2 7. The Titans made war upon their father, who was wounded by Sat'urn,' the youngest and bravest of his sons. From the drops of blood which flowed from the wound and fell upon the earth, sprung the Furies, the Giants, and the Melian nymphs; and from those which fell into the sea, sprung Venus," the goddess of love and beauty. U'ranus or Heaven being dethroned, Sat' urn, by the consent of his brethren, was permitted to reign in his stead, on condition that he would destroy all his male children: but Rhéa his wife concealed from him the birth of Júpiter," Nep' tune,' and Plúto." 1. Saturn, the youngest but most powerful of the Titans, called by the Greeks, Krónos, word signifying Time," is generally represented as an old man, bent by age and infirmity, holding a scythe in his right hand, together with a serpent that bites its own tail, which is an mblem of time, and of the revolution of the year. In his left hand he has a child which he ?aises up as if to devour it—as time devours all things. When Sat' urn was banished by his son Júpiter, he is said to have fled to Italy, where he Employed himself in civilizing the barbarous manners of the people. His reign there was so Leneficent and virtuous that mankind have called it the golden age. According to Hesiod, Fat' urn ruled over the Isles of the Blessed, at the end of the earth, by the "deep eddying ocean." 2. The Furies were three goddesses, whose names signified the "Unceasing," the "Envier," and the "Blood-avenger." They are usualy represented with looks full of terror, each brand ishing a torch in one hand and a scourge of snakes in the other. They torment guilty consciences, and punish the crimes of bad men. 3. The Giants are represented as of uncommon stature, with strength proportioned to their gigantic size. The war of the Titans against Sat' urn, and that of the Giants against Júpiter, aro very celebrated in mythology. It is believed that the Giants were nothing more than the energies of nature personified, and that the war with Jupiter is an allegorical representation of some tremendous convulsion of nature in early times. 4. In Grecian mythology, all the regions of earth and water were peopled with beautiful fe male forms called nymphs, divided into various orders according to the place of their abodo. The Melian nymphs were those which watched over gardens and flocks. 5. Pinus, the most beautiful of all the goddesses, is sometimes represented as rising out of the sea, and wringing her locks,-sometimes drawn in a sea-shell by Tritons-sea-deities that were half fish and half human-and sometimes in a chariot drawn by swans. Swans, doves, and sparrows, were sacred to her. Her favorite plants were the rose and the myrtle. 6. Jupiter, called the “father of men and gods," is placed at the head of the entire system of the universe. He is supreme over all: earthly monarchs derive their authority from himn, and bis will is fate. He is generally represented as majestic in appearance, seated on a throne, with a sceptre in one hand, and thunderbolts in the other. The eagle, which is sacred to him, ie standing by his side. Regarding Jupiter as the surrounding ether, or atmosphere, the numer ous fables of this monarch of the gods may be considered allegories which typify the great generative power of the universe, displaying itself in a variety of ways, and under the greatest Jversity of forms. 7. Nep' tune, the "Earth-shaker," and ruler of the sea, is second only to Júpiter in powe. He is represented, like Júpiter, of a serene and majestic aspect, seated in a chariot made of a shell, bearing a trident in his right hand, and drawn by dolphins and sea-horses; while the tritous, nymphs, and other sea-monsters, gambol around him. 8. Pluto, called also ades and Or' cus, the god of the lower world, is represented as a man of a stern aspect, seated on a throne of sulphur, from beneath which flow the rivers Lethe or Oblivion, Phleg ethon, Cocy' tus, and Ach' eron. In one hand he holds a bident, or sceptre with two forks, and in the other the keys of hell. His queen, J'ros' erpine, is sometimes seated by him He is described by the poets as a being inexorable and deaf to supplication, and an 8. The Titans, informed that. Sat'urn had saved his children, inade war upon him and dethroned him; but he was restored by his son Júpiter. Yet the latter afterwards conspired against his father, and after a long war with him and his giant progeny, which lasted ten full years, and in which all the gods took part, he drove Sat' urn from the kingdom, and then divided, between himself and his brothers Nep' tune and Plúto, the dominion of the universe, taking heaven as his own portion, and assigning the sea to Nep' tune, and to Plúto the lower regions, the abodes of the dead. With Júpiter and his brethren begins a new dynasty of the gods, being those, for the most part, whom the Greeks recognised and worshipped. 9. Júpiter had several wives, both goddesses and mortals, but last of all he married his sister Júno,' who maintained, permanently, the dignity of queen of the gods. The offspring of Jupiter were numerous, comprising both celestial and terrestrial divinities. The most noted of the former were Mer' cury, Mars, Apol' lo,* Vul' can,' object of aversion and hatred to both gods and men. From his realms there is no return, and all mankind, sooner or later, are sure to be gathered into his kingdom. As none of the goddesses would marry the stern and gloomy god, he seized Pros' erpine, the daughter of Céres, while she was gathering flowers, and opening a passage through the earth carried her to his abode, and made her queen of his dominions. 1. Juno, a goddess of a dignified and matronly air, but haughty, jealous, and inexorable, is represented sometimes as seated on a throne, holding in one hand a pomegranate, and in the other a golden sceptre, with a cuckoo on its top; and at others, as drawn in a chariot by peacocks, and attended by I' ris, the goddess of the rainbow. The many quarrels attributed to Júpiter and Juno, are supposed to be physical allegoriesJúpiter representing the ether, or upper regions of the air, and Juno the lower strata-hence their quarrels are the storms that pass over the earth: and the capricious and quick-changing temper of the spouse of Jove, is typical of the ever-varying changes that disturb our atmos phere. 2. Mer' cury, the confident, messenger, interpreter, and ambassador of the gods, was himself the god of eloquence, and the patron of orators, merchants, thieves and robbers, travellers and shepherds. He is said to have invented the lyre, letters, commerce, and gymnastic exercises. His thieving exploits are celebrated. He is usually represented with a cloak neatly arranged on his person, having a winged cap on his head, and winged sandals on his feet. In his hand he bears his wand or staff, with wings at its extremity, and two serpents twined about it. 3. Mars, the god of war, was of huge size and prodigious strength, and his voice was louder than that of ten thousand mortals. He is represented as a warrior of a severe and menacing air, dressed in the style of the Heroic Age, with a cuirass on, and a round Grecian shield on hi arm. He is sometimes seen standing in a chariot, with Bellona his sister for a charioteer. Terror and Fear accompany him; Discord, in tattered garments, goes before him, and Anger and Clamor follow. 4. Apol' lo, the god of archery, prophecy, and music, is represented in the perfection of manly strength and beauty, with hair long and curling, and bound behind his head; his brows are wreathed with bay: sometimes he bears a lyre in his hand, and sometimes a bow, with a golden quiver of arrows at his back. 5. Vul' can was the fire-god of the Greeks, and the artificer of heaven. He was born lame and his mother Juno was 30 shocked at the sight that she flung him from Olym' pus. ho forged the thunderbolts of Jupiter, also the arms of gods and demi-gods. He is usually represented as of ripe age, with a serious countenance and muscular form. His hair hangs in cura Diána,' and Miner' va. There were two other celestial divinities, Céres and Ves' ta, making, with Júno, Nep' tune, and Pluto, twelve in all. 10. The number of other deities, not included among the celestials, was indefinite, the most noted of whom were Bac' chus," I' ris," Hebe,' the Muses, the Fates," and the Graces; 10 also Sleep, Dreams. and Death. There were also monsters, the offspring of the gods, pos essed of free will and intelligence, and having the mixed forms of an his shoukera. He generally appears at his anvil, in a short tunic, with his right arını tare and sometimes with a pointed cap on his head. 1. Diána, the exact counterpart of her brother Apollo, was queen of the woods, and the goddess of hunting. She devoted herself to perpetual celibacy, and her chief joy was to speed like a Dórian maid over the hills, followed by a train of nymphs, in pursuit of the flying game, She is represented as a strong, active maiden, lightly clad, with a bow or hunting spear in her hand, a quiver of arrows on her shoulders, wearing the Crétan hunting-shoes, and attended by a hound. 2. Miner' va, the goddess of wisdom and skill, and, as opposed to Mars, the patroness and teacher of just and scientific warfare, is said to have sprung, full armed, from the bram of Jú piter. She is represented with a serious and thoughtful countenance; her hair hangs in ring. lets over her shoulders, and a helmet covers her head: she wears a long tunic or male, and bears a spear in one hand, and an ægis or shield, on which is a figure of the Gorgon's head, in the other. 3. Céres was the goddess of grain and harvests. The most celebrated event in her bistory 1. the carrying off of her daughter Pros' erpine by Plúto, and the search of the goddess after her throughout the whole world. The form of Ceres is like that of Juno. She is represented bear. ing poppies and ears of corn in one hand, a lighted torch in the other, and wearing on her head a garland of poppies. She is also represented riding in a chariot drawn by dragons, and dis tributing corn to the different regions of the earth. 4. Ves' ta, the virgin goddess who presided over the domestic hearth, is represented in a long flowing robe, with a veil on her head, a lamp in one hand, and a spear or javelin in the other. in every Grecian city an altar was dedicated to her, on which a sacred fire was kept constantly burning. In her temple at Rome the sacred fire was guarded by six priestesses, called the Vestal Virgins. 5. Bac' chus, the god of wine, and the patron of drunkenness and debauchery, is represented. as an effeminate young man, with long flowing hair, crowned with a garland of vine leaves, and generally covered with a cloak thrown loosely over his shoulders. In one hand he holds a goblet, and in the other clusters of grapes and a short dagger. 6. I' ris, the "golden winged," was the goddess of the rainbow, and special messenger of the king and queen of Olympus. 7. The blooming Hebe, the goddess of Youth, was a kind of maid-servant who handed around the nectar at the banquets of the gods. 8. The Muses, nine in number, were goddesses who presided over poetry, music, and all the Eberal arts and sciences. They are thought to be personifications of the inventive powers of the mind, as displayed in the several arts. 9. The Fates were three goddesses who presided over the destinies of mortals:-st. Clótho, who held the distaff; 2d, Lach' esis, who spun each one's portion of the thread of Life; and 34, Atropos, who cut off the thread with her scissors. "Clótho and Lach' esis, whose boundless sway, With At' ropos, both men and gods obey !"-HESIOD. 10. The Graces were three young and beautiful sisters, whose nanes signified, respectively. Splendor, Joy, and Pleasure. They are supposed to have been a symbolical representation of all that is beautiful and attractive. They are represented as dancing together, or standing with mair arms entwined. animals and men. Such were the Har' pies;' the Gorgons; the winged horse Peg' asus; the fifty, or, as some say, the hundred head ed dog Cer' berus; the Cen' taurs, half men and half horses; the Ler' nean Hy' dra, a famous water serpent; and Scyl'la and Charyb' dis, fearful sea monsters, the one changed into a rock, and the other Into a whirlpool on the coast of Sicily, the dread of mariners. Many rebellious attempts were made by the gods and demi-gods to dethrone Júpiter; but by his unparalleled strength he overcame all his enemies, and holding his court on mount Olym'pus,' reigned su preme god over heaven and earth. 11. Such is the brief outline of Grecian mythology. The legends of the gods and goddesses are numerous, and some of them are of exceeding interest and beauty, while others shock and disgust us by the gross impossibilities and hideous deformities which they reveal. The great mass of the Grecian people appear to have believed that their divinities were real persons; but their philosophers explained the legends concerning them as allegorical representations of general physical and moral truths. The Greek, therefore, instead of worshipping nature, worshipped the powers of nature personified. III. EARLIEST 12. The earliest reliable information that we possess of the country denominated Greece, represents it in the possession of a number of rude tribes, of which the Pelas' gians were the most numerous and powerful, and probably the most ancient. The name Pelas' gians was also a general one, under which were included many kindred tribes, such as the Dol' opes, Chá ones, and Græ'ci; but still the origin and extent of the race are in volved in much obscurity. On 13. Of the early character of the Pelas' gians, and of the degree of civilization to which they had attained before the reputed found. ing of Ar' gos, we have unsatisfactory and conflicting accounts. the one hand they are represented as no better than the rudest barbarians, dwelling in caves, subsisting on reptiles, herbs, and wild fruits, and strangers to the simplest arts of civilized life. Other and more reliable traditions, however, attribute to them a knowledge of 1. The Har' pies were three-winged monsters who had female faces, and the bodies, wings and claws of birds. They are supposed to be personifications of the terrors of the storm-de mons riding upon the wind, and directing its blasts. 2. The Gor'gons were three hideous female forms, who turned to stone all whom they fixed their eyes upon. They are supposed to be personifications of the terrors of the sea. 3. Olympus is a celebrated mountain of Greece, near the north-eastern coast of Thessaly. To the highest summit in the range the name Olympus was specially applied by the poets. It wa the tabled residence of the gods; and hence the name "Olym' pus" was frequently used for "Heaven." |