Charites (char´it-ēz)—Gr., the Graces—were the goddesses who confer all grace. They were the daughters of Jupiter and were three in number, their names being Aglaia (ag-lā´i-a), i. e. the bright one; Euphrosyne (ū-fros´i-nē), i. e. the cheerful or mirthful one; and Thalia (thal-ī´a), i. e. the blooming one. They were the personifications of grace and beauty, and enhanced by refinement and gentleness the enjoyments of life. They were the friends of the Muses and specially favored poetry.
Charon (kär´on).—Son of Erebus; was the ferryman of Hades who conveyed the souls of the departed across the rivers Acheron and Styx, receiving in return the obolus placed in the mouth of every corpse before burial.
Charybdis (ka-rib´dis).—A dangerous whirlpool between Italy and Sicily, opposite [Scylla] (q.v.).
Chibiabos.—A musician, ruler in the land of spirits, and friend of Hiawatha. Personification of harmony in nature.
Chimæra (ki-mē´ra)—i. e. a she-goat.—A fabulous, fire-breathing monster with a lion’s head, a serpent’s tail, and a goat’s body. She was killed by Bellerophon, mounted on Pegasus. The myth relates to a volcano in Lycia.
Chione (ki´on-ē).—Daughter of Dædalion. She was shot by Diana because she compared her beauty with that of the goddess.
Chiron (kī´ron).—A centaur famous for his knowledge of medicine, plants, music and divination. Son of Saturn and Philyra, the tutor of Æsculapius, Achilles and Hercules. Being accidentally wounded by one of the poisoned arrows of Hercules, he gave up his immortality and was changed into the constellation Sagittarius.
Chloris (klor´is).—The Greek goddess of flowers, identical with Flora.
Chou.—An Egyptian god corresponding to the Roman Hercules.
Circe (sir´sē).—Daughter of Helios (the sun) and Perse, famous for her magic arts. She lived on the Island of Ææa, on which Ulysses was cast on his voyage home from Troy. Circe met his companions, whom he had sent to explore the country, and offered them a magic cup, on tasting which they all became, with the single exception of Eurylochus, changed into swine. Ulysses, on hearing of it, obtained from Mercury the root moly, which fortified him against enchantment, and compelled Circe to restore his companions to their former shape. He then remained with her for a year, and she bore him a son, Telegonus.