebrated neck!ace and "ei! of 9armonia, and became seiEed ith a
"io!ent desire to become the $ossessor of these $recious treasures.
<o the neck!ace and "ei! ere in the safe%kee$ing of ArsinoSF but as A!cmKon had
carefu!!y concea!ed the fact of his former marriage from his young ife, he informed her,
hen no !onger ab!e to combat her im$ortunities, that he had concea!ed them in a ca"e in
his nati"e country, and $romised to hasten thither and $rocure them for her. 9e
according!y took !ea"e of 1a!irrhoS and his chi!dren, and $roceeded to Pso$his, here he
$resented himse!f before his deserted ife and her father, king Phegeus. To them he
eIcused his absence by the fact of his ha"ing suffered from a fresh attack of madness, and
added that an orac!e had foreto!d to him that his ma!ady ou!d on!y be cured hen he
had de$osited the neck!ace and "ei! of 9armonia in the tem$!e of A$o!!o at 'e!$hi.
ArsinoS, decei"ed by his artfu! re$resentations, unhesitating!y restored to him his brida!
gifts, hereu$on A!cmKon set out on his homeard journey, e!! satisfied ith the
successfu! issue of his eI$edition.
But the fata! neck!ace and "ei! ere doomed to bring ruin and disaster to a!! ho
$ossessed them. 'uring his sojourn at the court of king Phegeus, one of the ser"ants ho
had accom$anied A!cmKon betrayed the secret of his union ith the daughter of the
ri"er%godF and hen the king informed his sons of his treacherous conduct, they
determined to a"enge the rongs of their sister ArsinoS. They according!y concea!ed
themse!"es at a $oint of the road hich A!cmKon as com$e!!ed to $ass, and as he
neared the s$ot they sudden!y emerged from their $!ace of ambush, fe!! u$on him and
des$atched him.
>hen ArsinoS, ho sti!! !o"ed her faith!ess husband, heard of the murder, she bitter!y
re$roached her brothers for the crime hich they had $er$etrated, at hich they ere so
incensed, that they $!aced her in a chest, and con"eyed her to Aga$enor, son of AncKus,
at Tegea. ,(.*09ere they accused her of the murder of hich they themse!"es ere gui!ty,
and she suffered a $ainfu! death.
1a!irrhoS, on !earning the sad fate of A!cmKon, im$!ored Meus that her infant sons might
gro at once to manhood, and a"enge the death of their father. The ru!er of 4!ym$us
heard the $etition of the berea"ed ife, and, in anser to her $rayer, the chi!dren of
yesterday became transformed into bearded men, fu!! of strength and courage, and
thirsting for re"enge.
9astening to Tegea, they there encountered the sons of Phegeus, ho ere about to re$air
to 'e!$hi, in order to de$osit the neck!ace and "ei! in the sanctuary of A$o!!oF and before
the brothers had time to defend themse!"es, the sta!art sons of 1a!irrhoS rushed u$on
them and s!e them. They then $roceeded to Pso$his, here they ki!!ed king Phegeus
and his ife, after hich they returned to their mother ith the neck!ace and "ei!, hich,
by the command of her father Ache!ous, ere de$osited as sacred offerings in the tem$!e
of A$o!!o at 'e!$hi.
T9E 9ERA1L2'P.
After the a$otheosis of 9erac!es, his chi!dren ere so crue!!y $ersecuted by Eurystheus,
that they f!ed for $rotection to king 1eyI at Trachin, accom$anied by the aged 2o!aus, the
ne$he and !ife%!ong friend of their father, ho constituted himse!f their guide and
$rotector. But on Eurystheus demanding the surrender of the fugiti"es, the 9erac!idK,
knoing that the sma!! force at the dis$osa! of king 1eyI ou!d be a!together inadeDuate
to $rotect them against the $oerfu! king of Argos, abandoned his territory, and sought
refuge at Athens, here they ere hos$itab!y recei"ed by king 'emo$hoon, the son of
the great hero Theseus. 9e arm!y es$oused their cause, and determined to $rotect them
at a!! costs against Eurystheus, ho had des$atched a numerous force in $ursuit of them.
>hen the Athenians had made a!! necessary $re$arations to re$e! the in"aders, an orac!e
announced that the ,(./0sacrifice of a maiden of nob!e birth as necessary to ensure to
them "ictoryF hereu$on Macaria, the beautifu! daughter of 9erac!es and 'eianira,
magnanimous!y offered herse!f as a sacrifice, and, surrounded by the nob!est matrons and
maidens of Athens, "o!untari!y de"oted herse!f to death.
>hi!e these e"ents ere trans$iring in Athens, 9y!!us, the e!dest son of 9erac!es and
'eianira, had ad"anced ith a !arge army to the assistance of his brothers, and ha"ing
sent a messenger to the king announcing his arri"a!, 'emo$hoon, ith his army, joined
his forces.
2n the thick of the batt!e hich ensued, 2o!aus, fo!!oing a sudden im$u!se, borroed the
chariot of 9y!!us, and earnest!y entreated Meus and 9ebe to restore to him, for this one
day on!y, the "igour and strength of his youth. 9is $rayer as heard. A thick c!oud
descended from hea"en and en"e!o$ed the chariot, and hen it disa$$eared, 2o!aus, in the
fu!! $!enitude of man!y "igour, stood re"ea!ed before the astonished gaEe of the
combatants. 9e then !ed on his "a!iant band of arriors, and soon the enemy as in
head!ong f!ightF and Eurystheus, ho as taken $risoner, as $ut to death by the
command of king 'emo$hoon.
After gratefu!!y ackno!edging the time!y aid of the Athenians, 9y!!us, accom$anied by
the faithfu! 2o!aus and his brothers, took !ea"e of king 'emo$hoon, and $roceeded to
in"ade the Pe!o$onnesus, hich they regarded as their !afu! $atrimonyF for, according to
the i!! of Meus, it shou!d ha"e been the rightfu! $ossession of their father, the great hero
9erac!es, had not 9era ma!icious!y defeated his $!ans by causing his cousin Eurystheus
to $recede him into the or!d.
8or the s$ace of te!"e months the 9erac!idK contri"ed to maintain themse!"es in the
Pe!o$onnesusF but at the eI$iration of that time a $esti!ence broke out, hich s$read o"er
the entire $eninsu!a, and com$e!!ed the 9erac!idK to e"acuate the country and return to
Attica, here for a time they sett!ed.
After the !a$se of three years 9y!!us reso!"ed on ,(.(0making another effort to obtain his
$aterna! inheritance. Before setting out on the eI$edition, hoe"er, he consu!ted the
orac!e of 'e!$hi, and the res$onse as, that he must ait for the third fruit before the
enter$rise ou!d $ro"e successfu!. 2nter$reting this ambiguous re$!y to signify the third
summer, 9y!!us contro!!ed his im$atience for three years, hen, ha"ing co!!ected a
$oerfu! army, he once more entered the Pe!o$onnesus.
At the isthmus of 1orinth he as o$$osed by Atreus, the son of Pe!o$s, ho at the death
of Eurystheus had inherited the kingdom. 2n order to sa"e b!oodshed, 9y!!us offered to
decide his c!aims by sing!e combat, the conditions being, that if he ere "ictorious, he
and his brothers shou!d obtain undis$uted $ossession of their rightsF but if defeated, the
9erac!idK ere to desist for fifty years from attem$ting to $ress their c!aim.
The cha!!enge as acce$ted by Echemon, king of Tegea, and 9y!!us !ost his !ife in the
encounter, hereu$on the sons of 9erac!es, in "irtue of their agreement, abandoned the
Pe!o$onnesus and retired to Marathon.
9y!!us as succeeded by his son 1!eodKus, ho, at the eI$iration of the a$$ointed time,
co!!ected a !arge army and in"aded the Pe!o$onnesusF but he as not more successfu!
than his father had been, and $erished there ith a!! his forces.
Tenty years !ater his son Aristomachus consu!ted an orac!e, hich $romised him "ictory
if he ent by ay of the defi!e. The 9erac!idK once more set out, but ere again
defeated, and Aristomachus shared the fate of his father and grandfather, and fe!! on the
fie!d of batt!e.
>hen, at the eI$iration of thirty years, the sons of Aristomachus, Temenus, 1res$hontes,
and Aristodemus again consu!ted the orac!e, the anser as sti!! the sameF but this time
the fo!!oing eI$!anation accom$anied the res$onse& the third fruit signified the third
generation, to hich they themse!"es be!onged, and not the third fruit of the earthF and by
the defi!e as indicated, not the isthmus of 1orinth, but the straits on the right of the
isthmus.
,(.)0
Temenus !ost no time in co!!ecting an army and bui!ding shi$s of arF but just as a!! as
ready and the f!eet about to sai!, Aristodemus, the youngest of the brothers, as struck by
!ightning. To add to their misfortunes, 9i$$o!ytes, a descendant of 9erac!es, ho had
joined in the eI$edition, ki!!ed a soothsayer hom he mistook for a s$y, and the gods, in
their dis$!easure, sent "io!ent tem$ests, by means of hich the entire f!eet as destroyed,
hi!st famine and $esti!ence decimated the ranks of the army.
The orac!e, on being again consu!ted, ad"ised that 9i$$o!ytes, being the offender, shou!d
be banished from the country for ten years, and that the command of the troo$s shou!d be
de!egated to a man ha"ing three eyes. A search as at once instituted by the 9erac!idK
for a man ansering to this descri$tion, ho as found at !ength in the $erson of 4Iy!us,
a descendant of the Pto!ian race of kings. 2n obedience to the command of the orac!e,
9i$$o!ytes as banished, an army and f!eet once more eDui$$ed, and 4Iy!us e!ected
commander%in%chief.
And no success at !ength croned the efforts of the !ong%suffering descendants of the
great hero. They obtained $ossession of the Pe!o$onnesus, hich as di"ided among
them by !ot. Argos fe!! to Temenus, LacedKmon to Aristodemus, and Messene to
1res$hontes. 2n gratitude for the ser"ices of their ab!e !eader, 4Iy!us, the kingdom of
E!is, as conferred u$on him by the 9erac!idK.
T9E 32EGE 48 TR4#.
Troy or 2!ion as the ca$ita! of a kingdom in Asia Minor, situated near the 9e!!es$ont,
and founded by 2!us, son of Tros. At the time of the famous Trojan ar this city as
under the go"ernment of Priam, a direct descendant of 2!us. Priam as married to
9ecuba, daughter of 'ymas, king of ThraceF and among the most ce!ebrated of their
chi!dren ere the renoned and ,(.C0"a!iant 9ector, the $ro$hetess 1assandra, and Paris,
the cause of the Trojan ar.
Before the birth of her second son Paris, 9ecuba dreamt that she had gi"en birth to a
f!aming brand, hich as inter$reted by Psacus the seer Ga son of Priam by a former
marriageH to signify that she ou!d bear a son ho ou!d cause the destruction of the city
of Troy. AnIious to $re"ent the fu!fi!ment of the $ro$hecy, 9ecuba caused her ne%born
babe to be eI$osed on Mount 2da to $erishF but being found by some kind%hearted
she$herds, the chi!d as reared by them, and gre u$ unconscious of his nob!e birth.
As the boy a$$roached manhood he became remarkab!e, not on!y for his onderfu!
beauty of form and feature, but a!so for his strength and courage, hich he eIercised in
defending the f!ocks from the attacks of robbers and i!d beastsF hence he as ca!!ed
A!eIander, or he!$er of men. 2t as about this time that he sett!ed the famous dis$ute
concerning the go!den a$$!e, thron by the goddess of 'iscord into the assemb!y of the
gods. As e ha"e a!ready seen, he ga"e his decision in fa"our of A$hroditeF thus creating
for himse!f to im$!acab!e enemies, for 9era and Athene ne"er forga"e the s!ight.
Paris became united to a beautifu! nym$h named Qnone, ith hom he !i"ed ha$$i!y in
the sec!usion and tranDui!!ity of a $astora! !ifeF but to her dee$ grief this $eacefu!
eIistence as not fated to be of !ong duration.
9earing that some funerea! games ere about to be he!d in Troy in honour of a de$arted
re!ati"e of the king, Paris reso!"ed to "isit the ca$ita! and take $art in them himse!f. There
he so great!y distinguished himse!f in a contest ith his unknon brothers, 9ector and
'ei$hobus, that the $roud young $rinces, enraged that an obscure she$herd shou!d snatch
from them the $riEe of "ictory, ere about to create a disturbance, hen 1assandra, ho
had been a s$ectator of the $roceedings, ste$$ed forard, and announced to them that the
humb!e $easant ho had so signa!!y defeated them as their on ,(.50brother Paris. 9e
as then conducted to the $resence of his $arents, ho joyfu!!y ackno!edged him as
their chi!dF and amidst the festi"ities and rejoicings in honour of their ne%found son the
ominous $rediction of the $ast as forgotten.
As a $roof of his confidence, the king no intrusted Paris ith a somehat de!icate
mission. As e ha"e a!ready seen in the Legend of 9erac!es, that great hero conDuered
Troy, and after ki!!ing king Laomedon, carried aay ca$ti"e his beautifu! daughter
9esione, hom he bestoed in marriage on his friend Te!amon. But a!though she became
$rincess of 3a!amis, and !i"ed ha$$i!y ith her husband, her brother Priam ne"er ceased
to regret her !oss, and the indignity hich had been $assed u$on his houseF and it as
no $ro$osed that Paris shou!d be eDui$$ed ith a numerous f!eet, and $roceed to
Greece in order to demand the restoration of the kingRs sister.
Before setting out on this eI$edition, Paris as arned by 1assandra against bringing
home a ife from Greece, and she $redicted that if he disregarded her injunction he
ou!d bring ine"itab!e ruin u$on the city of Troy, and destruction to the house of Priam.
;nder the command of Paris the f!eet set sai!, and arri"ed safe!y in Greece. 9ere the
young Trojan $rince first behe!d 9e!en, the daughter of Meus and Leda, and sister of the
'ioscuri, ho as the ife of Mene!aus, king of 3$arta, and the !o"e!iest oman of her
time. The most renoned heroes in Greece had sought the honour of her handF but her
ste$father, Tyndareus, king of 3$arta, fearing that if he bestoed her in marriage on one
of her numerous !o"ers he ou!d make enemies of the rest, made it a sti$u!ation that a!!
suitors shou!d so!emn!y sear to assist and defend the successfu! candidate, ith a!! the
means at their command, in any feud hich might hereafter arise in connection ith the
marriage. 9e at !ength conferred the hand of 9e!en u$on Mene!aus, a ar!ike $rince,
de"oted to martia! eIercises and the $!easures of the chase, to hom he resigned his
throne and kingdom.
,(.N0
>hen Paris arri"ed at 3$arta, and sought hos$ita!ity at the roya! $a!ace, he as kind!y
recei"ed by king Mene!aus. At the banDuet gi"en in his honour, he charmed both host and
hostess by his gracefu! manner and "aried accom$!ishments, and s$ecia!!y ingratiated
himse!f ith the fair 9e!en, to hom he $resented some rare and chaste trinkets of
Asiatic manufacture.
>hi!st Paris as sti!! a guest at the court of the king of 3$arta, the !atter recei"ed an
in"itation from his friend 2domeneus, king of 1rete, to join him in a hunting eI$editionF
and Mene!aus, being of an unsus$icious and easy tem$erament, acce$ted the in"itation,
!ea"ing to 9e!en the duty of entertaining the distinguished stranger. 1a$ti"ated by her
sur$assing !o"e!iness, the Trojan $rince forgot e"ery sense of honour and duty, and
reso!"ed to rob his absent host of his beautifu! ife. 9e according!y co!!ected his
fo!!oers, and ith their assistance stormed the roya! cast!e, $ossessed himse!f of the rich
treasures hich it contained, and succeeded in carrying off its beautifu!, and not
a!together uni!!ing mistress.
They at once set sai!, but ere dri"en by stress of eather to the is!and of 1rania, here
they cast anchorF and it as not unti! some years had e!a$sed, during hich time home
and country ere forgotten, that Paris and 9e!en $roceeded to Troy.
Pre$arations for the >ar.J>hen Mene!aus heard of the "io!ation of his hearth and home
he $roceeded to Py!os, accom$anied by his brother Agamemnon, in order to consu!t the
ise o!d king <estor, ho as renoned for his great eI$erience and state%craft. 4n
hearing the facts of the case <estor eI$ressed it as his o$inion that on!y by means of the
combined efforts of a!! the states of Greece cou!d Mene!aus ho$e to regain 9e!en in
defiance of so $oerfu! a kingdom as that of Troy.
Mene!aus and Agamemnon no raised the ar%cry, hich as unanimous!y res$onded to
from one end of Greece to the other. Many of those ho "o!unteered ,(.+0their ser"ices
ere former suitors of the fair 9e!en, and ere therefore bound by their oath to su$$ort
the cause of Mene!ausF others joined from $ure !o"e of ad"enture, but one and a!! ere
dee$!y im$ressed ith the disgrace hich ou!d attach to their country shou!d such a
crime be suffered to go un$unished. Thus a $oerfu! army as co!!ected in hich fe
names of note ere missing.
4n!y in the case of to great heroes, 4dysseus G;!yssesH and Achi!!es, did Mene!aus
eI$erience any difficu!ty.
4dysseus, famed for his isdom and great astuteness, as at this time !i"ing ha$$i!y in
2thaca ith his fair young ife Pene!o$e and his !itt!e son Te!emachus, and as !oath to
!ea"e his ha$$y home for a $eri!ous foreign eI$edition of uncertain duration. >hen
therefore his ser"ices ere so!icited he feigned madnessF but the shred Pa!amedes, a
distinguished hero in the suite of Mene!aus, detected and eI$osed the ruse, and thus
4dysseus as forced to join in the ar. But he ne"er forga"e the interference of
Pa!amedes, and, as e sha!! see, e"entua!!y re"enged himse!f u$on him in a most crue!
manner.
Achi!!es as the son of Pe!eus and the sea%goddess Thetis, ho is said to ha"e di$$ed her
son, hen a babe, in the ri"er 3tyI, and thereby rendered him in"u!nerab!e, eIce$t in the
right hee!, by hich she he!d him. >hen the boy as nine years o!d it as foreto!d to
Thetis that he ou!d either enjoy a !ong !ife of ing!orious ease and inacti"ity, or that after
a brief career of "ictory he ou!d die the death of a hero. <atura!!y desirous of
$ro!onging the !ife of her son, the fond mother de"out!y ho$ed that the former fate might
be a!!otted to him. >ith this "ie she con"eyed him to the is!and of 3cyros, in the Pgean
3ea, here, disguised as a gir!, he as brought u$ among the daughters of Lycomedes,
king of the country.
<o that the $resence of Achi!!es as reDuired, oing to an oracu!ar $rediction that Troy
cou!d not be taken ithout him, Mene!aus consu!ted 1a!chas the soothsayer, ho
re"ea!ed to him the $!ace of his concea!ment. 4dysseus as according!y des$atched to
3cyros, here, by ,(..0means of a c!e"er de"ice, he soon disco"ered hich among the
maidens as the object of his search. 'isguising himse!f as a merchant, 4dysseus
obtained an introduction to the roya! $a!ace, here he offered to the kingRs daughters
"arious trinkets for sa!e. The gir!s, ith one eIce$tion, a!! eIamined his ares ith
unfeigned interest. 4bser"ing this circumstance 4dysseus shred!y conc!uded that the
one ho he!d a!oof must be none other than the young Achi!!es himse!f. But in order
further to test the correctness of his deduction, he no eIhibited a beautifu! set of ar!ike
accoutrements, hi!st, at a gi"en signa!, stirring strains of martia! music ere heard
outsideF hereu$on Achi!!es, fired ith ar!ike ardour, seiEed the ea$ons, and thus
re"ea!ed his identity. 9e no joined the cause of the Greeks, accom$anied at the reDuest
of his father by his kinsman Patroc!us, and contributed to the eI$edition a !arge force of
Thessa!ian troo$s, or Myrmidons, as they ere ca!!ed, and a!so fifty shi$s.
8or ten !ong years Agamemnon and the other chiefs de"oted a!! their energy and means in
$re$aring for the eI$edition against Troy. But during these ar!ike $re$arations an
attem$t at a $eacefu! so!ution of the difficu!ty as not neg!ected. An embassy consisting
of Mene!aus, 4dysseus, Bc., as des$atched to king Priam demanding the surrender of
9e!enF but though the embassy as recei"ed ith the utmost $om$ and ceremony, the
demand as ne"erthe!ess rejectedF u$on hich the ambassadors returned to Greece, and
the order as gi"en for the f!eet to assemb!e at Au!is, in BLotia.
<e"er before in the anna!s of Greece had so !arge an army been co!!ected. A hundred
thousand arriors ere assemb!ed at Au!is, and in its bay f!oated o"er a thousand shi$s,
ready to con"ey them to the Trojan coast. The command of this mighty host as intrusted
to Agamemnon, king of Argos, the most $oerfu! of a!! the Greek $rinces.
Before the f!eet set sai! so!emn sacrifices ere offered to the gods on the sea%shore, hen
sudden!y a ser$ent as seen to ascend a $!ane%tree, in hich as a s$arroRs ,(.60nest
containing nine young ones. The re$ti!e first de"oured the young birds and then their
mother, after hich it as turned by Meus into stone. 1a!chas the soothsayer, on being
consu!ted, inter$reted the mirac!e to signify that the ar ith Troy ou!d !ast for nine
years, and that on!y in the tenth ou!d the city be taken.
'e$arture of the Greek 8!eet.JThe f!eet then set sai!F but mistaking the Mysian coast for
that of Troy, they !anded troo$s and commenced to ra"age the country. Te!e$hus, king of
the Mysians, ho as a son of the great hero 9erac!es, o$$osed them ith a !arge army,
and succeeded in dri"ing them back to their shi$s, but as himse!f ounded in the
engagement by the s$ear of Achi!!es. Patroc!us, ho fought "a!iant!y by the side of his
kinsman, as a!so ounded in this batt!eF but Achi!!es, ho as a $u$i! of 1hiron,
carefu!!y bound u$ the ound, hich he succeeded in hea!ingF and from this incident
dates the ce!ebrated friendshi$ hich e"er after eIisted beteen the to heroes, ho
e"en in death remained united.
The Greeks no returned to Au!is. Meanhi!e, the ound of Te!e$hus $ro"ing incurab!e,
he consu!ted an orac!e, and the res$onse as, that he a!one ho had inf!icted the ound
$ossessed the $oer of curing it. Te!e$hus according!y $roceeded to the Greek cam$,
here he as hea!ed by Achi!!es, and, at the so!icitation of 4dysseus, consented to act as
guide in the "oyage to Troy.
:ust as the eI$edition as about to start for the second time, Agamemnon had the
misfortune to ki!! a hind sacred to Artemis, ho, in her anger, sent continuous ca!ms,
hich $re"ented the f!eet from setting sai!. 1a!chas on being consu!ted announced that
the sacrifice of 2$higenia, the daughter of Agamemnon, ou!d a!one a$$ease the incensed
goddess. 9o Agamemnon at !ength o"ercame his fee!ings as a father, and ho 2$higenia
as sa"ed by Artemis herse!f, has been a!ready re!ated in a $re"ious cha$ter.
A fair ind ha"ing at !ength s$rung u$, the f!eet ,(6*0once more set sai!. They first
sto$$ed at the is!and of Tenedos, here the famous archer Phi!octetesJho $ossessed
the bo and arros of 9erac!es, gi"en to him by the dying heroJas bitten in the foot
by a "enomous snake. 3o unbearab!e as the odour emitted by the ound, that, at the
suggestion of 4dysseus, Phi!octetes as con"eyed to the is!and of Lesbos, here, to his
great chagrin, he as abandoned to his fate, and the f!eet $roceeded on their journey to
Troy.
1ommencement of 9osti!ities.J9a"ing recei"ed ear!y inte!!igence of the im$ending
in"asion of their country, the Trojans sought the assistance of the neighbouring states,
ho a!! ga!!ant!y res$onded to their ca!! for he!$, and thus am$!e $re$arations ere made
to recei"e the enemy. =ing Priam being himse!f too ad"anced in years for acti"e ser"ice,
the command of the army de"o!"ed u$on his e!dest son, the bra"e and "a!iant 9ector.
At the a$$roach of the Greek f!eet the Trojans a$$eared on the coast in order to $re"ent
their !anding. But great hesitation $re"ai!ed among the troo$s as to ho shou!d be the
first to set foot on the enemyRs soi!, it ha"ing been $redicted that hoe"er did so ou!d
fa!! a sacrifice to the 8ates. Protesi!aus of Phy!ace, hoe"er, nob!y disregarding the
ominous $rediction, !ea$ed on shore, and fe!! by the hand of 9ector.
The Greeks then succeeded in effecting a !anding, and in the engagement hich ensued
the Trojans ere signa!!y defeated, and dri"en to seek safety behind the a!!s of their
city. >ith Achi!!es at their head the Greeks no made a des$erate attem$t to take the city
by storm, but ere re$u!sed ith terrib!e !osses. After this defeat the in"aders, foreseeing
a !ong and earisome cam$aign, dre u$ their shi$s on !and, erected tents, huts, Bc., and
formed an intrenched cam$ on the coast.
Beteen the Greek cam$ and the city of Troy as a $!ain atered by the ri"ers
3camander and 3imois, and it as on this $!ain, afterards so renoned in history,
,(6/0that the e"er memorab!e batt!es beteen the Greeks and Trojans ere fought.
The im$ossibi!ity of taking the city by storm as no recogniEed by the !eaders of the
Greek forces. The Trojans, on their side, being !ess numerous than the enemy, dared not
"enture on a great batt!e in the o$en fie!dF hence the ar dragged on for many eary
years ithout any decisi"e engagement taking $!ace.
2t as about this time that 4dysseus carried out his !ong meditated re"enge against
Pa!amedes. Pa!amedes as one of the isest, most energetic, and most u$right of a!! the
Greek heroes, and it as in conseDuence of his unf!agging Eea! and onderfu! e!oDuence
that most of the chiefs had been induced to join the eI$edition. But the "ery Dua!ities
hich endeared him to the hearts of his countrymen rendered him hatefu! in the eyes of
his im$!acab!e enemy, 4dysseus, ho ne"er forga"e his ha"ing detected his scheme to
a"oid joining the army.
2n order to effect the ruin of Pa!amedes, 4dysseus concea!ed in his tent a "ast sum of
money. 9e neIt rote a !etter, $ur$orting to be from king Priam to Pa!amedes, in hich
the former thanked the Greek hero effusi"e!y for the "a!uab!e information recei"ed from
him, referring at the same time to a !arge sum of money hich he had sent to him as a
reard. This !etter, hich as found u$on the $erson of a Phrygian $risoner, as read
a!oud in a counci! of the Greek $rinces. Pa!amedes as arraigned before the chiefs of the
army and accused of betraying his country to the enemy, hereu$on a search as
instituted, and a !arge sum of money being found in his tent, he as $ronounced gui!ty
and sentenced to be stoned to death. Though fu!!y aare of the base treachery $ractised
against him, Pa!amedes offered not a ord in se!f%defence, knoing but too e!! that, in
the face of such damning e"idence, the attem$t to $ro"e his innocence ou!d be "ain.
'efection of Achi!!es.J'uring the first year of the cam$aign the Greeks ra"aged the
surrounding country, ,(6(0and $i!!aged the neighbouring "i!!ages. ;$on one of these
foraging eI$editions the city of Pedasus as sacked, and Agamemnon, as commander%in%
chief, recei"ed as his share of the s$oi! the beautifu! 1hrysSis, daughter of 1hryses, the
$riest of A$o!!oF hi!st to Achi!!es as a!!otted another ca$ti"e, the fair BrisSis. The
fo!!oing day 1hryses, anIious to ransom his daughter, re$aired to the Greek cam$F but
Agamemnon refused to accede to his $ro$osa!, and ith rude and insu!ting ords dro"e
the o!d man aay. 8u!! of grief at the !oss of his chi!d 1hryses ca!!ed u$on A$o!!o for
"engeance on her ca$tor. 9is $rayer as heard, and the god sent a dreadfu! $esti!ence
hich raged for ten days in the cam$ of the Greeks. Achi!!es at !ength ca!!ed together a
counci!, and inDuired of 1a!chas the soothsayer ho to arrest this terrib!e "isitation of the
gods. The seer re$!ied that A$o!!o, incensed at the insu!t offered to his $riest, had sent the
$!ague, and that on!y by the surrender of 1hrysSis cou!d his anger be a$$eased.
4n hearing this Agamemnon agreed to resign the maidenF but being a!ready embittered
against 1a!chas for his $rediction ith regard to his on daughter 2$higenia, he no
hea$ed insu!ts u$on the soothsayer and accused him of $!otting against his interests.
Achi!!es es$oused the cause of 1a!chas, and a "io!ent dis$ute arose, in hich the son of
Thetis ou!d ha"e ki!!ed his chief but for the time!y interference of Pa!!as%Athene, ho
sudden!y a$$eared beside him, unseen by the rest, and reca!!ed him to a sense of the duty
he oed to his commander. Agamemnon re"enged himse!f on Achi!!es by de$ri"ing him
of his beautifu! ca$ti"e, the fair BrisSis, ho had become so attached to her kind and
nob!e ca$tor that she e$t bitter!y on being remo"ed from his charge. Achi!!es, no
fair!y disgusted ith the ungenerous conduct of his chief, ithdre himse!f to his tent,
and obstinate!y dec!ined to take further $art in the ar.
9eart%sore and dejected he re$aired to the sea%shore, and there in"oked the $resence of
his di"ine mother. 2n anser to his $rayer Thetis emerged from beneath ,(6)0the a"es,
and comforted her ga!!ant son ith the assurance that she ou!d entreat the mighty Meus
to a"enge his rongs by gi"ing "ictory to the Trojans, so that the Greeks might !earn to
rea!iEe the great !oss hich they had sustained by his ithdraa! from the army. The
Trojans being informed by one of their s$ies of the defection of Achi!!es, became
embo!dened by the absence of this bra"e and intre$id !eader, hom they feared abo"e a!!
the other Greek heroesF they according!y sa!!ied forth, and made a bo!d and eminent!y
successfu! attack u$on the Greeks, ho, a!though they most bra"e!y and obstinate!y
defended their $osition, ere com$!ete!y routed, and dri"en back to their intrenchments,
Agamemnon and most of the other Greek !eaders being ounded in the engagement.
Encouraged by this marked and signa! success the Trojans no commenced to besiege
the Greeks in their on cam$. At this juncture Agamemnon, seeing the danger hich
threatened the army, sunk for the moment a!! $ersona! grie"ances, and des$atched an
embassy to Achi!!es consisting of many nob!e and distinguished chiefs, urgent!y
entreating him to come to the assistance of his countrymen in this their hour of $eri!F
$romising that not on!y shou!d the fair BrisSis be restored to him, but a!so that the hand
of his on daughter shou!d be bestoed on him in marriage, ith se"en tons as her
dory. But the obstinate determination of the $roud hero as not to be mo"edF and
though he !istened courteous!y to the arguments and re$resentations of the messengers of
Agamemnon, his reso!ution to take no further $art in the ar remained unshaken.
2n one of the engagements hich took $!ace soon afterards, the Trojans, under the
command of 9ector, $enetrated into the heart of the Greek cam$, and had a!ready
commenced to burn their shi$s, hen Patroc!us, seeing the distress of his countrymen,
earnest!y besought Achi!!es to send him to the rescue at the head of the Myrmidons. The
better nature of the hero $re"ai!ed, and he not on!y intrusted to his friend the command of
,(6C0his bra"e band of arriors, but !ent him a!so his on suit of armour.
Patroc!us ha"ing mounted the ar%chariot of the hero, Achi!!es !ifted on high a go!den
gob!et and $oured out a !ibation of ine to the gods, accom$anied by an earnest $etition
for "ictory, and the safe return of his be!o"ed comrade. As a $arting injunction he arned
Patroc!us against ad"ancing too far into the territory of the enemy, and entreated him to
be content ith rescuing the ga!!eys.
At the head of the Myrmidons Patroc!us no made a des$erate attack u$on the enemy,
ho, thinking that the in"incib!e Achi!!es as himse!f in command of his batta!ions,
became disheartened, and ere $ut to f!ight. Patroc!us fo!!oed u$ his "ictory and
$ursued the Trojans as far as the a!!s of their city, a!together forgetting in the eIcitement
of batt!e the injunction of his friend Achi!!es. But his temerity cost the young hero his
!ife, for he no encountered the mighty 9ector himse!f, and fe!! by his hands. 9ector
stri$$ed the armour from his dead foe, and ou!d ha"e dragged the body into the city had
not Mene!aus and AjaI the Greater rushed forard, and after a !ong and fierce strugg!e
succeeded in rescuing it from desecration.
'eath of 9ector.JAnd no came the mournfu! task of informing Achi!!es of the fate of
his friend. 9e e$t bitter!y o"er the dead body of his comrade, and so!emn!y "oed that
the funerea! rites shou!d not be so!emniEed in his honour unti! he had s!ain 9ector ith
his on hands, and ca$tured te!"e Trojans to be immo!ated on his funera! $yre. A!!
other considerations "anished before the burning desire to a"enge the death of his friendF
and Achi!!es, no thorough!y aroused from his a$athy, became reconci!ed to
Agamemnon, and rejoined the Greek army. At the reDuest of the goddess Thetis,
9e$hKstus forged for him a ne suit of armour, hich far sur$assed in magnificence that
of a!! the other heroes.
Thus g!orious!y arrayed he as soon seen striding ,(650a!ong, ca!!ing the Greeks to arms.
9e no !ed the troo$s against the enemy, ho ere defeated and $ut to f!ight unti!, near
the gates of the city, Achi!!es and 9ector encountered each other. But here, for the first
time throughout his ho!e career, the courage of the Trojan hero deserted him. At the
near a$$roach of his redoubtab!e antagonist he turned and f!ed for his !ife. Achi!!es
$ursued himF and thrice round the a!!s of the city as the terrib!e race run, in sight of
the o!d king and Dueen, ho had mounted the a!!s to atch the batt!e. 9ector
endea"oured, during each course, to reach the city gates, so that his comrades might o$en
them to admit him or co"er him ith their missi!esF but his ad"ersary, seeing his design,
forced him into the o$en $!ain, at the same time ca!!ing to his friends to hur! no s$ear
u$on his foe, but to !ea"e to him the "engeance he had so !ong $anted for. At !ength,
earied ith the hot $ursuit, 9ector made a stand and cha!!enged his foe to sing!e
combat. A des$erate encounter took $!ace, in hich 9ector succumbed to his $oerfu!
ad"ersary at the 3cKan gateF and ith his !ast dying breath the Trojan hero foreto!d to his
conDueror that he himse!f ou!d soon $erish on the same s$ot.