CONTENTS.
| CHAPTER I. | |
| Origin of Mythology—Divinities called Celestial | [15] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Greek and Roman Divinities—Jupiter—Juno—How represented—Parentageand Actions—Probable Origin of these Fables—Adventures ofJupiter—Story of Europa—Search of Cadmus—Punishment of Lycaon | [23] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| Apollo—His Parentage and Exploits—How represented—Story of Æsculapius—Banishmentof Apollo from Heaven—Transformation of Hyacinthusand Cyparissus—Story of Admetus and Alcestis—Attributes ofApollo—Punishment inflicted on Marsyas and on King Midas—Storyof Midas—Death of Phæton—Transformation of Daphne—Things Sacredto Apollo | [29] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| Mars (Ares)—His Parentage—How represented—Animals Sacred toMars—Names given to Mars—His Temple—Priests called Salii | [34] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| Mercury (Hermes)—His Parentage—How represented—Offices of Mercury—Benefitsconferred by Mercury on Man—Why considered thePatron of Thieves—Story of Io and Argus | [36] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| Bacchus (Dionysus)—Parentage of the God—How represented—Storyof Semele—Infancy of Bacchus—Transformation of Nymphs intoStars—Silenus—How represented—Exploits of Bacchus—How worshipped—PlantsSacred to the God—Bacchanalia or Orgia—Story ofPentheus—Punishment inflicted on Alcithoe and her Sisters—Transformationof Mariners into Dolphins | [39] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| Celestial Goddesses—Juno—Hera—Parentage of Juno—How represented—Iris,Messenger of Juno—Children of Juno—Jealousy of the Goddess—Transformationof Callista and Arcas into Bears—Sacrificesoffered to the Goddess—Plants held Sacred to her | [43] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| Minerva—Pallas Athena—How represented—Origin of the Olive—ThePalladium—Minerva, as the Patroness of Female Industry—Storyof Arachne—The Bird of Minerva—Story of Medusa’s Head | [45] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| Venus—Aphrodite—Birth and Education of Venus—Marriage with Vulcan—Howrepresented—Temples of Venus—The Graces—Cupid—Festivalsof the Goddess—Birds and Plants Sacred to her—Sacrifices—Templeof Venus Calva—The Apple of Discord—Decisionof Paris—Story of Hippomenes and Atalanta—Death ofAdonis—Origin of the Red Rose—Names of the Graces | [49] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| Latona—Leto—Her Parentage—Persecution of Juno—Birth of Apolloand Diana—Transformation of Lycian Peasants into Frogs—Punishmentof Tityus—Latona a Personification of Night—How representedby Painters and Sculptors | [54] |
| CHAPTER XI. | |
| Aurora—Eos—Attributes of the Goddess—How represented—Story ofCephalus and Procris—Marriage of Aurora with Tithonus—Transformationof Tithonus—Memnon—His Death and Obsequies—Vocal Statue | [56] |
| CHAPTER XII. | |
| Terrestrial Gods—Saturn—His Parentage—How represented—His History—TheGolden Age—Sacrifices offered to Saturn—The Saturnalia—ModernCarnival—Janus—Contradictory Accounts of his Origin—Templeof Janus—Quirinus at Rome | [61] |
| CHAPTER XIII. | |
| Vulcan—Hephæstus—Parentage of this God—Why banished from Heaven—Occupationof Vulcan—His Most Celebrated Works—Marriagewith Venus—The Cyclops—Vulcania—Temple on Mount Etna—Cacus—Cæculus—OtherWorks of Vulcan | [64] |
| CHAPTER XIV. | |
| Æolus—Supposed origin of the Fable—Momus—His Parentage—Criticismspassed on other Divinities—His Banishment from Olympus | [67] |
| CHAPTER XV. | |
| Terrestrial Goddesses—Vesta—Hestia—Her Parentage and Attributes—Howrepresented—Worship of Vesta at Rome—Vestal Virgins—TheirObligations and Privileges—Anecdote | [69] |
| CHAPTER XVI. | |
| Cybele—How called by the Greeks—Parentage and Attributes—Howrepresented—Temple of Cybele on Mount Dindymus—Sacred Image—Festivalof Megalesia—Galle and Corybantes—Bona Dea—Storyof the Vestal Claudia | [72] |
| CHAPTER XVII. | |
| Ceres—Demeter—Parentage and Attributes—How represented—Story ofProserpine—Eleusinian Mysteries—Rites practiced—Story of Triptolemus—Sacrificesoffered to Ceres—Feasts called Ambarvalia—Describedby Virgil | [75] |
| CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| Themis—Origin and Attributes—Astræa changed into the ConstellationVirgo—Erigone—Nemesis—Her Office—Temple of Nemesis atRhamnus | [80] |
| CHAPTER XIX. | |
| The Muses—Their Number, Names and Attributes—Why there are NineMuses—Punishment or the Daughters of Pierus | [82] |
| CHAPTER XX. | |
| Gods of the Woods, and Rural Deities—Pan—Names given to thisDeity—His Origin—How represented—Famous Action related ofPan—Origin of Pan’s Reeds—Satyrs and Fauns—Terminus—Vertumnus—Pales | [84] |
| CHAPTER XXI. | |
| Goddesses of the Woods—Diana—Parentage and Attributes of thisGoddess—How represented—Habits of Diana—Her Attendants—Punishmentof Chione—Story of Niobe—Temple of Diana at Ephesus—Burnedby Erostratus—Despoiled by Nero—Plundered by theGoths—Nymphs—Naiades—Oreades—Oceanides—Dryades and Hamadryades—Arethusa—Storyof Echo—Transformation of Narcissus | [87] |
| CHAPTER XXII. | |
| Gods of the Sea—Neptune—Poseidon—Parentage of the God—Howrepresented—Offices of Neptune—Feasts held at Rome in hisHonor—Children of Neptune—Triton—Phorcus or Proteus—Sirens—Ulysses—Orpheus—Scyllaand Charybdis—Melicertes—Thetis—Glaucus | [93] |
| CHAPTER XXIII. | |
| Infernal Deities—Pluto—Hades—Parentage of the God—His Kingdom—Representationsand Emblems—Dis—Plutus—Hell—Cerberus—Fates—Furies—Judgesof the Dead—Punishment inflicted on theCondemned—Giants—Ixion—Sisyphus—Tantalus—The Belides—Salmoneus—Elysium | [99] |
| CHAPTER XXIV. | |
| Fabulous Monsters—Centaurs—Geryon—Harpies—Briareus—The Chimæra—Explanationof this Fable—The Sphinx—Fabulous History—Statueof the Sphinx in Egypt | [105] |
| CHAPTER XXV. | |
| Household Divinities—Penates—Offices and Attributes—Lares—TheirOffices—Sacrifices offered to the Goddess Mania—Honors paid tothe Lares—Virtues worshipped as Divinities | [108] |
| CHAPTER XXVI. | |
| Demigods and Heroes—Their Origin—Hercules—His Parentage—TwelveLabors of the Hero—Field of Narbonne—Death of Hercules | [114] |
| CHAPTER XXVII. | |
| Jason—Expedition in search of the Golden Fleece—Medea—Her Revenge—Theseus—Tributeimposed on the Athenians—Departure ofTheseus—Destruction of the Minotaur—Ariadne—Death of Ægeus | [119] |
| CHAPTER XXVIII. | |
| Castor And Pollux—Their Parentage—Death of Castor—ConstellationGemini—Prometheus—His Parentage—His Impiety—Pandora’sBox—Punishment of Prometheus | [123] |
| CHAPTER XXIX. | |
| Orpheus—Story of Eurydice—Death of Orpheus—Transformation ofThracian Women into Trees—Arion—Amphion | [125] |
| CHAPTER XXX. | |
| Atlas—His Parentage—Transformed by Perseus into a Mountain—Explanationof the Fable—Pleiades—Hyades—Hesperides—Orion—HisParentage, Exploits and Death—Transformation into a Constellation—Perseus—HisParentage—Rescue of Andromeda—Deathof Acrisius | [129] |
| CHAPTER XXXI. | |
| Bellerophon—Victory over the Chimæra—His Presumption and itsPunishment—Deucalion—Legend of the re-peopling of the Earthafter the Deluge—Probable Explanation—Dædalus—Labyrinth—Deathof Icarus—Ceyx—Alcyone—Halcyon Birds | [134] |
| CHAPTER XXXII. | |
| Meleager—The Calydonian Hunt—Erisichthon, Nisus and Scylla | [140] |
| CHAPTER XXXIII. | |
| Poets of Classic Fable—Homer—Hesiod—Virgil—Ovid | [145] |
| CHAPTER XXXIV. | |
| Heroes Celebrated by the Poets—Agamemnon—Sacrifice of Iphigenia—Quarrelwith Achilles—Murder of Agamemnon by Ægisthus andClytemnestra—Achilles—His Parentage—Discovered by Ulysses atthe Court of Lycomedes—His Quarrel with Agamemnon—Death ofPatroclus—Exploits during the Siege—Death of Achilles—Sacrificeof Polyxena—Transformation of Hecuba | [152] |
| CHAPTER XXXV. | |
| Ulysses—His Marriage with Penelope—Feigned Insanity—Exploits duringthe Siege of Troy—Lotus Eaters—Slaying of the Sacred Cattleby the Sailors—Their destruction—Ulysses in the Island of Calypso—Caston the Shores of Phæacia—His Arrival in Ithaca—Suitors ofPenelope—Her Deliverance by Ulysses | [156] |
| CHAPTER XXXVI. | |
| Orestes—Education at the Court of Strophius—Pylades—Murder ofClytemnestra—Orestes pursued by the Furies—Discovery of Iphigeniaat Tauris—Circumstances added by the Tragic Poets—Hector—Characterand Exploits of the Hero; his Death—Fate of Astyanax—Œdipus—Eteoclesand Polynices—Theban War—Heroism ofAntigone | [164] |
| CHAPTER XXXVII. | |
| Æneas—His Parentage—His Flight from Troy—Interview with Andromacheat Epirus—Prophecy of Helenus—Æneas driven by aStorm on the Coast of Africa—Received by Dido at Carthage—Departureof Æneas—Death of Dido—Funeral Games—Descent intothe Infernal Regions—Landing of Æneas in Italy—War—Death ofTurnus and Marriage of Æneas with Lavinia—His Death | [171] |
| CHAPTER XXXVIII. | |
| Sibyls—Story of the Cumæan Sibyl—Legend of the Sibylline Books—Theirdestruction—Opinions entertained regarding these Verses—Divinationby Omens—The Augurs—Different Classes of Omens—Anecdote | [176] |
| CHAPTER XXXIX. | |
| Oracles—Oracle of Jupiter at Dodona—Manner of giving Responses—Oracleof Delphi—Account given by Diodorus—The Pythia—RemarkableResponses—Unsuccessful attempts made to plunder thisTemple—Despoiled by Nero and others—Oracle of Trophonius—Storyof the Hero and his Brother—Agamedes—Discovery of theOracle—Peculiar Rites observed by the Votaries—Oracle of JupiterAmmon—Its Situation—Temple founded by Bacchus—Expeditionsent by Cambyses—Ruins still existing—Fons Solis—Account givenby Belzoni—Oracle of Esculapius at Epidaurus—RemarkableEmbassy sent to Epidaurus by the Roman Senate—Treatment ofVotaries in the different Oracles of Esculapius—Oracle of the CastalianFount—Anecdote of the Emperor Hadrian—Opinions entertainedwith regard to these Oracles—Quotation from Milton | [180] |
| CHAPTER XL. | |
| Classic Games—Why connected with Mythology—Olympic Games—ByWhom instituted—Time and Manner of their celebration—Olympiads—Natureof the Contests—Qualifications required of the Competitors—Prizeawarded to the Victors—Honors bestowed—Horseand Chariot Races—Philip of Macedon—Alcibiades—Cynisca—IntellectualContests—Herodotus—Dionysius—Pythian Games—Bywhom instituted—Time of their Celebration—Prize—NemeanGames—Crowns bestowed—Isthmian Games—Why so called—Institutedin Honor of Melicertes—Garland bestowed on the Victor | [191] |
| CHAPTER XLI. | |
| The Greek Drama—Peculiarities of the Greek Theatre—Description ofthe Theatre of Bacchus at Athens—Stage Machinery—Dress of theActors—Masks—The Chorus—Measures of the Choral Dance—Chorusof the Furies—Story of Ibycus—Attempt made to revive theAncient Chorus—Time occupied by Theatrical Entertainments—Theircost—Comparison with the Roman Amphitheatre | [197] |
| CHAPTER XLII. | |
| Celebrated Statues—The Olympian Jupiter—Minerva of the Parthenon—SubsequentFate of this Temple—Apollo Belvidere—Diana à laBiche | [206] |
| PART II. | |
| CHAPTER I. | |
| Egyptian Divinities—Osiris—Apis and Serapis—Parentage of Osiris—HisDeath and Sepulture—Isis—Attributes—Emblematic representation—Ritesof Isis forbidden at Rome—Condemned by Juvenal—Apis—Mannerof transmigration—Festivals in Honor of Apis—Discoveryof a Successor—Oracles obtained from this Divinity—Germanicus—Harpocrates—Quotation | [209] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Eastern Mythology—Divinities of the Assyrians—Baal or Bel—Towerof Babel—Proper Names of the Phœnicians and Carthaginians—Worshipof Baal introduced among the Israelites by Achab—Reproachesof Jeremias—Moloch—Nations devoted to his Worship—HumanSacrifices—Representation of this God—His Worship forbiddenby Moses—Valley of Hinnom—Quotation from Milton—Astarothor Astarte—Sacrifices in Honor of this Goddess—Abusesattending her Festivals—Thammuz identical with Adonis—Mournedby the Assyrian Women—Lines from Milton—Vision of Ezekiel—Oannes—Dagon | [213] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| Persia—The Zend-avesta—Doctrines of Zoroaster—Ormuzd or Ormasdes—Ahriman—Worshipof Fire—The Guebers—Perpetual Fires—Bakoo—Magicand Astrology—Parsees of Hindostan | [218] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| Hindoo Mythology—Brahma—The Vedas—Doctrine of the Vedas—Brahma,Vishnu and Siva—Offices of these Deities—Avatars of Vishnu—Krishna—Siva—Doctrinesregarding the Soul—Metempsychosis—Castes—Buddha—HisDoctrines—Buddhism suppressed in India | [222] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| China—Absence of any State Religion in China—Doctrine of the Lettered—Confucius—HisWritings—Honors paid him in China—Difficultiesoccasioned among Christian Missionaries—Lao-tze, founder of theReligion of Tao or Reason—His Writings—Chinese Buddhists—Templeof Buddha at Pou-tou—General Feeling of the Chinese withregard to Religion | [229] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| Thibet—The Grand Lama—Prevailing Religion of Thibet and Tartary—Lamaseries—TheGrand Lama, a Perpetual Incarnation of Buddha—Histransmigrations—Mode of discovering his Successor | [236] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| Mythology of Scandinavia—Compared with that of Greece and Rome—TheEddas—Account of the Creation—Form of the Earth—Asgard,Odin—Names of this Deity—Valhalla—Thor—Recovery of Thor’sHammer—Frey and Freya—Bragi—Heimdall—Vidar—Hodur—TheValkyrior—Loki and his Progeny—Death of Baldur—His Funeral—Loki’sPunishment—The Elves—Runic Letters—Ragnarok, theTwilight of the Gods | [238] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| Celtic Mythology—Druidism—Derivation of the Word Druid—Originof Druidical Worship—Account given by Cæsar—Characteristics—Divinitiesworshipped by the Druids—Esus—His Attributes—Bel—Teutates—Camul—Tarann—Priests—TheirDuties—Bards—TheirInfluences—Druids, properly so called—Sacred Plants—MysticWriting of the Druids—Their Political Authority—Druidesses—Ofthe Loire—Of the Island of Sena—Human Sacrifices offered byDruidesses—Virgins of Tara—Sacrifices offered by the Druids—Victimschosen—Belief of the Druids in a Future State—Festivalsof the Druids—Festival—Solstices—Beltane or Beal-Tinne—Ceremoniesobserved in Ireland—St. Patrick at Tara—First of November—BretonLegend—Superstitious Practices belonging to the Day—Suppressionof Druidism in Gaul—In England—Mona—Iona—DruidicalMonuments—Menhirs—Dolmens—Cromlechs—Stonehenge—Carnac—PopularSuperstitions | [257] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| Mexico—Mythology of the Aztecs—Its Peculiar Characteristics—Beliefof the Aztecs with regard to the Supreme Being—Subordinate Deities—Huitzilopotchli—Legendof Quetzalcoatl—Household Divinities—Beliefof the Aztecs with regard to a Future State—SingularCeremony—Rites of Burial—Aztec Priests—Priestesses—MexicanTemples—Pyramid of Cholula—Sacrifices—Their Number—Victimsoffered annually to Tezcatlipoca—Cannibal Repasts—Montezuma | [274] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| Mythology of the Ancient Peruvians—Belief in One God—Worship ofthe Sun, Moon, and Stars—Legend of Manco-Capac—PretendedOrigin of the Inca Race—Legend of the Deluge—Tradition ofWhite Men from the East—Temple of the Sun in the Island of Titicaca—Templeof Cuzco—Peruvian Priesthood—Sacrifices offered tothe Sun—Festivals of the Sun—Feast of Raymi—Resemblance ofcertain Peruvian Rites to those observed by the Ancient Romans—Virginsof the Sun—Burial Rites of the Peruvians—Cupay | [284] |
| SUPPLEMENT. | |
| Notice of Authors, etc., mentioned in this Volume—Æschylus—Cæsar—Cicero—Demosthenes—Diodorus—Euripides—Herodotus—Justin—Juvenal—Mæcenas—Pelasgi—Plinius—Procopius—Simonides—Sophocles—Strabo—Titicaca—Varro | [292] |
MYTHOLOGY.
CHAPTER I.
Ques. What is Mythology?
Ans. This word is derived from the Greek, Mythos, a myth or fable, and logos, a discourse. A myth is, properly speaking, an allegory or fable invented to convey some important moral or religious truth, or illustrate some operation of nature. Mythology includes also the historical myths, or the narratives of gods, demigods, and heroes, which were current among the heathen in ancient times.
Ques. Why is it necessary to become acquainted with these fables?
Ans. Because ancient literature and art cannot be fully understood or appreciated without some knowledge of Mythology. It was mingled with every theme of the classic poet, and inspired the highest skill of the painter and sculptor.