Ops. Mother of the gods, a daughter of Cœlus and Terra. She was known by the several names of Bona Dea, Rhea, Cybele, Magna Mater, Proserpine, Tellus, and Thya; and occasionally she is spoken of as Juno and Minerva. She personified labour, and is represented as a comely matron, distributing gifts with her right hand, and holding in her left hand a loaf of bread. Her festival was the 14th day of the January calends.
Oracles, see Themis.
Oræ′a. Certain sacrifices offered to the goddesses of the seasons to invoke fair weather for the ripening of the fruits of the earth.
Orbo′na. The goddess of orphans.
Orchards, see Feronia.
O′reads were mountain nymphs, attendants on Diana.
Orgies. Drunken revels. The riotous feasts of Bacchus were so designated.
Ori′on. A famous handsome giant, who was blinded by Œnopion for a grievous wrong done to Merope, and he was expelled from Chios. The sound of the Cyclopes’ hammers led him to the abode of Vulcan, who gave him a guide. He then consulted an oracle, and had his sight restored, as Longfellow says, by fixing
“His blank eyes upon the sun.”
He was afterwards slain by Diana and placed amongst the stars, where his constellation is one of the most splendid.