Table of Contents 1. Cover 2. Titlepage 3. Preface 4. Introduction 5. First Dynasty 6. ORIGIN OF THE WORLD 1. URANUS AND GAEA (Coelus and Terra) 7. Second Dynasty 8. Origins of Gods and Man 1. CRONUS (Saturn) 2. RHEA (Ops) 3. THEORIES AS TO THE ORIGIN OF MAN 9. Third dynasty 10. OLYMPIAN DIVINITIES 1. ZEUS (Jupiter) 2. HERA (Juno) 3. JUNO 4. PALLAS-ATHENE (Minerva) 5. THEMIS 6. MINERVA 7. THEMIS 8. HESTIA (Vesta) 9. VESTA 10. DEMETER (Cebes) 11. CERES 12. APHRODITE (Venus) 13. VENUS 14. HELIOS (Sol) 15. EOS (Aurora) 16. PHOEBUS-APOLLO 17. ROMAN APOLLO 18. HECATE 19. SELENE (Luna) 20. ARTEMIS (Diana) 21. ARCADIAN ARTEMIS 22. EPHESIAN ARTEMIS 23. BRAURONIAN ARTEMIS 24. SELENE-ARTEMIS 25. DIANA 26. HEPHAESTUS (Vulcan) 27. VULCAN 28. POSEIDON (Neptune) 29. NEPTUNE 30. OCEANUS 31. NEREUS 32. PROTEUS 33. TRITON and the TRITONS 34. GLAUCUS 35. THETIS 36. THAUMAS, PHOROYS, and CETO 37. LEUCOTHEA 38. THE SIRENS 39. ARES(Mars) 40. MARS 41. NIKE (Victoria) 42. VICTORIA 43. HERMES (Mercury) 44. MERCURY 45. DIONYSUS (Bacchus) 46. BACCHUS of LIBER 47. AIDES (Pluto) 48. PLUTO 49. THE HARPIES 50. ERINYES, EUMENIDES (Furiae, Dirae) 51. MOIRAI or FATES (Parcae) 52. NEMESIS 53. NYX (Nox) 54. THANATOS (Mors) and HYPNUS (Somnus) 55. MORPHEUS 56. THE GORGONS 57. SPHINX 58. TYCHE (Fortuna) and ANANKE (Necessitas) 59. FORTUNA 60. ANANKE (Necessitas) 61. KER 62. ATE 63. MOMUS 64. BROS (Cupid, Amor) and PSYCHE 65. HYMEN 66. IRIS (the Rainbow) 67. HEBE (Juventas) 68. JUVENTAS 69. GANYMEDES 70. THE MUSES 71. PEGASUS 72. THE HESPERIDES 73. CHARITIES (Gratle) GRACES 74. HORSE (Seasons) 75. THE NYMPHS 76. OCEANIDES, NEREIDES, AND NAIADES 77. NEREIDES 78. THE NAIADES 79. DRYADES, or TREE NYMPHS 80. THE NAPAEAE and OREADES 81. THE WINDS 82. PAN (Paunus) 83. FAUNUS 84. THE SATYRS 85. PRIAPUS 86. ASCLEPIAS (Asculapius) 11. ROMAN DIVINITIES 1. JANUS 2. FLORA 3. ROBIGUS 4. POMONA 5. VERTUMNUS 6. PALES 7. PIOUS 8. SILVANUS 9. TERMINUS 10. CONSUS 11. LIBITINA 12. LAVERNA 13. COMUS 14. THE CAMEN 15. GENII 16. PENATES 12. PUBLIC WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT GEEEKS AND ROMANS 1. TEMPLES 2. STATUES 3. ALTARS 4. PRIESTS 5. SACRIFICES 6. ORACLES 7. SOOTHSAYERS (Augurs) 8. FESTIVALS 13. GREEK FESTIVALS 1. ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES 2. THESMOPHORIA 3. DIONYSIA 4. PANATHENSEA 5. DAPHNEPHORIA 14. ROMAN FESTIVALS 1. SATURNALIA 2. CEREALIA 3. VESTALIA 15. Part II 16. LEGENDS 1. CADMUS 2. PERSEUS 3. ION 4. DAEDALUS and ICARUS 5. THE ARGONAUTS 6. STORY OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE 7. THE ARGONAUTS 8. PELOPS 9. HERACLES (Hercules) 10. BELLEROPHON 11. THESEUS 12. OEDIPUS 13. THE SEVEN AGAINST THEBES 14. THE EPIGONI 15. ALCMAEON AND THE NECKLACE 16. THE HERACLIDAES 17. THE CITY OF TROY 18. THE SIEGE OF TROY 19. RETURN OF THE GREEKS PROM TROY 20. RETURN OF THE GREEKS FORESTALLED 17. BLACKIE'S COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SERIES 18. END Preface The want of an interesting work on Greek and Roman mythology, suitable for the requirements of both boys and girls, has long been recognized by the principals of our advanced schools. The study of the classics themselves, even where the attainments of the pupil have rendered this feasible, has not been found altogether successful in giving to the student a clear and succinct idea of the religious beliefs of the ancients, and it has been suggested that a work which would so deal with the subject as to render it at once interesting and instructive would be hailed as a valuable introduction to the study of classic authors, and would be found to assist materially the labors of both master and pupil. In endeavoring to supply this want I have sought to place before the reader a lifelike picture of the deities of classical times as they were conceived and worshiped by the ancients themselves, and thereby to awaken in the minds of young students a desire to become more intimately acquainted with the noble productions of classical antiquity. It has been my aim to render the Legends, which form the second portion of the work, a picture, as it were, of old Greek life; its customs, its superstitions, and its princely hospitalities, for which reason they are given at somewhat greater length than is usual in works of the kind. In a chapter devoted to the purpose some interesting particulars have been collected respecting the public worship of the ancient Greeks and Romans (more especially of the former), to which is subjoined an account of their principal festivals. I may add that no pains have been spared in order that, without passing over details the omission of which would have marred the completeness of the work, not a single passage should be found which could possibly offend the most scrupulous delicacy; and also that I have purposely treated the subject with that reverence which I consider due to every religious system, however erroneous. It is hardly necessary to dwell upon the importance of the study of Mythology: our poems, our novels, and even our daily journals teem with classical allusions; nor can a visit to our art galleries and museums be fully enjoyed without something more than a mere superficial knowledge of a subject which has in all ages inspired painters, sculptors, and poets. It therefore only remains for me to express a hope that my little work may prove useful, not only to teachers and scholars, but also to a large class of general readers, who, in whiling away a leisure hour, may derive some pleasure and profit from its perusal. E. M. Berens. October, 1879 Introduction Before entering upon the many strange beliefs of the ancient Greeks, and the extraordinary number of gods they worshiped, 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 infrequently both gods and goddesses 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