lowing: “One self-existent lives; created things Arise from him; and He is all in all. No mortal sight may see Him, yet H

t may see Him, yet Himself Sees all that live; ………………………… ………………… For He alone All heavenly is, and all terrestrial things

e Muses. Vulcan was smith, architect and chariot builder to the gods. He built their dwellings on Olympus, and constructed

rch of Cadmus — Punishment of Lycaon. Ques. Who was Jupiter? Ans. He was the king and father of gods and men. He is ge

s. Who was Jupiter? Ans. He was the king and father of gods and men. He is generally represented as a majestic man with a

s a majestic man with a beard, sitting on a throne of gold and ivory. He brandishes the thunder in his right hand; giants

mer, nor so cold in winter. Ques. Of whom was Jupiter the son? Ans. He was the son of Saturn and Ops. According to the f

l. Jupiter conquered the Titans, and delivered his father and mother. He afterwards took up arms against Saturn himself, w

s took up arms against Saturn himself, whom he overcame and banished. He then shared his power with his two brothers, Nept

was married to Juno, to whom he first appeared in the form of a crow. He constantly excited her jealousy by his admiration

the beauty of Europa, daughter of Agenor [Age′nor], king of Phœnicia. He took the form of a snow-white bull, and mingled w

owned him with flowers, and at length fearlessly mounted on his back. He immediately plunged into the sea, and carried her

father, went to consult the oracle of Apollo as to what he should do. He was directed by the god to follow a young heifer,

the fields, and to mark the place where she should lie down to rest. He was to build a city on that spot, and call the su

e impious prince had just received an ambassador from the Molossians. He ordered him to be slain, and his flesh to be serv

n Of Daphne — Things Sacred To Apollo. Ques. Who was Apollo? Ans. He was the son of Jupiter and Latona [Lato′na]. This

god generally represented? Ans. As a young man, comely and graceful. He wears a laurel crown over his flowing hair; his g

Ques. What was the cause of Apollo’s being driven from heaven? Ans. He had a son named Æsculapius, who was so skilled in

rom heaven. Ques. How did he occupy himself in his banishment? Ans. He guarded the flocks of Admetus, king of Thessaly.

to heaven. Ques. What favor did Apollo confer on King Admetus? Ans. He obtained from the Fates, that when Admetus should

upon this story. Ques. Over what sciences did Apollo preside? Ans. He presided over physic, music, poetry, and rhetoric

music, poetry, and rhetoric; and the nine Muses were subject to him. He regulated the day by guiding the chariot of the s

said of Apollo? Ans. Many absurd and impossible adventures are told. He seems to have been very vain of his musical skill

plants, stones and all around him transformed into glittering metal. He soon perceived his folly, however, for when, pres

famous ever after for its golden sands. Ques. Who was Phæton? Ans. He was the son of Phœbus and Clymene [Clym′ene]. At

ars — His Temple — Priests called Salii. Ques. Who was Mars? Ans. He was the son of Jupiter and Juno, and was worshipp

hich guards against surprise. Ques. What other names had Mars? Ans. He was called Quirinus [Quiri′nus] when he was quiet

n of Thieves — Story of Io and Argus. Ques. Who was Mercury? Ans. He was the son of Jupiter and Maia [Ma′ia], the daug

nds of Jupiter. Mercury is commonly called the messenger of the gods. He also swept the room where the gods supped, and ma

pped, and made their beds. Ques. What else is said of Mercury? Ans. He was the inventor of letters, and excelled in eloq

the tools of Vulcan, the girdle of Venus, and the sceptre of Jupiter. He intended also to steal Jove’s thunderbolts, but w

Ans. Io, the daughter of Inachus [In′achus], was beloved by Jupiter. He strove to hide her from the anger of Juno by tran

sformation of Mariners into Dolphins. Ques. Who was Bacchus? Ans. He was the son of Jupiter and Semele [Sem′ele] and w

sometimes by panthers and lynxes, and sometimes by tigers and lions. He carries in his hand a thyrsus — that is, a staff

cated by some nymphs. Ques. How did Bacchus reward their care? Ans. He transformed them into the stars known as the Hyad

the nymphs in their care of Bacchus? Ans. An old man named Silenus. He was considered a demi-god. Ques. How is Silenus

e was considered a demi-god. Ques. How is Silenus represented? Ans. He seems to be the personification of drunkenness; h

car of Bacchus. Ques. What were the first exploits of Bacchus? Ans. He distinguished himself in the combats between the

to the latter. Ques. What other actions are attributed to him? Ans. He taught men how to plant the vine and till the gro

o him? Ans. He taught men how to plant the vine and till the ground. He is said to have subdued India, and many other cou

ues. Relate the story of Pentheus? Ans. Pentheus was king of Thebes. He not only refused to acknowledge the divinity of B

of Chios. Ques. What is the origin of the history of Bacchus? Ans. He was probably some prince who taught the people to

he was obliged to use great precaution to avoid the same misfortune. He looked, therefore, not at Medusa, but at her refl

dusa’s head did him good service, by changing his enemies into stone. He afterwards gave the head to Minerva, who fixed it

rly, that Jupiter himself was not able to bring them to an agreement. He resolved, therefore, to refer the matter to the d

rth that he was destined to cause the destruction of his native city. He was, therefore, exposed on Mount Ida, where he wa

eautiful woman in the world. Paris then pronounced Venus the fairest. He was soon after acknowledged by his father, King P

d the beautiful Atalanta into a lioness. Ques. Who was Adonis? Ans. He was a beautiful youth, the son of Cinyras [Cin′yr

son of Cinyras [Cin′yras], king of Cyprus, and was beloved by Venus. He was killed by a wild boar, while hunting with tha

hich returned to his hand stained with the blood of his beloved wife. He hastened to the spot, but it was too late, and Pr

ion, and changed him into a grasshopper. Ques. Who was Memnon? Ans. He was king of the Ethiopians, and son of Tithonus a

s been furnished by Mr.  Wilkinson, an intelligent English traveller. He discovered in the lap of the statue a stone, whic

Janus — Quirinus at Rome. Saturn. Ques. Who was Saturn? Ans. He was the son of Cœlum and Terra. He was married to

n. Ques. Who was Saturn? Ans. He was the son of Cœlum and Terra. He was married to Ops, or Rhea, and was the father o

l that it brings forth. Ques. How did Saturn lose his kingdom? Ans. He was deposed by Jupiter, and was obliged to take r

s without labor. Ques. What sacrifices were offered to Saturn? Ans. He was worshipped with human sacrifices, which seems

have been the same as Noah. Janus. Ques. Who was Janus? Ans. He was an ancient Italian deity, of whose origin ver

Italian deity, of whose origin very contradictory accounts are given. He was supposed to have reigned in Italy in the time

e of Saturn, and to have associated that god with him in the kingdom. He was generally represented with two faces, and was

ally represented with two faces, and was called hence, Janus Bifrons. He had many temples in Rome. The gates of the chief

cus — Cæculus — Other Works of Vulcan. Ques. Who was Vulcan? Ans. He was the son of Jupiter and Juno, but was cast dow

but was cast down from heaven on account of his deformed appearance. He landed in Lemnos, but broke his leg in the fall,

n anvil with tools in his hand. Ques. What was his occupation? Ans. He had a blacksmith shop in Lemnos, where he manufac

, from whom the noble Roman family of the Cæcilii derived their name. He was the founder of the city of Præneste. One fabl

drunk with wine, put out his single eye with a firebrand and escaped. He embarked in haste, pursued by the monster; his co

ment from Olympus. Æolus. Ques. Who was Æolus [Æ′olus]? Ans. He was the god of the winds; he could imprison them

empests whenever he pleased. Momus. Ques. Who was Momus? Ans. He was the son of Night and Sleep; the name Momus si

Momus was called upon to decide their merits, but he blamed them all. He said that Neptune was imprudent in not placing th

ehead, before his eyes, that he might give a stronger and surer blow. He found fault with Minerva’s house, because it was

and could not be carried away if it were placed among bad neighbors. He said that Vulcan was the worst of all, because he

e goddesses were willing to marry Pluto, or share his gloomy kingdom. He determined, nevertheless, to obtain a wife, even

mus, and sent him through the world to teach mankind the use of corn. He executed the commands of Ceres, and wherever he w

— Terminus — Vertumnus — Pales. Pan. Ques. Who was Pan? Ans. He was a woodland deity, and was honored by the Roma

ds, which they did. Pan saw the transformation, and was much grieved. He took some of the reeds away for a remembrance. On

alf man and half goat. Terminus. Ques. Who was Terminus? Ans. He was the god of boundaries. His statue was only a

efused to give way. Vertumnus. Ques. Who was this deity? Ans. He is generally reckoned as one of the rural divinit

bdis — Melicertes — Thetis — Glaucus. Ques. Who was Neptune? Ans. He was the son of Saturn and Ops, and was worshipped

empests were appeased. Ques. What were the offices of Neptune? Ans. He conducted ships safely to port, and presided over

Triton, and Phorcus or Proteus. Ques. What is told of Phorcus? Ans. He was vanquished by Atlas, and drowned in the sea;

nstantaneously into any shape he wished. Ques. Who was Triton? Ans. He was the son of Neptune and Amphitrite, and was hi

to steer successfully between them. Ques. Who was Melicertes? Ans. He was the son of Athamas, king of Thebes, and of In

nd her children for wild beasts, and pursued them through the palace. He killed his son Learchus by dashing him against a

er the name of Leucothea, while Melicertes was worshipped as Palæmon. He was supposed to have power in saving vessels from

almoneus — Elysium. Pluto — Hades. Ques. Who was Pluto? Ans. He was the son of Saturn and Ops, and the brother of

efore called the king of Hell. Ques. How is Pluto represented? Ans. He is seated on a throne in the midst of clouds and

the god of riches, and was supposed to be the son of Jason and Ceres. He is described as being blind and lame, injudicious

ble eruptions of the volcano. Tityus was still more cruelly punished. He was chained to the ground in the infernal regions

ed, that his punishment might be eternal. Ques. Who was Ixion? Ans. He was the son of Phlegyas, or, according to some, o

on? Ans. He was the son of Phlegyas, or, according to some, of Mars. He boasted falsely that he had gained the affections

hich revolved continually. Ques. Who was Sisyphus [Sis′yphus]? Ans. He was a famous robber who was slain by Theseus. In

he was tormented with unceasing toil. Ques. Who was Tantalus? Ans. He was the son of Jupiter. He invited the gods to a

asing toil. Ques. Who was Tantalus? Ans. He was the son of Jupiter. He invited the gods to a feast, at which he served u

eir divinity. In hell he is tormented by continual hunger and thirst. He stands up to his lips in a cool fountain, whose w

ave three heads and three bodies, and passed into fable as a monster. He was probably a wicked and cruel prince. There wer

and he was now equipped for his labors by the liberality of the gods. He received a sword from Mercury, a bow from Apollo,

Twelve Labors of Hercules. Ans. They are briefly as follows: First. He killed a terrible lion which raged in the Nemean

imal, and leaning on the club which was his ordinary weapon. Second. He destroyed the Hydra, a serpent with fifty heads,

cut off one of the heads of this serpent, two immediately sprang up. He commanded an attendant to burn the wound with a f

rebrand, and by this means he at length cut off the last head. Third. He captured the savage wild boar of Mount Erymanthus

that he shut himself up in a brazen apartment of his palace. Fourth. He caught, after a chase which lasted an entire year

ich was sacred to Diana. It had golden horns and brazen feet. Fifth. He killed, or drove away from Lake Stymphalus [Stymp

ympha′lus], certain voracious birds which fed on human flesh. Sixth. He defeated the Amazons, and obtained as a spoil, th

fected by turning the course of a river through the stables. Eighth. He tamed the wild bull of Crete, and brought him bou

the wild bull of Crete, and brought him bound to Eurystheus. Ninth. He overcame Diomedes, tyrant of Thrace, who fed his

s caused him, in turn, to serve as food to these same horses. Tenth. He overcame Geryon [Ger′yon], who had three heads an

his monster, which were accustomed to feed on human flesh. Eleventh. He killed the dragon that watched the golden apple i

ad brought him the garment, by the foot, and hurled him into the sea. He then fled in his agony to the summit of Mount Œta

who pitied the sufferings of the dying hero, and obeyed his command. He received the bow and arrows of Hercules as a rewa

— Ariadne — Death of Ægeus. Jason. Ques. Who was Jason? Ans. He was the son of Æson, king of Thessaly, and was ce

lebrated on account of his expedition in search of the Golden Fleece. He is also known as the husband of the famous sorcer

, and escaped to Athens. Theseus. Ques. Who was Theseus? Ans. He was the son of Ægeus [Æ′geus], king of Athens. Th

Of what negligence was Theseus guilty on his return to Athens? Ans. He forgot his promise to his father with regard to t

every day for his son’s return, saw the black sails in the distance. He believed from this that his son was dead. In his

ign of the Zodiac. Prometheus. Ques. Who was Prometheus? Ans. He was the son of Iapetus and Clymene, one of the Oc

s? Ans. He was the son of Iapetus and Clymene, one of the Oceanides. He formed a man out of clay, and gave it life by mea

uch the box, upon which Pandora carried it to his brother Epimetheus. He was less cautious, and opening the casket, set fr

rees — Arion — Amphion. Orpheus. Ques. Who was Orpheus? Ans. He was the son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope. He p

ho was Orpheus? Ans. He was the son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope. He played so sweetly on the lyre accompanying the mu

and changed them into trees. Arion. Ques. Who was Arion? Ans. He was a famous musician who resided at the court of

ple fringed with gold, and his brow was adorned with a golden wreath. He struck his lyre with the ivory wand, and sung a s

an mounted on a dolphin. Amphion. Ques. Who was Amphion? Ans. He was the son of Antiope [Anti′ope] and Jupiter. He

was Amphion? Ans. He was the son of Antiope [Anti′ope] and Jupiter. He obtained the kingdom of Thebes, which he governed

n sons and as many daughters, who were all slain by Apollo and Diana. He is said to have killed himself in despair. The le

romeda — Death of Acrisius. Atlas. Ques. Who was Atlas? Ans. He was a king of Mauritania, the son of the Titan Ja

us], and the nymph Clymene; he was, therefore, brother of Prometheus. He is represented as sustaining the heavens on his s

p in the winter heavens. Perseus. Ques. Who was Perseus? Ans. He was the son of Jupiter, and of Danaë, the only da

f Seriphus, where a fisherman named Dictys drew it ashore in his net. He was much surprised at beholding Danaë and the inf

st of the Gorgons, saw the unhappy maiden and resolved to rescue her. He asked her hand as his only reward, which Cepheus

d. The head of the Gorgon again procured for Perseus an easy victory. He warned his friends to avert their eyes, and displ

le, called Solymi [Sol′ymi], whom he had much difficulty in subduing. He next defeated the Amazons, a nation of female war

ed allied to the gods, and abandoned all further designs against him. He even gave him his daughter in marriage, and decla

happiness and prosperity, had he not irritated the gods by his pride. He conceived the project of mounting to heaven on hi

relieve his misery. Deucalion. Ques. Who was Deucalion? Ans. He was king of Thessaly, and son of Prometheus. Duri

n among them. Dædalus. Ques. Who was Dædalus [Dæd′alus]? Ans. He is said to have been a native of Athens, eminent

s sentenced to banishment by the Court of the Areopagus [Areop′agus]. He found an asylum with Minos, king of Crete, for wh

that its heat melted the wax which united the feathers of his wings. He could no longer sustain himself, and was drowned

chitecture and sculpture were attributed to him by popular tradition. He introduced the use of masts and sails in ships, a

Ceyx — Halcyone — The Halcyon Birds. Ques. Who was Ceyx? Ans. He was a king of Trachinia, who married Halcyone [Ha

ent into a lark. Erisichthon. Ques. Who was Erisichthon? Ans. He was a profane person and a despiser of the gods.

ce to obtain relief; he was reduced to misery and famished as before. He had one daughter called Mestra, an only child, wh

had still both his daughter and the money for which he had sold her. He again resorted to this base expedient, but as oft

t generally given, Homer was for many years a schoolmaster in Smyrna. He afterwards abandoned this occupation, and spent s

erwards abandoned this occupation, and spent some time in travelling. He made several voyages in the company of a sea capt

to Smyrna, where he probably composed the greater part of his poems. He afterwards led a wandering life, gaining wealth a

dering life, gaining wealth and fame by the recitation of his verses. He died at Ios, one of the Cyclades, where he was bu

od? Ans. This poet flourished about half a century later than Homer. He was a Bœotian, and in his youth tended sheep upon

. He was a Bœotian, and in his youth tended sheep upon Mount Helicon. He emigrated afterwards to Orchomenos, in western Bœ

erful patrons; his life was, therefore, spent in ease and prosperity. He died at Brundusium, in the year 19, B. C. The Ecl

at Rome, and enjoyed every advantage that splendid capital afforded. He showed his taste for poetry at an early age, but

rsuits. A career of unexampled prosperity was now opened to the poet. He enjoyed the favor of Augustus, and the friendship

gardens of Rome, the court of Augustus, and the sunny skies of Italy. He died in the ninth year of his exile, and the sixt

ormation of Hecuba. Agamemnon. Ques. Who was Agamemnon? Ans. He was king of Mycenæ, and commander-in-chief of the

dealt the fatal blow. Achilles. Ques. Who was Achilles? Ans. He was the son of Peleus, king of Phthiotis [Phthio′

enelope — Her Deliverance by Ulysses. Ques. Who was Ulysses? Ans. He was king of Ithaca, and had been, like many other

′des] had come to summon him to the field, he pretended to be insane. He yoked a horse and a bull together, and began plou

remove the child, convinced every one that his insanity was feigned. He was obliged, therefore, to join the expedition ag

ses himself, who was spared as having taken no part in the sacrilege. He formed a raft from the fragments of his ship, and

was constructed and furnished, and Ulysses departed from the island. He sped prosperously for some days, and was almost w

of Ulysses, had been absent for a long time in search of his father. He had visited the courts of the other kings who had

d was obliged to confess that his strength was unequal to the effort. He passed the bow to one of the suitors, who was com

mark!” and aimed a second shaft at the most insolent of the suitors. He fell dead, and as the others rushed forward, Tele

— Heroism of Antigone. Orestes. Ques. Who was Orestes? Ans. He was the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. At the

tes, and he was acquitted. Hector. Ques. Who was Hector? Ans. He was the son of Priam and Hecuba, and the most val

alor, and slew, with his own hand, Patroclus, the friend of Achilles. He next went out to meet Achilles himself, notwithst

Priam and Hecuba, and the tears of his wife Andromache [Androm′ache]. He fell as we have seen, and this event was shortly

princes? Ans. Œdipus was the son of Laius [La′ius], king of Thebes. He was exposed by his father immediately on his birt

n of death, that any one should bestow on him the rites of sepulture. He thus carried his vengeance beyond the grave, as,

iage of Æneas with Lavinia — His Death. Ques. Who was Æneas? Ans. He was a Trojan chief, the son of Venus and Anchises

ns. He was a Trojan chief, the son of Venus and Anchises [Anchi′ses]. He was born on Mount Ida, where he was nurtured by t

s [Hel′enus], one of the sons of Priam, was reigning in that country. He had married Andromache, and the meeting of Æneas

h the gift of prophecy, now confirmed what had been already foretold. He rendered his exiled countrymen all the assistance

games in honor of his father, who had died there the preceding year. He left with Acestes, a Trojan prince who governed a

mitive times, to nations outside of the patriarchal and Jewish races. He cites in favor of this opinion, the fact that St.

emy, was warned by the Augurs that the sacred chickens would not eat. He replied, with very natural contempt, that if they

me′lus], a Phocian general, seized these treasures to pay his troops. He is said to have carried off, in gold and silver,

nd where his whole army was in danger of perishing for want of water. He called on Jupiter for aid, and a ram suddenly app

he herald. On his return home, more distinguished honors awaited him. He entered his native city, not by the gate, but thr

siris was the son of Jupiter and of Niobe, the daughter of Phoroneus. He conquered Egypt, which he governed so well and wi

y as to receive divine honors from his subjects even during his life. He married, as we have already learned, Io, the daug

his. Osiris became from that time the tutelar deity of the Egyptians. He was regarded as identical with the sun, while Isi

oned with indignation by the poet Juvenal. Ques. Who was Apis? Ans. He was the sacred bull of Memphis. The Egyptians mai

ho was Harpocrates? Ans. Horus or Harpocrates was the son of Osiris. He was worshipped as the god of Silence, and is repr

ed this abominable worship. Moloch. Ques. Who was Moloch? Ans. He was a divinity of the Ammonites. The Phœnicians w

(In the Hebrew, Thammuz.) Oannes. Ques. Who was Oannes? Ans. He was a god of the Assyrians, half man, half fish,

contemporaries, and was probably acquainted with primitive tradition. He taught the existence of one supreme Being called

Solomon — that is, he lived about one thousand years before our era. He was the son of a king, and was distinguished by w

ing, and was distinguished by wisdom, virtue and every personal gift. He was so disgusted with the wickedness of men, that

At the end of this time, he began his career as a religious teacher. He preached first in Benares, but his doctrines were

hilosopher whom the Chinese call Kung-fu-tse, (Reverend Master Kung). He was born in the year 551 B. C., and died in 479;

any passages in his writings, that he believed in one Omnipotent God. He does not, however, inculcate any such doctrine, n

re forbidden to the Chinese Christians. Ques. Who was Lao-tze? Ans. He was a Chinese philosopher, contemporary with Conf

tze prove that he was a true sage, a man of noble and elevated ideas. He has been compared favorably with Plato, and some

re virtuous among their brethren. Ques. Who is the Grand Lama? Ans. He is a sort of High Priest of Buddhism residing in

the Chief Pontiff of his sect, and a perpetual incarnation of Buddha. He is also a temporal sovereign, although he is cont

ûsson, an Icelandic priest, about the middle of the eleventh century. He was educated in France and Germany, and spent som

nd Germany, and spent some time in Rome before his return to Iceland. He was induced to compile the Edda, principally, it

en’s day, changed to Wednesday. Ques. Has Odin any other name? Ans. He was sometimes called Alfâdur, (All father,) but t

unds, and were whole as before. Thor. Ques. Who was Thor? Ans. He was Odin’s eldest son, and was god of thunder. Hi

ed bride with great joy, attributing her silence to a modest reserve. He was much surprised, however, to see her eat for s

d the word Thursday. Frey and Freya. Ques. Who was Frey? Ans. He was one of the greatest of the gods. He presided

Ques. Who was Frey? Ans. He was one of the greatest of the gods. He presided over rain, sunshine, and the fruits of t

sort of Scandinavian Venus. Bragi. Ques. Who was Bragi? Ans. He was god of poetry, but he scorned all lighter str

lose its magic power. Heimdall. Ques. Who was Heimdall? Ans. He was the watchman of the gods, and was stationed a

growing on the sheep’s backs, and the grain sprouting in the fields. He possessed a horn of such construction that when h

his unceasing watchfulness. Vidar. Ques. Who was Vidar? Ans. He was the god of silence. His strength was almost e

of Thor; he was often employed like Mercury as messenger of the gods. He had sandals which sustained him equally in the ai

the air, and upon the water. Hodur. Ques. Who was Hodur? Ans. He was a blind deity, endowed with prodigious streng

Hodur? Ans. He was a blind deity, endowed with prodigious strength. He was mild and benevolent, but certain terrible pre

able to meet the giants in the final contest at the end of the world. He sends the Valkyrior, therefore, to every battle f

Ans. Loki was an evil deity, the contriver of all fraud and mischief. He was very handsome, but of fickle and malicious te

ris gave the gods much trouble before they succeeded in chaining him. He broke the strongest fetters as if they were made

aginary material. Baldur the Good. Ques. Who was Baldur? Ans. He was the son of Odin, good and exceedingly beautif

Baldur? Ans. He was the son of Odin, good and exceedingly beautiful. He was tormented by terrible dreams, indicating that

tormented by terrible dreams, indicating that his life was in peril. He told these things to the assembled gods, who reso

ed on Baldur’s death, but did not know exactly how to bring it about. He assumed, therefore, the form of an old woman, and

throwing darts and stones at Baldur, without being able to hurt him. He inquired of Frigga, in his turn, if it were reall

and pay to Hela a mighty ransom for the return of his brother Baldur. He set out, therefore, mounted on Odin’s horse Sleip

it fearlessly, although it shook and swayed under his living weight. He passed the night in discourse with Baldur, and th

rse with Baldur, and the next morning preferred his petition to Hela. He offered any ransom she might name for Baldur’s re

ursued Loki, who made use of his magical power to escape their wrath. He changed himself at one time into a salmon, and hi

mself at one time into a salmon, and hid among the stones of a brook. He was taken, however, by Thor, who caught him by th

eneficent character, the name Gwyon was often given to this divinity. He resembles, both in name and attributes, Thoth, th

ul, executed a statue of Teutates which cost forty million sestertia. He spent six years upon this great work. Camul, the

rtunity, but woe to the avaricious wretch who lingers over the spoil. He is crushed by the swift returning stones, and the

r of one of the greater gods, and was obliged to abandon the country. He proceeded to the shores of the Mexican gulf, wher

when many years had rolled away, he would revisit their descendants. He then embarked in a skiff made of serpent’s skins,

stinguished for grace and beauty, was chosen from among the captives. He was splendidly attired, surrounded by every luxur

rtege advanced, until at length he broke his lute, and cast it aside. He then threw from him, one by one, his chaplets of

Ques. What name did the Peruvians give to this Supreme deity? Ans. He was adored under the different names of Pachacama

n thirteen of which he obtained the victory over all his competitors. He was at length defeated by a younger rival, Sophoc

competitors. He was at length defeated by a younger rival, Sophocles. He retired the same year to the court of Hiero, king

out its effect on the impulsive Athenians, and Æschylus was pardoned. He deemed it prudent, however, to retire to Sicily,

by the writers of the Augustan age, in clearness and beauty of style. He exaggerates nothing, and his most brilliant achie

ics of true greatness. Cicero . A Roman orator and statesman. He filled the highest offices in the gift of his cou

don. Diodorus, surnamed Siculus, from Sicily, his birth-place. He was a celebrated historian, contemporary with Jul

a celebrated historian, contemporary with Julius Cæsar and Augustus. He wrote a “General History” in forty books, of whic

n. Justin (Saint) . A Christian writer of the second century. He is principally celebrated for his “Apology for th

e year 161 A. D. Juvenal . A Roman poet of the first century. He was born in the reign of Caligula, but the exact

ter. Mæcenas . Minister and favorite of the Emperor Augustus. He was distinguished for the wisdom of his counsels,

is constitution, which had never been strong, was weakened by excess. He was tormented by constant wakefulness, and this g

aly. The application of Pliny to literary pursuits was uninterrupted. He rose to his studies at two in the morning, and du

to leave us in doubt as to the particular animal he would designate. He also mingles facts, really observed, with fables

rpions, etc. The ten books on botany are open to the same objections. He attributes to many plants properties altogether f

Mount Vesuvius which destroyed the towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii. He observed the phenomena accompanying it from the d

at he was generally accounted one of the most learned men of his age. He began his career as an orator at the early age of

us . One of the most celebrated historians of the Eastern Empire. He flourished during the reigns of Justin the Elder

his twenty-fifth year, he carried off the tragic prize from Æschylus. He gained the same triumph over other competitors, t

itness of the miseries which that fatal struggle brought upon Greece. He died in the year 405, B. C., a few months before

efore the defeat of Ægos-potamos completed the misfortunes of Athens. He was deeply lamented by the Athenians, who seem to

in the pursuit of knowledge, but afterwards by the order of Augustus. He was already advanced in life when he compiled his

Varro . A Latin writer, celebrated for his extensive learning. He is said to have composed five hundred volumes, al

re was a deity superior to all others. His name was Fatum or Destiny. He was supposed to be a blind god, governing all thi

, the first and the greatest of the gods, was subject to his decrees. He had his kind of worship; but, as he could not be

lus and Terra, and was worshipped by the ancients as the god of time. He was styled the father of the gods. Birthright sec

Stercutius, because he was the first to fatten the earth with manure. He is represented under the figure of a decrepit old

as composed of twelve months. It was he who gave his name to January. He is usually represented with two faces, that of an

and that of a young man, regarding the year that has just commenced. He also had empire over highways, doors, gates, lock

undertakings. The invention of crowns and banks is attributed to him, He first stamped copper coins. To Janus were offered

usius, because his temple was open and shut in time of war and peace. He was represented sometimes with two faces, and som

Fury, bound in brazen chains; High on a trophy rais’d of useless arms He sits, and threats the world with vain alarms.” V

to the mountains of Phrygia, where he killed himself with a hatchet. He was about to lose his life, when Cybele, having c

d broke open the gates of the city. Atys in vain resisted the attack. He was mortally wounded, which caused the despair an

, was the son of Saturn and Cybele, and was the twin brother of Juno. He was saved by his mother from destruction, and ent

the Corybantes. Jupiter was born and educated on Mount Ida, in Crete. He was fed with the milk of the goat Amalthea, which

red as a part of the thirty thousand gods recognized by the Heathens. He was called Jove by the Greeks; Assabinus, by the

of the Lower Nile; Chronos, by the Arabians; Belus, by the Assyrians. He was surnamed Capitolinus, because he had the firs

he beasts are fled; All human hearts are sunk and pierced with dread; He strikes vast Rhodope’s exalted crown And hurls hu

ugitive and shout her name.” Darwin’s Botanic Garden —  Canto II. “ He , whose all conscious eyes the world behold, Th’ e

stool for his feet he makes, And wide beneath him all Olympus shakes. He spake; and awful bends his sable brows, Shakes hi

ared under the name of Jupiter, was nearly contemporary with Abraham. He reigned in Thrace, Phrygia, and a part of Greece,

Prometheus was the son of Japetus by Clymene, one of the Oceantides. He animated a man whom he had formed of clay, with f

Chapter XI. Sol. Sol or Sun was much worshipped by the ancients. He was called Mithras by the Persians; Bel or Baal b

called the twelve houses of the sun. 1. March, sign of Aries (a ram.) He represents that upon which Phryxus and Helle fled

persecutions of their step-mother. 2. April, sign of Taurus (a bull.) He represents that animal whose form Jupiter assumed

cules, when killing the Lernean hydra. 5. July, sign of Leo (a lion.) He represents the one of the Nemæn forest, killed by

anged into that animal. 9. November, sign of Sagittarius (a bow-man.) He represents the Centaur Chiron, who draws his bow.

ius (a bow-man.) He represents the Centaur Chiron, who draws his bow. He had been the preceptor of Hercules; but in the ba

mortal. The gods, moved with his complaints, granted him his request. He died, and was translated into heaven among the si

of the infancy of Jupiter. 11. January, sign of Aquarius (a butler.) He represents Gænymede, pouring out the nectar to Ju

sents Gænymede, pouring out the nectar to Jupiter and the other gods. He also designates abundant rains which fall during

of the rest are usually ascribed, was the son of Jupiter and Latona. He was born in the Island of Delos at the same birth

e birth with Diana, and was not unfrequently confounded with the sun. He presided over music, eloquence, medicine, poetry,

service; and hence he has sometimes been called the god of shepherds. He assisted Neptune in building the walls of Troy, a

s, whom he accidentally killed with a quoit, he turned into a violet. He changed into a cypress Cyparissus, who died of gr

d his lover Leucothe, into a beautiful tree which drops frankincense. He despised Clytia, because she discovered his amour

with Leucothe; and she was changed into a sun-flower, or Heliotrope. He flayed Marsyas alive, because he contended with h

ble right A lily, changing but the red to white.” Ovid. Leucothe. “ He mourned her loss, and sprinkled all her hearse, W

its dispersing those pestilential vapours which are fatal to mankind. He is called the sun in heaven, Bacchus on earth, an

n blind. Apollo put that nymph to death, and repented of it too late. He turned her into a crow, and wished its doleful pl

with the sun. Mr.  Court de Gebelin solves this problem ingeniously. He affirms that this celebrated Hercules and his twe

ere merely the emblems of the sun and the twelve signs of the zodiac. He also explains the number of the fifty women given

mpled boldness in the war which the giants carried on against heaven. He fought in the shape of a lion, while the gods and

s and goddesses fled into Egypt under the forms of different animals. He is said to have subjected Egypt, Phrygia, Syria,

Satyrs that ever after attended him, with songs, music, and dancing. He undertook an expedition to India with an army, co

gus, not the Spartan lawgiver, would destroy the vineyards of Thrace. He armed himself with a scythe, and began to cut the

thyrsus, or javelin with an iron head, bound about with vine leaves. He is usually depicted as a corpulent, ruddy, and ef

oosely flowing down his shoulders, and with beauty equal to Apollo’s. He is commonly seen riding in a car, drawn by panthe

o Minos, king of Crete, whom he found abandoned in the isle of Naxos. He presented her with a crown of seven stars, called

llation. Ariadne brought him a son, named Hymen, the god of marriage. He had many other children, but they deserve no part

nd taught them to cultivate the earth, and especially the olive-tree. He introduced the worship of Minerva, to whom that t

ore them in tattered garments. Clamour and Anger appear in his train. He patronized whatever was bloody, cruel, or furious

emoved criminal passions. Sir Isaac Newton admitted of but one Venus. He called her Calycopis. She was daughter to Otreus,

return, rewarded him with the hand of the fairest woman in the world. He carried off Helen from her husband Menelaus, whic

reaks Jove’s winged thunderbolts, or delights in childish amusements. He was the youngest and strongest god. He was called

lights in childish amusements. He was the youngest and strongest god. He was called Eros, because he had a golden dart, wh

of love, a wound from which puts one out of the power of resistance. He was often represented as blind, because the fancy

aints his mistress in qualities, the reality of which does not exist. He has wings, because favour is deceitful and love i

her, and to have been produced at the same time with Chaos and Earth. He attempts to paint by this allegorical personage,

, and joined to extreme beauty the most consummate qualities of mind. He married the daughter of Biblos, and succeeded to

ent to a matrimonial life, seriously made up his mind to live single. He made an artificial image of Venus, where the fine

s the son of Jupiter and Juno, or some say, of Juno without a father. He resided in heaven for a considerable time, but ha

ises. Vulcan forged Jupiter’s thunderbolts, and the arms of the gods. He constructed seats in such a manner as to make the

nd in council; and were carried from one side of the room to another. He also formed some golden statues, and animated the

s lame; Ætnaeus, because a temple was dedicated to him on Mount Ætna. He was worshipped chiefly in Egypt, at Athens, and a

ng a hammer. An eagle waits by his side to carry the bolt to Jupiter. He always appears with neglected beard and hair; his

s the streaming blood. These eyes beheld, when with his spacious hand He seiz’d two captives of our Grecian band; Stretch’

ans: the first, Tubalcain, the son of Lamech, mentioned in Scripture. He was, no doubt, the first inventor of smiths’ work

aides, tied Ixion to his wheel, and destroyed the hundred-eyed Argus. He chained Prometheus to Mount Caucasus, sold Hercul

implacable enemies, when moved with it, instantly become reconciled. He saw two serpents fighting, and when he laid his w

hat, called Petasus, and on his feet, winged sandals, called Talaria. He held in one hand his rod, and in the other, a pur

his flight sustain, O’er the wide earth, and o’er the boundless main: He grasps the wand that causes sleep to fly, Or in s

high and low, The arbiter of war and peace allow;’ Ovid. Obs. 1. —  He who has furnished the poets with most materials f

or three times great, king of Egypt, who lived a little after Moses. He was the author of ancient books on religion, whic

or of several arts; for he was sly, dissembling, crafty, and cunning. He consulted the learned, and profitted by their dis

s. Oceanus, a powerful sea deity, was the son of Cœlus and Terra. He was considered as the first god of the waters, be

ing a pike in his hand. Nereus, son to Oceanus, was a famous prophet. He was described with a long flowing beard, and sky-

s, and the god of maritime affairs, was the son of Saturn and Cybele. He received as his portion of dominion, the empire o

ybele. He received as his portion of dominion, the empire of the sea. He engaged the gods to dethrone his brother Jupiter;

are too numerous to be mentioned here. Neptune was a powerful deity. He could cause earthquakes, and raise islands from t

arthquakes, and raise islands from the bottom of the sea at his will. He was most venerated by the Libyans. The Greeks and

ses or dolphins, and surrounded by Tritons, nymphs, and sea-monsters. He wears a radiated crown on his head. — See Fig. 31

Neptune. Triton was the son of Neptune, and trumpeter to his father. He could calm the ocean and abate storms at pleasure

to his father. He could calm the ocean and abate storms at pleasure. He is represented as half man and half fish, blowing

r hinder parts Swim, and go smooth against the curling surge.” “———— He smooth’d the sea, Dispell’d the darkness, and res

loud-sounding shell inspire, And give the floods a signal to retire. He his wreath’d trumpet takes (as given in charge) T

Proteus, an amphibious deity, had for his mother the nymph Phœnice. He was called Vertumnus by the Latins. His prime dut

prime duty was to take care of sea-calves, and other marine animals. He could convert himself into any shape he pleased,

ed with flowers; the furious Aristeus appears, and opposes her union. He rudely rushes to seize her, and she flees into a

awakes, loaded with the bonds; but he cannot change Aristaeus’ form. He is, therefore, compelled to yield, with the hope

herefore, compelled to yield, with the hope of regaining his liberty. He directs that youth to immolate four heifers to th

emptied out his nets, after which they instantly leaped into the sea. He wished to try its effects upon himself; and as so

o was changed to that of Leucothea, and Melicerta was called Palæmon. He was painted with a key in his right hand, to desi

arine god, was the son of Pontus and Terra: but some say, of Neptune. He was father to the Gorgons, of whom we shall speak

the Cyclops. Saron was considered as the particular god of mortals. He was king of Corinth, and very fond of hunting. In

, daughter of Erechtheus, king of Athens, was refused by that prince. He therefore blew her away, and carried her to Thrac

ave forced him to believe that there was a power superior to his own. He therefore submits to implore that Being; but he p

enser of all blessings, was a conception too grand to enter his mind. He therefore divides his functions, and distributes

s plants, and gives them life. The people honoured him as a true god. He was represented in the form of an old man, filthy

moss, pale, and deformed, always inhabiting the bowels of the earth. He had Eternity and Chaos for his companions. Fig.

anus does heaven. Chaos alone was more ancient than heaven and earth. He was arbitrarily called Ops, or Tellus; and the na

image was a head without a body, to show that he was not to be moved. He was often represented by a pyramidial Stone, surm

d, was the son of Astræus and Aurora, and the Favonius of the Latins. He is represented as a beautiful and delicate youth,

Fig. 35. Pomona. Vertumnus was the god of orchards and of spring. He could change himself into whatever forms he chose

, and holding in one hand fruits, and a crown of plenty in the other. He was often represented in the character of a ploug

y Mercury, or Adonis; or, according to some, by Bacchus, or Hercules. He was the patron of licentiousness, and a favorite

lub and a scythe in his hands, his louver part being a shapeless log. He was called Phallus, and Fascinum, because his lim

ar worship. His statue made by Praxiteles, was set up in the capitol. He was marked among the great terrestrial and rural

order of Tutelina, or Tutulina. Millers and bakers invoked Pilumnus. He first invented the art of grinding corn, and knea

, according to some, of Mercury and Penelope, or Jupiter and Calisto. He made the most eminent figure in the rural world,

ghtly form threw her into such terror, that she abandoned her charge. He became enamoured with the beautiful nymph Syrinx,

s. “Pan loves the shepherds, and their flocks he feeds.” Virgil. “ He sighs, his sighs the tossing reeds return In soft

large ears, a bald head, a tail, cloven feet, and a crown of flowers. He appears mounted on an ass, but so intoxicated as

s was an old man, small in stature, with the tail and feet of a goat. He presided over the woods, and held in his hand a b

s the Egyptian priest charged with receiving the body of a dead Apis. He conducted it to a second priest who bore a mask w

us. Cerberus, the son of Typhon and Echidna, was the porter of hell. He was a tremendous watch-dog, with three heads and

urnaces on fire; A girdle foul with grease binds his obscence attire. He spreads his canvass, with his poll he steers; The

l he steers; The frights of flitting ghosts in his thin bottom bears. He look’d in years, yet in his years were seen A you

the universe, and particularly the dominion of the Infernal Regions. He invented the art of burying and honouring the dea

which flow the rivers Lethe, Phlegethon, Cocytus, Styx, and Acheron. He has a crown of ebony on his head, and holds in on

ariot, he is drawn by black horses. — See Fig. 39. Fig. 39. Pluto. He had no temples raised to his honour. To him were,

unded with Pluto) was the god of Wealth, and son of Jasion and Ceres. He was educated by Pax; the goddess of peace; for wh

brother, and reigned over western countries, extending to the ocean. He fixed his abode in the bottom of Spain, and worke

es of mankind, when the dead plead their different causes before him. He possessed the power of deciding all disputes betw

he had three sons, and two celebrated daughters, Ariadne and Phedra. He was the founder of the laws of Crete, and was con

ea, a town of Boeotia, where he married Alcmena, widow of Amphytrion. He was regarded as one of the wisest, most modest, a

y pass deluding lies.” Morpheus was the son and minister of Somnus. He sends dreams to people in this world, and watches

lent, sleeping, winged youth, holding a bunch of poppies in his hand. He could turn himself into any form. Mors, the godd

that Typhœus or Typhon, had no father, and that Juno was his mother. He had a collar of one hundred dragon-heads round hi

ils, and eyes; and uttered such yells as frightened mortals to death. He touched the east with one hand, and the west with

r his right hand, Pachynus for his left, and Lilybæus for his legs. “ He struggles oft, and oft attempts to rise; But on h

Sisyphus was brother to Athamas and Salmoneus. Merope was his wife. He built Ephyre, afterwards called Corinth, and deba

cloud, and sweat descends in dews.” Ixion was the son of Phlegyas. He married Dia, daughter to Eioneus or Deioneus, and

r, for which he ought to have been thankful, increased his insolence. He attempted to make love to Juno; but Jupiter sent

as king of Elis. By his wife Alcidice, he had a daughter, named Tyro. He was not contented with an earthly crown, but cour

, and made a great noise as he drove his chariot, to imitate thunder. He also darted lighted torches, as if to imitate lig

the son of Jupiter by the nymph Plota or Pluto, was king of Phrygia. He is described as eternally experiencing in hell th

honoured with a visit from the gods whose divinity he wished to try. He killed and quartered his own son Pelops, and serv

ng equaled in swiftness that of horses, and even the flight of birds. He took two of them, whose bodies were thickly set w

of Medusa. The Chimæra was a monster begotten of Typhon and Echidna. He had the head and breast of a lion, the body of a

ould explain it. This was successfully done by Œdipus, who replied, “ He walks on his hands and feet when young, or in the

as informed by an oracle that he should one day be killed by his son. He therefore ordered his wife to destroy their child

a divinity without beginning or end. Time was represented by Saturn. He was painted with wings, to denote the rapidity of

eriod of thirty years, a lustrum, or five years, a year, and seasons. He was admitted to have but three seasons, Slimmer,

divinity. Marcellus wished to unite in one temple, Virtue and Honour. He consulted the pontiffs, who declared, that one te

who declared, that one temple could not contain two deities so great. He therefore constructed two, contiguous to each oth

ulapius, and Friendship. Comus presided over banquets and feasts. He is well known by name. Every painter has a right

e of Venus, he said that her sandals made a loud noise as she walked. He is usually depicted as holding a small figure of

o the care of the Centaur Chiron, who taught him the art of medicine. He is fabled to have sprung out of a crow’s egg, und

bled to have sprung out of a crow’s egg, under the form of a serpent. He attended the Argonauts in their expedition to Col

e formidable weapons. Æsculapius was chiefly worshipped at Epidaurus. He had also a temple at Rome, and was worshipped the

s considered one of the most essential qualifications of a physician. He appears as an old man, with-a beard, and a crown

of Sydic or the Just, and of a princess of the family of the Titans. He was king of Memphis, and brother to the first Mer

n Pyrene in Corinth. Bellerophon was son of Glaucus, king of Ephyre. He was at first called Hipponus, because he first kn

Bellerophon, because he was the murderer of Beller, king of Corinth. He was highly famed for his beauty and virtue. Antæ

ttempt. With the assistance of Pegasus, however, he slew the monster. He was again commanded to fight the Solymi, and was

e head of Medusa, which turned him into a rock, and broke her chains. He then took her to wife. — See Fig. 70. Fig. 70.

is return to Greece, thanked the gods for the success of his journey. He consecrated the prow of his ship, and placed it i

himself by the help of Ariadne, after he had destroyed the Minotaur. He forgot the promise he had made to his father at t

, perfect beauty, a mighty hunter, and an uncommon lover of chastity. He rejected the addresses of his step-mother Phædra

f Diana, Æsculapius breathed into his nostrils, and resuscitated him. He afterwards settled in Italy, where he changed his

going to the Trojan war, he was received by Phyllis, queen of Thrace. He married her; but soon after, abandoned her, and s

ince threw him unawares from a high rock, and he perished in the sea. He had a temple at Athens, one of the richest and mo

sant, with inquiring face, Bewilder’d trudges on from place to place; He dwells on ev’ry sign, with stupid gaze, Enters th

by the Greeks Alceus, or Alcides, was the son of Jupiter by Alcmena. He is generally accounted the god of strength, and i

eapon, he strangled him with his hands, and afterwards wore his skin. He was commanded to destroy a vast hydra, which infe

e club of the hero, another immediately sprang up again in its place. He ordered Iolas, the son of Iphiclus, to burn the w

y applied: and by this means, he succeeded in destroying the monster. He dissected it, and dipped his arrows in the gall,

son, that the slightest wound, when inflicted by them, proved mortal. He felt himself so much indebted to Iolas for this s

oar, which spread destruction in the plains of Erymanthus in Arcadia. He seized the monster in a thicket, to which he had

took a seat among the constellations, under the name of Sagittarius. He was commanded to bring alive and unhurt to Euryst

dia, and fed on human flesh. Hercules destroyed them with his arrows. He was ordered to take from Hippolyte, the queen of

ed numbers of the islanders. Hercules brought it alive to Eurystheus. He was commanded to bring away the fire-breathing ma

thrown to them; but the here threw the tyrant to be devoured by them. He afterwards exhibited them to Eurystheus. He was e

t to be devoured by them. He afterwards exhibited them to Eurystheus. He was employed in bringing away the purple-coloured

seven. Hercules slew them all, and returned to Argos with the cattle. He was commanded to gather the golden apples in the

he sun, Cerberus, a triple-headed dog that guarded the gates of hell. He went down into hell by a cave on Mount Tænarus, a

d good will. Hercules performed many other exploits worthy of notice. He strangled Antæus, a monstrous giant, above sixty-

trous giant, above sixty-four cubits in height, in a wrestling match. He sacrificed Busiris, king of Egypt, on the same al

hat tyrant had been wont to immolate strangers to his father Neptune. He killed the giants Albion and Bergeon, who dared t

e Stony Plain. To ease Atlas, he took the heavens upon his shoulders. He separated two mountains, Calpe and Abyla, which w

hese are the straits of Gibraltar, anciently called Fretum Herculeum. He dragged the fire-spitting Cacus, the son of Vulca

, from his den, and strangled him for having stolen some of his oxen. He shot the eagle devouring the liver of Prometheus,

le devouring the liver of Prometheus, while he was lying on the rock. He slew Theodamus, because he refused his son Hylas

s, because he refused his son Hylas victuals; but he used Hylas well. He compelled Death to return Alcesta to her husband.

used Hylas well. He compelled Death to return Alcesta to her husband. He delivered Hesione, daughter of Laomedon, king of

etimes put on his armour, and ridiculed him as he sat at her distaff. He had likewise a wife whose name was Dejanira, daug

anira hearing of it sent him the tunic, as he was going to sacrifice. He put it on; but was soon seized with violent and i

statue, express such corporeal powers as never existed in any other. He is painted sometimes naked, and sometimes clad in

nd three-fold dog of hell. Then, where Nemea’s howling forests wave, He drives the lion to his dusky cave; Seized by the

d flits his life in air; By steps reverted o’er the blood-dropp’d fen He tracks huge Cacus to his murderous den; Where bre

or his companions about fifty of the most noble and famous in Greece. He built a ship, called the Argo, from which they we

und, and an army of men instantly sprang up; but they were destroyed. He took the fleece, and fled by night, carrying with

returned to his native home, and slew both Clytemnestra and Ægisthus. He likewise killed Pyrrhus, in Apollo’s temple, beca

the Greeks, appointed generalissimo on their expedition against Troy. He killed a favourite stag of Diana’s at Aulis, whic

same time she stopped also; so that he could not hear her footsteps. He therefore looked round, and she instantly disappe

footsteps. He therefore looked round, and she instantly disappeared. He endeavoured to follow her into hell, but was refu

is wounded affection by the varied sounds of his musical instruments. He separated himself as far as possible from human s

o, as story goes, could call Obedient stones to make the Theban wall. He led them as he pleas’d: the rocks obey’d, And dan

ed all the mariners, when their ship had returned, to be crucified. “ He on his crouching back sits all at ease, With harp

n of Jupiter and Electra, was the first king and the founder of Troy. He reigned with his brother in Tuscany, a province i

citadel which he built at Troy. Laomedon succeeded his father Ilius. He built the walls of that citadel, in which he was

e only Trojan prince of any note who escaped the destruction of Troy. He distinguished himself greatly during the siege, a

ments, and saved them both from the flames at the hazard of his life. He wandered about from one place to another for year

death, to learn from him the fate of himself and of his descendants. He was slain in battle with the Etrusians; and his b

der a fire, after she had anointed him in the day-time with ambrosia. He was at first called Pyrisous, because he escaped

the war. By Thetis’ persuasion, Vulcan made him impenetrable armour. He killed Hector, the son of Priam, at Troy, and was

s of Hercules from Philoctetes, with which he succeeded against Troy. He removed the ashes of Laomedon, which had been pre

hes of Laomedon, which had been preserved upon the gate Scæa in Troy. He carried away the Palladium of the city; slew Rhœs

ad drank of the river Xanthus, on which depended the destiny of Troy. He disputed with Ajax the son of Telamon, one of the

ne island to another during ten years before he reached his’ kingdom. He struck out the eye of Polyphemus with a firebrand

st her charms with an herb, called moly, which Mercury had given him. He then ran into her cave with his sword drawn, in o

on, Telegonus, or, according to Hesiod, two sons, Agrius and Latinus. He went down into the infernal regions to consult th

escaped the fatal snares into which, by their melody, they drew men. He was civilly entertained by Calypso. Afterward, he

so. Afterward, he suffered shipwreck, and saved his life by swimming. He went naked and solitary to the port of Phæacia, a

s by Nausica, the daughter of king Alcinous, who received him kindly. He sailed asleep to Ithaca, where Minerva awaked him

d him, and advised him to dress himself in a beggar’s ragged clothes. He discovered himself to his son Telemachus, and to

generosity, proposed to him to ask for any privilege he might choose. He demanded to have a son without a wife. His reques

d formed with earth diluted with water. Orion became a mighty hunter. He waited constantly upon Diana; but by doing some t

, he provoked Diana. She therefore sent a scorpion, which killed him. He was placed in the heavens as a constellation, whi

nted the death of their brother Hyas. Hesperus was brother to Atlas. He settled in Italy, which country was called Hesper

las. He settled in Italy, which country was called Hesperia from him. He was accustomed to sit on the top of Mount Atlas,

e in which he is said to have sustained the heavens on his shoulders. He instructed Hercules in astronomy; and that hero a

he children, who smelt his breath, would obtain the gift of prophecy. He was ceremoniously conducted to the Nile; and if h

, the author of evil and anarchy, was perpetually at war with Osiris. He was depicted with a terrible bulk, with several h

ack pyramidal figures, the source of the evils spread over the earth. He enclosed Osiris in an ark, and drove Horus into C

a. Horus, the son of Osiris and Isis, was also an emblem of the sun. He was a particular object of veneration among the p

ng the people, and three cities in the Thebais, were named after him. He was represented as the star of day and the regula

. Harpocrates, a son of Iris, was the god of silence and meditation. He was painted in the figure of a naked boy crowned

, holding in one hand a caduceus, and in the other, a branch of palm. He is commonly called Barker; also Hermanubis. He ha

her, a branch of palm. He is commonly called Barker; also Hermanubis. He had temples and priests, and his image was found

ossest superstition, the second Hermes, surnamed Trismegistus, arose. He restored the ancient religion and the laws of the

rusted the duty of producing a universal deluge, made his appearance. He is taken for a star or a sun. A conflict now ensu

he latter was overcome. The name of the second man-bull was Tasehter. He had three bodies, of a man, a horse, and a bull;

was renewed. Ormuzd, Oromazes, or Oromasdes, was the author of good. He generated the good spirits and the Genii, residin

ills all space, and by which spirits and bodies are rendered visible. He is the first principle of all things; and pervade

d with bloodless and simple ceremonies. Mithras personified the sun. He was the first production of Oromasdes, and was th

roduction of Oromasdes, and was the mediator between him and Ahriman. He was seated next the throne of Oromasdes, surround

d the gloom by displaying the five elements and other glorious forms. He produced the water by an emanation of his glory,

ior deities. Ganesa or Pollear, the god of wisdom, was son to Seeva. He was depicted with an elephant’s head, the symbol

his charioteer, Matali; and his weapon, Vajara, or the thunder-bolt. He was the master of the thunder, winds, showers, an

he king of serpents, reigns over the infernal regions, called Patala. He is represented with a gorgeous and brilliant appe

ended arms, adorned with rich bracelets. His eyes gleam like torches. He holds the holy shell, the radiated weapon, the wa

n, is the god of death, king of justice, and judge of departed souls. He is painted in the double figure of the Greek Furi

parted souls. He is painted in the double figure of the Greek Furies. He is inexorably severe to incorrigibly guilty souls

Carticeya, the son of Parvati, is the leader of the celestial armies. He is described as riding upon a peacock, with a rob

the wildest and strangest representations of his nature and actions. He appears with a rich and brilliant garment of wild

ich had an apartment containing a magnificent bed and a golden table. He also had a gigantic statue of solid gold, and a t

t of a man and the tail of a fish, and the voice and speech of a man. He issued out of the Erythrean sea, and appeared nea

a man. He issued out of the Erythrean sea, and appeared near Babylon. He remained in the daytime with men, without eating.

ed near Babylon. He remained in the daytime with men, without eating. He communicated to them a knowledge of letters and t

. At sunset he retired to the sea, and spent the night in the waters. He is said to have left behind him some writings, in

being. Tez-cat-li-po-ca (the Shining Mirror) was the god of justice. He was represented with black marble, richly dressed

ortal.’ Quet-zal-cot (the Feathered Serpent) was the god of the air. He resembled the Roman Saturn in improving rude men.

god of the air. He resembled the Roman Saturn in improving rude men. He instructed the Mexicans in the arts of working me

ts of working metals, polishing gems, dying cotton, and growing corn. He was the reputed author of their laws; which were

their rise. People repaired thither to offer their devotions to him. He was waited upon by inferior water-nymphs like the

divinities. A great mulitude of human victims was sacrificed to him. He was honoured with three great sacrifices a year.

usurpation, he preserved some of the forms which were admired in her. He took the perfidious course of embellishing them.

olden statue of Jupiter; but he does not give its weight nor measure. He says, merely, that the Babylonians estimated it a

e weight of which amounted to more than one hundred thousand talents. He mentions, also, a second statue, eighteen feet hi

this monument was looked upon as the greatest effort of architecture. He said to those who admired it: “I shall raise upon

rtist as abusing the credit which some of his works had procured him. He therefore drove into these pillars narrow and use

ition into Asia, Alexander came to Delphi during the time of silence. He begged the Pythia to mount the tripod; but she re

ed to Genius and Fortune. This time is employed in purifying himself. He is not permitted to wash except in the cold water

t a man once entered this den alone, without getting out of it again. He was a spy of Demetrius, sent to know whether the

, the oldest of them, perceived a swarm of bees flying towards a den. He followed them, and thus discovered the oracle. Tr

phi, though he had inundated it with presents, wished to surprise it. He sent to ask the Pythia what he was doing at the v

governor of Cicilia, says Plutarch, wished to send a spy to the gods. He gave his emissary a sealed billet to be handed in

e envoy lay down in the temple, and saw a man who said to him: Black. He carried back this reply, which, at first, appeare

Mr.  Petit, a learned modern author, thinks that she, only, existed. He supports his opinion by saying that all the verse

ot have been the case, if the Sibyls had been of different countries. He believes this mysterious girl to have travelled m

h he found not in his own. His real name was Frige, son of Fridulphe. He assumed that of Odin, the supreme god of the Scyt

Gylphe died, or was forgotten. Odin governed with absolute dominion. He made new laws introduced the usages of his countr

e the Scandinavians that he had given him speech by his enchantments. He always carried it with him, and made it pronounce

s the first who inspired the Scandinavians with the charms of poetry. He was the inventor of Runic characters; but what mo

forbade the representation of this divinity under any corporeal form. He could not be suitably regarded and adored but in

rns for centuries, directs all that is high and low, great and small. He made heaven, air, and man, who is to live forever

ga, or Walfadur, because he was the father of all who fell in battle. He had upwards of one hundred and twenty names. The

Bifrost leads to the earth. Valaskialf was the silver palace of Odin. He sits upon the elevated throne Lidskjalf, whence h

, the beautiful god of archery and skating, was invoked by duellists. He had a silver circle round the down of his chin. H

ly speaks of a god of the Gauls who presided over winds and tempests. He designates him by the Latin name of Jupiter; but

d which he throws in the air at the giants, designates a thunderbolt. He was looked upon as the defender and avenger of th

th, who was the god of winds, of sailors, of commerce, and of riches. He shook his vans in the roaring storm in such a man

the ruler of the sun, dispenses rain and sunshine, plenty or dearth. He rides on a boar with golden bristles. The name, o

superstitious of the passions. Balder, son of Odin, was another god. He was the youthful, beautiful, and wise god of eloq

youthful, beautiful, and wise god of eloquence and of just decision. He appeared as brilliant in innocence as the lily, a

ocence as the lily, and the whitest flower was hence called Baldrian. He was endued with so great majesty, that his looks

He was endued with so great majesty, that his looks were resplendent. He was the sun of the Celts, the same as the Grecian

d of power and valour, and the patron of brave warriors and athletes. He wounded by a look, was lofty as a fir, and brandi

of eloquence, wisdom, and poetry, which, from him, is called Bragur. He had a golden telyn, and swept the cords, which em

ntic sisters, born on the margin of the earth, was their door keeper. He appeared with a pensive brow, and his eyes cast d

tched over its extremities to prevent the giants from scaling heaven. He slept as lightly as birds; and day and night, he

d night, he perceived objects at more than a hundred leagues distant. He heard the grass and the wool of sheep grow; and h

rinciple the name of Loke, and placed it in the number of their gods. He was the son of the giant Farbaute and of Laufeya.

r of their gods. He was the son of the giant Farbaute and of Laufeya. He is, says the Edda, the calumniator of the gods,

gods, the artificer of frauds, the opprobrium of the gods and of men. He is beautiful of body, but malignant of spirit, an

none among mortals surpass him in the art of perfidy and of cunning . He had several children of Signie, his wife. Three m

tones, where he shudders with such rage, as to cause the earthquakes. He will remain there captive until the end of time,

d a general inundation, in which all the giants except one, perished. He being saved by means of a boat, escaped with his

f the axis,) had two beautiful children, Sool (sun,) and Maan (moon.) He married his daughter to Glemur, the god of joy. D

se horses, bright and glowing,     Dragg’d the Sun’s refulgent form. He who rules, by night, the heaven,     Wist not whe

se? Shall the dawn of glory streaming,     Wake us to immortal joys? He shall come in might eternal,     He whom eye hath

g,     Wake us to immortal joys? He shall come in might eternal,      He whom eye hath never seen; Earth and heav’n and po

th and heav’n and powers infernal,     Mark his port and awful mien. He shall judge, and he shall sever,     Shame from g

fall below the dignity of those actions which he wishes to celebrate. He knows that measure and harmony will more easily i

oking their god, around a statue which he calls the stone of power . He condemns this worship, and considers it as impiou

the gods. 12. Intercourse with foreigners must not be permitted. 13. He who arrives last in the assembly of the states is

Olympiodorus, we call those that are pure and virgins, Κοραι, korai. He adds, “on this account poets say that Saturn devo

it was broken off by the furious efforts of Achelous to free himself. He was defeated, and finally turned himself into a r

Charon, an aged boatman, who plied the only boat that was available. He would allow no soul to enter this leaky craft unt

Achilles] was the most valiant of the Greek heroes in the Trojan War. He was the son of Peleus, King of Thessaly. His moth

which he was held was not wetted, and that part remained vulnerable. He was shot with an arrow in the heel by Paris, at t

t Etna. Actæ′on [Actæon] was the son of Aristæus, a famous huntsman. He intruded himself on Diana while she was bathing,

o′nis [Adonis], the beautiful attendant of Venus, who held her train. He was killed by a boar, and turned by Venus into an

ne of the Harpies. Æne′as [Æneas] was the son of Anchises and Venus. He was one of the few great captains who escaped the

as one of the few great captains who escaped the destruction of Troy. He behaved with great valor during the siege, encoun

while his son, Ascanius, and his wife Creusa, clung to his garments. He saved them all from the flames. After wandering a

. Æscula′pius [Æsculapius], the god of physic, was a son of Apollo. He was physician to the Argonauts in their famous ex

was physician to the Argonauts in their famous expedition to Colchis. He became so noted for his cures that Pluto became j

em′non [Agamemnon] was the son of Plisthenes and brother of Menelaus. He was king of the Argives. His brother’s wife was t

ame of Venus. Amphi′on [Amphion] was the son of Jupiter and Antiope. He was greatly skilled in music; and it is said that

r tending nymphs.” Thomson. Amy′cus [Amycus] was king of Bebrycia. He was a son of Neptune, and was killed by Pollux.

us god, some time King of Arcadia, was the son of Jupiter and Latona. He was known by several names, but principally by th

s] was a god who had a hundred eyes which slept and watched by turns. He was charged by Juno to watch Io, but, being slain

os his companions robbed him, and proposed to throw him into the sea. He entreated the seamen to let him play upon his har

and he played so sweetly that the dolphins flocked round the vessel. He then threw himself into the sea, and one of the d

also taught mankind the use of honey, and how to get oil from olives. He was a celebrated hunter. His most famous son was

ss of Athens. Atlas, was King of Mauritania, now Morocco, in Africa. He was also a great astronomer. He is depicted with

f Mauritania, now Morocco, in Africa. He was also a great astronomer. He is depicted with the globe on his back, his name

ountains in Africa is called after him, and so is the Atlantic Ocean. He had seven daughters by his wife Pleione, they wer

c′chus [Bacchus], the god of wine, was the son of Jupiter and Semele. He is said to have married Ariadne, daughter of Mino

the use of grapes and honey. Bront′es [Brontes], one of the Cyclops. He is the personification of a blacksmith. Bubo′na

obber. Cad′mus [Cadmus], one of the earliest of the Greek demi-gods. He was the reputed inventor of letters, and his alph

nd Leda, twin brother of Pollux, noted for his skill in horsemanship. He went with Jason in quest of the Golden Fleece. C

is reign.” Milton. Char′on [Charon] was the son of Nox and Erebus. He was the ferryman who conveyed the spirits of the

was delivered by his sister Electra, who sent him away to Strophius. He afterward returned and slew both Clytemnestra and

f hills. Comedy, see Thalia. Co′mus [Comus] was the god of revelry. He presided over entertainments and feasts. Con′cor

. Cu′pid [Cupid], the god of love, was the son of Jupiter and Venus. He is represented as a naked, winged boy, with a bow

enus did but boast one only son, And rosy Cupid was that boasted one; He , uncontroll’d, thro’ heaven extends his sway, And

d and round.” Pope. Cyg′nus [Cygnus], the bosom friend of Phaeton. He died of grief on the death of his friend, and was

en in number. Dæd′alus [Dædalus] was a great architect and sculptor. He invented the wedge, the axe, the level, and the g

e tyrant genius of the soil or earth, the life and support of plants. He was depicted as an old man covered with moss, and

ed as an old man covered with moss, and was said to live underground. He is sometimes called the king of the elves and fay

′lion [Deucalion], one of the demi-gods, son of Prometheus and Pyrra. He and his wife, by making a ship, survived the delu

cruel tyrant of Thrace, who fed his mares on the flesh of his guests. He was overcome by Hercules, and himself given to th

es. Ganymede, a beautiful Phrygian youth, son of Tros, King of Troy. He succeeded Hebe in the office of cup-bearer to Jup

ng of Troy. He succeeded Hebe in the office of cup-bearer to Jupiter. He is generally represented sitting on the back of a

tes [Harpocrates], or Horus, an Egyptian god, son of Osiris and Isis. He was the god of silence and secrecy. He is usually

n god, son of Osiris and Isis. He was the god of silence and secrecy. He is usually represented as a young man, holding a

Salus. Hea′ven, Queen of, [Heaven] see Belisama. God of, see Cœlus. He ′be [Hebe], daughter of Zeus (Jupiter) and Hera (J

ard tied to a tree and strangled by order of Polyxo, king of Rhodes. He ′liades, The [Heliades], were the daughters of Sol

licon. Heliop′olis [Heliopolis], in Egypt, was the city of the sun. He ′lios [Helios]. The Grecian sun-god, or charioteer

r. Hephæs′tus [Hephæstus]. The Greek Vulcan, the smith of the gods. He ′ra [Hera]. The Greek name of Juno. Her′acles [He

ed to Orestes, but was carried away by Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles. He ′ro [Hero]. A priestess of Venus, with whom Leande

f Bacchus and Venus, or, as some say, of Apollo and one of the Muses. He was represented as a handsome youth, holding in h

an. Jap′etus [Japetus], son of Cœlus and Terra, husband of Clymene. He was looked upon by the Greeks as the father of al

eta sent him to fetch the Golden Fleece from Colchis (see Argonauts). He went in the ship Argo with forty-nine companions,

m he overcame all the difficulties which the king had put in his way. He took away the Golden Fleece and Medea also. The k

Ammon; the Babylonians, Belus; and the Egyptians, Osiris (see Jove). He is represented as a majestic personage seated on

den horse to Troy. Laom′edon [Laomedon], son of Ilus, a Trojan king. He was famous for having, with the assistance of Apo

” Ovid. Lud. In ancient British mythology the king of the Britons. He is said to have given his name to London. Lu′na

musical contest, and, being defeated, was flayed to death by the god. He was the supposed inventor of the flute. Ma′rut [

Memory, see Mnemosyne. Men′des [Mendes]. An Egyptian god like Pan. He was worshiped in the form of a goat. Menela′us [

ger of the gods, and the conductor of the souls of the dead to Hades. He was the supposed inventor of weights and measures

nd the sword of Mars, and he was therefore called the god of thieves. He is the supposed inventor of the lyre, which he ex

pelled to ask the god to withdraw the power he had bestowed upon him. He was told to bathe in the river Pactolus. He did s

he had bestowed upon him. He was told to bathe in the river Pactolus. He did so, and the sands which he stood on were gold

term “Midas-eared” as a synonym for ill-judged, or indiscriminate. “ He dug a hole, and in it whispering said, What monst

His bitter jests occasioned his being driven from heaven in disgrace. He is represented as holding an image of Folly in on

f Folly in one hand, and raising a mask from his face with the other. He is also described as the god of mirth or laughter

ea, was a son of Saturn and Cybele, and brother to Jupiter and Pluto. He quarreled with Jupiter because he did not conside

e, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, by whom he had a son named Triton. He was also father of Polyphemus (one of the Cyclope

by dolphins or sea-horses, and surrounded by Tritons and sea-nymphs. He holds in his hand a trident, with which he rules

arlands of flowers. Nere′us [Nereus]. A sea deity, husband of Doris. He had the gift of prophecy, and foretold fates; but

her Chloris. Homer makes him one of the greatest of the Greek heroes. He was present at the famous battle between the Lapi

n war.         “... Here’s Nestor Instructed by the antiquary times, He must, he is, he cannot but be wise.” Shakespeare

tern [Babylonian] god, represented as a monster, half-man, half-fish. He was said to have taught men the use of letters in

invariably invoked his aid when they were about to start on a voyage. He was also thought to personify the immense stream

yclops’ hammers led him to the abode of Vulcan, who gave him a guide. He then consulted an oracle, and had his sight resto

tored, as Longfellow says, by fixing “His blank eyes upon the sun.” He was afterward slain by Diana and placed amongst t

Orbona. Or′pheus [Orpheus] was son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope. He was married to Eurydice; but she was stung by a s

horned, long-eared man, with the lower half of the body like a goat. He is generally seen playing a pipe made of reeds of

here. Some shepherds, however, found the infant and took care of him. He lived among them till he had grown to man’s estat

hese three agree, and it was decided that Paris should be the umpire. He was sent for, and each of the goddesses courted h

ho married an immortal. Pe′lias [Pelias]. A son of Neptune and Tyro. He usurped the throne of Cretheus, which Jason was p

of Acrisius. His first famous exploit was against the Gorgon, Medusa. He was assisted in this enterprise by Pluto, who len

ble. Pallas lent him her shield, and Mercury supplied him with wings. He made a speedy conquest of the Gorgons, and cut of

Andromeda chained to the rock, and a sea-monster ready to devour her. He killed the monster, and married Andromeda. When h

œas, and one of the companions of Jason on his Argonautic expedition. He was present at the death of Hercules, and receive

d Philoctetes was persuaded by Ulysses to go and assist at the siege. He appears to have used the weapons with great dexte

influence.” Milton. Plu′to [Pluto]. King of the infernal regions. He was a son of Saturn and Ops, and husband of Prose

son of Saturn and Ops, and husband of Proserpine, daughter of Ceres. He is sometimes referred to under the name Dis, and

was son of Jasion or Iasius and Ceres (Demeter), the goddess of corn. He is described as being blind and lame; blind becau

in brother of Castor. Their father was Jupiter and their mother Leda. He and his brother form the constellation Gemini. Hi

lybo′tes [Polybotes]. One of the giants who made war against Jupiter. He was killed by Neptune. Polydec′tes [Polydectes]

sa and Neptune, or Poseidon, as the Greeks called the god of the sea. He captured Ulysses and twelve of his companions, an

Prome′theus [Prometheus], the son of Japetus and father of Deucalion. He presumed to make clay men, and animate them with

uno Inferna, and Libitina. She was called by the Greeks Persephone. “ He sung, and hell consented     To hear the poet’s p

e realms of unrelenting fate: And awful Rhadamanthus rules the state. He hears and judges each committed crime, Inquires i

Cacus, Cœculus. Rom′ulus [Romulus]. The traditional founder of Rome. He was a son of Mars and Ilia, and twin brother of R

[Saron], a sea-god. Sarpe′don [Sarpedon], son of Jupiter by Europa. He accompanied Glaucus, when the latter set out to a

latter set out to assist Priam against the Greeks in the Trojan War. He was slain by Patroclus. Sat′urn [Saturn], king o

Sile′nus [Silenus]. A Bacchanalian demi-god, the chief of the Satyrs. He is generally represented as a fat, drunken old ma

drowned themselves. Sis′yphus [Sisyphus], son of Æolus and Enaretta. He was condemned to roll a stone to the top of a hil

F. Lewis. Si′va [Siva]. In Hindoo mythology the “changer of form.” He is usually spoken of as the “Destroyer and Regene

′nus [Somnus]. The Roman god of sleep, son of Erebus and Nox (Night). He was one of the infernal deities, and resided in a

enth Muse. Sappho was so called. Ter′eus [Tereus] was a son of Mars. He married Procne, daughter of the king of Athens, b

if he did not sing best they might inflict any penalty they pleased. He was, of course, defeated, and the Muses made him

les. The′seus [Theseus]. One of the most famous of the Greek heroes. He was a son of Ægeus, king of Athens. He rid Attica

st famous of the Greek heroes. He was a son of Ægeus, king of Athens. He rid Attica of Procrustes and other evil-doers, sl

. A giant who was thrown into the innermost hell for insulting Diana. He , like Prometheus, has a vulture constantly feedin

e Tergemina. Triptol′emus [Triptolemus]. A son of Oceanus and Terra. He was a great favorite of the goddess Ceres, who cu

an war; but this artifice was discovered, and he was compelled to go. He was of great help to the Grecians, and forced Ach

rows of Hercules from Philoctetes, and used them against the Trojans. He enabled Paris to shoot one of them at the heel of

Vul′can [Vulcan], the god of fire, was the son of Jupiter and Juno. He offended Jupiter, and was by him thrown out of he

oke his leg, and was lame forever after. Vulcan was married to Venus. He is supposed to have formed Pandora out of clay. H

d to have formed Pandora out of clay. His servants were the Cyclopes. He was the patron deity of blacksmiths, and as the s

the Harpies from Thrace. Ze′thus [Zethus], twin brother of Amphion. He was the son of Antiope and Zeus. See Amphion. Ze

s). The Greek name of Jupiter, the greatest god in Grecian mythology. He was the god of the sky and its phenomena, and as

he sea in its quiet state. Thaumas represents the majesty of the sea. He is the father of Iris* (the rainbow) and of the H

u, Varuna*. The sun, moon, and stars were emblems of Uranus or Cœlum. He is represented clothed with a starred mantle, his

he office of Helios was to give light to men and gods during the day. He is described as rising every morning in the east,

as sacred to Helios. Here was erected his celebrated colossal statue. He was represented on coins of the Rhodians by the h

launched his thunder, and hurled the terrified driver from his seat. He fell into the river Eridanus* (Po). His sisters,

brated in the story of the Trojan war, was a son of Eos and Tithonus. He came to the assistance of Troy, and was slain by

Dyu; Phœnician, Moloch*; Egyptian, Seb. Chronos was the god of time. He married Rhea, a daughter of Uranus and Gæa. Their

l his father to restore his brothers and sisters to the light of day. He espoused Metis* (Prudence), who artfully persuade

ed Atys*, who, to her grief and indignation, proved faithless to her. He was about to wed Sagaris*, daughter of the king o

tys, becoming frantic, rushed to the mountains and destroyed himself. He was turned into a pine-tree, into which his soul

mple in Greece. Mountain-tops were the earliest seats of his worship. He was represented in the celebrated form of the sac

d her original form and gave birth to a son, who was called Epaphus*. He afterwards became king of Egypt, and built Memphi

nd veneration; but Lycaon*, their king, doubted the divinity of Zeus. He invited him to dinner, and served up for him a di

the impious monarch received the punishment which his crime merited. He was transformed into a wolf, and his house was de

eard flows long, and an eagle stands with expanded wings at his feet. He generally appears with the upper part of his body

a certain occasion. Pluvius was a surname of Jupiter as god of rain. He was invoked by that name among the Romans wheneve

her, and found her in her house, which was upon the bank of a river. He threw the nymph into the river, and transformed h

ee, and, to stop her complaints, Zeus often had recourse to violence. He punished her cruelties towards Heracles by suspen

man, Neptune; Hindu, Varuna*. Poseidon was a son of Chronos and Rhea. He was god of the sea, as having under his control t

ng at times quiet and composed, and at others as disturbed and angry. He was said to be haughty, powerful, vindictive and

angry. He was said to be haughty, powerful, vindictive and impatient. He was believed to be able to cause earthquakes at h

ver commerce, Poseidon was held in great reverence by the Phœnicians. He was the presiding deity over fishermen, and was o

e sea-coast, where fish naturally formed a staple commodity of trade. He was supposed to vent his displeasure by sending d

is sitting in a chariot, or a shell with wheels, drawn by hippocampi. He is sometimes accompanied by Amphitrite. His image

panied by Amphitrite. His image is very frequent on coins and medals. He is described as having black hair and blue eyes,

conveyed to the Greek mind an idea of something mysterious and grim. He can, in fact, scarcely be said to have had a plac

. The narcissus, maiden-hair fern, and cypress were sacred to Aides. He had temples erected to his honor at Olympia, Athe

(from dives, rich) and Orcus, from the dominions over which he ruled. He had no temple in Rome, but, in common with Proser

d only by the aid of Charon*, the ferryman, a grim, unshaven old man. He took only those whose bodies had received funerea

three necks bristling with snakes, lay at full length on the ground. He permitted all shades to enter, but none to return

es, or Pluto, is generally represented holding a two-pronged sceptre. He sometimes has keys in his hand, to intimate that

injury received from Apollo, burned the temple of that god at Delphi. He was placed where a stone hanging over his head, a

ddenly the ground opened at her feet and Pluto appeared in a chariot. He seized and carried off the maiden. All this occur

Hermes with a petition to Pluto to restore Persephone to her mother. He consented, and she joyfully prepared to follow th

s and Jasion, was a personification of the wealth derived from grain. He is represented as being lame when he makes his ap

when he makes his appearance, and winged when he takes his departure. He was supposed to be blind, because he bestows his

e is clearly distinguished from Athene, the wise disposer of battles. He was, probably, originally a personification of th

combined great agility, and was said to be the fleetest of the gods. He was, however, overmatched in battle by Athene, a

he father of Romulus*, and the founder and protector of their nation. He was said to have married Nerio*, and from her the

gry god of heaven seized him by the foot and hurled him from Olympus. He fell for a whole day, and alighted at sundown on

mely, that fire first came down from heaven in the form of lightning. He was worshiped by the Greeks as the god who had ma

n from her undignified position, he became reconciled to his parents. He built for himself on Olympus a palace of gold. Wi

the assistance of the Cyclopes, he forged for Zeus his thunderbolts. He constructed the palaces in which the gods resided

nderful chariots, and shod with brass the horses of celestial origin. He also made the tripods which moved automatically,

s which moved automatically, and formed for Zeus the far-famed Ægis*. He also made various wonderful things for his favori

he brass-footed, fire-breathing bull which guarded the Golden Fleece. He formed for Minos*. King of Crete, a brazen man na

who compassed the island three times a day to guard it from invasion. He destroyed people by making himself red-hot in the

as a lovely boy, with rounded limbs, and a merry, roguish expression. He has golden wings, and a quiver slung over his sho

enceforth the name of Hymen became synonymous with conjugal felicity. He was invoked at all marriage festivities. Phœbu

was the son of Zeus and Leto. The island of Delos was his birthplace. He was the god of light, prophecy, archery, music, p

ight, prophecy, archery, music, poetry, and of the arts and sciences. He represented, first, the great orb of day which il

ercised by the genial warmth of spring over the dark gloom of winter. He is also represented as a terrible god of death, s

-echo with the songs of the birds. Hence, Apollo is the god of music. He is himself the musician among the Olympic gods. H

the god of music. He is himself the musician among the Olympic gods. He attained his greatest importance among the Greeks

enowned singer Orpheus* was the son of Apollo and the muse Calliope*. He was a poet, a teacher of the Orphic mysteries, an

d great musician. The trees and rocks moved to the tones of his lyre. He married Eurydice*, and their life was full of hap

he horrors of the lower world to entreat Aides to restore her to him. He struck the chords of his lyre, and drew forth ton

was fatal; she was caught back, and vanished from his sight forever. He shunned all society, music was his sole companion

Apollo instantly destroyed her with one of his death-bringing darts. He repented when too late. He punished the raven for

her with one of his death-bringing darts. He repented when too late. He punished the raven for its garrulity by changing

ed Asclepius* (Æsculapius*), who was educated by the Centaur Chiron*. He became a celebrated physician, and was so skilful

on his mind that he gradually pined away, and died of a broken heart. He was transformed by the god into a cypress-tree. A

hat, having touched the lips of a goddess, it played most charmingly. He foolishly challenged Apollo to a musical contest.

tus, who ascribed his victory at Actium to the assistance of the god. He accordingly erected a magnificent temple to Apoll

ons. Apollo is always represented as having a youthful appearance. He is crowned with laurel, and wears a purple robe.

Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia* (one of the daughters of Atlas). He was the god that presided over commerce, eloquenc

restling, thieving, and everything that required skill and ingenuity. He was messenger of Zeus, and conductor of souls to

f souls to the underworld; as the latter he was called Psychopompos*. He was also god of the fertilizing rain. Later poets

e inventor of the alphabet, and of the art of interpreting languages. He was born in a cavern in Mount Cyllene, in Arcadia

es sprung from the varying actions of the wind, which he personified. He was simply air in motion, which in one hour may b

punished those that refused assistance o the lost or weary wayfarer. He was also guardian of streets and roads, and his s

request Zeus to appear to her in the full majesty of his divine form. He had sworn by the Styx to grant whatever she desir

rship and the cultivation of the vine among the nations of the earth. He did not confine himself to mere vine-planting, bu

ip of Dionysus extended to every place where the vine was cultivated. He was regarded, by Greeks and Romans alike, as the

ci gallery at Florence is a fine statue of Bacchus by Michael Angelo. He is crowned with ivy and vine tendrils, and holds

that sprung from the body of Medusa* when she was slain by Perseus*. He was employed by Zeus to carry his thunder and lig

e later poets represent Pegasus as being at the service of the Muses. He seems to represent that poetical inspiration whic

il. Ganymedes*. Ganymedes* was a son of Tros*, king of Troy. He was made immortal by Zeus, and installed as cup-b

to transport him to Olympus. Momus*. Momus* was the son of Nyx. He was the god of wit and ridicule, and was very unp

was believed to begin every new day, and was called Matutinus Pater*. He appears also as the door-keeper of heaven, whose

aven, whose gates he opened in the morning and closed in the evening. He was regarded, also, as the presiding deity over a

rived from verto, to change, was the god of garden and field produce. He personified the change of seasons and that proces

leaf-buds become developed into blossoms and the blossoms into fruit. He is generally represented crowned with wheatsheave

crifices consisted of milk, meat, wine, grapes, wheat-ears, and pigs. He is represented as an old man scattering flowers,

Nereus* was a personification of the sea in its quiet, placid moods. He was represented as a kindly, benevolent old man,

Proteus* was called by some a son, by others a servant, of Poseidon. He was familiarly known as “The Old Man of the Sea.”

Old Man of the Sea.” His office was to tend the seals, or sea calves. He had the power of foretelling future events, and c

To those only who held him fast did he appear in his real character. He became wearied, and resuming his true form, gave

s*, Phorcys*, and Ceto*. Thaumas* typified the wonders of the sea. He and Electra* (whose name signifies the sparkling

e god of fertility, and the special patron of shepherds and huntsmen. He presided over all rural occupations, was chief of

al occupations, was chief of the Satyrs, and of all rural divinities. He was the son of Hermes and an Arcadian nymph. He h

all rural divinities. He was the son of Hermes and an Arcadian nymph. He had horns sprouting from his forehead, beard and

us*, who, as the god of shepherds, was identified with the Greek Pan. He is called Lupercus*, or the one that wards off wo

the foster-father of Dionysus, whom he accompanied in his wanderings. He was generally intoxicated, and was rarely seen wi

s a somewhat elderly man, with blunt nose, bald head, and hairy body. He generally has a satyr on each side supporting his

ector of flocks, bees, the fruit of the vine, and all garden produce. He was chiefly worshiped at Lampsacus, his birthplac

was placed before Zeus that he might choose on the part of the gods. He pretended to be deceived, and chose the heap of b

etheus, however, resolved to brave the anger of the ruler of Olympus. He stole some sparks from the chariot of the sun, an

us determined to be revenged first on mankind and then on Prometheus. He ordered Hephæstus to make of clay a form resembli

rt man and part horse. The most renowned of the Centaurs was Chiron*. He was famous for his wisdom and his knowledge of me

being the preceptor of Jason*, Asclepius* (Æsculapius), and Achilles. He was so superior to his savage kindred that he was

s reported to be a son of Chronos and Philyra*, one of the Oceanides. He inhabited a cave on Mount Pelion, afterwards he r

d to Malea*. Heracles accidentally wounded him with a poisoned arrow. He suffered extreme pain, and in answer to his praye

ns, and gradually drove their wild neighbors back into the mountains. He thinks the word Centaurs meant air-piercers, as t

mark of divine favor, Cadmus decided to sacrifice the cow to Athene. He sent some of his companions to bring water from a

he gods assembled in the palace of Cadmus to celebrate this marriage. He presented to the bride a magnificent robe, and a

ned Thebes and retired to the country of the Enchelians*, in Illyria. He and his wife were finally changed into serpents a

. Œdipus*. Laius*, a great grandson of Cadmus, married Jocasta. He was told by the oracle that he was doomed to die

ant was found by Phorbas*, the herdsman of Polybus*, king of Corinth. He took the babe to his master, who, being childless

an noble taunted him at a banquet with not being the son of the king. He appealed to Merope*, his supposed mother, but she

to Merope*, his supposed mother, but she gave him an equivocal reply. He repaired to Delphi to consult the oracle, and was

e child of the darkness (Laius), and he is doomed to slay his father. He is also the child of the dawn (Jocasta), whose so

the disastrous termination of the war, and endeavored to prevent it. He concealed himself in a hiding-place, known only t

y to his father and himself, and he was directed to put her to death. He obeyed, but was instantly assailed by the Erinnys

t her to death. He obeyed, but was instantly assailed by the Erinnys. He roamed in madness through Arcadia, and was at len

s*, king of Psophis*, who gave him his daughter Arsinoe* in marriage. He presented his bride with the robe and collar of H

hat of the Nereides*, who thereupon besought Poseidon to avenge them. He granted their request, and not only overwhelmed t

he found that Polydectes had been treating Danae with great cruelty. He proceeded to the palace where the king and his fr

the shoes, wallet, and helmet, by whom they were taken to the Nymphs. He gave the Gorgon’s head to Athene, who had it plac

rgon’s head to Athene, who had it placed in the middle of her shield. He then sent a messenger to his grandfather, informi

rous enterprises, in which he would in all probability lose his life. He first sent him to kill the Chimæra, a monster whi

advice, and was directed by him to go sleep in the temple of Athene. He obeyed; the goddess appeared to him, and giving h

.” “In the story of Bellerophon, the reference to the sun is obvious. He was called the son of Poseidon, who was sometimes

Each represented to him the advantages to be gained by following her. He listened attentively to both speakers, and then,

horrified at what he had done, and went to Thestius* to be purified. He then proceeded to Delphi to consult the oracle, a

to every weapon. Heracles succeeded in strangling it with his hands. He then made himself a suit of armor of the skin, an

his amazement, in the place of each head he struck off two sprung up. He then ordered his nephew, Iolaus*, to set on fire

. Heracles buried the immortal head and placed over it a heavy stone. He then dipped his arrows in her poisonous blood, th

irds, Athene brought him a pair of brazen clappers made by Hephæstus. He ascended a neighboring hill and commenced to ratt

eracles overpowered Diomedes and threw him to the carnivorous beasts. He delivered the mares to Eurystheus, who set them l

. The princess had just been chained to a rock when Heracles arrived. He offered to destroy the monster if Laomedon would

ree bodies united at the waist, three heads, six hands, and six feet. He possessed a herd of splendid cattle which were fa

boat, and thus Heracles crossed over safely to the island of Erythia. He first slew the herdsman and dog, and was proceedi

l fruitless efforts before he succeeded in reaching the desired spot. He applied to the nymphs of the river Po for advice,

hero lifted him up in the air and squeezed him to death in bis arms. He then passed into Egypt, where Busiris* was in the

lew Emathion*, son of Eos and Tithonus, for his cruelty to strangers. He then wandered through Arabia, and at last arrived

ned to Thebes, where he gave his wife, Megara, in marriage to Iolaus. He then proceeded to the court of Eurytus*, who had

e, and shot Nessus through the heart with one of his poisoned arrows. He directed Deianeira to secure some of the blood wh

im his daughter, Iole, after he had won her by shooting with the bow. He now marched against him with an army. The town an

ar heated the tunic, the effect of the hydra’s blood began to appear. He endeavored to tear it off, but the flesh came wit

od of strength, and was especially honored as patron of the gymnasia. He had temples and festivals in various parts of Gre

iron club. Theseus appropriated the club as a trophy of his victory. He next delivered the Isthmus of Corinth from a powe

a clue of thread by which he might find his way out of the labyrinth. He was successful, slew the Minotaur, escaped from t

named for him Ægean. Theseus succeeded his father as king of Athens. He united the twelve towns of Attica under one gover

emale warriors that Heracles gave him Antiope*, sister of Hippolyte*. He carried her off to Athens and made her his queen.

ppomenes*, a son of Poseidon, challenged her to a trial of swiftness. He invoked the aid of Aphrodite (Venus), who gave hi

us was one of the most celebrated artificers of the legendary period. He was so proud of his achievements that he could no

t, he notched a piece of iron on the edge, and thus invented the saw. He also invented a pair of compasses. Dædalus, envio

fled with his son Icarus to Crete, where they were welcomed by Minos. He built the Labyrinth, besides many other wonderful

of feathers fastened together with wax, and equipped himself and son. He taught Icarus to fly, and charged him to keep at

s* he lost one of his sandals, and was obliged to proceed without it. He arrived in the market-place of Iolcus, and Pelias

Nephele, a cloud nymph. Their two children were Phryxus* and Helle*. He afterwards married Ino*, a daughter of Cadmus, an

for her Hellespont (Helle’s Sea). Phryxus arrived safely in Colchis. He sacrificed to Zeus the ram which had borne him th

ce in a grove sacred to Ares (Mars), and placed a dragon to guard it. He married Calciope*, daughter of the king Æetes*, b

ehind. The Argonauts next arrived in Bebrycia, where Amycus* reigned. He always challenged strangers to a trial of strengt

ycus* reigned. He always challenged strangers to a trial of strength. He was vanquished and slain in a combat with Pollux.

d to the palace of Phineus to consult him as to their further course. He promised to give them ample directions if they wo

ing up. Jason was in great perplexity when he heard these conditions. He went to the temple of Hecate to supplicate that m

to follow a spotted cow, and build a town where she should lie down. He followed the cow until she came to the hill of At

e built the town named Ilion, from himself, and Troy from his father. He prayed to Zeus to bestow upon him some sign of fa

e was succeeded by Priam, who was king at the time of the Trojan War. He was married to Hecuba*, and the most renowned of

s, and the shepherds then gave him the name of Alexander (man-aider). He married the nymph Œnone*,14 whom Rhea had taught

edes* had come to summon him to the field, he pretended to be insane. He yoked a horse and a bull together, and began plou

o remove the child convinced every one that his insanity was feigned. He was therefore obliged to join the expedition agai

cceeded in persuading him that it was his duty to make the sacrifice. He accordingly despatched a messenger to his wife, C

Death of Memnon*. Memnon was the son of Eos (Aurora) and Tithonus. He was king of the Ethiopians, and came with his war

d to him the armor of his father, and conveyed him to the Greek camp. He immediately distinguished himself in single comba

usty friend Sinon* with full instructions as to his course of action. He now approached King Priam with fettered hands, al

ne by desecrating her temple on the night of the destruction of Troy. He was shipwrecked, and as he grasped a rock to save

ks, dashed out their brains and then devoured them with great relish. He then stretched himself on the floor, and soon fel

his flocks, and went out, carefully replacing the barrier after him. He came home at evening, rolled away the stone, and

ed, that he promised to allow Odysseus to be the last to be devoured. He asked his name, to which Odysseus replied, “Outis

nt, they flocked around his den and inquired the cause of his outcry. He replied, “O friends, I die, and Noman gives the b

sland of Æolus*, to whom Zeus had intrusted the command of the winds. He treated the Greeks hospitably, and at their depar

youth who addressed him familiarly, and announced himself as Hermes. He informed Odysseus of the danger of approaching Ci

rd and rushed toward her. She fell on her knees and begged for mercy. He dictated a solemn oath that she would release his

ertes*, was wearing his life away in anxious longings for his return. He also conversed with Agamemnon, Patroclus, and Ach

ard the dashing of the oars, raised their song in praise of Odysseus. He struggled to free himself, but his comrades bound

seus had been warned by both Tiresias and Circe to avoid this island. He urged his companions to pass it, but they insiste

. Clinging to a mast, he floated about in the open sea for nine days. He once more escaped from Charybdis, and on the tent

son, caused a tempest to arise, during which the raft was destroyed. He floated about for two days and nights, but at las

as cast ashore on the island of Scheria*, the home of the Phæacians*. He crept into a thicket, and lying down on some drie

morning Telemachus returned from his fruitless search for his father. He went first to Eumæus to learn something of the st

ence. She spoke kindly to him, inquiring his name and whence he came. He gave her a fictitious account of himself, but tol

for arms, but, in obedience to Odysseus, Telemachus had removed them. He , with his father and Eumæus, slew the suitors. Th

hat Helenus*, one of the sons of Priam, was reigning in that country. He had married Andromache*, widow of Hector. Helenus

neral games in honor of his father, who had been dead exactly a year. He left with Acestes*, a Trojan prince who governed

ere destined to return to earth and become the future heroes of Rome. He told also of the events to be accomplished before

Tiber. Latinus*, third in descent from Saturn, governed the country. He had a daughter named Lavinia, whose hand had been

r of night. Hermes, or Mercury, presided over eloquence and commerce. He was messenger of the gods, and, as guide of souls

ed God,” or “Absolute Spirit,” headed the deities of the first order. He was represented as having the head of a ram; the

new moon, with great pomp, to his habitation, and saluted him “Apis.” He was placed in a vessel magnificently decorated, a

ish captivity. In Assyria, Asshur* was the supreme object of worship. He was the guardian deity of king and country. He wa

eme object of worship. He was the guardian deity of king and country. He was vaguely considered as the fount or origin of

Arusha was a name for the sun as he begins his course in the heaven. He is represented as a beautiful child. He is identi

ins his course in the heaven. He is represented as a beautiful child. He is identical with the Greek Eros, or god of love,

ced by a golden one. Manu is a wise lawgiver, and the son of Brahma. He is the same as the Greek Minos, and the name is d

e Wise. It is probable he lived about a thousand years before Christ. He was the son of a king, and was distinguished for

g, and was distinguished for his wisdom, virtue, and personal beauty. He was so disgusted with the wickedness of men, that

to a desert place, where he spent six years in prayer and meditation. He then began his career as a religious teacher. His

the son of Volsung, a descendant of Odin, is the hero of this story. He was born after the death of his father, and becam

ime praying that God will render his gift prosperous to those to whom He has given it. They drink the water in which it ha

ed the art of making nets for fish, and taught it to his descendants. He was believed to confer fortune in the chase, and

ouai, which means ‘those who make the day,’ and they light the world. He is never identified with the sun, nor was he supp

e rain-bringers, he was also at times spoken of as the god of waters. He was said to have scooped out the basins of the la

r his brother’s country, for they had divided the earth between them. He soon came to the gigantic frog, which he pierced

became the father of mankind, and special guardian of the Iroquois.” He caused the earth to bring forth, stocked the wood

y choice as to the main features of the career of his solar divinity. He must be born of the Night, or of the Dawn, must t

he would sometimes come down from the sky and walk on earth as a man. He wished to see and enjoy things himself. At any mo

might disappear to return to Olympus, where the gods of heaven lived. He was not the only one who was thus seen. All of th

called the father of the gods, but he was not the father of them all. He had a brother, Neptune, who ruled the ocean, and

o need to see well to make out that Proserpina was fair and charming. He stopped his four terrible black horses and looked

charming. He stopped his four terrible black horses and looked again. He had never seen anything so beautiful in heaven, o

he earth. The grim, rough old god was in love with gentle Proserpina. He turned his black horses and drove slowly down the

d as they should. Gruff old Pluto tried to comfort the goddess-child. He told her that she should be his bride and queen;

e her, and that no one should treat her unkindly, since he loved her. He told her that the underworld was black and beauti

persons were not unwilling to be queens and wear crowns of diamonds. He thought she was foolish to make such an ado about

e a pack of monsters, all howling; but soon she saw Cerberus himself. He was larger than any horse, and he had three heads

on its three heads. “Do not be afraid of him,” said Pluto, smiling. “ He will harm no one who has the right to pass him.”

an! Pan!” and Pan, the god of the animals, came skipping to meet her. He was like a man, but he had hoofs in place of feet

  Why should the world such sorrow dree    By reason of Persephone?” He takes the cleft pomegranate seeds:    “Love, eat

and they shivered sadly on cold days. Prometheus was wiser than they. He had seen the eternal fire burning in the great ha

heaven dwell, and he knew how it cheers and warms those who have it. He knew also that the fire was sacred, and that Jupi

ed again, but with great pain, and his suffering was always terrible. He saw, too, that the fire he had stolen was not ent

for me a bearer to carry it.” Now Vulcan is the workman of the gods. He is lame, but skillful, and with his hands he make

Then he took clay and formed of it a woman, warm and alive and human. He called to his aid Venus, the goddess of love, to

and led her away. Next morning Epimetheus heard a knock at his door. He knew that it was the messenger of the gods, but h

ow to open, for he thought of what Prometheus had said of the danger. He almost made up his mind not to take the gift; the

when the night-seer looks To that shadowless orb, in a vernal sky     He can number its hills and brooks. To the Sun-god

nd strong. At that moment Apollo, the god of light and song, came by. He was just from the earth, where he had done a grea

he was returning, he saw Cupid polishing and preparing his tiny arms. He stopped, and watched the little god with contempt

id was stringing his bow behind the shelter of a neighboring thicket. He took two shining arrows from his quiver, one tipp

art, but it was too late: he was madly in love with beautiful Daphne. He called to her,” Stay, Daphne.” But as Daphne turn

r bank, there stood Daphne, so quiet that he thought she had yielded. He went quickly to her and caught her in his arms. B

e a wonderful young musician named Orpheus, son of the muse Calliope. He understood all music. When the birds sang, when t

to the dark kingdom of Pluto and Proserpina. Orpheus was heartbroken. He sang of his grief to the gods of the streams and

streams and to the spirits of the trees, but they could not help him. He sang of it to the people of Thrace, but they coul

ang of it to the people of Thrace, but they could only weep with him. He besought with song the gods of Olympus, but thoug

e world of shadows. The time had come for Orpheus to plead his cause. He struck upon the strings of his lyre and began. In

d, and how, without cause, she had been snatched from him in an hour. He told how he had tried to endure her loss, and how

her come? Are we really to begin life again and be happy once more?” He walked softly, so as to hear her footsteps. There

y following? Is it possible that they intend to give her back to me?” He could not believe that it was true. He listened t

ntend to give her back to me?” He could not believe that it was true. He listened to hear her step — her breath — for he h

er breath — for he himself was breathing hard. There was not a sound. He called, softly, “Eurydice!” There was no reply. B

oftly, “Eurydice!” There was no reply. But he dared not turn to look. He must not lose her, after all. Yet Eurydice was al

really following? Have the gods of the underworld really let her go?” He dared not believe it. Then, suddenly, he heard he

lieve it. Then, suddenly, he heard her. That was her step behind him. He could hear her gentle breathing. The joy and deli

Alcmena,” said the seer, “your son has power that is more than human. He will be a great sufferer and a great hero, for he

m his letters, and he had other teachers such as mortals seldom have. He learned to box and wrestle, to shoot with the bow

to drive his chariot close round the goal post without ever touching. He learned to live on simple fare, to endure heat an

ed Hercules’ heart with sadness, yet he found a deep delight in them. He looked up, and all he said was, “Fair one, what d

n the goddesses went away, and left him debating, in his great heart. He remembered what Tiresias had said, for his mother

ruth is that he was jealous of the hero, and very much afraid of him. He even feared that Hercules might try to take his k

sort of man to disobey an oracle. However, Eurystheus trusted no one. He sought out one mighty task after another, hoping

oots at the foot of the sacred mountain of Helicon, Hercules set out. He soon found the creature, and, first of all, let f

r so much as scratched the lion’s skin. Then Hercules tried his club. He hit the lion with all his might upon the head. It

rs of Hercules.” In most of them he had to conquer some fierce beast. He had even to bring up for a day the great three-he

gardens were. Then Hercules wandered far and wide looking for Nereus. He almost despaired of ever finding him, when, one d

r him almost out. Then Nereus changed back to the form of an old man. He had been handled roughly, but he admired the cour

“let me go! Seek the giant Atlas, who holds the earth and sky apart. He will tell you where the gardens of the Hesperides

his shoulders, but his task was not half so easy as he had expected. He wondered how so airy a thing as the sky could be

pected. He wondered how so airy a thing as the sky could be so heavy. He wished he had gone after the apples himself. As f

Atlas, he was glad to be rid of his burden, even for a little while. He stretched his great, cramped limbs to their full

autiful apples of gold upon it. Hercules wasted no time in questions. He saw that Atlas had the apples. What he wished now

now was to get the sky off his shoulders and begin his journey home. He thanked Atlas very heartily, and thought that wou

ould be the end of it. But Atlas took a different view of the matter. He found it very pleasant to be able to move about a

able to move about and swing his arms and bend over when he pleased. He did not in the least fancy taking up his burden a

cestis. There once lived in Thessaly a good king named Admetus. He was a gentle ruler and led his people in the ways

aceful dance. One day there came to the palace of Admetus a stranger. He seemed to be a beggar; but though his clothes wer

re worn and tattered, he was fairer to look upon than any mortal man. He asked for shelter, and begged that he might tend

and granted his request. So the stranger became the king’s shepherd. He would lead out the sheep, not with crook or staff

court of Pelias, king of Iolcus, and there he took part in the games. He returned with many prizes, but he was sad, for he

eautiful daughter of Pelias, and had loved her deeply at first sight. He had asked Pelias if he might sue for Alcestis’ ha

as on the verge of death, who should come to the palace but Hercules? He was on his way to Thrace, to tame the man-eating

e man-eating horses of Diomed and lead them to his master Eurystheus. He was stopping to find rest and refreshment with hi

to ask the servant where Alcestis was to be buried, then he was gone. He came just in time, for when he reached the place

w moments she was able to rise, and Hercules led her back to Admetus. He drew a veil over her face, however, and did not a

Hercules would not stay to take part in the festival of thanksgiving. He had other labors to perform, and went on his way

Andrew Lang. Note. — Pygmalion was a sculptor of the isle of Cyprus. He is said to have made an image of a maiden which w

a maiden which was so beautiful that he fell deeply in love with it. He prayed to Venus (called by the Greeks Aphrodite)

nd said to him, “Go to your father. See whether he is ashamed of you. He will prove to you before the whole world that he

Phaëton dared not raise his head. His courage, however, did not fail. He stood waiting for his father to speak. “What is i

s care, but the words only stirred Phaëton’s heart to greater desire. He did not believe that he was really too weak to co

low him he heard the chorus of birds singing to greet the rising sun. He heard the lowing of cattle, and the voices of men

em in check. They increased their speed. Phaëton began to be alarmed. He pulled at the reins and called the horses by name

Phaëton, now thoroughly scared, tried to turn them back to the east. He hoped to put the chariot once more into his fathe

saw the earth spread out like a great map. The height made him dizzy. He dropped the reins and clung to the sides of the c

heat and smoke and ashes, sick and terrified with the fearful speed. He felt only the car bounding and tossing under him

and she was always hoping to return. Meanwhile Perseus grew rapidly. He was tall and strong, and Minerva, the goddess of

the swiftest runner, the strongest wrestler, and the bravest swimmer. He was their leader and their hero. Now, when Perseu

olydectes was glad at heart to think that now he should have his way. He sent a messenger to Danaë and commanded her to co

e Gorgons.” Then Perseus set out toward the west. Three days he flew. He passed the palaces of sunset and went on into the

started for the door, but the other Gorgons sprang up with a shriek. “ He has come!” they cried, and spreading their swift

oward them, and there he set his tired foot once more upon the earth. He took off his helmet and prepared to lie down to r

This region belonged to the giant Atlas, who did not like strangers. He ordered Perseus to leave the country at once. Per

. At last his wings became so wet that they could hardly support him. He was forced to alight on a rock. The monster, howe

ve saved — give me Andromeda.” Cepheus was pleased with this request. He wished even to make Perseus his heir, but this of

t her food. Next day the king returned. His wrath now knew no bounds. He ordered his soldiers to seize Danaë and carry her

Echo sighs forth “Hilliho!” Alas, ’twas not the white-horn’d doe     He saw in the rustling grove, But the bridal veil, a

Ægeus,” said Æthra, “can any one but a god lift such a great stone?” “ He must,” answered the king, “else he will not be sa

en Ægeus left, but Æthra brought up the hoy with all a mother’s love. He was taught to be brave and generous, he learned t

but the stone was firm. Ten ordinary men could hardly have moved it. He made a third trial. The muscles of his body stood

possible, to rid the road of the robbers and giants who infested it. He bound on the sandals, girded on the sword, and st

out of sight before a giant strode into the road and blocked the way. He was a famous robber and bore a great club of iron

of old Ægeus was valiant and brave!    From the near Trœzenian strand He scorned to go over the smooth-flowing wave,    To

days. Theseus lived happily in the palace with the king, his father. He was always active, ridding the country of monster

geus heard what his son had chosen to do, he was stricken with grief. He would have commanded him to remain and not risk a

utiful. That night Theseus paced up and down his room for many hours. He was thinking of the fight with the Minotaur which

wn into the earth. Sometimes he had steep flights of stairs to climb. He seemed to be passing over the same path again and

lse dodged them altogether. At last Theseus pretended to give way. He sprang back several steps, as though he were abou

ing to the ground. When she looked up again, Theseus was at her side. He had come out quickly, following the clew of the t

re, ye fathers, mourn your sons!    Mothers, weep not your daughters! He brings you back your dear-loved ones    Across th

in the land of Troy, there lived at this time a fair shepherd youth. He was a son of old King Priam, but he had been born

found him and taken care of him, and the little prince had grown up. He was now living, still unknown and unrecognized, a

now living, still unknown and unrecognized, among these poor people. He helped them tend their flocks, and made the wild

ome. In a twinkling, Mercury, with his winged shoes and cap, was off. He soon alit on the heights of Ida and found the bea

here he took her to the king’s palace and Priam received them gladly. He did not know that the fair shepherd was his son w

ddess Thetis. Achilles was young, but very swift and strong and bold. He had come with fifty ships full of warriors to hel

as a ransom for his child, and beseeching Agamemnon to set her free. He did not obtain her, however, for the leader of th

eep her as his slave, since she was very beautiful and very skillful. He sent the priest away with angry words and threate

roclus.” Then Achilles arose and went forth upon the field of battle. He had no armor, but the goddess Minerva threw a gol

y Hector.” Vulcan was pleased that he could do this thing for Thetis. He hobbled away willingly to his workshop, and all t

t the hero, when he saw it, felt the courage in his breast rise high. He hastened to put on the helmet, with its plume of

y, but the heart of Achilles was still sore with grief for Patroclus. He fastened thongs to the ankles of the dead hero an

 a dirty, ragged Greek, who had been found in the reeds by the shore. He was trembling with fright, and at first could not

from the height divine    Looked down and loved, and came and wooed. He thought to save her from her fate.    He knew the

d loved, and came and wooed. He thought to save her from her fate.     He knew the distant future all — The fiery doom that

ture all — The fiery doom that lay in wait    When Troy should fall. He wooed her with his wondrous song.    The birds fl

. Come, come!” She heard but that one call,    Not “Troy must fall.” He wooed her with immortal gifts,    Rare treasures

ittle fire in the midst of the cave and sat down to await his return. He soon came, driving before him his sheep and goats

fore him his sheep and goats, and a frightful looking monster he was. He was so tall that he had to stoop to get through t

o tall that he had to stoop to get through the huge door of the cave. He had long hair and a shaggy beard, and only one ey

nly one eye, fierce and staring, right in the middle of his forehead, He drove in his flocks, and when they were all in, l

he sat there, he roared with pain and rage. But Ulysses was cautious. He hound the rams of the flocks together, three by t

ne hard with the hero, but that upon the way the god Mercury met him. He warned Ulysses of the danger before him, and, as

ro himself, however, had himself tied to the mast, and so heard them. He struggled hard to get loose, when he heard the sw

struck the ship, and every man aboard was drowned, excepting Ulysses. He clung to a log and escaped their fate. For nine d

sses was my master,” said Eumæus; “but, alas, he will never return.” “ He will return this very year,” said the disguised h

Eumæus; “and I fear that his good son, Telemachus, will perish, too. He has gone to Pylos for news of his father, and eve

hough it would almost have felled an ox, Ulysses was not moved by it. He walked quietly on, shaking his head, but curbing

e me tidings of Ulysses?” she asked. “Indeed, I can,” said the hero. “ He is still alive, and will soon return. Even now, I

, and will soon return. Even now, I believe he is not far from here.” He was eager to tell her who he was, but he wished e

ill you strive with your betters?” “Let him take it,” said Penelope. “ He did not come here to woo me, but if he bend the b

ears, they destroyed, 211. Helen was then taken back to Sparta, 211. He ΄lios. The god of the sun; father of Phaëton, 112;

by the Greeks Hermes. Son of Jupiter. Messenger of the gods, 32, 48. He conducted souls to and from the underworld, 73.

, smith, armorer, chariot builder, and artist of all work in Olympus. He built of brass the houses of the gods; he made fo

d from place to place with the speed of the wind, or even of thought. He also shod with brass the celestial steeds, which

hariots of the gods through the air, or along the surface of the sea. He was able to bestow on his workmanship self-motion

nd tables) could move of themselves in and out of the celestial hall. He even endowed with intelligence the golden handmai

perion to Apollo. Hyperion was the father of the Sun, Moon, and Dawn. He is therefore the original sun-god, and is painted

ethroned by Saturn and Rhea. Milton alludes to them in Paradise Lost. He says the heathens seem to have had some knowledge

, (Hephæstos,) the celestial artist, was the son of Jupiter and Juno. He was born lame, and his mother was so displeased a

lameness, according to this account, was the consequence of his fall. He was a whole day falling, and at last alighted in

, was the son of Jupiter and Latona, and brother of Diana, (Artemis.) He was god of the sun, as Diana, his sister, was the

and the myrtle. Cupid, (Eros,) the god of love, was the son of Venus. He was her constant companion; and, armed with bow a

pe no such shore?” Mercury (Hermes) was the son of Jupiter and Maia. He presided over commerce, wrestling, and other gymn

eving, and every thing, in short, which required skill and dexterity. He was the messenger of Jupiter, and wore a winged c

was the messenger of Jupiter, and wore a winged cap and winged shoes. He bore in his hand a rod entwined with two serpents

ts, called the caduceus.2 Mercury is said to have invented the lyre. He found, one day, a tortoise, of which he took the

chus, (Dionysus,) the god of wine, was the son of Jupiter and Semele. He represents not only the intoxicating power of win

e of Bacchus; and Mulciber of Vulcan. Janus was the porter of heaven. He opens the year, the first month being named after

of heaven. He opens the year, the first month being named after him. He is the guardian deity of gates, on which account

n which — gave his good offices in arranging and disposing the earth. He appointed rivers and bays their places, raised mo

th, and kneading it up with water, made man in the image of the gods. He gave him an upright stature, so that while all ot

r departure. Jupiter, seeing this state of things, burned with anger. He summoned the gods to council. They obeyed the cal

the skies live apart, on either side. Jupiter addressed the assembly. He set forth the frightful condition of things on th

ith his own waters, calls on his brother Neptune to aid him with his. He lets loose the rivers, and pours them over the la

ges to Japhet. Prometheus has been a favorite subject with the poets. He is represented as the friend of mankind, who inte

ight have been at once taken into favor. But that he disdained to do. He has therefore become the symbol of magnanimous en

grant me this favor, that I may always remain unmarried, like Diana.” He consented, but at the same time said, “Your own f

s to all the world was not wise enough to look into his own fortunes. He saw her hair flung loose over her shoulders, and

and said, “If so charming in disorder, what would it be if arranged?” He saw her eyes bright as stars; he saw her lips, an

stars; he saw her lips, and was not satisfied with only seeing them. He admired her hands and arms, naked to the shoulder

, and whatever was hidden from view he imagined more beautiful still. He followed her; she fled, swifter than the wind, an

ining nothing of its former self but its beauty. Apollo stood amazed. He touched the stem, and felt the flesh tremble unde

. He touched the stem, and felt the flesh tremble under the new bark. He embraced the branches, and lavished kisses on the

on and approve his song. Like Phœbus thus, acquiring unsought praise, He caught at love and filled his arms with bays.” T

h. Pyramus, having been delayed, now approached the place of meeting. He saw in the sand the footsteps of the lion, and th

ye lions, from the rocks, and tear this guilty body with your teeth.” He took up the veil, carried it with him to the appo

Procris. Cephalus was a beautiful youth and fond of manly sports. He would rise before the dawn to pursue the chase. A

gh he had lost his dog, still continued to take delight in the chase. He would go out at early morning, ranging the woods

I love you! you make the groves and my solitary rambles delightful.” He was running on in this way when he heard, or thou

beloved Procris told him that the weapon had too surely met its mark. He rushed to the place, and found her bleeding, and

om the earth. Juno asked to have it as a gift. What could Jupiter do? He was loath to give his mistress to his wife; yet h

to his wife; yet how refuse so trifling a present as a simple heifer? He could not, without exciting suspicion; so he cons

with more than two at a time, so that he kept watch of Io constantly. He suffered her to feed through the day, and at nigh

hide. Fear took the place of his former boldness, and the hero fled. He could not but admire his own speed; but when he s

, wretched me!” he would have said, but no sound followed the effort. He groaned, and tears flowed down the face which had

red on his pack, his pack now chased him, cheered on by his huntsmen. He longed to cry out, “I am Actæon; recognize your m

er, the rest of the pack came up and buried their teeth in his flesh. He groaned, — not in a human voice, yet certainly no

ame he turned his head, and heard them regret that he should be away. He earnestly wished he was. He would have been well

heard them regret that he should be away. He earnestly wished he was. He would have been well pleased to see the exploits

of him whether he will own you as a son.” Phaëton heard with delight. He travelled to India, which lies directly in the re

ed up the steep ascent, and entered the halls of his disputed father. He approached the paternal presence, but stopped at

give me some proof, I beseech you, by which I may be known as yours.” He ceased; and his father, laying aside the beams th

th is sworn and must be kept, — but I beg you to choose more wisely.” He ended; but the youth rejected all admonition and

nguent, and made him capable of enduring the brightness of the flame. He set the rays on his head, and, with a foreboding

d about as if empty. They rush headlong and leave the travelled road. He is alarmed, and knows not how to guide them; nor,

In spite of the glare all around him, the sight of his eyes grew dim. He wished he had never touched his father’s horses,

horses, never learned his parentage, never prevailed in his request. He is borne along like a vessel that flies before a

o? Much of the heavenly road is left behind, but more remains before. He turns his eyes from one direction to the other; n

ourse, now to the realms of sunset which he is not destined to reach. He loses his self-command, and knows not what to do,

ht the reins or throw them loose; he forgets the names of the horses. He sees with terror the monstrous forms scattered ov

ce and full of burning ashes, and the smoke was of a pitchy darkness. He dashed forward he knew not whither. Then, it is b

erpose for a screen to earth, nor was a shower remaining unexhausted. He thundered, and brandishing a lightning bolt in hi

chariot Phaëton, Struck by Jove’s thunder, rests beneath this stone. He could not rule his father’s car of fire, Yet was

Bacchus offered Midas his choice of a reward, whatever he might wish. He asked that whatever he might touch should be chan

cing in his new-acquired power, which he hastened to put to the test. He could scarce believe his eyes when he found a twi

of an oak, which he plucked from the branch, become gold in his hand. He took up a stone; it changed to gold. He touched a

nch, become gold in his hand. He took up a stone; it changed to gold. He touched a sod; it did the same. He took an apple

ok up a stone; it changed to gold. He touched a sod; it did the same. He took an apple from the tree; you would have thoug

rdened in his hand; or put a morsel to his lips, it defied his teeth. He took a glass of wine, but it flowed down his thro

had lately coveted. But all in vain; starvation seemed to await him. He raised his arms, all shining with gold, in prayer

your head and body in, and wash away your fault and its punishment.” He did so, and scarce had he touched the waters befo

to the god of the lyre, and all but Midas acquiesced in the judgment. He dissented, and questioned the justice of the awar

turban or head-dress. But his hair-dresser of course knew the secret. He was charged not to mention it, and threatened wit

none but to his wife his ears of state.” Midas was king of Phrygia. He was the son of Gordius, a poor countryman, who wa

till Alexander the Great, in his career of conquest, came to Phrygia. He tried his skill with as ill success as others, ti

n, and she shred them from the stalks, and prepared them for the pot. He reached down with a forked stick a flitch of baco

stands the city of Eleusis, then the home of an old man named Celeus. He was out in the field, gathering acorns and blackb

ve frustrated my attempt. Nevertheless, he shall be great and useful. He shall teach men the use of the plough, and the re

, they one and all moved off to the water, plunged in, and swam away. He did not know what to make of this, whether some g

e when he found himself agitated with a longing desire for the water. He could no longer restrain himself, but bidding far

she had found a sheltered nook, laving her limbs in the clear water. He fell in love with her, and showing himself on the

and added, “But what avails all this if it fails to move your heart?” He was going on in this strain, but Scylla turned an

him, sentencing him to pass a thousand years in decrepitude and pain. He returns to the sea, and there finds the body of S

hat he came at last to abhor the sex, and resolved to live unmarried. He was a sculptor, and had made with wonderful skill

iving or not, and could not even then believe that it was only ivory. He caressed it, and gave it presents such as young g

ed stones, little birds and flowers of various hues, beads and amber. He put raiment on its limbs, and jewels on its finge

ess became her, and she looked not less charming than when unattired. He laid her on a couch spread with cloths of Tyrian

aning over the couch, gave a kiss to the mouth. It seemed to be warm. He pressed its lips again, he laid his hand upon the

cinthus. Apollo was passionately fond of a youth named Hyacinthus. He accompanied him in his sports, carried the nets w

when the quoit bounded from the earth and struck him in the forehead. He fainted and fell. The god, as pale as himself, ra

ng of Thessaly, where he reigned in peace, without violence or wrong. He was son of Hesperus, the Day-star, and the glow o

his brother’s death made him feel as if the gods were hostile to him. He thought best, therefore, to make a voyage to Carl

h him, but he could not bear to expose her to the dangers of the sea. He answered, therefore, consoling her as well as he

nest on his lips was the name of Halcyone. To her his thoughts cling. He prays that the waves may bear his body to her sig

tumnus, on my recommendation. I know him as well as he knows himself. He is not a wandering deity, but belongs to these mo

aw and loved Anaxarete, a noble lady of the ancient family of Teucer. He struggled long with his passion, but when he foun

ften hung at her door garlands which he had moistened with his tears. He stretched himself on her threshold, and uttered h

mely youth. It appeared to her like the sun bursting through a cloud. He would have renewed his entreaties, but there was

his quiver, hastened to the chamber of Psyche, whom he found asleep. He shed a few drops from the bitter fountain over he

rtal lover. Her future husband awaits her on the top of the mountain. He is a monster whom neither gods nor men can resist

harmony of a full chorus. She had not yet seen her destined husband. He came only in the hours of darkness and fled befor

cle was delivered, when he saw a young cow slowly walking before him. He followed her close, offering at the same time his

commanding him to take the dragon’s teeth and sow them in the earth. He obeyed. He made a furrow in the ground, and plant

him to take the dragon’s teeth and sow them in the earth. He obeyed. He made a furrow in the ground, and planted the teet

ds, and hastened to the spot, ready to throw her arms about his neck. He started back, exclaiming, “Hands off! I would rat

han you should have me!” “Have me,” said she; but it was all in vain. He left her, and she went to hide her blushes in the

ast word. Narcissus’s cruelty in this case was not the only instance. He shunned all the rest of the nymphs, as he had don

er came one day the youth, fatigued with hunting, heated and thirsty. He stooped down to drink, and saw his own image in t

he thought it was some beautiful water-spirit living in the fountain. He stood gazing with admiration at those bright eyes

neck, the parted lips, and the glow of health and exercise over all. He fell in love with himself. He brought his lips ne

e glow of health and exercise over all. He fell in love with himself. He brought his lips near to take a kiss; he plunged

touch, but returned again after a moment and renewed the fascination. He could not tear himself away; he lost all thought

he hovered over the brink of the fountain gazing upon his own image. He talked with the supposed spirit: “Why, beautiful

hen he exclaimed, “Alas! alas!” she answered him with the same words. He pined away and died; and when his shade passed th

nd clouds aloft and tides below, With signs and sounds forbade to go, He could not see, he would not hear Or sound or sigh

l stricken in the act of brotherly duty. One only was left, Ilioneus. He raised his arms to heaven to try whether prayer m

the realm of King Atlas, whose bulk surpassed that of all other men. He was rich in flocks and herds and had no neighbor

hat moved in the breeze, he would have taken her for a marble statue. He was so startled at the sight that he almost forgo

d this dreadful result of his unjust aggression, and felt confounded. He called aloud to his friends, but got no answer; h

is throne and life if his new-born son should be suffered to grow up. He therefore committed the child to the care of a he

ved at his court a gallant young warrior, whose name was Bellerophon. He brought letters from Prœtus, the son-in-law of Io

s purpose he directed him to pass the night in the temple of Minerva. He did so, and as he slept Minerva came to him and g

.” Young, in his Night Thoughts, speaking of the sceptic, says: — “ He whose blind thought futurity denies, Unconscious

having been sold by a needy poet and put to the cart and the plough. He was not fit for such service, and his clownish ma

er, he found means to plead his cause to Medea, daughter of the king. He promised her marriage, and as they stood before t

ir faces, and giving random blows, they smote him with their weapons. He , starting from his sleep, cried out, “My daughter

around; they congratulated the conqueror, crowding to touch his hand. He , placing his foot upon the head of the slain boar

borne along? Brothers forgive a mother’s weakness! my hand fails me. He deserves death, but not that I should destroy him

oan. Meleager, absent and unknowing of the cause, felt a sudden pang. He burns, and only by courageous pride conquers the

s, and only by courageous pride conquers the pain which destroys him. He mourns only that he perishes by a bloodless and u

cradle, but the precocious infant strangled them with his own hands. He was, however, by the arts of Juno rendered subjec

rrows against the lion, Hercules strangled the animal with his hands. He returned carrying the dead lion on his shoulders;

las was condemned to bear on his shoulders the weight of the heavens. He was the father of the Hesperides, and Hercules th

k the burden on his own shoulders, and sent Atlas to seek the apples. He returned with them, and though somewhat reluctant

s invincible so long as he remained in contact with his mother Earth. He compelled all strangers who came to his country t

d. Hercules descended into Hades, accompanied by Mercury and Minerva. He obtained permission from Pluto to carry Cerberus

three years. While in this service the hero’s nature seemed changed. He lived effeminately, wearing at times the dress of

has, who had brought him the fatal robe, and hurled him into the sea. He wrenched off the garment, but it stuck to his fle

it is not the less gratifying to me. But now I say to you, Fear not. He who conquered all else is not to be conquered by

Ægeus, king of Athens, and of Æthra, daughter of the king of Trœzen. He was brought up at Trœzen, and when arrived at man

ous. One of these evil-doers was called Procrustes, or the Stretcher. He had an iron bedstead, on which he used to tie all

a clew of thread by which he might find his way out of the labyrinth. He was successful, slew the Minotaur, escaped from t

d of the adventures of Theseus is his expedition against the Amazons. He assailed them before they had recovered from the

ut afterwards lost the favor of the king, and was shut up in a tower. He contrived to make his escape from his prison, but

set to work to fabricate wings for himself and his young son Icarus. He wrought feathers together, beginning with the sma

buoyed upwards and hung suspended, poising himself on the beaten air. He next equipped his son in the same manner, and tau

s, the face of the father was wet with tears, and his hands trembled. He kissed the boy, not knowing that it was for the l

softened the wax which held the feathers together, and they came off. He fluttered with his arms, but no feathers remained

ced her son Perdix under his charge to be taught the mechanical arts. He was an apt scholar and gave striking evidences of

piece of iron and notched it on the edge, and thus invented the saw. He put two pieces of iron together, connecting them

r of Pentheus as the sound of a trumpet does the fire of a war-horse. He penetrated through the wood and reached an open s

amused himself with the chase or in leading the dances of the nymphs. He was fond of music, and as we have seen, the inven

es, and dying by your hands forewarn you that punishment awaits you.” He desisted not from his crime, and at last the tree

d as she stood by the sea side raised her hands in prayer to Neptune. He heard her prayer, and though her new master was n

or other person except myself to have been hereabouts for some time.” He was deceived and went his way, thinking his slave

ll, has taken this story for the subject of one of his shorter poems. He introduces it thus: — “Hear now this fairy legen

ks, to call forth or subdue storms, to shake the shores and the like. He created the horse and was the patron of horse rac

s make him his father’s trumpeter. Proteus was also a son of Neptune. He , like Nereus, is styled a sea-elder for his wisdo

riding on a dolphin. The Isthmian games were celebrated in his honor. He was called Portunus by the Romans, and believed t

d contemplating Eve still asleep.                                   “ He on his side Leaning half raised, with looks of co

rcules and myself were of the number, and the rest yielded to us two. He urged in his behalf his descent from Jove and his

. I threw off my green vesture and presented myself for the struggle. He tried to throw me, now attacking my head, now my

led to get my arms at liberty, panting and reeking with perspiration. He gave me no chance to recover, but seized my throa

. I curled my body in a coil and hissed at him with my forked tongue. He smiled scornfully at this, and said, ‘It was the

rm, I tried what alone remained to me and assumed the form of a bull. He grasped my neck with his arm, and dragging my hea

es, to whom no labor was too arduous, resolved to attempt her rescue. He went and lay in wait at the door of the chamber o

chosen the Shepherd of King Admetus for the subject of a short poem. He makes that event the first introduction of poetry

ion the war was resolved on, and Amphiaraus went to his certain fate. He bore his part bravely in the contest, but could n

Eurydice. Orpheus was the son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope. He was presented by his father with a Lyre and taugh

all unavailing resolved to seek his wife in the regions of the dead. He descended by a cave situated on the side of the p

e side of the promontory of Tænarus and arrived at the Stygian realm. He passed through crowds of ghosts and presented him

melting the hearts of tigers and moving the oaks from their stations. He held himself aloof from womankind, dwelling const

      Rolling in meanders,                 All alone,                  He makes his moan,                 And calls her gho

w with furies surrounded,           Despairing, confounded,            He trembles, he glows,           Amidst Rhodope’s sn

Cyrene. His bees had perished, and he resorted for aid to his mother. He stood at the river side and thus addressed her: “

et him pass in, while it stood curled like a mountain on either side. He descended to the region where the fountains of th

e is a learned sage and knows all things, past, present, and to come. He can tell you, my son, the cause of the mortality

rt is to a power he possesses of changing himself into various forms. He will become a wild boar or a fierce tiger, a scal

ed by his herd of sea-calves which spread themselves along the shore. He sat on the rock and counted his herd; then stretc

d see what will befall.” Aristæus faithfully obeyed these directions. He sacrificed the cattle, he left their bodies in th

when speaking of the ice-palace built by the Empress Anne of Russia. He has been describing the fantastic forms which ice

ndignantly away, and it fell down to earth, and was found by Marsyas. He blew upon it, and drew from it such ravishing sou

he timbers were nearly eaten through and the roof would soon fall in. He told his captors and demanded to be let out, warn

sonage who was represented by one tradition to be the son of Orpheus. He is said to have written sacred poems and oracles.

musical contest in Sicily, and Arion longed to compete for the prize. He told his wish to Periander, who besought him like

give up the thought. “Pray stay with me,” he said, “and be contented. He who strives to win may lose.” Arion answered, “A

ment of it be increased by the consciousness of my wide-spread fame!” He went, won the prize, and embarked with his wealth

wind and sea continued propitious. Not a cloud dimmed the firmament. He had not trusted too much to the ocean — but he ha

mament. He had not trusted too much to the ocean — but he had to man. He overheard the seamen exchanging hints with one an

ress. Apollo will not favor me unless I be clad in my minstrel garb.” He clothed his well-proportioned limbs in gold and p

air and glitter in the morning ray. The seamen gazed with admiration. He strode forward to the vessel’s side and looked do

stened from the shore, and soon saw before him the towers of Corinth. He journeyed on, harp in hand, singing as he went, f

s losses, and mindful only of what remained, his friend and his lyre. He entered the hospitable halls, and was soon claspe

s become a god. O Earth, open and receive us!” Then Periander spoke. “ He lives, the master of the lay! Kind Heaven protect

meet that kind reception which shields the stranger guest from harm!” He paced briskly on, and soon was in the middle of t

enly, at a narrow pass, two robbers stepped forth and barred his way. He must yield or fight. But his hand, accustomed to

ccustomed to the lyre, and not to the strife of arms, sank powerless. He called for help on men and gods, but his cry reac

e, but only a few fragments of his compositions have descended to us. He wrote hymns, triumphal odes, and elegies. In the

t, To kiss her sweetest.” Orion. Orion was the son of Neptune. He was a handsome giant and a mighty hunter. His fat

, the daughter of Œnopion, king of Chios, and sought her in marriage. He cleared the island of wild beasts, and brought th

ed him into a grasshopper. Memnon was the son of Aurora and Tithonus. He was king of the Æthiopians, and dwelt in the extr

the Æthiopians, and dwelt in the extreme east, on the shore of Ocean. He came with his warriors to assist the kindred of h

ed no more, and ships that touched at his island went away in safety. He paced up and down the sea-shore, imprinting huge

and child, had no disposition to embark in such a troublesome affair. He therefore hung back and Palamedes was sent to urg

ge him. When Palamedes arrived at Ithaca Ulysses pretended to be mad. He yoked an ass and an ox together to the plough and

n Hector, one of the noblest characters painted by heathen antiquity. He felt, from the first, a presentiment of the fall

t by no means justified the wrong which brought this danger upon her. He was united in marriage with Andromache, and as a

but forthwith declared that he would take no further part in the war. He withdrew his forces from the general camp and ope

They performed that duty, but Achilles was deaf to their entreaties. He positively refused to return to the field, and pe

e ships. Neptune, seeing the Greeks so pressed, came to their rescue. He appeared in the form of Calchas the prophet, enco

estor detained him, to tell him the extent of the Grecian calamities. He reminded him also how, at the time of departing f

ed back to Achilles, revolving in his mind all he had seen and heard. He told the prince the sad condition of affairs at t

ve Hector the glory, records that Phœbus took part against Patroclus. He struck the helmet from his head and the lance fro

n the back, and Hector, pressing forward, pierced him with his spear. He fell mortally wounded. Then arose a tremendous co

all a victim to it. But his only consolation was the hope of revenge. He would fly instantly in search of Hector. But his

him a suit of armor from Vulcan more than equal to that he had lost. He consented, and Thetis immediately repaired to Vul

mediately laid aside his work and hastened to comply with her wishes. He fabricated a splendid suit of armor for Achilles,

r. Æneas, though he felt himself unequal, did not decline the combat. He hurled his spear with all his force against the s

the city walls beheld his whole army in full flight towards the city. He gave command to open wide the gates to receive th

ll her treasures and ample of our own beside? Ah, no! it is too late. He would not even hear me through, but slay me while

hrew his spear, which struck the shield of Achilles and bounded back. He turned to receive another from the hand of Deipho

ht! His people could scarce restrain the old king from rushing forth. He threw himself in the dust and besought them each

racing brave Hector, Jupiter in pity summoned Thetis to his presence. He told her to go to her son and prevail on him to r

. Iris delivered her message, and Priam immediately prepared to obey. He opened his treasuries and took out rich garments

of the truce which was allowed the Trojans for the burial of Hector. He was captivated with her charms, and to win her in

left him there. Diomed was now sent to induce him to rejoin the army. He succeeded. Philoctetes was cured of his wound by

n condition of his returning true answers to the questions asked him. He informed them that he was a Greek, Sinon by name,

g to rescue them, is next seized and involved in the serpents’ coils. He struggles to tear them away, but they overpower a

d was slain at last on the fatal night when the Greeks took the city. He had armed himself and was about to mingle with th

he consulted the oracle of Delphi, which confirmed him in his design. He therefore repaired in disguise to Argos, pretendi

with one vessel went to the Cyclopes’ island to explore for supplies. He landed with his companions, carrying with them a

se bundle of firewood, which he threw down before the cavern’s mouth. He then drove into the cave the sheep and goats to b

he hurled against the side of the cave, and dashed out their brains. He proceeded to devour them with great relish, and h

their companions, feasting on their flesh till no fragment was left. He then moved away the rock from the door, drove out

urdered friends, and effect his escape with his surviving companions. He made his men prepare a massive bar of wood cut by

yclops, this is wine; taste and drink after thy meal of men’s flesh.” He took and drank it, and was hugely delighted with

ised him as a favor that he should be the last of the party devoured. He asked his name, to which Ulysses replied, “My nam

aids nimbly got out of his way and concealed themselves in the cave. He , bellowing, called aloud on all the Cyclopes dwel

hurt had caused him to sound such an alarm and break their slumbers. He replied, “O friends, I die, and Noman gives the b

t to hail the giant again, but his friends besought him not to do so. He could not forbear, however, letting the giant kno

vernment of the winds, to send them forth or retain them at his will. He treated Ulysses hospitably, and at his departure

ntre of the island, where he perceived a palace embowered with trees. He sent forward one-half of his crew, under the comm

essed him familiarly, appearing to be acquainted with his adventures. He announced himself as Mercury, and informed Ulysse

fury in his countenance. She fell on her knees and begged for mercy. He dictated a solemn oath that she would release his

ould have passed the Sirens’ island. Ulysses obeyed these directions. He filled the ears of his people with wax, and suffe

from anchoring and passing the night on shore, that Ulysses yielded. He bound them, however, with an oath that they would

ng a raft, provisioned it well for him, and gave him a favoring gale. He sped on his course prosperously for many days, ti

r maidens and herself had made) from whom he received those garments. He told them of his residence in Calypso’s isle and

oth good and ill, Took from him sight, but gave him strains divine.” He took for his theme the “Wooden Horse,” by means o

of his house. Telemachus, his son, was absent in quest of his father. He had gone to the courts of the other kings, who ha

While on the search, he received counsel from Minerva to return home. He arrived and sought Eumæus to learn something of t

attempted a task beyond his strength, he yielded the bow to another. He tried it with no better success, and, amidst the

by his garments, tattered as they were, they perceived to be a Greek. He told them he was one of Ulysses’s companions, lef

ses’s companions, left behind by that chief in his hurried departure. He related the story of Ulysses’s adventure with Pol

rrible monster, shapeless, vast, whose only eye had been put out. 21 He walked with cautious steps, feeling his way with

but his anger was not the less at this interference in his province. He called the winds and dismissed them with a severe

ince. He called the winds and dismissed them with a severe reprimand. He then soothed the waves, and brushed away the clou

as replied that he had prepared himself for whatever might await him. He had but one request to make. Having been directed

t he beheld Palinurus, his pilot, who fell overboard and was drowned. He addressed him and asked him the cause of his misf

der was carried away, and he, clinging to it, was swept away with it. He besought Æneas most urgently to extend to him his

the three-headed dog, Cerberus, with his necks bristling with snakes. He barked with all his three throats till the Sibyl

s of the Trojan state, magnanimous heroes who lived in happier times. He gazed with admiration on the war chariots and gli

rous steeds which the old heroes felt in life, accompanied them here. He saw another group feasting and listening to the s

lessed. But in Homer Elysium forms no part of the realms of the dead. He places it on the west of the earth, near Ocean, a

I could have accepted the love of Apollo I might have been immortal. He promised me the fulfilment of my wish, if I would

ful moment. Latinus, third in descent from Saturn, ruled the country. He was now old and had no male descendant, but had o

, promised land!” he exclaimed, “this is our home, this our country.” He then took measures to find out who were the prese

ro was no other than the promised son-in-law announced by the oracle. He cheerfully granted his alliance and sent back the

sants all urged the old king to drive the strangers from the country. He resisted as long as he could, but, finding his op

m was Mezentius, a brave and able soldier, but of detestable cruelty. He had been the chief of one of the neighboring citi

e river Amazenus, which, swelled by rains, seemed to debar a passage. He paused for a moment, then decided what to do. He

to debar a passage. He paused for a moment, then decided what to do. He tied the infant to his lance with wrappers of bar

me.” Æneas woke and paid immediate obedience to the friendly vision. He sacrificed to Juno, and invoked the god of the ri

terrupted, and seizing a weapon, stepped forward to the river’s bank. He called aloud, demanding who they were, and what t

bushes where in after times the Capitol rose in all its magnificence. He next pointed to some dismantled walls, and said,

s guest. Two mastiffs followed him, his whole retinue and body guard. He found the hero attended by his faithful Achates,

f cruelty, who invented unheard-of torments to gratify his vengeance. He would fasten the dead to the living, hand to hand

out, him and his house. They burned his palace and slew his friends. He escaped and took refuge with Turnus, who protects

out of danger, but Euryalus being missing he turned back to seek him. He again entered the wood and soon came within sound

mself engaged against his revolted subjects, raged like a wild beast. He slew all who dared to withstand him, and put the

his spear, which striking Æneas’s shield glanced off and hit Anthor. He was a Grecian by birth, who had left Argos, his n

says of him with simple pathos which has made the words proverbial, “ He fell, unhappy, by a wound intended for another, l

Lausus’s death, and rage and despair supplied the place of strength. He mounted his horse and dashed into the thickest of

his revolted subjects, and be buried in the same grave with his son. He received the fatal stroke not unprepared, and pou

Samos, but passed the chief portion of his life at Crotona in Italy. He is therefore sometimes called “the Samian,” and s

ow he conceived this process has never been satisfactorily explained. He traced the various forms and phenomena of the wor

, in his Ode to Napoleon Bonaparte, alludes to the story of Milo: — “ He who of old would rend the oak     Deemed not of t

idelity and watchfulness. Horus or Harpocrates was the son of Osiris. He is represented seated on a Lotus flower, with his

men the use of them, as well as how to harness the ox to the plough. He then gave men laws, the institution of marriage,

ith which he went to bestow his blessings upon the rest of the world. He conquered the nations every where, but not with w

them to the feast which was celebrated in honor of the king’s return. He then caused a box or chest to be brought in, whic

at new moon, with great pomp, to his habitation and saluted him Apis. He was placed in a vessel magnificently decorated an

rned from the cave by the same narrow passage, but walking backwards. He appeared melancholy and dejected; and hence the p

e the proverb which was applied to a person low-spirited and gloomy, “ He has been consulting the oracle of Trophonius.”

first book of the Iliad, in the passage thus translated by Pope: — “ He spoke and awful bends his sable brows, Shakes his

dayspring into distant climes, Ennobling every region that he chose; He sunk in Greece, in Italy he rose, And, tedious ye

oetry was his delight, and he early resolved to devote himself to it. He accordingly sought the society of the contemporar

id spent an easy life at Rome in the enjoyment of a competent income. He was intimate with the family of Augustus, the emp

y the novelty, and gazing with wonder at so beautiful an appearance.” He then gives an account of the bird, not varying ma

the obsequies of his father. But this duty is not undertaken rashly. He collects a quantity of myrrh, and to try his stre

hœnix was Sir Thomas Browne, in his Vulgar Errors, published in 1646. He was replied to a few years later by Alexander Ros

to earth to a Phœnix: —               “Down thither, prone in flight He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky Sails b

be endowed with a crest, or comb upon the head, constituting a crown. He was supposed to be produced from the egg of a coc

to the royal monster. The Roman naturalist Pliny thus describes him: “ He does not impel his body, like other serpents, by

er serpents, by a multiplied flexion, but advances lofty and upright. He kills the shrubs, not only by contact, but by bre

y man, going to a fountain in the desert, suddenly beheld a basilisk. He immediately raised his eyes to heaven, and with a

n, two cubits in length, standing out in the middle of its forehead.” He adds that “it cannot be taken alive;” and some su

and purity. Siva. Siva is the third person of the Hindu triad. He is the personification of the destroying principl

he Brahman arrives at years of maturity it becomes his duty to marry. He ought to be supported by the contributions of the

it is inferred that he lived about one thousand years before Christ. He was the son of a king; and when in conformity to

rapidly that Buddha himself lived to see them spread all over India. He died at the age of eighty years. The Buddhists re

s spiritual dignity he became to a limited extent a temporal monarch. He is styled the Dalai Lama. The first Christian mis

from the Red Sea, concluded that this must be the true Prester John. He accordingly went thither, and penetrated to the c

mself stands in no need of food. Mead is for him both food and drink. He invented the Runic characters, and it is the busi

ed our word Thursday. Frey is one of the most celebrated of the gods. He presides over rain and sunshine and all the fruit

giants from forcing their way over the bridge Bifrost (the rainbow.) He requires less sleep than a bird, and sees by nigh

e gods and the contriver of all fraud and mischief. His name is Loki. He is handsome and well made, but of a very fickle m

e and well made, but of a very fickle mood and most evil disposition. He is of the giant race, but forced himself into the

e gods a great deal of trouble before they succeeded in chaining him. He broke the strongest fetters as if they were made

, he suspected their design, fearing that it was made by enchantment. He therefore only consented to be bound with it upon

horse Svadilfari, and this by the advice of Loki was granted to him. He accordingly set to work on the first day of winte

with fire. Loki repeated the same excuse and the giant was satisfied. He ordered the hammer to be brought in and laid on t

to the giant’s country. Thialfi was of all men the swiftest of foot. He bore Thor’s wallet, containing their provisions.

ke, and that as it was only midnight, there was still time for sleep. He , however, resolved that if he had an opportunity

hou performest what thou promisest, and it shall be tried forthwith.” He then ordered one of his men who was sitting at th

, but if the youth would win the match he must display great agility. He then arose and went with all who were present to

a hut with four doors, so that he could see every approaching danger. He invented a net to catch the fishes, such as fishe

t Odin found out his hiding-place and the gods assembled to take him. He , seeing this, changed himself into a salmon, and

island, and established there a monastery of which he was the abbot. He was unwearied in his labors to disseminate a know

No. 8. Page 331. Incidit in Scyllam, cupiens vitare Charybdim. He runs on Scylla, wishing to avoid Charybdis. N

o. 9. Page 346. Sequitur patrem, non passibus acquis. —  Virgil . He follows his father with unequal steps. No. 10

, cœlumque Adspicit et moriens dulces reminiscitur Argos. —  Virgil . He falls, unhappy, by a wound intended for another;

31. Cowper’s version is less elegant, but truer to the original. — “ He ceased, and under his dark brows the nod Vouchsaf

two different people, and because he divided his kingdom with Saturn. He likewise caused medals to be struck with two face

oney. This Prince came from Perhibea, a town of Thessaly, into Italy. He there civilized the manners of the people, who we

nalia, to shew that his reign had been that of happiness and liberty. He is frequently represented under the form of an ol

ce; and not unfrequently as the weakest and most criminal of mortals. He was supposed to be the master of the air, the clo

the defeat of the Titans. What were the principal names of this God? He was called Jou, that is, young, from being the yo

, or father, was added to it; whence was formed Joupater and Jupiter. He was also called Zeus; Optimus Maximus, or the Bes

our, salt, or incense. The oak and the olive were consecrated to him. He had three oracles, much celebrated; that of Dodon

fire, and wind, intermixed with lightning, terror, noise, and wrath. He whose all conscious eyes the world behold, Th’ et

tool of his feet he makes, And, wide beneath him, all Olympus shakes. He speaks, and awful bends his sable brows, Shakes h

he beasts are fled: All human hearts are sunk and pierc’d with dread; He strikes vast Rhodope’s exalted crown, And hurls h

ites, Moloch; the Persians, Mythras. What were the attributes of Sol? He was considered as ruling over the various changes

party-colour’d gems was bright; Apollo shone amid the glare of light: He bade the nimble Hours, without delay, Bring forth

infirmities of old age, while Aurora still flourished in full bloom. He intreated Aurora to obtain a reversion of this fa

n Apollo and Diana, her twin children. What were the names of Apollo? He was called Delos, from the island in which he was

from his great skill in hunting. What were the attributes of Apollo? He was supposed to preside over music, physic, poetr

art of divination, or foretelling future events; and that of archery. He was esteemed capable of inflicting, as well as of

es, the following exploits are said to have been performed by Apollo. He destroyed the Cyclops, huge one-eyed giants, who

Apollo was challenged to a musical contest by a satyr named Marsyas. He flayed him alive for his presumption, and afterwa

equently, as most beautiful and effeminate, having long flowing hair. He rides in a chariot drawn by tigers and lions, or

the war of the Giants and the Gods. What were the actions of Bacchus? He taught the art of cultivating the vine of making

t of cultivating the vine of making wine; of preparing honey for use. He invented commerce and navigation. Ha brought men

ce and navigation. Ha brought men from a savage to a civilized state. He subdued India, Phrygia, Egypt, Syria, and all the

zed state. He subdued India, Phrygia, Egypt, Syria, and all the East. He is said, by the poets of antiquity, to have perfo

cted? As a formidable armed warrior, breathing death and destruction. He rides in a chariot drawn by horses, which are dri

the Helmet. Where were his temples and what were his priests called? He had several temples at Rome, and among the Greeks

id? An allegorical representation, or emblem, of the passion of love. He was generally painted as a beautiful winged boy,

metimes he is represented as breaking the winged thunderbolt of Jove. He was the son of Venus; his wife was Psyche; a Gree

hed the art of working iron and brass. What was his poetical history? He was said by the poets to be the son of Jupiter an

lf, Jupiter, with one kick of his foot, precipitated him from heaven. He fell upon the island of Lemnos, and was crippled

’n!) Pope’s Homer’s Iliad. What eminent works were ascribed to him? He was the God of fire; the inventor and patron of t

s were indebted for the flourishing state of their arts and commerce. He taught them geometry, and hieroglyphical characte

and commerce. He taught them geometry, and hieroglyphical characters. He reformed their language; invented letters; regula

rticular attention to eloquence, had the name of Hermes given to him, He is said to have left forty-two volumes of his wor

God of eloquence, of arts and sciences, and the messenger of Jupiter. He was the inventor of weights and measures, and con

his flight sustain, O’er the wide earth, and o’er the boundless main. He grasps the wand that causes sleep to fly, Or in s

regarded as Divinities. Who was Oceanus? The son of Cœlus and Terra. He was justly regarded as the principal marine Divin

of their father’s kingdom, the empire of the seas fell to his share. He was worshiped as the god of the seas. Amphitrite

re. He was worshiped as the god of the seas. Amphitrite was his wife. He was represented with black hair and blue eyes, st

labour, and crowned with garlands of flowers. What were his offices? He presided over the training of horses, having prod

ested with Minerva the honour of giving a name to the city of Athens. He was the ruler of the waters; the God of ships and

are of his flocks, consisting of sea calves and other marine animals. He is represented by the poets, as possessing the fa

ast; and Zephyrus, the west wind. What was the true history of Eolus? He lived in the time of the Trojan War, and reigned

and struggle for a vent. From his high throne, their fury to assuage, He shakes his sceptre, and controls their rage; Or,

ted a God, the guardian of boundaries, and the avenger of usurpation. He built a temple to him upon the Tarpeian Mountain,

tituted feasts to his honour, and prescribed the form of his worship. He was represented under the form of an immoveable r

t in one hand, and in the other, the horn of plenty. Who was Priapus? He was considered likewise as the God of gardens. He

y. Who was Priapus? He was considered likewise as the God of gardens. He was accounted the son of Venus and Bacchus; and h

lding in his hand the rural pipe, invented by him, and called Syrinx. He was generally venerated by the Arcadians, as the

XXIII. [Silenus, Lares, Penates, Genii, &c.] Who was Silenus? He was the chief of the satyrs, the foster-father of

a bald head, a flat nose, large ears, and every mark of intemperance. He was generally seen accompanying Bacchus, riding u

. Momus, son of Somnus and Nox, was the god of raillery and repartee. He was the perfect buffoon of the feasts of the Gods

f light, carried him home, and committed him to the care of his wife. He was afterwards placed under the tuition of Chiron

, and Lacedemon. Who was Hercules? The son of Jupiter and Alcmena. He , being persecuted by the anger of Juno, traversed

ustrious actions he was deified, and regarded as the god of strength. He was also named Alcides, from his extraordinary fo

st remarkable actions were particularized by the name of his labours. He killed, in the forest of Nemea, an enormous lion,

the forest of Nemea, an enormous lion, whose skin he afterwards wore. He destroyed, in the lake of Lerna, the Hydra, a dre

r one of which was cut off, another instantly sprang up in its place. He bound the Erymanthian wild boar, an animal of ast

Erymanthian wild boar, an animal of astonishing size and fierceness. He , on foot, hunted down, after a chace of a year, a

ted to Diana, whose feet were of brass, and whose horns were of gold. He killed or drove away the Stymphalides, birds whic

led or drove away the Stymphalides, birds which fed upon human flesh. He defeated the Amazons, a nation of warlike women,

hirty years, though three thousand oxen were constantly lodged in it. He tamed a furious bull, who did great mischief in C

dged in it. He tamed a furious bull, who did great mischief in Crete. He vanquished Diomede, tyrant of Thrace, who fed his

e, tyrant of Thrace, who fed his horses with the flesh of his guests. He slew Geryon, king of Spain, a cruel giant with th

ests. He slew Geryon, king of Spain, a cruel giant with three bodies. He destroyed the huge dragon who guarded the golden

ragon who guarded the golden apples in the gardens of the Hesperides. He dragged up to the light of day, Cerberus, the tri

n his cradle, he strangled two serpents, sent by Juno to destroy him. He delivered Hesione, daughter of Laomedon, king of

e suffered from a garment poisoned by the blood of the Lernean hydra. He was represented as a prodigiously muscular man, c

ated artist of Greece; a skilful architect, and most expert sculptor. He invented the wedge, the axe, the level, and the a

who made use of sails, which, by poetical licence, were called wings. He is said to have built, for Minos, king of Crete,

ph that adores and burns. To Him no high, no low, no great, no small; He fills, he bounds, connects, and equals all.” Pop

ted to be infinitely above the comprehension of any mind but his own. He is supposed to manifest his power by the operatio

ve elements, and other glorious forms, perfectly dispelled the gloom. He , desiring to raise up various creatures by an ema

t; his charioteer, Matali; and his weapon, Vajra, or the thunderbolt. He is the master of the thunder; the ruler of the wi

e Sovereign of Patala, or the infernal regions; the king of serpents. He is thus described in the Bhagavat, a sacred Hindû

gavat, a sacred Hindû poem. His appearance is gorgeous and brilliant. He has a thousand heads; and on each of them, is a c

ed weapon, the war-mace, and the lotos. Yama or Yamen, God of death. He is esteemed to be a child of the sun, and thence

He is esteemed to be a child of the sun, and thence named Vaivaswata. He is called also, King of Justice. He is distinguis

sun, and thence named Vaivaswata. He is called also, King of Justice. He is distinguished as being the judge of departed s

t. Carticéya, the son of Parvati, the leader of the celestial armies. He is represented as riding upon a peacock; clothed

own; who delivered his wife Sita from the giant Ravan, king of Lanca. He is said to have commanded an intrepid army of mon

ery gentle animals. Creeshna, or Chrishna, a manifestation of Vishnu. He is regarded by the Hindûs, as the God of shepherd

red writings give the most extraordinary and strange representations. He is depicted as splendidly decorated, wearing a ri

rld; but was generally considered to be a personification of the sun. He was the supposed author of all good, in constant

on of Osīris and Isis, and held in great veneration by the Egyptians. He was regarded as being the renovator and preserver

evailed, these animals were fed in the temples, at the public charge. He was probably emblematical of Sirius, the dog star

. Serāpis was considered, likewise, as a personification of the Nile. He was also the Pluto of the Egyptians, and, at the

Isis, was considered as the god of silence, meditation, and mystery. He was likewise regarded as a type of the annual ris

when his beams are as yet weak, and the day has but a short duration. He represented also that power in nature which foste

the water. Who was Ammon, or Ammoun? Ammon was the Egyptian Jupiter. He was worshiped in the Theban Nome, or kingdom, the

as strength or power, and more particularly the power of gravitation. He was addressed as the starry-robed Sem, the king o

constituted the first, or most ancient, rank of the Egyptian deities. He was worshiped under the form of a goat; and great

Thoth, all the science and learning of the Egyptians were attributed. He taught them the art of writing, gave them laws, a

uced gross idolatry, the second Hermes, surnamed Trismegistus, arose. He was the restorer of the ancient religion, and of

d. The Bull, Apis, was worshiped and guarded with peculiar reverence. He was, probably, regarded as a personification of O

l adored the same being, who had only undergone a new transmigration. He was a black bull, having a white star on the fore

ring four months, with milk, in a house which fronted the rising sun. He was then conveyed to Memphis, where a delightful

ed. Taschter’s light shone on high for thirty days and thirty nights. He is represented as having three bodies, of a man,

was the name given to the Supreme Creator, by the Persian Mythology. He was adored as the author and principle of good, H

Persian Mythology. He was adored as the author and principle of good, He was supposed to have produced the good spirits an

thras? Mithras is supposed to have been a personification of the sun. He was esteemed to be the first production of the po

f Orosmades, and was invoked as the mediator between him and Ahriman. He was represented by Zoroaster, as seated next the

particular abode of Odin was called Lidskialf, or the trembling gate. He is called the universal father; the father of bat

s esteemed to be the eldest and bravest of the sons of Odin and Frea. He was supposed to rule over the aerial regions; to

iorder, who presided over the seas, navigation, hunting, and fishing. He espoused Skada, daughter of the giant Thiasse; wh

n, and high priest of Upsal. Irminsul, or the column of the universe. He is imagined to have been a deification of Arminiu

satiable ambition of the Romans. Surtur, prince of the Genii of fire. He was described as inhabiting a luminous world, sit

the Gods, and to give up the earth to flames. Balder, a son of Odin. He was represented as possessing a majestic, attract

ssessing a majestic, attractive beauty; light hair and dazzling eyes. He was mild and eloquent, uttering just and irrevoca

se Runic rhymes which were imagined to have power to revive the dead. He was killed, unintentionally, by his blind brother

y, by his blind brother, Hoder. Heimdal; the guardian of the heavens. He was styled the powerful; the holy; the God with g

ens. He was styled the powerful; the holy; the God with golden teeth. He was represented as posted in the celestial fortre

grass growing on the ground, and the wool on the backs of the sheep. He held in his hand a trumpet, the sound of which mi

d a trumpet, the sound of which might be heard throughout all worlds. He was esteemed to be the standard-bearer of the God

earer of the Gods; the judge and pacificator of combats and disputes. He was represented with a cock’s crest upon his head

om being burnt, and the sea from being evaporated by excessive heat. He , who at heav’n’s extremest verge, Still broods o’

se horses, bright and glowing,     Dragg’d the Sun’s refulgent form. He who rules, by night, the heaven,     Wist not whe

se? Shall the dawn of glory streaming,     Wake us to immortal joys? He shall come in might eternal,     He whom eye hath

g,     Wake us to immortal joys? He shall come in might eternal,      He whom eye hath never seen. Earth, and Heav’n, and

, and Heav’n, and Powers infernal,     Mark his port and awful mien. He shall judge, and he shall sever,     Shame from g

eir ancestors, from the northern regions to their southern situation. He was imagined to be a cruel deity, fond of blood;

only the people of the earth, but the mightier people of the heavens. He it was who hurled the thunderbolts and guided the

who they were. Apollo was the god of the sun, of music, and of love. He was very beautiful, as indeed almost all the gods

indeed almost all the gods were; but he was the fairest of them all. He drove his golden sun chariot through the heavens

through the heavens every day, and on his lyre he played sweet music. He could heal all kinds of wounds, and could shoot w

ounds, and could shoot wonderfully well with his golden arrows. 2. “ He drove his golden sun chariot through the heavens.

nd of this pastime. And then there was Mercury, fleet-footed Mercury. He was called “The Swift” and no wonder; for he had

r he had winged sandals, and could fly faster than the lightest bird. He had a winged cap besides, and a magic staff wreat

eathed with two serpents, with which he could do all sorts of things. He was the messenger of the gods on all their errand

ple who died went down into this dark land. Its ruler was King Pluto. He was very lonely in his somber palace; and one tim

rth. Lastly there was Pan, the god of the shepherds and of the woods. He was a strange creature, half goat and half man. B

, and his sharp hunting knife, brought many a wild deer to bay. 3. “ He and his hound brought the wild deer to bay.” The

Debay ). One day he took his bow and arrows, and started out alone. He had been hunting a long time, when, in following

and, to keep out of her path, he drove his chariot a roundabout way. He came to a river; but as he neared its banks, it s

hen he stopped to pluck a wild flower, and lost sight of his friends. He turned to take the path which he thought the righ

s very much surprised, for he had thought himself alone in the woods. He looked all around, but not seeing any one to whom

“Come!” whereupon Echo likewise called, “Come!” This was bewildering. He could see no one, and yet every cry of his was an

nd yet every cry of his was answered, and the voice seemed very near. He went on calling and questioning, and each time Ec

in the smooth surface, was the most beautiful face he had ever seen. He looked at it in ever-growing surprise, and the mo

cissus at last had fallen in love but it was with his own reflection. He spoke to the beautiful image, and the red lips in

parted as though they were answering him; but no sound could he hear. He smiled, and the two starry eyes in the pool smile

still, the face was again seen in all its loveliness. Poor Narcissus! He , with whom so many had been in love, was at last

lf, and with a thing that had no form, or substance, — a mere shadow. He lost all desire for food or for sleep, and night

Jupiter sent all the waters of the earth and sky to cover the world. He did not want the waters to dry up until all the p

beautiful nymph, Daphne, was wandering. This was just what he wanted. He shot the arrow of lead into her heart, and the gi

d at these words, and fled more swiftly, while Apollo still followed. He had almost reached her side, when she stretched o

few hours of suffering, she died. Orpheus’ grief was terrible to see. He took up his beloved lyre, but its charm for him w

to see. He took up his beloved lyre, but its charm for him was gone. He drew from it such low, sad strains, that even the

is prayer and gave him leave to lead Eurydice back with him to earth. He made one condition, however, — that Orpheus must

ind or sleeping for an instant, he sadly returned to the green earth. He went up on a high mountain, and there he lived wi

t of the trail. One day, Actaeon had been out hunting for many hours. He was tired and thirsty, and he looked about for so

, for they would not know their master hidden in that body of a stag. He turned to flee, but it was too late. One of the h

ute, the whole pack of eager creatures was at his back. Poor Actaeon! He fled in terror, but although his swift feet carri

his help, and, after bidding him farewell, started out on his errand. He flew over many lands and seas, until at last he c

until at last he came to the island where the terrible Gorgons lived. He dared not look down, even for an instant, for fea

he saw the three monsters lying fast asleep on the shore beneath him. He took his sharp, crooked sword, and, fixing his ey

and where his mother lived, he went straight to their little cottage. He laid aside the shield, the helmet, the sword, and

, begged him to give her the cow as a present. What could Jupiter do? He could not refuse his wife such a trifle, and so h

kept watch, and saw all that had passed between father and daughter. He now thought it time to separate them, so he led h

of the satyrs, saw her one day, as she was passing through the grove. He came up to speak to her, but she was frightened a

s goat’s legs and his queer, furry ears, and fled from him in terror. He followed, but she ran so swiftly that he could no

und, With his honor and his name That defends our flocks from blame. He is great and he is just, He is ever good and must

name That defends our flocks from blame. He is great and he is just, He is ever good and must Thus be honored. Daffodilli

to show her hatred of him, so she sent him into ail sorts of dangers. He had to fight hard battles, and kill fierce monste

ree. Then with a light heart, he started forth on his own wanderings. He had not gone far, when he came to a country ruled

ng current, heard the scream, and looking up, saw what was happening. He raised his bow to his shoulder and cried out, “O

hirt of Nessus. But after some time, Hercules began to grow restless. He was tired of that quiet life at home, and he ofte

king’s daughter, and grew to love her as he had once loved Deïanira. He forgot all about his wife awaiting him at home, a

did the innocent servant dream of the fate that was in store for him. He traveled many miles, and at last came to the city

many miles, and at last came to the city where his master was living. He sought him out and gave him the shirt, with Deïan

named Daedalus, who was highly honored by all the people of the city. He made beautiful statues and carvings of all kinds,

s which had made his uncle famous. Daedalus became the boy’s teacher. He taught him all he knew and was pleased to find su

he sky do.” The child’s words gave the father a sudden happy thought. He would try to make wings for himself and his son,

prisoner. The same evening, he set to work to make two pair of wings. He joined feathers of different lengths, and, with h

wings, and if you fly too high the heat of the sun will scorch them.” He kissed his beloved child, and praying that no acc

he took part. Only Aegeus, the king of Athens, did not care for him. He was jealous of this young stranger; and one night

us was overjoyed at having such a beautiful, brave youth for his son. He threw open the gates of the palace to all the peo

forget how the poor father’s heart was bleeding for his murdered son. He said that every year the people of Athens must se

with blushing cheeks and a beating heart at the brave young prince. “ He shall not die, if I can save him,” was her though

his feet seemed hardly to touch the ground, as he almost flew along. He wore a curious cap, too, and in his left hand he

s, the king had to journey to a distant country to consult an oracle. He grieved much at the thought of leaving Halcyone f

ings he sped through the air till he came to the palace of the queen. He entered, and stood by the side of her bed, wearin

hing water; so he had to walk the rest of the way with only one shoe. He came at last to the palace of his father’s brothe

t the crafty king pretended to be very glad indeed to see his nephew. He bade him sit down and rest himself, and placed fo

, he was just a little discouraged when he heard what the tasks were. He walked away from the palace, down toward the shor

on did not feel the heat of the flames, thanks to Medea’s magic drug. He went up close to the angry creatures, and seizing

le as cows, and Jason ploughed the four acres in a short time. 16. “ He threw the magic drug into its eyes.” Jason and t

ll rejoiced at Jason’s success, but the king looked angry and sullen. He knew very well that Jason could not have succeede

the dragon to sleep, and Jason made his way alone into the dark wood. He had not gone far, when he noticed a golden light

ame was Cyparissus, and -the youth, in turn, was very fond of Apollo. He liked to hunt, and he loved the woods and the bro

as a beautiful creature, with great, soft eyes and branching antlers. He belonged to the nymphs of the grove, and they had

had hung about his neck a golden necklace, studded with shining gems. He was the pet of all the people who lived near that

d go around from door to door and offer his glossy neck to be patted. He was afraid of no one, for every one loved him and

uestioning look, then fell back on the grass — dead. Poor Cyparissus! He had killed the creature he loved most in all the

reature he loved most in all the world, and his grief was sad to see. He threw himself on the ground beside the dead stag,

stag, kissed the soft forehead over and over again, and moaned aloud. He felt that he could not live without his dear play

he drew it in, he saw that he had caught a great number of fine fish. He emptied them out upon the grass by his side, and

treamed behind him, looked almost like the waves on which it floated. He was made the god of the fishermen; and, rememberi

g her. Near his home there lived an enchantress whose name was Circe. He hastened to her palace, told her his story, and b

ght so precious, and then went away with a happy heart. Poor Glaucus! He little knew what a mischief-making witch Circe wa

was, it is certain that Apollo did love Hyacinthus very, very dearly. He would leave his beautiful temples, and forget all

uds, and, after a long pause, fell to the ground with a crash. 17. “ He hurled his disc high into the air.” The Discobol

o stanch the wound with his hand, while he tenderly caressed the lad. He was so frightened that he was almost as pale as t

ower, and like a flower he faded away. Apollo’s grief was sad to see. He could not believe, at first, that the boy he love

so dearly was really dead, and he called him by name again and again. He would gladly have died for him, and he did not ca

not care to live without him; but you know the gods could never die. He lay on the ground by the side of his dead friend,

he grew, and it was hard to tear himself away from the marble image. He named his statue Galatea, for he felt almost as t

eful hand, it seemed to him that the statue was beginning to breathe. He could no longer sing at his work; in fact, he cou

he altar in the temple of Venus. As he stood there, he began to pray. He prayed that Venus, the great goddess of love, wou

ir gleamed like the sun’s bright rays, and his eyes shone like stars. He threw open his rich golden mantle, and, seizing h

to a single person. The Sweet Singer He the best of all musicians, He the sweetest of all singers, Beautiful and childl

nd of the Hereafter. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Hiawatha) 19. “ He the best of all musicians. He the sweetest of all

adsworth Longfellow (Hiawatha) 19. “He the best of all musicians. He the sweetest of all singers.” Apollo Citharaedus

of sunshine and clear sky, and he fell very deeply in love with her. He forgot to look after his sheep, but let them wand

ge staff — a pine tree stripped of its boughs — lay idle at his side. He was anxious to look pleasing to the fair Galatea;

deed. His voice began to roar, and his eye became fierce and flaming. He wandered into the woods, and all the wild animals

e, and made the parts agree, That no unequal portions might be found, He moulded earth into a spacious round: Then, with a

h, he gave the winds to blew; And bade the congregated waters flow: ‌ He adds the running springs, and standing lakes, And

rth are swallowed up; the most In ample oceans disembogued, are lost: He shades the woods, the valleys he restrains With r

he history of the Gods, but seems only to have had a momentary reign. He is the most ancient of all, for he presided over

of all, for he presided over the elements that composed the universe. He is usually represented at the moment that he assi

entor of doors and of locks. From his name came the month of January. He worshipped at twelve altars, to represent the twe

is the symbol of eternity, which has neither a beginning nor an end. He slew his father, because, the world and time once

the operations which nature accomplishes under the influence of time. He did not devour Jupiter, as he represents the cele

ee the thunderer stand, The bolts red hissing from his vengeful hand; He walks majestic round the starry frame; And now th

, violated all the laws of hospitality by the massacre of his guests. He had the cruelty to offer up to Jupiter, in one of

Immortal Titan!     Third Fury. Champion of Heaven’s slaves!     Pro. He whom some dreadful voice invokes is here, Prometh

y Pandora without suffering himself to be captivated by her charms. “ He spoke, and told to Mulciber his will, And smiling

exile mourns; And justice, here opprest, to heaven returns.” Ovid. He was enamoured of Antiope, Alcmena, Danae, Leda, S

rding to the circumstances and the times in which they have appeared. He has been represented as a swan, a bull, a shower

ity of Baucis and Philemon saved them from the fate of their friends. He is represented as the guardian of man, and dispen

f upon his back, and rode O’er fields and meadows, seated on the God. He gently marched along, and by degrees, Left the dr

e ravisher, and valleys speeds, By name encouraging his foamy steeds; He rattles o’er their necks the rusty reins, And ruf

er, he heard an exquisite melody escaping from the depth of the wood. He approached the place from whence the sound seemed

is placed a swan. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1842_img046 He had temples and statues in every country, particu

ne of the most chaste, or at least most chastely told in Mythology: “ He was a poet, sure a lover too Who stood on Latmos

nd all for love; filling a shepherd’s dreams With beauty and delight. He slept, he slept, And on his eyelids white, the hu

refusal of Pentheus to acknowledge the godhead of Bacchus was fatal. He forbad his subjects to pay adoration to this new

motion lost; The Sinthians raised me on the Lemnian coast.” Homer. He fell with sufficient velocity to break his thigh,

the zenith like a falling star, On Lemnos, the Ægean isle.” Milton. He was educated by the nymphs of the sea, and traine

e mechanical abilities which he is represented to possess. ———————— “ He taught Man’s earth-born race, that, like the best

serve part of it, as in the immolations to the remainder of the Gods. He was represented as blowing with his nervous arm t

nvil, for which an eagle waits by his side to carry it to Jupiter. ‌ He appears on some monuments with a long beard, dish

n prevailed on him to return, where he was reconciled to his parents. He seems, however, to have been retained there more

revealed, And scarce the lucid folds her polished limbs concealed. “ He half relenting on her beauties gazed, Just then a

e awoke. “From her trembling hand extinguished falls The fatal lamp. He starts — and suddenly Tremendous thunders echo th

the ranks of war he rushed, His spear with many a life-drop blushed; He saw the mystic darts, and smiled Derision on the

’ they pass the breeze’s flight, My bolts are not so feathery light.’ He took the shaft — and oh! thy look, Sweet Venus! w

ok the shaft — and oh! thy look, Sweet Venus! when the shaft he took, He sighed, and felt the urchin’s art, He sighed in a

Venus! when the shaft he took, He sighed, and felt the urchin’s art, He sighed in agony of heart; ‘It is not light, I die

f his amour with Venus has been related in another part of this work. He is usually represented in a chariot of steel, con

lay our hearts before thee evermore — We sing and we adore!” Keats. He obtained Amphitrite, daughter of Ocean, in marria

f Proserpine, as she gathered flowers in the plains of Enna. ‌ ——— “ He comes to us From the depths of Tartarus. For what

s art, the sounding door; On each, who in the entrance first appears, He fawning wags his tail, and cocks his ears; If any

a key in his hand, to intimate that whoever enters can never return. He is considered as a hard-hearted and inexorable de

rnal regions, of whom Minos and Rhadamanthus were the most important. He sate in the middle, holding a sceptre in his hand

e_heathen-mythology_1842_img107 “Awful Rhadamanthus rules the state. He hears and judges each committed crime, Inquires i

us which Apollo tended. “The babe was born at the first peep of day, He began playing on the lyre at noon, And the same e

n, And the same evening did he steal away Apollo’s herds.” Shelley. He gave another proof of this propensity, by throwin

t Apollo of old, His dun-coloured steers having stol’n from the fold, He laughed; for, while talking all fiercely he found

was attended by his daughters, who often danced in chorus round him. He had the gift of prophecy, and informed those who

d with speedy pace, Just thought to strain her in his strict embrace, He filled his arms with reeds, new rising in the pla

ll be the consort of my mind, And often, often to my lips be joined.’ He formed the reeds, proportioned as they are, Unequ

ith care, They still retain the name of his ungrateful fair.” Ovid. He was continually employed in deceiving the neighbo

orned front who roves With choirs of nymphs, amid the echoing groves; He joins in active dance the virgin throng, To Pan,

ough the lowly brake, Or by the borders of the lucid lake.” Horace. He loved the nymph Echo, but in this instance was un

above the surface flows, His own perfections all his passions moved, He loves himself, who for himself was loved.” ‌Hal

arms he thought to fold, About that neck that still deludes his hold, He gets no kisses from those cozening lips, His arms

m those cozening lips, His arms grasp nothing, from himself he slips; He knows not what he views, and yet pursues His desp

the nature which it held of old, May be converted into yellow gold:’ He had his wish: but yet the god repined, To think t

ranch a twig he drew, The twig strait glittered with a sparkling hue: He takes a stone, the stone was turned to gold, A cl

great transforming power, In weight and substance like a mass of ore. He plucked the corn, and straight his grasp appears,

vants pour, His touch converts the stream to Danae’s shower.” Ovid. He was quickly brought however to repent his avarice

mouth, and the wine to the same metal, as it passed down his throat. He was now as anxious to be delivered from this fata

nting, I implore; Oh! may I feel the golden plague no more!’” Ovid. He was told to wash himself in the river Pactolus; h

e the God of Orchards and Gardens, than the patron of licentiousness. He was there crowned with the leaves of the vine, an

d with eyes azure bright, To grow to large manhood of merciful might, He came, with his face of bold wonder, to feel The h

yes, but when under My lids he saw tears, — for I wept at his wonder, He stroked me, and uttered such kindliness then, Tha

ed to make his prize. Down went the board, and fastening on her hair, He seized with sudden force the frighted fair. ’Twas

is war song to the gale;     “Save when a-down the ravaged globe      He travels on his native storm, Deflowering Nature’s

t account received frequent visits from the remainder of the deities. He is represented as an old man, with a long, flowin

n, with a long, flowing beard, and sitting upon the waves of the sea. He often holds a pike in his hand, whilst ships unde

ty, to whose care they entrusted themselves when going on any voyage. He was the father of the Oceanides to the number of

ith boundless love, Did, from his breast, the dangerous flame remove; He knew the fates, nor cared to raise up one, Whose

Nereid left the briny wave, And, as she used, retreated to her cave, He scarce had bound her fast, when she arose, And in

e sea deities, being able to raise or to calm storms at his pleasure. He is generally represented with a shell in his hand

a dolphin’s, while by some he is shown with the fore feet of a horse. He usually precedes the chariot of the god of the se

nd finny coursers guides. With sure foresight, and with unerring doom He sees what is, and was, and is to come.” Virgil.

 “Blue Proteus dwells, Great Neptune’s prophet, who the ocean quells; He in a glittering chariot courses o’er The foaming

lover to the land; Bright shines his sinuous neck with crimson beak, He prints fond kisses on her glowing cheek, Spreads

his ebon crest, And clasps the beauty to his downy breast.” Darwin. He usually resided on the Carpathian sea, and like t

was at first known as ‌Melicerta, and was the son of Athamas and Ino. He was saved by his mother from the fury of his fath

his addresses. By her he had Zetes and Calais, Cleopatra and Cheone. He once changed himself into a horse, to unite himse

tenance, a head covered with clouds, a sable vesture and dusky wings. He is the dispenser of rain and of all heavy showers

thro’ the nations wide,     Reared is the column where his ashes lie; He sought for fame, he won it, bravely won; He died

lumn where his ashes lie; He sought for fame, he won it, bravely won; He died for fame, when his great task was done. What

s. During his festivals, men and women exchanged each others dresses. He is represented as a young and drunken man, with a

d of joy and pleasantry, and was the buffoon and satirist of Olympus. He wears as head dress, a cap adorned with small bel

, a mask in one hand, and on the other a bauble, the symbol of folly. He was constantly engaged in mocking the Gods, and w

king the Gods, and whatever they did was freely turned into ridicule. He laughed at Minerva, who had made a house, because

moveable, that the annoyance of a bad neighbourhood might be avoided. He sneered at Neptune’s bull, because the eyes were

s were not placed near enough to the horn, to render his blows surer. He irritated Vulcan, by observing that if he wished

ity, and occupies in poetry, a rank more elevated than that of Comus. He was greatly honoured during the more dissipated t

ed surface of the sea; And him that meets him on his way, whose hands He grasps, him gifts he with abundant gold, And larg

y indicating that the precious metals are in the bowels of the earth. He was brought up by the goddess of peace, and the G

s. Harpocrates, the son of Isis and Osiris, is the god of Silence. He is represented, in his statues as young, but with

ntry, and by the advice of his preceptor, went to consult the oracle. He was ordered to ‌go to Iolchos, his native country

brass, and to plough with them, when subdued, a field sacred to Mars. He was then to sow in the ground the teeth of a serp

and only crave of you To swear once more — and to your oath be true.’ He swears by Hecate, he would all fulfil, And by her

and virtues he admires. And with his booty joyfully retires.” Ovid. He made his appearance in the field of Mars, he tame

, and they fell one upon the other till they were entirely destroyed. He lulled to sleep the watchfulness of the dragon, b

strangled them, while his brother Iphiclus shrieked aloud in terror. He was early instructed in those arts in which he af

l me; Theseus. Doth the much suffering Hercules say this? Hercules. He had not suffered this, had ills a mean. Theseus.

s of the gods had completely armed him when he undertook his labours. He had received a coat of arms and helmet from Miner

den, and after a close and sharp engagement, he choked him to death. He carried the dead beast on his shoulders to Mycenæ

d from his expeditions, but to wait for his orders without the walls. He even made himself a hiding place into which he re

in the gall, to render the wounds which he gave, fatal and incurable. He was ordered in his third labour to bring alive an

loyed in obtaining the mares of Diomedes, which fed upon human flesh. He killed Diomedes, and gave him to be eaten by his

n by Hercules, and he descended into hell by a cave on Mount Tænarus. He was permitted by Pluto to carry away his friends

t and celebrated. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1842_img182 He delivered Hesione, a daughter of Laomedon, King o

three-fold dog of hell.” “Then, where Nemea’s howling forests wave, He drives the Lion to his dusky cave; Seized by the

flits his life in air; — By steps reverted o’er the blood-dropped fen He tracks huge Cacus to his forest den! Where breath

d club were cast, Swift he plunged in, ‘these billows shall be past,’ He said, nor sought where smoother waters glide But

s Summer, yielded up her truth; There by Euripus, ever fickle stream, He won a world in her immortal arms, And found his p

onour but a dream Lost in the Ocean of her gentle charms.” Thurlow. He has received many surnames and epithets, either f

y commenced his expedition, traversing the air, conducted by Minerva. He went first to the Graces, the sisters of the Gorg

anse beneath the cope of heaven. The jarring winds unable to control, He saw the southern and the northern pole: And eastw

ed the nether world. But when grey ev’ning showed the verge of night, He feared in darkness to pursue his flight. He poise

howed the verge of night, He feared in darkness to pursue his flight. He poised his pinions, and forgot to soar, And sinki

ly implored a hospitable rest: If bold exploits thy admiration fire, ( He said), I fancy, mine thou wilt admire: Or if the

a race can move, Not mean my glory, for I spring from Jove.” Ovid. He went to his palace, expecting to meet with an hos

to me thou wilt not give, A gift of endless rest from me receive. —’ He said, and backward turned, no more concealed The

ll crowned the deep ascent: His bones a solid, rocky hardness gained: He thus immensely grown (as fate ordained), The star

with her beauty. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1842_img193 He offered Cepheus, her father, his aid in deliverin

Perseus, save thy life; Nor Jove himself, tho’ we’ve been often told He got thee in the form of tempting gold. His lance

s the wrongful fight, And views his varied friends, a dreadful sight; He knows their faces, for their help he sues, And th

h uplifted hands And fearful look, the guilty statue stands.” Ovid. He but showed the head of the Gorgon to his adversar

however, these obstacles were all met, and destroyed by his courage. He arrived at Athens in safety, where his reception

signal floating in the air, Thinking his Theseus was untimely slain, He rashly plunged himself beneath the main!” His as

sought the more singular mode of gaining it by meeting him in fight. He invaded the territories of Theseus, and when the

god, looked on the maid, And looked and loved, and was beloved again. He has just flung her starry crown on high, And bade

And bade it there, a long memorial shine, How a god loved a mortal —  He is springing From out his golden car, another bou

ge to music and poetry, of which he was so distinguished an ornament. He was the son of Œager by the muse Calliope, though

despair the very stones admire And rolling follow his melodious lyre, He forced the heart of hardest oak to groan, And mad

st her steps might stray, And gladsome of the glimpse of dawning day, He stopped — looked back — (what cannot love persuad

etchest thine, In vain thou grievest, I in vain repine.’” Virgil. ‌ He returned to the upper world, where the only solac

h, the mountains and caves of his native land bore a melancholy echo. He secluded himself entirely from the company of man

st their wrath prevail; In vain he lifts his suppliant hands, in vain He tries, before his never failing strain; And, from

by its divine power, the stones came and ranged themselves in order. He married Niobe, by whom he had seven sons and seve

her, told him, ‌out of kindness, that his suspicions were unfounded. He remained dissatisfied however, and consulted the

n. ———————— “‘His demeanour bold, Imperative, and arrogant: from far He waved his hand, that I should quit the path. Most

tment, free myself by birth, Hence I advanced with an undaunted step: He , with a terrible accent, cried, “Make way.” I, on

e me say? Œd. Did this old man take from your arms an infant? Phor. He did, and oh! I wish to all the gods, Phorbas had

forth the rack, Fetch hither cords and knives, and sulphurous flames. He shall be bound and gashed, his skin flead off And

rastus. Help — and bow him gently forward, Chafe, chafe his temples —  He breathes again, And vigorous nature breaks throug

country; or as many assert, he was banished from thence by his sons. He retired towards Attica, led by his daughter Antig

ource of prosperity to the country in which his bones should be laid. He sent therefore to Theseus, king of the place, to

ering furies guide the reckless blow To pierce the bosom of Eteocles. He falls — upon his brother spouts his blood!” This

e regret Know traitor that thy last blow comes from me.’” Racine. ‌ He approached the fallen monarch, and striking him o

hich was granted the power of healing, by its touch, every complaint. He succeeded to the throne of his father, and mainta

tomach from the cursed feast; Then, weeping o’er his lamentable doom, He styles himself his son’s sepulchral tomb, Now, wi

, and she foretold that his wife Clytemnestra would put him to death. He , however, returned with Cassandra to Argos, where

. Tremendous cries Resound on every side throughout the palace. Cly. He had no power to escape, or to resist, Entangled i

gorgeous robe that shone Fatally rich. I struck him twice, and twice He groaned, then died. A third time as he lay I gore

e realms below Reigns o’er the dead.     There let him take his seat, He lay, and spouting from his wounds a stream Of blo

, and his retreat pursues: The lance arrests him with a mortal wound; He falls, earth shudders, and his arms resound. With

ation of thinking that the remains should be given to the aged Priam. He had the cruelty to tie the body to his chariot, a

th’ insulting victor stood, And bore aloft his arms distilling blood. He smites the steeds, the rapid chariot flies; The s

daughters, and his sons, from falling beneath the edge of the sword. He then sought to rally the Trojans, and make head a

me_heathen-mythology_1842_img240 Æneas followed the council of Venus. He awoke his father Anchises, placed the old man on

driven by the waves towards the shores of the isle of the Phæacians. He saw on the shores the beautiful Nausica, who took

st to which he had been invited, he related his wonderful adventures. He told of his arrival in the country of the Lotopha

ore. Ulysses, horrified at his danger, thought how he could avoid it. He amused the Cyclop by his recitals; and by giving

of their danger. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1842_img242 He arrived in the isle of Æolia, where reigned Æolus

greater part of his companions, seven only of whom remained with him. He landed on an unknown shore and Venus informed him

im, which crushed him beneath its weight. ——————— “The shepherd boy, He felt the Cyclop’s wrath, for on his head The migh

ght have moved the rocks, and then would call Upon the murdered Acis. He the while Ran to the sea, but oft on summer night

ly the hours passed by, until Leander saw day’s bright orb disappear: He thought of Hero and the lost delight, Her last em

ero and the lost delight, Her last embracings, and the space between; He thought of Hero, and the future night, Her speech

nd the bright star of Venus alone looked down on the expectant lover. He saw not the dark rush of Helle’s wave, he heard n

clouds aloft, and tides below, With sighs, and sounds, forbade to go; He could not see, he would not hear, Or sound or sig

tatuary, celebrated in Cyprus for the exquisite skill of his statues. He became disgusted to such a degree with the debauc

arkling eyes, and flowing hair, And wit, that ever charms the fair.” He gave himself up for a time to the pleasure of her

or his abilities, than for his moderation in the application of them. He forbade the Romans to burn his body, after their

d to Mars, and that the dragon which presided over it had slain them. He arrived but just in time to witness him finishing

ne another, leaving only five, who assisted him in building the city. He soon after married Hermione, the daughter of Venu

contemplating the panorama of Chaos, which was spread out before him. He then produced seven starry spheres, the Earth, an

eight Carbuncles, placed on the heads of the same number of Serpents. He next proceeded to the creation of the beings who

preserver of the world, which Brahma has created out of nothingness. He descended on the earth by a sacrifice of which he

ve it from certain ruin, submitted to all the weaknesses of humanity. He became teacher, warrior, and prophet, that he mig

he might leave to ‌the world on his quitting it, the model of a man. He resided in the centre of the worlds, and all the

the flowers of the lotos, and his visage burns with an eternal youth. He is strong and vigorous in appearance, his four ha

wn with five heads, four hands, and three eyes in his principal head. He is carried by a bull, and holds in his hands a tr

he pagodas of India, of Tartary, of China, and the countries of Asia. He is represented on a mat, his limbs crossed, his b

characteristics. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1842_img276b He is represented as a beautiful youth, sometimes co

in and Frigga, is described as the finest and the best of their race. He was distinguished no less for his ‌eloquence than

lours. His face, severe and frightful, is marked with two blue lines. He has two vast wings formed like a bat, and the fee

and, cutting the mistletoe, converted it into a sharp pointed arrow. He returned to the assembly of the gods, darted his

rmes. The name of his wife, we may observe (see p. 381), is Chthonia. He was probably to the Athenians what Hermes was to

lly views not so much Him as the secondary unintelligent causes which He employs, — the simpler children of nature, who ca

iful as his own, and none so well adapted to be the vehicle of mind7. He naturally, therefore, fell into the habit of assi

d by a kind of necessity, and in which they act almost unconsciously. He gives as an instance the pestilence in the commen

t of these schools was Pieria, at the northern foot of Mount Olympos. He has been led to this supposition by Heyne's remar

ty to strangers. The first king who ruled over them was named Uranos. He collected the people, who had previously dwelt di

towns, and taught them agriculture, and thus reformed their manners. He gradually reduced under his sway the greater part

ous and ambitious of the Titans, ruled over Libya, Sicily, and Italy. He espoused his sister Rhea, who bore a son named Ze

the spot the legends of the temples and the traditions of the people. He has thus preserved a number of mythic narratives

one notices the transoceanic land, and that only in the western part. He describes it as a region unvisited by the sun, an

n perpetual darkness, the abode of a people whom he names Kimmerians. He also places there Erebos, the realm of Aïdes and

reigned first, and had by Earth the Cyclopes and the Hundred-handed. He casts all these into Tartaros, and then the Titan

nto the golden cup went down ; That, having through the Ocean passed, He to the depths of sacred gloomy Night might come,

ks, and the bright manes And yellow reins of his wing-footed steeds. He does not, however, tell the site of this brillian

died. At Tænaron also this god had a flock of ‘long-wooled’ sheep219. He had also herds of oxen at Gortyna in Crete220, an

launched his thunder, and hurled the terrified driver from his seat. He fell into the river Eridanos. His sisters, the He

ariots of Helios and Selene, names the steeds which drew that of Eôs. He calls them Lampos (Shining) and Phaëthôn (Gleamin

Jupiter. Zeus is in the Ilias the eldest son of Kronos and Rhea. He and his brothers, Poseidôn and Hades, divided the

er ; and after a time the goddess Pallas Athene sprang from his head. He then married Themis, who bore him the Seasons and

nsmutation and disguise was employed by him to accomplish his object. He assumed the form of her husband Amphitryôn to dec

odel of dignity and majesty of mien ; his countenance grave but mild. He is seated on a throne, and grasping his sceptre a

rotector of strangers, Horkios, the guardian of oaths, were numerous. He was also named like the other gods from the place

s, of a serene and majestic aspect ; his form is strong and muscular. He usually bears in his hand the trident, the three-

d Poseidôn, was lord of the subterrane region, the abode of the dead. He is described as being inexorable and deaf to supp

at length in the sequel) is one of the most celebrated in antiquity. He loved, we are told462, and carried off to Erebos

ers, but he was distinguished from them by his gloomy and rigid mien. He usually bears a two-pronged fork in his hand. The

picture of the love-union of Zeus and Hera on the summit of Ida515 : He said ; and in his arms Kroniôn seized His spouse.

be invisible, so strong as to be infrangible by even the god of war. He disposed it in such a manner as to catch the love

, was loath to assent, till Poseidôn pledged himself to see him paid. He then yielded, and released his prisoners. Ares ha

iomedes of Thrace, Cycnos, Phlegyas, Dryas, Parthenopæos, and Tereus. He was also said to be the sire of Meleagros and oth

e name was unknown. The temples and images of Ares were not numerous. He is represented as a warrior, of a severe menacing

y his attendants. The epithets of Ares were all significative of war. He was styled by Homer and Hesiod564, 1. Blood-stain

lling to be outdone by Zeus when he had given birth to Pallas-Athene. He was born lame, and his mother was so displeased a

nd were all composed of metal ; as also were their chariots and arms. He made armour for Achilleus and other mortal heroes

ns, who waited on him, and whom he endowed with reason and speech573. He gave to Minôs, king of Crete, the brazen man Talô

interpolated tale in the Odyssey, Aphrodite the goddess of beauty580. He is said to have asked Pallas-Athene in marriage o

tenance and muscular form : his hair hangs in curls on his shoulders. He generally appears with hammer and tongs at his an

of Hephæstos were derived either from his lameness or from his skill. He was called586, 1. Both-feet-lame ;2. Lame-foot, o

to his darts ; sometimes as a reward, at other times as a punishment. He was also by his shafts the sender of pestilence,

ow, adding that he would thenceforth declare to men the will of Zeus. He then, to the amazement of the assembled goddesses

rissa, the god is charmed by the solitude and sublimity of the scene. He forthwith sets about erecting a temple, which the

beheld far south of the Peloponnese a Cretan ship sailing for Pylos. He plunged into the sea, and in the form of a porpoi

ng them who he is, and what his purpose was in bringing them thither. He invites them to land, and says, that as he had me

lyre, and gave him moreover a team to drive (the team were swans)659. He then sent him to Delphi and the streams of Castal

a, thence to declare prophetically right and justice to the Hellenes. He ascended the car, and desired the swans to fly al

in sculpture. Few deities had more appellations than the son of Leto. He was called Delian, Delphian, Pataræan, Clarian, e

se, of which animal a legend said he had been the destroyer in Troas. He was also styled662, 1. Crooked, probably from the

ived into Olympos, when for his strength that office devolved on him. He carries in the bull, or boar, or whatever else sh

ivinity, he was amazed at her beauty and the splendour of her attire. He could not avoid regarding her as something more t

Apollo should prevent his taking advantage of the favourable moment. He seized the hand of the goddess, and ‘led her blus

ountain-nymphs to rear, and will bring to him when in his fifth year. He is then to feign that the child is the offspring

his daughter with his drawn sword, to efface her crime in her blood. He had nearly overtaken her, when she prayed to the

own name and those of his parents refer to that part of the world751. He appears to be the same with the Thammuz mentioned

at different times of the year, and not joined together as they were. He further inquires, whether the ancient nations, wh

eeked boy, rosy and naked, with light hair floating on his shoulders. He is always winged, and armed with a bow and arrows

ot strictly right in me to do so, yet I will show you something new.” He then desired them to inquire of the inhabitants,

s asleep the eyes of what men he will, and wakes again the sleepers.’ He accompanies the aged monarch in the form of a Gre

es not appear at all in this poem, and becomes the messenger of Zeus. He still retains his character of a friend to man, a

of the mountain-nymph Maia, in a cavern of Mount Cyllene in Arcadia. He had scarcely been laid in his cradle, when he got

phorminx or lyre, on which he immediately played with perfect skill. He then laid it up in his cradle, and resumed his jo

ect skill. He then laid it up in his cradle, and resumed his journey. He arrived by sunset in Pieria, where the oxen of th

t in Pieria, where the oxen of the gods fed under the care of Apollo. He forthwith separated fifty cows from the herd and

his vineyard, whom he straitly charged not to tell what he had seen. He then pursued his way by ‘shady hills, resounding

rived with his booty on the banks of the Alpheios in the Peloponnese. He there fed and stalled the kine, made a fire, kill

their blood, and then thriftily spread their skins to dry on a rock. He burned the heads and feet, and put out the fire,

man, who informed him of his having seen a child driving cows along. He comes to Pylos, where he sees the traces of his c

his cattle, but is amazed at the strange footprints of their driver. He proceeds to the fragrant cave of the nymph, and H

e the nymph kept her clothes, ornaments, and food, but to no purpose. He then threatens the child that he will fling him i

nity favourable for stealing a few of the heedless herdsman’s cattle. He first cast the dogs into a deep slumber, and then

nd then drove off twelve heifers, a hundred unyoked cows, and a bull. He took the precaution of tying a bundle of twigs to

nged this matter drove on, and concealed his stolen kine in a cavern. He then resolved to make trial of the fidelity of Ba

who was named Demophoôn, and beneath her care ‘he throve like a god.’ He ate no food, but Demeter breathed on him as he la

acrifices, had not Zeus discerned the danger and thought on a remedy. He dispatches ‘gold-winged Iris’ to Eleusis to invit

g of the Subterraneans smiled with his brows’ and yielded compliance. He kindly addressed Persephone, granting her permiss

the place of her retreat till Pan in his huntings chanced to see her. He gave information to Zeus, who sent the Fates to h

ras in Dorion (in the Peloponnese), as he was returning from Œchalia. He had boasted that he could excel them in singing ;

the beasts of the forest assembled round him as he struck its chords. He was married to Eurydice942, whom he tenderly love

following him, the anxious husband looked back, and thereby lost her. He now avoided human society ; and despising the rit

sanctity of marriage gave him Dionysos and Aphrodite for parents947. He was invoked at marriage festivals948. By the Lati

brought on the stage by Euripides in his beautiful drama of Alcestis. He is deaf to the entreaties of Apollo to spare the

wn to Homer. By Hesiod1053 he is classed among the children of Night. He is alluded to by Plato and Aristotle ; and Lucian

s father, and reared him in a fragrant cavern of the valleys of Nysa. He was counted among the Immortals ; and when he gre

plying their looms, while the other women ran through the mountains. He came as a maiden, and remonstrated, but in vain ;

and milk distilled from the roof ; but their obstinacy was unsubdued. He finally drove them mad ; they tore to pieces the

tains a beautiful maiden named Amaltheia, he became enamoured of her. He made her mistress of the adjacent fruitful countr

uated not far from the Horn, in an island formed by the river Tritôn. He committed the care of him to Nysa, one of the dau

the mysteries he was identified with Osiris, and regarded as the Sun. He is sometimes alone, at other times in company wit

o Nysa in the form of a kid, and his being worshiped under that name. He also wore the goatskin dress of the goatherds ; a

: they consented, and with their aid he made himself master of Egypt. He assigned them a settlement near the Pelusiac mout

(Woody), abandoned Olympos and took service as a shepherd in Arcadia. He succeeded in gaining the heart of the ‘well-tress

ndar1176, describes in a very pleasing manner the occupations of Pan. He is lord of all the hills and dales : sometimes he

the goddess of the night, Selene, under the form of a white ram1179. He was fortunate in an amour with the nymph Echo, by

he second is, for those who are born to die as soon as possible1207.” He also, it is said1208, gave the king a long accoun

Priapus. Priapos was introduced late into Grecian mythology1212. He was a rural deity, worshiped by the people of Lam

of fruits : he has a sithe in his hand, and usually a horn of plenty. He is rarely without his indecent symbol of producti

gods. Apollo beheld her dancing with them, and fell in love with her. He changed himself into a tortoise, with which they

the same name, and ruled over the whole of that part of the country. He built a temple to Apollo ; at which when Dryope a

to instruct him how to proceed before the hero would release him1249. He also foretold to Paris, when he was carrying away

ther in a golden house.’ Later poets made him his father’s trumpeter. He was also multiplied, and we read of Tritons in th

to sleep ; where as he lay, a Tanagrian cut off his head with an axe. He relates these legends to account for the statue o

egends to account for the statue of Tritôn at Tanagra being headless. He then subjoins, —  “I have seen another Tritôn amo

In the fourth book of the Odyssey Homer introduces this sea-god. He styles him, like Nereus and Phorcys, a Seaelder 1

Seaelder 1257, and gives him the power of foretelling the future1258. He calls him Egyptian, and the servant of Poseidôn12

es his own form, and reveals to Menelaos the remedy for his distress. He at the same time informs him of the situation of

ves, and his body appeared covered with muscles, sea weed and stones. He was heard evermore to lament his fate in not bein

last circumstance refers to the common pragmatic history of Glaucos. He was a fisherman, it was said1271, of Anthedôn in

s of an object of terror which he calls Gorgo, and the Gorgeian Head. He places the former on the shield of Agamemnôn1295 

ορέας) was called Clear weather- or Frost-producer (αἰθρηγενής) 1318. He loved Oreithyia, the daughter of Erechtheus king

s, the mast by which he supported himself was sucked in by Charybdis. He held by the fig-tree till it was thrown out again

ed only by his flocks and herds, and his two daughters their keepers. He must also have conceived it to lie much more to t

hold of the fig-tree, and held by it till they were thrown out again. He then floated along for nine days ; and on the ten

1441 is the next in order of time who mentions the ages of the world. He speaks of but three races of men, — the golden, t

on, framed with a regard to the Homeric and other contemporary poems. He also thinks that the lines in which Hesiod descri

mph, bore him seven daughters, named Pleiades after their mother1457. He was also said to be the father of the nymphs name

with it the artist-skill of Athena and Hephæstos, and gave it to man. He was also regarded as the creator of the human rac

incensed at this daring deed, and resolved to punish the men for it. He therefore directed Hephæstos to knead earth and w

oof in Natalis Comes, one of the earliest of the modern mythologists. He says that Zeus sent Pandora to Prometheus with al

wo courses present themselves to the narrator of this mythic history. He may either take the genealogical one, and relate

eded unknown to Cheirôn to Iolcos, to claim the rights of his family. He bore, says the Theban poet, two spears ; he wore

to throw off the rain, and his long unshorn locks waved on his back. He entered the market-place, and the people, who kne

ooked on him, and perceived that he had but one sandal, he shuddered. He asked him who he was, and Iasôn mildly answered h

e to demand the kingdom of his fathers which Zeus had given to Æolos. He then went into the house of his father, by whom h

fleece to Pelias, entreated Medeia to exercise her art in his behalf. He sailed with his companions to the Isthmos, and th

vous tasks which the haughty insolent king Pelias had imposed on him. He made her his spouse, and she bore to the ‘shepher

pulling out the tongues, he declared that he had killed just so many. He fell asleep on Mount Pelion, and Acastos taking h

o the bed of the nymph of the sea, and instructed him how to win her. He therefore lay in wait, and seized and held her fa

iôn or Peisiôn ; others gave him Phlegyas or the god Ares for a sire. He obtained the hand of Dia the daughter of Deïoneus

lord formed a cloud in the likeness of herself, which Ixiôn embraced. He boasted of his fortune, and Zeus precipitated him

ra1595. He is called by Homer1596 ‘the most upright of the Centaurs.’ He reared Iasôn and his son Medeios, Heracles, Ascle

s, and gradually drove their wild neighbours back into the mountains. He therefore thinks the exposition of Centaurs as Ai

(from λᾰας πϵίθϵιν), a poetic appellation for the builders of towns. He supposes Hippodameia, as her name seems to intima

Ceÿx was the son of Morning-star (Ἐωσϕόρος), and king of Trachis. He married Halcyone a daughter of Æolos the son of D

los the son of Deucaliôn. Pride, it is said, caused the ruin of both. He called his wife Hera, and was by her styled Zeus

not lately, how it was ; and I will tell it to you all, my friends.” He relates the circumstance of the neglect of Artemi

mplored him, his sisters and his mother supplicated him, but in vain. He remained inexorable, till his very chamber was sh

in the eye ; and Meleagros ran him through the flanks and killed him. He presented the skin and head to Atalanta ; but the

s. Actæôn was the offspring of the marriage of Aristæos with Autonoe. He was reared by Cheirôn, and becoming passionately

iginal deity, Zeus-Aristæos, or Aristos, or Apollo-Agreus, or Nomios. He was a rural god, presiding over cattle and game,

d to Nephele (Cloud), by whom he had two children, Phrixos and Helle. He then espoused Ino the daughter of Cadmos, who bor

received him kindly, and gave him in marriage Chalciope his daughter. He there sacrificed his ram to Zeus Phyxios, and gav

obliged to leave Bœotia, inquired of the god where he should settle. He was told to establish himself in the place where

apan at the present day. Welcker's1683 views are not very dissimilar. He sees in the story of the Twins a Diarchy, as at S

one of the ancient houses, as Nycteus is called the son of Chthonios. He also discovers that the Antiopids favoured the re

en, declaring that he would meet his death by means of his offspring. He long abstained from his wife : at length, having

hould be the slayer of his father and the sharer of his mother's bed. He therefore resolved never to return to Corinth, wh

crime as he thought awaited him, and he took his road through Phocis. He it was who encountered Laïos, and unwittingly acc

and Œdipûs now unknowingly accomplished the remainder of the oracle. He had by his mother two sons, Eteocles and Polyneic

er unhappy son and husband in his grief and despair put out his eyes. He was banished from Thebes ; and accompanied by his

eus, the son of the river Peneios, who named it from himself Andreïs. He was succeeded by his son Eteocles, who is said to

ained the dominion after Eteocles, and named the country Phlegyantis. He also built a city called Phlegya, into which he c

Minyas reigned next, and was wealthier than any of his predecessors. He built the first treasury, similar to that of Atre

hey had finished the temple of Delphi they asked a reward of the god. He promised to give it on the seventh day, desiring

-Trophonios, that is, the Nourishing or Sustaining Zeus (from τρέϕω). He is probably a deity from the Pelasgian times, a g

and, and was admitted by her without suspicion to all his privileges. He related to her all the events of the war, and by

hero, as he killed him with a blow of the lyre for having struck him. He was called to account for this deed, and justifie

s embraces1731. Revolving time, however, beheld fifty of his progeny. He slew the lion, whose hide he ever after wore on h

olden breastplate by Hephæstos, horses by Poseidôn, a robe by Athena. He himself cut his club in the Nemean wood1735. Some

this deed he went into voluntary exile, and was purified by Thestios. He then went to Delphi, and inquired of the god wher

, he grasped his club and pursued him to his den, which was pervious. He then built up one of the entrances, and going in

d on a rising ground near the springs of Amymone, where her hole was. He shot at her with fiery darts till he made her com

tead. A huge crab also aided the hydra, and bit the feet of Heracles. He killed the crab, and then he called upon Iolaos t

eavy stone on the top of it, in the road leading from Lerna to Eleos. He cut the body of the hydra up into pieces, and dip

d Heracles took Phyleus, the son of Augeas, to witness the agreement. He then broke down a part of the wall of the court,

should scare them, Athena brought him from Hephæstos brazen clappers. He stood under a neighbouring hill, and rattled them

could. The hero succeeded, and brought and showed him to Eurystheus. He then let him go : and the bull roved over Sparta

iomedes, built a city by the tomb of Abderos, and named it after him. He brought the mares to Eurystheus, who turned them

ive him any two he wished in the place of the companions he had lost. He chose Alcæos and Sthenelos, the sons of Androgeos

st the Bebrycians, and slew their king Mygdôn, the brother of Amycos. He took a large portion of their territory and gave

d treacherously, slew her, and taking her girdle made sail homewards. He stopped at Troy, then in great distress from the

ges agreed on, and dismissed them, threatening to cut off their ears. He even menaced to tie Apollo hand and foot and tran

Laomedôn had given his daughter Hesione1750 for food to the monster. He therefore exposed her, fastened to a rock which o

Chrysaôr1752 (Gold-sword), and Callirrhoe (Fair-flowing), an Oceanis. He had the bodies of three men united : they cohered

took Heracles, as he was driving the cattle along the river Anthemos. He there attacked him, but was slain by his arrows ;

m over to the continent, where he returned his vessel to the Sun-god. He drove his cattle through Iberia, and came to Lygi

the challenge, and flinging him three times to the ground killed him. He then drove his cattle along the Ionian Sea. At th

illed its bed with stones, so that it became no longer navigable1757. He finally brought the oxen to Eurystheus, who sacri

w for those of killing the hydra and cleansing the stables of Augeas. He now imposed the eleventh task, — that of bringing

ds, and slew Busiris, his son Amphidamas, and his herald Chalbes1761. He then roamed through Arabia, where he killed Æmath

Sun-god’s radiant cup, in which he crossed to the opposite side1762. He came to where Prometheus lay chained, and, moved

med his burden ; and Heracles then picked them up, and went away1763. He brought the apples to Eurystheus, who returned th

they stretched forth their hands, hoping to be relieved by his might. He took Theseus by the hand, and raised him up1767 ;

would do the same for Peirithoös, the earth quaked, and he left him. He then rolled off Ascalaphos, the son of Acherôn an

but for the prayers of Persephone would have killed him on the spot. He then asked Pluto to give him Cerberos ; and the g

god consented, provided he could take him without using his weapons. He found him at the gate of Acherôn ; and, protected

neck made him submit, though the dragon in his tail bit him severely. He brought him through Trœzên to Eurystheus ; and wh

ed of his disease, to take his long-threatened vengeance on Laomedôn. He accordingly collected a fleet of eighteen1771 fif

Heracles slew with his arrows Laomedôn and all his sons but Podarkes. He gave Hesione to Telamôn as a reward of his valour

f his illness, they attacked his army, and killed several of his men. He retired at that time ; but in the third Isthmiad

e Molionids to Cleonæ to offer sacrifice, he waylaid and killed them. He then led an army into Elis, took the city, slew A

ok the city, slew Augeas and his sons, and set Phyleus on the throne. He also established the Olympic games, raised an alt

th two oxen, he unyoked one of them, and killed, dressed, and ate it. He took with him Hylas the son of Theiodamas, who be

Ægimios in possession of the whole country that had been in dispute. He afterwards killed Laogoras king of the Dryopians

of the poisoned tunic, by the foot, and hurled him into the sea1782. He attempted to tear off the tunic, but it adhered c

ntries, Müller1788 views in him the national hero of the Dorian race. He regards as the original exploits of the Dorian He

æus he places in Epeiros, and finally the death on the summit of Œta. He thinks that the Peloponnesian adventures were mos

ountry called Cecropia from him, and Attica from its peninsular form. He is said by mythologists to have been an autochthô

ried to Field-dwelling (Agraulos), the daughter of the land (Actæos). He has one son, Mildew (Erysichthon), who dies child

hthon, in whose time the flood of Deucaliôn is said to have happened. He married Pedias the daughter of Menytes ; and from

when he was grown up he expelled Amphictyôn, and reigned over Athens. He set up the statue of Athena on the Acropolis, and

hena on the Acropolis, and instituted the festival of the Panathenæa. He is said to have been the first who used the four-

. He is said to have been the first who used the four-horsed chariot. He had by the Naïs Pasithea a son named Pandiôn, who

a man came to Thoricos and challenged Cephalos to a match at hunting. He was easily overcome, and seeing the wonderful vir

obtain them. The terms were those he had himself proposed to Procris. He yielded ; Procris then discovered herself and rep

untary crime was sentenced by the Areiopagos to perpetual banishment. He went to Thebes, which was at that time ravaged by

pting to offer violence to the sister of his wife, was forced to fly. He came with his son Ismaros to Tegyrios, a king of

met the god ; and Hermes, at Apollo's desire, conveyed him to Delphi. He was there reared and dedicated to the service of

f Cecrops was his son Pandiôn II., who was expelled by the Metionids. He retired to Megara, where he married Pylia the dau

Æthra if she bore a son to rear him, and to tell no one whose he was. He moreover placed his sword and shoes under a large

o Athens ; and when Medeia came thither from Corinth, he married her. He also celebrated Panathenæan games ; in which Andr

naming of the satisfaction he required must be left to Minôs himself. He demanded seven youths and seven maids to be sent

e son of the king, voluntarily proposed to attempt their deliverance. He went, and succeeded ; but he forgot to change his

d his sword and shoes, and he removed it with ease and took them out. He was now to proceed to Athens and present himself

m to the ground ; and hence he was called Pine-bender (Πιτυοκάμπτης). He posted himself on the road, and obliged all passe

n, a village near Corinth, from a huge sow which ravaged their lands. He hunted and killed this monster1837. As he approac

road, Theseus at length reached Athens, where new danger awaited him. He found his father's court all in confusion. The Pa

likely to reign, resolved to deliver them from the ferocious animal. He went in quest of him, overcame and exhibited him

came to where the Minotaur lay, whom he caught by the hair and slew. He then got on board with his companions, and sailed

sful, to the temple of the god, a ship with gifts and sacrifices1845. He also consecrated in that island to Aphrodite a st

te a statue made by Dædalos, on account of the aid she had given him. He moreover, to commemorate his victory, established

Athens, and exercise jurisdiction over all the inhabitants of Attica. He abolished the former division of the people of At

s, brought on Theseus the usual fate of all great Athenians, — exile. He voluntarily retired to Lycomedes, king of the isl

the stage it was hardly ever as the principal character of the piece. He always however appears as the model of a just and

took himself to Minôs king of Crete, for whom he built the Labyrinth. He also devised an ingenious species of dance for Ar

le to get away by sea, he resolved to attempt flight through the air. He made wings of feathers united by wax for himself

d those of his progenitors show, was a personification of manual art. He was the Eponymos of the class of Dædalids or stat

Sisyphos, the son of Æolos, was said to be the founder of Ephyra. He married Merope the daughter of Atlas, by whom he

and apparently the representative of the trading spirit of that city. He is a son of Æolos, probably on account of his nam

n 1876, as the wind enables him to import and export his merchandise. He is married to a daughter of the symbol of navigat

would not incur the reproach of putting him to death, as she desired. He therefore sent Bellerophontes to Lycia, to his fa

Solymians ; and this he said was the severest combat he ever fought. He lastly slew the ‘man-like Amazons ;’ and as he wa

e of his relatives named Belleros, he thence derived his second name. He was purified of the bloodshed by Prœtos, whose wi

idos, and was directed by him to go and sleep at the altar of Athena. He obeyed the prophet, and in the dead of the night

abitants into society and give them fire and social institutions1891. He also decided a dispute for the land between Hera

a wild bull, he attacked and slew him, and afterwards wore his hide. He moreover killed a satyr, who carried off the catt

sent ; and on obtaining her, set ‘all-seeing Argos1898’ to watch her. He bound her to an olive-tree in the grove of Mycenæ