eaven, who helped him in his work. I am afraid you will not love Juno very much by the time you have read all the stories I

and jealous, and, like all such people, often made herself and others very unhappy. She had one great favorite, a peacock, w

ey were. Apollo was the god of the sun, of music, and of love. He was very beautiful, as indeed almost all the gods were; bu

. She spent much of her time in weaving and embroidering, for she was very fond of this pastime. And then there was Mercury,

died went down into this dark land. Its ruler was King Pluto. He was very lonely in his somber palace; and one time, as you

s; for she was fair and good, and kind to all who knew her. She had a very joyous nature, and when she went hunting in the f

although her little boy and all her companions and even the gods were very fond of her, there was one who did not love her,

llisto so much that she could no longer bear to see her. So she did a very cruel thing, — she raised her hand and spoke a fe

, Arcas had grown to be a fine, tall youth, who, like his mother, was very fond of hunting. So good a marksman was he that h

u may see them on any starry night and think of their story. Juno was very angry when she saw the newly-made stars twinkling

great, wide earth. Ceres had one fair young daughter, whom she loved very dearly. And no wonder, for Proserpine was the sun

th, in the land of the dead, lived dark King Pluto; and the days were very lonely for him with only shadows to talk to. Ofte

kingdom. So the happy mother hastened down into Hades. But alas! that very day Proserpine had eaten six pomegranate seeds; a

r or sitting on a log in the middle of a mud pond, is certainly not a very attractive or lovable creature. But he has his go

reature. But he has his good qualities, nevertheless, and he improves very much on acquaintance. There was once a poet who w

eautiful woman and two helpless little children, who had been treated very cruelly. While he was thinking about them, he cam

Now poets, you must know, love beautiful things, and these frogs were very ugly indeed; besides it was the first time the po

ogs into his tale. As he had not liked them at all, he made them seem very bad and ugly; but that is no reason why we need d

because they were so unkind to her. Long ago, there lived in Greece a very beautiful woman, whose name was Latona. It is a s

ere a deep, clear gray. They were sad eyes, because Latona’s life was very unhappy. Juno hated the gray-eyed woman; and she

ted. Berries and fruits of all kinds grew there in plenty, and in the very center of the island was a cave which served well

could wish for. And here Latona lived for a long, long time. She was very happy, and hoped that Juno would never find her i

poor mother to leave the island at once; and, although it made Latona very sad to go from the home where she had been so hap

dened with the children. But she started up again, when the men, in a very rude and unkind tone, ordered her not to drink. “

though to beg these hard-hearted men to be more gentle. But they were very hard-hearted indeed, and for answer they began to

me a muddy pool, and the water was unfit to drink. Then Latona became very angry, and raising her eyes to heaven she cried,

upiter sometimes grew tired of Juno, and wished to be alone. Juno was very angry at Echo; and she punished her in rather a q

6. “Echo quickly answered, ‘Here’.” Echo ( Roberts ). The youth was very much surprised, for he had thought himself alone

e no one, and yet every cry of his was answered, and the voice seemed very near. He went on calling and questioning, and eac

see she could not help answering. At last Narcissus, who was getting very impatient, called, “Let us come together here.” E

ry impatient, called, “Let us come together here.” Echo answered in a very glad tone, and stepping from behind the tree, ran

ssus hated to have any one show him affection; so he pushed her aside very roughly, and fled from her farther into the woods

ng of the beautiful youth who had treated her so rudely. She suffered very much and wept night and day and could not touch a

d indeed to all who loved him, at last fell in love himself, and in a very strange way. When Narcissus was born, his mother

is story, I think you will see what the wise man meant. Narcissus was very fond of hunting, and he often roamed through the

, there lived a young girl named Arachne, whose parents had once been very poor and humble. Arachne, however, brought wealth

s home, and the parents blessed their daughter, and all of them lived very happily. Thus it might have gone on until they di

” But the young girl only looked cross and ugly, as she answered in a very churlish tone, “You are an old woman and you spea

her loom, with the color glowing in her cheeks and her breath coming very fast. And such beauty as grew under her skillful

ne’s hair fell off, and her face became so small that her body looked very large next to it, though in reality it, too, had

ring arrows, and slew it, after a fierce battle. The people were then very happy; and you may be sure that they made a great

hey made a great ado over Apollo, so that he left the country feeling very proud of himself. As he was going along, whom sho

id, give up the bow which rightfully belongs to me.” Now, Cupid was a very quick-tempered little god, and he cried in a pass

erce all other things, my arrow can wound you.” Then he flew off in a very bad humor, and tried to think of some way in whic

tripped along. Orpheus, to whom the sight of such careless mirth was very painful, would have turned aside; but as soon as

were sacred to Diana and her nymphs. Actaeon was a youth who also was very fond of hunting. More than all else, he loved to

reupon sprinkled a few drops of water in his face, and then something very strange happened. Poor Actaeon had been so bewild

ndreds of poisonous snakes, with open mouths and hissing tongues. Not very pleasant creatures to meet, you may well say. Wit

y looking at the Gorgon would turn Perseus to stone, and he could not very well cut off her head without looking, the king w

the city, he sat down under a tree by the roadside and began to think very soberly; but the more he thought, the more hopele

e more he thought, the more hopeless did his task seem. Perseus was a very brave youth; but the bravest person in the world

id, “do not be frightened. The eye is safe. I hold it in my hand this very moment.” With a cry of anger the three sisters da

e time of my story, she still lived on earth, and, as I said, she was very beautiful. She was also very vain of her beauty,

lived on earth, and, as I said, she was very beautiful. She was also very vain of her beauty, and one day boasted that she

at she was fairer than any of the sea nymphs. Now the sea nymphs were very fair indeed, and it angered them to have Cassiope

peia compare herself with them. People in those days seem to have had very cruel ways of showing their anger. The nymphs sen

nd best of all their young maidens. Andromeda herself pretended to be very brave, so as to lessen her poor mother’s grief; b

the feast. Now there was an old man of whom Andromeda’s parents were very much afraid. Some time before, he had asked for t

eaceably, or else I and my soldiers will kill you all.” Andromeda was very much frightened and clung to Perseus in terror. H

you.” So she set one of her servants, Argus, to watch the cow. And a very good watchman Argus made; for he had a hundred ey

from the many things that kept her busy. Thebes, you must know, was a very great city indeed, and there were many troublesom

e went out to walk in the city, dressed in her rich robes, she looked very haughty and proud, and she always wanted every on

e world has any record. Nowadays, when we wish to say that any one is very , very powerful, we call his strength Herculean. H

d has any record. Nowadays, when we wish to say that any one is very, very powerful, we call his strength Herculean. Hercule

on him, and told him he would set him free if he would perform twelve very difficult tasks. Nothing could have suited Hercul

had not gone far, when he came to a country ruled by a king who had a very beautiful daughter, Deïanira, and before many day

arry the king’s daughter. Such a way of settling the dispute may seem very strange to us, but it pleased both the suitors. H

centaur’s name, started to wade the stream. Now the undercurrent was very strong, and Nessus was a long time in working his

g for him. So one day he started on his journeys. His wife missed him very much, but she loved him so well that she had not

had ever built was a strange winding path, called the labyrinth. Not very far from Greece was the island of Crete, ruled by

ce was the island of Crete, ruled by King Minos, a man who could be a very good friend and a very cruel enemy, as Daedalus s

ete, ruled by King Minos, a man who could be a very good friend and a very cruel enemy, as Daedalus soon learned. Minos owne

go back to Athens for a while. Daedalus had a nephew named Perdix, a very able young boy, who was anxious to learn to do th

night and fled to the island of Crete, where King Minos received him very kindly. But before long, Daedalus got himself int

Minos made both father and son prisoners on the island. Daedalus grew very weary of that life, and thought and thought of so

of Crete, also became the father of a baby boy. Minos loved his child very much and watched over him with great fatherly car

his mother farewell, he started for Athens, The journey to Athens was very dangerous, for bold robbers lay hidden behind eve

, but to my own father.” The girl loved her father dearly, for he was very kind to her, and would do anything to. give her p

remember, I told you in another story, that whereas Minos could be a very good friend, he could also be a very cruel enemy.

y, that whereas Minos could be a very good friend, he could also be a very cruel enemy. What he asked of the people of Athen

also be a very cruel enemy. What he asked of the people of Athens was very hard indeed; but you must not forget how the poor

Once upon a time there was a town in which the people had grown to be very hard-hearted and wicked. Whenever strangers enter

w. In it dwelt an old couple, Philemon and his wife Baucis. They were very poor; but, in spite of their poverty, they were c

the vine in the garden; yet the wanderers seemed to enjoy their meal very much. As they kept filling and refilling their gl

which to sleep; for they had come a great distance that day, and were very weary. Baucis hastened to lead the way to the one

ays of good fortune, as they had been in their poverty. So. they grew very old — so old that life no longer seemed beautiful

sad story of Ceyx and Halcyone, a king and queen who loved each other very dearly. After they had lived together happily for

es, there lived in the town a beautiful, dark-eyed girl, Ino, who was very much in love with the king. Ino was a witch, who

ks on the hillsides. Still I do not think that Phryxus and Helle were very unhappy. They loved to frolic in the green fields

Phryxus and Helle must be killed. I am afraid the messengers were not very good men, since they were willing to help in kill

like those of horses, and heads and shoulders like men’s. Chiron was very wise and very good, and many kings sent their son

horses, and heads and shoulders like men’s. Chiron was very wise and very good, and many kings sent their sons to him to be

on’s feet, as you know, was bare. But the crafty king pretended to be very glad indeed to see his nephew. He bade him sit do

ill bring you the Golden Fleece, or die in the attempt.” The king was very much pleased; for this was just what he wanted, —

 to send Jason off on a journey so full of danger that there would be very little chance of his ever coming back. But, of co

ow Jason that she had not forgotten her promise to help him. It was a very wonderful piece of wood, as you will agree when I

e of the king. The king had two children, a little boy of whom he was very fond, and a dark-eyed, dark-haired maiden, Medea,

back to Greece, the king laughed aloud, and said, “You have come on a very bold mission, for only he who performs aright the

eas the leaves are followed by pretty blossoms, the helmets covered a very ugly crop of fierce, armed soldiers, who all turn

ced at Jason’s success, but the king looked angry and sullen. He knew very well that Jason could not have succeeded except b

hip, where Medea and his companions were anxiously awaiting him. In a very short time, the anchor was lifted, and with their

y loved a lad whose name was Cyparissus, and -the youth, in turn, was very fond of Apollo. He liked to hunt, and he loved th

d his daily bread by selling the fish he caught. One day his net felt very heavy, and when he drew it in, he saw that he had

n into a god of the sea. Glaucus now lived entirely in the water that very water he had loved so dearly when he was a fisher

op and then turned to give a parting look at the sea, which she loved very much; but she did not notice the dark face watchi

t to climb the hill, Glaucus called to her. She turned around and was very much surprised to see that strange figure, half m

heart she hated Scylla, and she had made up her mind to do something very cruel. She handed Glaucus a little flask filled w

the poor boy died. This story is about another boy whom Apollo loved very dearly. Hyacinthus was his name, and I think you

cinthus was his name, and I think you will agree with me that it is a very pretty name. You know a flower with a name very m

with me that it is a very pretty name. You know a flower with a name very much like that? Perhaps they have something to do

hatever the reason was, it is certain that Apollo did love Hyacinthus very , very dearly. He would leave his beautiful temple

r the reason was, it is certain that Apollo did love Hyacinthus very, very dearly. He would leave his beautiful temples, and

ifferences of birth or rank. So Apollo and Hyacinthus hunted together very happily and neither of them ever thought of the w

e of quoits. Quoits was a game of which the people of those days were very fond, — as fond as boys are nowadays of cricket a

ond of the game, and they began to play, and were enjoying themselves very much. Apollo hurled his disc high into the air, a

had also made Galatea return the sculptor’s great love. Pygmalion was very happy, and when he had given thanks to Venus for

at the altar where Pygmalion first offered up his prayer. They led a very happy life; but though Pygmalion carved many more

as, as you know, the sweetest singer in the world; therefore it was a very bold thing indeed for Pan to challenge him. Yet A

d, he whispered, “King Midas wears great asses ears.” The barber felt very much better after this, and, rilling up the hole,

e lived on earth a strange race of giants called Cyclops. They were a very queer people indeed, and were much larger and str

ike animals, and this, together with their one fiery eye, gave them a very fierce look. For these strange beings, instead of

long when they were not roaring or shooting out flames, would not be very likely to have feelings of love or tenderness. Ye

mus she seemed just like a bit of sunshine and clear sky, and he fell very deeply in love with her. He forgot to look after

ar, still water to see how he looked. It seemed to him that he looked very well indeed, for, of course, hugeness and shaggin

or, of course, hugeness and shagginess and one flaming eye formed the very highest type of beauty for a Cyclops. Then Polyph

e lovely Galatea fled from him in spite of all he offered her, became very angry indeed. His voice began to roar, and his ey

and Psyche In a certain country the name of which is forgotten, a very long time ago, reigned a good king and queen who

nions lay hear their father’s kingdom. The parents of Psyche were not very wise persons, they loved their little daughter wi

st do as I command you; you must first see Psyche, and then find some very ugly old man, end make her acquainted with him. Y

they will scold and insult her for her perverseness, and she will be very unhappy. At length you must make her so foolish t

reeable as he truly is, and then she must loathe and hate him, and be very wretched.” It seems by this that Venus was a mali

at her feet, and at the same time she was singing a song. She looked very happy, as she drew the flowers one by one from he

ing, and that she loved whatever she looked upon, thought it would be very cruel to make her unhappy. He lay down upon a ban

in this case. In the meantime, the father and mother of Psyche became very curious to know the future fortune of their daugh

ook at me. If you should forget what I now tell you, if you should be very curious to see me, and should inconsiderately loo

ou, obey my words, and you will be happy.” Psyche listened — she felt very sorry not to see the face of him who addressed he

y of my sisters, I should be grateful to you for it” This request was very reasonable. Cupid could not refuse Psyche the ple

t refuse Psyche the pleasure of seeing her sisters, without appearing very unkind; but he was sorry that she had made the re

er living; and as the oracle said be was unreasonable and capricious, very likely he may, some night, take it into his head

d his injunction never to attempt to see him. Follow my advice; it is very easy to get a sight of him. When you know that he

, take a lamp and examine his features. If be should be found to be a very shocking object, you had best kill him. I will gi

he had the weakness to listen to this foolish and wicked counsel. The very next night after her sisters had left her, when P

comfortable by giving them bread, and kine, and sheep; and they were very grateful to her, and worshipped her, offering her

tcast and a wanderer: none pitied nor would relieve her. She might be very happy if she could reconcile a goddess who, she k

story. Ann. Mother, is any part of this story true? Mother. Only a very small part of it. It is true people once believed

ks and Romans believed it. Ann. I thought the Greeks and Romans were very wise people. Mother. They were very wise in many

ought the Greeks and Romans were very wise people. Mother. They were very wise in many things, but not wise in their religi

Most likely those gods and goddesses had been men and women, who were very useful and sometimes very good, when they were al

goddesses had been men and women, who were very useful and sometimes very good, when they were alive; and when they were de

id did, will be followed by misfortunes. Ann. Is the story of Psyche very old? Mother. Yes; one Apuleius, who lived in Sic

een hundred years ago, said he found it in an old book; so it must be very old. Ann. It is a very pretty story. Mother. I

aid he found it in an old book; so it must be very old. Ann. It is a very pretty story. Mother. I think so. Many beside yo

r. I think so. Many beside you think so. The Italian painters like it very much. I gave it you because I thought you might s

ieve that Cyane was changed to a fountain. Mother. They said so, and very likely some ignorant people believed it. In the b

himself. Mother. No; that man could not have seen it. He lived in a very hot country, where it never freezes; and so he di

t far off. Becubo offered Ceres a dish of the polenta, and as she was very hungry, she devoured it voraciously. The little b

d to see Ceres eat so eagerly. The peasant boys of Sicily were always very fond of polenta. “Mother,” said Becubo’s son, “I

cauldron, and I shall have none; and then what shall I do?” Ceres was very angry with the boy, though it does not appear tha

reduced to flour, such as wheat, rye, and potatoes; and such food is very wholesome, and is abundant almost every where. A

arians, that the Athenians were no longer afraid of them. Pandion was very grateful to Tereus, and invited him to live with

om Lystra was the province of Phrygia. There is an old fable which is very pretty, that belongs to Phrygia, in Asia Minor, w

when they saw the pitcher replenished, and the bowls filled with the very best wine, and running about the table from hand

m the alarm whenever a stranger approached. “The old goose will serve very well,” said Baucis, looking wistfully at her. The

fashion in Europe more than three hundred years. Ann. I have read of very fine houses which were in Greece and Rome. Those

which were in Greece and Rome. Those fine houses could not have been very comfortable without glass windows. Mother. No; n

not enjoy the light of day. Ann. I think Baucis and Philemon were a very happy couple. Mother. Yes; all people, let them

gels to Abraham. Mother. Do you remember the passage? Ann. Yes, the very words, and where I read them. These are the words

us atmosphere. The hand was that of Envy, and, wherever she came, the very air seemed to be filled with her presence. Aglaur

ry impossible, when it cannot be true; and improbable, when it is not very likely to be true. Ann. What part of the story I

ther. Am. What sort of people were they of Attica? Mother. They were very ignorant, and did not know how to build good hous

Mother. Yes. I will tell you a pretty story of Mercury. One morning, very early, he was walking on the sea shore, and he sa

l, it would make more music. He tried the experiment, and it produced very sweet tones. This instrument was called the lyre,

ets. We frequently call animated poetry lyric, at the present time. A very wise man9 said, the invention of the lyre was “th

red him. Narcissus, weary with pursuing a brilliant butterfly, of the very largest size, which at last eluded his grasp, jus

pa. Agenor, when he heard of the strange disappearance of Europa, was very much grieved, and he sent his son Cadmus to searc

for a stag, fell upon him and killed him. Ann. The young girls were very cruel to do that. Mother. They thought, perhaps,

e, Alecto, and Megara. The ancients sometimes said the Eumenides were very cruel, and here is a fable which shows that they

us, the god of wine, was the son of Semele, Ino’s sister, and Ino was very proud of her relation, and would often boast that

foolish pride of Ino. Athamas and Ino loved one another, and they had very fine children, whom they loved dearly. They were

eir neighbours, and were beloved by their subjects, to whom they were very kind. It is not easy to make those unhappy who ar

arus, and requested them to guide her to Tisiphone. They attended her very respectfully, and on the way asked her to stop at

? Mother. Not every body, I think. Some people thought the gods were very kind to men. They thought that if the gods allowe

e them amends in another life. These Furies, whom you have read of as very cruel, some persons called by another name, the E

he Orgies. In ancient times, when persons wished to commend a man very much, they would say, he is not the son of a man,

had a little boy, who was called Bacchus. His mother died when he was very young, and it was said that Jupiter was his fathe

orgies. The Bacchantes often intoxicated themselves, and behaved in a very unseemly manner. Though Pentheus was not instruct

ndson. Mother. And what think you of Pentheus? Ann. That he was not very prudent to hide himself where the Menades held th

, and after he was dead, he was worshipped as a god. Mother. That is very probable. Does the history of Agave teach you any

c manner? Mother. No; at Athens, festivals in honour of Bacchus were very decent. They were called Dionysia, and magistrate

Argos, had a beautiful daughter, whose name was Danæ. While Danæ was very young, her father went to consult the oracle, to

was manly, and generous, and kind. But Polydectes, though he had been very kind to Dana; and her son, did not love Perseus w

a rude people like those of Seriphus, who thought beauty and strength very fine qualities for a king: but Polydectes was wea

e him from my palace: I will vex and mortify him, so that he shall be very miserable, and go away to some distant country. O

e she might be killed; but her sisters were immortal. Medusa had been very beautiful, but she once behaved improperly in Min

, he found his grandfather no longer its king. His brother, Phætus, a very artful man, had deposed the old king, and taken h

g to do but to exhibit the Medusa, and Phætus became a statue in that very palace from which he had banished his brother. Pe

, who disliked their sister for being amiable and pretty. All that is very strange. What do you call that feeling, the hatre

islike their goodness or beauty, it makes us unhappy, and it makes us very disagreeable, for people see our bad disposition,

a happy omen; a sign, it was thought, that the married pair would be very happy. If it shed a lurid glare, or dim, smoky fl

d? Mother. It was sometimes a stool with three feet. The Greeks were very fond of tripods; I mean the form of a tripod was

The Greeks were very fond of tripods; I mean the form of a tripod was very fashionable among them. They used them for many p

chanced to wander thither. As soon as Apollo saw her, he thought her very beautiful, and he looked at her with admiration;

d collection of pictures; and the Vatican palace, at Rome, is another very grand collection of antique vases, tripods, statu

rious ancestors than your own; as I have often told you, they are the very same. Go to the palace of the sun; the god of day

t rays, even when it was not occupied by the god, who was himself the very spirit of light. The vigilant Aurora appeared at

attended by the Hours, and taken from the original of Guido, are not very rare in this country. Guido’s painting is the spl

Niobe. Niobe was the daughter of Tantalus, king of Lydia; that very Tantalus who was sentenced to perpetual hunger an

their country occupied a central position, and that Mount Olympus, a very high mountain, the mythological abode of their go

it to Cronus, simulating intense grief. Cronus was evidently not of a very inquiring turn of mind, for he swallowed the whol

ious, viewed his fallen foe with boundless pride; but his triumph was very short-lived. Enceladus, another redoubtable giant

rule over all the others. Prometheus’ and Epimetheus’ first care was, very naturally, to provide for the beings already crea

time, also, Pandora refused to comply with his request. Dismayed, and very much discouraged, Epimetheus sauntered out alone,

ed his wife in bitterest terms for her thoughtless action; but in the very midst of his vituperation he suddenly heard a swe

pimetheus bade his wife open the box and set the speaker free, adding very amiably, that she had already done so much harm b

han who never plague that runs         Its way more swiftly wins: Her very motion lends her power: She flies and waxes every

aid, the foundations of the city were laid; but their labour was not very arduous, as the gods caused some of the public bu

alphabet, and introduced its use into Greece. Although his career was very prosperous at first, he finally incurred the wrat

changed him and Harmonia into huge serpents. Jupiter was, of course, very widely and generally worshipped by the ancients;

( Conington’s tr.). But although in the beginning this union seemed very happy, there soon arose subjects for contention;

was dedicated to her. On one of these occasions an old priestess was very anxious to go to the temple at Argos, where she h

g touches all given, each turned to view her rival’s work, and at the very first glance Arachne was forced to acknowledge he

Minerva — a beautiful, majestic woman, fully clothed and armed — were very numerous. The most celebrated of all, by the reno

The Story of Hyacinthus Although successful in war, Apollo was very unfortunate indeed in friendship. One day he came

there ready to pounce upon him, he cast his unerring javelin into the very midst of the thicket, and pierced the faithful bo

ke voice to the tones of his instrument, causing all present, and the very Muses too, to hail him as conqueror. “And, when

years passed by, and became so remarkable, that the youth’s fame was very widespread; and when he fell in love with Eurydic

n, hearing this oath, begged permission to drive the sun chariot that very day, stating that all the world would be sure to

care, and to use the whip but sparingly, as they were inclined to be very restive. The youth, who had listened impatiently

l went well; but at length, elated by his exalted position, he became very reckless, drove faster and faster, and soon lost

and Orion’s heart burned as he sought to approach them; but they were very coy, and, as he drew near and addressed them, tur

oic deed. Now, as Orion was anything but a patient man, the delay was very unwelcome indeed, and he made up his mind to abdu

t, Actæon fancied he heard bursts of silvery laughter: so he crept on very cautiously, and soon, gently parting the thick br

Keats. Pygmalion and Galatea Pygmalion, King of Cyprus, was a very celebrated sculptor. All his leisure moments were

e, Psyche painfully toiled up a rugged mountain, and, creeping to the very edge of a great precipice, cast herself down, exp

e should make her loathe him, and further added that, if she were not very careful, he would probably end by devouring her.

love for her husband. Ceres had often seen Cupid, and had heard that very morning that he was having a wound in his shoulde

nice’s beautiful locks laid upon Venus’ shrine, whence they, however, very mysteriously disappeared. An astrologer, consulte

such you may     Hear among revellers on a holiday.” Shelley. Being very hungry towards evening, young Mercury escaped fro

s sleeping mother, and sallied out in search of food. He had not gone very far, before he came to a wide meadow, where Apoll

Otus and Ephialtes As strife was his favourite element, Mars was very active indeed during the war between the gods and

endure as long as this token of the god’s goodwill was preserved. The very same day the plague ceased its frightful ravages,

g draught. Vulcan, predisposed to thirst, and incited to drink by the very nature of his labour, accepted the offered cup, a

assume any shape he pleased. The former gift he was wont to exercise very reluctantly; and when mortals wished to consult h

escape. No temples were dedicated to him, and statues of this god are very rare. Human sacrifices were sometimes offered on

ut black animals were slain. His kingdom, generally called Hades, was very difficult of access. According to Roman tradition

was being enacted in the great amphitheatre, in which the Furies were very graphically represented, and the multitude of spe

ion practised upon them, and refused the new dish; but Ceres, who was very melancholy on account of the recent loss of her d

Tartarus, where he was condemned to roll a huge stone to the top of a very steep hill; and just as he reached the summit, an

a solemn oath to grant any request she chose to make. A lover is not very likely to weigh his words under such circumstance

, Pelted with flowers as he on did pass.” Keats. Bacchus’ train was very large indeed, and composed of men and women, nymp

of her previous efforts to escape him, Arethusa must still have been very glad to see him once more, for Ceres heard her mu

y declared that the queen had partaken of some pomegranate seeds that very day. Proserpina could not refute the charge, and

s; of being buried within the city limits (a privilege granted to but very few); and of obtaining the pardon of criminals wh

toil was suspended, the millstones were decked with flowers, and the very asses used to turn them were covered with garland

ver peace and war, and had numerous temples throughout all Italy. One very celebrated temple was called Janus Quadrifrons, b

e closed but thrice in more than seven centuries, and then only for a very short period. Festivals in honour of Janus were c

cme of bliss. Chapter XVIII: Æolus The Home of Æolus Not very far away from the quiet realm of Somnus and Mors,

e Lipari Islands, where Æolus, god of the storm and winds, governed a very unruly and turbulent population. He is said to ha

event their causing serious disasters, he therefore ruled them with a very strict hand, kept them closely confined in a grea

eir moods, their wrath allays.” Virgil ( Conington’s tr.). Although very unruly indeed, the winds always obeyed their fath

by his instructor, now set out to seek his fortunes. He had not gone very far, however, before he met two beautiful women,

uld-be interlocutor away. In answer to Hercules’ question, he finally very reluctantly bade him seek Prometheus, who alone w

as the combatants were of equal size and strength, the victory seemed very uncertain. At last Hercules felt his great streng

upport the heavens in his stead. Feigning a satisfaction which he was very far from feeling, Hercules acquiesced, but detain

unworthy these effeminate tasks may seem for such a hero, they proved very agreeable indeed to Hercules, who, having fallen

that he would be killed by his grandson. Until then the king had been very fond of his only child, Danae, and until then, to

to keep her unmated, — a somewhat difficult task, for the maiden was very fair, and Acrisius knew that the wily God of Love

y claims to beauty; but Medusa, when only a girl, had been considered very handsome indeed. Her home, in a land where the su

y handsome indeed. Her home, in a land where the sun never shone, was very distasteful to her, so she entreated Minerva to l

s he was fully aware of Medusa’s petrifying proclivities, he advanced very cautiously, holding his shield before him at such

rison where he languished, and restored to his wonted honours, by the very youth he had been taught to fear. Perseus. C

Chapter XXI: Theseus The Childhood of Theseus When yet but a very young man, Ægeus, King of Athens, journeyed off t

, deluded travellers into entering his home, where he had two beds of very different dimensions, — one unusually short, the

s had just married Medea, the enchantress; but, although the news was very unwelcome, he hastened to his father’s court, to

ised before.)” Saxe. Dædalus and Icarus This labyrinth was so very intricate, that those who entered could not find

o a country where they would be free, promising to follow him thither very shortly. “‘My Icarus!’ he says; ‘I warn thee fly

lainly revealed the fate of all who had preceded him. He had not gone very far before he encountered the Minotaur, —  a crea

where, before she was aware of it, sleep overtook her. Now, although very brave, Theseus was not very constant. He had alre

of it, sleep overtook her. Now, although very brave, Theseus was not very constant. He had already grown weary of Ariadne’s

nd whence he brought back Hippolyte, whom he married. Theseus was now very happy indeed, and soon all his hopes were crowned

urs and Lapithæ.” The hotly contested bride did not, however, enjoy a very long life, and Pirithous soon found himself, like

in the diligent acquisition of knowledge, strength, and skill passed very quickly; and at last the time came when Chiron ma

ss Juno It was early in the spring, and the young man had not gone very far before he came to a stream, which, owing to t

ager Œneus and Althæa, King and Queen of  Calydon, in Ætolia, were very happy in the possession of a little son, Meleager

talanta, daughter of Iasius, King of Arcadia. This princess had led a very adventurous life, for when but a babe, her father

e grand Calydonian Hunt was headed by Meleager and Atalanta, who were very fond of each other, and who boldly led the rest i

also his kinsman. Anteia’s Treachery He had not sojourned there very long before Anteia, the queen, fell in love with

Anteia saw that the youth would never yield to her wishes, she became very angry indeed, sought her husband, and accused the

etter, Bellerophon presented himself before Iobates, who received him very hospitably, and, without inquiring his name or er

r one and all had perished in the attempt. The Chimæra Although very courageous, Bellerophon’s heart beat fast with fe

told what great deed he must accomplish; and he left Iobates’ palace very sorrowfully, for he had fallen deeply in love wit

gh the king was heartily glad to know the Chimæra was no more, he was very sorry to see Bellerophon safe and sound, and trie

they were ably seconded by the Dryades, the nymphs of vegetation. The very trees in the forest and along the roadside were s

al sight. Pan The male divinities of the woods, which were also very numerous, were mostly Satyrs, — curious beings wi

er embraced, thinking he had caught the maiden, who had stood in that very spot a few moments before. His deception and disa

and shears, gardening implements, and fruits and flowers. Pomona was very coy indeed, and had no desire to marry. Vertumnus

ne, entered Pomona’s garden, and inquired how it happened that such a very charming young woman should remain so long unmarr

by selling the fish he caught in his nets. On one occasion he made a very fine haul, and threw his net full of fish down up

ild Of the gray Ancient of the Deep.” Homer ( Bryant’s tr.). He was very anxious indeed to marry her, but, before taking s

form him whether this union would be for his happiness or not. It was very fortunate for him that he did so, for the three s

made him follow his own calling. When Paris reached manhood, he was a very handsome and attractive young man, and he won the

eased. Jupiter, touched by her beauty and distress, frowned until the very firmament shook, and swore to make the Greeks rue

the everlasting gods from the wooded heights of Mount Ida; but in the very midst of the fight, Venus, seeing her favourite a

assailants into their entrenchments. Death and defeat now dogged the very footsteps of the Greek forces, who were driven, i

however, only temporary relief, as she was slain by Achilles in their very first encounter. He, too, however, was doomed to

all warnings and entreaties, they dragged the colossal image into the very heart of their city, tearing down a portion of th

sses’ best men were sent ashore to reconnoitre; but they had not gone very far before they met the natives, seated under the

made fun of his ’ove, she was not so obdurate to the suit of Acis, a very fascinating young shepherd, who had no need to ca

d in his rage almost destroyed the Greeks; for one piece of rock fell very near their vessel, and they were forced to redoub

t the first alarm, had seized his weapons, determined to fight to the very last. Hecuba, his wife, was clinging to him, impl

eptune, and bade him watch over her unfortunate son. Neptune listened very graciously to her appeal, and promised to take bu

ed the hand of his daughter Lavinia in marriage to Æneas. Lavinia was very beautiful, and had already had many suitors, amon

ewell.’” Virgil ( Conington’s tr.). Shortly after her death, in the very midst of the fray, Æneas suddenly felt himself wo

gin, it is impossible, in a work of this kind, to do more than give a very superficial idea of the scientific theories of va

wever, the germ of truth it contained was again brought to light; and very few persons now refuse to believe that some of th

zed a book and began to “read a story” that is to say, to improvise a very improbable and highly-coloured tale of a pony. Fo

be looked upon eventually simply as the names of deities or heroes —  very much in the way that the word “good-bye” has long

existence, and kills the dread monster of drought, the Sphinx, whose very name means “one who binds fast,” — a creature who

ompaniment of deafening roars, while their ponderous tread causes the very earth beneath them to tremble. In this group we a

y “the brightness of the flame,” another fire hero, is represented as very puny at birth, because the flame comes from a tin

ciation of the heavenly fire with the life-giving forces of nature is very common,” the Hindoo Agni was considered the patro

, he was born of the sky (Jupiter) and the plains (Maia), and after a very few hours’ existence assumed gigantic proportions

urricanes. The name of the latter indicates “one who leaps.” Although very short-lived, these giants were supposed to increa

t which there was rather a prejudice, and that it appeared during the very height of the Reform fever, when few could think

assics with a view to it ; and I can assert with truth that there are very few of the references in the following pages whic

Mythologique. The errata, which I have carefully marked, are I think very few considering the bulk and nature of the work.

from Waverley and such books ? Simply amusement ; and it surely seems very absurd to say that the public has a right to be a

o be amused, to which right those of individuals must give way. It is very much as if the public were to insist on admission

luence on vegetation and growth in general the ancients held to be so very considerable (see p. 194, note b), and which they

em in the under-world under the care of the same herdsman. This looks very like two different forms of the same legend ; the

xample. To us however this appears to be an error, though as we see a very ancient one. The Latin language abounds above all

ally a component part of mythology. The deities of popular belief are very frequent actors in its legends, which differ from

these objects. In truth, a personification of the sea or sun is not a very intelligible expression. We mean by these gods, d

in. Legends of this kind are to be placed among the latest. Indeed we very much doubt if this be a real original source of m

ntary of Eustathius on Homer. The notes of Servius on Virgil are also very valuable in this respect, as likewise is the Viol

may seem to follow, that the ideas of the poets on this subject were very vague and fleeting. Perhaps the prevalent opinion

32, which seems to have been brought from the Baltic to Greece in the very earliest times. In the opinion of Welcker233 it i

productions. The date of the tale is unknown, but it is probably not very ancient ; it is only to be found at present in th

teers or heifers the draught-cattle of Selene250. This notion had its very natural origin in the contemplation of the horned

discerned. Æschylus would seem to term her the child of Night264, — a very obvious and natural genealogy. In Homer and Hesio

time of the Titans. The name Phœbe plainly signifies Lucid 285, and a very obvious etymon will give a similar signification

even those who have slighted them349. Their power was held to extend very far ; men regarded them as the authors of both go

dicates any spot of earth as the natal place of any of his gods386. A very ancient tradition, however, (for it occurs in Hes

God) over heaven, earth, (land and water,) and the under-world412. A very simple process will lead us to the true significa

the Latin name of Pluto. In this drama we meet the first mention of a very remarkable notion of the Greeks. The dead seem to

flame thus raised which was visible to a great distance531. From the very confused account of this festival which has been

ss of the earth in the religion of Argos, her name would seem to come very simply from ἔρα, earth ; yet there is great plaus

in to the stream which bore his name649. This last legend admits of a very simple explanation. Marsyas was a river-god of Ph

nce the stream Marsyas issues, was hung, for some reason which is not very clear, a leathern bag651, and hence it was fabled

idyma at Miletus ; in all of which his oracles revealed the future. A very able mythologist of the present day655 maintains

he Dorian migration, the critic is forced to have recourse to the not very probable supposition of a Dorian colony having le

swans to fly back from the Hyperboreans. It was then summer, and the very middle of it, when Alcæus leads Apollo back from

ng the Enipeus of Homer. For, like Homer. Alcæus ventures to make the very water capable of perceiving the access of the god

than any other deity. The Cretans worshiped a goddess the same as or very similar to Artemis, whom they named Britomartis,

hat in the Peloponnese the relation between Artemis and the water was very intimate. She was worshiped in several places as

, as Artemis on earth, as Persephone in Erebos. This will also give a very simple reason for her being like Eileithyia, the

tale of Adonis sufficiently proves it ; and that this took place at a very early period, the name Cypris given to Aphrodite

that Aphrodite was so frequently styled the Heavenly (Urania). It is very important to observe that she was so named at her

own robe and that of Hera, which last she is said to have embroidered very richly795. When the hero Iasôn was setting forth

ome of the obscurer dialects of Greece819. But accounts like this are very suspicious, and the later Greeks would have made

s, the herald of the Immortals.’ In another place837 he speaks of him very explicitly as the deity presiding over flocks and

cows are : but Hermes stoutly denies all knowledge of them, and even very innocently asks what cows are. Apollo pulls him o

rplexity840. A god with so many agreeable qualities as Hermes was not very likely to fail of success with the fair sex, both

s property was gone891. This last legend, we may observe, admits of a very simple explication. Erysichthôn is a name akin to

the head and mane of a horse900. This last legend has nothing perhaps very peculiar in it ; the former is regarded as one of

th902 of winter when torrents spring forth from its womb. These might very aptly be represented by the steed Flowing (ῥείων

r as there appears reason to suppose their religion to have been of a very rural character, the view generally taken is that

sgian forefathers. In such case the spouse of the invisible god might very naturally be termed the Light-destroyer. The epit

fuller information to his valuable work entitled Aglaophamus. In the very early ages of Greece and Italy, and probably of m

of the various independent districts into which they were divided had very little communication with each other, and a stran

further to be recollected, that the Greeks believed their gods to be very little superior in moral qualities to themselves,

sacred things which it contained, when to his excited imagination the very gods themselves had seemed visibly to descend fro

he same sire Orpheus, whose skill on the lyre was such as to move the very trees and rocks, and the beasts of the forest ass

the sound of water as it purls or murmurs along in the rivulet, (the very terms prattling, babbling, tinkling, and such lik

es from μϵίρω, and Aisa from δαίω, both signifying to divide. It is a very extraordinary coincidence, that the Noms, the Des

called by Hesiod1049 the children of Night. By Homer they are, for a very natural and obvious reason, said to be twins. Whe

d on the stage Strength (Κράτος) and Force (Βία)1074. Sophocles, by a very beautiful and correct figure, terms Fame ‘the chi

ughter1078. Wealth (Πλοȗτος) was also deified. The Theogony makes him very appropriately the offspring of Demeter by Iasios1

of this god gradually underwent after the time of Homer. It has been very justly observed by Lobeck1082, that almost all th

ity ; and the festival of the deity presiding over it may have been a very joyous one, and celebrated with abundance of nois

the original Dionysiac religion of Greece ; and when we recollect the very incidental manner in which Demeter, undoubtedly o

ion, with its nocturnal orgies and indecent extravagance, having been very prevalent among the Greeks at the time when the I

recian religion, in which each people assigned its peculiar deities a very extensive sphere of action, as gods of the sun, t

hom he was joined. This critic accounts on the same principle for the very slight mention of Dionysos in the Homeric poems,

ecian colonies settled on the Hellespont, they found there a religion very different from their own ; the one being calm and

amed the Delta Egypt, the rest Thebes, for which reason Memphis might very well be the Thebes of Homer. This poet had no kno

Homerid already quoted, who is older than Pindar1176, describes in a very pleasing manner the occupations of Pan. He is lor

ched might turn to gold. His wish was granted ; but when he found his very food converted to precious metal, and himself on

he was engaged in his pranks with the other nymphs, Echo, being of a very loquacious character, used to keep Hera in chat t

ards1336, and came to that of the Cyclopes, which could not have been very far distant, or the poet would in that case, as h

Λαιστρυγόνϵς. Læstrygonians. The country of the Læstrygonians lay very far to the west. Odysseus, when driven from his i

y the poet over the Mediterranean, for it appears to have lain on the very edge of the Ocean-stream ; and all the other isle

is hero had just returned, lay within the realms of day1372. This may very possibly be the truth ; but we cannot help fancyi

who will come bearing war to the land of the Phæacians ; for they are very dear to the Immortals. We dwell apart in the wave

e there are no people near us ?” All this would seem to indicate some very remote position ; and a passage in which Alcinoös

heria is the island of Corcyra1428, the modern Corfu, which lies at a very short distance from the coast of Epeiros. It woul

d he carries back his thoughts through ages and generations, till for very weariness he is obliged to stop somewhere and sup

re is great confusion, for its original sense seems to have been lost very early, and Prometheus to have been viewed as a Ti

humus)1475. On the story of Prometheus has been founded the following very pretty fable, which adds another instance to the

rrect, view of it given by an able mythologist1482. According to some very ancient mythe the first of mankind were two broth

 ; and men, like the tenants of griping landlords, were obliged to be very circumspect, that is, to use a good deal of foret

ythe and the Scripture narrative of Eve and the forbidden fruit is so very striking, that one might be induced to regard it

of knowledge ; the latter merely by vulgar female curiosity. It seems very strange that the ancients should have taken so li

name for people 1494. This narrative, it may easily be seen, is of a very narrow and even unpoetic character ; it restricts

razen Age is quite at variance with the narrative in Hesiod, and is a very clumsy attempt at connecting two perfectly indepe

mal life perished except Deucaliôn and Pyrrha, whom Ovid, who gives a very poetical account of this great catastrophe, conve

deluge which overflowed Greece, but the accounts remaining of him are very scanty. The historians made him a king of Attica

it to us the people of Greece at the time of the Trojan war as a race very far removed from the savage state, as being well

always acting in this capacity toward him who, as Homer says1552, was very dear to her, — an obscure hint perhaps of the lov

Air-piercers (from κντϵῐν τὴν αὔραν) not an improbable one, for that very idea is suggested by the figure of a Cossack lean

, habits, and properties of animals. Yet as Ceÿx seems to belong to a very ancient mythic cycle, it is not unlikely that it

mother supplicated him, but in vain. He remained inexorable, till his very chamber was shaken, when the Curetes had mounted

eroes Peleus and Achilleus in the Island of the Blest1631 ; but it is very remarkable that this Theban poet never even hints

people like the Phœnicians should have selected as the site of their very earliest foreign settlement a place situated in a

w herself1663. We will now endeavour to point out the meaning of this very obscure legend. Athamas it is plain belonged to t

embling that of Japan at the present day. Welcker's1683 views are not very dissimilar. He sees in the story of the Twins a D

o this beautiful theory is its making the mythe of Heracles, from the very commencement, one entire and consistent fiction,

adventures like those of Heracles. The mythology of this hero is of a very mixed character in the form in which it has come

mposed a Heracleia, and Peisander of Cameiros (about Ol. 33.) another very celebrated one ; Stesichorus of Himera (Ol. 48.)

s not the slightest hint of Cecrops being an Egyptian, but rather the very reverse. Elsewhere he states the genuine Athenian

eds to relate the birth of Erichthonios after a manner which gives no very high idea of Athenian delicacy1800. The goddess r

where there was a town named Tegyra. The spouse of the north-wind was very appropriately named Mountain-rusher (ὂρος θύω), t

t from his feeble grasp. Thinking however that his death could not be very remote, they resolved to wait for that event, but

ly passed through it, the voyage round cape Malea being considered so very dangerous. As might be expected, the principal ob

n of Æolos, probably on account of his name1875 (in conformity with a very usual practice in antiquity) ; or it may be that

l us how he obtained him. Here however Pindar comes to our aid with a very remarkable legend, which connects Bellerophontes

Palamedes, Oïax, and Nausimedôn. In this celebrated legend we have a very heterogeneous mixture of peoples and countries. T

y heterogeneous mixture of peoples and countries. The city Memphis is very naturally called the daughter of the Nile, on who

but it is likely they were related at length in the Eoiæ. A mythe so very ancient as this appears to be was probably a phys

mythic narratives. We have already hinted that mythes were generally very simple in their origin, and gained, like streams,

ermes, Demeter, Artemis and Poseidôn. The Arcadian legends, which are very scanty and of a peculiar character, all refer to

the swift Xanthos and Cyllaros. The brothers themselves fell into the very same offence which they had punished in Theseus.

lena therefore we have only another form of Selene ; the Adorner is a very appropriate term for the day, whose light adorns

part of Thessaly about the Pagasaïc bay there appears to have been a very early connexion, as its mythic heroes are all Æol

the inspiring influence of streams and founts2033. Pindar here plays very agreeably on the relation of the name Iamos to th

, was deceived by a cloud, and was hurled to Erebos2037. There can be very little doubt that this mysterious being was origi

the time of new-moon is a matter of common observation. Milton uses a very remarkable expression when he speaks of the moon

hout a meaning is a point of which few will doubt ; but it is one not very easy to discover. A modem mythologist2047 regards

n of his being a foreigner, but it does not confirm it ; and it seems very strange that Homer should never have alluded to t

e went to Sicyôn, where his daughter Pelopia dwelt. He arrived on the very night in which she was to offer a sacrifice to At

It probably originated in the name of her father ; and as the legend very appropriately made Agenôr the sire of Cadmos, Eur

y carried him homewards ; and he arrived in his native country on the very day that Orestes was giving the funeral feast for

e became the bride of Telegonos. The literature of the Trojan war was very copious. Of the original poems the Ilias and Odys

ts of the Cycle ; to judge by those of the Cypria it must have been a very beautiful poem ; those of the others are too scan

d ever have remained so long absent from their homes and families. We very much doubt if the war-car ever was used in Greece

scans for discerning it in the electric phænomena of the sky. It is a very remarkable feature in the ancient religion of Ita

her Veneris, may, as was supposed, come from venio, but its origin is very doubtful. 1. This explanation of Millin’s c

ning. Myth. der Jap. 50. This may be true, but the meaning is often a very trifling one. 53. Rasselas, chap. 48. See Niebuh

it appears to me to be true ; for the narratives of the Hellenes are very various and ridiculous, as it seems to me.»He sai

fficulty lies. See Schol. in loco. 122. Deut. xxviii. 23. 123. The very rational supposition of some learned and pious di

Apoll. Rh. iv. 983. Tzetz. Lyc. 761. 869. This however seems to be a very late fiction. 161. Theog. 886. seq. 162. Ib. 

οѕ occurs in Il. viii. 480. Od. i. 8 ; xii. 133. 263. 346. 374. It is very probable that ϓπϵρίων is the contraction of ϓπϵρι

imes, when Hades came to signify a place rather than a person. It was very rarely used by the Latin writers. 462. Servius o

rt. 169.). A name of Dionysos was Εἰρɑϕιώτης, which Schwenk (p. 150.) very ingeniously supposes to be equivalent to ϵἰɑροϕυώ

οὔτϵ ϴνητ[ATTcararactere]ς οὔτ’ ᾀϴανάτοιοιν ἓπονται. This passage is very obscure, but we think the above is the sense of i

. Od. iv. 743. In this last place it is used of Penelope, who was not very young ; but it is the old nurse who speaks. 1247

1500. Servius, ut sup. 1501. The Greek poets called the stones by a very natural figure γῆs ὄστεα. We know not what Greek

apprehension, something akin to that inspired by the contemplation of very ancient ruins. See, however, Appendix (H). 1618.

ap. 356. See above, p. 56. 1678. We adopt this expression from that very beautiful poem ‘The Bride of Siena,’ the fair aut

fair author of which, led solely by her poetic feeling, has taken the very view of nature which we ascribe to a Pelasgian sa

. The ship sent, called the Paralian Galley, was maintained to be the very same one in which Theseus had sailed ; though it

. 1852. Il. xx. 221. 1853. Mr. Kenrick's derivation of this name is very plausible ; — ̓Ηιονἰα, ̓Ιηονία, ̓Ιαονία, the sea-

sup. Hygin. 168. Serv. Æn. x. 497. 1918. Apollod. ut sup. This is a very obscure legend. 1919. In Plato's Laws (iv. 704.)

iii. 12, 6. 2111. Hesiod ap. Sch. Pind. Nem. iii. 21. This legend is very pleasingly told by Ovid (Met. vii. 517. seq.), wh

tinctively a reader. It demands no committing to memory, and there is very little to be carried on from story to story. Unes

gods and goddesses showed themselves at times on earth, and they were very much like men and women, even on Olympus. They at

“I hope you will like it here,” said Pluto, as they drove on. “It is very pleasant, and you shall have all the gold and jew

s. To his mind, sunlight was unbearable, and he felt sure that it was very bad, indeed, for the eyes. Just then they passed

often wept for her mother, Proserpina made the grim old palace seem a very different place, and Pluto grew almost cheerful.

eautiful goddess friend no more. When Ceres heard that, her face grew very stern and terrible. She set out at once to find h

she came to the fountain of Arethusa. This fountain came up from the very bottom of the earth, and Arethusa, the nymph who

ants in honor of Prometheus, who had stolen fire from heaven, he grew very stern. “Prometheus is brave, but he has done wron

that he had never seen a lighter step or a more winning face. At that very moment Cupid was stringing his bow behind the she

ly away, but for a long, long time afterward, the world was for him a very lonely place. And as for Cupid, we do not hear th

ieked and thunders muttered and rolled, he seemed to hear in them the very voices of the gods. And he himself could sing. Ap

pers. Orpheus and Eurydice alone were unchanged. It seemed to them no very great matter whether the torches burned or not. Y

hearing that, she did all that was possible for her son. The boy was very carefully and sternly reared. Linus, son of the g

came to be a young man, he had to meet a great temptation and make a very serious choice. One day, as he was walking along

could for Hercules. The truth is that he was jealous of the hero, and very much afraid of him. He even feared that Hercules

im to go to consult the river-nymphs of Eridanus, who were said to be very wise in such matters. That was a good thought, bu

n the distance. The minutes, and even the seconds, soon began to seem very long to Hercules. “Will that fellow ever come bac

he sky off his shoulders and begin his journey home. He thanked Atlas very heartily, and thought that would be the end of it

end of it. But Atlas took a different view of the matter. He found it very pleasant to be able to move about and swing his a

ontinued to be patient and brave, doing great deeds for others to the very end of his life. Then Jupiter, who loves heroes,

in the land to whom his own life was not sweeter, and so Admetus came very near to death. But Alcestis prayed silently to Ap

west to the palace in the east, to be ready for sunrise. Phaëton was very proud of his divine origin and one day as he was

t. Save your own kingdom, for Atlas is fainting and will soon let the very heavens fall.” Phaëton was still clinging to the

nd asked concerning this monster, Medusa. But the aged priest, though very wise, could not tell him where she could be found

ng no way to accomplish his wish. Suddenly he saw before him a woman, very old and much bent with years. “Why are you here,

me to put an end to her woe. “Shall I never die?” she moaned. At that very moment Perseus was by her side. Looking into his

rward, and she seemed so stately, and so calm and beautiful, that her very presence commanded him to listen. “I will not giv

les, son of the beautiful sea-goddess Thetis. Achilles was young, but very swift and strong and bold. He had come with fifty

e leader of the Greeks wished to keep her as his slave, since she was very beautiful and very skillful. He sent the priest a

eks wished to keep her as his slave, since she was very beautiful and very skillful. He sent the priest away with angry word

ad ever been before. On the tenth day they came to a land that looked very sunny and pleasant, and Ulysses sent three men ou

t the gods call Moly. It has a black root and a white blossom, and is very hard to find, but he who has it can never be bewi

o be thought that he was dead. Then Penelope had new sorrows. She was very wise and queenly and beautiful, and a crowd of ev

said Eumæus; “but, alas, he will never return.” “He will return this very year,” said the disguised hero. “Never,” said Eum

rs those ideas which excite our own imaginations. There was something very pleasing and very poetical in the thought, that e

ch excite our own imaginations. There was something very pleasing and very poetical in the thought, that each river had its

he lustre of the god himself going by. This is mere poetry to us, and very fine it is; but to him it was poetry, and religio

of old, but governed their lives, their actions, their laws, and the very aspirations of their hearts. They aimed at excell

nd such coherence in the similitude with the things signified, in the very texture of the fable, and in the propriety of the

. To this nymph succeeded the chaste Castalia, whom he pursued to the very foot of Parnassus, where the Gods metamorphosed h

Ligurians, a chosen friend of Phaeton, was turned into a swan at the very moment he was yielding to his deep regrets. Auror

the talent so dear to beauty, of being able in many words to express very little. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1

irtue, or that the God was successful! Diana herself, however, took a very different view, and though Calista concealed the

, laughed his suit to scorn, and Vulcan is represented as having been very violent at his rejection. Juno then pressed the s

and on the plains near Olenus, was shown by her a flower, through the very touch of which she might become a mother. The god

one of Heaven’s superior lord.” Homer. The worship of Mars, was not very universal among the ancients, nor were his temple

Mars, was not very universal among the ancients, nor were his temples very numerous in Greece, but among the warlike Romans

as the God of War, and consequently the winner of victory, have been very numerous. ‌ His most celebrated temple at Rome,

, Writes on their tombs in characters of brass. And graves within our very souls, the words, ‘Here lies his country’s saviou

o sit quietly down in single blessedness, thinking, perhaps, that the very reason which they assigned for their refusal, was

rom this beautiful fable, but in none of them have their authors been very successful, unless we may gather a warning of the

Ovid. He was quickly brought however to repent his avarice, when the very meat which he attempted to eat, turned to gold in

f in the river Pactolus; he performed the necessary ablution, and the very sands were turned into gold by the touch of Midas

e stately forest’s antique boughs. Oh! art hath nought like this, the very air Breatheth of beauty, banishing despair.” Fra

ome away! the sunny hours Woo thee far to founts and bowers! O’er the very waters now,                      In their play, F

a, and even the rivers were subjected to his power. The ancients were very reverential in their homage to Oceanus, and worsh

offer violence to his beautiful burthen, and to carry her away in the very sight of her husband. The extraordinary efforts o

mortality, she must be the victim. For more than one reason this was very agreeable to Polydectes, in the first place, as i

ead of the Gorgon to his adversaries, and they turned to stone in the very attitudes they were when they first beheld it. Th

morable adventure, Perseus went to Seriphos, and arrived there at the very moment that his mother Danae sought the altar of

Of the stern secret which so long hath burned And given a fever to my very looks.     Hip. Madam! I do not understand you;  

oy, ’tis even so; Nay, look not so: — I say Hippolytus, That from the very hour I saw, I loved thee; That from the very mome

ippolytus, That from the very hour I saw, I loved thee; That from the very moment that thy voice Rang in my ears, it entered

t return her sinful passion, Phædra accused his son to Theseus of the very crime of which she had herself been guilty, and e

t forgot their nature, and gazed on him in mute admiration, while the very rocks moved towards him to express their joy. “T

ich Hymen presided. This happiness, however, was not destined to last very long, for Aristæus became enamoured of the musici

rer image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1842_img208 “His own despair the very stones admire And rolling follow his melodious ly

even the tortures of Hell gave way to it. “At his powerful song the very seats Of Erebus were moved; the retreats Of all t

rm!” Not only was the god of the infernal regions delighted, but the very wheel of Ixion paused; the stone of Sisyphus rest

He did, and oh! I wish to all the gods, Phorbas had perished in that very moment. Œd. Moment! thou shalt be hours, days, y

ue his pain, and the death struggle which tore his bosom, fell in the very act of striking him. Their implacable hatred mani

odies were placed on the bier, their ashes refused to mingle, and the very flames separated as they arose in bright columns

uck Thyestes with horror. The deed was so cruel and impious, that the very sun is said to have started back in amazement; an

revenged upon Atreus the infamous and atrocious conduct at which the very sun itself had started. Insérer image anonyme_hea

usand soldiers, and their fleet to twelve hundred vessels, but at the very moment that they reckoned on starting, a deep cal

vengeance shall be wreaked? I see already, Already to my breast that very sword I see hurled back — and by what hand! I fre

gle efforts, and they went forth to seek the statue of Pallas, in the very city of their intrepid foes. It was necessary lik

in expressing his love to the beautiful being who had won it. In the very temple of the goddess, whose priestess she was, a

ring!” Mrs. Norton. Numa Pompilius. This hero was born on the very day that Romulus laid the foundation of the Roman

ated to have arisen from the field, were men armed with brass, a crop very likely to arise from the attempted subjection of

accused by her to her husband, of attempting her virtue. Prœtus, was very unwilling to trespass upon the laws of hospitalit

es. The Hindoos revere also a large serpent as a god: “‘The god! the very god!’ he cried, and howled One long, shrill, pier

rshipped by them; she was obtained by one of them through a stratagem very like that employed by Jupiter with Europa. They p

er beautiful and beloved Balder. The stones, the trees, the fish, the very diseases were sworn to respect his life. No soone

n the infernal regions. Among the amusements of Odin, hunting forms a very important and prominent part; when the bows, arro

sower, the song of the reaper, or the gladness of harvest time. Under very important circumstances, it was by no means unusu

ith poetical justice, slaughtered the priests on the threshold of the very place which they had so often deluged with human

small part in the public affairs; and it is forbidden to them, under very severe penalties, to enter the capital. On great

Many absurd and impossible adventures are told. He seems to have been very vain of his musical skill, as we see from the pun

orable? Ans. No; he was most skillful in the art of thieving. On the very day of his birth, he stole some cattle from King

appointed in her place. Ques. What were Juno’s faults? Ans. She was very jealous, and took the most cruel revenge on the m

Who was Janus? Ans. He was an ancient Italian deity, of whose origin very contradictory accounts are given. He was supposed

Ques. What was the character of this goddess? Ans. She was esteemed very holy, and was the patroness of household virtues.

ses of her mother Latona. Ques. How is Diana represented? Ans. As a very stately and beautiful woman, dressed in the garb

ods changed her into stone. This story has furnished the subject of a very beautiful group of statuary, in which Niobe is re

, set fire to this magnificent building. This event took place on the very day on which Alexander the Great was born. The te

s that when they began to make converts in that city, the people were very indignant; in their zeal for their goddess they r

which the poets relate a similar fable. They say that Charybdis was a very ravenous woman, who stole Hercules’s oxen. For th

uld carry them to the other side. This superstition made the ancients very careful about burying their dead. Ques. What do

ns. Rhadamanthus judged the Asiatics, Æacus the Europeans; and when a very difficult case arose it was referred to Minos. Q

r their descendants, made the Romans wish to bury the dead within, or very near their dwellings. This custom was condemned b

that he tamed wild beasts, stayed the course of rivers, and drew the very trees to gather around him as he sung. Orpheus ma

Orpheus married the beautiful nymph Eurydice [Eury′dice]; but on the very day of their nuptials she was stung in the foot b

upon which Phineus and his followers were changed into stone, in the very attitudes in which they fought. Polydectes, who h

nner in which Ulysses revenged himself is not calculated to give us a very high opinion of the hero. During the siege, he br

suspended in a line. The conditions were accepted: and it was on the very eve of the day appointed for the contest, that Ul

eting of Æneas with the widow of the great Hector is the subject of a very beautiful passage in the Æneid. The Penates of Tr

the second Tarquin with nine volumes, which she offered to sell at a very high price. The king declined the offer; the siby

y the Augurs that the sacred chickens would not eat. He replied, with very natural contempt, that if they would not eat, the

le or no change takes place in the fountain, which is well shaded and very deep. The great change which really takes place i

he Isthmian. Ques. Who instituted the Olympic games? Ans. They were very ancient; their first institution was attributed b

estra, and opposite the lower seats, was the stage itself. This had a very wide front and but little depth. The actors usual

n quite lost, while the large and finely colored masks may have had a very good effect. Nothing would have seemed more out o

that they might secure good seats, as the performance commenced at a very early hour. There were three or four distinct rep

thousand double verses. These works are heavy and uninteresting, but very important to historians. Ques. Why so? Ans. Bec

e giants at one time obtained his hammer, and he was obliged to use a very singular stratagem to recover it. Ques. What was

ki was an evil deity, the contriver of all fraud and mischief. He was very handsome, but of fickle and malicious temper. Lok

engraven with characters called Runic, which appear, at first sight, very different from any letters we know. They consist

e inscriptions may, therefore, be read with certainty; but they throw very little light on history, being principally epitap

he prayers which they addressed to Him recall, in many instances, the very phraseology of Scripture. Ques. Did the Aztecs w

stributed among the poor. This, and other benevolent provisions, seem very inconsistent with the cruelties practised in thei

pendicular height, and is 1425 feet square; it covers 45 acres. It is very ancient, having been built before the Aztecs conq

ignite dried cotton. When the sky was overcast, which was esteemed a very bad omen, the fire was obtained by means of frict

kindly entertained by Hiero. His death is said to have occurred in a very extraordinary manner. As he slept in the fields,

his work, although formerly much quoted on these points, has rendered very little service to the art of medicine. The case i

n adequate manner. Simonides was the master of Pindar; he lived to a very advanced age, so that he became the contemporary

reply, the field is too extensive for a preparatory course; and these very translations require some previous knowledge of t

for, in the author’s opinion, poetry translated into literal prose is very unattractive reading. Neither are they in verse,

hence by Saturn driven.” The representations given of Saturn are not very consistent; for on the one hand his reign is said

y to seize, while the feebler animal darts forward, slipping from the very grasp. So flew the god and the virgin — he on the

keep your wife, whom, if I am not much mistaken, you will one day be very sorry you ever saw again.” Cephalus returned, and

ho had given both were not willing that either should conquer. In the very attitude of life and action they were turned into

ent me to Lycia to drive thence some choice oxen, and there I saw the very pond and marsh where the wonder happened. Near by

They were the keepers of the temple as long as they lived. When grown very old, as they stood one day before the steps of th

them. As they walked he told her that his only son, a little boy, lay very sick, feverish, and sleepless. She stooped and ga

den strive.” Hood, in his Ode to Melancholy, uses the same allusion very beautifully: — “Forgive, if somewhile I forget,

is hair wet with sea-water, he appeared to wretched me. Here, in this very spot, the sad vision stood,” — and she looked to

sguise of a reaper, did he bring her corn in a basket, and looked the very image of a reaper! With a hay band tied round him

ved not the approbation of her implacable mistress, who said, “I know very well it is by none of your own doings that you ha

prayers there, husbands for wives, fathers for sons, and died in the very act of supplication! How often, while the priest

er.   Spenser tells the story of Arachne in his Muiopotmos, adhering very closely to his master Ovid, but improving upon hi

glared fixed and immovable, there was no sign of life about her. Her very tongue cleaved to the roof of her mouth, and her

ttered long ago;     The Scipios’ tomb contains no ashes now:     The very sepulchres lie tenantless     Of their heroic dwe

bes.” Sir Richard Blackmore was a physician, and at the same time a very prolific and very tasteless poet, whose works are

d Blackmore was a physician, and at the same time a very prolific and very tasteless poet, whose works are now forgotten, un

elus, and raised his javelin in act to throw, and became stone in the very attitude. Ampyx was about to plunge his sword int

d the Gorgon’s head to the side where Phineus was looking, and in the very form in which he knelt, with his hands outstretch

f a horse to consider the union of his nature with man’s as forming a very degraded compound, and accordingly the Centaur is

ntains and built their nests of it, for which reason their nests were very tempting to the hunters, and they were forced to

er XVII. The Golden Fleece — Medea. The Golden Fleece. In very ancient times there lived in Thessaly a king and

dergo the same operation. But Medea prepared her caldron for him in a very different way. She put in only water and a few si

cules to go and get it. The Amazons were a nation of women. They were very warlike and held several flourishing cities. It w

and the final battle in which Theseus overcame them was fought in the very midst of the city. This battle was one of the fav

s drive her away. Be not alarmed at the distance,” (for Famine dwells very far from Ceres,) “but take my chariot. The dragon

lly, the lands formerly subject to overflow, but now redeemed, became very fertile, and this is meant by the horn of plenty.

laid by their fierceness, and stood entranced with his lay. Nay, the very trees and rocks were sensible to the charm. The f

dice; but though he attended, he brought no happy omens with him. His very torch smoked and brought tears into their eyes. I

riumph in the death of us both.” As he sang these tender strains, the very ghosts shed tears. Tantalus, in spite of his thir

her, row on row, the multitude fill the seats till it seems as if the very fabric would give way. The murmur of voices sound

hemselves. Sappho . Sappho was a poetess who flourished in a very early age of Greek literature. Of her works few f

th admiration to his narrative of the wonders of the ocean shore. The very day after his arrival, Memnon, impatient of repos

Minerva was the goddess of wisdom, but on one occasion she did a very foolish thing; she entered into competition with

by Menelaus, king of Sparta. Now Helen, the wife of Menelaus, was the very woman whom Venus had destined for Paris, the fair

enerally came forward, but Ulysses, who had married Penelope, and was very happy in his wife and child, had no disposition t

a story that the nymphs planted elm trees round his grave which grew very well till they were high enough to command a view

e field, and come thou, Patroclus, clad in his armor, and perhaps the very sight of it may drive back the Trojans.” Patroclu

e and just sovereign, beloved by his people. Now it happened that the very night on which Ulysses was cast ashore on the Phæ

e crater of an extinct volcano. It is circular, half a mile wide, and very deep, surrounded by high banks, which in Virgil’s

built on the slopes of Parnassus in Phocis. It had been observed at a very early period that the goats feeding on Parnassus

lumage is gold-colored, and part crimson; and he is for the most part very much like an eagle in outline and bulk.” The fir

the modern unicorns have been described and figured, records it as “a very ferocious beast, similar in the rest of its body

re really is such an animal, a kind of lizard) was incombustible, and very valuable for wrapping up such articles as were to

word signifying unbelievers. At Bombay the Parsees are at this day a very active, intelligent, and wealthy class. For purit

nations, or bodily forms, which descents are called Avatars. They are very numerous, but ten are more particularly specified

n’s eldest son, is the strongest of gods and men, and possesses three very precious things. The first is a hammer, which bot

en he girds it about him his divine might is doubled. The third, also very precious, is his iron gloves, which he puts on wh

and flowers, and is particularly fond of the Elves, (fairies.) She is very fond of love ditties, and all lovers would do wel

nd mischief. His name is Loki. He is handsome and well made, but of a very fickle mood and most evil disposition. He is of t

he would so manage matters that the man should lose his reward. That very night when the man went with Svadilfari for build

es for a place where they might pass the night, and at last came to a very large hall, with an entrance that took the whole

med of no extraordinary size though somewhat long; however, as he was very thirsty, he set it to his lips, and without drawi

hence.” “What new trial hast thou to propose?” said Thor. “We have a very trifling game here,” answered Utgard-Loki, “in wh

ghtened his hold on the crone the firmer she stood. At length after a very violent struggle Thor began to lose his footing,

to weep in order that Baldur might be delivered from Hel. All things very willingly complied with this request, both men an

ich snow will fall from the four corners of the heavens, the frost be very severe, the wind piercing, the weather tempestuou

s, engraven with characters called Runic, which appear at first sight very different from all we know. The letters consist a

. The inscriptions may therefore be read with certainty, but hitherto very few have been found which throw the least light o

The Skalds. The Skalds were the bards and poets of the nation, a very important class of men in all communities in an e

titude were on the whole just, and that they held and inculcated many very noble and valuable principles of conduct. They we

d names, and attributed to them certain powers and qualities; but, as very few of their works have been transmitted to us, a

the age of thirty. They also took care of the palladium, on which the very existence of Rome was supposed to depend, and whi

wer of magic ineffectual. A moon-light scene was anciently deemed the very emblem of chastity. Obs. 2. — Diana stands for t

be remarked, that, although the great Hebrew lawgiver Moses, who was very celebrated in Egypt, was the real prototype of Ba

e was hunting in the forests of Mount Libyan, a wild-boar wounded him very dangerously. The queen, thinking the wound mortal

sidered as the particular god of mortals. He was king of Corinth, and very fond of hunting. In pursuing a stag, he leaped ac

less pain, That nothing but her voice and bones remain; Nay, e’en the very bones at last are gone, And metamorphos’d to a th

unds in ev’ry grove.” Lucretius. Obs. — The true origin of Pan was very ancient. The Egyptians worshipped the whole world

replied, “It is best for all never to be born, but being born, to die very quickly.” His drunkenness being almost continual,

her in the form of a young woman, with her head uncovered, clad in a very plain garment, with these words at the bottom of

d sacrifices to him under the name of Hercules Olympius; and in those very temples, they celebrated his obsequies, in his qu

ked times for carrying presents, and making libations, to them. It is very difficult to fix precisely the time in which the

ust brought forth a fine boy. Juno, surprised, went away, and at that very moment Hercules was born. The enraged goddess tur

on, Arion. Orpheus, the son of Apollo by the muse Calliope, was a very ancient poet and musician, and one of the Argonau

ered Sparta, the king of which was Menelaus. This prince received him very courteously, and let him occupy his palace during

rojan capital to ashes. The number of those who survived the war, was very small. Agamemnon, king of Mycene, eldest brother

granted. The three gods caused Orion to spring from the skin of that very ox, which skin they had formed with earth diluted

olden apples of Juno, some fancy to have been merely oranges, a fruit very rare in ancient times, and carefully guarded by d

Osiris, and the Moon, Isis. With them Osiris signified full of eyes, very clear sighted; Isis signified the antique, becaus

me are said to have existed successively. The history of the third is very analogous to that of Noah. Lachamee, the goddess

ime of Moses. This is indicated by his silence concerning them. It is very reasonable to believe that the tabernacle which t

emples. The most celebrated, next to that of Belus, of which we shall very soon speak, were, that of Jupiter at Thebes or Di

airs without. These eight towers formed so many stories. In them were very large rooms, sustained by pillars. Around these r

irty; and its breadth, ninety-five. The tiles of the covering were of very fine marble, drawn from Mount Pantelica. Antiquit

now makes its finest ornament. An opening in the middle of the vault, very ingeniously imagined, is sufficient to give light

to show himself the equal of Michael Angelo, looked upon this will as very singular; and the artist as abusing the credit wh

le portico. Chapter VII. Of Oracles. Van Dale has produced a very learned treatise, in which he strives to prove, t

hich gave rise to the raillery, that Apollo, chief of the Muses, made very bad verses. But sometimes the Pythia made her ans

but a hero, and even, according to some authors, a brigand, he had a very famous oracle in Bœotia. Pausanias, who practised

tance, although it would be impossible to name them all. In Bœotia, a very small province, they counted at least twenty-five

ed to surprise it. He sent to ask the Pythia what he was doing at the very time that his envoy was consulting her. She immed

to grant him this title, and the senate was to deliver the decree the very day that Cæsar was assassinated. The Romans raise

a temple to the Sibyl of Cumæ, and honoured her as a divinity in the very place where she had delivered her oracles. 5. The

ts appeared naked, rubbed their bodies with oil, and spread over them very fine dust to prevent perspiration. 5. The cestus,

ed to flourish on its summit, which, it was pretended, reached to the very heavens. At what time the Olympic games were inst

ic games were instituted, is a matter of uncertainty. Their origin is very obscure. Diodorus Siculus merely says that it was

nishment is, that the stones of which this structure is composed, are very rare in the isle of Selande; for which reason the

ken. There were found in it immense riches; and among other things, a very costly golden ring. Iceland had also its temples.

these temples were razed when Denmark embraced Christianity, and the very remembrance of the places which they occupied, is

sign his power. The refusal of Tremnor caused a civil war, in which a very large number of druids perished. Those who escape

s of the number of deities which were honoured in England. It appears very evident, that Esus, Dis, Pluto, Samothes, Teutate

es of the worship of the Phœnicians; for we have ample proof, that in very remote times, those first navigators of the world

s left it easy to be perceived, that they were acquainted with only a very small number of them. Pliny relates the manner in

of the Gauls; and this triumph took place in some provinces, but at a very late period. Conclusion. The author conce

powers, from their surpassing similitude to the first great God, were very properly called by the ancients, Gods; and were c

to the utmost shores of the ocean, there, too, there are gods rising very near to some, and setting very near to others.’ B

ean, there, too, there are gods rising very near to some, and setting very near to others.’ By the rising and setting gods,

ten mentioned in ancient and modern history and poetry, and are often very amusing. Mythology, or the history of fable, is n

as supposed to be Olympus, a mountain of Greece; though Dr. Clarke, a very learned man, supposes Olympus to be a name common

truck, it sounded like that instrument. Having unfortunately killed a very beautiful boy, called Hyacinthus, by the blow of

ere. Belvidere is the name of a court of the palace, which commands a very fine prospect. Who was Apollo? How is Apollo rep

etals is a most important circumstance in the civilization of man. By very little thought we instantly perceive that without

clops. The Cyclops were the workmen of Vulcan; they were probably very strong men, employed in the most laborious servic

theus. The hatred and vengeance of Jupiter against Prometheus gives a very unworthy notion of the god’s character. We revere

those that excelled in any of these competitions. At this festival a very interesting procession was formed. It was compose

sex. The ladies preserved their hair carefully, and arranged it in a very tasteful and becoming manner; they often consecra

nerally painted as a beautiful winged boy, with a bow and arrows, and very often with a bandage over his eyes. Ancient statu

owy multitudes of ghosts. Diana was represented under the figure of a very tall and beautiful young virgin, in a hunting dre

e of the seven wonders of the world. This was burnt to the ground the very day on which Alexander the Great was born. A man

, etc. The Nereides, who were the attendants on Neptune were esteemed very handsome. In ancient monuments the Nereides are r

im, killed their children. This is a frightful story, but it was made very affecting by Euripides, who wrote a tragedy calle

appy and grow rich. Then they were poor and in want, because they did very little work, and ravaged each other’s territory.

e walks on his feet only: and, in the evening of his days, when he is very old, he uses a staff in addition to his own limbs

t into rural retirement, and left his kingdom to his son. Ulysses was very happy in his government, and in his family, for h

cording to some opinions, he was a wise man, but he was certainly not very honest; and the want of honour is a blemish in hi

aracter is more amiable than that of the heroes generally. Nestor was very old, having lived three ages, — that is supposed

ations of the old man, and gave up the body. By one of those miracles very common among the poets, the disfigured person of

by a high wall, and has three entrances. At the eastern gate are two very fine figures of elephants, each with a man upon h

ns also hinder them from learning from each other. Among the Hindus a very remarkable political order exists, which effectua

lebrate the day when “God saw all that he had made, and behold it was very good.” The eleventh stanza of the song of Vala s

the Egyptians, was sometimes regarded as some illustrious prince in a very early age of the world. He was the supposed autho

ed him to remain with them; and there, abhorring all cruelty, and the very name of war, he taught all the arts of peace, bes

ber of these gods, besides those which have been briefly noticed, was very great; and little clay images of them, found by t

ve three feet in height, and originally six hundred feet in length. A very considerable portion of this remains, and is “alo

essary to be observed by devout persons attending a sacrifice. When a very wicked person came, he was said to be polluted, u

w people, and observed by them in their belief, and in their worship, very near the time that Athens was founded, (B. C. 155

Where did Idolatry begin? Idolatry appears to have had its origin in very early ages, in India, Egypt, and Phenicia; whence

e desert, west of Egypt. Jupiter Serapis, worshiped in Egypt, is also very ancient. Jupiter Belus, mentioned by Herodotus, w

s the real history of Jupiter? His father, Saturn, who reigned over a very large empire, being suspicious of his children, c

? This goddess presided over empires and riches, and her worship was very solemn and universal in the heathen world. Young

orch. What were her attributes? She is the goddess of fruits; for her very name is derived from the care she was supposed to

icken, it sounded like that instrument. Having unfortunately killed a very beautiful boy, called Hyacynthus, by the blow of

multitudes of ghosts. How was she represented? Under the figure of a very tall and beautiful young virgin, in a hunting dre

e of the seven wonders of the world. This was burnt to the ground the very day on which Alexander the Great was born. A man,

nerally painted as a beautiful winged boy, with a bow and arrows, and very often with a bandage over his eyes. Ancient statu

horses. One of these Centaurs, named Chiron, was celebrated as being very respectable for knowledge and virtue. To him was

and in their rites and forms of worship, may be distinctly traced to very high antiquity. The one may be called the Osiric,

of the Scythians, the ancient Persians, Egyptians, and Greeks. It is very fanciful; inculcating the doctrine of a multiplic

to the sun and moon? The worship of the sun appears to have been the very source and fountain of idolatry in India. That lu

by seven green horses, guided by his charioteer Arun, or the dawn. A very ancient traveller in India gives the following ac

een cubits thick; having three entrances. At the eastern gate are two very fine figures of elephants, each with a man upon h

our hundred together, with wonderful order and subordination, and are very gentle animals. Creeshna, or Chrishna, a manifest

s sometimes regarded as a deification of some illustrious prince in a very early age of the world; but was generally conside

d to her honour, and festivals held in her praise; some of which were very absurd, and even indecent. Prayers were addressed

recognized in the northern or Etesian wind, which, in Upper Egypt, is very salubrious, the southern blast from the desert, t

s have supposed that this deity was known and reverenced in Egypt, in very early periods; and that he was the same with the

than the building of the tower of Babel, and which was, probably? no very wide departure from divine truth. At that era, it

of mankind. In process of time the Mythology of the Scythians became very debased. They worshiped a great number of Gods an

earth, men talked of the things which they saw and heard in a manner very different from our way of speaking now. We talk o

rding to the same legend, Gæa*, or Ge (the earth) first issued, in no very comprehensible manner, from Chaos, whereupon Tart

curious phenomenon by the ancients. The moon-goddess of antiquity was very frequently represented under the figure of a heif

y hippocampi. He is sometimes accompanied by Amphitrite. His image is very frequent on coins and medals. He is described as

iminal should have the benefit of the doubt. The Furies were at first very angry, and threatened the land with barrenness, b

to be kept forever in their new home. The service of Vesta occupied a very important place in the public life of the Romans.

omus* was the son of Nyx. He was the god of wit and ridicule, and was very unpopular. His comment upon the man made by Prome

well as objects of worship. They represented him as having a red and very ugly face, bearing in his hand a pruning-knife, a

Public Worship of the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Temples. In very early times the Greeks and Romans had no shrines

e there were no trees, were called groves. That this habit must be of very remote antiquity is proved by the biblical injunc

; wine and frankincense were poured into it to increase the flame. In very ancient times the victim was laid upon the altar

ankind. The legends concerning the origin of the human race differ very widely. The most ancient are those which describe

to declare that “Old Troy” must have had another site. Now, when the very existence of Homer’s Troy had been declared a fab

ero proved more than a match for the giant’s strength. The sheep were very large, and Odysseus, with bands of willow, had li

o eternal darkness. “The religious rites of the ancient Persians were very simple. They used neither temples, altars, nor st

the ancient name of Persia. At Bombay, the Parsees are at this day a very active, intelligent, and wealthy class. They are

anguages of the same family, and show that they have undergone few or very trifling changes. The greatest authority among th

. The oracle told her that marriage would be fatal to her, but, being very beautiful, she had many suitors. She was a very s

al to her, but, being very beautiful, she had many suitors. She was a very swift runner, and, to get rid of her admirers, sh

eyes.” Milton. Cyparis′sus [Cyparissus]. A boy of whom Apollo was very fond; and when he died he was changed, at Apollo’

al shears. Faun. A rural divinity, half man and half goat. They were very similar to the Satyrs. The Fauns attended the god

was, and, on discovering the fatal mistake, hanged herself. Jove. A very general name of Jupiter. “From the great father

n by the names of Pallas, Parthenos, Tritonia, and Glaukopis. She was very generally worshiped by the ancients, and her temp

rgeon, a son of Æsculapius and Epione. His skill in medicine made him very serviceable among the soldiers in the Trojan war.

e and on its origin and first home.” ‌ 7 But unfortunately there is very often no agreement among scholars about the origi

nted to gratify the ancestral pride of chieftains and clans, and that very many obtained consistency and form as explanation

the materials of the poem would persuade us not only of its origin in very ancient popular lays, but of their fusion and imp

ine and spring, soft climate, profusion of herbs and flowers, and the very ecstasy of life. During this delay the Delphians

assages from the Iliad, which, generally speaking, presents him in no very favorable light. Mars and Diomede. — In the war

of the atonement made by Cadmus, a fatality hung over the family. The very necklace of Vulcan seemed to catch the spirit of

glared fixed and immovable, there was no sign of life about her. Her very tongue cleaved to the roof of her mouth, and her

e thought — but (ah, how Fate mocks!) She has found it by this time a very bad box; Let hunters from me take this saw when t

rm To breathlessness, and suddenly a warm Of his heart’s blood: ’twas very sweet; he stayed His wandering steps, and half-en

s wax heavy and dim; and the rose flees from his lip, and thereon the very kiss is dying, the kiss that Cypris will never fo

Scarce kept back a cry At what she saw; for there before her lay The very Love brighter than dawn of day; And as he lay the

But, far from commending her, that implacable mistress said, “I know very well that by the aid of another thou hast done th

of his loved one. He trembled at the sight, for though her eyes, Her very lips, were such as he had made, And though her tr

that fair garment that the priests had laid Upon the goddess on that very morn, Dyed like the setting sun upon the corn. S

ow-mortals but even the wild beasts were softened by his strains. The very trees and rocks were sensible to the charm. And s

hout her he would not return. In such tender strains he sang that the very ghosts shed tears. Tantalus, in spite of his thir

h the ashes is fire unwearied, and I would endure to let thee burn my very soul, and this my one eye, the dearest thing that

n throwing off the yoke of the city of Orchomenus. Then, while in the very pride of his manhood, he was driven insane by the

came his voice from the water, and, hard by though he was, he seemed very far away. And as when a bearded lion, a ravening

with a low blush to the braided hair, And rose-colored and cold like very dawn, Golden and godlike, chastely with chaste li

id of his friend he carried her off, only, however, to restore her at very short notice. As for Pirithoüs, he aspired to the

o the field, and come thou, Patroclus, clad in his armor. Perhaps the very sight of it may drive back the Trojans.” Patroc

e and just sovereign, beloved by his people. Now it happened that the very night on which Ulysses was cast ashore on the Phæ

he crater of an extinct volcano It is circular, half a mile wide, and very deep, surrounded by high banks, which in Vergil’s

ed of no extraordinary size, though somewhat long; however, as he was very thirsty, he set it to his lips, and without drawi

nce.” “What new trial hast thou to propose?” said Thor. “We have a very trifling game here,” answered Utgard-Loki, “in wh

htened his hold on the crone the firmer she stood. At length, after a very violent struggle, Thor began to lose his footing,

to weep in order that Balder might be delivered from Hel. All things very willingly complied with this request, both men an

word that came from Odin; and Sigmund’s cry once more Rang out to the very heavens above the din of war. Then clashed the me

and wide and wild is its roar As it beareth the mighty tidings to the very heavenly floor; But he rideth through its roaring

it manas, mind; not with the Latin mane, morning. The relation is not very plausible between the awakening of the day and th

f later generations.” Oracle of Delphi. — It had been observed at a very early period that the goats feeding on Parnassus

yth of Callisto and Arcas is of Arcadian origin. If the Arcadians, in very remote times, traced their descent from a she-bea

y an allegory of the defeat of winter by sunlight, it certainly, at a very early period, became mixed up with ancient legal

. 378, 379). Others construe Daphne as the lightning. It is, however, very probable that the Greeks of the myth-making age,

ize the rains that nourish sprouting vegetation. He became identified very soon with the spirituous effects of the vine. His

series. But while the explanations are entertaining and poetic, their very plausibility should suggest caution in accepting

Marne, 451. He died 454 a.d. Dietrich of Berne (Verona) bears some very slight resemblance to Theodoric, the Ostrogoth, w