Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome | Page 9

concealed by
the white fat; whilst the other contained all the edible parts, which he
covered with the skin, and on the top of all he laid the stomach.

Zeus, pretending to be deceived, chose the heap of bones, but he saw
through the stratagem, and was so angry at the deception practised on
him by Prometheus that he avenged himself by refusing to mortals the
gift of fire. {25} Prometheus, however, resolved to brave the anger of
the great ruler of Olympus, and to obtain from heaven the vital spark so
necessary for the further progress and comfort of the human race. He
accordingly contrived to steal some sparks from the chariot of the sun,
which he conveyed to earth hidden in a hollow tube. Furious at being
again outwitted, Zeus determined to be revenged first on mankind, and
then on Prometheus. To punish the former he commanded Hephæstus
(Vulcan) to mould a beautiful woman out of clay, and determined that
through her instrumentality trouble and misery should be brought into
the world.
The gods were so charmed with the graceful and artistic creation of
Hephæstus, that they all determined to endow her with some special
gift. Hermes (Mercury) bestowed on her a smooth persuasive tongue,
Aphrodite gave her beauty and the art of pleasing; the Graces made her
fascinating, and Athene (Minerva) gifted her with the possession of
feminine accomplishments. She was called Pandora, which means
all-gifted, having received every attribute necessary to make her
charming and irresistible. Thus beautifully formed and endowed, this
exquisite creature, attired by the Graces, and crowned with flowers by
the Seasons, was conducted to the house of Epimetheus[9] by Hermes
the messenger of the gods. Now Epimetheus had been warned by his
brother not to accept any gift whatever from the gods; but he was so
fascinated by the beautiful being who suddenly appeared before him,
that he welcomed her to his home, and made her his wife. It was not
long, however, before he had cause to regret his weakness.
He had in his possession a jar of rare workmanship, containing all the
blessings reserved by the gods for mankind, which he had been
expressly forbidden to open. But woman's proverbial curiosity could
not withstand so great a temptation, and Pandora determined to solve
the mystery at any cost. Watching her opportunity she raised the lid,
and immediately all the blessings which {26} the gods had thus
reserved for mankind took wing and flew away. But all was not lost.

Just as Hope (which lay at the bottom) was about to escape, Pandora
hastily closed the lid of the jar, and thus preserved to man that
never-failing solace which helps him to bear with courage the many ills
which assail him.[10]
Having punished mankind, Zeus determined to execute vengeance on
Prometheus. He accordingly chained him to a rock in Mount Caucasus,
and sent an eagle every day to gnaw away his liver, which grew again
every night ready for fresh torments. For thirty years Prometheus
endured this fearful punishment; but at length Zeus relented, and
permitted his son Heracles (Hercules) to kill the eagle, and the sufferer
was released.
* * * * *
THIRD DYNASTY--OLYMPIAN DIVINITIES.
ZEUS[11] (JUPITER).
Zeus, the great presiding deity of the universe, the ruler of heaven and
earth, was regarded by the Greeks, first, as the god of all aërial
phenomena; secondly, as the personification of the laws of nature;
thirdly, as lord of state-life; and fourthly, as the father of gods and men.
As the god of aërial phenomena he could, by shaking his ægis,[12]
produce storms, tempests, and intense darkness. At his command the
mighty thunder rolls, the lightning flashes, and the clouds open and
pour forth their refreshing streams to fructify the earth.
As the personification of the operations of nature, he represents those
grand laws of unchanging and harmonious order, by which not only the
physical but also {27} the moral world is governed. Hence he is the
god of regulated time as marked by the changing seasons, and by the
regular succession of day and night, in contradistinction to his father
Cronus, who represents time absolutely, i.e. eternity.
As the lord of state-life, he is the founder of kingly power, the upholder
of all institutions connected with the state, and the special friend and

patron of princes, whom he guards and assists with his advice and
counsel. He protects the assembly of the people, and, in fact, watches
over the welfare of the whole community.
As the father of the gods, Zeus sees that each deity performs his or her
individual duty, punishes their misdeeds, settles their disputes, and acts
towards them on all occasions as their all-knowing counsellor and
mighty friend.
As the father of men, he takes a paternal interest in the