Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome | Page 2

154 IRIS, 155 HEBE (Juventas),
156 GANYMEDES, 157 {v} THE MUSES, 157 PEGASUS, 162 THE
HESPERIDES, 162 CHARITES OR GRACES, 163 HORÆ (Seasons),
164 THE NYMPHS, 165 THE WINDS, 170 PAN (Faunus), 171 THE
SATYRS, 174 PRIAPUS, 175 ASCLEPIAS (Æsculapius), 176

ROMAN DIVINITIES-- JANUS, 178 FLORA, 180 ROBIGUS, 180
POMONA, 180 VERTUMNUS, 181 PALES, 181 PICUS, 182
PICUMNUS AND PILUMNUS, 182 SILVANUS, 182 TERMINUS,
182 CONSUS, 183 LIBITINA, 183 LAVERNA, 184 COMUS, 184
CAMENÆ, 184 GENII, 185 MANES, 185 PENATES, 187
PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT GREEKS AND ROMANS--
TEMPLES, 188 STATUES, 190 ALTARS, 191 PRIESTS, 191
SACRIFICES, 192 ORACLES, 194 SOOTHSAYERS, 195 {vi}
AUGURS, 196 FESTIVALS, 196
GREEK FESTIVALS-- ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES, 196
THESMOPHORIA, 197 DIONYSIA, 197 PANATHENÆA, 199
DAPHNEPHORIA, 200
ROMAN FESTIVALS-- SATURNALIA, 200 CEREALIA, 201
VESTALIA, 201
PART II.--LEGENDS. CADMUS, 203 PERSEUS, 205 ION, 210
DÆDALUS AND ICARUS, 211 THE ARGONAUTS, 213 PELOPS,
232 HERACLES, 234 BELLEROPHON, 256 THESEUS, 259
OEDIPUS, 269 THE SEVEN AGAINST THEBES, 272 THE
EPIGONI, 276 ALCMÆON AND THE NECKLACE, 277 THE
HERACLIDÆ, 280 THE SIEGE OF TROY, 283 RETURN OF THE
GREEKS FROM TROY, 304
* * * * *
{7}
MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF ANCIENT GREECE AND ROME.
* * * * *
PART I.--MYTHS.
* * * * *
INTRODUCTION.

Before entering upon the many strange beliefs of the ancient Greeks,
and the extraordinary number of gods they worshipped, we must first
consider what kind of beings these divinities were.
In appearance, the gods were supposed to resemble mortals, whom,
however, they far surpassed in beauty, grandeur, and strength; they
were also more commanding in stature, height being considered by the
Greeks an attribute of beauty in man or woman. They resembled human
beings in their feelings and habits, intermarrying and having children,
and requiring daily nourishment to recruit their strength, and refreshing
sleep to restore their energies. Their blood, a bright ethereal fluid called
Ichor, never engendered disease, and, when shed, had the power of
producing new life.
The Greeks believed that the mental qualifications of their gods were of
a much higher order than those of men, but nevertheless, as we shall
see, they were not considered to be exempt from human passions, and
we frequently behold them actuated by revenge, deceit, and jealousy.
They, however, always punish the evil-doer, and visit with dire
calamities any impious mortal who dares to neglect their worship or
despise their rites. We often hear of them visiting mankind and
partaking of their hospitality, and not unfrequently both gods and
goddesses {8} become attached to mortals, with whom they unite
themselves, the offspring of these unions being called heroes or
demi-gods, who were usually renowned for their great strength and
courage. But although there were so many points of resemblance
between gods and men, there remained the one great characteristic
distinction, viz., that the gods enjoyed immortality. Still, they were not
invulnerable, and we often hear of them being wounded, and suffering
in consequence such exquisite torture that they have earnestly prayed to
be deprived of their privilege of immortality.
The gods knew no limitation of time or space, being able to transport
themselves to incredible distances with the speed of thought. They
possessed the power of rendering themselves invisible at will, and
could assume the forms of men or animals as it suited their
convenience. They could also transform human beings into trees,

stones, animals, &c., either as a punishment for their misdeeds, or as a
means of protecting the individual, thus transformed, from impending
danger. Their robes were like those worn by mortals, but were perfect
in form and much finer in texture. Their weapons also resembled those
used by mankind; we hear of spears, shields, helmets, bows and arrows,
&c., being employed by the gods. Each deity possessed a beautiful
chariot, which, drawn by horses or other animals of celestial breed,
conveyed them rapidly over land and sea according to their pleasure.
Most of these divinities lived on the summit of Mount Olympus, each
possessing his or her individual habitation, and all meeting together on
festive occasions in the council-chamber of the gods, where their
banquets were enlivened by the sweet strains of Apollo's lyre, whilst
the beautiful voices of the Muses poured forth their rich melodies to his
harmonious accompaniment. Magnificent temples were erected to their
honour, where they were worshipped with the greatest solemnity; rich
gifts were presented to them, and animals, and indeed sometimes
human beings, were sacrificed on their altars.
In the study of Grecian mythology we meet with some {9} curious, and
what may at first sight appear unaccountable notions. Thus we hear of
terrible giants hurling rocks, upheaving mountains, and raising
earthquakes which engulf whole armies; these ideas, however, may be
accounted for by the awful convulsions of nature, which were in
operation in pre-historic times. Again,