Maia (mā´i-a)—Daughter of Atlas and Pleione, and the eldest and most beautiful of the several Pleiades. She became, by Jupiter, the mother of Mercury.
Manes (mā´nēz)—lit. “the good, benevolent.”—The name given by the Romans to the souls of the dead, who were worshiped as gods.
Mani.—Name given in ancient Norse mythology to the moon. Later known as the son of Mundilfori; taken to heaven by the gods to drive the moon-car. He is followed by a wolf, which, when time shall be no more, will devour both Mani and his sister Sol.
Manitou.—The great spirit of American Indians.
Marica (ma-rī´ka).—A Latin nymph, the mother of Latinus.
Mars (märz); called by the Greeks Ares (ā´rē).—The god of war, of husbandry, of shepherds, and seers, who, as father of Romulus, was the progenitor of the Roman people. He was the son of Jupiter and Juno. He loved, and was beloved by Venus. The wolf and the woodpecker were sacred to Mars.
Marsyas (mar’si-as).—A satyr who, having found the flute which Minerva had thrown away because it distorted her features whilst playing it, rashly challenged Apollo to a musical contest. Apollo played upon the cithara and Marsyas upon the flute, and the Muses were the umpires. They decided in favor of Apollo, who then bound Marsyas to a tree and flayed him alive in accordance with the conditions of the contest—namely, that the victor should do what he pleased with the vanquished.
Medea (mē-dē´a).—Daughter of Æëtes, king of Colchis; celebrated for her skill in magic. She assisted Jason in obtaining the Golden Fleece (see “[Argonautæ]”), and accompanied him to Greece. She effectually stopped her father’s pursuit by killing her brother [Absyrtus] (q.v.), and strewing his body cut in pieces on the seashore. See “[Jason].”
Medusa (me-dū´sa).—See “[Gorgons].”
Megæra (me-gē´ra).—See “[Furiæ].”