GREEK MYTHOLOGY.
Those desiring to carry on more fully their readings in Greek Mythology will find the following works peculiarly helpful: “Mythology of the Aryan Nations,” G. W. Cox; “Introduction to the Science of Religion,” Max Müller; “Origin and Development of Religious Belief,” Baring-Gould; “Handbook of Mythology,” G. W. Cox; “Myth and Science,” Vignole; “Mythology,” Seeman.
[1.] “Hestia.” The Greek form corresponding to the Latin Vesta. It is conjectured by some that the two words are the same, going back to a period when the Greeks and Latins were still an undivided people.
[2.] “Pe-nāˈtēs.” The word is derived from penus, the innermost part of the house, and referred to those divinities who, as exercising providential care over domestic affairs, were considered as the gods of the household. The Penates were also the gods of the state, considered as a family, and as such had a sanctuary near the center of Rome, where sacrifices were made by public men.
[3.] “Tutelary,” tūˈte-la-ry. Derived from the Latin word tutela, protection, and signifying protecting goddess.
[4.] “Vestal.” The priestesses of Vesta. A temple to this goddess stood in Rome, in the Forum, and over the temple presided four, afterward six, virgins, who were chosen to the office at first by the kings, and later by lot. They entered on this service when no older than ten years, and served thirty years; the first ten being spent in learning, the second ten in performing, and the third in teaching, their duties. A vow of chastity was taken, the violation of which was punished by being buried alive. The chief duty of the virgins was to keep the fire on the altar of the goddess ever burning. After the term had expired they might marry, although it was considered unlucky.
[5.] “Cyl-leˈne.” The highest mountain in Peloponnesus. It was sacred to Mercury, who was said to have been born there, and was hence called Cyllenius.
[6.] “Alˈphe-us.” The largest river in Peloponnesus. It rises in Arcadia, but soon sinks underground. It rises again and unites with the Eurotas. After flowing together for nearly three miles the two rivers disappear underground. The Alpheus rises again at Pegæ, and flows northwest into the Ionian Sea.
[7.] “Pro-meˈthe-us.” See page 54 of “Brief History of Greece.”
[8.] “Tartarus.” According to Homer Tartarus is the lowest hell, a locality as far below Hades as earth is below heaven; into this dark region all who rebelled against Zeus were hurled. Later the word was used synonymously with Hades.
[9.] “Psychopompus,” si-ko-pomˈpus.
[10.] “Non ego,” etc. I shall not all die.
[11.] “Cerˈbe-rus.” “The monster that guarded the entrance to the infernal regions. He was a son of Typhon and Echidna, and is represented as a dog with three heads, the tail of a serpent, and a mane composed of the anterior extremities of numberless snakes. His business was to admit the spirits of the dead into their subterranean abode, and to prevent them from leaving it. Orpheus lulled him to sleep with his lyre, and Hercules dragged him from Hades, and exhibited him to the eyes of wondering mortals.”
[12.] “Terˈra in-cog-niˈta.” Unknown land.
[13.] “Judges.” Miˈnos, and Rhadˌa-manˈthus were brothers, sons of Jupiter and Europa. The former, the king and legislator of Crete, was distinguished for his wisdom, and with the latter, famous throughout life for his justice, was made a judge of the lower world. The third judge, Æˈa-cus, was a son of Jupiter and Ægina. The island where he was born was named after his mother, and he became its ruler. He was renowned for his justice, being called upon by gods as well as men to settle disputes.
[14.] “Tanˈta-lus.” From this name we have the word tantalize, signifying to put a good within sight, that it may excite desire, but still to keep it out of reach.
[15.] “Psyche,” siˈke.
[16.] “Pro-serˈpi-na,” or Per-sephˈo-ne. The daughter of Jupiter and Ceres, and wife of Pluto, by whom she is said to have been carried off to Hades.
[17.] “Ganˈy-meˌde.” Said to have been the most beautiful of human beings. Jupiter was so delighted with him that he carried him to Olympus as his cup-bearer.